Luisa Prieto's Blog, page 2
November 1, 2012
post halloween stupor
Yesterday, I did something I normally never do: I ate some Halloween candy.
I say some, because after years of only eating really good chocolate, the "fun size" Snickers and Almond Joys don't taste that great. I had a couple, made a face, and then began carving pumpkins. By the time the kids showed up, I was more than happy to hand out huge handfuls of candy to them.
Overall, we went through five bags of candy last night. I'm always worried we won't get many kids so I tend to give out huge chunks of candy early on. By the time everyone arrives, I'm so used to giving out a ton of candy, I continue to give out a ton of candy.
I like to think I'm the kind of person who I would've wanted to trick-or-treat at when I was younger: someone who's generous with the sweets, offers something that at the time I loved, and never says anything like, "aren't you too old to be doing this?" As someone who dressed up and went door-to-door well into their twenties, I say, "keep going kids."
Over the evening, I also sent out three out of four e-books. So far, people have wanted to celebrate the chocolate-iest night of the year with Cooking with Ergot, Shadow Hunt, and After Dark. Good books, if I do say so myself ;)
With Halloween behind me, I've been working on the less anticipated part of the night: cleaning up. The pumpkins have been turned into cooked mush and the decorations were brought in (for some reason the neighbors don't think a head on a stick is a good Christmas decoration, even when I put a Christmas hat on him).
And now, when everything is put away... I remember it's November first. Nano has begun.
I say some, because after years of only eating really good chocolate, the "fun size" Snickers and Almond Joys don't taste that great. I had a couple, made a face, and then began carving pumpkins. By the time the kids showed up, I was more than happy to hand out huge handfuls of candy to them.
Overall, we went through five bags of candy last night. I'm always worried we won't get many kids so I tend to give out huge chunks of candy early on. By the time everyone arrives, I'm so used to giving out a ton of candy, I continue to give out a ton of candy.
I like to think I'm the kind of person who I would've wanted to trick-or-treat at when I was younger: someone who's generous with the sweets, offers something that at the time I loved, and never says anything like, "aren't you too old to be doing this?" As someone who dressed up and went door-to-door well into their twenties, I say, "keep going kids."
Over the evening, I also sent out three out of four e-books. So far, people have wanted to celebrate the chocolate-iest night of the year with Cooking with Ergot, Shadow Hunt, and After Dark. Good books, if I do say so myself ;)
With Halloween behind me, I've been working on the less anticipated part of the night: cleaning up. The pumpkins have been turned into cooked mush and the decorations were brought in (for some reason the neighbors don't think a head on a stick is a good Christmas decoration, even when I put a Christmas hat on him).
And now, when everything is put away... I remember it's November first. Nano has begun.
October 31, 2012
week four winners
Happy Halloween, everyone! In honor of this great day, I've decided to give away four books :)
And the winners are:
Kathy
Judi
Michelle
Julie
Since the winner gets to choose their book, I look forward to seeing what they pick. Will they go for a zombie flavored Halloween or a vampire one? Only their responding e-mails will tell...
And yes, once I know, I'll post it ;)
And the winners are:
Kathy
Judi
Michelle
Julie
Since the winner gets to choose their book, I look forward to seeing what they pick. Will they go for a zombie flavored Halloween or a vampire one? Only their responding e-mails will tell...
And yes, once I know, I'll post it ;)
October 29, 2012
a few of my favorite things
I wrote a guest post at Musa's Erato blog. It's under the pseudonym and is about a few of my favorite things.
Here's a peek:
Unless it’s the middle night and I’ve heard something go bump, I don’t believe in ghosts, vampires, or werewolves.
I may write dark fantasy and horror but I know monsters aren’t real (with the exception of zombies. Honestly, how many of us aren’t half dead early in the morning, before we’ve had coffee? For all we know, the secret to stopping the infected in my last release, End Game, was to give them all a Starbucks card).
Here's a peek:
Unless it’s the middle night and I’ve heard something go bump, I don’t believe in ghosts, vampires, or werewolves.
I may write dark fantasy and horror but I know monsters aren’t real (with the exception of zombies. Honestly, how many of us aren’t half dead early in the morning, before we’ve had coffee? For all we know, the secret to stopping the infected in my last release, End Game, was to give them all a Starbucks card).
October 24, 2012
pumpkin pot pies
loveless3173 asked me recently about the recipe. I thought I'd share it with everyone. It's got a bunch of little steps but it's really easy to put together. It's also especially tasty.
The recipe itself is a hint of what you could get if you enter this week's contest and ask for a copy of Cooking with Ergot. The recipe is from the will-I-ever-finish? sequel to Ergot, the Cookbook of Shadows.
