Jenyfer Matthews

Janice Bennett has the eclectic sort of background often encountered in writers. She has a B.A. degree in anthropology from UC Santa Cruz, another in classical civilizations from UC Irvine, and an M.A. degree in folklore and mythology from UCLA. Over the years, she has worked as a bookkeeper, an archaeologist, and a college instructor in crafts, jewelry making, needlework and novel writing, and has been a frequent presenter of workshops on a variety of writing topics. She also teaches t’ai chi and is a certified hypnotherapist specializing in pain management and a certified past life regression therapist.

To relax, she quilts, knits, crochets and spins the sheddings from her Newfoundland dog. Because of all this yarn-related activity, she has started an organization known as Crochet 4 Cats (patterns can be found under the CONTESTS & FUN tab), dedicated to providing mini afghans for the comfort of the inmates of cat shelters. Her preferred vacation spot is Yosemite National Park, as close to a river as she can get.

To date, she has written nine novellas and twenty-four novels. Many have received 4+ ratings from Romantic Times/Rave Reviews and 4 1/2 and 5 Star ratings from Affaire de Coeur. She has won several awards, including two Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice awards and two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, for Time Travels and for Regencies.

Janice lives near the top of a sloping hillside on the outskirts of a tiny rural town, looking out over nothing but trees. With her reside her husband, her son (during college breaks), her computer, and, over the years, an assortment of birds, cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, fish, horses, and any other animal currently in need of a home.

In Black Cats and Boondoggles the action starts from the first page and keeps right on going to the last page. {…} The continuing growth of the characters along with the intricate plots makes this series a true joy to read. Would I recommend Black Cats and Boondoggles? Wholeheartedly YES.
Novelspot

What do you do when life becomes too stressful and everything feels out of control? Let yourself disappear into a fun-filled book, of course, where the chaos is tamed and everything turns out happily in the end. Or, if you’re a writer, you write that book.

That’s how my Events Unlimited series began. The books in it are lighthearted because life can be way too serious. They’re cozy murder mysteries because I love a puzzle, and because unraveling the “who-dunnit” of the story is a fun way to forget one’s own tangled problems in a fictional world where all problems can be solved. The main character, Annike McKinley, is an event-coordinator—and anyone who has ever planned an event knows how unpredictable and challenging that can be. There is something very satisfying and reassuring as Annike manages to create order out of chaos.

The books are set in the very tiny fictional town of Upper River Gulch in the equally fictional Merit County, located on California’s not-so-fictional central coast. This is a town—and county—filled with eccentrics and warm-hearted people…and the occasional murderer—who naturally is brought to justice. The sheriff is far from bungling, and doesn’t believe in the vengeance of the law but in the well-being and security of the people in his charge. He’s also in love with Annike who, as the widow of the former sheriff, is afraid to become involved with a law enforcement officer again.

The first book of the series, COLD TURKEY, is set over a particularly crazy Thanksgiving weekend, when Annike arrives at her aunt’s house a day before she’s expected, finds a body in her aunt’s study and is roped into organizing the town’s holiday events. By the second book, BUNNY HOP, which takes place over a particularly memorable Easter, Annike has launched her new career and is organizing events professionally. In Black Cats and Boondoggles, Annike takes on the town’s Harvest Festival, leading up to a nearly fatal Halloween.

Come join me in the world I created to escape into. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Black Cats and Boondoggles
Book #3 of the Events Unlimited Series
by
Janice Bennett

It’s time for the annual Harvest Fair and Halloween Trick-or-Treating in Upper River Gulch, and the SCOURGEs gather under the banner of Annike McKinley’s company Events Unlimited to plan the most enthusiastic festival Merit County has yet endured. But when Hugh Cartwright, owner of Upper River Gulch’s sole industry, Brandywine Distillery, is found in the town’s tiny park, propped up on bales of straw in a scarecrow costume with his head inside a giant jack-o-lantern, Annike insists a murder was not one of the scheduled events. While Annike and the other SCOURGEs organize pumpkin carving contests, hay rides, a kid’s carnival and a haunted house that takes on a sinister twist, they also turn up suspects in the murder. With the help of two black cats and an adolescent bloodhound named Boondoggle, Merit County’s sheriff Owen Sarkisian wades through a morass of motives and clues and the chaos created by the town’s furiously debated proposed incorporation. Then one of the suspects becomes another victim of oleander poisoning and it becomes a race to find the killer before he–or she–strikes again. Then comes Halloween night when kids and adults alike dress in costume and parade the tiny town’s few streets. Only this time a murderer walks among them.

Read an excerpt

Buy this Book!

