I received my first rejection letter when I was eight.
My grandmother submitted a story I had written about a little girl suffering a dreadful disease which, after much worry and wringing of hands turned out to be measles. Okay, so eight was a very innocent and naïve age in the 1940s before television and the internet. (What was my grandmother thinking!)
I must have been devastated by that rejection letter because I didn’t try again until I was seventy-five years old, and then only because of the advent of self-publishing. Unlike my earlier experience, my first book was well accepted, and I continued to write.
Just before my 80th birthday, I was contacted by C&T Publishing with an offer to publish what had become a 10-book series.
The first eight books of my Quilt Cozy series have now been re-released by C&T, and here we are at the end of my first Blog Tour. Four incredible people participated by writing blogs centered around my Quilting Cozy series.
Before I go on, I want to thank all of you: Deirdre Quirk, Bonnie Hunter, Barbara Chojnacki, and Bernie Kringel for the time and effort you put into this project. Your blogs were interesting, informative, and presented my books as I had intended. I very much appreciate your help in getting the word out to our fellow quilters and cozy readers.
When I sat down to write that first book, Tie Died: a quilting cozy, I had no intention of writing a series. I simply wanted to write about senior citizens adjusting to life in a retirement community. After growing up with my grandparents and thirty years as a geriatric social worker, I wanted to write about seniors making the most of their retirement years.
And, of course, my characters had to be quilters! And there had to be a local quilt shop, and a quilt club, and quilt shows, not to mention vintage quilts, feedsack fabric, out-of-control stash, and…well, you know the rest.
I also wanted to integrate some of the challenges of growing old and show people facing those challenges in different ways. For contrast, I added Sophie Ward and her purple elephant pajamas to keep the mood light and Charles, the handsome retired detective, to suggest the possibility of romance after seventy.
So one book grew to three, then six and now ten.
Each book brings in one or two new characters, but the basic friends remain constant. Many readers have told me that these characters have become like friends to them and I must admit that they are my friends as well. I intend to keep writing about their escapades because I need to continue to give them life. They matter to me, and I think they will matter to you as well.
FREE EBOOKS: To get you hooked, I’m giving away free ebook copies of every book in the series to one lucky winner! That’s right, ten free ebooks! You can enter the giveaway by leaving a comment on this post saying that you’d like to be in the running. I’d like to hear if you’re a quilter but it’s not necessary to win. Next Monday (12/10/2018) at 12 noon eastern time a random winner will be chosen and notified.
Please visit the bloggers who participated in this Blog Tour (listed below). And again, thank you Deirdre, Bonnie, Barbara, and Bernie for helping to spread the word about the Quilting Cozy series.
Barbara Chojnacki at Six Gables Designs
Bernie Kringel at Needle & Foot
Also, if you haven’t already done so, please sign up to follow my blog so that we can stay in touch.
To purchase books, click here
A Quilting Cozy Series - Carol Dean Jones 
Didn’t know anything about this series, would love to win a copy!
I would love to get the set of books. They sound like a great read.
I am a quilter and love to read. I’m not familiar with your books so this would be a wonderful introduction to them.
Oh I can’t wait to start reading your series. I love to quilt and just started about 5 years ago at the age of 67. Now I have a small stack of quilts which will probably be donated at some point. Getting ready for shoulder surgery next week so I guess my quilting will be put on hold for a few months, so it sounds like a wonderful time to read!!
I’m a reader and a quilter. Thank you for sharing! I’m looking forward to reading these.
Your series sound like my kind of reading. There must be a lot of people who quilt and like mysteries because I’ve read most of the other ones out there. I’m excited to be introduced to you and your writing. Best wishes!
Sounds like an interesting series, I would love to read it. Yes, I’m a quilter.
I don’t quilt, but I’m a friend of Carol’s…..we used to work together. I have to tell you she’s as good a friend as she is a quilter and a cozy writer. Long live her 80s and beyond!!! 🙂
Quilting, reading especially cozy mysteries, and gardening are my favourite things. As winter is here gardening is replaced by more reading. Would love to win your books and read them on my Kindle.
Yes, I am a quilter and I love to read. I will look for your books even if I don’t win.
Reading is a great adventure! And coupled with quilting, it’s truly bound to be a great read! This is a wonderful opportunity to do both.
I have always been an enormous reader of all types of books. I’m so delighted to learn about this series of cozy mysteries – yahoo!! I am a quilter and have been a seamstress since I was a child – and now I’m nearly 64! Both activities have seen me through a LOT of trials and tribulations and kept me on an even keel! Yay for you and CTPub for letting us all know about your books. I look forward to reading them!
