Mattie's Mysteries

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318Mon, 17 Nov 2025 07:58:43 +0000Mattie's Mysterieshttp://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-2390389742405747910Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:40:00 +00002016-10-10T20:40:14.686-04:00 On Grandpa’s Knee Posted on September 10, 2016by mattiesmysteries “Tell me a story, Grandpa Charley.”  Those words take me back to the sweltering days of summer vacation, when my sister and I were kids, and there was nothing to do. Grandpa Charley to the rescue! My grandfather, Charles Henry Hollow, was born in Cornwall, England. He possessed the awesome ability to recall http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2016/10/on-grandpas-knee-posted-on-september-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-4706800327911894802Thu, 06 Oct 2016 01:08:00 +00002016-10-05T21:08:03.301-04:00THEY MEAN WELL, BUT . . .Mattie's Mysteries by Mary A. Berger Pssst... Mattie here. I've been eavesdropping. (No. Really?) I thought I'd share with you a few, ahem, "observations" of well-meaning non-writers whose remarks I just happened to overhear along the way while my creator, Mary A. Berger, has been out promoting her books. Here goes: "Well, if you enjoy writing stories about a nosy amateur sleuth, that's all http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2016/10/they-mean-well-but.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-5553952466273989049Wed, 30 Dec 2015 22:42:00 +00002015-12-30T17:42:01.625-05:00Great review! The Message by Mary A.Berger VALERIE PENNY ♦ NOVEMBER 30, 2015 ♦ 3 COMMENTS When I started to read The Message, I really did not know what to expect as I had never read any of Mary A. Berger’s novels before. However, this is the third book in her Mattie Mitchell series. It won the Pinnacle Achievement Award for the Best in Category in the Autumn of 2014. I http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2015/12/great-review_30.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-8618497263459166807Fri, 27 Nov 2015 22:51:00 +00002015-11-28T15:51:25.022-05:00Heart Healthy Eating—on a Gluten-Free Diet by Mary A. BergerLast time, I wrote about eating heart-healthy foods. But let's take that lifestyle one step further and add the element of gluten-free. What? you might spout. First she's urging no fatty meat or gravy. No heavy salad dressing. No potato chips. And certainly no calorie-loaded Danish or cream pie. Okay, that's eating heart-healthy. But now she's tossing gluten-free into the mix! What is she, a http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2015/11/heart-healthy-eatingon-gluten-free-diet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-1739345553730264414Thu, 15 Oct 2015 19:17:00 +00002015-10-15T15:17:50.366-04:00Eating Heart Healthy by Mary A. BergerAfter dealing with a small stroke, a writer friend of mine posted a blog detailing his fondness for all the wrong foods, which he felt probably contributed to the stroke. His advice on making better food choices made a great deal of sense—cut out high cholesterol, pasta laden with creamy sauces, and sodas containing heavy amounts of sugar and caffeine. https://joetheauthor.wordpress.com http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2015/10/eating-heart-healthy-by-mary-berger_15.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-7024743070128596275Mon, 03 Aug 2015 19:56:00 +00002015-08-03T15:56:59.394-04:00T.V. Interviews Can Be Hilarious!   <!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-message-march-excerpt-mary-berger.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-3687879404491994625Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:47:00 +00002015-02-24T16:47:20.657-05:00On De-cluttering by Mary A. Berger Everyone says I should clean up my office. But it only takes two days to get to my desk. What's the problem? I know, I know, we authors need space in which to work—neat, uncluttered space. On a personal level, I've actually misplaced a chapter or two of a novel in that vast stretch of territory I call my desktop. So there's no one to blame but myself for such non-organization. However, I am http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2015/02/on-de-cluttering-by-mary-berger.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-7359745995491640909Thu, 22 Jan 2015 22:15:00 +00002015-01-22T17:15:11.377-05:00Not to Brag About My Creator but . . .Mattie here, folks - I'm not one to brag, as some of you may have noticed from Mary A. Berger's previous tales about my experiences, but there is some great news regarding Mary's writing endeavors.  After entering the NABE Pinnacle Awards competition last fall, Mary's name showed up as a winner in her book's category: Fiction—in Mary's case, humorous mystery. She received the rating of "http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2015/01/not-to-brag-about-my-creator-but.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-5554841653431599897Sat, 27 Dec 2014 02:52:00 +00002014-12-26T21:52:54.388-05:00 http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2014/12/blog-post_26.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-3967952373212418822Sat, 27 Dec 2014 02:36:00 +00002014-12-26T21:43:18.279-05:00 http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2014/12/blog-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-7357190527196904197Tue, 04 Nov 2014 20:34:00 +00002014-11-04T15:34:27.670-05:00Open Mic ReadingsAre you uncertain about your public speaking talents? Do you wonder if the prose you've written has enough appeal to share in a public forum? One method of countering the wim-wams (butterflies) of public speaking is through open mic readings. In our area, there's a great reading group headed up by Western North Carolina Writers' representatives. Every third Monday our local library hosts open http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2014/11/open-mic-readings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-8566740018996145245Mon, 29 Sep 2014 21:31:00 +00002014-09-29T17:31:56.222-04:00Good Spot for Indie WritersAuthor Mary here.  Want to discuss good—or not so good—markets for generating publicity for your indie book? That's one of the topics I've found, along with some great discussions with writer-to-writer feedback, on the LinkedIn: Indie Authors site. There's always a new question or topic popping up. Once you've joined the LinkedIn site at linkedin.com, feel free to interact. A recent http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2014/09/good-spot-for-indie-writers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-1018158007894015283Thu, 12 Jun 2014 20:42:00 +00002014-06-12T16:42:25.008-04:00Nice ReviewMattie here. Can't help bragging a bit about my creator, Mary Berger, and the outstanding review "The Message" received.  