NEW WEBSITE, NEW BLOG!

Greetings friends. I'm very excited to announce that I finally have a new website with blog included!  I'm saying goodbye to blogger.com as they have not helped at all in getting rid of the redirect spam that has aggravated me for months. Thank you for your patience!

This high-tech world is a double edged sword. We need the technology, but it also requires much time.  Spending time building websites, etc., no matter how simple the hosts make it for us non-pro techs, it is still a great deal of time spent away from writing, but the end result is so worth it! The web address is still <www.jocelynmiller.com> and it should be live on the internet by February 9, 2015.

Remember, the new blog is attached to the new website, so please bookmark the address and avoid this blog altogether as I will discontinue it asap.

COMING THIS SUMMER!

New story in the works!  I have temporarily stepped out of my genre and have a work in progress that should be available this summer. I'm excited, and though my faithful readers are in for the romance, time travel and paranormal, I do hope you'll enjoy a little temporary diversion when the time comes.

IN THE FUTURE

I have another story up my sleeve and I'm very anxious to to continue what I began last year. I will be back to the time travel historical genre, my favorite niche, but  I must say the research books on this one are piled high and it will take me some time. 

Hint...hint... This summer I will be taking survival skill classes with: <http://www.restorehandsell.org/?page_id=42> Can't wait! I really do get into my work!

Thanks, folks, for sticking with me!

WELL DOGGONEIT!

Unfortunately, Google has never responded to my requests regarding a re-direct spam on this blog site.  I have no recourse but to stop posting while I create a new website and new blog.

Please be patient readers! I am working diligently on a new and better www.jocelynmiller.com website. I'm also working diligently on my next book and, believe me, it's a challenge between writing a book, creating a new blog site and a new website as well!

As soon as my new website is up, I will post the address here, but in the meantime, if you click on any link on this site and end up in a re-direct, then please don't click!  Just come back from time to time to learn when the new www.jocelynmiller.com website is up and running.

See you soon!

REAL LIFE NEARLY CAUGHT UP!


I have definitely taken a long hiatus from this blog.  My apologies, but as I mentioned last time that with "Tanglewood III; Adventure in New Orleans" published, I desperately needed to catch up to the non-fiction life I live.  Ah, it is nearly accomplished! Soon we will be wheeling down the highway to Sanibel, Florida and warmer weather.  Soon I will be setting up my office amidst the palm trees and gators and getting back to work; new story, new characters!

Christmas is just around the corner, and I know many of you are hustling and bustling, shopping, parties, sending cards. It certainly is a busy time of year for those of us who celebrate this holiday. With that said, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and definitely a very Happy & Healthy New Year!

GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES!

Thank you readers for good feedback and reviews on Tanglewood III.  Special thanks to Katrina for the nice comments!:) I happen to love the Tanglewood series.  What?  Shouldn't I?  Well, not necessarily does an author have to love their books; some can be quite tedious to write.  But for me, it is absolutely necessary that I love my stories or they die in their tracks.

What's next?  Two books are on the horizon, but no time to write until I hit Sanibel, FL this winter.  Writing takes so much time that it is necessary to catch up to all the 'real life' stuff that goes on (and on) whether a person is writing or not.  Therefore, much catch-up!

Okay, back to 'what's next'.  Horror.  Oh yes, but I like to call it 'smart horror'; not anything like Sharknado.  (Sorry Sharnado fans, I tried to watch both I & II but couldn't sit through them).  Actually, I'm not a big fan of campy movies.  Nope, I like the real stuff.

After the surprise horror story, comes a story on more of a back-to-ghosts-romance-travel theme, and one that will take hours of research.  Serious historical stuff, but fun.  I'm excited to get moving on both of these stories but, alas, the real-life stuff has me trapped; the desk must be cleaned off before I start anew.  

Stick with me friends and readers, there are more adventures to come!

IT'S OFFICIAL!

'Tanglewood Plantation III: Adventure in New Orleans' is now available in book form at www.amazon.com.
Somewhere between August 14 - 20, 2014, it will be available in Kindle.