Cold Turkey , Bunny Hop, and Black Cats and Boondoggles are also available in print!

I live in an average sort of apartment building in what was once considered the one of the most upscale neighborhoods in Cairo. Once upon a time, the housing primarily consisted of single family “villas” and everyone had yards.

Those days are all but gone. Today, land is at a premium and landowners would rather knock down the old homes to put up ugly apartment buildings (like the one pictured below) where they can charge rent to as many families as they can fit into the space. Few have any yard space to speak of. Some buildings are nicer than others of course, but there are a whole lot that look like this on the outside.

(click any image to enlarge)

There are still a few of the lovely old villas left here and there, like this one

or this one, which was recently restored

or this one, which isn’t looking as carefully maintained but is still pretty

There are even more magnificent examples downtown where the French influence is quite obvious. But many of the villas are just falling down. From what I understand, it costs a fortune to maintain them (and to rent them) and many landowners would prefer to tear down the existing building and build something cheaper, collecting rent from many families rather than try to rent a single space for more.

It seems a shame to tear down these lovely old buildings, some of which must be close to 200 years old, to put up an ugly concrete apartment building. But I suppose that in a place where their own history is so rich, a couple hundred years just doesn’t really signify when other historical sites are thousands of years old.

I was out walking the other day when I saw a new apartment building being constructed, overshadowing the villa standing next to it. The buildings here are often built very close together, but this seemed ridiculous.

Not sure I’d like being overlooked that way myself.

But wait – it sure would be handy if you needed to borrow some sugar or your TV was on the fritz. Just lean step out onto your balcony and lean across!

I can’t help but wonder what they were thinking when they started this project. Does the same guy own all the land and this is his idea of a compromise? Or are there two different land owners? Is the owner of the apartment building simply trying to force the villa owner to back down by making living in / renting out the villa totally impossible? It doesn’t look as if anyone is living in either place at present, but I’m going to keep my eye on this one.

Just fascinating!

You might have to be over a certain age to appreciate this, but I ran across a list of the 25 Cheesiest Hits of the 1970s the other day and found it hysterical. I actually liked a lot of these songs. I defy you to look at – and listen to – the songs listed and not get one of them caught in your head. Some of them were pretty catchy

I think the author of this list missed some great tunes though. What about “Lola” by Barry Manilow (or any of his others)? “Muskrat Love” by The Captain and Tenille? How about “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor or “Afternoon Delight” by Starland Vocal Band? “Fernando” by Abba? “Stayin’ Alive” by the BeeGees?

What was your favorite or least favorite 70s song? Which ones do you think were the cheesiest?

getting the message across. You don’t have to read Arabic (or at all) to understand this warning:

No, I don’t smoke – these packs just caught my eye in the store the other day. Never have I regretted not having a camera phone more. Then I noticed that the street was littered with empty cigarette packs. Yes – I picked up trash for you guys, just so I could scan it and show it to you here. What I wouldn’t do for you.

And judging by how many packs there were to choose from, I’m guessing that this warning isn’t working.

There are many things about living in Egypt that are frustrating – like when the water pressure is too low to shower for three days straight or having a birthday card that was send from the US two weeks ago never show up (thanks Mr. Postman) But then there are things like the above that just make me laugh. And lately I’ve been seeing many such things. So stay tuned…

This weekend we had a break from the endless rounds of tennis and soccer. We were invited to go along with a group of my husband’s colleagues to a weekend beach chalet one of them owns on the Red Sea, in Ain El-Sukhna – only about a two hour drive from our home in Cairo.

It was a lovely day, in spite of some threatening clouds and the far off rumbling of thunder. Turns out that while we were enjoying our day at the Red Sea, it was raining in Cairo!

Here I am, strolling in the low tide zone. If you look closely, my children are galloping out to sea behind me…

The sea is not red at all, but actually incredibly clear…

My son at play, in the tide pools.

There were lots of interesting shells and coral pieces to collect at the tide line.

Who needs sand toys when you have a dead fish on a stick?

It’s been nearly two years since we last visited Ain El-Sukhna. We drove out in Friday morning and returned late Friday night, which is doable, but not necessarily ideal. The roads in Egypt aren’t always well maintained or lighted and drivers often “conserve” their batteries by driving with no headlights which makes night travel quite hair-raising! After this weekend, I’ve got new resolve to get to the beach more often – but next time I think we’ll make a hotel reservation and stay overnight. Day time driving in Egypt is scary enough

Many of the talented Cerridwen Press authors also have books with other publishers. This week Jane Beckenham is sharing her recent release No Sex Necessary from Red Rose Publishing.

