Peggy Jaeger's Blog, page 36

#throwbackthursday 2.15.2024

This little gem is from June, 2017…

Recently on Facebook, I saw a post that was shared hundreds of times called THE DECLUTTER CHALLENGE,  a 30-day challenge to get rid of clutter and stuff in your life. A random sampling of the days’ tasks includes: purging 2 kitchen cabinets (day 7); cleaning out your wallet (day 9) and your purse ( day 10); cleaning out the freezer ( day 18); donating unused toys ( day 25). The challenge ends on day thirty with the simple task of CLEAN. I guess what you clean is up to you, but I took it to mean, clean your house.

This challenge, naturally, got me to thinking about how I could declutter my writing.  All writers have catch words or phrases they like to use, especially when writing dialogue. If we actually wrote how we spoke, the readers would be bored out of their gourds. For instance, would you seriously want to spend money on a book where every dialogue started like this:

#1. Hey, Bill. How are you?

#2. Fine, Jim. How are you?

#3. Can’t complain. How’s the family?

#4. Doing well. Yours?

#5. Same, same. So how, about those Red Sox?…

you get the idea. This is drivel. We may speak like this in real life, but in fiction, it’s a death knoll.

So that’s one way to declutter your work: check the dialogue. Can you get the idea across without all the folderol of “hi, how you doing’s?”

Another way I know I personally clutter up my writing is by using too many extraneous words to convey my thoughts. A quick search of my current work in progress yielded this:

the use of THAT – 89 times

the use of To her/to him/ for her/for him -56 times

the use of adverbs ( the bane of my writing existence) 91 times. EEK!

I really need to work on decluttering these words, don’t I! Hee hee

Other things that writers should declutter are phrases like “seemed to,” “tried to,” “began to.” Writing is much stronger and moves quicker when sentences are declarations and use an active tense.

For example: Her natural, spicy scent seemed to surround her body.

Better example: Her natural, spicy scent of ginger and peach, surrounded her.

Other words that can probably be eliminated a fair amount of time and still allow the sentence to convey what it needs to are:

move, push, reach, bring, pull, went, brought, press and came( to denote going  or coming from somewhere)

It’s a good practice to utilize the SEARCH for options in your word processing program to nit pick and eliminate words you use excessively after your first draft is written. This will make the editing process more about the story line and capturing what you intended to say instead of needing to remove excess words.

Oh, about that 30-day Declutter challenge. yeah, I survived for three days. Then I was exhausted. Maybe I should develop a 12 month declutter challenge. You know…do one thing a month instead of 30 in 30 days? Thoughts? LOL

When I’m not decluttering my life and my writing, you can find me here:

Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triberr

#wednesdaywisdom 2.14.2024

Since today is Valentine’s day, a little wisdom about love is called for.

Available on #Booksprout now…

I put RETRIBUTION up on Booksprout for anyone who reads and reviews on that platform.

Remember – this is not a romance! This is a grisly, gruesome serial killer suspense novel about a predator who abducts teenage girls, tortures, then murders them, and the FBI team who is charged with bringing him to justice.

If you don’t read and review on Booksprout but would still like to read the book, here’s the Amazon preorder link: RETRIBUTION

#teaserTuesday #Tuesdaytease

So my tease today is a real tease. I’m involved in a Christmas anthology this year to benefit an animal organization. 15+ authors who’ll be doing little novella/shortstories all revolving around a coffee shop called HOUNDS AND GROUNDS. Think Dunkin Donuts but with dogs allowed.

But I can’t share the book’s main cover with you, or tell you the name of my story or what my bookcover looks like. NOt yet.

See? Real tease today. I can show you the coming soon cover and provide the preorder link, though, lol. So…

LOVE, LATTEs and HOLIDAY TALES preorder.

All the proceeds go toward 4 Paws for Ability, a non-for-profit organization matching service dogs with Veterans.

Wednesday, Coffee, & Books presents: Love, Lattes, & Holiday Tales a collection of brand new unique short stories for this festive season. Snuggle up with some sweet and spicy romance from multi-award-winning authors, including New York Times and USA Today Bestselling.

These amazing multi-genre holiday stories featuring Hounds & Grounds and a loving pet will leave you believing in love and a happily ever after.

Featuring authors:

CJ Warrant & Rochelle Bradley
CJ Barlowe
Rochelle K Bradley
Sharon Hamilton NYT & USAT Bestselling
Phoebe Alexander USAT Bestselling
Monica DeSimone USAT Bestselling
Marie Hall USAT Bestselling
LC Taylor USAT Bestselling
Miranda Lynn USAT Bestselling
Faith Alexander
C.J. Baty
Sutton Bishop
Cynthia Carver
C. J. Corbin
Aliya DalRae
Hope Daniels
Anna Hague
Miski Harris
Sara Hurst
Juliette Hyland
Peggy Jaeger (THAT’S ME!!! LOL)
Margaret Kay
Tessa McFionn
Sharon Michalove
Charli Rahe
AJ Renee
Tori Ross
Aurelia Yates

#mondaymusings #MusingsonaMonday

#SundaySnippet #SnippetSunday 2.11.2024

With Valentine’s Day in just a few days, I wanted to remind everyone about the very first novella I ever wrote that was published under the Wild Rose Press’s CANDY HEARTS series, 3 WISHES.

Do wishes have expiration dates? 

Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family.

But this year, for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her wish.

Here’s a little bit from his sweet romcom….

     At about five minutes of ten, I was almost ready to turn the Closed sign on the door when it opened. I heard Janie’s breath hitch and turned from where I was sweeping up. Staying open late is always a risk, with the thought thieves will invade at the end of the day.

     If the guy standing at the door glancing around the shop was a thief, then Dio mio, I wanted to be robbed.

