June McCrary Jacobs's Blog: ~ Author June McCrary Jacobs ~, page 36
February 27, 2022
~ ARLINGTON SEW SEWING INSPIRATION FEATURE ~
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I'm thrilled to be featured over on the Arlington Sew website! Learn more about my sewing journey, which began when I was a child.
My sincere thanks to Jessica at Arlington Sew for hosting me for their Sewing Inspiration series.
Read the post at:
https://arlingtonsew.com/sewing-business-june-mccrary-jacobs/
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~ MMGM YOU CAN COUNT ON GOD DEVOTIONAL ~
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: Feb 15, 2022
Genre: Juvenile Devotional, Christian
From New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado, these 100 devotions will help kids worry less, bravely try new things, and draw closer to God as they learn to trust His faithfulness.
Adapted from the encouraging devotional for adults, You Can Count on God teaches children that they can count on God because He will never leave them, and will love them unconditionally. Each of the 100 entries includes a comforting Bible verse and a short devotion that show an example of God's faithfulness presents the message that Godis trustworthy in a way that children, ages 6 to 10, canunderstand reassures kids that God canhelp them with their challenges, sorrows, and questions offers a takeaway section with a key point, reflection question, or prayer to guide kids in understanding and applying the biblical truth is perfect for families to read together or for older readers to enjoy alone Give your child the gift of knowing that they can count on God, no matter what.
This kids devotional is perfect for families who want their children to feel secure in their faith a present to commemorate a decision of faith, baptism, or confirmation an Easter basket gift. With a ribbon bookmark, presentation page, attractive textured hardcover, and bold color interiors, this hope-giving devotional for kids is the perfect gift for any child needing courage for a new challenge, peace from anxieties about the future, or relief from disappointment, insecurity, and overwhelm. You Can Count on Godwill guide children into a deeper relationship with Godas they learn about His faithfulness in the past and build confidence that they can always trust Him to help them.
** READ A PREVIEW OF THE BOOK COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHER:
https://preview.aer.io/You_Can_Count_on_God-NDIwNzIz
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Since entering the ministry in 1978, Max Lucado has served churches in Miami, Florida; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and San Antonio, Texas. He currently serves as Teaching Minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. He is the recipient of the 2021 ECPA Pinnacle Award for his outstanding contribution to the publishing industry and society at large. He is America’s bestselling inspirational author with more than 145 million products in print.
Visit his website at MaxLucado.com
The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast
REVIEW:As I read each of the devotions in this book, I felt uplifted by the author's positive words, his relevant anecdotes from life, the scripture he chose for each devotion, the Bible stories he shared to illustrate the theme of the devotion, and the prayer or other tip he included at the end of each devotion. The best elements of this book are the simplicity and candor with which these lessons and thoughts are shared with children ages 6 to 10. The lessons focus on what concerns them, wherever they are at in the life and spiritual walk with God. As to be expected, many of the chapters deal with being bullied, feeling alone, feeling different, feeling abandoned, and worrying about things that are out of their control. I was struck by how many of these issues are concerns for teens and adults, too.The devotions are reassuring, and I believe they will help youngsters realize they are not that different from everyone else in what they are feeling. More importantly, they will come to realize that they are created in God's image and that God loves them unconditionally. The practical side of these devotions is that each one has a theme, a short scripture, a narrative about the theme which may include anecdotes from real life or the Bible, and an 'action' step (Pray, Remember, or It's Your Turn) at the end of the day's lesson. The book is formatted in a user-friendly manner with clear graphics and a consistent layout for each day's devotion. The hardcover style will stand up to the wear and tear a child who uses this book on a regular basis will give it. The book launches with 'A Letter From Max'--a heartfelt, warm, friendly note from the author to welcome readers to the book. Highly-recommended to parents, grandparents, church libraries, youth group leaders, Sunday school teachers, and adults who wish to be uplifted by the positivity presented in this book. I received a print copy of this book from the publisher through JustRead Publicity Tours. All of my opinions and thoughts shared here are solely my own. 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
Find the links to read more great Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts from middle-grade authors and bloggers at Greg Pattridge's 'Always in the Middle' Blog. 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
February 24, 2022
~ GREAT ESCAPES THE BLIND SPLIT ~
~Post Includes: Spotlight + Excerpt,Author Bio & Giveaway~
The Blind Split (A Rosedale Investigations Mystery)by Lyn Farrell About The Blind Split
Cozy Mystery2nd in SeriesSetting - Rosedale, Tennessee Camel Press (January 11, 2022) Paperback : 216 pages ISBN-10 : 1942078730ISBN-13 : 978-1942078739 Digital ASIN : B09HF1X2V4
A new client, Lexie Lovell, brings Rosedale Investigations a compelling mystery. Her father died and left his estate to be split between her and her brother, Teddy. Lexie never knew she had a brother until the will was read and nobody has a clue where the boy and his mother are. Lexie can’t get her money until the boy is found and Rosedale Investigations keeps coming up empty.
