Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, may this year be more fun than a sack full of kittens, or at least better than a sharp stick in the eye. (Those are your Southern-isms of the week, in case you couldn’t tell.) In other words, Happy New Year!

- Do you have any New Year’s traditions? According to Country Living, “If you're concerned about 'sweeping' or 'washing' away any luck coming your way, don't do any cleaning—including dishes and laundry.” Sounds good to us.

Book 3: Doug and Chris spent some time last week figuring out the basic plot of the third Felony Melanie book. It will involve some high school rivalry and pranks. Did your school have prank wars with rival schools? What about Seniors vs. Juniors, etc.? If you recall any particularly fun/funny ones, please send them our way! If we use yours in the book, we’ll acknowledge you in the book (if you’d like) and send you a free e-book copy.

Visit the Amazon series page for Felony Melanie: Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels. Book 2 is in Kindle Unlimited if you use that!

Doug says: On this week's podcast, I welcome screenwriters Valerie Alexander (Memories of Christmas) and Amanda Raymond (You Are My Home) to discuss writing Christmas movies. View it here.

“A staple of Southern fried food in the United States, hushpuppies are an extremely popular snack consisting of deep-fried cornmeal batter. … One of the most popular theories states that hunters and fishermen would feed the fried cornmeal to their dogs and command them to "hush, puppies", so the dogs would not disturb their prey. Another, similar theory states that Confederate soldiers would also feed it to their dogs so that the enemy soldiers wouldn't hear the dogs' barking.” –TasteAtlas.

Ready for the new year? How about some new reads? Sign up for author newsletters and get free stories. Say goodbye to 2020 and hello to some new stories! See the options here.  

How about a fun series set in and around a cat café? Check out the first book in Kris’s sweet romance series, Coffee and Crushes at the Cat Café, for only 99 cents for the Kindle!

Kari doesn't have time for love when she's opening her new cat café. She’s busy hiring employees, fighting with the health inspector – oh, and welcoming 16 shelter cats. But when a sexy master baker walks in, she can’t let him get away. So what does she do with the guy of her dreams? Set him up with her sister, of course.

Visit the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series page. Get Lions and Love at the Cat Café, a sweet romance novella, free when you sign up for the Kris Bock email newsletter.

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