Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton

Well, I knew I was in for a good read when I noticed on the cover that this book came with recipes.  You can't possibly write a book showcasing the talents of the vendors participating in a Farmer's Market and not give us some of their secrets. And for the family of vendors at Bailey's Farmer's Market, there are more than their fair share of secrets going on!

Becca Robins, the towns unofficial crime fighter, lives on a small farm with her dog, Hobbit.  She sells jams and preserves at Bailey's, which happens to be run by her twin sister, Allison.  As the title of the book suggests, a murder has taken place at the market, and Becca, being the overly interested female that she is, gets right in the middle of it.  The suspect is her friend and fellow vendor, Abner Justen.  The victim; a former friend and long time enemy of Abner's, Matt Simonsen.  As Becca starts her own investigation, she starts a frenzy of activity among the vendors that leads you to believe more then one person might be involved.   Becca's investigation unlocks a secret from the past; a secret that was recently revealed by an accidental meeting between Abner and...you'll have to read the book and find out.  I can tell you that the closer Becca gets to the truth the more danger she encounters and the more desperate the murderer becomes.  An added bonus to the book is Becca's love interests.  Hmmm-are there two possibilities? 

Paige Shelton gives us a look inside  a world that most of us would never venture into.  Her characters are well written and the story flows smoothly from the start to the finish.  Along the way, you'll find yourself wishing you had a jar of Becca's fresh blackberry jam or pumpkin preserves.  For me; it made me pull out my kitchen gear and make some fresh "freezer" jam and blackberry cobbler.  I really loved this book and I am looking forward to the next book in this series.  You can read about Paige Shelton on her website at http://paigeshelton.com/. 

 Also, in case you missed my photos on Facebook...I met Paige this past weekend at a book signing!  Totally love her!

Paige Shelton, me, and Ellery Adams

Another Writing Contest

I know, I know...what is happening to me?  I told Leah about another dreaded writing contest and she insisted that I set to out embarrass myself once again!  I'm so glad I don't take myself seriously.

CHALLENGE:

Your story MUST start with this sentence: Janet was early. **
Your story MUST end with this sentence: Of course, she didn't know that.
Your story must be 100 words or less

Are you ready for my story?  This one is pretty hysterical...totally me.  This is not based on any event from my personal life.  I would never read a book like this at church.

Janet was early. She was the only Mormon on the block that didn’t follow Mormon standard time. Why she bothered to be punctual at all annoyed her. The Bishop had scheduled her meeting for 12:00 sharp, but even Janet knew it was a polite way of saying 12:30. Under the impression that this was just a social visit, Janet pulled out her copy of Lover Mine, by J.R. Ward and started reading it to fill the time. This was her only vice. Unfortunately, the Black Dagger Brotherhood was the reason for the visit. Of course, she didn’t know that.

ALL GOOD THINGS COME IN 3'S

Good Thing #1:    Okay- for those of you that don't have Facebook; this is for you.  On the day I entered that dreaded writing contest (that I didn't win!) I was sitting quietly at my desk working on a homicide file when an e-mail from Andrew Grant popped up on my screen.  Andrew?  Why is he sending me an e-mail.  Did I do the unthinkable again and send him another message?  According to the message he sent; I did.  My friends really need to watch me more carefully.  Andrew was being as kind as he always is with me and thanking me for telling people about his books.  I didn't just send him an e-mail bragging about my contributions to his fame-I forwarded a message from a friend that had read his books and was passing the word along to her father.  It's all about word of mouth these days, right?  Just doing my part to keep this guy happy!

But wait!  That isn't all that happened on the day I entered that dreaded writing contest.  Did I tell you I didn't win?  I didn't win. 

Good Thing #2:   About an hour later when I signed in to check my Twitter account, (yes, I have a twitter account) I noticed I had a new follower.  A new follower...I know!  Totally shocking!  This would allow me to bring my world wide tweets to 4 people.  That's right...one, two, three, four!  Any guesses as to who my new follower is?  That's right, people-it's Andrew Grant!  Imagine, he actually thinks my tweets might be valuable.  I've only sent a total of six since I've started tweeting, but I am soooooooo ready get serious about it!

