Catching up
May 10, 2023 by Tari Jewett in category Charmed Writer by Tari Lynn Jewett, Writing tagged as catching upYou may have noticed…or not, that I’ve been somewhat absent this year. It’s been a year of dramatic change, which isn’t over yet, and we’re now ten months into our year of Milo. Milo being our two-year-old grandson, that we unexpectedly stayed in California to spend time with. You should know that every time I say his name, or write it, I smile. Yes, I’m smiling now.
I thought I’d get at least some writing done this year, you know, in the early morning hours, or maybe late at night, like I did when our three boys were young, but it hasn’t worked like. Well, I did write one short story #DumpsterFireLove, while recovering from my tummy tuck (yes, I did this) in October, and Love & Mud Puddles, a Christmas romcom, was released in November, but beyond that, while my intentions were good, these months have truly been all about Milo (smiling). And nothing could have made me happier.
And nothing could have been better for me!
Writer’s can’t just sit behind their desk conjuring words out of thin air, we have to experience life in order to write about it. Spending time with a toddler again, seeing his sense of wonder at every new thing…which is nearly everything, because, well, he’s two, has brought back my own sense of wonder. His joy when he sees purple flowers, a big yellow school bus, or a pinecone has reminded me to see the things that are right in front of me, and his little arms around my neck, nose kisses, and sweet pats on the back have softened my heart, and reminded me what the world should be. What I want it to be for him.
I’ve had new experiences apart from Milo (smiling). Preparing for a move to what feels like a whole new world, the Arizona desert, a personal transformation that is not yet complete, and a year of living in an apartment…which I had only done for one year previously, the year I was eighteen.
My last day taking care of Milo, at least regularly, will be May 25th. I’ll be having one more surgery, (two knee replacements and a tummy tuck over the last 3 years so far) one I’ve wanted for a long time, then after recovery, Hunky Hubby will be retiring, and we’ll be off to Arizona where I’ll be settling into a new life, writing, and living for video chats and occasional visits with Milo (teary eyed smiling).
What will I be writing? I plan on finishing…at long last…my 1920’s novel, and maybe writing a little Route 66 romcom series. In the meantime, I’m treasuring these last days with Milo, purple flowers and pinecones (we collect them).
Would love to catch up with all of you! What have I missed this year? Tell me in the comments…or message me!
0 1 Read moreImperfect Date-#DumpsterFireLove
February 10, 2023 by Tari Jewett in category Charmed Writer by Tari Lynn Jewett, Writing tagged as #dimpsterfirelove, imperfect date, new releaseWhat happens when a girl meets a guy over a literal dumpster fire? #HeartsAblaze. My latest story in the #HermosafortheHolidays series released Tuesday in the Imperfect Date collection with a total of 22 stories by some amazing authors!
The story was really fun for me to write. It was great to be back in my make-believe Hermosa Beach with all of the characters that I now feel are my friends. The hero in this story is Rob Greer, who you might remember from #12DancingSantas. I had so many people ask me for a story for Rob, that when the opportunity came up to write for this collection, I thought it was Rob’s turn.
I had so much fun writing this story! And just an insiders note. Knight, Cassie’s dog, is really our family pet, Knight. He’s been gone for a few years and I miss him terribly, so this was a way to spend some time with him again. There’s a scene in the book from real life. When we got Knight, we lived in Wyoming and he had lots of open space. We brought him to California where we lived in a townhouse for a few years with no yard. I won’t tell you anymore, but the scene is both funny…and a little sad, and I had to include it in the story.
Here’s the Blurb for #DumpsterFireLove.
So you think your love life is a #dumpsterfire…
Cassie Harper’s first day as a teacher starts with a dumpster fire, her longtime boyfriend dumps her, then she’s kidnapped by a couple of her new colleagues who insist they’re trying to protect her. Now the whole town has her set up with the hunky fireman who put out the dumpster fire.
Rob Greer is on his way home from work when he spots a dumpster fire at Beachwood Elementary School. The new teacher, is trying to put it out with her water bottle. She’s cute, and he’d love to ask her out, but when a photo of them putting out the fire together goes viral, things get complicated.
Can a dumpster fire set two hearts ablaze? Will social media fan the flames, or dampen the embers? Only chocolate, wine…and new girlfriends can help her now!
This story and all of the stories in the book are a perfect way to spend your Valentine’s week! Hope you’ll check out Imperfect Date!
Hope you have a little romance in your Valentine’s week (you can always find it in a book)!
2 1 Read moreHappy 2023
January 10, 2023 by Tari Jewett in category Charmed Writer by Tari Lynn Jewett, Writing tagged as new release, romantic comedyHappy 2023 Everyone!
This year promises major changes for Hunky Hubby and me. The first half of the year I’m watching our 21-month-old grandson full time, which, of course, means that little writing will be done! I’m okay with this…more than okay. I never expected this time with Milo, and I couldn’t have been given a better gift. My daughter-in-law is a preschool teacher, so once he turns two, he’ll head to school with her. It’ll be hard to let him go. Milo loves books, just like his grandmother, and my favorite part of the day is when he brings me a book to read to him.
