Seated in the deckchair, Chase stared out at the calm ocean, a cup of black coffee grasped in his hands.
When writer and paranormal investigator Chase Seacort comes to spend a few weeks at a friend’s Hampton getaway, all he wants is to be alone, finish his current book about East Coast hauntings, and try to put the horrid events of his past year behind him.
All thoughts about a quiet respite alone vanish when he meets his quirky, gorgeous neighbor. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty captivates him with her perpetual smile and free and easy personality.
Merry June lives a quiet life in her beach house, devoting herself to her two loves – art and photography. Once she discovers Chase’s identity, she can’t wait to introduce him to her great-grandaunt Davinia. But Davinia rarely shows herself to others.
You wouldn’t either if you were a ghost trapped between this world and the next.
With Chase’s help, he and Merry investigate the mystery that’s kept Davinia’s spirit prisoner in the house for over 100 years, and in so doing discover a history of infidelity, heartache, and murder.
When a face from Chase’s recent past puts Merry’s life in danger, he must fight two battles for the woman he’s come to love – one on the spiritual plane and one in the physical world.
“Do you think the Valentino gold will look better, Maeve, or the Versace green?”
Waking up each day is a gift….
On her 21st birthday, someone slipped a potent drug combination into socialite Aurora Brightwell’s champagne, putting her in a coma for the next ten years. It’s been a long road back, and it’s time to reclaim the life she lost and find out exactly what happened on that fateful night.
Financier Kincade Enright has his own reason for helping Aurora discover who poisoned her, but for the time being he’s keeping that – and his true identity – to himself. What he can’t keep hidden, though, are his growing feelings for the one-time paparazzi darling and party-girl.
When this prince of finance joins forces with the former sleeping beauty, nothing can stop them from finding the answers they seek…or prevent the powerful emotions developing between them as they search for the truth.
I can remember vividly the day he was born and the first time I held him in my arms as if it were just moments ago. This tiny, sleeping bundle of love touched my soul and made me remember what it was like the first time I held my daughter, his mother.
I know the experts will tell you the euphoria we feel when we hold a child or grandchild is just a rush of endorphins and dopamine flooding your system, jolting your happy centers. Okay, that could explain the physical joy we experience.
But the spiritual joy is inexplicable.
I remember the way I instantly fell in love with him. Somewhere, deep inside me, I remember pledging to always, always, protect him; do anything in my power to make sure he had a good life; a happy life; a protected life.
I vowed to ensure he would never know poverty; hunger; cruelty; harm.
I cried when I realized I could never protect him from everything that would come into his life that may hurt him, but I would do everything in my power to make sure he knew he was loved and cherished with everything in my being.
Every year I have watched him grow and mature; learn new things and turn into the person he will be in the future.
He is not perfect – no one is – and that is okay. Perfection is overrated and boring.
I had a reader ask me once why I don’t post pictures of my grandchildren online, especially when I talk about them so much.
The answer is simple.
My daughter and her family are private people. I am not.
I have a public persona because of my writing career and that brings along with it strangers who think they know you just because they read your books or follow you on social media. In this day and age of child abductions, craycray creepy people, and people who would use children for a bad means to an end, I am protecting their privacy and their presence by not posting pictures. Plus, the kids have no say in how their images are used, and I will not exploit them for likes and clicks.
I would hope no grandparent would.
Today, my little man turns 5. Impossible, but true,
5.
Goodness. How much change he has already seen in himself and the world around him.
Grandparenting brings a special kind of love with it. It’s the feeling you had when your own babies were born. It’s the remembrance of all the wonderful emotions from a time that was fresh and new, filled with hope for the future. It’s a sense that all could be right with the world just because this little one arrived.
Being a parent holds a great deal of responsibility, and sometimes, as parents, we deal more with managing our children than simply just loving them. But with grandparenting, that responsibility to manage and dictate and teach is – in my opinion – lessened, allowing us to simply love. Don’t get me wrong: we still have a responsibility to ensure no harm comes to them, that they are kept safe, and that they learn. But the pressure of being the one who has to teach and guide and protect is lessened, and you can just pour all the love into them every single day.
Plus, when they misbehave, you can give them back to their parents! Couldn’t do that with your own! LOL
Today, my little man is 5.
Happy Birthday, darling boy. Grandma loves you to the moon and back, to the stars and heavens, and all the places in between.
On a beautiful Tuesday morning 25 years ago, I went to work after dropping my daughter off at school.
My morning schedule was full with six patient appointments back to back. I was between patients when I went out to the staff desk to find one of the techs watching something live on the computer.
“A plane just hit one of the World Trade Towers,” he said.
“Get out! That never happens,” I responded. “The airspace around it is protected.”
I’d grown up in NYC and, as a child, had watched the construction of the towers. I’d even had my 21st birthday dinner at Windows on the World. As I started to tell him that, the second plane hit.
The rest of the staff who were free, gathered around the desk now. I remember vividly saying, without even thinking about what I was saying, “We just got into a war with someone.”
Truer words.
Three of my patients canceled that day, so upset; all they wanted to do was watch the live coverage. Then the planes at the Pentagon and then Shanksville crashed; the mood in the clinic turned from stunned to frightened. When I told my husband the North Tower had just disintegrated, he didn’t believe me, thinking I was exaggerating the situation. When the second tower fell, he turned speechless.
When I picked my daughter up from school that day and told her what happened, her first thought was of all her aunts and uncles who lived in New York.
As a family, my husband, daughter, and I went to church that evening at an impromptu Mass. The priest said something that made me so angry to this day I get pissed repeating it. He said, because we were Catholics, and forgiveness was a cornerstone of our religion, we should forgive the evil people who did this and pray for them and the survivors.
I wanted to scream so loudly that I chose to be catholic; I was not born one. But was born an AMERICAN and would not, could not forgive the people responsible for this.
I was 41 years old on 9/11/01, and my life, and everyone else’s that I knew, changed forever.
