Author Archives: Peggy Jaeger

I waited on writing this for a few days because I wanted to sit with what I was feeling and analyze the why of the feelings.

And just in case you’re worried – no, this isn’t going to be a deep analytic session where I explore my psyche and past trauma, lol. Just some thoughts.

So I was lucky enough to be awarded a two-hour book signing spot at the RWA booth at this year’s BookCon, the first one they’ve had in over six years. I didn’t know what to expect, but I went in excited and hoping to sell some books. It’s beena rough year for sales for me and my bank account has suffered.

So I am a lousy picture taker – you all know this – so I don’t have any pictures to show you what I saw when I rolled up the Javits center, but suffice it to say – IT WAS AMAZING!

The line snaked out in two directions, from the front doors down to 31st street and around the avenue to the harbor, TWICE. Then from the front doors down to 35 street and around to the harbor, twice!!
IF you’re on tiktok you can go ahead and do a search of bookcon to see the posts of the people standing in line waiting to get it – your jaw will drop. These were 20k+ READERS!!! My people, lol.

SO when the doors finally opened, mass hysteria and overcrowding started. I want to discuss the poorly managed things first, then give a few shoutouts and kudos.

1. the lines for arcs – why publishers did this was annoying to me – there was no actual queuing manner, just people snaked back and forth, standing in front of author and vendor tables, waiting to get their free stuff. My RWA table was situated next to one of these small presses and they were giving out arcs every hour with the author signing them. So my table had hundreds of people BLOCKING my table, so you couldn’t see me or the other fabulous author I was with.
2. Food prices. $6.00 for a bottle of soda. Enough said.
3. Indie alley was situated in the basement and all the signs for vendors and arcs and booths directed you to floors 2 and above. Now, I happened to visit indie alley when I first arrived because I had some time to kill and there were readers down there, but most of them were checking to see the times TRADITIONAL authors were doing their book signings – the ones the readers paid to get into see.
4. Lack of signage. My RWA table was 559, and the signs above the sections simply labeled them in the 100s, like 400. 600, ext. No actual mapage about where our table was.
5. because of the lines snaking in front of our table for the freebies being given out next door, I sold a total of 2 books and I think one of them was really a pity sale. I am so glad I didn’t decide to stay in NYC the night before befcause I would have wasted hundreds of dollars on a hotel room and not made a cent in recovery. I paid $26 for my metro north ticket and $16.oo to park for the nday in the New haven station, With the $30 I made on book sales, I didn’t even break even.

The good…

1.Romance Writers of America is the BEST organization I have ever belonged to.The support, camaraderie, intelligence and just plain love that the members show for one another and others is simply awesome. If you are a dedicated writer of romance, you really should join the organization. There are so many benefits.

2. The readers. My heart actually swelled when I saw the thousands of readers waiting to get into the Javits Center. That so many people are dedicated to their favorite authors, their favorite books, even the genres they read, fills my heart to no end.\

I met a few people on the train going down to the event and they were so excited to be going, even if it was for the day. Some had panel tickets, some weren’t so lucky, but they were all simply tickled pink to be part of this wonderful event.

Am I glad I went? yes.

Did I learn a few things? Yes, especially that people want more free stuff than are willing to pay for at cons. That may seem a little cynical, but it is my experience, so don’t come at me.

Will I go again if given the opportunity? This one is hard because if I had a bigger name or was sponsored by a publisher, the answer would be yes because it would guarantee some book sales. But as a small, unknown indie? Probably not, unless again an opportunity arose like this year with RWA and I could go without having to pay a $5000.00 table fee.

Just my thoughts on a busy day….

RETRIBUTION was my first fbi profiler/crime drama book.

“How does it feel to know you’re dying, Agent O’brien?”

RETRIBUTION

6 teenage girls have been kidnapped, brutalized, and murdered in the Washington DC area and the FBI’s SPCD Unit – the Sexual Predators of Children Profilers – are nowhere close to finding the monster responsible. How are the victims chosen? How does the killer find them, contact them, lure them into his sick web? Questions the team has no answers for.

When a high-ranking US Senator’s daughter is the next victim, SPCD team leader, Tucker Petrie, is forced to call upon retired profiler — and his last partner — Kella O’Brien for help. Kella’s been out of the game for 10 years, but her expertise and insights into a serial killer’s mind are unparalleled. If anyone can discover who this madman is, it’s Kella.

But as the team rushes to prevent another young girl’s death, clues the killer leaves behind have Kella wondering if his endgame is all about…her.

