Jennifer David Hesse's Blog

Since writing the Flower House Mysteries, I’ve found myself more aware of flowers than ever before. In fact, I never realized how utterly ubiquitous they are. Flowers permeate our lives, in every season, in many, many ways. Try this. Wherever you happen to be at the moment, take a look around. Odds are, you’ll spy a floral image or two—or at least a reference to one.

As I write these words, sitting in the dining room with my spiral notebook, I happen to be listening to Billie Holiday. Can...

By Jennifer David Hesse If you want a quick way to brighten your day, your home, or your mood, why not get yourself some flowers? What a gift from nature! Flowers bring beauty, tenderness, and cheer. They're lovely and abundant and diverse. And they make such a sweet, classic gift.

Come to think of it, so does art. Bring some original artwork into your environment and instantly elevate your space.

Even better, you could combine the two and acquire a picture of flowers! (And it will last mu...

Do you ever feel like eating is a chore? I know I do! I mean c'mon. Every single day, every few hours, you've got to come up with something to eat-- preferably something both healthy AND good-tasting. And you gotta make sure you eat just the right amount-- not too much, not too little. If you skip a meal, you could wind up with a host of problems: headaches, feeling faint and woozy, grouchiness. (I’m not the only one, am I?) And if you eat the WRONG thing… you could be in store for bloating, dis...

I​ went to learn the "right" way to arrange flowers and learned something else instead... Toward the beginning of Death in Bloom , Sierra teaches a bouquet arranging class at Flower House floral shop. She’d never taught such a class before, so she was naturally a bit nervous. Still, she brought her upbeat energy to the proceedings and demonstrated how to make a lovely arrangement. She does a fine job. (She would have considered the evening a success—if only one of the patrons hadn’t keeled over ...

Now that summer is in full swing, how's it going with your beach reading? Or park bench/porch swing/patio recliner/backyard hammock reading? (I've never owned a hammock, have you? I'm not sure if it would be comfortable or awkward!)

Wherever you kick back for a little outdoor escape, a fun and puzzling whodunit is a must, don't you think? I sure do! :)

To celebrate these lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, I'm giving away five copies of  Death in Bloom  (Book 1 in the new Flower House Mystery series):...

​Happy Spring! The flowers are bursting, the bees are buzzing... and so am I! The first book in my new series, the Flower House Mysteries, comes out TODAY!

DEATH IN BLOOM, by "Jess Dylan" (my pen name), is available just about everywhere books are sold. You can buy it in print, as an e-book, or even as an audiobook. (My first audiobook! It's narrated by the fabulous Sandy Rustin. So cool.)

I've been busy lately with some fun promo activities:

~ I was interviewed by the incomparable Joanna Devoe on...

As 2020 winds down, I think many of us are looking forward to the new year already, with hope for brighter days ahead. I know I am! I have several exciting new things on the horizon, including a brand new mystery series.

The new series is called "The Flower House Mysteries." And the first book,  Death in Bloom , will be released on May 25, 2021-- but it’s available for pre-order now!
 
And guess what? Along with the new series and debut book, I have a new pen name! Yep- I now have two names. If you'...

This is a question I’m sometimes asked. How long does it take me to write a book?

Answer: It takes as much time as I have!

With my first published book ( Midsummer Night’s Mischief ), I essentially had all the time in the world. I didn’t have a book deal or a deadline. I worked on it here and there, a little at a time, and eventually finished in about a year and a half. (Then I started the query process to find an agent.)

With the last book I wrote—and recently submitted to my editor—I complet...

From Everyday Witch Tarot So, what does one DO with tarot cards?

They can be collected and displayed as artwork. (Did you know Salvador Dali illustrated a tarot deck?)

They can be used as writing aides, story prompts, and tools for enhancing creativity.
 
​And, of course, they can be used for divination.

What do you think of that word – divination? If you’re part of a witchy community, the term is probably as familiar and natural-sounding as magick and shadow work. For others, it may conjure images o...

From Everyday Witch Tarot Last week I mentioned that my interest in tarot cards started when I first began reading about Wicca and witchcraft many years ago. However, when I bought a deck of my own, I found the system too complicated and opaque—at least for my understanding and level of patience at the time. I stashed it in a drawer, and there it stayed for a very long while.
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Then I created the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries. This was a series that would feature not only a Wiccan main character (K...