Romance at Heart Interview Questions #1 & #2

Thank you to Romance at Heart Magazine. http://romanceatheart.com/interview/janemariemalcolm.html They interviewed me so I thought I'd pepper my BLOG BLOG BLOG with questions and answers in order for you to get to know the author behind The Goodbye Lie series.  Here we go.  Question #1 and #2:

- Please tell us about your latest book.
Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow - 1889, Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida - Carolena Dunnigan is witness to so ghastly a sight, she escapes her home on Amelia Island, Florida, lured to Charleston, South Carolina by a renowned conductor. She combats a repulsive roommate and an attractive bully as decades of lies erupt. Disgust at the knowledge and an astonishing revelation drive Carolena into the horrifying Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood. Amelia Island’s Velvet Undertow (VU) knots beloved characters from The Goodbye Lie (GBL) (Volume 1 in The Goodbye Lie series) and new players into a powerful undertow of shock, sentiment and suspense. (Each novel stands alone.)

- What can we expect from you in the future?

I am in the throws of editing book #3, Mark of a Man, my next novel in The Goodbye Lie series. Set in Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida, Pat Dunnigan faces the Spanish American War and Mother Nature in this wild 1898 tale teeming with jarring conflict and forbidden love. Book #4 in the series, Sand and Sin, is also written and needs to be edited, but it’s acomin’, too. Oh, Sand and Sin is set in modern times - same town- Fernandina, same family- the Dunnigans, same family business- passenger ships, but …

Read the entire interview at http://romanceatheart.com/interview/janemariemalcolm.html  or wait and watch for more of my answers to their fun questions.  Thank you to Rose, the creator, admin, and guru of Romance at Heart!

Join our 3 Second Memory Club!

COME ONE. COME ALL!  JOIN OUR 3 SECOND MEMORY CLUB! Yes folks. It took me a while to remember to start it, but you, too, can be a member of my latest brainstorm if you do ANY of the following:

• walk in a room and don't remember why you're there
• reach for the closet light switch on the right that was in your apartment 20 years ago
• meet someone and, under pain of death, you don't remember their name within the 1st minute
• can repeat gossip but don't have a clue who told it to you in the first place
• know the melody but rarely the words
• know you've heard something about something but what could it be?
• wonder what that helpful hint was
• only remember two out of twelve things you need to put on the grocery list 
• get in the car but can't remember where you're supposed to go for a second or two
• have an appointment sometime during the month but don't know the date without calling
• live by jotting down your life on sticky-notes
• forget to add vanilla to your boiled white icing
• friends with the same condition commiserate
• laugh at your goofiness
• know you've put your glasses, keys, shoes, etc. in a good spot, but where?
• want to add to this list but can't remember what to contribute

There are no dues, no rules and no meetings, just a kindred of like-minded souls with great long term memories but next to zero short term.  Just know, you are not alone!

Important:  For more information on memory loss, click below:   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/seniors/common-older/124.html.  If you are seriously concerned, as with all things medical, check with your personal physician.

Grandparents' Day - a real holiday!

I got to thinking about Grandparents Day and figured it was a made-up holiday by card companies. Was I ever wrong. It's the real deal, a national occasion in fact!

It all began in West Virginia in 1970 by Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, a mother of fifteen, grandmother to forty and great grandmother to eight. Mrs. McQuade, and civic, pastoral and political leaders came together to promote the idea of Grandparents Day. After three years, Governor Arch Moore declared Grandparents Day in West Virginia, Mrs. McQuade's home state. That same year, the idea was introduced to the United States Senate. With nationwide support, President Jimmy Cater signed a1978 proclamation making the first Sunday in September after Labor Day National Grandparents Day. This particular month was chosen to coincide with the autumn of the grandparent's life. So mark your calendars every year. This year the date falls on September 12, 2010.

Forget-Me-Not is the official flower of Grandparents Day. They are one of my favorite flowers I used to grow in Pennsylvania. The tiny bright blue flowers have yellow dotted centers. A perennial, they grow well on the edge of the woods in cooler weather and partial shade.

Celebration Suggestions for Grandparents:

Visit- If you can, a personal visit with a grandparent, is the best. The perfect gift is your company. Whether you cook or take them out to a restaurant, sharing a meal will mean so much. If they have dietary restrictions and you want to give them a food gift, check with their doctor or nursing home as to what goodies are acceptable.

Games- Play a board game or put together a pretty, colorful, meaningful puzzle with them if you are together. You can paint the puzzle with puzzle glue and frame it for their wall, too!

Greeting Card- Pull out the craft supplies and have the whole family, children or just yourself, make a card. A store-bought card is fine, too, but the personal touch is always best whenever possible.

Photo Gift– Find old family photos, preferably of yourself and grandparent in the early years. Scan/copy and give it as a framed gift.

Date Photos- Pull out the photo albums and talk about the pictures. On the back, write the date and name of people in the pictures if you can. Grandparents can fill in any forgotten names and probably share stories the photo will conjure up in their minds.

Family Tree- Gather together and work on a family tree. Include the children. They can help since kids know how to work computers and can do research with you. Focus on heritage, religion, occupation, and ethnicity.

Album – Scan/copy lots of current/old photos of family, friends, events, lyrics to songs of their generation, cartoons, children's drawings, a crossword puzzle or two, jokes, etc. Paste them on colored paper. Decorate the pages as you would were you making a scrapbook. However you choose to do it, make it colorful! Put the pages, in plastic sleeves if desired, in random order so they don't know what delight the next page will bring and place all in an album. They will love it. I have personally made two of these for my father with extra pictures of his first great grandchild, Ava. He perused those albums for hours. J

Journal- Give them a notebook of some sort, handmade or store-bought, and ask them the jot down their memories growing up. You might write a few questions at the top of the pages for them to answer, i.e, What was your favorite meal, game, friend, song, place to visit, hobby, etc., growing up?

Learn- If your grandparent plays the musical saw, quilts, braids rugs, makes bread, does a traditional dance, whatever, ask them to give you a lesson. Ask them to share one of their special talents with you.

