January News and Notes

So many books, so little time!  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­   View in browser  Mary's January News and Notes Hello fellow readers!  It's 2025, a new year, a time to start over and avoid all the mistakes you made in the prior year. So far, the little over two weeks of January has not been bad. It hasn't been perfect but overall, it's been good. I have a lot of plans for this new opportunity. Last year was my Fake it until you make it quest. For the most part it worked. I participated in eight book signings my goal had been four. Doubled it! By the end of the year, I finally felt like a full-time author and not a part time author, writing after the day job. This year I'm sticking to three or four signings. We have way too much going on. A family wedding in Anaheim over Easter weekend. 2025 Book Lovers Conference in May, this counts as one of my signings. My husband’s sibling trip to the Oregon coast in August, (this is still on the tentative side). And finally, my daughter is getting married, also on the Oregon Coast. It will be a small wedding and I'm sure, very lovely. With all that going on, there is no way I can fit more things in. When would I write? I have a plan there also. After I've finished edits and final edits for Web of Smoke, book three of Roni's Investigation Files, and completed my 2025 Christmas book, The Holiday Cooking Club, I will be starting a new project. I am tittering between working on a screen play for Three Brides and a Dress or a new book. This year my motto is Market and promote like a professional. Oh, the decisions! Have a wonderful rest of your month! If you're on my weekly newsletter, you'll see me next week.  Speaking of book signings... Do you need a trip to Vegas? It begins with registration and check in on Thursday May 15th and goes on with something planned for every minute of the day and evening until Saturday May 17th. Readers you'll go home with dozens of books. My bet is, you'll have to ship them. I am signing on Saturday the 17th. I'll have bling, gift baskets and other goodies. I hope to see you!  Register here Roni's Investigation Files In her former life, Veronica Staples viewed the world through rose-colored glasses. She was on the fast track to detective and rising star of the precinct. Then the unthinkable happened, she learned what a cruel place the world can be, and life wasn’t always fair. Now trying to put her life together, she is hardened and damaged Roni Staples, Private Investigator. Web of Smoke Book 3 is on pre-order now. Coming spring 2025. Order yours now! Amazon and Kindleunlimited Monthly Recipe January Soup The Holiday Cooking Club (book 2 of the Wintergreen Village Series) Stefani prepares this with her club in January on Holiday leftover recipes night. January Soup - serves about 8 Perfect for left over ham! Boil the ham off the bone. Save half of the broth. Cut the ham up and set aside. 1 can      Northern white beans 2 cups   Chicken broth (approx. the same as the left over broth) 1             Sweet potato or Yam peeled and diced 2 Sm      Red potatoes peeled and diced 2            Jalapeno's sliced (optional) 1             Zucchini diced 7-8         Green beans, ends pinched off and cut into quarters 1/2          White onion diced 4 cloves Garlic sliced and cut in half 3 - 4       Carrots peeled and cut in chunks. 1/2 Cup  Frozen peas Salt, pepper, turmeric to taste, then approx. 1 tbsp. oregano and basil. All the vegetables are options, use what you like. Add everything to the pot except beans and peas. Bring to boil and then turn down to simmer for 3 hours. Then add peas and beans and simmer another hour or until everything is tender. Quantities may be adjusted to the amount of ham you have to boil. This recipe is a nice easy one for winter and there are usually a lot of leftovers. The After Work Cook Follow me on Amazon Get an email every time I have a new release. Amazon Page Follow Mary on social media Covers by LDM Graphics. LDM Graphics As always thank you for your continued support.  Mary's Newsletter MAGNA United States of America You received this email because you signed up on our website or made a purchase from us. Unsubscribe Do you like the newsletter? Share it!