Thursday, April 18, 2013
Montana Mustangs in God’s Country with Danica Winters
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Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Visionary-Unleashed Visionary Trilogy Book One by N. Dunham
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A Matter of Fate & Mona's Favorite Comfort Food Recipe with Ellie Heller + Giveaway
A Matter of Fate & Mona's Favorite Comfort Food Recipe
In my novel A Matter
of Fate, coming from Crimson Romance on April 22, Mona has finally found
her calling in Folk society and is training to be a Warder, someone who helps
to protect Folk from misused magic and mortals from any magic at all. Before
she started her training Mona floated around a bit. She's been a bicycle
messenger, studied at a culinary institute and worked in the kitchen at a mom
& pop restaurant. Oh, and bartended, but she still does that.
In the middle of A
Matter of Fate Mona, who still loves to cook even though it's not her
calling, makes mushroom soup for a crowd. While there are several instances
where she cooks, this was the only one where I had a very specific recipe in
mind as I wrote the story. The original draft even had specifics on
ingredients, which fell to editing.
This mushroom barley soup recipe is from the December 1995
edition of Bon Appetit and was sent in by a reader. It is my all time favorite
version of mushroom soup, being more stew-like than creamy. It's easy to make a
lot to feed a crowd. And, like Mona does, you can add in ingredients to make a
non-vegetarian version. But before you do that, I'd recommend trying the
original.
The one change I sometimes do is to mix a bit of dill and lemon zest
with sour cream and serve a dollop on top. Any way you make it this soup is easy
and delicious. (you can find the recipe online here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Mushroom-Barley-Soup-993
along with suggestions of variations)
Mushroom Barley Soup:
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
- 1 pound mushrooms, cut into
1/2-inch pieces
- 2 large carrots, chopped
- 2 large celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup pearl barley, rinsed
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 8 cups canned vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or
1 teaspoon dried dillweed
Melt butter in heavy large Dutch oven
over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion and barley. Sauté
until vegetables begin to brown, about 20 minutes.
Add flour to pot and stir 5 minutes.
Gradually mix in broth. Bring soup to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to
medium and simmer until barley is tender and soup is beginning to thicken,
about 40
And
here, a little teaser from the scene with the soup, complete with secret plot
point I had to cover up!:
Mona sighed as she scraped the
minced chanterelles into the bowl. She needed to go re-read the parts on
xxxxxx, but she still wasn’t ready to deal with the reality.
Mona had the mushroom barley soup
on the stove, in two big pots, one batch with cubed roast, beef stock, and
tomatoes—the tomatoes were, in part, to make it easier to see which was
which—and one without, as well as several loaves of a fast rising bread
proofing on the counter when Cart found her.
“You doing okay?”
“Yeah,
I think so. Still taking me a bit to process it.”
So do you have a go-to comfort
food recipe? I'm very curious to see what you all like!
A
Matter of Fate
will be released on Monday, April 22! That's just around the corner – pre-order
your copy today!
April 15 Interview
Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews
April 15 Spotlight
Share My Destiny
April 16 Guest blog
Place of Reads Book Blog
April 17 Guest blog
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
April 18 Guest blog
Sylv Jenkins
April 20 Spotlight and review
Faerie Tale Books
April 21 Guest blog
Paranormal Romance Fans for Life
April 22 Interview and review
My Home Away From Home –
April 23 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books
April 25 Interview
Cloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuff
April 26 Spotlight
Books Books and More Books
April 27 Spotlight and review
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
April 28 Guest blog
Roxanne’s Realm
April 29 Guest blog
Fang-tastic Books
A Matter of Fate
Ellie Heller
Ellie Heller
Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Contemporary Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Book Description:
Someone is setting death-spells targeting mortals and elf blood alike. With her mentor out of commission, it’s up to half-trained Warder Mona Lisa Kubrek to stop the magic. Despite being told repeatedly her job is to nullify spells and not go after the source, too many people are at risk for her to not track the spell-caster down. Even meeting a sexy half-elf shifter won’t distract her from her goal.
Except Cart Dupree is fully trained and has the team to search for the evildoer, so she’d be stupid to not use his expertise. Stupid is something she can’t afford to be, not with her enemy’s henchmen after her. Later she’ll deal with Cart and his questions about her special abilities and the non-standard training her mentor has given her. Right now, they need to unravel where the magician is, and who he is, before he builds enough power to decimate them all.
About the Author:
After living in several cities east of the Mississippi, but never quite out of the snow belt, I've settled down in SW Ohio with my three kids, two dogs (one of whom thinks he's a cat) and one cat (who thinks he's a dog).
I write paranormal romance and contemporary fantasy, all with a suspenseful edge. A MATTER OF FATE, a 'traditional' paranormal romance, will be available this spring from Crimson Romance. My first published short (GLBT sensual), "Ginny's Capture" is available now.
I'm also an acquisitions editor (i.e. slush reader :-) ) for Curiosity Quills Press using my full first name, Alison.
I write paranormal romance and contemporary fantasy, all with a suspenseful edge. A MATTER OF FATE, a 'traditional' paranormal romance, will be available this spring from Crimson Romance. My first published short (GLBT sensual), "Ginny's Capture" is available now.
