Musa (Wenchy) Monday: Sharon Ledwith's Maple Madness Butter Tarts

by Sharon Ledwith

In my book, Legend of the Timekeepers—the prequel to The Last Timekeepers series—my 14-year-old protagonist Lilith is faced with the reality that Atlantis is on the brink of being destroyed, and her family must evacuate their home immediately. While many of us look back on our lives and think—where the heck did the time go?—it doesn’t take a catastrophe like Lilith and her father had to endure to make us realize that life is indeed short, and we’d better be grateful for what we have in the present. The following recipe will make you appreciate the sweet things in your life, and is great to prepare on those cherished afternoons of baking with a loved one.

Maple Madness Butter Tarts

Tart Shells
2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp. (5 mL) salt
¾ cup (175 mL) all-vegetable shortening, well chilled (we use CRISCO® Golden All-Vegetable Shortening)
4-8 tbsp. (60-120 mL) ice cold water

Blend flour and salt in medium mixing bowl. Cut ½-inch (1.5 cm) cubes of chilled shortening into flour mixture using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces remaining.

Sprinkle 4 tbsp. (60 mL) of the ice cold water over the flour mixture. Using a fork, stir and draw flour from bottom of bowl to the top; press chunks down to bottom of bowl with fork. Add more water by the tablespoon, mixing until dough holds together.

Divide dough into two balls. Flatten balls into ½-inch (1.5 cm) thick disks, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes or up to 2 days.

Place ball of dough on lightly floured work surface. With floured rolling pin, roll out thinly from center outward. Cut out 6 rounds with 4” (10 cm) cutter. Repeat with second ball of dough. Fit rounds into 12 medium-sized muffin cups.

Filling
½ cup (125 mL) packed brown sugar
¼ cup (60 mL) pure maple syrup
¼ cup (60 mL) corn syrup
¼ cup (60 mL) all-vegetable shortening
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
½ tsp (2 mL) salt
¾ cup of raisin or pecans (if desired)

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C)

Combine all filling ingredients except raisins (or pecans); mix well.
Evenly divide raisins (or pecans) into pastry shells.

Fill cups ⅔ full with syrup mixture.

Bake on bottom shelf for 12 to 15 minutes or just until set. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool completely before removing from the pan.

Makes 12 Maple Madness butter tarts.

Now, while you’re waiting for your butter tarts to cool, why not partake in an afternoon of cozying up on the couch with a good book? Ready for a trip to Atlantis?

There is no moving forward without first going back.

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.

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.

To read an excerpt from Legend of the Timekeepers please click here.

Legend of the Timekeepers Buy Links:
MUSA PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀ SMASHWORDS ׀ APPLE

If you haven’t already read Sharon Ledwith's novel, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, here’s the blurb…

When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, 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.

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.

To read an excerpt of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, please click HERE.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing - Amazon Link - Barnes & Noble - Kobo

BONUS: Download the free PDF short story The Terrible, Mighty Crystal HERE.

Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page.

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through Musa Publishing, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Musa (Wenchy) Monday: Emilia Mancini

Today, I have the lovely and cheeky Emilia Mancini in the hot seat.

Professional Misconceptions 

by Emilia Mancini

My editor side has seen an influx of book submissions with journalists as main characters lately. This is great for me. I love reading about journalists!

I’m a freelance writer for a local magazine in the daylight hours. Yes, I cover features instead of hard news, but I had to go to journalism school for this, and I certainly have to live the journalist life: deadlines that bitch slap the crap out of me, editors who aren’t happy with my story, sitting outside (not exactly stalking) the house of a source who won’t return my calls so I can catch them face-to-face…

So, yeah, I really love reading stories about journalists. I even wrote one as Marci Boudreaux.

But I get a little worked up when I read misrepresentations of reporters. Just this week, I vented to the LLL ladies about this very topic (which lead to this lovely post). Now I know you are writing fiction and things get twisted and turned and exaggerated, but if you are writing contemporary, you have to be somewhat realistic and I’ve found that frequently isn’t happening when journalists are being written into fiction.

I just want to take a moment to clear the air a little so if you are considering using a print journalist as a character in your book (for good or for evil) some of these stereotypical, panty-bunching mistakes aren’t made in your manuscript.

1. Easily my biggest issue with people writing newspaper articles is using the phrase “this reporter.” As in, “This reporter was told the world is round.” This phrase may have been used 100 years ago, but it isn’t used now. It insinuates the writer into the article, which is completely unprofessional and no newspaper editor would let this in. Ever. Reporters are telling the facts, without opinion, personal interpretation, or commentary…unless they are an opinion columnist.

2. Reporters don’t have money to throw around. Newspaper reporters make less than 30K per year, maybe 35K if they work for a decent-sized paper, but overall, we are a very poor lot. In The Messenger, my main character came from money. She had a nice apartment, clothes, and car because she used her trust fund to get these things. She was the misfit in the news office based on the those with vs. those without mentality of her co-workers. Overall, unless you set it up otherwise, your reporter should drive an average car, shop at average stores, and live in average homes. Sure, there are exceptions, but your everyday newspaper reporter does not drive a Lexus.

