Maggie’s Musings

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My books have become teenagers!

It’s hard to believe I’ve been doing this long enough for some of my books to become teenagers.

Having raised a couple kids through their teen years, I can say fairly confidently, the books are less worrisome. I never have to badger CONTENTMENT info putting the laundry away. The ghosts in PARAMOUR and INAMORATA don’t have to be reminded about bed times. Thankfully, I’m not in charge of the logistics for Ellie & Jack’s LONG DISTANCE LOVE. And worrying about Maggie from COMMITMENT is enough to keep any mother awake at night.

Last week, BoobBub (a book lover’s newsletter service) featured SEDUCING STEVE. Good old Steve is on sale at most US retailers for 99¢, and my favorite red-haired hunk still has it! He was even flagged as a Barnes & Noble Nook bestseller!

Infographic with arrows describing the tropes in the book that has become a teenager

Way to go, Steve! Not bad for a book who is a teenager!

I’m always happy when someone discovers some of my older works. If you’ve never read Steve, you can still get a digital copy for 99¢, so click now!

If you’re interested in buying ebooks of some of my re-released material, you can buy direct from me at my PayHip store, MagsRomance, or at your favorite online retailer.

At the moment, I’m working on having my 50th book published. I’m also working on writing books 51, 52, 53 – the upcoming Arkansas Special Agent: Cyber Crime Division series. Book #1 – SHADOWING HER STALKER – will be the 15th book I’ve written for Harlequin.

So many milestones!

Thanks so much for coming with me on this ride. It certainly has been — and continues to be — a roller coaster, but it’s been great having you beside me!

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I’m not really anti-social…

I’m not anti-social, but I am becoming more and more anti-social-media. It’s definitely an “It’s complicated” relationship.

someecards meme about being anti-social media
meme by someecards

We’ve been hearing about the perils and pitfalls of social media for years now, and yet…

I still have a Facebook account and author pages. It’s where I tend to connect with family and other people I know IRL.

I’m also on Instagram and by association, Threads. I like to post pics of the dogs or flowers or my cute grandsons, but my feed on Instagram is now mostly ads, inspirational memes, and videos reposted from TikTok. The impermanence of Stories just makes me sad.

I had high hopes for Threads because I miss engaging with other in the author community, but its taking what now seems to be the inevitable turn. Why can’t we have nice things?

Scrolling TikTok left me annoyed by the amount of time I’ve wasted, so I deleted it. I’m also one of those people who hated watching people stage fake oopsie-daisies on America’s Favorite Home Videos, so… Not my thing.

Once upon a time, I signed up for a LinkedIn account, but I don’t use it. Nor do I consider it social media.

I cut ties with The App Formerly Known as Twitter in 2019. What a cesspool.

But authors are encouraged to be everywhere.

They say we never know where we’re going to find our next avid reader, so we cast our nets wide. We ask engaging questions, post endless game memes, and generally do things that don’t suit our personalities on the off chance we might reach new readers. I have watched people I know personally create a whole new “author personna” for social media, and I’m telling you, it’s freaky.

I just…can’t. It’s exhausting. I’d rather be writing.

I’ll keep my accounts, of course, but I am going to curate them more. Some I’ll use purely for book-related promotion, others for more personal reasons. But I’m not going to do the thing where I post to social media to let people know I won’t be posting to social media, though.

Links to blog posts and newsletters will auto-post to some accounts, but if you’re looking for me, you can always find me here.

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Let’s catch up!

This year… 2024 has been a bit of a rollercoaster in my household, but I wanted to take a minute to catch up. I used to laugh when my mother would complain about time moving too fast as she got older, but now… Sorry, Mom. I totally get you.

How is it we’re more than halfway through March? I kicked off the year with my first case of COVID, and things have been a bit bumpy ever since.

But Spring has sprung, and rather than complain about the pollen, I’m basking in the sunny days and blooming flowers. And though things have not been optimal, all is well. I’m finding I’m becoming more and more about the big picture these days.

daffodils

The writing is happening. I’ve turned in the first book for my next Intrigue series – Arkansas Special Agents: Cyber Crime Division. I’m working on book #2 now.

My mom-com manuscript is currently on submission with a number of editors. It’s a story about a single mom and her fabulous support network of family and friends. Cross your fingers!

Speaking of friends… I’m planning some trips to visit girlfriends this year. We’re spread out geographically, but somehow have managed to remain in one another’s pockets for decades. I’m feeling the need for a little time with my ladies.