Listen! – Older people have wisdom and personal histories to impart. If need be, ask questions to get them started, then just sit back and enjoy.

Music – Get them a CD of music or Video/DVD movie from their generation. If you have time- stick around and listen/watch with them. Ask them questions about it. Make sure they have the proper player, i.e., CD or DVD. If not, you might consider giving them a player as a gift, if it's in the budget.

Physical Activity- Ride bikes, go for a walk, swim, play ball if your grandparent is able.

Recorder- Take along an audio and/or video recorder and ask them to tell stories or just record the general conversation. Make a copy and give it to them. They will get a kick out of hear/seeing themselves. Again, be sure they have a corresponding machine so they can play the recording when they’re alone. Very important: Make sure they know which buttons to push for play and stop!!!!

Secret Pebbles™- I created these hand painted pebbles (blatant plug) with hearts and flowers for just such an occasion. Affordable sweetness, the grandparent can carry one in his/her pocket or put it away in their jewelry box or dresser drawer to be reminded of the giver each time they see it. Click here to see samples: http://www.greenlightwrite.com/secretpebbles.htm  

Each comes in a white organza gift bag with a verse and signature line:

Grandmother
It is a special blessing to be loved by you. Love_________

Grandfather
It is a blessing and honor to be born into a family led by you. Love_________


Talent Show- We do this every time our family gets together. A master of ceremonies is chosen if no one volunteers, and singing, dancing, jokes, magic, acting, puppetry, instrument playing, pet tricks, etc., ensue. Take lots of photos!


However you celebrate, small gathering or family reunion, if you are fortunate enough to have a grandparent or even a great grandparent living, please don't forget them on their special day. Your heart and his or hers will be touched with a visit, phone call or gift and that, for everyone, is a better thing!


PS Many of these activities will work for family reunions and shut-ins year round, particularly those with no family. Contact your local community center, church or synagogue for details on volunteering and foster grandparent programs. Go to the official site http://www.grandparents-day.com/  to find more information and contests.

Romance at Heart Quiz!!!

Who is Jane Marie Malcolm, the writer? Romanceatheart.com asked the questions and I had a fun time answering. Sample questions below.

Answers are here: http://romanceatheart.com/interview/janemariemalcolm.html

Hi Jane Marie. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...


Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?
What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
What kind of research do you do?
Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?
After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?
Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

Thank you, Rose, for asking!

Mooers & Shakers- Stand Apart from the Herd!

Is your uncle a mooer?  Is your best friend a shaker? Are YOU both a mooer and a shaker? Fear not, oh strange one.  Here is the perfect logo created just for you by me.  Be it on the cover of a unique journal,  on a tank top, a pair of boxers, etc., be proud. Be very proud! Click here and see more: http://www.cafepress.com/Mooers.28780400

Novel Advice for Men

FreshFiction.com has featured my piece, Novel Advice for Men in their Fresh Buzz Blog section.  Thank you, FreshFiction.com! click here:  http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=2786  for more info and jmm (that's me) links on FreshFiction.com.


Calling all wanna-be studs! Have you overheard your significant other say this? "My man is great, but he would be the whole package if only he were more romantic." What do you do? Hang your head in shame or beat your chest to prove your prowess? Do you buy a bottle of wine and grill her a lean piece of meat? Maybe pick up a bouquet of flowers in the grocery store?


That's all well and good, big spender. But I, Gracious Jane Marie, author of historic romantic suspense, have discovered the perfect game plan for growing your romantic muscles. It requires only a pair of eyes, a sports magazine and a paperback romance novel to tuck inside it!


Romance novels are the encyclopedia of love. Here you will learn what women want and how to give it to them: a tender word when all seems lost, a nuzzle to comfort a broken heart, perhaps a clever line with which to tease and flirt. So long as she hasn't read the same book, you're set.


On the other side of the bed, as it were, if your guy imagines himself too macho to actually go to the store and pick up a romance book or even order one online lest the mail carrier sees a glimpse of the cover through a tear in the wrapper, fear not females. You, lovely lady, will have to be the one to purchase the book. Just think how surprised, okay shocked, he will be when he rips away the football print gift wrap to reveal a man's glove and a woman's glove atop a bed of sparkling sand, surrounded by a meandering red ribbon and tropical flowers. (That just happens to be the cover of my novel, The Goodbye Lie.) If you've circled the "good parts", so much the better. Should the story contain a little murder or at least one good bar fight, he'll be hooked! If he is new to your plan, wink, nod and waggle a bare shoulder his way, saying, "This is the instruction manual to find the key to my heart, honey. Try page 130. It will inspire!" Then, just walk away. Give him a few minutes to decipher your meaning, acclimate to the idea, and read the passages you've bookmarked. Meanwhile, as you await the knock on your private chambers, spritz the pillows with a light spray of new-to-him, never before sniffed perfume, just to add to the adventure. After little is said and all is done, he will thank his beautiful and responsive mate and wonder why his father didn't offer this wisdom to his son.


Jane Marie Malcolm aka Gracious Jane Marie is the author of The Goodbye Lie and Amelia Island’s Velvet Undertow, historic romance on Amelia Island, Florida in the 1880s. Enter her gracious world at www.GraciousJaneMarie.com , an 800 plus page website, to celebrate heart and home with roses, recipes and romance. Contact Jane Marie at graciousjanemarie@yahoo.com to join her ever-gracious gathering.

Happy 11th Anniversary to Us!

www.GraciousJaneMarie.com, a division of www.greenlightWRITE.com, our 800 page website, celebrates 11 years of entertaining our diverse legion of  fans.  Thank you to all who support our efforts to entertain and enlighten by way of the mind and heart. Here's to many more years and fabulous adventures together. And to the friends we have yet to meet.  Thank you all!  Nancy Kamp and Jane Marie Malcolm

Go ADPI !!

Alpha Delta Pi is the sorority of my daughter, Barbra, and niece, Kate!

Weekend-New Friends & Fun

Another book signing.  Everyone say "hi" to Lucy.  She knows everything there is to know about I Love Lucy except that Ricky used to sit on a pillow on the couch so he was as tall as Lucy! I discovered that from watching every episode myself.

