Author in the House: Interview with Middle Grade Fantasy Author Kathryn Rossati...

Welcome to my virtual hub! Today I’m featuring middle grade fantasy author, Kathryn Rossati, who is a fellow author-mate with Next Chapter, and also writes time travel tales. We’re definitely kindred spirits! I loved the questions that she sent me to answer for her blog post recently, so I asked Kathryn if she’d like to be a guest on my blog, and answer those same questions. She loved the idea, so without further ado, here are the results of this collaboration. Enjoy…   

Welcome, Kathryn! When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve loved writing down stories since I was very young, as I daydreamed a lot and wanted to keep those daydreamed worlds safe. In terms of writing professionally, as soon as it dawned on me that people actually wrote books for a living, I knew that’s what I wanted to do – so perhaps age eight or nine.

What's your latest book about?

My latest published novel is an upper middle grade time travel story, called Naturally Nic/k. The story focuses on an autistic girl called Nic, who ends up back in time along with two of her bullies, who immediately vanish in the bustle of the Thames Tunnel Fancy Fair. Nic bumps into a young magician, Nikolai, whose brother has gone missing, and decides to team up with him to find out where her bullies and the missing kids from all over London have been disappearing to.

The story is written in dual point of view, with chapters alternating between Nic and Nikolai’s perspectives, and it was great fun to create their individual voices. It’s also the first novel I wrote after receiving my autism diagnosis back in early 2019, and I drafted it at a time when my mental health was really quite low. I’ve very proud of how Naturally Nic/k turned out considering that, and it feels wonderful to have written a character that young autistic people can connect with.

Where do you get your ideas from?

My ideas for books and poems can come from anywhere. Naturally Nic/k was inspired by my husband, who practices card tricks as a hobby, but some of the things that sparked my other books and poetry collections have been turns of phrase, being out in nature, mishearing something, a specific piece of artwork, and other forms of media like TV series and films. Music always fuels my creativity too.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I like to write once all the housework is done for the day, so it’s not cluttering up my mind. (I have ADHD as well as being autistic, so my mind is rather cluttered and busy anyway.) I like a quiet space to write in, though that’s not always possible if my parrot and budgie are playing a game of ‘who can shout the loudest’ – fortunately, I’m used to their shenanigans, so that doesn’t tend to distract me too much (plus I have ear plugs if they or any sounds from outside get too overwhelming). I’m also a fan of having a good cup of tea next to me, though I often forget about it and only remember when it’s gone cold.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading your work?

Escapism, first and foremost. I’m a huge reader myself, and I know the power of settling down with a good book after a stressful or overwhelming day, so my hope is that my books can provide that comfort and enjoyment for someone, if only for a short time.

I also hope that readers will really connect with my characters and the worlds they live in, and particularly in the case of Naturally Nic/k (and a few of my upcoming books), find themselves represented in the narrative.

Who are you favourite authors?

It’s so hard to choose, because there are so many authors whose books I love, but as of this moment, I can think of:

Diana Wynne Jones, whose books cover just about every type of fantasy you might imagine.

Thomas Leeds, who is a spectacular writer and the first author I’ve read who wrote a fantasy adventure trilogy featuring a main protagonist with a brain injury and epilepsy (starting with Jayben and the Golden Torch).

Alan Gibbons, who wrote the amazing Legendeer series which completely blew me away when I read it as a child, and which I still adore now.

Jonathan Stroud, who wrote the excellent Lockwood and Co. series which really got me into paranormal fiction.

Do you have any dreams about where you'd like your writing career to go? (like film adaptations, merchandise, having your book on everyone's shelves?)

It would be lovely to see a stage or screen (either film or series) adaptation of any of my books, but what I would really like is just for more people to discover them.

What's your favourite book/film/song/piece of art?

It’s tough to decide on what my favourite book is, but I’d say Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I love the characters, the world, and just the cosy vibes it gives off while reading. It’s one of those books that I can read again and again and always find something new to love about it.

My favourite film is probably The Mummy (1999) which I’ve loved ever since it came out. I’ve always had a fascination with Ancient Egypt (even though I’ve never delved deep into researching it – not yet, at least), and I love a good adventure with some humour, so those things make a winning combination for me.

For music and songs, I think The Mummers’ Dance by Loreena McKennitt is my favourite; I even had it playing at my wedding! It always makes me think of long treks, adventure, and being swept up in a story, and it’s one of the songs I turn to if I’m having a bad day and need something soothing.

