Voice recognition mistake of the day: “Stuffed zucchini possums.” Not the treat one might intend. Stuffed zucchini blossoms might be tastier!

Writer for hire! I have 27 published romance and mystery novels that are “feel-good stories with characters you'd like to know” and over 100 books for children (as Chris Eboch). Despite my many publications, it’s challenging to make a living as an author. I’ve made most of my income from educational publishing, which has largely dried up this year. I’m trying to develop new income streams as a developmental editor (offering paid critiques), writer for hire, and book coach. If you need such services, or if you hear of people needing an editor, writer etc. please send them my way! Here’s some info on my Expert Writing Services.

Happy audiobook anniversary to me! 🤗 One year ago, Something Shady at Sunshine Haven was released in audiobook, and to celebrate, Tantor has a 70% discount. You can celebrate too, by getting a huge savings on this audiobook!

In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. This humorous series starts with Something Shady at Sunshine Haven. (Book 7 is coming in March!)

Scene from Albuquerque, New Mexico: woodcarving of coyotes and golden cottonwood tree at sunset.

Find More New Books and Authors!

A Soldier’s Christmas Wish by Elysia Strife: “With several deployments under his belt, Cole Walker thought he’d seen it all. Then he got a devastating phone call: A car wreck. An orphaned infant. And 3,500 cattle that need care. Now the guardian of his brother’s baby girl and their family ranch, Cole is desperate for help. He teams up with Iris Avery, a high school friend, and they uncover dreams they once hid from one another. But her ex returns to town, ready to fulfill a promise he made to her. A clean holiday romance with mild action, humor, and a happily ever after.” Well rated and just 99 cents.

A Shot At Love (Miller Family Medical Book 1) by Daphne James Huff: “Dr. Anais Miller longs to settle down and start a family, but every man in town either sees her as someone’s off-limits older sister or an austere doctor about to take over her dad’s practice. Meeting a handsome and charming stranger at the local bar is finally her chance at happiness. Until she discovers he’s her brother’s best friend—and a pro baseballer with no intention of sticking around. Unable to ignore their sizzling chemistry, Anais and Jackson agree to a vacation fling… A brother’s-best-friend, medical-meets-sports, low spice, cozy read.” This one is free!

In the Shadow of Sunrise by Jennifer Bohnhoff is a standalone novel set in New Mexico during the Folsom Period, some 9,000 years ago, for ages 9 and up. “This summer Earth Shadow is finally old enough to leave his clan's winter shelter and join the Walk Around. Handicapped since birth, Earth Shadow has lived his whole life in the shadow of Sunrise, his stronger twin brother. Now he must finally step out of his brother's shadow and become a leader in his clan, or spend his life hidden away in the Circle of Mountains.” The ebook is just 99¢ during the month of November. Pick it up on Amazon, Kobo, Apple, or B&N.  

Free Sweet Romance Reads : Check out new authors with a free story! These are all ‘sweet and clean.’

Can't forget the boys! 😁 Does Mercury look put upon?

In Death at Rock Bottom (Tales of a Reluctant Psychic Book 2), Haven makes a variation on a sidecar, which usually has cognac, triple sec and lemon juice. Haven adds limoncello. If that sounds good, check out 7 Sidecar Cocktail Riffs.

In the Tales of a Reluctant Psychic Mystery series, a quirky loner who can read the history of any object with her touch gets drawn into mysteries at the museum of oddities where she works. In our ongoing excerpt, Petra is talking to her new landlord, Shelley. (Flower pictures because Shelley is a gardener.)

 A Stone Cold Murder excerpt Chapter 4, part 2

   “It’s a little strange, cleaning up the office of someone who died.” I gestured toward my place next door. “By the way, was that Reggie’s house?”

  She nodded. “I was glad to get another tenant in so soon. Peyton didn’t waste any time in hiring you!”

  “He seems anxious to get the geology wing updated and the new donation sorted.”

  “You’d think he could rest on his labors a bit, but that’s not his style,” she said fondly.

  I needed to get more information without seeming like I wanted more information. “I’m trying to figure out what to do with the stuff Reggie left at the office. What did you do with his things?”

