Pond’s Postcard #4
Hello!
Welcome.
I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome all the new members to my newsletter. The best part of collecting email addresses of contacts at various events: I’ve gotten to meet each and every one of you.
“Sage’s Bluff”
The third book in the Pond Investigations Mystery series is well underway. For those of you who don’t know, I’m a little old school in my approach to writing my first draft. I write by hand with my favorite pen and journals in the wee early morning hours. My poor family wakes up to discover me fully caffeinated and scribbling away on most mornings. You can imagine the result. I’m spouting off about things my characters said, and crimes being committed while my husband is staggering around the kitchen trying to pour his first cup.
Dyslexia
At the Abilene Comic Con in May, I had a lot of conversations with many people. There was a recurring theme to these conversations: Dyslexia. While I do not have dyslexia, I am fascinated by the various ways people deal with it. The one I’ve seen firsthand is the use of colored overlays. Different colors help different people. Sometimes, different colors help people with letters versus numbers. Others listen to audiobooks. I spoke with a reader at the convention who told me that Kindle’s offer a dyslexia font. As it was explained to me, the bottom of each letter is a little heavier, making it easier for the person with dyslexia to read. Isn’t that fascinating? Naturally, I had to do a bit of research on this dyslexia font option and found a website to guide you through changing the fonts on the Kindle. Here’s the link: https://dyslexiaa2z.com/did-you-know-the-kindle-has-a-dyslexic-font-on-it/
If one method doesn’t work for you, try another. Here’s to hoping you find the tool (or font) that works best for you!
Mystery Writer Newsletters
As one of the many students of Ellie Alexander’s Author Academy course, I’ve made some good writing friends over the past few years. Our friendship has moved from online in the course to supporting each other in our writing endeavors (whether they be traditional or independent publishing).
I’d like to introduce you to a couple of new authors, also co-founders of our “Bookish Besties & More” Facebook group.
Tish Bouvier, author of her debut cozy mystery, “Knot Before You Enter” (coming out in September 2025), has a newsletter called “Get the Scoop”. Sign up on her website: https://tishbouvier.com/
Luzann Falin, another new author, is working on her website and newsletter (coming soon). Sign up on her website: https://www.luzannfalin.com/
Libraries & Hardcovers
After a conversation with a local librarian, soon my books will be available in hardcover as well as paperback. The librarian told me that libraries prefer to buy books in hardcover because they last longer.
Libraries have played a big part in my life, whether it be a large public library with many levels or a colorful bookmobile. No matter what the option available to me, my first community-related activity whenever I’ve moved to a new area has always been to get a library card.
Check out your local library. You’ll be amazed at the variety of activities, books, and online resources that will be available to you. Libraries aren’t just for books anymore.
Robert E. Howard Museum
Last weekend, my family and I took a short drive to visit the nearby town of Cross Plains, Texas. Cross Plains was the home of one of the most famous pulp fiction writers in the 1920s to 1930s. Robert E. Howard was the writer of the Conan stories. There are many other fascinating characters to his credit, but Conan is undoubtedly the most famous. In 1989, a community group was able to buy his family home and turn it into a museum. This group has done a fantastic job of preserving his history. While not all the furniture is original to the house, they’ve worked hard at being period-specific by their choices. A couple of years ago, they were given the original table that Robert E. Howard used to write his stories and pound away on his typewriter. (Note: the typewriter in the picture was not his, but it was resting on his table.)
Have a great day!
Jenni
Pond’s Postcard #3
Hello!
Happy Birthday
Yes, you read that image correctly. Today, March 18th, is Liz Pond and her best friend, Pam Whitlow’s birthday! Can you imagine how much fun it would be to share your birthday with your lifelong best friend?
Here’s some behind-the-scenes trivia for you: as you may have guessed, I’ve had a little fun with my main character. First, with her name. Liz’s full name is Elizabeth Susan Pond: E. S. P. Second, besides sharing her birthday with her best friend, she also shares it with the famous sleeping psychic, Edgar Cayce.
Death is in the Cards
The new installment in the Pond Investigations Mystery series is out and selling. From the feedback I’ve been receiving, it’s also a fun, fast read around the world. The first few days it was out, I watched as people read my first book, Mad Money & Murder, on Kindle Unlimited and then immediately jump over to read Death is in the Cards. Then Sunday night, I’m on the phone with my mother-in-law who told me she read it within three days. One night she sat up reading until 1:30am because she didn’t want to put it down. I know for a fact that she was reading it in the car on the way home after she got her copy.
I never dreamed in all the years I spent writing story ideas, attempting to write books, that when I did, they’d fit into a very special category: Hard to put down. It’s a pretty amazing feeling.
Excuse me, is your wife the writer?
