All three books!

How wonderful to have a book store that supports and promotes local authors. Burlington by the Book has been a remarkable host and I am happy to announce that they want me back! They really like me!( Opps... a Sally fields academy award moment!) It is fun to be in a warm and inviting store! So often we do not take advantage of what is right under our noses. It promises to be a wonderful evening Thursday night and one for all to come out and enjoy what Burlington has to offer. If you do not know.. here is a rundown:

Downtown Burlington offers so much on Thursday nights this summer! The Art Gallery Hop Art Center 301 Jefferson b Gallery Nine Dot Studio The Medium Come and discover a wide range of art at the four main galleries and stroll the sidewalks enjoying "Pop Art" Displays featuring more local artists and art work. Free$ open to the public. Rain or shine event. Gallery Hop maps and Schedules Available at any of the Galleries Downtown Farmers Market The Riverfront Farmers Market is at the Port Thursdays from 5 to 7:30 -fresh local produce and baked goods, crafts, meals, music, and more. Organized by Downtown Partners and supported by Great Western Bank. And now Burlington By the Book will host Pink Box Confections this Thursday from 5pm to 8pm. This incredible baker will be on hand selling the worlds best chocolate brownies! Pam Johnson of Pink Box Confections can also take orders for delectable and scrumptious goodies of all kinds! Pies, cookies, cakes, breads! Samples of her treats are available year round in the Art Guild Gift Shop right next door to Burlington By the Book. http://www.pinkboxconfections.net/ EXTRA SPECIAL GUEST: Burlington's Jackie Jacqueline Brockert will be on hand selling copies of her newest novel "The Perils of Ophelia Jones", the latest chapter in the "Karma Corn" saga! 5pm to 8pm Thursday August 1st Shop Local. Read Local. Eat Local. Create Loca

during their Chocolate covered thursday event.

THE PERILS OF OPHELIA JONES

Another selection from the book:

She rounded her street and came upon a neighbor, she was friendly with, sitting on the porch. She had often stopped by to talk to Mrs. Harrison. Mrs. Harrison lived by herself with a large German Shepherd who could be found at her feet.

“Evening Mae.” Ophelia called in greeting slipping into a chair next to her neighbor. Together they began to comfortably rock back and forth with the sounds of crickets breaking the silence.

 It had misted early in the day, and tonight's Missouri sky was just starting to turn to a soft purple.

The two of them sat in silence as they watched the sun finally make its descent. Ophelia felt she could let the sunset pour over her body as she wondered how others did not enjoy the pure beauty of it. She looked at the bluffs that now were hiding the sun and knew happiness were these moments. 

  Celebrating the Karma Corn Craze! Read one today!
The Karma Corn Craze began in October 2012 with the beginning of the first book.This book is the beginning of the series. Once Upon a Cupcake came out On January 1st,2013. This book can be read out of the series as it is included but not in the story of Karma Corn itself. The Perils of Ophelia Jones is the direct next link to Karma Corn and the story is continued. In honor of the countdown to the launching of my new book this Saturday at my book signing at Burlington by The Book: I picked three different execerpts from each book:

Karma Corn: She walked slowly toward the door. 
No cars were passing her, only the sound of distant traffic.
Julie touched the familar door and pulled a key put of her purse.
She felt that her fantasy would be over when she touched the key to the door. She was home again...

Once Upon a Cupcake: She stared at herself in front of the mirror. 'The One.' The words echoed through her mind as she sat down on the chair. What a responsibility she felt. She had thought she was ' The One' with Allen, who had broken her heart. She could not hold another heart in her hand without absolute assurance.

The Perils Of Ophelia Jones:
“I was thinking of maybe getting a beer somewhere. You want to join me?” The man asked.
“I don't even know your name.” Ophelia said abruptly.
“Frank Wood and my cousin is of the same last name. His name is John Wood." The man offered.
“They live close to the school. He was older than me in high school. Why not go with him?' Ophelia asked.
“Because I seem to want to go with a girl who almost hit me with her car.” The man said flashing a toothy grin.

