Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint Archive


An Ingredient for Murder

As the months slide deeper into fall, the weather chills and the skies are light fewer hours of the day. While doing research for a talk I recently gave, I learned that children of all ages list fear of the dark as a primary fear. No wonder we all use lights and candles to keep […]

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As the months slide deeper into fall, the weather chills and the skies are light fewer hours of the day. While doing research for a talk I recently gave, I learned that children of all ages list fear of the dark as a primary fear. No wonder we all use lights and candles to keep […]

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When it isn’t this or that, what is it?

Authors can get stumped when creating their story setting. Often we know a minimum about a place, but it’s important to have more than a physical description. Taking the time to layer details can come in handy later on, as I’ve found to be the case. Using the example of The Book and Candle Shop […]

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Authors can get stumped when creating their story setting. Often we know a minimum about a place, but it’s important to have more than a physical description. Taking the time to layer details can come in handy later on, as I’ve found to be the case. Using the example of The Book and Candle Shop […]

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Five Ways to Beat the Heat

It’s hot out there!. In coastal Georgia, we’ve been living with the Dog Days of August in late June and all of July. The high temperatures make me want to hunker down until the outdoors stops roasting. Here are my top five ways to beat the heat: 1. Stay inside, preferably in air conditioning, and […]

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It’s hot out there!. In coastal Georgia, we’ve been living with the Dog Days of August in late June and all of July. The high temperatures make me want to hunker down until the outdoors stops roasting. Here are my top five ways to beat the heat: 1. Stay inside, preferably in air conditioning, and […]

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Beat the Summer Heat

With summer upon us, there are many who bask in the summer heat. One of my favorite summer activities is going to the beach. The offshore breeze makes the air cooler, and for me, the beauty and natural sounds of the beach fill me up on the inside, restoring and recharging my soul. Is it […]

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With summer upon us, there are many who bask in the summer heat. One of my favorite summer activities is going to the beach. The offshore breeze makes the air cooler, and for me, the beauty and natural sounds of the beach fill me up on the inside, restoring and recharging my soul. Is it […]

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Beginnings and Endings

A Group-Think Post wrangled by Maggie Toussaint Beginnings and Endings are facts of life. They bring us great joy or push us out of our comfort zone. The everyday ones we rarely consider, like getting up ends our time sleeping but it’s the start of the day, but the other beginnings and endings that happen […]

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A Group-Think Post wrangled by Maggie Toussaint Beginnings and Endings are facts of life. They bring us great joy or push us out of our comfort zone. The everyday ones we rarely consider, like getting up ends our time sleeping but it’s the start of the day, but the other beginnings and endings that happen […]

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Plant a Tree for Arbor Day

Arbor Day was first celebrated in Nebraska City, on Friday, April 10, 1872, thanks to the efforts of one man. Julius Sterling Morton was a new resident of Nebraska and was concerned about the lack of trees. This Father of Arbor Day became a man on a mission, planting many trees on his land, and […]

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Arbor Day was first celebrated in Nebraska City, on Friday, April 10, 1872, thanks to the efforts of one man. Julius Sterling Morton was a new resident of Nebraska and was concerned about the lack of trees. This Father of Arbor Day became a man on a mission, planting many trees on his land, and […]

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Getting my story ducks in a row

As is often the way for authors of series, I find myself at a crossroads. I’ve been working on A Magic Candle Shop series for a few years now. The characters have been eating, working, and sleeping with me for all that time, and they are very sure of what comes next. You’d think I’d […]

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As is often the way for authors of series, I find myself at a crossroads. I’ve been working on A Magic Candle Shop series for a few years now. The characters have been eating, working, and sleeping with me for all that time, and they are very sure of what comes next. You’d think I’d […]

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Fishing…for agents and editors

A person can learn a lot about life from fishing. On the surface you may consider fishing as either a sport, a recreation, or a means to come-by dinner. It is all of that…and more. For the sport part of it, having the right equipment is essential. You wouldn’t show up at a tennis tournament […]

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A person can learn a lot about life from fishing. On the surface you may consider fishing as either a sport, a recreation, or a means to come-by dinner. It is all of that…and more. For the sport part of it, having the right equipment is essential. You wouldn’t show up at a tennis tournament […]

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Giving Thanks

In this hurry up world full of people and technology on a speeding clock, how often do we stop to say thanks? I have a list of things to do each day, but I always run out of day before my list is done. Sometimes I work on Monday’s list all week long! On the […]

