I know, I know!! It's mid-August! Heat, humidity, beach or pool time -- who can think about Christmas now? But Halloween candy is already on the store shelves, and I'm sure some retailers have candy canes and wreaths, cards and wrapping paper, even trees, all ready to set up for displays.

And I'm trying to get myself into the "Christmas Spirit" in this hot summer, writing HAVE YOURSELF A BEARY LITTLE MURDER. Don't you **LOVE** the title? I have to thank the Kensington editors for that. And I have to admit it's easier than I thought, scrolling through photos of the local parade of lights, the Santa Clauses, the decorations, the cookies... OH, THE COOKIES!!! I did gain a pound just looking at them all. Mmmm.

I've got a juicy murder planned, lots of interesting characters besides Sasha, her sister Maddie, their parents, Uncle Ross, Aunt Eve -- Mary Kate, Elle, Detective Mason, his new assistant, Flynn and his new flame, plus Jay Kirby and Santa Bear. And some troublesome villagers. There's something about the holidays that bring out the best (and worst) in people. I could call this book "Three Funerals and a Wedding" (shh, it's a secret), but Christmas takes the cake. Er, the theme.

ENJOY the rest of your summer! STAY COOL, because cooler weather IS coming!

Happy Fall, y'all!!

I had a great time at Malice Domestic last weekend in Bethesda, Maryland! Malice is a "reader and author" convention, in case you're not aware of it, with authors being nominated for the prestigious Agatha Awards, panels with historical and cozy authors explaining their books, mystery tropes, characters, etc., and plenty of other neat things. Below is my panel, Main Street Investigates, with Robin Agnew of Aunt Agatha's Mystery Bookshop as moderator.

Louise Penny (!!) was the Guest of Honor, who writes the wonderful Inspector Gamache series set in Quebec. I'm such a fan of her books! She was gracious enough to take a photo with anyone who wanted one. She was also interviewed and gave a wonderful speech at the Awards banquet.

Every registrant gets a tote bag packed with free books and the latest Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock, and Mystery Scene magazines, plus the Malice Domestic convention magazine; there's swag to check out in the Hospitality Suite, a vendor room with books (new and used) for sale, plus jewelry and often clothing, both a live auction and a silent auction of items donated by authors -- the proceeds are donated to a charity. Below is the "Michigan Cozy" tote bag that included my items (teddy bear, chocolate, towel, mug, notepad, signed book) plus Sharon Farrow's Berry Basket books and items.

This year, Kensington and Midnight Ink publishers gave out free books and had their authors available to sign them. That was fun!! We Kensington authors all had a taste of what bestselling authors feel like with swarms of people wanting autographs that morning.

Malice Domestic also publishes an anthology of short stories -- this year, Murder Most Geographical -- with great selections, and a signing by most of the authors also takes place Friday night after the auction. Here's my friend Eleanor Cawood Jones signing her story, "Keep Calm and Love Moai", which entails her journey to Easter Island.

Agatha Award winners were announced at the banquet, and we had more panels Sunday morning with a delightful afternoon tea. Here's a few more photos - I'm with the Sleuths in Time authors in the group photo, and had a wonderful time overall. I also took the opportunity to sign books at the Fairfax, VA, Barnes and Noble where Bearly Departed is a Staff Recommendation!

AND my next book is coming out this month! Bear Witness to Murder is available for pre-order!!

CLICK either Amazon or Barnes and Noble -- THANK YOU!

I'll be hosting several giveaways in May and June, so keep checking my Facebook page! Spring has sprung at last, so enjoy the wonderful weather after such a bad winter.

Happy New Year!

It's 2018, and I just finished sending my page proofs for BEAR WITNESS TO MURDER, coming in late May of this year from Kensington Books. Here's the cover -- click here to PRE-ORDER!

What's the book about? Well, it has some fun events in Silver Hollow, like the Oktobear Fest -- kicking off with Sasha and Maddie's Cran-beary Tea Party at a new tea room in the village. There's also Bears on Parade -- the bears are resin and fiberglass sculptures, painted and decorated, which don't parade around, since the visitors do the parading. Maddie's design was chosen, The Polka Bear, along with several other artists including Sasha's new flame, woodcarver Jay Kirby.

But of course, there's also mayhem and murder! Sasha's rival from high school, Holly Parker, brings a heap of trouble to the village -- and like the poor bear on the cover, Sasha's peaceful world tumbles. While cozy mysteries always end with justice, murder still takes its toll on everyone.

Don't miss out on Sasha Silverman's latest adventure in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear cozy mysteries!

So what is next on my writing schedule? Since I'm also one-half of the D.E. Ireland team, my friend and I will be returning to With a Little Bit of Blood which is coming out this April. Yes, you heard that right! We're almost halfway through, and it should be another great historical mystery featuring the clever Eliza Doolittle and the irascible Professor Higgins as an amateur sleuthing team.

So far, TWO books in that series have been nominated for Agatha Awards -- book 1, Wouldn't It Be Deadly, and Get Me to the Grave On Time, book 3. We're hoping book 4 will entertain fans with a fun "country estate" romp that includes intrigue, murder, and mystery in late 1913.

If you're like me and love G.B. Shaw's Pygmalion and My Fair Lady, where we take his fascinating characters and extend them into a historical mystery series, check out our books by clicking here.

So if you're not enjoying the cold, snowy, frigid January weather, stay warm by curling up to a cozy fireplace with a few good books! I'll be reading a few MONK books by author Hy Conrad, Old Scores by Will Thomas, and several cozies on my Kindle. Whatever you do this winter, STAY WARM!