If you didn’t see my post online, we had a pretty exciting time at our local post office recently. We’re inside, standing in line, when the woman in front of us turns around and asks me, “What’s that on your shirt?” Well, in my own brand of marketing, I was wearing my Pond Investigations Mysteries T-shirt. You could have knocked her over with a feather when I told her I’m a mystery writer. While we talked and I answered her questions, my husband ran to the car to get her one of our handouts. On his way back inside, he was flagged down by a man who called out to him, “Excuse me, is your wife the writer?” His family had come by our booth at an event last November and bought a copy of my book for his teenage daughter. They wanted to ask about buying the next one. I tell you, my husband looked pretty proud when he came back inside to tell me.
Sage’s Bluff
The outline is nearly complete for Sage’s Bluff. I have all my notes and character sheets together. I have a small list of locations to research. And now to finish typing up the outline. I don’t know about other writers, but I have an easier time getting the outline down when I can see it play out in my head like a movie. All last week, I was chipping away at bits and pieces, then the weekend hit. It was like my brain said, “It’s showtime!” The story just poured out of me onto paper. I wasn’t even 100% sure how this book was going to end. The mystery part, sure. But not the ending of the book. Until yesterday morning. I can’t wait to get these last few ducks in a row so I can get back to work on the first draft.
Bookish Besties & More
A few friends and I have created a Facebook group called “Bookish Besties & More” (link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/568733389522715/). Find us on Facebook and click to join. Answer a few questions, read the rules, and we’ll handle the rest. It’s for writers and readers. Come on in and join the fun!
All the admins are writers, either published (like myself) or about to be published (like Tish Bouvier). We’re all at different phases of the writing process. If you want to write, I think even a few minutes in this group will get you going. It’s still new, but we’re having a lot of fun. And we all love books!
Interview
Shortly before Christmas, I was interviewed by Loretta Fulton for Abilene Scene magazine. The entire magazine is to be read online. I have to say, seeing myself in a magazine was surreal. Here’s a direct link to the article (link: https://dashboard.mazsystems.com/webreader/86947?page=14).
That’s it for now! Keep an eye out for a bonus Pond’s Postcard, when all the details are ironed out for our next event in Lubbock!
Have a great day!
Jenni
Pond’s Postcard #2
Hello!
Exciting News!
Yes, the time is here. “Death is in the Cards” releases this week! Because of Amazon’s release method, it’s officially available Monday, February 17th, 2025, at 6pm CST (or in the time zone they use, Tuesday, February 18th, 2025, at 12 midnight UTC). I cannot wait to hear what you all think.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSJBV7VG
Unboxing Video
If you want to watch my very first unboxing video, follow this link:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DGAxyJOONBl/
X: https://x.com/Jenni_Stand/status/1890020562669613149
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenni.stand.92/videos/1255573685516727
Ask Your Library
I’ve been a huge fan of libraries my entire life. Every time I moved to a new town, even as an adult, one of the very first things I did was locate the local library. Sometimes it was an honest to goodness bookmobile. Sometimes it was located on the top floor of the city hall. Please, if you could reach out to your local library and ask for them to add my books to their collection, I’d appreciate it.
Reader Response
So technically this is a Listener Response. I received the most amazing review for the audiobook recording of “Mad Money & Murder” on Audible. I want to share it here.
Well, folks, I’ve finally been to Texas!
I’ve never had setting be this impactful in a book. I feel as though I’ve personally walked the streets of San Antonio, experienced the celebration for the annual draining of the river, and enjoyed great food with the locals, all while solving a murder.
The plot follows a psychic personal investigator whose skills are varied and not infallible which makes her relatable and gave me something to cheer for from the start.
She’s also gifted with a sense of humor and heartwarming connections with friends and family. I laughed on more than one occasion.
Mad Money & Murder is the perfect mystery cozy. I’m keeping my eye out for the sequel.
Did you know you can post a review on Amazon, even if you didn’t buy the book there? The more reviews I get, the more likely Amazon is to include my books in their marketing programs.
“Sage’s Bluff”
Now that “Death is in the Cards” is about to be released into the world, I want to share the blurb for the next book in the Pond Investigations Mystery series, “Sage’s Bluff”.
While attending a charity gala hosted by her friend, Liz enjoys an evening away from solving mysteries. Until the event is interrupted by phone calls with tragic news. A young boy has been kidnapped from his family’s home.
The boy’s parents became self-made millionaires a decade earlier after they sold a popular phone app developed by his father. The boy’s parents have worried for their children’s safety and believed they’d resolved this threat by hiring bodyguards to protect their family. Returning home after an evening out celebrating their anniversary, the parents catch their eldest son sneaking through the back door. Only moments later, they find the bodyguards unconscious and their youngest son missing.