My favourite piece of art is by surrealist artist Max Ernst, and actually has a few different titles as it was renamed a few times: The Angel of Hearth and Home/Fireside Angel/The Triumph of Surrealism. I first came across it when I was researching surrealist painters for my art G.C.S.E. many years ago, and something about it really captured me. The story behind the painting is actually about the chaos of politics (or there abouts), but I didn’t know that until recently. I think the reason why I like it is that there’s this fierceness and confusion surrounding the figure, but also a sense of deep pain. It’s very thought provoking.

Any hobbies or things you love to do?

I’ve been learning to paint with watercolour and gouache for the past two years, which I very much enjoy, and I also love to go for walks in nature. Unfortunately, as I have a dynamic disability (hypermobility spectrum disorder and dysautonomia, for anyone who’s curious), I’m not able to go out for walks as often as I’d like. Fortunately, the house my husband and I rent has a lovely garden and we have a birdfeeder, so I often watch the birds outside. I also like playing computer games, mostly fantasy adventure games like The Legend of Zelda (which I’m a huge fan of).

Any other fun facts you'd like to share about yourself or your writing?  

I have several writing projects in the works this year. I’m currently drafting my first ever fantasy novel aimed at adult readers, self-editing a paranormal upper middle grade book which I’m very excited about, and working on a commission involving the Isle of Wight National Landscape (which means I get to develop my nature writing). I also have a poetry collection due to be published all about nature and wildlife, which I’m looking forward to sharing.

Kathryn Rossati. is an AuDHD and disabled author based on the Isle of Wight, and writes young adult
and middle grade fiction, as well as poetry. She’s also an aspiring artist, focusing on watercolour and gouache. 

Kathryn loves most genres of fiction, with a particular soft-spot for books inspired by mythology and fairy tales, and often incorporates those ideas into her own work. She also enjoys narrative non-fiction about nature, folklore, and history. 

She always looks forward to hearing from readers and fellow writers, so if you're a fan of her books or have questions about writing and publishing, feel free to reach out with questions, feedback or just to say hello.

You can connect with Kathryn Rossati at her website: https://linktr.ee/kathrynrossatiwrites

A Recipe and a Read: Summer Brunch is Served Up by Family Saga Author Stella May...

My family loves breakfast, especially a cook one. Because we all work and are usually in a time crunch the first meal of the day is cereal or a bowl of fruit. But on the weekends the house is filled with wonderful aromas of brunch. This recipe is one of our favorites, especially mine because it’s easy to prepare and delicious.

This recipe makes 7-8 regular waffles, or 5-6 Belgium waffles, depending on your griddle.

Keto Waffles

2 large eggs

½ cup of sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract

½ tsp. baking powder

½ cup shredded coconut, unsweetened

1 cup finely ground nuts, I use a mix of walnuts, pecans, and almonds 

With a mixer, whisk eggs thoroughly until combined, then add sour cream, vanilla, and baking powder.

Manually, stir in shredded coconut and ground nuts. Let mixture sit for 5-10 minutes. 

If the mixture is too thick, add a splash of heavy cream. 

Heat up a waffle maker, brush it with the oil of your choice. Use an ice cream scoop (I use the large one) to pour on the batter. Cook per your griddle directions. 

Enjoy with cream cheese, double cream, or syrup. It is perfect for breakfast or desert.

Romance author Stella May steps away from her time travel books to share The Rostoff Saga. Here's the cover and intro for New Dawn, Book 1 of the exciting four book series.

Love wasn’t part of their agreement. Neither was being caught in a brutal web of lies.

International playboy and owner of a jewelry empire that spreads across three continents, Dmitry Rostoff holds a memory close to this heart that not even his best friend Vlad Albrecht knows. When Dmitry learns the Russian ballerina, he had a passionate affair with died in childbirth, bitterness and hate overrule all other emotions.

Taking the baby out of Russia is an impossible snarl of red tape, but Dmitry gets his way, even if he leaves a trail of chaos in his wake.

Natasha Sokolova planned to turn over the baby to Dmitry then walk away. Instead, she is on a plane to San Francisco with the baby and a cold, emotionless man who makes her heart pound with scorching attraction.