I'm also an acquisitions editor (i.e. slush reader :-) ) for Curiosity Quills Press using my full first name, Alison.
@EllieWrites2
What's in a Name with Stephanie Amox Author of The Lumina Saga
How do you name your characters? This is a frequently asked question. Honestly it’s harder than you might think – almost like naming a child. The name defines your character. It is a huge part of their identity. Think about it – would you have a hard time identifying with a protagonist named Fluffy or a hero named Lucifer? Most people have preconceived notions about certain names. Books and movies play a huge part in that – take The Omen for example. Many readers would automatically tie that name in with a dark character….even if your character was an angel.
Everyone has their own method for naming characters – how they do it and when. I am extremely particular about how I go about naming my characters. First I have to look at what I already know about my character – who are they, where are they from, what is their personality, are they good or bad? Once I’ve done that, then – and only then, can I start thinking about a name for my character. There are many authors who will write for quite some time without ever naming their character. I’m the opposite. I can’t write more than a couple of paragraphs before I simply HAVE to give them a name. I have an extremely hard connecting with them until they have a name. One of my favorite things to do is take a specific trait and look that word up in various languages – especially those that would fit the area they come from.
There are some times the names will come to you very quickly and other times I have to push the storyline aside until I can come up with the perfect name. It’s an extremely personal process. Once you have named the character, their personality wraps itself around the name – it’s virtually impossible to change.
In the end, you have to do what works best for you. You are the one who has to initially connect with them so you can keep the integrity of your story and the relationships between the various characters.
Painfully Ordinary
The Lumina Saga Book One
The Lumina Saga Book One
Stephanie Amox
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: CENA
Date of Publication: Jan 2013
ISBN: 148194780X
Number of pages: 225
Word Count: 86,175
Cover Artist: Photography by Nikki Nichols Photography
Book Description:
Two teenager's lives become not so ordinary...
Caitlin and Leah are content with the slow and steady pace in their small Texan town. They have the typical challenges of any American high school - evil girl cliques and oppressive ex-boyfriends. They see themselves as painfully ordinary...but that soon changes. The arrival of two newcomers at school sets Caitlin and Leah on an explosive path of magic, betrayal, secrets and forbidden love. The discovery of Caitlin's true identity causes tremendous upheaval in her painfully ordinary life. Caitlin must learn to embrace her birthright and trust in her friends or she risks endangering them all.
Caitlin and Leah are content with the slow and steady pace in their small Texan town. They have the typical challenges of any American high school - evil girl cliques and oppressive ex-boyfriends. They see themselves as painfully ordinary...but that soon changes. The arrival of two newcomers at school sets Caitlin and Leah on an explosive path of magic, betrayal, secrets and forbidden love. The discovery of Caitlin's true identity causes tremendous upheaval in her painfully ordinary life. Caitlin must learn to embrace her birthright and trust in her friends or she risks endangering them all.
Family Secrets
The Lumina Saga Book Two
The Lumina Saga Book Two
Stephanie Amox
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: CENA
Date of Publication: Jan 2013
ISBN: 1481956841
Number of pages: 232
Word Count: 65,120
Book Description:
Wailea, Maui would be a paradise by just about anyone’s standards. Caitlin and Leah are no different. They are living like rock stars with Talon and Jace in one of the poshest hotels on the island. Just when they think things can’t possibly get any better—everything falls apart. Their short lived paradise is ripped out from under them. Once again, they are on the run.
A mysterious man appears and attempts to drive a wedge between Caitlin and Talon. He whisks her away to an ancient world where she is treated like a princess yet held completely against her will. She is shown events, consequences and affairs she never dreamed possible. Will the secrets of her family destroy her happiness, or will she rely on her instincts to find a way back to the life she found with Talon?
A mysterious man appears and attempts to drive a wedge between Caitlin and Talon. He whisks her away to an ancient world where she is treated like a princess yet held completely against her will. She is shown events, consequences and affairs she never dreamed possible. Will the secrets of her family destroy her happiness, or will she rely on her instincts to find a way back to the life she found with Talon?
New Beginnings
The Lumina Saga Book Three
Stephanie Amox
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: CENA
Date of Publication: Jan 2013
ISBN: B00AX0L2L8
Number of pages: 312
Word Count: 83,740
Book Description:
What happens when the extraordinary fades into ordinary?
Caitlin awakens to find herself back in the normal life she shares with her best friend, Leah, in their small Texas town. Caitlin has no memory of the fantastic events of the last several months save a mystery man who haunts the shadows of her dreams. Constantly taken aback by strange occurrences: the sudden attention of the two most popular guys in school; Caitlin’s toe-to-toe showdown with Tami; and the constant coincidental run-ins with two mysterious strangers, keeps Caitlin’s nerves raw and on edge. Will she solve the mystery behind the strange events, or will the dreams be all that remains?
