Norwich Terrier

Hello, all you dog lovers out there. Let me introduce myself. I’m Macris Labelle Beaumont III. I know you’re saying that’s a mighty fancy name for a little dog that’s less than ten inches high and weighs about twelve pounds. You have to realize that I’m a show dog, and I have a fancy name on my registration papers. Of course I have a call name that friends use, and mine’s Astro, short for Asteroid. The reason my owner gave me that name is because she said there was about as much chance of an asteroid hitting the earth as a dog being born as close to its standard as I was.

I always blushed when I heard her say that because I think she exaggerated a little. Scientists tell us at the current rate of asteroids hitting the earth, we can expect one large impact about ever 100 million years. I doubt if I’m that rare, but at the risk of sounding conceited I am expected to set the dog show world on its ear. That’s me in the picture. How about that stack? Real cool, don’t you think? For those not familiar with dog show lingo, that’s how my handler poses me for the judges to get a good look at me.

I’ve been worried lately that I may not get the chance to strut my stuff in the show ring, because some bad things have been happening at Jordan’s Kennels where I live. Leigh Dennison is the new owner, and that girl knows nothing about dogs. To make matters worse, she has ADD. I heard her tell Blake Cameron that means Attention Deficit Disorder. I have no idea what that means, but I think it has something to do with all the disasters we’ve been having. I hope somebody can get things straightened out before the whole kennel goes to the dogs. (Sorry about that.)

Maybe Sandra Robbins, the author of my story Pedigreed Bloodlines which releases in May from Heartsong Presents Mysteries, will come to the rescue before it’s too late. She seems like a nice lady—loves dogs. So she can’t be all bad. Sandra, who has four grown children, lives in Tennessee with her husband and dotes on her Yorkshire terrier Belle. . I have a sneaking suspicion that Belle’s living the good life in Tennessee. In fact Sandra used her pet’s name for my mother’s name in the book. That makes me want to roll over and howl with happiness

I know there has to be a lot of you dog lovers out there. I’d really like to hear from you and see if you cater to your pet’s every whim like you should. After all, we are your best friend. Who else gives you unconditional love and never holds a grudge? All we want is plenty to eat and drink, a warm place to sleep, and an occasional pat on the head. Ah, a dog’s life. How sweet it is!

Astro

It's the Network...

Hello? Hello?

This ridiculous contraption always makes me sound like I’m talking through a can. Maybe if I whack it…there. Can you hear me now? If so, I need you to pass a message along to my niece, Casey Alexander. It’s of utmost importance. She’s in quite a lot of danger, you see, though she doesn’t even realize it.

I never dreamed, back when strange messages started appearing on my porch, that my disappearance would transfer all of my troubles onto Casey. She’s always been such a good girl—all right, maybe she is a trifle strange, what with her addiction to dime store detective novels. But she’s sharp as a butcher’s cleaver when you run it through a. . .oops. Hehe. I digress.

Anyway, if you would please let Casey know that her Aunt Liddy loves her and that I’m watching over her, I sure would appreciate it. Tell her I’m always close by even though she can’t see me, and that I wish with all my heart I could wrap her up in a great big hug and take her to our secret “spot.”

I know this is a lot to ask, you being a stranger and all. I would tell her myself, but that’s the trouble with being dead, you see. It makes communicating with your loved ones so much more difficult. So, if you could? Help an old girl out?

Thank—oh—well, my line is cutting out again. They sure—make these things like—used to. Anyway, tell Casey that her aunt, Lydia Alexander, said to watch out for—

CALL LOST...

Elizabeth Ludwig graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hart High School in 1985. She received a scholarship to Michigan State University in 1986 and went on to study English and Journalism. She spent several years learning both music and theater arts, and has performed in numerous community projects. She teaches a College and Career Sunday school class and sings on the praise team at her local church. She is an accomplished speaker and dramatist, having performed before audiences of 1500 and more, at local community groups, and before judges for Forensics Meets across the state of Michigan.

Mrs. Ludwig has written a number of historical books, and two romantic suspense novels including A Walk of Faith, a finalist in ACFW’s 2004 Noble Theme Contest. Other notable accomplishments include two top ten finishes in ACFW’s 2005 Noble Theme Contest, General Historical and Historical Romance categories, respectively. Her first novel, Where the Truth Lies, which she co-authored with Janelle Mowery, is scheduled for release in spring of 2008 from Heartsong Presents: Mysteries, an imprint of Barbour Publishing. The sequel, Died in the Wool, is due spring, 2009.

