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As if writing the first draft of a novel isn't hard enough - then your cat decides to help too... ;-)
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(Am busy working on Oxford Tearoom #9... hoping to release it in Sep!) ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago

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Looks like you need this 😄

Wanted to tell you bubba left for the rainbow bridge last week.

My cat tonight. Flame has no shame!

Yessss!! I am dying to read more about Gemma! I feel like she's an old friend!

She's just underlining an important passage!

I hope your series never end! I love these characters too much.

I’m just finishing Bonbons and Broomsticks ( loved it by the way)

I can hardly wait. I love these audible books. You have an awesome gift!

Our cat would have had his fat butt on the keyboard.

just telling you to take a quick break for some cuddles so that you don't strain your eyes ;-)

I think there are so many of your fans who are waiting for the next installment! Can't wait to read it! Have fun creating!

Is she pointing out spelling errors 😂😂😂

Lovely view you have

Not only does Lukey love to help me on the computer, he adores helping me put fresh bedding on our bed.

Can’t wait! Now if Museli could just come up with monthly installments to keep me occupied. 😂

Awww! He is just as excited as I am about#9 coming out!! ♥️

I love the Oxford Tearoom series.❤️

Brilliant just started listening to number 8....

I just stumbled on to this series and have read them one after another. Just started #8 and was feeling sad that it was last in series. I decided to track your page down to see if #9 was planned. Oh Happy Days! Can’t wait.

I have very much been missing Gemma and Muesli.

Too funny!

Love it!

She is beautiful xx

Can’t wait!

Inspiration!💖

My chrysanthemum is making babies! :-) They're taking over the bed so I've been digging them out & potting them up to give away. Going to donate them to plant sale fundraiser for Perth Rescue Angels, a local animal charity which specialises in feral cats <3
https://www.facebook.com/perthrescueangels/ ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

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That is so nice of you to donate them to charity. I make pens on my lathe and I like to donate the profits to charity. ❤️

I love that you are sharing your plants with the feral cat rescue! We have a feral cat rescue here called Paws Patrol. They humanely catch feral cats, have them spayed or neutered, get their shots and release them where they were caught. The ones they are able to work with and rehome, they do. Several years back, they worked with me to catch over two dozen on our five acres, and we fed them and made sure they had shelter and fresh water. In return, they got rid of all the rodents and similar critters, which resulted in keeping the snakes from coming close to the house. A win-win all around. We refer to them as “barn cats”. Over the years, we are down to about eight now, but I cherish each one of them.

Lemon would approve! So would Honey, truly a cat-loving dog. 💕

A question for my British / Canadian / Aussie readers please? Do we use "freaked out" in British English? It sounds very American to my ear. So what would a young British man say instead? (I'd like a slang phrase or colloquial saying, if possible, rather than just "scared" or "upset")

Here is the sentence:
“There's no shame in being freaked out by a dead body,” the young constable said earnestly. “Most people would be in a right state.”

(Also, would a young person say "in a right state"? That seems to be a phrase an older person would use. What would a young Brit say??)

Thank you! :-) ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

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Yes Aussie use "freaked out"

Hello, Maybe you could say “There’s no shame in being taken aback by a dead body” the young constable said earnestly. “Most people would be terrified “. I hope this helps 🙂 I just think even though he’s young, he still needs to sound professional ( that’s me though lol ) good luck in finding the right phrasing. x

I agree ‘freaked out’ is something a young brit would say and ‘right state’ both sound fine to me! Makes him sound a bit Yorkshire to me, or that might be I said both in a thick Yorkshire accent 👍🏼

'Freaked out' sounds right to me.. (late 40s)

I tend to use “in a right flap!” 😂😂😂 But then I’m Welsh 👍🏻😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Hi! Love your work! 📖How about “There’s no shame in feeling rattled by a dead body”, the young constable said earnestly. “Most people would be beside themselves”. Looking forward to the next book! 😊

How young is the young constable? I'd use freaked out or weirded out as a mid 30's brit. Wouldn't used rattled, too twee, was thinking of bothered but maybe an older person would say that. But also depends on who he's talking to and how professional he's trying to sound and what area he's from (people here might say it's ok to be frit' but that's not a real word, Is it?) Right state sounds very young British male to me too. 😀

I’d say freaked out. Though sadly I’m no longer that young 😂

I'm from Britain and have young lads both them and there friends do use phrases like "freaked out" "freaky". Not in a way that's untidy or makes a mess but hear them saying "That's messed up" when it's something that's unsettling too.

