Ginger Simpson's Blog, page 6
May 17, 2022
Connie's Tuesday Kitchen: Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup By Connie Vines #Keto Friendly, #WW points, #Yummy Soup,
Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
This broccoli cheddar soup is one of my favorite soups and the best easy recipe soup for all of us counting calories or points! 😋
INGREDIENTS
2 cups Broccoli diced (small)
8 tbsp Butter
16 oz Cheddar Cheese shredded or grated
½ cup Onion diced
½ cup Celery diced
3 cup Chicken Broth optional
1 cup Cream (heavy whipped cream)
1 tbsp Salt
1 tbsp Black Pepper powder
3-4 cloves Garlic minced or finely chopped
½ tbsp Paprika Powder optional
1 tbsp Cornflour
INSTRUCTIONS
1..Wash the broccoli under water and cut it into small pieces, separating the florets from the stalks. You can be chopped roughly the stalks if you want.
2 Heat the pan or put the saucepan with butter on a medium flame. If you put the flame on high, your butter will burn.
3. Add chopped onion and fry this well. When you see the onion turns light brown, then add salt, pepper, and garlic, and saute them a little until you get a nice flavor from it.
4. Then add the chopped broccoli and stir gently until this broccoli is soft and light green. Sprinkle cornflour on top of butter and onion.
5. Add chicken broth or water. Mix well and cook for 5 minutes with the lid on the pot.
Optional: sprinkle with paprika, combine well and cook for another minute.
6. Let the mixture come to a boil and then simmer for a few minutes. Combine well and add more pepper and salt if necessary. If the soup is too thick, you can add some water or broth.
7. Set the temperature to medium. Add the cream and cheese, whisking gently. Cook until the cheese is melted perfectly.
8. Serve hot and garnished with shredded cheddar cheese or green broccoli.
😋🥣🥦🧀
We all love leftovers!
After the soup has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container or jar.
Keep the soup in the fridge and you can store it for about 3-4 days.
Q and A:
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Q. Can Broccoli Cheese Soup be frozen?
A. Yes. Cooled soup can be ladled into plastic containers or resealable plastic bags and frozen for up to 6 months.
Q. What do you serve with broccoli soup?
A. Broccoli soup cheese is so delicious and heavy. So light, salad, vinegar-based side dish great to serve well, like salad or coleslaw-based side dish.
" Soup is the song of the hearth and the home."
Connie
XOXO
May 13, 2022
Spotlight: Diane Bator, Author Interview By Connie Vines #Author Interview, #Spotlight on author Diane Bator, #Diane Bator, #BWLPublishing
Today's Spotlight Interview is with the author Diane Bator.
Diane Bator, authorWelcome to Dishin' It Out!
Connie: Diane, Please tell me about your current release.
Diane: Eccentric romance novelist Mimsy Lexington has a secret.
When she approaches Katie Mullins to help find details about her late husband’s death, Katie and her boyfriend Danny Walker are drawn into a web of lies and deceit. The deeper they dig, the more they realize the biggest dangers may lurk close to home and need to suspect everyone—including Mimsy.
My most recent book, The Conned Lady, is the fifth book and conclusion of my Wild Blue Mystery series. Where the first book, The Bookstore Lady, tells readers how Katie Mullins and Danny Walker first arrived in Packham, The Conned Lady wraps up their story and puts an end to Katie’s struggles with the bosses she’s been evading.
Connie: What was the inspiration for this story?
Diane: The Bookstore Lady was the first in the series and was actually inspired by my move across Canada to a small town where no one knew me. I kept thinking “What if I had a huge secret like I was on the run from someone?” and wrote my book from there. The entire series features some great local things from where I currently live but is set in a small, fictional town in New York State.
Connie: What would you like to see more/less of in the mystery genre?
Diane: As much as I enjoy cozies, I like to see a bit of variety and adventure in my mysteries. Smart sleuths who can be a bit quirky.
Connie: What, in your opinion, makes a good mystery writer?
Diane: I love puzzles and enjoy being kept guessing! I’m not a fan of stories that tell me the killer upfront and then go back to fill in the gaps. Or of books that start off with a bang and then fizzle out for about 6 chapters before the mystery returns.
Connie: Do you have a favorite paragraph/line of dialogue in this novel?
Diane: Mimsy Lexington: “I’ve committed a murder and can’t seem to remember how.”
That was the launching point for me to write The Conned Lady!
:Connie: Why did you choose this location for your mystery novel?
Diane: As a Canadian author, I was advised to choose a US setting if I wanted to be published in the US. Since I’m in Southern Ontario, I kept my location close to the border, just on the other side of the Great Lakes! I also modeled the fictional town of Packham after the lovely little town where I currently reside.
Connie: Who would it be if you were forced to live the rest of your life as one of your characters?
Diane: I think Lucy Stephens and I both live a similar life already. She’s a mystery writer with three kids. If I was forced to live an alternate life, however, I’d choose Katie who runs a bookstore and constantly gets in over her head. Life would never be dull!
Connie: What are your hobbies? Do any of your characters share your hobbies/interests? Do any of your hobbies play a part in your novels?
