Happy Conundrum Day!

Song Stuck on the Brain: Who Are You by The Who

Today is "Make Up Your Own Holiday" day. How much fun is that? I love crazy days that give us an excuse to celebrate and have fun. I brainstormed some ideas with my sister/bestie Angel and we decided we liked.

National Conundrum Day!

It's a special day for those that love puzzles, quizzes, brain teasers, mysteries, suspense and all things that make your brain go, "Hmmm!"

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

conundrum

[kuh-nuhn-druh m]

noun

1.

a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words, as What is black and white and read all over? A newspaper.

2.

anything that puzzles.

Word Origin and History for conundrumExpand

n.

1590s, Oxford University slang for "pedant," also "whim," etc., later (1790)"riddle, puzzle." Also spelled quonundrum. The sort of ponderous pseudo-Latin word that was once the height of humor in learned circles.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

SO many fun things to choose from....Riddles

1. RIDDLE ME THIS:

    Take one out and scratch my head,

    I am now black but once was red.

    What am I ?

2. RIDDLE ME THIS:

     Four men were in a boat on the lake. The boat turns over, and all four men sink to the            bottom of the lake, yet not a single man got wet! Why?

(see below for answers) for more Riddle fun click HERE. 

Word Puzzles and Searches...

Find all the words in the list and then find the hidden message hidden in the letters between the discovered words. 

M E L I F E I S A C O N U B N D D R U M Q L X E S R B J F N

Y Q R J E H F N P U N I D E L Y N A H N I L M P I X B L M G

S V Q U B W B S R U G L O F T L V U T L Z X X I Q I A R Z A

T J G M C F V Z D R J R J U K F N A O E V V S L E B T Q A U

I F K G P S J J N R V Z S D G U N I C F R B J B B Q S Y Z B

F Z U T F O B F M J E E H D B Z T C L T N S N E J U N K A W

Y H K O H I O O H L T S T L O I Q L N Q O O R H D L F C R L

T F K A A U S J J U D C E E P B P G W C E G C W L H Y O Q H

M T U Q G D Y S Q P A L Z D W S B O Y R A Q M C N M W K M J

K P V O J O Q I U B D C S S I W I J Y S H K F D P Y H C I I

Y F H S E M R M M B X B C H D X I S T S S N P B A P J T Z U

T V H O T J M T A I O C Q P N Z W K Q H L U N P T N U S Q C

S L G B H H F U M X Z A U L J C Y F S H Y T U I I Y E I U N

E T S Q J S K A Z S R G C D J G K O M W D F O I V S Z L Q B

S E Z V I X L T X K P E R G H G T G B Z I V M Y U I F H J A

K H A H D R L Q I S M G D P T Y D I S C S E D T Y S K Q I A

P L T O P G B Y B E L F U L N I J M H N C M H N B G W N C G

W U Q S Y R A L K J V V Y U I Q G I F C O X P X S G F C R B

O H Z F G T X H K I E S S Y A W E K V Q M V I Q T V K P I S

X Q R Z S F L H J S P B I X V B E Q O N B I Y K Z H E L D Q

Z J P T L N R O G W X L L F K P B B L U O O I K V U Q N D R

C N U R U E B Z Q K Z W F G Z T F G E A B M Y S T E R Y L I

U M K W D D A E Y A Z Y C M B M E C P S U E K G O U J Y E T

P J L N X R Q Z S D Y L M I W I Z R N M L I J O Z G R S T T

F I S T T I E D E H A M A Z E L B U Y L A I L S Z I Q Q B A

F L J B O D D L H K I H R P U U T Z Z L T N Z R Q G V D M L

O K P N B W R G L D R A W A Y R C A W I E B T K S U V O Q M

X Z L C E E H Q R Q D L I N H A Y E B Q N K T S X N V E M B

M Y M I B A A R J M Y N P X K Y Y C F O G X Y K Y H O H G X

K E S N A D S C Q F R W V U B P A Z Y L A P S T X Y V B Y F

AMAZE

BEFUDDLE

BEWILDER

CONFOUND

DISCOMBOBULATE

FLABBERGAST

MYSTERY

MYSTIFY

OBSCURE

PUZZLE

RIDDLE

STUMP

__ __ __ __   __ __   __   __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __



Solve a Jigsaw Puzzle... 

This is the cover of my upcoming mystery/suspense novel, Justice Burning, it's 117 pieces...

http://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=1f58c81315e2

Mazes and other image puzzlers...