3. Sensational commentary in a news article would never happen. Reporters write facts. They have sources (quotes from experts, witnesses, or validated research) to back up these facts. This is a requirement for making it to print because people like to sue newspapers. Editors will not approve/print scandalous content. Serious reporters aren’t going to insert opinion, personal jabs, or any other commentary.

4. Newspapers as a whole are broke. This means reporters take their own pictures with the shared office camera and drive their own cars to get the story. Newspapers do not provide photographers to go on assignment with reporters and they don’t provide transportation (though if a reporter is full-time, gas mileage may be reimbursed).

5. The last time I, or one of my co-workers, wore a suit to an interview was…oh, right, never. Print journalists don’t dress in business suits. At least not your average reporter. Think business casual. Khakis or nice jeans and a semi-dress shirt. A skirt and blouse. One editor I know loves his corduroys, but suits are just not something I’ve seen in the newsroom—except for the publisher, but he’s in business meetings all day with other men/women in suits, so that makes sense.

6. I know reporters are usually viewed as a force of evil. Some probably are. We share the horrors of the world more than we share the laughs. But, honestly, if the media only covered the good things, the public would criticize them for not being truthful about the events of the world. Most people view reporters as heartless demons who would step over dying babies to get the scoop. The truth is, we’re human, too. Maybe we don’t break down on the scene, but I guarantee you, even the toughest of reporters have gotten emotional over something they covered. Don’t portray your journalist as a one-dimensional heartless story-grabbing asshat. That’s a stereotype that has been overplayed.

Okay, so that kind of wraps up the biggies. The moral of this blog post? Do some research, whether it is a journalist or a doctor you are including in your manuscript. One phone call and a few questions is all you need to make sure you aren’t making crucial mistakes when representing a profession. Most people are more than happy to tell you what their job is really like. All you have to do is ask.

Here's a little teaser from my latest sexy release for your reading pleasure.

It took Kyle one look to realize he wanted to seduce his best friend’s mother. And one kiss to realize he didn't have to.

It was lust at first sight when Kyle met his roommate’s mother Kate. Kyle, a college transfer, was too far from home to visit on short school breaks, so Justin took him to Minneapolis where his mother was serving up a family meal for Thanksgiving.

One look left Kyle with a healthy obsession for Kate which grew with each visit. When he landed an internship in Minneapolis, he moved in with Kate for the summer, and got in touch with his voyeuristic side. It wasn’t until one late evening and a few too many glasses of wine that Kyle began to suspect his attraction wasn’t one-sided.

When he dared to push the issue, he found Kate more than willing to succumb to his seduction.

To read an excerpt from Seducing Kate, please click a vendor's name.
Musa Publishing - Amazon

Emilia Mancini is the naughtier side to author Marci Boudreaux. Emilia stays hidden in the shadows like a nefarious side kick, slipping out only when the stories Marci wants to share are a little too grown up to be called sweet romance.

Seducing Kate is Emilia’s second release and, at least for the moment, her crowning glory.

Be sure to check out the Pinterest board for Seducing Kate.

Visit Emilia on her website. Stay connected on Twitter and Facebook.

Musa (Wenchy) Monday - Sloane Taylor

It's been a while since I had my Musa Mondays, so let's get back to it.

If you're looking for a hot read, the one and only Sloane Taylor is the author for you, who is "Sweet as honey...hotter than hell".

Not only is she a talented author, she's one of the most supportive writers I've ever encountered being one of the two mega-minds behind the Wenches with Words.

Her latest release is the box set of Magnificent Men of Munich.

Icy German reserve melts with hot-blooded American passion.

Heated Negotiations Book 1

Mergers and negotiations are not just for the boardroom, especially when things heat up high over the Atlantic.

Travel agency owner Teddi Howard is Hell in high heels when she jumps a plane to Munich. Her goal—strangle the German tour operator who reneged on their exclusive contract.

Winter Games Book 2

As the games heat up, the stakes grow higher, and Lonnie must decide whether to play along or leave her heart out in the cold.

Lonnie Copley may be a genius, but not when it comes to her personal life. A series of wrong turns puts her far from reality and the German autobahn. The last thing she wants on the eve of a snowstorm is to be dangling at the edge of an Austrian mountain in need of rescue—especially by a leather-clad giant with Johnny Depp eyes.

Perfect Lie Book 3

A seedling of doubt will unravel even a perfect lie.

After two ex-husbands and a con artist, Francine Daniels has had it with men. Her life is finally the way she wants it — successful and complete. At least she thinks so until a working vacation in Munich brings her face to face with a sexy German hotelier who sees right through her brash exterior and makes her sizzle with his every touch.

Yesterday’s Lovers Book 4

Isabella Carrington has never wanted for anything her entire pampered life -- except for love.

No matter how many designer items she buys or men she conquers, Isabella Carrington never seems to find what she's looking for. When she meets the one man in the world completely unaffected by her charms, she is determined to have him, even if it means a dunk in the Grand Canal.

Available from Musa Publishing and Amazon




And guess what? -  you can get a FREE read of her short story, All Roads Lead to Luca.