The family matriarch and evil to her core Elizabeth Rostoff plots to gain control of the baby, no matter what it costs or who it hurts, and will do anything to make that happen. She blackmails Marie Dubois, the manager of their elite Paris store, to seduce Dmitry. But Marie reneges on the deal when former Special Forces officer Vlad Albrecht storms into her life.

Once in America, Natasha finds herself entangled in a sticky web of lies created by the brutally calculating family matriarch. A web that forces Natasha to make a heartbreaking deal with the devil to protect the children—and man—she’s come to love.

 

Stella May is the penname for Marina Sardarova who has a fascinating history you should read on her website.

Stella writes fantasy romance as well as time travel romance. She is the author of 'Till Time Do Us Part, Book 1 in her Upon a Time series, and the stand-alone book Rhapsody in Dreams. Love and family are two cornerstones of her stories and life. Stella’s books are available in e-book and paperback through all major vendors. 

When not writing, Stella enjoys classical music, reading, and long walks along the ocean with her husband. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Leo of 25 years and their son George. They are her two best friends and are all partners in their family business. 

Follow Stella on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Let Your Summer Reading Begin with a Visit to Fairy Falls…

It’s been eleven years since we moved from our cottage-turned-lake-house to the burbs of a historic southern Ontario town on the Detroit River, yet I can still feel the pull of the former cottage country lifestyle reel me in, especially during the summer months. Why? It wasn’t because of the blackflies! LOL! The truth is I found that life was slower up there in retrospect, and getting to live so close to nature was a privilege and blessing. However, Hubby and I knew the time was ripe to move, and let someone else enjoy the home we built by the lake. So, we sold the old homestead, complete with a westerly view to die for, pulled up our stakes, and moved to a warmer climate to be closer to family, and new opportunities for us.

Do I regret moving? Sometimes. That’s one of the reasons why I created the fictional tourist town of Fairy Falls. It was a place where I could set my teen psychic mystery series, Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls around the beautiful Canadian cottage country landscape that I left behind. By doing this I was able to share my experiences, and expand my imagination through my psychically-gifted characters using the art of storytelling as a means of conveyance. Fairy Falls is now a place where I can visit anytime I choose, without the need of purchasing a can or two of bug spray. Wink.

Setting the series was the easy part. Write what you know, right? So I took in the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, emotions, and feelings of where I used to live, and added the challenges and obstacles of what it would be like for an uprooted teenager possessing a psychic ability to adjust to the day-to-day living in Fairy Falls, then gave them a mystery to solve. Meagan Walsh, the protagonist from Lost and Found tells us what she thinks of Fairy Falls right off the bat: “This town sucks!”, and she goes on to describe it as ‘a small, boring northern tourist town’. If only Meagan knew what life had planned for her in this magical place!

Speaking of magical, if you’d like to pay a visit to Fairy Falls during this summer (or winter if you live in the southern hemisphere), and feed your need to read at the same time, please consider curling up with one of my books. Here’s a glimpse into my cottage country mysteries…

Lost & Found, Book One:

Fairy Falls was bores-ville from the get-go. Then the animals started talking... 

The Fairy Falls Animal Shelter is in trouble. Money trouble. It’s up to an old calico cat named Whiskey—a shelter cat who has mastered the skill of observation—to find a new human pack leader so that their home will be saved. With the help of Nobel, the leader of the shelter dogs, the animals set out to use the ancient skill of telepathy to contact any human who bothers to listen to them. Unfortunately for fifteen-year-old Meagan Walsh, she hears them, loud and clear.

Forced to live with her Aunt Izzy in the safe and quiet town of Fairy Falls, Meagan is caught stealing and is sentenced to do community hours at the animal shelter where her aunt works. Realizing Meagan can hear her, Whiskey realizes that Meagan just might have the pack leader qualities necessary to save the animals. Avoiding Whiskey and the rest of shelter animals becomes impossible for Meagan, so she finally gives in and promises to help them. Meagan, along with her newfound friends, Reid Robertson and Natalie Knight, discover that someone in Fairy Falls is not only out to destroy the shelter, but the animals as well. Can Meagan convince her aunt and co-workers that the animals are in danger? If she fails, then all the animals’ voices will be silenced forever.

