Rarity Arrives!

I first heard a whinny, sharp and clear.  I looked around for a horse pulling a tourist buggy.  None in sight.   My attention turned back to my book signing at Sea Jade, the best souvenir shop on Amelia Island, perhaps in the world, or so a passerby said.  Then  came a second whinny.  This time, I thought it was, perhaps, a toy pony.  I've seen such in magazines.  "Realistic sound," the ad had read.  Back to my books, again.  A third whinny and then I saw it, a unicorn standing directly across from me, on Centre Street, in historic downtown Fernandina!  How utterly sweet!  They call her Rarity, a living version of the tiny horse from My Little Pony.  She crossed the street, led by her owner from Savage Beast Farms in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Posing in front of my table of historical fiction books, it is the perfect fantasy come to life for a writer.  Thank you for visiting, Rarity.  You make everyone smile!

Jessica Savage Forbes, part of Rarity's family, is prepared for clean-up duty, just in case. (Jessica runs Retail Therapy on 8th Street in Fernandina - 904 277-1248)

For more info on Rarity and Savage Beast Farms with exotic birds and more miniature horses, call 904 557-1083.

Baked Swiss Steak Recipe

No matter if you're attending the world famous Amelia Concours d'Elegance ( https://www.ameliaconcours.org/ )car show on a pretty day or fighting the snow and ice where you are, this is a family-filling wonderful recipe to try. I’ve known Sandy Welsh for many years, and in that time, she’s given me several wonderful recipes.  She’s one heck of a good cook!  Thank you, Sandy.                                                     Jane Marie  PS  I'm sure Grandmother Peeper or Miss Ella from my Goodbye Lie Trilogy novels has a version of this recipe, but I haven't asked them yet.  I'll add it to the list.

 

You’ll need: 

• 1 pound of boneless sirloin steak or round steak
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour for coating meat

For tomato gravy: 

• 1 or so teaspoons all purpose flour for thickening tomato gravy
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 14 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice (Sandy suggests using Hunt’s petite diced tomatoes)
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots (Sandy suggests chopping baby carrots because they are sweeter)
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Cut the meat into four serving size pieces. 

Combine flour and salt.  Coat the meat on both sides. 

Brown the meat on both sides in a skillet.  Transfer the meat into a greased, shallow baking dish.  Set aside. 

To skillet drippings, add tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion, Worcestershire sauce and a teaspoon or so of flour for thickening.  Bring to a boil, stirring an additional 2 minutes.  Pour over the meat.

Cover and bake at 350°F for 2 hours or until the meat is tender. 

Serve with or over mashed potatoes, buttered noodles or rice.  Serves 4.  

NOTE:  The tomato and vegetable mixture can easily be doubled for extra gravy. 

reprinted from original graciousjanemarie.com website

The Goodbye Lie Diaries-Aunt Noreen

1880s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Aunt Noreen Duffy

Aunt Noreen writes:  It is rare that I hear from my older brother, John, up in cold Pennsylvania. I had to write him first and he actually replied, but that reply was less than gracious, I must say.  All I did was tell him how Fernandina had a very rare occurrence. We had a hard freeze.  I just got his letter containing only one word:
AMATEURS.  He thinks he's very funny, I'm sure.
 

Aunt Noreen is a featured trouble-maker in each of the romantic historical novels of Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie Trilogy set in the 1880s on Amelia Island, Florida.  (Available in paperback and ebook form at book sources everywhere.)

Daddy/Daughter Dance

The following is a taste of the chaos in the house as my husband, Bruce, and daughter, Barbra, and  granddaughter, Ava, and her father, Mark, readied for the annual Daddy/Daughter Dance. Since I'm the mama, I mostly sat back, watched and took notes. Welcome to our world:

