Hello Readers,

Is being busy a good thing?   I hope so because I am super busy, as I am often telling you.  I just had a new book come out, the 5th Fairy Garden Mystery,  A TWINKLE OF TROUBLE, and I've been promoting like crazy.  Why must authors engage in promotion?  The publishing industry is fiercely competitive.  To entice readers to purchase their books, authors must consistently raise awareness. With fewer readers frequenting bookstores, the primary sources of information are social media platforms and newsletters.

In addition, I've been busy crafting a new book while also fine-tuning one set to launch in October.  My creative faculties feel a bit drained, yet each morning I awaken with a fresh spark of inspiration, which is truly invigorating. 

As part of my PR push, tomorrow, I'm involved in the Magical Cozy Mystery Book Hop with 23 authors.  It's on Facebook with lots of giveaways and grand prizes.  I hope you will check it out.  There's a link below.  Fairy Garden Mysteries are included! 

So being this busy means . . . breathing is required, and at times, I have to remind myself to do so.  Do you ever feel overwhelmed?   To keep calm, do you take walks?  Garden?  Craft?  Does reading a good book make you chill?  It does me! 

Oh, some of you might have noticed that I sent out a questionnaire last month. I'd like to get to know my readers better.  It was only one question, sort of a beginner's outreach.  Some answered.  Some thought there weren't enough questions.  [Guess I can't please everyone.]  Anyway, this is a heads up.  Get ready.  There will be more. 

Savor the mystery!
 

The 5th Fairy Garden Mystery,  A TWINKLE OF TROUBLE, has earned some lovely reviews. 

"An enchanting cozy story that I couldn't put down." ~ Fresh Fiction

“With fairy fun, good gardening, and scrumptious food, A TWINKLE OF TROUBLE makes even dastardly deaths delightful.” ~ Cozy up with Kathy

“A Twinkle of Trouble by Daryl Wood Gerber is a sparkling story with a double dose of fairies and murder, beautiful blooms, and a morsel of amour.” ~ The Avid Reader

Lest you forget, I had 4 books comes out in the past 12 months.  

My suspense, THE SON'S SECRET

• "New Orleans is a perfect setting for the mixed bag of motives in this page-turner." ~ Kirkus Review

My Christmas romance, HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

• “Hope for the Holidays is a sweet, moving, uplifting holiday story sure to ignite your holiday spirit. For me it was a Perfect Escape.” ~ Dollycas. Follow the link to read more.

The 12th Cookbook Nook Mystery, POACHING IS PUZZLING  

• "Poaching is Puzzling is a crossword centric cozy with clever conundrums, a slain cruciverbalist, enticing appetizers, luscious cheeses, a sparkly spirit staff, shrewd wordsmiths, and a triumphant tournament victor." ~ Kristina on Goodreads

Also the 4th Fairy Garden Mystery, A FLICKER OF A DOUBT

• “This delectable otherworldly whodunit is sure to please cozy fans.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly

The Magical Cozy Mystery Hop is on May 2 ONLY.  One day, which is why you want to act now.  23 authors are giving away books.  And on each of the authors' Facebook pages you'll find additional giveaways to enter.  Good luck!  Go to my Facebook page to start. Look for this image and my giveaway, which is a separate image.

I've been reading a lot of short stories because I'm writing a short story to submit to an anthology.  Do you read short stories?  You might find some fun ones in the Sisters in Crime Los Angeles anthology titled, ENTERTAINMENT TO DIE FOR. 

Also, check out this series by author friend Elizabeth Pantly.   The first book in the magic Destiny Falls series, Falling into Magic, is 99 cents on Amazon until 5/6!  

An accidental journey through a magic mirror. A portal to an enchanted land. A mysterious family she never knew she had.

This cookie recipe can be found in A TWINKLE OF TROUBLE.  I forgot to take a "beauty" shot of these cookies, but they are really tasty and easy to make!  Enjoy.   *If you want the gluten-free version, drop me a line.   

Lemon Raspberry Delights

(Yield: 24—30)

½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
¼ teaspoon salt
Zest of 1 lemon, about 1 tablespoon
Juice of 1 lemon, about 2 tablespoons
1 ½ cups flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ cups raspberries, frozen and crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cookies sheets with parchment paper.

In a standing mixer, cream together the butter and sugar on medium for two minutes. Add the vanilla extract, egg, salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix well. Add in flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix on low until just combined. 

Add in the frozen crushed raspberries and stir gently. Don’t overmix. *I like to put the raspberries in a baggie and crush with a mallet. No mess.

Using a spoon, drop the dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, about 1 tablespoon per cookie. The dough is quite moist, so if you have a cookie scooper, use that. 

Bake for approximately 15–17 minutes until they are just brown around the edges. 

Remove from oven and cool on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Sparky has been a little angel and has helped me promote my new release. Doesn't he look like he's floating on air?  Well, he is.  Let's hear it for art programs online that are simple for someone as art-challenged as I am to put together a fun or pretty picture!  My sweet doggie is a trouper!

That's it. That's all that is fit to print.
May your joy come from reading.
May your lives be filled with love.

Until next time . . . all my best,