A few weeks ago I posted that I was having shoulder surgery and I wouldn’t be able to blog/tweet/fb respond, etc. for a while. For the next few weeks you’ll be seeing old posts ( Oldies but goodies) from me that I’m reposting just to keep myself active in the back of your minds.
yeah…it’s a little conceited, I know. But…the current world of marketing, you know? Here today and….gone tonight.
Hee hee.
Enjoy. I’ll be back as soon as the god’s of healing allow.
Be well.
Until next time ~Peg
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So. Next week I’m having surgery.
I’m not looking forward to it because I won’t be able to use my right arm or hand for an indefinite period of time.
Long story, short: I fell 2 years ago and tore my rotator cuff, bicep tendon, and something called a labrum ( sounds kinda dirty, but since it’s in my upper arm, it’s really not.) In the beginning the docs told me all I had was something called a “frozen shoulder.” After 3 months of PT, multiple pain killers, rest and no exercise, the pain never went away and they threw up their hands, and I really think they thought I was malingering or faking. When the pain proceeded to get worse they gave me cortisol injection. Didn’t work. I finally convinced someone to order an MRI.
Yeah…when someone says they are in pain, believe them first before you question if they’re faking it.
The MRI showed the above mentioned results.
And now I have to have surgery to repair all the damage. I can’t imagine it’s going to be easy on the orthopedic surgeon to correct the problems because they are – as mentioned above ( again!) 2 years old, not recent. There has to be some kind of scarring or something going on in there that will make this worse than I’ve been led to believe.
This has been ( despite my saying Long story, short) a long winded way of saying I won’t be typing anything for a few weeks. This week and next, before the surgery, I’m doing everything in my power to front load all my blogs, tweets, announcements, etc.
Can you spell stressed?
Yeah…my middle name.
While I’m recovering, I still have a sale going on and two books in edits – one in galleys! Yikes. Pray for me peeps. Pray for me.
Until next time, when I hope all is cured and my pain is gone ( just throwing that out there into the universe to see if it sticks!) ~ Peg
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In one short week I head to NYC for the annual RWA conference. Can I just tell you how happy I am that I don’t have to fly to the event this year??!! A quick drive to New Haven and then a hop on board Metro North and I can be in NYC much quicker than if I have to fly to ports west of here.
Any hoo…
This annual conference has become for me, a time to re-energize, revitalize, and reevaluate my writing career. I get to see writing friends I only see at conferences since we live in different places, and I get to fan-girl my favorite authors and do a little harmless stalking. Hee hee.
I’ll be updating the blog daily with fun stuff from NYC and the conference, so be sure to check out my hashtag #peggyworksaconference on my twitter and instagram feeds.
Until next time ~ Peg
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Known as the subway in America, we took the Tube or the UNDERGROUND many places in London. Unlike American subways, though, the English tube system is clean, on time, economical and fast. I felt safe every where we traveled underground, something I never feel in American trains.
One day we found ourselves in Kensington Palace. Made famous as the place where Princess Diana chose to live after her divorce, the palace in an actual apartment complex ( for Royalty!) but we were able to tour around certain parts of the building and get a feel for what it felt like when Kings and Queens resided there. There is a Diana exhibit on the ground floor, so of course, we all had to see it.
We took a bus ride around the city on one of the several beautiful days we had and I was struck with all the beautiful flower arrangements around the city streets.
Dinner one night was in 22B Baker street, home of none other than SHERLOCK HOLMES
On our last day we toured St. Pauls’ Cathedral, as famous for Diana and Charles’ wedding as it is for all the famous people buried there, one especially who is near and dear to me: FLORENCE NIGHTENGALE
And, of course, as happenstance would have it, I had a book release while we were vacationing. More about that tomorrow.
Until Next time ~ Peg
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Last week in London was a whirlwind, I will admit. From the moment we touched down until we left, we were in constant motion. It seemed like we wanted to see every sight we could before the week was up – so we purchased the LONDON PASS and did just that! From Westminster Abbey, to Picaddily Circus, to Harrods and on to Greenwich, we walked miles and miles. Each day my Fitbit told me I’d done an average of 15-20,000 steps. Now, because I’m so prone to sunburn – even on cloudy days – I wore a 110 SPF and a hat everywhere. My favorite hat is one from my daughter’s company, YEXT. I wore it in so many selfies, my family cameup with a hastag for me – #WheretheYEXT am I?
Can you guess where I am in these pictures?