Liz leaves the investigation to the authorities until A. J. Sowell comes to her office with news about the case. The family has hired a psychic to help find their son. The detective asks for her help, and Liz agrees without hesitation. Will she be exposed when Liz uses her gifts under the noses of the SAPD and the FBI while searching for the boy? Is the psychic hired by the family another fraud, or will Liz finally meet her first psychic?
What do you think? It’ll be available in 2026 (no firm date). I’m already working on it.
Upcoming Events
Lubbock-Con 2025 is on February 22-23rd. This weekend. If you happen to be attending, be sure to swing by our booth (C-13). You won’t be able to miss us, my amazing husband has designed a sign topped with the words, “Do You Like Mysteries?” Our daughter is working alongside me selling posters of her fan art. Each of us will also be hosting panels. Mine is at 12n on Saturday in Room 105, called “Writers, we make up stuff for a living.” My daughter’s panel is called “The Fan Artist’s Way”, also in Room 105 at 4:30pm.
Link to the complete panel list: https://www.lubbockcon.com/panelrooms
See a floor map of the convention below.
Hope to see you there!
Jenni
February 2025
If you are having a problem seeing this newsletter, you can read it on my website: https://jennistand.com/ponds_postcard/
Email: jenni@jennistand.com | Author Site: https://www.jennistand.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jennistand
Co-Owner: Laughing Owl League LLC
Author of the Pond Investigations Mystery series.
An Affiliate Member of the Mystery Writers of America.
Pond’s Postcard #1
An ornament I made for our Christmas tree.
Hello!
A little about the author.
I am the author of the Pond Investigations Mystery series. I have dreamed of being a writer my entire life. Story ideas have poured out of me onto paper since I was in third grade when my best friend and I wrote a picture book together about a purple monster named Eeple. We wrote and illustrated it, stapled the pages together, and brought it to our teacher. You can imagine the look on her face when we asked if we could put it in the school’s library. It didn’t get added to the library collection. I often wonder if we’d have gotten a different answer if we’d taken it directly to the librarian.
Goal Met!
I have awesome news to share. I’ve been working to surpass 300 copies sold of “Mad Money & Murder”. This goal was met over the second weekend in November at our local “Christmas in November” event.
I met many people and sold a lot of copies of my debut mystery. Some were going to be enjoyed by the people who bought them. Others were going to be wrapped up as Christmas presents. Please help me achieve my next sales goal of reaching 400 copies by spreading the word. Tag me in your social media posts and I’ll jump on and say hi!
Reader Response
I want to thank Anita for telling me what she thinks of “Mad Money & Murder” in person. Anita bought the book directly from me at an event a couple of months ago. She told me she’s enjoying the book, loves the humor, wishes she could hang out with my characters, and then the words that made me clasp my hands in delight: I’m her new favorite author!
Death is in the Cards
The release date for the next mystery in the Pond Investigations Mystery series is February 18th, 2025. I’ve been getting a fantastic response to the new book from my family, beta readers, and editor. For those of you who haven’t read the blurb yet, here it is
After an eventful winter, Pond Private Investigation’s daily routine is interrupted once again.
Coaxed by a friend, Liz Pond sets up a fortune teller booth for a charity fundraiser. Of course, the people coordinating the event don’t know they are getting a real psychic.
Liz spends her morning reading fortunes for the lovelorn and hopeful. When a young man enters her tent, the mood turns serious after the Death card makes an appearance. A vision of his murder fills her mind. She tries to warn him, but he won’t listen. Before she can do anything more, she is struck on the side of her head by a wayward softball. The injury results in a concussion and a little something extra. Her ESP abilities spin out of control. Her family and friends surround her to help. But with a potential murder on the horizon, Liz may need to bring one more person into her circle of trust. How will Detective A. J. Sowell handle it if Liz tells him she is more than a private investigator?
Life Lesson
I’ll end this first newsletter with a valuable life lesson. Don’t chop jalapenos without gloves on. Because it doesn’t matter how many times you wash your hands, there are still remnants of the juice on your skin. How do I know this? Because I chopped jalapenos for chili, and an hour later, I rubbed my eye. The burning sensation was immediate and returned in waves even after using lots of eye drops to flush them out. Tip: Don’t use water to flush your eyes. That’ll make it worse. Also, according to my daughter, you also have to fight the urge to pour milk into your eye. Something I understand but hadn’t even considered before that moment.
Holiday Gift Guide
I have to share. “Mad Money & Murder” is listed in this month’s Holiday Gift Guide put out by Lone Star Literary. Here’s a link to peruse their guide to buying books written by Texas Authors:
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/hgg2024#page/1 (“Mad Money & Murder” is on page 26.)
Do you have any readers on your holiday shopping list that are fans of Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, or Hallmark Mystery movies? If you do, the ad is a link that will take you to the Amazon page if you’d like to order a copy.
Happy Reading! Happy Holidays!
Jenni Stand
December 2024