Lost & Found Buy Links:

PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀

Blackflies & Blueberries, Book Two:

The only witness left to testify against an unsolved crime in Fairy Falls isn’t a person…

City born and bred, Hart Stewart possesses the gift of psychometry—the psychic ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them. Since his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Hart has endured homelessness, and has learned ways to keep his illiteracy under wraps. He eventually learns of a great-aunt living in Fairy Falls, and decides to leave the only life he’s ever known for an uncertain future.

Diana MacGregor lives in Fairy Falls. Her mother was a victim of a senseless murder. Only Diana’s unanswered questions and her grief keeps her going, until Hart finds her mother’s lost ring and becomes a witness to her murder.

Through Hart’s psychic power, Diana gains hope for justice. Their investigation leads them into the corrupt world threatening Fairy Falls. To secure the town’s future, Hart and Diana must join forces to uncover the shocking truth, or they risk losing the true essence of Fairy Falls forever.

Blackflies & Blueberries Buy Links:

PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀

Coming Soon through Pandamonium Publishing House:

Sticks & Stones, Book Three:

The healing needs to leave the circle for all to be whole.

Fourteen-year-old Thane Berg never asked to move to Fairy Falls—or to live with the father he barely knows. But when he starts manifesting strange powers—bending tools, levitating rocks, and moving objects with his mind—his world turns upside down. His psychic ability, psychokinesis, grows stronger and harder to control with every emotional spike. As if navigating a new school and a strained relationship with his gay father weren’t challenging enough, Thane must also keep his powers hidden while grappling with secrets from the past.

With the help of an eccentric neighbor, Thane begins to understand his paranormal gift. A mysterious book—tied to an ancient Druid and discovered in the school library—may hold the key to his powers. But things take a darker turn when he and three new friends stumble upon an illegal marijuana grow-op on his grandfather’s rural property. The operation is poisoning the land—and something far older and more magical than anyone suspects.

Now, Thane must harness his unstable abilities to protect his friends, heal the damage done to the forest, and preserve the mystical legacy of Fairy Falls. If he fails, he risks losing everything—and everyone—he’s come to care about.

There you have it! Great summer (or winter) reading material at your fingertips. Have you ever visited a small town while on vacation and felt at home there for some reason? If you could choose a psychic ability, what would be your choice? I’d love to read your comments. Cheers, and as always, thank you for spending your time reading my blog!

A Refreshing Summer Punch, a Swoon-Worthy Regency, and a Cozy Mystery Read Served by Author Emma Lane...

Emma Lane is here with a refreshing summer beverage that is sure to beat the heat. Perfect for social summer gatherings, bridal or baby showers, and book clubs. Scroll down to find a couple of Emma's book suggestions...

Photo by Taylor Grote on Unsplash

Emma Lane’s Every Event Punch
1 pitcher unsweetened iced tea
1 cup pineapple juice
¼ cup maraschino cherry juice
6 cherries, pitted and sliced
1 medium-sized chunk of pineapple
1 orange slice
sprig of spearmint
1 cup ginger ale

Pour tea into a large serving bowl. Add all the ingredients, except ginger ale, to the tea and stir gently. Allow the blend to sit in the refrigerator for several hours.

When you are ready to serve, pour ginger ale over the tea. Fill glasses with ice cubes and top with the tea blend.

Serves four. Having a larger crowd? Simply double or triple the recipe.

Here's a teaser from one of Emma's Regency books.

What happens when a strong heroine meets an arrogant, but handsome hero? Sparks fly. It's a Regency Romance Romp!

Miss Amabel Hawkins acknowledges her unusual upbringing, but she thinks James Langley, the Duke of Westerton, might be a tad unbalanced when he protests her efforts to right his badly managed properties. The duke, who has been away on the king's business, demonstrates no respect for the beautiful but managing Miss Hawkins. Amabel has taken refuge at Westerton, fleeing from a forced marriage to a man who claims to be her relative in order to gain control of her young brother's estate.

The Duke arrives home to find his estate under the firm control of a beautiful but managing female. His suspicions are fueled by his recent task of spy-hunting and he wonders if Amabel Hawkins is just who she seems. While a dastardly spy lurks, a wicked man poses as her cousin threatening to take over the guardianship of her young brother. Amabel might be falling in love, but she knows for certain the duke would never approve of a meddlesome woman, and she decides to flee his estate. Will the duke finally realize the true value of the woman he loves or will his prejudice ruin his chances forever?

Amazon Buy Link

And a little from her cozy mystery.

