Author Archives: Author Julie Seedorf

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About Author Julie Seedorf

As human beings, we are always a work in progress. From birth to death we live, hurt, laugh, cry, feel, and with all of those emotions we grow as people, as family members, and as friends. I'm a dreamer and feel blessed to have the opportunity in my writing to pass those dreams on to others. I believe you are never too old to dream and to turn those dreams into a creative endeavor.” I live in rural Minnesota and am a wife, mother, and grandmother. Throughout my life I have had many careers or should I say opportunities at jobs where I have learned different skills such as working as a waitress, nursing home activities person, office manager, and finally a computer repair person eventually owning her own computer sales and repair business. Add my volunteer activities such as Sunday School Teacher and SADD advisor and more and it's been a full life. I never forgot my love of writing and quit my computer business in 2012 after signing a contract with Cozy Cat Press for Granny Hooks A Crook, the first book in my Fuchsia, Minnesota Series. I currentlyntly have written nine cozy mysteries, three children’s books, participated in three group anthologies or mysteries, and write three blogs about various subjects.

Love Yourself and Others On Valentine’s Day!

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From my column the week of February 8 in the Albert Lea Tribune and The Courier Sentinel.

img011I love Valentine’s Day. It is my favorite holiday over Christmas and Thanksgiving. I don’t love Valentine’s Day because I get so many valentines, although my husband usually remembers the day. It wasn’t always that way in the early days of our marriage. He did pretty good the first year. He welded me a Valentine sign that said he loved me. It is awesome, and I still have it 45 years later. It is my favorite Valentine’s Day gift from him over the 45 years.

There were a couple of missed years because he didn’t realize how much the sentiment of love meant to me, but he does now and never fails to remember the day. I too, over the years have not always been thoughtful on the day either so we evened each other out.

In thinking about the day I have examined why this day is so wonderful in my mind and of course the answer is love. We all want love in our life. We all want to feel remembered and cared about. I also like the color red and love hearts, so that adds to my joy of the day. I also like the day because it is a great time to do special things for special people in our lives all in the name of love.

There is a downside to Valentine’s Day if we let it happen to us. On the years I didn’t receive any valentines from my family, kids or husband I felt let down, left out and unloved. They didn’t intentionally mean to make me feel left out; I made myself feel that way. In my heart I knew I was loved, but my head had the poor me sentiment. And I let it ruin my day. I finally realized my family is not into Valentine’s Day, and it was silly to have the attitude I did. They show me they love me all through the year.

My mom loved Valentine’s Day. I could always count on a card from my mom. I always gave her a card and something on the day. I think I got my love of holidays from my mom because she loved holidays. It seemed out of character for her, but she always wanted to celebrate the holidays. In fact, I know she loved Valentine’s Day because she kept all the old-fashioned valentines from the ’20s and ’30s and all the cards she got from me and my dad. When I realized she kept the memories, it made me feel loved.

Once I changed my attitude about the day I began to love Valentine’s Day. I enjoy the decorations, playing love music and sending valentines, and sometimes I even buy myself some candy or flowers — although I know I will receive a valentine from my valentine.

A few years ago a woman told me how she missed Valentine ’s Day. Her husband had died and now she didn’t get any valentines anymore. I guess this is what this column is about, sharing the love.

If you are lucky enough to have someone in your life to remember you on the love day, take time to remember and perhaps put a little love into someone else’s life who may not be remembered on the day of love. And if you are that person who is not remembered, love yourself on this special day. Go out to eat, call a friend, buy yourself some flowers or some candy or indulge in something silly and fun to make your day. Love yourself. It is not selfish or indulgent; it is a healthy pick-me up.

Happy Valentine’s Day.
“Don’t forget to love yourself.” — Soren Kierkegaard

The Penderghast Puzzle Protectors Is Here!

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The pieces all come together brilliantly in Julie Seedorf’s new Penderghast Puzzle Protectors series.” – Barbara Jean Coast, author of the Poppy Cove Mystery series
“The Penderghast Puzzle Protectors is a delightful cozy mystery, filled with a cast of endearingly quirky characters. It had me guessing–mostly wrong–until the very end, and it kept me laughing and happily turning pages all the way through. A puzzling, clean mystery that is simply hilarious. You won’t want to miss it. –Jane Firebaugh, Author of The White Mountains Romantic Mystery Series
“A ‘Brilliant’ beginning to a charming new cozy series from Minnesota author Julie Seedorf. I thoroughly enjoyed unraveling the multiple mysteries alongside the Penderghast Puzzle Protectors. –Timya Owen President, Twin Cities Sisters in Crime.

 It’s HERE!

Good Morning. I am happy to announce that my new book The Penderghast Puzzle Protectors is now available.

Writing a new series was a challenge for me as I am so invested in my characters from Fuchsia. It’s hard to top Granny and I felt the Brilliant Minnesota Series still needed a little of the quirkiness of Fuchsia but in a different way.

In the Penderghast Puzzle Protectors you will meet Jezabelle Jingle and her neighbors. They too, have a little snark, a little silliness and a puzzle to solve which includes dead bodies, making a ton of trouble for the local police all the while hopefully endearing themselves to their readers. I hope you will join me in the new series. But never fear Granny will always be near. Brilliant and Jezabelle have ties to Fuchsia. And another Fuchsia Mystery is being written, so while you are waiting, check out the Brilliant Minnesota Series and follow the puzzle that may lead you to the spoils.

Comment on this post as I am giving away two Kindle copies of my new book and a signed copy of the paperback.  Make sure you also visit Lisa K’s blog today as she is also highlighting the Penderghast Puzzle Protectors and has a giveaway running.The   Comment on our two sites and my facebook page and you might be a lucky winner.

ABOUT THE BOOK!

Jezabelle Jingle and her neighbors in the Penderghast section of Brilliant, Minnesota, have a mystery on their hands.Someone is stealing sections of hardwood floors in their homes and the thefts may be connected to a long-hidden treasure left by the founders of Brilliant. Not only that, there’s a dead body in a basement to add to the mix. Can Jezzy and her quirky friends figure out the puzzle and find the treasure before some other, unknown person–maybe the murderer–beats them to the punch? Or will the town’s Chief of Police, Hank Hardy, prevent the group from their sleuthing? Anything can happen in the strange little town of Brilliant, Minnesota. After all, brilliant minds create brilliant finds!

Buy On Amazon.