To find out more, visit Elizabeth on the web at http://www.elizabethludwig.com/.

A Letter From Winter Break

Dear Son,

Things sure are strange in Winter Break right now. Bitty Flanagan – do you remember her? She owned Miss Bitty’s Bygone Bookstore? Well, she fell off her old library ladder and died. Now her niece, Ivy Towers, is in town. Looks like Bitty left all her earthly possessions to Ivy, including her bookstore. What was she thinking? I mean, why in the world would a pretty little gal like that want to live in this one horse town? Goodness gracious, we don’t even have a gas station. Just my restaurant, one little grocery store, two churches, a funeral home, and Bitty's bookstore. Not much else to speak of. When Ivy first got here, she said she was planning to bury Bitty, close the store, and leave town. But the funny thing is; she’s still here. And she hasn’t even tried to get rid of that old bookstore. Oh, and Amos Parker sure is hanging around a lot. Him and Ivy used to be close when they were kids. Wonder if Amos wants to rekindle that old flame? You never knew him, Bert. He’s younger than you. He was a rambunctious little kid. He’s a deputy sheriff now. Funny, huh? You know I hear lots of talk at the café…

I sure will be glad when you finally get to see Ruby’s Redbird Café, Bert. You’d love it. Course, it was your idea and all. “Mama,” you used to say, “you’re the best cook in the whole world. You should open your own restaurant.” I make lots of your favorite foods, but people sure seem to like my Redbird Burgers the best. In fact, they keep trying to get my recipe, but I ain’t going to give it to them. No way. I tell folks I may go to my grave clutching the very last Redbird Burger in my cold, dead hand. I don’t really mean it, but it sure gets these people riled up.

Well, guess I wandered away from my main point - what was it? Oh, yeah. What I heard around the café. I guess some folks got it in their heads that Bitty was murdered! Can you believe that? Things like that shouldn’t happen in a town this small. We barely have over six-hundred folks, Bert. Not much more than when you left. Anyway, as I said, things here are strange but a sight more interesting than they’ve been in a long time. I think Amos and Ivy are trying to find out just what happened to Bitty. I hope they get to the truth of the matter. Bitty was a wonderful lady and a good friend. Besides, wondering if there’s a killer running around Winter Break makes me nervous.

Guess that’s about it for now. Not much else to share today, Bert. Lots of snow this year, just like every year. Sure wish someone would figure out why it snows more in this town than any other place in Kansas. Seems odd, but we’re used to it. Remember how much you used to love the snow? Kids still skate on Lake Winter Break. I know you ain’t no kid anymore, Bert. Been over thirty years now since you disappeared. But I keep writing these letters to you. Got hundreds of them, I guess. I hope someday you’ll come home and read them.

That’s all for now. Love you, Son.

Your mother, Ruby Bird.

Nancy Mehl is a long time mystery buff who loves to set her novels in her home state of Kansas. “Some people think of Kansas as rolling plains, wheat fields, and cattle,” she says. “But we’re really much more interesting than that!”

Her new “Ivy Towers Mystery Series” for Barbour includes four novels: “In the Dead of Winter,” “Bye, Bye Bertie,” “For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls,” and “There Goes Santa Claus.” In December, an omnibus book, “Cozy in Kansas,” will be released to the public. It will include the first three Ivy Towers mysteries.

In 2009, her new series, the “Curl Up and Dye Mysteries” will make their appearance. “This promises to be a rather unusual series,” Nancy says. “My protagonist is a hairdresser – to the dearly departed. I’m excited about the stories but a little concerned about the research!”

Besides the Ivy Towers series, Nancy has another novel in print. “Sinner’s Song” is about a serial killer who is stalking homeless people in the heart of Wichita, Kansas. It is a little darker than her cozy books but will be enjoyed by readers who like suspense with a little romance thrown in.

Nancy loves to hear from readers. You can visit her Web site at: http://www.nancymehl.com/, or leave her a message on her blog at http://www.nancymehl.blogspot.com/.

If Post It Notes Could Talk...

Believe it or not, we Post It notes have feelings. We live to have our itch scratched with pen or pencil. Everyone wants to feel needed, right? We’re no different, and I believe we’ve become extremely needed in society. I’ve got to say, though, that one of the scariest parts of fulfilling our role in life is…where in the world will our owners stick us?

