Time Flies—when cliché speaks to truth…

Book files for The Ghost and the Christmas Spirit are now downloaded on the various vendor sites, ready for its November 21 release. In my mind, Christmas itself, in spite of the fact I have been writing about it for the last three months, is a good ways off in the distance. But alas, I just peeked at a calendar and realize it is about time to bring out the Christmas decorations.

I have a busy few weeks ahead of me. In three days, The Ghost and the Christmas Spirit goes live. I am encouraged by the positive feedback from my beta readers. Some—not all—of the books in the Haunting Danielle series are murder mysteries—some are simply mysteries of another order. This new release—Book 23—is not a murder mystery. While there have been murders—or would-be murders—in past Haunting Danielle Christmas books, this newest one focuses on the true meaning of Christmas.

The day after Book 23 comes out I turn sixty-five. Yikes, where did the years go??? One positive note on turning sixty-five —aside from still being alive—I went on Medicare this month. 

Next week we move onto Thanksgiving. So far, it will be just Hubby, Mom, and me. Oh, and the pups and cat, of course. Unfortunately, our daughter’s family is up in Alaska—and our son and daughter-in-law are in Portland. None can make it here for Christmas or Thanksgiving, and we are unable to travel there. I am thankful for Facetime.

The week following Thanksgiving, I get ready for a visit from my sis, and then our local WNEA Shopping Extravaganza on December 7th, which officially kicks off the Christmas season for me. I’ll be having a book booth at the extravaganza. But more about that later.

Editors—saving me from myself…

The other day, while going through The Ghost and the Christmas Spirit after it came back from the editor, I kept finding places where the “s” had been left off reindeers. You know…plural, more than one reindeer.

Before you laugh at me, let me say I was fully aware that deer is used if I am talking about one deer or a hundred deer. But for some reason, reindeers sounded right to me.

After coming across the second reindeer with a missing s, it suddenly dawned on me—my editor changed these! Why?

A quick Google confirmed what I was beginning to suspect, reindeer, like deer, is used for one or eight tiny reindeer. Although in my defense, Clement Clarke Moore writes it “rein-deer,” as opposed to reindeer. Which in my convoluted mind, is some sort of excuse for my obvious denseness.

When Googling reindeers, I came across one page where it claimed the misused reindeers as plural has resulted in some dictionaries including it as an option. And I did find a couple off-beat dictionary sites where it listed both reindeer and reindeers as plural. It didn’t make me feel any better—still felt rather lame. Another reason why I really do need my editor.

Out in Audiobook: The Ghost Who Was Says I Do

Yesterday, while I was preoccupied wrapping up The Ghost and the Christmas Spirit, which comes out next week on November 21, 2019 (a day before my birthday) Tantor Media released the twentieth book in the Haunting Danielle series in audiobook format.  Once again, the talented Romy Nordlinger narrates. 

The Ghost Who Was Says I Do

A Valentine’s Day Wedding at Marlow House?

Love is in the air—along with secrets—some are deadlier than others.

Will secrets from Clint Marlow’s past come back to haunt Walt and Danielle?

Find it at Tantor Media or your favorite audiobook vendor.