America had always been this bigger-than-life, cock-sure, entity. I’d never known a time when people weren’t proud to say they were Americans. As a country, we had a big ego, but it was richly deserved. We thought we were indomitable; indestructible; unable to be hurt.
All that changed in a matter of hours on a beautiful Tuesday morning.
Everyone I knew who still lived in New York lost someone that day. My husband lost a guy he’d gone all through school with – an NYC transit officer who’d responded to the callout. My step-mother still worked in Manhattan in Times Square. Living in New Jersey, she had no way to get home that day because all transit was shut down and the city was closed to incoming traffic.
Two of my sisters-in-law lived in Garden City, a town in Long Island where a majority of the employees of Cantor Fitzgerald lived. CF lost hundreds of employees when the plane hit the first tower.
But it didn’t matter if you knew someone who’d perished that day or not. We were all sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers that day.
And we all suffered.
The NYC firefighters and police officers who ran into those burning towers were, and still are, heroes. The hospital workers and EMS crews who flew to the area when the buildings were still burning to aid the afflicted were, and still are, heroes. The thousands of New Yorkers who helped one another that day, total strangers, all are heroes.
I watched, as did the world, when both towers came down.
I watched, as did the world, when the cleanup began, and the search for survivors turned to a retrieval of bodies.
I watched, as did the world, when funeral after funeral, tribute after tribute, and story after story of survival and loss and kinde4ss to strangers played across the media for months.
And I watched, as did the rest of the world, as these brave heroes did this:
That day, America lost so much more than two steel towers that formed the landscape of New York.
Wives lost husbands and husbands lost wives; brothers lost sisters; mothers lost children; friends were gone in an instant. Children lost parents.
And America, for just a moment, lost its indestructibility.
It’s hard to believe 25 years have gone by since that day because it is still etched so clearly in my mind. Every single moment of that day, every sound I heard broadcast on the news; the roar of the buildings coming down; the screech of the EMS vans and fire trucks. Every single sound and image is burned in my memory forever.
And I am still affected by it.
And I will be for the rest of my life.
Today, remember the fallen, pray for those who survived, and maybe do a random act of kindness for someone you don’t know, like all those New Yorkers did for strangers 25 years ago.
Today’s first line comes from the third book in my NYC Socialties series, Balance.
While waiting for a manicure the other day, I took one of those rate your life tests you find in old editions of Elle or Cosmo; you know – your overall score gives you an empirical view of how your life’s going at the moment?
She’s a wealthy socialite who survived an abusive marriage. He’s a hardworking guy raising his son and caring for his widowed father. They come from different worlds, but it’s said…opposites attract. Can they find the balance between their two lifestyles to make their love work? Or will their differences tear them apart?
October and November are busy months, kids, and I’ve got a bunch of book signing events coming up. Check out the list above.
I’m excited about all of them and will have different books at each. The November signings will have all my new Spayed Edges Dickens books in addition to others, so just know that.
In the coming days, I will have a listing of each of the books I’ll be offering at each signing.
I don’t think when Gloria Steinem was growing up she planned on being an icon in the history of the American woman.
She probably didn’t even plan on it as an adult.
But that’s what she was, in every sense of the word, and when she died this past week at the wonderfully full age of 92, we lost a piece of living history.
Like I did with the death of Dolly Parton the week prior, I had to sit on writing this piece for a while because there was so much to say about her and how she influenced my life that I needed time to coordinate those thoughts and sit with those feelings.
How do you summarize a person’s life in less than 500 words and still show the impact that individual had on every single American woman alive today?
One thing I know for sure is that many female Millennials, or any of the letter/symbols that came after them, truly don’t understand how much Gloria Steinem did for them while she was fighting for the rights of their grandmothers.
They probably don’t realize that until the late 1970s, women couldn’t have a credit card if a man didn’t co-sign the bank agreement for them.
They probably don’t know that a married woman couldn’t hold a credit card in her name but only in the name of her husband, thereby never allowing her to establish an actual line of credit. This meant that a single, unmarried woman couldn’t apply for a loan, a mortgage, or even own a business outright without a male co-signer, usually a father, uncle, or brother – even one younger than she. If she didn’t have a male in her life…she wasn’t granted any financial help.
Let that sit for a moment and try to understand how this kept women under the thumbs of men because of their lack of financial independence.
Young women today probably don’t know she was one of the female driving forces behind getting the Equal Rights Amendment adopted and worked tirelessly for years, lobbying Congress and traveling state to state to help see it come to fruition.
I’m sure they don’t know that she was the driving force behind MS Magazine, the first of its kind; a magazine dedicated to giving knowledge, encouragement, and courage to women. One of the major tenets of the magazine was that no advertising within it showed women in an objectified way. During a time when that’s all advertising did – show women in subservient, objectified ways- this was a major shift in the publishing world. Topics and essays dealt with everything female-related, and included political discourse, medical advances,and first-person accounts of simply being a woman in a world where being one was viewed as being less than.
I was a faithful subscriber.
And the world ate it up – even the most conservative of women read MS, if for no other reason than to learn something new about their own gender, their bodies, and their sisters.
Gloria was a fierce advocate for female body autonomy, human rights, and speaking the truth, and never shied away from lecturing or writing about abortion, cultural gender mutilation, domestic violence, childcare issues for working women, unequal pay practices, and any topic that chose to make a woman’s body the main thrust of her humanity. She wrote and spoke extensively on the hot and divisive topic of racism in our society.
I’m just not sure the girls of my daughter’s and granddaughter’s generation fully understand the impact she’s had on the lives and freedoms they have today.
But I do.
I was a young adult woman in the 70s and 80s when Gloria was fighting the good fight. Her activism shone like a beacon to my entire generation of women who were coming into their own – and learning how to fight to be heard.
Gloria, and all the brave women who came before her, made it possible for women to have a place at the table, then own that table.
