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.
Filed under Uncategorized
…and that word fits perfectly.
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.
RIP, dear lady. You deserve the rest.
~ Peg
Filed under Uncategorized
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.
The titles still in KU are :
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?
ALWAYS BEING A BRIDESMAID IS GETTING OLD…
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.
But did he do it?
Happy KU reading, Kids
~ Peg
Filed under Uncategorized
…and my inbox is loaded with them.
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.
Happy Labor Day to my US buddies,
~ Peg
Filed under Uncategorized
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.
Filed under Uncategorized
So, I’m going to start doing this monthly for a while, just to keep myself accountable and on track with my writing goals for the year.
In August of 2026, I:
~wrote 17000 words in book 1 of a new romance series I started for release in 2028, PLAYING CUPID, book 1 in the LOVE SHACK Romance series
~edited 2 upcoming books- THE CHILDREN OF THE PROPHET (2027 release) and final edits on THE JANE AUSTEN MURDERS – released on 9.1.2026
~plotted 2 new books – book 3 in the FBI PROFILERS series and another mystery titled PUZZLEMAN ( or something close to that)
~Attended 1 book signing at the Bigelow Free Library on August 15 and sold a boatload of books!
~ I wrote 31 of 31 days.
~I blogged 12 of 31 days
~ I read and reviewed 11 books ( not my own!)’
~ I posted to my social media sites 31 of 31 days (some sites 2-3 times a day. YIKES)
~And I planned my September content and workload.
And my husband thinks I have too much time on my hands.
Let’s see what September brings!
~Peg
Filed under Uncategorized
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’.
Happy reading, kids.
~ peg
Filed under Uncategorized
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.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18FW6QojtC
Peggy Jaeger upcoming book releases
3:57 AM
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
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]
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
Filed under Uncategorized
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.
~ Peg
Filed under Uncategorized
Be a Dolly Parton.
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.
Be like Dolly, people. The world will be better.
Filed under Uncategorized