I will most likely have to eliminate this blog as the malware problem is irreparable -- or so it seems.  Google has not helped me with this problem, so instead of this blog, please visit www.jocelynmiller.com for updates.

Thanks so much, readers, for your interest and excitement in my stories.  Your enthusiasm encourages me!

TANGLEWOOD III, ADVENTURE IN NEW ORLEANS

It's on it's way, folks! 'Tanglewood III, Adventure in New Orleans' should be available in paperback and Kindle this August!

Whew, it's been a difficult writing year, as I took some time off to visit far away places.  My most recent was the mountains of the Dominican Republic where I volunteered for a wonderful dental/medical program.  Somos Amigos (We Are Friends) Medical Missions visits the little mountain village of El Naranjito three times a year.  Dominicans and Haitians alike travel miles and miles on foot (or horseback!) to receive free medical care, which is very much needed in the remote mountain villages.  It was a very rewarding experience and I'm so happy I was able to participate and be of some help to my fellow man.  www.somosamigos.org

There is a very persistant spam block-up ad on this blog site.  I have received no feedback from Google on this, and I do apologize if you are experiencing the pop-up when you visit my blog.  I will try (again!) to receive a response from Google, but may, in the meantime, search out another blog site. I'll be sure to let you know!

Thanks for hanging with me, my readers. 'Adventure in New Orleans' is a fun and exciting story and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

*If you speak Spanish or Haitian Creole and/or have a medical background, Somos Amigos is always looking for volunteers!

BACK IN THE SADDLE - BIG TIME!!!

Greetings my readers! Yes, I've gone missing for a while, and I'm embarrassed to show up here again. However, this is my blog and I must take responsibility.

I'm happy to say that The End to "Tanglewood III, Adventure in New Orleans" is at last on the horizon. Since last I wrote, I have been to China, returned sick (which set me back a full 2 weeks). I am now well and clicking away at the keyboard. The book cover is on it's way to me as I write and I'm so excited to finally see it in person.  The book covers come to me as actual paintings. In this world in technology, my artists and I communicate over the internet through emails and photographs of works in progress. Therefore, I have not seen the cover in person, but I know Jamie Tate is a wonderful artist and I'm very excited.

Please hang on, my readers. I'm working hard to get Tanglewood into print and then it will be off to a new story--and one that my fingers are itching to get to!

TRAVELIN' GAL

There's no use apologizing for the delay in keeping up with this blog, as I don't seem to be able to keep up with a darn thing lately. First of all, I have been so disappointment with Google for not responding to my re-direct malware problem. This is definitely the main reason I have been absent for a while. My main computer went kaput, and my vast file collection went kaput with it. Secondly, we all have it...real life. Real life keeps us hopping, and if a writer can't hide away in a locked room with a word processor (that isn't kaput), then it's hopeless; real life interferes and steals precious time. This seems to be the name of the game this year.

Honestly, I am plugging away at 'Tanglewood Plantation III, Adventure in New Orleans'.  In fact, the cover painting is finished, thanks to my wonderful artist, Jamie Tate. This is, indeed, a good sign! The story is taking me much longer than I anticipated but, as applies to all things, it will come to the end of the writing road and magically turn into an e-book and paperback. After all, we certainly can't leave Summer, Captain Ruiz, and Guy hanging at the edge of the abyss!

And...after Tanglewood III? Summer and gang will take a break.  I'm ready for a new writing project and there is one under way already.  It's been shut in a drawer for a couple of months, but it's there, calling my name, none-the-less.

So until the next time, my friends and readers, be well, be happy, and stay tuned!

 

FLORIDA DAYS

Happy New Year to my friends, family and readers! I do hope the new year will bring health & happiness to each and every one of you. 

In the short time I've been in Florida this year so far, it has been sunny, hot, humid, very cold, very gray and very wet --- all of those! Fickle nature! The best though, is that I have seen many gators, and gator spotting is a very favorite hobby of mine.

Tanglewood III is rolling along...honestly. I must admit this is not the easiest story I have written and who would have guessed? I've traveled to New Orleans twice for research this year (and okay, some fun thrown in), but now I'm finding that I must return again at the end of this month to visit several important spots that I missed on previous trips so that I can be accurate in my tale.  Ah well, I guess there are worse things than visiting New Orleans!

