M. Jean Pike's Blog, page 24

Tea For Twenty

We were so excited to host the Ladies Prayer Tea today. Each month, a different area church invites the public in for prayers, songs and a message. (And of course, plenty of tea and coffee!) Our church is a lovely little church out on a country road and the weather cooperated beautifully. So much color popping out on Four Mile Road this week! We had twenty ladies representing nine different area churches. A good turnout!

We were busy this week making snacks for the event. So much yummy goodness!

I was honored to be asked to speak today about being a Christian Romance Author. My theme was “Telling Stories for God’s Glory.”

All things considered our first Prayer Tea was a success.

We can hardly wait for next year!

What does a dollar buy anymore?

How about an escape to a small town Christmas festival complete with nutcrackers, romance and a good old fashioned snowstorm? For a limited time, my publisher is offering my novella, The Key to Christmas for the preorder price of just .99! Order today for delivery on November 1st!

https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_41&products_id=1698

All things Christmas!

If you like romance, nutcrackers and good old fashioned snowstorms you’ll love The Key to Christmas! Now available for preorder at Amazon.

Staycation

I’m having a bit of a staycation this week. What a luxury to have several days off from work! Miss Emma could not be happier to have me home all day (notice the tail moving at warp speed ) even though it meant her least favorite activity — a bath!

Along with working on a new writing project and some much needed housework, a friend and I went apple picking — one of my favorite fall activities. I got a nice mix of Ida Reds and Granny Smiths. Aren’t they beautiful?

I’ve also been babysitting a batch of friendship bread. Today was baking day!

The rest of the week I plan to do a lot of reading, a little yard work, and maybe a jigsaw puzzle. Mostly though, I will try to enjoy each precious day off. Even the rainy ones

What’s your favorite staycation activity?

Coming soon!

After a decade of setting stories in my new state of Ohio, I have returned to my Western New York roots with my novella, The Key to Christmas. A lonely shop owner. A single dad. And the key that can unlock both of their hearts. Come on up to Charlee Falls this Christmas. We’d love to have you

A Letter to the Tooth Fairy

My sisters and I are savers. We each have boxes of family memorabilia, old photos, souvenirs and letters—snapshots of our family from long ago moments in time. Sometimes on rainy days we take them out and look at them and remember those who have been such an important part of our lives. The other day my sister came across this letter my sweet mother wrote to the Tooth Fairy as a child.

I love that my grandmother saved it, love to imagine her gentle smile as she opened and read it, and then lovingly tucked it away. The letter made me remember my own enchantment with the Tooth Fairy. One year, having lost a tooth, I was beyond excited for that midnight visit. My mother let me wear one of her old cocktail dresses to bed so I would look pretty when Ms. Fairy came to visit. Secretly, I hoped she would take me away with her to the land of golden teeth. Obviously that didn’t happen, but I’m sure I was just as thrilled with the .50 she tucked beneath my pillow.

One day that little girl in the cocktail dress will appear in one of my stories

I’m so glad we come from a generation of savers. Otherwise these precious glimpses of childhood innocence would be lost.

Do you have a favorite childhood memory? If so I’d love to hear about it.

It’s Galley Time… Again!

Hot on the heels of the release of my new book, King of Hearts, my editor sent my final proof galleys for my Christmas novella, The Key to Christmas this week! I love Christmas stories and I’m very excited about this one. I’m so thrilled to be a part of Pelican Book Group’s Christmas Extravaganza this year! The stories are set to release on November 1st. So I’d better get busy

It’s Festival Time!

The third week in September is festival week in our small town. There are parades, craft shows, rides, and contests galore to be enjoyed. While to say I am not much for crowds would be an understatement, there are some things about the festival that I really enjoy. One of them being the annual quilt show at the library. Though I am not a quilter, these are akin to art shows for me. I could stand and look at these beautiful quilts forever.

This one called Farm Girl was my favorite, and my pick for Viewer’s Choice. I love the small, whimsical details the quilter incorporated, the gentle comments on farm life.

Look at the little potholders!

This one reminded me of my grandmother.

I loved the blend of colors in this one.

So many beautiful offerings on display this year and I was pleased to see that some of the quilts were made by teenagers

And don’t even get me started on the Library Book Sale!

Table after table of treasures waiting to be discovered! Almost all of these books are by “new to me” authors. Every year I fill a bag or two with unfamiliar books and end up with a houseful of new friends. I love that

Miss Emma Goes to the Doctor

This is not the park.

Hop on scale? I hate scale.

Doctor is busy. I wait patiently.

Smell cats. I love cats. Wanna play.

Doctor still busy. I wait some more.

Tired of waiting. If door opens again, Miss Emma out of here.

Busy day. Sleep now.

It’s Release Day!

King of Hearts releases today and my publisher is offering it at a special release day price of just $3.00! Hop over and get your copy today!

https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_46&products_id=1679

Read a sample chapter on AMAZON!