"Shaken up" is another you could use....

I like "rattled" for freaked out; but would use "right scared," for in a right state.

Freaked out is fine. Btw. Half my life in Britain and the other in Australia. Lol.

But I think freaked out in that sentence is the correct phrase of words 👍🏻

Hi! From a Canadian perspective: "freaked out" is definitely a term that young Canadians would use and understand. "be in a right state" is definitely British and not something we would say but would totally understand it as a British colloquial term. A young Canadian police person might say something like "Most people would be beside themselves..."

Freaked out is fine in Australia.

Grossed out lol

New Audiobook Release! Book 8 in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries is now out in audio :-)
https://audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/… ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

Apple Strudel Alibi

audible.com

Check out this great listen on Audible.com. When Gemma’s romantic holiday with her boyfriend is cancelled, the tearoom sleuth finds herself heading to Vienna instead with her cat Muesli and the nosy Old Biddies for company. And it’s not long before they stumble across a murder right in.....

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Yeahhhhhhhhhh!! So excited to listen too it, now we just have to wait for book 9....😁😁😁

Just downloaded into my iTunes. Can hardly wait to listen. Love these books.

I read this a while back. Can't wait for the next installment to see what those old biddies are up to next!

Muesli trying to steal my cookie when she thinks I'm not looking... ;-) ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

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Such a cutie! I believe all the antics in “her” books. Lol

Because cookies are a cat's natural food in the wild.

Sweeet! Hugs Muesli 😸😸😻

Smart kitty😆

One of my author friends posted this so I'm playing along. Join in! Post your answers in the comments below :-)
️🎈18 random FACTS about yourself that may (or may not!) surprise people.

1. Do you make your bed every day? Oh yes - my mother was very strict about that and I always hear her voice in my head!

2. What's your favorite number? Hmm... I like the look of prime numbers, I don't know why. Except 5 and 11.

3. Dream Job? Being an author :-)

4. If you could, would you go back to school? Ooh yes. Love learning new things and still so many areas I'd love to become more knowledgeable in! Besides (don't hate me!) I was that nerdy child who really enjoyed school and loved getting homework - I made Hermione look lazy!

5. Can you parallel park? Um... most of the time ;-) If nobody is watching.

6. A job you had that people would be shocked to learn you had? Catwalk modelling

7. Do you think aliens are real? No. At least, not the little green men with buggy eyes like Hollywood portrays them. But I do think there must be other planets out there that could support life.

8. Can you drive a stick shift? (Me: What's that? Do you mean "drive manual"?) If so, no (to my shame!). Some people would argue that I can barely drive automatic - haha!

9. Favorite candy? Too many to list!! I love chocolate-coated raisins, peppermint candy canes, those chewy red rubbery sticks I used to have as a little girl in America ("red vines"?), rocky road and fruit roll-ups!

10. Tattoos? No.

11. Favorite color? (Can't you guess??) PINK!!! :D

12. Things people do that drive you crazy? Attention-seeking behaviour, not being humble, having no manners, showing off wealth in a tasteless way (nouveau riche), sending rude, demanding emails & messages without even a greeting hello or a thank you

13. Phobia? Hmm... I actually love a lot of the things people usually have phobias about (snakes, spiders)... oh, but I'm terrified of cockroaches!

14. Favorite childhood game? Dress-up & make-believe!

15. Do you talk to yourself? Only if nobody is watching ;-)

16. Do you like doing puzzles? Yes! It's why I write (and read) mysteries.

17. Tea or Coffee? Tea - preferably Earl Grey or Chinese/Japanese green tea. Never learned to drink coffee (to my shame!)

