Peggy Jaeger's Blog, page 6

National LIbrary Week 2025

I’ve mentioned many times that I basically grew up in a public library.

From the age of 7/8, my mother could no longer afford an after-school babysitter, so I became a latchkey kid. For anyone who lived through the 60s and 70s, IYKYK.

But going home to an empty apartment every day after school wasn’t any fun, and sometimes, it was even scary because the apartment building we lived in wasn’t in the best neighborhood. So I tried to find a way to be safe and occupied until the time was close for my mother to arrive home each night.

That safe place for me was the local library, only four blocks from my apartment.

School would let out at 3pm every day and I’d make the eight block trek to the library, head to the children’s section, do my homework in the quiet of the place, and then when I was finished, I’d choose a book or two and start reading.

After about a week, the library ladies noticed me. And in a good way. Back then, the local librarians were all women in their 40s and 50s, many of whom were mothers or grandmothers, most with degrees in Library Science back in the day when the Dewey Decimal system ruled. They would quiz me on why I was at the library and not out with friends playing, or home. I explained the situation about my mom working in the city and that I didn’t like going home to an empty apartment. I never felt a moment’s shame or a scintilla of nerves at speaking to these women about private family matters. These days, kids shouldn’t because there are predators around every corner. But back then, I simply knew these women wouldn’t harm me in any way.

And they didn’t.

What they did was take me under their wings, foster my love of reading, and give me a safe, welcoming place to be me. I still consider a Library one of my favorite places to go. Whenever I travel, I make a point of visiting local or even famous libraries in the area. Just walking into a building that houses thousands of works of literature makes my heart sing.

So, this week is National Library Week. I have a few questions for you…

~do you have a library card?

~do you participate in library book sales?

~do you know that the current administration is slashing federal funds to libraries ( including everything else they don’t deem worthy) and that every library exists mostly by those funds?

~do you donate your used books to libraries?

~simply…do you support your local library in any way you can?

My follow-up to every one of those questions is….You should!

Celebrate National LIbrary Week with me.

(I could have made this post uber political and talked about banned books, the way librarians and libraries are being threatened in real time by magaholes and extreme right wing crazies, but I wanted it to be a positive piece on an institution that should be valued, exalted, and saved by any means possible.)

~Happy Reading, kids ~Peg

Release Day!!!

I’ve been hawking the preorders for this book for months!! ( Sorry!!, not sorry, lol) and the day is finally here! Release day for PERFECT MATCH, book 3 in the Heaven’s Matchmaker series.

I had such fun writing Olivia and Hunter’s story and finding ways for them to fall in love. I hope I did that, coherently and fully. When the reviews come in, I guess I’ll find out, LOL!

So,if you’re looking for something that’s a little sweet with heat, small-town, rich with main characters 40+, give this one a chance.

And I hope you enjoy all the books in the series so far ( there’s one more to come this November!)

Third generation matchmaker, Olivia Joyner, enjoys a 99% success rate when it comes to helping people find their happily ever afters. But her newest client is proving to be part of the 0.1 percent.

All the women Olivia have matched geriatrician Hunter Reinhart with have been perfect on paper. None of them, though, have resulted in a second request for a date, and all the women say the same thing: Hunter, although handsome and successful is just…dull. And boring. And too reserved.

Olivia can’t understand it, because to her? Hunter is none of those things. In fact, he’s the exact opposite of dull, boring, and reserved. He’s a man she would consider worthy of marrying herself – if she was in the market for a spouse.

Which she isn’t.

Olivia needs to figure out why she can’t find Hunter Reinhart the perfect match, and it just may require her to do something she’s never done before: go on a “date” with a client.

Purely for research and educational purposes, that is.

Happy reading, kids ~ Peg

#throwbackThursday….

from 2017…..

I miss Jerry…

and Elaine, George, and even krazy Kramer.

The Seinfeld show went off the air in 1998, but there are still so many ways the show impacts our society to this day.  Let me explain the history behind this blog piece.

Yesterday morning at the gym I got into a discussion with the lovely Planet Fitness worker I see every morning when I check in, about watching television. We both stated how much we like Seinfeld. Now, this young lady is a good 25 -30 years younger than I am. She watches reruns of Seinfeld. I watched it when it actually ran, from 1989-1998. Yeah…I know. I feel a little old too.

But I digress…

We talked about how that show had so many relevant and timely sayings and situations that still hold up today and are even used in today’s vernacular. For example, Seinfeld introduced us to the annoying and embarrassing fact of “shrinkage.” 

Remember that one?
How often do you use the phrase “yada yada yada?” Well, it came from a Seinfeld episode.

Ever heard of the forgotten and wildly misrepresented holiday Festivus? 

And speaking of holidays, have you ever Re-gifted? Or ever been accused of being a re-gifter? Thank Elaine for that one.