Author Jane Beckenham found literature at a young age. In books she discovered dreams and hope, stories that inspired in her a love of romance, and travel. Years later, after a blind date, Jane found her own true love and married him eleven months later.

Life has been a series of ‘dreams’ for Jane. Dreaming of learning to walk again after spending years in hospital. Dreaming of raising a family and subsequently flying to Russia to bring home her two adopted daughters. And of course, dreaming of writing.

With her family growing up, life is a round of playing mum’s taxi service, all the while wondering what her hero and heroine are up to behind her back! Writing is Jane’s addiction – and it sure beats housework. You can contact Jane via her web site or email her at neiljane@ihug.co.nz

***Leave a comment for Jane and you’ll have a chance
to win a digital copy of No Sex Necessary for yourself!
Don’t forget to check back on Sunday when Jane will announce the winner!***

No Sex Necessary
by
Jane Beckenham

Wife wanted – no sex necessary is the perfect job for Tara Palmer and for commitment-phobe Cole Charteris. The word marriage isn’t in his vocabulary until he meets Tara, the woman who answers an advertisement to pose as his fiancée. But playing a loving couple when there’s no love, only blackmail, doesn’t make for love everlasting…unless one of the rules of employment changes!

“Ms. Beckenham’s characters are solid and very believable… No Sex Necessary shows us that love can bloom in the most scarred hearts and that even with countless obstacles, love can conquer all.”
Fallen Angels Reviews

Excerpt

She sensed him at first. Bold and assessing. A lion on the prowl.

Swiveling in her chair, Tara searched the vast marble lobby of Charteris Developments for the man responsible for the unrestrained panic channeling through every fiber of her being.

Dark chocolate eyes, deep and mysterious stared blatantly back, the stranger’s interest apparent. One ebony brow arched and the corners of his full mouth curved upwards slightly. It sent a prickling awareness creeping up her spine, when she should be thinking of something else—and definitely not lust! The hunt for the dreaded dollar should be foremost in her mind right now, not eye candy.

The air around her thickened with a scandalous lustful heat. Palpable. So real, she believed she could almost reach out and touch it.

The man picked up his briefcase and her gut clenched into a rigid knot. She swallowed hard. Surely he wasn’t coming her way. Sparks of heat cascaded through her veins and the hairs on the back of her neck tingled. Flustered, she quickly turned away and yanked her jacket across her chest as if to protect herself.

From what…or should that be whom?

The answer was easy. From herself.

She waited. Nothing happened.

Tara should have known better, but heck, what’s a girl to do when she sees the hunk from heaven. She couldn’t help herself. With utmost care and certainly not wanting to arouse his attention, she glanced over her shoulder, seeking him out, again.

Big mistake. Huge!

He was still there. Still staring. Still smiling.

Stupid. Don’t draw attention. Don’t look.

She dropped her gaze and self-consciously fiddled with her purse. She had to get away. Lurching from the low-slung leather chair she fled, locking eyes on the lift, willing it to stay open. Heat burned in her chest and her heart raced. She knew without turning his gaze hadn’t shifted. It bored into her back even as she sped away, teasing, and absolutely tempting her to stop, turn round and look back.
Desperate to put space between her and the dark eyed stranger, afraid of the intense sexual tension his direct gaze created, Tara kept going.

She didn’t want to feel it. How could a stranger create such an impact? It scared her.

Then it happened.

Two feet from the lift doors—thankfully still open—she tumbled to the ground in a heap.

Buy This Book!

Now that I have all of the birthdays out of the way, it’s time to turn my attention to the next big event this month – Halloween. Even if I didn’t have children, I would celebrate Halloween. I love the fall decorations, the pumpkins, and have fond memories of the holiday from my own childhood. But I do have children so my job is now to assist them in putting together their chosen costumes.

Both children requested to be mummies this year – they liked the idea of being wrapped up in toilet paper. Since I know that my son would burst out of the toilet paper in about ten seconds (The Mummy meets the Hulk) I have had to come up with some other ideas to design such a costume. I found some white leggings and a long sleeve t-shirt for my daughter and have some flimsy white fabric I can cut into strips. It’ll take some time to wrap it around her and take a stitch here and there to secure it, but I feel confident saying she’s taken care of (I know, I know – famous last words!)

There were no leggings in my son’s size so I have been working on alternate ideas for him. Last year, his class did a unit on Native American Indians for which he had a costume – a top and pants made to look like fringy buckskin. I was hoping he’d decide to wear that costume along with his coonskin cap and be Davy Crockett / an American West hunter. He wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea. As opposed as I am to buying him toy weapons, I thought perhaps a toy rifle or a bow and arrow set might tip the scale in my favor.