Diane:: Lucy, Katie’s sidekick, loves reading and writing. Mimsy Lexington is a prolific romance novelist.
I also have another series, Sugarwood Mysteries, that takes place in Canada. Audra and her best friend Merilee run a craft shop and host a sewing circle for the locals. This stems from my love for needlepoint, diamond art, and crafting in general.
Connie: Diane please share your Buy Links and Social Media Links with our readers.
* Diane forgot to mention that her novels have received numerous awards, too! 🥇🥈🥉
I hope you’ll check out some of my fun mysteries and join me on more great adventures!
Please sign up for my newsletter!
Links for website/buy links, etc.
Website: https://dianebator.ca/
BWL Publishing (book links): http://bookswelove.net/bator-diane/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dianebatorauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianebatorauthor/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeBator
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-bator-35b63418/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7179945.Diane_Bator
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Diane-Bator/e/B009CGCPRE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Happy Reading, Everyone!
Connie
XOXO
April 29, 2022
Featured Author: Helen B. Henderson--Spotlight on #Fire and Amulet-- #dragon Shifter Romance By Connie Vines
Today's Spotlight Interview is with author Helen B. Henderson.
Welcome to Dishin' It Out!
Helen: Fire and Amulet is a twist of a dragon shifter romance. Trelleir is an actual dragon whose magic allows him to take on human form. The last of his kind, he longs for companionship. However, his only friend is not only a human female but a slayer. Sworn to kill all dragons, including him.
Summoned by the village council, Deneas is sent on a quest to kill any and all dragons and cannot return without proof of her success. Finding the mythical creature and avoiding its deadly talons and fire are not her only problems. Another slayer follows with orders to kill her. As she retraces her slain mother's footsteps, Deneas learns the world is not what it seems.
Connie: What was the inspiration for this story?
Helen: I’ve always wanted to fly in the bright blue sky or the star-filled universe. The daughter of an airline flight engineer, I learned my numbers and letters, helping update manuals and reading the instrument panel of an old Constellation. As a child lying in the grass of our New Jersey farm, I would identify airplanes from their silhouette or tail logo and watch clouds drift across the sky. At one time, I studied aviation and considered a career as a pilot, so it is not surprising that I’ve written several works that feature creatures who play tag with the clouds. The latest tale to take to the skies is Fire and Amulet.
Connie: Do you have a favorite paragraph/line of dialogue in this novel?
Helen: One of the lighter moments involves Deneas’ summons before the village council. She is exercising in the garden when the town bully struts up and demands she accompany him. He threatens to forcibly carry her, to which Deneas offers the equivalent of “make me.” Karst’s response follows.
Connie: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Helen: A few thoughts about me and my writing.
My writing crosses genres and reflects the contrasts between my heritage and that of my Gemini sign. I describe myself as a tour guide to the stars, the Old West, and worlds of imagination. Yes, I travel in time, at least via research, re-enactments, and archaeological digs.
I love to hang out with mages, ride magical equines, and fly with dragons.
A final thought. I love to hear from readers. If you choose to write to me at helenhenderson.author@gmail.com, please put the title of one of my books in the subject line, so I’ll know you’re not sending spam.
I hope readers will consider Fire and Amulet. More of my works, including the Windmaster Novels, can be found on my website below.
Thank you for having me.
It was my pleasure.
Helen, Thank you for sharing your newest release with us!
Find Sales Sites for Fire and Amulet at Books2Read https://books2read.com/fire-and-amulet/
Find Helen online at:
Website: https://helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelenHenderson.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/history2write
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/777491.Helen_Henderson
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Helen-Henderson/e/B001HPM2XK
Happy Reading, Everyone!
Connie
XOXO
April 26, 2022
Connie's Tuesday Kitchen---Soup is ALWAYS Comfort Food By Connie Vines #Connie'sKitchen, #Easy and Fast Lentil Soup, #Connie'sKitchen, #BWLAuthor, #portable meals
Lentil Soup
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 clove of garlic, finely diced
3 stalks of celery, finely diced
3 carrots, peeled and finely diced
2 cups (12 ounces) of small green lentils
8 cups of water or vegetable stock
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
1/8 teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste
3 tablespoons lemon juice, plus more to taste
1/2 bunch collard greens/kale/or baby spinach (depending on personal preference) stemmed and thinly sliced crosswise.
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Personal Copyright via CanvaMethod
Caramelize the onions:
In a soup pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Once the oil shimmers, add the onions and cook, occasionally stirring, for 10 minutes, or until deep, golden brown.
Onions in the bottom of a soup pot for lentil soup.
Caramelized onions and tomato paste in the bottom of a soup pot.
Cook the tomato paste and vegetables:
Push the onions to the side of the pot. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the tomato paste darkens to a ruddy brown. Add the thyme, garlic, celery, and carrots. Cook and stir for 2 minutes And in the space you made, add the tomato paste.es.
Add the lentils and liquid, and simmer the soup:
Add the lentils, 8 cups of water, soy sauce, salt, and pepper to the pot. Adjust the heat to medium so the soup is just at a gentle simmer. Simmer for 55 to 60 minutes, or until the lentils are soft.