When your ready to settle into something a little different, it's time to hit the books...Mystery and Suspense!

I love this genre and the list of great authors is long, but I'm going to toss out some favorites. Of course there are the classics, like Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene (yes, I still enjoy the teen sleuth). But if you want a modern twist, check out:

The O'Malley Series by Dee Henderson (or anything by Dee, she's amazing)
The Newpoint 911 series and more by Terri Blackstock
The Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey
Hidden Faces series and Kanner Lake series by Brandilyn Collins
Marc Royce and Priceless Collection series by Davis Bunn
FBI:Houston and Call of Duty series by DiAnn Mills
.
.
.
Oh and the list could just keep going, but I'd love to hear who your favorite Mystery/Suspense authors are, so be sure to comment and let me know. 

Of course there's also my upcoming mystery/suspense Justice Burning that is releasing in just a few months. I'm hoping you all find that a great addition to your list as well. :)

SO, have a blast today, be sure you make everyone's life around you a HUGE conundrum, then let me know how you celebrated!


RIDDLE ANSWER 1:

A Match.

RIDDLE ANSWER 2:

Because they were all married and not single.

Word Puzzle: "Life is a conundrum"

CFBA: Dauntless by Dina Sleiman

Song Stuck on the Brain:  Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
Dauntless Bethany House Publishers (March 3, 2015)
by
Dina L. Sleiman

MY TAKE: 

Robin Hood has always been one of my favorite tales. The savvy hero of the forest has had his legend told in a hundred different ways and in multiple settings and centuries. I've enjoyed them all. So when I saw Dauntless listed, my first thought was a female Robin Hood? How cool is that? Yes, please!

Once I began reading, I had to appreciate the author's way of addressing that exact perception. Lady Merry Ellison has heard of the outlaw Robin Hood, but doesn't know if he's real or simply a legend since there are so many stories, but he does inspire her. When she and a few of the children in her village survive the brutal attack on their home, it's Lady Merry and her smarts that keeps them alive. She trains the children to fight and steal to survive - all as quiet as ghosts. Things are going well until she's forced to face her past.

I loved Lady Merry's adventure. In many ways she made me think more of Maid Marian and Robin Hood rolled into one. She's strong, cunning and full of compassion and heart. Her acrobatic, catlike skills are so much fun. I can't imagine anyone not wishing just a little that they could do what Lady Merry does.

The romance, tension, atmosphere, and action all make this a great read. I can't wait to see what's next in the Valiant Hearts series.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Where Legend and History Collide,
One Young Woman Will Fight for the Innocent

Born a baron's daughter, Lady Merry Ellison is now an enemy of the throne after her father's failed assassination attempt upon the king. Bold and uniquely skilled, she is willing to go to any lengths to protect the orphaned children of her former village--a group that becomes known as "The Ghosts of Farthingale Forest." Merry finds her charge more difficult as their growing notoriety brings increasing trouble their way.

Timothy Grey, ninth child of the Baron of Greyham, longs to perform some feat so legendary that he will rise from obscurity and earn a title of his own. When the Ghosts of Farthingale Forest are spotted in Wyndeshire, where he serves as assistant to the local earl, he might have found his chance. But when he comes face-to-face with the leader of the thieves, he's forced to reexamine everything he's known.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dauntless, go HERE.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from the author:

Since selling my first book, I have also become an acquisitions editor for the company. I am a member of the Inkwell Inspirations blog, HEWN Marketing, ACFW, and a contributor to Christian Review of Books. I hold publishing credits in poetry and songwriting, and I was the writer and featured teacher in a nationally distributed instructional dance video for children. I have written several songs about the plight of the Islamic people, which have been produced in association with the Christian Broadcast Network. In addition, I have taught college and high school classes in writing and literature, as well as homeschool classes in the fine arts, and now enjoy teaching at writers conferences throughout the nation.

My NEW release coming soon - Justice Burning

I have exciting news! My third novel has been contracted, YAY! 

Summer Solstice Publishing will be releasing Christian Romantic Suspense novel Justice Burning. 

Widowed Fire Investigator, Aidan McLeod determined never to fall in love again, but when he meets Morgan Daryl, a counselor and graphologist, he may have to change his mind – and soon, because Justice, Missouri is being terrorized by an arsonist and it’s up to Aidan to stop him before someone ends up dead.

Justice Burning will be available from Amazon and other big retailers and it will be available in both e-book and paperback.

Release date coming soon, so watch for more updates. :)