Ava: Mom, my shoes are too little.
Barbra: What are you talking about?  We just got them a few months ago.
Ava: No, we didn't.  We got them last year.
Barbra: Well, wear your gold ones. They're in the garage.
Ava:  They're even smaller, the gold is all worn off the toes and they're spiders in them!
Grampy:  I'm sure the spiders won't mind the company of a few of your little toes.
(Ignoring him) Barbra: Ask your father if we can stop at the shoe store on the way to the dance.
Mark: We're not stopping at any shoe store.  We don't have time.
Grampy: Ava, just wear your formal flip-flops.
(Ignoring him) Barbra: Sorry, but you'll have to wear what you've got. Where's the blister cream.
Mark: She can't wear her shoes and get blisters.
Barbra: That's what the blister cream is for, so she won't get blisters. Duh.
Ava: I can't find it.
Barbra: Then find some other kind of grease.  Where's the anti-biotic ointment?  If you get a blister, at least it won't get infected.
Mark: Nice.
Ava: I can't find that either.
Barbra: Then use Vicks VapoRub.
Ava: I can't use that.  It stinks.
Mark: Where are my pants?
Barbra: I told you six weeks ago about this dance.  You had six weeks to find them.
Mark: They must be at the cleaners.  I'll have to wear the black ones.
Barbra: Are you kidding me?  Black pants, shirt and jacket?  You'll look like Johnny cash.
Mark:  I like Johnny Cash.
Ava: Daddy, where's your tie?
Barbra: He's going as Johnny Cash and Johnny doesn't wear a tie.
Ava: Who's Johnny Cash?
Barbra:  You can't wear all black.  My dress is orange and we'll look like Halloween!
Grampy: Who cares.  You'll never see these people again.
Ava: I rubbed my feet with Vics.  Now my shoes won't stay on.
Barbra: Hold them on with rubber bands. They won't show that much.  Can you wiggle your toes?
Ava: No.
Barbra: Well, we probably won't do that much dancing, anyway.  As long as you can walk from the car to the table, you should be fine.
Ava: (emitting a great whine) Mom!
Barbra: Why did you feed me so much? Three full meals today, Mark. Really? Thanks a lot. How do you expect me to fit into my dress? Oh, I should have exercised today, but I overdid it yesterday. Now I can't move my calves. I have to walk around on weggies with my knees bent.  Nice, huh? If I break an ankle...
(ignoring her) Mark:  Where's more hairspray? We're out of hairspray!
Grammy: You can use mine.
Mark: What is this? A spritzer?  Who buys spritzer hairspray?  I need an aerosol.
Grammy: Did you pick up the wrong jacket at the cleaners when you forgot your pants? You look like you're wearing your dad's coat.
Mark: What's wrong with my coat?
Grammy: The sleeves are too long. They're suppose to only go to--
Barbra: Mom, don't start.
Grammy: Time for pictures!

And the Editor Says

My editor for Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, the third novel in my Goodbye Lie series, offered some interesting and flattering thoughts she has allowed me to share with you. 

http://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Islands-MARK-OF-MAN-ebook/dp/B00R1N4FVY/ref=dp_kinw_strp_exp_5_1

Here are a few of her favorite lines from the book.  I have removed character names to keep readers guessing who said what.:

• He was fun loving, free loving and frequent loving.
• ... willing, wanting and welcoming trouble.
• His words fell to the floor with a silent thud.
• Her emotions flashed between gray and a dark, deepening black... An all-consuming love for the child, loathing for the foe who'd violated her family, ... so much internal turmoil, she ...
• I adore you, Nugget, but if you don't quit pulling the weights on our grandfather clock and messing it up, I'll throttle you!
• What will become of me and what will I become?
• I can't know that word. ( Editor adds: All my kids said it that way, too. I can still hear baby voices saying it when I read that sentence.)

Editors says:

• "Awwww. Martha Bear has made it to another generation of Dunnigans."
• "I really love the way you worked in the shamrocks and what they represent into the story. Very nice."
• "What a foolish, foolish girl."
• "HaHaHa!! I DO LOVE PEEPER!! I just adore her.  Everyone should have a Peeper in their life."
• "Oh no!  Miss Ella left Peeper and Aunt Noreen on their own?  They will destroy each other!"
• "My gosh ...You have my heart palpitating.  You certainly have a way with painting a tense scene!"

Amelia Island's Mark of a Man is available in paperback and e-book form at book sources everywhere. http://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Islands-MARK-OF-MAN-ebook/dp/B00R1N4FVY/ref=dp_kinw_strp_exp_5_1

Goodbye Lie Diaries-Amelia Island's Mark of a Man's Pat & Marie Dunnigan

1898
Fernandina, Florida

Marie Dunnigan

Marie Dunnigan writes: Congrat-ulations, Jane Marie, on completing Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, your historical novel all about me!  I've read The Goodbye Lie about my sister, Breelan, and your Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow, about my other sister, Carolena.  I thought I knew those two.  They did some very wild and dangerous things when they were young women. 


I wish Mark of a Man was only about me and that I didn't have to share the story with my brother, Pat.  


That part about the soldier and how--Oh, I had best not reveal what happened, but it certainly was less than ... But did you have to include so many of my private thoughts?  Readers will think I'm spoiled, naive and selfish when I am really only curious, trusting and, well, maybe a tiny bit selfish.  I enjoyed the parts where Peeper and Aunt Noreen fight.  What an explosive combination they make.  


While it is not all flattering, you told the truth of things and that makes for the best stories.  Thank you for including me in your Goodbye Lie series!