     About six foot, his hair was the color of a deer’s pelt, with autumnal golds and browns shot together in a glorious patchwork that grazed the collar of his jacket and curled a little at the ends. He wore a faded brown bomber jacket over a shirt I couldn’t see, but he had shoulders almost as wide as my doorway. A pair of well-worn jeans covered his mile-long legs, and the fabric on the stress points at his knees was practically white.

     “We’re about to close,” I heard myself say. “Can I help you?”

     It was at that moment he looked over at me.

     His face could have been sculpted by Da Vinci or Michelangelo. A broad, smooth, forehead housed naturally arched eyebrows I knew some of my gay guy friends would have paid a fortune to have on their own faces. His cheeks were carved from marble, high, smooth, and deep. And his mouth, mother-of-God, his mouth. Full, thick, beautiful lips sat perfectly over a chin with a dent you could shove a button into and have it stay put.

     “Sorry,” he said, those fabulous lips pulling up a little shyly at the corners. “I got stuck at work and couldn’t get here until now. I’ll be quick. Promise.”

     So here’s the thing: the guy was gorgeous. But even if he’d looked like a frog with raw antipasto smothering his face, I would have dropped to my knees when he opened his mouth. Warm honey, a shot of raw whiskey, and a little hot puff of smoke wafted from his mouth like a fine and rare brandy being decanted.

Intrigued? Why not read it for VALENTINE’S DAY? Here’s the universal link so you can get it anywhere digital books are sold: 3 WISHES

And check out the other San Valentino romcoms if you like 3 WISHES:

A kiss under the Christmas LIghts

Christmas & Cannolis

Mistletoe, Mobsters, and Mozzarella

#SaturdayShare 2.10.24

Just a quick reminder that I’ll be appearing at the GOFFSTOWN LIBRARY on February 13th to talk about all things romance related.

I’ll be reading from my newest book plus, as an added bonus, talking about my soon-to-be-released suspense RETRIBUTION. If there’s enough time, I’ll be reading a little bit from that one, too!!!

I hope if you’re in the are you can come down, sit and listen for a while, and join me!

Here are the details: https://bit.ly/3vHqQp5

~ Peg

#fridayfive 2.9.2024

Today I want to debunk a few misconceptions, so my Friday five is 5 myths about being a writer.

writers are master plotters. When half the group pants a book and half plots, and a combination of the two PLANTS a book, this one is just silly. No one writes in the exactly the same way as another. we are arrogant and have inflated egos. **Snort** Really? People believe this? Oh if they only knew the depths of my daily despair about my inadequacy as a writer!we don’t care about reviews. We all say this, but the reality? Yeah, we do. A lot more than we should, but we do.writer’s block is just laziness. This one makes me mad. Although I’ve never suffered from it I have writer friends who have and it’s debilitating when the muse takes a holiday. It’s real, people. It’s not laziness.writers make loads of money. *Snort ( again)* If I wasn’t married I’d be out working my butt off at a day ( and probably night) job. Let’s put it this way: tax season is upon us and I’ve got no worries about owing anything to Uncle Sam.

#tbt 2.8.2024

Each Thursday I’ve been revisiting a blog post I did back in the day.

Today’s #TBT is one of the top 5 days of my life. Read on and you’ll find out why….

From August 7, 2017

At 57 years old, you’d think I’d be beyond hyperventilating when I see a “celebrity.” Yeah…not so much.

My very first RWA in 2014 I actually burst into tears when I met and spoke with Nora Roberts. Not one of my finest, adult moments, but there was truly so much emotion stored up in me concerning her that when I actually got the chance to speak to her, I lost it. Like a two-year-old. She was gracious, lovely, and held my hand. I don’t think I washed it for 2 whole days!!!, but that might not be true because I blacked out after meeting her! and have no memory of the rest of the day!!

You can just make out the tears still wet on my cheeks in this picture her lovely assistant, Laura, took.

Anyway.

Fangirling. Yeah, it’s a thing.  A real thing. Even though I’ve been to 4 RWA conferences and 1 RT, I still get a little queasy butterfly feeling in my tummy when I see my writing idols casually walking around a hotel as if they were, well, normal people, not romance icons. Here are just a few of my absolute meet-favorites from this year. And I’ll tell you honestly, I really struggled not to cry when I met each of them.

First, one of my newest favs, Lauren Layne.

If you haven’t read any of her Wedding Belles series, or any of the Stiletto books, get yourself over to Amazon and get a bunch. You will not be disappointed.

Next, the amazeballs, uber-talented Jennifer Probst. I actually carted her book WRITE NAKED with me to Orlando because I knew she was going to be there and I simply had to meet her to autograph it.

I sat in on one of her workshops as well, but don’t ask me what she said. I was too busy pinching myself because I was sitting in the same room with her!

And look what she wrote to me!!!!!!

Okay, this next picture makes me giggle every time I see it! The incredible, sweet, absolutely lovely and funny Jill Shalvis was sososososos gracious when I basically interrupted her from eating at the Rita’s and begged – yes begged – for a picture.

 Can you see how giddy I am??!!!

And at the Literacy signing I bothered, er, spoke, to her again when she was with another of my favs, and Jill’s BFF, RaeAnne Thayne. Honestly, these two women are graciousness incarnate!!

last but certainly not least, I was able to “hang” with another of my favorite authors, Marianne Rice, who was attending her first RWA. We were having a good natured contest between us to see how many “big names” we could get to take selfies with us. Marianne WON, hands down!!! She got the fabulous Rachel Gibson!!!!  And Susan Elizabeth Phillips!!! Le sigh….maybe next year.

So, don’t ever be upset or embarrassed if you’re a fan girl, because we’ve all been there!! Some of us still are, despite our —ahem--senior ages!

#wednesdaywisdom 2.7.2024