J.P. Choquette's Blog, page 8

Sharing the Love Contest

image credit Can you believe that in just a couple short weeks, Valentine's Day will be here? I'm not sure about you, but this day has changed a lot for me over the years. No more do I daydream about dozens of roses or boxes of chocolates arriving on my doorstep. In fact, my husband and I don't really celebrate it as our anniversary is so close to it--shot myself in the foot with that one!

But I still like Valentine's Day. I mean, okay, sure. It's basically about buying a bunch of over-priced, half-dead flowers and boxes of chemicals, sugar and fat for your significant other ... but wait, where was I going with this? 

Oh, yeah.

I like Valentine's Day because it's a day to celebrate who you love. And that doesn't have to be romantic love. Celebrate anyone's love: your kids' your dog's, your mailman's ... 

This year I'm celebrating YOU lovely readers, who I appreciate so much. I've created a special Sharing the LOVE Contest. If you missed my January newsletter, here's what you need to know and how to "play."  Sharing the LOVE: Enter to Win an Amazon Gift Card ​If you've read Shadow in the Woods, please leave a review. I can't compete with huge publishing houses. That's why reviews mean so much to me.

As my way of saying thanks, I'm going to randomly draw 2 lucky winners who click the link below. The prize? Two, $10 Amazon eGift Cards. All you have to do is click the link at the end of this post. 

1) click the link above
2) click "Write A Review"
3) sign in to Amazon if prompted
4) select a star rating
5) write a few short words (or long words, I won't judge)
6) click the 'submit' button

https://www.amazon.com/product-review...
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If you've already left a review, be sure to click the link anyway so you'll be entered into the contest. Just to be clear: all you have to do to enter is click the link. You do not have to leave a positive review or even a review at all. I'll draw the winners on 2/14/18!

Do you have a reading ritual?

image credit Do you have a reading ritual? Maybe it's reading in bed every night before going to sleep, curling up on the couch after work to immerse yourself in a few chapters before making supper or facing the laundry, or sitting on the back deck in warm weather, soaking up sunshine and words at the same time. 

I'd love to hear about your favorite reading spot, and what other "accessories" you use to enjoy it even more. Whether that's a big, fluffy pillow to lean on, a warm, cozy quilt to snuggle under, or a particular beverage to have in hand, please share in the comments.  
I'm dreaming of a book nook like this one via Pinterest ... I recently read this  blog on reading rituals  while researching what other readers/writers had to say on the subject. I do not think I'd like to keep spreadsheets and publication lists for my reading ventures, would you? As a side note: I guess there really is a downside to being in publishing ... and here I thought that people who got to read all day had a dream career! 
My Reading Rituals Here's a peek into my reading rituals: I start my day with quiet and time for prayer/reflection. This is done EARLY in the morning, around 5 or 5:30 when I wake up. I usually do read during this time (my Bible and/or another inspirational text). Then, it's on with my busy day. 

If it's a work-from-home day, I read for about 15 minutes on the couch while enjoying a cup of coffee as part of my lunch break. Then, if I'm lucky, I try to squeeze in another 10-15 minutes of reading in bed before turning the light off.  With a busy little boy in the house, it's not likely I'll get another chance to read, unless I skip hanging out with my husband to do so after our son is in bed. I go to bed early (usually by 9:30!). I wish that I was someone who could get by on less sleep.   :) 

Please tell me about your reading habits and rituals in the comments. 
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My Office: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

A partial collection of TBR books, along with a few old teacups and my Babushka doll (my grandparents bought her for me while visiting Russia). The fancy pen/ink and stationary were a Christmas gift. The china tea holder was a candy dish at my grandparents house. My current work-in-progress (and mug of tea in my "Keep Calm and Downton On" mug). Welcome to my office! Were you picturing something dark and creepy? :) This is where I write. I love the light that comes in the only window, which looks out over the front yard. I can watch the birds flying into and out of the big pine tree nearby, or the cars driving up and down our street (I prefer the birds). 

While I don't have a set writing schedule, I'm experimenting this year with some new ideas. One is writing to a word count with fiction (I have been using my 15-minute writing method for so long that I honestly forgot that I can write longer now that my work schedule has changed!). This morning I wrote about 1,500 words on a fun, new project. I'm not sure it will ever make it into a book or even see the light of day, but I'm really enjoying it. 

You might notice that there are a lot of old things in my office (or reproductions of old things). I definitely love things that have history and patina. I'm happy when I get to explore junk shops or antique stores ... all those stories! 

I wouldn't exactly say that this office is "where the magic happens," because honestly? A writer's work from the outside is yawn-inducing. There is a reason that they don't let us on shows like "American Idol." Still, I love my little space and am grateful for it. 

January 2018 News

Want to enter for your chance to win one of two Amazon gift cards? Would you like to meet Roaring 20s mystery author, Ellen Seltz, and grab a copy of her book, Mr. Mottley Gets His Man, free? All of this and my current reading recommendations in the January 2018 newsletter, are waiting for you. 

Hygge and Books

I am in love with hygge. It's the Danish term used to describe the simple pleasures and everyday comforts of life and the importance of taking the time to celebrate and acknowledge them. It's pronounced "hue-guh." 