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In this hurry up world full of people and technology on a speeding clock, how often do we stop to say thanks? I have a list of things to do each day, but I always run out of day before my list is done. Sometimes I work on Monday’s list all week long! On the […]

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Gone To The Dogs

The Dog Days of summer are finally gone, and I’m celebrating with a doggie retrospective. This cute little terrier was on a neighborhood walkabout as I was recently driving to a photo shoot. Josie’s owner wasn’t home, so I left a message for her person and took Josie with me. The best photos were of […]

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The Dog Days of summer are finally gone, and I’m celebrating with a doggie retrospective. This cute little terrier was on a neighborhood walkabout as I was recently driving to a photo shoot. Josie’s owner wasn’t home, so I left a message for her person and took Josie with me. The best photos were of […]

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Beginnings and Endings

Something many unpublished authors rarely appreciate is the unlimited time to write that first book. Another undervalued perk of beginning to write is there are no reader expectations to meet. Brand new writers have the wonder and delight of working on a clean slate, of starting from scratch. What I love about beginnings is traveling […]

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Something many unpublished authors rarely appreciate is the unlimited time to write that first book. Another undervalued perk of beginning to write is there are no reader expectations to meet. Brand new writers have the wonder and delight of working on a clean slate, of starting from scratch. What I love about beginnings is traveling […]

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June 22 and siblings

In my family, June 22 is the day after two back-to-back family birthdays. We are normally sunburned, full of cookout food, and banking another fine set of sibling memories. This year my brother won’t make it home until early July, so it will be a solo birthday for my sister. She won’t want a big […]

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In my family, June 22 is the day after two back-to-back family birthdays. We are normally sunburned, full of cookout food, and banking another fine set of sibling memories. This year my brother won’t make it home until early July, so it will be a solo birthday for my sister. She won’t want a big […]

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Best Friends

I recently wrote a tribute on friendship. Once I finished, I had a startling revelation. My relationship with a childhood best friend formed the basis for Tabby and Sage, the twins in A Magic Candle Mysteries. In the series, Tabby and Sage are fraternal twins, but they are also more than sisters who shared a […]

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I recently wrote a tribute on friendship. Once I finished, I had a startling revelation. My relationship with a childhood best friend formed the basis for Tabby and Sage, the twins in A Magic Candle Mysteries. In the series, Tabby and Sage are fraternal twins, but they are also more than sisters who shared a […]

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Taxes, Smaxes

Earlier this spring I spent several days wrassling all my receipts, giveaways, and everything else into a spreadsheet for my 2022 income taxes. Every year I moan and groan about the process, even though I have all the receipts squirreled away and waiting for me. It is a thankless task of sneaky typos, squinting to […]

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Earlier this spring I spent several days wrassling all my receipts, giveaways, and everything else into a spreadsheet for my 2022 income taxes. Every year I moan and groan about the process, even though I have all the receipts squirreled away and waiting for me. It is a thankless task of sneaky typos, squinting to […]

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Glass Half-Empty or Glass Half-full?

I consider myself a glass half-full person, but there are times when I plunge into the deep end of glass half-empty. Concern for loved ones will do that, and health issues can shift me off-center. And then I stop and realize those concerns are totally out of my control. Worry isn’t positive. It can, in […]

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I consider myself a glass half-full person, but there are times when I plunge into the deep end of glass half-empty. Concern for loved ones will do that, and health issues can shift me off-center. And then I stop and realize those concerns are totally out of my control. Worry isn’t positive. It can, in […]

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New Year Thoughts

For 2023, our author collective resolves to take positive actions to make the world better in some way. There’s so much we can do for the people we already know and for those we haven’t met yet. Here are a few thoughts about how one kindness often begets another. First we shouldn’t worry about what […]

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For 2023, our author collective resolves to take positive actions to make the world better in some way. There’s so much we can do for the people we already know and for those we haven’t met yet. Here are a few thoughts about how one kindness often begets another. First we shouldn’t worry about what […]

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Happy Holidays to All of You from All of Us!

