tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87270766646544256482024-03-18T18:53:32.204-07:00Sharon Ledwith: I came. I saw. I wrote.Author. Time Traveler. Psychic Sleuth. Embraces the Woo-Woo.Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.comBlogger893125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-32940672346566361212024-03-17T21:00:00.000-07:002024-03-17T21:00:00.134-07:00Author in the Kitchen: A Quick and Easy Easter Dinner Served by Cozy Mystery Author Emma Lane...Easter will be here soon, so I took the liberty of inviting Bestselling Author Emma Lane, who also writes under the pen names Janis Lane and Sunny Lane, into my virtual kitchen to celebrate the upcoming holiday with me and my readers. So, let's dole out the chocolate bunnies, and get this Easter celebration started! The stove is on, and the oven is preheating. Get that apron on, and do your thing, Ms. Emma...<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">My goal is to serve food with as
little fuss as possible while still producing an attractive, delicious, and
healthy meal for my family and guests. Hopefully this plan will give me more
time to enjoy everyone. I encourage you
to add your own favorites. <o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">MENU</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Baked Ham</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Raisin Sauce</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Candied Carrots</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ambrosia</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dinner Rolls</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Peaches al la Mode</span></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcr-tHBBlwSfpr1Ma1Yz_TemmPYT_Ow01_-Pof7QbA69TfBk55ZCLCXAWpNSw3-tgQQdwsWXf9Rk6wo2yGgACfEfgJOb5z22BHayxKn1-VP5ZrseowLyCmyuAy09ROuFd9zhS3YU8JSU2HMqeWk48gp6IdfDiHqyaIFc-8XFR8a6M60iWfms/s612/F26%20Baked%20Ham%20DELETE%20when%20through.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcr-tHBBlwSfpr1Ma1Yz_TemmPYT_Ow01_-Pof7QbA69TfBk55ZCLCXAWpNSw3-tgQQdwsWXf9Rk6wo2yGgACfEfgJOb5z22BHayxKn1-VP5ZrseowLyCmyuAy09ROuFd9zhS3YU8JSU2HMqeWk48gp6IdfDiHqyaIFc-8XFR8a6M60iWfms/w234-h156/F26%20Baked%20Ham%20DELETE%20when%20through.jpg" width="234" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />Ham</b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hams are already cooked you merely want to warm it through. Follow
the package directions so as not to dry out the meat.</p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Raisin Sauce</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 ½ cups water</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">¾ cup raisins</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">⅓ cup packed brown sugar</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 pinch salt</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 tsp. cornstarch</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: -0.2in;"><o:p> </o:p>Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in raisins,
then boil until raisins are very tender, 5 minutes. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Whisk in brown sugar and salt, then gradually whisk
in cornstarch to avoid lumps forming. Simmer over low heat until glaze has
thickened, 10 minutes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Serve in a gravy boat for your family and friends to spoon
onto their ham.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Candied Carrots <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvha3MspU8YMGWRoLLoCwzNmA8ujAhqoOu7HnlQxGJKroGjO99FTJMKPqcfKLOL4YlI2agERA3J9-fIqdQb-7Hmv0yLKee4DkBiC6r_5cs3JXdArBehMgpXnru5ydUeRJN9Ksq2nTikncQ0cK4ePYl8xwVFfgXQXulvc-YN_L8phzzPhiie0/s6000/F26%20carrots.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvha3MspU8YMGWRoLLoCwzNmA8ujAhqoOu7HnlQxGJKroGjO99FTJMKPqcfKLOL4YlI2agERA3J9-fIqdQb-7Hmv0yLKee4DkBiC6r_5cs3JXdArBehMgpXnru5ydUeRJN9Ksq2nTikncQ0cK4ePYl8xwVFfgXQXulvc-YN_L8phzzPhiie0/w153-h230/F26%20carrots.jpg" width="153" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />Are always a
favorite. This recipe works great in your</span> microwave.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;">5 – 8 baby or mini carrots per person</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 tbsp. butter</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 tbsp. brown sugar</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dash of maple syrup ¼ cup water</div><div style="text-align: left;">Parsley for garnish, optional</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cut carrots in half or thirds into long pieces.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mix remaining ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Stir in
carrots. Nuke until carrots are fork tender. Careful not to overcook. Spoon sauce
over carrots before serving.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ambrosia</b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>I have mentioned before I am
originally from the south of the U.S. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Oranges
and coconut mixed together is Ambrosia</span> in South Georgia. Use a pretty
glass bowl if you have one. I use my mother’s cranberry bowl and love the
contrast of the bright orange colors. This is a messy recipe to prep as you
must remove the orange membrane. Do prepare the dish the day before and
refrigerate to really blend the flavors. <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<div style="text-align: left;">1 orange per person if small, ½ if large</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 cup shredded sweetened coconut</div><div style="text-align: left;">¼ cup orange juice</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 small can crushed pineapple</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stir all ingredients together then scoop into a serving bowl.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Canned</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">biscuits or Crescent
Rolls<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Follow the recipe on the package.</p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Peaches a la Mode</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1 can sliced peaches in light syrup</div><div style="text-align: left;">Vanilla ice cream</div><div style="text-align: left;">Granola, optional</div><div style="text-align: left;">Maraschino cherries</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cherry juice</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spoon 3 – 5 peach slices in individual dessert dishes. Add a
generous double scoop of vanilla ice cream. Top with a maraschino cherry and a
sprinkling of granola. Drizzle sparingly with cherry juice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Other fruits are also tasty prepared this way. <span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p>Here is a brief intro to the cozy mystery series Emma writes.<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWBHRAiM8_k4gMu7tsu42YadoA7hDhWMBXKt1GGbXUbolkVskICDvorTb8Cho6iQ7WX_7MyDdkFg7tCXMrTvI7uJ31p47QoiDYLRKfoHfMcMR6sQ-k_tRxS45uePUO6AaXBiHnCdk5WtB/s500/D45+Murder+in+Junkyard+Cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWBHRAiM8_k4gMu7tsu42YadoA7hDhWMBXKt1GGbXUbolkVskICDvorTb8Cho6iQ7WX_7MyDdkFg7tCXMrTvI7uJ31p47QoiDYLRKfoHfMcMR6sQ-k_tRxS45uePUO6AaXBiHnCdk5WtB/s320/D45+Murder+in+Junkyard+Cover.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><br />MURDER in the JUNKYARD</b> sees the demise of a man no one likes, a romance, and plans for a wedding as Detective Fowler and his friends keep their small-town America free from danger.<p></p><p>Detective Kevin Fowler is furious that low life has targeted his town where people live in blissful safety. Brenda Bryant is out junkn’ for good things when she stumbles over the grotesque body of a man beloved by no one. Suspense heats up when large sums of money are found in two different places. Drug money is suspected and Brenda targeted by someone who wants the money returned. Detective Fowler faces surprise after surprise as he peels back the surface of Hubbard, New York and deals with its shocking underbelly. Meanwhile romance infiltrates the group of friends with a wedding in the making.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Junkyard-Janis-Lane-ebook/dp/B00N9JVN3W/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Janis+Lane&amp;qid=1614371852&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-5%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">AMAZON BUY LINK</span></a></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QdFFGr_iUT6sspHcukwgOV6E3LMgTMai3d2dLisiMECuKSFLpfapbTLwd95GeaM8MKjlYNKabiucM_yA6LOBD6igpXgqBGKkRPwovXNn4F2FgTuVz3azgEO8stbU78WVuUPj1kvoeEU5/s1984/Emma+Lane+Arranging+Flowers.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1984" data-original-width="1488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QdFFGr_iUT6sspHcukwgOV6E3LMgTMai3d2dLisiMECuKSFLpfapbTLwd95GeaM8MKjlYNKabiucM_yA6LOBD6igpXgqBGKkRPwovXNn4F2FgTuVz3azgEO8stbU78WVuUPj1kvoeEU5/s320/Emma+Lane+Arranging+Flowers.jpg" /></a></div>Emma Lane <span>is a gifted author</span><span> who writes cozy mysteries as Janis Lane, Regency as Emma, and spice as </span><span>Sunny Lane</span><span>.</span><span> </span><p></p><p></p><p></p><pclass sonormal=""><o:p><span style="text-align: left;">She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at </span><b style="text-align: left;">Herbtique and Plant Nursery</b><span style="text-align: left;">, the nursery she and her son own. </span><br style="text-align: left;" /></o:p></pclass><p class="MsoNormal">Look for information about writing and plants on Emma's new <a href="http://emmajlane.com/"><b>website</b></a>. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma's face.</p>
<br />
Stay connected to Emma on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000338539637&fref=ts"><b>Facebook</b></a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/EMMAJLANE"><b>Twitter</b></a>. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/emmajlane/things-that-make-me-smile/"><b>Pinterest</b></a>.
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-64137690390047783172024-03-10T21:00:00.000-07:002024-03-10T21:00:00.144-07:00Celebrate Your Name! Even If You Change It by Sweet Romance Author Catherine Castle...<br /><div><figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://catherinecastle1.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/nametagscan.jpg"><img alt="" class="wp-image-135" height="200" src="https://catherinecastle1.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/nametagscan.jpg?w=529" width="250" /></a></figure>
<!--/wp:image-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>March 7-13 was Celebrate Your Name week. Established in 1997 by American onomatology hobbyist Jerry Hill,<strong> Celebrate Your Name Week</strong> (CYNW) is a week for embracing and celebrating your name.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>Before you say, “Why would I want to celebrate my name?” think about this--your name identifies you. It is the one thing that will be in your life now and forever. It can define your ethnicity, your heritage, how you look at yourself, and sometimes how others look at you. If you hate your name you can change it, but the original moniker will still be on your birth certificate. Your name will be used throughout your life to identify you in a myriad of ways: on your driver’s license, bank accounts, health accounts, mortgage deeds, insurance policies, social media accounts, professionally, and friends and family will say your name hundreds of thousands, or even millions of times, over the course of your life.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>Think about your name or names if you have a middle one. Do you know what they mean? Do you know how you got them? Do you know how long it took your parents to decide on what to name you? How important was your name to those who named you? Have you ever wanted to change your name, and if so why? How did that change work out for you?</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>I know the answers to a few of those questions. My birth names mean pure and peace. I was named after both of my grandmothers, whose names at the time of my birth were very old-fashioned. My aunt Ella, on my father’s side, always addressed me by my first and my middle names. I suppose she didn’t want me to forget my paternal grandmother, whom I never met. I can still recall my aunt’s voice addressing me. She was the only one who ever called me by both names and somehow it became extra special to me.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>I don’t know how long it took my parents to decide on my name or whether they had chosen it before I was born or after. Back then you had to have male and female options, since the gender was a surprise until the baby arrived.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>I do know that it was very important to my mother that people called me Catherine, not Cathy. While in high school I shortened my name to Cathy and introduced myself that way at school. Catherine was too long to write on homework papers and very old-fashioned at the time. I wanted to be hipper back then. At church, and in front of my mother, I was always Catherine.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>That dichotomy caused me a lot of problems. Although I cautioned any boy to whom I gave my home phone number to ask for <em>Catherine—not Cathy,</em> they invariably forgot. When Mom got to the phone before I did, which was often since she had a phone beside her easy chair, I’d hear, “Sorry, there’s no one here by that name.” Then she’d hang up the phone and glare at me. I lost a lot of potential boyfriends and dates that way. One icy answer from my mother and they never called back. I think they thought I’d given them the run-around with a wrong number. As the years went by, I grew out of my Cathy phase and now I have to correct people when they shorten my name. I still answer to Cathy at my high school reunions. Mom’s not around anymore to glare at me in disapproval and it’s just easier for those few hours to answer to the nickname.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>My grandmother was called Cat by her brothers. I used to think that was a horrible nickname and cringed whenever I heard her addressed that way. When my nieces and nephews came along, Cat was easier to say than Catherine, so I adopted Grandma’s nickname. It shocked the heck out of my family when I gave those babies the okay to call me Cat. Now I’m Aunt Cat to all of them. I now eschew the high school nickname I gave myself and love the birth name I once hated. Ain’t life funny?</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>When I began my fiction-writing career, I changed my name again. I kept my first name, because I like it a lot now. I’ve grown into it. I also thought keeping my first name would be less confusing at writing conferences. If someone called me Nancy, I might think they were talking to another person and unintentionally ignore them. That would be bad. I did, however, choose a different last name—one that would fit easier on a book cover and had a nice alliteration to my first name. My pen name is Catherine Castle. With that name change I became an author of sweet and inspiration romance.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p> I still remember the first time a stranger in a bookstore asked, “Are you Catherine Castle?”</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>Startled, I looked at her and said, “Yes, I am.” No one had ever recognized my author persona before and I wondered how she knew me.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>She must have seen the question in my gaze because she said, “I recognize you from your picture on your website.”</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>I left the bookstore with a big grin on my face that lasted for several hours. A complete stranger knew who Catherine Castle, the author, was! </p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>Shakespeare wrote, in <em>Romeo and Juliet</em>, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…" This popular quote is often used to imply that it didn’t matter that Romeo’s name was associated with the house of Juliet’s family’s sworn enemy.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>I suggest that your name does matter and that your name affects who you are. A boy named Sue will have a very different life than one named Chauncy. So if you love your name, or are just indifferent to it, embrace it. Take a few minutes this week to celebrate your name. Find out everything you can about your name. Dig into its history. You might be surprised as to why you are named what you are and how your name has made you who you are.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>If you need to change your name for some reason, choose wisely. In the Bible, when a name change happened it often reflected some new aspect of one’s life, a thing that changed them and defined their new life paths. Your name can define you, too. So make your new name a good one.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>Celebrate name week—Celebrate!</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>Catherine Castle is very picky about how she chooses the character names for her books. She once wrote an entire book inserting the name Mother 2 into the pages because she couldn’t think of the right name for that antagonist character. Her critique partners thought it was a real hoot, but when she finally came up with Mother 2’s name—Tiberia—they all agreed it fit her perfectly.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>In her book <em>A Groom for Mama</em>, she named one of the characters in honor of a dear friend who battled cancer. Here’s a peek at the blurb. </p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"},"color":{"text":"#c44363"}}}-->
<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://catherinecastle1.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/agroomformama2_400.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5326" height="258" src="https://catherinecastle1.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/agroomformama2_400.jpg?w=400" width="161" /></a></figure>
<!--/wp:image-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>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.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>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.</p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>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 <em>A Groom For Mama</em>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074SZSGB1/ref=cm_sw_su_dp" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">AMAZON BUY LINK</span></b></a></p>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}}-->
<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><br /></figure>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}}-->
<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj--wqqDqAc6XPb7KYp9mW-pN2cA4oRA7DtG3v6UzEwfVeOY_1tNTdp03kEBHvbCoEBhhiCnBMf71_GShquSkF3CosLXe6M5_dalsH6heEy9PNwdWQGwByjHwHEHUKsfBRhi7qT2NCop97-IQ20qSLqvMt8_-2YbWtZqY7iuJa2ce3wtKWOnlI/s265/Catherine%20Castle.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="200" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj--wqqDqAc6XPb7KYp9mW-pN2cA4oRA7DtG3v6UzEwfVeOY_1tNTdp03kEBHvbCoEBhhiCnBMf71_GShquSkF3CosLXe6M5_dalsH6heEy9PNwdWQGwByjHwHEHUKsfBRhi7qT2NCop97-IQ20qSLqvMt8_-2YbWtZqY7iuJa2ce3wtKWOnlI/w172-h228/Catherine%20Castle.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><br />Multi-award-winning <a href="https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">author Catherine Castle</a> 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. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books <em><a href="http://amzn.com/B00CHU9DH2" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">The Nun and the Narc</a> </em>and <em><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B074SZSGB1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">A Groom for Mama</a>,</em> on Amazon and <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Catherine%20Castle%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>.</figure>
<!--/wp:paragraph-->
<!--wp:paragraph-->
<p>Follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/AuthorCCastle" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://facebook.com/catherinecastleauthor" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">FB</a>, or her <a href="https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">blog</a>.</p><p></p></div>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-8720796871547605792024-03-03T21:00:00.000-08:002024-03-03T21:00:00.147-08:00A Recipe and Read: Piping Hot and Wonderful Minestrone Soup and a Romantic Suspense by Vonnie Hughes...I've invited my Kiwi author friend, Vonnie Hughes from down under to share one of her favorite dishes in my virtual kitchen today. Since there's still a chill in the air, I thought this was the perfect choice to warm up our bodies and fill up our bellies. The stove is all yours, Ms. Vonnie...<div><br /></div><div>This soup tastes great and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It's a must in our house whenever the weather turns cold.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">MINESTRONE SOUP</span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CzQeg3mWwEWSpXQ2YdLzh3yH5xLZ8BPSCc4FvriwO7lK2eBsEWNt87BeLy0MHzrRTZZR9LpTudEAO5m3dsZCpWS-XL6Ucf99DzbmZ32LTXWWYHr-Toy2FVFdUK6l0twN8JBB2Gc72T9i/s1600/B7+Jan+Minestrone+soup-3750040__340.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CzQeg3mWwEWSpXQ2YdLzh3yH5xLZ8BPSCc4FvriwO7lK2eBsEWNt87BeLy0MHzrRTZZR9LpTudEAO5m3dsZCpWS-XL6Ucf99DzbmZ32LTXWWYHr-Toy2FVFdUK6l0twN8JBB2Gc72T9i/w290-h193/B7+Jan+Minestrone+soup-3750040__340.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>1 tbsp. butter<br />
4 slices bacon, chopped or ½ lb. gravy beef, minced/ground<br />
1 onion, chopped<br />
½ lb. fresh tomatoes or 1 jar/can, chopped <br />
1 carrot, scraped and chopped<br />
1 potato, peeled and chopped<br />
2 sticks celery or other seasonal vegetable, chopped<br />
½ cup haricot beans that have been soaked overnight, green beans work too<br />
3 tbsp. macaroni<br />
3 tbsp. rice<br />
3 tbsp. spaghetti<br />
½ tsp. salt <br />
Pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Melt butter in a frying pan. Add bacon or meat and fry until crisp. Stir in onion and tomatoes. <br />
<br />
Carefully pour mixture into a slow cooker or pressure cooker. Fill pot halfway with water. Stir in remaining ingredients. <br />
<br />
Cook 2 hours in slow cooker or 15 minutes in pressure cooker.<br />
<br />
Here's a little from my latest romantic suspense. I hope you enjoy it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxSitqzzMYnoFLB7yUMOh0GRUr1uy0aVDPqwwoJcaCayF0uLKyA5I7rgk00PJOTUoo3oiuK0puUhMqZaZTWucNIFTmocHMl4i5JhNfgv5ial2aHRg-mK2PlVoGIyWwJFQC8cvPyKWO9tc/s1600/Vonnie+Hughes+Medium+LR+cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxSitqzzMYnoFLB7yUMOh0GRUr1uy0aVDPqwwoJcaCayF0uLKyA5I7rgk00PJOTUoo3oiuK0puUhMqZaZTWucNIFTmocHMl4i5JhNfgv5ial2aHRg-mK2PlVoGIyWwJFQC8cvPyKWO9tc/s320/Vonnie+Hughes+Medium+LR+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Who can you trust if you can’t trust your own mother? Through the clammy fog, Celie Francis hears the chilling message. “I know who you are, Celie. I know where you live.” And in the terrifying aftermath she reconnects with her dysfunctional family in ways she had never imagined.</i><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB:</b><br />
Abused and abandoned as a child, Célie Francis knows better than to trust anyone. But after she witnesses a murder, she's placed in the Unit "New Zealand's witness protection program" where she's expected to trust strangers with her life.<br />
<br />
It's psychologist Brand Turner's job to ease witnesses into their new identities, not to protect them, but Célie stirs feelings in him that are far from professional. When it appears someone is leaking critical information that could endanger Célie, Brand will do anything to protect her. But first he has to convince her to trust him.<br />
<br />
Adrift in a frightening world, Célie would like to believe the handsome psychologist is everything he seems, but as witnesses are murdered and danger swirls around them, Célie must decide "can she trust Brand with her life? <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">BUY LINKS</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006VWZDZI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sloanetaylor7-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B006VWZDZI&linkId=801c9f0e8f3539aac240da2b4e289ec7"><b>AMAZON</b></a><br />
<a href="https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/2817-lethal-refuge.html"><b>The Wild Rose Press e-book</b></a> - <a href="https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/546-lethal-refuge-paperback.html?search_query=Lethal+Refuge&results=2"><b>The Wild Rose Press Paperback</b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lethal-Refuge-eBook/126808984"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Walmart</span></b></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUxQq251k15DANlcAuhR8FcJreAu_OSqIa6lsF7sF_8Bj-NydCOfSUmM96fP-wpEHiZRQ1ciAKLMsXZe7KVX7efpdCAUX6KTCS0_SrPOylRbWyEe8xTKiLOPizXb5x37opxSsK8NvP3be/s1600/vonnie-pr-photo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUxQq251k15DANlcAuhR8FcJreAu_OSqIa6lsF7sF_8Bj-NydCOfSUmM96fP-wpEHiZRQ1ciAKLMsXZe7KVX7efpdCAUX6KTCS0_SrPOylRbWyEe8xTKiLOPizXb5x37opxSsK8NvP3be/w239-h235/vonnie-pr-photo.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><b>Vonnie Hughes</b> is a multi-published author in both Regency books and contemporary suspense. She loves the intricacies of the social rules of the Regency period and the far-ranging consequences of the Napoleonic Code. And with suspense she has free rein to explore forensic matters and the strong convolutions of the human mind. Like many writers, some days she hates the whole process, but somehow she just cannot let it go.<br />
<br />
Vonnie was born in New Zealand, but she and her husband now live happily in Australia. If you visit Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand be sure to stroll through the Japanese Garden. These is a bronze plaque engraved with a haiku describing the peacefulness of that environment. The poem was written by Vonnie.<br />
<br />
All of Vonnie’s books are available on <a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=vonnie+hughes&x=0&y=0"><b>The Wild Rose Press</b></a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vonnie-Hughes/e/B003VNG4I0/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1456261356&sr=1-2-ent"><b>Amazon</b></a>. <br />
<br />
Learn more about <b>Vonnie Hughes</b> on her <a href="http://www.vonniehughes.com/"><b>website</b></a> and <a href="http://vonniehughes.blogspot.com.au/"><b>blog</b></a>. Stay connected on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/VonnieJHughes"><b>Facebook</b></a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5605111-vonnie-hughes"><b>Goodreads</b></a>. a>.
</div>Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-73364891522875723542024-02-25T21:00:00.000-08:002024-02-25T21:00:00.140-08:00Authors: Do you Know your Top Strengths… <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe6WZX-N7MJFEW-tg4n3xTEi178-7SViy_NPNA3T_CSHh0xAimtK8dGdfcilghX7zP0K5fIRtMxZ6zDqTV0pqFZdN54j9G3Dek1AvPXrIb9_XRB1zli9Li8AiqwNQC8tqPn29jRRWZRpfLAiGHBljer9oXe07lPFtKah040Z8juqQeS_dcgsEzmR4cVZA/s5192/Strength%20by%20john-arano-h4i9G-de7Po-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3466" data-original-width="5192" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe6WZX-N7MJFEW-tg4n3xTEi178-7SViy_NPNA3T_CSHh0xAimtK8dGdfcilghX7zP0K5fIRtMxZ6zDqTV0pqFZdN54j9G3Dek1AvPXrIb9_XRB1zli9Li8AiqwNQC8tqPn29jRRWZRpfLAiGHBljer9oXe07lPFtKah040Z8juqQeS_dcgsEzmR4cVZA/s320/Strength%20by%20john-arano-h4i9G-de7Po-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Have you ever heard of
the VIA Institute on Character? If you go to their <a href="https://www.viacharacter.org/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">website</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, they ask if you want to do a free survey to
find out what your top strengths are, and how you can apply them in your life.
