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Category: Blog

A mug with homemade pumpkin spice latte
Blog

How to Make the BEST Oatmilk Pumpkin Spice Latte at Home

I am not ashamed to admit that I love a good Pumpkin Spice Latte. What I do not like, however, is the $8 price tag at Starbucks. That's right, $8! The upcharge for Oatmlk pushes the drink over what is already a steep price to pay. I've been on a mission to make a PSL at home that rivals the coffee shop version–without using store-bought syrup. If you're like me

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"Books may well be the one true magic."
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75+ Inspiring Quotes to Ignite Your Literary Passion

75+ Inspiring Quotes to Ignite Your Literary Passion Screens dominate our lives, right? But for me, reading is still the thing that brings me the most joy. I know I’m not alone. The timeless joy of reading will always be an unparalleled source of knowledge, escape, and inspiration. Are you a voracious bookworm? A casual reader? Either way, there’s something truly magical about immersing yourself in the world of books,

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The cover of The Bibliomancer's Daughter on an ereader with a Christmas theme
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Fill your eReader with 5 free books from 5 Authors!

One of the best things about being a writer is being able to give away books to readers. That’s what Emma Jameson, Tonya Kappes, Daryl Wood Gerber, Emma Jameson, and I have done this week with our Christmas in July event. So fill your eReader with 5 free books from 5 Authors! It runs from July 16-20, 2024! Make sure to grab all 5 books while they’re free! Tuesday, July

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The Best Italian Chopped Quinoa Salad
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The Best Italian Chopped Quinoa Salad

I haven't always loved salads, but when I started making them like this everything changed. Why? Because they're pretty darn good. Loaded with veg, flavorful, and colorful, it's a feast for the gut, eyes, and tastebuds. The triple whammy. The trifecta.This is one of my favorites. It'll go in a book at some point, but I'm not sure which one yet. Stay tuned for that. Quinoa adds a really nice

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Three iterations of Murder in Devil's Cove, book cover
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As an Author, When Do You Know it’s Time to Change your Book Covers?

Deciding to change your book covers can be a tough decision, but it may be necessary if your books aren’t selling. That’s a dilemma I faced recently with a single title. Read about that decision HERE. Conventional wisdom says you need to look at three things if your book isn’t selling: The Story–is it the best it can be…and is it GOOD? The Title–does it capture the reader’s interest and

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Christmas Cozy Mysteries
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Christmas Cozy Mysteries to Keep Your Spirits Bright

Do you love Christmas-themed mysteries? I have three of them for you from three different series. Whether you like capers, cozies, or sleuths of a certain age, you’ll love these books. Check ’em out! God Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman (A Foxy Ladies Mystery) In the picturesque coastal island town of Devil’s Cove, four spirited older women – Hattie, Maude, Cricket, and Lemon – find themselves wrapped up in a holiday

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Free mystery books
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Five FREE Books, this week only!

I love giving back to my readers. One way to do that is to offer my books FREE. This week I got together with four other authors, and each of us is giving away a free book! Free the week’s November 13-17, 2023. The Books Living the Vida Lola, by Melissa Bourbon (me!) Spying in High Heels, by Gemma Halliday Christmas, Criminals, and Campers, by Tonya Kappes Fields’ Guide to

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Four holiday books to put you in the spirit: Deadly Patterns, A Murder Yule Regret, Lola Baby, and God Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman at MelissaBoubon.com
Blog

Unwrap the magic of Christmas with cozy mysteries!

Unwrap the magic of Christmas with these cozy mysteries! They will definitely help you get into the holiday spirit with festive tales of sleuths, snow, and surprises. Christmas Cozies. Is there anything better? I’d venture to say that, no, there definitely isn’t. I’ve written four Christmas cozies and I adore each one. each one is from a different series. God Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman, a Foxy Ladies Mystery Get ready

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Pleating for Mercy, book one in the Magical Dressmaking mystery series on sale for 99 ¢
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Pleating for Mercy is 99¢!

Yep, yep, to celebrate the release of Bobbin for Answers, this magical cozy mystery with sewing, a goat, and a ghost is on sale for 99¢.   About the Book When her great-grandmother passes away, Harlow Jane Cassidy leaves her job as a Manhattan fashion designer and moves back to Bliss, Texas. But when she opens a dressmaking boutique in the turn-of-the-century farmhouse she inherited, Harlow senses an inexplicable “presence”.