She was incredibly intelligent, educated, and articulate. Listening to her speak on several occasions at rallies and on television showed me the power of a well-prepared, articulate, and fact-based voice. A voice used to elevate, never denigrate. A voice that couldn’t understand why half the population wasn’t treated equally, fairly, or respectfully. This petite, thin woman could cut off a person at the knees with one well-timed, killer quip, and ever raised her voice, interrupted, or bullied her way in doing so.
In a time when shouting was the norm, she spoke quietly, firmly, and factually, so much so you were forced to listen.
And people – women and men, listened.
In 2013, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, who said, “Because of her work, across America and around the world, more women are afforded the respect and opportunities that they deserve.”
True words.
Gloria knew her power and lived it, every day of her 92 years.
And in so doing, made the world – and me – better.
Just a quick FYI to let everyone who uses Kindle Unlimited know that I still have a few books that are enrolled in KU.
Last year, I pulled most of my indie books out of KU because I wasn’t getting any page reads. I went almost 8 months with nothing, so I decided to go wide with my indie books. Some, though, are still listed, and I figured I’d let you know just in case, as a subscriber, you’d want to download them for free.
Chance Miller, divorce lawyer extraordinaire, knows the whole happily ever after dream is an urban myth. He deals with miserable and wedded warring couples every day and swears staying single keeps him sane and happy. His friends and family consider him the last single man standing and fear he’ll never find someone and settle down. But Chance relishes his carefree status and unencumbered lifestyle and has no plans to change anything.
If only his relatives would stop trying to set him up with their version of the perfect woman.
Fredrika Poole already experienced her one great love, and the widow can’t read any future romance in her tea leaves. She’s content to bake, run her business, and care for her daughter.
When Chance meets Freddie and discovers her marriage thoughts run on the same road his do, he realizes she’s the answer to his prayer for keeping the relatives at bay. But the pixie barista has a way of making Chance question everything he’s always thought about love, marriage, and wedded bliss.
Will his last man standing status go unchallenged? Or will Freddie be the one woman he wants…but can never have?
Pediatrician Sable Miller is sick and tired of being the go-to, dependable bridesmaid in all her family and friends’ weddings. But her demanding job, the ridiculous hours, and endless family commitments keep her from finding the perfect man. A matchmaking service? Sounds like too much work. Swipe right dating? Not her thing. The bar scene? When was the last time she even had an evening free to go to a bar?
And forget about dating the myriad of on-the-make doctors and residents in her hospital. Besides, workplace romances never work out.
Sable’s options to meet the man of her dreams and start a family are dwindling and time is running out, because she promised herself the next wedding she would attend would be her own.
Kristopher Lee, the Physician’s Assistant assigned to Sable has a crush on his new mentor. But she’s got a hands-off rule when it comes to dating someone she works with. Kris is nothing if not persistent, though. After all, he didn’t survive three tours in the Army without focusing on a goal. And making Sable Miller fall in love with him is his best goal yet.
Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday.
Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family.
But this year for her 30th birthday, she just might get her three wishes.
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 workforce. 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 frontman for the supposed takeover, she scrambles to protect her company…and her heart.
Homicide Detectives Elizabeth Bennett and 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.
I receive dozens ( no lie!) of book scammer emails every day – mostly in my spam box, but many in my regular email box too.
Some of them are quick, impersonal notes that say, “Dear ( AUTHOR) I came across your book and feel a decent marketing plan is what you need to propel this book to a bestseller. I offer…. ” and then they go on to name the thousands of people that will follow me on social sites and buy my book if I just contact them and let them set up a plan for me.
Some are a little more personal: “Dear PEGGY JAEGER ( you just know this is from a cut-and-paste list!) Your book ( they name one from my list) is a (they detail the blurb using the same language, maybe add a few adjectives) and then state the book could be a bestseller if I’d do…. You get the idea.
The ones that kill me are the emails that are more like a chapter from a book, detailing every single thing about my books and including snippets of my bio and personal backstory. You can just tell the info was plugged into an AI generator, and this piece of crap was spit out.
But the ones that really piss me off are the emails that seem like they are from a fellow author. I’m putting one I just received minutes ago, here.
John Boyne
From:johnboyne231@gmail.com
Hello,
Your work recently came to my attention, and I became curious about the person and ideas behind the book. I haven’t had the opportunity to read it yet, so I’d rather be straight forward about that than offer the usual compliments without having earned them.
What interested me most was the story behind the book. I always enjoy connecting with fellow authors and hearing what sparked a particular project, because every book seems to have its own journey.
If you’re open to sharing, what first inspired you to write this book?
I’d be glad to hear a little about it and stay in touch.
Warmly,
John Boyne
I am sure if I replied to this email I would be taken down a scam rabbit hole where either my personal info is cloned or I will be asked to purchase something to make my writing life the best it can be.
Every single day I am deleting and blocking these bots, scammers, and frauds who use AI to junk up our email boxes and try to manipulate us into giving them money.
And every single day it takes time away from my writing life and personal time.
I hate AI. In every form. I WILL NEVER use it in my writing or my cover creation. This is a promise I can keep, too.
Honestly, I would rather NOT write than have to use AI just to sell a book.
We live in a weird age, kids. Never before has the phrase Caveat Emptor meant more.
Today’s first line Friday comes from book 2 inthe NYSocialites series, IT’S A TRUST THING.
“That old expression “if you want something done, give it to a busy person” describes my life to perfection.”
Nell Newbery has trust issues.
It’s hard to trust when you’re the daughter of a fallen financial scion who bilked people out of billions. Nell’s done everything in her power to keep away from men who see her as their ticket to fortune and fame. All she wants to do is run her ultra-successful business, HELPFUL HUNKS, in peace. But it wouldn’t hurt to find a guy who doesn’t know a thing about her father’s felonious past; one she can give her heart to and trust it won’t come back to her battered, bruised, and broken.
Is Charlie Churchill that guy? On the surface he seems perfect, all polished manners and quiet mirth. Nell’s convinced he knows nothing about her, other than she likes superhero movies and views junk food as a food group. Can she trust him to be what he appears to be? Or is he just pretending? For Nell, trust is everything in life…and in love.
