Mystery

I've been a romance and women's fiction writer for many years, but something that many people don't know is that I've also written a couple of mysteries. One of them, Corpse on the Court, was written under my maiden name Deborah Tisdale and was published by Avalon. The other was Theft and Thanksgiving, one book in a series written by a group of authors for Guideposts. We all wrote our books under the name Emily Thomas, and the series is called Secrets of the Blue Hill Library. Any of the books in this series can be ordered from the Guideposts website.

My first mystery was quite a bit of fun to write. I never saw myself as a mystery writer, but when my editor at Avalon challenged me to give it a try, I did. After a few (major) revisions, she accepted it and the book came out the following year. Former Nashville detective Summer Walsh is the main character in Corpse on the Court, and I've been thinking about following up with more books for a series. Here's a blurb about the first book:

When Summer Walsh, a former detective from Nashville, leaves the police force, she sees herself vacationing on the beach, teeing off at the golf course of her uncle's country club community, and knocking a few balls around on the tennis court. But that's not the way things work out when her uncle gets framed for the murder of an aging femme fatale who was found strangled on the tennis court.

Summer is called to service in the small coastal community called Gulfside, where the sun shines year-round and retirees play like children. The murder of Bonita Landry throws the whole town into a tailspin, creating suspicion in everyone. She has to endure listening to remarks about her uncle's love life, being chased on the causeway, and dealing with hostile witnesses. But Summer doesn't give up until she finds out who murderer is.

Order e-book at Amazon

New Project

It seems like I'm always starting a new project. It might be something around the house, like decorating a room or designing my garden. Right now I'm getting started on One Foot Out the Door, the last of my three-book Uptown Belles series that's being published by Charisma House.

The first book, Dixie Belle, came out this past spring, and the second one, Trouble in Paradise, will release next spring. All three books are set (mostly) in New York City, and they feature heroines from the South who fall in love with big-city men. 

Here are the blurbs:

Dixie Belle - Cissy Hillwood needs to leave her Alabama hometown to escape her abusive boyfriend, so she accepts an offer to work for her Uncle Forest in New York City. Sparks fly when she meets Forest’s fiercest competitor, Tom Jenkins, but her uncle does not approve of their budding romance. Tom is a Christian at night and on weekends, but he seems to leave his faith at the door when he gets to work. Yet the more time he spends with Cissy, the more he begins to question and reevaluate his business ethics. As Cissy tries to keep her relationship with Tom a secret from her Uncle Forest, misunderstandings mount and conflicts arise, forcing Cissy to make a decision. Which should she choose: loyalty to her uncle or love for Tom?

Trouble in Paradise - Charlene Pickford finds herself in a pickle after landing the job of her dreams in New York City. Her boss might be attractive, but when it becomes obvious that he's hiding some deep, very dark secret, she feels an overwhelming urge to flee back to Georgia to help her parents … even though they've made it clear that they don't want her hovering. Will Charlene be able to make a decision that brings her peace?

One Foot Out the Door - Bethann Russell loses her job, so when her elderly aunt falls and breaks her hip, she’s the most logical family member to move up to New York to be the caretaker. When attorney Judd Baxter arrives to help Bethann’s aunt with her legal affairs, the attraction between him and Bethann is obvious. As Bethann gets to know Judd, she discovers part of his job is to handle the legal affairs of companies that downsize. This is too close to home for Bethann since she loved the job she lost, so she decides to return to Mississippi as soon as her aunt recovers. But her aunt has other ideas and makes matchmaking her new mission.

 

Order from:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Making Friends on the Rail

My husband Wally and I decided to try something we've never done before. We rode Amtrak to visit our daughter and her family in North Carolina. The trip there was good and not too tiring because the layover in the small town of Wilson, NC, was short. However, the trip back involved a 3-1/2 layover in Wilson that made it an all-day adventure.

Something really cool happened while we were at the Wilson train station on the way there. We started talking to some of the other people who were waiting, and we met a woman who lives in our neighborhood. After chatting for a while, we learned that we were returning home on the same trains, so we exchanged phone numbers.