When Wayne finally finds little Teddy in an abandoned farmhouse, his mother isn’t there. What could make a mother leave a toddler alone to starve to death? They find no evidence of drug use or mental illness. Has she been kidnapped? The trail goes cold until she is found comatose in a rural hospital. The doctors say she’s unlikely to regain consciousness.
Lovell’s attorney is stalling on giving Lexie her inheritance, (or paying Rosedale Investigations’ fee) and was the only person in the hospital room when Lexie’s father died. Did he commit murder to get his hands on Lovell’s money? And how did Lovell, an accountant in solo practice, assemble a multi-million dollar estate? This one’s a real page-turner that will keep you guessing right to the end.
EXCERPT:
It was the day Billy Jo called, “The Mother and Child Reunion,” an old song by Paul Simon, even though they all knew that Teddy would never see his mother again. He would have his aunt Poppy, though, and being his mother’s identical twin would help him enormously. In time, given that he was so young, the two could even blend to become one in his heart. And he would have a grandmother, as Gramma Lovell was already living in the Delaney farmhouse.
The day had dawned clear and blessedly cool, with a light wind blowing from the north. They reached the turn-off to the lane and drove in.
“Look at the blackberry bushes, you guys. They were covered with white flowers just a couple of weeks ago. Now the blossoms are completely gone and there are already berries on the canes,” Billy Jo said.
“They turn from red to a shiny patent leather black before they are ripe. I remember my mother making blackberry syrup for me and Pansy when we were little,” Poppy said in a nostalgic voice.
They parked the car in front of the garage and the three principals from Rosedale Investigations got out and stood by the garage. Half an hour later, they heard the sound of a car coming down the laneway.
“It’s them,” Dory said and clutched Billy Jo’s hand tightly. “All I want today is for Teddy to say something, anything. Even if he just laughs, it will be perfect.”
They watched in excited silence as the car pulled in. Dr. Juanita Marsh got out and lifted Teddy Lovell from his car seat. She set him down on the far end of the stone walkway. He was dressed in dungaree overalls and a blue shirt. He wore blue socks and sneakers.
“I got him that outfit,” Dory whispered.
Poppy, Lexie, and Gramma Lovell stepped off the porch and waited. Standing at the other end of the walkway, Teddy looked all around until he spotted Poppy. The sun lighted her red hair and Teddy began to walk, faster and faster until he was running flat out, his arms fully extended like an angel’s wings. She stepped forward and reached out her arms. And at that moment Teddy Lovell, who hadn’t said a single word in weeks, gave a happy shriek. “Mommy!” he cried. Then, only moments later, he looked at her more carefully and said, “Aunty Poppy,” and smiled.
Lexie walked over to stand beside Poppy. “I’m your big sister, Teddy. My name is Lexie,” she said, handing him her teddy bear from when she was a baby.
“Sissy,” Teddy said happily.
Billy Jo hummed, “The Mother and Child Reunion.”
Dory, Hayley, and Juanita jumped up and down in jubilant screaming.