Happy Holidays to all of our friends, fans, and writing communities! Our authors are here to share their self-care tips that help them make it through the busy holidays. When your schedule gets overloaded, remember to take time for yourself. It will get better. Plus, what fun it is to de-stress with us! Maggie Toussaint: […]

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Happy Holidays to all of our friends, fans, and writing communities! Our authors are here to share their self-care tips that help them make it through the busy holidays. When your schedule gets overloaded, remember to take time for yourself. It will get better. Plus, what fun it is to de-stress with us! Maggie Toussaint: […]

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Giving Thanks in a Post-Covid (I Hope) World

Happy Thanksgiving to All! Many of us have blessings we always mention on this occasion. Family, friends, home, career, transportation, personal health and mobility, community, pets, rewarding hobbies, and more are blessings that come to mind. However, our world changed in recent years. Covid took a toll on every level, with its stranglehold of fear […]

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Happy Thanksgiving to All! Many of us have blessings we always mention on this occasion. Family, friends, home, career, transportation, personal health and mobility, community, pets, rewarding hobbies, and more are blessings that come to mind. However, our world changed in recent years. Covid took a toll on every level, with its stranglehold of fear […]

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Twins and Other Duos

In my upcoming A Magic Candle Shop Mystery book one, SNUFFED OUT, writing as Valona Jones, My main character Tabby Winslow has a twin sister named Sage. They are fraternal twins, and, in case you aren’t familiar with that term, it means that they aren’t identical and are in fact from different eggs. My thoughts […]

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In my upcoming A Magic Candle Shop Mystery book one, SNUFFED OUT, writing as Valona Jones, My main character Tabby Winslow has a twin sister named Sage. They are fraternal twins, and, in case you aren’t familiar with that term, it means that they aren’t identical and are in fact from different eggs. My thoughts […]

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Sand, Flower Petals, and Chalked Sidewalks

I’ve always loved touching things with my fingers. There’s an interesting grainy feel to sand, a wispy velvety texture to flower petals, an innocent silkiness to kitten fur. As a child I was drawn to an artesian well at our “Riverbank” swimming hole. A muddy clay rimmed the area where the fresh water flowed out […]

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I’ve always loved touching things with my fingers. There’s an interesting grainy feel to sand, a wispy velvety texture to flower petals, an innocent silkiness to kitten fur. As a child I was drawn to an artesian well at our “Riverbank” swimming hole. A muddy clay rimmed the area where the fresh water flowed out […]

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Oh, the Bubbaness of it all!

When I wrote BUBBA DONE IT, I broke one of the primary rules of the amateur sleuth trope. It was unthinkable really, except there wasn’t any way to proceed without telling whodunit in the first chapter. After all, my female sleuth, Baxley Powell, was just starting out in her police consultant role, just feeling her […]

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When I wrote BUBBA DONE IT, I broke one of the primary rules of the amateur sleuth trope. It was unthinkable really, except there wasn’t any way to proceed without telling whodunit in the first chapter. After all, my female sleuth, Baxley Powell, was just starting out in her police consultant role, just feeling her […]

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You Don’t Get What You Don’t Pay For

In the course of real life, a saying I haven’t heard in a while cropped up: “You don’t get what you don’t pay for.” The context for this was in regard to a purchased item. Raise your hand if you’ve ever bought a knockoff brand of something and been dissatisfied. I have, but I’ve also […]

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In the course of real life, a saying I haven’t heard in a while cropped up: “You don’t get what you don’t pay for.” The context for this was in regard to a purchased item. Raise your hand if you’ve ever bought a knockoff brand of something and been dissatisfied. I have, but I’ve also […]

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I Can’t See the Forest

I’ve been working on rough draft edits for what seems like months but is only a few weeks so far. Somewhere between reads five and ten, the book begins to feel more like individual words than sentences, paragraphs, scenes, and chapters. In other words, I focus on the trees but that means I can’t see […]

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I’ve been working on rough draft edits for what seems like months but is only a few weeks so far. Somewhere between reads five and ten, the book begins to feel more like individual words than sentences, paragraphs, scenes, and chapters. In other words, I focus on the trees but that means I can’t see […]

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Planting a Flag and Love

By Maggie Toussaint In this most romantic month of the year some of us face a quandary. The person or pet we love with all our heart isn’t the typical greeting card kind of love or is no longer around. My feeling is that love is love. It’s putting yourself out there, risking the most […]

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By Maggie Toussaint In this most romantic month of the year some of us face a quandary. The person or pet we love with all our heart isn’t the typical greeting card kind of love or is no longer around. My feeling is that love is love. It’s putting yourself out there, risking the most […]

