February 25, 2026
Thank you for being a fan of the Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries, always with a twist of history! Here is an update for my work in progress for the series:
Book 8, Bougainvillea Street: Stolen Tiara, is a present-day mystery that evokes the old Californio days (1769-1848) when the expansive, unforgiving frontier in what is now the western United States was called Alta California. During those wild, adventurous years, Alta California was owned by Spain, then Mexico, with Indigenous peoples already long-time residents. La Corona Del Castillo, a solid-gold, tourmaline-encrusted heirloom tiara intended as an engagement gift for Señorita Victoria Elena Bautista Ruiz in 1830, has recently been stolen from the Rancho Del Castillo! The detectives, back home again in Las Palmitas, are hired to find it. Prepare for surprises, roadblocks, and curveballs as they set out to solve this unusual and often dangerous mystery. Many growth opportunities present themselves to the sleuths in strange, even devastating, forms. This time, are they up to the task?
I have been writing Book 8 since early December and am now FINISHED with the front matter and all twenty chapters! The back matter will be finished by March 1. My thorough read-through and corrections will be completed by March 6.
I am on schedule to send the First Draft to my editor on March 7 for First Round Edits and to my sensitivity reader on March 8.
So thrilled about this latest addition to the series, and I hope you are, too! Please watch for it to launch in late September.
Your support is always appreciated!
(Photo by Rizen Media on pexels.com)
February 2, 2026
I enjoyed joining some of my Blackbird Writer friends as we answered the February question on Substack: “How will some of our cozy Blackbird protagonists enjoy a cold, romantic February night at home?”
This was a bit challenging since my four detectives are thirteen years old!
But they came up with the perfect answer! And you can see how the other Birds answered the question, too.
Check it out HERE! Or go to https://substack.com/home/post/p-184963436
(Image Credits: Graphic by Blackbird Writers; photo by Sherrill Joseph)
January 30, 2026
Thank you for being a fan of the Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries, always with a twist of history! Here is an update on my work in progress for the series:
Book 8, Bougainvillea Street: Stolen Tiara, is a present-day mystery that harks to the Californio days (1769-1848) when the expanse of frontier in what is now the western United States was called Alta California. During those wild, adventurous years, Alta California was owned by Spain, then Mexico, with Indigenous peoples already long-time residents. La Corona Del Castillo, a solid gold, tourmaline-encrusted tiara, that was intended as an engagement gift for Senorita Victoria Bautista Ruiz in 1830, has recently been stolen from the Rancho Del Castillo! The detectives are hired to find it. Prepare for many surprises as they set out to solve this mystery in their hometown of Las Palmitas.
I have been writing Book 8 since early December and am about 60% finished! The story is flowing from my fingertips as our four detectives provide much dialogue and intriguing adventures, making my task effortless!
I should finish on schedule by early March.
I hope you’re as excited as I am about this latest addition to the series. Please watch for it to launch in late September.
Your support is always appreciated!
(Image by MunozPhoto on pexels.com)
January 19, 2026
Happy Birthday, Mr. Poe!
This is a very special day for Edgar Allan Poe fans! Celebrate with a Gothic-tinged libation, some chocolate birthday cake, and a Vincent Price/Roger Corman movie based on Poe’s work:
The Fall of the House of Usher (1960)
The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
Tales of Terror (1962)
The Haunted Palace (1963)
The Raven (1963)
The Tomb of Ligeia (1964)
The Masque of the Red Death (1964)
If you wish to submit an original work for the 2026 Edgar Allan Poe Saturday “Visiter” Awards, the call for entries opened today and will close on May 30, 2026. The entry form and more information can be found HERE.
(Graphic by Sherrill Joseph. The Poe photo is in the public domain from commons.wikimedia.org)
January 1, 2026
Happy New Year, everyone!
May 2026 bring the world Peace, Love, Kindness, Compassion, and abundant Blessings.
I will try to do my part to make it so.
