Are you ready for a new mystery picture game? With books for prizes. Some of you have played the game with me in the past before I changed my blog over to my website. I’m hoping some of you are still checking out my blog posts, but I haven’t gotten as many comments, so I’m afraid some of my readers haven’t hopped over here and found my new location. Of course, that will just lower the odds for those of you who are here if you decide to play. 🙂
At any rate, the last few times I’ve released a new book, I’ve had a blog only contest to give you a chance to win one of my books — the new one, Murder at the Courthouse, or one of my other books (winners’ choice) autographed for you. A mystery picture contest sounds perfect for a mystery novel.
Murder at the Courthouse is pulling in some nice reviews from readers. That’s a big relief for me. I wasn’t sure how the book would be received. But here’s a snippet of a review my publisher sent me last week from CBA Retailers + Resources, the official magazine of the Christian Booksellers Association.
“Gabhart’s tiny town of wacky characters is a delightfully fun read. Needless to say, the mystery is only part of this memorable story written by one of today’s bestselling authors.”
How about that? They called me a bestselling author!! I can hope this book will find its way into a lot of readers’ hands and make that true. But mostly I just want people to read and enjoy the story. It is different from most of my other stories, but I did sneak a little mystery into my last Shaker novel, The Innocent, as a warm-up for this book. And as the CBA review says, I managed to populate Hidden Springs with some wacky folks.
Mystery Puzzle Contest Rules
Okay, here are the contest rules. Each guess on a new mystery picture will get you a new entry in the drawing. I’ll post a different mystery picture on each Sunday and Wednesday. So be sure to check back each week for the new puzzles. I’ll announce winners on the last Sunday in the month, October 25. So the deadline for guesses will be midnight EST on October 24, 2015. You have to be 18 to enter, but you can let your kids help you figure out what to guess. Remember, it’s more fun if you guess first and read any other guesses after you make your comment. I’ll pick three winners and the contest is open to all countries. There goes my postage budget. LOL. First picture is up at the top with this post. I’ll show you the “rest of the picture” with Sunday’s post and post a new mystery picture for you to guess. The main rule is to have fun! Now I’d better get busy figuring out how to stump you with at least one of my mystery pictures this week. Some of you are so good at this!
Prizes Going Out in the Mail
I’m sending out the prizes for my New Book Celebration Contest tomorrow. Again, I thank all of you who sent in cat stories. They were great and I may still share more of them in future posts.
Upcoming Events
I’ll be in Bloomfield, Kentucky on October 17th for “Appetizers with the Author and Artist” at 12:30 p.m at the Bloomfield Library Branch. Then my Hometown Book Launch is Sunday, October 18th at the Anderson Co. Public Library at 2 p.m. We’ll talk mysteries. Hope if you’re in either of these areas, you’ll come join the fun. Check out more details by clicking on my News & Events tab up top of the page.
Comments 61
It looks like rose petals to me. Thanks for the chance to win your new book! :-))
Author
It could be rose petals, Nancy. It could be something else. Thanks for guessing and Sunday I’ll let all of you know who was right or if anyone was right. Is that mysterious enough? LOL.
Is it potato chips?
Author
Potato chips is a popular guess, Andrea. We shall see if all of you are right come Sunday when I post the “rest of the picture.”
I think this is a picture of flower petals. It looked a bit like potato chips; I must be wanting some. Oh by the way, I really enjoyed THE INNOCENT, Ann!
Author
These potato chip guesses are getting to me too, Sandi. Potato chips are one of my diet failings. I’ve always loved potato chips. Not to say I’m taking pictures of them. I might be, but I might not be too. Sunday’s post will tell. And by the way, I’m very glad you enjoyed my last Shaker book, The Innocent. Thanks for telling me that.
I think it looks like rose petals. 🙂
Author
Rose petals, Ann. They are so soft and velvety, aren’t they? I always think of the Shakers now when I think of rose petals because I had my characters stripping off the rose petals in those gardens for the Shakers to make their rose water. As so whether your guess is right or wrong, you’ll have to wait for Sunday’s post to find out.
On second thought..I think the mystery picture is green grapes.
Author
You’re still thinking, Evelyn. That’s the fun of mystery pictures.
