Category: Baseball

NY Yankees, Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, Syracuse Chiefs. I like baseball.

MJ’s Musings: The Next Phase

As the year draws to a close, I’m reflecting on what I have learned these past twelve months. The most important lesson was  QUESTION THE PREMISE.

Several author friends urged me to check out Becca Syme and her Quit Cast on YouTube.  Although the vids are geared toward writers, I think anyone can learn the basics and apply them to their own situation. I highly recommend the first episode where Becca talks about alignment and the third episode (Question the Premise, link above).  All of her videos are wonderful, but more geared toward writers.

I feel good about finishing the third book in the Service for Sanctuary series. It’s going to be a little later than originally planned, but it’s coming along nicely. I want it right, not fast.

After I finish the werewolf book, I plan to dip my toes into the cozy mystery genre. This is an idea I’ve tinkered with for years, making random notes and so one, but late this summer, the ideas have been pelting me, so I think it’s ready to be written. The note taking has become a flurry, and I’m compiling a list of people to talk to and places to visit as part of my research. I’m really excited about that.

I also have my currently-out-of-print baseball books (five of them) that I’d like to self-publish. I have a dystopian novel I want to pitch to a publisher. And then there’s a baseball-werewolf novella gathering dust while waiting for me to get my act together.

Right now, though, I’m going to make homemade soup.

 

 

 

MJ’s Musings: Book Bingo: Sports Romance

Update on my Book Reading Bingo progress: I filled the “Romance with a Sporting Chance” square by reading Jean C. Joachim’s DAN ALEXANDER, PITCHER.

Baseball romance. YAY! I really enjoyed this book. I loved the whole idea of a woman hiding out in plain sight as “the hot dog girl” at a major league baseball stadium.  Loved the characters.

My only problem with the story had to do with the end. MINOR SPOILER ALERT:  if the government was hiding the heroine from the mob, the seriousness of her situation required…more than it was given in this story. That didn’t sit well with me.

Overall, however, I found this book to be a quick, fun read.

 

#Baseball

It’s baseball season. I like to accompany my husband to the local Triple A team’s games.  But I always feel like a pack mule. We need to take this, need to shlep that. So, even though there are probably a hundred tote bags in our house, I finally broke down and bought one just to take to baseball games.

I bought a team blanket on opening day, when it was so dang cold. My hat. Our drink holder that clamps on to the railing in front of our seats. There are pocket for my phone, keys, an umbrella and bottles of water. Fingerless gloves are also a must-have this time of year. Now I have everything together in one spot.

Opening Day!

The calendar claims the first day of Spring is March 20. For many people summer begins Memorial Day weekend or the last day of school or June 20. Baseball fans know better. Spring started mid-February when pitchers and catchers reported for spring training. And today is the first day of summer.

My local Triple A affiliate doesn’t have its home opener until Tuesday. I may have to wear layers of sweatshirts, long johns under my jeans, and gloves to keep my fingers warm, but summer will have finally arrived. I live in a city that averages over 126 inches of snow a year, so opening day means the end is in sight.

The “chirrup” of a robin newly arrived from warmer climes isn’t the harbinger of the long, sunny and warm days to come. Give me “Play Ball!” any day of the week.

 

Mask of the King

I have a new novella coming out on Tuesday (Feb 28)–Mask of the King.

Injured baseball player Tag Gentry and caterer Skye Schuyler are both lured to a Mardi Gras house party by false promises of work. Skye is waiting for her contract with the baseball team to be renewed, but the front office is giving her the runaround. No one knows how bad Tag’s leg injury really is, but speculation says it career ending. He’s not telling…and he hasn’t reported to spring training. He’s starting to wonder if there is life after baseball.

When Tag’s reporter ex-lover shows up in New Orleans, Tag pays extra attention to Skye, telling himself it’s only to deflect his ex’s attention. But his ex hopes the truth about his injury will be her next big story, and nothing is going to stop her, not even Tag’s involvement with another woman.

Skye realizes the promises that brought her and Tag to New Orleans are lies and wants to leave before things get any more complicated.

The only problem is they’re both targets for revenge, and Tag’s jealous ex may be part of the plot. Everyone is wearing mask, and not just for Mardi Gras. Tag and Skye don’t know who to trust—including each other.

Available from Loose-Id