Wayne took a deep life-saving breath, as if he had been trapped too long underwater, and managed, at last, to burst through to air. Seeing Teddy smile contentedly in Poppy’s arms even brought the old Detective to tears. There wasn’t a dry eye in the bunch.
About Lyn Farrell
Writing as both Lia Farrell and Lyn Farrell, I’ve been publishing books since 2013. I decided to become a writer in the seventh grade. My home life was chaotic and I found peace spending summers at my grandmother’s dairy farm. With little supervision, I wandered the hundred and twenty-acre farm and discovered the beauty and healing power of nature. Today, when I need inspiration for my stories, I take long walks. My memories of the time I spent at the farm resulted in a novel “The Cottonwoods” released 8/21.
My first marriage had ended in divorce, leaving me with two young children. Five years later, I fell in love with a divorced professor with six children. Raising that many kids required working full-time. When I retired from Michigan State University, I returned to my original dream of becoming a writer. My daughter, Lisa, and I wrote the “Mae December mysteries” using the penname of Lia Farrell. They are amusing, mental puzzles called cozies, with an element of romance. Cozies are the gentlest subset of the broad genre of crime writing. It's a comfort read that leaves you satisfied and at one with the world.
Now writing solo as Lyn Farrell, I recently published "The Blind Switch" (January 2021). It's the first in a series about a private detective agency, Rosedale Investigations. Two of my readers’ favorite characters from the Mae December mysteries, Dory and Wayne Nichols, have starring roles in these books. “The Blind Split” (released 1/11) is the second in the series.
Author Links:Amazon Author Page:https://amzn.to/3qkiKxr Author Web Page: https://www.lynfarrell.com/ Purchase Links - Amazon - Kobo - Target - Walmart TOUR PARTICIPANTS:February 17 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW February 17 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHTFebruary 18 – Here's How It Happened – REVIEW February 19 – Brooke Blogs - CHARACTER GUEST POSTFebruary 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT February 20 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT February 21 – Celticlady's Reviews - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPTFebruary 21 – I Read What You Write - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT February 22 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW February 23 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT February 24 – Christy's Cozy Corners – GUEST POSTFebruary 25 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT February 26 – Girl with Pen – SPOTLIGHT February 26 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT February 26 – Maureen's Musings – REVIEW Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! 
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February 20, 2022
~ BLOG TOUR STOP 'GOOD MORNING, LITTLE ONE' ~
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~ BLOG TOUR STOP ~ -- 'GOOD MORNING, LITTLE ONE' -- AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR AMY KAVELARIS~Post Includes: Book Spotlight + Excerpt,Author Bio & Giveaway~🐑🐇🐕 🦋🐞🐣🐑🐇🐕 🦋🐞🐣
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Good Morning, Little One by Amy Kavelaris, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
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ABOUT THE BOOK
Title:
Good Morning, Little One
Author: Amy Kavelaris Publisher: Tommy Nelson Release Date: February 8, 2022 Genre: Children's Devotionals/Prayers, Christian Reassure kids that God is carrying them throughout the day with these morning affirmations and whimsical illustrations from beloved author Amy Kavelaris. Adorable animals with gorgeous floral art and words of hope remind little ones of God's love, security, and peace for the day ahead.
