Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (January 20, 2016)
Language: English
Jezabelle Jingle may be a strange name for a character. So is Rock Stone. They are two of the characters in the Penderghast Puzzle Protectors. Jezabelle,being the ring leader of the Penderghast Puzzle Protector sleuths, and Rock being a supporting character along with a few other neighbors who take center stage in the mystery.
It is a mystery to me when I start my book as to what I will name my characters. Occasionally I change the name in the middle of my books because the character surprises me with their antics and the name doesn't fit their personality.
I decided Jezabelle's last name had to be Jingle because I have a stuffed jester that was given to me when I was very young and I named him JingleBell Jack, because the person who gave him to me was Jack, and the stuffed clown had a bell on his pointed head. Now I didn't think Jezabelle should jingle, but you will find out in upcoming books why Jezabelle's last name was jingle and it was a name she chose for herself. She isn't a clown but she is not adverse to some clowning around with friends. She has a sensible but jingly mischievous personality.
Along with the names of my characters I often am asked whether the main characters in my books are like me. Granny from the Fuchsia Minnesota mysteries and Jezabelle, are both older women, although I never mention Granny's age. They both have different traits and they are both strong older women. In writing those characters I believe they are like the strong women that came before me in my life. My mom defied old age and thought there was nothing she couldn't do. She also had a good head on her shoulders and had the sense to figure out how to do what she wanted to do. She was a self-learner.
Where Granny is off-the-wall in her antics and sleuthing, Jezabelle is quiet, cunning and funny. But...no...I am not like them. I would like to have their strength, their silliness and their "I can do anything attitude." Perhaps I write my main characters to be who I would like to be as I age. I want to believe old age can defy the way society defines us.
Brilliant Minnesota is a fictional town different than my other fictional town, Fuchsia Minnesota. It has ties to Fuchsia but where Fuchsia is nonsensical, Brilliant is more staid, conforming and lives by some of the rules we live by in real life today. Both communities along with my characters are a little bit of a satire on how we live our lives today. Brilliant will evolve from the community the Brilliant Brothers built and the names that are alike, to a community more fitting to the new generation of people that now call it home. This new generation will embrace change but honor the history of the community while unraveling all the puzzles which were left by the Brilliant Brothers.
In real life we have a struggle in our smaller communities merging young ideas with old. We have problems with change and with us older people accepting change needs to happen because we are afraid our history will be wiped out.
The history in our communities brought us to where we are today. We need to honor the past and go forward into the future taking with us the wisdom of the older generation but embracing the new ideas of the younger generation.
My books are fictional, funny, mysterious –they are meant for people to retreat from the world for a short time and maybe–just maybe– a small spark of imagination can be brought back with them to create a world where imagination and sense can meld into one making it a better future for our children.
This first in a brand new series will keep you laughing and guessing until the very end. Fresh new cast of characters and a well developed story line you will be craving more. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more and seeing what Jezabelle will find herself into next.
About the Author:
Julie Seedorf is a Minnesotan. She calls dinner, supper, and lunch, dinner. She has had many careers over her lifetime but her favorite career was that as mother to her children. In later life she became a computer technician, opening her own business. In 2012 Julie signed a contract with Cozy Cat Press for her Fuchsia, Minnesota Series. Books included in that series are Granny Hooks a Crook, Granny Skewers A Scoundrel, Granny Snows A Sneak and Granny Forks A Fugitive.
Closing her computer business in January 2014 Julie has transitioned to becoming a full time writer adding free-lance work for various newspapers, along with continuing her column Something About Nothing, which is now in book form in a book of the same name released in early 2015. Her children’s series, Granny’s In Trouble gives her grandkids a hint of the young Grandma underneath the wrinkles.
Her books are light and fluffy and highlight the fact that in the midst of life we have to find the humor in bad situations to keep us going. “We all take ourselves too seriously and we need to have a little fun.” Julie secretly yearns to be like the Granny characters in her books.
In February 2016 the first book in the Brilliant Minnesota Series was released titled the Penderghast Puzzle Protectors. She also is part of a group mystery by Cozy Cat Press Authors titled “Chasing the Codex.” Julie’s serious side is revealed in a story included in the Anthology, We Go On – Anthology for Veterans where the proceeds will go to Veteran’s Charities.
Visit her website at http://www.julieseedorf.com. Her blog http://sprinklednotes is a little scattered like Granny but lends itself to wisdom and occasional flip flops about life.
You will also find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/julie.seedorf.author and on Twitter at julieseedorf@julieseedorf and her character Granny has her own Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/GrannyFromFuchsiaMinnesota. Enjoy the moments; they may carry you through a lifetime.
Author Links
http://julieseedorf.com
http://sprinklednotes.com
http://www.facebook.com/julie.seedorf.author
http://twitter.com/julieseedorf
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6556799.Julie_Seedorf
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Thank you Shelley, It is always a pleasure to be here. And thank you for the kind words about my book.
ReplyDeleteI'm so anxious to meet Jezebelle----such a great name for a cozy character.
ReplyDeleteI am very interested in a print copy of this book...when the iPad won't turn on, I'll have a book to read. Thanks!
ReplyDeletekat8762@aol.com
Sounds like an interesting story. Like to get
ReplyDeletein on the beginning of a series.
thanks.
This sounds like such a fun read. I'm looking forward to reading.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such a fun read. I'm looking forward to reading.
ReplyDelete