And remember the first time you ever heard of the “BRO?”

Would you consider yourself Spongeworthy?

Have you ever double dipped?

God, there were so many words, phrases, holidays, expressions that show made popular, it’s a wonder Jerry Seinfeld and the writers didn’t get royalties from Webster’s dictionary for all the new words they made trendy.

In addition to Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer, the other wacky neighbor – Jerry’s archenemy Neumann

– also had some tidy tidbits and knew how to turn a phrase. 

The true test of classic work of art- be it music, a television show, a powerful book – is how it plays to future generations and how they can see its relevance in their lives. I can watch an old episode of I Love Lucy and quote the entire thing from beginning to end. Lucy still makes me laugh out loud almost 70 years after her show went on the air! Seinfeld is almost 20 years out of the box but an entirely new generation is enjoying it and understands the lexicon the show invented.

And you know what? THAT’S what I want to do with my writing. I want to be relevant in the future. Being relevant right now would be nice, too, I have to say! But I want to – in some small way- have an impact on the people who discover my books in years to come. A positive impact, for sure, but an impact all the same. I want them, when they read the words I’ve written, to get it.  Just like we still get Jerry…and Lucy…and Abbot and Costello, and all the greats that came before.

When I’m not -yada yada yada – (you know the drill!)

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

#mondaymusing 1 week countdown

In just 7 more days, book 3 in the Heaven’s Matchmaker series, PERFECT MATCH, releases into the romance reading world and I can not wait.

I’m interested to see what you all think of Olivia and Hunter’s story. They were both a joy to write, Hunter especially. There’s just something so heartwarming and wonderful about a man who’s devoted himself to caring for the elderly population. He is compassionate, kind, smart, and empathetic – everything you’d want in a physician no matter what the age of the patient!

When I was working as a nurse I met many doctors who were candidates for asshole of the year. Luckily, I met an equal number who were devoted clinicians who believed in the practice of medicine and the healing arts. Those are the characteristics I gave to Hunter Reinhart, my male main character in Perfect Match.

Divorced, he still believes in the institution of marriage and wants to find his forever partner and love. He’s hired Olivia Joyner to help him find that person. Little did he know, his soulmate was as close as she was.

Have you preordered your copy? You can do so, here on ‘Zon. PM

Or, if you want a signed print copy, you can order it directly from me and I’ve got copies available right now – so you’d have it before it actually releases, lol! PM

#Saturdayshare let’s talk books…

In a little over 1 week (10 days to be exact but I’m the only one counting, lol!) PERFECT MATCH, book 3 in the HEAVEN’S MATCHMAKER series releases into the book reading world.

You don’t have to have read books 1 and 2 to understand what is going on in book 3. The same people roam in and out of the books, but this one centers on the actual town matchmaker, OLIVIA JOYNER.

But….if you’d like to know about the people in the town before reading Liv’s love story, books 1 and 2 are available now. MIX AND MATCH is only 99 cents on Kindle, so it’s an inexpensive way to start the series. Then LOVE MATCH follows. Both are slow burn, sweet with heat, small town, and later in life ( 35+) romance stories about people who are looking for that everlasting love and the bumps, starts, and stops that occur along the way to their HEA.

Happy weekend reading, Kids ~ Peg

#throwbackthursday… WHERE DO YOU FIND THE TIME TO WRITE?

This little ditty is from over 10 years ago…

I get asked this question a lot. A LOT.

I think it’s because I work outside the home, then I take care of my family, plus I have hobbies such as painting and cooking.

Writing requires a great deal of time and commitment to get it to come out just right. But so does painting, cooking, taking care of loved ones, and working outside the home.

It’s all about time management.

When I worked as nurse, I had fifteen patients every day to care for. Bathing, feeding, administering medications, in addition to interacting with the doctors about the patient’s care, the families, the ancillary services and departments, all were required on a daily basis, and hundreds more I can’t even begin to remember. Back then, overtime was frowned upon and if you couldn’t get all your care and tasks done in your 8-hour shift, you were looked at by the powers that be to see if you needed to be retrained, demoted or fired.

Luckily, I was never any of those because from the get-go I learned how to manage my day accordingly. The most important tasks were done first. Sometimes, this changed daily, or even hourly, but I always started with the most time sensitive and important tasks. Then I went down the line to the ones that required less immediate responses.

This always worked for me and the only time I ever had overtime was when every one else did too: during Code Blue emergencies.

I write in exactly the same mindset.

If you’ve read any of my past posts, you know I’m a plotter, not a panst-er. First thing I do is come up with an idea, then the characters, then I set the plot out in a very detailed synopsis. Once that prep work is done, I start writing the story, but just like when I worked in nursing, I prepare for emergencies: in this case, plot turns and twists. Sometimes during writing I come up with a better idea or situation and I go with it.

