E-reader Book Bash - Grab a book or two!

I'm happy to participate in the E-reader bash. 23 authors are giving away 27 romantic ebooks. That's a whole lotta love!

To enter, all you have to do is answer a question here at Mudpies in a comment between now and Dec. 29. There will be a grand prize and a second place prize, with each winner taking home more than a dozen ebooks! Winners will be posted late on Sunday, Dec. 30.

My book that's up for grabs is Murder in the Buff, a romantic mystery. In the story, reporter Molly Darter's job is on the line, and her marriage has gone south. When she gets the worst assignment of her life, she can't turn it down. The job? Getting an obituary from the nudist colony.

My question for the giveaway is: what hair style does the woman behind the fence sport?

Here's a short excerpt where you can look for the answer:

We’d also heard the naturalists were retired call girls. No telling what went on back in these dark woods. Orgies. Wild rituals. Substance abuse. Anything was possible in such a remote location.

I checked the time again and sighed.

If I left right now, my mother would never know I’d been here. However, Ted would fire me if I returned without this family-placed obituary. Jobs were scarce in our county of ten thousand people, and with my changed personal circumstances, I couldn’t afford to lose this one. Air huffed out of my lungs, up my warm face, giving flight to the wispy bangs on my forehead.

I dried my sweaty palms on my jeans and ramped up the air conditioning another notch. What was taking so long? I rubbed the back of my neck to ease the stiffness.

Behind the stockade fence, briars and weeds flourished. Spanish moss and ropy vines choked the tops of the oaks, pines, and cedars, adding to the sense that anything could and would happen deep in that jungle of green.

Jungle love gone wild.

I grimaced at that carnal image. My gaze fell to the thick ground cover outside my door. I couldn’t see the sandy soil at all. I gulped. There were probably rattlesnakes galore out here.

Cottonmouths and copperheads, too.

And ticks.

I bet every tick known to mankind lurked within the dark green foliage, waiting for me to step out of my vehicle. I’d have to be diligent as I checked every inch of skin tonight for ticks.

Without warning, a narrow-faced woman with gray braided hair peered over the top of the fence and waved her bare arms. My heart sunk as her lips moved. Dang, she was talking to me. With my windows up, I couldn’t hear a word she said.

Please, dear God, let her have clothes on behind that fence.
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Okay. So all you have to do is leave your answer in the comments section of this blog. If you'd like to visit other blogs and have more winning chances, here's a list of the other blogs involved:
THAT DATING THING by Mackenzie Crown ~ http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/
HOME by Calisa Rhose ~ calisarhose.wordpress.com
MONA LISA’S ROOM by Vonnie Davis (plus a little sweet) ~ vintagevonnie.blogspot.com
STEPPING OUT OF LINE by Linda Carroll Bradd ~ blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com
DECEPTIONS OF THE HEART by Denise Moncrief ~ ~ denisemoncrief.blogspot.com
BE STILL MY LOVER’S HEART by Lisa Hannah Wells ~ memorymakerscreator.blogspot.com
THE TREASURE OF COMO BLUFF by Alison Henderson ~ AliceHenderson.com
SHANGHAI CONNECTION by Carol Henry ~ macsmadmania.blogspot.com
SOMEWHERE MY LOVE (A ghostly time travel romance) by Beth Trissell ~ bethtrissel.wordpress.com
FAERIE FOOL by Silver James ~ Silverjames.com
CLEAR AS DAY by Babette James ~ http://wp.me/pjagl-1Tr
AN UNEXPECTED GIFT by Katherine Grey ~ katherinegrey.blogspot.com
TAKE ME HOME, COWBOY by Krista Ames (Plus 4 Anthology titles below) ~ apassionforromance.blogspot.com
THE DOLLHOUSE (For the Love of Christmas Anthology) by Dani-Lyn Alexander~ danilynalexander.com
STUDIO RELATIONS by Georgie Lee ~ georgielee.blogspot.com
Carolyn Sullivan
A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER by Joanne Stewart ~ jm-stewart.blogspot.com
MAGIC OF THE LOCH by Karen Michelle Nutt ~ kmnbooks.blogspot.com
THE BETTER MAN by Ceri Hebert ~ cerihebert.wordpress.com
THREAT TO OUR FOREVER by Em Epe ~ emeperomances.blogspot.com
CONNECT THE DOTS (For the Love of Christmas Anthology) by Jennifer Eaton ~ jennifermeaton.com
FADEOUT by Rolynn Anderson ~ blog.rolynnanderson.com

Plus four anthologies, courtesy of Krista Ames.
BELIEVE CHRISTMAS ~ BE MINE, VALENTINE ~ ALL BETS ARE ON ~ SUMMER SHORTS
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Thanks to Mackenzie Crown for putting this together. Besides commenting here, a comment at the other sites may increase your chances of winning. Best of luck to you all!