On the homefront, the grandsons are growing and thriving. The house is a mess, but it’s our mess and we can live with it. It’s almost time to start haunting the garden centers – yay! But mostly, the dogs still rule our lives. Our sweet Sally has not been feeling well lately, so we’re spending some extra time on the puppy cuddles.

Catch a snooze with Sally (lab) and Timber (germador)

Can you blame us? Look at these big babies! Fodder turned from his desk and caught his co-workers slacking off. It happens most days. As a matter of fact, he snaps a pic and sends it to me with the caption: Daily Dog. I smile like a goof each time I get a new one.

I’ve been listening to a ton of audiobooks. I’m on book 17 of Louise Penny’s fabulous Three Pines books. I’m trying (and failing) to pace myself. My favorite read so far this year has been The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. It may not be for everyone, as there’s some time travel involved, but I really enjoyed it.

How about you? How is 2024 treating you so far? What are you reading? Catch me up!

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It’s that time again!

Here is the total compilation of my 2023 #happythings lists!

JANUARY

  1. Tijuana Brass, blown transformer, and an outdoor Christmas on a beautiful day. 🎄
  2. B&N date and nesting. 📚
  3. Pre-steak snoozing with Sally. 💤
  4. Massages and mashed potatoes.
  5. Slim Chicken’s and shining LaFawnduh. 🚗
  6. Pet documentaries confirm we are nothing but minions.
  7. An excellent Panera date with Kathy & Tina, Riviera Maya with Kelli, and a chat with Jewels and Lulu. I am a social butterfly. 🦋
  8. Carol’s birthday! Jamming Elvis and Bowie. 🕺
  9. Zooming with my CNRW pals. 💻
  10. A punch in the arm from Dr. Wayne. 🩺
  11. Hacks!
  12. David’s burgers and cozy clothes. 🍔
  13. Elvis date with my king.
  14. Cinnamon Creme Bakery madness!
  15. Mediterranean dinner and dreams.
  16. Burgers, beans, and my baby!
  17. Stitches out. 🥼
  18. Arron’s first annual 29th birthday! 🎂
  19. Bill is bichipsual. #regularorwavy
  20. Mediocre Chinese food, but a superior post-dinner snoozle with Sally. 🥟
  21. Running with Reep & RSG holiday party. I wore a sparkly sweater!
  22. I sat am forever am at work here.👺
  23. Look,ma, no cavities! 🪥
  24. After dinner wind-down with our fur babies.
  25. Vegging out with Jewels and Emily In Paris. 👛
  26. Scored a foot-long churro for $1. #winning
  27. Schnitzel nacht! 🥘
  28. Words! I made words! 📝
  29. The Nurserie field trip.
  30. Mickey Ds with my man because I deserved a break today!
  31. Jewels is 40! 🍾🥳🎊🎉🥂

FEBRUARY

  1. Campbell’s Chicken Noodle soup and oatmeal cookies. #healthfood 🍜
  2. Prescribed methylprednisolone. Did not see my shadow.🦫
  3. Feeling slightly human. #gome
  4. YouTube food experiments are a success! #omelettoast #grilledcheese 🍳
  5. Scoring in the clearance aisle!
  6. Caught Fodder hiding in the bedroom with a bowl of ice cream 🍨. He didn’t want to have to share with the dogs. 😂🤣
  7. A good chat and a few atta girls from my coach. 🙌
  8. Not a heart attack. #positivity🏥
  9. A busy day, which kept me from dwelling on a sad day 25 years ago.
  10. I made some manicotti and it made me nap.
  11. Playtime and pastries with my guys!🧁 Thinking of my Mommy.
  12. Sunshine day. 🌞
  13. Back to Margaret Monday.
  14. A “Be Mine” cake made by my Valentine. 💗
  15. Massage day! And I slept through the night like a big girl!
  16. Nothing like a good pencil whipping’!✏️
  17. Trawling the Lowe’s for tile ideas.
  18. Panera with Tina, Parker & Mandy! This time, we actually made words!💻
  19. Puff pastry experimental kitchen and weenie roast.🌭
  20. The Bueno birds are stool pigeons!!🪶
  21. Book mail from Lucy Gilmore! 📚
  22. Fun with closed-circuit cameras.🎥
  23. A perfect pink hyacinth. 🌸
  24. Discovered that Eugene Levy and are totally MFEO. ❤️
  25. Nesting day – stocking the freezer.
  26. Pasta fagooooool made us drool!
  27. Sunny and 74!
  28. Making plans for a foyer renovation while Fodder makes the mess.