Character Strengths are the positive parts of your personality that impact how
you think, feel, and behave. So, me being the consummate learner, I decided to
take the survey. You have to create an account just to take the survey, then
you can unsubscribe if you wish. Of course, if you want more information about
your strengths, you can pay for the certain packages, but I declined. I was more
curious on what this survey—which takes about ten minutes to complete—would
reveal. They give you three categories: your tops strengths, middle strengths,
and lesser strengths. For the purpose of this article, I’m going to share my
top strengths with you.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Drum roll please. My
number top strengths are…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Honesty</span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (flagged under Courage): Speaking the truth but more broadly
presenting oneself in a genuine way and acting in a sincere way; being without
pretense; taking responsibility for one’s feelings and actions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kindness </span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">(flagged under Humanity): Doing favors and good deeds for
others; helping them; taking care of them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Humor</span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (flagged under Transcendence): Liking to laugh and tease;
bringing smiles to other people; seeing the light side; making (not necessarily
telling) jokes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spirituality</span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (flagged under Transcendence): Having coherent beliefs about
the higher purpose and meaning of the universe; knowing where one fits within
the larger scope of life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gratitude</span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (flagged under Transcendence): Being aware of and thankful for
the good things that happen; taking time to express thanks.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wow. I was impressed!
Especially with all those transcendence flags. I actually checked in the mirror
to see if I had wings. LOL! Having no expectations, it was a fun survey to do,
and I’d have to admit quite eye-opening. So, how can I put these strengths to
good use in my author life, I wondered? Since our characters stem from our
imagination, and are part of our psyche, it would make sense to pass along one
or a few of these strengths along to your characters. I noticed that I’ve done
this in the past with most of my characters. Guess you really write what you
know! I’ve done this through showing, rather than telling. A gesture. An act. A
dialogue with another character. Bringing out your character’s strengths can
help you connect to your audience all the more. It’s like part of your
authentic self is tucked into your character’s pocket or up a sleeve.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPex1MhogQQJ8gahNKKoQgwWPd1wtU-odROSHe0CI2kP5zdduW-lesQWEqtBmND5w-AIwrY2ZZeKiwFXmIhYjt-cYUzo7jnOodviVVSwVYWnVq8ppCj_GMAEoC7cad5v1vPTNU9cTdVION5VjCnPCQGukuV1gS7J5sQiyv1xV3mowG8U7EiJHH8s6fCXeF/s3750/CoverLostandFoundmedium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPex1MhogQQJ8gahNKKoQgwWPd1wtU-odROSHe0CI2kP5zdduW-lesQWEqtBmND5w-AIwrY2ZZeKiwFXmIhYjt-cYUzo7jnOodviVVSwVYWnVq8ppCj_GMAEoC7cad5v1vPTNU9cTdVION5VjCnPCQGukuV1gS7J5sQiyv1xV3mowG8U7EiJHH8s6fCXeF/s320/CoverLostandFoundmedium.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>This technique can
work well with animals too, if you choose to include them in your book like I
did<br /> with <i style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.sharonledwith.com/books/mysterious-tales-from-fairy-falls-series/lost-and-found/">Lost and Found</a></i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. Each shelter
animal had their own personality and strengths to add into the story mix, and
made them so relatable. If you’re thinking about doing this survey, then also
include your middle or lesser strengths to make your characters all the more
believable and yes, even flawed. Funny, my last lesser strength (there’s a
total of 24 altogether) was Leadership (flagged under Justice). Makes sense
since I’m a writer, and used to working alone.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ready to take the survey?
Have I piqued your interest? Give it a go if you dare. You just might learn
something about you, and the characters you create. Comment and let me know if
you’ve taken or would like to take the VIA survey. Would love to read your
comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate
you!</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p>Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-77068756114112546612024-02-21T21:00:00.000-08:002024-02-21T21:00:00.244-08:00Book Spotlight: Peter Little Wing by Canadian Children's Author Regan W. H. Macaulay...<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTIbhlFG-Yt59T1dOP45bc6xwcBwsvS20xwWF1xhO1QdITx5kolRlzR4F13VBaoWiN9-mo5mekb7LQZNAM0tCaa3RERV5lC8-NzOUVd34pk1yaEONYjt4C_6GH2yVkLDMdvVHmJfenRKdLMMOwzWJkC4CQBrvDn_QNtEJBztWwIZg5RqFcrXbZ8htUk0R/s1280/PeterLittleWingCOVER.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="795" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTIbhlFG-Yt59T1dOP45bc6xwcBwsvS20xwWF1xhO1QdITx5kolRlzR4F13VBaoWiN9-mo5mekb7LQZNAM0tCaa3RERV5lC8-NzOUVd34pk1yaEONYjt4C_6GH2yVkLDMdvVHmJfenRKdLMMOwzWJkC4CQBrvDn_QNtEJBztWwIZg5RqFcrXbZ8htUk0R/w249-h400/PeterLittleWingCOVER.jpeg" width="249" /></a></div><br />I recently released my
first ever middle-grade novel. I’m so incredibly excited and proud...it was
about 20 years in the making.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I wrote </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Peter
Little Wing</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> (book one of an upcoming series of four novels for readers
8 and up) shortly after my first visit to Aotearoa New Zealand. I went there as
a pre-wedding honeymoon with my then fiancé, now husband, Kevin. To say this
place was inspiring—the gorgeous landscape that one can only attempt to capture
in photographs and video, the wildly fascinating creatures (mostly birds!), and
warm, friendly people (who often call themselves kiwi—after their national
icon, the kiwi bird)—it had my imagination bursting with possibilities. The
characters came first, and their locations: the New Zealand National Aquarium
in Napier, Hawke’s Bay’s art deco town, and the facility next door called
Marineland (which I called Marine Rescue in the book). These were to be
critters from captivity, but their quest would see them stranded in the
wilderness, that much I knew. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I crafted a story of
adventure—a quest to save the grandfather of a kiwi named Peter, but I also
infused the book with truths about a real place. And the characters were all
real and very unique animals, often endemic to New Zealand. I want readers to
find out about this wonderful place and the creatures who inhabit it, while
they’re whisked away on a journey that these uncommon and endangered creatures
take—an adventure not dissimilar to the one Kevin and I embarked on all the way
back in November of 2003.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">And so, it came to be
that a story about </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Peter, a captive
Southern Fiordland tokoeka kiwi, and his friends from the National Aquarium and
Marine Rescue—Onion, a little blue penguin with an inner-ear imbalance; Tim, a
tuatara with Generalized Anxiety Disorder; and Rangi, a kea with clipped
wings—and their quest through the unfamiliar wilderness of New Zealand in
search of three ingredients needed to create an elixir to cure Peter’s ailing
grandfather, Nandy Enzo, flowed out onto my laptop screen. After years of rewrites,
submissions, notes from editors, publishers, and beta readers, more revisions,
and lots more rejections, I found a home for <i>Peter Little Wing</i>, and
the book is out in the wild!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Together, this
unusually diverse group of friends traverse the length of the South Island of
Aotearoa, all the way across the Cook Strait and back home to the North Island.
They learn what they are all capable of in the wild of the wop wops, and what
the world beyond the "Walls of Shadows" of Peter’s habitat is all about.
And I finally had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs—the digressions,
and the main but multiple paths—of taking a book from inspiration through to
publication, and now beyond.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Allow me to share a bit
of the story with you now…specifically, the second half of Chapter 1. It should
give you an idea of where</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">the story goes from
there. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">An excerpt from the second half of Chapter 1:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">"We
can't expect much help from the humans. They just don't know what's wrong</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: TimesNewRoman, serif;">—</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">"
Nandy Enzo sneezed and a shiver like ice ran along Peter's spine. Nandy's
brown, wilting feathers swelled, then fell again as he heaved a sigh.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
swayed on the spot. He opened his beak as he searched his mind for words.
Nothing came out.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I'm
just a bit knackered is all, don't fret. Come back later and we will sing some
stories..." And his grandfather was asleep.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
turned and climbed out of the burrow, his cheeks burning and his insides
churning. As he breached the den hole,</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter was
met by the rest of his kiwi family. They circled around and watched him
closely. He explored the expressions on their faces—their collective gaze was
heavy.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
opened his beak. "I...I didn't know what to say to him."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bess
rushed up and put her neck around his in an embrace. "You didn't have to
say anything." Her voice shook.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
pulled away. "I should have said something while he was still awake."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It's
all right, Peter." Uncle Lloyd took a step towards him. Peter did not find
his uncle's hesitant tone reassuring.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I
thought I could be braver than all our kiwi ancestors from Nandy's
stories." Worry ate at the edges of Peter's skin. "When it really
mattered, I couldn't say anything." Shame drizzled from the top of his
head to the tips of his toes like an electric sweat.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Hmph!"
Ms. Elsa sniffed, interrupting whatever reply Bess might have given. "I
doubt the humans' foul medicines jammed into the side of his beak or injected
into his thigh, or anything fancy like that will cure Enzo. No, no! It didn't
work for Louis, so it won't work miracles now."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
bristled upon Ms. Elsa's mention of his father. "But there must be
something </span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">we </span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">can do." Peter held back a glare as an anxious pick stabbed
at his heart.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Us?
A heap of captive kiwi? I suppose a young upstart like you will succeed where
even our human caretakers have failed. Ha!" Ms. Elsa snorted, dislodging a
bit of dirt from her nostril, sending it through the air towards the burrow. It
landed neatly along the top rim of the entranceway.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
couldn't help but peek at it with a sideways glance. Normally, he would have to
stifle a chortle, but this time the mood felt too somber. "But you just
said their human medicines aren't going to work!" Heat inflamed Peter's
face. He struggled to keep his voice even.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"The
boy's right, on that count." Ms. Elsa was apparently oblivious to her
dirt-booger projectile. "The humans are ignorant. We're going to have to
figure out a way to tell them what Nandy Enzo requires."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"How
in the name of Nature are you going to do that?" Lloyd's voice rose with
every word he spoke. "You going to walk up to a human when they come in to
do maintenance and just natter at them? Think they'll know what you're on
about?"</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"What
do you suggest?" Ms. Elsa puffed out her aging feathers. They vibrated
with hostility.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It's
just silly is all. I don't have any idea what we should do."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aunt
Myrtle joined in, a hint of sarcasm tainting her voice. "That's very
useful." She then turned her attention to the fussing and grooming of
Uncle Lloyd's feathers, despite his protests.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
sighed loudly. "Do you know what he needs?" There was a significant
pause while Peter waited. "What would you tell the humans to do, if you
could?"</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ms. Elsa
cocked her head. She scratched at the ground with two of her toes, making
circular patterns in the earth, while Peter's patience grew thinner. Then she
hummed a tune. Peter thought he might have recognized it. Had he heard this
tune while inside his egg? Did Nandy Enzo used to sing him to sleep this way?
Ms. Elsa snapped her head back up, and her beak wagged. "It's a matter of
ingredients."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"What
ingredients?" Peter took a quick step forward.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tLG95lcQqYfuIYDaAEg149xKy1yxXPQZORo_wCJvlPBLVJq5nNKm3N7j0XF0DcpG0kezzlGz35TnOC4FblXZwdN6GCYoCn7X4DS-UDj9lY5shW4P9dzW6vwdbhjWQ9GUSphnIL_mLPqk-P2VmMp3b5_keD07yW3eRk3SIAQmqtaplT_qcSAa1UEEZCS6/s1280/PLWChpt1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="795" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tLG95lcQqYfuIYDaAEg149xKy1yxXPQZORo_wCJvlPBLVJq5nNKm3N7j0XF0DcpG0kezzlGz35TnOC4FblXZwdN6GCYoCn7X4DS-UDj9lY5shW4P9dzW6vwdbhjWQ9GUSphnIL_mLPqk-P2VmMp3b5_keD07yW3eRk3SIAQmqtaplT_qcSAa1UEEZCS6/s320/PLWChpt1.png" width="199" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"That's
the difficult part. The song is from the time of our ancestors from the wop
wops. It's been going<br /> round and round in my head for days, now. It must have
the answers we need! But none of you have ever seen or smelled the items
mentioned in this song. You were all born in captivity. I haven't likely,
either. So, I do not know the names for these ingredients, boy."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter's
gizzard rose at Ms. Elsa's mention of never having smelled or seen items from
the wild. Peter's secret surfaced in his mind, but his heart sank. "What
good is that to us, then?"</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Now,
now, boy, try to be patient! Patience is a virtue every winged creature on the
islands should have in abundance. Patience and caution. Caution and precaution.
Precaution and prudence and vigilance. Constant vigilance!"</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
felt his eyes roll and quickly stared back at the ground. He lifted his face to
Ms. Elsa again. "Is there anything you can tell us about the ingredients?
Any clues?"</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Yes,
yes, of course, boy! Now, let me see...it's a rhyme in three verses. We've all
heard it. Haven't the foggiest what it means, but I'm sure it's
important:"</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember
kiwi, when under the weather,<br />
Take this mixture in perfect measure:<br />
Meal from the dust of the oily wood tree, Gold-banded stabber-folk make remedy<br />
Bid farewell to the germs on your insides,<br />
Say goodbye to the bugs on your outsides.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">Peter was dumbfounded by the sing-song lullaby.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suddenly,
Bess chimed in. "Yes, I've heard this! You used to sing it to me,
Mum." She nuzzled against Aunt Myrtle's side and proceeded to sing the
second verse.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Add the
muscle of this animal chest,<br />
With colours bright as sunset in the west. Grind its stone armour and extract
you'll find, And salt from the ocean for gizzard to grind. With vitamins,
you'll be rejuvenated,<br />
From lethargy, you'll be liberated.</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aunt Myrtle picked up the tune:</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gather the petals of the crimson bloom, Collect its dust 'fore the
stabber-folk consume. Petals like star bursts stem the bleeding,</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fine powder
dust gives pain no feeling. Stir and warm each item overnight,</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And then
you will find that all is put right. </span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"And that's all."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"That's
more like a riddle than a nursery rhyme," Peter muttered. </span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Might as
well just retell old history tales to Nandy and see if that does him any good</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
"How is anyone supposed to figure that out?"</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Don't
be a hard case, boy. You've far too much bitterroot in your blood for such a
young one." Ms. Elsa snorted.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"But
the humans won't recognize these ingredients." Bess glanced at Peter with
a glint in her eye that told him arguing would do no good. "Humans aren't
in touch with The Deep Understanding. They've drifted away from it."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh,
she's right," said Uncle Lloyd after a prolonged but not unusual absence
from the conversation. "They never see what's right in front of
them."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I'm
not sure we'd do better. How would we recognize anything outside of our
habitat?" When Bess glanced at Peter again, he thought of his adventures
she was helping him keep secret. A song he often heard playing throughout the
Aquarium during the nights of his escapes jumped to mind.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hit the
trail, down an old dirt road.</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"That's
just fine. I've always said it's too dangerous out there, anyway. Best to stay
in here where we belong." Ms. Elsa's eyes flashed over Peter. He felt a
sting in her stare. Did she know about his nighttime escapes?</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Look
now, how does any of this help my Da? We can't just let him cark it..."
Lloyd's voice trailed off.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rest
of the family continued to squawk on about the terrors of the world outside and
all the fearful things they'd find if they were out among the non-captive
creatures of the wop wops— the ingredients Nandy Enzo required surely
being just as dangerous in some unknown way.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
stalked off, allowing the dilemma to sink in without the pressure of the
family. He knew that there was no way to communicate these needs to the staff
at the Aquarium. Even if they could, the humans wouldn't make any sense out of
these clues. They were only human beings, after all. An idea gnawed at him,
returning him to his memories as a chick.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">***</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I
should like to go outside on a real adventure to the wop wops—out into the
middle of nowhere." Young Peter quickly suppressed a yawn.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Perhaps
someday you shall, Peter Little Wing," replied Nandy Enzo. "But
remember this—captivity is not a bad place. Inside can be good in some ways and
bad in others, but so can the wop wops. Whether you are captive or wild, always
listen to the voice inside you with an unfettered heart. It will tell you what
you need to know with a clarity that Ms. Elsa's tall tales never will!"</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter
watched his Nandy Enzo chortle and sigh between drooping eyelids. Nandy pushed
in more warm feathers and twigs around him, then he whispered to Peter one last
time before sleep sped him away to the land of dreams.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Ah,
little one. If only your parents had lived to see what a brave and intelligent
kiwi you are growing up to be."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">***<br />
</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">...</span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shoved off</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, the song continued to play in Peter's mind…</span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">on my
own.</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">l have to
unriddle the riddles. l'll go into the wop wops and</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">find the
ingredients. But l </span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">won't </span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">go alone. </span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Get your copy of <i>Peter
Little Wing</i> directly from my website (especially if you want a signed
copy!): </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.reganwhmacaulay.com/peter-little-wing.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.reganwhmacaulay.com/peter-little-wing.html</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">…from Pandamonium
Publishing House: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://pandamoniumpublishing.com/product/peter-little-wing-pre-order-for-february-6-2023/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://pandamoniumpublishing.com/product/peter-little-wing-pre-order-for-february-6-2023/</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">…and anywhere online,
including Amazon: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Little-Wing-Regan-Macaulay/dp/1989506658/ref=sr_1_1?crid=380CJPPZKLGM5&keywords=Peter+Little+Wing+by+Regan+W.+H.+Macaulay&qid=1674148126&sprefix=peter+little+wing+by+regan+w.+h.+macaulay,aps,76&sr=8-1"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Little-Wing-Regan-Macaulay/dp/1989506658/ref=sr_1_1?crid=380CJPPZKLGM5&keywords=Peter+Little+Wing+by+Regan+W.+H.+Macaulay&qid=1674148126&sprefix=peter+little+wing+by+regan+w.+h.+macaulay%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-1</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpUwCcScjF5l7YxOCf8NaTCs4QEiQXk4eha7e15zoiOrLUHTIdr8L-uourGBrfMV-LONmDcdwYIJTl868TtW2dd3aWMragchQ21kNrv9VjEFELsljOwBithqWkEbcq-xleNdrdFvnSOI5TZFV-9FrnG3pb9LBeT83VY8n0qalAlDmYtObwm0TZAe0Td8c/s1280/Regan.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="915" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpUwCcScjF5l7YxOCf8NaTCs4QEiQXk4eha7e15zoiOrLUHTIdr8L-uourGBrfMV-LONmDcdwYIJTl868TtW2dd3aWMragchQ21kNrv9VjEFELsljOwBithqWkEbcq-xleNdrdFvnSOI5TZFV-9FrnG3pb9LBeT83VY8n0qalAlDmYtObwm0TZAe0Td8c/s320/Regan.jpeg" width="229" /></a></b></div><b><br />Regan W. H. Macaulay</b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;"> is a multi-award-winning author of novels,
short stories, children's literature, and scripts.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Writing
is her passion, but she's also a producer and director of theatre, film, and
television (Triple Take Productions). She is an animal enthusiast as well, which
led her to become a Certified Canine and Feline Massage Therapist (Kuri K9
Massage).</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As an
author, Regan spins fun-filled tales with whimsical characters that charm and
delight readers</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRoman",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her carefully crafted narratives, filled with enchanting characters,
offer new vocabulary and gentle wisdom.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each
adventure portrays unique animal characters and weaves in teachable moments.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regan
hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she lives with her husband, Kevin,
Chihuahua Raxl, Siamese cat Jacobi (Jack), and an assortment of amphibians and
fish. </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her award-winning
picture books include <i>Mixter Twizzle’s Breakfast</i>, <i>Beverlee
Beaz the Brown Burmese</i> (and <i>Beverlee la chatte de Birmanie</i>), <i>Sloth
the Lazy Dragon</i>, and <i>Libby the Lobivia Jajoiana</i> (all from
Mirror World Publishing), <i>Merry Myrrh the Christmas Bat</i>, <i>Tamara
Turtle’s Life So Far</i>, and <i>Chloe the Unfeathered Parrot </i>(Pandamonium
Publishing House), and <i>Dog Band</i> (Iguana Books).</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">She also writes books
and short stories for adult readers, including her </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Trilogy of Horrifically
Half-baked Ham</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">: </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Space Zombies!</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> (based on the feature
film </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem!</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> available
on DVD and Amazon Prime), </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">They Suck</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">, and </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Horror at Terror
Creek</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">Find Regan:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Website: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.reganwhmacaulay.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.reganwhmacaulay.com/</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t forget to
subscribe to my monthly newsletter: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://mailchi.mp/686921778797/freeflashfiction"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://mailchi.mp/686921778797/freeflashfiction</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TikTok: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@reganmacaulay?lang=en"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.tiktok.com/@reganmacaulay?lang=en</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Instagram: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reganw.h.macaulay/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.instagram.com/reganw.h.macaulay/</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Facebook: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/regan.macaulay/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.facebook.com/regan.macaulay/</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">X/Twitter: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://twitter.com/reganwhmacaulay"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://twitter.com/reganwhmacaulay</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">YouTube
Channel: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj7V0ndozKJlL4wBr4oHWlQ"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj7V0ndozKJlL4wBr4oHWlQ</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LinkedIn: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/regan-macaulay-18989a34/?original_referer="><span style="color: blue; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.linkedin.com/in/regan-macaulay-18989a34/?original_referer=</span></a></span></p>Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-43901941056324713882024-02-18T21:00:00.000-08:002024-02-18T21:00:00.249-08:00Author in the Kitchen: A Sausage and Rice Casserole Recipe and Romantic Read by Cozy Mystery Author Janis Lane...<p>This is an easy
casserole that may be prepared the day before and warmed up on a busy day when
dinner should be quick and easy. A box of rice tucked in the pantry is always a
great idea. Changing the flavor makes it your own personal recipe. I’ve made it
with a can of stewed tomatoes and a bit of garlic. You’ll find your own
favorites to add. Summer sausage gives this dish a Southern flavor. Don’t
forget to call out at least two y’alls before the first forkful.<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvnMd9R8gnwNYtr8Z63nC3UJ8Cw5ARb5bqr-6kwgK_4jqQkDL9MbjH61DHQs04TX-GDHhEx3wbcjsErgqarzZqiZiPuaUJ2Tah9iQdxpZPdyDkR2X4pN6LboF886wCixyY5AI_uqoCgEGbZQl1n-u3nvoHWDYgIOVRtuYRDSwzf6teIsvMZU/s295/E50%20rice.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="235" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvnMd9R8gnwNYtr8Z63nC3UJ8Cw5ARb5bqr-6kwgK_4jqQkDL9MbjH61DHQs04TX-GDHhEx3wbcjsErgqarzZqiZiPuaUJ2Tah9iQdxpZPdyDkR2X4pN6LboF886wCixyY5AI_uqoCgEGbZQl1n-u3nvoHWDYgIOVRtuYRDSwzf6teIsvMZU/w190-h238/E50%20rice.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><br />Sausage and Rice
Casserole</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1 box Wild Rice</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 onions,
chopped</div><div style="text-align: left;">¼ cup green peppers,
chopped</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 lb. bulk ground
sausage</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 small can sliced
mushrooms</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 cans cream chicken
soup</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 can mushroom soup</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 cup water</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 small can water
chestnuts, drained </div><div style="text-align: left;">Slivered almonds, toasted and drained</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Preheat oven 350° F.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cook rice as
directed on package, set aside. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sauté onion, peppers
and sausage until meat is browned. Drain. Stir remaining ingredients, except almonds, with
sausage mixture; turn into 9 X 13 baking dish. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bake 30 – 40
minutes. Sprinkle with almond slivers then serve. </p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Suggested Additional Sides</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fresh Green beans
seasoned with ham bits</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lima beans</div><div style="text-align: left;">Stewed tomatoes</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fresh rye bread and
butter </div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dessert</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fruit cup with slice
of pound cake and cheese</div><div style="text-align: left;">Iced Tea or coffee</div><div style="text-align: left;">Glass of wine </div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is an intro to Janis's romantic cozy mystery for your reading pleasure.</p><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLadgt6EyH6LqKnvrqxP_HZPE9Z8M09zgDpjUY2NlTBsTI-4aj28eu1jHCnFil31T8iKjtGjxKq1JEKZzKLXpv-EOADq-PVPRbOT4Jro_fTQsuBIhRpx_Q5FA4DhO0D5X9KV42riyh0jsPNW85EElXrYw6HOo2uAJJq-ce6thtITKURdqM-D4/s500/Emma%20Snapshot%20Suspicions%20Cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="312" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLadgt6EyH6LqKnvrqxP_HZPE9Z8M09zgDpjUY2NlTBsTI-4aj28eu1jHCnFil31T8iKjtGjxKq1JEKZzKLXpv-EOADq-PVPRbOT4Jro_fTQsuBIhRpx_Q5FA4DhO0D5X9KV42riyh0jsPNW85EElXrYw6HOo2uAJJq-ce6thtITKURdqM-D4/w186-h297/Emma%20Snapshot%20Suspicions%20Cover.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br />Snapshot Suspicions</b> is an adventure with Abby, beautiful, vagabond wildlife photographer, and Adam, ruggedly handsome, millionaire protector of the environment. <br />
<br />
A dangerous wildlife mystery requires the close attention of Adam and the local sheriff as Abby deals with two hired goons stalking her with a grudge. Basking in the rosy contentment of their love, Abby and Adam must trust each other as they encounter the first rift in their relationship. An engaging puppy presents a conundrum and a terrifying incident. <br />
<br />
Abby discovers she can enjoy photographing subjects (AKC) other than wildlife and delights in setting up her own office, while Adam breathes a sign of relief when Abby makes a permanent commitment. Could she finally be thinking of a life time pledge to him? <br />
<br />
<b><br /></b><div><b>EXCERPT</b><br />
As she entered the room, a long arm snaked out and pulled her swiftly toward a broad chest. Her face was again covered with kisses that trailed down her face, sidetracked to explore a curled ear with a sip on a tiny lobe, and continued a path of kisses until it landed against her lips, which were blossoming into a reluctant smile.<br />
<br />
“Adam.”<br />
<br />
The sandy-haired giant lifted his head from the places he had been attending and settled his piercing blue eyes on her green ones with a satisfied sigh.<br />
<br />
“Eve?”<br />
<br />
He sat down in a kitchen chair and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping her in a warm embrace and tucking her head on his shoulder. She snuggled contentedly against him. What a wonderful way to greet the day, she thought. Everyone should have a handsome blond giant to cuddle with . . . She could feel herself drifting off.<br />
<br />
“Good morning, Abby, my tree sprite. Did you sleep well? I thought you might stay snuggled in bed this morning after such a late night.”<br />
<br />
“Adam.” She took a deep breath inhaling the familiar fragrance that she loved. It was all Adam who was so dear to her. She rubbed her face into his shoulder and allowed him to cuddle her for a minute more. Her body relaxed against him, her hand half encircled his rock hard forearm, but her mind struggled with her problem. She knew she had to nip this in the bud if she were ever to have peace. This was exactly what she had feared when she resisted moving in with him, even though she knew she loved him.<br />
<br />
“Adam.” She turned her head to stare into his intensely blue eyes, and then shut hers. There was always the danger of falling into those loving pools of blue if a girl were not careful. She knew from experience how mesmerizing they could be.<br />
<br />
“You’ve got to control that dog. I know he’s young and means no harm, but you promised to train him. I can’t keep buying new sneakers every single day.” She felt Adam’s deep chuckle before she heard it. His chest erupted in those sounds that brought a smile to her face in spite of her annoyance with the situation.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083JFR2VW" target="_blank">Amazon Buy Link</a> </b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCJSZ9GttiTMD__b0WJiiJbaycfGfCPDIAgMWdUNRPKfVcNImhLo39GpfIRA8PiU21lDLH4YTR-Qdw-WU3jTVtIFwnMA4hAD5ABwqNbRCNrlulrnVYM4Xqy_R4sDic9rpDIxAuAf2TKgp/s1600/Fall+bouquets+004.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCJSZ9GttiTMD__b0WJiiJbaycfGfCPDIAgMWdUNRPKfVcNImhLo39GpfIRA8PiU21lDLH4YTR-Qdw-WU3jTVtIFwnMA4hAD5ABwqNbRCNrlulrnVYM4Xqy_R4sDic9rpDIxAuAf2TKgp/w248-h186/Fall+bouquets+004.JPG" width="248" /></a></div><b>Janis Lane</b> is the pen-name for gifted author <b>Emma Lane</b> who writes cozy mysteries as <b>Janis</b>, Regency as <b>Emma</b>, and spice as <b>Sunny Lane</b>. <br />
<br />
She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at <b>Herbtique and Plant Nursery</b>, the nursery she and her son own. <br />
<br />
Look for information about writing and plants on Emma's new <a href="http://emmajlane.com/"><b>website</b></a>. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma's face.<br />
<br />
Stay connected to Emma on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000338539637&fref=ts"><b>Facebook</b></a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/EMMAJLANE"><b>Twitter</b></a>. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/emmajlane/things-that-make-me-smile/"><b>Pinterest</b></a>.</div>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-8653113501619825572024-02-11T21:00:00.000-08:002024-02-11T21:00:00.134-08:00Ready for Valentine's? Paranormal Romance Author C.D. Hersh Can Help You Make Any Special Day Count...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xPbhFa6LpWhZZEKbB5D3Xw76Ju0A8WHvJZ-RWhyd087k2GCCZQCT3-CyPwoZMFHYqgIl7STP6KE6LfBNfJgdb2x_YRcIU9SDx6xQ3EFrmboDYiZ9hqHmizlodxGBkXJf6vlNPRVmUs13crr6DF8UjpnR3yDBSDj3bwN8Q-9QQVGSlEMh0ZtZWQ/s160/F96%20gift%20box.webp" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="160" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xPbhFa6LpWhZZEKbB5D3Xw76Ju0A8WHvJZ-RWhyd087k2GCCZQCT3-CyPwoZMFHYqgIl7STP6KE6LfBNfJgdb2x_YRcIU9SDx6xQ3EFrmboDYiZ9hqHmizlodxGBkXJf6vlNPRVmUs13crr6DF8UjpnR3yDBSDj3bwN8Q-9QQVGSlEMh0ZtZWQ/w261-h261/F96%20gift%20box.webp" width="261" /></a></div>
<div>This is for all the guys out there who have to figure out what to get the wife for that “special” day. Of course, you have to remember that “special” day first with enough advance notice to be able to even worry about the gift. If you only remember the day as you are coming home from work then stopping at the flower shop is the only recourse, with possibly a box of candy. Candy only if she is not trying to lose weight so you need to pay attention, but that’s best to do all the time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Remembering the “special” day has become much easier since we all carry smart phones. Just load the list of “special” days in with a reminder of that day a week in advance. That should give you plenty of time to start paying attention to get that special gift. Of course, just paying attention you also have to understand what the hints are, or you could end up like the guy in the old joke that said:
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“I don’t know what to buy my wife anymore. First, she wanted a mink, so I got her one. Then she wanted a silver fox, so I got her one. She still isn’t happy, and now the house if full of animals.”</p>
Yes, you had better understand what the hints are saying.
