Category: Blog

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Busy, busy, busy!

As I write this I’m getting ready to do an interview for a podcast. It also just occurred to me a couple of days ago that book #2 in the Raising the Bar Briefs series, FOR THE DEFENSE will release on Tuesday. Oh, and did I mention that I’m trying to finish drafting a book that will release next summer?

So what have I been doing? If you said hanging out with Fodder, napping with the beasts, watching Ted Lasso, you’d be right! Or, should I say, spot on!

Ted Lasso pointing the affirmative

But I have been working here and there. This is part of my new process. I know that the work will get done, and I’m not stressing about it.

So let me remind you of this. If you want a paperback copy of AN ABSENCE OF MOTIVE (Book 1), today is the last day to buy one in stores. Tomorrow, they will switch out the stock. Of course, ebooks will be available in perpetuity and you can order paperbacks through Harlequin.com.

In case you missed it, I chatted with Renee from the kt literary podcast recently and had a new book deal announced. Yay!

So, yeah, that’s where I’m at. I need to go get ready to try to string coherent words together. Wish me luck!

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Back to blogging

I’m coming back to the blog.

Why? I miss it. I miss the interaction I get to have with people here, even if it’s only a few.

Aren’t blogs kind of, you know, dead? I don’t care. I’m tired of chasing trends, disenchanted with social media, and want something more personal than my newsletter.

Will you still send newsletters? Of course! But there will be a little more of me in the posts here.

How often will you post? I’m not sure. I think not weekly, but maybe a couple of times a month.

About what? General babbling. Life, writing, books, anything, and everything.

Is anyone still out there in the blog-o-sphere?

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It’s here! It’s here! AN ABSENCE OF MOTIVE is live!

Buy Now!
Cover art An Absence of Motive – North America

He was an outsider

And the only man she could trust.

Attorney Marlee Masters’s brother was murdered. Proving it means working with Sheriff Ben Kinsella and facing down the nasty gossip in their rural Georgia town. Although they accuse Marlee of being the real threat, there’s a stalker vowing retribution if they don’t end the investigation. Ben won’t abandon Marlee in her hour of need, but will she have to place herself in even more peril to catch the killer?

Heat level: LOW

CW: Talk of suicide

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Monday Mayhem – It’s been a while

Hello friends. How are you? Hanging in there?

Like everyone else, I’m trying to roll with the punches, but oy! They keep coming, don’t they?

Just wanted to do a quick post to say hello, and check in. I’ve been hard at work on my series for Harlequin Intrigue. You can expect to see, AN THE ABSENCE OF MOTIVE – the first book in the Raising the Bar Briefs series in August 2021.

Book 2 – FOR THE DEFENSE will release in September.

Book 3 – BENCH TRIAL IN THE BACKWOODS will be out in October.

Raising the Bar Briefs coming soon!

Whoo hoo! That’s some good news, right?

In other news – SEDUCING STEVE is on sale for only 99¢/99p! Tell all your friends!

That’s the news I have for now. I know we’re off to a crazy start already, but please know I wish you all health and happiness in 2021!

XOXO

Mags

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Hello, it’s me…

My husband would make faces if he knew I’d used the Todd Rundgren line, but he’s down there and I’m up here and he never looks at my blog anyway, so there you go.

Hi, friends. How are you holding up? I hope you and your loved ones are well. We are okay here. I have voted, but Fodder has not yet done so. Don’t worry, I’m a pro-level badgerer, so he will get it done.

We’ve been mostly holing up, which is good because someone *points to self* had a book to write. And guess what? I did!

I finished the rough draft of SMUGGLER’S BLUES (Pine Woods #2 for Harlequin Intrigue) yesterday. Yay! It’s a bit of a hot mess at the moment, but I have a month to whip it into shape before it’s due to my editor.

last lines from the book and THE END
Screenshot of the last lines typed – definitely subject to change

In the meantime, my editor is taking her first crack at book #1 – tentatively titled ABSENCE OF MOTIVE. I’m also plotting and planning to write something completely different for NaNoWriMo – a RomCom!

If you’re a writer or other type of creative reading this and flipping the bird at your screen, please know I’m not saying these things to brag. Staying busy has been the best way for me to cope with what’s happening all around us, but I know it’s not the same for everyone.