Don't forget to leave a comment with your answer to my hairstyle question! I'd love to put a copy of Murder in the Buff in your hands, and on your e-reader. MITB is available in all digital formats.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com

Hats and holidays

I wear many hats in real life and cyberspace. Truthfully, you won't catch me without a hat on my head if its daylight. It seems I got my lifetime dose of sunshine nearly fifty years ago, so I have to be extremely careful. Sunblock is my best friend.

I inhabit the realms of mystery and romance, of traditional publishing and indie publishing, which can be something of a logistical challenge at best. The good news is I never have to wonder what I'm going to do next. Something is always happening. And I like it that way!

This week, starting this past Wednesday on Dec 5 through this Sunday Dec 9, my zany cozy mystery is yours for the taking on Kindle. With great reviews from Kirkus, Mysterious Reviews, The Reading Reviewer, and a wonderful fanbase on Amazon, this Five Star rated book is a winner for readers who enjoy romantic mysteries.

You'll want to follow this link to download a complimentary copy. http://tinyurl.com/8u7bcnq 
Be sure to tell your friends. On The Nickel the holiday gift that keeps on giving!

This year, thanks to the gift of fabric and an inherited sewing machine, I've been sewing aprons for my family. In our tiny house, the only space to do this is on the kitchen table. Fortunately, my husband goes with the flow. Last night he rested the bowl of taco meat on the table top ironing board beside his place mat without batting an eye.

Other holiday traditions I enjoy, besides gathering with family and friends, is helping out at the giftwrapping both at our outlet mall. So many folks come in and want something special for their loved ones and they ooh and ahh over the pretty handmade bows and shiny paper. We have foil wraps, jumbo bows, and best of all, big ears to listen to everyone's story.

grandson Abe

That's right. Everyone has a story, and the need to share it drives us to seek out others. The best gift, IMO, is to take the time to listen to someone this season. Sit down and really listen to what they have to say.

I have a dear friend who works at soup kitchens in December. She makes big pots of soup at home and brings them in to share with everyone at the kitchen. Another friend spends extra time helping out at the shelter.

What about you? Do you have your hands full with the regular hustle and bustle? Do you cut corners on decorating or baking to make it all work out? Just wondering.

Don't forget to get your copy of On The Nickel.

Wishing you the merriest of holidays!

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com

Blame it on the Name, for Shame

Names are tricky, especially when you're selecting them for your characters. For the most part you want to select a name that reflects your genre, though there are plenty of exceptions to this rule.

A quick tour of the bestsellers on my bookshelf reveals these finds:
Lavinia and Tobias in Amanda Quick's historical romance, Late for the Wedding
Eve and Roarke in JD Robb's futuristic romance, Indulgence in Death
Lev and Rikki in Christine Feehan's paranormal romance, Water Bound
cult leader Ethan in Brenda Novak's romantic suspense, White Heat
wizard Gandalf and unlikely hero Bilbo in JRR Tolkien's fantasy, The Hobbit
magician Harry Dresden in Jim Butcher's fantasy, Fool Moon
every man David Beck in Harlan Coben's thriller, Tell No One
sleuth Lincoln Rhyme in Jeffery Deaver's thriller, The Broken Window

I've barely tapped the potential of my bookshelf, but you should see a pattern. A name evokes a certain type of character, triggers a memory, inspires curiosity, or even intrigues a reader by its very difference.

Up and coming authors show the same skill. Here are a few that I've reviewed:
down-and-out Addie in Celia Yeary's western, Addie and the Gunslinger
psychic Diana Racine in Polly Iyer's mystery, Mind Games
Deanna and Daws in LK Hunsaker's modern fiction, Moondrops & Thistles
archer Heather in SG Rogers' paranormal fantasy, Tournament of Chance
Edmund and Kiera in Stephanie Burkhart's steampunk, A Gentleman & a Rogue
Kendi and Jackson in Cheryl Pierson's romantic suspense, Temptation's Touch

And, what list would be complete without a few of my characters?

• intrepid Cleopatra Jones from my mystery series - a gal with the weight of the world on her shoulders
• birdwatcher & data analyst Hannah from House of Lies - a heroine who's plunged from her safe world into danger
• reporter Molly Darter from Murder in the Buff, an every woman who rises to the occasion

Some names seem off limits to me. For instance, I wouldn't ordinarily use any of these names for my characters: Hannibal, Cher, Rambo, Hitler, Napoleon, Barrack, and a host of other famous people through the years. I might use their personality types though, or use a famous name as a weight they have to overcome every day of their lives.

