Monday, November 11, 2019

Thankful Author 2019- Peggy Jaeger



Every year when Angela puts together her Thankful Authors event, I sit down and try to think what I am most thankful for in the past year. My family, my freedom, my country – those things are givens.

But for 2019 I had to dig deep.

2019 was a hard year for me professionally, personally, and physically.

Professionally, I was dropped by my new publisher in the middle of a book series due to slumping sales and low readership. While I can’t blame them for it – no business wants to back something and then not see a return on their investment – I was saddened, and I’ll admit embarrassed, at being so categorically and publicly dumped.

Personally, my aging parents continue to, well…age, and bring with that all the problems and complaints specific to the infirm elderly with them. I am an only child and therefore their sole caretaker and advocate. I need to take them places now because they don’t drive, can’t be waiting for buses in the winter cold and can’t afford taxis to take them to weekly doctor appointments or even grocery shopping. My mother fell and broke her hip last year and every movement she makes worries me because I am afraid she will fall again. They live about 25 miles from me, so I need to set aside one entire day every week to get them where they need to be. I’m not complaining, even though it may sound as if I am. They want to remain in their own home for as long as they can live somewhat independently and I will not take that away from them.

On the physical side I had rotator cuff surgery combined with a bicep muscle and tendon repair in august and am still –slowly- rehabbing. The loss of independence for 4-6 weeks was truly awful. The pain from the surgery is still present and because of my age may take up to a year to heal. Coupled with that is the fact I can’t exercise like I should due to the injury and a concomitant weight gain because I can’t is making it worse.

So, the question begs itself, what am I thankful for this year?

Looking at the big picture, it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be to figure that out.

Professionally, I still have one very faithful publisher in the Wild Rose Press for whom I have three new books coming out soon. Being publisher orphaned forced me to do something I had fought doing for years: self publish. I continued the series, only went indie and self pubbed it myself. I would never have explored that otherwise.

Personally, I am grateful that even thought my parents are aging, they are still with me. They may be slower and less able to do what they’d like, but they are present, able to care for themselves for the most part, and can live in their own home. In this day and age, that’s huge.

Physically, while I still have the operative pain, it is nowhere near as bad as the preoperative pain was, plus I can move my arm so much better now that I could before the surgery, so again, that’s huge.

As we go into 2020, the promise of a new decade makes me thankful I live in a time where we are free citizens, have all the freedoms afforded a citizen of the US and can still live our lives, well….freely.





Media kit for It’s a Trust Thing
Author: Peggy Jaeger
Pub date 11.1.19, exclusive to Kindle and KU
Self-Published
Genre: romance, contemporary romance, Rom Com, Women’s fiction

Blurb
Nell Newbery has trust issues. It’s hard to trust when you’re the daughter of a fallen financial scion who bilked people out of billions. Nell’s done everything in her power to keep away from men who see her as their ticket to fortune and fame. All she wants to do is run her ultra-successful business, HELPFUL HUNKS, in peace.

But it wouldn’t hurt to find a guy who doesn’t know a thing about her father’s felonious past; one she can give her heart to and trust it won’t come back to her battered, bruised, and broken.

Is Charlie Churchill that guy? On the surface he seems perfect, all polished manners and quiet mirth. Nell’s convinced he knows nothing about her, other than she likes superhero movies and views junk food as a food group.

Can she trust him to be what he appears to be? Or is he just pretending?

For Nell, trust is everything in life…and in love.

Excerpt
He opened the passenger door for me and I got in.
“You never answered me,” he said when I was seated. “Would you like to do this again?”
I’d lived my entire adult life taking chances in my professional life but shying away from them in my personal one. The reasons to avoid becoming involved were valid ones, in my mind, and they’d served me well.
But there was something so different about this man, something that wanted me to finally give in and take a chance that he wouldn’t be like all the other men I’d gotten close to. He wouldn’t use me to his own end; he wouldn’t betray me; he wouldn’t lie to me about who and what he was.
And dammit, I deserved to have some fun.
All this ran through my head as he stood, patiently waiting for my answer.
It really didn’t take much effort on my part to make a decision. With a half grin and my gaze staying zeroed in on his, I reached into my briefcase and pulled out one of my business cards. While the driver waited, I wrote my private cell number on the back of it. There were only five people on the planet who had this number.
Now, Charlie did as well.
 As I handed it to him, I cocked my head and said, “Maybe next time we can get through an evening without me needing first aid or being mugged.”