Hubby Bruce and I saw Loretta Swit in Amorous Crossing at the newly renovated Alhambra Dinner Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida.  A good time and Loretta looked great in this cute bedroom comedy.

The New TV

Our television in the front parlor died. (I note that reading the words television and parlor in the same sentence might seem a bit odd, but then you don't live at Stately Martha Manor  where the odd is usual and the usual odd...) Bruce, my husband, and I manhandled the ridiculously heavy old TV to the floor from the antique gramophone cabinet on which it sat. No casualties here. We didn't even crack the tile. Being the brainiac I am, I suggested we slide the hand truck beneath it. I'm mechanically inclined, as you can tell. We maneuvered it through, between and around the couch and Queen Ann easy chair, over two thresholds, various fringed throw rugs and the cracks in the driveway, with me following in a crouched position, ready to TRY and catch it should it slide off the dolly. I worried that being bent over like that might leave me in a  permanent crouch, but hey, the things we do so as not to miss an episode of Green Acres (GA) reruns and our fav, Arnold Ziffel, the pig. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=598dqo89yZk&NR=1  


After much research on my part, we got a new bigger, flat screen TV. It only took Bruce one hour and twenty-seven minutes to figure out how to assemble the stand - and that was without reading the directions! It was a proud moment in the Malcolm family. He came away with just one gouged finger from the pointy end of the screwdriver, too. So there we were. Well past midnight, his bleeding stopped, when we guessed we must need a new cable box of some sort to hook up the HD feature because none of the color coded or pronged pluggy-plugs matched up. Next morning, Brucie called the satellite company and, yuppers, they agreed to come out for a fee, naturally. They were kind enough to put us on their schedule some 10 days later, any time between 8 am to 5 pm. That's a long time without our GA fix.

Then I had another brainstorm. We sometimes watch the evening news while dining. (Shh- don't tell anyone that part because being gracious means one should converse over dinner rather than hear the troubles of the day. Such info may interfere with one's digestion.)  I set up our 1950s TV trays in our galley kitchen. Some folks might call it cramped what with Bruce being behind me while I sacrificed myself to the position in front of the hot oven. No worries. "Pepper?" I asked. "Yes, please," he replied. I gingerly reached to the top of the stove without rising and hand it to him. "May I have a spoon?" I inquire of him. "Certainly, my dear," and he opened the silverware drawer, 2 inches from his elbow. The convenience far out-weighed the leg cramps, but we were able to watch the news on the 4 inch screen we have in our kitchen. Occasionally, Bruce would pull out the binoculars, being farthest away, but heck, I was the one sweatin' bullets, wasn’t I.

Mmmmmm. I return to my gracious self once again. All that said, we will attempt the hook-up of our VCR/DVD, yes, I said VCR/DVD player once the satellite guy comes. Remember, baby steps, people, baby steps as we advance in our electronic adventure. What's next? TVs in 3D????

PS This blog entry is pinkish in honor of Arnold. oink oink!  

PPS We think Arnold and our very own Swiney, featured player in our Goodbye Lie Tribute, http://www.greenlightwrite.com/prosebeforeswine.html, may be related, but we're not quite sure.  We're still working on the family tree.

What's That Novel in the Window?

Remember that old NOVELTY tune about a doggie in the window?  Here is my reworded version.

 "What is that novel in the window?  The one with the tangling tale. Oh what is that novel in the window?  I do hope that novel's on sale."

Sharon Vernon came all the way from Joplin, MO, just to look in the bookstore window of Books Plus in Fernandina, Florida to see my novels in the The Goodbye Lie series! Did I mention, she also was on vacation with her family, visiting us since she, my husband, Bruce, and her husband, Butch, have been friends since grade school? Some kind of wonderful, huh?

Thank you, Butch and Sharon and Kelli and Wayne. Your vacation became ours as we toured our little town once more. This time from the water!

New Friends

   At a recent book signing in Books Plus, a charming shop in our historic district of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida, I made new friends. 

  Hi to Charlie and his mother, Suzanne. Mom is readying to teach more 1st graders in the fall term.  Thank you, Suzanne, and to all those early teachers who taught us love for the written word.

Charlie, Suzanne and Jane Marie

***

   Allyssa and Angelica are very sweet sisters.  Allyssa is the reader of the two.  I told Angelica it is likely I will name a main character Angelica Ornez in Mark of a Man, the 3rd book in my Goodbye Lie series set on Amelia Island in 1898.  I think she liked that idea.  Me, too!   

Angelica and Allyssa with Jane Marie

Hugs and Blisses to all!

What Is Your Empty Title?

Are you the Wizard of Walnuts or perhaps Chief Baseboard Inspector? Become a follower/fan of this Gracious Jane Marie BLOG BLOG BLOG and/or Jane Marie -author on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jane-Marie/35558229108?ref=ts and join our Blog Staff.  As a fulfilling reward, you can  name you own empty-title! That way, when you enter discussions and make comments, the whole world will discover your expertise. So long as it's tasteful and particularly silly, you will be an unofficial part of our wacky staff. And boy do we have fun at our staff meetings!

Hugs and Blisses!

Kitty Funnel Tunnel

Our whole goal is to make Spew extra happy in his old age. To that end, we have developed the Funnel Tunnel. Let me explain. You see, for some strange reason our cats prefer to drink our master bath tap water as opposed to our double filtered water in the kitchen. This is America, after all, so they can drink anywhere they darn well want. It would be cruel of us to shut them out of the back just to keep their flying fur from our room. Let us just say we have to stand on a fresh towel to put on our dark dresses and slacks lest they become covered in kitty hair.

Therefore, we very cleverly created the Funnel Tunnel. Tunnel because we leave the hall and bathroom doors of the linen closet ajar, thereby keeping them out of our adjoining sleeping chamber. This makes the perfect direct path to their water and keeps their hair out of our room. Since there is a box overflowing with antique dresser scarves on the floor taking up 7/8s of the floor space, hence the funnel part of the name.