And then there's unisex names like Chris. There's a couple I know, Chris and Ward. Ward's the female and I always call her Chris. I also know women named Lloyd and Sudy. Unusual names are common in the south, as are double names like Mary Lee, Betty Sue, and so on. Select names which reflect the genre or give a regional flair for best identification.

In selecting character names, make it easy for the readers to remember them. Give them strong tags and attributes. Make them three-dimensional so readers color in the face behind the name.

How do writers come up with names? Different ways. Name lists. Personal experience. Online lists of names. Yearbooks. Commencement programs. Obituaries. Prayer lists. Phone books. And when all else fails, mix and match author names from your bookshelf!

Please share your thoughts on names. I'd love to hear from you!

Maggie Toussaint
In For a Penny and On the Nickel out now on Kindle
www.maggietoussaint.com

Turkey Trot Misgivings

Holiday season is approaching at warp speed, and with it come various obligations. Some of these are great fun, others fall into the do-I-have-to realm.

Though I'm an introvert by nature, I enjoy hanging out with friends and family. It helps me bring balance and harmony back into my life to not be living and breathing books every minute of the day.

For instance, our extended family's Thanksgiving will be at a sister's house. That's fine, but we'd planned to let her off the hook due to some health issues she's been having, but she overruled us. She gets to do that because she's the oldest.

Along with that pronouncement came the list of food that others were already bringing. Turkey. Ham. Cornbread oyster dressing. Giblet gravy. Two kinds of cranberry sauce. Sweet potato souffle. Squash casserole. Tomato casserole. Pumpkin pie. Tea.

With all that stuff already on the menu, what could I possibly add? Keeping in mind that I'm on a low-carb diet, mashed potatoes are out, so are sweet desserts.

I'm 4th on the sibling totem pole, 4th out of 5, so most of my family is unconcerned that I'm at a loss about my contribution. Oh, and ice and dinnerware are already taken.

So help me out gang. What should I contribute? Tell me some of the traditional and nontraditional foods that grace your Thanksgiving meal.

And while I've got your ear, the ebook edition of IN FOR A PENNY will be free at Amazon Nov 14 to 18, that's this Wednesday to Sunday. Here's the hyperlink: www.amazon.com/InForAPenny-ebook/dp/B008MCSGMM

Now put your Thanksgiving thinking caps on and help me figure out this turkey trot quandry...

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com
www.facebook.com/MaggieToussaintAuthor

The PRO in procrastination

Ever noticed how there's a "Pro" in procrastination?

Those of us who procrastinate don't take the subject lightly. We dive into it all the way, fully committing to doing our own thing in our own time.

There's so many of us, we've become a "Nation" of folks who just let it ride. Our national motto is "I'll get to it later."

Later's always better. First, later stretches to infinity, so there's no deadline imposed. Doing something later assumes you'll be fresher or better prepared or more motivated to take on that dreaded task. Postponing an action gives someone else the opportunity to step forward, and let's you off the hook.

Sound familiar? I bet it does.

When something comes up we're not interested in doing, it doesn't become any more appealing with time. In fact, once the task is postponed, it's easier to keep postponing it.

Got a household chore you hate? A work product you've been dreading? A term paper that's due tomorrow? Just thinking about those things is stressful.

Why do we duck out on certain things and not on others?

We're afraid we'll mess it up or do worse than last time.

The process is too complex to understand all at once.

We don't want to do it and you can't make us.

We don't care about the task.

We can't focus on something big; there's too many little things that have to be done.

We don't know how to get started.

It's not in our wheelhouse. The effort won't meet our minimum standards.

As a writer, I have definite tasks I procrastinate. First, I'm always reluctant to start a new book. The characters from the last story feel so real. I want to stay in their world. Second, I can research a topic to death. Once I start googling and opening files, the information flows all around me and leads me new places. Third, writing a synopsis makes me use the editing and creative side of my head at the same time. I worry my head might explode.

It's human nature to avoid pain and hardship and to seek pleasurable endeavors. You can't fail at something if you haven't tried it yet, but the trick is to understand why you don't want to do something.

If you're afraid, work on addressing the fear.

If you're overwhelmed, break the task into smaller steps and reward yourself for each step of the way.

If its out of your area, learn how to do it.

If starting is a problem, trick yourself by saying you're just going to get the tools for the job out.