Reviews Amazon Goodreads

My dear friend, author, painter, social media influencer and sour dough officiado, Susan Hutchinson, has a book on sale today I am highly recommending you get, read, and devour. It’s an intimate look at a mother’s love, grief, and moving forward after tragedy strikes.

FOREVER WITH ME

For the majority of us, life runs a normal course of ups and downs. For some, it’s a career that makes us happy. For others, it’s family. For the lucky ones, it’s both. Everyone goes through times when something will throw you off course. But what happens when life doesn’t merely throw you a curveball, but a bomb?

This is the story of an average woman who was thrown not one bomb, but two and how her extraordinary well of good humor and positivity got her through the loss of two daughters over a five-year time span. The author takes you on a journey laced with humor and wit through a life that normally wouldn’t have distinguished itself from anyone else’s but gave her the strength to get through any parent’s worst nightmare — twice.

“This isn’t a book which tells you how to get to the other side.
This is a book which tells you that you can.”

Susan has made the book FREE on kindle today to commemorate the anniversary that changed her life forever.

I read this book when it was first released and I am being truthful when I tell you I ran through a gamut of emotions. Anyone who is a mother, will. Anyone who has ever lost someone dear to them, will.

DO yourself a favor and download this book today. And then tell your friends to do the same. You won’t be sorry you did. You may ugly cry, believe me – I did, but you won’t be sorry you did.

Today’s first book line comes the first book in my MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN SERIES, DEARLY BELOVED from The Wild Rose Press.

” 9-1-1. Colleen, I’ve got a 9-1-1- in the Bawl room!”

DEARLY BELOVED
Colleen O’Dowd manages a thriving bridal business with her sisters in Heaven, New Hampshire. After fleeing Manhattan and her cheating ex-fiancé, Colleen still believes in happily ever afters. But with a demanding business to run, her sisters to look after, and their 93-year-old grandmother to keep out of trouble, she’s worried she’ll never find Mr. Right.

Playboy Slade Harrington doesn’t believe in marriage. His father’s six weddings have taught him life is better as an unencumbered single guy. But Slade loves his little sister. He’ll do anything for her, including footing the bill for her dream wedding. He doesn’t plan on losing his heart to a smart-mouthed, gorgeous wedding planner, though.

When her ex-fiancé comes back into the picture, Colleen must choose between Mr. Right and Mr. Right Now.

Reviews: Amazon Goodreads

No, I don’t have any GOOD news to relate, lol. I just wanted to pop in and say a few things about two contests that are coming up soon.

I’ve entered 2 writing contests in the past few months, The CAROLYN Reader’s Choice award, sponsored by the North Texas Romance Writers, and The Golden Leaf, sponsored by the New Jersey Romance Writers.

On April 17, the Carolyn finalists should be announce and my heart is racing and hoping that I am one of them. This is a prestigious award and even being a finalist is something to really brag about. Not that I brag, mind you. But still… lol

On April 18, the Golden Leaf awards will be announced. I am a finalist in the Long Contemporary category with my Dickens Holiday Romance A CHEF’S KISS CHRISTMAS

Unfortunately, I can’t go to the award ceremony because I will be at BookCon at the Javits Center in NYC. But again, I am so excited about this award because it is a very prestigious and coveted one in the romance writing world.

Som,keep you fingers crossed for me kids that I have something amazing to report in the next few weeks. I’, hoping April is an award-winning month for me.

See what I did there? LOL

~ Peg

Just popping in with a reminder and a few more facts about my appearance at my very first ( and hopefully not last) BookCon event in a few weeks.

I will be appearing at the Romance Writers of America booth, # 559, in Hall 3 from 1230 until 230 on Saturday, April 18. Can you spell excited? I am beyond at this point. I will have the rebranded book of DIRTY DAMSELS with me to sell. The cost will be $15.00 for each copy. Since I am traveling down to NYC that morning via train, I will have a limited supply of books and swag with me, so if you want to be assured of getting a copy and you are attending, go ahead and preorder the book using my website pre-order form: BOOK ORDER FORM

I was so honored to be chosen to attend and I want to make this a worthwhile appearance for anyone who likes my books. If you’re attending, please try and stop my at my alloted time. I am so looking forward to this event and meeting new readers!

What happens when a modern day Cinderella has a one night stand with a man named Prince?