It is just over a week until the book signing for the new book. I will be at Burlington by the Book from 11 am until 2 p.m. I am relieved that the confirmation that the books were shipped and will easily be here in time for the book signing. Not the case at the first book signing. I call frantically two days before the signing as the books had not arrived. The books decided to take the scenic route and go to South Carolina first. No one is sure why but I believe it was just to panic me a little more before the signing.  It is an honor to have new readers and to be sharing the Karma Corn series with so many. A couple little tidbits to know about the Karma Corn Series:
1. Karma Corn became an idea 10 years ago 4 months 6 days and ten hours ago.
2. Currently Karma Corn has been read in the United States,Germany,Italy,Canada,France and Great Britian.
3. We are over 500 copies.
4. The character of Ophelia Jones was in Karma Corn but never by name.

Can't wait to see everyone next Saturday!!!

Summer time and this year apple time! I was lucky enough to have my granddaughter be part of the tradition that I shared with my Grandmother. Apple picking time at Grandma Brown's was a Saturday morning duty. We were paid five cents and an ice cream cone. The three apple trees although close in proximity, to a young child could be an entire orchard. An orchard not filled with wonderment but with a mind field of rotten apples and bending backs filling wooden buckets. It was not the money or the ice cream cone at the time it was later. After the bath and running across the gravel to cross the street to Grandma's house. Noisy, three kids bumbling into a room fresh from supper and seeing the pies all laid out on the counter. Sitting at the table, still warm pies with ice cream and then we understood why we stood in the backyard picking up apples. Two days ago I made my memories of apple pie picking and making  a pie with my granddaughter. It was the Iowa sky, the limbs of the apple trees touching the ground and most of all the smile on my granddaughter's face. My grandmother, Violet Brown, I know would be proud and happy.

Buy ME!! http://www.amazon.com/Perils-Ophelia-Jones-Karma-ebook/dp/

The proof of the book arrived today. I had a long day at work and it was waiting for me when I got home. I smile as I thank both my son Aaron and Erinne Gobble for the great job they did on the cover. I am grateful to be surrounded by people that want the book to be a success. In tribute to the book I thought I would share a short little  passage: From The Perils of Ophelia Jones...

A tear rolled down her face and dripped off her chin. She did not raise a hand to stop the one tear as she realized to her horror, there were more to follow. She sat and watched the tears roll down her face. She was crying without making a sound. A silent cry that if she allowed her mouth to open she knew she would sob. Crying was not a way with her. It solved nothing and always got her shirt wet. She hated having puffy eyes.

One year ago Gabe called me and asked for my daughter's hand in marriage. It was easy to say yes as I had watched two people grow and love each other. I hoped for an amazing engagement for my daughter and through the pictures I know they had that. ( It was wonderful that Gabe called me ahead of time and told me the whole engagement plan and it helped me feel as it was happening the excitement the two shared!)This is a picture taken that day a little over a year ago.. On Tuesday I published a book which I dedicated to my daughter and my granddaughter.  Tomorrow we have a bridal shower honoring my daughter. When I started the blog it was about my readers getting to know me as a an author. I realize as I write the blog it is also about getting to know my family that I hold precious. I am happy to be watching my daughter get her dream man, house and life! I cannot wait to watch them grow as a married couple and watch and engage in their lives for many years to come!

Book Link Here!

How about some whine with your wine?

I thought today I'd talk about things that annoy me:

I hate when you find shoes that are perfect, and you can never wear because they hurt your feet. You end up carrying them and are barefoot with pinched toe marks.

On a wine note: Did you know that Kickapoo winery in Peoria Illinois serves lunch in a garden?

I hate the girls who can wear those kinds of shoes and say," I can wear heels anywhere,"

Nothing beats a sunset and a good glass of Pinot Grigio.