Go Musa!! I've got my copy. :)

For more of Sloane's books, check out her website.

Twitter 

Facebook

Google +

Goodreads

~yia~

Writing Buddy Wednesday ~ Eva Scott

Today I am happy to have the return of Writing Buddy Wednesday.

Joining me is a lovely author,  fellow Musan, and RWA member, Eva Scott.  Eva writes historical romance set in ancient times but also contemporary romances.

Let's chat with Eva....

Your most recent release is Barbarian Bride.  Can you describe this book for us?

This is the second book in the Romancing The Romans series.  Barbarian Bride follows the tale of a minor character from The Last Gladiatrix, Klara the Hun. We find out how she ended up fighting as a Gladiatrix in the Coliseum – and what happens to her once she wins her freedom.

I hadn’t considered telling her story until my editor at Harlequin Escape, Kate Cuthbert, asked me to write it. Klara is feisty and independent, great fun to hang out with.





Please tell us a little about your road to publication. 

I have always written but not seriously until 2005 when I started writing freelance articles for an outdoors magazine.  Then I got a job where I had to translate medical speak into common English.

Both jobs felt like school work so when I fell pregnant with my son I thought I’d try fiction.  I wrote my first novel, A Reluctant Wedding Planner, as a bit of an experiment really.  I entered it into the Emerald and came 4th (if only I’d known more about POV at the time!).  Encouraged, I sent it to some ebook publishers in the USA and was picked up.  Voila!  The learning process really began (and continues).




What attracted you to the romance and historical romance genres?

I wrote The Last Gladiatrix as a short story, loved the characters so much I expanded it into a novella.

Up until then I’d never considered writing historical although I’ve always been a history buff.  My first pick for university had been archaeology.  I found I loved writing it so much I can’t stop!  I’m now working on my third historical and planning more.



 
Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in between? 

In between.  I do plot out a bit but often my characters dictate where the story actually goes.  When I look back over my notes I’m often surprised at how far off the original plan we’ve deviated.




What are you working on now? And what’s in the near future for Eva Scott? 

I’m currently doing edits on an outback contemporary romance, Red Dust Dreaming.  And I’m finishing up the third book in the Romancing The Romans series. After that I’m planning another historical.  I’m also plotting out another project which will be a complete departure from genre.  Time to try something different.


     
What is your favourite part of the process of writing? 

I love it all apart from editing.  That I don’t enjoy very much at all. Feels like a chore every time. The very best bit of the writing process is meeting the characters, getting to know them before I start writing.



What are you currently reading?

I am rereading Barbara O’Neal’s The Secret of Everything.  I love the way she draws her characters and I’ve read her books so often it feels as if I’m visiting with old friends.  I’m keen to start I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes but it’s written in the first person and it will mess me up while I’m finishing writing my historical which is in the third person.  I tend to be very influenced by whatever I’m reading so I must be careful what I choose while I’m writing.

~~~

Thanks Eva!

On the bloody ground of the Colosseum, she fights to save her life. In the treacherous boxes above, he fights to save their love.


Though Klara didn't love the man who was to be her husband, she didn't want him murdered, and she vows to track down the man who committed the crime. Sickened that she'd been attracted to the mysterious Roman, Klara tracks Lucius Aurelius to the fringes of the Roman Empire, only to find that they've both been trapped in a clever plot to overthrow Klara's father, the Chief of the Huns.
Klara is separated from Lucius, captured by slavers and sold to a gladiator school. She is the only one who can save herself, by fighting for her freedom. Lucius can ensure her battle is easier, but only by sacrificing himself. How much is he willing to give up for the fiery woman he's come to love?

Buy links -
Harlequin Escape | iTunes | Amazon | Amazon Australia  |
Amazon UK | Kobo | All Romance eBooks


Eva Scott lives on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia in the town which brought the world the Bee Gees. When she’s not writing romance you can find her out on the water kayaking, fishing or swimming. When on dry land it’s all about the shoes and the coffee (and old Bee Gees records).

Find her at online at her

Website | Author Facebook page | Romancing the Romans Facebook page | Twitter 

Wenchy (Musa) Monday: Sara Daniel's Captivating the CEO

Welcome to another Musa (Wenchy) Monday. While Sara Daniel is a Musa author, her latest book Captivating the CEO is not by Musa. She's a wench and so Wenchy Monday is here....

Over to Sara and her characters...

~~~

Phone Interview with Willow Jefferies and Colin Vanderhayden

from Captivating the CEO

By Sara Daniel

Let’s start with an easy question. What’s your favorite color?

Willow: I didn’t have one until I met Colin. Now I’m partial to blue. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the Colin wearing a blue tie every day.

A blue tie every day. Hmm, so that must be your favorite color, Colin.

Colin: Actually, I like hazel.

The exact shade of Willow’s eyes. Interesting coincidence.  So, I’m curious. What do you each do?

Willow: I’m a massage therapist.

Colin: My massage therapist. I’m a CEO. I don’t have time to leave the office. In fact, I really don’t have time for this interview. I’m expecting another call any second.