18. First thing you remember you wanted to be when you grew up: Nancy Drew ;-)

Now it's your turn! Copy & Paste and post your answers in the comments below :-) ... See MoreSee Less

4 weeks ago

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I can definitely vouch for you with #18. I think you had every copy right? You were the one to grey me into Nancy Drew. And horses, didn't you love horses?

1. No 2. 5 3. Being a mother 4. I would love to go back to school! I still dream of what I could be (my BA is Psych and my MSA is Administration). Sometimes I think I would like to work in a museum as an ancient jewelry expert. But that could have been influenced by Elizabeth Peter’s Vicky Bliss Novels. LOL 5. I am an excellent parallel Parker! Thanks to my dad’s driving tutorials 6. Ice cream server 7. Yes, there are other planets! 8. Yes 9. Are there any I don’t like? Snickers, Swedish Fish, Butterfingers 10. No 11. Pink - it chose me 12. Lie and be hypocritical 13. Heights 14. Baby dolls and jump rope 15. Yes 16. Yes 17. Neither 18. A mother

1. Do you make your bed every day? Nope, don’t see the point 2. What's your favorite number? 2112 3. Dream Job? Idk, but I do love my current job, which is teaching a particular business to business software 4. If you could, would you go back to school? No, I love to learn, but I hate sitting in a classroom. 5. Can you parallel park? Not well 6. A job you had that people would be shocked to learn you had? A garden center 7. Do you think aliens are real? It would be kind of arrogant to think we are alone 8. Can you drive a stick shift? What's that? Do you mean "drive manual"? Nope 9. Favorite candy? I love sugar, but my favorite is mounds or almond joy 10. Tattoos? No. 11. Favorite color? Can't you guess?? Purple 💜 12. Things people do that drive you crazy? Hypocrites 13. Phobia? I am afraid of the dark and heights are scary, but no real phobia 14. Favorite childhood game? Clue 15. Do you talk to yourself? Yep 16. Do you like doing puzzles? Yes! 17. Tea or Coffee? Both 18. First thing you remember you wanted to be when you grew up: A Veterinarian

1. Do you make your bed every day? Yes but not until later in the day 2. What's your favorite number? 7 - the number of completion 3. Dream Job? Getting well paid for doing nothing 4. If you could, would you go back to school? YES!!! The closest thing is the Bible study I do in groups and independently. Wish I could find a good online Bible program (hard for me to go to actual classes) 5. Can you parallel park? Not very well 6. A job you had that people would be shocked to learn you had? Nothing exciting 7. Do you think aliens are real? Who knows? With all the millions/billions of other planets, there has to be life on at least some of them, but most likely not what we would expect. 8. Can you drive a stick shift? That's what I learned on. 9. Favorite candy? Anything chocolate. Almost. 10. Tattoos? No. 11. Favorite color? Red or purple 12. Things people do that drive you crazy? Being idiots on the road - car drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Talking on the phone when they're in the check-out line or at the restaurant. Staring at the phone while walking - not paying attention to where they're going. Laughing too loud - where the laugh can be heard over all the other noise in the restaurant. 13. Phobia? None really 14. Favorite childhood game? Candyland 15. Do you talk to yourself? Yes 16. Do you like doing puzzles? I have several on my tablet - word puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. 17. Tea or Coffee? Both. I start my day with coffee and will have tea in the afternoon or with dinner (iced tea at dinner if I don't have coffee then). 18. First thing you remember you wanted to be when you grew up: Maybe a teacher because I used to "teach" imaginary kids, but I never had any aspirations to actually become a teacher. I was hoping to go into microbiology and ended up in medical records!