My day ended with me overly exhausted thanks to all the excitement in my day.  First there was the writing contest that I didn't win-but I was posted and congratulated for making it to the comment board.  That's good enough for me!  I couldn't hold my lunch in my over anxious belly because of it, but this truly was a good experience for me.  I might try another one in a few weeks.  I want to make sure Janet Reid has time to forget who I am.  And for all my curious friends- she is still allowing me to follow her on Twitter.  (I pray she continues this kindness.  I'd be lost in the reader world without her.)  Then of course the next major shocks to my system was the e-mail from Andrew and finding him following me on Twitter.  Such a scary thought. Does this mean I have to put more thought into my blogging?  Ugh-I really hope not!

Good Thing #3:   My package of goods didn't end there.  While preparing dinner for my super funny hubby, he hollered at me to come to the computer.  He pulled up my Facebook page and showed me the most unimaginable good news...Andrew Grant accepted my friendship request!  I am so happy my husband understands my need to be a true supporter of this man.  Andrew changed my life.  He really did!  When the time is right and my thoughts are finally in order; I'll tell you all about it.  It's a tear-jerker of a story.  I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it.  All good stuff though-promise.

Well, this is my post for today; only because I'm not quite ready to talk about Farm Fresh Murder, by Paige Shelton and I don't want any e-mails complaining about me putting my new found writing career before my blog. 

Oh!  I almost forgot.  Andrew left me a message on Facebook today! 

This week ROCKS!

Sabrina entered a writing contest

Okay friends, I think I've totally lost my mind and have gone over the edge of that dark abyss I've read about in so many books.  What on earth am I doing?  My favorite author has this really cool and witty agent named Janet Reid.  I started following her blog daily and I find myself intrigued at any and all things that are being written.  It's true when I tell you that most of the posts are over my head and that the comments are way beyond my understanding, but it doesn't matter to me.  I love trying to figure out what she and the other hundreds of people are trying to write about.  My desk top copy of GRAMMAR FOR DUMMIES and my all purposeful dictionary have become well used.  Until recently, I had no idea just how limited my vocabulary was.  I'm learning things and my friends are learning things because I'm following this blog.  Janet makes me think...imagine that!

In following Janet's blog, it became apparent that she does a ton of writing contests.  They're little things.  Mostly limited to a 100 words or less with specific story lines.  I've been forcing my friend Leah, who is in the process of finding her own agent, to participate in these contests.  Today, when I called her this morning about another contest, she told me I had to enter it too.  I thought she was kidding, but she wasn't!  I'm not a writer; I'm a blogger.  Maybe my last post showcasing my talents and book writing skills was a little too much.  The thought of her expecting me to participate through me over the edge.  I lost it.  My hands started shaking  and my heart started beating really hard.  I could see my shirt move with each heartbeat.  I thought I was going to die.  I have no imagination.  How could Leah expect me, Sabrina/Kate, to make up a story.  I write only from experience; nothing more.  Leah of all people should know this!

I sat there frozen in time for what seemed like hours.  I'd write a line, delete a line, and write another.  I had nothing to go on.  My mind was blank.  Well, it was blank until I remembered the conversation I had about Janet being on Twitter and her long list of do's and don'ts to following her tweets.  This I could write about; and I did!  The following is my 100 word story using the required words-heinous, sinister, nemesis, headgear, and minion.  (yes, I looked all the words up just to make sure I was on the same page)  Here is my story...

Kate was sitting at the bar drinking a coke with extra ice when her friend Paul sat down next to her...

"Please tell me you didn't do it, Kate, " Paul pleaded.

"I couldn't help it.  There was something about the way she posted rules on how to follow her on Twitter that made me wish I could be as heinous and sinister as she is.  Rules...who does that?"

Trying not to laugh, Paul sneered, "You're acting like she's your nemesis."

Wiping tears from her eyes, Kate refitted her headgear.  "ya right," she thought.  "I wouldn't even qualify as a minion."

In case you're wondering what it is that Kate did...she signed up to follow Janet on Twitter and spent the entire day daring herself to break the, no retweeting Janet's tweets, rule.  My story was posted along with about a hundred others.  It won't be a winner, but I'm darn proud of myself for jumping in and trying something new.  Trying something new...I think that's a theme for me this year.  It should be an idea for you, too.  If you want to try your hand at writing contests and win some really cool books by some really great authors-check out Janet's blog @ http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/. 