One Sunday morning I watched her pick up the newspaper and glance casually at the Arts section. Well I had already seen the review (I have my ways), so I knew it was there, waiting for her to spot it. In fact, it was almost impossible for me to sit still while she http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2014/06/nice-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-8156126882441120065Mon, 19 May 2014 02:27:00 +00002014-05-18T22:27:55.631-04:00Pass the wordJust received the following request from Ellen Schofield at NetWest. Please pass this information along for those who might want to attend George Singleton's event. Thanks,  Mary A. Berger Hello NetWest members, We received this request from City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, and are passing it along to you. We hope some of you can attend. Best Regards, Ellen Schofield NetWest http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2014/05/pass-word.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-4708235249375934661Fri, 16 May 2014 19:36:00 +00002014-05-16T15:36:27.927-04:00Blue Ridge BookFestThe much anticipated Blue Ridge BookFest, held at the local Blue Ridge College in western North Carolina, has come and gone. And what a success it was! I'm told we had over 200 attendees and that many book exhibitors sold either all their books or at least several. The steering committee provided a nice luncheon, followed by the popular Cassandra King, local author of Moonrise, who gave an http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2014/05/blue-ridge-bookfest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-7964357354281630885Tue, 19 Nov 2013 22:06:00 +00002013-11-19T17:06:21.969-05:00The Message: Newest Mattie CaperI'm back! While my creator, Mary Berger, is pounding out further adventures about yours truly, I have to tell you about this latest caper she has me—and Clare—involved in. In The Message, we're volunteering at a local thrift shop. I'm minding my own business (don't I always?) when I discover a laptop that someone has dropped off. Well, when I tap a few keys, this oddball message flashes across http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-message-newest-mattie-caper.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-1225808560812433105Fri, 21 Jun 2013 21:07:00 +00002013-06-21T17:07:25.589-04:00What's Your Trademark?Author Mary Berger checking in. (I sent Mattie to do some weeding. She rarely lets me near this site, as if it belongs to her, so I'll have to hurry and post this note before she returns.) I have to tell you about an author reading I recently attended. The speaker was a young man who happened to be wearing colorful striped Superman socks. They seemed to fit the light mood he was creating with http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2013/06/whats-your-trademark.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-6170527097269218926Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:21:00 +00002013-02-03T16:21:00.017-05:00Essay Winner  Announcements@HumorPress.com Contest Winner  Mary A. Berger Is Named A Finalist In HumorPress.com's "America's Funniest Humor!" Writing Contest Mary A. Berger, a writer from Hendersonville, NC, was named a Finalist in the 4th Quarter 2012 "America's Funniest Humor!"(TM) Writing Contest held by HumorPress.com, one of the Internet's highest-ranking humor contest http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2013/02/essay-winner.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-8441517086942167087Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +00002013-01-10T10:00:21.118-05:00More News about MaryI have another bit of news about my pal. No, I'm not talking about Clare; she's up to no good with her own situation. (Her latest "fling" appears in full detail in the third upcoming Mattie Mitchell Mystery titled, The Message. You won't want to miss it!) The pal I'm referring to is my creator, Mary Berger. Mary's not one to sit around bored when she's not dreaming up another "event" for me to http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2013/01/more-news-from-mary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-5528015358111856110Tue, 06 Nov 2012 03:14:00 +00002012-11-05T22:14:09.225-05:00Mary's Been BusyGood grief, you'd think my creator, Mary, would have enough to do keeping up with all my, well, "activities." She actually writes about things other than my scheming, comical behavior. (Clare, did I hear you say erratic?)  I mentioned in my last post the humor piece she had published in the current Not Your Mother's Book anthology. Not only that, she's had another humor essay accepted http://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2012/11/marys-been-busy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-5938673928430238241Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:22:00 +00002012-09-19T20:18:25.202-04:00 Book No. 3 Almost ReadyI know, I know, it's been a while since you've heard from me. But hey, I've been out doing good deeds. You see, Clare and I are trying to figure out how to get into this blasted online dating site in our pursuit of an online bad boy. Trouble is, neither of us knows much about computers. I think we put the "duh" in "dummies." At any rate, you can read all about our, um, comical experiences in "Thehttp://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2012/09/book-no-3-almost-ready.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718678222104819318.post-2601270903747179426Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:59:00 +00002012-06-21T15:18:44.158-04:00Mattie's Still Going StrongHi all you Mattie followers. Hope you didn't think I'd just up and disappeared off the face of our planet. I haven't, I can assure you. I've only been doing some serious thinking about the next situation my slave-driver creator, Mary, has gotten me into. What will that woman think of next? If you'd like a little teaser, here's one for you: Mary has Clare and me working in a local thrift shop, ofhttp://mattiesmysteries.blogspot.com/2012/06/matties-still-going-strong.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary A. Berger)0