Hi, Readers!  

GIVEAWAY BELOW   

News flash!  This is something brand new for me.  I'm still going to be writing and publishing mysteries, and I'm still going to write short stories, suspense, romance, and more, but I decided to put out a children's illustrated book that I wrote a few years back.  At the time I couldn't find an illustrator and publishers weren't interested in a rhyming book (Go figure, Dr. Seuss!) but a friend of mine, William L. Mince, just put out an adorable children's book, A MERPUPPY FINDS A HOME, and said he worked with a Fiverr artist. A light bulb went on in my head.  I thought, aha!  I've worked with Fiverr artists for my maps and such. Maybe I could find one who would create the artwork for THE ADVENTURES OF JAKE THE SNAKE.  Voila!  She did. She was absolutely delightful. A joy to work with. And so talented. 

Therefore, I'm pleased to announce that my first (possibly only . . . we'll see) children's illustrated book is out today!  I know lots of my readers have children or grandchildren.  I hope you'll take a peek and possibly gift it to them. And if you do, I hope you or their parents will review.  

In The Adventures of Jake the Snake, the friendly serpent hopes to celebrate his father’s birthday, but first he needs to pick up the cake, and he’ll need his friends’ help because the bakery is deep in the forest.

It's a sweet story that should remind readers about inclusion, the value of friendship, and how to navigate the unexpected.

Below is Williams L. Mince's cover. Darling, don't you think? The LINK is here and on the photo if you're interested in checking it out. I bought a copy for my granddaughter.  Adorable story. Heartfelt.

Now back to normal news for my mystery readers . . . a month ago the 2nd in the Aroma Wellness Mysteries came out.  It's been earning lovely reviews. But it needs a few more. So if you've read it and wouldn't mind posting a review, it would be m much appreciated!  Nowadays, authors really need reader support in order to get the word out.  I'm not begging.  Just a reminder.  LOL  

“A delicious mystery wrapped in unhappy relationships and soothing vibrations makes MURDER IN A LAVENDER DAZE a delightful read. I was happy to return to the Aroma Wellness Spa and look forward to my next visit!” ~ Cozy up with Kathy

Also, the second in the LITERARY DINING MYSTERIES came out in October. I just finished editing the third in the series, which comes out this coming October!  Woot.  In the first in the series, the book for the party was PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. The book for the party in the second is THE GREAT GATSBY. The book for the party in the third will be A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  Look for more news on this in the months to come. 

News!  The audiobook for my gentle romance, Hope for the Holidays , is out just in time for a fun book to listen to on a summer trip!  A little Christmas in June or July anyone?   If you want to purchase, here's the LINK.

I just finished listening to a very saucy romance by Emily Henry, FUNNY STORY.  I wasn't familiar with her work.  If you can handle a few explicit sex scenes, the story is really compelling and so well written. It's a heat meter 7 at least!  Not erotica, but hot.  It's a funny story how two friends fall in love. 

And I just finished reading BEHAVING BADLY , a historical mystery by my dear friend and excellent author, ROCHELLE STAAB.  Great texture. Superb voice.  All the research she did for this shines!  What's it about: 

Recently widowed crime beat reporter Tess Hammond turns grief into purpose when her editor assigns her a seemingly small missing-teen story that balloons into murder, corruption, violence, and white slavery in Depression-wrought, Prohibition-era 1932 Los Angeles. 

I'm giving away a copy of A JINGLE OF JUSTICE, a novella in the Fairy Garden Mysteries, MURDER ON THE PAGE, A TWINKLE OF TROUBLE, or SIMMERING WITH RESENTMENT.

To ENTER to win, send an email to newsletter@darylwoodgerber.com with the subject line THE TITLE I WANT and write the title in the body of the email.

I will pick one winner in a week, and I will announce the winner in the next newsletter or a SPECIAL newsletter so anyone who entered will know who won. 

I made this for World Baking Day recently. It's a recipe from A HINT OF MISCHIEF, Fairy Garden Mystery #3. They turned out great. If you would like the gluten-free recipe, write me!  

Raspberry Lemon Scones

(Yield: 8 scones)

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and frozen for 10 minutes
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• zest of two medium fresh lemons
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2/3 cups fresh raspberries

For the Glaze

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; melted
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut butter into small cubes and freeze for 10 minutes.

In a food processor, combine sugar and lemon zest. Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt and pulse 4 - 5 times.

Add frozen butter into flour mixture. Pulse 4 – 5 times until combined and it looks like cornmeal.

In a small bowl, whisk the sour cream, egg, and vanilla until smooth.

Add sour cream mixture into flour mixture and pulse a few times, until a dough starts to form.

Move mixture to a large bowl and gently fold in raspberries. This will be a firm dough, and the raspberries may break up a little. That’s okay.

Mold the dough into a ball. Turn onto parchment paper that has been lightly floured and pat into a 7-inch circle about 3/4-inch thick. If you make it too thin, the scones will be a little firmer and not as fluffy. Use a wet knife to cut the round into 8 triangles.

Place the scones on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 15 to 17 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes and prepare the glaze.

In a medium bowl, prepare the glaze by mixing together the melted butter, powdered sugar, and lemon juice. Mix until smooth. Drizzle the glaze onto your scones. If the mixture is too thin, add more powdered sugar. If it is too firm, add a tablespoon of water.

Sparky is doing pretty well with his sundowner syndrome.  I've switched up his meds per the vet's instructions and he's FINALLY sleeping through the night.  I got him a couple of dog puzzle toys, in which I insert doggie treats.  He happily hunts for them for quite a while.  I think these puzzles get the ya-yas out!   Woot! 

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,