My apologies for the malware or 'redirect' on this site when you click on a link. Google has not responded to me so must take some time from writing  to (again) contact Google, or else give up this site and search for a new one.  Hang with me!

Until the next time (and I will try to not let so much time lapse between postings), stay warm, you Northerners; I hear the big chill is on its way.

GOOGLE BLOG & MALWARE

Greetings Friends,

First off, let me announce that "Tanglewood Plantation"  will be on *SALE* (Kindle version) beginning December 24, 12:00 a.m.  (EST) thru Dec. 27, 11:00 p.m. for .99 cents! 
From 12:00 a.m. December 28 until 11:00 p.m. December 30, the sale price will be $1.99. 

January 1, 2014, the price will revert to the original of $2.99. Load up on sale books for your Christmas vacation, or pre-load that Kindle gift for your friend or loved one! 

* * *

I am still trying to work out my 'redirect' virus on this site.  Very frustrating!  I followed all the instructions with Google and still the 'redirect' pops up.  This virus seems to  be on the blogsite only and not on my computer. I will keep trying!

In the meantime...Tanglewood III is moving along; slowy, but moving. I'm amazed (am I really?) at the amount of research that is required to write this story.  The saving grace is that I spent time in New Orleans last summer and have a bit of a handle on it visually.  I must say, New Orleans is a fascinating place, historically and in modern times as well. Please bear with me, as I do my very best to fill my stories with authentic facts!

This time of year is a busy one for all of us so I wish to YOU, my readers, a wonderful, safe and Happy Holiday Season.

***I do hope I will have this site back to normal (no virus!) soon.***

OH NO, MALWARE!

READERS BEWARE!  DO NOT CLICK ON LINKS ON THIS BLOG!

I'm sorry to say that there is a nasty little 'redirect' virus on my blog site.  I'm trying to rectify the issue, so please be patient and come back and see me soon. For the moment, until you see further information, do NOT click on links.

My apologies,

Jocelyn Miller

HOLY TURKEY GOBBLER IT'S T-DAY ALREADY!

 Sometimes the fingers fly across the keys, and sometimes they move as if stuck in the sludge - or, perhaps they don't move at all. This is commonly known as 'writer's block'. I would call it a complete and total creative mind shut-down. Helloooo! Is anyone out there? Summer? Captain? I know they're in New Orleans but they seem to have forgotten to communicate with me. They can't continue without my direction, which I would be happy to give  if only they would call out my name!

So, I wait. I wait for them to break down the barrier that has temporarily separated us and in the meantime, I wonder how in the world we got from Halloween to Thanksgiving so quickly? It's a mysterious blur in my mind; the speed of life is gaining on me, friends. All of a sudden it's hustle-bustle turkey time and there is no shortage of it here;  the mind  wraps around pumpkin pie and turkey dressing and cleaning the house for company while  Summer Woodfield and Captain Ruiz are left standing on Royal Street in New Orleans ignoring me. A conundrum. BUT, this too shall pass!

In the meantime, I do wish you all the very best of Thanksgiving holidays. Despite the woes of our world (of which there are many) we are truly blessed to live in the land of the free.  This Thanksgiving, please remember the thousands of folks in the Philippines who have lost loved ones, along with their homes a belongings. Reach out and help in any way you can.

BOO!

Halloween is upon us, my friends. Time flies, and this month it flies on a witch's broom. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but like you, this month has been extremely busy, and for once I have forgone the decorations of spider webs, spooky lights and knick-knacks--- all the things I'm usually busy having fun with this time of year.  Oh well, I'm off to other things, such a writing.

Oh yes, Summer Woodfield is a busy lady.  She has a lot on her plate at the moment and I do so enjoy traveling with her and her friends. On this trip, she has a new acquaintance whom I get the biggest kick out of, and I hope you will too.

BTW, this month I embarked with my cohorts on our annual ghost hunt.  What fun! We didn't find any ghosts but we had plenty of laughs and a few educational stops which included:

Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia

Cape May, NJ
Finns Point National Cemetery
Fort Delaware in Delaware Bay

Have you been to a deserted fort at night?  It will give you the shivers!