Willow: He’s always on a call or doing some sort of work. Life is passing him by while he works himself to death in that office. Sometimes, I just want to disconnect the phone and show him the fun he’s missing.

Colin: I’m planning for the future.

What do you think he should be doing instead, Willow?

Willow: Living in the moment, obviously.

Those seem to be seriously opposing philosophies. What do you think of each other’s sayings?

Colin: She’ll be sorry when she wants to retire and has no money to do so.

Willow: Retire? Seriously, Colin. Yawn. You seem a little uptight. Is your neck bothering you again? Let me give you a neck rub.

Colin: We’re in the middle of an interv— Oh yeah, that feels gooood.

Wait, I still have more questions. Willow, why do you wear blue lip gloss? Colin, how do you stay in good shape when you sit behind a desk all day?

*click*

Hello? All right, then, I guess we’ve been disconnected…

Captivating the CEO

By Sara Daniel

Genres: contemporary romance, office romance, medical romance, new adult

Decadent Publishing
Amazon
All Romance eBooks
Smashwords

He only plans for the future. She might not have a future.

When live-for-the-moment massage therapist Willow Jeffries bursts into Colin Vanderhayden's office, she makes it her mission to loosen up the future-focused CEO, knowing each moment of the present is too precious to waste. Despite her immediate attraction, the only future she can offer is one full of heartache.

The last thing Colin needs is a flighty woman messing up his carefully-constructed plans, but her heavenly massages and addictive personality prove hard to resist. But he has no idea how sick she is.

No longer able to ignore her life-threatening medical condition, Willow slips away to spare Colin a miserable future with her. Is Colin willing to sacrifice his well-laid future plans to get Willow back?

Author Bio: Sara Daniel writes irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. On the personal side, she's a frazzled maid, chef, chauffeur, tutor, and personal assistant. She battles a serious NASCAR addiction and was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels. She follows research and new developments concerning tricuspid atresia and other congenital heart defects, and she holds a special place in her heart for “heart kids” and their families.