1. Do you make your bed every day? Definitely not. It's more hygenic not to anyway, who knew? 2. What's your favorite number? 7 (which makes the fact that Where the Heart is a favorite book a bit ironic) 3. Dream Job? Any type of artist 4. If you could, would you go back to school? I sort of am. I homeschool my daughter and there is plenty we're learning together that I was never daughter in school (and I have a degree) 5. Can you parallel park? 😂😂😂😂 No 6. A job you had that people would be shocked to learn you had? I worked at Dunkin Donuts for 3 days. I quit when the urge to throw coffee in a nurse's face at 6am (she was blaming me for the fact that she was "already late for work) was almost too strong to ignore (she ordered iced coffee so it eouldbg have been *that bad* ;) ) 7. Do you think aliens are real? Yes. I've seen a UFO and I can't fathom that we're alone in the vastness of the universe. 8. Can you drive a stick shift? Nope. I have PTSD from a roll over accident which makes me a nervous driver to begin with so I'm too afraid to learn because our town is chalk full of hills. It sucks because our only car is a stick/manual. 9. Favorite candy? Too many to list!! Lindt dark chocolate truffles or Reese's Cups 10. Tattoos? Not yet. Soon, I hope. 11. Favorite color? Blue but I like most colors 12. Things people do that drive you crazy? I live in the US in 2018. There are too many to list right now. 13. Phobia? Does driving stick count? ;) 14. Favorite childhood game? Barbies but I didn't play with them like normal. I just changed their outfits and imagined elaborate stories for them. 15. Do you talk to yourself? Of course not but the characters I write sure think I do ;-) 16. Do you like doing puzzles? Jigsaw? Nope. 17. Tea or Coffee? Both but usually cold brew or iced coffee (decaf most often) 18. First thing you remember you wanted to be when you grew up: actress

1. Do you make your bed every day? HA!!!! This question is a joke, right? 2. What's your favorite number? 5 3. Dream Job? Being a whale trainer at SeaWorld... I know that's loaded with all sorts of ethical issues now, but back in the '80s it didn't seem so bad. When most of my friends had teen heart throb posters on their walls, I had Shamu and sharks :-) 4. If you could, would you go back to school? Ehhhh... probably not now. 5. Can you parallel park? Definitely not in my skill set. Heck, I'm not that great at backing up.... But I can drive on the highway like a pro. 6. A job you had that people would be shocked to learn you had? Honestly, some of the folks I knew in high school would be shocked that I have the job I have now, since it involves working with people so much and I was notoriously introverted and anti-social :-) 7. Do you think aliens are real? Definitely think there's other life out there 8. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes!!! I have an automatic now, but I drove a stick for years and really, really miss it. 9. Favorite candy? Almost anything... though I can't stand Reese's Pieces. 10. Tattoos? No. 11. Favorite color? Green 12. Things people do that drive you crazy? All the many ways they find to be idiots.... waaaay too many to list 13. Phobia? Ladders.... I don't mind heights but I HATE getting on ladders. 14. Favorite childhood game? Trivial Pursuit 15. Do you talk to yourself? Frequently 16. Do you like doing puzzles? Yes... though the cats make it difficult :-) 17. Tea or Coffee? Neither.... Totally don't get the whole coffee thing and sometimes just the smell of tea makes me want to hurl. 18. First thing you remember you wanted to be when you grew up: A dancer.... THAT didn't last long ;-)

Great answers!

Just cut from my garden this morning...
One of the best things about gardening is always having fresh cut flowers for the house! :-) ... See MoreSee Less

4 weeks ago

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Beautiful! From my garden🌸

Wish I could get a garden going with of gorgeous flowers! We do have a burst of rhodies in the spring but that's it..... I gave up on bulbs when the moles ate them! We do have lots of green in our yard with firs, cedars, maples, and other trees, and the huge rhodies. We also have a laurel hedge.

They are gorgeous! You have inspired me to try gardening next spring.

Well done Hsin-yi. You have certainly developed green fingers since leaving NZ.

An the colors are beautiful!!!

So perfect such color!

Beautiful arrangement❣️

Gorgeous!!! I have a brown thumb.

What beautiful colors! Thanks for sharing.

They are just beautiful

Gorgeous! ♥️

So pretty

Beautiful!

Love them!

Beautiful.

Beautiful 😊

Beautiful