Meg

Who can resist a teddy bear? I dare you to walk past a bin full of soft, cuddly teddies without stopping. Which I couldn't do. And then, when I saw the price... TEN DOLLARS????? REALLY? Like, WOW. Not a bad price. Hmm. Kind of big. The bigger one was $25, and way too big to sit in my green chair. He seemed a little plain, though. Gray or Brown? Girl or boy? Definitely a boy. I chose this one.

Needless to say, I need a name for him. Think I'll start a bear-naming contest once he gets a little spiffed up. Someone mentioned him needing a bow-tie. So that's coming soon.

He seems very comfy. Laid-back. Quiet. Enjoying the baseball playoffs, too.

By the way, Book 2's cover is now REVEALED!! and I am very pleased with it. Here it is! It's so DARN ADORABLE, with the vampire bear in the window, the clown bear, and that poor little pumpkin bear taking a tumble. And I do looooove puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurple. NICE!

Want to pre-order it? CLICK HERE! And Happy Halloween, too!

I'm on deadline for delivering Book 2, Bear Witness to Murder, and in two weeks, Bearly Departed will hit the shelves! Exciting times. But just FYI - I will be starting a newsletter in the coming months.

I'll try to keep readers updated with crafts, other cozy books I've enjoyed, and a few recipes, plus photos of my favorite bears.

Subscribe via my website's contact form! And thanks.

Meg Macy

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So how would you find out your BEAROSCOPE? First, choose a bear featured on the cover here -- and then leave a comment below with your name and the bear. Then we will reply with your "bearoscope" -- which should match your personality. Does it WORK? Yes, indeed!

The day of the cover reveal, I mentioned how the panda is my favorite -- due to my daughter. We named her Amanda, and several people gave her pandas. We also took her as a young toddler to the Toledo Zoo to see the pandas from China back in 198-- um... well, let's not go there. Amanda is now quite old enough to drive herself to the zoo, ha!

Anyway, my editor sent me this bearoscope:

"You are a very distinctive personality with a strong visual aesthetic. You have the ability to look past the obvious and appreciate subtle grace and elegance. You are an artist at heart. You do not feel the need necessarily to follow the pack. You are loving and generous, and you love being surrounded by friends and family."

If I say so myself, I have to agree with my bearoscope. Especially the artist at heart bit. I had to give up my art to write full-time, but it's still something I'm going to find time to do again. Some day. For now, here's a sweet illustration I did long ago called Beary Potter.

HAPPY READING, all! Next spring, Bearly Departed will hit the shelves! I'm already excited.

Love cozy mysteries? Love teddy bears? Then you will LOVE this new series from Kensington Books! Here's a bit more about it...

As manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory, thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well, except for the part about being a single divorcee with a ticking biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that’s just kid’s stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who’s set on making drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch . . .

But before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from shock, Sasha’s hit with more bad news—police suspect her hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle would never do such a thing, and she’s launching her own little investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will’s biggest rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can’t get too comfy—or she’ll become the next plaything for a killer . . .

WATCH THE COVER REVEAL OF MY NEWEST BOOK at 2 PM EST on Friday, September 9th! Which just happens to be National Teddy Bear Day. ow.ly/FwcY303YUqW

The Silver Bear Shop & Factory in Silver Hollow, Michigan, might be the cutest place around, but there’s nothing warm and fuzzy about murder . . .

COMING IN JUNE of 2017!! The Shamelessly Adorable Cozy Mystery series from Kensington Books

HELP!

This bear was my mom's and sat on a small rocking chair in her living room.

She is a sweet bear and is dressed for High Tea.

I would love suggestions for a proper name for her. Please leave a comment!

THANKS.

Meg

Some people love today. Others loathe it. Oh come on, have a sense of humor! Can't you hear people saying that to you? But being the butt of a joke can be downright unfunny. Who thought up a silly day like today?

Well, it could come from ancient Rome, whose citizens celebrated "Hilaria" on March 25th, with mocking others - including government officials - and playing games or masks. The arrival of spring always gives a sense of "renewal" and why not have fun after a long, dreary winter?

It's also possible that the Catholic Church had a hand in the fun, with its "Feast of Fools" on or around January 1st during medieval times. People in England and France dressed in costumes, with the lowborn appearing as kings or queens as well as the reverse, leading animals into churches, hanging paper tails on people. And then Pope Gregory XIII issued a decree in the late 1500s about adopting a standard calendar in Christian countries. The old Julian one was replaced by the Gregorian one - moving the new year from the end of March to the first of January. Hey, not everyone found out via the Internet or Facebook in those days! So the people who kept "feasting the fools" were called “April fools.” Or some such nonsense.

In France, it was great fun to slap a paper fish on friends' backs and yell "Poisson d'Avril"! Oh, sure. Real fun. I suppose it's better than "Kick Me", but still.

The first documented "prank" was in 1698, when the Tower of London posted a sign. No joke! Oh, there were lions in the menagerie. But no washing.

Over the years, more and more people got into the "game" of pranks -- here's a website with the TOP TEN APRIL FOOL'S JOKES OF ALL TIME. There's actually 100, but I figured you'll be so busy with pulling your own pranks you only have time to read ten. If you're fooling around today (get it?), then check them all out - like Alabama changing the value of Pi, finding the body of Nessie, the comic strip switcheroo, flying penguins, canned unicorn meat, Big Ben going digital, Viagra for hamsters, and the Swiss mountain cleaners. HA. Great list. You can't make this stuff up.

The video below, the "Swiss Spaghetti Harvest", actually was shown on a BBC news show in 1957.