It’s a Trust Thing is book 2 in the NY Socialites series.
I’ve been obnoxious lately with all the posting about THE JANE AUSTEN MURDERS, but I’ve been so stoked that the book is finally available to everyone.
And that day is today!
It was so much fun modernizing Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. I always envisioned Lizzy as a badass feminist and making her a homicide cop seemed apropos. While she investigates the murder of Charlotte Lucas, the cast of suspects is large, with Darcy at the top of the list. Their attraction to one another aside, she needs to make sure he is either guilty or not before she can pursue a relationship with him.
Originally published on the Kindle Vella platform, when I decided to switch it to print, I changed a few things concerning the plot and made the chapters easier to dive into. The majority of the reviews on Goodreads are from the Kindle Vella publication, and I think their lower scores reflect how much work the book needed. It’s a much better story now if I do say so myself.
And I do, lol
I hope if you read it, you enjoy it, and if you enjoy it, maybe consider writing a review for Amazon or Goodreads. The easiest way to prop an author up is to give their work a good review. Just sayin’.
I received this in an email this morning, totally unprompted and unpromoted by me. It’s scary to think there is a computer data base somewhere just spitting stuff like this out in AI.
Contemporary romance and mystery author Peggy Jaeger has highly anticipated new releases scheduled for 2026, highlighted by a major shift into the murder mystery genre and new thrillers. [1, 2]
Latest & Upcoming Releases
The Jane Austen Murders (Released September 1, 2026): Releasing today in ecopy on Amazon (and available on Kindle Unlimited), this novel marks her first major non-romance, classic-with-a-twist murder mystery. Originally featured on Kindle Vella, it follows Homicide Detectives Elizabeth Bennett and Frank Churchill as they investigate a bludgeoned student at Longbourne College, with English professor Dr. Darcy as the primary suspect. [1, 2, 3]
Vendetta (Upcoming / Pre-Order): This new addition to her FBI Profilers series is currently available for pre-order. Described as a masterclass in how actions have consequences, the plot follows agents Tucker and Kella as they race against the clock to halt a killer’s intricate plan for revenge. [1, 2]
“My love to you all.“: A daughter’s journey through grief (Recent – May 2026): A deeply personal, non-fiction release mapping her journey through grief. [1, 2]
Recent 2025 Series Additions
If you are catching up on her connected romance universes, she recently finalized key entries in her popular contemporary romance series: [1]
You’re My Match (Heaven’s Matchmaker, Book 4) – Released November 2025.
Perfect Match (Heaven’s Matchmaker, Book 3) – Released March 2025.
A Pride of Brothers: Dylan – Released February 2025. [1, 2]
Are you looking to pre-order Vendetta, or would you like to explore the reading order for one of her romance series like Heaven’s Matchmaker or The MacQuire Women?Try without personalization
This was such a fun book to write for so many reasons, lol.
So…you may be asking, “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
For a little character insight, here is how I envisioned Lizzy and Darcy in my mind as I’ve written them.
If you read the book, I’d like to know how you see them in your own imagination.
I’ve been sitting on this post for the week since Ms. Parton passed, because, truthfully, her death hit me hard.
No, I didn’t know her personally.
No, we’d never met.
No, I’d never seen her perform in person.
And still, her death at 80 hit me like a ton of bricks.
I know it’s a little weird to mourn when a celebrity dies as if we didn’t know them personally. But I, like billions of others around the world, feel as if I did, and her passing has extinguished one of the brightest lights that has ever shone in time.
Aside from being a huge talent with over 3000 songs ot her credit, Ms. Parton was a philanthropist. A real one, not the kind we often see from rich and powerful people who make a big show of donating to a cause and then you never hear from them again about it.
Dolly came from commercially impoverished beginnings and never forgot it. Because of that, she did everything she could to ensure the lives of others were the best she could make them.
Here are just a few of the ways Dolly gave back:
1. The Dollywood Foundation, launched in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee, with the goal of decreasing high school dropout rates. She then started the Buddy Program, in which she awarded $500 to every seventh- and eighth-grader who finished high school. The dropout rate declined from 35 percent to just 6 percent.
2. Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. The 30,000-square-foot aviary managed by the American Eagle Foundation shelters the largest collection of “non-releasable” bald eagles.
3. The Imagination Library. Because her father was illiterate, something he was always ashamed of, The Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library began sending one book per month to each enrolled child in the program from birth until their first year of school. To date, over 300 million books have been distributed. This is the one that always chokes me up when I read about it.
4. Following the release of her I Believe in You children’s album, Parton donated $1 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in honor of her niece, who was treated for leukemia at that hospital.
5. Parton donated $1 million to coronavirus research at Vanderbilt University, which helped fund Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
6. The Dollywood Co. announced in February 2022 that it will cover 100% of tuition, fees and books for any employee who is furthering their education.
7. Parton gave another million dollars to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville in June 2022, this time aimed at helping pediatric infectious disease research.
This woman never touted her philanthropy. She never called a press conference to say how wonderful she was at what she was doing for others. She did it quietly and successfully. When other celebrities would have jumped through hoops to be honored, she refused the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden and the current resident in the White House.
A defined Christian woman, she believed in LGBTQ+ rights, Gay marriage, and understood the struggles of trans people. One of her most famous quotes is that she wasn’t put on earth to judge others, but that was God’s job. She was put here to love everyone.
Losing someone so beloved, so treasured, so damn GOOD has left a huge void that will never be filled in our hearts or on the world’s stage.
I’m choosing to honor her by honoring how she walked through the world, a humble, genuine woman who never forgot where she came from or whose “child” she was.
“Well, well. Look what the wind blew back into town.”
Police Psychic Silvestra Coeltrain comes to Renewal, OK to visit with old friends and to heal. After a year in which she was tested physically, mentally, and psychically, all she wants to do is sleep, fish, and bask in the tranquility of the sleepy town.