Pot of diced vegetables in water.
Finish the soup and serve:
Scoop out 2 cups of the soup and purée it in a blender until smooth, or use an immersion blender and purée until the soup takes on a petite body and thickens, but you still have texture. Return the blended soup to the pot and stir in the lemon juice. Add the sliced kale and simmer until the kale softens about 1 to 2 minutes.
Taste, and add more salt, pepper, and lemon juice, if you like. Serve with a nice slice of crusty bread or a side salad.
NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING)
240 CALORIES4gFAT39gCARBS13gPROTEIN
Substitutions and Additions
Use Worcestershire sauce instead of soy sauce (make sure the Worcestershire is vegan if you want to keep the lentil soup vegan).Substitute chicken stock for the water or vegetable stock if you're not worried about it being vegetarian.Add a little bit of finely diced potatoes or sweet potatoes with the vegetableYouyou can add some finely chopped jalapeño or serrano pep for a bit of heat.Meat lovers may want to put some chopped sausage or crumble some bacon on top.Top the soup with chopped fresh herbs, like cilantro, basil, or parsley.
What to Do With Leftovers
Consider freezing the soup in small one-portion containers so you can pull it out at will and use it for mid-week lunches. This lentil soup recipe will keep in the freezer for up to six months.
Remember, all of my novels and novellas have my fave recipes included!
Wishing you a week of warm wishes and tasty dishes,
ConnieXOXO
April 23, 2022
Are You Reading for Pleasure? Or Reading to Write? By Connie Vines #RoundRobin, #WritingLife, WhatAreYouReading?
This month's topic required a bit of pondering on my part.
While I'd like to happily confess to reading only for pleasure, this is no longer true.
I read one or two books a week in genre fiction (not the genre of my current WIP) for pleasure. In years past the number of novels, I would read solely for pleasure numbered one or two each day.
Sigh.
Publishing has changed; authors have (sort of) adapted.
More and more of an author's day is spent on promotion via social media, developing book trailers, book covers, contests, and cross-promotion projects.
Egad!
Unfortunately, this leaves less and less time for writing ✍ and even less time for sleeping 😴
🕵Here's the pondering I mentioned at the start of this post: most of my reading falls into these categories:
• Research for my WIP.• The craft of writing. • Promotion, promotion, and more promotion.
All of my novels and novellas have recipes included; recipes that I have adapted from family recipes or are my personal favorites. Therefore, I have no one to blame but myself for this foray into kitchen time!! 🥣🥄🍲🍪
Happy Reading,ConnieX O X O
Visit the talented authors participating in this month"s Round Robin Blog Hop!
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/ Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/ Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/ Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2BH Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com
April 21, 2022
Spotlight Interview: Helen B. Henderson, Featured Author By Connie Vines #AuthorInterview, #BWLPublishing, #Spotlight, #Fire and Amulet, #Dragon Shifter Romance
Today's Spotlight Interview is with author Helen B. Henderson
Welcome to Dishin' It Out!
Helen Thank you for appearing on my Friday Spotlight InterviewPlease tell us about your latest release
Helen: Fire and Amulet is a twist of a dragon shifter romance. Trelleir is a true dragon whose magic allows him to take on human form. The last of his kind, he longs for companionship. However, his only friend is not only a human female but a slayer. Sworn to kill all dragons, including him.
Summoned by the village council, Deneas is sent on a quest to kill any and all dragons, and cannot return without proof of her success. Finding the mythical creature and avoiding its deadly talons and fire are not her only problems. Another slayer follows with orders to kill her. As she retraces her slain mother's footsteps, Deneas learns the world is not what it seems.
Connie: What was the inspiration for this story?
Helen: I’ve always wanted to fly, either in the bright blue sky or the star-filled universe. The daughter of an airline flight engineer, I learned my numbers and letters helping update manuals and reading the instrument panel of an old Constellation. As a child lying in the grass of our New Jersey farm, I would identify airplanes from their silhouette or tail logo and watch clouds drift across the sky. At one time I studied aviation and considered a career as a pilot, so it is not surprising that I’ve written several works that feature creatures who play tag with the clouds. The latest tale to take to the skies is Fire and Amulet.
Connie: What would you like to see more/less of in the genre(s) you write?
Helen: As an author, I have to say less so there is less competition. As a reader, and to be fair to my readers, my answer has to be definitely more.
It turns out that I am a romantic at heart. And, I also like to travel amongst the stars and worlds of imagination. Although there are subclassifications to the fantasy and romance genres, a book can get misclassified when the fantasy and romance are equally balanced.
The problem is greater when considering a series. Windmaster meets the qualifications of romantic fantasy. The romantic expectation of boy meets girl, are torn apart, and then getting together is fulfilled in the setting of an epic quest. Then consider the next book in the Windmaster Novels, Windmaster Legacy. It can’t be a romance as Captain Ellspeth and the Archmage Lord Dal have already met and committed to each other.
The problem if the two books are listed in different genres is that it is harder for a reader to find them as a series because the entire series won’t necessarily be together.
Connie: What, in your opinion, makes a good writer?
