Paperbacks or eBooks?

Is it just me or am I a creature of habit to prefer reading paperback books? Like many readers, I upload eBooks on my Kindle app to my phone but I also order paperbacks. Boy, do I order paperbacks!

To me, they are treasures to enjoy again and again. Books on a device are out of sight and most of the time out of mind. And what do you think the future of books will be?

Do you have favorites? What about hardback verses paperback? My favorite collections are Agatha Christie mysteries and short stories, Dorothy Sayers mysteries and short stories, Murder She Wrote books by Donald Bain, The Hobbit and Trilogy of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. For my birthday, my husband is giving me The Red Wall Series by Brian Jacques. It will coincide with my latest acquisition of The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter by Susan Whitig Albert. I adore Beatrix Potter and have all of her books, too.

Most of my books are paperback but the hardbacks, like Harry Potter and some classics, give my library a classy look. One thing's for sure, I'll never NOT have anything to do! I hope you'll try The Jillian Bradley Mystery Series. In them you'll find interesting settings, unusual plots, and an amateur sleuth who loves afternoon tea and her little Yorkie companion, Teddy, a sleuth in his own right. For the synopsis of each, you may check the book page: Books

By the way, the books come in paperback and eBook formats so the choice is up to you!

See you in my books!                        

~Nancy Jill 

Great Gift Ideas for Cozy Mystery Lovers

Hello, dear readers! 

I hope this holiday season finds you and your family well and safe. In these turbulent times, I'm reminded that we must treasure each day God gives us.  As we press on, Thanksgiving seems to be officially blended in with Christmas as more and more people choose to decorate early, as was my intention. But with the passing of my mom last month, a delightful visit from my brother from New Jersey, and Ted's birthday looming, my fall decor is still very much in tact! Still, Christmas is just around the corner and my gift list is very much on my mind. Anyone else experiencing the "What to give list?"

Checks are good, and so are gift cards. But if you think about it, books bring a different world to readers and provide great entertainment for hours. I would count a new book as a definite treat!

If you'd like to give a friend or a loved one a gift that keeps on giving, the Jillian Bradley mysteries might be a good choice. Rated G with no profanity or offensive scenes, they are the perfect gift choice for readers on your list. Books range in price from $7.99 to $11.99 for paperbacks and FREE to $3.99 for eBooks. Not bad when you consider one can purchase the entire series for under $99.00 + tx and s/h. (Amazon Prime members enjoy free s/h as does everyone for November through December!)

Besides the 11 book series, there are also six short stories about Jillian and Teddy included in"The Jillian Bradley Short Story Collection."

Here is a complete list of books and buy links: 

AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE

SMASHWORDS

 iBOOKS

KOBO

Whatever gifts we give and receive, may we be reminded of the greatest gift of all - Jesus, God's only begotten Son. 

Happy Holidays!

~Nancy Jill

God has blessed me beyond even my wildest imagination, always guiding my life, giving me a loving husband, four wonderful children, and a number of precious grandchildren. I hope you enjoy the Jillian Bradley mysteries - they are works of love.

To stay in touch please visit these sites.

Twitter - @mystriterdva

Blog - Author Nancy Jill Thames, Queen of Afternoon Tea
Pinterest - mystriterdva
Blog - Cozy Mystery Magazine
Goodreads - Nancy Jill Thames
Facebook
Linkedin
Google +
jillthames@gmail.com

In Memoriam

Aunt Gayle with some of  her beloved grandchildren.

What's the best way to honor someone after they pass away? For me, I chose to dedicate Museums Can Be Murder to my sister-in-law, Gayle Elaine Biggs, known in my family as Aunt Gayle, a saint, and the most loving grandma — hands-down — that any child could wish for. Gayle had a dry wit that kept us laughing at family reunions. She also cooked non-stop for her family. My sister-in-law was so loving that she encouraged my brother to build a pool just so their family would congregate at her house and she could cook for them.

Available on Amazon  Smashwords Kobo iBooks

I based one of Jillian Bradley’s sisters-in-laws, Paige, on Gayle. Her character first appears in Book 5 Pacific Beach, again in Book 6 Waiting for Santa, and lastly in Book 11 Museums Can Be Murder. I gave her only one child, Kaitlin Romero, who plays an important role in Book 11 as it's her boss Amanda Corbin who's murdered. In reality, Gayle had three amazing children.

I don't understand why Gayle got cancer. Does anyone understand this horrible disease? The only good thing I can surmise is in remembering the old saying, “Only the good die young.” Gayle was good. She was young. Fortunately, her death was painless and she died knowing the Lord had prepared a place for her when she left her earthly home. And amazingly, she was able to say goodbye to her pastor, her husband, her children and their spouses, and all nine grandchildren, one by one. They will never forget her.

Neither will I.

