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30 Days of Christmas-DAY FOUR

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Barb's Christmas Memories I remember Christmas. We always went to our grandparents’ house for dinner. The times I remember best were when Faye and I were around eight and nine. Our cousins were all boys, and they lived in faraway Muskegon, so we seldom saw them. They were rough-and-tumble types, and I never enjoyed their company much, though Faye was always willing to play Monkey in the Middle or King of the Hill with them. Dad and Uncle Marv, the sons-in-law, sat in the living room, smoking and swapping stories with Grandpa Lemmon. Mom, Aunt Marilyn, and Grandma worked together in the kitchen, each preparing her signature dishes. Grandma cooked the turkey, filling it with spicy stuffing and making delicious gravy from the drippings. Mom liked to do the salads, and I would help her clean and slice vegetables for tossed salad, pasta salad, potato salad, broccoli salad, and fruit salad. Aunt Mar was the side dish expert, and she’d bring a squash to roast, her fam

30 Days of Christmas-Day Three

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Here's our first contest of the 30 Days of Christmas. It's a test of how well you know my books (and that other woman's too). Answer the five questions. Send your answers by email to pegfish@yahoo.com. If you get them all right, you'll be entered to win the book of your choice by Peg or Maggie in e-book or print format. 1. What is Loser's hometown? 2. What type of hat does Seamus always wear? 3. What is Rory Neuencamp's job title? 4. How did Simon Maldon meet his future wife? 5. What does Sarah Leigh do for a living?

30 Days of Christmas-DAY TWO

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Today I'm challenging you. Tell me: Is your pet on Santa's Naughty List or his Nice list? This is Burt. He's on the Nice List because he's so patient with his pet girl.

30 Days of Christmas DAY ONE

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We'll start with a giveaway--How's that for getting in the Christmas spirit? I have 2 copies of HER MAJESTY'S MISCHIEF in large print to give away . If you have someone on your Christmas list who needs/prefers large print , here's a chance to get them Book #4 of the Simon & Elizabeth series. What do you do? If you're signed up for my newsletter, just say so in the comments below and I'll put your name in the drawing for one of the books. If you're not signed up for my newsletter, you can sign up below.   (You might want to know that I only send a newsletter when I have a new book coming out, and I'll   never give your name/email to anyone else.) If your name is drawn I'll contact you and you can decide if you want the book mailed to you or directly to the person on your gift list (personalized, of course!. Once you're signed up, you'll also be eligible for freebies I plan to send out after Christmas, so you can ge

Coming Up: 30 Days of Christmas

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Starting November 25, you'll want to check this blog every day. I'm planning 30 Days of Christmas, a countdown to the holiday that is sure to make you merry. (Maggie and I are collaborating) Giveaways Pet Stories Contests Character-Written Posts Author Spotlights ...and anything else we can think of! So starting Wednesday, Nov. 25th, check here every day for something to warm your heart and boost your Christmas spirit!

Deflating My Ego

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I opened this blog site just now and saw that a bunch of people logged in yesterday. Wow! I must have said something really wise or interesting. No, not really. And what I did say was last Monday. Why was it so intriguing now, seven days later? Maybe a bunch of people heard of me in the last few days? Nope. I spent the weekend at home, and I didn't post much except my usual smart aleck stuff on FB. So why all these looks at my site? After some thought, I figured it out. (Sigh.) It was me. I made changes last night, turning my summer background into a more fall/winter one. Every time I looked at it so see if I liked what I'd done, the computer counted it as a visit. I guess it's true what they say. You create your own excitement.

What It's Like in a Writer's Head--Especially on Mondays

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Okay, today I have to finish the chapter I started yesterday-- But there's that blogger who wants a guest post by Wednesday-- Oh, and the editor sent a chapter for me to okay. I should get on that soon. But that contest I'm judging has a deadline for me to return my ratings. When was that? I wish I had time to write the book I keep imagining. Seems like fun but can't handle it right now. Christmas is coming. I should do some sort of promotion. And I've got Career Day this Friday at that high school. Need to think about that a little. Setting for DD#4: Interview more people about life in the '50s or do I have enough in there already? Rewrite my will to assign rights to my "intellectual property"? Yeah, when I get time. Two dates in TC coming up. Should I get a room or drive home late at night? December... Beta reader needs a copy of the fourth Dead Detective. Print, since she doesn't Kindle.   Um, when was I g