Helen: I personally like well-defined characters, lots of action, and interesting settings or worlds. To be a good writer is one who can blend those things into a story that takes me out of my real-time and place and allows me to journey with the characters.
Connie: Do you have a favorite paragraph/line of dialogue in this novel?
Helen: One of the lighter moments involves Deneas’ summons before the village council. She was exercising in the garden when the town bully struts up and demands she accompany him. He threatens to forcibly carry her to which Deneas offers the equivalent of “make me.” Karst’s response follows.
Excerpt:
Without a word, Deneas spun and walked into the house.
She knew the leering Karst followed close behind, but refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his presence. Mentally counting his steps, she waited until she figured he was on the doorstep. A backward kick slammed the door in his face. In the same movement, she spun and dropped the wide plank into the lock brackets.
Karst’s grunt from outside told her that the door stopped at the edge of his nose. This time Deneas allowed her to smile free rein.
Connie: Why did you choose this location for your novel?
Helen: I started writing the tale during summer and the 100-degree heat translated to the desert sand dunes around Deneas’ home village of Darceth.
Connie: If you were forced to live the rest of your life as one of your characters, who would it be?
Helen: This is a loaded question. Although I tend to write happy endings, characters’ lives are complicated (and in a fantasy world that can mean anything from being wounded in a sword battle to spending time in a dungeon. Then there are the special characters such as the dragon soul twins of the Dragshi Chronicles or the magical equines that slip into the majority of my books. At the moment I think I would like to spend time as one of the horses Trellier befriended. The thought of freedom of responsibility and going where I want is alluring.
Connie: What are your hobbies? Do any of your characters share your hobbies/interests? Do any of your hobbies play a part in your novels?
Helen: I've dabbled in various types of handcrafts over the years. Painting and photography also sneaked in, especially during my time as a correspondent when I had to provide the photographic images to accompany the articles. Time restrictions and arthritis have reduced the amount of time devoted to them as has the amount of time, effort, and energy given to my role as a caregiver.
The closest my characters have come to having a hobby similar to mine is Captain Ellspeth. She played a flute, composed music, and was a gifted artist with pen and paper. Among Lord Dal’s skills was working with wood.
Connie: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Helen: A few thoughts about me and my writing.
My writing crosses genres and reflects the contrasts of my heritage as well as that of my Gemini sign. I describe myself as a tour guide to the stars, the Old West, and worlds of imagination. Yes, I do travel in time, at least via research, re-enactments, and archaeological digs.
I love to hang out with mages, ride magical equines, and fly with dragons.
A final thought. I love to hear from readers. If you choose to write to me at helenhenderson.author@gmail.com, please put the title of one of my books in the subject line so I’ll know you’re not sending spam.
I hope readers will consider Fire and Amulet. More of my works, including the Windmaster Novels, can be found on my website listed below.
Thank you for having me.
It was my pleasure.
Thank you for sharing your newest release with us!
Find Sales Sites for Fire and Amulet at Books2Read https://books2read.com/fire-and-amulet/
Find Helen online at:
Website: https://helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelenHenderson.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/history2write
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/777491.Helen_Henderson
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Helen-Henderson/e/B001HPM2XK
Happy Reading, Everyone!
Connie
March 25, 2022
Spotlight: Alison Lohans, Featured Author Interview By Connie Vines #Author Interview, #Alison Lohans, #YA Novel, #Saskatchenwan Writers Guild
Today's featured guest: Alison Lohans
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Connie: Alison, thank you for stopping by today. Please tell us about your current release.
Alison: Timefall is a “mature” young adult/adult speculative fiction novel. It evolved over thirty-plus years and is among my favorites of the 30-some books I’ve published. It’s had a very bumpy journey in the publishing world with two very small presses – first published in 2010 and 2012 as a two-book series by a tiny press that soon afterward changed hands. The new owner promptly jettisoned all YA titles. I was very fortunate to find another small press that was interested, and who published it in 2018 as one book under its present title. It was named one of the finalists for the Canadian 2019 Prix Aurora Awards in the YA novel category. Then COVID came along – and this second publisher suddenly was no longer able to continue business as usual. For the second time, those many years’ worth of work went out of print. Unwilling to let it go, in 2020 I re-issued Timefall on an independent publishing basis with Amazon.
Connie: Genre?
Alison: Young Adult speculative fiction, featuring time travel, teen parenting, psychic phenomena, and climate disaster
Connie: What was the inspiration for this story?
Alison: Once in a very long while, a galvanizing image will come to me that begs to become a story idea. That was the case with Timefall. For some unknown reason in 1984, my mind’s eye saw a teen girl and her baby – and somebody in a robe was trying to take her baby away! I had no clue what this was all about. The image kept nagging at me even though I was working on, and publishing, other books.
Quite a few years passed before the image crystallized into a tangible story idea. At the time I was very interested in the day-to-day issues faced by teen mothers, issues their peers can’t fathom…and so, Katie and her baby Tyler were “born”. Psychic phenomena have fascinated me for a long time, and Katie’s baby (unbeknownst to her) has incredible psychic powers. The stakes were raised enormously by developing Iannik (the guy in the robe, a thousand years in the future) as the last in a long line of Seers. A lonely misfit with unruly, flawed Sight, who’s able to open the time channel between worlds, everyone fears his powers. Add to this the daunting problem of male infertility in Iannik’s world, and imminent climate catastrophe in Katie’s and Tyler’s present-day world, and all the parts were set in motion.
