I love when my author friends come to visit me. Today, I’ve got multi-published, best-selling author, Liz Flaherty, joining me and she’s telling me all about a re-release of one of her backlist books. She’s updated the story a bit to modernize it just hair and I’m excited to share it with you.
Here’s Liz…
I’ve been married for a long time. I’ve fallen in love over and over during the 51-plus years of our marriage. Always with the same guy and often with a different one who looks like him but…really, did he just say that? We’ve stayed married, never living apart or even doing any bedroom-door-slamming or sleeping on the couch. I’ve never either asked or ordered him to leave and he’s never driven away with any intent of not returning.
It has not always been nearly as easy as that sounds.
In A Soft Place to Fall, Early and Nash were married for a long time, too. She got pregnant while she was still in high school and they got married when she was 16 and he was 18. They both worked nearly all the time and got Nash through medical school and raised four children. Thirty years after they got married, they’re living in a pretty gated community in Lexington, Kentucky, enjoying grandbabies and freedom from debt and…
And maybe not enjoying anything at all. At least, Nash isn’t.
Divorced and in search of herself, Early moves back to the Ridge in rural Kentucky. She takes care of Nash’s father after he has heart surgery, of her mother when she breaks her ankle, and…finally…of herself, too. As she builds a quilt shop named A Soft Place to Fall, she also creates a life for herself.
But then there’s Nash.
A Soft Place to Fall was first released in 2013. Nine years later, with a few changes, it still feels relevant. I hope you find it so, too.
Early McGrath doesn’t want freedom from her thirty-year marriage to Nash, but when it’s forced upon her, she does the only thing she knows to do – she goes home to the Ridge to reinvent herself.
Only what is someone who’s spent her life taking care of other people supposed to do when no one needs her anymore? Even as the threads of her life unravel, she finds new ones – reconnecting with the church of her childhood, building the quilt shop that has been a long-time dream, and forging a new friendship with her former husband.
The definition of freedom changes when it’s combined with faith, and through it all perhaps Early and Nash can find a Soft Place to Fall.
USA Today bestselling author Liz Flaherty started writing in the fourth grade when her Aunt Gladys allowed her to use her portable Royal typewriter. The truth was that her aunt would have let her do anything to get her out of her hair, but the typewriter and the stories it could produce caught on, and Liz never again had a day without a what if… in it.
She and Duane, her husband of at least forever, live in a farmhouse in central Indiana, sharing grown children, spoiled cats, and their grandkids, the Magnificent Seven. (Don’t get her started on them—you’ll be here all day.) To find out more about her, stop by http://lizflaherty.net/ or any of the other places she hangs around by visiting linktr.ee/LizFlaherty
I am super stoked to let you all know I have a release date of 2.1.2023 for my short story collection DEATH BETWEEN THE PAGES: A Short Story Collection about Death.
The book was reproduced from Kindle Vella. I had such a great response to it from the Vella readers that when the opportunity presented itself, I decided to release it on Kindle. It will also be available in KU after the release date.
The book is a collection of fictional short stories I’ve written over the years ( mostly in the 1990s) when I was obsessed with serial killers and all things murder related, LOL. A long way from the lighthearted romance I write these days.
A cheating husband. A group of widows. A priest. A landlady. A spider. What do they all have in common? Death.
and here’s the cover:
And here’s a little snippet from one of the stories, THE TUESDAY NIGHT MEETING.
“You probably don’t remember my late husband, Major Plowright. I believe he passed when you were just a baby. Well, my dear, if there was ever a tougher man in the world to live with, I’d be sore-pressed to believe it. I truly feel the moment he was brought into the world a military angel crossed his path and predestined him for a soldier’s life. His mother told me after we’d been married for about a year that even as a child, everything had to be precision perfect in his world. He tolerated no fools, silliness or any kind of good-natured fun. I didn’t realize this when I married him, mind you. I know now I fell in love with his spit and polish exterior and superior manner. I never could resist a good-lookin’ man in a uniform.”
A few well-knowing chuckles escaped throughout the room.