When writing a story, you can always insert a little fun between the hero and heroine with him forgetting a “special” day, especially when he doesn’t even think of those type of things like the one week, one month anniversary of whatever is special to the heroine. This type of <i>faux pas</i> can give a little levity to some of your conflict between the hero and heroine without it always having to be about life and death. Mixing a little humor into a story can make the characters seem real to the reader.
While not about forgetting a “special” day this excerpt from book one in our <i>Turning Stone Chronicles</i> series has a little fun between the hero and heroine.
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">No one knew what Rhys Temple liked better than Alexi Jordan. That’s what made them such good partners. That same intimacy would also make them great lovers, a thought that had crossed her mind many times.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">Alexi retrieved Rhys’ birthday cake from the back seat of her car. The privilege of baking this momentous-occasion pastry had almost brought her to blows with the rest of the females in the precinct office. She scooped up his birthday gift and then dropped it as the cake box slid down her arm. A quick slap on the clear plastic lid stopped the perilous drop but squished the yellow roses she’d so carefully crafted onto the German Chocolate cake.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">She examined the decorations. Rhys’ name, age, and birthday salutation were intact. She sighed. “So much for presentation.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">A deep chuckle sounded behind her. “Need some help?”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">“Hey, birthday boy.” Alexi motioned toward Rhys. “Get your gift.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">His eyebrows rose, and a seductive grin eased across his face as his arm circled Alexi’s waist.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">Electricity shot through her causing her to shudder. “Not me.” At least, not for now. “The box. In the car.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">“Oh, that gift.” He released her, his hand trailing across her back.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">She jabbed at him with her elbow.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">He shrugged, his grin playful. “You can’t blame a guy for trying.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">He’d been “trying” for some time now. It was starting to get to her, but there was no way she could afford to give in. Too many things stood in the way.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">As he maneuvered his tall body in front of her, his taut abdomen brushed against her in a way she felt was purposely seductive. Old Spice cologne mixed with a manly scent, uniquely Rhys, drifted past her. She loved the way he smelled.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px; text-indent: 35px;">She backed away. He made concentrating difficult. So much that in the year and a half they’d worked homicide, she’d often been tempted to ask for another partner. But the thought of not spending most days with him always changed her mind.</p>
Have you read a story where something has been inserted about a “special” day being missed or used humor about a special day that made the characters seem genuine? </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-0IMiVEC7zCy7rrM1KH_WYI1hmg1xH4uFEArMhL5MJxRt5DCRyGAY2kt6TdcdfW-yzAxugdhqwzBmnE68DaqMAGYSGw2oAPRbl9pYzmMLdAuFO31fEtA62CnZKKwUMHHpU-m_1-ILnHNUnEbX3RIseeV7y49lbasOVn5t_lpxmmWR5tZkOQDsg/s320/C.D.%20HERSH.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="320" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-0IMiVEC7zCy7rrM1KH_WYI1hmg1xH4uFEArMhL5MJxRt5DCRyGAY2kt6TdcdfW-yzAxugdhqwzBmnE68DaqMAGYSGw2oAPRbl9pYzmMLdAuFO31fEtA62CnZKKwUMHHpU-m_1-ILnHNUnEbX3RIseeV7y49lbasOVn5t_lpxmmWR5tZkOQDsg/w248-h191/C.D.%20HERSH.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to the husband and wife co-authors whose pen name is <strong>C.D. Hersh</strong>. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s while co-authoring a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. As high school sweethearts, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after. Which is why they write it! </div><div><br /></div><div>The first four books of their paranormal romance series entitled
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074CCZQPW" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><i>The Turning Stone Chronicles Series page</i></span></a> are available on Amazon. Their standalone novella, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Stop-Music-C-D-Hersh/dp/1682915026/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=c.d.+hersh&qid=1701556469&sr=8-6"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Can’t Stop The Music</i></span></a>, is in the Soul Mate Tree collection with twelve other authors from various genres.
When they aren’t collaborating on a book, they enjoy reading; singing; theatre and drama; traveling; remodeling houses (Donald has remodeled something in every home they’ve owned); and antiquing. Catherine, who loves gardening, has recently drawn Donald into her world as a day laborer. Catherine is an award-winning gardener — you can see some of her garden on their website. </div><div><br /></div><div>They are looking forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life.</div><div><br /></div><div><h3><b>You can see excerpts of their books, connect with, and follow C.D. Hersh at:</b></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdhersh.wordpress.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Website</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/cdhershauthor" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/C.-D.-Hersh/e/B00DV5L7ZI" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/AuthorCDHersh" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Twitter</a></p></div>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-5688363420740846092024-02-04T21:00:00.000-08:002024-02-04T21:00:00.134-08:00A Recipe and Read for Valentine's Day by Time Travel Romance Author Stella May...<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">If you love time travel romances, as well as dunking cookies in your coffee or tea, I've got a treat for you today. I've asked my good friend (and fellow time travel writer) Stella May to join me in my virtual kitchen, and whip up something special for the upcoming Valentine's Day. Whether you share these tasty morsels with your loved one, or savor them for yourself, love is truly in the air, and in your stomach. Wink. Please welcome, Stella, while I put on a pot of coffee and preheat the oven...</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This is my hubby’s favorite cookie. I must admit it is mine, too. I hope you like them as well. My recipe makes 10 - 12 medium cookies or 7
- 8 large ones.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Almond
Cookies</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaPWg_uEeEF5eEJyVsBV2k0RYvH7RpswT3K8ro8zTc5rNBlx_-oh4AAEJEeb9bu2M9KAtLmH1yng-_NcuVQXlSom8cKUtv1btIOuQ6XcaNWY6XPbTMlTJVgD-4oxomWg6GmU3MoPn-n-FMwemwcALwzxAxbzPNQJQa65habFDwffOwIvi_Fs/s5472/COOKIES%20Almond.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaPWg_uEeEF5eEJyVsBV2k0RYvH7RpswT3K8ro8zTc5rNBlx_-oh4AAEJEeb9bu2M9KAtLmH1yng-_NcuVQXlSom8cKUtv1btIOuQ6XcaNWY6XPbTMlTJVgD-4oxomWg6GmU3MoPn-n-FMwemwcALwzxAxbzPNQJQa65habFDwffOwIvi_Fs/w256-h170/COOKIES%20Almond.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />4 egg whites, right out of the refrigerator*</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">⅓ cup organic sugar, or ½ cup for a sweeter taste</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. almond extract</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup almond flour (I use super-fine blanched)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Almonds, slivered or whole</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Pre-heat oven to 250° F.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Cover cookie sheet with parchment paper.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Pour egg whites into a glass bowl. Set your mixer on
high speed. Whip until whites are very firm.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Gradually add sugar, almond extract, and flour. Drop
dough onto cookie sheet using a tablespoon or a scooper. Add an almond on top
of each cookie, then set pan into oven.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Bake for 20-25 min, then turn off the oven, but leave
cookies inside for another 40-45 min.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Remove and enjoy.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">*Store the yolks in
the fridge to scramble for breakfast the next morning.</span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here is a peek at
Stella’s time travel romance novel for your reading pleasure.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZRpo4XjULvCru6jyua2srKBfbS4X-gBV-gwli_RFj1AKMe3KRovtwzkRusQOP813r6rmvjcbUVg8qLStUxjl4T3TjauPZ37GsQY3w5qmSWfycazBrzafFsrqmLQseku2VgaFtb5ZTH7o/s2048/B+Stella+May+Cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZRpo4XjULvCru6jyua2srKBfbS4X-gBV-gwli_RFj1AKMe3KRovtwzkRusQOP813r6rmvjcbUVg8qLStUxjl4T3TjauPZ37GsQY3w5qmSWfycazBrzafFsrqmLQseku2VgaFtb5ZTH7o/w177-h300/B+Stella+May+Cover.jpg" width="177" /></a></i></b></div><b><i>One key unlocks the love of a lifetime…but could also
break her heart.</i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Nika Morris’s sixth sense has helped build a successful
business, lovingly restoring and reselling historic homes on Florida’s Amelia
Island. But there’s one forlorn, neglected relic that’s pulled at her from the
moment she saw it. The century-old Coleman house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Quite unexpectedly, the house is handed to her on a
silver platter—along with a mysterious letter, postmarked 1909, yet addressed
personally to Nika. Its cryptic message: <i>Find the key. You know where it is.
Hurry, for goodness sake!</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The message triggers an irresistible drive to <i>find
that key</i>. When she does, one twist in an old grandfather clock throws her
back in time, straight into the arms of deliciously, devilishly handsome Elijah
Coleman.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Swept up in a journey of a lifetime, Nika finds herself
falling in love with Eli—and with the family and friends that inhabit a time not
even her vivid imagination could have conjured. But in one desperate moment of
homesickness, she makes a decision that will not only alter the course of more
than one life, but break her heart.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">’Til Time Do Us
Part</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">
is available in Kindle and Paperback at <a href="'Till Time Do Us Part: May, Stella: 9781737647416: Amazon.com: Books" target="_blank"><b>AMAZON</b></a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0W9RdY3ob5Y-DTmyYVSqei6CssMsWcFscVIb8nHYy12aBcJCfVEjvS9xoIwhipHtSk7y9yspsxnqVXoiD0HcBLBkTDI2HO5PZbNw4djtqlXz9Pv8VDhYl3I0zNVEsnMcwFd3b2kmZm5g0/s713/Marina+No+Glare.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="713" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0W9RdY3ob5Y-DTmyYVSqei6CssMsWcFscVIb8nHYy12aBcJCfVEjvS9xoIwhipHtSk7y9yspsxnqVXoiD0HcBLBkTDI2HO5PZbNw4djtqlXz9Pv8VDhYl3I0zNVEsnMcwFd3b2kmZm5g0/w194-h194/Marina+No+Glare.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>Talented author <strong>Stella May </strong>is the penname for <b>Marina Sardarova</b> who has a fascinating history you should read on her <a href="https://www.stellamayauthor.com/">website</a>. <div><br /></div><div>Stella writes fantasy romance as well as time travel romance. She is the author of <em>'Till Time Do Us Part</em>, Book 1 in her Upon a Time series, and the stand-alone book <em>Rhapsody in Dreams.</em> 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.</div><div><br /></div><div>When not writing, Stella enjoys classical music, reading, and long walks along the ocean. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Leo of 35 years and their son George. They are her two best friends and are all partners in their family business.<br /><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div>Follow Stella on her <a href="https://www.stellamayauthor.com/">website</a> and <a href="https://stellamayauthor.home.blog/">blog</a> Stay connected on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stellamaywriter">Facebook,</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MarinaSardarova">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/stellamay1205/_created/">Pinterest.</a></div></div>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-929356985123023542024-01-31T21:00:00.000-08:002024-01-31T21:00:00.148-08:00Come Celebrate Sharon Ledwith’s Birthday Bash this February in Atlantis and Fairy Falls… <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEyeajRr1Uz6euJgxEiq8IqHJdvlAFnR212w7M7t17NMqV_pMksgKadENm9l_R6DXv9RG_E1XOTt5VXbKU0KGa1dqfiq_PZZQsLCM2wtweNCHin9qwaMLeJiqZ7HJPGOWIvbGVWvKqaBMbEDBAmItVVG0KZbfyZJ-OcmalqdOZL3UOBh1hXVYeXDc9r3m/s1280/ledwith3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEyeajRr1Uz6euJgxEiq8IqHJdvlAFnR212w7M7t17NMqV_pMksgKadENm9l_R6DXv9RG_E1XOTt5VXbKU0KGa1dqfiq_PZZQsLCM2wtweNCHin9qwaMLeJiqZ7HJPGOWIvbGVWvKqaBMbEDBAmItVVG0KZbfyZJ-OcmalqdOZL3UOBh1hXVYeXDc9r3m/w400-h267/ledwith3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Welcome to Atlantis.
I’ve been expecting you. Welcome to Fairy Falls. Expect the unexpected. Okay,
not the real Atlantis or Fairy Falls, but the next best thing! Since February
is my birthday month, I like to celebrate the whole month by giving my readers
a good deal on my books to bulk up on their winter reading. This year, <span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m kicking off m</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">y annual birthday bash month by giving readers
a discount on each of my books, including my box sets. Starting February 1<sup>st</sup>
and running until February 29<sup>th</sup>, ALL my ebooks and books will be on
sale for $3 off the listed price through the </span><a href="https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/search?q=ledwith+ebook"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mirror World
Publishing</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">
online bookstore. This way, <span style="background: white;">readers
can pick and choose which books or ebooks they would like to dive into.</span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The discount code for February's promotion is <b>BIRTHDAYBASH</b>.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">To make this even
easier for my amazing readers, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">here's
the link for the sale which automatically applies the discount, along with the
QR Code below it if you wish to use that:</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/?cc=BIRTHDAYBASH" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.<wbr></wbr>mirrorworldpublishing.com?cc=<wbr></wbr>BIRTHDAYBASH</span></span></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pzPu3DdbREhDs5mHpUkcEgsrwBgt2FD2tajy0j8kQULINukFQ3QnlwNfyrCoG-w2KmZ_BXL6zBUUI0cKkKlpTpg3LLbT0x15gMcNsruO5TYGFu9OLYmWUhkMqtW84vgoBi_3eHtTt_fVRQKhaP-81VFLyMNppIoRmUCROgJr3S2aGlNv-pE3wnjTsZ9m/s174/BIRTHDAYBASH.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="174" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pzPu3DdbREhDs5mHpUkcEgsrwBgt2FD2tajy0j8kQULINukFQ3QnlwNfyrCoG-w2KmZ_BXL6zBUUI0cKkKlpTpg3LLbT0x15gMcNsruO5TYGFu9OLYmWUhkMqtW84vgoBi_3eHtTt_fVRQKhaP-81VFLyMNppIoRmUCROgJr3S2aGlNv-pE3wnjTsZ9m/s1600/BIRTHDAYBASH.png" width="174" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The year, 2024, also marks the 10<sup>th</sup> Anniversary for my
publisher, Mirror World Publishing, which is a big deal in my humble opinion,
and quite an achievement. Why, you ask? Well, since I’ve been a published
author, I’ve witnessed many publishers who’ve closed their doors through
bankruptcy or failed business practices, and left their authors to find other
publishers or alternatives. Many authors never did, and some had a hell of a
time getting their rights returned to them. I feel grateful for connecting with
Mirror World Publishing when I did, as the publisher I was contracted with shut
down in 2015. Call it kismet. Call it fate. Call it destiny. It was totally
meant to be, and I applaud my publisher for keeping up with the times, and
choosing their brand wisely. Kudos, Justine, Robert, Sabrina, and Rhiannon!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you’re interested
in a journey to Atlantis or Fairy Falls, check out the covers and blurbs for
each book </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">featured
at Mirror World Publishing’s online bookstore</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. You never know. Maybe you’ll get an intuitive hit of living in
Atlantis in a past life, or have a nostalgic feeling of visiting a small
tourist town like Fairy Falls where anything is possible. Wink.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4K-G7-8x4qaaFrfi7JPOiqjNBfFMhguCHCUL38udYzstoygf0Kxq2WQNg8pz21zDn4gLAlVcmnrZ1hXsl-SQHdcwp2NWNslQOGlO-wVKtjCL8amlGNJhJW149DHn_3oHzlaKQqPH8o1an4mv39OoQ4oSFRG6_rBctEj9fHWM5Uk8cfIuloDWS1XQ7phB/s750/tltkataoa-500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4K-G7-8x4qaaFrfi7JPOiqjNBfFMhguCHCUL38udYzstoygf0Kxq2WQNg8pz21zDn4gLAlVcmnrZ1hXsl-SQHdcwp2NWNslQOGlO-wVKtjCL8amlGNJhJW149DHn_3oHzlaKQqPH8o1an4mv39OoQ4oSFRG6_rBctEj9fHWM5Uk8cfIuloDWS1XQ7phB/w133-h192/tltkataoa-500.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis
(Book #1):</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0in;">When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and
her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">they're given a
choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week
crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in
the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an
ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Chosen
by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep
history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an
adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band
of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJtvOoDmDsk0RJXuuD8nQXC9RHUbg6SRVTYvAzwS4vnBsUsyHFT9l0OKoECWLnNdp9S7m-dzeCT8x05lqZJ_xU9m1uHqcaStNg312zAniPcvNfuGufW0k-I3pZIUOWO5TBRgA3Dc6afrP8-tz1nFfDfSYwT0I4ohjIJWxBW_34g9LxxaHlEHE5cAMD9WO/s750/legendofthetimekeepers-500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJtvOoDmDsk0RJXuuD8nQXC9RHUbg6SRVTYvAzwS4vnBsUsyHFT9l0OKoECWLnNdp9S7m-dzeCT8x05lqZJ_xU9m1uHqcaStNg312zAniPcvNfuGufW0k-I3pZIUOWO5TBRgA3Dc6afrP8-tz1nFfDfSYwT0I4ohjIJWxBW_34g9LxxaHlEHE5cAMD9WO/w133-h200/legendofthetimekeepers-500.jpg" width="133" /></a></b></div><b><br />Legend of the Timekeepers
(prequel):</b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0in;">Lilith
was a young girl with dreams and a family before the final destruction of
Atlantis shattered those dreams and tore her family apart. Now refugees, Lilith
and her father make their home in the Black Land. This strange, new country has
no place in Lilith’s heart until a beloved high priestess introduces Lilith to
her life purpose—to be a Timekeeper and keep time safe.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Summoned
through the seventh arch of Atlantis by the Children of the Law of One, Lilith
and her newfound friends are sent into Atlantis’s past, and given a task that
will ultimately test their courage and try their faith in each other. Can the
Timekeepers stop the dark magus Belial before he changes the seers’ prophecy?