Connie: What, in your opinion, what’s the difference between a good book and a page-turner?
Alison: Plot-driven page-turners can keep us gripped as we read, carrying us along on an exciting journey. But to my way of thinking, a really good book is layered and gives us a lot to think about, stretching us. It will provide us with multi-dimensional characters who are dealing with important, heart-felt issues in a world that are crafted with nuanced, image-packed language that transports us into another kind of existence, and lingers with us long afterward. Just my take on this question, anyhow!
Connie: Do you have a favorite paragraph/line of dialogue in this novel?
Alison: A clip from Iannik’s point of view in Aaurenan, a thousand years in the future, where things are about to go devastatingly wrong. (Note: Due to male infertility in Iannik’s time, his life-partner Lieda became pregnant via complicated other means that can’t be explained here.)
Page 192:
“In the candlelight, Iannik fingered the Seer’s Stone.
This night Lieda’s brow was hot, her cheeks too pink. She had coughed until she lay exhausted. Now she slept, for he had gone to fetch the fever-brew from Daaiv’d. He stroked the hair back from her face, willing all his strength to her. One moon and more days remained before the birth, but restless dreams had shown Lieda crying out with the pains.
Weariness gripped him; he couldn’t remember when he’d last slept. His eyes saw things which were not there, yet also were not Sight. He bundled himself in his outer garments, wrapping both his and Lieda’s scarves about his face. Perhaps Daaiv’d had some other balm that might help Lieda. And – might he also seek some strength for himself? How could he be of service to Lieda, and the daughter, if he himself were depleted?
Snow crunched beneath his feet. Above, the stars clustered thick. In the distance came the howl of coyotes. Iannik uttered his own cry, feeding his pain to the night. There came an answering call. His heavy eyes scanned the great white stillness. Then he raised his arms, offering himself to Aaurenan, an offering of what had once been young and strong.
The night was very cold. It might be dangerous to continue – and was Daaiv’d now sleeping? He mustn’t disturb the healer too often, for Daaiv’d needed his own rest to care for the People. As Iannik turned back, a tightness gripped his belly and then was gone. The breath whistled from him. Within Lieda’s body, the daughter was making ready to join the People.
It was too early. Lieda lay ill.
Blackness squeezed Iannik’s heart….”
Connie: Who would it be if you were forced to live the rest of your life as one of your characters?
Alison: What an interesting question! From Timefall, I’d choose to be Katie, who comes of age in a world that’s very different from the one she was born into.
Connie: What are your hobbies? Do any of your characters share your hobbies/interests? Do any of your hobbies play a part in your novels?
Alison: Music is an important part of my life. I play several different instruments (recorder, cornet, cello, and piano), and also sing, in amateur community groups. Over the years I’ve taught instrumental music as well. Music often plays a role in my books - less so here in Timefall, than in titles such as Nathaniel’s Violin, Canine Cupid, Foghorn Passage, and Don’t Think Twice.
I love animals and presently live with Sebastian my Shih Tzu cross, and a zebra finch. Animals appear in some of my books, particularly in Canine Cupid, released last year by BWL Publishing, and in a middle-grade novel Dog Alert.
Another thing I love is traveling. I find those interesting destinations often trigger story ideas – such as a short horror story that takes place on a cruise ship heading to Alaska; my middle-grade novel Dog Alert set in Canada’s north; another middle-grade novel Doppelganger that plays out on a cruise to ports in Greece and Turkey; and my soon-to-be-released Strong as a Pharaoh (working title) set during a tour of Egypt.
Thanks so much, Connie, for this wonderful opportunity to showcase Timefall!
Bio:
As an avid reader and writer since childhood, I’ve always marveled at the power of “story” to open up our worlds, taking us to new places, and to new experiences, that we’re unlikely to encounter in our daily lives. As opposed to laugh-track-based TV sitcoms (for example) that are geared to reach as many viewers as possible, a book provides a personal interaction between reader and text – a situation in which the reader co-creates the story world through her/his own eyes and other lenses. Likewise, in our writing, we explore characters and issues dear to our hearts. Thus we invite readers into a unique world…which provides a template for sharing experiences one-on-one with people we’ve never met.
Writing fiction provides a fascinating avenue for exploring all sorts of life questions. By “becoming”, and empathizing with, my characters, I grow as I take on new perspectives and explore our shared human journey. Good literature can provide a means of connecting people in this troubled world.
BLURB:What if you’re a teen mother, and your baby is needed a thousand years in the future?
What if you’re last in a long line of Seers, and survival depends on your flawed Sight?
Two worlds are poised on the brink of collapse: one doomed by its lack of vision, and the other by a vision unfulfilled. Can a group of teens find each other – and more importantly, themselves – in time to save at least one world?
