We think if we take care of ourselves, we are neglecting our partner, our kids, our responsibilities.  But with time, we learn (often the hard way) that if we don’t or haven’t taken care of ourselves, we are unable to care for others or to fulfill our responsibilities.

That’s pretty much the long and short of it.  Just as on a flight, if the oxygen masks drop, you put your own on first, then help others.  Take care of yourself.  That increases your odds of staying healthy and able to take care of those you love and fulfilling your responsibilities.

Some life lessons are learned more easily than others.  I hope this is one you don’t skim past without considering… and that you grasp the importance of taking care of yourself easily.

Blessings,

Vicki

They say there are two unavoidable things in life:  death and taxes.  But in my experience, there are three.  That 3rd is change.

So it benefits us to accept it, and to do what we can to benefit from these changes.

People grow up.  They grow closer or apart.

People change jobs.  Willingly or unwillingly, due to desire or necessity.

People move.  Some want to, some must due to responsibilities or life or family demands.

We aren’t who we were, we are who we have become, or are becoming.  If we change, why would we expect other things not to change.

We don’t have to always like it.  We don’t even have to accept it.  But change will come and we’ll have to deal with what it brings either way.  That’s what makes it the third certainty in life.

Do you see the benefit in working with change rather than railing against it?

I do, and I’m going to work for smooth transitions.

Blessings,

Vicki

Blessings,

Vicki

To celebrate, I’ve started a new writing project.  THE DEAD MAN’S WIFE is a prequel to NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE (the first Penny Crown novel). If all goes well, it will be published this fall.

When Penny Crown’s husband Mark is murdered, her world is shattered.  Then when she discovers discrepancies in what she’s being told happened to him and what actually happened, betrayal shatters her world again. To discover the truth, she must take risks that jeopardize her life, and she’s torn between fears.  Fear of leaving her daughter alone and orphaned.  Fear of the good and bad guys, both of whom warn her to leave things alone.

But Penny, being Penny, can’t let her husband’s death go unchallenged.  If she is ever to find peace and move on to a life after Mark Crown, she must find the truth.  She must see justice done.

That is my goal this spring.  To “bloom” this new book.  What’s yours?

Blessings,

Vicki

There’s a contest going on and it’s a fun one.  If you love mysteries and thrillers, it’s one you’re sure to enjoy.  The prizes are great—and there are two winners!  If you haven’t yet entered, be sure to do it ASAP.

Click the enter button below or go to:  https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/sherlock-holmes/

My new release, NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE, is in this contest.  Here are the 20+ books that can be won by the two lucky winners, along with the Sherlock Holmes swag:

ENTER NOW

Good luck, everyone!

Blessings,

Vicki

In The Details

As authors, we diligently pour hours of research into our books just to make them as believable and as enjoyable as possible for our readers. The characters have to be relatable—the setting perfect and fitting for the storyline.

All the ingredients must be just right so that when we sit down to write the book, the story comes to life for us as well as the reader.

In other words, it’s all in the details.

When I wrote Deadly Mountain Escape, my latest release from Love Inspired Suspense, I knew I wanted a location that would be in the mountains, because in my mind they add another layer of suspense to a story. Mountains seem to draw their own weather. They create storms and attract them. They make the perfect place for danger.

I chose the Tobacco Root Mountains in Montana which rise high above the Ruby Valley. The valley is where my heroine’s family has owned a ranch for several generations. I created a small Amish settlement at the base of the mountains where my hero, Jonas Knowles, once lived before leaving the faith after his pregnant wife went into labor and died while he was trapping for fur in the mountains. Losing both Ivy and their baby, Jonas knew he couldn’t remain in the community and see Ivy everywhere he looked.

The story revolves around a search for missing women who are being trafficked but there is a backstory that ties the current missing women to the death of Deputy Charlotte Walker’s fiancé, as well as a secret that will reveal the bad guy has been hiding much closer than Charlotte ever imagined.

Deadly Mountain Escape features an adorable K-9 search and rescue dog named Annie. Annie is a bluetick coonhound and was the last dog trained by Charlotte’s fiancé Ryan before his death. Annie and Charlotte have a special connection because of Ryan. They’ve helped each survive the pain of the past year.

When Charlotte’s life is threatened, Jonas risks his to save her and another woman targeted for death. Thrown together by danger, Charlotte and Jonas must work to find the women who will be forced into trafficking and save them before they’re moved out of the county and into an unimaginable existence.

With the help of Abram, Jonas’ former brother-in-law, and Lainey, the young woman Jonas saved, they fight to survive the danger nipping at their heels and bring the bad guys to justice.

And with Annie’s assistance, Charlotte and Jonas find the future they both so richly deserve.

Every story has details that help to bring it to life for the reader. The characters’ backstory. The perfect location. A plot that will keep you turning pages.

And a happy ending that will make the emotional journey worthwhile. I hope that’s what readers find in Deadly Mountain Escape.

Here’s the story’s blurb:

Can this officer stop a trafficking ring?

Or will deadly criminals stop her first?

A search for a missing young woman becomes a nightmare for K-9 deputy Charlotte Walker when she stumbles on a trafficking ring and is captured. Death seems certain until she’s rescued by rancher Jonas Knowles. Together, they take shelter in the Amish community he left behind. But they can’t hide forever—not when the criminals are still after them, and countless girls are at risk…

Deadly Mountain Escape is now available at Amazon and other book retailers.

https://amzn.to/3Ug0rt1

https://books2read.com/u/3Go7G8

And be sure to sign up for my newsletter to find out news about my upcoming releases and to be part of my monthly giveaway that is for newsletter subscribers only! You can sign up for my newsletter here:  https://maryalford.net/email.

All the best,

Mary Alford

www.maryalford.net  

You can learn more about the book and/or watch the video on the Book’s page here.

I hope you enjoy this mystery.  I love the characters and had such a good time writing it!

It’s out in digital and print at Amazon.

As always, I am grateful for you, readers, for sticking with me and encouraging me to do what I love to do.

Blessings,

Vicki

Have you said that about something in your life that is important to you?  If so, know that when and if xyz happens, so will something else that derails your plans.  Don’t wait.  If it is important to you, do it now.  Start, do what you are able.  Even a small start builds big momentum!