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

Greetings to you all,

I hope you're enjoying a good summer with pleasant weather. Those of us in Texas are coping as best we can with the high temperatures.

Good news! The price for Blind Eye eBooks has dropped to only $3.99 on Kindle. Be sure to discover how Jack Bailey seeks justice for the most vulnerable.

Earlier in June Gary and I were in Chicago for the annual Printer's Row Literary Festival, where I signed copies of Blind Eye at the Black Rose Writing table. It was fun meeting people who were familiar with Bridgeport, a part of  Chicago where the novel takes place.
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We stayed on a few days to revisit museums and other sites, not to mention indulging in deep dish pizza and the biggest Bavarian pretzel I've ever seen.
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​I wish all of you the best in the coming weeks, and happy reading!

Meg

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It's been an exciting couple of months with the release of Blind Eye and all the activities that go along with it.

Shortly after the eBook version came out, I hosted a launch/signing party at Murder By The Book bookstore in Houston. Luckily, the date fell on Indie Bookstore Day, which is celebrated nation-wide.
We had a good showing, including several long-time friends, so it was a special evening getting caught up and signing books over a glass of wine. The event was my first real bookstore engagement, so it was a fun learning experience.

Then the following week, Blind Eye won runner-up in Best Mystery/Detective Maxy Awards, which was wonderful.




To celebrate, and just in time for summer reading, Blind Eye (eBook version) is only $0.99 Thursday, May 17 through Sunday, May 20.

Now it’s time to get back to work on my third Jack Bailey book, and in the meantime, I hope everyone enjoys meeting Jack back in Chicago in Blind Eye!
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I’m happy to say I've finished the draft of my next Jack Bailey novel, slated for release this spring. I signed once again with ​Bailey’s Law publisher, Black Rose Writing, for a target release date of next April.

You may have read several excerpts of the book in my previous newsletters. If you're not receiving my newsletter, just drop me a note. I promise it won’t clutter up your mailbox. It’s only sent every other month! 

As always, I welcome any other comments you may have. Hope to hear from you!

Best to you,
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.’

​Right before Thanksgiving, two friends and I went on a mini-book tour of Richmond, TX, the setting of Bailey’s Law. We decided to check out a couple of haunts that Jack visited in the book.

​Our first stop was The Lone Star Saloon, which is described in Chapter 13. Jack’s had a bad day, fed up with the case he’s working as well as the never-ending heat, and figures he’ll stop at the saloon on his way home for a couple beers and a burger. After he’s settled in, Denise Williams walks through the door, joins him, and they have a good conversation with a secret or two revealed.

​In our scenario, the weather’s sunny and beautiful. Not many people in the place, and we’re warmly greeted by a waitress who introduces us to the owner, Bev L. She was excited to receive a copy of Bailey’s Law, and happy the Lone Star is mentioned in the book. We ate a delicious lunch, and Bev enjoyed telling the history of the saloon and showing us pictures.

​We said our goodbye’s and headed for the historical court house building and took several pictures. Then on to the police station, another of Richmond’s iconic buildings, where we spotted their pet memorial garden, honoring the K-9’s who were used in service to the officers.

We met a very amiable officer named Lowell N., who happily accepted a copy of Bailey’s Law. He indicated it was a slow afternoon, right before the holiday, and he’d start reading the book immediately. (He emailed me the next day, saying how much he enjoyed the book.)

​The Soda Shoppe, another old town treasure, was closed, much to our disappointment, but we enjoyed driving around more of the town, and ending our day at Clancy’s Pub. This eatery is found later in the book when Jack and his colleague, Moose, stop in for a pint and a burger.

The staff at the pub is welcoming, enjoyed chatting with us, and said how cool it is to actually “be in a book.”

​It’s a special treat to reach out to people who reside in the setting of one’s book. I highly recommend it!

Speaking of special treats, Bailey's Law eBook is only .99 on Amazon Kindle December 8th to the 11th! Download your cheap eBook copy now!
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Joe Dillard Untangles Legal and Personal Webs

This is book 5 of the Joe Dillard series, and tells the story of Joe's taking on clients whose young daughter was kidnapped from her home during the night. Scott Pratt's writing style is conversational and flows well to keep up the pace of the plot. I was engaged from beginning to end with tension on each page regarding the little girl's disappearance. In spite of hard evidence pointing to the girl's father, Joe finally feels his client is innocent and looks for suspects close to business and family relationships. Meanwhile, adding conflict and challenge to his life, Joe discovers the truth about his father supposedly killed in Viet Nam. Without giving too much away, health issues with Joe's wife arise, testing his core stamina and character. This book would appeal to those of us who enjoy a good who-dunnit, with an interesting and likable protagonist who isn't perfect, but very human indeed.

Read Bailey's Law Now.

How many times have you been disappointed with a movie based on a book you’ve read and enjoyed? I think we can all agree that oftentimes the movie pales in comparison.

However, several weeks ago two friends and I saw The Girl on the Train, which we’d all read and liked. None of us knew what to expect from the movie, since we don’t always agree with written reviews.

We were pleasantly surprised at the film, and thought the acting was excellent. The movie closely follows the book, with minor details changed toward the end which does not affect the outcome. One difference is the setting. Rachel takes a train from a small outlying town to New York City rather than London. Again, no bearing on the story.

I think the casting is spot on. Emily Blunt captures the essence of Rachel in all her unreliable facets. Megan and Anna, played by Haley Bennet and Rebecca Ferguson are convincing as well. As a special treat, Allison Janney pops in as Detective Riley, who ends up on Rachel’s side.

My one criticism is the movie’s length. Like most movies I see, this could’ve been trimmed down ten or fifteen minutes. If you’d like a tempoprary escape from the world, I recommend this film for an entertaining ride.

Read Bailey's Law Now.