Author Archives: Peggy Jaeger

It’s no secret my newest book – a non-romance, murder mystery – THE JANE AUSTEN MURDERS, is releasing in ecopy on 9.1.26. The print copy will release on 8.10.26

You can preorder the ecopy at Amazon and it will be in KU for 90 days. As far as the print version goes, you can either order it from Amazon or from my website. The advantage of my website is that the copy will be autogpraphed/personalized, and it costs less. Shipping is included, too.

This book was originally published on the Kindle Vella platform ( remember that one?!) and once the site shut down, Amazon said authors could publish their works any way they wanted. I waited a bit because…life, but now I’m offering it to readers who never took advantage of Vella.

I’ve updated the story a bit, changed a few things – nothing central to the plot – and I think it’s even a better story now. But I’m biased.

Here’s the blurb:

Homicide Detective Elizabeth Bennett and senior partner Frank Churchill are called to Longbourne College when the body of student Charlotte Lucas is found bludgeoned to death. Charlotte, a scholarship student, had a healthy supply of designer clothes, jewelry, and a safe deposit box loaded with cash. Where did she get them?

During Lizzy’s investigation into Charlotte’s life, she discovers the student had an antagonistic relationship with her English professor, Dr. Darcy. Word on the street is they couldn’t stand one another, and the night before she was killed, the duo had a loud, contentious argument in front of the entire class.

When more clues start popping up about Charlotte’s extracurricular activities, Darcy becomes the primary suspect.

But did he do it?

So…why write a book using the entire cast of Jane Austen characters in this day and age?

The idea came to me one day when I was re-reading Pride and Prejudice for what had to have been the fifteenth time. To say I love the story is too tame a descriptor.

I wondered, as an author will, what the characters would look like in modern times. Would the passion between Lizzy and Darcy hold up across the centuries? What scenario would force them together, because I didn’t think a woman on the hunt for a man to marry and take care of her would fly in these times.

Plus, Lizzy always reminded me of a woman born before her time – a badass; a feminist; a gal out to make her own way in the world, unapologetically.

Giving her the occupation of homicide detective seemed appropriate. Once I had that, the story unfolded itself.

This version was originally published under the Kindle Vella platform and it got such great traction there I decided to publish it as a standalone novel once the criteria and rules of Vella were completed.

Back in my 20s and 30s before I ever thought to write romance books, I was fascinated with crime, true crime, and serial murderers. I grew up in the era of Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and Son of Sam. All my books up on Kindle Vella show that fascination, this one included.

I hope you liked reading about Lizzy and Darcy in this format. Who knows? Maybe I’ll make them a crime-fighting duo in a series. Heehee

Happy Reading,

Peg

Just a few more days to get some of my ebooks for less than half the price on SMASHWORDS!

These are the titles available for sale:

Fill your ereader today, courtesy of SMASHWORDS!

Today I will be appearing, along with 74 other NH authors, at the Mall of New Hampshire at the New Hampshire Crafts Fair’s annual book fair.

Check out this video from last year’s event:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F18SGAkZG

It looks like a rip-roaring good time for readers and shoppers!

I’ll have a select few titles for sale, which include the HEAVEN’S MATCHMAKER series books 1-4, VENDETTA, RETRIBUTION and the memoir I wrote about my mother, MY LOVE TO YOU ALL.

If you’re anywhere near Manchester, NH tomorrow, or you’ve been looking for a good shopping day trip, come on down and buy some books; meet some local authors.

Book 4 in the Dorrit’s Diner books in the Dickens Holiday Romance series is DON’T MESS WITH THE MISTLETOE.

His name is Michael.

Book blurb:

It’s the holiday season in the tiny town of Dickens and pilot Michael Charles is home for his annual visit. His wanderlust has him itching to get back up in the skies as soon as possible, especially since he’s got a full schedule of rich and famous clients waiting to be transported to warm, exotic locales for the winter.

When his heavily pregnant sisters present him with a plan to give their workaholic mother some time off from managing the family diner, he balks. But one look at how tired the woman who took him into her home and heart is, and Michael agrees to run Dorrit’s Diner for a month so Amy Charles can get some well-deserved rest.