Now that we have carefully calculated a way to keep the cats hydrated while maintaining our relatively fur free bedroom, there we are dressing in our American Legion/American Legion Auxiliary garb for an upcoming patriotic event, feeling so smart about the situation. As we glory in our success, still standing on the clean towels to make sure no left behind airborne white fur lands on our navy blue pants, I feel something pressing against my left calf. I look down to see the hairiest critter of all, Spew, rubbing against my leg. We have forgotten to close the bathroom door into our room. So much for all our scheming. Perhaps automatic door closures might be the answer.


In any case, furred or unfurred, the cats have their Funnel Tunnel to run back and forth- and in circles when we forget to close that third door- to for their favorite bathroom sink water. Oh, we put said water in a bowl on the floor for those of you who thought the cats drank from the facet. …We will leave that story for another time and the featured player in the tale will be Button aka Little Naughty ...

Home Grown

Nothing beats the satisfaction of fresh sliced tomatoes grown by your own hand, with some major help from Mr. Sunshine, Madam Rain and Mother Earth.  Excuse me while I dine.  I'll be back!

News Flash! Featured Deal!

FreshFiction.com has included my Goodbye Lie series on their popular readers' website, http://freshfiction.com/book.php?id=40004! $4.59 gets you Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow in Ebook form! What a bargain! Just click on the Buy From Publisher button on the link above and enjoy. Of course, the paper back versions of my novels are there on the right, too.

Remember, after reading either one, the other, or both, I love to hear from you, get your take on the storyline, the characters... Leave a comment here below or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/help/?ref=drop#!/pages/Jane-Marie/35558229108?ref=sgm.

When I have my contests, I randomly pick the winner from followers on this blog and Facebook. Is this a bribe? No, because I'm sure you'll love the Dunnigan family, players all in this series set on Amelia Island, Florida in the 1880s, in their good times and sad. If you like Little House on the Prairie and love Gone With The Wind, you and I will be instant best friends because my stories are just plain fun. Romance, surprises, mystery, adventure, shock - with all that, how could they not be fun?

I just had a reader, who was part way through Velvet Undertow, contact me. She was so furious with Grey McKenna that she couldn't stand him! Let's just say he softened her up by the end of the story. :-)

Hugs and Blisses,

Jane Marie

Beware the Summer Cold

"I won. I won. I won!" No, I'm not doing my impersonation of the father who wins the major award of a leg-shaped lamp in the beloved movie A Christmas Story. I'm talking about keeping my husband Bruce's cold at bay and me not getting it! We all know that living in the same house with a person who has contracted a head cold, most times, means you will be the next victim. Au contraire, mon frère (I always used to say that before an argument when I was a little kid because it rhymed and I thought I was so smart to be able to speak a second language.) You see, I have my ways to control those nasty contagious germs of his. Okay. Control is too strong a word. Let's just say I happily dodged the germ-laden bullet this time. Here's how:

• First and foremost, purchase that liquid hand sanitizer by the gallon. With or without a coupon, it's a must! Then, no matter how rude it may be, appear to be, or actually is, use the stuff. If someone sneezes, coughs, burps, or otherwise makes a noise of any sort, including talking and singing, instruct them to hold out a hand and spritz a generous sized blob into it.
• Fill the air with the spray that kills 99.9% of germs. Don't be stingy about it. At the risk of succumbing to "Lysol" poisoning, take the chance. DO IT!
• Wipe down all surfaces with those disinfectant wipes. Not only clean the table, but the kitchen counters, door knobs, toilet seat, jars, cans, mouse, steering wheel, whatever your loved one may have touched or is possibly thinking about touching.
• Use all things disposable, where and whenever you can. In the kitchen, use paper towels. Generously making allowances for his fevered stupor, realize his better judgment will lapse. He won't remember your instruction about the paper towels. He will transgress and likely revert to his years-old habit of drying his hands on the kitchen tea towel. This is where your conviction to survive this insidious beast called cold will be tested. Dismiss your terry towel use. Whatever you do, don't touch that cloth! Don't allow anyone else to use it either as it is blanketed with the gnats of disease that lay in wait to swarm all over you as they have your loved one.
• Don't shake hands or in any conceivable way touch the isolate, who by now, I hope you have corralled across the room, against the farthest wall. While this may sound callus, it is still permissible to speak to your bug-crawling mate, so long as he is at least, at least, 12 feet away, preferably more. Should you happen to live in a house with a west and/or east wing, keep him at the far end, with communication either by intercom or cell phone only.
• Likewise, don't touch his clothes. Don't wear them. Nor his dishes, don't eat from them. Buy new ones. His books, don't read them or his CDs. Don't even listen to them since you don't know when last he listened, thereby, infecting the very case in which they come. Beware of his phone, the family phone, and most of all the TV remote. These are all harbingers. Harbingers, I tell you!
• As for feeding him, well okay, you just sort of have to. With your added safety features of disposable gloves and a surgical mask, he can enjoy the same foods as do you, just not anywhere near you. If you're close enough to see him fill his face with food without the aid of binoculars then you are way too close! Back away from the scene! Do it immediately.
• Lest you think I am hateful, may I defend myself by saying, what good will it do for me to sacrifice myself to the cold gods? Isn't it enough that I drop, by way of the leaf rake, his dirty sheets, towels, pants, socks and shirts into the hot bleach water to be washed on the heavy-soil cycle? Isn't it enough that I cook his meals to the point of volcanic bubbling, chancing a nasty burn to my person, just to make certain to kill any latent crawlies?
• Further, isn't it enough I sleep in another room, in this case, the cramped office of Story Central on an aluminum cot whose legs collapse with the regularity of a swinging door in a prison escape? Do I complain when I am awaken as my forehead bangs against Bruce's wooden desk chair on one side of me or my hair tangles in the wheels of my computer chair on the other side? Certainly not. Sacrifices are necessary from everyone when a cold threatens.

Why do I do all this? Because I promised that "in sickness and in health" part of the marriage vow. When he's sick, I’m in health. Works for me.