Okay, this one is easy! So is this one:
I’m pretty sure this one is, too!
Do you know what the big building in the background is called?
This picture, btw, way taken from the very top of St.Pauls’ Cathedral after climbing up the 572 steps to the spire. Can you spell EXHAUSTED? The building in the background is called THE SHARD because it looks like a shard of glass up close.
No brainer on this one!
Quiz time: Is the above pix of St. Pauls, Westminister, or Canterbury cathedral?
If you said Westminster Abbey, you would be correct!
I kinda think I look like a modern day Kilroy! Only I’m a girl, we’re not at war, and I don’t have a big nose. But, like Kilroy just the same. Hee hee
More travels on Thursday, because tomorrow is Long and Short Blogging day!
Until next time ~ Peg
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Last week I was pretty much on radio silence (except for promoting my 7.2.19 book release) because I was vacationing in London with family. One of my brothers-in-law hails from the country and we figured he’d be the best tour guide we could find.
We were right!
For those of you who have flown to any place in Europe, or points east of the US, you know the time change is a bitch. And it was. The first day I felt like I hadn’t slept in 10 weeks. But I rallied thru. The houses of Parliament were first, followed by the Tower Bridge.
A quick bite to eat in a local pub and it was off to bed.
Sunday we tackled the Tower of London 
A few heads rolled in that place.
This was the view from out hotel – The London Eye.
One of the highlights of the vaca was a day trip to the Canterbury. We didn’t hear any tales, but we saw some great sights and had a proper high tea in a teahouse.
I even found the best titled book store EVAH!
So, that’s a little taste of what we did for a few days. More to come in following blogs. I’ve got to sleep now because I’m still on UK time!
Until next time ~Peg
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Calling all holiday-themed readers! It’s more than evergreens and twinkly lights at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s third annual Christmas in July Fête. 44 Christmas-themed books featured plus a chance to win one of the following:
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/christmas-in-july-fete
Celebrate the holidays waaaaaay before you need to trim the tree! Today, I’m over on NNLights Christmas in July Festival talking about my latest holiday romance CHRISTMAS AND CANNOLIS.
Join me and see what I love most about the holidays.
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I’ve said this before, but I love when one of my Wild Rose Press sistahs comes to visit, and I doubly love it when they’ve got a new book to promote! Today, romantic suspense sistah, C.B. Clark is here, talking about her newest release, SECRET BETRAYAL. The subject matter in the book sent her on a research expedition before she sat down and wrote this fast-paced, timely tale and she agreed to tell me a little about her process.
Here’s C.B…..
Authors research the most bizarre topics in preparation for writing their books. In the past, I’ve investigated unique ways to poison someone, how to distinguish human bones from animal bones, how to fly an airplane under the radar, and a dozen other topics guaranteed to raise eyebrows. For my newest novel, Secret Betrayal, where the heroine is a victim of stalking, I researched incidents of this crime, talked to victims, and met with community support groups.
I was shocked to discover that 1 in 6 American women will be stalked in their lifetime. Victims often receive unwanted phone calls, emails, texts and lavish gifts. The terror of knowing someone is watching you and monitoring everything you do is overwhelming. No wonder these women suffer serious physical, social, and psychological effects. Most stalking occurs between people who know each other, but one-quarter of victims are harassed by strangers. Fortunately anti-stalking legislation is in place in most states, and the authorities are taking this crime seriously. If caught, stalkers face serious jail time.
Head college librarian, Marissa Reynolds has spent years distancing herself from her crime king pin uncle and his criminal empire. When she awakens in an unfamiliar hotel room with blood on her hands and no memory of how she got there, the past returns with a vengeance, and her life spirals into a nightmare.
Straight-laced, Assistant district Attorney, Scott Bannister has spent a lifetime seeking justice for the senseless gangland shooting deaths of his parents. When he realizes Marissa is the niece of his prime suspect, he crosses a line guaranteed to put in jeopardy both his life and his beloved career.
He’s made it clear he’ll do anything to destroy her uncle. She fears he’s using her to achieve his goal. As the body count mounts, and their lives are threatened, they must put aside their distrust and work together to find the devious killer. Will they be able to forgive and find true love?
