New Kindle Short Cozy Mystery Cover

 New cover reveal! Here's a story I published way back in 2014...one of my first Nameless, Texas short mystery stories featuring some of the main characters...Kendra Louise Harper, Jeremy Clifford, and Lolly, the owner of Do-Lolly's Downtown Cafe.

The first cover was all right, I guess, and featured one of my original photos. Over the years, I was told by friends that I needed a cover that "screamed" cozy. LOL. That one didn't. But it wasn't until I got some help, some new illustration skills, and some new software that I was able to do better with it.

I love this, and even did some interior illustrations. Unfortunately, Amazon wasn't havin' it today when I tried to upload them. So, I'll try again. But for now...here is the AFTER cover for this story.

I still have to tweak the Amazon page for the reviews, etc. but it's a start...I do plan on revamping some of my other older covers.

I'll post some of the interior drawings I did for this one, too. In another post.

Happy trails from Nameless!

BEFORE:

AFTER!

Another in Black Cat Weekly, #162

 I'm a bit behind, but wanted to announce the publication of my Halloween story, "Ol' Crowbait," in Black Cat Weekly #162. Still available at their website and all over the web!

Black Cat Weekly #162

New Author Portrait

 Continuing in my new exploration of some new tools. A portrait to match all my new "Weird Western" stories coming up! (Next one should be in Black Cat Weekly at Halloween!)

Black Cats, Books and Jack O' Lanterns! What's not to love?

 Playing with a new artwork program. So much fun! 

Yes, I know it's early. What can I say, I love Halloween!

Happy trails!

Review of "Angels and Saints" and We Moved, Again!

 UPDATE: No longer available as a free story, but here's a good review of it.  We are now back in Texas and settling in our "new" 1974 home. Hoping to get more writing done now! Happy trails...bobbi c.

https://socialistjazz.blogspot.com/2024/08/short-story-wednesday-angels-and-saints.html

Want to Read a Spook Story? Angels and Saints, now available!

 UPDATE: No longer available as a free story, but here's a good review of it.  We are now back in Texas and settling in our "new" 1974 home. Hoping to get more writing done now! Happy trails...bobbi c.

https://socialistjazz.blogspot.com/2024/08/short-story-wednesday-angels-and-saints.html

Dear friends and readers! It's been a while since I've updated here. Getting settled back in Texas has taken a bit out of my desire to write much. But I'm back at it, and have a string of new stories coming out between now and the end of the year.

Just wanted to mention one of my newest stories that came out yesterday from Undertaker Books. "Angels and Saints" is a bit of a departure for me from my "Nameless, Texas" short stories I've been writing over the last six years or so. It's a "weird western" story, with what might (or might not) be, a ghost. It will also be appearing in a printed anthology early next year.

I have several other "weird Western" stories out there now, and I'm having a blast writing them.

This is a free download once you sign up, so take a look! 

By the way, the carved wooden angel on the cover is from my collection. Rudy and I bought it 35 years ago on our honeymoon to Santa Fe. We made the loooong trek to Taos and visited the woodcarver's studio, where I bought this and a free-standing santo carving.

Happy trails from the Oasis of West Texas! 

https://undertakerbooks.com/products/angels-and-saints

 

Back in the Saddle, Again!

 Howdy, folks! It's been a while since I posted here. I am still writing. Sort of. Recently I announced I was sick and tired and decided to retire. Well, I'll tell you what! Several GREAT friends threatened to tie me up, smear me with molasses and sit me in a bed of fire ants.

SO! I am not retiring. Changed my mind. LOL!!

If you look at the pile of papers that appear on the top photo here, you'll see what I'm going through now. Yep, unfinished short stories, bits 'n bobs of novellas, plays and notes for other projects.

I did manage to finish one story that's been sitting here, collecting dust, and sent it out. I have good feedback so far from it, so fingers crossed.

Short update -- We moved to Las Cruces, NM, a little over six years ago and spent a lot of that time locked down during Covid. Yep, I got the monster, because I decided to help a poor sick lady in the Wal-Mart pharmacy find aspirin. I tell you what! I won't do THAT again. Just kidding. I might. ;-)

Anywho, I survived, barely. I do have residual lung issues and diminished desire to help little old ladies. Heh. In the meantime, I got an inoperable macular hole in one eye, a probably diagnosis of Sjogren's Disease and got banged up badly in a fall in my garden! For cryin' out loud! 

After our sojourn in Las Cruces, I decided I wanted to move back home, to Texas, where your eyeballs don't get blasted by the high UV rays from the very high altitude every.single.time. you go outside. Plus, there's No rain there! None! Ugh.

We visited San Angelo, Texas, thirteen years ago and always said we'd go back. Well, we did. And we're stickin' here. It's beautiful and very green here, in spite of being in West Texas. AND it RAINS! They don't call it "The Oasis of West Texas" for nuthin'.

Did I mention I'm starting to write again?

Can't beat that with a STICK!

Happy trails!

bobbi c.

The beautiful Concho River

Free-to-Read-Online Christmas Ghost Story Published in Kings River Life

 Dear friends,

I'm happy to say that my short story "Aunt Jewel and the Christmas Spirits" has just been published online at Kings River Life.

https://kingsriverlife.com/12/18/aunt-jewel-and-the-christmas-spirits/

It's a light-hearted look at how Christmas traditions can still remain, even in the time of a worldwide pandemic. 

And honoring the tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas time...well, let's just say that Aunt Jewel, Kendra and Jeremy have a surprise guest.

Join the wacky denizens of Nameless, Texas again as they plan an old fashioned Christmas!

My grandmother Jennie Neal's recipe for Green Tomato Mincemeat.

Happy Holidays!

bobbi c.