And for those of you saying, "You're killing all the "good germs" and "what about building your immunity?" As Scarlett O'Hara says in Gone With The Wind, "I'll think about that tomorrow." All I know is that I don't feel punk and, darn it all, that's a better thing! Bruce doesn't call me Flo, short for Florence Nightingale, for nothing!


Gotta run. Time to wipe down Mr. Buzzbee, the cat, with a disinfectant sheet. I caught Bruce petting him with my spyglass.

Hugs and blisses,

Jane Marie

Scratches on CDs or DVDs?

I just heard that toothpaste, chewed gum, brasso or a banana will remove/repair the minor scratches on a CD or DVD. Who would have thunk it! I love to share!

Hugs and blisses,

Jane Marie

This One Is For Me!

Surprise on me.  My dear wonderful sister and partner, Nancy Kamp, emailed me unexpectedly to tell me about an article she wrote entitled Great Janes of Fact, Film and Fiction. Nancy goes on to say: Meet some of the Janes who've graced our world as we honor our own, Gracious Jane Marie!  http://www.greenlightwrite.com/jane.html

There are lots of Janes out there.  See how many you know, besides me, I mean. :-)

Thank you, sweet Nancy.

Love, Jane Marie

The hero in the photo is my handsome husband, Bruce.

WINNER of Velvet Undertow & Secret Pebble™!

UPDATE: And the winner in our First Day of Summer contest.  That lucky person receives an autographed copy of Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow and a hand painted Secret Pebble™. She is Marie Jane (can you believe her name?) from Mandaue City, Philyppines! Congrats and please enjoy!

Next contest coming soon.  Become my friend on Facebook under Jane Marie, author and/or follow me on this Gracious Jane Marie Blog Blog Blog to be entered  in our next random drawing!

*****

Just sign up and become a follower of my new fun and silly Gracious Jane Marie BLOG  BLOG BLOG here at http://graciousjanemarie.blogspot.com/ and/or a fan of Jane Marie, author on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Jane-Marie/35558229108?ref=ts. Win an autographed copy of my latest historical suspense/romance novel, Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow, plus a hand painted Secret Pebble™, featured in Velvet Undertow. A random drawing will take place on June 21, 2010, the first day of summer! Good luck all and remember, for those deep thoughts, read between the lines!

Daddy & the Glider

Happy Father's Day to you dads out there! I was remembering my wonderful papa, Leo Michael Harkins, and laughed out loud about the repair to our old yellow glider.  For a chuckle or two, read all about it at my GraciousJaneMarie.com Gracious Living Newsletter, http://www.greenlightwrite.com/newsletter3.htm.  Scroll down to Going Home, October 2002 and enjoy!

Hugs and blisses,

Jane Marie

 

Anna Karenina's Candles

I recently saw the 1935 film version of  Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy starring Greta Garbo.  Besides a tragic love story that left me crying, I found something particularly fascinating, something I had never seen. I was so taken with this, I called Bruce, my husband, in to take a look.  (He was reading the newspaper whilst I wept.) In it the butler lights just one candle of a round chandelier. The flame bursts forth then instantly travels along a horizontal ring of wicking that leads to the next candle in succession in the chandelier, thereby lighting all the candles with but one flame. It seemed an ingenious way of lighting all the candles using a connecting ringed wick. 

David O. Selznick produced this film as he did Gone With The Wind (GWTW) in 1936.  I'm sure he used the same great efforts to make it historically correct for the 1870s as he did for GWTW.  Odds are this clever candle lighting  was the real deal.

If anyone out there has more info on such a system of candle lighting, please let me know, comment here or email  me at graciousjanemarie.com, and I'll spread the word.  Wow, a great love story and a fascinating question to boot!

Here is the Amazon.com link to  the DVD of Anna Karenina - http://www.amazon.com/Anna-Karenina-Greta-Garbo/dp/B0009S4IIS/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1276461629&sr=1-8

Vivien Leigh also made a version of this film, playing the title role of Anna.  It, too, is a wonderful adaptation but I don't remember anyone lighting candles in this fashion.

TATTTCMM! - short for These Are The Things That Clog My Mind! (pronounced Tat-Cum).  It can be our secret code for:  No wonder Jane Marie is so silly, fascinating and sometimes quite peculiar. :-)

Jane Marie

GraciousJaneMarie.com
graciousjanemarie.com

The Miniaturization of St. Nick!

Forget that it is now summer. I was thinking about Christmas and how my husband began the tradition of reading The Night Before Christmas to the family on Christmas Eve. Naturally, I began reciting the beloved poem by Clement Clarke Moore in my head.  Since I love words and the clever putting together of such, I thought hard about them as I mentally said them. 

To my shock, I heard references to St. Nick I had never realized were in the poem.  I'm referring to his size.  How big is St. Nick in Moore's poem???? See below all the words in red that indicate he is a small fellow, even elf-like!

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!  

SO, why did Moore make St. Nick so short in his poem?  Was it because the word little fit so smoothly into the rhythm of the piece?  Did it make St. Nick sound so much more cuddly and gentle? Did Moore do this on purpose or did he even notice how many times he used the word little.  How tall was Moore himself? Did he create a small St. Nick to sooth his Napoleonic complex if he, Moore, was indeed short? Clearly, research on this subject is demanded.

I could go on with questions for where there are few, there may be many ...  But I will let you invent your own queries now that I have introduced you to the subject of  the miniaturization of St. Nick.  dun dun, dun dun, dun dun ...

Enjoy the puzzlement my friends,

Jane Marie

Chicken Cheese Casserole

This recipe is from my friend, Donna Crocker. I had it at a potluck and as another friend says, “Yummo!” Thank you, Donna.

Enjoy everyone!

Chicken Cheese Casserole

2 chicken breasts (3 optional)
1 pkg. egg noodles
1 can cream of mushroom soup (lite optional)
1 can cream of chicken soup (lite optional)
1 2 lb box of Velvet Cheese
1 can of Rotel tomatoes- original flavor
Non-stick spray

Boil chicken breasts in large pot and remove chicken when done. Use the broth to cook the noodles. Cut the chicken in to small pieces. Drain noodles when done and add all other ingredients to the same chicken/noodle pot. Stir over low heat to melt cheese. Pour mixture into a 3-quart casserole or any large baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray.
Bake uncovered in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or warm in the microwave. This may be made ahead and placed in frig until ready to heat and serve.