If they fail, then their future and the earth’s fate will be altered forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Last
Timekeepers and the Dark Secret (Book #2):</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGEwRXTMpXl3ona9br_HPwdwAeF9kz4REfmRO43jA_3_-XaP1ElHQmmJWvh5Y8xXOAQk8yCc3TaQOu8TYmBqLirj04BhWfAF8n5w2VWDa5XRr5k92B9QGi9Q7XBtrw3-GM6vJZlo7NuVLetgAHfOC7DFfOUeKvt3LhFA255dMFj42Bj11csNvt-w9BVmi/s750/TkDScover500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGEwRXTMpXl3ona9br_HPwdwAeF9kz4REfmRO43jA_3_-XaP1ElHQmmJWvh5Y8xXOAQk8yCc3TaQOu8TYmBqLirj04BhWfAF8n5w2VWDa5XRr5k92B9QGi9Q7XBtrw3-GM6vJZlo7NuVLetgAHfOC7DFfOUeKvt3LhFA255dMFj42Bj11csNvt-w9BVmi/w133-h200/TkDScover500.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222;">Fourteen year-old Jordan Jensen
always considered himself a team player on and off the field, until the<br /> second
Timekeeper mission lands him in Amsterdam during World War Two. Pulled into the
world of espionage, torture, and intolerance, Jordan and the rest of the
Timekeepers have no choice but to do whatever they can to stay one step ahead
of the Nazis in order to find and protect a mysterious book.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;">With the help of the Dutch Resistance, an eccentric
baron, Nordic runes, and an ancient volume originating from Atlantis, Jordan
must learn that it takes true teamwork, trust, and sacrifice to keep time safe
from the evils of fascism. Can Jordan find the hero within to conquer the
darkness surrounding the Timekeepers? If he doesn’t, then the terrible truth of
what the Nazis did will never see the light of day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyujn-G17W8LrYgpgfcsyd1VUMD75Au4Nt87Dlj3E86sZHwLrSIHZnp9pDfq8cnIMrnNePE5BJc-5TcAB75UmJtmZc4rAsBoOaFAbVnPPoc1WHAkJYE9C0zh4h7K2v6CSrSKbsqZiAXAOG1AWCKJIpBxtCrPQZsxhDUJip8-BxvBuHskB60fa4ELNqgdM/s750/NobleSlavecover%20500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyujn-G17W8LrYgpgfcsyd1VUMD75Au4Nt87Dlj3E86sZHwLrSIHZnp9pDfq8cnIMrnNePE5BJc-5TcAB75UmJtmZc4rAsBoOaFAbVnPPoc1WHAkJYE9C0zh4h7K2v6CSrSKbsqZiAXAOG1AWCKJIpBxtCrPQZsxhDUJip8-BxvBuHskB60fa4ELNqgdM/w133-h200/NobleSlavecover%20500.jpg" width="133" /></a></b></div><b><br />The Last
Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (Book #3):</b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Eleven-year-old Drake Bailey is an analytical
thinker and the genius of the Timekeeper crew. However, no logic or
mathematical acumen can change the color of his skin, or prepare him for this
third Timekeeper mission in antebellum Georgia. To survive, Drake must learn to
play the role of a plantation slave and when confronted with the brutality,
hatred, and racism of the deep south, he’ll have to strategically keep one move
ahead of his sadistic captors to ensure his lineage continues.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a dark world of Voodoo, zombies,
and ritualistic sacrifice, the Timekeepers must ensure a royal bloodline
survives. Can Drake remove both literal and figurative chains to save both
himself and a devout slave girl from a terrible fate? If he can’t summon the
necessary courage, humanity could stand to lose one of its greatest leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lost and Found,
Book One: Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls:</span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVgvp-7dPAQaZbYevfm9YgDOsdi-82hJkgf1yX4MM_gCwuTokDwLMujs1qJtPnb8X61PmJxw5VTthlaiB94J7HdG5-QO1EEq5gdMVNw0NbnxEIDK311hEHUEdmPx0L-W3UXaxbJffo-UwbSy8jsugH0iREzI9e9O5YWo3uivXV3GIUii-4gvokuq0bxPP/s3750/CoverLostandFoundmedium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVgvp-7dPAQaZbYevfm9YgDOsdi-82hJkgf1yX4MM_gCwuTokDwLMujs1qJtPnb8X61PmJxw5VTthlaiB94J7HdG5-QO1EEq5gdMVNw0NbnxEIDK311hEHUEdmPx0L-W3UXaxbJffo-UwbSy8jsugH0iREzI9e9O5YWo3uivXV3GIUii-4gvokuq0bxPP/w133-h200/CoverLostandFoundmedium.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>The Fairy Falls Animal Shelter
is in trouble.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Money<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>trouble. It’s up to an old calico
cat named Whiskey<br />—a<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>shelter
cat who has mastered the skill of observation—to find a new human pack<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>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.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx98Qn3nHfbFkG_YDurl1eAShaVEBJJ3XumxKt78z-_V-KJ7AsdQQpSAClIWNbzmBVfx8Z4anYOVNJn_-mxXAkO5le2685P_s7Zqs3l4PSjqpQZn__PfT6_7yRsnmyrvjRsQTlNMDyWTBBaFBHtMS9ZFHWr6e5Gaz3lXm9F68Q88plop-Ll6NfsfhzCWJr/s750/BBcoverartdiamond500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx98Qn3nHfbFkG_YDurl1eAShaVEBJJ3XumxKt78z-_V-KJ7AsdQQpSAClIWNbzmBVfx8Z4anYOVNJn_-mxXAkO5le2685P_s7Zqs3l4PSjqpQZn__PfT6_7yRsnmyrvjRsQTlNMDyWTBBaFBHtMS9ZFHWr6e5Gaz3lXm9F68Q88plop-Ll6NfsfhzCWJr/w133-h200/BBcoverartdiamond500.jpg" width="133" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />Blackflies and Blueberries, Book Two:
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls:<o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Remember,
this fantastic deal won’t last long! Plus, I can’t think of a better way to
ride out the forecast that Mr. Groundhog gives us than relaxing with a good
book, a comfortable chair, and cozy blanket. Unless you live in the southern
hemisphere and get to enjoy reading by the pool or at the beach. Keep warm (or
cool), and I hope you choose to escape to the past and have a blast with me,
this February! </span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cheers, and thank you
for taking the time to celebrate my birthday month with me. I appreciate you!</span></p><p></p>Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-81090175910657740702024-01-28T21:00:00.000-08:002024-01-28T21:00:00.246-08:00Book Reviews: The Literary Equivalent of Crack by Women's Fiction Author Anne Montgomery...<div><b><br /></b></div><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.1pt; margin: 11.1pt 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVGhg0-cMMqjNg_34VJZfFT9eYgHyItC0SYCG7Cv2hQeuJ2Q518mDJpgWTmPukSGAhfFIspmKudk7jZ3DFEVGK70pGZZnSVs0GCNERL-x67jRwOD1TA8MdHLYTCfqulB1GZb04rY7ju9CdXDFR8iCCGEEp_St-GTEGjjfmhlM0JUPqUX1HSWmfw/s300/F73%20reviews.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVGhg0-cMMqjNg_34VJZfFT9eYgHyItC0SYCG7Cv2hQeuJ2Q518mDJpgWTmPukSGAhfFIspmKudk7jZ3DFEVGK70pGZZnSVs0GCNERL-x67jRwOD1TA8MdHLYTCfqulB1GZb04rY7ju9CdXDFR8iCCGEEp_St-GTEGjjfmhlM0JUPqUX1HSWmfw/w400-h224/F73%20reviews.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br />Once your book
has had a 5-Star Review you’ll need that rush again. But remember,
some reviewers won’t be so benevolent, so be prepared to suffer the book review
blues. Then, be strong, and send your baby out into the world again.<o:p></o:p></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Authors long for reviews. We go to great
lengths to find folks willing to pen blurbs about our babies. Because, of
course, reviews sell books.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So…we contact newspapers and magazines and TV stations, radio
outlets, book bloggers, and those with the keys to the podcasts. Then there are
the book clubs and bookstores – the few that remain in brick-and-mortar
form. Sometimes, authors beg friends and family members for reviews,
but that seems a bit on the suspect side. I mean, generally, don’t loved ones
want to say nice things, if only to be polite and avoid familial strife? I have
so far refrained from this particular approach, which does not mean I might not
give it a try in the future. I just haven’t…<i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">yet</span></i>.</span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A well-written query letter, to all the proper
specifications, might glean a review about two to three percent of the
time. Really. I sent out 60 requests one weekend and got two “No thanks”
replies for my efforts. The other fifty-eight beautifully composed
queries went unanswered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Still, on that rare occasion when someone
agrees to review your book…oh, the joy! And then the wait. Weeks, maybe months,
go by before the results come in. And that first 5-Star Review? You read it
over and over, lingering over the verbiage like it’s a letter from a lover:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I say this is a must read! The book is
utterly captivating and mature.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The story was tightly plotted and
suspenseful.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Tragic, disturbing, captivating, but utterly
fantastic!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But as with most love affairs, eventually
the words become too familiar, stale, and you long for something different.
So the quest begins again. You need that high, and the begging – OK, go
ahead and call it marketing, if that makes you feel better – begins anew.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then, of course, authors must also stomach the
not-so-charitable comments. There’s the dreaded DNF: <i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Did Not Finish</span></i>, meaning your book was so bad the
reviewer simply couldn’t get to your well-crafted, quite brilliant ending.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The writing style wasn’t for me. It was too
descriptive for my taste.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“This work aims high but ultimately falls
short.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The brief, cliff-hanger chapters might appeal
to reluctant readers.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ouch! And yet, we keep…on…looking. Hoping that
someone will read our words and tell us what they think.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps there is something
inherently wrong with authors that we are willing to put ourselves in
a position of such utter vulnerability. I’ve heard budding writers say
they fear rejection and I want to laugh. Rejection is part of the job
description. One must embrace it: “That which does not kill us makes
us stronger,” and all that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A way to survive the emotional ups and downs of the book review
process is to consider the subjectivity of the practice, because these missives
are but personal opinions. Don’t believe me? Well, every one of the comments
listed above, including the dreaded DNF, came from actual reviews of my
most recent novel, <i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The Scent of Rain</span></i>.
Go figure. How can one person adore a book and another find it repugnant? Beats
me. But I do know we authors must never refuse to offer our books up
on the sacrificial altar of Reviews. Yes, there will be low points,
but the highs, I promise you, will blot out those blues.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So stand straight. Be bold. Believe in your prose and send your
baby out into the world. Really, there’s no other way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">Please allow me to give you a brief intro to my latest women's fiction novel for your reading pleasure.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMwr-JZ_NzUWT4fT3RApZlPsP7H7W3nDaP1TI7hqlpjBkLfN-0Bs4C20ioYVmnBNmtWvCgCFiEZM7NksPtlyLLhPw0Ow0RtgtlfU3TF45Uz_7t_85k1kWMgAHebgywNOex_PBnAW9ABTls3F4XDegrhiT-NBxoTEHbwdJy3_Vp9GVbvo4wPA/s500/e27%20Anne%20Cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMwr-JZ_NzUWT4fT3RApZlPsP7H7W3nDaP1TI7hqlpjBkLfN-0Bs4C20ioYVmnBNmtWvCgCFiEZM7NksPtlyLLhPw0Ow0RtgtlfU3TF45Uz_7t_85k1kWMgAHebgywNOex_PBnAW9ABTls3F4XDegrhiT-NBxoTEHbwdJy3_Vp9GVbvo4wPA/s320/e27%20Anne%20Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><b style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The past and present collide when a tenacious reporter seeks information on an eleventh century magician…and uncovers more than she bargained for.</span></i></b><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 1939, archeologists uncovered a tomb at the Northern Arizona site called Ridge Ruin. The man, bedecked in fine turquoise jewelry and intricate bead work, was surrounded by wooden swords with handles carved into animal hooves and human hands. The Hopi workers stepped back from the grave, knowing what the Moochiwimi sticks meant. This man, buried nine hundred years earlier, was a magician.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.</span></p></div><div><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archaeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MV1H4N3/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazon Buy Link</span></a></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p></div>
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKzZ6xv9uQYFXK19YQ0UAhkWlrw7a6f7bqj68m5aF7qHszFk17V61_udEceNdov0B4yUfm_2V-Lk2Cmfu99qbLGdrzNiEd8HrTvKIkFfnNaMSuXfE4wyBHvfzePyB4JfphdAzCv8zWnZE/s1600/Anne+Montgomery+Headshot+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKzZ6xv9uQYFXK19YQ0UAhkWlrw7a6f7bqj68m5aF7qHszFk17V61_udEceNdov0B4yUfm_2V-Lk2Cmfu99qbLGdrzNiEd8HrTvKIkFfnNaMSuXfE4wyBHvfzePyB4JfphdAzCv8zWnZE/s320/Anne+Montgomery+Headshot+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Anne Montgomery</b> has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces. <br />
<br />
When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.<br />
<br />
Learn more about <b>Anne Montgomery</b> on her <a href="https://annemontgomerywriter.com/"><b>website</b></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Montgomery"><b>Wikipedia</b></a>. Stay connected on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anne.montgomery.359?fref=ts&ref=br_tf"><b>Facebook</b></a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=82984029&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic"><b>Linkedin</b></a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/amontgomery8"><b>Twitter</b></a>.
</div>Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-14355917644643004202024-01-21T21:00:00.000-08:002024-01-21T21:00:00.153-08:00Author in the Kitchen: Beef Vegetable Soup by Cookbook Author Sloane Taylor...<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since January is National Soup month, I've invited renown cookbook author, Sloane Taylor into my virtual kitchen to prepare a hearty soup that will to keep you warm and toasty right down to your toes. Take it away, Sloane...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This
recipe is the perfect way to use veggies that have been around a while and
leftover roast beef. Serve with crusty bread, a dry red wine and your dinner is
complete.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">BEEF VEGETABLE
SOUP</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DqASKXoTyXyLX02QR_LVQunt9ugwTQyym1kDhhZQXdSn1f7ghB23c6F5doUj1mp3a8RB7Y3hgibMl2wdz-B8UrRHUIcSmqUxgHnJ_FEvQ60mlCH6yJ3QXu3k--nghpluAYA-AA2gpdGsE_0BYxTFJM3LNcYYv9HlVLnDO7FWbubgsPlexH8/s2576/SOUP%20Beef%20Vegetable%20soup%202.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DqASKXoTyXyLX02QR_LVQunt9ugwTQyym1kDhhZQXdSn1f7ghB23c6F5doUj1mp3a8RB7Y3hgibMl2wdz-B8UrRHUIcSmqUxgHnJ_FEvQ60mlCH6yJ3QXu3k--nghpluAYA-AA2gpdGsE_0BYxTFJM3LNcYYv9HlVLnDO7FWbubgsPlexH8/w274-h205/SOUP%20Beef%20Vegetable%20soup%202.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br />2
tbsp. olive oil</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 med. onion, chopped</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">lg. garlic clove, chopped</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">12
baby carrots, cut into thirds</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1
celery stalk, chopped</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">3
tbsp. butter</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">2
red potatoes, not peeled, diced</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">10
green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">½
small zucchini, diced</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">½
lb. cooked beef, diced</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">3
cups beef stock, not broth</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1
– 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">½
tsp. dried oregano</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">½
tsp. dried basil</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1
small bay leaf</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">2
pinches allspice</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Freshly
ground pepper to taste</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Warm
oil in a Dutch oven set on medium heat. Add onions. Sauté 3 – 4 minutes until
lightly colored. Add garlic, cook 30 – 60 seconds, stirring constantly. Mix in
carrots and celery. Adjust heat so onions and veggies don’t burn.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Swirl
butter into pan. Add remaining veggies and meat. Sauté 5 – 8 minutes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Combine
remaining ingredients into pot. Bring soup to a boil. Cover pot, lower heat,
and simmer 30 minutes.</span></p>
<p class="CookbookRecipeDirectionsLastLine" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>May you enjoy all the days of your life filled with good friends, laughter, and seated around a well-laden table!</i></span></p><p class="CookbookRecipeDirectionsLastLine" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="CookbookRecipeDirectionsLastLine" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Sloane</i></span></p>
<p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm8Y420myGsJLhKBJx4rAMuIjDhylWUjnmBWYUsQab0pDTAqZTU7Ig2IwjT96YLdhylYW6CdNLUaKrEHR_XzG155FSqHRbGk-HToREsZPFbvXTUhhkho2unkzqTausm66fEibm8Zm819U/s1600/Sloane+Taylor+head+shot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm8Y420myGsJLhKBJx4rAMuIjDhylWUjnmBWYUsQab0pDTAqZTU7Ig2IwjT96YLdhylYW6CdNLUaKrEHR_XzG155FSqHRbGk-HToREsZPFbvXTUhhkho2unkzqTausm66fEibm8Zm819U/s200/Sloane+Taylor+head+shot.jpg" width="142" /></a><div><b style="font-weight: bold;">Sloane Taylor</b> is an Award-Winning author with a second passion in her life. She is an avid cook and posts new recipes on her <a href="http://sloanetaylor.blogspot.com/">blog</a> every Wednesday. The recipes are user friendly, meaning easy.</div><div><br /></div><div>To learn more about Taylor go to her <a href="http://www.sloanetaylor.com/" target="_blank"><b>website</b></a> Stay in touch on <a href="https://sloanetaylor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Blogger</b></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/sloanetaylor2" target="_blank"><b>Twitter</b></a>, and <b><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></b>.</div><p></p><p>
Taylor's cookbooks, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/173722481x" target="_blank"><b>Hot Mean Wear Aprons</b></a>, <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Date-Night-Dinners-Together-Romantic/dp/1732363528/ref=sr_1_4?crid=11MR82SC4LLD5&keywords=sloane+taylor&qid=1649522848&sprefix=sloane+t%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-4" target="_blank">Date Night Dinners</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Date-Night-Dinners-Italian-Style/dp/1737224801/ref=sr_1_2?crid=11MR82SC4LLD5&keywords=sloane+taylor&qid=1649522848&sprefix=sloane+t%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Date Night Dinners Italian Style</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Night-Dinners-Sizzling-Summer-Together/dp/1732363587/ref=sr_1_5?crid=11MR82SC4LLD5&keywords=sloane+taylor&qid=1649522848&sprefix=sloane+t%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-5" target="_blank">Sizzling Summer</a></b>, and <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Recipes-Create-Holidays-Extraordinaire-Together/dp/1732363560/ref=sr_1_3?crid=11MR82SC4LLD5&keywords=sloane+taylor&qid=1649522848&sprefix=sloane+t%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Recipes to Create Holidays Extraordinaire</a></b> are released by Toque & Dagger Publishing and available at all book vendors.
</p>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-12474720567550061262024-01-14T21:00:00.000-08:002024-01-14T21:00:00.176-08:003 Tips for Aspiring Authors by Young Adult Paranormal Author Leigh Goff...<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJkxfcRkhhq_rTf7McQ3fcIS6ei3Vy5Wx3juhNzH02xVHCeXXrYHaChayB25vZ_U39_0tdLXgdAfiyFhidXzOxEz47KZDJD4T7S_OE-lcwBk-z2OsvORevx1OGarKgtRvgi8d9iiGaW4mxD_qJgOQub0rXS1vacJtT8UmgM-uYdLQkfUp5UE/s836/F40%20rejection.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="698" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJkxfcRkhhq_rTf7McQ3fcIS6ei3Vy5Wx3juhNzH02xVHCeXXrYHaChayB25vZ_U39_0tdLXgdAfiyFhidXzOxEz47KZDJD4T7S_OE-lcwBk-z2OsvORevx1OGarKgtRvgi8d9iiGaW4mxD_qJgOQub0rXS1vacJtT8UmgM-uYdLQkfUp5UE/w166-h199/F40%20rejection.png" width="166" /></a></b></div><b>Be Ready for Rejection</b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Even if someone had told me about this, I’m not sure I would
have believed just how much rejection there would be. I even used Query Tracker
to hone my agent and publisher searches, making sure my manuscript fit what
each agent or publisher was looking for and that I followed their query rules. I
can look back now and smile at how many rejection letters I received for my
first novel, only because there were a few kind agents in the bunch who took
the time to offer brief critiques on what I had submitted.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I would send out 15-20 queries at a time, then I’d wait to
hear back from the literary agents or small press publishers. I didn’t always
get a response, but when I did, it was ultimately a rejection (cue sad music).
With some of those rejections came little nuggets of advice. Trust me, those
nuggets aren’t meant to be mean, they were bits of gold meant to improve my
writing. I took that gold and made revisions. And I made revisions. And I made
revisions. This book was my first attempt at writing a novel and I had a lot to
learn. The rejections were disappointing and hurt at first, but the advice was
necessary, appreciated, and it did make the book better. So I’d say be ready
for rejection and be open to any advice a writing professional offers you.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8OqtU5eIdxfM2jgvqJIlbppZ3qRWtssf4SbluF_TLQvUdisVV2SPgF7I5ELuMHwPTKC7U_7VF7gOux-G5gpdAOKiY4LRtyVThjcBfx92T_Hwh9UJx2NiTwgXALDI31F5TYKZapG1dN6pRenswBIuLJRFl5uC-zhXttYxzw0qZZ4g2n4Wmm4/s916/F40%20typewriter.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="916" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8OqtU5eIdxfM2jgvqJIlbppZ3qRWtssf4SbluF_TLQvUdisVV2SPgF7I5ELuMHwPTKC7U_7VF7gOux-G5gpdAOKiY4LRtyVThjcBfx92T_Hwh9UJx2NiTwgXALDI31F5TYKZapG1dN6pRenswBIuLJRFl5uC-zhXttYxzw0qZZ4g2n4Wmm4/w201-h148/F40%20typewriter.png" width="201" /></a></b></div><b><br />Be Prepared--the Publishing Process Moves Slowly<o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Once I received a publishing offer for my first book (woohoo!),
I was slated for edits. There were three rounds of edits that had to fit the
various editors’ schedules. Completing a round of edits does take time.
Fortunately, I am good with deadlines, even when I had to take a chapter and
rewrite it completely. Once that was done, the book went to their graphic
designer for cover art, and it was typeset (set up for printing). The book was then
scheduled for a release date that worked for the publisher and their other book
releases. Plus they had to plan social media events leading up to and for the
week of the release.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">My favorite part of this slow-moving process is the cover
art. There’s nothing like getting to see what your “baby” is going to look like
on a bookshelf!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b59yJbTTVrZGQQ2kA4MHFesKo69DGWYu3REBIH-CH6eWRNFsQv_1a0EOnool-Qth03WmRj-pOUZfcXn10htMBnDuqkq7e6a3UKNsEFRZOd7ily7U8IA6aupcshNzknTVonJiXqgBucZzgoOyFlLoMRQVB3-1QIMHj7Xafv5seqeLwfB6JfM/s892/F40%20Dream.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="892" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b59yJbTTVrZGQQ2kA4MHFesKo69DGWYu3REBIH-CH6eWRNFsQv_1a0EOnool-Qth03WmRj-pOUZfcXn10htMBnDuqkq7e6a3UKNsEFRZOd7ily7U8IA6aupcshNzknTVonJiXqgBucZzgoOyFlLoMRQVB3-1QIMHj7Xafv5seqeLwfB6JfM/w183-h166/F40%20Dream.png" width="183" /></a></b></div><b><br />Don’t Give Up on Your Dreams <o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Dreams do come true, but they may not happen the way you
expected or on your perfect schedule.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">After my first book was published, three months later the
publisher went out of business. I was blessed to find another publisher that
was excited to take on my novel along with my second book. My third book was
discovered during a Twitter pitch party. That was a nice surprise. However,
after the book was published the pandemic happened. That publisher suffered
financial losses and went under. The company’s name was purchased by someone
who had their own catalog of books, so that allowed me to take ownership of the
third book. Finally, after years of hoping, I signed with a literary agent for
my fourth book. I worked with her on the edits for that manuscript and it is currently
out on submission to editors and publishers.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">When that book went on submission, I finished my fifth book
which is a YA thriller set in coastal South Carolina. There are three sisters,
an exotic garden, and Big Pharma causing lots of deadly trouble. I just love
it. Fingers crossed that my agent finds the best homes for both of these books.