***
1898
Fernandina, Florida

Pat Dunnigan

Pat Dunnigan writes: Frankly, Jane Marie, I am torn over reading about myself.  On one hand, it is somewhat interesting, if I might be so bold.  On the other, I, like Marie, don't want the world knowing so much about me and my--what do you call them in your time?  Ah, yes, my issues.  The good Lord knows I have my share of them.  And that includes the war and the women in my life. Since I did not have pre-approval as to what was included in the final version of your book, and since  Amelia Island's Mark of a Man is in bookstores now, or so I read on this blog of yours, I will take the taunts from Mickey and Warren Lowell. Of course, I will tease them right back as you include my buddies in the novel, too.   Well, should my next twenty years be as full as my last twenty, you will have enough material to write a sequel. 
***


Present Time
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida


Jane Marie writes:  Hello Miss Marie, Mr. Pat. Perhaps I should have asked your permission before I wrote your stories. I just wanted the world to hear your stories, same as I did Breelan and Carolena.


If you can keep a secret, the next novel I'm working on, Amelia Island's Sand and Sin, takes place in the same town of Fernandina, the same Aqua Verde passenger line family business,  the same Dunnigan Manor,  the same-- but it is set in modern times!  Stay tuned, as we say, for more details as they develop.  Oh, and thank you!

A Sparkling Find!

I love sparkles, glitter, bling and anything shiny.  Don't we all? My sister, Nancy, is among us and even has a jewelry website called www.VeryShinyObjects.com.  So there I was, shopping for my sister-in-law's birthday gift when I stopped dead-still at the sight of the rhinestone lanyards! From multi-color to solid red, blue, yellow and white diamond, they beckoned me come. What use would my sister-in-law have of this?  None, I tell you. It was not for her, but for ME!  Why would I need such an item? Simple. When I do book signings and art shows, I hang my business card around my neck. This is perfect for a romance writer, me thinks.  Did I find a gift for said sister-in-law? I considered the peppermint-pickled beets in the glass pig-shaped jar bedecked with delicate hand-painted orange pine cones, but I'm not quite sure she would appreciate my depth of thought that went into choosing such a treasure.  Thus, I continue the quest for her.  I have achieved mine. Plus, I will write off my glorious lanyard as a business expense because, as you can tell, I'm all about business.

"diamond" lanyard against antique dress

 

  

Goodbye Lie Diaries - Marie Dunnigan - the horse tail





Late 1800s

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida
 

Marie Dunnigan

Marie Dunnigan writes:  I recently learned the most dreadful news while I was volunteering as a nursing assistant. There was a young man in a wheel chair with a bandage around his eyes.  I asked what happened to him and a nurse said he was hit across the face by a horse’s tail.  While everyone knows not to stand behind a horse lest it kick you, the swish of his tail is like a whip, but it is more than that.  The nurse explained how the hair from the horse tail is jagged and not smooth like that of the mane, so it actually lacerated the man’s eyes.  I so hope he recovers.  Over my long eighteen years on this earth, I had never heard there was a difference in texture between the horse’s mane and tail.  I knew surgeons use the hair from the mane to stitch up wounds and guessed they didn’t use the tail only because of the location where it naturally would be dirty.  While I would prefer being at home reading a romantic novel in the shade of our talkin' tree, I must admit when I learn new things, I feel smart, almost as smart of Carolena, my big sister.  She has the best brain of all of us, except our mother.  Miss Ella outsmarts Daddy every day of his life.

 

 

2014

Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida

 

Jane Marie writes:  I, too, found out this fact when we were visiting Fort Clinch, here on Amelia Island, Florida.  While there are no real soldiers stationed there in this time, gentleman called re-enactors dress in Civil War uniforms and pretend the year is 1864.  It’s so very interesting to those of us who love history.  Well, I know you’ve been to Fort Clinch over the years.  I don’t know if the two-story building directly across the parade ground from the main entrance was build in your day. When you climb the stairs to the second floor hospital, the first thing you notice is, unlike the other buildings with red brick interiors, all the walls here are  painted white inside and the windows are opened.  The breeze was glorious this hot late summer day and the man playing the part of the surgeon explained that General Grant, (I am sorry if that name still upsets you), I believe he said it was Grant, received word how a bright and ventilated room speeds healing. To this end, he ordered all the infirmaries, where possible, should be located on the second floor and have white walls.  He also mentioned to those of us visiting about the difference between a horse’s mane and tail.  I’m not around horses very often. We ride in automobiles, powered by gasoline, but next time I am, I will compare the two by feel.

Oh, and as to your mother being the smart one in the family, I have to agree.  With all that goes on in the lives of the Dunnigans of Amelia Island, it takes a powerful woman to handle the unexpected and keep everyone feeling comforted and stable--everyone except Aunt Noreen.  She is impossible to control...


Marie is the youngest sibling of four Dunnigan children featured in Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie Trilogy set on Amelia Island, Florida in the 1880s.  Through the magic of electronics, she and the other characters in these fictional novels are able to communicate with their author, Jane Marie Malcolm, who, coincidentally resides in the same town of Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida.