--
Pumpkin pot pie
Four sugar pumpkins
Nutmeg
Salt
Pepper
Nine-to-ten pieces of pre-cooked chicken *
1 cup corn
1 cup peas
1 white onion, diced
6 T Butter
6 T Flour
Pie crust
1 tsp dry sage
1 tsp dry thyme
1 tsp salt
Get off phone after arguing with father about the terrible direction of your life. Pre-heat the open to 350 degrees.
Cut off the top of the sugar pumpkins, trying not to pretend any of the pumpkins are either your father or Simon. Gut them, pretending they’re not your father or Simon. Save pumpkin seeds for later. Perhaps you’ll roast them. The seeds, not your father or Simon. Neither of them would fit in the oven. Oh, and that’d be wrong. Really wrong.
Salt, pepper, and nutmeg each pumpkin. Wrap the top of each one in aluminum foil and then put them in the oven for thirty minutes. When they’re done, set them aside.
Ignore phone when it begins ringing.
Cut up the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Listen to older brother leave a message on the answering machine. Try not to chop off own fingers when brother makes up excuses for your father. Fight the urge to pick up the phone and continue arguing.
Dice the onion.
In a large pan, melt the butter. Add the flour next, stirring to create a roux **
Add the herbs, remaining salt and onions, then stir. After a couple minutes, add the corn and peas.
Add the chicken. Stir.
Put the chicken mixture into the pumpkins, nearly to the top.
Realize you forgot to cut the pie crust.
Tear the pie crust into small, circle-ish shapes. Put them over the tops of the pumpkins.
Return the pumpkins to the oven. Let them cook for another forty minutes.
Hear the phone ring. Hope it’s Dominic.
It’s not.
* I prefer chicken that’s been brined overnight and then grilled outside. Dominic prefers garlic chicken. Blaise likes the rotisserie chicken from a nearby restaurant.
** remember this part. This element is the key to making other sauces. Remember how your father could never make a good Thanksgiving gravy? Mine always had this this kind of seems like witchery stupidity over basic stirring. If you remember this part, though, you will be better than him. Add the turkey pan dripping to the roux. Then, add a little half and half and a splash of red wine. Presto! Magic.
The recipe itself is a hint of what you could get if you enter this week's contest and ask for a copy of Cooking with Ergot. The recipe is from the will-I-ever-finish? sequel to Ergot, the Cookbook of Shadows.
--
Pumpkin pot pie
Four sugar pumpkins
Nutmeg
Salt
Pepper
Nine-to-ten pieces of pre-cooked chicken *
1 cup corn
1 cup peas
1 white onion, diced
6 T Butter
6 T Flour
Pie crust
1 tsp dry sage
1 tsp dry thyme
1 tsp salt
Get off phone after arguing with father about the terrible direction of your life. Pre-heat the open to 350 degrees.
Cut off the top of the sugar pumpkins, trying not to pretend any of the pumpkins are either your father or Simon. Gut them, pretending they’re not your father or Simon. Save pumpkin seeds for later. Perhaps you’ll roast them. The seeds, not your father or Simon. Neither of them would fit in the oven. Oh, and that’d be wrong. Really wrong.
Salt, pepper, and nutmeg each pumpkin. Wrap the top of each one in aluminum foil and then put them in the oven for thirty minutes. When they’re done, set them aside.
Ignore phone when it begins ringing.
Cut up the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Listen to older brother leave a message on the answering machine. Try not to chop off own fingers when brother makes up excuses for your father. Fight the urge to pick up the phone and continue arguing.
Dice the onion.
In a large pan, melt the butter. Add the flour next, stirring to create a roux **
Add the herbs, remaining salt and onions, then stir. After a couple minutes, add the corn and peas.
Add the chicken. Stir.
Put the chicken mixture into the pumpkins, nearly to the top.
Realize you forgot to cut the pie crust.
Tear the pie crust into small, circle-ish shapes. Put them over the tops of the pumpkins.
Return the pumpkins to the oven. Let them cook for another forty minutes.
Hear the phone ring. Hope it’s Dominic.
It’s not.
* I prefer chicken that’s been brined overnight and then grilled outside. Dominic prefers garlic chicken. Blaise likes the rotisserie chicken from a nearby restaurant.
** remember this part. This element is the key to making other sauces. Remember how your father could never make a good Thanksgiving gravy? Mine always had this this kind of seems like witchery stupidity over basic stirring. If you remember this part, though, you will be better than him. Add the turkey pan dripping to the roux. Then, add a little half and half and a splash of red wine. Presto! Magic.
week four contest
So we've had vampires, mages, and demons. This week, I'm thinking we will do a little bit of everything.