Through a child’s eyes, the world can be beautiful, wonder-filled, and a bit fear-filled all at the same time. Remind your little one that God is always near with this unique book of blessings. A beautiful companion to Amy Kavelaris’s popular Good Night, My Darling Dear , this inspirational picture book
• reassures children ages 4 to 8 that God carries them through good days, hard days, and anxious days • shares biblical promises of God's love, purpose, and protection • features the whimsical imagery of nature and animals that has made Kavelaris’s art beloved • encourages kids to discover God each day and joyfully live out who He created them to be • gives children confidence to be brave in scary and unexpected situations
This unique book of blessings and prayers will remind your little one of God’s loving promises revealed in nature: that He protects us from the rain, He covers us with His wings, He shines His light into the darkness, and most of all, He’ll always be with us. Good Morning, Little One by artist Amy Kavelaris
• includes a stunning cover with a jacket over hardcover • makes a touching keepsake gift book for a child's Easter basket, baby showers, and other new beginnings such as adoption, a new sibling, or the first day of school • is an enchanting piece of art for a botanical nursery or child's bedroom • is ideal for any parent, grandparent, or family who wants to establish a tradition of blessing their child in the morning
There's no better way to start the day than praying over your children with this sweet, Scripture-based book about trusting God to carry each of you in His gentle arms. EXCERPT:
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PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | ChristianBook | BookBub
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amy (Kavs) Kavelaris's work can be spotted in Target, Anthropologie, Bebe au Lait, and Better Homes & Gardens, as well as in homes around the globe. She has collaborated with countless brands, including Skechers Shoes and Pampers Diapers, and served as a judge for the Miss America Foundation. Her impressionistic, bohemian style merges with her painterly whimsy. Amy and her husband live in the Midwest with their three small girls. See her art at bloomprintsstudio.com and @amykavs on Instagram.
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CONNECT WITH AMY: Website | Instagram TOUR GIVEAWAY(1) winner will receive a print copy of Good Morning, Little One!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 21, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
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~ MY EASTER & SPRING SEWING PATTERNS ~
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Spring is just around the corner!
Looking for some unique wool felt Easter basket buddies or gifts for someone special? How about some needle-felted tote bags you can decorate and sew up as gift bags or to use for gathering eggs and other treats at your Easter egg hunt? Kids love this silly Easter egg bunny stuffed animal with his floppy ears and soft flannel body.
🐰🥚🐇 ~ All of the patterns include themeasurements in Imperial and Metric.
Tips on how to work with fabric and wool
felt are provided along with detailed cutting
and sewing instructions. 🐰🥚🐇
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All of my books are always free with Kindle Unlimited!
🐰🥚🐇🌹🌞🐰🥚🐇🌹🌞🐰🥚🐇🌹🌞🐰🥚🐇🌹Thank you!
February 17, 2022
~ GREAT ESCAPES BLOG TOUR A KILLER SUNDAE ~
A Killer Sundae (An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery)by Abby Collette About 'A Killer Sundae'
A Killer Sundae (An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery)
Cozy Mystery3rd in Series
Setting - Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Berkley (January 4, 2022) Paperback : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593099702 ISBN-13 : 978-0593099704
Digital ASIN : B091PHQ88M
About Abby Collette
Ice cream shop owner Bronwyn Crewse is in for two scoops of murder in this charming mystery from Abby Collette.
Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is gorgeous in the fall, and Bronwyn Crewse, owner of Crewse Creamery, knows just how to welcome the new season. At the annual Harvest Time Festival, residents will get a chance to enjoy hot-air balloons and hayrides, crown a new Harvest Time Festival Queen, and eat delicious frozen treats sold at Win’s freshly purchased ice cream truck. But she gets into a sprinkle of trouble when a festival goer is poisoned and Win is implicated.
Although the victim was a former Harvest Time Festival Queen, her once-sunny disposition had dimmed into bitterness, leaving no shortage of suspects at the festival. To clear her name before the chill of winter sets in, Win will have to investigate and hope that her detective skills won’t “dessert” her.
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Abby Collette loves a good mystery. She was born and raised in Cleveland, and it's a mystery even to her why she hasn't yet moved to a warmer place. As Abby Collette, she is the author of the Ice Cream Parlor mystery series, about a millennial MBA-holding granddaughter running a family-owned ice cream shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and the Books& Biscuits mystery series, starring a set of fraternal twins who reunite and open a bookstore and soul food café. Writing as Abby L. Vandiver, she is the author of the Logan Dickerson Mysteries, featuring a second-generation archaeologist and a nonagenarian, as well as the Romaine Wilder Mysteries, pairing an East Texas medical examiner and her feisty, funeral-home-owning auntie as sleuths. Abby spends her time writing, facilitating writing workshops at local libraries and hanging out with her grandchildren, each of whom are her favorite.
