A Day To Remember

Posted on December 2, 2024 by miriamjonesbradley_jd26km

Today is December 2. While it is Cyber Monday, for me it has so much more meaning. Let me tell you why.

First, 94 years ago my paternal grandparents, George and Mildred Jones were married. They were married for 67 years when Grandpa went to heaven. Anyone who knows me well, or has read my blogs knows how important my grandparents were in my life. If you don’t know, let me tell you. They were invaluable.

If it weren’t for Grandpa and Grandma Jones’ marriage I wouldn’t be here. I certainly wouldn’t be here as the me that I am. And, the Double Cousins Mysteries wouldn’t be here either. After all, the impetus for writing the first Double Cousins Mystery was my desire to write a story based on our summers at the ranch with our cousins. No Grandpa and Grandma Jones, no ranch, no Miriam, no book.

Secondly, also on December 2, my maternal grandmother, Elnora McKnight went to heaven. Grandpa McKnight followed her a few days later.This godly couple helped instill in me a love for the Lord as well as so many other qualities. I get much of my humor from Grandpa McKnight.
If it wasn’t for all of my grandparents, there wouldn’t be a book titled All I Have Needed-A Legacy For Life. Besides the aforementioned fact that I wouldn’t be here, the legacy they gave me wouldn’t be either.

Why am I going on and on about this? Well, some of you might not know my story. The whys and wherefores of my stories. So, I thought I would give you a little taste here on this Cyber Monday. Especially since the first three mysteries and the All I Have Needed books are on sale through the end of the year!

In fact, if you get the entire Double Cousins Mystery Series (7 books) you get a great price and free shipping!

Here, in order are the Double Cousins Mysteries and a little about each:

The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Missing Watch – Set on my grandparent’s ranch outside Berwyn, NE. Many of the daily activities really took place, but sadly we never had a mystery.

The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Torn Map – This is “the rest of the story” to book one. It is set in Creede, CO.

The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Rushmore Treasure – This book is set in Rapid City, SD and finds the Double Cousins helping a family friend, solving a mystery surrounding the flood of 72 as well as an intriguing connection to Mount Rushmore.

The Double Cousins and the Mystery of Custer’s Gold – This book is set in Nemo, SD at Christmas time. The cousins not only have to solve the mystery they discover in one of the old mill town houses, but they have to survive a brutal blizzard.

The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Russian Jewels – Set in North Platte, NE the Double Cousins explore the history or the town while helping clean out the apartment of a friend’s great-grandma. Little do they know the danger and surprise that awaits them.

The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Camp Prowler – Just when the cousins least expect it, they are faced with yet another mystery at church camp. Set near Four Corners, WY this is based on time I spent at camp with my nieces and nephews. (Once again, we never had a mystery.)

The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Sod Schoolhouse – Set back on the ranch outside of Berwyn, NE this is the final Double Cousins Mystery. Not only do the cousins discover the history of Grandpa’s ranch, but they find new friends in the process.

Except for the first mystery, each of these books is Historical Fiction. The first one is just my history. . . although there was that great-great Grandpa who disappeared. .

All I Have Needed-A Legacy for Life is a collection of blog pieces I wrote sharing through stories and memories the legacy I received from my parents and grandparents. I was given an incredible gift in the adults God put in my life and this book is my way of honoring them. In addition it is a call for all of us to record our family stories.

To check out the sales click this
LINK to go to my bookstore page.

“Now What?”

Posted on December 6, 2020 by miriamjonesbradley_jd26km

A few years ago a friend asked me a question. “When you finish the Double Cousins Series you aren’t going to be one of those authors that grieve the loss of your characters are you?”

“Probably,” I answered, without a pause. After all, these kids have been “part of my life” since 1999. That’s longer than some of my nieces and nephews. I had no clue when I created Max, Carly, and the rest of the cousins, that they would become so special to me. But they are.

So, that brings up another question. Now that the series is complete, will I just sit around feeling sad?

Or, am I going to remember the question Grandma Jones always asked me when I called after a rejection, or a delay. “Now what?”

I think I’ll do that. So, what’s next? I’m so glad you asked! Here is a little bit of a sneak peek at some of the ideas in the queue.

First, I am writing a devotional to go with each of the Double Cousins books. These devotions will feature—you guessed it—Max, Carly, and the gang. They are intended to use alongside or independent of the books. I am quite excited about this project.
Next, I want to continue the Nearly Twins Mystery Series. This series is set in the South and the first book, The Nearly Twins and the Secret in the Mason Jar, was released in 2016. It is set in Saluda, NC. I have not decided, for sure, where the next mystery will be set but I am leaning toward either Elizabethton TN, or Linville/Crossnore NC.
Thirdly, I am planning a picture book telling a story about Grandpa Jones. This was my original dream when I started the writing life.
And finally, I have one more project that involves YOU! Last Spring, we presented the first Double Cousins Read Along on Facebook. In January, I will host another one. I’ve debated whether I should use the newest release, The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Sod Schoolhouse, or go with the second book and continue chronologically. After much thought, I’ve decided to stick with their order and do book two this time. So, in January, we will read The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Torn Map. I will release the dates soon, so stay tuned. If you don’t have this book, they are available online, through your local bookstore, or from me.

This week I worked hard to learn and successfully install a sign-up button on my website for both the blog and the newsletter. Go to MiriamJonesBradley.com and sign up!

I would love to hear from you in the comment section of the blog! Let me know which idea is your favorite and why.

A Moment to Bask in the Joy

Posted on December 1, 2020 by miriamjonesbradley_jd26km

A couple of weeks ago three boxes of the Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Sod Schoolhouse showed up on my porch. It was an exciting day, very exciting!

But, the excitement was tempered by the fact that I was still recovering from recent foot surgery. Now, however, my mind is kicking into gear and I’m ready to get excited about this. But, I’m a little befuddled.

After all, how on earth did I go from this:

To this?

I’m not kidding. The realization that I’ve written an entire mystery series—“kind of like Trixie Belden Mysteries, only Christian”, my lifelong dream—has me experiencing a bit of disbelief.

One day, when I was fretting about the fact that I needed to get cracking on marketing for this book, a good friend said this: “Maybe you should just take a moment and bask in the realization that you wrote an entire series.”

Indeed.

So, this morning my husband moved the three boxes of books off of the piano bench and into the guest bedroom so we could take the above photo. And I basked a little as I stood there gazing at the books.

The first book was a dream, something I honestly never thought I would finish. After all, I had a lot of dreams which I never completed.

But God.

God wouldn’t let me give up on this one. He used nieces, nephews, grandparents, writer friends, cousins, and my husband to push me ahead. And miracle of miracles, I finished it and we published it, just in time for Grandma Jones to see it before she went to heaven in 2009.

By then, I realized that I would have to write another book about Max and Carly. And another. And so it happened. But getting to my goal of seven? Not sure I really saw it happening. But, idea by idea, book by book, and word by word I kept going. And here I am eleven years later with a completed series.

The Double Cousins Mystery Series.

I’ve been reading a lot while recovering from surgery. I think I’ll pick up this series and read it from beginning to end. After all, it won’t hurt to bask a little more in what God helped me do.

The Double Cousins Mysteries are all available through the usual sources. To order directly from the author email me at miriamjonesbradley@gmail.com