He’ll be back in the skies by the New Year.

The diner staff functions like a well-oiled machine, most of them long-term employees. The exception is new waitress Julia Maryland. The beautiful blonde has a past filled with heartache, a charming six-year-old daughter, and a smile Michael could spend the day getting lost in. But starting a relationship with her wouldn’t be wise because his visit is temporary and Julia seems like a permanent kind of girl.

When a family emergency requires him to rethink and reassess his life, Michael wonders if it’s time he becomes a permanent kind of man.

Continuing with my Dorrit’s Diner additions to the Dickens Holiday Romance series, today I give you SASHA’S SECRET SANTA

Driving four hours in the dead of night while the world slept wasn’t something Sasha Charles considered fun.

Book blurb:

After a terrifying incident derails Sasha Charles’ career and confidence, she moves back to her hometown of Dickens to heal, reorganize, and start over.

The only problem? The paralyzing panic attacks that plague her whenever she thinks about going back to nursing. Sasha is mentally, and emotionally stuck, and has no idea how to move forward.

Steve Caldwell is the new Director of Services at Dickens Memorial Hospital. After witnessing her save the life of a local resident in Dorrit’s Diner, he knows Sasha would be perfect for the new trauma center he’s planning. When she refuses his job offer outright, he sets out to change her mind.

But Sasha has thick, protective walls erected around her so Steve must first break through them. With patience and kindness, he does. As the two grow closer, each begin to have second thoughts on what their futures should look like, until idle, small town gossip threatens to derail their budding relationship.

With the imminent arrival of Christmas, will Steve be able to convince Sasha he has her best interests at heart?

Yesterday, I did this…

and I killed it! Met so many new, amazing readers…sold tons of books.

Two weeks ago I did this…

Not one book sold. Died a horrible, demoralizing bookish death.

The difference in the two events?

First, the venue, and second, the number of participants.

I fully believe now that I have done several signings in brick-and-mortar bookstores where no one has interacted or bought a book from me, that bookstore signings are for “BIG NAME AUTHORS” or indie authors with a huge following.

Neither of which I am.

The events with multiple authors at non-bookstore venues are sosososo much better for me, emotionally, physically, and financially.

So…moral of the story? Until I hit the NYT or USA TODAY bestseller list and have a social media following in the millions, I am no longer seeking out bookstore book signings but am sticking to non-bookstore events and venues.

Oh, btw – I am back for day 2 today at the TANGER OUTLETS, and today I will have all my Christmas and Holiday titles for sale.

Hope to kill it again.

Wish me luck, Peg

Continuing with my Christmas in July series for First Line Friday, today’s first line is from FIXING CHRISTMAS.

Last week I showed you Abracadabra’s Charles’ origin story. Today, is her grown-up one, and it’s as messy as a dirty restaurant kitchen floor after service is done for the day!

“Finally,” Abra Charles mumbled when the house came into view.

Book blurb:

Christmas has never filled writer Abra Charles with undiluted pleasure. If you’d been left on a doorstep on Christmas Eve morning, you might have a few issues with the holiday as well.

Abra’s avoided her hometown of Dickens for the past twenty Christmas seasons, but now she’s returned in an attempt to get her writing mojo back. Twice-divorced and with her third engagement ending in heartbreak, anger, and blackmail, Abra is now six months behind on submitting her current book. She hopes renting Copperfield House and immersing herself in solitude will cure her writer’s block and get her life back on track. The house she rents isn’t helping her achieve her goal, though, as one thing after another breaks, collapses, or floods.

Colton Bree, Dickens’ very own Mr. FixIt, can’t help but wonder if the new resident of Copperfield House is cursed. After being called to repair a broken window, he’s then needed to fix an exploding coffeepot, an overrunning toilet, and a washing machine that has a mind of its own. Bree doesn’t mind all the unexpected repair jobs, though, because the sexy renter is something to look at despite being a little neurotic and a whole lot of snarky.