Sheriff Caleb Blackbear doesn’t understand the feelings he’s quickly developing for Renewal’s newest visitor. She responds to his kisses with a passion that equals his own. But she’s an enigma, filled with secrets and evasions, and he’s a suspicious man.
When several of the local ranches begin losing cattle to a mysterious illness, it’s Silvestra who claims the animals are being methodically targeted and killed. As Cal’s investigation zeros in on who and what could be slaying the animals, the murder of a prominent rancher’s daughter – and Cal’s former lover – complicates things. With Silvestra’s life now in danger, Cal is determined to keep her safe at any cost.
I am taking advantage of Goodreads current price cut for giveaways, and starting today, you can enter to win an e-copy of Vendetta, the second book in my FBI profilers series.
I’m giving away 100 e-copies, and the contest runs from today until September 7, so if you haven’t read it yet ( and you should!), here’s your chance to win a copy and read it for free.
Put it on your WANT TO READ list, too, because it helps with exposure of the book to your followers.
A high-speed car accident and the bombing of his wife’s car convince FBI SSA Tucker Petrie that he is the target of a killer. Discovering who the person is before another attempt is made becomes the focus of Tucker’s life. With his former partner and best friend, Kella Calloway, by his side, Tucker and his team form a shadow investigation into a series of FBI agent killings no one in power has connected the dots to yet. With the clock ticking and another agent killed, Tucker, Kella, and the team do everything in their power to put an end to the killer’s plan of revenge.
Goodreads review:
Perfect for fans of SVU, NCIS, BAU, and Mind Hunter!
Plot: 5 Overall: 5 Mystery: 5
“This isn’t maybe the gritty, “film noire” gumshoe detective story so many mystery novels but instead Vendetta is a master class in how actions have consequences, all victims of crimes cannot be overlooked, and a delicious deep dive into the criminal mind.
Like in the first book of the series (which doesn’t have to be read to follow this one, but definitely adds to the story!), initially we don’t know who the perpetrator is, just catch glimpses into their mind.
Even though I had my suspicions of who our final suspect would fall to a little earlier than I would have preferred, I had so much fun mentally catelogging details while reading to see if my hunch paid off!
And, reader be warned: those details matter!! Pay attention as you read because you don’t want to miss anything! Mrs. Jaeger has put together one fantastically organized front for you to solve!
Oh! And those consequences? Sometimes they fall like a house of cards… and sometimes like dominoes. Enjoy!”
Today’s #Firstlinefriday is from my Deerbourne Inn book, HOPE’S DREAM frorm The Wild Rose Press.
“Quaint. A description Tyler Coleman had never used before.”
Hope Kildaire gave up her dream of becoming a nurse practitioner when a car accident killed her father and left her mother an invalid. Working two jobs and caring for her mother leaves the twenty-seven-year-old with no time for fun or relationships. When a law firm representing her paternal grandparents sends her several letters, Hope ignores them. She despises the family who disowned her father and wants nothing to do with them.
Lawyer Tyler Coleman’s job is simply to obtain Hope’s signature on a legal document. Getting it is harder than planned, though, when an unexpected attraction blossoms between them. If Ty is honest with Hope about why he’s in Willow Springs, he’ll fulfill his assignment but may risk hurting her.
The opportunity to have everything she’s ever desired is at Hope’s fingertips. Will her dream come true at the expense of Tyler’s love?
If you read my post from August 13th, you know I attended the Bigelow Free Library Romance Day Book and reader event yesterday.
To say it was a resounding success would not do it justice. It was phenomenal.
10 authors, moi included, spent from 10am until 12:30 pm speaking, chatting, and discussing books with a never-ending crowd of readers who were excited to see us, learn about our stories, and buy our books.
I met sosososo many amazing women who have now become new-to-me-readers, that I was over the moon. Still am.
I love – really love – doing library events.
Libraries are the educational and knowledge backbone of this country. What is being done to them with defunding and book banning right now is a national disgrace, and I wish more people were speaking out against these budget cuts.
If you know anything about me, you know I was practically raised in my public library as a kid. My mother worked full-time and couldn’t afford child care or an after-school babysitter, so every day from second grade on ( I was 7) I was left to walk myself home from school. Instead of going home to an empty apartment and watching television for hours until she came home, I walked to my local library, which was halfway between school and home, every day and sat, did my homework, and read myself through the children’s section of books.
The lovely librarians became my childcare providers. They asked me about my day, helped me with homework when I needed it, and recommended age-appropriate books for me to read. They truly fostered my lifelong love of reading. They became my mentors, my responsible adults, and ultimately, my friends.
My very first piece of identification, other than my birth certificate, was my library card. I still have one, even now in the digital age!
It’s surprising I didn’t grow up to be a librarian. But my path was pointed in a different direction.
To this day my love of libraries is still huge. I support my local one financially, with book donations, through their bi-annual book sales, and as a FRIEND OF THE LIBRARY, an organization that helps them defray and offset the budget costs they’ve faced.
I could probably do a dissertation on why book banning is so inherently wrong, but that’s a post for another day.
For now, I want to publicly thank Marie LeTarte, the director of the Bigelow Library, for hosting my fellow authors and me and for making National Romance Day one for us all to look back on with fond remembrance.
I’ve already got 2027 penciled in for National Romance Day at the Bigelow Free Library!
Pediatrician Sable Miller is sick and tired of being the go-to, dependable bridesmaid in all her family and friends’ weddings. But her demanding job, the ridiculous hours, and endless family commitments keep her from finding the perfect man. A matchmaking service? Sounds like too much work. Swipe right dating? Not her thing. The bar scene? When was the last time she even had an evening free to go to a bar?
And forget about dating the myriad of on-the-make doctors and residents in her hospital. Besides, workplace romances never work out.
Sable’s options to meet the man of her dreams and start a family are dwindling and time is running out, because she promised herself the next wedding she would attend would be her own.