MARCH

  1. Tazz’s burgers and hunkering down. ⛈
  2. Even old girls get the zoomies. #pupperplay 🐾
  3. Day 1 of BeccaCon. The fire hose of information is open. 🌊
  4. More Input overload, but the sun shone and my guy and I had an exciting evening of burgers and tile shopping. 🌞
  5. Savoring the joys of dandelion fluff with Sawyer.
  6. A haircut and a box o’ books! 📚
  7. Brought my baby a delicious square fish sandwich.
  8. The rain held off a bit. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good evening to puppy nap. 😴
  9. Chattering away with Jewels.💻
  10. Neck deep in FI: Drive to Survive and speckled with chocolate.🏎
  11. Banana muffins! 🍌
  12. Get things done day. ✅
  13. Kayson is 10! 🎂
  14. Tiles and paint procured. Bill covered in confetti.
  15. The Ides of Ted Lasso!
  16. Taco soup, puppy snoozing, and F1.
  17. Texas Roadhouse 🥩 and TraderJoe’s.
  18. Shrinking and Lasso rewatch.
  19. Kroger grocery pickup.
  20. Mainlining Daisy Jones and the Six. 💻
  21. 8 week program complete!
  22. More Lasso. Can there ever be enough? ⚽️
  23. Popeyes and puppy snoozing.
  24. Brinda and Mags weekend!🧳
  25. Making words, Mexican brownies, a walk in the sun, and the devil’s donuts. 🍩
  26. Home with man and beasts. ❤️
  27. Going wild-ing with Kelli Reep.
  28. Manwich night!
  29. Massage day, taco truck🌮, and Ted Lasso. 💗
  30. Tag team Walmart shopping and beautiful new tile!
  31. Safe and sound. 🌪

APRIL

  1. A lie-in, surveying the local nurseries, and a lovely day for yard work.
  2. Hanging with the Ottawa Romance Writers and the fab Sara Megibow.💻
  3. Fresh purple hull peas.
  4. Rebellion night. 🌮
  5. In-depth Lasso play-by-play and analysis with Jewels.
  6. A Thursday-Friday!
  7. Spent the day in my pajamas writing.
  8. More writing then yard work and sunshine ☀️
  9. Easter with Arron, Kendall, Sawyer & Rylee. 🌟
  10. Flower inspection/anticipation season! 🌸🌺🌼🌹🌷
  11. Leadership conference for RSG.
  12. Post office ninja!💌
  13. Taco truck tastiness on Friday Eve.🌮
  14. Mrs. Maisel returns! 👛
  15. Tile triumph!
  16. Writing a few words. 🙂
  17. Singing the painting song. 🎨
  18. Singing Danny’s Song in our Bueno bubble.
  19. Ted’s Triangles.
  20. An offer!
  21. Legally Blonde: The Musical with Kelli Reep! 💃🏻
  22. Luigi’s and Fernando. Vroom vroom! 🏎
  23. Wordsmithing and interior decor.
  24. A Happy Go Lucky Carnival of Snackery with David Sedaris and Kelli Reep! 📚
  25. OZARKS MISSING PERSON release day!
  26. Chat with the ISU OGs. 😃
  27. Breakfast for dinner and a great coaching call. 🥓
  28. Nothing like a little fricassee with Big Dan when you’re feeling a mite peckish. 🍕
  29. Today is the day we celebrate all things Renee. 🦩
  30. Wordsmithing and marketing for fleas.