Website   Blog   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest

~~~

Thanks Willow and Colin, and of course their creator, Sara Daniel.

Musa Monday: Sharon Ledwith on Six Sales Points for Authors

We're back with Musa Monday and today Wench Sharon Ledwith talks about the 

Six Sales Points for Authors

There are a lot of authors out there today competing for readers’ attention—readers that you’ve worked so hard to obtain. Some do a very good job, make a lot of money, and stick around. They build satisfying publishing careers that last for decades. Other authors try to wing it and burn out. What’s the difference between a successful author and a wannabe author who just dawdles on the borders of success? Owning a great website? Having a damn good marketing plan? Creating a social media plan for each book release? Good luck? Whatever the answer, often the key to a successful career in the publishing field can be attributed to one or all of these time-tested sales points:


1. If it doesn’t work, fix it. 

Let’s face it—some sales strategies work better than others. The trick is to reassess what you’ve been doing. If you’re not producing the sales you’d like to see for a certain book, then chances are you need to correct and fine-tune your methods. For some authors this may mean retooling their blurb or tagline or change the cover. For others, it could be giving their website or blog a fresh new look.



2. Listen and learn. 

A number of things factor into book sales. One of the most important is your target audience—who you are writing for. Ask yourself, how are you fulfilling your readers’ needs? What must you do to continually hook their attention? For starters, you have to be willing to walk that extra mile by getting to know and understand your readers. You do this through social networks (Facebook, Twitter), workshops, book signings, school and library visits, book clubs, and online communities such as Goodreads or LibraryThing.



3. Show enthusiasm. 

Enthusiasm builds bridges. Panic tears them down. One thing an author has going for them is their unique voice. You use it in your books, so use it to sell them. Readers know when an author resonates with them. Be invested enough in yourself, as an author, to give your readers a fantastic story they’ll never want to end. Then write another one.

4. Sell yourself, on yourself. 

The power of positive thinking works wonders. Motivation builders such as podcasts, CDs or self-help books can help reinforce the super salesperson in you. Be specific with your goals and rewards, such as if you send out ten review requests in a day, book a pedicure or lunch with a friend. Write notes reminding yourself that you are a ‘Bestselling Author’ and ‘You can do it’, then leave them around your desk. After all, seeing is believing.


5. Create a sales plan to suit each book. 

Every book you write is one of a kind. Sales tactics for one book may not work for the second book. That’s when you get creative and take chances. Giveaways are always a fan favorite. Experiment with each book until you get a sales formula that works for you. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes helps, so if you can afford it, hire a publicist or a marketing consultant. The bigger the investment, the bigger the payoff.



6. You give, you receive. 

“What goes around, comes around” is a hard adage for a lot of authors to relate to, but it is nevertheless a vitally important point. And it’s a no-brainer. I tend to share a lot of useful information that could help my author peeps with their sales or marketing strategies. This comes naturally to me. Pass along opportunity when you can. It’s a wise investment—one that any author will never regret making.

There is no moving forward without first going back.

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.

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.

To read an excerpt of Legend of the Timekeepers, please click HERE.

Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page.

BUY LINKS

MusaPublishing

AmazonLink

Barnes & Noble 

Kobo

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, The Last Timekeepers, available through Musa Publishing. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, kayaking, time with family and friends, and single malt scotch. Sharon lives in the wilds of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, a water-logged yellow Labrador and moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog.  Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Fantabulous Friday - It's a 4th July Feast with Sloane Taylor!

I couldn't resist having fellow Musan Sloane Taylor as my guest with her 4th of July feast. Not only fantabulous but yum yum! Take it away, Sloane!

Friends are coming over on the 4^th of July and Studs wanted a cookout with all his favorites. Since I never could refuse a good-looking man, I agreed. Here’s our menu with the recipes I created. I hope you like them. 

Barbecued Pork Ribs

Hamburgers Sloane Style

My Mom’s Potato Salad

Baked Beans

Sweet Corn on the Grill

Snazzy Sliced Tomatoes

Ice cold lemonade

Cold beer

Barbecued Pork Ribs

Pork ribs plan 1 slab for 2 people if you make all this food

Beer

Chicken stock

Barbeque sauce – Sweet Baby Ray’s is my favorite

Preheat oven to 325°F

Place ribs in a pan and in a single layer. Pour in about a half inch of stock and the same amount of beer. Cover tight and bake 1 – 1½ hours.  You want the meat tender but not falling off the bone.

Carefully remove ribs from pan to a cookie sheet. Discard cooking liquid. Spread barbeque sauce over ribs.

Heat grill to medium. Carefully rub vegetable or olive oil onto the grates. Lay ribs on grate and grill 10-15 minutes turning at least once and basting with sauce.

Hamburgers Sloane Style

Ground chuck about ¼ pound per adult

Ground sirloin about ¼ per two adults

Worcestershire Sauce 1 dash per adult

1 egg per 1 ½ pounds meat

chives snipped, fresh or jarred

Beat egg lightly in a small bowl. Combine the meat, Worcestershire Sauce, and handful of chives into a mixing bowl. When the mixture is well combined, break off clumps of the meat and form balls. Set them onto waxed paper, then cover with another sheet of waxed paper.  Use a cake plate or large soup bowl to press the meat into a patty the thickness you like. Refrigerate until ready to grill.

On medium heat, cook patties until they are done to your preference. Be sure to turn only once.

Use any type roll that suits your fancy. Dress the burgers with ketchup, mustard, lettuce, onion, and tomato. You can also add cheese for the topping. If you do, then lay it over the burger a minute or two before the end of the cooking time.

My Mom’s Potato Salad

1 red potato per person

1 hardboiled egg for every 2-3 potatoes

one stalk celery for every 5 potatoes chopped small

½ med onion for every 5 potatoes chopped small

Pepper

Mayonnaise – NO substitutes

Boil the potatoes in their jackets until just fork tender. Remove from pot as they are done and allow to cool. Scrape the skins off. Slice in half widthwise then lengthwise. Slice into the bite size pieces.

While the potatoes are cooking, lay the eggs in a saucepan, cover with water, and place a lid on the pan. Bring to a boil, then shut off the heat and allow to sit on the burner for 7 minutes. Cut into quarters, then slice. Set aside covered with plastic wrap or a paper towel to eliminate drying out.

Combine celery and onion in a large bowl. Grind in a healthy amount of fresh pepper. Stir in several large spoonfuls of mayonnaise. You have to gauge by the number of potatoes you use. Mix well.

Add the potatoes, two at a time and mix well. Continue until all the potatoes are added. Check the salad for dryness. It should be moist but not swimming in mayo. Add mayo as needed. Add the sliced eggs and stir again. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Baked Beans

1 small can Bush’s Honey Baked Beans

1 small can Bush’s Homestyle Baked Beans

2 tbsp. dried mustard

2 tbsp. maple syrup - optional

2 strips bacon

Preheat oven to 325°.