GraciousJaneMarie.com

God Bless Our Military

Thank you to our military for serving and saving. God bless you and your families. We all await your safe return. -Jane Marie Malcolm, GraciousJaneMarie.com

NOVEL JEWELRY!

WARNING: YOU WILL BE TEMPTED!

HAVE YOU HEARD? Each female character in my novel, The Goodbye Lie, has her own necklace created to match her personality! See for yourself at http://www.greenlightwrite.com/jewelrygbl.htm!

My wonderful sister and partner, Nancy Kamp , has fashioned unique pieces for you to wear to continue The Goodbye Lie experience while, during, and after you've read and reread the series. As you patiently wait for the next Goodbye Lie installment, treat yourself.

Plus, Nancy has also created necklaces to represent famous women in history. Included are biographies and other books featuring ladies of the past. You can learn about their lives as you adorn yourself with the jewelry Nancy envisions they would wear. What a fashionable and interesting concept!

Women of The Goodbye Lie -

Breelan Dunnigan is young and desperately in love. Recapture her passion each time you wear her favorite jewelry. Goodbye Lie N103
Innocent Beauty
43 cm / 17 inches of cultured potato (shaped) white pearls and sparkling clear crystal beads with a 7/8 inch carved rock crystal bead in the center.
Designer sterling silver heart-shaped clasp
$59.95

Breelan prefers our Queen Désirée, Queen Margaret and Trotula Collections.

Nora Duffy is merry and loyal and bright. Goodbye Lie N203
Fresh Charm
42 cm / 16 1/2 inches of cultured large potato (shaped) pearls dyed to a lovely orangey beige with sparkling amber glass beads.
Designer sterling silver heart-shaped clasp
$49.95

Nora's jewelry choice falls on our Queen Boudicca, Epona and Inanna Collections.

Carolena Dunnigan is a serious student. But could there be an inner temptress yearning for life and love hiding somewhere? Goodbye Lie N303
Island Sunset
43.5 cm / 17 inches of cultured potato (shaped) pearls dyed pink with tiny glass seed beads and three hand cut rose quartz beads for drama.
Designer sterling silver clasp - one of a kind necklace
$59.95

Perhaps we'll find a clue to Carolena's intriguing personality in the Jewelry Collections Carolena enjoys modeling for us: Cleopatra, Czarina Marina and Queen Semiramis.

Miss Ella Dunnigan is a Victorian lady who lives for family and always manages to keep her sometimes moody husband happy. Goodbye Lie N504
Gentle Love
39.5 cm / 15 1/2 inch triple strand choker of peridot, small roundish potato cultured pearls dyed to a peridot green, and fire polished crystal beads.
Designer sterling silver heart-shaped clasp
$65.95

Miss Ella sparkles in our Lakshmi Collection, but for quieter moments, she enjoys our Empress Pulcheria jewelry.

Aunt Coe Fries is a happy combination of stability and love. She is always there for her family, but she has never forgotten her happy and romantic youth. Aunt Coe indulges her yearnings for far away places with our Tatiana and Candace Collections.

Leona Visper is sexy and elegant. She revels in our Empress Anna Collection, but sometimes Nzingha's mystery suits her mood.

Grammy and Peeper still enjoy a bit of flirtation, and they love beautiful things.
Grammy favors Queen Liliuokalani while Peeper thinks our Betsy Bonaparte Collection is just the thing.

Aunt Noreen Duffy may not be the most popular member of the family, but no one can deny her excellent taste. She adores our Trung Trac and Queen Christina Collections, and is certain our Aphrodite Collection was designed just for her!

"Shop on by" to see us and our handcrafted treasures at http://www.greenlightwrite.com/jewelrygbl.htm. Treat yourself and/or someone you love who loves grace and romance and being a girl ...

Got questions?

-about Nancy's necklaces- contact Nancy at nancy@greenlightWRITE.com.

-about The Goodbye Lie historic series set in Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida? Visit http://www.graciousjanemarie.com/ and/or contact me, Jane Marie Malcolm aka Gracious Jane Marie at graciousjanemarie@yahoo.com.

Facebook- join me on Facebook at Jane Marie, author - http://www.facebook.com/notifications.php#!/pages/Jane-Marie/35558229108?ref=ts

See you all soon ...

Jane Marie

The Goodbye Lie - Amelia Island THEN ...

The Goodbye Lie

a novel of suspense, romance & the unexpected

Meet the Dunnigan Family plus read a Synopsis
The Dunnigans:

As you enter the lovely Victorian seaside town of Fernandina on the island called Amelia in the year 1882, you will likely run into one of the Dunnigan clan and/or their circle. Patriarch and architect Michael might be deliberating in his home office at Dunnigan Manor over designs before presenting them to a wealthy client. His wife, Miss Ella, may well be in her kitchen, adding a bit more paprika to her Angel Eggs recipe http://www.greenlightwrite.com/deviledeggs.htm. It must be perfect you know, for she does, albeit graciously, boast a fair number of blue ribbons for her culinary efforts. 18-years-old Breelan often rides Noir to an isolated spot on Amelia Beach where she writes short stories in secret hoping to mustering courage enough to show them to her newspaper editor to critique. Nora, Breelan's cousin and best friend, is frantic, yet again, as she searches for Breelan. Why? Because Nora simply must share that the son of the traveling notions merchant winked at her! Carolena Dunnigan, the oldest Dunnigan sibling, is probably plotting how to get even with Breelan for using her jade earbobs without asking. Young Jack Patrick and his little sister, Marie, are likely chasing the chickens while Blackie-White-Spots is barking non-stop at the scene. His tail wagging with the speed of a hummingbird's wing, he catches his playful nemesis, Monstie, the marmalade kitty, flash by on his way to a hidey-hole under the porch. Grammy and adopted second grandmother, Peeper, are pot walloping the kettles to a bright fare-thee-well until nasty Aunt Noreen comes bursting through the slamming screen door, hollering. What is the crisis this time? Peeper's elixir-fixer starch potion left purple spots all over the blue nightshirt she got her husband his last birthday. Peeper is sure to giggle that sarcastic giggle of hers as she reminds Noreen, if she had any sense in that peahead of hers, she should have tested the elixir on the inside hem. Town nosey-poke, Mrs. Ickles, is on her way to Dunnigan Manor, intent on tattling on Jack Patrick for his part in mining the sparkling granite stones from the front columns of the vacant house o South 3rd Street. It's all just another day of high collars, parasols, and pocket watches in the lively little town called Fernandina on the pretty little island called Amelia until ...

