M.J. Compton's Blog, page 19

MJ’s Musings: Book Bingo-Single Word Title: BEACHCOMBER

One of the Book Bingo Squares this year was “Single Word Title.” I chose a Karen Robards romantic suspense I had not read before: BEACHCOMBER. To be honest, I thought parts of this book were silly. Let’s see. There was a female attorney on the run from the mob and her ex-fiance (who turned out […]

MJ Monday: MJ’s Music-Something Rotten Sound Track

A couple of years ago, one of my crit partners saw the musical SOMETHING ROTTEN on Broadway. She immediately dashed out and purchased the CD of the sound track. On our next excursion into the woods, she shared the plot and the music with us. We fell in love.  Several of us (myself included) also purchased […]

MJ’s Musings: If Her Nora-ness Can Write…

I have been reading Nora Roberts’ Chronicles of the One and enjoying every word. Can’t wait for book three, The Rise of Magicks to come out in a couple of weeks. Book one, Year One, reminded me of Stephen King’s The Stand on so many levels. Of course, every other reader of The Stand said the same thing. That […]

MJ Monday: MJ’s Movies-What’s Cooking?

I’ve seen this movie only twice, but that doesn’t stop it from being my favorite Thanksgiving movie of all time. It is the story of four ethnically different families preparing for  then participating in Thanksgiving dinner.  As one reviewer said, “There’s stress, there’s food, and there’s stressing over food.” The ensemble cast is wonderful. My […]

MJ’s Musings: SEP-Lady Be Good

Lady Be Good is not one of my favorite SEP novels. I don’t particularly like Emma (the heroine) or Kenny (the hero). I’m not a fan of golf.  The plot is absurd.  A prim-and-proper British schoolmarm wants to create a scandal to avoid marriage to a stuffed shirt back home, while the disgraced golfer she’s decided […]

MJ Monday: MJ’s Meals–Sloppy Joes & Sweet Potato Fries

This is a simple meal my family always enjoyed. Preheat oven, then bake frozen sweet potato fries per the package instructions. While that happens, make the Sloppy Joes: 1 pound ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 1 cup ketchup 2 Tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire […]

MJ’s Musing: A Halloween Memory

Halloween can be cold in my neighborhood. Some years there’s snow on the ground. The weather can play havoc with costume plans. One year–I must have been six or seven–my mom made me wear a winter coat over my costume. How humiliating! The matter got worse when the nasty old lady three or four doors […]

MJ Monday: MJ’s Manuscript-WIP Excerpt

From the third book in the SERVICE FOR SANCTUARY trilogy, Besieged by the Moon, tentatively scheduled for February 2020 release. Phoebe McKinn knew she’d made a mistake when she found herself out past sundown on the night of the new moon. She hated new moons. The total darkness made her too vulnerable. Walking from the […]

MJ’s Musings: My Log

For many years, my parents heated their house with wood.  One of the many chores my siblings and I had to do involved stacking firewood. I’ve always been one to notice details. One day, while stacking logs, I noticed several that appeared to have been etched. I asked my father if I could have one […]

MJ Monday: MJ’s Music–BEWARE OF THE MOON Soundtrack

As is my practice, I created a playlist for Beware of the Moon.  I listened to it while writing, while commuting–any time I needed a connection to the story. One caveat–some of the older tunes on this list are from pre-music-video days, so I had to rely on live performances. “Girl From the North Country” (Bob […]