My sixth book idea is being outlined at present. It will be a YA thriller set
in D.C. and it’s going to be super fun to write!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a4040; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYodMslFVkS3oc4caYCVhqAjtmrjYL_FFeNot4ttBaNAx4NiiuHQdWtQAg5Br_CROKc0El-5gBo0o8QmmzIKcYd5casOsQxMAbZEaJ62iNRJAnfFu7sum7lbHN0Uje746614sxUplNR1GOzAYluDVEhFWEXq-Mysd6JI-NJhWwybBTksaCPI/s301/Leigh%20Goff.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="200" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYodMslFVkS3oc4caYCVhqAjtmrjYL_FFeNot4ttBaNAx4NiiuHQdWtQAg5Br_CROKc0El-5gBo0o8QmmzIKcYd5casOsQxMAbZEaJ62iNRJAnfFu7sum7lbHN0Uje746614sxUplNR1GOzAYluDVEhFWEXq-Mysd6JI-NJhWwybBTksaCPI/w171-h258/Leigh%20Goff.jpg" width="171" /></a></strong></div><strong><br />Leigh Goff</strong> is an author of three published young adult novels and is represented by Lauren Bittrich. She is working on her next novel, a young adult thriller, while her current manuscript, <em>Wicked Sweet</em>, is on submission.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">You can find her current published novels at<span style="color: #5a5a62;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.audible.com/author/Leigh-Goff/B00R7Z3L0C"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Audible</span></b></a><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #5a5a62; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> | </span></strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Leigh-Goff/author/B00R7Z3L0C?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Amazon</span></b></a><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #5a5a62; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> | </span></strong><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/koush-hollow-unabridged/id1576587953" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Apple</span></b></a><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #5a5a62; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> </span></strong><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #5a5a62;"> </span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Learn more about <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Leigh Goff</span> on
her </span><a href="https://leighgoff.com/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">website</span></b></a><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and </span><a href="https://leighgoff.com/blog/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">blog</span></b></a><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
Stay connected on </span><a href="http://instagram.com/authorleighgoff" target="_blank"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Instagram,</span></a><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Leigh_Goff?refsrc=email" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Twitter</span></b></a><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, and <strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://linktr.ee/authorleighgoff" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000014;">LinkTree</span></a></span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-16945360208477301762024-01-07T21:00:00.000-08:002024-01-07T21:00:00.141-08:00Souping Up the Chicken with Author Helen Carpenter...We're good eggs here in Carpenter Country, and we subscribe to the waste-not philosophy of life. In our kitchen, one cooked chicken results in multiple meals, including delicious homemade chicken soup.<br />
<br />
For this soup recipe, we began with a chicken slow cooked in the crockpot. Once the chicken was cooked and the initial chicken-and-vegetable-and-potato meal eaten, we separated the remaining meat from the bones. We used the darker chicken meat in the soup, and the white-meat portions in chicken salad, chicken potpie, and chicken sandwiches.<br />
<br />
Then we got out our soup pot and put together this stovetop soup. For extra flavor, when we filled the pot with water, we added a few spoonsful of the drippings collected in the crockpot as the chicken cooked.<br />
<br />
Note that this recipe works exactly the same if you prefer to roast your chicken in the oven.<br />
<br />
Here's our souped-up video. The full recipe follows below.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-hGvHVb0z_Y?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>CHICKEN SOUP CARPENTER STYLE</b><br />
Chicken trimmings (bones and skin) from fully cooked chicken<br />
Water (enough to cover the trimmings and fill the pot)<br />
2-4 tbsp. pan drippings, depending on the size of your pot<br />
2-4 cups fresh or frozen vegetables of your choice (we used frozen mixed)<br />
1 tbsp. Italian seasoning<br />
2 tsp. garlic salt (or regular salt if you prefer)<br />
2 tsp. minced garlic<br />
Dash black pepper<br />
2 cups shredded chicken meat<br />
<br />
Add chicken trimmings to pot.<br />
<br />
Add enough water to cover the trimmings and fill the pot.<br />
<br />
Add pan drippings.<br />
<br />
Simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
Remove chicken trimmings from pot with strainer or slotted spoon and skim off any foam from the broth.<br />
<br />
Add vegetables, seasonings, and shredded chicken to pot. Add additional water if necessary.<br />
<br />
Simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
Serve hot with bread or crackers.<br />
<br />
<b>TIPS and TRICKS</b><br />
Add a packet of chicken bouillon with the drippings to punch up the flavor.<br />
<br />
For a thinner broth, leave out the vegetables (or cook them until they are very soft) and reduce the amount of shredded chicken. Use the broth in other recipes or serve in mugs.<br />
<br />
To make chicken noodle soup, add noodles or pasta of your choice along with the vegetables.<br />
<br />
Be creative with the spices. For instance, a dash of curry powder adds a unique flavor.<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiu0gBbIVX1w38FOd4n8VSrAkA9ALAc6_My2ABryc7HfWFklo4f3jnlKiF-DwvkE8IACqsDEIxRLo3jMSOXINDXfNZqOydgsufDr8PnQYFY-C_bumGJHmAbQkIIAFI3E9VOJz-tc-k4aO/s640/Helen+Carpenter+Head+Shot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="350" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiu0gBbIVX1w38FOd4n8VSrAkA9ALAc6_My2ABryc7HfWFklo4f3jnlKiF-DwvkE8IACqsDEIxRLo3jMSOXINDXfNZqOydgsufDr8PnQYFY-C_bumGJHmAbQkIIAFI3E9VOJz-tc-k4aO/w133-h243/Helen+Carpenter+Head+Shot.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Once upon a time there was a mother/daughter author duo named Helen and Lorri, who wrote as <b>HL Carpenter</b>. the Carpenters worked from their studios in Carpenter Country, a magical place that, like their stories was unreal but not untrue. Then one day Lorri left her studio to explore the land of What-If, and like others who have lost a loved one the magical place lost much of its magic. But thanks to family, plus an amazing group of wordsmiths named Authors Moving Forward (AMF), the magic is slowly returning.<br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Helen Carpenter</b> loves liking and sharing blog posts from other authors. She lives in Florida with her husband of many years and appreciates every day, especially those without hurricanes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay connected on her <a href="https://htkcwriterhotmail.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>blog</b></a> and <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/htkc.carpenter" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</b></div>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-11717180544121579232023-12-31T21:00:00.001-08:002023-12-31T21:00:00.148-08:00Update in My Author Life… <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObeYITTVvsNwuGFhi4WF2LJTyJUroH5e1YRvqUDG3rsasjCBhoiW3god3ExpBrzRJE6KN0SzQcNwmrkLEmy6VlexLpoWmA7uLbpDW07YH-qgBbPvlNb5N_2gJ3AOT2GylBMAGPdm0Bbz2xuCNXUKrZunHjbAtKd88pZWo3msSX7G0z_134S5GrS_DwT8Q/s4000/River%20Bookshop%20show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObeYITTVvsNwuGFhi4WF2LJTyJUroH5e1YRvqUDG3rsasjCBhoiW3god3ExpBrzRJE6KN0SzQcNwmrkLEmy6VlexLpoWmA7uLbpDW07YH-qgBbPvlNb5N_2gJ3AOT2GylBMAGPdm0Bbz2xuCNXUKrZunHjbAtKd88pZWo3msSX7G0z_134S5GrS_DwT8Q/s320/River%20Bookshop%20show.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ah, a new year, and new plans. So much hope, and so much faith in
new beginnings. A clean slate, a fresh start. As I went through my business plan
and goals for 2023, I was pleased to find that I managed to complete them all,
save for nabbing a foreign rights agent. But, I realized that goal was totally
out of my control, with the exception of sending out queries. Among my other
lofty goals were creating a writing resource PDF I called, </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.sharonledwith.com/tips-tools-tricks-for-the-tenacious-writer/">Tips,
Tools & Tricks for the Tenacious Writer</a></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and putting it up on my
website as a free download, connecting with the local libraries to see if they’d
purchase and carry my books, and finish writing the third installment of
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls called </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sticks
and Stones</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. Done. Done. Done. Well, the libraries never got back to me, so
I assume it’s a flat no. Sigh.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I guess authors nowadays have to try many possible avenues to get
their books out there. Shows. Events. Ads. Giveaways. Bribes. Begging. Sorry,
got carried away. LOL! Actually, I was lucky enough to attend a couple of
events in the fall of 2023. One at our town’s bookstore, </span><a href="https://riverbookshop.com/" style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">River Bookshop</a><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, who hosted a Local Author
Book Fair, and another with my publisher, </span><a href="https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/" style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mirror World Publishing</a><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> at a
Local Author Christmas Book Show. I love events that only allow authors and
publishers, as opposed to anything-goes craft shows, because you get actual readers
wandering the aisles instead of people looking aimlessly around at the
different tables. Plus, we get to network with other authors, and learn what
book promotion strategies work for them, and what doesn’t. A win-win in my
eyes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPm8idZBQJEUSWy2GhBUUSzVbDJNBk-V9bJqmwBFOtc_Zj6pAhTucaX3khTy28MxsQp75DU7hq0OQ7mB7DS2GLWBknXV0vljU5_dxZRi_XpEjs7DiYbcg40DO4oAAVdJxXUeoZ1ZMoYU6PyUdHXkS7keLF4LXXWqUcNy8MA7HvZLzoIpLa2MyskmQwCa5/s800/The%20Last%20Timekeepers%20Magus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPm8idZBQJEUSWy2GhBUUSzVbDJNBk-V9bJqmwBFOtc_Zj6pAhTucaX3khTy28MxsQp75DU7hq0OQ7mB7DS2GLWBknXV0vljU5_dxZRi_XpEjs7DiYbcg40DO4oAAVdJxXUeoZ1ZMoYU6PyUdHXkS7keLF4LXXWqUcNy8MA7HvZLzoIpLa2MyskmQwCa5/w320-h320/The%20Last%20Timekeepers%20Magus.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I also bought a program that helps authors create ads instantly.
If you’ve never heard of </span><a href="https://www.bookgraphix.com/home/" style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">BookGraphix</a><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">,
I<br /> urge you to check it out if you like doing your own ads to share on your
social media accounts. The program allows authors to place their book or books
(up to three) in images that are appropriate for your audience, create content,
and download them to your computer. They also have holiday inspired ads as
well, and you can do trailers, cover reveals, and other creative stuff. For the
last three and a half years, I’ve been steadily running Facebook ads for ten
days, and rolling over a new ad when one finishes. This strategy has garnered
me a reach of over a million people for many campaigns that I’ve run, and about
two to five thousand clicks on the links I provide. I use my Amazon Author link
with all my books, and my website books page for those links. It’s certainly
been an investment for sure. The trick is to get those link clickers to buy one
of my books instead of click and go. It’s a patience game for sure!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">As for my plans for 2024, I’ll be revising and editing </span><i style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sticks and Stones</i><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> so it’s ready for
publication either late this fall or in 2025. Yup. That’s how the publishing
game works! Slow, but sure. I’m going to continue to query foreign rights
agents seasonally until I attract the best one for me (fingers crossed), as
well as run my ten day Facebook ads to extend my reach and hopefully connect
with readers throughout the world. It’s also my intention to start gathering
research and plotting the story for the next installment of </span><a href="https://www.sharonledwith.com/books/the-last-time-keepers-series/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-arch-of-atlantis/" style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Last Timekeepers</a><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> time travel adventure series, which will be in Treena Mui’s
point-of-view. Should be a blast!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_1gi9thmmI-RwQvMQPW_81wtwSc3Cg_GLxFy_4JWxTvKA7KSN5_X46mdG8c2gGBql7gyWINweEa9VaYoCT6YgNLOcWgFRSljUGeUczchi3a4JLsoummPcfoTmBIMOcqC9K88s4xHnggopL4U3MbeBe4iVN_OyNwKGN9PYYhH2fN7fEafobR3KoxXxv9d/s4000/E-bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_1gi9thmmI-RwQvMQPW_81wtwSc3Cg_GLxFy_4JWxTvKA7KSN5_X46mdG8c2gGBql7gyWINweEa9VaYoCT6YgNLOcWgFRSljUGeUczchi3a4JLsoummPcfoTmBIMOcqC9K88s4xHnggopL4U3MbeBe4iVN_OyNwKGN9PYYhH2fN7fEafobR3KoxXxv9d/w150-h200/E-bike.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />On a personal note, my hubby and I got e-bikes from Santa for Christmas
in 2022, and have been riding our butts off all spring, summer and fall, in an
effort to put a lot of mileage on them. Best. Presents. Ever. Plus, it’s great
exercise and gets us outside in nature. For more current news, please check my <a href="http://sharonledwith.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, as I periodically give
updates to what’s going on in my author life. So how about you? Do you have any
big or small plans, goals, desires you want to make manifest in 2024? Dream
big, life is short. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">Would love to read your comments. Cheers and Happy New Year! Thanks for
taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!</span><p></p>Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-50333940477852816142023-12-24T21:00:00.001-08:002023-12-24T21:00:00.246-08:00Author in the Kitchen: A Festive Cake Fit for a King and a Romantic Comedy Read by Catherine Castle...<p><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Two years ago in
late December, I discovered almond paste and went down a cake rabbit hole. My
family celebrates Christmas on New Year’s Day most years, but that year we were
celebrating after January 6, which is Epiphany. Epiphany is the traditional date
the Wise Men visited the Christ Child, and to celebrate the event a special
cake, with a plastic baby or bean hidden in the cake, is served. The Epiphany
cake, often referred to as a King cake or the Three Kings cake, has many forms,
flavors, and even many trinkets hidden in it. It is also a tradition in many
countries, especially those with a Catholic background.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">I’d never heard of a
King cake, except in reference to Louisiana Mardi Gras celebrations. After some
research, I decided to come up with my own version of an Epiphany King cake
using almond paste. It took several tries to create something that showed off
the frangipane I’d made with almond paste. On my first attempt, using a yellow
cake recipe, the frangipane melted into the cake batter and didn’t give me the
definition I wanted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">So I began
experimenting. I decided I’d make a chocolate spice cake with a frangipane
layer. That worked. I’m calling it Epiphany Frangipane Chocolate Spice Cake. If
you don’t want to make it an Epiphany cake, complete with trinkets, just call
it Frangipane Chocolate Spice Cake. Here’s a tip I learned the hard way - be
sure to make the<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> frangipane first!</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Also, you may want
to consider adding the following:</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1 bean, or
1 plastic small baby figurine, or several small trinkets. Be sure to tell your
guests these items are hidden in the cake!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chopped
maraschino cherries or chopped candied fruit for decorating the cake. You can add
the chopped candied fruits to the baking pan before you add the batter, scattering
them evenly around the pan, or you can reserve them and scatter them over the
top of the baked cake adhering them to the cake with a bit of confectioner
sugar glaze.</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Frangipane
Chocolate Spice Cake</b><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KbzmtTtjbp7s5ldsJGvTlyB4gGegN4iRdUWSwYqBL61L1AA41OBvs1APPnIZbJVZS-tb_JJliLeicVZJyQZZzTuqH7qbzQpvvbbgua1Ng6lWeDUPTTCvzEQoq7c4H6vhTyHPAJhtRKOE/s2048/D106.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KbzmtTtjbp7s5ldsJGvTlyB4gGegN4iRdUWSwYqBL61L1AA41OBvs1APPnIZbJVZS-tb_JJliLeicVZJyQZZzTuqH7qbzQpvvbbgua1Ng6lWeDUPTTCvzEQoq7c4H6vhTyHPAJhtRKOE/w209-h209/D106.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>Cake</b></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">2½ cups sifted cake
flour</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">2 cups granulated
sugar</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">1 tsp. baking powder</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">1 tsp. baking soda</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">1 tsp. salt</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">1 tsp. ground nutmeg</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">1 tsp. ground cloves</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">3 tbsp. cocoa</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">1 cup shortening</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">1 tsp. vanilla
extract</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">1 cup buttermilk,
divided</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">4 eggs, room
temperature</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Preheat oven to 350°
F.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Combine flour with
spices and cocoa in a large bowl.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">In another bowl,
cream shortening until fluffy. Add 1 cup sugar and mix again, then add 1 cup
flour and spices. Mix and beat until combined, adding vanilla and ¾ cup buttermilk,
¼ cup at a time, as needed to make batter mixable.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Add remaining flour,
sugar, and buttermilk until combined. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Keep batter
scraped down from sides and bottom on bowl while beating.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Add eggs and
remaining buttermilk. Beat 2 more minutes on medium.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">In a lightly
buttered, easy-release Bundt pan, gently pour 2 cups of batter into cake pan,
smoothing out until batter is level if necessary.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Almond Cream Frangipane</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMfTFkchAX3bPs-1x5R6wRt18qbs8hDjpMVbw8cNqXv0VmHe0hU1lFY182VDg7cOEBbB2H78L6TZT8pXvVNZVvcHnOPx_L4UJEwWmP8wk2-mrT8-Y85IbrSYjpsQfaxmLuUaYvrJ5Wzhe/s2048/D106+cake+2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMfTFkchAX3bPs-1x5R6wRt18qbs8hDjpMVbw8cNqXv0VmHe0hU1lFY182VDg7cOEBbB2H78L6TZT8pXvVNZVvcHnOPx_L4UJEwWmP8wk2-mrT8-Y85IbrSYjpsQfaxmLuUaYvrJ5Wzhe/w190-h190/D106+cake+2.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>½ cup (1 stick)
unsalted butter, softened</div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">½ cup granulated
sugar</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">2 eggs, room
temperature</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">¾ cup almond flour</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">2 tbsp. all-purpose
flour</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">2 tsp. vanilla
extract</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">1 tsp. almond
extract</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Add all ingredients into a mixing bowl. Combine ingredients on medium, then on
high until fully combined. Refrigerate frangipane until cake batter is ready.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Drop frangipane by
teaspoonfuls onto batter, taking care to center in in batter. Or alternately
you could pipe frangipane onto batter. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk87536517">Gently cover frangipane with 1½ cups batter, leveling out
if necessary.</a><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87536517;">Add another layer of frangipane in same
manner as before.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87536517;">Cover with 1½ cups cake batter.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87536517;">Put upper rack in the lower third of oven.
Bake cake for 60-65 minutes or until wooden skewer inserted in cake comes out
clean. You need a long skewer, not just a toothpick to test for doneness.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87536517;">Cool pan upright for 5-10 minutes. Invert
onto a wire cooling rack, Cool cake completely on wire rack.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87536517;"><b>Note</b>: You will have extra batter and
frangipane with this recipe. To use remaining mixes, make cupcakes.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87536517;">Spoon ⅛ cup batter
into a cupcake line. Top with 1 teaspoon frangipane, centering it in batter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87536517;">Cover frangipane
with another scant ⅛ cup batter. Bake at 375° F for 35 minutes or until<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87536517;">toothpick inserted
in cupcake comes out clean.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87536517;">I hope you’ll enjoy
my cake. While it’s baking check out my romantic comedy with a touch of </span>drama, <b>A Groom for
Mama</b>. There’s cake in this book, too. Wedding cake.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0YmNmz6XHdiyN6psYlkKeecbYKK6x9nYsUG9Z5aKyjKIVeP0D6CfzFD4G98gehkNZ_minCQrye9Vpr4g-sGh64JTvTISc1WhiZ2shHJks8gRygnxwQ6GOtb_JI7_pbDpWaHA5rjKIAgj/s293/B+Catherine+Castle+Mama+Cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="184" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0YmNmz6XHdiyN6psYlkKeecbYKK6x9nYsUG9Z5aKyjKIVeP0D6CfzFD4G98gehkNZ_minCQrye9Vpr4g-sGh64JTvTISc1WhiZ2shHJks8gRygnxwQ6GOtb_JI7_pbDpWaHA5rjKIAgj/w168-h267/B+Catherine+Castle+Mama+Cover.jpg" width="168" /></a>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.<p></p><p>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.</p><p>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 <em>A Groom for Mama</em>.</p><p>Available from <a href="http://www.amzn.com/B074SZSGB1">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Catherine%20Castle%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall">Barnes and Noble</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvKuiMm4hd9wlUsuVSoFFIP1lyZ3WM9BBaEfDEeR3MmeQDeoEutJ2JKcjSgKd8xxfnZUQjkl7NCBjMFkmP1O82IodCwCAzeSYzsjGs8hwgbBr_mLdJMP8q5S0ql9eGesdqOi_hvgzwUvZ/s265/Catherine+Castle.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="200" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvKuiMm4hd9wlUsuVSoFFIP1lyZ3WM9BBaEfDEeR3MmeQDeoEutJ2JKcjSgKd8xxfnZUQjkl7NCBjMFkmP1O82IodCwCAzeSYzsjGs8hwgbBr_mLdJMP8q5S0ql9eGesdqOi_hvgzwUvZ/s0/Catherine+Castle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>Multi-award winning <a href="https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com">author Catherine Castle</a> 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.</p><p>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. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books <a href="http://amzn.com/B00CHU9DH2"><em>The Nun and the Narc</em></a> and <a href="http://www.amzn.com/B074SZSGB1"><em>A Groom for Mama</em></a><em>,</em> on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074SZSGB1/">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Catherine%20Castle%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall">Barnes and Noble</a>.</p><p>Follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/AuthorCCastle">Twitter,</a> <a href="https://facebook.com/catherinecastleauthor">FB,</a> or her <a href="https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/">blog</a>.</p>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-39576645919978544422023-12-17T21:00:00.001-08:002023-12-17T21:00:00.131-08:00My Author Life’s Year-End Assessment…<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mX9e68VDXqnclv3CgeG2afi1gKYzPANy4dWnhBRqW_9XS7cuHD3ezKCZsxFenHiT7THvx33S7u1f4RDBEUu8zOiifo1a1WXuqcegVBPB7XXAFeGUziphjRMf2fauzrQnYRCxhklEjSgAjksjqwF6oiFvGhF4oVO-PidUU0klNfN7CXg-QUG4Fn2VrNs2/s3999/Goals%20by%20markus-winkler-LNzuOK1GxRU-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2666" data-original-width="3999" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mX9e68VDXqnclv3CgeG2afi1gKYzPANy4dWnhBRqW_9XS7cuHD3ezKCZsxFenHiT7THvx33S7u1f4RDBEUu8zOiifo1a1WXuqcegVBPB7XXAFeGUziphjRMf2fauzrQnYRCxhklEjSgAjksjqwF6oiFvGhF4oVO-PidUU0klNfN7CXg-QUG4Fn2VrNs2/w400-h266/Goals%20by%20markus-winkler-LNzuOK1GxRU-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />When the year starts to wind down, I usually do an evaluation of
what I’ve accomplished, and what I’m still working on. Augh. Some of my goals
for 2023 came to fruition, others fell flat, and still others were not in my
control to begin with. Augh, again. I did manage to finish the third
installment of Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls series, entitled <i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sticks and Stones</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, but fell short of my
deadline for spring. Instead, I completed my manuscript just before our Canadian
Thanksgiving in early October. How fitting, since the novel ends during our
Thanksgiving. Divine timing, it seems, is everything. My goal was to get the
novel ready for my publisher’s 2024 publication roster. Um, no. Fell a little
short. But I got into the 2025 for sure, unless something unforeseen happens
and a space opens up. Such is the complexity of the publishing industry. Sigh.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">That said, I feel very blessed to have a publisher like </span><a href="https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/" style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mirror World Publishing</a><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, who
literally has their authors’ backs, and are so supportive and understanding.