Now, to the time I spend writing. I find time EVERY DAY and yes, I mean EVERY DAY, to write. Something. It doesn’t have to be an entire scene. On the days I still work outside my home at my paying job, I tend to write snippets of dialogue or scene descriptions. But I do it everyday, usually before I head to work for a half hour in the morning. No one else is up, I have the entire house to myself and I don’t have to worry about anything else but typing a few lines or paragraphs or pages.

At night, after dinner, dishes, prep for the next day, I write again.

On the days I don’t work outside my home, I can usually devote 6-8 hours at a clip or in divided doses to pound out what I want. Now, of course, there are those off days that I need to do other things, such a doctor appointments, hair dressers, grocery shop etc. so that cuts in to the time.

But the moral of this story is that I write everyday. Every single day. Something.

So the answer to the question of where do I find the time to write is, simply, I just do it whenever and wherever I can, every day.

#tuesdaytease 5 things to know about Hunter Reinhart…

See a theme here? lol

If you read yesterday’s blog, you do.

PERFECT MATCH releases in under 2 weeks so I’m introducing you to the main characters. Today, it’s Hunter Reinhart’s turn. This is how I’ve pictured him since I began the series…

If you are a certain age, the acronym IFYKYK will hit you hard. For those of you who don’t know, this is Richard Chamberlain, a mega-heartthrob in the 1960’s for his role as Dr. Kildaire, then as Fr. Ralph de Bricassart in the THORN BIRDS series. I have always adored this man for soso many reasons, the most obvious? That face. He just looks like a kindhearted doctor! Hence, he’s my Hunter.

About Hunter…

he’s a geriatricianhe’s divorced, no kidshe comes from “old” moneyhe’s naturally shy and reservedhe has a real love and adoration of older people

Hunter’s been on a lot of dates before he finds his Perfect Match. You can guess who that is! But it’s better to read the book, lol.

#mondaymusing 5 things to know about Olivia Joyner

PERFECT MATCH releases 2 weeks from today, so I thought you might want to know a few things about the main characters.

Today, it’s OLIVIA JOYNER, Heaven’s Matchmaker. This is how I’ve pictured her since day 1, book 1 MIX and MATCH:

she’s been a widow for 21 yearsShe’s 40 years oldshe has a 23 year old daughtershe got married at 17she has a 99% success rate for matches/marriages

Tomorrow, you’ll meet Hunter Reinhart – the main male character.

Third-generation matchmaker, Olivia Joyner, enjoys a 99% success rate when it comes to helping people find their happily ever afters. But her newest client is proving to be part of the 0.1 percent.

All the women Olivia have matched geriatrician Hunter Reinhart with have been perfect on paper. None of them, though, have resulted in a second request for a date, and all the women say the same thing: Hunter, although handsome and successful is just…dull. And boring. And too reserved.

Olivia can’t understand it, because to her? Hunter is none of those things. In fact, he’s the exact opposite of dull, boring, and reserved. He’s a man she would consider worthy of marrying herself – if she was in the market for a spouse.

Which she isn’t.

Olivia needs to figure out why she can’t find Hunter Reinhart the perfect match, and it just may require her to do something she’s never done before: go on a “date” with a client.

Purely for research and educational purposes, that is.

A #Sundayshare that tickled me into a happy space!

I love influencers.

I know that sounds weird considering my age ( advanced! lol), but I truly love content creators who are killing it, and I follow a few. One of my faves are/is the Sebrero Sisters on Instagram.

They post, daily, newly released books in the Romance genre. I’ve had several listed over the past few years and whenever I see one on their page, I am just tickled pink. It may sound odd, but when I see a posting with my book listed I feel a little more like I MADE IT!!!

This is a screenshot of today’s post over on Instagram:

SKATER’S WALTZ was currently re-released under my own publishing brand, with a new cover and some updates in the text. Now, this was the first book I was ever lucky enough to have published. It was done so by the WILD ROSE PRESS back in 2015. For the tenth anniversary of the book’s birthday, I obtained the copyright back from the publisher and rebranded and re-issued it.

Now, is it the best book I ever wrote. Nol But it was the first one and you always have a fond memory of your first in the publishing game.

A #thursdaythrowback to a character you never met…

5 things about Lucky Blumenthal from INFLUENCE

Surprisingly, this model’s name is LUCKY. LOL. I sure can pick’em.

Although you never meet Lucky Blumenthal in person in INFLUENCE (The New York Socialites series) he is a vital character in the book and the object of Mackenzie’s motivation.

Here are 5 important things to know about Lucky:

He was an only child and heir to a real estate empireHe was addicted to drugs and alcohol.Mackenzie was a calming, sobering influence on him.He refused to wear the color black in anything from clothes, to shoes, to accessories like belts and hats.He wanted to make a community where homeless people were given places to live, rent free.