“Well, married life was kind of sweet for a while. I got used to his ranting and raving about precision and cleanliness and order. But when the Major was forced to retire at a very early age, well, it all changed. He changed. Nothing I did was ever good enough. I was plum worn out with three babies and a big house to care for, and he never helped a lick with anything. One day he came home from his club and my youngest had spilled his juice all over the kitchen floor. I was just about to clean it up, but the Major didn’t let me. He stormed into the room, saw the mess, and started screaming and hollering so loud I thought my little Jimmy’s diapers were gonna fall off. When I tried to explain about the mess, he smacked me across the face. Knocked me clear across the kitchen with one felled swoop of the back of his hand. I was so stunned I didn’t see the next one coming. He was raving about me being an inadequate wife and mother and that he was going to teach me a lesson I’d never forget. He was right about it, too. I never forgot that first beating. Or all the others he gave me after. I do believe he came to enjoy it when he struck me down. I’d see a gleam in his eyes, kind of like the one I’d seen when he was in the throes of passion, whenever he hit me.”
Wisteria stopped and refreshed herself with a sip of tea.
“Miz Plowright, ma-am. I had no idea,” Cora said.
“Of course not, darlin’. In those days, why, a woman was barely a step above chattel. Men’s property; bought and sold.”
“What did you do? I mean, did you stay with the Major?”
“For a while. I ran away with the children once, to my mother. But the Major followed me and dragged us all back. The beating I endured that night broke my left arm and two of my ribs.”
“I remember he went around town the next day telling everyone who’d listen that you fell down the front steps because you were rushing off somewhere in a dither,” Molly Kane said.
When Cora gasped, Wisteria patted her hand and said, “You see, Cora. We’ve all lied at one time or another about our bruises.”
“Finish your story, Wisteria,” Mavis commanded.
After taking another sip of tea, she did. “I knew I had to do something about the situation, but what? I couldn’t leave him. He’d shown me how he’d hunt me down and bring me back. Divorce was out of the question in those days. No self-respectin’ woman of the South would ever be seen in divorce court, airing all her dirty personal laundry. I finally figured out I had two options. I could stay and put up with this man I’d grown to fear and hate until he finally succeeded in killing me, or…”
“Or?” Cora prompted.
“Or I could rid myself and the children of him right then and there.”
Cora’s loud intake of air was the one sound in the room. To the question in her eyes,
Wisteria merely inclined her head.
“Yes, my dear. I killed my husband. It was the only way I could survive.”
As this year closes out and we all catch the end-of-the-year reflection bug, I can’t help but think what a rollercoaster 2022 was – in the world and in my own life.
My third-grade teacher, Mrs. Sinclair, used to say that whenever we think of something bad happening we should balance it by thinking of something good. Makes sense, no?
So, here are the bad things that happened (to me) in 2022, first:
~ I got Covid. REALLLLLY bad covid even though I was double-vaxxed and triple-boosted. I was laid up for 10 days with a wracking cough, incredibly high fevers, and no energy at all.
~ I developed a ridiculous double ear infection that rendered me 95% deaf for almost 2 weeks.
~ I watched the slow, progressive decline of my parents’ health and mentation.
~ I didn’t win Powerball. Not even once!
~ I didn’t win Megamillions.
And now, the positive:
~ my grandson took his first steps, said his first words, and recognizes me enough to dive-bomb me with hugs and kisses whenever he sees me.
~ I wrote, and subsequently had published, 7 new books
~ I got a new writing/publishing contract from Magnolia Blossom Publishing for 5 books
I’ve teamed up with my favorite promo site, Bookthrone, and together with a host of other authors, we’re sponsoring a SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOW giveaway! Click on the landing link below, follow the instructions for following the authors, and then you’ll b entered in the giveaway!
And of course, please support the authors with your follows and book buys! My Dickens Holiday Romance, FIXING CHRISTMAS is featured in the promotion.
After saying for months that I didn’t want to add one more thing to my already filled social media experience, I bit the bullet and joined TikTok.
Why, you ask?