It also ties in perfectly with books. Why? Honestly, what could be more pleasurable and comforting than sinking into your favorite reading spot with a good book in hand and a cup of tea or mug of coffee nearby? 

If you live in New England like me, then you're likely facing another four months of so of winter. Right now in fact, snow is falling in icy little pings against the windowpanes. I'm sitting on the couch, a fire roaring nearby and feeling grateful that I don't have to go out today. 

I'm about a quarter of the way through "Murder Stone," by Charles Todd. This is my first non-Bess Crawford book by Mr. Todd (actually a pseudonym for a mother-son writing team), and I'm enjoying it. Next up is a book I just received for my birthday called, "Mr. Mottley Gets His Man," by Ellen Seltz. There is a write-up about Ellen and her work in the next newsletter, due out next week, so be sure to sign up if you haven't already. 
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I'd love to hear about what you're reading this weekend. Drop me a line, leave a comment or let me know on Twitter or Facebook. 

December 2017 News

From my desk, I see a glittery dusting of snow on the surface of the ground. The tree branches are bare and the pine tree out front stands regally. I think it enjoys its moment of popularity this time of the year. 

It's easy to get caught up in the myth of the season--the postcard-perfect holiday happenings that don't usually happen in real life--and to be disappointed ... Read the rest of the December 2017 Newsletter. 

October News (Shadow in the Woods Released)

It's here! Get your print copy online at  Amazon  or you can  purchase a signed copy  directly from my website.

If you're in the area, The Eloquent Page has a large number of print books in stock. You can also find it at Next Chapter Books in Barre, VT, or at The Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, VT. 

Want a digital copy? Right now it's  on Amazon  only for ... read the rest of the newsletter.

September Book Recommendations

I've lucked out and been hitting home runs with the books I've been reading lately. The Girl Before, by J.P. Delaney, is a heart-pounding read. A psychological thriller, the author does an amazing job of keeping the tension humming. It follows the lives of two people--a woman in the past and one in present day, who move into a "Smart House" (yes, this is a real thing and apparently the wave of the future). Strange things begin happening and someone ends up dead . . .  I've also been enjoying My Cousin Rachel, by Daphne Du Maurier. I'm embarrassed to admit that this is my first of this legend's novels. Her writing is beautiful, so voluptuous and pleasurable to read. She does an amazing job with the setting, too. I feel like I can really see the farmlands and the ocean that surround the manor house.

I do though, find myself wishing that the mystery part would pick up a bit. Still, it's a very well-written book and one which you might enjoy if you're a lover of Gothic-mystery like I am. Oh, by the way, I have a new Gothic Gorgeousness board on Pinterest that you might enjoy.  And also a board dedicated to home libraries that I've been drooling over . . . 

What have you been reading lately?  Please let me know in the comments section. I'm always looking for another good book to add to my list!

Is ecotherapy a real thing?

Image credit Do you love to be out in nature? Do you come back from a long walk or a weekend of camping refreshed and renewed?

Being in the woods does something to me. It brings me a sense of peacefulness and energy at the same time. Did you know that being in nature is a medically-proven treatment? It’s one that is much more easily embraced by our friends on the other side of the pond. (In my opinion, most of the world has a more intuitive approach to healthcare than we do in America.)

Ecotherapy, which is featured in Shadow in the Woods, is a real mental health therapy. I wrote an article about it for Urban Farm magazine several years ago, and the research and interviews were fascinating. Treatment can mean different things, depending on how a mental health counselor or doctor views it. One might prescribe an hour’s walk in the park daily, while another may encourage a client to add more plants to his or her office, or stare at a nature picture for a few minutes when feeling stressed.

Study after study has proven how beneficial it is for us to be out in nature or to view images of nature if we’re unable to get outdoors. A walk outside offers so many benefits though, if we’re able to get out there. Fresh air, sunshine (even on cloudy days, we’re still drawing in some of that beneficial sunlight), the sound of birds and the greenness (or other colors depending on the season) that greets us, along with awareness of being connected to a system greater than ourselves—all of it is healing.

​Is being out in nature a part of your everyday routine? If so, please leave a comment and tell me more about what you enjoy doing outdoors. 

'Restitution' released

It's finally here and I couldn't be more pleased ... the extra months of work on this one helped to make it a more polished work. 

Here's the blurb about this, the second book in the Tayt Waters Mystery series: 

Tayt Waters doesn’t try to get herself into hair-raising predicaments, it just happens. Returning to work at her security firm following an unexpected medical leave, Tayt finds herself starring in a whole new round of adventures. 


Tangling with a philanthropist farmer who is anything but the upstanding member of the community he pretends to be and looking for the missing boyfriend of a local debutante are only the beginning. Throw in a bachelor party with a surprise guest, a stalker, a potential love interest and a Glock—and Tayt may just win the title of busiest woman in Franklin County, Vermont. 


As Tayt’s escapades race along at break-neck speed, she must decide how far she is willing to go to protect an innocent teen girl. Will the after-hours vigilante save the day, or will Tayt find herself in a perilous situation she can’t escape from?

The Eloquent Page is hosting a signing on Saturday, October 3rd from 2:00 to 4:00 and I'd love it if you stop by if you're in the Vermont area. Otherwise, you can pick up a paperback copy on Amazon or a digital version on Amazon or Smashwords.