Tea Party Tuesday at Mirror Lake Inn

Welcome to my website! I'm happy you took a few moments to stop by. After we share tea and refreshments, please check out the pages and get acquainted with the Jillian Bradley mysteries.

Let me pour you a cup. Milk? Sugars? Please help yourself to some sandwiches and tarts. Aren't they lovely?

Did you notice the silver cake tongs? I almost got a pair of these for Mother's Day, but received sunglasses and an oversize purple and black case instead. Maybe next year.


Over the weekend I enjoyed afternoon tea at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid, New York. Fierre, the server, brewed my Earl Grey to perfection. And the chocolate chip cookies were wonderful! I was doing research for my next book "Murder at Mirror 
Lake" due out at the end of 2014.

Another server showed me around the kitchen and introduced me to two of the chefs as I gathered research for the setting of the murder.

Let me refill your cup. There we go. Have another cake if you wish. Please don't leave them for me to finish!


Regarding the contest for a book giveaway, seventeen more of you have liked my Facebook page. Thank you. Please note that I usually serve tea there every afternoon so I hope you'll join me if you haven't already.

To enter, please click the Facebook button on the right and like my author page. Or, you may click this link to like:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Jill-Thames.../124340760960323 Thank you! Only three more entries before the drawing.  

Cheers!

~Nancy Jill

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A Little Background...

  When I was in junior high school, I wanted to become an architect or a yacht designer. After high school, my best friend and I dreamed of opening a studio where she could teach dance and I would teach piano. The closest I got was getting a degree in music, teaching piano lessons at home for one year and serving as the church choir director for four years.
   My husband took me on business trips to great resorts, my friends and I had tea parties, and life was generally good until one day, I got bored.

  Since I loved to read murder mysteries, why not write one? The quest was short lived since our youngest still needed my attention, until nine years later when I took advantage of my tech-savy son and plunged into the world of blogging. I salvaged the book I had started called "Murder in Half Moon Bay" and published the first Jillian Bradley mystery in 2010.
  Then I started writing Book 2 "The Ghost Orchid Murder."

  They used to say, "Life begins at forty," but for me, a new life as an author began in my sixties. I hope you enjoy Jillian Bradley's adventures with her little companion, Teddy. The stories are based on the wonderful life God has given me filled with travel, good times with family and friends, and our little Maltese, Chloe.

   I am a member of Leander Writers’ Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW CenTex Chapter), and Central Texas Authors.

   Thanks for the visit - now explore if you like, and don't forget to finish your tea.

  Oh, I almost forgot. In the bottom right-hand corner you might like to hear the radio interview on Blog Talk Radio featuring a few of my COZY MYSTERY MAGAZINE friends and me. Thanks for checking it out!

   Caring is sharing - please share anything you like using the buttons in the footer. Thank you!

The Jillian Bradley Mystery Series * * * * * Tea Party Tuesday (and a little contest)

Welcome to my website! I'm happy you took a few moments to stop by. Here you'll find information about my books, a live interview on YouTube, and the latest news on upcoming releases. 

You're just in time for Tea Party Tuesday and a chance to win one of my books!

Only twenty more likes on my Facebook page will bring the number to 1,000. For a chance to win, the next 20 people who like my page will be entered into the hat. Here's the link or like it on the sidebar. 

Thank you! 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Jill-Thames.../124340760960323

Good luck!

Update 6/14/14: Seven new people have liked my page for a chance to win one of my books. You now have thirteen more chances to win! Like now!

Courtesy The Baker-Chick.com

Now for some tea and banana pudding cupcakes. For the recipe, click the link. Let me pour you a nice cup of tea. Milk? Sugar?

I was reading the new issue of Tea Time Magazine with the Old Blue Willow tea service  on the cover and thought how lovely these yellow cupcakes would go with the blue dishes. 

Is there anything richer or creamier than banana pudding?

Have another - they're small.

I remember buying a set of Old Blue Willow years ago. The problem was my house didn't match them - I think they belong in a white kitchen or in a cozy cottage, don't you? All I have left of those dishes is a serving platter, which I use all the time. Sigh. 
 
If you're interested in Old Blue Willow, you may want to read a post I wrote on Cozy Mystery Magazine. Here's the link:The Mystique of Old Blue Willow.

Let me refill your cup.

If you would like to read one of my books, please like my author page on Facebook and I'll enter your name in a drawing. When I've reached 1,000 likes, I'll announce the winner. 