Liz
boltonia55@yahoo.com
I loved reviewing Tie Died and writing the post for you. It was a pleasure. You are an inspiration Carol!!
Love this post Carol! It is so nice to hear more about you and I feel sad for your eight year old self!! But look at. you now, a published author with TEN books written and enjoyed by so many. You are inspiring all of us as we move up in years (I just turned 58) and learn that life just keeps getting better. 🙂
I would love to be entered.
Books would be shared with a whole quilter family.
I am a quilter and knitter and love series books like this. This series sounds very good.
I’ve been a quilter for 12 years. I am excited to be able to have a chance to win this series of books. I had been introduced to your blog through Bonnie Hunter’s blog and look forward to following your’s. Thank you.
Reading mysteries and quilting are my two favorite things! I would love to win your book series!
I am a quilter who is retired and lives in a development with mostly other retirees. I love mysteries but have never heard of a cozy before. I also knit and like Maggie Seftons knitting mysteries which must also be cozies. I would love to learn some aging tips.
Please put me in the running to win your books. I’m a quilter and a reader who enjoys a good mystery, especially those that revolve around quilts.
I am a quilter but also an avid reader. I love cozy mysteries congrats on publishing your books
I’m so pleased to have been introduced to you and your books by way of Bonnie Hunter’s blog. I love the cozy genre and woul enjoy winning your books. I am an avid reader and will admit to being a quilting addict as well.
Carol Andrews
QuiltSchmilt@gmail.com
I’m so glad to have been introduced to you and your books and really appreciate the chance to win them. I am an avid reader and love the cosy genre. I am a quilter and can even admit to teaching at my local Guild. It’s great that you included the quilt patterns in your
books
Carol Andrews
QuiltSchmilt@gmail.com
Love to quilt and love to read. More reading and less quilting as I get older (77) with arthritis in hands. My favorite books involve quilts and mysteries and maybe wacky old ladies.
These books sound absolutely delightful. I love the idea of a series of books where the main character is not a luscious 30 year old! I think these books will have added enjoyment for me as I am a devoted quilter. I send my congratulations to you for following your dreams, and I look forward to reading the entire series.
I am a quilter and would love a chance to win your books!
So glad I found you via Bernie Kringel’s wonderful website! Congratulations on your continued success as a writer Carol. I enjoy quilting, and also love reading, especially cozies. I look forward to reading your series, and hopefully winning! Thank you for this giveaway. 🙂
I am a quilter and enjoy a good mystery. The Cozy Mysteries is a favorite genre of mine. I had not discovered your series before, but since Bonnie Hunter has introduced them to me, I’m eager to start a new addiction 😉. Looking forward to meeting you between the pages.
I, along with thousands of others, love your books!!! And yes,I would love to be the winner of your series. Thank you for giving us such nice friends as Sarah and Sophie (et. al.)
I am a fairly recent quilter of 2 1\2 years. I make them for my family. I also am an avid reader -some say book-a-holic. I read on my kindle. I would enjoy reading your books.
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I’d love to be in the running for the giveaway! I’m a quilter who learned from my grandmother just before my son was born, 10 years ago. Thanks!
I am a quilter and avid reader, how wonderful to know that the two can be combined!
I would love to win your books. They sound like a good read.
I just found out about your books through Bonnie Hunter’s blog and look forward to reading them! Have my winter reading planned. Thank you.
I love mysteries and quilting.
I’m a senior-citizen quilter (for 20 years), and I’m an avid reader of cozies on my Kindle, so it sounds like your series of books is right down my alley, so to speak. Though I haven’t had the pleasure of reading any of your books yet, I’m seeing praise for your books, your characters, and your foray into writing books at a tender age. Above, you’ve mentioned things dear to my heart: feedsack fabrics, vintage quilts, an out-of-control stash, and dealing with life in the retirement years. I’m hoping to be the lucky recipient of your e-books. Winters in Iowa can be long, and I’d love these books to help pass the hours and days — in between my quilting stitches, of course.
Hi Carol Dean, Sounds like you love all the same things I do. I love cozies, reading, quilting, quilting cruises, quilting retreats, and doing anything quilting related with my crazy and sane friends. I have not read your books yet, but have them on my list now. Would love to win one or all. Keep on living the good life!
I would love to be in the running for the ebooks. I have read many other quilt mystery series, but have not come across these yet. Super excited to start reading these books!!
Yes I’m a quilter. I love to read cozy quilting mysteries. Glad you finally published.
These books sound like they are right up my alley!
Love to win your books. I love to read. Putting quilting and books together is just a perfect fit for me. Congratulations to you on your hard work.
P.S. I’m a quilter 🙂
This is so exciting that C&T has picked up your books. Hopefully many more readers will hear about them. I can’t wait to enjoy them too.