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The after photo of Love, Lies, and Lousy Exes
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When to Change the Title and Cover of a Book

When to Change the Cover or Title of a Book One of the tricky parts of being an indie author is knowing when to change the cover or title of a book. Of course, the fact that you can make that change fairly easily is a huge plus. Conventional wisdom says that if a book isn’t selling, it’s either the cover, the title, or the story itself. I trust that

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Five free books by five Cozy Mystery authors: Melissa Bourbon, Tonya Kappes, Trixie Silvertale, Stella Bixby, Amy Boyles
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Five Days of FREE Cozy Mysteries from Five Mystery Authors

When you love Cozy Mysteries, you love Cozy Mysteries, so how about a giveaway of five Cozy Mysteries from five bestselling authors? That’s what is happening this week. On Monday, get Pleating for Mercy, by Melissa Bourbon. On Tuesday, the free cozy mystery is Fixin’ to Die, by Tonya Kappes. Wednesday brings you Fries & Alibis, by Trixie Silvertale. Thursday get Downward Death by Stella Bixby. And end the week

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A bookshelf, a mini sofa, a wicker ottoman in a sunroom filled with light
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Create your own Personal Cozy Reading Space

Do you want to discover the essential elements of a cozy reading corner? If you’re an avid reader like me, then you probably do. Y’all, I crave reading time. I also crave peace and coziness. That doesn’t always happen because, like most people, my life is super busy. Discovering the essential elements of a cozy reading corner and creating my own personal space where I can escape into the world

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VM Burns, Michael Falco, Traci Hall, Melissa Bourobn, Winnie Archer, Krista Davis, Darci Hall, Lynn Cahoon, Carlene O'Connor
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A Peek of Life as an Author with Events and Signings

Valerie Burns, Michael Falco, Traci Hall, Melissa Bourbon, Krista Davis, Darci Hannah, Lynn Cahoon, Carlene O’Connor Have you ever wondered what life is like as an author with events and signings? That’s what I’m sharing about today…a peek behind the author curtain. I recently attended author events in Wisconsin and South Carolina. And let me tell you, events like these are huge perks to being an author. Going places where

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Four images of Woo Young-Woo and the words 'Oh How I love you, Extraordinary Attorney Woo'
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As a Writer, this is Why I Love Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Listen to the Podcast Episode I did about Attorney Woo’s Hero’s Journey. As a Writer, there are so many reasons to love Extraordinary Attorney Woo. First and foremost, she is a hero. She is. Truly. A bonafide hero. And as a writer, I can’t get enough of her. In case you’ve missed this phenomenal show, here’s the summary from ENA/Netflix: Attorney Woo (Woo Young-Woo) is an extraordinary attorney who has Autistic

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Wednesday Addams holding an umbrella
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The Depth and Appeal of Wednesday Addams in 21 Quotes

Wednesday Addams is a Cultural Icon Have you discovered the depth and appeal of Wednesday Addams (in 21 quotes!) in the new Netflix show, Wednesday? Jenna Ortega brings new layers to the iconic character and has made her even more of a cultural icon than she already was. Ahhh, Wednesday. She is morose. Pale. She has dark hair, usually braided. She wears black dresses and tights and comes across as

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Animal Research in Cozy Mystery Books

Life as a Writer Being a writer has its quiet moments when you’re holed up in a room with your computer and your imagination, painting pictures with words. But there are other times when writers get to go out into the field and do research. When I was writing the first book in my Harlow Cassidy Magical Dressmaking series, Pleating for Mercy, I knew I wanted to add an animal.

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The Memories and Emotions of September

Download the September Quotes! ⬇︎ 🍂🍁 September Quotes 🍁🍂 The Memories and Emotions of September For me, the nostalgia, memories, and emotions September brings are visceral. When September 1st hits, I feel a shift in myself. I experience an emotional charge. In fact, more than any other month or season, September makes me reminisce about my childhood. It makes me yearn for the specific feelings I experienced during that season

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Reading and Bookish Quotes

I love bookish quotes. My life revolves around reading, so it makes sense! Visit this page to grab, enjoy, and share. “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.” ~Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis A child who reads will be an adult who thinks.                            ~Unknown I cannot remember the

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Blog

Painting Book Covers on Bricks

I love books. I love art. I love painting. This is my fun creative outlet…painting book covers on bricks! Come back to see what’s next. https://melissabourbon.com/wp-content/uploads/TheSecretGardenPaintedBrick.movhttps://melissabourbon.com/wp-content/uploads/NancyDrewPaintedonBrick.mov

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