We’re over a half-year into this thing. Like the rest of you, I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss traveling. I miss going to the grocery store without suiting up like I’m touring Chernobyl. Fodder and I are still not dining-in at restaurants, but we are supporting our favorite locals. Since we live in the boonies, I bought some nifty cafeteria trays we use for our in-town car dining.

Date night means schnitzel night!

Fancy, right?

Tell me, what’s helping you get through? I’d love to hear from you. To know you’re okay and I’m not flaunting my schnitzel for naught.

Be well. And if you are one of my American friends, don’t forget to VOTE!

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Monday Mayhem – Hey, it’s Monday!

What do you know? I’d completely lost track of the days.

Closeup of dates on calendar page

So what have I been doing with my Labo(u)r Day weekend? Laboring.

Okay, not really doing hard labor, but I’ve been working on my next book. I tacked a couple of vacation days on at the end of last week (since I’m not going anywhere anytime soon) and decided to hunker down and get a chunk of my next Intrigue book written. And guess what? I did!

Party puppy!

Okay, maybe it’s not quite time to pull out the confetti cannon, but as of this morning, I am over 1/3 in, and feel like I’ve got some momentum going to carry me into the workweek and beyond.

We’ve also been puttering around the house. Fodder has a project he’s been working on in the barn. Basically still trying to stay as far away from the rest of the world as possible in hopes of staying healthy.

I hope you and yours are well. My thoughts are with all of my teacher friends and pals who are wrestling with kids going back to school. Continued prayers for our healthcare professionals and first responders. Everyone is doing the best they can, and I just know you are rocking it!

So here’s a little celebration for you too. Your labo(u)rs are not in vain!

Cat with confetti cannon!

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Monday Mayhem – Best. Weekend. Ever.

I ran away from home this weekend.

Okay, I didn’t really run away, but I did make a short trip to spend a little responsibly managed together time with my friends Holly and Brinda.

We rented a place on the edge of the Hot Springs National Forest and took a couple of days to think, talk, and type. Yes. A mini writing retreat! We each had our own space, plenty of room to spread out to work, and the nice people at Bite Squad and Grubhub kept us fed. Just look how sad we were to be together after all these months…

I promise, this is the closest we got all weekend!

There may have been a tad more talking than typing, but it was all good. Words were achieved, brainstorms were set awhirl, and best of all, we had a chance to reconnect. There’s nothing like time spent with other writers to help get the juices flowing.

I’ve started work on the second book in my Harlequin Intrigue series, and I’m super-excited!

How about you? Are you finding ways to stay connected to the people who bring you joy? I sure hope so!

I hope you all are happy and heathy. I appreciate you!

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Monday Mayhem – A Chance to win!

Today, I have a fun surprise to share with you…I’ve teamed up with 50+fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of Steamy Romances to two lucky winners!

Oh, and did I mention the Grand Prize winner gets a BRAND NEW eReader? You can win TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE, plus books from authors like Dylann Crush, Lorelei James, Dakota Davies, and Emma Vikes.

Enter the giveaway by clicking here 🔥bit.ly/SteamyRomance-Aug2020

Good luck and enjoy!

Maggie

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Monday Mayhem – In our own backyard

I know my adopted home state takes a lot of knocks. When it comes to poking fun at places, Arkansas is considered an easy target. I’m guilty of taking a few potshots at it over the years too.

But as far as most Arkansans are concerned, that’s fine. Go on thinking what you’ve been thinking and fly right over us.

We know what you are missing…This place is beautiful.

They call Arkansas the Natural State. Not because we all run around naked, but because so much of the land is preserved and undeveloped. The place is lousy with trees, creeks, free-flowing rivers, and lakes brought to us courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers. With all that on our doorstep, it seemed only, well, natural for us to wander the backroads a bit.

Fodder and I ran away to a little cabin in the Buffalo National Forest to celebrate Independence Day. If you have never been to the Buffalo, put it on your must-do list. It truly is a national treasure.

Our home away from home – built @ 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Staying socially distant, but loving every minute of it!
Buffalo National River

This past weekend, our daughter introduced us to Lake Greeson, a place we never knew about, even though it was only 2 hours from our house! On our way to and from, we passed through the little town of Delight, Arkansas – home of Glen Campbell. I’ll let you guess where the road trip playlist went from there.

We love a scenic overlook!

We’re already plotting and planning where to go next.

How about you? Have you been able to get out and about? I hope you and yours are finding ways to get out and enjoy your summer!