If you haven't read any of the Jillian Bradley mysteries, why not read "Murder in Half Moon Bay" first? It's a free e-book on Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords (they distribute to Apple iBooks). If you like afternoon tea, you might enjoy reading about Jillian Bradley and her friends enjoying the pleasant ritual as they help solve homicides.

   FREE on  Amazon   Kobo  Nook and Smashwords!
Amazon International Links: http://authl.it/b3

Thanks for joining me today - it was lovely to have you.

See you in my books!

~Nancy Jill

******************************************
A Little Background...

  When I was in junior high school, I wanted to become an architect or a yacht designer. After high school, my best friend and I dreamed of opening a studio where she could teach dance and I would teach piano. The closest I got was getting a degree in music, teaching piano lessons at home for one year and serving as the church choir director for four years.
   My husband took me on business trips to great resorts, my friends and I had tea parties, and life was generally good until one day, I got bored.

  Since I loved to read murder mysteries, why not write one? The quest was short lived since our youngest still needed my attention, until nine years later when I took advantage of my tech-savy son and plunged into the world of blogging. I salvaged the book I had started called "Murder in Half Moon Bay" and published the first Jillian Bradley mystery in 2010.
  Then I started writing Book 2 "The Ghost Orchid Murder."

  They used to say, "Life begins at forty," but for me, a new life as an author began in my sixties. I hope you enjoy Jillian Bradley's adventures with her little companion, Teddy. The stories are based on the wonderful life God has given me filled with travel, good times with family and friends, and our little Maltese, Chloe.

   I am a member of Leander Writers’ Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW CenTex Chapter), and Central Texas Authors.

   Thanks for the visit - now explore if you like, and don't forget to finish your tea.

   Cheers!

  ~Nancy Jill

  

   Oh, I almost forgot. In the bottom right-hand corner you might like to hear the radio interview on Blog Talk Radio featuring a few of my COZY MYSTERY MAGAZINE friends and me. Thanks for checking it out!

   Caring is sharing - please share anything you like using the buttons in the footer. Thank you!

We Have a Winner!

Thank you all for your comments on last week's post! How interesting to learn how you're coping with the severe winter weather this season. Even pets are affected dealing with the freezing elements.

The winner of this week's drawing is, Toni King. Congratulations!

The winner receives a book of her choice in paperback or e-book. I hope you'll enjoy the read, Toni.

I'd love to connect with all of you on Facebook - I know many of you have already liked my page and I've had fun getting to know you. It would be an honor if you would hop over and click the like button. You'll find tea being served on occasion and I'll keep you abreast of the writing of my latest book "The Long Trip Home." (Boy, it's hard to kill someone and not get caught!)

Here's the link: Nancy Jill Thames, Author

Thanks for stopping by and joining the site with Google friend connect or e-mail. We'll talk soon.

See you in my books!

~Nancy Jill

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow! By Nancy Jill Thames

Yesterday the average temperature across the nation was 12 degrees. Even California was having a cold spell at 64 degrees. People were wearing socks! What I find interesting about this snow wave is what happened to the global warming theories that the earth was going to heat up, dry out, and blow away?

So much for theorists.

People all across the nation are home bound, struggling to stay unburied from all the snow, and trying to keep warm. In Texas it isn't the snow keeping us in, it's the cedar fever - a merciless wave of yellow cedar pollen exploding in the air during the months of December, January, February and March. I only go outside for one event a month - The Leander Writers' Guild meeting. I pay the price the next day but it's worth it.

Cedar Pollen Wafting on the Air

How do cooped-up people cope? (Try saying that fast three times!) I picture frazzled moms trying to keep school kids entertained all day.  Dads who can't go into work must either be frustrated trying to work with the kids at home, or, as my hubby would, might be happy watching TV.

What I do is write, listen to classical music, and stay in touch with the outside world via social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thank The Lord for the internet!

What about you? How is it where you are? How do you cope with little ones, husbands, and your sanity? This inquiring writer wants to know.

Please leave a comment, JOIN MY SITE with Google Friend Connect (if you haven't already), and I'll do a drawing. One of you will win one of my books (your choice) in paperback or ebook.  I would appreciate a way to reach you if you win. Good luck! The winner will be announced in my next post on January 14, 2014.

Here's hoping you all stay warm and safe where ever you live.