Well, I’ll tell ya. I happened to take an online course by the fabulous Shelby Leigh who broke down how to use it as an author and made it seem sosososo easy and relatable that I figured, why not? I had been hesitant before because learning something new again seemed daunting. But Shelby’s step-by-step instructions were so easy to understand for a techNOphobe like me, that I took the plunge.
And I have to tell you, I’ve been having a lot of fun.
Yes, it’s a lot of work, creating content, movies, posts. But it’s also a lot of fun to do! I’ve been making alot of videos of my dog, Maple, that aren’t available anywhere else, plus I’ve been doing live reading of my books. It’s forced me to do my hair and put on makeup every day, something I haven’t done since I retired, LOL!
So if you’re Tiktok-er, please consider adding me to your friend’s list. Here’s my profile link: Peggy Jaeger, TIKTOK
The other day I shared with you my top 10 favorite Christmas movies and now, my favorite Christmas songs. You might never have heard of some of these, but to me, they are all classics.
COOL YULE Better Midler
Christmas, Baby please come home Darlene Love
All I want for Christmas Mariah Carey
Run, Rudolph, Run Chuck Berry
Happy Christmas Lennon & Ono
Blue Christmas Elvis Presley
Santa Claus is coming to town Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
The Little Drummer Boy Bowie & Crosby
Hard Candy Christmas Dolly Parton
This Christmas Donny Hathaway
There ya have it – my holiday playlist. What songs are on your hit parade?
Today’s snippet comes from my first Magnolia Blossom Publishing books, MERRY’S GHOST.
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.
SNIPPET…
From across the street, he watched her work.
“Okay, Sam. Now open your arms wide like this.” Merry moved back from behind the tripod and extended her arms out to the sides, palms up. “Turn your face up to the sky, close your eyes, and smile as big as you can.”
Sam, all red hair and freckles and just turning eleven, did as he was told.
Merry smiled and crouched down behind the camera. “Okay. Stay that way until I say three.” She counted, snapping away as she did.
“That was great, Sam. Just great.”
The boy ran down from the gazebo steps, his smile the size of a cavern opening. “Really, Merry? Was it good?”
She laid a hand on his shoulder. “Better than good. Can I call you again if I need a male model?”
Sam lifted his shoulders and puffed out his chest with pride. “Sure thing, Merry. Anytime. You just call.”
“I will. And thanks for the soda. Thank your grandma, too.”
“Sure thing.” With that, he hopped on his skateboard and headed back towards the beach.
Chase watched her reload the camera and move the tripod to a new location, a few feet forward from where she’d been. All around her on the ground stood bags of what he assumed to be photographic supplies. Each satchel was open, and he noticed two extra hand cameras lying together next to the curb.
But it was to the woman his eyes strayed to and stayed. She was dressed as she’d been when they’d met, her feet still barefoot even though the concrete had to be scorching. With the sun shining full force down upon her head, the blondness of her hair seemed white in the bright light. Her face was free, no sunglasses to bar the glare of the sun. She stepped back from the camera, made a rectangular lens with her index fingers and thumbs, and peered into it. Chase saw her nod, once, then go back to the camera.
In rapid succession, she took numerous photographs of the aging town gazebo. It stood four square in the center of Main Street in front of the City Hall and courthouse. Against the fading red brick of both official edifices, the Victorian-spiraled, circular gazebo stood out, contrasting against them with its newly painted white facade. Hundreds of purple, pink and white Impatiens had been planted around the outer edge of it.
In all, the scene was a beautiful one to his untrained eye. He wondered how it would look captured on film from her viewpoint.
His breathing quickened as he found himself walking over to her. He hadn’t planned this, he told himself. Didn’t know if he wanted to see her again so soon. But he had no choice as his body took over his mind and propelled him toward her.
She was changing film again, securing one of the other cameras to the tripod.
“So you’re a photographer as well as a sea shell collector,” he said when he was sure she could hear him.
Her smile came first, as she folded the film into the camera. He thought it was as if she’d known he was there, watching her, all along, and had just been waiting for him to approach. Then she turned to him. The sun blasted full force into her face and she squinted against its blinding glare. She said, “Among other things.”