I am a quilter, something I started to do when I was in my thirties. Sometimes I feel like I’ve begun too late, but I know I’ll do this for the rest of my life and I am incredibly thankful that I found “my thing”. I look at the world differently because I am a quilter. I see the world through the lens of color and pattern and texture and possibility and I am thankful.
Your ‘cozies’ sound lovely! And yes I am a quilter – for almost 40 years. Thank you for the chance to win!
These books sound very interesting. I would love to win.
I was not aware of your books until I saw them showcased on Bonnie Hunter’s blog – but I look forward to reading them all – they sound really fun!
A new to me series!!! As a quilter, I would love to have these new stories featuring the cover quilt pattern, and… as an ongoing reader, I look forward to meeting these quilting ladies and their adventures! Glad you have featured your first quilting cozy blog tour! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
Hi Carol! I was thrilled to see you featured by Bernie. What a fun idea for a cozy mystery series. I am a quilter, and would just LOVE to win these books. If I’m not the winner, I will read them anyway and share your name on my list of cozy mystery books to read! Thank you so much for the opportunity, and I did indeed follow you on WP. Happy Happy Friday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne
Hi Carol! I love cozies and would love to win the e books. I am close to retirement age and dabble in quilt making. I’m working on two tee shirts quilts right now, but I would more than find the time to read your books. =)
Carol, I would love to read your books! I am a quilter and follow Bonnie Hunter. I was so pleased to learn about you and your cozy mysteries from her blog. Your stories sound like they’re right up my alley!
I am a quilter and an avid reader! Awesome that you’ve rediscovered your passion for writing over the past several years! I am looking forward to reading your series of Cozy Readers! Have a blessed Day!
I would like to be in the running for your books. Reading and sewing/quilting are my 2 favorite things to do! My maternal grandmother gave me one of her hand pieced quilt tops and told me to quilt it…..thus began my journey of quilting.
I would love to win your books; they sound exactly like the type of book I enjoy reading and Monday–the day the winner is drawn–is my 60th birthday, lol! Merry Christmas to you!
Hi Carol, I just heard about your books this week with the contest going on. I look forward to finding them myself and give them a read. I have read a few books that featured quilting, friendship and some even had a mystery to solve. I have been learning how to quilt for the last 14 years. So many cool and interesting new projects to try. Take care.
I first heard of your books when I listened to your interview with Pat Sloan. I am a beginning quilter and am currently quilting a queen size quilt for my bed. Thank you for the opportunity to win copies of your books.
I am a quilter and would love to read this series. Have just the first one and am hooked. Winning this set would be a treat.
I have enjoyed all of your books and the escapades of Sarah, Sophie, Charles and all of the rest of the characters. Looking forward to more wonderful books. The addition of the patterns is a plus! You make wonderful quilts. Keep up the wonderful interactions of these characters and life after 60!
Wow, what a whirlwind these last five years have been for you! Pretty amazing, but then, you are an amazing woman. While so many of us talk about what we would like to do….you forge ahead and just do it. That spirit is to be admired. I have loved all of your books, enjoyed the characters and the story plots, twists and turns. I’ve passed them on to family members, and yes, a couple of my books have not returned home. lol
I’m looking forward to the next book you are writing; you have a fan for life!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
I have just discovered your books and am very interested in starting your series. This giveaway is an excellent way to get started! Ruth
Two of my loves wrapped up in one book! I am a quilt maker and a fan of mysteries. I would love to have this series to read. My elderly mother would probably enjoy reading them as well.
These books sound very interesting, can’t wait until I get one and start reading them. I would definitely love to be in the running for your books.
I love series mystery Book and since I’m a quilter this series is right up my ally. Thanks for his chance to win your books. Have a great day!
Hi Carol,
What a great offer! But of course, I already have all your books… I know they will make someone very happy. I enjoyed checking out the other blogs, and of course I downloaded the free ‘Reader’s Guide’ from the C&T website. I love the idea that now that the instructions for the cover quilt are included with each book that all over the world quilters will be making their own versions of your designs! How cool is that!
Wishing you all the best for the Festive Season, and looking forward to Sarah’s next adventure (hint, hint!!).
Kind regards,
Fiona.
I would love to win your books. I‘m so sorry your first story was rejected. But I think it‘s wonderful that you started writing again at 75. It gives me hope for my writing as I am only 72. I‘m the only American in a quilt group in rural Germany. We range in age from 15 to 82. We start every Wednesday afternoon with coffee & cake. We then spend a few hours working on our own projects, helping newbies, giving advice, & discussing the similarities of the men in our lives.
Your quilt group sounds wonderful. Every quilter should be so fortunate!!!