I hope everyone is having an enjoyable spring, although some of my relatives in the north experienced a recent snowfall! (My sister near Duluth was not happy.)

My third book, A Letter From Munich, has been in the final stages of the editing process, and is now finished.  
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The story features Jack Bailey as the male protagonist, but he is no longer a detective. He and his former partner and good friend, Sherk, find themselves in Munich hoping to unravel a family secret which came to light in...you guessed it...a long-lost letter.

I hope you'll enjoy this historical fiction, which shows a vibrant, modern Munich in contrast with life in nearby Dachau village during the Third Reich.

I'll say no more for now. I plan to include the first few pages in my summer newsletter.

My best wishes to all of you, and happy reading.

Meg

After a scorching summer in Texas, I'm happy fall is here. I've been busy writing the third Jack Bailey novel, which finds him in Germany pursuing a family mystery. I won't say anything more at this time; too early!

In the meantime, Blind Eye and Bailey's Law are available for you. Meet Jack if you haven't already.

Have a good month, and happy reading.
Meg

It seems like everyone is in a book club of some kind—online or meeting with other readers in homes and other venues.

A while ago, I wanted to join a book club, but didn’t know of any, so I asked my good friend to help me organize a group. As a former English teacher, I taught with friends who love to read, so we corralled them to come on board. I also invited several neighbors and ladies from my small daytime choir. 

A local indie bookstore offers a discount for book club members, so we needed an official name for their files. Thus, we are known as Books, Brunch, and Beyond. (Apologies to that store, Bed…well, you know). We meet the last Friday of the month in the morning and take turns hosting the group. The hostess provides coffee and cake or whatever treat we choose. After coffee, we discuss the selected book, and around noon head out for lunch at a restaurant in the hostess’s area.

Our members have come and gone over the years; currently there are nine active ladies and five are charter members. Needless to say, our club evolved into more than just a book group. We’ve become friends—sharing life’s peaks and valleys. Several have lost husbands and battled illnesses. We share travels, kids, grandkids, and more, all while having fulfilling social time.

We’ve been active for 12 years since our first meeting at my house in January of 2005. We select from a variety of books and genres: fiction, nonfiction, and classic, books with positive reviews and articles from various sources.

We’ve been introduced to books we never would’ve read on our own. Have all our books been a success? No! There have been some duds, but most have been worthwhile, enjoyable, and oftentimes educational.

I must add, these ladies have been so supportive in my writing process—from my first my dabbling in writing groups to the day my first novel, Bailey’s Law was published. It's great to have cheerleaders! Great books and better friends...Can you tell how blessed I am?

If you’d enjoy a book club, I say, start one. If I can, anyone can!
            
PS. If anyone is interested in our book selections, please message me on my Contact page.
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My dad’s pithy sayings, jokes, puns, etc. were by and large, cringe-worthy. I’m sure this little ditty is familiar to those of us growing up in a certain era  (I won’t get specific).
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            You’re a poet
            You didn’t know it      
            But your feet show it
            They’re Longfellows
 
I know, I know.

A few years ago I took a break from writing short stories and beginnings of novels to writing poetry. My poems are all free verse; no rhyme, rhythm, but a few poetic devices thrown in here and there. In other words, no Emily Dickinson.

 I decided to write and compile a book of poems; user-friendly poems that people could understand without a PhD in English literature and poetry. A local graphics company printed the books, and I used them as gifts for family and friends.

​The Car Ride was written to honor our dog, Ian, a beautiful Sheltie who passed away about eight years ago. I know many of you can relate to these words.
 
       The Car Ride
Days creep by, denial
No longer an option.
The dreaded car ride
A sorrowful ride indeed.
 
Silence fills the car
Words lie buried, not needed.
People driving here and there
Unaffected by our grief,
 
Thank you my friend for never-
Ending devotion. In seasons of
Darkness we were a team --
Two against the world.
 
My thoughts float across the sea to
Your land of origin — I see
You bounding o’er the Highland fields,
Past grazing sheep in the meadow
 
You frolic over heather-dotted hillsides,
Ever young, ever joyful as I stroke
Your tan and sable coat of silk, and
Whisper, ‘fare thee well my bonnie prince,
          so soft shall ye sleep.’

Thank you for visiting my website and blog. My first novel, Bailey's Law, will be released on October 27, 2016.

​I grew up in northern Minnesota, and after college moved around the midwest until landing in Houston where I've lived for over 30 years. I've always enjoyed writing and am a former English and psychology teacher. I'm fortunate to have a husband, two children, and three grandchildren, along with a great extended family and two German shepherds.

I wrote free verse poetry off and on for years, and began short story and novel writing several years ago.

Mystery stories interest me because issues that I'm passionate about lend themselves to crime stories. For example, in my short story featuring Jack Bailey, the issue of DUI's going unpunished arises. Bailey's Law addresses the problem of victimizing women and campus assault in our current society.

Blending good and evil through my characters is an ongoing challenge as well as a pleasure. I look forward to writing snippets on everyday topics, focusing on writing, reading, psychology, and an occasional dog!