Another goal I did manage to get launched was compiling a writing resource
ebook called </span><i style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.sharonledwith.com/tips-tools-tricks-for-the-tenacious-writer/">Tips,
Tools & Tricks for the Tenacious Writer</a></i><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, and offering it for free
on my website as a downloadable PDF. It was actually ten years in the making,
as I took helpful articles from my blog to share my publishing journey with
wannabe writers or authors who might just glean some useful material from it. I
managed to get the freebie up last March, so a win-win for me! *Pats back
vigorously*</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">A smaller goal was to try to get my books into the local libraries
of the Southern Ontario region I live in. Talk about red tape and politics. Triple
augh! I contacted the right people in the right positions, explained that I
wanted my books to share shelf space with the numerous books they had on hand,
and of course told them I was a local author. I was informed that their budgets
would only allow so many books to be purchased (most likely famous authors or
bestsellers), but that I could drop off my books at the closest libraries in my
location. So I did. I chose the first books in my two young adult series, </span><i style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.sharonledwith.com/books/the-last-time-keepers-series/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-arch-of-atlantis/">The
Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis</a></i><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, and </span><i style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.sharonledwith.com/books/mysterious-tales-from-fairy-falls-series/lost-and-found/">Lost
and Found</a></i><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> from Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls. I wrote a cover
letter and packaged my book babies up, and sent them on their way. I also
mentioned in the letter that if they decided against purchasing my books, then
please accept these titles as a donation. Sigh. Never even got a thank you or a
charitable slip for tax purposes. *Shakes fist vehemently*</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 12pt;">My HUGE goal (this one is NOT in my control) was to acquire a
literary agent to handle foreign and subsidiary rights for both my young adult
series. Yeah, I know it’s a pipe dream, but I truly believe in myself as a
writer, and do want to bring more light into the world through my books. I
began this endeavor in November 2022, crafting a query tailored to my goals,
and researched prospective literary agents. Shoot me now. I really hate Query
Tracker because the format is geared to one manuscript. So, I got creative, cut
and pasted my query and sent it along. I did hit pay dirt in July with a UK
agent who requested my PDFs! My elation was short-lived, as she explained that
her heart had to be all in, and she didn’t feel she was the right fit for
representation. Hey, I wouldn’t have expected anything else. That said, I know
that the query letter I wrote did its job, and captured the eye of an agent. At
least now I know there’s a chance of landing the perfect agent for me.
*Crossing fingers and toes*</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Of course, I had many other
mini goals throughout 2023, as I continued to chip away and plod through my
author life. How about you? If you’re an author, did you reach many of your
goals? If you’re a reader, did you realize what an author’s life entails? Would
love to read your comments. Wishing you, and your loved ones, a safe and happy holiday season. Cheers!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdPhssRafLzOZfR8hEXF0OCByz3qv8tZeketGmG6dcUQ_HFcW91wOwNj0O-eHJgRKdOB2-NC3te7-y9-RiT0dU6z2qGlGP3HQbLNu_JfYiYqigq3PszFxH-LCgOUkn5jXBkUH-gAWP-_e52MvdeEbGlAqhBGDm5nhUAgRIw1vzvWJmW8wN4kKRMMjbYR_/s1280/HolidayAdSharon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdPhssRafLzOZfR8hEXF0OCByz3qv8tZeketGmG6dcUQ_HFcW91wOwNj0O-eHJgRKdOB2-NC3te7-y9-RiT0dU6z2qGlGP3HQbLNu_JfYiYqigq3PszFxH-LCgOUkn5jXBkUH-gAWP-_e52MvdeEbGlAqhBGDm5nhUAgRIw1vzvWJmW8wN4kKRMMjbYR_/w400-h266/HolidayAdSharon1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-9203164465602826862023-12-13T21:00:00.000-08:002023-12-13T21:00:00.157-08:00Book Tour: YA Graphic Novel DELUGE by Mike Dubisch and Carolyn Watson-Dubisch...<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-de5bJs2_SsZbqYirdH1a93InWPT7n8ZpZpSA8HV5hAj-Zk97hbcwP844zyTFDTRvEoRW-Vc5jlYONS9VkweSGU_OD_mZ-qXpnOIsybtOcpkpJ-zseWnhgdXAEUV_Be-vZ9zqYjJqmXklwD1tp8_TBzFFRJU6LMFkCevoexhiwyYn3uikrpKqlWJ6TcN/s3456/Tour%20Banner%20-%20Deluge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="3456" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-de5bJs2_SsZbqYirdH1a93InWPT7n8ZpZpSA8HV5hAj-Zk97hbcwP844zyTFDTRvEoRW-Vc5jlYONS9VkweSGU_OD_mZ-qXpnOIsybtOcpkpJ-zseWnhgdXAEUV_Be-vZ9zqYjJqmXklwD1tp8_TBzFFRJU6LMFkCevoexhiwyYn3uikrpKqlWJ6TcN/w400-h214/Tour%20Banner%20-%20Deluge.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Sapphyria's Book Promotions presents the 1-Week Virtual Book Tour for Deluge by Mike Dubisch and Carolyn Watson-Dubisch - YA Graphic Novel (December 11-15, 2023)</p><p>About Deluge:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAxLrR2fzAGgdRyHFjqZB56wmomg6LdthVWIBu1wfO-A0eB9RrnB-BdoBO2zEjmpftkvyP5VYdB_eQ4cPdbwXPbMPg9VfmzPgKEVkP921NJB456tmFpEx62oAHF7Upatm-q9S9SidX1Txl_bKfRXLLiVq_4hyphenhyphenYwnUgbKjOls-W_qavWj5QTgQxaiesvgR/s3150/Deluge-Cover4web%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3150" data-original-width="2019" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAxLrR2fzAGgdRyHFjqZB56wmomg6LdthVWIBu1wfO-A0eB9RrnB-BdoBO2zEjmpftkvyP5VYdB_eQ4cPdbwXPbMPg9VfmzPgKEVkP921NJB456tmFpEx62oAHF7Upatm-q9S9SidX1Txl_bKfRXLLiVq_4hyphenhyphenYwnUgbKjOls-W_qavWj5QTgQxaiesvgR/s320/Deluge-Cover4web%20(1).jpg" width="205" /></a></div><p>About the Book:</p><p>12 year old Laura was just a normal girl from Seattle when her mother decided to move to a mysterious town in the midwest. The moment they arrive in their new home hundreds of frogs rain from the sky. Her quirky new neighbor has a house full of knick knacks and odd tiny creatures beckoning from the shadows, and there's a terrible curse on the town that makes every summer storm a life threatening event. Welcome to the town of Deluge.</p><p>Book Details:</p><p>Genres: YA Graphic Novel</p><p>Page Count: 50</p><p>Add to Goodreads: </p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202409014-deluge">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202409014-deluge</a></p><p>Purchase from Amazon: </p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3uNW4dH">https://amzn.to/3uNW4dH</a></p><p>Follow the Book Tour:</p><a href="https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/12/book-tour-schedule-deluge-by-mike.html">https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/12/book-tour-schedule-deluge-by-mike.html</a><div><br /></div><div>Meet the Authors:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkgVD0HfDm1-6WDR3EYFs0Y2V8vTbQZEgYALgXgZcBwB-lZlepjuA78Gd1dMbjdo5LUnRot4CXGin7MytX_aQl05P0uLDY6wj48n7OV0y9NxOnTQiAdSIB9yKYWMUfORJKbW-49fnWGY0wJrpzJD172BuTPRCWlsFmtCcKWqlkV7faj2128JRqwoJU2db/s2048/Author%20Picture.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkgVD0HfDm1-6WDR3EYFs0Y2V8vTbQZEgYALgXgZcBwB-lZlepjuA78Gd1dMbjdo5LUnRot4CXGin7MytX_aQl05P0uLDY6wj48n7OV0y9NxOnTQiAdSIB9yKYWMUfORJKbW-49fnWGY0wJrpzJD172BuTPRCWlsFmtCcKWqlkV7faj2128JRqwoJU2db/s320/Author%20Picture.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Mike and Carolyn Dubisch began collaborating artistically at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. They married soon after graduating and began working together. Their first major project was designing rides on the Turn of the Century Carousel that was displayed in Grand Central Station in New York, The L.A. Auto Show in California, Also in Washington D.C., and New Orleans. Their comic book adaptation of the Japanese fable Urishima Taro, initially created for a fundraiser for the tsunami victims in Japan, was licensed by FOX in 2013.<br /><br />Mike Dubisch is well known for his fantasy art and comics, including art for Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons and Aliens vs Predator. Carolyn Watson-Dubisch is a multiple award winning author and illustrator of 18 children’s books, working with multiple publishers and authors. Her work has appeared in Highlights for Children Magazine, Hopscotch Magazine and she designed and illustrated a regular feature in Whimsy Magazine for 5 years. Their most ambitious project, the all-ages graphic novel series “The People That Melt in The Rain”, is the product of over 10 years of development.<br /><br />Social Media Links:<div><br />Mike:</div><div><br />Insta</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikedubisch/">https://www.instagram.com/mikedubisch/</a><br /><br />FB</div><div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MikeDubischArt">https://www.facebook.com/MikeDubischArt</a><br /><br />Tiktok</div><div>@dubischsketchbook<br /><br />Carolyn:</div><div><br />Insta</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/artbycwdubisch/">https://www.instagram.com/artbycwdubisch/</a></div><div><br />FB</div><div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/170675381469">https://www.facebook.com/groups/170675381469</a><br /><br />Twitter</div><div><a href="https://twitter.com/CarolynWDubisch">https://twitter.com/CarolynWDubisch</a><br /><br />Author Page</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Carolyn-Watson-Dubisch/author/B004CS6K4G">https://www.amazon.com/stores/Carolyn-Watson-Dubisch/author/B004CS6K4G</a><br /><br /><br />The People That Melt in The Rain:<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PeopleThatMeltInTheRain">https://www.facebook.com/PeopleThatMeltInTheRain</a><br /><br /></div>Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-2617052559576560532023-12-10T21:00:00.001-08:002023-12-10T21:00:00.135-08:00A Holiday Recipe and Read: Craisin-Walnut Dressing and A Regency Christmas Collection by Emma Lane...<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">This year seems to have zipped by much too fast. Our family is already
hinting for me to cook their favorite dishes for Christmas dinner. One wants a ham
with gravy from drippings. Another is pleading for green bean casserole, while
another wants fresh asparagus spears and dinner rolls. Me, I have a sweet tooth
and am looking forward to a home baked apple pie, of course ala mode, for
dessert. </span><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; text-align: justify;">😊 </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; text-align: justify;">One thing the entire family is
looking forward to is my special dressing. Here’s the recipe for you.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CRAISIN-WALNUT
DRESSING</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRa35TB83qE_SRsIdLDhcAAmrfUJ9GlO5EYgSw2yHxpc1mfOhpH2IxSYCPDbJOzELW5WmjAXvQuVAXlRb9hWbl2Dw-jB5FaWzko1B0mHL5hkV_tWYTdpLiJAPXp57HpKyOUoWWMpxe8me_EyzkSphHBHJaO6X8LTulpXTDVDZVKSU_4al-G5U/s860/E98%20stuffing.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="860" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRa35TB83qE_SRsIdLDhcAAmrfUJ9GlO5EYgSw2yHxpc1mfOhpH2IxSYCPDbJOzELW5WmjAXvQuVAXlRb9hWbl2Dw-jB5FaWzko1B0mHL5hkV_tWYTdpLiJAPXp57HpKyOUoWWMpxe8me_EyzkSphHBHJaO6X8LTulpXTDVDZVKSU_4al-G5U/w260-h173/E98%20stuffing.webp" width="260" /></a></div><br />1 bag seasoned breadcrumbs, or mixed <o:p></o:p>breadcrumbs</div><div style="text-align: left;">1½ cup chicken
stock, just enough to moisten <o:p></o:p>breadcrumbs</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 tbsp. butter1 onion, chopped</div><div style="text-align: left;">¼ cup celery, chopped</div><div style="text-align: left;">⅓ cup dried craisons,
dried cranberries or raisins</div><div style="text-align: left;">¼ cup chopped
walnuts</div><div style="text-align: left;">Salt & pepper to
taste<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Preheat oven 350° F.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Soak craisins, or raisins,
in warm water to soften for fifteen minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Melt butter in a frying
pan. Sauté celery and onion until opaque, about 7 minutes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Drain craisins. Combine
all ingredients in a medium size bowl, then season with salt and pepper. Pour chicken stock to moisten ingredients and
mix lightly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Grease an oven safe pan
them scoop in mixture.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bake 25 – 30
minutes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Merry Christmas,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Emma<o:p></o:p></span></p>Here's a peek at my Christmas collection. I hope you enjoy it.<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8DxXzzVLKX_lF5y4r0xAxlrnteAfY6oaMjBJ8qkV0AgRjFi0IFpOPpTdebNXYTeZt6W5447eyR8KBQObUIe5pGeuU2aQbxnPpp3JCnldVLvSaI1ivGJ9ezseeMRlBQLkTK0YXxy3agsk/s500/c90+collection+ll.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8DxXzzVLKX_lF5y4r0xAxlrnteAfY6oaMjBJ8qkV0AgRjFi0IFpOPpTdebNXYTeZt6W5447eyR8KBQObUIe5pGeuU2aQbxnPpp3JCnldVLvSaI1ivGJ9ezseeMRlBQLkTK0YXxy3agsk/w133-h200/c90+collection+ll.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br />Winter storms
swirling snow and unexpected guests on the eve of Christmas, the pungent
fragrance of fresh pine boughs, springs of mistletoe hung with red ribbons, and
a stolen kiss underneath the kissing ball comprise scenes of Christmas in the
country. Ice skating anyone? Have a cup of wassail and toast your toes in front
of a warm fire while you enjoy four short stories of sweet Regency Christmas
romances. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRHX2NI/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon Link</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIpnHo2ypyIz2VtTU-u61-R87ba8bC0xBFqor6q-Sbps8kWumsRQlzfUehr8HGUhQQ7jnxtldMonp5SL6no19ixw-4A92-vZZfdfcfSK5MjslMW8plv_Tlc3Ig5b2_MSkQ2X54sm00-rg/s1984/c90+Emma+Lane+Arranging+Flowers.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1984" data-original-width="1488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIpnHo2ypyIz2VtTU-u61-R87ba8bC0xBFqor6q-Sbps8kWumsRQlzfUehr8HGUhQQ7jnxtldMonp5SL6no19ixw-4A92-vZZfdfcfSK5MjslMW8plv_Tlc3Ig5b2_MSkQ2X54sm00-rg/s320/c90+Emma+Lane+Arranging+Flowers.jpg" /></a></div><br />Emma Lane <span>is a gifted author</span><span> who writes cozy mysteries as Janis Lane, Regency as Emma, and spice as </span><span>Sunny Lane</span><span>.</span><span> </span><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="text-align: left;">She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at </span><b style="text-align: left;">Herbtique and Plant Nursery</b><span style="text-align: left;">, the nursery she and her son own. </span><br style="text-align: left;" /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Look for information about writing and plants on Emma's new <a href="http://emmajlane.com/"><b>website</b></a>. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma's face.</p>
<br />
Stay connected to Emma on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000338539637&fref=ts"><b>Facebook</b></a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/EMMAJLANE"><b>Twitter</b></a>. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/emmajlane/things-that-make-me-smile/"><b>Pinterest</b></a>.
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-61551189132910168952023-12-03T21:00:00.000-08:002023-12-03T21:00:00.146-08:00Book Tour: It Hurts Every Time by L.P. Mills...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48L0nzQz7zeOoCpahIDtPNkecCg7rpy62ngW12ixuBFQTzSaF5Uar-TnP4h_OVaA1IS0huYNPo-0jJz9untnx5NXBNWuRuPtiPiuxaHs6CpMmq9P7-tPK9EzreJjONZmiqHgjC7VQDUE-i8duN_4steEyginbcofkPeTa0dFNzv0rRn8920YN_vefdivv/s640/Virtual%20Tour%20Banner%20-%20It%20Hurts%20Every%20Time%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48L0nzQz7zeOoCpahIDtPNkecCg7rpy62ngW12ixuBFQTzSaF5Uar-TnP4h_OVaA1IS0huYNPo-0jJz9untnx5NXBNWuRuPtiPiuxaHs6CpMmq9P7-tPK9EzreJjONZmiqHgjC7VQDUE-i8duN_4steEyginbcofkPeTa0dFNzv0rRn8920YN_vefdivv/w400-h214/Virtual%20Tour%20Banner%20-%20It%20Hurts%20Every%20Time%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mirror World Publishing and Sapphyria's Book Promotions present the 1-week virtual book tour for</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It Hurts Every Time by L.P. Mills</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAegZFokXMWAgiS1-wJtnPTU197i3uzV9B6AqzYPDcE-jtH16o10BkgzbRqw4kthW_RwrUxocwoVvhKehmyE53dgrF_xSaB2VzwSaC0x7SV9W6vR83F6h6WMBGASRIQTGPNijs7Qm2i0upzQtW9kj92uo6FDWwDy15OoBM0GzXHFfMRmL2H9Ie6yD_gGVW/s2700/ItHurtsCoverArt%20copy.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAegZFokXMWAgiS1-wJtnPTU197i3uzV9B6AqzYPDcE-jtH16o10BkgzbRqw4kthW_RwrUxocwoVvhKehmyE53dgrF_xSaB2VzwSaC0x7SV9W6vR83F6h6WMBGASRIQTGPNijs7Qm2i0upzQtW9kj92uo6FDWwDy15OoBM0GzXHFfMRmL2H9Ie6yD_gGVW/w426-h640/ItHurtsCoverArt%20copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />About It Hurts Every Time:<br /><br />“Death is not the end, sir,<br /><br />No, sir, not the end of the line,<br /><br />Just remember what I say to you;<br /><br />It hurts, baby,<br /><br />It hurts every time.”<br /><br />Pluto Garcia is a lieutenant in the Community Militia of Morrisette, a post-communist city-state where a miracle drug has advanced enough to allow the dying a second chance at life by launching them into the nearest available universe in which they are still alive.<br /><br />In his latest incarnation, Pluto is tasked with investigating the death of Krishna Klein, a brilliant but troubled philanthropist who has been found with a bullet in his head following a week-long bender. With the aid of his assigned partner, Esther Dupont, Pluto uncovers a techno-fascistic plot to plunge the flawed Utopia of Morrissette into authoritarian control once and for all.<div><br /></div>Follow the Book Tour:<br /><br /><a href="https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/11/book-tour-schedule-it-hurts-every-time.html">https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/11/book-tour-schedule-it-hurts-every-time.html</a><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Release Date:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;">December 1, 2023</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Purchase Links:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Paperback: <a href="https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/product/it-hurts-every-time-by-l-p-mills-paperback-/107?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false">https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/product/it-hurts-every-time-by-l-p-mills-paperback-/107?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false</a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ebook: <a href="https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/product/it-hurts-every-time-by-l-p-mills-e-book-/108?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false">https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/product/it-hurts-every-time-by-l-p-mills-e-book-/108?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false</a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/3ZUeghc">https://amzn.to/3ZUeghc</a></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Meet the Author:</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQbBx5Y7mOQFIc58n3Z8J2oqBsBagNvCy8vSB9piaEZ9EO2R8udASErN_ABVzur17RiKREnW1d1qvD0wdBBZsqCMEOP8VHKvzURNqmQx58LUe5XrAPn47mu2Ypgv046xeFAcxOfk5Jyg68bAioS_UhoqzWJ0ozc17t6deCxG2Z3WcSTfNQI14_f1NWoaj/s1447/Author%20Profile.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQbBx5Y7mOQFIc58n3Z8J2oqBsBagNvCy8vSB9piaEZ9EO2R8udASErN_ABVzur17RiKREnW1d1qvD0wdBBZsqCMEOP8VHKvzURNqmQx58LUe5XrAPn47mu2Ypgv046xeFAcxOfk5Jyg68bAioS_UhoqzWJ0ozc17t6deCxG2Z3WcSTfNQI14_f1NWoaj/w200-h200/Author%20Profile.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br />LP Mills is an author, game designer, journalist, and beard owner. He currently lives in front of a computer screen in Nottingham, UK, where he feverishly tells stories in an attempt to ignore his day-to-day responsibilities. His dog, Jack Daniels, has yet to compliment him on his writing.<br /><br />Find L.P. Online:<br /><br />Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/liampmills10">https://twitter.com/liampmills10</a> <br /><br />Author Website: <a href="https://sealightstudios.bigcartel.com/">https://sealightstudios.bigcartel.com/</a> <br /><br />Publisher Website: <a href="http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/">http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/</a><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGb2jf9H4RqK5DMoXj0XkLkWq2CALLBHzQm3GtIF8jIfWbeQVaq6xNlPW4tXA1kCN__JZZRZ6peACkFYsqBBMWOo-1nk7G-QHzHq2J8KPAOag4-tmQ6W9GEumsly-H70PCdboWA38QXm1YYp9MFydqlGadiebK9P0Y1azb4i53LKRLTJDLcw9g97XZOOr/s1916/mirror%20world%20publishing%20logo%20blackoutline.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="1916" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGb2jf9H4RqK5DMoXj0XkLkWq2CALLBHzQm3GtIF8jIfWbeQVaq6xNlPW4tXA1kCN__JZZRZ6peACkFYsqBBMWOo-1nk7G-QHzHq2J8KPAOag4-tmQ6W9GEumsly-H70PCdboWA38QXm1YYp9MFydqlGadiebK9P0Y1azb4i53LKRLTJDLcw9g97XZOOr/w200-h188/mirror%20world%20publishing%20logo%20blackoutline.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDsPFo8e53riuvQKuQs1HBJTWRynaHtBUfcuMBbZYYxw5NF03u150EtKb_TgONELtF-t1sgp1D1nyF4PSpJq1KegEfCumDhUBGJQ0DU6EyUbpDIR5cQgx9oqPeqfhuKjiCA_o_6tXdqFBaOXg4G2AshPwQpKzHQl1x-k0pk43130zvfUVo0AVdoxoGmdT/s300/Saphs%20Book%20Promotions%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDsPFo8e53riuvQKuQs1HBJTWRynaHtBUfcuMBbZYYxw5NF03u150EtKb_TgONELtF-t1sgp1D1nyF4PSpJq1KegEfCumDhUBGJQ0DU6EyUbpDIR5cQgx9oqPeqfhuKjiCA_o_6tXdqFBaOXg4G2AshPwQpKzHQl1x-k0pk43130zvfUVo0AVdoxoGmdT/w200-h150/Saphs%20Book%20Promotions%204.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-88324796348707871752023-11-26T21:00:00.001-08:002023-11-26T21:00:00.138-08:00A Recipe and Read: A Taste of Mexico and an Inspirational Romantic Suspense from Catherine Castle...<p>The other day I wanted a quick easy meal, so I peeked into the pantry to see what I had on hand. I found cans of chicken, green chiles, corn, black beans and cream of chicken soup, and some tortillas, so I set out to create something. Here's what I came up with. We liked it, and I hope you will too.</p><p><strong>Quick Oven Quesadilla</strong></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1ZmtRDSLvCjmJ953cBo0OOFP5Hh7MQN41w_y3w5AeedPUsfgQqzDWohh_OJI9HKtTina3hzPEnT1vGTX8EuZ1J-d9P4udoZYZcg-Ejm_qhetHVh-Fn0jvvGX2ms1pXzUlDPI9rRm26WG4ITJm_BFwqDueap0t7YMmBQBsn8ey9N_yjyT41V9nA/s1024/F58%20tortilla-baked-in-pan-reduc.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1ZmtRDSLvCjmJ953cBo0OOFP5Hh7MQN41w_y3w5AeedPUsfgQqzDWohh_OJI9HKtTina3hzPEnT1vGTX8EuZ1J-d9P4udoZYZcg-Ejm_qhetHVh-Fn0jvvGX2ms1pXzUlDPI9rRm26WG4ITJm_BFwqDueap0t7YMmBQBsn8ey9N_yjyT41V9nA/w144-h192/F58%20tortilla-baked-in-pan-reduc.webp" width="144" /></a></div><br />2-12.5-oz canned chicken, drained and broken up</div><div style="text-align: left;">1-4-oz can diced green chilies</div><div style="text-align: left;">1-2.5-oz can sliced black olives, drained</div><div style="text-align: left;">1-15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed</div><div style="text-align: left;">1-11-oz can whole kernel corn, drained</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 can cream of chicken soup</div><div style="text-align: left;">¼ or less cup water, start with a smaller amount. You only need enough water to mix soup other ingredients.</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 cup finely shredded Mexican style cheese. </div><div style="text-align: left;">1 to 1½ tsp. taco seasoning, or to taste if you like it spicier.</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 cup shredded cheddar cheese</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 high-fiber large tortillas (or corn tortillas) or enough to fit a straight sided cake pan, or 2 high-fiber street tacos to make individual servings in a smaller pan.</div><p>Preheat oven to 350° F</p><p>In a skillet over medium high heat brown the tortillas on both sides.</p><p>While tortillas are browning, mix chicken, corn, beans, chilies, olives, soup, cheddar cheese and water. Heat the mix in a large saucepan stirring until well mixed and beginning to bubble.</p><p>Lightly spray the bottom of a cake pan or baking sheet. Lay one tortilla in the pan, top with about ¼ cup mix (for a large tortilla, less for smaller tortillas) onto top of browned tortilla, spreading mix almost to the edge. Top with ¼ cup of finely shredded Mexican cheese. Repeat with other tortilla and 3/4 cup mix. Save left over mix for another day’s use, or you can double the tortillas and make a bigger meal the first time.</p><p>Bake about 10-15 minutes or until cheese on top has melted and you can see filling bubbling. (I’ve also baked this for a shorter time at a higher temp when was in a hurry.) Turn off oven and switch to the high broil setting on the oven and broil until cheese on top begins to brown.</p><p>Remove from oven. Cut and serve with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions, guacamole, salsa or other Mexican side toppings.</p><p>If you want to make several stacks at a time lay the base tortillas on a baking sheet and assemble as many as your ingredients allow. Number will depend on the size of your tortillas.</p><p>If you only make one stack, or 2 smaller individual servings, the first time you can use the remainder of the filling for a second quesadilla meal or as filling for enchiladas. It will make about 4-6 enchiladas depending on the size of your tortilla. Warm your ingredients before assembling the stacks or enchiladas to cut down on heating time in oven. Make a cheese sauce, or other Mexican sauce to cover the enchiladas and top with shredded cheese. Heat in a 350° oven until cheese has melted and is beginning to brown.</p><p>While your dinner is cooking, check out Catherine’s multi-award-winning Inspirational Romantic Suspense <em>The Nun and the Narc</em>. Partially set in Mexico, the heroine, Sister Margaret Mary, an adventurous novice, dines on some unusual marketplace snacks. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfygFR12w4nRJVJYPLjFgaOk1IQYdnM_4vK3-UlVLXs34dxPINN6vaOJEqqO40XZqdZlZ8uXnn6755qxzjd8VgnlA9s5bls2QGBfA0Je9y9mftOPUbTcBnt3qfFk6N41c_B_SAvCIPNF3/s1600/B47+Catherine+Cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="420" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfygFR12w4nRJVJYPLjFgaOk1IQYdnM_4vK3-UlVLXs34dxPINN6vaOJEqqO40XZqdZlZ8uXnn6755qxzjd8VgnlA9s5bls2QGBfA0Je9y9mftOPUbTcBnt3qfFk6N41c_B_SAvCIPNF3/s320/B47+Catherine+Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicably attracted to him, he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them by making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.<br />
<br />
Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion, and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CHU9DH2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sloanetaylor7-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00CHU9DH2&linkId=54107c8732d9d1f8b951e5d8905ad4f5"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazon Buy Link</span></b></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrkM-290R5RY1pZUfUs830RwH325Uyl36PlKMlgVDoUk-H4DSMqasG-zGeaVtlHj7sXnL6PJmJ6AbYaG54E5lN-A1i-TE-VOcxr6CBWp5zjFZzzReAzkCf2ApnC7bRf7gbuK6P153e7oB/s1600/Catherine+Castle.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="201" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrkM-290R5RY1pZUfUs830RwH325Uyl36PlKMlgVDoUk-H4DSMqasG-zGeaVtlHj7sXnL6PJmJ6AbYaG54E5lN-A1i-TE-VOcxr6CBWp5zjFZzzReAzkCf2ApnC7bRf7gbuK6P153e7oB/s320/Catherine+Castle.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>Multi-award-winning author <b>Catherine Castle</b> has been writing all her life. A former freelance writer, she has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit (under her real name) in the Christian and secular market. Now she writes sweet and inspirational romance. Her debut inspirational romantic suspense, <b>The Nun and the Narc</b>, from Soul Mate Publishing, has garnered multiple contests finals and wins.<br />
<br />
Catherine loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, watching movies, and the theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. <br />
<br />
Learn more about <b>Catherine Castle</b> on her <a href="http://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/"><b>website</b></a> and <a href="http://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/"><b>blog</b></a>. Stay connected on <a href="http://facebook.com/catherinecastleauthor"><b>Facebook</b></a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AuthorCCastle"><b>Twitter</b></a>. Be sure to check out Catherine’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/catherinecastle"><b>Amazon author page</b></a> and her <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7085414.Catherine_Castle"><b>Goodreads page</b></a>. You can also find Catherine on <a href="http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/"><b>Stitches Thru Time</b></a> and the <a href="http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/"><b>SMP authors blog site</b></a>. thors blog site.