Katie lives with her baby Tyler, her mom, and bratty younger brother, struggling with the isolating realities of teen motherhood. Then she falls into another world…
Iannik is last in a long line of Seers – but his Sight isn’t true, and sometimes things go badly wrong. Everyone fears his unruly powers. Over the centuries, the coming of the infant T’laaure has been prophesied as the only hope for Aaurenan’s survival. Can Iannik summon the Child from the doomed, distant past, to save the future?
Is Katie’s baby the one who holds all the answers?
Please follow these like for more about Alison Lohans and BUY LINKS:
https://www.alisonlohans.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/alisonlohanswriter
https://www.amazon.com/Alison-Lohans/e/B001K7ZEYO?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/563063.Alison_Lohans/blog
https://skwriter.com/find-saskatchewan-writers/alison-lohans
Alison is a member of:
The Writers' Union of Canada; CANSCAIP; The Saskatchewan Writers' Guild; the Children’s Writers’ Round Robin; Saskatchewan Romance Writers
Where Timefall can be purchased, in both print and ebook formats:
https://www.amazon.ca/Timefall-psychic-loner-post-apocalypse-travel-ebook/dp/B08LT63TVS\
https://books2read.com/u/bPXLkY
Happy Reading everyone!
Connie
XOXO
March 18, 2022
What Messages Do Your Books Give Your Readers? By Connie Vines #RR , #WritingTips, #BWLPublishing, #Themes, #WesternRomance
What messages do your books give your readers?
Thank you, Rhobin, for this month's topic.
The theme of a story is important because a story's theme is part of the reason why the author wrote the story. The term theme can be defined as the underlying meaning of a story. It is the message the writer is trying to convey through the story. Often the theme of a story is a broad message about life.
1. There is always a character's growth through life experience and challenges.
2. One of my main characters usually has a character-building (unhappy) childhood.
3. Which, fortunately, has assisted him/her in becoming a tightly functional adult.
4. My message is to never give up hope; always strive for a better life and believe in yourself.
Example 1:
Blurb:
With a dangerous reputation for taking chances and tempting fate, rugged cowboy Lynx Maddox had one goal in life--to win the coveted Silver Buckel rodeo championship. But when he sets eyes on lovely Rachel Scott, he becomes determined to capture her as well.
Rachel traveled the rodeo circuit with her famous rodeo rider dad until his fatal accident in the arena. Now, she wants nothing to do with that world--or the men who risk their loves for one brief moment for glory. But her attraction to Lynx becomes too powerful to deny...and his unexpected gentleness is too seductive to resist...
Example 2:
Blurb:Trouble is something hard-edged rancher, Brede Kristensen, knows all about. A widower with a rambunctious young daughter, a ranch to run, and an ornery cook who has just runoff, Brede doesn't need another problem. Yet, during a violent storm, he finds an injured woman. The beautiful woman can't recall her name or past, but Brede vows to protect her from harm. What he hadn't bargained for was her laughter and gentleness finding a way into the lonely corners of his heart.
Beaten and left for dead, Amberlynn Maddox has no memory of her past. When a madman finds Amberlynn's hiding place, no one is safe from harm: not Brede, his young daughter—or Amberlynn herself! Accepting Brede's offer as temporary ranch cook, the woman, now called Kate, discovers the sexy rancher with his protective nature, and sizzling kisses has claimed her heart.
Example 3:
Also available in SpanishBlurb:
Tanayia is alone in the world. Her village was destroyed and her people murdered by a group of revolutionaries who now hold her hostage. A daring escape on the edge of Cochise's stronghold saves Tanayia's life, but she discovers her ordeal is only beginning.
Forced to live in a government-run boarding school, Tanayia is stripped of her identity. The headmistress is bent on destroying Tay, but Jacob Five-Wounds stands in her way. Jacob urges Tay to run away with him—but diphtheria strikes the school. Now, Tanayia must choose, a choice she knows may cost her both Jacob and his love.
For a fast and fun read:
An Anthology of Romance
"Marrying off Murphy" – (Light-hearted Romance). Like all Cajun fairy tales, it began harmlessly enough. A match-making columnist promises to turn a stuffy professor into a charming prince. So, why does this confirmed bachelorette suddenly wish she was dressed for the Ball?
"Love Potion #9" – (Contemporary Romance). Watch what happens when you mix a traditional Creole woman with a fun-loving Cajun man and throw in a Voodoo Love Potion—stand back! The Louisiana Bayou ain't never gonna be the same!
"A Slice of Scandal" – (Mystery/Suspense). A producer finds herself embroiled in a mystery as hot as her Bayou Cooking Show. When an undercover cop-turned chef shows up and dishes up more heat than a bottle of Louisiana hot peppers. Can she prove her innocence before the real killer finds her? Or, will she become the main course in a murder trial?
Novella:
Alive, Steampunk novelist Meredith Misso worked hard at living the perfect SoCal celeb life. Now that she is a Zombie, it's all about the make-up, non-vegan lifestyle, and her soon-to-be ex, who somehow managed to Velcro himself back into her life.
Buy Link (click on book cover)
Visit each of the Round Robin writers, see what ideas they are hatching!!
Connie
XOXX
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2yB
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com
Spotlight: Paula Martin, Author Interview By Connie Vines #Paula Martin, #Author Interview, #BWLPublishing, #Family Secrets
I'd like to welcome author, Paula Martin, to "Dishin' It Out today.