Kristopher Lee, the Physician’s Assistant assigned to Sable has a crush on his new mentor. But she’s got a hands-off rule when it comes to dating someone she works with. Kris is nothing if not persistent, though. After all, he didn’t survive three tours in the Army without focusing on a goal. And making Sable Miller fall in love with him is his best goal yet.
This coming Saturday, August 15, 2026, head on down to Clinton, MA to the Bigelow Free Library from 10 am until 12:30 as several authors, including myself, participate in a Romance Book Event/Festival to celebrate Romance Day.
Here’s a list of just some of the participating authors who will have their latest books for sale:
Chance Miller, divorce lawyer extraordinaire, knows the whole happily ever after dream is an urban myth. He deals with miserable and wedded warring couples every day and swears staying single keeps him sane and happy. His friends and family consider him the last single man standing and fear he’ll never find someone and settle down. But Chance relishes his carefree status and unencumbered lifestyle and has no plans to change anything.
If only his relatives would stop trying to set him up with their version of the perfect woman.
Fredrika Poole already experienced her one great love, and the widow can’t read any future romance in her tea leaves. She’s content to bake, run her business, and care for her daughter.
When Chance meets Freddie and discovers her marriage thoughts run on the same road his do, he realizes she’s the answer to his prayer for keeping the relatives at bay. But the pixie barista has a way of making Chance question everything he’s always thought about love, marriage, and wedded bliss.
Will his last man standing status go unchallenged? Or will Freddie be the one woman he wants…but can never have?
I’m a little late with this post – it should have gone up on Saturday, August 1st, but…life.
On 9.1.26, THE JANE AUSTEN MURDERS releases in ecopy over on Amazon. It will also be in KU at that time.
Homicide Detectives Elizabeth Bennett and 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?
If you’d like to read it in print, I’ll have copies I can send you, signed and personalized. Just use this link to order ( and PS…it’s cheaper than ‘zon. US continental residents only, though, because of ridiculous shipping costs.)
It’s the start of a new month so, in my never-ending attempt to acquire more new-to-me-readers, I figured now would be a good time to list all the social sites I am on in the hopes that at least one of them will spark the attention of a new reader who will want to follow me.
Run-on sentence much? lol!
You can follow me all these places ( or just on 1) but the goal is to have you follow me!!!!!
Website ( where I blog about life and books and stuff)
So, taking a page from my career playbook, I have booked a few new summer/fall book signings that are drivable from my home base, and I don’t need to shell out money for hotels! Always looking to save cash in this economy, kids!
Here’s a current list, and I have a few more in the works for winter, so stay tuned!
I’ll have all my new 2026 titles available and holiday books galore.
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
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.
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.
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?
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.
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’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!
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.
On Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19, I will be at the Tanger Outlets with dozens of other authors for a pop-up book sale!. I will have different titles on both days – FINALLY _ a place where I can bring as many different titles as I can!
Check the hours – Saturday 10-5 ( long day of shopping! YAY)
Sunday 12-4. Beat the heat. The sale is INSIDE one of the stores at TILTON – between RUE21 and Region Hair!!
Stop by and check out all the authors and their books and do a little book shopping to beat the heat, soothe your soul, and take you away from all the problems in the world for a few hours!
I’m starting off my Dickens Holiday Romance First Line Friday today. Each Friday from today until July 31, I’ll be posting the first line for a Dorrit’s diner edition of my additions to the Dickens Holiday romance series.
Amy Dorrit considered it one of life’s simple gifts that she didn’t have to commute to work each morning.
Book Blurb:
It’s Christmas Eve morning in the tiny New England town of Dickens. Santa’s arrival is imminent, and a hint of snow is in the air. Amy Dorrit is just about to open her popular diner for the breakfast rush when she discovers an abandoned baby on her back doorstep. Amy knows she should call the authorities and turn the infant over to them, but she just can’t. Thoughts of her own abandonment as a baby flood through her and she wants to keep the little one out of the hands of the authorities until the mother – hopefully –returns. But will the mom come back? And if she doesn’t, what is Amy prepared to do about the baby who has, already, claimed her heart?
Every July, SMASHWORDS runs an amazing sale on hundreds of thousands of book titles, including my own.
All my books listed with them are either 1/2 price or FREE until July 31. Check out my listing and the prices here: PEGGYJAEGER/SMASHWORDS and then add some to your Summer TBR.
So….way back when Amazon had Kindle Vella, I published — in serial form — a lot of my mystery/suspense works that had never seen the light of a reader’s day. One of them was The Jane Austen Murders, which I have updated and am releasing for the very first time in print on September 1, 2026.
Blurb:
Homicide Detectives Elizabeth Bennett and 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 by crime, true crime, and serial killers. 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
Last weekend I did an author event/booksignig at a brewery. Yes…where they make and sell beer. 8 other authors/vendors and I were at Litherman’s Limited Brewery on a Saturday afternoon, and I sold a ton of books.
Truly. In a brewery. The people were welcoming, the readers amazing.
Today, I did a solo book signing at my local Barnes & Noble, a bookstore I love, love, love.
Didn’t sell one book.
Not a single one.
I couldn’t get anyone to engage with me. I tried saying hello…people walked by with a fast semi-smile or ignored me altogether. It’s rare that I feel unseen, but I could have been invisible. I was supposed to stay until 4pm, but since no one — no one– who came into the store, despite my engaging – even spoke to me, I left early. It was demoralizing enough for 2 hours. 4? Yeah, I don’t have an ego, but that would have been too much for even me.
Comparing the two events. One was with other authors, in a non-bookstore type location on a Saturday afternoon. The other was a solo event in an actual bookstore on a Sunday afternoon.
Which, in theory, should I have sold more books at? Conventional wisdom says the bookstore.
I have never been what anyone would call conventional.