His jaw wide smile made my stomach muscles flutter. He leaned in, gave me a quick peck on the cheek and said, “Where would the fun be in that?”

Buy Links:
Exclusive to KU  and Kindle only:


Author bio:


Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes Romantic Comedies about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them. If she can make you cry on one page and bring you out of tears rolling with laughter the next, she’s done her job as a writer!

Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, she brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she’s created the families she wanted as that lonely child.

When she’s not writing Peggy is usually painting, crafting, scrapbooking or decoupaging old steamer trunks she finds at rummage stores and garage sales.

A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, Peggy is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.

As a lifelong diarist, she caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she blogs daily about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!"



Social Media links:

Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/


Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0










18 comments:

  1. Awesome post, Peg! With everything you had on your plate this year, you still managed to overcome those boulders in your path. You're an amazing source of inspiration and strength, truly! Wishing you continued success, dear lady!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary, God bless you for your kind words and thoughts. I am truly thankful for all I have and all I can give to others. May your day be filled with light, love, and laughter!

      Delete
  2. I'd say that's a good list! Wishing you--professionally and personally--a great upcoming year and continued good health.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer 0- thank you for being so wonderful ALWAYS!!!!! I am thankful for author friends like you, too!

      Delete
  3. What a year for you! But you sure are a fighter. You are lucky to have your parents still around. Loved reading about all the things you are grateful for, looking at the positive despite so many awful things happening to you. You're inspiring- keep doin' whatchyur doin', 'cause it's working well for you! Congrats on your awards & keep the faith & your terrific writing career! Bless you & yours, and happy holidays! (-Christine Samuelson)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine - I AM lucky to still have them. I have so many friends who no longer do and that's just horribly sad. Each day is a gift, for sure. Be well and HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and yours!

      Delete
  4. My dear, you do NOT sound like you're complaining about looking after your folks. You're just listing the things that are lying on your plate--and it's a real plateful! I admire your ability to keep your sense of humor--which is such a wonderful part of your writing--at all times. May 2020 bring you even more blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Laura - Bless you, girl!!!! I remember someone saying somewhere and some time ago, if you can't laugh at something, you'll cry and an ugly cry is never attractive!! hee hee I try to remember that and laugh when I can. Be well and Happy Thankgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful post, Peg! I'm sorry you've had such a trying year, but as you pointed out, you have so much to be grateful for. I, myself, am grateful we've connected. Wishing you an amazing 2020!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judith - as am I!!! I love meeting and interacting with my WRP sistahs!!! We all lift each other up on a daily basis. Here's hoping for a wonderful 2020

      Delete
  7. Peggy, you've endured quite a year and they say what doesn't break us makes us stronger. You are one of the strongest women I know. I've had a similar year personally, but remember what my mother always said, smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone. At least recent weeks have been good to you and as you said you have lots to be Thankful for. So with that, I'll say Happy Thanksgiving! May 2020 be fantastic for all of us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tena - bless you, dear girl!!! My favorite quote is one from Rose Kennedy, which says, "I trust in God that he will never give me a burden he doesn't know I can carry." Truth!!! Enjoy your holiday season!

      Delete
  8. Great post, Peggy. So many of us are doing our best to honor the wishes of our aging parents--often a difficult balance. May your shoulder/arm situation heal soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sadira- from you lips to God's ears!!! Why do our bodies have to be so difficult! heehee Enjoy yourholiday season.

      Delete
  9. What a year is right! Please continue to do what you do so well! Everything! Wishing the Happiest of Thanksgivings to you and yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Charlotte - thanks for the words of encouragement!! And I wish you and yours the happiest of holiday seasons. Keep writing!!!

      Delete
  10. As an only child myself, I can relate. Now, though, I'm the aging parent who needs help from my only child. It's hard on both ends of the spectrum. But we get by. Best of luck on your new book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ilona- that is the truth!! I think showing my daughter how I care for my parents will instill in her the same show of kindess and love when I need it in the future. Have a lovely holiday season and thanks for being so supportive!

      Delete