At the time of this posting, Janet Reid is still allowing me to follow her on Twitter.

I'm writing a book?

I have some great friends who think I have the ability to write a book.  I'm not quite sure why they are under this impression, but I've decided to wet their appetites just a little, and give them something to think about.

Out of curiosity, I set out to find information on writing a book.  My resource?  The Internet of course.  You can find just about anything on the Internet these days.  All of the information I have gathered during my crash course pointed to one important thing.  They all agreed that the first sentence/paragraph was the most important part of the book.  I needed to find something to draw the reader in; to make them want to keep reading.  I've spent about ten hours of my personal time coming up with a story to tell.  I was going to write a murder mystery involving my alter ego, Kate Dahson, but I decided it would be best for me to start with a writing style I'm familiar with.  Basically, I have no imagination. This means my first book, novel, or grasping at straws, would need to be about something I'm familiar with since I only know how to write by sharing what I know.  The following is the beginning (and I truly mean beginning) to my very first book thing.  Are you ready?  I think it's pretty good.  In fact, I can't wait to find out what happens...if only that part would come to me!!!

This is my idea for a story...we'll see by your responses if it's worth the effort.

My concept is to write a story that follows a woman from her childhood years to adulthood.  It would be one novel featuring three books.  The first book would follow this child through her early years as she survives life in a chaotic family and suffers through abuse and neglect.  The second book would follow her through her teenage years as she struggles to find stability and sets out to change the direction her life is heading towards.  The third book would feature her as a married adult, living with the pressures of striving for perfection, when the perfect fairy tale ending she was looking for, doesn't quite turn out the way she plans it.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO THIS

A NOVEL OF DESPAIR, DETERMINATION, AND HOPE

BOOK ONE

A child’s journey through chaos

When we stepped off the plane in Portland that humid summer evening in 1982, I knew the events of the past year, or even the past twelve years of my life, would never be discussed.  I would receive no therapy for my experiences. No apologies for my suffering. No promises of a better future. It would be as if the beginning years of my life had never happened.  I would be expected to move forward and to forget.

If only I could forget.

"Sabrina said nothing..."

So the advice from my last post isn't as easy to follow as I thought it would be.  I already stuck my foot in my mouth twice today!  Everybody repeat after me:  "Reacher said nothing."

REACHER SAID NOTHING...

I've been meaning to write some things that I've learned since reading the Reacher novels...but there are so many things, I thought it best to start with one.  "Reacher said nothing" is constantly repeated throughout the entire series.  When you stop to think about it or look at how it is being referenced, it becomes a pretty good piece of advice.  A piece of advice I could have used about ten years ago when I was being interrogated by Internal Affairs while employed with the Sheriff's Department.  My interview went something like this:

IA:  "Do you know why you're here?"

S:    "I think so."

IA:  "Want to tell us about it?"

S:    They must know so I guess I'll just talk.  "It has to do with the falsification of time cards by the..."

IA:  "Time Card fraud?  When did this happen?"

S:    Oopsie...that's not what this is about?  "Ughhh.  It's been going on for about a year..."

Do you really want to know how it ended?  I had been reporting time card violations and working with the Department of Labor for close to a year before my interview with Internal Affairs.  It was only a matter of time before they got involved.  So naturally, when they started with such a vague opening I jumped right in with my two cents worth.  Their real interest: sexually explicit e-mails that the supervisors had been sending back and forth.  If only someone had told me about the Reacher novels before then...

Wikipedia says the following:   Reacher's demeanor is stoic and he does not talk much.  Reacher frequently does not answer when people make statements or ask questions, nodding or shrugging preferring the other party to fill the silence. A recurring line in the novels is "Reacher said nothing."

So in the future when we are being pushed for information by employees, friends, family, and others, we should remember to insert our name in the following sentence: "Sabrina, Kate, Richard, Leah, Jacque, etc said nothing" -and follow that advice. Always let others fill the silence. If it works for Reacher; it will work for us, too.