The cannonball that shot into his mid-section when she stared up at him made his stomach muscles tighten into tangled knots.
Switching the cameras, she turned the tripod away from the gazebo, aiming it straight in his direction. While he stood, watching her, she bent and winked into the viewfinder.
“Going to take my picture?” he asked.
She stood up, hands on hips, and angled her head to one side. “Not unless you want me to. I’m trying to get to the Post Office before the sun moves.”
“Don’t let me disturb you, then.” He turned, intent on walking away.
“You don’t have to go,” she said, squatting down again. “I don’t mind being watched when I work.”
“Being watched?” he came towards her, hands in his pockets.
“Hmmm.” Hands in place, she clicked the shutter. “You were watching when I was photographing Sam, weren’t you?”
Damn. She’d seen him. His embarrassment made him silent.
Merry clicked a few more shots then straightened and turned to him. “It’s okay,” she said, smiling. “Like I said, I don’t mind. Sometimes an audience is good for me. Keeps me on my toes.”
Why, he asked himself, every time she smiled like that, did he want to drag her against his body and cover her mouth with his own? Where had this desire come from? And why was it directed at her, a woman he didn’t know and couldn’t make up his mind if he even wanted to?
To hide his uneasiness, he decided to challenge it by being honest. “I saw Sam come into the grocery store. He was all excited about being photographed by you. He practically flew out of the store with your drink.”
She started packing up her gear, taking the film from the cameras and putting them into the pockets of her shorts. “Sam’s always been a ham. I first photographed him when he was seven and I found him sitting on the beach, a caramel apple dripping all over his face. His mother loved the shot so much she used it for their Christmas card that year.”
Her laugh gamboled through the air. He’d never heard a sound that was at one time so childlike yet so thoroughly seductive.
“His grandmother thinks he’s in love with you,” he said, picking up one of her bags and handing it to her.
“Thanks. Selma’s a card, smokes too much, and has a heart as big as the ocean. She loves that boy no end.”
“I thought the same thing when I was in her store.”
“Speaking of the store,” she tossed the last of the bags over her shoulder, “I’ve got to get a few things myself.”
When she went to pick up the tripod, her hand collided with his as he’d had the same idea.
Together, their fingers stayed twined around the pole for a few seconds. Neither of them had the desire to remove their grips.
The heat that Chase had felt before was now at a boiling point. For the briefest of seconds, he found himself energized by her touch, vitalized by the feel of her skin against his. It was almost like being struck by lightning.
“Where’s your car?” he asked, barely able to keep the aching going on within him banked from her ears. “You’ve got an awful lot to carry. Let me take this.”
“No car. I walked.”
“You came all this way, carrying this load, alone?”
“Sure. I do it all the time. I can manage.” The gentle tug she exerted on the pole was met with resistance. “Can I have my tripod?” she asked, a playful smile dancing on her face.
His eyebrows furrowed above the glasses. “It’s too hot to walk, ” he said. “My car’s about two blocks away. Come on, I’ll drive you home.”
“It’s okay, I can walk. Besides, I need to stop at Selma’s.”
“I’m parked right outside her store,” he said, taking one of the bags off her shoulder.
He began walking and she had no choice but to follow.
“Are you always so bossy?” she asked, matching him stride for stride, even though she was barefoot and carrying a third of her weight on her shoulders.
“I’m not bossy,” he said, “just practical. It’s almost ninety degrees. You’d be exhausted by the time you got home, carrying all this.”
“Like I said, I’m used to it.” One arm slung over the bag across her shoulder, and she peered at him from the corner of her eye as they walked along.
Christmas is around the corner and I am a huge holiday movie fan. Not the Hallmark channel movies, but the kind you see first in a movie theater with a tub of heart attack-inducing popcorn, a soda big enough to cause kidney failure, and enough candy to put you in a hyperglycemic crisis.
I typically watch the same holiday movies every year when they roll around on television, this year, no different.
In no real order, these are my all-time favorite Christmas/Holiday movies.
LOVE, ACTUALLY
DIE HARD ( do not argue with me about this. IMHO this is a holiday movie)
Peggy Jaeger, Author 