MAY

  1. A pretty pale pink peony.🌸
  2. Doing the DocuSign dance! 🕺
  3. AYTG?IM,M with Kelli Reep. Judy Blume is a goddess.
  4. A Sonic date with our puppies. 🍔
  5. #22 on PW bestseller list!
  6. Would you like a cinnamon brown sugar cat milk espresso? 🐈
  7. ORW Superman workshop. I don’t think anyone went sleep. 😴
  8. Schnitzel in honor of Queen Charlotte. 👑
  9. Timber the play puppy pinup girl. Every inch the lady.
  10. Roy Kent! Roy Kent!
  11. Flowers and cuddles.
  12. Off to Dallas to meet Chants! ✈️
  13. Sightseeing and singing Pictures of You! #thecure #rocknrollsummerkickoff 🎶
  14. Plane nap, puppies, pizza, and patio snoozing. 💤
  15. Puppy cuddles = Monday cure all.
  16. 33 1/3 written.
  17. Review day in the Room of Wonders!
  18. We know the way to Santa Fe Cafe…maybe too well. 😉
  19. Splurging on the froyo with our hit dog combos. 🌭
  20. A kegger with Dogtown Ukulele Band. 🍻
  21. Mags + Bill + Kelli + Higgins + Pickering + Eliza = a loverly day.
  22. Vegging out on Selling Sunset.
  23. Release day OZARKS DOUBLE HOMICIDE.
  24. Television night! 📺
  25. Mrs. Maisel provides a glimpse into my future.
  26. Family fun around the fire. 🔥
  27. Farmers Market, splash pad, and county fair with Axel & Co.
  28. A bouquet of empty recycling bottles from my baby beaux. ♻️❤️👶
  29. Writing, reading, sunning, writing, reading, shopping….
  30. Chicken McNuggets and cruising with my guy.
  31. Oh, Ted, how we’ll miss you. #barbequesauce

JUNE

  1. Marvelous manicotti. 😋
  2. Haircut date. ✂️
  3. Doing whatever I feel like…gosh!
  4. Sunday prep day. ✅
  5. Snoopy drawings and words of encouragement. 💕
  6. My guy makes me laugh. 😂
  7. An official announcement. 📜
  8. Rocking some synth in honor of Nick Rhodes’ birthday. 🎹
  9. Lemon cheesecake cookie! 🍋
  10. Rainy day snoozles with Sally & Timber.
  11. Netflix and chilling with Kelli & Jewels.
  12. Adventuring with my guy. Dumplings and honky tonks.🥟
  13. Ryman Auditorium and Bridgestone Arena – Duran Duran!
  14. Home with our beasties.🐕‍🦺🦮
  15. Catching up on ALL THE WORK. ✅
  16. Indian Matchmaking with Jewels and Billiam. 📺
  17. Sawyer time then Riviera Maya time! 🌮
  18. Daddies are the best.
  19. Big wording tonight! 🖥
  20. Revelations of the fictional variety.
  21. Dairy Queen for dinner. 🍦
  22. A Hollywood High . 🎶
  23. Loading up Caddy Canoe! 🛶
  24. Paddling about and snoozing it out.
  25. Sweltering Sundays mean banana pudding.
  26. Steak and cuddles. 🥩
  27. A new book 📖for me and a new house 🏡for our Little Squirrel 🐿 .
  28. Dollar store key lime pie on massage day.
  29. Appraisal assistant extraordinaire. 🎖
  30. 22 years, 2 kids, 4 grandsons, 8 dogs, and 1 rabbit in…so far, so good. 👰🏻‍♀️🤵🏻

JULY

  1. Croissant breakfast sandwiches 🥐, Grandma Caleta’s chocolate oatmeal cookies🍪, and tacos🌮 = a good Saturday.
  2. Our first batch of purple hull peas.
  3. Indiana Jones 🤠and a massive bucket of popcorn. 🍿
  4. Eulalie Mackeknie Shinn Day! Happy birthday, ‘Merica! 🧨
  5. Checking things off the list. ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
  6. Preparing for the sojourn 🧳and celebrating Sawyer’s birthday a bit early. 🎂
  7. Lucca Grill with Bill and Renee. 🍕🍺
  8. Christmas in July 🎄🌴🎁 with the Kidwell clan.
  9. A smooth trip home and puppies to greet us!
  10. Frito pies and an easy night.
  11. Sawyer Day! 🎂
  12. MasterChef and Smartless. 📺
  13. Thursday night snoozles.
  14. Chimichanga and discount roses. 🌹
  15. Homebodying.🏠
  16. Words, glorious (?) words!
  17. Welcome to Wrexham!
  18. Executive dinner decision: Pizza pizza!
  19. Hot guy in a Razorback shirt and cutoff shorts.
  20. A fresh bedspread.
  21. I lived in the same world as Tony Bennett. 🎤💔
  22. Revisions, Mexican food, and Shine-Ola.
  23. Falling I love with my book. ❤️❤️❤️
  24. The boys are back! New house, new room!
  25. Moogie didn’t miss the boat the day she bought Boz tickets…. 🎶
  26. A good check up at the dentist. 🪥
  27. Cool banana pudding on an oppressively hot day.
  28. Monster pencil bags. 👾
  29. Being Barbie girls with Brinda and Kelli – pink margaritas for everyone! 🍹
  30. A quiet Sunday, just drifting along.
  31. A festival of meat and The Great. 👑👸