Excerpt:
She pushed to her hands and knees. The pounding in her brain mushroomed into a full-blown, jackhammer assault. With a moan, she sank onto her bottom and grabbed her head in a fruitless effort to keep her brain from exploding. Despite the pain, she needed to get up. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
Faint wisps of light seeped through the edges of the window curtains. The distant sound of traffic echoed through the glass. A lamp imbued the room with a soft, rosy glow, revealing a king-size bed. The cover on the bed was a glossy, garish pink, the pillows covered in the same lurid color, the edges trimmed with frilly, black lace.
She rubbed the back of her neck and closed her eyes, but when she opened them again she was still in the unfamiliar room. A battered desk faced the bed, a large, flat screen television on top. The flickering images of a naked, full-breasted woman being entertained by two equally naked men played across the screen.
A wingback chair, covered in black leatherette sat in the far corner where a door was ajar revealing the cracked linoleum floor of a bathroom and the edge of a chipped porcelain sink. A framed diagram of a fire escape route was posted on the back of the other door. A hotel room? She dug her fingers into her temples. Why couldn’t she remember?
You can get your copy of Secret Betrayals here:
Amazon // iTunes // Nook // Kobo // Google Books //
A little about C.B. Clark:
Award-winning author C.B. Clark has written five romantic suspense novels published by The Wild Rose Press. She has worked as an archaeologist and an educator. She enjoys hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing with her husband and dog near her home in the wilderness of central British Columbia.
You can connect with C.B here:
instagram // Blog // Twitter //Facebook // Goodreads // Amazon
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Since last week I’ve been aphonic. For those of you who didn’t go to nursing school like me, that means, I have no voice. Allergy season is in full force here in New England and the pollen, rain, mold, moss ratios are uber-high, so when that happens and my allergies go “Yippie!” the polyps I have on my vocal cords swell, resulting in a very quiet Jaeger household. Hubby is pretty decent at reading lips, but I’ve become a real hermit this past week because leaving the house without a voice is difficult if you need to interact with people vocally.
This isn’t the first time I’ve been aphonic. Several years ago my ENT doc put me on voice rest for 2 months because the polyps were gigantor and he wanted to give them a rest. Have you got any idea what it’s like for a girl who loves to talk not to be able to?? Torture is too tame a word.
Anyhoo….
This past week, and like with every event in my life, I started thinking about how I could use this aphonia, or some aspect of it, in my writing.
How would you help a person who can’t speak, communicate?
What tools would you give them ( if any) in order for them to go about their lives?
Would a character like this be sympathetic? ( In reality, I’m not a sympathetic character, so this one stumps me.)
What kind of love interest would be willing to become involved with someone who can never SAY Iove you?
This is where the show, don’t tell part of writing would be strong, because I would need the character to continually be in movement, trying to get their point across, because they couldn’t say what they wanted to say.
Can you see how difficult, challenging, and thought provoking an aphonic character would be to write?
Kinda like my life right now: difficult, challenging and thought provoking.
Oh, and for those people who think they will be helpful and write to me telling me I can have surgery or laser removal of my polyps, know this: it isn’t a possibility for me. I would lose my vocal chords completely due to the size and scope of the polyps, so, no. I can tolerate a few days or weeks without a voice.But the next 40-50 years. yeah, not so much. Thanks, though.
Until next time ~Peg
Oh, and don’t forget:
TTFY
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Today’s topic is BOOKS THAT NEED A SEQUEL and…..I’m lost.
I have a feeling I know the books most people think need sequels, but I’m not so sure.
The Catcher in the Rye – I’ll be honest – I hate this book. But…I can see people wanting to know what happens to Holden when he ( finally) grows up.
Gone Girl. Want to know if she had the baby? If she was ever sent to prison?
The Handmaid’s Tale. The HULU show makes you believe the story continued after the end of the book. But Atwood hasn’t written a sequel yet and I’m not sure the way the TV show depicts what happens in Gilead is what she’d like to happen.
To Kill A Mockingbird. Want to know if the town changes it’s opinion of Boo based on how he’s treated by Scout and Addicus? Or if the racist attitudes of the town folk change with time and wisdom?
Charlotte’s Web. Want to know what happens to Wilbur and the gang after Charlotte’s “babies” appear?
In all honesty, most books that are standalones are standalones for a reason ( in my humble opinion). I’ve gotten closure on them. We all saw how miserably a sequel fail, esp. if not written by the original author. Anyone remember SCARLET, the supposed sequel to Gone With The Wind? Yeah, I don’t either.
Just sayin’..
Let’s see what books the other authors in this challenge think need sequels: L&SR
Until next time ~Peg
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Peggy Jaeger, Author 