It's a good thing to remember those we love. Now Gayle can also be remembered every time someone reads these books.

Thanks for letting me share my heart.

Cheers!

~Nancy Jill

Nancy Jill Thames was born to write mysteries. From her early days as the neighborhood story-teller to the Amazon Author Watch Bestseller List, she has always had a vivid imagination and loves to solve problems – perfect for plotting whodunits. In 2010, Nancy Jill published her first mystery Murder in Half Moon Bay, introducing her well-loved protagonist Jillian Bradley and clue-sniffing Yorkie “Teddy.”

When she isn’t plotting Jillian’s next perilous adventure, Nancy Jill travels between Texas, California, and Georgia finding new ways to spoil her grandchildren, playing classical favorites on her baby grand, or having afternoon tea with friends.

She lives with her husband in Texas and is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) CenTex Chapter.

To learn more about Nancy Jill, visit these sites.

Facebook

Twitter 
Website

Pinterest

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

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  

                  

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

Smashwords and iBooks $3.99

   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

It's a Mystery! Live Podcast

YouTube

Get some insight into Nancy Jill Thames' books...and her little dog, too!

Valentine's Day 2016 - Top 10 Tips for Married Couples

Tip #1: Always believe you're right, even if what your spouse says may make a little sense. You don't want to confuse them.

Tip #2: Spend as much time as possible away from your spouse. This will give you little reason to ever argue.

Tip #3: If you're the wife, always wear makeup even if it's only lipstick. Your husband doesn't like looking at the 'Before' picture.

Tip #4: If you're the husband, refrain from covering up your messy unkempt hair with a baseball hat. Your wife knows you're not paying attention to personal hygiene.

Tip #5: If you're the wife always demand gifts on Valentine's Day, your birthday, anniversary and Christmas. This is a real proof of your husband's love.

Tip #6: If you're the husband take your wife shopping starting three weeks ahead of any event to make sure you know exactly what she would like for Valentine's Day, her birthday, anniversary and Christmas.

Tip #7: Husbands should always remember "A Happy Wife is a Happy Life."

Tip #8: Wives should always remember their husbands live to serve.

Tip #9: If you're a wife remember that all men are the same so it won't do any good to trade yours in for a later model.

Tip #10:If you're a husband remember that if you are thinking the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, all cows eat grass.

What tips do you have for keeping love in your marriage?

~Nancy Jill
Married 47 years.

Nancy Jill Thames was born to write mysteries. From her early days as the neighborhood story-teller to the Amazon Author Watch Bestseller List, she has always had a vivid imagination and loves to solve problems – perfect for plotting whodunits. In 2010, Nancy Jill published her first mystery Murder in Half Moon Bay, introducing her well-loved protagonist Jillian Bradley and clue-sniffing Yorkie “Teddy.”

When she isn’t plotting Jillian’s next perilous adventure, Nancy Jill travels between Texas, California, and Georgia finding new ways to spoil her grandchildren, playing classical favorites on her baby grand, or having afternoon tea with friends.

She lives with her husband in Texas and is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) CenTex Chapter.

To learn more about Nancy Jill, visit these sites.

Facebook

Twitter 
Website

Pinterest

A Bright New Year Ahead

The good thing about enjoying a cup of tea together is that we can do it any day of the year. It has been wonderful interacting with all of you in 2015, whether talking about new books launched or life events.
     I promised to share a major life shift that occurred over the past two years. It wasn't always easy, but in the end having our son and his family live with us while he earned his degree was totally worth it.
     And if living with the seven of us wasn't interesting enough, after our son got his degree and an amazing job in Frisco, Texas, my husband decided it was time to downsize.
     Okay. Pack up and move. Not an easy task for someone who collects beautiful china, teacups, teapots, floral arrangements, and paintings. Sigh. But as my daddy used to say, "There's nothing more certain than change." How true in this case. We're moving north to a small town where we'll be living out in the country. Literally.
     Being an eternal optimist, I decided to look on the bright side. A smaller home to maintain will be good. A new home is always nice. I'll be getting the cozy cottage I've always wanted and with not much to do living waaaay out in some pastureland, there will be more time to write!
     Some great news! My husband Ted (yes, I named Teddy after him) has carved out some time to join my writing as publicist and marketing manager which will allow me even more time to write. A good thing.
     Look for three new short stories in the poplular Happy Homicides anthologies - the first, a Valentine's tale called "Sweets, Treats and Murder" will be out for pre-order in January. A beach read called "Birthday Bash" launches in Summer, followed by a story for the Fall edition that I've yet to come up with, and then Book 11 "Murder at the Met" due to launch in November of 2016.

     I hope you're as excited about the new year as I am. As always, it's my great pleasure to entertain you with adventures of Jillian and Teddy. 

Cheers! And Happy New Year!

~Nancy Jill