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Let’s Talk about resolutions

Our Resolutions Every year when New Year’s rolls around, we are faced with the resolution question. Do we once again set a sky high goal and then let it slide as we get busy? Or do we take up the standard and seek something MORE for ourselves? What’s a person to do with all this […]

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Our Resolutions Every year when New Year’s rolls around, we are faced with the resolution question. Do we once again set a sky high goal and then let it slide as we get busy? Or do we take up the standard and seek something MORE for ourselves? What’s a person to do with all this […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on November 25, 2021 by Maggie Toussaint

Things I’m Thankful For By Maggie Toussaint Every year when Thanksgiving rolls around, I wish I’d done a “thankful” jar all year long, tucking little slips of paper inside when good news occurred. So here’s my list from memory. Vaccines. I am very thankful for the covid vaccines. They give me hope that we can […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Maggie Toussaint

I Heart October By Maggie Toussaint I’ve always liked October, even when summer was my favorite season. The tenth month of the year comes with its own special scents and a vibrant color palette that is stunning. Others must agree with me because many schedule trips to watch the leaves turn. Though I grew up […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Maggie Toussaint

Dressage Horse or Bucking Bronc? By Maggie Toussaint The gait of a horse can be compared to story writing, editing, and even marketing. During the creation of a story world and its characters, the initial feeling authors have is often prancing or flighty. Authors shy away from some ideas and gallop like the wind toward […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Maggie Toussaint

Celebrating our Independence By Maggie Toussaint Americans celebrate July 4 as Independence Day. In my youth, we had to travel thirty miles to see fireworks. At first, the loud noise of the sparkling pretties startled me, but it didn’t take long to ignore the boom and wait impatiently for the delightful burst of fizzling, sizzling […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on May 13, 2021 by Maggie Toussaint

History, Mom, and Seafood By Maggie Toussaint Some days are more monumental than others. For instance, May 13 is the 133rd day of the calendar year. 232 days remain. How is that possible? This year is going by at record speed. If I blink my eyes it might suddenly be November! Looking at history, numerous […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Maggie Toussaint

Color Me Happy By Maggie Toussaint Why wait until we’re eccentric to wear whatever we want? My best buds and I asked this question and decided we’d wear whatever colors/clothes/shoes we wanted. We’re all old enough to know better, of course, but our Mamas are gone so nobody is likely to snatch us up by […]

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Let’s Talk With Maggie Toussaint

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Maggie Toussaint

Cover Reveal Shrimply Dead By Maggie Toussaint A good book cover draws your eye and then encourages you to savor it. Ever since I signed my first book contract, I’ve been asked to make suggestions for the publisher’s cover artist. In nearly every instance, they used my ideas to create the cover. So when it […]

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Let’s Talk about Resolutions

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Terry Ambrose

We hereby resolve to… by Debra H Goldstein, Nancy J Cohen, Lois Winston, Cheryl Hollon, Diane A.S Stuckart, and Maggie Toussaint I’ve given up resolving to do things like exercise, lose weight, or be a kinder person; so, my resolutions for 2021 (beyond hugging family and friends again) are 1) embrace my tendency to procrastinate […]

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Let’s Talk about Light

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Terry Ambrose

Happy Holidays to All! What a strange year 2020 has been! And there’s good news-we’ve all survived the pandemic thus far. Keep up the great work of protecting yourself and your family by wearing masks and social distancing until we get through the vaccination process. Meanwhile, your friends at Booklover’s Bench want to help shine […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Maggie Toussaint

Christmas Anticipation By Maggie Toussaint [Note: book giveaway entry open thru Wed. Dec 16. Winner announced on Thursday Dec 17.] As a kid, I couldn’t wait for Christmas. My imagination would hit feverish highs of envisioning what gift would be under the tree. Coming from a large family, our gifts weren’t as plentiful as heartfelt. […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Maggie Toussaint

Of Ghouls and Saints By Maggie Toussaint Many believe that on Oct. 31, the veil between the living and the dead thins, allowing the dead to return to earth. Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain wherein people lit bonfires, offered harvest sacrifices, and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on September 17, 2020 by Maggie Toussaint

September Back to School By Maggie Toussaint Across our country, school has varying looks this fall. Some schools are still in distance-learning mode. Some have reopened doors and welcomed students with safety provisions. Some schools offer both distance learning and classroom learning. Many blessings to all teachers, school administrators, and everyone in a support function. […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Maggie Toussaint

