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#IYKYK

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.

The most recent results are from NEST – The National Excellence in Story Telling contest sponsored by the Central Region Oklahoma Writers group.

I got the results back yesterday, and I came in 4th in the contemporary category. So again…not a win, but a mention…

for this book: A Chef’s Kiss Christmas

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.

The fun never ends, kids ( LOL)

~Peg

A follow-up to yesterday’s post

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.

and yes, that is a question mark, lol. Hear me out.

By now, everyone knows I love TikTok.

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.

Saturday, June 20

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!!!

for the 2027 New England Book Ball!!

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

Get your tickets here: NEBB2027

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!

and I’m so looking forward to it!

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.

~ Peg

you know the rest of that statement! LOL

The HOLT MEDALLION Awards were listed to day and I was a finalist in the Long Contemporary category for my book YOU’RE MY MATCH ( Heaven’s Matchmaker, book 4).

I didn’t win my category ( hence the title of this post)

But…

I did find out almost at the same time as the awards were bing given out that I am a finalist in another writing contest, THE FIRST COAST ROMANCE WRITERS NATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN ROMANCE FICTION ( NERFA) AWARD for book 3 in the Heaven’s Matchmaker series, PERFECT MATCH!

@firstcoastromancewriters

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

♬ original sound – First Coast Romance Writers – First Coast Romance Writers

Goodness! The blessing keep coming. I knew this was a decent series, but all these contests are validating it in my mind ( and hope yours, too!)

Stay tuned. I’ll let you know about this one, too!

#blessed

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.

and exhausting.

Recently, I put one of my books up on Kindle for free for a week. I also added it to KU, both as a means to garner new readers who would – hopefully – purchase others of my books if they liked this one.

I posted about the free sale daily on TikTok, Instagram, and my fb buisness page.

And I tracked the downloads for free and the KU page reads.

These are the results: 89 KU page reads

37 free downloads.

This is actually pretty pathetic for a free book.

This tells me a couple of things, potentially.

1. nobody wanted the short story book even for free
2. people don’t like short story books
3. people don’t like the genre ( horror) in short story books

Let’s analyze those points:

Nobody wanted the short story book, even for free. WHY? is it points 2 and 3? Is it that they don’t like my writing? Is it that they didn’t want to be bothered even getting a free book because either the subject or the author ( me) wasn’t palatable?

So many questions with no answers.

It’s becoming even more exhausting trying to garner new readers every day in this economy. Billionaires don’t read. Not the stuff I write, anyway. My books are read by women, mostly, usually above the age of 30 with kids, grandkids, jobs, and responsibilities. In this economy, they are already stretched as far as they can go, so buying books has become a luxury they can ill afford.

I hear this and feel it so profoundly.

My husband asks me routinely why I still do this. Why do I make myself sick with trying to come up with new ways to market my books, find new writers, and discover new ways to get people interested enough to read my work?

The answer is really very simple: it brings me joy.

Despite it being a time suck and at times anxiety producing, not doing it would be worse because then I wouldn’t have any joy.

So… the struggle is real and exhausting, but the joy offsets all the misery for me.

I’d really like to seel some books and get new readers, though.