Detective Kevin Fowler is baffled by the wall of silence that greets him from the relatives of two septuagenarians whose bodies are discovered in a country cemetery called Blake Hill. Even more upsetting is the unusual rash of vandalism reported nightly by the citizens in his peaceful community. Have the teenagers declared an uprising? Night patrols reveal a totally unexpected and shocking situation. When a poignant secret is revealed, Beverly Hampton weeps over the sadness of a long ago tragedy, but soon wedding bells are heard for the home town princess and the popular detective. At the local diner the alluring fragrance of fresh-baked, cinnamon sticky buns continues to reign over the peaceful citizens of Hubbard, New York.

Amazon Buy Link

Emma Lane enjoys leaving her garden for a few hours to dip into the romance genre Regency era of history. Join her for a glimpse of a half selkie fairy as she teases a powerful duke and fights the curse of a lowly, evil warlock. Other Regency romances are available on Amazon and Wild Rose Press. As Janis Lane she writes a series of Cozy Mysteries for Soul Mate Publishing.

Look for information about writing and plants on her new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma's face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter.

Guest Post: We Hate When That Happens by Paranormal Romance Author Duo C.D. Hersh...

Writing is full of challenges, from the perfecting the actual craft to getting the book published to mastering marketing. Along the way, if you’re like us, you’ve probably had your share of writing mishaps-things you hate to see happen. Here are ten of our We-hate-when-that-happens moments. 

1. When we miss the wrong word in a sentence that spell check didn’t catch and send the piece to the editor for publication. Sliver and silver—both are spelled correctly but can’t be used interchangeably. 

2. When we see the transposed letters of a word in our blog comments AFTER the comment has been posted and you can’t get to it for a do over. 

3. When our hero’s eye color changes mid-book because somebody forgot to check the character sheet. (No we won’t identify the “somebody”) 

4. When the find and replace option in Microsoft Word replaces ALL the spaces between the words, instead of the one extra space after every sentence targeted, turning the manuscript into one loooooong run-on sentence. Yes,ithappenedtous. That’s why we don’t recommend using the replace all function. 

5. When everyone in the critique group hates our favorite part of a scene. That usually means there’s going to be a lot of rewriting. 

6. When your finger finds the delete key instead of the save key. Thank goodness for the UNDO function! 

7. When you realize the whole chapter you just finished doesn’t go anywhere, doesn’t move the plot forward, and that chapter has to be slashed from the book. 

8. When the critique partners love the secondary characters more than the hero or heroine. Ugh! 

9. When we love a secondary character more than a hero or heroine. (One solution is that means a second book.) 

10. When you close down the computer and it crashes the next time it‘s opened. This is why Catherine prints out a hard copy every time she creates new pages and stores them in a three ring binder. Paper is her friend. (She has the file drawers full to prove it. 20 at last count. Do you have an I-hate-when-that-happens moment? We would love to hear it. Please share in a comment below so we don’t fell so inept.

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They've written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after, and that’s why they write romance. 

The second editions of the first four books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles will available in e-book format on Amazon soon.

Ghosts and Gardenias, the second edition of the first book in their time slip romance series Ghosts of Garnoa Road, will be coming soon. 

In addition to writing Catherine and Donald love antiquing, traveling, singing, and going to the theatre. Catherine is also an avid gardener and has drawn Donald into her garden as a day laborer. They figure the couple who plays together and works together, stays together—and that's just what they aim to do.

Learn more about C.D. Hersh on their Website, Amazon Author Page. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads. Be sure to follow their Blog.

Here Come the Bridal Cakes by Sweet Romance Author Catherine Castle...

Today I’m talking about wedding cakes and my book A Groom for Mama. Keep reading to the end for an excerpt from my award-winning romantic comedy with a touch of drama, A Groom for Mama.  And thanks for stopping by.

If there’s one thing we know about wedding cakes today, it’s that they come in a wide variety of style, flavors and sizes. If you look on the internet you can find wedding cakes ranging from simple two or three layers to towering monstrosities or multi-flavored cakes connected with plastic bridges and even individual cupcakes. But nowhere have I seen a wedding cake that resembles the one the groom broke over his bride’s head in Roman times. In ancient history, and even up to Victorian times, the wedding cake bore little resemblance to the sweet confections of today.