How’d I get so lucky? By Maggie Toussaint Usually, people bemoan their lack of good fortune, but I am feeling very lucky about this post. You see, the 7th and final book of my Dreamwalker Mystery Series, All Done With It, launches on August 11, which is within the week this blog airs. Lucky, right? […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Maggie Toussaint

These boots were made for walking By Maggie Toussaint In any other year, June would be chock full of celebrations. Weddings, graduations, milestone anniversaries, retirements, and more would be toasted with family and friends. June 2020 has a much different look, especially for the “elderly.” Everyone keeps talking about the New Normal and like the […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Maggie Toussaint

Mama Says By Maggie Toussaint With Mother’s Day on May 10, I reflected on life skills my mom taught me. Manners were the first thing she drilled into all of us kids. We had to speak and comport ourselves a certain way. Before you start thinking we were putting on airs, we weren’t. We were […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Maggie Toussaint

Top Ten Things to Self-Entertain By Maggie Toussaint ART. Make an art project out of random items – a collage of magazine photos, natural materials outside, whatever’s in your junk pile or craft closet. LEARN. Check out a topic you’ve always wanted to explore. Maybe you’re interested in beekeeping, stargazing, or solar farms. Whatever the […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on February 20, 2020 by Maggie Toussaint

The Power of Threes By Maggie Toussaint I am a big fan of threes. Lots of famous things come in threes, like the Three Musketeers; the Three Stooges; folk singers Peter, Paul, and Mary; Harry, Hermoine, and Ron from Harry Potter; Alvin, Simon, and Theodore from the Chipmunks; and of course, the Father, Son, and […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Maggie Toussaint

Out with the Old By Maggie Toussaint A new year has dawned, indeed a new decade is upon us, shiny and full of promise. What wonderful things will happen this year? Will this go-around of the 20s be Roaring? It is something to ponder for sure. Oftentimes people decide to make a change in their […]

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Holiday Let’s Talk

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Terry Ambrose

Happy Holidays! Today, we’re sharing how holiday traditions changed over the years. New birth and Hanukkah for Nancy. December holidays for our family in the earlier days meant gathering around the menorah each evening in the dining room, lighting the candles, and then watching our kids open one of eight or more gifts for Hanukkah. […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Maggie Toussaint

Thanksgiving musings – silver and china? By Maggie Toussaint   With Thanksgiving just around the corner, my thoughts veer to the trappings of the holiday. How many families are currently washing the china and polishing the silver? It wasn’t something I ever thought I’d do as an adult, but gumption folds fast in the face […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on October 3, 2019 by Maggie Toussaint

Twenty Shades of Fall By Maggie Toussaint Have you ever considered how many phrases involve the word fall? That’s where my brain went for a FALL post this year. I hope you enjoy list of twenty “fall” phrases and my authorly asides. Fall down – that’s easy, we all know what that means. A footing […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Maggie Toussaint

A Dreamy Book Release By Maggie Toussaint When a new book comes out, I always have a graduation sort-of feeling. There’s that swelling sense of pride and accomplishment, the feeling of try not to fall on your face when everyone’s watching, and then that oh-no what comes next moment of sheer panic.(Lucky for me, the […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Maggie Toussaint

Sizzling Heat and Sizzling Reads By Maggie Toussaint Is it hot enough for you? Down here in coastal Georgia it’s been in the 90s for quite a while, and when you add in the Heat Index, it can be downright dangerous. Native Georgians prefer to do their outside errands and work in the early morning, […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Maggie Toussaint

Signs, Signs, Everywhere’s a Sign By Maggie Toussaint Anyone remember the 70’s tune about there being too many signs? That song popped into my head recently and now it’s become an earworm, you know, one of those ditties that won’t let you go. Astute armchair detective that I am I wondered if the universe was […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on April 11, 2019 by Maggie Toussaint

Ripped from the headlines By Maggie Toussaint Oftentimes the TV news or newspaper stories of the violence in the world is frightening. Many of us are thankful that the really bad stuff happens elsewhere. But what if it doesn’t? The world is very connected today through ease of travel and communication. Geographical isolation is not […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Maggie Toussaint