I am annoyed when you lay in bed knowing that you have to go to the bathroom and wonder when you got so old that you had to go two times a night!

A big glass of Cabernet sitting on your couch reading Once Upon a Cupcake! Emerge yourself in the Ocean and  the love story for the weekend! Enjoy!

Should of done a little Monopoly history before I posted my blog. It was Boardwalk not Boulevard.(I must have been thinking of the beer! Believe me after a game with my brother and sister you would often need one! Just kidding I miss the board games of our past.) I was curious as I went to work tonight on what properties people often picked. I was not surprised to hear how many picked the Railroads. I found out another always went for Marvin Gardens. Which I hated. As much as we hated North Corolina and Pennsylvania. I wonder if I played with others if I too would have wanted the big properties. I was so used to letting my little brother have them.
Fun little trivia: When you land on a property and do not buy it an auction must insue. It is in the rules buy hardly anyone plays it that way,

So in honor of my morning musings I thought I'd end the day with a few Monopoly Facts.

The character locked behind the bars is called Jake the Jailbird. Officer Edgar Mallory sent him to jail.

Escape maps, compasses and files were inserted into Monopoly game boards smuggled into POW camps inside Germany during World War II. Real money for escapees was slipped into the packs of Monopoly money.

More than six billion little green houses and 2.25 billion red hotels have been 'constructed' since 1935.
Since 1935, more than one billion people have played the game.

In the early 1950s, the lantern, purse and rocking horse were removed from the game. They were replaced by the dog, horse and rider, and wheelbarrow.

Compliments- Hasbro

Very retro feeling today. I picture the kitchen table with the Monopoly board spread out and a game being played by my sister, brother and me. I was always the banker, and my brother always strove to get Park Place and Boulevard. He would eagerly read how many houses it took for hotels and eye the red plastic marker like it was already his hotel. We never tried to buy the places because it could end the game quickly if  he did not find himself with the two properties. Most games took place on snowy days, so we wanted them to last.
I found myself leaning toward the New York Avenue properties and The Illinois set. My younger sister went for Oriental and State which were the properties around the go to jail space. She would even buy Meditterean. Our games sometimes ending with us all having hotels but more than not they ended with fights or boredom. I wondered if there is a personality test on what you pick on the game  does it say something about your personality. ( Open for discussion if you find the answer to that one.) I think I picked New York because I always had a New York state of mind and knew I would live there someday. Which I did. My brother went straight for the easy win with the biggest properties. He still grabs life with gusto and is trying for the highest mountain  to climb. My sister who felt sorry for the smaller properties because nobody wanted it carries it on in her life filled with compassion and her volunteering background. So the days of sitting around a table fighting over who was the dog or the top hat, maybe did a little molding of our dreams after all. It is the dreams that are the fabric of our existence. Honoring dreams today as I had one over ten years ago that led me to write Karma Corn, I am running it free on kindle today. Enjoy one persons journey into the power of fate.

The little girl who dreamed of New York City and writing books.

Day two of the launching of my new book!

I woke up singing God Bless America at the top of my lungs. It was a dream since I can't really sing at the top of my lungs any more due to Parkinson's. Even if I could still sing at the top of my lungs most would be turned off by my singing. I was never known as a singer, but now I can proudly say I am known as an author. Three books in one year has been exciting and a great learning process. Karma Corn, although written nearly ten years ago has begun a series of books, The latest in the series came to me as did the loud song from the night before. The name burst into my head and Ophelia was born. She clamored into my heart stumbling, awkward and full of love. The writing I feel is the best I have written to date. I can't wait for new readers and fans who have been following me to get to know her too.

Book Link

The Perils of Ophelia Jones

Summer love... Everybody waits for that summer love and now I can promise you a book you can fall in love with this summer. The Perils of Ophelia Jones is a book that will touch your heart, make you smile, and has a main character easy to fall in love with.

Click Here for a fun preview of my new book!