Synopsis:

Carefree Florida miss Breelan Dunnigan is literally swept away by a tornado and a stranger, who steps into her home and into her soul. A novice reporter for the Florida Mirror, she makes a short escape to New York City seeking excitement. Flights of foolishness turn her life wrong-side-out upon returning to Amelia Island. Trouble from the North follows her home where strong family bonds and honor are pitted against ingenuous liaisons, treachery, deceit and something much much worse. Clever twists of plot, rich characters, late Victorian conventions and subtle humor flavor up the mix of stunning surprises as it was on Amelia then …

From Amelia Beach to Victorian Centre Street, to the Amelia River marina, Florida House - a tourist hotel, Fort Clinch, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Old Fernandina and Clark Creek, today called Old Town and Egan’s Creek respectively, the reader is transported back 128 years. We welcome you to the saga that is The Goodbye Lie series, where Little House on the Praire meets Gone With The Wind!

For more information about The Goodbye Lie series, articles, recipes, jewelry, t-shirts and Goodbye Lie Keepsake Collection, please visit our 800+ page website, www.GraciousJaneMarie.com.

A Mother's Day Teddy Tale

Jane Marie's own dear friends,

And Then There Were More is one of Jane Marie's silly teddy stories featuring me, Martha Bear, and that rascally teddy we all think we know but still love, Teddy O.

Click here http://www.greenlightwrite.com/marthababy.htm to read it every Mother's Day or ANY day. Why? Because it's a better thing!

Bear Hugs to all,

Martha Bear

PS Do become a Jane Marie follower of this blog so you won't miss a moment of fun adventures, recipes, novel news, etc. The stories never end in Jane Marie's world!

Perfect Imperfection

My own treasured friends,

My gift on Mother's Day from my granddaughter. A true treasure.

Happy Mother's Day to you all.

Hugs,

Jane Marie

The Goodbye Lie - an excerpt

1882, Fernandina, Florida - "But hell, she's too young for me. I've tried hard, real hard, to convince myself she was too inexperienced for a reckless sea dog. Too innocent. That I'd hurt her, be too rough with her body and her mind. Didn't you find it strange that I had business in Savannah every trip south these last weeks? That I asked you to take command of the Gentle Comfort on her runs to and from Fernandina? You picked me up on the return north and never said a word. You must've suspected something, Fish."

"I guessed you'd tell me when you was good and ready. I didn't want to push none."

Waite kept on. "Just to be in her town was an ordeal, but I had to take control. I had to face things. When we arrived yesterday in Fernandina, all my resolve left me. That's why I stayed aboard. I wasn't just reading those old books. The truth is I was studying, investigating where she comes from, trying to get closer to her somehow. The more knowledge I acquired about her background, the worse I wanted her. So I purposely started drinking last night until I passed out. With enough liquor in me, I knew she'd be safe from the wild man who wanted to pound on her door in the middle of the night and take her for himself.

"This morning, with damn near the worst hangover I've ever had as a reminder of my determination, I was prepared to be strong and leave town without ever attempting to see her. I was counting the minutes until we pulled out, until I escaped Amelia Island. You can't know how shocked I was when she arrived at the foot of the dock, her father handing her over to me! It was her uncle, Clabe Duffy, who corresponded with me. I didn't know the name. I swear to God, I had no earthly idea she was one of the girls I was to watch over. Now she's here, aboard my ship, and so is temptation. I don't know what to do."

Waite turned his back and peered out at the water. Catfish could plainly see his captain was drained. "What I have to say might not be too comfortin' at first, but hear me out, would ya? Yes, this gal is young. Yes, she's probably inexperienced. Fact is, you'd best face it. One day, someone will come along and change all that."
The thought of another man touching Breelan made the muscles cramp in his forearms as Waite clenched his fists to stone.

"Then why in God's good name shouldn't it be you? Don't knock yourself, boy. When the time is right, you'll know how to handle this girl, how to treat her with respect and ..." Catfish turned the color of blood from embarrassment, the only time in his long life, "And bring her to maturity. You're the best and most honorable man I know."

When the time is right - Waite had said that very thing to Breelan the first night they'd met. "Thank you for the kind words, old friend. But suppose she wants no part of me. So far she hasn't been what you'd call receptive, let alone interested in me."

"The only way you'll find out is to test the waters." He chuckled at his seaman's pun. "I have a feelin' those hateful looks she was throwin' ya could be turned to sugar if ya just give it a chance. I say talk to her soon. I don't know if the crew is up to much more of your moonin' around. You're mean with longin' for her, Waite. 'Sides, we all have eyes, and she's might near the fairest lookin' maiden we've seen in a long while. There's bound to be a pack of beaus houndin' her at every turn. Remember, he who hesitates, gets run over."

Waite weighed the older man's comments carefully. Those comments were welcome because it was exactly what Waite wanted to hear. He'd needed permission somehow. Or was it assurance that he was doing no wrong? Whatever in hell it was, he'd soon find the right time to tell Miss Breelan Dunnigan of his serious attraction - before he was aced out by some other lucky bastard.