Can Abra get her book done with all the distractions and craziness of her life, the biggest distraction being the flannelled hunk with the bedroom eyes and scowling yet oh-so-kissable mouth? Or will Dickens’ Mr FixIt have to step in and save the day and in so doing, fix Christmas for Abra forever?

I promise: this is the last one, lol.

So, you’ve seen this:

I’ll be there both days, and each day I’ll have different books available for sale. So, I thought I’d let you know which books for which days, because depending on which day you come, you’ll know what I’ve got for sale.

So, on Saturday, July 11, I’ll have these books for sale:

Sunday, I’ll have these:

So…are you coming? I’ll be there with several other authors and bookish vendors. Hope to see you!

~Peg

Mark your calendars, Kids, because I’m hitting the road next weekend, July 11 and 12. I’ll be at the Tanger Outlets in Tilton NH along with dozens of other authors for a fun, safe from the heat, indoor book event.

And for the first time at an event, I’m going to have two days of different books for sale. Since i have so any titles now, I can’t bring many of them to a one day event – but with two days? Yeah, I’m loading up. Christmas in July books, Wedding season books, steamy contemporaries – I’m gonna have them all. Different books each day, so….

Come on down to the outlets, do a little regular shopping, and then hit this fab event!

I talk a great deal on this blog about writing, my writing process, marketing, etc, all things book-related. I could wax prolific about books and bookish topics for days and probably never draw breath.

I love writing. I love creating. I love using words to draw visuals and talking about writing.

One thing I never talk about here is the emotional and mental toll certain aspects of writing have on my mental health, though, and today I’m going to attempt to explain how much it does.

I posted about my Barnes & Noble book signing last weekend, where no one came. Not even my friends. No one bought a book; I had a hard time getting anyone who did come into the store to talk to me, even though I engaged with everyone, saying hello, and other mundane things to draw attention.

In a word, it was demoralizing.

Look, I know I’m a good writer. I have no imposter syndrome and have never for a moment suffered from it. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I started my writing career by winning a writing contest. That kind of solidified in my mind I was a decent storyteller. The 50-odd other wins and finals in contests have proven to me this is what I should be doing with my life, so that’s not what causes my anxiety and depression where writing is concerned.

It’s the lack of sales that gets to me and brings me down. In-person events are typically how an unknown writer such as myself makes connections and gets new-to-them readers to read their work and who then become fans. I’ve done close to 100 in-person events since I started writing full-time twelve years ago. That’s a lot of face-to-face meet-and-greets and book signings. And don’t get me wrong: I’ve made a ton of new readers who have since become friends. And believe it or not, I’ve enjoyed those events. I’ve enjoyed the people-ing with people who love books!

But at some point you have to consider the amount of money you are laying out for these events – table fees, buying your author copies, swag, travel – it all adds up and, again, at some point you would think I’d pull ahead and actually make money instead of always losing it.

I sound like I’m whining, and I hate that. I’m not. Really. Well…maybe a little.

The point is, there comes a time when all the smiling, attempts at interacting, and discussing your book – or trying to – becomes too much, and you have to either step away or suck it up and keep going.

Since I’m a Taurus, I am DNA-driven to choose option #2, even though I’m exhausted and could use a break to simply write without having to sell.

My father-in-law was a salesman, and he taught that the first rule of salesmanship starts when the customer says no. I wish I could be the type of author who was pushy ( in a good way) when it comes to people not buying books and walking past my table, even though I am always trying to get them to engage with me. I wonder if some readers think I am pushy.

And that thought just shot my anxiety up another notch.

Anyway… I have a two-day signing/sales event this upcoming weekend where I’ll be with dozens of other authors. Events like this are way easier for me to participate in because it’s not JUST ME trying to sell, but a gaggle of authors.

Is a group of authors called a gaggle? Or is it a guild?
No clue, but you get the thrust.

So, I’m going to shove my anxiety and depression back down into my soul and do my best to be upbeat and positive this weekend.

Sometime, kids, in the future, I’ll step away for a bit. Now, though, is not that time.

~ Peg