UPDATE: The winner is…Debra Guyette!
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I had “Word Search” on my blog list for today, and with the app open couldn’t think of a topic. So, I took a sip of the coffee I’d poured from my French press…

I LOVE coffee, so it’s easy for me to let my mind drift through all the types of brews, appliances, etc. I did a “stream of consciousness” thing, where I let my mind riff through coffee-related things, and I made my list of words very quickly.

I thought of my grandma and grandpa’s stove-top percolator that I swear made the best coffee on earth. They added evaporated milk and swirl of sugar to make it palatable to six-year-old me. I own a French press (for when I have the patience to wait), an espresso machine (for when I have the patience to clean up after I use it), and a Keurig machine near my desk. Yes, I’m serious about coffee. I have to drink 2-3 cups a day to keep me alert and my mind spinning tales. Of course, at my age, I have to stop drinking it just after noon or I don’t sleep.

Most of the time, I drink my coffee black. But there are occasions when I love an iced, chocolatey coffee. Or a cappuccino or latte. That’s for when I want to sit at the table and chat. It’s a ritual thing, I think.

Anyway, there’s a contest here. I want you to do a “stream of consciousness” list of coffee or tea related things for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card! Have fun!

UPDATE: The winner is…Terra Oenning!
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In keeping with my Christmas Countdown over on Facebook, today’s word search puzzle’s theme is Christmas Tree Ornaments! We all have our preference for dressing up a tree. My granddaughter prefers a more modern and coordinated tree. My dd and I love a cozy, weirdly mismatched tree because we love the ornaments we’ve gathered over the years. The 10-year-old loves her tiny tree that’s decorated with pink pigs—her choice.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me about your favorite ornament!

UPDATE: The winner is…Diana Sallens!
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I packed the 10-year-old’s lunch bag today with the usual stuff, plus an apple. Then I added the one thing I knew would make her smile because she loves them as much as I do—a big fat juicy dill pickle. I’m sure her friends look at her funny, but she’d rather have a pickle than a piece of fruit. Seriously.

I LOVE pickles. Plain ol’ dills, kosher dills, gherkins—but I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE mixed, spicy pickles, too. Have you ever tried Korean kimchi? Yes, you have to get past the fermented garlicky smell (doesn’t bother me a bit!) to get to the yumminess. They do pickles with cabbage, carrots, beets, cucumbers, etc. I adore mixed, spicy Mexican pickles, too. There’s really an endless variety. Then there’s my great-grandma’s chow-chow. She had the best dill pickles and chow-chow ever. Like, to-die-for good.

Let’s celebrate World Pickle Day with a puzzle and a contest!

Solve the word search puzzle, then tell me about your favorite pickles for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Janelle!
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I’m floating on a high now that my book is out! I’m glad that so many of you are enjoying it. I always wonder if I hit the mark. 🙂

In the spirit of the themes used in Gunn’s Mission, today’s word search is for animals that live in the Arctic.

UPDATE: The winners are…commenters 1-8! Congrats, all!
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Yes, I’ve said it before—I am a word nerd, a true logophile, a “lover of words.”

When I was a kid, I loved finishing my reading assignments because then I could go to the front of the class and read through the very large dictionary my teacher kept open on a podium. I loved learning new words and finding out their etymology (their origins). I studied Latin for four years during junior high and high school and loved it because I learned even more about the origin of everyday words. So, yes. I’m a complete nerd, and I was meant to be a writer and editor—it just took forty years for me to discover that!

Today is an unofficial holiday: Dictionary Day. It’s a celebration of Noah Webster, born on October 16, 1758, who is best known for publishing An American Dictionary of the English Language. It’s the great-grandfather of today’s The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

If you’re a word nerd like me, check out the Merriam-Webster website! There, you have access to their on-line dictionary and thesaurus, plus you can play word games and pick out gifts for the word nerds you love! You can even subscribe to “Word a Day” and MW will send you a new word to love every day. There’s also a phone app you can download!

So, do you love words and dictionaries? Do you have a favorite word? For a chance to win a downloadable book on my backlist, comment below!

Also, don’t forget…

Releasing tonight after midnight…

Pre-order the eBook now!
Or order your print copy now!

UPDATE: The winner is…Roxie Jones!
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I would love to have a closet full of pretty shoes but, as a woman of a certain age, comfort rules my choices, so it’s sneakers, slip-ons, Uggs (OMG–they’re like wearing the softest glove on your feet!), cushioned sandals. So, I instead tend to splurge when I can on handbags. I love all the styles, but I do have a couple of favorites. When I’m traveling, I wear a crossbody bag of some sort because I want my hands free, and I tend not to lose the purse when it’s worn on my body like an accessory. When I’m close to home, I love the look and roominess of a satchel bag. I spend money on bags because I keep them for years and hate it when wear on a seam or a handle doom an otherwise usable bag, so I have Coach, Dooney & Burke, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade bags. A splurge (on a well-timed sales event) every couple of years means the top shelf of my closet has a nice, neat row of bags to choose from.

Well, for those who love purses, too, there’s a holiday just for us! Handbag Day! It’s a thing, I promise! I put together a puzzle for you to enjoy. The theme is Types of Handbags. Excercise that gray matter—it’s good for you!

Solve the puzzle then share with us what your favorite handbag styles are for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Mary Preston!
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No, it’s not Taco Tuesday, but it is the annual holiday — Taco Day! Woot! Now, this is a holiday I can get behind!

Have fun with the word search. I had fun looking for all the types of tacos I love or would love to try. There actually aren’t many I haven’t had. Okay, so there’s only one I haven’t had—the Tinga Taco. It’s chicken with chipotle sauce, so I can make that happen! I don’t know about you, but our family has tacos often. I love a breakfast taco with egg and potato and a generous stripe of hot sauce. I love chorizo and potato. Lengua (tongue)! Tripas (tripe–yum)! Chicharrón (pork skin–yikes, I misspelled it in the puzzle)!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, and then tell me what your favorite kind of taco is.