In ancient Rome, the bridal cake was a simple, unsweetened barley loaf. The groom would eat part of the loaf and break the remainder over the bride’s head. This was a symbolic act thought to bring prosperity and good fortune to the couple. Wedding guests would try to eat the crumbs from the cake so they could also share in the good fortune showered down on the bride’s head.

In medieval England, the bridal cake was composed of buns or small cakes. Stories remain from accounts telling of stacking the cakes as high as they would go. If the bride and groom were able to kiss over the tall stack it was thought they would have a life of prosperity.

By the 1660s the story is told of a French chef who was traveling through England and saw the stacked pile of cakes at a wedding. After returning home he devised a method of constructing rounded cakes or buns into a tower form called a Croquembouch. This tiered pile of cakes became the traditional French wedding cake. Today it’s common to place a Croquembouch on top of a more modern layer cake.

From the mid-1700s a Bride’s Pie was introduced at wedding meals.  The pie, which was a meat pie, not a sweetened concoction, was filled with sweetbread, mincemeat, or mutton. Bride’s cakes, which were more like fruitcake than the typical white batter cakes we associate with today’s weddings, might also be eaten.

Groom’s cakes appeared in the 1880s and were typically darker-colored fruitcakes that were much smaller than the bride’s cake. Bride’s cakes, in Colonial times, were very rich creations, often reserved for the wealthy who could afford the ingredients. Because they were so labor intensive to make, the cakes were made weeks ahead of the wedding and soaked in alcohol to preserve them for the wedding date.

In the 1800s bride fruitcakes were still the norm.  Below is a typical recipe for a wedding cake from an 1833 recipe book, courtesy of http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodcakes.html#weddingcake

Wedding Cake [1833] Good common wedding cake may be made thus: Four pounds of flour, three pounds of butter, three pounds of sugar, four pounds of currants, two pounds of raisins, twenty-four eggs, half a pint of brandy, or lemon-brandy, one ounce of mace, and three nutmegs. A little molasses makes it dark colored, which is desirable. Half a pound of citron improves it; but it is not necessary. To be baked two hours and a half, or three hours. After the oven is cleared, it is well to shut the door for eight or ten minutes, to let the violence of the heat subside, before cake or bread is put in. To make icing for your wedding cake, beat the whites of eggs to an entire froth, and to each egg add five teaspoonfuls of sifted loaf sugar, gradually; beat it a great while. Put it on when your cake is hot, or cold, as is most convenient. It will dry in a warm room, as short distance from a gentle fire, or in a warm oven." ---The American Frugal Housewife, Mrs. Child, Boston [1833] (p. 72)

In 1840, Queen Victoria introduced the white-icing tiered cake that we know today as a “wedding cake.”  The cake was iced in ‘royal icing’, which had been invented specifically for the royal wedding cake. Although the cake looked different on the outside, the batter was still the traditional fruitcake of the bride’s cake. The first tiered cakes, including Queen Victoria’s cake, had layers that were not edible. It wasn’t until 1882 when the first tiered cake with all-edible layers appeared at the wedding of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. Even today, our English friends choose the traditional fruitcake batter for their wedding cakes. Prince William and Kate’s wedding cake was made with a fruitcake batter, as was his mother’s and his grandmother’s.

Wedding toppers appeared in the 1940s, and by the 1950s, American brides began moving away from the traditional fruitcake of Colonial America. Today, you’ll find wedding cakes in many styles, themes, and flavors. If you can dream it, there will be someone who can make it.

           

When I was writing the book I hadn’t thought much about what kind of cake my characters would have, but I think it would look a lot like the one on my book cover. And Mama would have been sitting on a layer just as she is in the cover. After all, she was Cupid’s helper.   

Beverly Walters is dying, and before she goes she has one wish—to find a groom for her daughter. To get the deed done, Mama enlists the dating service of Jack Somerset, Allison’s former boyfriend. The last thing corporate-climbing Allison wants is a husband. Furious with Mama’s meddling, and a bit more interested in Jack than she wants to admit, Allison agrees to the scheme as long as Mama promises to search for a cure for her terminal illness. A cross-country trip from Nevada to Ohio ensues, with a string of disastrous dates along the way, as the trio hunts for treatment and A Groom For Mama.

EXCERPT

Bounding down the stairwell as the bell rang, Allison shouted, “I’m coming! I’m coming. Keep your pants on!” She threw the deadbolt off and jerked open the door.