Author Links – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram– WebsitePurchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Google Play - IndieBound - Alibris - Penguin Random House
TOUR PARTICIPANTS:February 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW February 9 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT February 9 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHTFebruary 10 – The Book Diva's Reads – SPOTLIGHT February 10 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW February 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEWFebruary 11 – Maureen's Musings - SPOTLIGHT February 12 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW February 12 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT February 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT February 13 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT February 14 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT February 14 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEWFebruary 15 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW February 15 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW February 16 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT February 16 – Christy's Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT February 17 – fundinmental – RECIPE February 17 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT February 18 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHTFebruary 18 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – SPOTLIGHTFebruary 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT February 19 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW* February 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW* February 20 – Tea Book Blanket – REVIEW* February 21 – Ebook addicts – REVIEW February 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT February 22 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT February 22 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEWHave you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
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February 15, 2022
~ THE ADOPTION SURPRISE BLOG TOUR ~
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~ BLOG TOUR STOP ~ -- 'THE ADOPTION SURPRISE' -- AUTHOR ZOEY MARIE JACKSON~Post Includes: Book Spotlight + Excerpt,Author Bio & Giveaway~ 🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨
Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Adoption Surprise by Zoey Marie Jackson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
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Title: The Adoption Surprise Author: Zoey Marie Jackson Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Release Date: February 22, 2022 Genre: Contemporary Romance (Sweet/Clean) Separated at birth and determined to become a family.
“She looks like me!” When her orphaned niece utters those words, Kelsey Harris is shocked—not only that Morgan has a long-lost twin but that the grieving five-year-old spoke at all. Overjoyed by Morgan and Mia’s instant connection, Kelsey and Zach Johnson, Mia’s widowed adoptive father, agree to be friends—and only friends. But can they ignore their growing feelings when the matchmaking sisters put their plan into action? From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. 🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨 EXCERPT: “Hello, you must be Zachary Johnson.” Her voice was bubbly and light.
He nodded. “Yes, we spoke over the phone. Thanks for allowing me to drop my daughter off and register her the same day.”
“Oh, it’s not a problem. I’m glad you called when you did, because we’re almost at capacity. Here is the paperwork for you to sign, and you have to complete the emergency contact information.”
“Thank you so much,” he said, taking the documents she offered. He noticed the other woman still clutched the little girl in her arms and seemed to be trying to get her to stay. He strained to focus on Sienna’s words, but his attention was on the little girl. He couldn’t see her face, but he knew that body, that frame, that hair. He knew it well.
“Mr. Johnson?”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I…” He pointed to where the woman stood. “Who is that?”
Sienna whipped her head to follow his finger. “That’s my best friend, Kelsey.” She gave him a suggestive smile. “She’s single, if that’s what you’re asking.”
He took a step back and held up a hand. “No, I’m not talking about her. I mean, who’s the little girl with her? She looks just like—”
The woman lost her smile. “Like who?” she asked with a drawl in her tone that suggested she was ready to get on the defensive.
He knew he must look dumbstruck, but Zach’s mind couldn’t process what he was seeing.
Zach rushed to explain. “Let me introduce you to my daughter. I think when you see her, you’ll understand.” He called out to Mia, and when his daughter ran over, Sienna’s eyes widened.
She sputtered. “This is your daughter?”
“Her name is Mia.”
“That can’t be,” she said, shaking her head. “This is Morgan.”
He splayed his hands. “Exactly.”
Sienna’s mouth hung open. “Oh, my.” She swung around and shouted, “Kelsey. Come over here. You’ve got to see this.”
The woman approached, and Zach’s breath caught. His mind had been so occupied with the child in her arms that he hadn’t seen her mother. But he was seeing her now. For sure. From her bronze-colored skin to her pouty lips and the purposeful sway in her stride, this woman emitted confidence.
Kelsey. The name suited her.
Zach looked away to compose himself. He had no right noticing her radiant beauty. He swallowed. Now that he had seen her, there was no unseeing her.