Amelia Island's GOODBYE LIE & VELVET UNDERTOW on KINDLE

ORDER TODAY!

The Goodbye Lie Kindle Edition $2.99
Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow Kindle Edition $3.99
Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow NOOK Buy As Gift: $3.43

Request your signed & personalized Paperbacks of Goodbye Lie & Velvet Undertow at graciousjanemarie@yahoo.com. Each novel is $13.22 with FREE SHIPPING!!! Get BOTH books for just $23.99, a $9.91 savings over original retail plus FREE SHIPPING!!!

Chuck Hall's One Man Show

Chuck and "the band"

Fall into more Fernandina fancy with my newly designed Blog, Blog, Blog in autumn colors!
 

And how better to start this season than with local celebrity and funny man, Chuck  Hall. Last night we attended Chuck's Old Time Family Hour held at our Amelia Community Theatre with donations going toward their beautiful new building. Well, I'll tell you a little secret. Mr. Chuck is way more talented than I thought. Yes, he's a wood carver and I knew he picked at the banjo but heck, folks, he is quite the lively all-around entertainer! The audience clapped and sang along, as Chuck strummed that banjo, belting out a dozen tunes from I've Been Workin' on the Railroad to You are My Sunshine to O Brother, Where Art Thou? - I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow. Accompanied by an electronic band, produced with the push of a button on a small contraption attached to the mike stand, Family Hour lasted a good ninety minutes and there was never a lull.

One of my favorite jokes he told was about the man who went to a revival meeting and the preacher asked him what his trouble was. The man said it was his hearing. Well, the preacher prayed over him mightily and then asked, "So how's your hearing now?"  The man answered, "I don't know. My hearing isn't until next Wednesday."  With material like that, you know we had a good time!

  Chuck "joking" around!

 

Thanks, Chuck.  American can use more good, clean, wholesome family entertainment like your show.  Keep it coming!

 

Chuck Hall and Bruce Malcolm AFTER the show. (The hour was up,

 so there was no time for Bruce and HIS railroad song.

That's why they call it a one man show, Brucey.)





Mark of a Man- Unique Utensil

Grammy Camp Outing- Granddaughter Ava and I spent three hours at Fort Clinch on Amelia Island, Florida.  The military reenactors made the year, 1864, come to life for us.  Of particular interest was the hospital, located on the second floor where the white painted walls and open windows resulted in a good breeze, great ventilation and a cheery atmosphere, all of which helped in a speedy recovery. Many of the medical instruments were unrecognizable to most of us as was the item below.  Can you guess what it is? 

 

This is an eating utensil for a one armed man.  While holding the wooden or antler handle, he rocked the curved blade back and forth, cutting his meat and then stabbed it with the fork on the end.  Very sad for the need of such a took, but very clever.

Because I thought it was so interesting, I worked a short passage about this utensil into my upcoming novel, Mark of  Man, part of the Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie Trilogy. Watch for it.

Grand Opening of Gracious Gifts by Jane Marie

For Immediate Release:

Gracious Jane Marie is proud to announce the grand opening of Gracious Gifts, a wee gem of a shop filled with riches from the imagination and hand of author and artisan Jane Marie Malcolm. Located in North 3rd Trading, 13 N 3rd St, Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida, Gracious Gifts is spilling over with one of a kind treasures. Novels Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie and Velvet Undertow, part of the Goodbye Lie historic suspense/romance series, are signed by the creator, herself, and include a free recipe insert. Complimenting the series are hand painted Secret Pebbles™ with verses and organza gift bags, glass carafes for juice, wine or water, old timey tic-tac-toe boards to pass down through the generations and framed art to turn a wall, corner or counter from blah to gay! Pretty Petal hair toys, greeting cards with Jane Marie's signature rose painted envelopes, magic keys for little princesses and pirates plus an assortment of miscellaneous delights, capture the eye and treat the senses. For personalized items and information, ask for Gracious Jane Marie Malcolm at North 3rd Trading, 904.261.0405 or email JMM at graciousjanemarie@yahoo.com. Take a piece of Amelia Island's GRACIOUS home to entertain and beguile - until you return to paradise…

Goodbye Lie Diaries - Aunt Noreen -added thought

1800s July

Fernandina, Florida

Aunt Noreen writes:

I forget to mention the July 4th festivities.  That is what some of the family called them.  To me it was torture. Everybody insisted on riding out to Amelia Beach to shoot fireworks and bottle rockets out over the ocean.  Except for the horrific noise, the screaming children, sand in my shoes, a hole in my stocking, and the sticky night air, it was a wonderful time.  I must remember to feign illness next year to avoid this unnecessary discomfort.

Independence Mobile

Happy July 4th, America!  Our little town of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida has a parade and we'll be in it! Check out our Independence Mobile below that will carry our grandchild!  What freedom we enjoy to celebrate as we choose.  God Bless America!



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