I Owned a Weight Loss Company?

Before I decided to come back to blogging, I thought it would be a good idea to run a search on my name. You know, just to be certain there was nothing upsetting or that needed addressing. When you disappear for three years, who knows what can happen.

I came across the website Book Series in Order. What a cool site. If you’ve ever found a series of books with many titles, this site will tell you in which order you will want to read them.

I had no idea I was listed there: https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/maddie-cochere/

I was further pleased and humbled by the information written about me as a writer. Other than the fact that it was noted I used to own a weight loss company (I didn’t; I used to work for one), I couldn’t believe all the good and kind words written about me.

Whoever cobbled this information together must have gone through my reviews, some of my blog posts, and maybe even read one of my books. They certainly made me sound so much better than I ever thought I was.

However, I sometimes think I sell myself short. If you are familiar with BookBub, then you know they are the largest book discovery service out there. They have huge mailing lists for books, and they are also one of the biggest advertisers for indie books.

I have 94,084 followers at BookBub.

I can barely wrap my head around that number. That’s more than the woman who wrote the Fifty Shades of Grey books (E. L. James). That’s more than some high-profile mystery writers (Brad Thor, Robin Cook) and even more than The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe author (C.S. Lewis).

You may wonder how I have so many followers. Well, I wonder that myself, but I can only surmise it is because I have given away nearly half a million free books since I began writing. That’s a lot of people who have at least one of my books, and when BookBub sends suggestions as to whom someone may want to follow (based on their downloads), some people obviously click the button to follow me.

I’ve never capitalized on the fact that I have so many followers at BookBub. I can’t wait to write as many books as I can this year and see what that number of followers really means.

I’ll keep you posted.

Do you write series books? Are you listed on the Book Series in Order site? Do you check your name online every now and then? Let me know!

Mama’s Big Pimpin’

Early in January, a large envelope arrived in the mail. My son said, “Uh, oh. Something big. That’s not good.”

The smile on my face was huge. “This isn’t something bad,” I said. “Your mama’s big pimpin’.”

I opened the envelope and pulled out my very own license plate that sported the word BREEZY. I couldn’t stop smiling.

Ohio no longer requires a front license plate, and I hated the plate the dealership had put on my car with their name on it, so voila – I ordered my own plate.

Now, granted, nobody will know it stands for Breezy Books (www.breezybooks.com), but I know, and it makes me happy, so that’s all that matters.

I’m driving a 2008 Honda Civic. I bought it in June of 2021. I knew when I went to look at the car it was thirteen years old, but it only had 39,000 miles on it! I nearly fell over when I saw the condition. This car was like new. I’m not kidding. The interior showed no signs of wear whatsoever. The engine was shiny and clean. The undercarriage was shiny and clean. It drove great. It was too good to be true – but it wasn’t.

I love this car. I envision a little old lady named Ethel previously owned it and only drove it to church on Sundays with a stop at the store for a few groceries on her way home.

I don’t drive the car very much either. I guess I am the next Ethel to whoever gets the car after me … but don’t call me Ethel.

What about you? Do you have a vanity plate? Are you as good at spotting great buys on cars as I am? Is there anything flashy and showoffy about your car like my BREEZY license plate? Spill!

Two Reveals

Three years. How time flies.

I was a little gobsmacked when I realized how long it’s been since I’ve written a blog post. I took some time to go back through my posts and reread many of them along with their comments. Jeez Louise, we used to have a lot of fun here. I miss those days.

I have two reveals for you today. The first is my new book cover, Murder Runs Amok. This is the ninth book in the Two Sisters and a Journalist series. I still love writing about Jo Ravens (Wheeler) and her family. I don’t see this series ending anytime soon.

The second reveal is … me!

I started writing when I was fifty-six years old. I am now sixty-six, and I am embracing my age and my white hair. I’ve never wanted to put my face out there, but now I don’t care. This is me, warts and all.

Things have changed dramatically in my life. The past several years have been extremely difficult, and I will soon no longer be living with the menfolk. I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my life, and I see only good things coming my way. I hope to realize my true potential as a writer.

I’m inspired when I write by a Canadian music ensemble – The Dead South. This is “new” music to me, and I can’t stop listening. They are four metalheads who built a folksy/bluegrassy band with jazzy/bluesy notes on the side and even an orchestral sound at times (because of that crazy cello). Their lyrics are dark, but the music is awesome. My go-to song to start my writing day is their song Spaghetti (see below). It has a spaghetti western vibe. Check them out and see what you think. https://www.thedeadsouth.com/music

If you used to hang out here and spot this post, stop in and say hello. Let me know how things are going with you. If you’ve never been here, stop in and say hello, too.

Cheers!

(My author headshot above was done by a fabulous man, Glenn Kerns, at Camelot Photography Studio in Navarre, Ohio. I went there scared like crazy to have my picture taken, but he was a gem by putting me at ease and making me smile (literally). Thank you, Glenn.)