Every solution to every problem is simple. It’s the distance between the two where the mystery lies.” ― Derek Landy, Skulduggery Pleasant
Are you ready for a new giveaway? A new book meant a newsletter giveaway but also a giveaway here on One Writers Journal. The odds of winning are much better here on my online journal than in my newsletter giveaway although I am happy to hear from readers here, there, and everywhere.
Anyway, I do have some books to giveaway. The prize will be the winners’ choice of one of my books, including the new one A Chance for Kallie Mae. I enjoy giving away a books. The last few years, I have been doing a Mystery Photo Game to celebrate a new release. I tried to talk myself out of that this year since it’s not easy finding a true mystery photo although I haven’t done too badly over the years of doing this.
I looked in my archives to see if I could find when I did my first Mystery Photo game. I couldn’t find the first ones, but I was doing them in 2013. I had thought I probably started them when my Hidden Springs Mysteries were published, but I think I had done some even before that. But mysteries are fun. A new Hidden Springs mystery is the book most asked for by readers when I’m at a book event. Maybe someday I’ll get that mystery written.
Back to the drawing board, I’m talking about a different kind of mystery here. A light-hearted and nobody gets stabbed, shot, poisoned or shoved off a cliff mystery. No characters are to be harmed in anyway by this mystery photo game. Just some perfectly fine photos manipulated a bit (no AI though) to see if I can make them a mysterious guessing game. I kept some of my old mystery photos in a special file on my computer. Some of them I didn’t pair with the original photo at the time, and they are now a mystery to me!
Not only my Hidden Springs mysteries, but some of my other historical stories also have a mystery thread in them. Even one of my Shaker books, The Innocent. Then In the Shadow of the River begins with a mysterious happening and more mysterious events are sprinkled throughout the story.
However, A Chance for Kallie Mae, doesn’t have that mystery thread. Well, unless you count a feud between the two families or what actually happened to Kallie Mae’s grandmother that day when she went out digging ginseng roots and ended up at the bottom of a cliff. Accident? Or part of the feud?
Then there is the mystery of those words that Kallie Mae so wants to learn to read. That’s a mystery I would want to solve if I couldn’t read. I can and did imagine Kallie Mae not being able to read, but I have to be honest. I can’t imagine me not knowing how to read. What a different life I would have had!
Anyway, while I’m not sure I can come up with photos mysterious enough to trick any of you and it will be hard to top last year’s Mystery Photo Game where I tricked all of you on a couple of my mystery photos. But we’ll see. Up top is the first mystery photo in this year’s game. Right now I’m saying I will post five mystery pictures in the next couple of week here on One Writer’s Journal. If I can find those mysterious photos. The pressure is on for me!
The last mystery picture will be posted on June 7th. The deadline to enter will be midnight EST June 9, 2026. I will pick two winners by random drawing and contact them by email. Then I will share the winners’ first name and last name initial on my Wednesday post on June 10th.
To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on the post with your guess about what the picture is. It’s more fun if you don’t read everybody’s guesses until after you make your guess. Besides, they might be wrong. Besides again, you will be entered in the drawing whether you’re right or wrong. The guessing is just for fun.
You must be at least 18 years old to enter, but in the past, some of you have let your kids or grandkids help you figure out the mysteries of the photos. Each time I post a new mystery photo and you make a guess, right or wrong, about what it might be, you will get another entry in the drawing. Besides it’s fun to guess.
I will share the rest of the picture on the next blog post after I post a new mystery photo.
Comments 32
To me it looks like something made out of netting material.
No idea what that is…..but, will guess it’s part of a spider web.
I have no idea
Author
Love it, Una. You just upfront say you don’t know. If I didn’t know what it was already, that might be my answer too.
Part of a bow
The mystery photo looks like a close up picture of dog hair. I’m exited about reading A Chance for Kallie Mae!
Author
Janet, thanks for playing my mystery photo game. Your guess is interesting. We’ll see if it’s right later.
I’m glad you are excited about reading my new story and hope you will enjoy meeting Kallie Mae when you get the chance to read the book.
A moth wing.
It looks like a bit of hair and skin.
Enjoy a wonderful week, Ann!
Butterfly wing
The wing of an insect.
A close up of a piece of fabric, something sheer maybe tulle or lace
I’m guessing a plant.
Thanks for bringing back the mystery photos. I enjoy them.
A flower petal
A flower petal
At first, I was thinking this is a closeup of a flower but as I looked more, I am wondering if it is actually a spiderweb. I love when you do this game because it is fun and gets our minds thinking. 🙂
Some type of tulle.
I am SO not good at this game, so I’m really thankful a guess doesn’t have to be correct to be in the drawing!! Thank you for the, Ann! Here goes-my guess is a dandelion puff ball. 🤷🏼 ( I told you I wasn’t good at it.)
I was hoping you’d start a new mystery photo game. I love these. It’s so interesting to see what everyone else imagines the picture to be. What I see in this one is one of those frost flowers you’ve photographed over the years.
My first thought was some sort of pastry (croissant or pie shell?) or toasted marshmallow…. sort of looks like spun sugar or meringue. Or maybe I’m just hungry? 😉
I’m guessing a butterfly.
I think it’s a bow on a wreath.
I love these mystery photos.
My guess is a moth’s wing. I’m sure that is far from the truth!