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-40138495445932760952023-11-19T21:00:00.001-08:002023-11-19T21:00:00.138-08:00Guest Post: Abundance Fills the Open Mind by Author and Artist Linda Lee Greene...<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Outside
the kitchen window of our home on Long Island, New York, it was a cold and
windswept November morning of 1970. Thanksgiving Day was </span>approaching,<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> and I
missed my family back in Ohio sorely. Oh, how I wished I could be with them;
but it wasn’t to be. I needed a distraction and decided the best way to
accomplish it was to lose myself in a painting. I gathered fall deco items I
had placed around the house and set them up on my kitchen table in a
composition I deemed worthy of a still life. A sheet of watercolor paper taped
to my board, and with my simple little pads of watercolor paints, a couple of
brushes, and a stick of charcoal to rough in the initial shapes, I got to work.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWwaxlLwBrXWxi6McWN8VuFqRbnCyb6F7X4g8lytQQ38tLIXf2jPhNeReUv-3pzUi_os_zOuvsXIChRU7PryMhmESSUuift2lp8BumJP8Fup1ykkMji0BJPdXsEFuit8xMk-VopLWvRTTWDlbQF0Vw9UcrI-cT_GjhbsA_KBeL0KCJJ07UV4/s2952/E91%20Linda%20Cornucopia%20watermarked.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2952" data-original-width="1998" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWwaxlLwBrXWxi6McWN8VuFqRbnCyb6F7X4g8lytQQ38tLIXf2jPhNeReUv-3pzUi_os_zOuvsXIChRU7PryMhmESSUuift2lp8BumJP8Fup1ykkMji0BJPdXsEFuit8xMk-VopLWvRTTWDlbQF0Vw9UcrI-cT_GjhbsA_KBeL0KCJJ07UV4/s320/E91%20Linda%20Cornucopia%20watermarked.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br />The charcoal shapes came together easily.
As is typical of the way I tackle most jobs, I touched my paint-loaded brush to
the item on the paper that I thought would be the most difficult to render—which
was the stem of the pumpkin. My first attempt was a total bust, as was my
second and my third. By then, my heart was galloping in my chest with utter fury
at myself. I pushed away from the table and paced the floor—across the length
of the kitchen, into the hallway, into the living room, and back again and
again…pace, pace, pace…and then a voice sounded ‘round my ears. “Empty your mind
of what you ‘think’ a pumpkin stem looks like and paint only what you actually
see!” I had heard the instruction from my teacher in a painting class I had
taken years before, but obviously it had failed to register in my brain. I
returned to the table, emptied my mind, and painted only what I saw with my
eyes. <i>Voila!</i> In no time at all, the still life painted in a primitive style I
had hoped to execute appeared with what seemed very little further effort on my
part. It was almost like magic.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I learned a big lesson that day, not
only related to the art of painting, but also to the art of living. Our
preconceived notions (opinions, prejudices, attitudes, and so many other
absolute doctrines we hold in mind) blind us to the truth of things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">With my humble painting titled,
<b>CORNUCOPIA</b>, I wish all of you an open-minded, a clear-eyed, and a very happy
holiday season.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Linda Lee</span></p><p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here’s
a peek at m</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ulti-award-winning
author and artist <b>Linda Lee Greene’s</b> latest book, <i>Garden of the Spirits of the Pots, A Spiritual Odyssey. </i>It is a blend of visionary and
inspirational fiction with a touch of romance. The story unfolds as ex-pat
American Nicholas Plato journeys into parts unknown, both within himself and
his adopted home of Sydney, Australia. In the end, the odyssey reveals to him
his true purpose for living. The novella is available in eBook and paperback.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Constantia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFMSvCbN6Mlaqo3MDRz_9N01CaNFwYTqi_WJD1xBTZOQ4AtSPxORwo9p1g-0r357ySutLV7-iQ_0bP2j8207DaldD1jszMnGgFYRinMg_I3IfLkFg4nt68p5K6-C5hZHUOLDBF6GhQ2wI/s2048/D95+cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFMSvCbN6Mlaqo3MDRz_9N01CaNFwYTqi_WJD1xBTZOQ4AtSPxORwo9p1g-0r357ySutLV7-iQ_0bP2j8207DaldD1jszMnGgFYRinMg_I3IfLkFg4nt68p5K6-C5hZHUOLDBF6GhQ2wI/s320/D95+cover.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Constantia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Driven by a deathly
thirst, he stops. A strange little brown man materializes out of nowhere and
introduces himself merely as ‘Potter,’ and welcomes Nicholas to his ‘Garden of
the Spirits of the Pots.’ Although Nicholas has never laid eyes on Potter, the
man seems to have expected Nicholas at his bizarre habitation and displays
knowledge about him that nobody has any right to possess. Just who is this
mysterious Aboriginal potter?</span><span style="font-family: Constantia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Constantia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Although
they are as mismatched as two persons can be, a strangely inevitable friendship
takes hold between them. It is a relationship that can only be directed by an
unseen hand bent on setting Nicholas on a mystifying voyage of self-discovery
and Potter on revelations of universal certainties.</span><span style="font-family: Constantia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Constantia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A blend of
visionary and inspirational fiction, and a touch of romance, this is a tale of
Nicholas’ journey into parts unknown, both within his adopted home and himself,
a quest that in the end leads him to his true purpose for living. </span></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Constantia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/GARDEN-SPIRITS-POTS-SPIRITUAL-ODYSSEY-ebook/dp/B09JM7YL6F/" target="_blank">AMAZON BUY LINK</a> </span></h1><p a="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqJBhmJG8FaKiQk17tnzzM3tfplY0AOgjKDyyMCpLU_PzhnA63SdkJKU6OY8gdhoyzATq4NyVGGB3Rtc33tnAm76i4VmKCUrXzLLHqjJrzOI3j91rUFeqsoFzTZu7M7xjPUsmONhTknzN/s915/Lee+Greene.jpeg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="708" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqJBhmJG8FaKiQk17tnzzM3tfplY0AOgjKDyyMCpLU_PzhnA63SdkJKU6OY8gdhoyzATq4NyVGGB3Rtc33tnAm76i4VmKCUrXzLLHqjJrzOI3j91rUFeqsoFzTZu7M7xjPUsmONhTknzN/w182-h267/Lee+Greene.jpeg" width="182" /></p><div><br /></div>Multi-award-winning author and artist <b>Linda Lee Greene</b> describes her life as a telescope that when trained on her past reveals how each piece of it, whether good or bad or in-between, was necessary in the unfoldment of her fine art and literary paths. <br />
Greene moved from farm-girl to city-girl; dance instructor to wife, mother, and homemaker; divorcee to single-working-mom and adult-college-student; and interior designer to multi-award-winning artist and author, essayist, and blogger. It was decades of challenging life experiences and debilitating, chronic illness that gave birth to her dormant flair for art and writing. Greene was three days shy of her fifty-seventh birthday when her creative spirit took a hold of her. <br /><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">She found her way to
her lonely easel soon thereafter. Since then Greene has accepted commissions
and displayed her artwork in shows and galleries in and around the USA. She is
also a member of artist and writer associations.</span><br a="" accepted="" also="" and="" around="" artist="" artwork="" associations.="" br="" commissions="" displayed="" easel="" found="" galleries="" greene="" has="" he="" her="" in="" is="" lonely="" member="" of="" she="" shows="" since="" soon="" the="" then="" thereafter.="" to="" usa.="" way="" writer="" />
<br />
Visit Linda on her <a href=" http://ingoodcompanyohio.blogspot.com"><b>blog</b></a> and join her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LindaLeeGreeneAuthor/"><b>Facebook</b></a>. Linda loves to hear from readers so feel free to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/lindaleegreene.author.artist@gmail.com">email</a> her.</p></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a name="_Hlk111276773"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Garden of the
Spirits of the Pots</span></i></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk111276773;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">is available in
eBook and/or paperback on Amazon.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/GARDEN-SPIRITS-POTS-SPIRITUAL-ODYSSEY-ebook/dp/B09JM7YL6F/">https://www.amazon.com/GARDEN-SPIRITS-POTS-SPIRITUAL-ODYSSEY-ebook/dp/B09JM7YL6F/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pastels
and acrylics painting, “Coppers” by Linda Lee Greene</span></p>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-59046047231876929312023-11-12T21:00:00.001-08:002023-11-12T21:00:00.144-08:00This November, Get Stuffed with a Classic Recipe and a Young Adult Read...<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ready for an easy take on a classic recipe? Then
let’s get stuffed! Of course, I’m talking about gorging on my Savory Stuffed
Peppers.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> The bell pepper is an excellent
vessel for stuffing meat, rice, and, of course, cheese. It's strong enough to
hold its shape in the oven, and the flavor is subtle enough to go well with
just about anything.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This perfect
comfort food will fill you up, and keep you satiated for hours. Plus, it’s a
great recipe to cook in your home, cottage, or camper any time of the year.
With a prep time of 15 minutes tops, and total time of 1 hour, 20 minutes,
these tasty mega-morsels will serve 6 of your famish family members or friends.
Serve with a salad of your choice and a glass of your favorite red or white
wine. Cheers!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XINBuZEpioznVQgU9rUXHY29HnN6AVr-6AJWLYRXQCBu0UZqPJO6e5dCZGo8yRQdd_gNsR00wqmkZyAJzQwJvxZvkupYhJ_u0CeFDgjiCdwbrR08ulsT4AiBjhlYD0C_JAbSOHdwyTmP1--Sbmhr2_e1vGlO5rzAu3v_zGStnhh8QJRAg8rdVA/s4000/F72%20Stuffed%20Peppers.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XINBuZEpioznVQgU9rUXHY29HnN6AVr-6AJWLYRXQCBu0UZqPJO6e5dCZGo8yRQdd_gNsR00wqmkZyAJzQwJvxZvkupYhJ_u0CeFDgjiCdwbrR08ulsT4AiBjhlYD0C_JAbSOHdwyTmP1--Sbmhr2_e1vGlO5rzAu3v_zGStnhh8QJRAg8rdVA/w176-h235/F72%20Stuffed%20Peppers.jpg" width="176" /></a></b></div><b style="background-color: transparent;"><br />Savory Stuffed
Peppers</b><p></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">½ cup uncooked
rice<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">2 tbsp. extra virgin
olive oil, plus more for drizzling<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 medium onion,
chopped<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">2 tbsp. tomato
paste<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">3 cloves garlic,
minced<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 lb. (454 gram)
ground beef (or swap out for ground pork, chicken or turkey)<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1-14.5 oz. can
diced tomatoes<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1½ tsp. dried
oregano<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kosher or sea salt<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Freshly ground
black pepper<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">6 large bell
peppers, tops and cores removed<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 cup shredded
Monterey Jack cheese<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Freshly chopped
parsley, for garnish<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you desire, add
a spicy kick to your stuffed pepper with a few splashes of hot </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">sauce.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Preheat oven to
400° F (200° C).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a small saucepan, prepare rice
according to package instructions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a large skillet over medium heat, heat
oil. Cook onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and garlic
and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add ground beef and cook,
breaking up meat with a wooden spoon until no longer pink, 6 minutes. Drain
fat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Return beef mixture to skillet, then stir
in cooked rice and diced tomatoes. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Let
simmer until liquid has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Place peppers cut side-up in a 9” x 13”
baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Spoon beef mixture into each pepper and
top with Monterey Jack cheese, then cover baking dish with foil.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bake until peppers are tender, about 35
minutes. Uncover and bake until cheese is bubbly, 10 minutes more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Garnish with parsley before serving.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">While you’re digesting your stuffed
peppers and finishing off the last sips of your wine, why not put your feet up
and relax on the couch with a good book? <span style="background: white;">May I suggest a visit to </span></span><a href="http://sharonledwith.com/books-fairy-falls.html"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fairy Falls</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, or if you’re feeling really
adventurous, a trip back in time with </span><a href="http://sharonledwith.com/books-the-last-timekeeper.html"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Last Timekeepers</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">? Whichever you choose, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">either series will
transport you to another time and place, leaving the busyness of life far
behind.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><u>Here's a glimpse of the premises for both my young adult series</u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventures…</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chosen
by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers—legendary time travelers sworn to keep
history safe from the evil Belial—five classmates are sent into the past to
restore balance, and bring order back into the world, one mission at a time.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are the
only hope for our past.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mysteries…</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Imagine a teenager possessing
a psychic ability and struggling to cope with its freakish power. There’s no
hope for a normal life, and no one who understands. Now, imagine being uprooted
and forced to live in a small tourist town where nothing much ever happens.
It’s bores-ville from the get-go…until mysterious things start to happen.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Welcome to Fairy Falls.
Expect the unexpected.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 152.25pt;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Last
Timekeepers Time Travel Adventure Series:<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 12pt; tab-stops: 152.25pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Last
Timekeepers and the Noble Slave, Book #3<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 12pt; tab-stops: 152.25pt;"><a href="https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-noble-slave-paperback"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">MIRROR WORLD
PUBLISHING</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Timekeepers-Noble-Slave-ebook/dp/B09CZ1CQNX/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">AMAZON</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-noble-slave-sharon-ledwith/1140033348?ean=9781987976823"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">BARNES & NOBLE</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 152.25pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Last
Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, Book #2</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Buy
Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 152.25pt;"><a href="http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/poetry/products/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-dark-secret-paperback"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">MIRROR WORLD
PUBLISHING</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Timekeepers-Dark-Secret-ebook/dp/B01L9UHCFA/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1472938586&sr=1-1#nav-subnav"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">AMAZON</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/w/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-dark-secret-sharon-ledwith/1124513193;jsessionid=1499A28F3D09694F1DD7B340A0024BEE.prodny_store01-atgap08?ean=9781987976199"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">BARNES & NOBLE</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 152.25pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Last
Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book #1</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Buy Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 152.25pt;"><a href="http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/fantasy/products/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-arch-of-atlantis-1"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">MIRROR WORLD
PUBLISHING</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Timekeepers-Arch-Atlantis-ebook/dp/B00XM55E74/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1461602642&sr=1-1&keywords=Sharon+Ledwith"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">AMAZON</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-arch-of-atlantis-sharon-ledwith/1107106917?ean=9781987976038"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">BARNES & NOBLE</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="left" class="BodyText1" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Legend of
the Timekeepers, prequel</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Buy
Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="left" class="BodyText1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/fantasy/products/legends-of-the-timekeepers-paperback"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MIRROR
WORLD PUBLISHING</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Timekeepers-Sharon-Ledwith/dp/1987976053/ref=sr_1_3_twi_2_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1437067767&sr=1-3&keywords=Sharon+Ledwith"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">AMAZON</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legend-of-the-timekeepers-sharon-ledwith/1116790991?ean=9781987976052"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BARNES
& NOBLE</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span></p><p class="BodyText1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen
Psychic Mystery Series:<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 0in;"><b><i>Lost
and Found, Book One </i>Buy
Links:<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="left" class="BodyText1" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/poetry/products/lost-and-found-paperback"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MIRROR
WORLD PUBLISHING</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Found-Mysterious-Tales-Fairy-Falls-ebook/dp/B0713S1DCR/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493565088&sr=1-1&keywords=Lost+and+Found+Sharon+Ledwith"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">AMAZON</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-and-found-sharon-ledwith/1126287196?ean=9781987976281"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BARNES
& NOBLE</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyText1" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Blackflies and Blueberries, Book Two</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Buy Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="left" class="BodyText1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/poetry/products/blackflies-and-blueberries-paperback"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MIRROR
WORLD PUBLISHING</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackflies-Blueberries-Mysterious-Tales-Fairy-ebook/dp/B07QNSPTXZ/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Blackflies+and+Blueberries%2C+Book+2+Mysterious+Tales+from+Fairy+Falls&qid=1556120945&s=digital-text&sr=1-1-fkmrnull"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">AMAZON</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blackflies-and-blueberries-sharon-ledwith/1131285253;jsessionid=81F5E6C1D887B7395D57CC397EED0D3F.prodny_store02-atgap04?ean=9781987976540&fbclid=IwAR38L3FGJhej5e7q42vtA6WfN1icY3bVE67qjTHqre416CgZhSyf243kuVY"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BARNES
& NOBLE</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE;">׀</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebKmPymuRduaQq83DYCPGk7R4BbZuXsZur4KcMjJvSWTKBmdp1AWOhYAOU5cXv_nF7dGPCxRJxD03qqJy7OPuxfXYZW-gm9vBjik11oSPWcegeMBlj2X9draN4xUoIEn3Qd17n317rBu0gbsHisUQQmrWvhTn6yW-xFAhAqmhJX3SGrI5BSa-3cWLHqhq/s3546/sharonseriesbannernew%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="3546" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebKmPymuRduaQq83DYCPGk7R4BbZuXsZur4KcMjJvSWTKBmdp1AWOhYAOU5cXv_nF7dGPCxRJxD03qqJy7OPuxfXYZW-gm9vBjik11oSPWcegeMBlj2X9draN4xUoIEn3Qd17n317rBu0gbsHisUQQmrWvhTn6yW-xFAhAqmhJX3SGrI5BSa-3cWLHqhq/w400-h148/sharonseriesbannernew%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-1921823769762355752023-11-05T21:00:00.001-08:002023-11-05T21:00:00.141-08:00Guest Post: November is National Caregivers' Month by Author Anne Montgomery... <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IncCngQnKt-pindjHWhTmOYExYSNZVV4HS4t_Skp0EZWrjro9VJLEizmE0YqyEurheVXvsDOdsuec8WY15QX2aEbJxpHBsnfnSGMKNApXksU_QQ-ZsdWU4CwIgkNgCzKskfIFPwZWlR7yc2cv9Oaj6SxkLRICbtXCkpjfYfNuSyJDTFWALY/s275/E89%2022%20Nov%20Caregiver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IncCngQnKt-pindjHWhTmOYExYSNZVV4HS4t_Skp0EZWrjro9VJLEizmE0YqyEurheVXvsDOdsuec8WY15QX2aEbJxpHBsnfnSGMKNApXksU_QQ-ZsdWU4CwIgkNgCzKskfIFPwZWlR7yc2cv9Oaj6SxkLRICbtXCkpjfYfNuSyJDTFWALY/w400-h266/E89%2022%20Nov%20Caregiver.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Forty-eight million Americans
serve as caregivers for friends and family members in need.</span></i></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
always considered myself strong and quite capable of taking care of myself, but
life has a way of swatting our perceptions away. I came to this conclusion when
I was stricken with Covid-19—despite being fully vaccinated— a broken leg that
rendered me unable to walk for two months, and an eye infection that affected
my vision. (No, I never do anything halfway.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I admit
that I rarely thought of caregivers before, but as I stared up from my
bed—broken and sick— at the face of my masked sweetie pie, I was struck by my
utter helplessness. In the beginning, I was too sick to consider how much work
I’d become. Nor did it register that I wasn’t the only person in Ryan’s care.