During our layover on the way home, our new friend and another woman who was traveling alone joined us for lunch at a small ice cream shop and deli across the street from the station. Our neighbor Vita and I plan to go for walks through the neighborhood and meet for an occasional cup of coffee or lunch. The other woman, Claire, was on vacation from her teaching job in England, so we exchanged emails.

I've ridden the subway in New York City, a train from Connecticut to New York, and the Bullet in Japan. And all of the experiences were different.

Here are some of my articles that relate to this trip:

• How to Behave on Trains and Buses
• About Personal Space
• Queue Manners
• Cell Phones in Public

More articles:

• How to Make Friends While You're Traveling
• Amtrak Train Travel
• Top Attractions in Durham, North Carolina

As exhausted as I was for a couple of days, I'm still glad that we chose to take the train because we met some nice new friends. Here are some pictures from our trip:

Red train car we saw from the window at one
of the many stops.

My attempt at a selfie during the train ride.
I obviously need practice. Or maybe next
time Wally can take the picture.

           

End-of-Summer Hurrah

Now that it's almost time for the kids to go back to school, why not do one last summer-related thing? Do something fun that will create memories to get them through the year. You can go to a city you've never visited, head for the closest campsite, visit a local tourist attraction, or go to the beach and build sandcastles. Whatever you do, remember to take pictures and pick up at least one item to bring home to remind you of your end-of-summer hurrah.

Here are some etiquette tips to share with the family:

• 8 Basic Rules of Air Travel Etiquette
• Camping Manners
• Be on Your Best Beach Behavior
• Waiting in Line

Before you leave for your little getaway, don't forget to download a book to your favorite e-reader. Here are a few of mine that make great summer reading:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

ChristianBook.com

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

ChristianBook.com

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

ChristianBook.com

Thoughts About Loss

When I heard the news about Robin Williams yesterday, I felt like someone had knocked me over and kicked me in the chest. He was the funniest improvisational comedian I knew of. Yes, some of his humor was more risqué than I'm comfortable with, but he did enough other work that I was able to look past what I didn't care for.

Do you remember the first time you ever saw him? My first Robin Williams experience was when he was on the show "Mork and Mindy." I was instantly spellbound as was most of America. Who was this guy? He had the amazing ability to improvise and take a sort-of-funny situation to a whole new level. Although I never saw the man in person, over time, I felt as though I knew him. He was familiar. I knew what I was getting when I saw one of his movies or watched him on a talk show. I'm sad that he won't be around to create more great comedy, but at least we have him on film. He leaves behind a mountain of work that won't let us forget this brilliant man.

As we go through life, we all lose friends and family members, but it's never easy. People want to console us, and when our friends lose a loved one, we try to comfort them. As the etiquette writer for About.com, people often ask me how to express sympathy. I've written quite a few articles regarding etiquette for funerals.

Here are some articles that might help if you aren't sure what to do or say after someone passes:

• How to Write a Sympathy Card
• Sympathy Card Examples
• Frequently Asked Questions About Funerals

I've also selected some articles by other About.com writers that you may want to read:

• How to Help a Friend Who is Grieving
• Talking to Children About Death
• What the Bible Says About Death, Eternal Life, and Heaven

One of the things I plan to do over the next several weeks is celebrate the life of Robin Williams by watching some of my favorite movies he was in. Here are some I like:

• Popeye
• Good Morning, Vietnam
• Hook
• Mrs. Doubtfire
• Dead Poets Society
• The Birdcage
• Good Will Hunting

Let's Get Serious About Table Manners ... and Other Stuff

How many times have you been told to take your elbows off the table? And how many times have you told your children not to talk with their mouth full? These are messages that can be heard all over the country at dinnertime. It might seem as though the little ones aren't paying a bit of attention, but that's not the case. If you say something enough times, they'll eventually obey just to have some peace.

Here are some of my articles on mealtime manners:

• How to Eat Like a Civilized Person – I think this is one of the most important lessons anyone can learn. After all, everyone has to eat. There's no point in doing it wrong.
• How to Eat Shellfish Without Making a Mess – Anyone visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast or Louisiana bayous needs to know this. 