When she spotted Mia and he heard her harsh intake of breath, he said, “Our daughters have an uncanny resemblance.”
“There’s nothing uncanny about it,” Sienna chimed in. “You can tell they are twins just by looking at them.”
Twins. His insides twisted. No, it couldn’t be.
Kelsey lifted a hand to her mouth. “How? How? They are like carbon copies.”
A squeal and a scream quieted the entire room. The girls had discovered each other and had polar opposite reactions.
“She looks like me,” Mia said, clapping her hands. The other little girl wasn’t as delighted. In fact, to Zach, there was only one way to describe her face.
Terrified.
Excerpted from The Adoption Surprise by Zoey Marie Jackson, Copyright © 2022 by Zoey Marie Jackson Published by Harlequin Love Inspired
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PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | ChristianBook | BookBub
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Zoey Marie Jackson loves writing sweet romances. She is almost never without a book and reads across genres. Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, she has earned degrees from New York University, SUNY at Stony Brook, Teachers College Columbia University and Argosy University and has been an educator for over 20 years. Zoey loves interacting with her readers. You can connect with her at www.zoeymariejackson.com
CONNECT WITH ZOEY: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter 🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨 TOUR GIVEAWAY(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift card!
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Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 14, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 21, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
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February 13, 2022
~ VALENTINE'S DAY 2022 ~
Image Courtesy of PixabayHappy Valentine's Day, Everyone!
I have always loved Valentine's Day. When I was a teacher it was my favorite day of the year because it was a pleasure to watch the students think of others by giving out Valentines, candies, and other treats to their classmates—and to their fortunate teacher.
One of the math activities we participated in during February when I taught first grade was a graphing activity suggested by the 'Math Their Way' program. I had a large envelope filled with many different Valentines I had saved over the years. As I revealed each Valentine to my students, they voted on what category to place the card in: Pretty, Funny, or Handmade.
After we had them all sorted, we made a large graph on poster paper with those three categories listed. Each student wrote his/her name on a heart cut-out and glued it in the column (or row) of the type of Valentine he/she liked best. I always chose 'Handmade' as my favorite because I've been creating cards and gifts with paper, paint, glue, fabric, thread, buttons, etc., since I was a young girl.
Here are photos of a few of the vintage Valentines from my collection along with a handmade fabric card I made a few years ago. The sweet red plastic heart pin was given to me when I was a child by one of my neighborhood friends. The pretty pink wooden box with the flower decal and the 'For Mrs. JJ' lettering was made for me by one of my students back in the mid-1990s. {Each year my class called me Mrs. J.J. when they learned that my first name was June and figured out my initials were J.J.}. Enjoy!
This one is my very
favorite! 🠟
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February 10, 2022
~ WHAT HAPPENED ON BOX HILL BLOG TOUR ~
What Happened on Box Hill: Austen University Mysteries
by Elizabeth GillilandAbout 'What Happened on Box Hill'
What Happened on Box Hill: Austen University Mysteries 
Cozy Mystery1st in SeriesSetting - LouisiannaBayou Wolf Press (February 1, 2022)
240 Pages-- ASIN : B09KQZZPJF
About Elizabeth Gilliland
What would happen if you combined all of Jane Austen’s characters into one modern-day novel?
Murder, of course.
When Caty Morland’s roommate, Isabella, falls to her death on Initiation night, Austen University is quick to cover up the scandal and call it a tragic accident. But avid true-crime lover Caty remains convinced that Isabella didn’t fall; she was murdered. With the help of Pi Kappa Sigma President Emma Woodhouse, Caty organizes a dinner party with the most likely suspects, including familiar faces such as Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Knightley, and Marianne Dashwood. The theme of the night is murder, and Caty has three courses to find out what happened to Isabella--and to try to keep the killer from striking again.
Elizabeth Gilliland teaches English at the university level, putting as much Austen into her syllabi as she can get away with. In 2018, she completed her Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, where she wrote her dissertation on Jane Austen adaptations and fever-dreamed this series in a caffeine-induced haze. She is a proud member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, and excerpts of the Austen University series have won awards through JASNA and Jane Austen & Co/The Jane Austen Summer Program. She lives in Alabama with her husband and son.