Pour beans into a metal loaf pan or oven safe dish. Stir in mustard and syrup. Lay bacon strips on top. Bake in the center of the oven uncovered for 45 minutes or until desired consistency.

To cook on the grill:

Heat grill to medium.

Prepare as above, then place pan on top rack. Cook about 45 minutes or until desired consistency.

To serve – discard bacon.

Sweet Corn on the Grill

1 ear fresh corn per person – do not remove husk

Water

Butter or margarine

Salt

Pour cool water into a container large enough to hold the sweet corn. Soak corn still in its husk at least 1 hour, but no more than 2 hours.

Set grill on medium high. Remove corn from the water and lay the ears on the grill. Roast until the husk is brown on that side, then turn and repeat the process. Total cooking time is about 20 – 25 minutes.

To serve - peel back the husks. Roll the ears in butter or margarine, then sprinkle on a touch of salt, and enjoy!

Snazzy Sliced Tomatoes

1 tomato per two people

Red wine vinegar

Garlic powder or fresh garlic minced

Fresh or dried chives

Prepare this dish about an hour or so before serving.

Slice tomatoes ½” thick and arrange on a serving plate.

Drizzle vinegar over the tomatoes, then dust with garlic powder or fresh garlic. Sprinkle plenty of chives across the top.

Set on the counter away from sun or heat to flavor through.

Now after teasing your taste buds how about a quick trip to the balmy French Riviera to tempt some of your other senses with my new five book series? Naughty Ladies of Nice is a deliciously steamy erotic series with a touch of humor and intrigue.

Pour yourself a cool glass of your favorite beverage, perhaps a tall Perrier or a crisp Chardonnay, and let your summer sizzle with French Tart, French Delight, French Twist, French Kiss, and French Tickler.

Here’s a little about FRENCH Tart, Book One. For a spicy excerpt, please click HERE.

Bon Appétit...

Satisfy all your cravings at cooking school.

Determined to prove herself and shed her party girl image, Donatienne Dubois pins her hopes on the exclusive cooking school in Nice, France. One by one her expectations are shattered by a foul-mouthed parrot, a bogus Michelin chef, and a headmistress with a heart of tungsten steel. Doni's lifesaver is a bad boy hunk too hot not to handle.

Mark Anderson is incognito and hating every minute. To pose as a student while keeping tabs on a rich wild child is his version of hell, until he partners with the dish of Crème Brule good enough to eat.

Class takes on a whole new meaning as Doni and Mark heat up the kitchen when they discover honey has better uses than sweetening tea.

Sloane Taylor believes humor and sex are healthy aspects of our everyday lives and carries that philosophy into her books. All her stories are set in Europe where the men are all male and the North American women they encounter are both feminine and strong. They also bring more than lust to their men’s lives.

Learn more about Sloane Taylor on her website, and of course her blog for easy recipes. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Musa Monday: Marci Boudreaux and The Messenger

Today, I have the stunning Marci Boudreaux talking about her book, The Messenger.

I wrote The Messenger just over ten years ago. I was still riding high on winning third place for unpublished manuscript in a Texas Writers’ League contest. Unfortunately, the world didn’t love the book as much as I did. After numerous rejections, I put it on the shelf and only recently pulled it off to give it another go.

It needed lots of work. Let me say that again: It needed A LOT of work!! Head hopping, telling not showing, repetitive writing…just to name a few.

But I was determined, so I cleaned it up, offered it up and it was accepted by Secret Cravings Publishing. I knew it still needed more polishing and scrubbing, so I turned to some great author friends—Vonnie Hughes, Sloane Taylor, and Parker Kincade all had a peek at it—to help me get my head on straight and attack this as an editor instead of a sentimental writer. I also had two nurses take a look just to make sure the medical records bit was in line with what goes on inside a hospital today.

With their help I was able to rework this story that I’ve loved for so long into something that I hope you will love too! 

Blurb:

Evelyn Thomas is tired of being treated like a little girl playing dress-up. Just because she is working at her father’s newspaper doesn’t mean she isn’t a good journalist. All she needs is a chance to prove it.

Unfortunately for seasoned reporter Wes Reilly, that chance turns out to be the exact same story he’s working on.

When the journalists get separate leads on the same insurance scam, they butt heads over who gets to expose it. However, when Eve’s source ends up in ICU she has no choice but to turn to Wes for help.

Every step they take brings them closer towards the truth and each other. But the path to vindication is filled with danger and leaves Wes and Eve struggling to get out of sticky situations and fighting for their lives.

Excerpt:

Eve ran her hand along one of the many rows and skimmed the file tags until she got close to the numerical prefix she was looking for. She pushed the files as far apart as the overstuffed shelf allowed and tilted her head down to get a closer look. She went over each name, not finding any files which corresponded with names on the list Jerry had given her.

This was impossible, like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. She pulled a piece of paper from her shirt pocket to verify the spelling of the name before she pushed the folders apart again in case she had missed what she was looking for the first time.

Suddenly a hand roughly grabbed her shoulder. She spun around, her heart racing and her lungs tight with the gulp of air she had involuntarily inhaled. As soon as she met the angry gaze of the man who had startled her, she let her breath out with a rush and sank against the wall of folders.

Wes pressed his lips together and flexed his jaw muscles as he stared at her. “What are you doing here?”

She looked at the white coat he was wearing with a badge which identified him as Dr. Henderson. “What are you doing here?”

Wes leaned down to get eye-to-eye with her. “Answer me, Thomas.”

“I’m following a lead.”

“What lead?”

“I don’t have to share my stories with you.”

“Your story?”

“Yes.”

He snorted as he leaned back. “Exactly what story would that be? How to properly file medical records?”

She felt the sting of his words go straight to her heart. Defiance set in and she stood a little straighter. “Insurance fraud.”

Wes stared at her for several seconds. He may have been trying to intimidate her, but his glare had nothing on her father’s. She simply cocked her brow in return.

“That’s my story,” he said.

Eve shook her head. “No. I got this tip on my own, Reilly, and if you think you’re going to steal it away from me—”

“Steal it away from you? I’d like to know where you got your tip ’cause I’ve been on this story since last week. You are so unbelievably—”

Eve raised her brows when he stopped mid-sentence and turned his head away. “I’m so unbelievably what?”

“Shut up,” he breathed. Her mouth opened and Wes put his hand over her lips. “Hush.”

Eve gasped when she was quiet long enough to hear footsteps. She grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away. “What do we do?”


Available now at Sweet Cravings Publishing (direct buy link)

Author Bio:

Marci Boudreaux lives with her husband, two children, and their numerous pets. She is a freelance writer and video producer for a variety of local monthly magazines as well as a content editor for several small publishing houses.

Romance is her preferred reading and writing genre because nothing feels better than falling in love with someone new and her husband doesn’t like when she does that in real life.

Marci is currently working on her Masters in Publishing and has plans to eventually take over the world.


Website | Blog | Publisher: sweetcravingspublishing.com

Facebook | Twitter: @MarciBoudreaux