AUGUST

  1. Writing my love of cheese into a book. 🧀 Because I can. #MoogiesWorld
  2. Pizza date with my guy. 🍕
  3. Off to Michigan! ✈️ An evening with Kat, Jeff & Carol. Two Tonys for pasta and Tony Bennett, then the Front Porch 🍦 for dessert.
  4. The perfect day! A walk with Kat, beautiful beach 🏖️ time, scaling the dune with Carol, and Renee made it in time for happy hour 🍹. Capped it all with good music, good conversation, and…blue ice cream? 🤷‍♀️ My heart is as full as my belly.
  5. Pub grub, Barbie, and Flamingos in the can! 🦩
  6. Hugs, kisses, a few tears, and a happy homecoming. ✈️
  7. 8 minutes in an exam room. Healthcare by the Flash! ⚡️
  8. Bagging up some goodies and solving the world’s problems with Kelli Reep.
  9. Carne asada nachos. Yum!
  10. Keep the Beat testing ❤️ my heart is practically perfect in every way!!!
  11. New 🍎 watch.
  12. A puppy snoozle and a dipped cone. 🍦
  13. Arkansas Special Agents featured in review by the Arkansas Times! 📰
  14. Monday nap day.
  15. Putzing about getting a little done here, a little done there. ☑️
  16. Massage day – rubarub-rub!
  17. Thumping speaker dance party with the puppies.
  18. Riviera Maya for Friday refreshment!🍻
  19. Joey & Ben’s mojo dojo casa house 🏡 and three sweet boys! 😍😍😍
  20. Soft clothes Sunday.
  21. Sometimes, I just open a can of Hormel chili and a bag of Fritos. #notevenmasterchefnight
  22. A visit from Arron and Sawyer. 😀
  23. A new chair for my command module. 🖥️
  24. Flying Fish 🐠 and Kilwins with my guy. 🍨
  25. Party prep and pizza with Kelli.
  26. Pool party at Brinda’s! Drumsticks 🪘 in the shallow end and rom com afternoon! 🥰
  27. Closing in on an ending!
  28. Made it through Monday. Chicken, bacon, provolone sandwiches as a restorative.
  29. A warm welcome and delicious dinner at the Santa Fe Mexican Grill. 🌮
  30. Eliminating that’s, reallys, justs, and verys.
  31. A big, beautiful moon followed me to work this morning. 🌝

SEPTEMBER

  1. The Pantry and a fresh new Apple 🍎.
  2. Date night – pizza 🍕, beer 🍺, and new Razorback gear.
  3. Typed “The End” at last! 🖥️
  4. Miller time on a Monday. Sent my manuscript off!
  5. Time dinner with our boy before he hits the road again. 🚛
  6. Puppy snuggles and tacos.
  7. Nurse Sally helped with my upset tummy.
  8. A bountiful bouquet of beautiful basil.🌿
  9. Three boys filled with boundless energy. #wrecked 🥱
  10. I did a whole lot of nothing today, and I was damn good at it.
  11. Positive feedback!
  12. A great chat with Sara. Excited about this book! 🖥️
  13. Pasta e fagioli and MasterChef.📺
  14. Home alone. 😀😱🤣
  15. A hot date to Sam’s Club.🛒
  16. A little adventure on an ordinary day with you. 👩‍❤️‍👨
  17. Turned my Restorative skills loose on my manuscript. ⚒️
  18. Downloading WatchOS for Snoopy’s sake.
  19. Warm chocolate chip cookies 🍪 at work!
  20. A nap and the Masterchef finale.
  21. Ricotta stuffed shells. 😋
  22. Called it Easy Friday, and we took it easy.
  23. Hatching 🐣 plans with Kelli and Brinda.
  24. A field trip plus croissants!
  25. Lounging in bed long before bedtime. 🛌
  26. Crinkle cut French fries.
  27. Catching up with the Wrexham guys.
  28. A nice guy who pumps my gas.
  29. A big, beautiful morning moonset. 🌕
  30. Caulk talk and taco truck.