His prime caretaking responsibility is his 85-year-old mom who is losing her
eyesight and suffers from dementia. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcZQ53o_y9ptjdg-Jgn0bCpR0CbpUdEJf5KZe_SpEZxNyQI09J-BX5yEZD0A_XbSPO_QK2j6x1ajWpTvlkiIm4ognRC1cfawlvj116b1wkkifP0B7yswGPkbct1VKTI1QRGVDLkfrAz9mRtvADf6ciY0PM2L69naET7_IZDNsO9wV4oPJ5hg/s1024/E89%20Ryan.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="705" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcZQ53o_y9ptjdg-Jgn0bCpR0CbpUdEJf5KZe_SpEZxNyQI09J-BX5yEZD0A_XbSPO_QK2j6x1ajWpTvlkiIm4ognRC1cfawlvj116b1wkkifP0B7yswGPkbct1VKTI1QRGVDLkfrAz9mRtvADf6ciY0PM2L69naET7_IZDNsO9wV4oPJ5hg/s320/E89%20Ryan.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br />So, Ry was now faced with
two of us. When the Covid started to ease, I jokingly called Ryan Ethan Frome<i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">,</span></i> the title character in the 1911 novel by
American author Edith Wharton. For those who are unfamiliar with the story,
poor Ethan, who has a disabled shrew of a wife, falls in love with a pretty
young woman. Then, with no way out, they decide to commit suicide together,
however the plan goes awry. They both live, but the woman becomes disabled, so
Ethan now has two sickly people to care for.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Ryan, as my caregiver, had to
do everything when I was sick and broken.</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According
to the AARP, “Every day, some 48 million Americans help parents, spouses and
other loved ones with medical care, meals, bathing, dressing, chores and much
more. They do it out of love, not for pay.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I
was well enough to notice, I realized the enormous pressure Ryan faced. He had
to feed his mother, monitor her medications, and tend to grocery shopping and
medical appointments, as well as weather her constant confusion and memory
issues. Then he had to come to my house and care for all my needs, as well.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As you
can imagine, caregivers are suffering. “Family caregivers now encompass more
than one in five Americans,” says the research series Caregiving in the US.
“The study also reveals that family caregivers are in worse health
compared to five years ago.” Caregivers spend a whopping 13 days each month “on
tasks such as shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry,
transportation, and giving medication.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit, serif;">These
constant demands force caregivers to push their own lives and needs aside,
often causing burnout. Between 40 to 70% of caregivers are said to suffer from
depression, with those attending to patients with cognitive decline being the
most likely to be affected. Also, chronic illnesses like diabetes, arthritis,
high blood pressure, heart disease, and immune system disorders can worsen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWwDfuWA2nlPs55lvUfayODmRFja4IYx7hNvM31fW5K8zPcXFEhobZo596qkKrpoGjICkjVvdJ8o4xrck5oe7dWPHbGjD8UsWPa5Vo_Xh2lbH83RTmJBGvYA6P-rVt6GN9WPZZHelytGpDvDPXfMnw0kTAqLU_Y5D-emEWnwNQH6gSymX0Xc/s998/E89%20Anne%20&%20Ryan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="998" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWwDfuWA2nlPs55lvUfayODmRFja4IYx7hNvM31fW5K8zPcXFEhobZo596qkKrpoGjICkjVvdJ8o4xrck5oe7dWPHbGjD8UsWPa5Vo_Xh2lbH83RTmJBGvYA6P-rVt6GN9WPZZHelytGpDvDPXfMnw0kTAqLU_Y5D-emEWnwNQH6gSymX0Xc/s320/E89%20Anne%20&%20Ryan.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Ryan stepped up and became a
caregiver when I needed him. I will always be grateful.</span></i></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit, serif;">What
can caregivers do? First, ask for help, if you’re feeling overwhelmed. There
are agencies all over the country that offer services to caregivers that can
help lighten the load, so check the Internet and your insurance company to see
what’s available. Do the best you can but forgive yourself when days don’t go
as planned. And carve out some time out for yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every
Tuesday, Ryan goes to lunch with his long-time buddies. The gathering is his
one time of respite during the week when most of his efforts revolve around me
and his mom. He always seems more energized when he returns from these
get-togethers and happily tells me what’s new with the boys.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">November
is National Family Caregivers Month, so I’d like to give a big shoutout to
those who shoulder the responsibilities for others. Caregiving is an
exhausting, often overlooked effort. So, thank you to all the folks who support
those of us in need.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And, of
course, I’m especially grateful for Ryan who jumped in with both feet when my
health failed, never getting angry, and doing his best to cheer me up when I
was down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank
you, Ry. I love you!</span></p>Here is a look at one of my thrillers for your reading pleasure.<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 21.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.0pt; margin: 21pt 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAHUZ4dIKv3wixWYa6uokKVfMu46x0XGWve0STSNqLXvcKYXtW_AIW82_ZkmAzKJKDkpcxx1Zu5XfGnqZ62sPcSTbsrlPqOOvB6rKOjjY1SFNAWhLNQSFZo-EuxWOm8mcAwOERV9GjTSg/s485/B+Anne+Castle+Cover+reduced.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="319" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAHUZ4dIKv3wixWYa6uokKVfMu46x0XGWve0STSNqLXvcKYXtW_AIW82_ZkmAzKJKDkpcxx1Zu5XfGnqZ62sPcSTbsrlPqOOvB6rKOjjY1SFNAWhLNQSFZo-EuxWOm8mcAwOERV9GjTSg/s320/B+Anne+Castle+Cover+reduced.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>Ancient ruins, haunted memories, and a ruthless criminal combine with a touch of mystic presence in this taut mystery about a crime we all must address.
Maggie, a National Park Ranger of Native American descent, is back at The Castle—an ancient pueblo carved into a limestone cliff in Arizona’s Verde Valley.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Maggie, who suffers from depression, has been through several traumas: the gang rape she suffered while in the Coast Guard, the sudden death of her ten-year-old son, and a suicide attempt. </p><p style="text-align: left;">One evening, she chases a young Native American boy through the park and gasps as he climbs the face of The Castle cliff and disappears into the pueblo. When searchers find no child, Maggie’s friends believe she’s suffering from depression-induced hallucinations. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Maggie has several men in her life. The baker, newcomer Jim Casey, who always greets her with a warm smile and pink boxes filled with sweet delicacies. Brett Collins, a scuba diver who is doing scientific studies in Montezuma Well, a dangerous cylindrical depression that houses strange creatures found nowhere else on Earth. Dave, an amiable waiter with whom she’s had a one-night stand, and her new boss Glen. </p><p style="text-align: left;">One of these men is a serial rapist and Maggie is his next target. In a thrilling and terrifying denouement, Maggie faces her rapist and conquers her worst fears once and for all. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Available at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097RTZH4M/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and all major vendors.
</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: transparent; color: #404040;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QLcrYf4cm8UBHioxhx8mLbb-kFI2PxKlsMK2LI_gLsE6oZbPhAVAsLegqCmQJDxfB6T88nHcOr_vWrFrjNZ3lGoZoxad3nZdtFBpdCzfuO-5vveI7taV1qO7i0HPWrYeog2OCkCcsOlo/s200/Anne+Montgomery.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QLcrYf4cm8UBHioxhx8mLbb-kFI2PxKlsMK2LI_gLsE6oZbPhAVAsLegqCmQJDxfB6T88nHcOr_vWrFrjNZ3lGoZoxad3nZdtFBpdCzfuO-5vveI7taV1qO7i0HPWrYeog2OCkCcsOlo/s0/Anne+Montgomery.jpg" /></a></b></div><b style="background-color: transparent; color: #404040;">Anne Montgomery</b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #404040;"> has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces.</span><p></p><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.<br />
<br />
Learn more about <b>Anne Montgomery</b> on her <a href="https://annemontgomerywriter.com/"><b>website</b></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Montgomery"><b>Wikipedia</b></a>. Stay connected on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anne.montgomery.359?fref=ts&ref=br_tf"><b>Facebook</b></a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=82984029&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic"><b>Linkedin</b></a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/amontgomery8"><b>Twitter</b></a>.</span><p></p>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-17456153068106808932023-10-29T21:00:00.001-07:002023-10-29T21:00:00.137-07:00Author in the Kitchen: A Halloween Feast Fit for Goblins and Ghouls by Cookbook Author Sloane Taylor...<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Halloween October 31 - Centuries ago ancient Celtics believed that at summer’s end the barrier between
our world and the world of spirits thinned, allowing evil to cross over to us.
Time passed and people dressed as saints and went door to door which is the
origin for tonight’s ghosts and goblins to magically appear at your front door
to trick you if you don’t treat them.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Invite friends over and celebrate
Halloween with this menu that will tame your creatures who go bump in the night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt;">MENU</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Appetizers</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Barbequed </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meatballs</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Garlic Dip &
Pretzels</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sangria</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Main Course</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Braised Short Ribs</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mashed Potatoes</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Veggie Sauté</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dry Red Wine –
Pinot Noir</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Appetizers</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVMllP8qwzXMr__35UixZt8zApLvSrt8nyEQXuGAG4nrnhEzTzYR6-57USj7jkO2OlPzL8ZFEQl0WA1w-fQ9RuYWyFy-TZPsi8QBO4VhbVMBI5gy8JMfeUQiYMRwWBATatVclxGrN3zmY/s228/Appetizers+BBQ+Meatballs.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="228" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVMllP8qwzXMr__35UixZt8zApLvSrt8nyEQXuGAG4nrnhEzTzYR6-57USj7jkO2OlPzL8ZFEQl0WA1w-fQ9RuYWyFy-TZPsi8QBO4VhbVMBI5gy8JMfeUQiYMRwWBATatVclxGrN3zmY/w172-h151/Appetizers+BBQ+Meatballs.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><br />Barbequed Meatballs</span></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">This
is an easy appetizer recipe you adjust to suit you. Add more jelly if you
prefer a sweeter taste or cut jelly amount and increase barbeque sauce if you
want a tangy taste. Plan on 4 – 5 meatballs per person.</span></i></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1
12 oz. (340g) jar grape jelly</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1
– 2 bottles barbeque sauce</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">50
precooked frozen Italian style meatballs</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Toothpicks
for serving</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Scoop
jelly into a medium-sized saucepan set over medium heat. Add 1 bottle barbeque
sauce. Stir until jelly melts.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Add
meatballs. Stir in more barbeque sauce if needed. You want the meatballs
covered but not swimming. Simmer 5 – 10 minutes, stir occasionally.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Serve
warm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Garlic
Dip & Pretzel Twists</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">8
oz. (226g) cream cheese, softened</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1
tbsp. (15ml) garlic powder, not salt</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pinch
salt</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">2
tbsp. (30ml) milk, possibly more</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lay
cream cheese in a medium-sized mixing bowl. I know this seems too large, but
you need the room. Use a wooden spoon to mash the cheese against the sides of
the bowl.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sprinkle
on garlic. Stir well. Add salt and stir well. Taste for flavor. Add more garlic
if necessary. Don’t add more salt. You’ll get plenty of that flavor from the
pretzels.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Drizzle
in milk. Stir well. Carefully stir in milk until you reach a consistency soft
enough to dip the pretzel without breaking it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Scoop
into a serving bowl, cover with cling wrap, and refrigerate. Remove from fridge
a half hour or so before serving. This dip lasts 1 week in the fridge.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sangria</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">½ lemon, peel intact and sliced
thin</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">½ orange, peel intact and sliced
thin</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">½ lg. apple, cored and sliced thin</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">¼ cup (30g) superfine sugar</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">1 bottle dry red wine, Portuguese
or Spanish preferred</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">¼ cup (60ml) brandy or cognac</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">1-liter club soda, chilled</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Ice</span></div>
<p class="CookbookRecipeIngredientsLastLine" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="CookbookRecipeDirections" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Combine lemon, orange, apple, and sugar in a large
pitcher. Stir in wine and brandy. Taste for sweetness. If the punch is still
not sweet enough, carefully add another ¼ cup (30g) of sugar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CookbookRecipeDirections" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Refrigerate for several hours to intensify the flavors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CookbookRecipeDirections" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="CookbookRecipeDirections" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Just before serving gently stir in club soda. Fill
wine glasses with ice and pour in <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Sangria.</span></span></p><p class="CookbookRecipeDirections" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Main
Course</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY0cfrXBr8-CuVb58vOzIpyWeUuU5amYbNjUQbP_LYPa-2KmfkJbrhBExY-X2kdpCXMEkTFLJ8yGuMRCSIoe7Gl_XvX12LA4c6U1hHpmC-X2jw7MRr3wG1F3soquZyN3XyK7CJy27ris4/s1920/BEEF+Short+Ribs+Anestiev+Pixabay.com.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1540" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY0cfrXBr8-CuVb58vOzIpyWeUuU5amYbNjUQbP_LYPa-2KmfkJbrhBExY-X2kdpCXMEkTFLJ8yGuMRCSIoe7Gl_XvX12LA4c6U1hHpmC-X2jw7MRr3wG1F3soquZyN3XyK7CJy27ris4/w197-h245/BEEF+Short+Ribs+Anestiev+Pixabay.com.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>Braised
Short Ribs</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">2 – 3 lbs. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">(1 – 1.5kg) </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">beef short ribs, cut into 2 inch</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (5cm)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> or so pieces</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">freshly ground pepper to taste</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">½ cup </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">(60g) </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">flour</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">½ tsp.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">
(2.5ml)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> thyme</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">2 tbsp. (30ml) lard or solid
shortening</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">2 medium onions, chopped</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">½ cup (60g) carrot, chopped</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">1 tbsp. (15ml) garlic, pressed or chopped fine</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">1 cup (250ml) beef stock</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">2 small bay leaves</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">1 tbsp. (30ml) Worcestershire Sauce</span></div>
<p class="CookbookRecipeIngredientsLastLine" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="CookbookRecipeDirections" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Preheat
oven to 325° F (160°C).<br />
<br />
Pat ribs dry. Grind pepper over meat. Pour flour and thyme into a paper bag.
Add 2 – 4 ribs at a time. Shake bag gently to coat meat. Remove ribs and set on
a large plate. Continue until all ribs are coated.<br />
<br />
Melt lard or shortening in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it
shimmers. Carefully add ribs and brown them on all sides. Don’t crowd the pan.
Best to brown meat in batches so the cooking temperature remains constant.
Return ribs to plate. Lower heat to medium.<br />
<br />
Add onions and carrots to the same pot. Sauté until onions are soft and
transparent. Add garlic. Cook 45 – 60 seconds.<br />
<br />
Stir in stock. Bring to a boil over high heat. Scrape in any brown bits
clinging to the bottom and sides of the pan. <br />
<br />
Reduce heat to medium. Stir in bay leaves and Worcestershire sauce.<br />
<br />
Nestle ribs in pan and bring to a boil. Cover and then place in oven. Braise
ribs for 1½ hours or until meat shows no resistance when pierced with the tip
of a sharp knife.<br />
<br />
Arrange ribs on a clean platter and tent with foil to keep them warm.<br />
<br />
Strain braising liquid through a fine sieve into a saucepan. Press down hard on
vegetables to extract juices. Discard vegetables. Skim off surface fat. Bring
to a hard boil. Cook 2 – 3 minutes to intensify flavor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CookbookRecipeDirections" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="CookbookRecipeDirectionsLastLine" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pour sauce into a gravy boat and
serve alongside ribs</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">.</span></p><p class="CookbookRecipeDirectionsLastLine" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Mashed Potatoes</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Chicken
stock, not broth</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">1
small russet potato per person, peeled and quartered</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">3
tbsp. (43g) butter</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Sour
cream, a very large dollop</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">¼
cup (60ml) milk, at room temperature</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Freshly
ground pepper to taste</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Parsley,
snipped or chopped for garnish</span></div><p class="CookbookRecipeDirections"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Preheat
oven to 220° F (100°C).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="CookbookRecipeDirections"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Pour
one-inch (2.5cm) chicken stock into saucepan. Place potatoes in saucepan. Add
tap water to cover by at least one inch (2.5cm). Cover the pan and bring to a
boil over medium heat. Lower temperature to a strong simmer. Cook approximately
20 - 25 minutes. Potatoes are done when a fork inserts easily into a section.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="CookbookRecipeDirections"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Drain
potatoes. Stir in butter, sour cream, and pepper. Mash well. Drizzle in milk.
Mash and continue to add milk until you achieve the consistency you prefer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="CookbookRecipeDirectionsLastLine" style="margin: 0in;">
</p><p class="CookbookRecipeDirections"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Keep
the saucepan warm in the oven while you finish preparing dinner.</span></p>
<p class="CookbookRecipeDirectionsLastLine" style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Veggie
Sauté</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Leftovers
from this easy recipe make a tasty lunch when reheated in a little butter and
served with crusty bread and a glass of cold white wine.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8 oz.
(250g) baby bella mushrooms</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">2
tbsp. (30ml) olive oil</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 zucchini, sliced thin</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 red pepper, seeded and ribs removed</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 yellow pepper, seeded and ribs removed</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 small onion, sliced thin</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">½ tsp. (2.5ml) garlic powder, not salt</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Freshly ground black pepper to taste</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="background: white;">Clean mushrooms with a paper towel to remove
bedding soil. Slice them in half lengthwise if medium size or into thirds if
large.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dribble
oil into a medium-sized frying pan set over medium heat. Do not let it smoke. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Add all the vegetables except mushrooms. Turn up
heat to medium-high. Sauté about 4 minutes, stirring frequently. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Lower temperature to medium. Stir in mushrooms,
garlic powder, and pepper. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Continue to cook 3 minutes or until peppers are
at the crispness you prefer.</span></span></p>
<i>May you enjoy all the days of your life filled with good friends, laughter, and seated around a well-laden table ~ Sloane</i><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX84d0uEZ-cyzteWrWlVlavRVWKRM2wBpxaMrkWX54rtFgv4hKmUydAykmwZH0qDzwjUNdABKf83-L2plfmkNxRX_dDT89LdR0cEE_wDHTpT2BwisdMs53QtHTGRWc4oV8xXJDGNnmTst/s1600/Sloane+Taylor+head+shot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX84d0uEZ-cyzteWrWlVlavRVWKRM2wBpxaMrkWX54rtFgv4hKmUydAykmwZH0qDzwjUNdABKf83-L2plfmkNxRX_dDT89LdR0cEE_wDHTpT2BwisdMs53QtHTGRWc4oV8xXJDGNnmTst/s200/Sloane+Taylor+head+shot.jpg" width="142" /></a><b>Sloane Taylor</b> is an Award-Winning author with a second passion in her life. She is an avid cook and posts new recipes on her <a href="http://sloanetaylor.blogspot.com/"><b>blog</b></a> every Wednesday. The recipes are user friendly, meaning easy.
<p></p><p>
Taylor's cookbooks, <b>Date Night Dinners</b>, <b>Date Night Dinners Italian Style</b>, <b>Summer Sizzle</b>, and <b>Recipes to Create Holidays Extraordinaire</b> are released by Toque & Dagger Publishing and available at all book vendors.
</p>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727076664654425648.post-56560815079805942472023-10-22T21:00:00.001-07:002023-10-22T21:00:00.159-07:00Guest Post: Inspiration by YA Paranormal Author Leigh Goff...<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03FogcdBfURFlW5YiAvEsOzGkOTe9yHtXi44FkGFhShOIdKF_tLfvj_W0G_Y-40Cf9Ec7fxRpoGSj1VxirUI0ruCPAc9kqT7UnINgSJ2ftxSv10SD1B713G_H-gdU42oRGASBm3SZTQyJ0kcpaPdpk0ZDiLQoIRc4cu8cBFX_tO1uSJcsfcGLSw/s808/F50%20Inspiration.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="808" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03FogcdBfURFlW5YiAvEsOzGkOTe9yHtXi44FkGFhShOIdKF_tLfvj_W0G_Y-40Cf9Ec7fxRpoGSj1VxirUI0ruCPAc9kqT7UnINgSJ2ftxSv10SD1B713G_H-gdU42oRGASBm3SZTQyJ0kcpaPdpk0ZDiLQoIRc4cu8cBFX_tO1uSJcsfcGLSw/s320/F50%20Inspiration.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br />What
inspires a writer?</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">For
me, it was a perfect storm of three factors. Simultaneously, I suddenly had
more time to devote to personal projects, I enrolled in a world mythology
course at my university, and there was a story spiraling to life inside me.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">In
the course, I learned about the common elements in myths across many cultures,
the hero cycle, and how the characteristics of ancient heroes are the same as
those of modern-day heroes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">It
was fascinating to find out that nearly every culture has a flood myth to
explain that there are consequences for disobedience and bad choices. I loved
the course, and it inspired me to get my story down on paper—digital paper that
is.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nWKVeTjmdltCUEjlMkXcs52tCYSm1JVeGq9hysub3iHG63StQzFw9FxBFZdySMcbGL2bB9XkahQymGJvQei5JuvhaLl1OC1n9f-ZRvLyOXsl4NQBDKCHptK-2Ye_y9zOegljvyd1zM07vpJNcyMepRnpyxxo7A2kirfmbbU-x27_dGo6Bx3xoQ/s327/B%20Leigh%20Goff%20Disenchanted.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="218" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nWKVeTjmdltCUEjlMkXcs52tCYSm1JVeGq9hysub3iHG63StQzFw9FxBFZdySMcbGL2bB9XkahQymGJvQei5JuvhaLl1OC1n9f-ZRvLyOXsl4NQBDKCHptK-2Ye_y9zOegljvyd1zM07vpJNcyMepRnpyxxo7A2kirfmbbU-x27_dGo6Bx3xoQ/w165-h248/B%20Leigh%20Goff%20Disenchanted.webp" width="165" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The
story I was working on was <i>Disenchanted</i>. My hero was a sixteen-year-old
girl who had to break her ancestor’s true love curse carried down through
generations onto a boy she was destined to fall in love with. The setting, Old
Wethersfield, Connecticut, is the home of the first American witch trials (not
Salem). Witch trials--talk about consequences for bad choices! I was inspired
by one of those Wethersfield witches who went to trial, so I cast her as the
ancestor that curses the family of the witch trial judge.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Sources
of inspiration are different for everyone. If you’re seeking inspiration for
writing or creating, unplug from social media, take a class like I did, change
your environment even for just an hour, visit a museum, or take a nap and
dream. Let the wonders of the world around you spark your imagination!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYodMslFVkS3oc4caYCVhqAjtmrjYL_FFeNot4ttBaNAx4NiiuHQdWtQAg5Br_CROKc0El-5gBo0o8QmmzIKcYd5casOsQxMAbZEaJ62iNRJAnfFu7sum7lbHN0Uje746614sxUplNR1GOzAYluDVEhFWEXq-Mysd6JI-NJhWwybBTksaCPI/s301/Leigh%20Goff.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="200" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYodMslFVkS3oc4caYCVhqAjtmrjYL_FFeNot4ttBaNAx4NiiuHQdWtQAg5Br_CROKc0El-5gBo0o8QmmzIKcYd5casOsQxMAbZEaJ62iNRJAnfFu7sum7lbHN0Uje746614sxUplNR1GOzAYluDVEhFWEXq-Mysd6JI-NJhWwybBTksaCPI/w171-h258/Leigh%20Goff.jpg" width="171" /></a><strong></strong></div><strong><br />Leigh Goff</strong> is an author of three published young adult novels. She is working on her next novel, a young adult thriller, while her current manuscript, Wicked Sweet, is on submission.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">You can find her current published novels at<span style="color: #5a5a62;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.audible.com/author/Leigh-Goff/B00R7Z3L0C"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Audible</span></b></a><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #5a5a62; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> | </span></strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Leigh-Goff/author/B00R7Z3L0C?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Amazon</span></b></a><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #5a5a62; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> | </span></strong><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/koush-hollow-unabridged/id1576587953" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Apple</span></b></a><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #5a5a62; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> </span></strong><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #5a5a62;"> </span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Learn more about <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Leigh Goff</span> on
her </span><a href="https://leighgoff.com/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">website</span></b></a><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and </span><a href="https://leighgoff.com/blog/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">blog</span></b></a><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
Stay connected on </span><a href="http://instagram.com/authorleighgoff" target="_blank"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Instagram,</span></a><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Leigh_Goff?refsrc=email" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #000014; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Twitter</span></b></a><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, and <strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://linktr.ee/authorleighgoff" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000014;">LinkTree</span></a></span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p>
Sharon Ledwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06644863176118657689noreply@blogger.com5