So… what have I learned from this? Well, this is at least the sixth bookstore signing ( not all in B&N. The others were indie bookstores) where my sales were zilch. Zero. Zip. I think I can safely say bookstore signings are not for me, based on this empirical data. I don’t have a big enough name, and I am mostly indie-published now, so I don’t have a publisher’s backing to garner me bookshelf space and fight for me..
I do better at much smaller events with more than just me as the author.
Thankfully, I have several of those coming up this summer. Just take a look at the graphic below to find me in July and August.
Here’s hoping I make a few new readers and sell some books at those.
Honestly… this business isn’t for the faint of heart, kids.
And they’re meant to stay for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
I’ve met so many amazing people in my short 11 years as a published author. other authors who inspire me, readers who amaze me, publishers who gave me a chance when I didn’t think they would.
One of the people I’ve met is a woman who inspires me with her grit, determination, business savvy and just plain smarts, and that’s Carlie Emma Ballou.
My relationship with Carlie started as a reader (her) to an author (me). We met at a book event, she liked my stories, and we forged a bookish friendship from there that has grown into a real and lasting friendship.
You’re probably wondering why I’m singing Carlie’s praises in a blog post. Well, it goes back to the fact that she’s an amazing businesswoman. Carlie, because she loves reading and authors so much, has started a PA ( Personal Assistant) business for writers.
Her company is called. Book Lady Co. and she offers a variety of PA services and a wide range of pricing for everyone from pre-published authors to more seasoned authors, like me.
If you’re an author and hate traversing the social media world, or just don’t know where to put your advertising dollars, or even if you just need some help with a book launch or an event, go ahead and give Carlie a call.
Award season isn’t only for actors. There are a plethora of writing contests that I enter every year and some of the winners have already been announced.
Successful Chef Anton Saparosa had the perfect life. Great marriage; beautiful and adoring wife; trendy, SoCal restaurant frequented by celebrities – many of them his friends.
Then Covid hit.
Anton’s perfect life dissolved before his eyes. With nothing left to keep him in California, he starts an itinerant cross-country journey searching for something to give his life meaning again.
Happenstance lands him in the tiny town of Dickens just as Dorrit’s Diner is thrown into chaos.
Literary Agent Portia Avon needs a rest. A messy divorce has her craving quiet and the company of her friend and client A.B. Cards, nee Abra Bree. She comes from the western heat of California to the eastern cold of Dickens and plans to do nothing but rest, relax, and read during her holiday stay.
When Portia spots a familiar face in Dorrit’s, she’s confused. Why is Anton Saparosa, one of the most recognizable chefs in California, working as a fry cook in Abra’s mom’s diner, and going by the name Tony Smith?
A question Portia wants an answer to, but one Tony isn’t willing to share, especially with a woman he can’t stop thinking about.
I have two more current contests where I am a finalist. Once those results are announced, it’s back to the writing board for me for next year’s releases and contests.
As I said yesterday, if you know me, you know I love scrolling on TikTok. And what I’ve been loving watching recently are all the posts from people who have never been to this country before and are now here to watch the World Cup matches. I am tickled pink at seeing this country through the eyes of their experiences, what they’ve been told about America, and then experiencing our country through a new lens and mindset.
Yesterday was a bit of a snarky, backhanded Proud to be an American post because I lamented about the bigger, better, even bigger mentality of overconsumption America possesses. The visitors I’ve been watching have been in awe of the size of restaurant meals and the portions. They are thrilled about the free refill policy of so many eateries for drinks because they don’t have that where they live. They have gone into Walmarts and Costcos and been gobsmacked at not only the variety of items you can purchase, but the variation. One Brit was dumbfounded that Walmart had thirty-seven ( he counted) varieties of different cereals. Then he counted the brand variations, like Special K with strawberries as opposed to just Special K, and came up with over 75 varieties.
Yeah. Dumbstruck at something that I don’t even notice.
But what really got me thinking were the posts where the tourists were visiting our landmarks.
Sedona at sunset, the majestic oranges, reds, and yellows beautifully shining against the lowering sun backdrop.
Their first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and all her majesty in New York Harbor.
The Golden Gate Bridge.
Mount Rushmore.
The US Capitol.
Boston Harbor exhibits.
The St Louis Gateway Arch.
The Grand Canyon.
They are all in awe at things I take for granted.
So today, I’m stopping that.
America the Beautiful is not only a song (which I feel should be our national anthem!) but also a truth. Our country is gorgeous from the natural beauty of our national parks, the functioning waterways and bodies of water, to the man-made structures erected to exemplify the glory of this land.
I am proud to be an American.
There is one South African guy who is in Alabama, and he came upon a city park that had an open-air gym in the center of it, where you could work out. He marvled that there was no graffiti; that the equipment was all working and not vandalized; that it was free and open to anyone who wanted to use it, including a humble visitor from South Africa. He said in his country, something like this wouldn’t survive a day. It would be vandalized and corrupted upon completion.
How sad.
But just another reminder about why I love this country.
And yes, I can love my country and despise the morons running it right now.
If you are on TikTok, do yourself a favor and find some of these posts. You won’t be sorry. You may even laugh or shed a grateful tear or two for living in such a magnificent country.
I love scrolling through videos of dogs and cats acting weird; love the beauty makeovers; love the gym workout transformations.
My newest obsession and love-to-scroll posts are centered on visitors to America for the first time who are watching World Cup matches. People who have never before experienced the American culture in our own backyard and their reactions to things are hysterical, make me feel proud of my country, and also are a mite…upsetting.
Let me explain.
A few videos have shown Europeans getting their first view of places like Cosco and Walmart. A few chaps from Germany were stricken dumb when they saw that Walmart sold food like 10-pound ground beef loaves and frozen pizzas. An English family experienced Chick-fil-A for the first time, and they couldn’t even talk – all they wanted to do was eat. When they were done, the dad asked the mom and kids have you ever tasted anything so good, to which the boy, probably around 8-ish, replied that he wanted to move to America.
Pizza slices and their size have taken up a lot of Australian and South African posts. People can’t believe all the different toppings or the actual size of a pizza.