OCTOBER

  1. Fun, food and fellowship at the RSG family picnic! 🧺🏐🎈
  2. Mmm. A particularly tasty Homer’s burger. 🍔
  3. Bill Ethridge: Man on a Mission
  4. Massage day! I am the rubber band wo-man.
  5. Dictation, Schmicago with Jewels, and a little Superstar. 🌟
  6. Shots 💉and sopapillas.
  7. Meandering words and lazing with dogs.
  8. A beautiful day to pull some weeds. 🌱
  9. Snuggle pups and stroganoff.
  10. Watching Jewels shoe shop – a spectator sport. 👟
  11. Everything can be fixed with a truckload of fries. 🍔🍟
  12. Ringo!!! ✌️❤️⭐️🎤🥁
  13. Road tripping. Glad we don’t drive a grassfed Telluride. 🤣
  14. Fire in the hole!!! SDC with my big boys. ❤️
  15. Home to our canine overlords. 🐶
  16. Street tacos 🌮 to the rescue!
  17. A proposal proposed. ⌨️
  18. Talking things out. Making a plan. 🗒️
  19. Italian pastry cookies and a fabulous plot bunny! 🐰
  20. Baking with my guy, our pups and Elizabeth Zott. 📺
  21. Plants, puppy naps, and pizza. 🍕
  22. A shrubbery!
  23. Tub jamming Taylor Swift, much to Fodder’s chagrin. 🎤🎶
  24. Sunshine and a festival of meat! 🌭
  25. Dipped into The Gilded Age.
  26. Making words while the guitar man plays. 🎸
  27. A B&N date. 📚
  28. Rainy day puppies don’t mind days spent in jammies, they just keep snoozin’ on. 🎶
  29. SIX with my partner in crime, Kelli Reep. 👑
  30. FRIENDS reunion rewatch. Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion. 😂
  31. Passing out the Halloween goodies to all the kiddos at Joe & Deb’s.🎃 Have trick or treaters, will travel!

NOVEMBER

  1. Kicked off NaNoWriMo strong. 💪
  2. Taco 🌮 truck fueled typing.
  3. Holding hands on Friday night errands. 🤝
  4. A pursuit of, uh, for the ages.
  5. A sunny Sunday. Off to the races with Sawyer and Rylee! ⏱️
  6. Billy cracks pecans and roasts them in butter! 😋
  7. Mainlining Selling Sunset for a brain break. 📺
  8. Massage day!
  9. Girls night with Timber and Sally.💤
  10. A brewski and a Big Dan pizza. 🍺🍕
  11. Rizatriptan to the rescue. 💊
  12. Belting out some classics with Tony Bennett on the way home from Kroger. 🎤
  13. A snoozle and some schnitzel.
  14. Whipping up words before marinating in Julia. 👩‍🍳
  15. Hanging out in my nest watching trash TV.
  16. Double nickel birthday! Surprise donuts and flowers, a good meeting, and Santa Fe Cafe. 🎂
  17. Massages and madcap Christmas light shopping.🎄
  18. Fu fu fu Fu-Lin for dinner. 🥠
  19. On top of mount Chex Mix…
  20. Rainy day soup and snuggles. 🥫🍲
  21. Cranking out the goodies!
  22. A birthday stampede through the Texas Roadhouse for Billiam.
  23. Thanksgiving 🦃 with the Prewitt clan!
  24. Hugs and little chatter boxes. 🥰
  25. Working on old habits and making new plans.
  26. Landed on Planet Fitness again. 🏋️‍♀️
  27. A big, bright Beaver Moon! giggles🌕
  28. Busy day, tasty dinner, and a few words.
  29. Mr. Chip Hauler III 😂🤣😂
  30. Rainy day puppies always seem to know when you’re eating nachos. 🎶

DECEMBER

  1. Jamming my 🍎 Music 2023 playlist. Eclectic doesn’t seem strong enough… 🎶
  2. Hanging with Sawyer and Rylee.
  3. The Starship Enterprise tree topper never fails to delight us. 🤓
  4. You gave me a mission this week…what was it? 🤔
  5. A good visit with the railroad, but the pot roast was even better.
  6. A successful state of the union talk. 👩‍❤️‍👨
  7. Home alone for a few hours. 😱
  8. A slow walk and fast food. 🍟
  9. Christmas shopping! 🛍️
  10. RSG Christmas party and my 5-year workiversary.
  11. Lazy Monday night.
  12. Big words! 💻
  13. A lucky miss.
  14. Words and Julia. 📺
  15. Knocking the last of the shopping out and scoring 4x fuel points! 💰
  16. Hitting the old Sizzlin’ and gawking at the Christmas lights. 🎄
  17. Super Sunday productivity extravaganza!
  18. Fudge and roasted pecans. 😋
  19. Shopping out of spite due to a sleepless night. 😴
  20. Cereal killer… qu’est-ce que c’est.
  21. All. The. Prep. Hurry, Santa! 🎅🏻
  22. Invasion of silly boys.
  23. Christmas with our kiddos. 🎄🎁🎅🏻
  24. Brunch with my guy on Christmas Eve.
  25. Christmas Day in our pajamas. Headlamps and Doritos make the best stocking stuffers! ❤️
  26. Puppy cuddles while feeling cruddy. 😷 And a great big beautiful moon 🌕 !
  27. Up and about. Hopefully on the mend.
  28. Homemade chicken soup. 🍜
  29. Mainlining a good book. 📕
  30. Big Dan, Trader Joe’s, Somebody Feed Phil with my guy.
  31. Christmas with Sawyer and company. ❤️