Before you know it, you'll be motoring along on the road to completion. Commit to your task with a new focus and before you know it, you'll be moving on to better things.

Are you a Pro at procrastinating? Share with us something that you put off. And as a bonus, share with us how you've gotten past that stumbling block.

Happy November everyone!

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com

In For a Penny, now $2.99 at Kindle
ps I'm looking for reviewers for my In For A Penny

Where's the (story) beef?

Showing my age here, but there were several Wendy's commercials some time ago, with a grandma asking "where's the beef?" To refresh your memory, I've pasted one from YouTube below.

 

The "Where's the beef" lady isn't seduced by the fine bun, the clean presentation, or even the tidy condiments. She won't settle for less than the real thing, and she's not going to swallow her discontent and walk away. She wants a juicy hamburger.

Give that lady a burger!

Same is true with your story. You can dress up the characters in all their finery and quirks, but if you're not going anywhere with these characters, your customers/readers will not be satisfied.

I'm not saying your book has to be plot-heavy. The plot should be, in my opinion, character-driven. That means the main character(s) better have clear goals, motivations, and conflicts, and these should be relevant, even essential, to the plot.

Though it's hard to talk about plot independently, a strong plot should have obstacles that keep the character from reaching their goal until the story payoff at the end of the book. Each of these obstacles should challenge the character to change/grow or at a minimum, put the character into a jam.

The more you flesh out these obstacles and the more your character reacts to the circumstances, the bigger the beef. Sync plot to character change from start to finish and you'll have satisfied readers!

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com

A murder story was every reporter’s dream - Molly in Murder in the Buff

Muse It Up Publishing  Amazon.com  BarnesandNoble

Would you leave your child?

True story in my small town:

In March 2011, a man and his stepson went hunting in the nearby swamp on a 70 degree morning, got lost, got way too cold when the temperature plunged into the 30s, and couldn't find their way out in the dark. It started raining. The man tried to carry his son when the son couldn't go on, but it wasn't working. For better or worse, the man made the decision to leave the boy and go for help.

A long time later, the dad made it out, got help, but it was too late. The boy drowned in the swamp. People were abuzz all over town about whether or not the guy was guilty. He did leave the 15-year-old behind and allegedly the death happened in his absence.

The man's wife divorced him and remarried, and the new couple attended the trial, intent on seeing justice for her boy. I've talked to several people since the trial, and the opinion is split. One person said she'd been in that swamp before during the heat of summer and stepped in a boghole and her waders unexpectedly filled up with water. She said it was days before she warmed up again. She said it's very easy to make bad decisions during hypothermia.

Other people like myself say that they wouldn't have left the boy, no matter what. If we'd have both froze to death, so be it. A child is a child.

The dad was charged with two counts of malice murder, second degree cruelty to children, felony murder, contributing to the deprivation of a minor and involuntary manslaughter.

The trial took 4 days. During that time, testimony corroborated the boy drowned. The dad's own words in his testimony: "Everything looked the same. I do know the swamp like the back of my hand, but if you go there at night it all looks the same in the water. I said, 'son, you got to put everything into this or we're both gonna die back here. We're both gonna die. We're not gonna make it out.'"

The dad gave the boy his wool socks. He strapped his rifle across his back for the boy to hold onto. He carried the kid for hours. The GPS couldn't get a signal. He set the kid down and went out like spokes on a wheel from the kid's location, but couldn't get his bearings. This went on for hours, and it kept getting colder. Finally he made the decision to leave the boy.

It took another few hours for him to find his way out of the swamp and to send a search team for the boy. But it was too late. Way too late.

The jury deliberated only a few hours and returned their verdict. Not guilty on either malice murder charge, not guilty on second degree cruelty to children, not guilty on felony murder. He was found guilty of contributing to the deprivation of a minor and involuntary manslaughter.

Sentencing came next. The range of time served was 5 to 10 years for each charge. The judge said 10 years for each guilty charge to run concurrently, with 5 years in the state penitentiary and 5 on probation plus a monetary fine.

I did not sit through the trial and only know what I read in the paper and what others said who did attend. A child died. That's what the judge kept coming back to in his sentencing remarks. Everyone agreed that it was a tragedy. The jury said it wasn't murder. But for this bad decision made under duress, this dad lost his son, lost 5 years of his life, and even lost his wife.

It's easy to armchair quarterback and say what you'd have done. The thing I can't get past is I wouldn't have left a child. I just wouldn't.

What about you?

thanks to The Darien News story of Oct. 11, 2012 for the quoted material

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com
On the Nickel, now on Kindle