Caitlin awakens to find herself back in the normal life she shares with her best friend, Leah, in their small Texas town. Caitlin has no memory of the fantastic events of the last several months save a mystery man who haunts the shadows of her dreams. Constantly taken aback by strange occurrences: the sudden attention of the two most popular guys in school; Caitlin’s toe-to-toe showdown with Tami; and the constant coincidental run-ins with two mysterious strangers, keeps Caitlin’s nerves raw and on edge. Will she solve the mystery behind the strange events, or will the dreams be all that remains?
About the Author:
Stephanie Amox attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where she met her husband. Her life did an about-face in January 2009 and the future of her career looked bleak. Her husband encouraged her to follow her dream and finally write the story which had been buzzing around in her head for a number of years, thus The Lumina Saga was born.
These days she spends her time in Flower Mound, Texas with her husband, two children and a couple of crazy Jack Russell Terriers. When she's not writing she enjoys spending time watching her son play hockey or visiting her daughter at Oklahoma State University.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Interview with J.E.Taylor
Please
share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
First, let me say thank you for having me on your
blog. Now, a little about me...I'm an
author, a publisher, an editor, a
manuscript formatter, a business analyst and a wife and mother. Busy would be the best way to describe my
life right now.
Are
you a mom (or parent)?
Yes. I have
an eighteen-year-old daughter, who is in college (a year early, I might add),
and a thirteen year old son, who is currently in eighth grade.
If
yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and parenting?
I don't just juggle writing and parenting, I also
have a pretty demanding day job as well as my own publishing house. I still find time to attend their activities
(Dance, martial arts, sports) and have some level of home life with them. My family has been super supportive of my
publication run.
What
would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I am a disaster in the kitchen. When my daughter went off to college, my son
was devastated and asked who was going to cook the meals he likes...without
burning them. Even the few years I was a
Pampered Chef consultant didn't help my culinary abilities.
When
you’re not writing what do you do? Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?
Usually I'll be hanging watching movies with the
kids in the winter, but in the summer, it's hanging out on the beach. I love just camping out by the water with my
kindle and get lost in a good story, or sitting out by the fire in the evenings
with good friends. From May first
through mid-October, we hike to Maine for the weekends and this is when I'm
most relaxed. Something about the ocean
air...
Of
all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
Up until Night Hawk, my favorite was a tossup
between Steve Williams and Ty Aris. But
now, Naomi Hawk is my favorite, hands down.
She is fearless, not to mention gutsy as all get out. Her situation was one that screamed for
damsel in distress, but this girl can hold her own against anything that comes
her way.
If
this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?
This is the first book in a planned series. As far
as the next book, I don't have any details at this moment, but it will delve
into Damian's past and offer answers as to how vampires came to be and why both
Damian and Naomi are so different from their own kind.
What
is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in
progress?
My next release is scheduled for July and this is
the second book in The Death Chronicles trilogy that I am writing with my
son. Highway to Hell picks up where
Don't Fear the Reaper ended.
I also have released all my books in audio format
and still have a few that need "proofing" before they are released,
so I've been very busy with that.
What
book are you reading now?
I actually just finished editing one of the next
Novel Concept Publishing releases, Sing Me to Sleep which will be released this
spring. Other than that, I haven't had much time for pleasure reading. Which is
unfortunate, because I love to read as much as I love to write.
What
is in your to read pile?
The Hunger Games series, The Undertaker's Series and
a whole slew of books that some of the writers I know have written. I have 12 pages of books to read on my kindle
of books ranging from YA to horror to thrillers and romance, so I better get to
it...
Night Hawk
Book One – Night Hawk Series
Book One – Night Hawk Series
J.E. Taylor
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Novel Concept Publishing, LLC
Cover Artist: CoverShotCreations.com
Book Description:
Selling your soul has never been so charming and Mark throws in a little something to sweeten the pot, his girlfriend Naomi.
Sentenced to death at the hands of a demon, Naomi Hawk has a firsthand lesson in despair and betrayal in Mark’s deal for fame with all the trimmings. Deep in the clutches of the underground brotherhood, Naomi's light is coveted for the Master's gain.
When she slips and falls eighty stories from a precarious ledge, Naomi resigns herself to the inevitable impact and death by shattered bones. Before she can escape her demons in eternal slumber, something sinister plucks her from the plummet, stealing her out of the night to sacrifice her forever to the shadows.
Imprisoned in bottomless darkness, Naomi thirsts for justice…and revenge.
About the Author:
J.E. Taylor is a writer, a publisher, an editor, a manuscript formatter, a mother, a wife and a business analyst, not necessarily in that order. She first sat down to seriously write in February of 2007 after her daughter asked:
“Mom, if you could do anything, what would you do?”
From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back and now her writing resume includes a more than a dozen published novels along with several short stories on the virtual shelves including a few within eXcessica anthologies.
In addition to being co-owner of Novel Concept Publishing www.novelconceptpublishing, Ms. Taylor also moonlights as a Senior Editor of Allegory www.allegoryezine.com, an online venue for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. She has been known to edit a book or two and also offers her services judging writing contests for various RWA chapters.
She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children and during the summer months enjoys her weekends on the shore in southern Maine.
Visit her at www.jetaylor75.com
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