Making Your Own Luck by Maggie Toussaint With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, shamrocks, leprechauns, and good luck come to mind. Along with the holiday there’s a magical sense implied with being Irish. We’ve all heard the phrase “the luck of the Irish” before, but what does it mean? The phrase itself has […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on January 24, 2019 by Maggie Toussaint

Implementation is not a dirty word By Maggie Toussaint Each year many people take stock of where we are and where we’re going in January. Sometimes we like the answers we find, other times we draw a line in the sand and stand firm about reaching for our dreams. The ambitious among us create a […]

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Holiday Scents Group Post

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Nancy J. Cohen

HOLIDAY SCENTS Dear Friends, We’re sharing our special holiday scented memories with you. Enjoy! POTATO LATKES. Since we celebrate Hanukkah, my favorite holiday scent is the smell of potato latkes frying in oil. When I grew up, we lit the menorah candles each night for eight nights and got a small gift as well. Potato […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Maggie Toussaint

Skating through the Holidays By Maggie Toussaint As a child I was fascinated by roller skates. I thought how cool it would be to roll everywhere so fast. Granted, we didn’t have any concrete or sidewalks to speak of in our entire community, but still, a kid could dream. Though I’ve outgrown my desire to […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on October 18, 2018 by Maggie Toussaint

Pets in Mysteries by Maggie Toussaint Even if you’re not a current dog or cat owner, it’s hard not to melt at photos or real-life meetups with fluffy kittens and roly-poly puppies. They have such zest and need to play and then an equally urgent need to sleep. One of my granddogs, as a pup, […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Maggie Toussaint

Things That Confound Me by Maggie Toussaint While my Dreamwalker Mystery sleuth Baxley Powell isn’t easily confounded, I certainly am. For instance, I don’t know how the same sweet young woman got tricked into recording pitches for so many credit card companies and vacation getaway places. She’s been Emily, Elizabeth, and a few other names. […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Maggie Toussaint

Summertime and the Reading Is Easy by Maggie Toussaint When I was growing up, my favorite place to read was in the hammock on the porch. I loved the way the hammock wrapped around me, cocooning me into the story world. I explored so many wonderful authors and learned the virtue of being an armchair […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Maggie Toussaint

What’s Cooking with Maggie by Maggie Toussaint I’m cooking up books this summer! Vacation Appetizer. Summer used to signal a time to slow down and smell the ocean breeze. These days, writers are making tracks everywhere during the summer to connect with readers. Through Southeast Mystery Writers of America, I’ll be at reader functions in […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on May 3, 2018 by Maggie Toussaint

Countdown Mania by Maggie Toussaint We’re familiar with the countdown sequence to a rocket’s launch: Ten-Nine-Eight-Seven-Six-Five-Four-Three-Two-One-Blast Off! When an author launches a book, it feels just that mindful and eventful. Confound It is coming out June 1, 2018, and I’ve been busy getting everything ready. To readers it should seem like everything comes together silky […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Maggie Toussaint

Character Name Auctions By Maggie Toussaint At a recent fundraising event, authors held a silent auction for a good cause – to help raise money for a nearby library. I was happy to have one of my character’s names up for grabs, and a very nice lady bid on it. I came home to figure […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Maggie Toussaint

Won’t you be my Valentine? By Maggie Toussaint Remember when your whole elementary school class exchanged Valentines? I savored each brightly colored card. I loved the red hearts, cartoon characters, and the sentiment of caring. I also remember the agony of selecting which cards went to which people. It was important to give the ones […]

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Let’s Talk Gifts that Keep Giving

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Nancy J. Cohen

The Gift that Keeps on Giving Retail stores and online vendors would like us to think that all holiday “gifts” must be purchased. Those store-bought gifts are nice, but there are other kinds of gifts. The personal touch and the “little things” are often cherished more than something picture perfect. I hope you enjoy our […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Maggie Toussaint

When something old is new By Maggie Toussaint Finally, finally, finally I have trade paperbacks and a digital release of the entire series for the Lindsey & Ike mystery fans. The print and digital books contain all three novellas. This series sprang from my very first mystery ever written. Like many first attempts, it wasn’t […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Maggie Toussaint

Release Day! By Maggie Toussaint My last Lindsey & Ike novella, “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” releases today, Nov. 2. The third in this romantic mystery series, “Dead Men” is a fitting send off for this couple. Lindsey started the series temporarily holding the family newspaper business together, and now she’s the fulltime editor of […]

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Let’s Talk about Fall

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Nancy J. Cohen

This week the Booklover’s Bench authors share their thoughts about the changes associated with the season of fall. We hope you’ll enjoy this group post. Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter for a Tote Bag prize. Emily Dickinson famously wrote, “There is a certain slant of light.” I recall her words quite often as summer moves […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Maggie Toussaint

Amnesia and Cleopatra Jones By Maggie Toussaint In my new cozy mystery novella, “No Quarter.” Cleopatra Jones wakes up in a distant hospital with no memory of how she got there, no memory of what she did that day. She is frightened and alone. A man arrives who claims to be related, and hard on […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Maggie Toussaint

Energy Vamps By Maggie Toussaint There’s a new critter in my latest Dreamwalker Mystery, Dadgummit. I stumbled upon the idea of an energy vampire in the oddest way, through a conversation with a friend. Somehow our chat drifted to the topic of people who are exhausting. Some people exhaust me because they seem to be […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Maggie Toussaint

Special Occasions By Maggie Toussaint As a December birthday, I spent my entire childhood wishing my birthday was in the summer like my brother and sister’s. For one thing, they didn’t get shorted on presents because “Christmas is coming soon.” They got to go swimming and eat watermelon at their June birthday parties. I did […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Maggie Toussaint

Ripped from the headlines by Maggie Toussaint Usually when you think of stories ripped from the headlines of newspapers, you think of lurid crimes, of things that could never happen in your town or to your family. I was searching for an idea for a novella and I kept coming back to something that happened […]

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Spring flowers

Let’s Talk about Spring

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Nancy J. Cohen

Our Spring Collection by Karla Brandenburg, Nancy J Cohen, James M Jackson, Terry Odell, Maggie Toussaint, and Tina Whittle Everyone’s heard the saying “April showers bring May flowers,” and for me, that phrase is synonymous with spring. I’m sure many places in the US and the world still have traditional seasons, but here in the […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Maggie Toussaint

Pets in mysteries By Maggie Toussaint Dog lovers and cat lovers vie for supremacy. Each group thinks their pets are cuter, smarter, and more entertaining. I’ve been owned by both dogs and cats, and I must confess I’m more of a dog person. For that reason, I have dogs in just about every book I write. […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Maggie Toussaint

The Beat Goes On By Maggie Toussaint If you’re “of an age” you may remember “The Beat Goes On,” a hit song by Sonny and Cher. The song tells of life events that keep coming at you, and I can totally identify…  La de da da dee, la de da da dah (you can thank […]

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Happy Holidays from All of Us

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Maggie Toussaint

We’re so happy to have friends and fans join us here at Booklover’s Bench, where readers are winners, and we hope you’ll continue that tradition in the New Year. We’ve shared some holiday memories and traditions below to help put you in a holiday mood. Be sure and join us next year for more fun with the Booklover’s […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Maggie Toussaint

Four holiday survival tips By Maggie Toussaint From the belly-pleasing feast at Thanksgiving to ringing in the New Year, the holiday season is a fast-paced romp of calendar-filling must-dos. It’s easy to feel harried with extra demands on an already full schedule, but fear not, I have cobbled together four stress beating tips to help […]

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Let’s Talk about Halloween

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Nancy J. Cohen

Happy Halloween Memories All of us have gathered to share a memory of Halloween, and we hope you’ll also share one of yours in the comments section for a chance to win our custom tote bag. My husband is a bored aerospace engineer, so our Halloween season begins in August. He begins scouring the yard […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Maggie Toussaint

Fall into Everything By Maggie Toussaint We’re in the season of Fall, but did you know that “season” is not one of the definitions most dictionaries list for the word fall? As a verb, fall has 4 definitions listed in the Oxford Dictionary: 1) to move downward at a rapid rate, often uncontrolled. 2) lose […]

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Let’s Talk About School Memories

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Nancy J. Cohen

Back to School Memories Memories plus a giveaway! What could be better? Sit back and enjoy our recollections, and then be sure to chime in to tell us yours. I went to elementary school in the 50s. Back in the day, the school system provided all supplies. You were allowed to bring your own crayons […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Maggie Toussaint

Clothing makes the man, er, woman By Maggie Toussaint Sometime in college or thereafter, I read a book, and I’m blanking on the title, and it was about clothing being our costumes for whatever we were doing. That was a realization I’d never articulated before, but it explained so much about my conservative wardrobe choices. […]