Cynderella Jones, Ella to her friends and family, owns a thriving and successful cleaning service called Dirty Damsels. 32, single and a self imposed recycled-virgin, Ella is looking to keep her company private. But when her business manager tells her he’s heard scuttlebutt about a takeover, she realizes she needs a plan to protect her business. Before she can, she has to navigate through a week where sick calls and marriages lighten her work force. When she goes out on a cleaning call for a very influential client, she meets a man so hot, so exciting, she literally comes out of her exiled celibate-state and has a one-night fling with him.

But when Cynderella discovers he’s the front man for the supposed takeover, she scrambles to protect her company…and her heart.

My first line firday for today comes from AIDEN, book 2 in the PRIDE OF BROTHERS Series from Wild Rose Press

Tired, hungry, and itching to get home, Aiden bit into his preflight burger and all but sighed.

A PRIDE OF BROTHERS: AIDEN

Lexi Buckley wants answers about her younger sister’s death. The police have labeled it a suicide, but Lexi doesn’t believe it. Stymied in her investigation, she doesn’t know where to turn next. After a chance encounter with a private investigator, she thinks her prayers have been answered.

Aiden Keane has never been an answer to a prayer before, but he agrees to help Lexi. A quirky combo of brains and beauty, the pixie blonde makes him feel things no professional ever should for a client.

When their investigation puts Lexi’s life in jeopardy, her safety becomes his number one priority. The hard part is not falling for her.

Reviews:Goodreads

AIDEN was a Long and Short Reviews BEST BOOK of 2022 and also a romantic suspense finalist in the 2022 NEW ENGLAND READERS CHOICE AWARDS

finally!!! LOL

So excited.

I would really like to know what you think of the book if you’ve read it. If you liked, it, hated it, were bored, were disappointed. I have no ego when it comes to reviews ( have you seen my 1 stars???!). I just want to know if I hit the reading for enjoyment mark or not. I write every book for me. And then I put it out in the world where not anyone else is like me. Kind of sounds defeatist, doesn’t it? But I really do enjoy feedback because it only help me grow as a writer.

So, it you read it, BLESS YOU.

If it’s on your TBR, BLESS YOU.

Hit me up with your thoughts and reviews. And remember, the best way to help a writer is to write a review and post it on goodreads, amazon, fable, bookbub, someplace where other readers can see it and discover the author.

Bless you all. Now, I need a nap.

~Peg

of things I’ve got going on, or that are coming downe the pike.

My head spins sometimes with everything I need to do, organize, write, and take care of at one time, just so I don’t forget it all, or forget to let people know about it.

So, here goes with what I’ve got going on right now.

1. “MY LOVE TO YOU ALL.” A Daughter’s journey through grief, is available on BOOKSPROUT for those of you who do read and review. This book is a raw accounting of what happened to me after my mother died, suddenly, and how I couldn’t deal with my grief at the time because of the million other things going on simultaneously. Here’s the link for those interested: BOOKSPROUT. If you’re not a reviewer, the book comes out on 5.4.26 right in time for Mother’s Day 2026 and YES, I did time it that way.

1. Book 2 in the FBI Profilers series, VENDETTA, drops tomorrow, March 31, 2026. It’s a standalone suspense concerning a family annihilator and a revenge murder plot. The pre-reviews have been amazing (GOODREADS ) and I’m so pleased. Here’s the link if you want to get it digitally, VENDETTA but you know you can always get it from me via this website.

1. On April 18, 2026 from 1230 until 230 pm I will be at BOOKCON at the Javits Center in New York. I’ll be at the RWA booth, # 559 in Hall 3 and I’ll have copies of the rebranded DIRTY DAMSELS with me for sale. Plus, of course, I’m gonna have swag, so if you were lucky enough to get tickets to Bookcon, come see me! PLEASE!! LOL

1. The following weekend, April25/26 I will be at the NEW ENGLAND BOOK BALL up in Mt. Washington, NH. There’s so much that’s going to be happening during this event. I’m on several author panels, including one on mental health, plus there is a Book Cover contest, and a Ball!!!

1. Many of you aleady know that I signed up to be a RAMP Mentor this year through RWA. I have been working diligently with my Mentee, and we are having a lot of fun getting her first romance book in good enough shape to submit for publishing. This has been an amazing experience for me. I have always beleived we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and I fully intend to be stnadonable shoulders for someone else who loves to write as much as I do.

I will be attending RWA 2026 in Albuquerque this July. and I as giving a workshop on writing the Happily Ever Holiday Romance – here’s the twist : the holidays aren’t just the ones that come in December1

I see that there are a bunch of book signings this year that I really should be trying to get into, but as I said at the beginning of this year, I’m tired and those signings cost way more money than I ever make, so…

I’m gonna go nap now.

~ Peg