Thursday, October 21, 2010

Guest Blogger: Josi S. Kilpack

I’d like to welcome author Josi S. Kilpack as the special guest blogger here at Thoughts in Progress today.

Josi’s current release is Key Lime Pie, her twelfth novel and the fourth book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series. Josi stopped by today to talk about being as wise as your age.

I am thirty-six years old. Wow. I could be termed in my 'late thirties' although I'll hang out in the mid-thirties for another couple of years. I think I've stated before that I don't mind aging. I mean, I don't like to LOOK old, but I'm happy with how I look so that isn't an issue and I still feel like I'm catching up with myself due to the fact that I have simply always felt old.

The whole process is helped by the fact that there is no one time in my life I can look back on and say "Gosh, I wish I were able to do that again." Maybe a day here and there, but I can't think of a single block of time (meaning months) that I want to repeat. However, I'm a firm believer in age equating with wisdom and therefore I get smarter every year! And, seeing as how I am so very wise I am going to impart 36 of my best advice:

1--Do not leave laundry in the washer for a week.
2--Peanut Butter should have child proof lids.
3--I will always hate my hair no matter how good I think it looks that particular day.
4--You can learn from your mistakes or make them again--you choose.
5--Most talents are discovered after the age of 20.
6--Everyone has demons.
7--Some people's demons hate you.
8--People with demons who hate you are better avoided.
9--Prayer is your opportunity to try to help people with demons who hate you and are better avoided.
10--My demons hate some people and have caused them lots of pain.
11--Sometimes it feels impossible to make things better.
12--Prayer is good.
13--Cheesecake is also good.
14--Prayer and cheesecake together is practically celestial.
15--Philosophies are much easier to think about then to execute.
16--Most of my philosophies rise up to bite me in the butt.
17--Some people just are not happy for other people's success.
18--Kids really do come with their own personalities.
19--Sometimes complaining about something really does make you feel better.
20--There is no sin in leaving the kids home when you go on couple vacations.
21--The future is far more interesting than the past.
22--Family is awesome, but just because they are family doesn't mean that their demons don't hate you.
23--It is possible to love someone and yet want nothing to do with them. Healthy sometimes even.
24--Time really does move faster as you get older.
25--Metabolisms really do slow down as you get older.
26--Typically it's easier to remember the stupid things you do than the cool stuff.
27--Didactic pontification is of the gods.
28--For every person who's impressed when you use big words there's someone else rolling their eyes.
29--Forgiveness doesn't really make sense until someone forgives you when they didn't have to.
30--Looking for ways to deal with your own demons is a worthy pursuit that might take a lifetime.
31--Parenthood is a priceless look into the heart of God.
32--There will always be someone smarter, prettier, funnier, more talented, and more generous than you.
33--Just because someone else might be better, doesn't mean that YOU won't be a better self for working toward the same goal.
34--Nothing feels as good as being kind.
35--It's fun to be a girl.
36--Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people but good things also happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people and there really isn't anyone out to get us, just trying to teach us a thing or twelve.


Josi, thanks for guest blogging today. I so agree with #24 and #25 on your list and every year those get worse. LOL

Now for a little background on Josi. She grew up hating to read until her mother handed her a copy of THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998, while on bedrest with a pregnancy, and never stopped.

The other novels in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series are: LEMON TART (Book 1), ENGLISH TRIFLE (Book 2), and DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE (Book 3). While the books all feature Sadie Hoffmiller as the main character, they stand alone in regard to plot and can be read as a set or as individual titles. Josi currently lives in Utah with her husband, four children, one dog and varying number of chickens. For more information about Josi, you can visit her website at www.josiskilpack.com or her blog at www.josikilpack.blogspot.com

Here’s a brief synopsis of KEY LIME PIE: When Sadie Hoffmiller’s new friend, Eric Burton, receives word that his missing daughter’s body may have been found in Florida, he immediately packs his bags, but Sadie is determined to stay home and prove to everyone that she is not a busybody.

But when she senses Eric is hiding something, Sadie is compelled to take action. Before she knows it, she’s in the heart of Miami, trying to piece together a trail littered with broken relationships, mysterious strangers, and forged documents that might just provide Eric the answers he’s been desperately searching for—or reveal a truth he may not be ready to face.

Sadie must also face a difficult question: Where is her heart leading her? Onward into Eric’s adventurous arms? Or back home to the stable and steady Pete Cunningham? If only love was as easy as following a recipe.

Once again, Sadie finds herself in the company of some colorful characters and on the hunt for some good old-fashioned southern cooking. But despite the drama and intrigue, all Sadie really wants is to go home . . . as soon as she does just one more thing.


17 comments:

  1. Josi, thanks again for guest blogging here today. I enjoy Sadie and her adventures. Best of luck.

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  2. Oh wow, these are great! I love all 36. Sounds like a great book, I'll check it out. I love Key Lime Pie.
    CD

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  3. Hi Josi! Thanks for coming by Mason's blog today. I'd have to add a few more items to make it my age (I'm *definitely* late 30s...sigh.) I'm becoming acquainted with #25 and love #31. Congratulations on your new release! Can't wait to read it.

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  4. Love the list...especially #20 (assuming you don't mean got to Paris with your 2yo sitting in a crib by themself). So many people are afraid to leave their kids! It's GOOD for kids to know how to survive without you, people!

    Congrats on the latest book.

    Michele
    SouthernCityMysteries

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  5. Mason - Thanks for hosting Josi.


    Josi - I love this list of things you've learned. They are right on target, too! I'm especially drawn to #5. I think most people don't really discover themselves until they're a little more mature.

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  6. oh golly - how have I not heard of this series! It sounds like my cup of tea. thanks, Mason! (we do keep introducing one another to new writers, don't we?!)

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  7. ooh, another culinary book to try. Thanks for letting us know about Josi's books.

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  8. Those pieces of advice are wonderful! Funny, wise, insightful.

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  9. Mason, thanks for hosting Josi.

    Josi, Love your idea of a piece of wisdom for each year, something we can think about and add to each birthday, to really be aware of life.

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  10. Clarissa, the book includes a recipe for Key Lime Pie as well as a number of other recipes.

    Kaye, that's one of the fun things about blogging - finding new authors all the time. You've definitely introduced me to quite a few new ones too.

    Thanks everyone for stopping by today. This is a fun series and Josi's list is interesting.

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  11. Interesting list.

    I like the book cover and title of the book.

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  12. What a great list, many truths indeed! I have to say I love the covers of all the culinary mysteries, they look so good.

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  13. Great list, Josi. More and more, I'm noticing the truth in #24.

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  14. Twelfth novel! I'm in awe! And key lime pie is one of my favpurites!

    I love her advice not to leave laundry in the washer for more than a week. If only I could just remember it was there...

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  15. what a fun guest! I love the prayer + cheesecake bit... Yes! :D

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  16. Everything about the demons and time moving faster as we age are so true! (And very funny.)

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  17. You guys are the best. Thanks for dropping by today.

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