Jack Somerset stood in front of her, his chin perched on top of a stack of Chinese take-out cartons. Shoving down her tingling gut reaction, she commanded her heart to stop jumping like an overexcited puppy.

Except for a few more laugh wrinkles around his eyes, Jack hadn’t changed a bit since college. His brown hair still dipped over his forehead in a shaggy mane. A lopsided smile spread across his face when he saw her. He winked at her, his green eyes twinkling.

“Well, if it isn’t the bride-to-be. Nice to see you again, Allison.” He jiggled the cartons balanced in his arms. “I brought Chinese. I remember it was your favorite. Moo shu pork, right?” He pushed past her and headed toward the kitchen, apparently as well acquainted with her childhood home as she.

Grabbing her head between her hands, she squeezed her temples.

Chinese. Of all the things he could have brought, he brought Chinese. She’d broken it off with him in a Chinese restaurant . . . over moo shu pork. Very loudly and very violently. The pork and the pot of hot tea had landed in Jack’s lap when he tried to keep her from leaving the table. Did his choice of entrees mean Jack hadn’t forgotten the incident? She hadn’t, and she’d been unable to eat that particular Chinese dish since.

 

Second Edition for A Groom for Mama Coming Soon...

 

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.    

 

Authors: Just Keep Showing Up…

I’m the type a person who, once I commit to something, I’m all in. Especially if my heart has anything to say about it. Let’s talk writing for instance. At the beginning of 2025, I was faced with a dilemma. My publisher was closing at the end of the year, and I had to take action if I wanted my books to continue to show up in the world. So, I queried (not fun, but a necessary task) a couple of publishers based on referrals from my author friends. Within a month, I signed on with two publishers! The first publisher, Pandamonium Publishing House for my teen psychic mystery series, Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls (read more about that news HERE), and the second publisher, Next Chapter for The Last Timekeepers young adult time travel adventures. Once I signed both contracts, the stress literally rolled off my shoulders. Woohoo!

That said, I know I’m in it for the long haul. As mentioned, I’ve got two young adult book series on the go—four done in the time travel series, and three completed in the teen psychic tales. What you don’t know is that I’ve got nine more to write in total. Stating this fact shows I know it’s going to take years before each series is completed. Honestly, what was I thinking?

Keep in mind I’ve had to learn that patience is my friend, not foe. I removed myself from the hustle culture a few years ago, and feel much calmer, more focused, and less stressed. If you’re familiar with the Tarot cards, there’s one particular card that I visualize in my mind to help me keep showing up. It’s the seven of wands, and the energy this card carries is one of valor, of holding firm, and of having the advantage in spite of the stiff competition facing you. I’ve embodied this card’s meaning many times throughout my author and personal life. To have the courage to work through adversity and all sorts of pressure. It’s determination, perseverance, and a sense of purpose wrapped up in a gift with a bow. This card reminds me not to give up the struggle, and that if I make the effort, I will achieve victory.

As writers, sometimes obstacles are placed in our path (like losing your publisher) just to enhance our ability to use our skills and wisdom wisely. Take the amount of times a writer has been rejected, and you get the gist. It’s a test for us to see if we can truly handle what we believe we can accomplish. To keep showing up is a testament to your dreams and goals. I mean, why did you come to the earth plane anyway? You showed up here for a reason. Figure out what that reason is, and make things happen in your life.

Sometimes just showing up means carving out that fifteen minutes a day to write your story or even a blog post. Do up a few ad blurbs for the books you’ve already written and published, and do some marketing. Back lists sell new books, right? Plot and plan that next novel. Meet with other writers and network or brainstorm. Reach out to your local bookstore, and see if they’ve got any author events planned. Jump in with both feet, and share your reading wares with the local libraries or schools. Donate copies of books to charities like Ronald McDonald House Charities to enhance their libraries and raise spirits. Be courageous and brave, like the figure on the seven of wands, who takes the bull by the horns, and soldiers on.

In this writing business, it’s easy to feel daunted, to retreat, to feel overwhelmed, and not know what the next chapter of your life will bring. I have at times too. Just take a breath, step back from the action periodically, reassess your plans and goals, then take back your place, and know you have the advantage even if you don’t realize it. Because, trust me, you do.

How about you? Have you ever let the competition get to you? Let me know if you’ve ever felt at a disadvantage in your writing life. Do you cut your losses and withdraw from your dreams and goals? Would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!