One group of Italians was awestruck when they got free refills of soda at a local Olive Garden. The guy filming stated he already had three refills of his 20-ounce soda.
Starbucks iced coffees are a favorite of Irish lasses; as mentioned, the pizza is a hit with The Aussies.
I laughed out loud at the awestruck words and faces while visiting a local Dallas High School football stadium. The chap couldn’t believe a school stadium was so large when he comes from only professional sports arenas that are as large.
All this is fun to watch, but then I started to think…we are, as Americans, a nation of overconsumers, both in food and “things.”
Our food portions are ridiculous. I know the ADA says to base calories on a normal daily intake of 2000 calories, but that’s 2k over three meals and two snacks, not one double cheeseburger plate with fries at 1950 cals for one meal.
Those Big Gulps look like fun at 7/11, but if you are getting a regular soda filled one, that’s 32 ounces of sugar and caffeine all at once – in just one serving. The calories are upwards of 400.
One Englishman touring Costco came up on a stack of large bath towels, 12 for S$8.99. His response? Why do you need 12? It’s just me and my wife and we use a towel for 2 showers each. Why do you need so many? Another girl from Ireland couldn’t believe that you could buy your groceries, everything you need for your house, even tires for your car, and get an eye exam all at Walmart.
Americans do love their convenience shopping, don’t we?
A man from Switzerland was in Walmart and made a post detailing all the American flags hanging from the ceiling. He said, I wish we did that in Switzerland, showed our pride in our country by hanging flags everywhere. He was in Dallas. I’m going to admit I’ve never noticed my own Walmart ( because I won’t shop there) ever having hanging flags from the ceiling.
All of these videos are hysterical – every single one. But as I said, when you get down to the nitty gritty of what they are really showing us and their viewers, Americans are a country of overconsumers, big eaters, and proud of it.
So yeah, that’s why this post is posed as a question.
If you are making your weekend plans and you are anywhere near Litherman’s Limited Brewery this Saturday, please stop down and say hi, grab a brew, buy a book!
I’ll be with 7 other Bookish authors and vendors!!!
I was honored to attend the debut event this year, 2026, and am beyond thrilled to announce I am an attending author again for 2027!
In 2027 the event will be held at the historic Mount Washington Omni hotel on April 24-25. If you’ve never visited this amazing hotel ( my daughter was married there!), you are in for a treat. Beyond beautiful and majestic, it’s…haunted. No lie!! Attend this event,and you just may “see” the resident ghost(s).
There’s a Queen of Hearts dinner and ball at the end of Saturday’s festivities. This is a must- attend if you want to give your dancing shoes and your costume skills a workout
The 2026 event was one of the best I’ve ever attended, and I can only imagine it being even better in 2027, so don’t miss out! Get your tickets, grab a bunch of book-loving friends, and make your reservations today!
Oh, and bring some cash because you’re going to want to purchase a bunch of books from the amazeballs authors who are attending!
So I’ve bitched and moaned a lot over the years about how going to book events is exhausting, costly, and draining physically, mentally, and financially.
Sorry about all the whining, kids. Truly.
But…
I’ve promised myself I will keep doing them, only on a different scale both financially and physically. To that point, on June 20th, 2026 from 11 am until 5 pm ( and yes, that’s a long day!) I will be at LITHERMAN’S LIMITED BREWERY in Concord, NH, at TALES AND ALES BREWERY BOOK NOOK TAKEOVER sponsored by Your Book Besties Book Nook.
I am reminded of the scene in Sweet Home Alabama where Reese Witherspoon sees her childhood friend, who has a new baby, and says, “Look at you. You have a baby…in a bar!)) LOL!
I actually think having a book event in a brewery is a unique way of getting my books – and those of the other authors participating – in front of new readers.
So, if you are in the Concord, NH area on June 20, stop at Litherman’s. Have a bite to eat…a beer…and buy some books.
That’s going to be my motto for the day… a bite, a beer, and a book!
I’m excited to let you know that on Sunday, June 28th, Barnes & Noble is hosting a book signing for my current book, “My Love to you all.” A daughter’s journey through grief.
The event is from 12-4 pm, and I will have copies available for purchase from B&N to sign. Or ifyou already have the book ( BLES YOU!) bring it and I wll sign it for you.
This book was a three-year labor of love, grief, tears, and ultimately, a path to healing for me, navigating through my mother’s death and everything that came thereafter with my stepfather.
“Grief comes in waves, tsunamis, and droplets.”
When her mother died unexpectedly, Peggy Jaeger used her writing blog to help her navigate through her grief. Detailing her mother’s tortured life – and their oftentimes contentious relationship – allowed her to understand the decisions and events that comprised her mother’s 87 years and made her the woman she’d grown to be. With brutal and at times painful honesty, Peggy details her mother’s life; one that knew suffering, heartache, supreme loss, mental illness and paranoia.
This is the story of how two women – mother and daughter – learned the power behind the gift of forgiveness and helped Peggy come out on the other side of her grief a stronger, wiser, and more understanding person.
If you’re around on the 28th, I hope you’ll come see me.
Three NERFA 2026 Finalists in Contemporary Romance 🌹 Congratulations to our extraordinary finalists from @firstcoastromancewriters: ✨ The Magical Tea Shop — Aimee O’Brian *(no TikTok handle found)* ✨ Just the Way You Are — @nikarhoneauthor ✨ Perfect Match — @peggyjaegerauthor Winners announced next month. Find all three books at the links in bio. #NERFA2026#ContemporaryRomance#RomanceBooks#BookTok#RomanceReads#FCRW
With June upon us, I thought I’d take a beat and tell you where I’ll be appearing summer 2026. It’s not as extensive a list as it’s been past summers because…I’m old and tired and money is tight.
All true.
But…
I will be a few places you can come see me and other authors to talk books, buy books, learn about books.
The date for the August Bigelow Library event is 8/15
So, if you’re in the vicinity of any of these places, drop down and say hi.