  

  Enjoy a delicious seafood platter -
  Deegolden/Morguefile.com

• Lick the Ice Cream Rudeness – It's still summer, y'all, so go ahead and enjoy some ice cream but do it right.

Now check out some of my other favorite About.com articles:

• 4 Ways Having a Good Friend Makes You Healthier – Friendship expert Cherie Burbach shares some excellent health advice.
• How to Score Free School Supplies for Your Kids – Who doesn't like free stuff? Check this out by freebies expert Stacy Fisher.
• Throw the Best Kid's Birthday Party Ever – Apryl Duncan shows how you can be the coolest mom on the block.

Have you read any of the books in my Class Reunion series? Here's a short introduction that's now available on Kindle for only 99¢: Before the Class Reunion: Prequel to the Class Reunion Series. You'll get to know Priscilla, Tim, Trudy, Celeste, and Laura as they receive their 5-year reunion invitations. The question is, will any of them attend?

Before the Class Reunion

Dixie Belle Has Arrived

In case you haven't heard, Southern girls can do just fine in the big city. Even the Big Apple. They might stumble a bit at first, but once they find their footing, they'll soar and maybe even find a little romance.

Check out Dixie Belle, the first book in the Uptown Belles series. If she doesn't charm your socks off, you must not be breathin'.

Cissy Hillwood needs to leave her Alabama hometown to escape her abusive boyfriend, so she accepts an offer to work for her Uncle Forest in New York City. Sparks fly when she meets Forest’s fiercest competitor, Tom Jenkins, but her uncle does not approve of their budding romance.
 
Tom is a Christian at night and on weekends, but he seems to leave his faith at the door when he gets to work. Yet the more time he spends with Cissy, the more he begins to question and reevaluate his business ethics.
 
As Cissy tries to keep her relationship with Tom a secret from her Uncle Forest, misunderstandings mount and conflicts arise, forcing Cissy to make a decision. Which should she choose: loyalty to her uncle or love for Tom?

Here are some links to order Dixie Belle:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Book.com

I'm Back!

After taking another break from blogging, I decided it was time to get back to sharing some of the things I enjoy with readers. Having a blog is a huge time commitment, but when I have something to say, it's a great way to do it.

For the past couple of years I've been the etiquette writer for About.com, and I've gotten to know some of the other writers through their work. For the next several months, I'll add links to some of my favorite articles here - both mine and other experts'.

Being gracious is a way of life - Demen/Morguefile.com

Let's start with a few now. When I was younger, my parents emphasized the importance of good manners and insisted I follow very strict, Southern guidelines. Although I enjoyed the six-week department store charm school class my mother sent me to, the challenge of walking across the room with a book on my head and learning the fine art of pouring tea without spilling it on your guest wasn't thorough enough. Fortunately, I have my Southern roots, my military brat upbringing, and a sorority in college to help guide me in all things gracious.

Here are some of my etiquette articles to get started:

• Anyone Can Have the Manners of a Modern Southern Belle - In other words, listen to your mama and do what she says.
• It's Not Polite to Get All Uppity - Don't be a snob.
• Make Your Young'uns Behave - No one likes to be around wild, uncaged monkeys.

Some of my other favorite About.com articles:

• 50 Ways to Make New Friends - by my friend Cherie Burbach - Now you have no excuse to be lonely.
• Job Interview Questions and Answers - by Alison Doyle, an expert on searching for jobs - Knowing the questions ahead of time will prevent nervous stuttering when you're trying hard to impress the interviewer.
• 10 Facts About Seals - by marine life expert Jennifer Kennedy - I know this may seem random, but I found it interesting, and it's always good to learn something new.

I just found out that Guideposts has temporarily dropped the price of Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida, a fun beach read for the end of the summer.

Each year, Jerry Simpson returns to Amanda's shop on Treasure Island to rent a bicycle for two - even though he's single. Will she finally discover the handsome stranger's secret? Will Amanda and Jerry find the treasure they both deserve?

Here are a couple of links to order it:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble