Let's Talk with Maggie Toussaint
A beehive of thoughts
September 4, 2025
My mind is buzzing with topics, and I can’t settle on just one. Hence, my beehive of thoughts follow.
September is coastal Georgia’s big month for hurricanes nowadays. I keep looking around and thinking “what else needs to be secured if we are in a storm’s path?” There are always things in the yard to pick up. For example, a lightweight chair can become a dangerous projectile.
And the summer storms aren’t always hurricanes. Lightning struck a pine tree in my nephew’s yard a few weekends ago. It shattered about five feet off the ground. Pieces flew fifty feet away! No way to plan ahead for that.
Speaking of planning ahead…I am now starting to work up a list of author and character blogs for the upcoming Oct 14 release of FLAMED OUT, which I write as Valona Jones. As a reader, is there any particular topic that you’d love to read about?
Turning back to the weather and seasons, fall has become my favorite season. The days of sunbathing at the beach are long in my rear view mirror. But the mostly milder days of fall with cooler nights give us an entire season of what used to be called Indian Summer, but is probably no longer politically correct. We have a lot fewer bugs in fall, which is nice. My only issue with fall is that the light thins, and we have less hours of it. So, I have an indoor light to help with that.
Halloween stuff is already in the stores. It won’t be two shakes until it competes with Christmas decorations. Sigh. It’s the way of our civilization. But at least fall brings the return of my fav TV shows! I enjoy Tracker, Survivor, The Voice, and The Curse of Oak Island.
What shows are you eagerly anticipating for fall? Rely to this question or the one above about blog topics for chance at the giveaway. One commenter will win a Digital Advanced Reader copy of FLAMED OUT, a cozy paranormal mystery.
Want to know more about our author Maggie Toussaint? Visit her WEBSITE.
While you’re here, be sure to check out our September contest where one winner gets two cozy mysteries! The contest runs from September 1-22, so be sure to enter. CLICK HERE for contest.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Maggie Toussaint • Tags: A beehive of thoughts, A Magic Candle Shop Mystery, Flamed Out, Let's Talk, Maggie Toussaint, Valona Jones | 41 Comments
Book(s) look and sound like great reads would love to read in print so I can review them looking forward to reading them
Hi Crystal! Thanks for weighing in. It’s always good to hear from you.
I washed watching TV last year at this time (dropped off in the spring, for some reason), yet I keep recording on the DVR in case I get back into it 🥴 I’d be looking forward to continuing seasons of: Tracker, Irrational, Wild Cards, Hudson and Rex, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Matlock, baking competition shows,… Hm. I could probably think of more if I tried! 😁
We share some of the same taste in shows, Maria. I also like Irrational and of course, Tracker, written by Jeffrey Deaver. I am always sad when a “season” ends of TV shows I like. We fill in with moves and try some new shows, but nothing is like settling in with you favorite characters.
Another
Another vote for Tracker and Irrational, and Matlock. Also Ghosts and Elsbeth. (I hope they don’t change the Thursday night lineup, but they probably will.) Also Expedition X and Expedition Bigfoot, but I don’t think they’re doing a new season.
Now that “seasons” tend to be 8 episodes instead of 20+, they end far too quickly.
Like you, Maggie, I enjoy fall weather but dread the shortening days.
I’m looking forward to the next Knives Out movie and the next seasons of Only Murders in the Building, High Potential, and Matlock. Also two new shows coming on PBS: Maigret and The Gold.
I, too, love the cooler weather here in NW NJ. We have been in the 40s/50s mornings fairly consistently the past week or so. I’m looking forward to new seasons of several shows (Cold Justice, for one) and love to watch Hallmark Mysteries.
I haven’t seen Cold Justice–will look that one up. I enjoy Hallmark Mysteries too.
Those sound interesting, Lois. We are always looking for new shows. Our default “filler show” tends to be Dateline, and believe or not we’ve seen most of those shows! Or I might have slept through some. But if we both recognize a person’s face we can usually come up with some of what happened. I’m sure there’s no coincidence that we both enjoy watching crime fiction.
Oak Island is my fall favorite, too. In the meantime, there was Skinwalker Ranch. It’s not as high on the list, but still fun. (Travis Taylor is a hoot.)
Gayle, I have enjoyed every season of Skinwalker Ranch. The thing about Travis is he is unabashedly Southern and not afraid to show it. But he’s also the Very Real Deal. I am glad he’s on that show.
Love the Magic Candle Shop mysteries. Looking forward to reading “Flamed Out”. This Fall I’m looking forward to watching the new series of Chicago Med and Chicago Fire. and Ghosts. I’m also looking forward to watching Only Murders In The Building.
Ooh – medical shows. The Pitt – one of the best ever. Noah Wyle as a powerhouse – who would have thunk it?
I don’t think any of the shows I watch have a new season starting soon. Good luck writing all those blog posts for your virtual tour. Mine kicks off next week.
I am looking forward to the release of your Murder Pays A Call
The Downton Abbey Final Movie and the third movie in the Knives Out series. Deborah
Sounds like great entertainment to me, Deborah!
Would love to win these books in print if possible. I love to read them more than once so print is perfect!!
Hey dix3733, The Advance Reader copies are in digital form. The print book will be out next month. Check back for the books that will go out on the book tour.
It would be wonderful to win these books. I am 80 years old and handicapped. My favourite pastime is reading.
Hi Judy, Like you, I love to read! As a matter of fact that is part of my origin story as a writer. I had a ski injury many years ago and my husband started buying books for me to keep me occupied. Some of the ones he picked up, bless his heart, were not well written. I slung the book across the room and decided I could write a better book than that. After all, how hard could it be? Well, it turned out to be pretty darned hard. Took me nearly a decade to break into print. The thing is, a good author writes such a compelling story that a reader doesn’t think about characterization, plot, or anything else–just story.
A beehive of thought – this is an interesting way to describe the state of your mind! I always love to read about haunted anything, and supernatural incidents! Nowadays, I watch much less tv shows – I am trying to catch up on my reading. I would say I love watching 9-1-1 and Law and Order with Captain Olivia Benson! – Emily
I am thrilled that Olivia has done so well on Law and Order. She deserves to be Captain!
I’m looking forward to Matlock, High Potential, Will Trent, and my guilty pleasure, Masked Singer.
OOh, Sharon! I’d forgotten about Will Trent. I will look into some of those other shows.
I like clean cozy mysteries
Those are good reads, Sue.
Even in south Florida I can enjoy the subtle changes of autumn.
Here’s hoping none of us have to deal with hurricanes!
Hey Libby, here in south coastal GA, I am thrilled that we are having temps in the 80s instead of 90s or above. Feels like a new lease on life! Here’s hoping a praying we both have a hurricane-free year.
The books appeal to me. I would be interested in reading printed copies of ARCs. 🙂
Hi Art, the digital ARCs are all I have for now. The book releases in print and digital format Oct 14, so check back later or sign up for my newsletter to keep up with all that is happening.
I love reading print books and leaving reviews.
You are exactly the type of reader authors love, Sheila. Right now I only have a digital ARC. Will be doing more giveaways later when the book release happens Oct 14.
I don’t watch TV very much, so there aren’t really any shows I follow. I did watch the second season of Wednesday last weekend though.
Denise, did you find that your taste in shows changed? I did. I went from high action movies and TV shows to more low key shows. Still like for their to be a mystery to be solved and sometimes a romance. I also enjoy fantasy and science fiction, but not the invade the world type of thing. Something where two factions aren’t getting along and a character rises up and creates a workable solution.
Always look forward to fall because things slow down. For us seniors, that’s a very good thing. Gardens have given their all, yard word in in it’s brief rest (not much grass to mow because it’s been too hot and not time for all the leaves to drop at once) and since it gets darker sooner we are pulled inside to rest more than 30 minutes before bedtime. Love it for the humidity that drops along with the red line on the temperature gauge. Plus, I can finally enjoy a mug of spiced cider – fresh made.
While we don’t have hurricanes, we do have tornadoes, which can be just as scary and come with a lot less notice. Thankfully, hubby is a weather bug and keeps us informed. We also have a storm shelter and whole house generator, which gives one peace of mind if nothing else.
Kay, it is nice to have those protections of storm shelter and a generator in place. I am also very much looking forward to a mug of mulled apple cider!
My winner of the Digital ARC is Sharon Forrest. Congratulations!
I really enjoyed this blog post! One thing I don’t like about Fall is it gets dark so early and I feel like I’m living in the dark for a few months. As far as Fsll tv shows, I waiting to see if there will be any new game shows. I love watching and playing along with the game shows and hope there are a few new ones to add to my list.
I am not much of a TV watcher. Would mush rather read.
I like fall with the cooler temps and I can get out my sweatshirts.