Paula, tell us about your current release.
My current release is ‘A Family’s Secrets’, a historical family saga covering a period of about twenty years, and set in the mid-19th century in the port of Liverpool and the Isle of Man.
What was the inspiration for this story?
The story was inspired by my great-great-grandparents, John and Elizabeth (Betsy) who were both born and brought up in Liverpool and married in 1844. John became a captain with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and they lived on the small island (in the middle of the Irish Sea) for many years.
What would you like to see more/less of in the historical genre?
More about ‘ordinary’ working-class people in the 19th century, who may have struggled to make ends meet but who were not living in abject poverty or at the mercy of some (clichéd) evil landlord or cruel factory owner.
Less about upper-class heiresses and/or titled nobility!
What, in your opinion, makes an excellent historical writer?
Someone who can bring the characters to life as true products of the era in which they live i.e. not ‘modern’ characters deposited into a historical setting.
Also, someone who is prepared to thoroughly research into the period about which they are writing. I have seen a lot of anachronisms in historical novels, including words that wouldn’t have been used at the time e.g. Victorians would not say ‘okay’! Also, I feel there is no excuse for incorrect facts when it is so easy to find information on the internet. One example I have seen was someone in 1840 hearing the chimes of Big Ben – but the clock tower was only completed in 1859!
Do you have a favorite paragraph/line of dialogue in this novel?
It’s difficult to pick out just one, but here’s a short extract which happens after John has rescued Betsy from an assault by a drunk on the street and takes her into his mother’s corner shop:
“After the man closed the shop door, she had her first proper look at him in the flickering light from the wall-mounted oil lamps. Tall and nearer to thirty than twenty, she guessed. He was clean-shaven apart from dark side-whiskers which reached to about an inch below his earlobes, and he wore a navy-blue jacket with two rows of brass buttons and a loosely knotted white cravat. When he removed his woolen peaked cap and dropped it on the counter, his thick, wavy hair fell forward, half covering his broad forehead.
Her stomach performed a weird kind of contraction as she studied his handsome features, and an even weirder jerk when he gave her a reassuring smile.
‘I hope you’re recovering from your fright, Miss—uh?’
‘Roberts. Elizabeth Roberts – but everyone calls me Betsy.’
If you were forced to live the rest of your life as one of your characters, who would it be?
It would have to be Betsy. She has a strength of character that enables her to cope, usually calmly, with all the problems life throws at her and gives her the courage to defy her father in order to follow her heart. Her love for John is steadfast, and she is a caring, loving wife to him throughout the tragedies and difficulties they have to face. The only thing I wouldn’t like about her life is the lack of modern conveniences in her home – not to mention the lack of phones and internet access!
What are your hobbies? Do any of your characters share your hobbies/interests? Do any of your hobbies play a part in your novels?
One of my hobbies is researching my family history, which I’ve been doing for over twenty years, and which provided the basis of ‘A Family’s Secrets’. I knew a little about John from what my great-uncle (John’s grandson) told me many years ago, but found out much more from census and birth, marriage, and death records. Also, during a visit to the Isle of Man, I was able to study the minutes of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company directors’ meetings, some of which mention John. More recently, I’ve found Isle of Man newspapers online, which contain several articles praising John’s skillful and confident response to whatever mechanical or weather problems he had to contend with, as well as his unfailing courtesy to his passengers.
Perhaps I should also add that, as a high school history teacher for twenty-five years, history is one of my interests! Although ‘A Family’s Secrets’ is my first historical novel, various aspects of history have tended to creep into my contemporary novels too.
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
I usually write in the evenings. I’ve always been a night owl – and so is my ‘muse’! I find I can edit during the daytime, but the first draft is definitely evening work.
Please tell us more about your novel.
‘A Family’s Secrets’ is my 16th published novel. Most are available on Amazon, including my ‘Mist Na Mara’ series of six contemporary romance/intrigue novels set in Connemara in the west of Ireland.
I’m currently writing the second in the ‘Follow Your Heart’ series, which takes place twenty years after the first book. The main character is Lizzie, who is Betsy and John’s daughter. It is set in the 1870s and features Lizzie’s fight on behalf of people whose homes are threatened with demolition, as well as her dilemma about which of the two men in her life she can trust.
Book Blurb
Seamstress Betsy Roberts falls in love with Liverpool mariner John Hughes but is shocked to discover that her father’s contempt for sailors stems from a long-hidden event for which he holds John’s uncle responsible. When he insists on her marriage to a childhood friend, does he simply want her to stop her from marrying John, or is he hiding another secret? And if Betsy defies him, how will the past affect her and John in the future? Can their love survive despite the secrets and tragedies which threaten to tear them apart?
Please share links for your website/buy links, etc. 👀
Amazon author page: author.to/PaulaMartin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulamartinromances
Paula, thank you for visiting "Dish'n It Out !
Connie
XOXO
March 11, 2022
Spotlight: Paula Martin, Featured Author Interview By Connie Vines #Author Interview #Historical Fiction, #BWLPublishing
Today's featured guest is: Paula Martin
Thank you for stopping by today 😀
Connie: Please tell us about your current release.
