Mother's Day

cj Sez: To all the moms and moms-to-be out there:

  And to all those who’ve lost their moms, I share your loss.   

  Numbers 6:24-26  “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
 

§§

 

  Author and book coach Susanne Dunlap calls them complications. I call them plot points and find them fun to write. 

  Putting a complication/plot point at the end of every chapter is a sure way to tempt the reader to keep turning the pages.

  You can read Susanne Dunlap's thoughts here: 
   Embrace Complication to Develop a Can’t-Put-It-Down Narrative | Jane Friedman
 

§§ 

On the personal front

  This is one of the day lilies living under a pecan tree in the front yard. Son Jeff took the photograph and enlarged a copy to the fill-the-frame Georgia O’Keeffe size, which I absolutely love. 

  He also gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers for Mother’s Day. Love, love, love that man. 

§§

 
  Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.
 
cj
 
Now some words from my sponsors:
 
  Beach? Mountains? StayCay? It’s time to plan for those holiday and summer vacation downtime moments when you can lose yourself in a book. My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore.

  Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.
 
  Nota bene: Angela Trigg, the RITA Award-winning author and owner of The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 
 
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Today is simply a designated reminder that . . .

cj Sez: Every day is Mother's Day! I read someplace that love is the deepest emotion we share with one another, so to all the Moms out there, I pray your Mother’s Day is filled to overflowing with love.

A bit of Mother’s Day history (from Britannica.com):

  In 1908 Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families, and it was declared a U.S. holiday in 1914. Her idea was to wear a white carnation as a badge and visit one’s mother or attend church services. She originally worked with the floral industry to help promote Mother’s Day.

  That turned out to be a bad idea because by 1920, she had become so disgusted with the holiday’s commercialization, she urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards, and candies. 

  In the U.S., people spend more money on Mother’s Day than on any other holiday.

§§

  

  When we lived many miles apart, I would send flowers to my sons on Mother’s Day. I got a big laugh out of Jeff’s predicament one year as his co-workers teased him about his happy girlfriend when the flowers arrived at his desk. He gave me a beautiful and colorful bouquet this year. He could have given me a dandelion blossom, slightly crushed and moist from a sweaty little palm, as he did when he was little, and I would not have felt more loved. Precious memories, indeed.

§§

  I can’t end this post without remembering my Mom, as I do most every day. 

  Mama was the mother who soothed my fears, dried my tears, and patted my rear when I needed it. No matter what mistakes I made, she was a lovely, non-judgmental, and gentle soul who believed in me. 

  Thank you, Mama. You are forever in my heart, and I miss you and your sweet smile dearly.

§§

  That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for your health and safety.

cj 

cj’s Tip:

  Here’s a tip to help you out for Mothers’ Day gifts…a book has got to be the perfect gift. It’s always the right size; it’s non-fat, non-carb, gluten- and sugar-free; plus it doesn’t need watering yet doesn’t turn brown or wilt too soon. And it’s reusable!

P.S.  The Haunted Book Shop has signed copies of my books in stock. If you order one that happens to be off their shelf, tell them you want a signed copy—I’ll pop down to the shop to sign it for you. TO ORDER, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 

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Mothers' special day

 cj Sez:  Every day is really mother's day, but today is a special one set aside to remind us how special mothers are. 

§§

   

   To my sons who have made me a very happy and proud mom, never forget that I love you.

§§

   To all those who’ve lost their moms, I share your loss.

   I can’t end this post without honoring and  remembering my Mama, as I do every day. I was blessed that she was the sweet soul who soothed my fears, dried my tears, and patted my rear when I needed it. Who thought I could do anything. Thank you, Mom, for your unconditional love that I did not deserve.

   Yes, Lord, please hold her for a while. She is forever in my heart.

§§

   That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

The Dawgstar eBook now available: https://books2read.com/u/3LRRG5

Death on the Yampa eBook now available: https://books2read.com/u/bxe1AP

P.S.  TO ORDER my autographed books or any book of your choice on-line and support an indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

   The store has re-opened to limited hours (and they have an awesome bookstore kitty, Mr. Bingley), so if you’re in the Mobile area, you can stop and shop, too.

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A Facebook Hop starts on Mothers' Day

cj Sez:  Hop on over to Facebook for the "Bienvenue to the Chateau Rouge" Facebook Hop…

  Pages and pages of authors, including me, and we all have a give-away. There’s also a “grand prize” that will be awarded by your final hop...which takes you over to Bienvenue Press. I'll have more info on my FB page cjpetterson/author/facebook

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   I read someplace that love is the deepest emotion we share with one another. So, to all the Moms out there. . . I hope your Mothers' Day is filled to overflowing with love.

          ///

   When we lived many miles apart, I sent flowers to my sons on Mother’s Day, because they have always been a source of pride. And besides, I wouldn’t be a mother without them. This year, they gave me bouquets and balloons. They could have given me a dandelion blossom, slightly crushed and moist from a sweaty little palm, as they did when they were little, and I could feel more loved.

///

   I can’t end this post without remembering my Mom, as I do every day. I'm constantly finding something I want to share with her. I’m grateful that she was the mother who soothed my fears and dried my tears. No matter what mistakes I made, she was a non-judgmental, sweet, sweet soul who believed in me, believed that I could do anything. Thank you, Mama. You are always in my heart, and I miss you dearly. 

///

   You-all guys keep on keeping on, and washing your hands, and I’ll try to do the same. Prayers going up for your health and safety.

cj

PS: For sure this is me: No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement.  — FLORIDA SCOTT-MAXWELL

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   Here’s a tip: A book would be the perfect gift for Mom. It’s always the right size; it’s non-fat, non-carb, and gluten- and sugar-free; plus it doesn’t need watering yet doesn’t turn brown and wilt in a couple of days. And it’s reusable!