The Goodbye Lie - "where Little House on the Prairie meets Gone With The Wind..."

http://www.graciousjanemarie.com/

Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Lie-Jane-Marie-Malcolm/dp/0974918229/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275361745&sr=8-3

GA Bulldog

After my husband, Bruce, helped judge the Best Dressed Pirate Contest, adult and children, today, at our annual Shrimp Festival, we were invited aboard the Georgia Bulldog, the University of Georgia's research ship for the fishing and shrimping industry. If that's not enough, they were serving a Low Country Boil comprised of shrimp, sausage, potatoes, corn, and onions, cooked and served in an old bathtub aboard ship. For a city girl from Erie, Pennsylvania, what an experience!

Photos: Left - Jane Marie at the stern near the anchor. Right- Jane Marie with nets near the bow. Bottom- Bruce about to down a shrimp. Yummo!

Hugs,

Jane Marie

PS Note my sweatshirt. It says: Careful or you'll end up in my novel. It was a gift from my brother, Bob, and I love it. It always generates lots of questions from folks. Naturally, I supply the answers with my accompanying business card featuring my Goodbye Lie cover. Thanks, Bob!

Sing a Song

My Own Dear Friends,

Let's talk about singing. You know, in the shower kind of singing where we all assume, a mistake, that no one else in the house can hear us over the roar of running water. We sing loudly. We sing softly. We sing show tunes. We sing hymns. We sing rap or rock and roll. Whatever. It matters not, for in those minutes where we linger enjoying the warmth of the steaming rivulet and forgetting the water we're wasting, we are all alone on stage, the shower sprayer our microphone, our inhibitions non-existant, and our voice, perfect pitch, to our minds...

And so I carried this innocent ignorance past the bathroom door and with me into the future. There I was visiting my father in Erie, Pennsylvania. My sister and business partner, Nancy, was there. Let me add how much I respect my sister's opinion, generally. The simple reason is because Nancy is the smartest woman I know. So there we were, as often happens, singing college fight songs. We grew up singing college fight songs. Like some families play touch-football, we sing fight sings. Well, Daddy and I were doing the singing. Nancy was sitting on the couch beside us observing. She has always said she can't carry a tune in a bucket. Okay, that expression belongs to my husband, Bruce, a Southerner, but in any case, Nancy knows her limitations. Apparently, she knows the limitations of others, too, because she looked me square in the face and with calm cold eyes, said, "That's the worst thing I have ever heard." And she wasn't talking to Daddy.

I continue by saying Bruce has never complimented me on my singing. He just says nothing. I sing in the choir for goodness sake. Could it be they are desperate for bodies and willing to turn up the organ volume to mask any foul notes?

Well, I'm no dummy and I have come to realize that although I sing my grandbaby to sleep with sweet lullabies, she may be sleeping because I've played with her so much, she's just pooped.

Always the optimist, I don't let my sour voice go to waste. I use it on Bruce to get him to turn off the sound of TV commercials. I threaten to sing the "mute" song which is composed of the word mute and a shocking combination of off-notes, not unlike the squeal/screech of a rusty wheel barrow wheel. Bruce hates that particular ditty of mine. Is it my singing or my high pitched tone that hurts his ears?

Undaunted, I shall continue to sing, perhaps in softer tones- perhaps not. Heck, I'm not doing anything criminal, at least nothing that is on the books. But, me thinks, if my sister has anything to do about it, she may write her congressman - you know, "There should be a law ..." You just can't please some people.

Remember This ...

and bear in mind, a goose's tail sticks out behind. - Nina H.

Velvet Undertow Featured on Love Romance Novels

Hi All,

My historic novel Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow is currently featured on Facebook's Love Romance Novels! Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=2256153190&ref=ts (You may have to copy and paste the link.)
Take a look-see!

Hugs,

Jane Marie

Curly Dolly Hair

My Own Treasured Friends,

I have just discovered that if you wind acrylic yarn around a metal knitting needle and bake it in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, then let it cool, it will make curly hair for your dolly.

Now these are the things that clog my mind ...

Hugs,

Jane Marie

National Blame Someone Else Day

I just heard on the radio that there is such a thing as National Blame Someone Else Day. Okay. So here I am, getting ready for a lovely day of book writing. You know, doing what one must do to pen a best seller, like my novels The Goodbye Lie and Amelia Island’s Velvet Undertow available at www.GraciousJaneMarie.com.

Now, admittedly, I scurry. Remember Edith in the old TV show, All in the Family? She scurried, too, as if she’s on a time clock or late to a movie. Scurrying is somewhere between a foot drag and a relay race, leaning a bit more toward the race thing.

So let me set the scene. I’m in the bedroom. We have a rod iron legged, wooden bench at the foot of the bed. I’m dressing for the day. The bench is located between the closet and the master bath. As I’m exiting the closet, scurrying toward the bath, my left foot catches the iron leg of the bench. I lose my balance and my face heads straight toward the pointed corner of our lovely antique marble washstand. Realizing in that instance that the impact will either split my skull or take an eye, I do a mid-air pirouette to the right, happily avoiding the deadly corner. But wait, there’s more. Still out of balance, and in close quarters, my left upper arm strikes the marble topped night stand and I fall to the hard tile floor, flat on my bottom, compressing my spine. After 10 minutes sitting there in shock and refusing to let my husband, Bruce, assist me, my back pain is so great, I manage to somehow stand somewhat upright as the purple bruise begins to rise on my left arm. I might add that 3 of the toes on my left foot are throbbing lavender, gold, and green.

The human body is a remarkable marvel and in six weeks, my back, which I thought was permanently broken, aching or otherwise screwed up, has healed.

What does this have to do with National Blame Someone Else Day? Let me explain. It was my ever-lovin' Bruce, who pulled out the bench by 2 inches to hang our heavy blanket neatly across the back so he could make the bed, Marine style. He makes the bed in this fashion every morning. Yes, I know. I am very lucky. However, with some luck, there may be an accompanying curse. In this case, the dirty dog forget to push the bench back those 2 inches, thereby causing me to trip and nearly cripple myself for life. If he just wasn’t such a neat freak, this might not have happened. It’s not my fault I scurry and often don’t turn on sufficient lighting in the bedroom to look where I’m going. No, it’s HIS fault. I rest my case.

Hugs,

Jane Marie