So It's back in the saddle for me. I know, I keep saying this, but keep in mind that it does take time to write a good story and I'm working hard at it! 

GEORGIA BACK ROADS STOLE MY HEART!

The back roads of Georgia are an eye-opener.  How wonderful to  travel along a two-lane road witnessing in person the history and  subsequent demise of the old south, the south of my favorite novels of old; Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind', Faulkner's endless earthy tales of steamy summers & steamy people. Carson McCullers' 'The Member of the Wedding', to name a few.  I have always been enchanted by stories of the south and now I have driven back roads of Georgia! The cotton fields were abundant; fields and fields of snowy white bursts painted the countryside. Abandoned and deteriorated cabins and boxy country stores--reclaimed by layers of vegetation--created Kinkade photos of the reverse order --- not the cozy Hallmark - sweet - cottages of unreality, but the gritty truth of poor counties, a poor people, a hardscrabble life in the backwoods. The lazy rivers bordered with  ancient trees, their  branches draped gracefully in Spanish moss, are enough to make the coldest heart stop and stare in awe, and friends, this heart (not in the least bit cold) stopped and stared in awe a'plenty.

Ideas...ideas...ideas. They roll  and tumble through my head. I'm sorry to leave the South behind; the back roads, the cotton fields, the ramshackle, foliage covered cabins that once upon a time someone called 'home'. I love it...I remember it.

But now, I must tuck away these beautiful snapshots of Southern Georgia and concentrate on Summer and Captain Ruiz!!! Yes, New Orleans!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Here we are, zipping down the Civil War trail headed for Georgia and my beloved research. This is actually the fun part of research --  seeing and being at the places where my stories will either visit or take place -- love it!  The weather is gorgeous. The trees haven't quite changed into their fall colors, but they're working at it.
After the 'fun' part of travel and experience comes the hard part of actually writing; but I look forward to that is well.

As a friend says, "It's a good day that you don't wake up with a tag on your toe...". all's well with the world, folks, despite what the news says.

This post is short, but the road calls...

GOT GEORGIA ON MY MIND...

How is it that an author can be writing one book while having another story whispering in her ear?  Oh, this next one wants to be written, just like Tanglewood Plantation bugged me until I sat down at the computer and began the story. Some stories cling like leeches and don't let go until they're fat and happy.

Tanglewood III; oh yes, there is a III and final episode in the misadventures of Summer Woodfield is on its way, having passed the Fort Jefferson-research-hump at this point. It's truly amazing that once a particular mind-boggling mountain of research is out of the way, the path lay ahead and we fly like on a Slip & Slide--for a while, anyway-- until we reach the next mountain of research. Summer is now back on track and the rest of her adventure (and mine) lies ahead.

So what's with Georgia? Hmm, can't really give the details, but Georgia is definitely on my mind and I have scheduled a research trip there for early October. Camera, check. Voice recorder, check. Spirit of adventure, check.

Stay tuned, friends!

ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO BACK

Oh my, what happened to July? Time truly is passing at the speed of light and yet I feel as if I'm still at square #1. RESEARCH, folks. The bane of the writer; all time consuming, mind boggling, and sometimes quite confusing.

First off, I started the post-New Orleans trip with some rather extensive surgery which recovery has slowed me down some. Oh, but these motors don't stay down for long and I'm chugging along; not at full speed yet, but I'm working on it. I may be a snail at the moment, but I'll catch up to the hare.

Ever heard of Fort Jefferson, a fort built on a spit of an island in the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico? You can take a tour there (by boat) from Key West, and perhaps some of you have been there. It is, in fact, where Dr. Mudd was incarcerated after being convicted as a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln. Let's just say Fort Jefferson has me in check-mate at the moment.  The National Park group down in Key West has been so very helpful in my research. They've bent over backward to help me get a grip of  the construction and life at the fort. Very helpful folks. And just what does this have to do with the price of rice at Tanglewood Plantation?  Just everything, at the moment! Oh, but this is all secret stuff, so I can't give away too much information.