~~~

Thanks, Marci!

I'm sure with your drive and determination, you will take over the world. 

~yia~

Musa Monday: Eva Scott

Eva Scott is a Musa author who is also an Romance of Australia member. Great to see fellow Aussies with Musa! 

Your most recent release is The Marriage Makeover (out with Musa Publishing on the 24th May). Can you describe this book for us?

A Marriage Makeover is a bit of a departure for me. It deals with the serious issue of SIDs and marriage breakdown between childhood sweethearts. The story isn’t all gloom and doom. There is some lightness and humour in the form of Talia’s best friend Davan and little dog with attitude.

Please tell us a little about your road to publication.

It all began with an entry into the RWA Emerald Awards. I came fourth and that really encouraged me to send my manuscript out to publishers. Of course I had rejections but I had some really great feedback too which changed my writing for the better. I’ll always be grateful for those rejection emails! Then I landed a contract with Musa Publishing and the rest is history.

You write both contemporary romance and ancient historical romance. What has attracted you to these genres?

I’ve always read both avidly. I began in contemporary before dipping into historical as a result of a call out for a short story anthology. I hadn’t meant to write historical before that! I liked the story so much I kept it and lengthened it. I couldn’t leave my characters – I needed to know more about them.

Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in between?

I’m half and half. I’ll spend some time plotting things out. I like to peg out the characters, the main plot point and the outline for the story chapter by chapter for example. Then I get writing and let the characters take me where they will. Sometimes it’s in a completely different direction to the one I planned for them.

What are you working on now? And what’s in the near future for Eva Scott?

I’m half way through my second historical called The Barbarian Bride. It’s about one of the minor characters who appears in The Last Gladiatrix. My editor was curious as to what happened to her so we get to find out. After that, who knows? I think I might write something more contemporary for a change of pace.

What is your favourite part of the process of writing?

That first rush when a storyline comes to you. It’s a magical moment in time (before the reality of writer’s block and plot tangles get in the way).

What are you currently reading?

Cassandra Clare’s City of Fallen Angels. It’s the fourth book in the series and I’m off to the library to pick up number five. I’m addicted. 

What would be your ultimate research trip?

To Central America where I want to set a steam punk story I’ve been tinkering with. And really just because I’ve never been to Central American and I’d like to go.... 

~~~

Thanks, Eva!

You can visit Eva on her website, blog, and Twitter. 

Check out A Marriage Makeover's blurb

Nick and Talia Carmichael were childhood sweethearts. Grief over the death of their baby daughter from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome crushed their marriage.

Talia moved to a new city, with a new career and life. Now it’s time to close the door on the past and ask Nick for a divorce.

Nick has other ideas. Once his wife, always his wife. He has no intention of letting Talia off so lightly and proposes terms and conditions to his agreement. It will mean moving back into their marital home, and force her to face long buried grief. Can she do as he asks?

Being with Nick causes her to question everything she thought was true. Has she made a mistake thinking her love for Nick is dead? Can he still love her? More importantly, can he again trust after everything they’ve been through?

Musa Monday: Wench Holley Trent

I've had a busy day today, so I'm late with this blog post. Sorry.

A couple of weeks ago, I featured another book by Holley. Today I have an interview with this wickedly funny wench. 

Your upcoming release is ‘Love By Premonition’. Can you describe this book for us?

LbP is what I like to call a “rural fantasy romance.” That’s sort of like an urban fantasy, but my heroine isn’t a bad-ass who wears leather everything and brandishes shiny guns. She wears ratty flip-flops and does most of her grocery shopping in her grandmother’s pantry. She always pays her rent late, but doesn’t get too much flak about it because it’s a small town and her landlord knows she’ll make good on it eventually. (Probably.)

The story is single-title length at around 80,000 words and told in first person point-of-view from the female main character’s perspective. Marcia is a reluctant psychic who does freelance consulting for the police. She’s a bit of a hippie and definitely not a people person. A certain detective finds her crankiness charming, however. (There’s someone for everyone, right?)

There are a few different interwoven plots in the book – the major one being the romance between Marcia and the smooth-talking Scotsman, the second one being the case Marcia helps solve, and the third being Marcia coming to terms with her psychicness.

Please tell us a little about your road to publication.

It took me a while to settle into writing in this style/genre. I started writing sci-fi and “dark” paranormal stories, went to women’s fiction from there, segued into chick-lit for a while, and finally settled in romance. Romance is where I found my footing. I guess I’m a happily-ever-after writer. Wish I’d known that sooner!


You have a great sense of humour and love adding humour to your stories. Is it easy adding humorous elements to your work?

Adding the humor is easy. Editing it so it’s actually digestible is excruciating! I can never tell what jokes will go over peoples’ heads, especially since I make use of local color and colloquialisms to give my characters flavors. Southern Americans have some really confounding idioms! Having an editor from a different part of the country helps me cull out the dialog that won’t universally fly. I’ve gotten a few comment bubbles from editors asking “What do you mean here?!” Rather than try to plead my case, I just try a different joke. Most of my jokes are observational humor, although if I can squeeze in a dirty double entendre, I’ll do it.

Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in between?

For the most part, I’m a pantser. When I have an idea for a book, I may do a very loose synopsis/overview type thing that tells me who the characters are and what obstacle they have keeping them apart, but beyond that…I never know how the characters will get from Point A to Point Z until I get into the guts of the story. My first drafts are…interesting.



What are you working on now? And what’s in the near future for Holley Trent?

Guh. I’m working on so many things and they’re all in different stages. The first book of my cambion series starts this summer (it’s called Demon in Waiting). I’ve got a contemporary called Saint and Scholar releasing in July, and an erotic contemporary coming in October titled Calculated Exposure.

Love by Premonition has a spin-off in the works, but I had to take a break from that book. Those characters are absolutely nutty and I’m trying to find the right blend of comedy and sexiness. That’s hard for a first-person book. I don’t want readers to hate the narrator.


What is your favourite part of the process of writing?

Layering in characters’ back-stories and personality quirks. That usually happens in the second draft.



What are you currently reading?

Can’t say! I’m doing contest judging.

