Wednesday, March 29, 2017

New Book on the Way: "Museums Can Be Murder"

This summer, look for Book 11 to come out - "Museums Can be Murder." Here's the synopsis:


The Christmas holidays get a morbid start when Jillian Bradley's niece Kaitlin Romero discovers the body of her boss at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. An envelope containing rare Charles Dickens illustrations is missing, and Detective Mickey Wells must reluctantly rely on Jillian's help to solve the crime. 
The case goes international when the vendor of the illustrations is murdered and linked to possible fraud. As always, Jillian's Yorkie companion Teddy helps solve the case by discovering an important clue. Afternoon tea included!

It's true! The life of an author can be full of distractions, mine not withstanding. Thus the reason I'm not writing a new book every six months. But the distractions are the good kind - downsizing to a new cottage size home, doing more traveling to see the kids and grandkids, spending more time with my husband who simply golfs and does whatever he wants to do.

However, this leads to my wanting to relax and play, too. Sigh...I must roll up my sleeves, open my computer and start writing again. And I will, just as soon as I finish the laundry, putter in the garden a bit, and fix a snack to go with a cup of tea.
  
There comes a time when everything has to be just right before the creative juices can flow. I'm looking forward to that moment, just after my 6 month dental checkup, singing with our senior choir for the Thursday Club, shopping for new plants for the yard, and making an appointment with the piano tuner. 

And, oh, yes, I need to call the window cleaners, too.

Wishing you all a Happy Spring!

See you in my books,


~Nancy Jill







Wednesday, January 4, 2017

A Favorite Book of Mine

Amazon.com
When visiting my daughter in California I often come across good books to read due to the entire family being voracious readers down to the 12 year old.
   I've read a variety of subjects, from suicide, special pets, to best sellers. All enjoyable. But one book remains one of my favorites, a simple, beautifully written memoir of Anne Morrow Lindbergh when she spent a vacation alone in a small cottage on Captiva island off the Florida Gulf Coast.
   What I like best about this "Gift from the Sea" is the way Lindbergh correlates seashells to the various stages of adult womanhood. You'll have to read the book to understand.
   This is the second time I've read this work. I choose to read it at the beginning of a new year to further ground my outlook of life now as a senior.
   Fascinating for me is to realize that although Anne Lindbergh suffered through the terrible tragedy of the murder of their infant son, she found strength through her writing, her husband, and in later years her five children.
   Not all of us can spend a week or two in solitude on a remote island. But what we can do is step into Anne Lindbergh's experience, read about her journey, and discover that each one of us has the capacity to be a whole person no matter what life hands us.

Please let me know if you have read this book or plan to. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Cheers!

Nancy Jill  
                  

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Top Six Reasons to Celebrate in 2016

It's been a whirlwind writing year for me. Time to look back at reasons I'm celebrating in 2016. I hope it's been a good year for all of you as well.



Amazon.com $.99
"Sweets, Treats and Murder"
by Nancy Jill Thames 





   When a celebrated author like Joanna Campbell Slan invites you to be part of her holiday anthologies, your answer is a resounding YES! The Happy Homicides anthologies have been a big hit for cozy mysteries starting with the first Christmas edition in 2015.

   Happy Homicides 2: Thirteen Cozy Mysteries centers around Valentines Day with Crimes of the Heart. "Sweets, Treats and Murder" is the story I wrote centered around a murdered employee of a chocolate and gift shop in Jillian Bradley's hometown of Clover Hills.


Amazon.com $2.99
"Birthday Bash"
by Nancy Jill Thames
   The second reason to celebrate is the Summertime Crime edition of Happy Homicides sharing my story of "Birthday Bash" as Jillian's niece Lexis (introduced in Book 4 "Pacific Beach") is embroiled in the murder of her date for Grandmother Lovejoy's 90th birthday celebration, also taking place in Clover Hills.

 Special Offer! $.99
Buy Happy Homicides 4 and get Happy Homicides 3 Free!
Amazon.com 
   Joanna didn't stop there. I'm also celebrating her decision to commission more authors to write "Fall into Crime," the fall edition for "Happy Homicides 4." You'll read about a murder at the Clover Hills Historical Society's Gala Event in "Raven House." To sweeten the deal, we offer a boxed set of Happy Homicides 3 and 4 at one low price.
Amazon.com $10.99 Paperback/$3.99 Kindle
Barnes and Noble $11.00 Paperback/$3.99 Nook

   With new stories flying off my keyboard I simply had to publish a collection. I'm celebrating "The Jillian Bradley Short Story Collection" release containing all four "Happy Homicides" short stories plus two additional stories published in the "A Cup of Cozy" collections. 

 Christmas Stories from the Authors of Cozy Mystery Magazine
Including Holiday Menus and Recipes!
Amazon.com $1.99
   The fifth reason I'm celebrating in 2016 is this latest collection. After three editions of "A Cup of Cozy" it was time to publish a boxed set for everyone to enjoy this Christmas. You'll find not only three of my short stories included in the set, but wonderful holiday menus and recipes, too.

Number six on the list is our Happy Homicides Christmas Anthology out in paperback.


NEW!
In Paperback Amazon.com $14.99

Includes "Teddy Saves Christmas"



When Jillian Bradley finds herself alone for the holidays, her dog Teddy, a cute little Yorkie, finds a homeless woman with an interesting but dangerous secret. Teddy won't leave her on the street so Jillian has no choice but to take her home.







   As we come to the end of 2016, let us pause to always remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Praise God for his Unspeakable Gift! Merry Christmas, everyone!
~Nancy Jill