*By the way folks, good and interesting show to watch on Discover channel:  http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/naked-and-afraid

Keep tuned..... 

AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS...

Greetings friends and readers,

Can you believe we are now mid-summer? It's scientifically proven that the older we get, the quicker time seems to pass. It's our metabolism and there isn't a darn thing we can do about it.  So, with time passing at the speed of light, this author must coordinate her head and hands to hit the keyboard and get back to work.  I've concluded two research trips to New Orleans this summer and still have reading to do regarding research, but how wonderful to experience the French Quarter, the Trolleys, the French Market, the Beignets , the riverboat Natchez, the Mississippi and New Orleans in general, in person.

I do so wish I could step back in time with Summer Woodfield, and walk the streets of the French Quarter in 1864 in a hooped skirt and bonnet. In a way, I will be doing just that as 'Adventure in New Orleans' progresses.  In my imagination, I can picture the narrow streets a'clutter with a modge-podge of people, black, white, French, American, Spanish; the seamen, the soldiers, the hookers oh my! Imagine the parade of lives, the characters who have walked those streets, lived, loved, laughed and cried, as the decades and centuries pass.  This is my fascination---what passed before, and I will bring this to you, my readers, as Summer experiences New Orleans in the midst of the Civil War, on a mysterious time-travel quest that has her mind-boggled as to the reason she has fallen into this particular journey.  Stay tuned!

THE BIG SLEAZY - WOW!

Nawlins, definitely one of a kind.  This author has returned after a wonderful, interesting, jaw-dropping week in southern Looosiana, and what a pretty state it is! The plantations, the Spanish moss (naturally), the accents, the bayous, the kind folks, the food...it all blends perfectly to create a fabulous and memorable journey. Thank you, Nawlins and Francisville for a fabulous time!

Of course, it wasn't all play and no work.  Don't think for a minute that this author dawdled in the French Quarter without recording the architecture and history of this unique city-within-a-city. It was indeed a fascinating journey, but so many stops were on my list that I didn't get to the Civil War/Confederate Museum.  Next stop! Yep, I return to New Orleans at the end of the month and will complete the list so that I can spend the next few months creating the conclusion to the adventures of Summer Woodfield of Tanglewood Plantation.  I'm psyched! Stay tuned, the adventure continues!

BTW, it was such fun to spend the night at The Myrtles in Francisville, LA and meet one of my readers and her daughter.  Greetings, my friends and fellow ghost hunters; it was a pleasure to meet you!

The Myrtles Plantation, Francisville, LA

Love the Lavendar!

OFF TO THE BIG EASY

This is it, friends and readers; off to the Big Easy this week. My bags are packed and I'm ready to go~(60's songs were the best!). Off to New Orleans for the sights, smells, history and total experience; an experience that will guide my hand in writing the final episode of Summer Woodfield's misadventures in the mysterious dimension of time-travel.

 Often, I wonder why it is I'm so infatuated with the Civil War era and I've narrowed it down to Scarlet, Mammy, Prissy and Rhett. It was 'book before movie' for this avid reader and that was many, many years ago. From page one, I was in love--in love with the clothes, the characters, the slaves and...the Spanish moss!  Oh yes, Spanish moss is close to my heart! It's a beautiful work of art that lends visual magic to any southern setting. Let's just say there ain't no 'Southern' without the moss. Long may it live!

With high hopes and great anticipation I begin the week ahead. My high-tech tools will charge today to be at the ready for any and all things that will lend history and detail to Summer's final chapter. With an empty bag tucked into my suitcase, I go, and with a full bag I return; a bag of history, maps, details, visions, photos, notes and memories. Armed to the gills!

Thanks to my readers for their reviews of my stories. It is very difficult to please everyone's tastes in literature and, yes, I am deflated when I have disappointed a reader's expectations. Let me assure you that I spend much time in research and 10 times as many hours in writing, rewriting, editing, cutting and in general, just trying to put together a entertaining yet true-to-history story.  For me, the story is an adventure as well; it is new, it is the road less traveled, and I am grateful for  every day that I can sit with that first cup of coffee and a blank page--an empty canvas-- just begging for the journey to begin.

Many more tales to tell!