The Craftwork of Putting Together a Mystery (One Stitch at a Time)
Thank you for having me today! I’m thrilled to be introducing you and your readers to What Happened on Box Hill.
When I first set out to write this novel, I was expecting it to be a fun diversion. I’ve written novels before, but this was the first mystery I’d ever tried to write, even though I’ve always loved reading the genre. Maybe I was trying to lower the stakes for myself by telling myself it was “just for fun,” (or maybe I was really just trying to procrastinate while writing my dissertation!). Whatever the case, I wrote my first draft without paying too much attention to things like genre, style, or conventions.
The first draft was a lot of fun to write because the stakes were so low. Reading back through it, I thought there was a kernel of something worth developing amidst the loose plot filled with too many characters–a diamond in the rough, if you will–but I soon realized it would take a lot of work. Putting together a novel, any novel, requires dedication and perseverance; putting together a mystery, I was beginning to realize, would require precision and a whole new skill set.
I won’t pretend to understand all the ins and outs of a true crafter and sewer (although I do love a good color-coded patterned cross stitch!), but I can imagine it might have something in common with putting together a mystery.
Just as with many sewing projects, writing a mystery requires you to carefully follow a pattern that has been honed and fine-tuned by other craftspeople who’ve come before you. There are expected conventions of the genre that must be included–like clues, red herrings, suspects, memorable characters, and intriguing plot twists.
Like a crafting pattern, originality is encouraged–an artist should try to make the work their own!–but if one deviates TOO far from the pattern then the work becomes unrecognizable. In my first draft of the novel, no one had died until the last thirty pages or so of the book–and it was supposed to be a murder mystery! It’s never fun to have to go back and remove stitches, but sometimes it’s necessary for the project to come together.
I think many crafters could relate to the need for attention to each and every detail of a project. These details might not even be noticeable to anyone else, but you as the crafter will know if you’ve cut corners, missed one of the steps, or if your entire project could fall apart if someone were to pull at just one loose string. The same is true for a mystery novel. By draft nine of this book, each detail is so precise and intentional that I know it’s there and why, even if most readers might never notice! Without that careful attention, the novel becomes too flimsy to stand on its own, even if the overall plot seems to function correctly.
I hope that your readers, whether they be lovers of novels or sewing (or both!), can appreciate the finished product when they get a chance to read What Happened on Box Hill. And I hope that no one will find it too presumptuous if I begin to think of myself as a craftsperson, even though I should never be trusted with a sewing machine. (I will leave that to the true artists!)
Author Links:Twitter: @egilliland7 - https://twitter.com/egilliland7 Website:www.bayouwolfpress.com Newsletter sign up:https://us20.list-manage.com/contact-form?u=67ebbfd39cb93640a7c460915&form_id=d60011269449aae841b84e9452193c5d Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21986541.Elizabeth_GillilandFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/Bayou-Wolf-Press-108936207458522Purchase Link Amazon
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February 8, 2022
~ SOCIAL BLITZ SAFE HOUSE EXPOSED ~
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~ SOCIAL BLITZ ~ -- 'SAFE HOUSE EXPOSED' -- AUTHOR DARLENE L. TURNER 💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠
🔷 PREORDER: 'Safe House Exposed' by Darlene L. Turner!
🔷 Purchase link: https://amzn.to/3IQtKsR
🔷 ABOUT THE BOOK:
Witness protection should have kept them safe. Instead, it left them completely exposed…
Canadian border patrol officer Emma James has only one concern after putting a crime boss behind bars: keeping her daughter safe. But witness protection has a leak, and Emma's enemies know exactly where to find her. Now on the run with no safe haven, trusting her estranged former brother-in-law, police constable Mason James, to shield them is her only hope…
It wasn't God who betrayed him. Mason had betrayed and abandoned God.
🔷 Border Patrol series -- Release Date: February 22, 2022
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