Some Post Its have it easy. They get to sit around on a desk waiting to be used as reminders or messages. ‘Don’t forget to phone so and so’. ‘Mr.Whosit called’. Or even something cute like…‘Mom, I’m out of toothpaste and deodorant’ or ‘I love you, darling’. Sometimes they get to leave the house with a simple little list written on them. I must tell you, however, that a sweet friend of mine was taken to the grocery store and saw a dead body in the milk case. Poor dear hasn’t been able to stick to anything since.

Now that I’ve mentioned a dead body, I’ve got to tell you that some of us Post Its get used in much different ways. Take my owner, for instance. Miss Casey Alexander considers herself a savvy sleuth, but she wouldn’t be able to solve a thing if it weren’t for me. She crams me into her purse, painfully bending up my corners, and I live there until she yanks me out to write herself a note. And the notes she writes! Goodness. If my corners weren’t already bent, her messages would certainly make them curl. Murder suspects. Descriptions of dubious characters. Possible methods of foul play. At times it’s almost enough to melt the glue clean off my backside. I hang in there, though. And people have the nerve to call me yellow. I’ll have you know I’m Canary, thank you very much.

But I digress.

The locations Casey places me after writing her messages would make those fancy fluorescent Post Its turn pastel. I’ve been slapped onto windshields, dashboards, even stuck on someone’s face. Then she gathers all of me up and shoves me back into her purse until she needs reminders of the evidence she’s acquired. But I’d do it all again for the sweet Miss Lydia Alexander. Her death was a tragedy, and I would bend over backwards to help Casey solve the mystery of WHERE THE TRUTH LIES.

I do get to carry fun messages…like this one for instance:

Janelle Mowery began writing inspirational stories in 2001 and has since written several historical novels. One of those novels won first place in the San Gabriel Writers’ League ‘Writing Smarter’ Contest in 2005. Two other novels were finalists in ACFW’s Noble Theme Contest.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Janelle now makes her home in southern Texas. She and her husband of nineteen years have two teen sons. She hopes to encourage others and plant seeds of faith through her entertaining stories. Janelle and her family are active members of Sandy Point Bible Church.

Now, back to the business at hand. What about you? What stories could you tell about odd messages you’ve conveyed or weird places you’ve been stuck? Come on. Don’t leave me hanging here by myself. Open up and share your story, because as you know, we Post Its need to stick together.

Fan Mail

Curious what other HPM subscribers have to say about Barbour Publishing's new mystery line? Check out what one reader had to say:

I wanted to tell you what a blessing it is to have your wonderful new books. I received my introductory shipment in the mail and have thoroughly enjoyed all the books!

The characters in each book are already like old friends. I hope to see continuing series of each of them. All the books are fantastic, and I love the humor in Trouble Up Finny's Nose and Recipe for Murder. I have been sick with bronchitis and sinus problems for two weeks. The books were uplifting and helped me feel so much better. The inspirational theme in each book is so well done and it never appears pushy.

When I started reading Mysterious Incidents at Lone Rock, I thought I would not enjoy that particular book because it is not what I am used to, but it was wonderful. Homicide at Blue Heron Lake was truly perfect in every way. I rated each book a perfect 10, because I can honestly say: I don't think they could be improved upon.

The covers on each book are beautifully done. I had intended to pass my books on to others when I finished re ading them, but I don't know that I will be able to part with them!
.

Thank you so much for your wonderful books. It is so nice to have books to read that aren't filled with explicit sex and bad words. How wonderful to have great books to read that reflect my Christian values. I look forward to remaining a member for the rest of my life. Please try to increase the number of books in each shipment at a later date. I am a caregiver for my husband and reading is my refuge and entertainment.

God bless you all,

Patricia from Louisiana

A Suspicion of Strawberries

My name is Andromeda Clark, and I’m the owner of Tennessee River Soaps in Greenburg, Tennessee. I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to say that I’m the proud owner of a real business. I’m thirty-five and I’ve tried lots of homespun type businesses but nothing ever seemed to take off. Until now. The first time I ever made soap and sniffed the results, I knew I’d found a business I can stick with.

Different scents can take us back to a favorite memory. For example, my cherries jubilee facial scrub makes some customers remember their favorite dessert. Or peachy keen brings them right back to peach-picking in grandma’s peach orchard. Lavender can help soothe stress. And the oats and goat’s milk bath salts are great for the skin. I’m all about bringing a bit of comfort to people.