~~~

Thanks, Holley!

You can find Holley at her website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook.

Love By Premonition is due for release from Musa Publishing later in the month. 

~yia~

Musa Monday: Wench Sara Daniel

Today we have the lovely Wench, Sara Daniel, who writes for Musa and other publishes. She is also bringing along a couple of other guests. 

Over to them...

 

Eleni, thanks so much for inviting me to stop by your blog. For those who don’t know me, I’m Sara Daniel, and I write contemporary romance. Construction Beauty Queen is one of my latest books, and it’s set in a small town with a host of quirky characters. I’ve managed to corral the hero (Matt Shaw) and heroine (Veronica Jamison) for a few quick questions.



Sara: If you could pick a song that sums up your life, what would it be? And why?


Veronica: I’m Movin’ On by Rascal Flatts. I had to walk away from the only life I’ve ever known to make a new life for myself. Leaving home was a heart-wrenching choice, but I had to do it to follow my dreams.



Matt: Guys Like Me by Eric Church. This country song talks about a rough-around-the-edges small-town man who falls for a high-class woman who “has her pick of all the trust-fund types.” Yeah, well…I certainly didn’t plan to fall for her.



Sara: Can you each name something you wouldn’t leave the house without?



Veronica: Definitely something in my signature pink color. I wouldn’t leave without putting on lipstick either.



Matt: My truck. I’ve got all my tools inside that I need for the day’s job. It wouldn’t make sense to go anywhere without it.



Sara: What would I never find in your bedroom?



Veronica: *shivers* I hope never to find a mouse! I cleaned more than I ever had in my life to make that trailer habitable, but it’s still a bit sketchy.



Matt: Makeup, glitter and high heels. If it’s “girlie,” I don’t want anything to do with it!



Sara: What was your first though when you saw each other?



Veronica: Hottie in a toolbelt. Boy, was I right!



Matt: High class and high maintenance. I was right…and I was wrong.



Sara: Thanks Veronica and Matt. You were a blast to write, especially when you were on the page together! Here’s the blurb for Construction Beauty Queen: 

Chicago socialite Veronica Jamison is determined to shake off her sheltered lifestyle and overbearing parents. She heads to her grandfather’s small town of Kortville, ready to roll up her sleeves and work for the family construction business. She’ll prove her worth, even if it means answering to the company’s ruggedly handsome co-owner, Matt.

Matt Shaw just wants to run his business, spend time with the niece he’s raising on his own, and give back to the townspeople who have stood by him. Managing a spoiled-rotten princess he knows he’ll never be good enough for? Not part of his plan. But as he gets to know Veronica, he learns there’s more to her than her beautiful looks and designer clothes. She’s got a heart as rich as her background.

With the quirky townspeople rallying against Veronica inheriting her grandfather’s business, it’s up to Matt to try to drive her out of town. But how can he, when instead she’s driving her way into his heart?



Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes


For more buy links and to preview the first chapter visit: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/construction-beauty-queen/



Reviews:

“I loved Matt and Veronica and fully enjoyed this book. I laughed and cried, it kept me entertained and it was hard to put down.” –Crystal from My Reading Room, 5 stars


“This book was exactly what I needed today. It was sweet, funny and something to get completely lost in for a couple of hours.” –Shannon from Cocktails and Books, 4 stars



Connect with Sara Daniel:

Website

Blog

Facebook page

Facebook individual

Twitter

Pinterest

Google Plus

Goodreads


~yia~