Paula: My current release is ‘A Family’s Secrets’, a historical family saga covering a period of about twenty years, and set in the mid-19th century in the port of Liverpool and the Isle of Man.
Connie: What was the inspiration for this story?
Paula: The story was inspired by my great-great-grandparents, John and Elizabeth (Betsy) who were both born and brought up in Liverpool and married in 1844. John became a captain with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and they lived on the small island (in the middle of the Irish Sea) for many years.
Connie: What would you like to see more/less of in the historical genre?
Paula: More about ‘ordinary’ working-class people in the 19th century, who may have struggled to make ends meet but who were not living in abject poverty or at the mercy of some (clichéd) evil landlord or cruel factory owner.
Less about upper-class heiresses and/or titled nobility!
Connie: What, in your opinion, makes an excellent historical writer?
Paula: Someone who can bring the characters to life as true products of the era in which they live i.e. not ‘modern’ characters deposited into a historical setting.
Also, someone who is prepared to thoroughly research into the period about which they are writing. I have seen a lot of anachronisms in historical novels, including words that wouldn’t have been used at the time e.g. Victorians would not say ‘okay’! Also, I feel there is no excuse for incorrect facts when it is so easy to find information on the internet. One example I have seen was someone in 1840 hearing the chimes of Big Ben – but the clock tower was only completed in 1859!
Connie: Do you have a favorite paragraph/line of dialogue in this novel?
Paula: It’s difficult to pick out just one, but here’s a short extract which happens after John has rescued Betsy from an assault by a drunk on the street and takes her into his mother’s corner shop:
“After the man closed the shop door, she had her first proper look at him in the flickering light from the wall-mounted oil lamps. Tall and nearer to thirty than twenty, she guessed. He was clean-shaven apart from dark side-whiskers which reached to about an inch below his earlobes, and he wore a navy-blue jacket with two rows of brass buttons and a loosely knotted white cravat. When he removed his woolen peaked cap and dropped it on the counter, his thick, wavy hair fell forward, half covering his broad forehead.
Her stomach performed a weird kind of contraction as she studied his handsome features, and an even weirder jerk when he gave her a reassuring smile.
‘I hope you’re recovering from your fright, Miss—uh?’
‘Roberts. Elizabeth Roberts – but everyone calls me Betsy.’
Connie: If you were forced to live the rest of your life as one of your characters, who would it be?
Paula: It would have to be Betsy. She has a strength of character that enables her to cope, usually calmly, with all the problems life throws at her and gives her the courage to defy her father in order to follow her heart. Her love for John is steadfast, and she is a caring, loving wife to him throughout the tragedies and difficulties they have to face. The only thing I wouldn’t like about her life is the lack of modern conveniences in her home – not to mention the lack of phones and internet access!
Connie: What are your hobbies? Do any of your characters share your hobbies/interests? Do any of your hobbies play a part in your novels?
Paula: One of my hobbies is researching my family history, which I’ve been doing for over twenty years, and which provided the basis of ‘A Family’s Secrets’. I knew a little about John from what my great-uncle (John’s grandson) told me many years ago, but found out much more from census and birth, marriage, and death records. Also, during a visit to the Isle of Man, I was able to study the minutes of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company directors’ meetings, some of which mention John. More recently, I’ve found Isle of Man newspapers online, which contain several articles praising John’s skillful and confident response to whatever mechanical or weather problems he had to contend with, as well as his unfailing courtesy to his passengers.
Perhaps I should also add that, as a high school history teacher for twenty-five years, history is one of my interests! Although ‘A Family’s Secrets’ is my first historical novel, various aspects of history have tended to creep into my contemporary novels too.
Connie: What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
Paula: I usually write in the evenings. I’ve always been a night owl – and so is my ‘muse’! I find I can edit during the daytime, but the first draft is definitely evening work.
Connie: Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers?
Paula: ‘A Family’s Secrets’ is my 16th published novel. Most are available on Amazon, including my ‘Mist Na Mara’ series of six contemporary romance/intrigue novels set in Connemara in the west of Ireland.
I’m currently writing the second in the ‘Follow Your Heart’ series, which takes place twenty years after the first book. The main character is Lizzie, who is Betsy and John’s daughter. It is set in the 1870s and features Lizzie’s fight on behalf of people whose homes are threatened with demolition, as well as her dilemma about which of the two men in her life she can trust.
Blurb:
Seamstress Betsy Roberts falls in love with Liverpool mariner John Hughes, but is shocked to discover that her father’s contempt for sailors stems from a long-hidden event for which he holds John’s uncle responsible. When he insists on her marriage to a childhood friend, does he simply want her to stop her from marrying John, or is he hiding another secret? And if Betsy defies him, how will the past affect her and John in the future? Can their love survive despite the secrets and tragedies which threaten to tear them apart?
Paula, please share links for your website/buy links, etc. so our readers may follow you and purchase your current release.
Amazon author page: author.to/PaulaMartinFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulamartinromances
Thank you for stopping by today, everyone!
Connie
XOXO