Yet every business has a hard time getting started at first. My sweet, wonderful but often absent boyfriend Ben reminds me of this. Sometimes I’m not sure if he understands, with him out on the road long-haul trucking so much. I’m not complaining, really. Since you’ve never met him, I wouldn’t want to give you the wrong idea about the guy.

Back to the soaps, though. Before what happened at the store, I could hardly wait to see what happened after Charla Rae Thacker and her bridesmaids came for a morning of sampling my products. Charla and I actually perfected the cherries jubilee facial scrub together, which made me all the more heartsick over the whole situation. Not just about Charla, but about my business. After all, I intend my products to comfort, not kill.

First in the Scents of Murder series, A Suspicion of Strawberries follows Andi Clark’s journey to find a murderer in a cozy Tennessee River town, and her journey to the altar—if her longtime boyfriend Ben has anything to say about it.

Author Lynette Sowell loves to spin adventures for the characters who emerge from story ideas in her head. She desires to take readers on an entertaining journey and hopes they catch a glimpse of God's truth along the way. Lynette is a Massachusetts transplant who lives in central Texas with her husband, two kids by love and marriage (what's a step-kid?), and five cats who have their humans well-trained. She loves to read, travel, spend time with her family, and also tries not to kill her houseplants, although her tropical hibiscus contemplated pressing charges after last winter.

Fortune...or Fate?

Since Lovita always seems to be the one telling our story, I thought I’d put my two cents in for a change…

My name’s Sue Jan Pritchard, but soon I’m gonna be Mrs. Monroe Madsen. My handsome hunky husband-to-be is the love of my life, although he used to be more chunky than hunky, but that’s between you, me and the tree. To be honest, I don’t mind telling you that I’m a big, bodaciously beautiful woman. So’s my bestest-estest friend in the whole world and entire universe, Lovita Mae Horton. Together we run Lovita’s Cut’ n Strut Beauty Salon and Boutique in Wachita, Texas.

If you’re wondering, Wachita’s a small little town right next to Nowheresville and just east of Timbuk-three. If you sneezed you’d already be through it. And FYI, Wachita means “Place of Stagnant Waters,” in Indian, which pretty much describes it. I’m not kidding.

Anywho, back to the Cut’ n Strut. We have our regulars—town women who come in once a week to get their hair “did.” I pretty much do all the do’s and Lovita does the boutique part of the shop. We hired Bo not long ago to do the mani’s and pedi’s and she’s a real ar-teest. She painted teeny tiny daisies on my piggys and they looked so perfect I had to wear open toed shoes for a month just to show them off. When she’s not working at the shop with us, she waits tables at her parent’s restaurant, Chun’s Hong Kong Gardens—one of our favorite places to eat. Ya’ll, I’m gittin’ hungry just writing about it.

Which brings me to the why’s and wherefore’s of how this all began. It was at that very establishment that Lovita cracked open a fortune cookie to a menacing message. Imagine that! You’re probably used to gittin’ one of those silly messages in your fortune cookie, like “You will visit the pyramids of Egypt,” or “Be true to your teeth or they will be false to you.” And so were we. But that all changed when Lovita read this message, “Your father did not die of natural causes. A man in a black Stetson will tell you more tomorrow.”

Well, I need to stop typing for a spell. I think I’m gittin’ that carpool tunnel syndrome, and besides that, I’m hungry. All this talk about food reminded my stomach it’s running on empty. So long for now. Let’s do lunch sometime, okay?

Crack the case wide open in August, 2008, with the release of Misfortune Cookies by Linda P. Kozar. The first in the When the Fat Ladies Sing series, Lovita and Sue Jan continue combing the countryside in A Tisket, A Casket and Dead As A Doornail. These big, bodaciously beautiful women have an appetite for adventure and food, though not necessarily in that order.

Linda Kozar is an award-winning author and journalist. She is the Co-Founder and Director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild in The Woodlands, Texas, founded in 2003. Linda taught a women’s Bible study, Coffee, Tea and Thee, in her home for 14 years and is now Co-Leader of Babes With A Beatitude at Woods Edge Community Church. She and her husband Michael, married for 18 years, have two lovely teen daughters, Katie and Lauren as well as a black-and-white Terrier princess named "Patches.

Visit Linda at Coffee, Tea, and Thee.