  “I took his clothes and shoes to the thrift store. I washed the linens—they’re in the closet at the end of the hall. He didn’t have much else.” She looked a little guilty. “His TV was nicer than mine, so I switched them.”

  “Makes sense. I wasn’t expecting a furnished place anyway.” I reached over the fence to rub Toby’s head. “I suppose the furniture was Reggie’s as well.”

  “Some of it has been in the house for years. If you need to get rid of things to make room for your own furniture, I’ll put it in storage.” She jerked her head toward the side yard. The shed behind the house must be her storage.

  “Thanks. I’ll let you know after my stuff arrives. They said two or three more days. I definitely won’t need the bed, but maybe I’ll keep the couch for the cats. It’s a huge house for one person. It will be nice to have the space for my animals, and I’m very grateful you’re willing to have so many pets there. It doesn’t look like Reggie used a couple of the rooms at all.”

  “I don’t know what that man did in his free time. He was polite enough, with a hello when he passed by, unless he was wrapped in his own thoughts. But he didn’t entertain much. No pets. I think he watched a lot of TV and played games on his computer. I saw the light sometimes, a glow from a screen.”

  “A loner,” I said. “Well, I’m kind of that way too.” I made a mental note to close the curtains or make sure my TV and laptop screens were facing away from the windows. That hadn’t been a problem in my fourth-floor apartment. Not that any of my neighbors would have been interested in what I was doing anyway.

  Shelley looked down at Toby. “What is it with these young people? They waste the best time of their lives.” She looked back at me. “Well, it’s probably good you don’t want to party every night, although you can find some good two-stepping at the Rough Riders bar. And they have a mechanical bull!”

  Toby expressed his opinion with a grumbling whine.

  “I’m not much of a dancer. Or a bull rider.” I hadn’t meant to get talking about me. “Do you think that’s why Reggie didn’t go out much? He didn’t find things to do around here?”

  “Nah, I can’t imagine him going out on the town even in a big city. You know the type, an awkward geek who was one step from living in his parents’ basement. No criticism from me, as long as he paid his rent on time.”

  I smiled to show I’d gotten the hint. “I gather he did.”

  “Usually. Seems like the last few months, I had to go over and pound on his door to remind him of the date. He looked at me like I was talking in tongues, but then he’d shake himself out of it and write a check. Now I wonder if his heart problem was making him slow about things.”

  “Could be.” Or the quiet loner had gotten caught up in something nasty and was distracted—and then dead.

  “I had a pacemaker put in ten years ago.” Shelley tapped her chest. “Felt like I had a whole new heart! They say you’re slowing down because you’re old, but don’t believe them. You have to fight the doctors to make them treat you like a human being instead of someone with one foot in the graveyard.”

  I nodded, trying to look sympathetic, although aging wasn’t the biggest problem in my immediate future. I was also realizing that Shelley put her own twist on idioms. Did she do it on purpose, as a joke? I couldn’t ask, in case she didn’t realize she was getting those sayings wrong.

  I gave Toby a last pet. “Well, I’d better get moving if I want lunch and some time with my animals.”

  “Oh, is it lunchtime already? Thank goodness!” Shelley wiped her forehead again. “Come on, Toby, let’s have some food and a nap. Take care, Petra.” She limped toward her front door.

  I went through the next gate. I had a yard! I could get dogs. I hadn’t wanted to keep one in a small apartment. I thought living here would suit me very well—once I understood my weird vision with the fluorite crystals.

  I unlocked the door. People probably didn’t even lock up around here, but I wouldn’t break that habit for a while, if ever. Certainly not if I suspected a killer was on the loose.

  That was one more reason to find out what had really happened. It was hard enough to adjust to a new town, house, and job without worrying that someone I met was a murderer. 

***

One more of the cuddly boys. Mercury came out on top this time:

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Did you get your freebies? Find them all here: a cat café romance novella, an Accidental Detective short story, and 22 recipes from the cat Café. Plus get a Sweet Home Alabama short story and a preview of my brother’s comedy, Totally Rad Wormhole.

Learn more about the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, the Reluctant Psychic Mystery series, the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys sweet romance series,the Felony Melanie: Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels, and the Furrever Friends cat cafe sweet romance series.