I hope you found plenty of little things to make you happy this year.

Wishing you a happy 2024!

xoxo

Mags

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Thinking Thinky Thoughts

Hello friends,

I just wanted to pop in and share a bit of what I’ve been up to with you. As you probably already know, I’ll have another series for Intrigue coming out in 2025. I have a bit of a lag in there due to the way scheduling works in publishing and also because I had about six months where I was struggling to write anything at all.

When I shared my feelings with my fabulous agent, she told me to take my time, and when I was ready, just focus on writing a story that lights me up inside.
Sounds great, right?

But after more than a decade of writing books for publication, it’s hard to ignore that niggling little voice asking if maybe I’ve written my last book.

I wouldn’t say I was blocked so much as feeling a bit empty. So I read a lot. And watched a ton of Netflix. Spent time with my family and friends. Saw a bunch of concerts.

When I felt ready, I sat down and made a list of some of the elements I like to find in stories I read:
 
1. A noisy, sometimes complicated, but always loving family. 
2. Genuine female friendships – the kind destined to last a lifetime.
3. Heroines who may not be perfect, but are unquestionably awesome human beings trying their best. 
4. Heroes who appreciate a woman who owns her awesomeness and never expects her to dimmish it. 
5. Snark. Banter. Warm hugs. Hot kisses. Friends who rally. Heartfelt moments. A little more snark when things get too mushy.

Then, I wrote a book with all of those. A big book. And by big, I mean it went on and on. LOL 

I call it a mom-com. It’s sort of a Mom (TV show) meets Bridesmaids thing with some single dad romance thrown in. I’d say it skews more toward women’s fiction than contemporary romance, but it definitely deals with relationships.

Who knows if it’s something I can ever sell to a publisher, but I’m glad I wrote it. It feels like me, and that lights me up inside.

I hope you’ll want to read it one day.
xoxo
Maggie

How about you? Are there particular elements that draw you into a book?
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April #happythings

Here are a few thingsthat made me happy this month. How about you?

  1. A lie-in, surveying the local nurseries, and a lovely day for yard work.
  2. Hanging with the Ottawa Romance Writers and the fab Sara Megibow.💻
  3. Fresh purple hull peas.
  4. Rebellion night. 🌮
  5. In-depth Lasso play-by-play and analysis with Jewels.
  6. A Thursday-Friday!
  7. Spent the day in my pajamas writing.
  8. More writing then yard work and sunshine ☀️
  9. Easter with Arron, Kendall, Sawyer & Rylee. 🌟
  10. Flower inspection/anticipation season! 🌸🌺🌼🌹🌷
  11. Leadership conference for RSG.
  12. Post office ninja!💌
  13. Taco truck tastiness on Friday Eve.🌮
  14. Mrs. Maisel returns! 👛
  15. Tile triumph!
  16. Writing a few words. 🙂
  17. Singing the painting song. 🎨
  18. Singing Danny’s Song in our Bueno bubble.
  19. Ted’s Triangles.
  20. An offer!
  21. Legally Blonde: The Musical with Kelli Reep! 💃🏻
  22. Luigi’s and Fernando. Vroom vroom! 🏎
  23. Wordsmithing and interior decor.
  24. A Happy Go Lucky Carnival of Snackery with David Sedaris and Kelli Reep! 📚
  25. OZARKS MISSING PERSON release day!
  26. Chat with the ISU OGs. 😃
  27. Breakfast for dinner and a great coaching call. 🥓
  28. Nothing like a little fricassee with Big Dan when you’re feeling a mite peckish. 🍕
  29. Today is the day we celebrate all things Renee. 🦩
  30. Wordsmithing and marketing for fleas.
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It’s alive!