   TO ORDER the book of your choice on-line from my favorite indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: The Haunted Bookshop 

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Winners all. . .

cj Sez:  The Agatha Awards for 2018 books were announced at the Malice Domestic conference on May 4.  

   The Agatha Awards recognize the "traditional mystery," meaning that there is no graphic sex and no excessive violence in the writing. Thrillers or hard-boiled detectives cannot be found here, but instead, picture Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot at work.
   And the winners are .  .  . (indicated by asterisks) 

Best Contemporary Novel
“Mardi Gras Murder” by Ellen Byron **
“Beyond the Truth” by Bruce Robert Coffin
“Cry Wolf” by Annette Dashofy
“Kingdom of the Blind” by Louise Penny
“Trust Me” by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Best Historical Novel
“Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding” by Rhys Bowen
“The Gold Pawn” by LA Chandlar
“The Widows of Malabar Hill” by Sujata Massey **
“Turning the Tide” by Edith Maxwell
“Murder on Union Square” by Victoria Thompson

Best First Novel (Tied for the win)
“A Ladies Guide to Etiquette and Murder” by Dianne Freeman **
“Little Comfort” by Edwin Hill
“What Doesn't Kill You” by Aimee Hix
“Deadly Solution” by Keenan Powell
“Curses Boiled Again” by Shari Randall **

Best Short Story (Tied for the win)
"All God's Sparrows" by Leslie Budewitz (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine) **
"A Postcard for the Dead" by Susanna Calkins (in Florida Happens)
"Bug Appetit" by Barb Goffman (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
"The Case of the Vanishing Professor" by Tara Laskowski (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine) **

"English 398: Fiction Workshop" by Art Taylor (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)

Best Young Adult Mystery
“Potion Problems” by Cindy Callaghan **
“Winterhouse” by Ben Guterson
“A Side of Sabotage” by C.M. Surrisi

Best Nonfiction
“Mastering Plot Twists” by Jane Cleland **
“Writing the Cozy Mystery” by Nancy J Cohen
“Conan Doyle for the Defense” by Margalit Fox
“Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life” by Laura Thompson
“Wicked Women of Ohio” by Jane Ann Turzillo

   Congratulations to nominees and winners alike, and special kudos to my fellow Sisters-in-Crime members on the list. 

  

ooo

   When we lived many miles apart, I sent each of my sons flowers on Mother’s Day, because they have always been a source of pride. Besides, I wouldn’t be a mother without them. (I also got a kick out of them having to explain the roses delivered to their places of work.) And they would send me yellow roses. They could have given me a dandelion stem as they did when they were little, and I could not have felt more loved.

   I can’t end this post without remembering my Mom, as I do most every day. I’m grateful that she was the sweet soul who soothed my fears, dried my tears, and patted my rear when I needed it. Thank you, Mom, for your unconditional love. 

Yes, Lord, please hold her for while. She is forever in my heart.

ooo

That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

Little note: Print copies of Choosing Carter and Deadly Star are becoming scarce as Simon&Schuster winds down their support of the Crimson Romance imprint. You can, however, support an indie book store and order an autographed copy of my books here: The Haunted Bookshop  Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in her own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you the book(s) of your choice.

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One hundred ten years ago, it was just a nice idea.

cj Sez:  I read someplace that love is the deepest emotion we share with one another. So, to all the Moms out there. . . I hope your Mother’s Day is filled to overflowing with love.

A bit of Mother’s Day history (from History.com):

In 1908 Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families, and it was declared a U.S. holiday in 1914. Her idea was to wear a white carnation as a badge and visit one’s mother or attend church services. She originally worked with the floral industry to help promote Mother’s Day,

That turned out to be a bad idea because by 1920, she had become so disgusted with the holiday’s commercialization, she urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards, and candies. 

In the U.S., people spend more money on Mother’s Day than on any other holiday, but we’re not alone in honoring our moms. Some version of Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world, although traditions and dates vary.

In Thailand, Mother’s Day was introduced in May 1950, but in 1976, the date was changed to August 12—the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, who is considered the mother of all Thai people. (cj Sez: A May 11 Facebook post that the 85-year-old monarch, who has been in and out of hospital in recent years, had died is repudiated as untrue: "However the May 2018 report has now been confirmed as a complete hoax and just the latest in a string of celebrity death reports." https://en.mediamass.net/people/queen-sirikit-of-thailand/deathhoax.html )

In Ethiopia, Mother’s Day this year starts on May 13 as it does in the U.S., but their celebrations of motherhood will continue for three days.

***

When we lived many miles apart, I sent flowers to each son on Mother’s Day, because they have always been a source of pride. And besides, I wouldn’t be a mother without them. This year, they gave me roses. They could have given me dandelion blossoms, slightly crushed and moist from a sweaty little palm, as they did when they were little, and I could not have felt more loved.

I can’t end this post without remembering my Mom, as I do most every day. I’m grateful that she was the mother who soothed my fears, dried my tears, and patted my rear when I needed it. No matter what mistakes I made, she was a non-judgmental, sweet, sweet soul who believed in me. Thank you, Mom. You are forever in my heart.

That's it for today's post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I'll try to do the same. 

cj

PS:  No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement.  — FLORIDA SCOTT-MAXWELL

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Mother's Day

cj Sez . . .

To all the moms out there….Happy Mother’s Day.

To all those who’ve lost their moms, I share your loss.

To my sons who have made me a very happy and proud mom, 

never forget that I love you.

 ***

And  Congratulations to my grandson, Jeff, who graduated from law school on May 13 with a juris doctorate with magna cum laude honors. 

Numbers 6:24-26  “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

“Bad Day at Round Rock” short story in The Posse anthology @ http://amzn.to/2lQRvcD

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