Read Past Newsletters
Some of my earlier newsletters mention Shepherd.com, which has now rebranded as BookDNA.com. This independent platform helps readers discover and track the books they love, offering a refreshing alternative to the big corporate players.
While the recommendations in the older newsletters are still valid, references to Shepherd.com may no longer work. Please visit BookDNA.com for the updated site.
2025
Carry-On Travelers: What’s Your Magic? | Plus: Yurt’s So Good – Sept 11 2025
Carrying On When the World’s On Fire | Plus: Yurt Living – June 12 2025
Goodbye Doom Scrolling | Hello 444-Year-Old Matchmaker – May 8 2025
The Real Mystic Island | A Non-Viral Post | Survey Results – Apr 10 2025
Your Guide to Dead Bastards & Buying Books | A POV Survey – Mar 12 2025
Big News, Big Love | Plus: Why Everyone’s Buzzing About ‘The Ministry of Time’ – Feb 14 2025
New Year, New Look | See Who Won the TimeBlink Talisman – Jan 10 2025
2024
Is This YOUR Shiny New Talisman? | Take the Mystery Link Quiz Here! – Dec 5 2024
Double Whammy! Talisman & Book Giveaway | Plus: Mystery Link #7 – Nov 7 2024
Caught Wearing Slippers in Public – Morley’s First TimeBlink | Plus: Mystery Link #6 – Oct 10 2024
From Tragedy to Time-Travel Series: A Tribute to My Sister | Plus: Mystery Link #5 – Sept 12 2024
Ever Thrown a Book at a Wall in Frustration? Read On! | Plus: Mystery Link #4 – August 8 2024
A Cool New Book Platform | A Hot Sale | Mystery Link #3 – July 11 2024
Mermaids & Buttons & Flakes, Oh My | Plus: Mystery Link #2 – June 13 2024
The Magic of Print-on-Demand | Plus: Mystery Link #1 – May 9 2024
Escape to Isla Mujeres With Me | Plus: A POV Survey – Apr 12 2024
Didn’t Expect That Ending? Here’s a Different One! – Mar 21 2024
DRAGONFLY Leap Year Launch! Plus: A Peek Behind the Scenes – Feb 29 2024
Is This Goodbye? Five Ways to Stay in Touch – Jan 31 2024
Are You There, Reader? It’s Me, MJ; Revisiting A 1970s Coming-of-Age Classic – Jan 11 2024
2023
Syd’s Seasonal Surprise | Plus: Beefy Book Bluffs – Dec 7 2023
Best Birthday Gift EVER! | The Power of Two – Nov 2 2023
An Expensive Mistake and Nearing the Finish Line – Oct 12 2023
DRAGONFLY Cover Reveal! Psst…Want to read it for free? – Sept 7 2023
TimeBlink Casting Call! Plus: Pushing through the “final-third doldrums” – Aug 4 2023
This Email is Going to the Dogs – July 6 2023
Hey, Time-Travel Lover! Test Your Movie IQ | Plus: A Message to Sci-Fi Fans – June 8 2023
May the Fourth be Your Day to Win a Signed Book? – May 4 2023
An Unexpected Amazon Deal! (That might not last long!) – Apr 23 2023
Sorry for Ghosting You! Here’s How I’m Gonna Make it Right – Apr 6 2023
Woe-bots, Pearl Jam & A Stoopid Mistake – Mar 2 2023
Hunks, Harleys, & Holidays – Feb 2 2023
Snow stranded, stuffing setback, senior snub; See ya, stress season! – Jan 5 2023
2022
Get Smashed; Eggnog & Ebooks! – Dec 15 2022
There are Eggs in Eggnog? Plus: How to Celebrate Time-Travel Day – Dec 8 2022
50,000 words; AI Art; You love eBooks! (Well, most of you do) – Nov 3 2022
TreeBook, eBook, or audiobook? Plus: A Survey & Contest results – Oct 6 2022
Happy Ampersand Day! And Stars & Soup – Sept 8 2022
Getting to Know You | Plus: New Releases & Deals – Aug 4 2022
FINALLY some good news! Spoiler: The dog didn’t die – July 7 2022
Anxiety is Real; Launch Fail – June 23 2022
Flight 444 Release Announcement! – May 31 2022
Dazzling New Cover Revealed; Heardle; Book Signing Like a Rockstar – May 5 2022
Want to Read My Books for Free? Join MJ’s ARC Team Today – Apr 14 2022
Standing with Ukraine; Missing deadlines & my pup; Have you ever jumped out of a plane? – Mar 3 2022
You guys rock! Survey results are in | Plus: Top 10 LOVE quotes – Feb 3 2022
Happy NY! Help me pick a cover! Did you read 65 books in 2021? – Jan 6 2022
2021
Darn it! I failed you. – Dec 4 2021
Book award fail | Plus: Confessions of an indie author: The first year – Dec 2 2021
They gotta be crazy! NaNoWriMo Mania – Nov 4 2021
Giving Thanks; TimeBlink is 99¢! – Oct 10 2021
Beware of Snarky, Sarcastic Dog! – Sept 26 2021
Oops! Is my face red! – Sept 25, 2021
Let’s Talk TikTok – Sept 12 2021
Pigeon Love, Pet Cemeteries, & Word Games – Aug 29, 2021