~Nancy Jill

Interview and Giveaway with Nancy Jill Thames

Please welcome Nancy Jill Thames to Sleuths and Suspects. She has graciously agreed to give one of her paper back cozy mysteries (a $9.89 value) to one person who leaves a comment. The winner will be chosen by random.org. Without further ado here is our interview with Jill.



Interview Questions/Sleuths and Suspects Blog

1.       Tell us a little about yourself. My dad was in the Air Force so we traveled and moved around a lot. I lived in places like Casablanca, Morocco, Valdosta, Georgia and Las Vegas, Nevada, which gave me a sense of adventure. I’m just an average housewife who loves to entertain, or used to. Now that the kids have flown the nest, I decided to finish a book I’d started writing years ago, “Murder in Half Moon Bay” and do a series – just for kicks. I needed a needed a creative outlet. I have a degree in music and love playing classical piano but one can’t play the piano all day! My faith in God has led me all my life and He’s been so faithful. Traveling with my husband on his business trips gives me the ideas to base my books on.

2.       Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on. “Pacific Beach” is a mystery based on my family reunion that has been going on for 19 years. We’ve met in Pacific Beach for at least 14 of those. My protagonist, Jillian Bradley, is a gardening columnist for the San Francisco Enterprise. Her nephew, Chase Campbell, is accused of murdering a young starlet and her mother. The detective is based on my brother who is a retired sheriff. Teddy, Jillian’s Yorkie companion, uses his instincts to help her solve the homicides as he does in all of her adventures. There will be eight books in the series; “Pacific Beach” is number five.

3.       Why did you choose this particular genre? Actually, truth be told, I got bored with reading the same author over and over. Ten years ago, I wasn’t aware of any other cozy authors except for Agatha Christie. I’d read all 80 of her books, two or three times each and believed I could come up with a sleuth, settings and plots. And I did.

4.       What was your journey to publication like? I tell people if you want to publish a book, go to CreateSpace on Amazon.com and follow the yellow brick road. Because I didn’t know anything about publishing, I simply learned by doing. It started with doing a blog posting a chapter a week for “Murder in Half Moon Bay” until a local paper got wind of it and did an interview about me. After that, I raced to get it finished and published it 7 months later. I laid out a plan to publish a book every 6 months for 4 years until the series was complete.

5.       What are a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now? Loved “Snow Falling on Cedars,” “The Poisonwood Bible” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” trilogy. Just finished C. L. Ragsdale’s Reboot series, which I loved and “The Saucy Lucy Murders.”

6.       What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it? “Waiting for Santa” is a mystery about a Santa Jillian hired for Christmas Eve, who turns up dead at a power station during a power outage. The police find a note with Jillian’s name and address inside his pocket. A double entendre occurs, as Jillian has to decide between two suitors as well. Who will be her “Santa?”

7.       What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication? Get about $4,000 together and use either CreateSpace or another reputable vanity press. Write the book, send it to beta readers for input, rewrite the book, pay a content editor to give you feedback, rewrite the book again, pay a proofreader to edit for typos, and pay someone to do a dynamite cover. When it’s PERFECT, get about five great reviews from other authors and work up a launch promotion. After you’ve done all that, upload your file to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Nook and Smashwords. CreateSpace puts it for sale on Amazon.com. Then the real work begins. Posting, tweeting, blogging and emailing the fire about your book while appearing to be casually making comments mentioning your masterpiece. You also want a great bio and book blurb to generate interest in what you’ve written.

8.        Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us? I think the best ones are “Dollars & Sense” by McCray, Scott, and Thompson and The Writers Guide 2 E-Publishing Blog are the best two sources I know. The last one’s blogger has sold over 100,000 books so far.

9.       Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered? As my husband keeps telling me, just write good books. Books that you would like to read. Easy to say – difficult (but not impossible) to do.

10.   Please let us know where we can find you on the web. My web site is http://www.authornancyjillthames.webs.com. From there you can find my blogs, Amazon author page and basic information.

Thanks for having me over Deborah!

Kindle Book $2.99 on Amazon.com

Here's what you need to do to be eligible for an entry for the paperback copy: 
Go to the following link:  Sleuths and Suspects Reviews

Interview and Giveaway with Nancy Jill Thames

  1) Leave a comment about cozy mysteries. Have you heard of them before? Do you read them, etc.

2) Leave an email address so we can contact you.

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Thank you so much for stopping by and we look forward to seeing you again!

Deborah Malone