I believe it’s potato chips but I’m not eligible to win because I have the book already as a reviewer but I could donate it to my church if I won again😍 !
Author
Thanks for playing the guessing game even though you thought you shouldn’t win because you already have the book, Kathi. Were you to win the drawing, you could donate the new book to a library or give it to a friend. Books make great Christmas presents. Or you wouldn’t have to pick the new book. You could pick one of my older titles that you might not have yet. Lots of options. And all this talk of potato chips is making me wonder. Is it wrong to eat potato chips for breakfast? 🙂
my thoughts are it is begonia petals or maybe wait looking at it it is a hard petal so gosh i have to win this book maybe a some type of squash .
Author
Great guesses, Peggy. The thing to remember is that you’re in the drawing whether your guess is right or wrong. I think that makes guessing more fun. Come back Sunday night or Monday morning to see if you were right. Always fun to hear from you.
Flower petals, maybe dogwood.
Author
Dogwood petals is a popular guess, Lisa. You’ll have to wait and see if you’re right. Sunday will show the solution.
Wait a minute, it could be some kind of flat shell-jewelry, like those clam shell wind chimes? Ooo, that could be it! A CAPIZ SHELL! It looks like
Ooo, ooo, like these!! https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b8/4b/8f/b84b8f6992ef146ab7cc64057f3a4a87.jpg
Or maybe it’s part of a capiz shell flower ornament, like this:
http://www.shelloutlet.com/i//MVC-582F.JPG
This is driving me MAAAAAAD! I’ve browsed pages and pages of images, trying to find your particular image. LOL!
Author
I like someone who gets into a game, Nancy. I’m not saying one of your guesses might not be right. I just can’t “solve” the mystery until Sunday. LOL.
Is it a hybrid type of begonia, or maybe an apple blossom?
Author
Maybe is the operative word, Nancy. Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. Sunday will show the rest of the story and I’ll come up with a new mystery picture.
AAAAAGGGHHHH! (I love mystery photos)
OK, one more guess, is it a super close up image of something, like these things?
http://sploid.gizmodo.com/super-close-up-images-of-common-objects-are-beautifully-1682223837
I.E. is it a macro image?
OK, bedtime for me.
Is the new mystery picture up somewhere else??
Author
Just now posted the new picture, Nancy. I’m a late night poster. Love all your guesses. You may qualify for extra entries just because of your effort!!
hydrangea petals
Author
That’s two votes for hydrangea, Peggy, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. We will see on Sunday.
They look like flower petals…..maybe from a Dogwood tree.
Does anyone see a little insect (beetle?) in the lower right hand corner of the picture….or do I need new glasses?
yes, I saw that, I thought it was an ant
Author
Looks like your eyes are pretty good, Marji, if you’re seeing beetles. Not saying it is a beetle, but you’ve definitely spotted something. Come back Sunday night to see if it’s a bug or not. LOL.
Magnolia petals?
Author
Magnolias are beautiful, Jennifer. You could be right. You could be wrong. I’ll reveal the entire picture on Sunday night.
Looks like flower petals .
Author
Flower petals seems to be a popular guess, Ola. You’ll have to wait until next post to see if it’s right. 🙂
It looks like the petals from
a tulip poplar tree.
Author
Thanks for stopping by with a guess, Barbara. Not saying yet if it’s right. Got to keep the mystery going. Come back Sunday night or Monday for the big reveal. 🙂
My guess is apple blossom petals.
Author
Love your guess, Pam. Not saying it’s right or not, but it is making me think of the lovely blossoms in the spring. I’ll “solve” the mystery on Sunday night.
Dogwood tree bloom
Author
Nice guess, Shirley. Still not saying who’s right and who’s wrong or if anyone’s right. Got to keep it a mystery a little longer. 🙂 Come back Sunday night to see.
Looks like bunch of spinach leaves in salad.
Author
Fun guess, Darlene. Could be right. Could be wrong. You’ll have to come back Sunday to see.
Looks like peddals on a Hydrangea flower.
Author
Great guess, Lillian. You’ll have to come back Sunday to see if you’re right. 🙂
The mystery photo looks like a serving of potato chips.
Author
Great guess, Evelyn. You’ll have to check back Sunday for the rest of the picture to see if you were right.