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Let’s Talk about Summer

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Nancy J. Cohen

Summer Food I know summer is here when the strawberries bloom! As a kid, we used to visit the farm where my mom grew up and go strawberry picking. We came home with quarts and quarts of strawberries that turned into delicious strawberry freezer jam and strawberry topping and strawberry shortcake. Once I had a […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Maggie Toussaint

Guilt and more guilt By Maggie Toussaint Some days are full of coulda-beens and woulda-beens. You know what I’m talking about, those things we’ve done and those things which we’ve left undone. The stuff that makes us feel icky inside. Yes, I’m talking about the worst kind of trip – a guilt trip. It can […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Maggie Toussaint

Tribbles – we’ve all heard of them By Maggie Toussaint In Happy Homicides 3, due out June 1, my amateur sleuth Lindsey McKay is startled when a young woman tells her she’s got turtle tribbles. Turns out this lady is a Trekkie and Tribbles are fluffy space creatures that multiply quicker than bunnies. Lindsey’s not […]

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Let’s Talk about Spring

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Nancy J. Cohen

Five Authors Share About Spring by Maggie Toussaint, Nancy J Cohen, James M Jackson, Terry Odell, and Tina Whittle With Spring comes nice weather, and the temptation to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Of course, for writers, writing is their job, just like any other job, but it’s easy to want to set aside […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Maggie Toussaint

March Madness By Maggie Toussaint March Madness, April Showers, May Flowers, the Dog Days of August, and Mr. October are just a few seasonal references that come to mind. Just for fun, comment with a new monthly name. The answer list is as long as your imagination! Maybe you’ll do better than June Bugs, November Remembers, […]

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G-3 by Rigel Carson

Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Maggie Toussaint

Intriguing Aspects By Maggie Toussaint The year still feels shiny and new. Resolutions for the year still feel doable, and the days are starting to lengthen. In short, I have a sense of optimism despite the (temporary) colder temperatures. One bright star on my immediate horizon: I have a book release on February 5 under […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Maggie Toussaint

Gingerbread Men Rule! By Maggie Toussaint Close your eyes for a second and imagine your favorite holiday cookie. Got it? Me too. I’ve always had a yen for Gingerbread men. As far back as I can remember, that was THE treat I wanted most during the holidays. I didn’t want that pan of gingerbread topped […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Maggie Toussaint

Killer Shorts by Maggie Toussaint I write long, even when I worked for the newspaper, and I was always having to consolidate and weed out material. There’s a part of me that wants to bring the whole town along on a story ride, and that’s why I shied away from short stories forever. Then I […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Maggie Toussaint

Alien Invasion By Maggie Toussaint aka Rigel Carson In my brand new book, G-2, which is book 2 of The Guardian of Earth Series, the main topic is alien invasion. These particular aliens say they come in peace and want to do business with us Earthlings. Countries all over the planet roll out the red carpet to […]

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G-1 by Rigel Carson

Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Maggie Toussaint

Paper-Digital-Audio By Maggie Toussaint Inspired by the popular hand game Rock-Paper-Scissors, Paper-Digital-Audio is a microcosm of book formats in today’s marketplace. Individual preference plays a huge role in what book formats easily trump one another. I hope you’ll read Paper-Digital-Audio and comment on your choice of format. These days we have options for how we […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Maggie Toussaint

Who has enough time? By Maggie Toussaint Remember watching the grains of sand in an egg timer? The sand seems to flow really slowly at the beginning, then as more and more of the sand goes through, it appears to be racing through the neck of the hourglass. Lately, days and weeks have been racing […]

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Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Maggie Toussaint

Dreamwalking with Maggie By Maggie Toussaint Curiosity is one of my strengths. I often wonder about things for a long time. I’ll get stuck thinking “Why’d that happen that way?” Or, “Why’d that person do that ugly thing?” I’m sure most people have similar wondering moments, but I’m not sure they take them to the […]

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Behind the Scenes with Maggie Toussaint

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Maggie Toussaint

Maggie Toussaint Research: The interview that wasn’t In the course of writing fiction, I’ve interviewed policemen, firemen, arson investigators, fishermen, boat captains, boat mechanics, shooting instructors, poison ladies, florists, newspaper editors, artists, accountants, the Coast Guard, and more. I’ve bought books on each of these subjects and other crime-related topics. But . . . there […]

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