Finding a toy gun in the shops in Cairo is not the problem – the problem is finding a simple toy rifle among all the anti-terrorism machine guns (with real red siting laser and sound effects!) I did finally find one simple looking rifle only to discover that it shot real BBs. I gave that one a miss. The only bow and arrows I could find had Spiderman on them. I kept that one in mind as a backup and started brainstorming for other costume ideas.

My daughter has a karate uniform from some lessons she took more than a year ago. So I started looking for a sword – maybe my son would be interested in being a Ninja warrior. You’d *think* a sword would be easy enough but I was having trouble finding anything that didn’t require batteries – because all swords need batteries!!?? Yesterday I got lucky and found a set with a Ninja sword AND a bow and arrow set. Okay, so the bow and arrow isn’t exactly the right period or style for the American West, but neither was the Spiderman set.

I’ll get back to you on what he selects.

I thought that I was out of the woods with costumes for another year when the kids received a birthday party invitation for the coming weekend – a pirate party. My son has a go-to pirate costume but my daughter was in tears over what she was going to wear so I’m back to brainstorming.

The fun just never stops at my house…

Just in case you thought that I wasn’t actually working on anything writing related, I am. I’ve been doing a final polish on my latest manuscript to get it read to submit to the agents and editors I met in Italy at the Women’s Fiction Festival. I should have had it out last week and then I hit a setback. No, not all the birthday party madness.

Word ate my manuscript.

I had been working on it for hours, routinely saving it. I took a break for lunch and resumed work. I was just finishing up for the day and got an error message saying that Word couldn’t save to my hard drive, pick another drive. My only option was to click “ok” when clearly it was not ok. But I never had a chance to save it anywhere else – it just vanished.

About that time I also discovered that my Yahoo briefcase has disappeared with no warning from Yahoo. (Thanks for that, guys!) Fortunately, I had also emailed myself the file and saved it to a flash drive at my lunch break, but I had still lost several hours of work. It wasn’t a virus attacking my computer either – so far as we can determine, it was a conflict between our newly updated anti-virus software and Word. We’ve been on with tech support and have seemingly gotten it worked out but it was a frustrating episode.

The moral of this story: save your work – often and in different locations – because you just never know. I went so far as to buy an external hard drive over the weekend to back everything up in case it really is a hard drive problem.

As slowly as I write, I would not want to start over again at page 1…

I made it through last week and stuck to my intended schedule – and only made Shelley Munro’s 5-minute mug cake once (we won’t talk about all the birthday cake that’s been consumed in the last few weeks now, will we??) I love love love my yoga class and even though I question why I paid someone to torture me at the beginning of my water aerobics class by the end of that workout I’m feeling pretty good as well. Curves gym, though – that’s another matter.

I’ve never been much of a joiner. I used to blame my parents – every time I asked to join an after school club the answer was always no because they were working and couldn’t be there to pick me up afterwards. They may have set a pattern early, but it’s me that carried it on. I wasn’t a cheerleader, never joined any clubs in high school – don’t tend to join clubs now. I’m not anti-social exactly, I just like to keep my options open. The only groups I frequent are those with no rules or mission statements.

I like Curves, I really do. I like the machine work and I really like the structure of the workout routine. Thirty seconds, then switch to the next activity. Being finished in half an hour is great. But because I’m already very self-motivated, what I’m not so up with is the rah-rah, you-can-do-it motivational atmosphere they strive for.

For instance: every month there is a calendar sheet that comes out and every day there is a different “activity” listed. Participate in the activity and you earn points which can be redeemed for Curves merchandise.

So I go in the other day and they are playing Arabic music, instead of the usual techo-beat pop music they usually play. Okay – we are in Egypt and the clientele is mixed so I guess it stands to reason they’d mix the music up periodically. But have you ever tried to exercise to Arabic music? It has a much different rhythm to it. I hadn’t realized how effective the pop music was to getting me to move fast.

I was doing my thing, trying to tune the music out, when one of the assistants came up to me and asked me if I knew how to belly dance. Huh? Because I was annoyed and just wanted to be left alone, I was rather abrupt with her and said no and went back to my workout. As I was doing the cool-down stretch sequence, I noticed on the calendar that it was “show us your belly dance moves” day. I missed my chance to earn 1 point.

Oh well – there’s always next Monday. And if I wear a Halloween costume to work-out on the 30th I can earn 10 points. Can you image what a dork I’d look like dressed up like a black cat, working the weight machine? Now there’s some motivation for you!

Want a chance to win a free book? Then check out Smart Bitches latest contest. What have you got to lose?