Then, in July, about the time Milo goes off to preschool with his mom, Hunky Hubby retires. He’s worked hard as long as I’ve known him, and I’m excited for retirement, although he’s already talking about his next job, lol. Not sure how much of a retirement it will really be.
Speaking of hunks, I do have a little writing news. For those of you who have read the #HermosafortheHolidays series, I have a bonus story releasing in the Imperfect Date anthology. Many of you asked for a story for Rob, a fireman in #12DancingSantas. So, when the opportunity to write a romcom to be published in an anthology with this amazing group of authors, I jumped at the chance to tell Rob’s story. #DumpsterFireLove is one of the twenty-two stories, by fabulous romcom authors in this collection that drops on February 7th, just in time to curl up with a fire in the fireplace, and a glass of wine, or an electric blanket and a cup of cocoa, and get all of the romantic Valentine’s feels. I hope you’ll check it out! You can preorder now for just $2.99 at Amazon!
For more updates on my books, recipes from the stories, and more sign up for my newsletter!
In the meantime, what are your plans for 2023? I’d love to know!
What’s on your holiday to do list?
December 10, 2022 by Tari Jewett in category Writing tagged as Book Release, christmas cookies, Christmas list
The holiday countdown has begun! Are you ready? Just 15 days until Christmas and 8 until the start of Hanukah. I’m nearly there. My Christmas shopping is finished. Our tree is up, and we’ve done a little decorating, although most of our decorations are in Arizona. The little apartment we’ve rented in California for Paul until he retires is where we decorated…that’s where the grandchildren will be. And, while I’ll be baking cookies for my family, I won’t be on a huge baking binge this year…and I’m trying to bake healthier.
HOWEVER…for many years, there have been places that I could only go at Christmas with a platter of cookies. Baking cookies has been a Christmas tradition for me, since I got my first apartment at 18 years old. I tried to add a new cookie to my repertoire every year
Some of the cookies on my list included:
- Applesauce Fruitcake bars– my alternative to fruit cake
- Butterballs– aka snowballs, Mexican Wedding Cakes, Russian Tea balls
- Candy Cane Cookies– ala Martha Stewarts Christmas book page 41
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cinnamon Swirls
- Double Chocolate Thumbprints- recently renamed Mud Puddles – this recipe is my own, and it’s printed in the story Love and Mud Puddles.
- Frost on the pumpkin cookies
- Magic Cookie Bars
- Oatmeal Craisin cookies
- Orange Glazed Carrot Cookies…this recipe has a story to it, and if you sign up for my newsletter, you’ll get the recipe and the story!
- Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
- Snickerdoodles
- Sour Cream Cookies
- Spritz Cookies
- Sugar Cookies…or as we call them cut-out cookies
- Thumbprint
There are more, but you get the idea…I bake cookies. One year I made over 200 dozen cookies…but that’s another story. For this year. I’ll bake a few of my family’s favorites, and some new healthier cookies that I’m hoping will become new traditions.
So, it’s perfectly fitting for me to write a Christmas romcom about cookie baking. Love and Mud Puddles released on November 30th, and it’s available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble I hope you’ll check it out. And don’t forget that I have another Christmas romcom #12DancingSantas…if you’re in the mood for holiday romance.
I’ve shared many of the recipes on the cookie list above in my Facebook group Tari Lynn & Friends. So, if you’d like them please join us, and you can join in the rest of the fun as well!
I have another story releasing in the Imperfect Date Collection in February, it’s available for preorder now! …and I can’t wait to tell you more about that!
For now, Happy Holidays to all of you and your families, and I’d love to hear what you’re baking this season!! (And if you don’t bake and just eat them, that’s okay too.)
0 0 Read moreTari Lynn Jewett: Featured Author
November 21, 2022 by Tari Jewett in category Charmed Writer by Tari Lynn Jewett, Featured Author of the Month tagged as #Charmed Writers, #FireworksintheFog, #HeromsaForTheHolidays, #PleaseSayYes, Love and Mud Puddles, romantic comedy, Tari Lynn Jewett
Tari Lynn Jewett lives in Southern California with her husband of nearly thirty years (also known as Hunky Hubby). They have three amazing sons, a board game designer, a sound engineer and a musician, all who live nearby. For over fifteen years she wrote freelance for magazines and newspapers, wrote television commercials, radio spots, numerous press releases, and many, MANY PTA newsletters. As much as she loved writing those things, she always wanted to write fiction . . . and now she is.
She also believes in happily ever after . . . because she’s living hers.
Tari’s newest title is Love and Mud Puddles, available now for pre-order. The book will be released on November 30, 2022.
Hannah loves her accounting job, the condo that she purchased herself, and her best friend Melinda. What she doesn’t love is baking. To be fair, she’s never tried. But when her cousin shames her into bringing homemade cookies to the family Christmas Eve celebration, she begins a quest to make the perfect holiday cookie.
Paramedic Josh also occasionally teaches kids’ cookie baking classes at his family’s bakery. When a beautiful accountant mistakenly signs up for a children’s holiday baking class, he realizes immediately that she’s in the right place.
Can this local hero help to save Hannah’s Christmas? Or will it all go up in smoke?
Tari’s other Books
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EMERALD FIRE
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