The Arkansas Special Agents Series is officially out in the world. We kick this round of true-to-life crime thrillers off with OZARKS MISSING PERSON!

A woman’s disappearance
Leads to a mysterious but powerful family

The disappearance of his sister has filled prosecuting attorney Matthew Murray with guilt over their estrangement. Then she’s found dead and special agent Grace Reed’s inquiries expose a politically influential family. Joining Grace in her investigation, Matthew must choose between his political ambitions and his desire for justice. But Grace’s fearlessness and resistance to intimidation inspire admiration—and more—in Matthew.

I hope you enjoy this series inspired by recent headlines. When I started writing these stories, I had no idea how wild the truth could be compared to fiction!

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March #happythings

It was a rough day in Arkansas yesterday. Seems like a good time to select on some little #happythings

One of the characters in my WIP would tell us to remember it’s the everyday that counts. Revel in it. The extraordinary is just…extra.

  1. Tazz’s burgers and hunkering down. ⛈
  2. Even old girls get the zoomies. #pupperplay 🐾
  3. Day 1 of BeccaCon. The fire hose of information is open. 🌊
  4. More Input overload, but the sun shone and my guy and I had an exciting evening of burgers and tile shopping. 🌞
  5. Savoring the joys of dandelion fluff with Sawyer.
  6. A haircut and a box o’ books! 📚
  7. Brought my baby a delicious square fish sandwich.
  8. The rain held off a bit. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good evening to puppy nap. 😴
  9. Chattering away with Jewels.💻
  10. Neck deep in FI: Drive to Survive and speckled with chocolate.🏎
  11. Banana muffins! 🍌
  12. Get things done day. ✅
  13. Kayson is 10! 🎂
  14. Tiles and paint procured. Bill covered in confetti.
  15. The Ides of Ted Lasso!
  16. Taco soup, puppy snoozing, and F1.
  17. Texas Roadhouse 🥩 and TraderJoe’s.
  18. Shrinking and Lasso rewatch.
  19. Kroger grocery pickup.
  20. Mainlining Daisy Jones and the Six. 💻
  21. 8 week program complete!
  22. More Lasso. Can there ever be enough? ⚽️
  23. Popeyes and puppy snoozing.
  24. Brinda and Mags weekend!🧳
  25. Making words, Mexican brownies, a walk in the sun, and the devil’s donuts. 🍩
  26. Home with man and beasts. ❤️
  27. Going wild-ing with Kelli Reep.
  28. Manwich night!
  29. Massage day, taco truck🌮, and Ted Lasso. 💗
  30. Tag team Walmart shopping and beautiful new tile!
  31. Safe and sound. 🌪
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February #HappyThings

I forgot to post this here. Where is my mind?? Anyhoo, are you ready for some #happythings? February is always a challenge for me, but that doesn’t mean there were not bright spots. And cupcakes.

1. Campbell’s Chicken Noodle soup and oatmeal cookies. #healthfood 🍜

2. Prescribed methylprednisolone. Did not see my shadow.🦫

3. Feeling slightly human. #gome

4. YouTube food experiments are a success! #omelettoast #grilledcheese 🍳

5. Scoring in the clearance aisle!

6. Caught Fodder hiding in the bedroom with a bowl of ice cream 🍨. He didn’t want to have to share with the dogs. 😂🤣

7. A good chat and a few atta girls from my coach. 🙌

8. Not a heart attack. #positivity🏥

9. A busy day, which kept me from dwelling on a sad day 25 years ago.

10. I made some manicotti and it made me nap.

11. Playtime and pastries with my guys!🧁 Thinking of my Mommy.

12. Sunshine day. 🌞

13. Back to Margaret Monday.

14. A “Be Mine” cake made by my Valentine. 💗

15. Massage day! And I slept through the night like a big girl!

16. Nothing like a good pencil whipping’!✏️

17. Trawling the Lowe’s for tile ideas.

18. Panera with Tina, Parker & Mandy! This time, we actually made words!💻

19. Puff pastry experimental kitchen and weenie roast.🌭

20. The Bueno birds are stool pigeons!!🪶

21. Book mail from Lucy Gilmore! 📚

22. Fun with closed-circuit cameras.🎥

23. A perfect pink hyacinth. 🌸

24. Discovered that Eugene Levy and are totally MFEO. ❤️

25. Nesting day – stocking the freezer.

26. Pasta fagooooool made us drool!

27. Sunny and 74!

28. Making plans for a foyer renovation while Fodder makes the mess.