This week... you get to pick the book.
Did you learn about the contest too late to try to get a copy of Dark Designs? You've got another chance. Did you wish I'd offered End Game or After Dark? I am now. Are you stumped on what to make for dinner but also want to read a nice m/m story? Cooking with Ergot is there for you.
Everyone has until next Tuesday night (All Hallows Eve, woo!) to drop me an e-mail at l_prieto @ att.net. I'll announce the winners on Halloween morning.
This week... you get to pick the book.
Did you learn about the contest too late to try to get a copy of Dark Designs? You've got another chance. Did you wish I'd offered End Game or After Dark? I am now. Are you stumped on what to make for dinner but also want to read a nice m/m story? Cooking with Ergot is there for you.
Everyone has until next Tuesday night (All Hallows Eve, woo!) to drop me an e-mail at l_prieto @ att.net. I'll announce the winners on Halloween morning.
shadow hunt winners
The first week, we had vampires (though, with vampires, do you have them or do they have you? ;).
The second week, mages (go mages!). This last week, demons (and mages, because who else would thwart them? ;).
The people who will be winning a copy of Shadow Hunt (or another book of their choice) are...
loveless3173
chedward
whitestar_alpha
Congrats, everyone :) I'll be announcing the last contest in a few minutes, so if you didn't win this week, you'll be getting another chance.
The second week, mages (go mages!). This last week, demons (and mages, because who else would thwart them? ;).
The people who will be winning a copy of Shadow Hunt (or another book of their choice) are...
loveless3173
chedward
whitestar_alpha
Congrats, everyone :) I'll be announcing the last contest in a few minutes, so if you didn't win this week, you'll be getting another chance.
October 19, 2012
tis the season
The moment the first pumpkins appeared at Safeway, we began getting them. We now have over half a dozen sitting on the kitchen table, awaiting their pumpkin destinies. Some will became tasty pot pies. Others will be carved.
Question is, carved into what?
And so begins my yearly visit to Zombie Pumpkins, my favorite site for designs.
I don't know about Halloween yet, but I am thinking of these two for Christmas.
Jen: you're kidding, right?
me: no! Look at them. Don't they tell you a story?
Jen: ... story?
me: the zombies got Santa and now Rudolph is leading the survivors somewhere safe.
Jen: I'm surprised you don't have anything for Thanksgiving.
me: well...
Question is, carved into what?
And so begins my yearly visit to Zombie Pumpkins, my favorite site for designs.
I don't know about Halloween yet, but I am thinking of these two for Christmas.
Jen: you're kidding, right?
me: no! Look at them. Don't they tell you a story?
Jen: ... story?
me: the zombies got Santa and now Rudolph is leading the survivors somewhere safe.
Jen: I'm surprised you don't have anything for Thanksgiving.
me: well...
October 17, 2012
week three contest
Week one, we had vampires. Week two, mages and things that go bump in the dark. For week three, I'm thinking demons.
And by demons, I'm referring to Shadow Hunt.
“Have you ever had a reading before?” Peregrine asked.
“No," the demon said. "When I last visited your fine city, the witches were more interested in banishing me than in telling me my fortune.”
Peregrine tapped the first two cards. “This is the focus. Your beginning and end start here.”
Winter’s eyes flicked down. “There are two cards.”
“Our lives are entwined.”
“Death will part us.”
Peregrine hoped so.
Everyone has until next Tuesday night to enter the contest. If you'd like a chance to win the story, please drop me an e-mail at l_prieto @ att.net.
And by demons, I'm referring to Shadow Hunt.
“Have you ever had a reading before?” Peregrine asked.
“No," the demon said. "When I last visited your fine city, the witches were more interested in banishing me than in telling me my fortune.”
Peregrine tapped the first two cards. “This is the focus. Your beginning and end start here.”
Winter’s eyes flicked down. “There are two cards.”
“Our lives are entwined.”
“Death will part us.”
Peregrine hoped so.
Everyone has until next Tuesday night to enter the contest. If you'd like a chance to win the story, please drop me an e-mail at l_prieto @ att.net.
dark design winners
This is my favorite part of doing a contest: announcing the winners :)
This week's winners are:
goingtoreadnow
Michelle
Midia
Congrats to everyone who won a copy of Dark Designs. It's a great story and I hope you all enjoy it. I'll announce the next contest in a few minutes.
This week's winners are:
goingtoreadnow
Michelle
Midia
Congrats to everyone who won a copy of Dark Designs. It's a great story and I hope you all enjoy it. I'll announce the next contest in a few minutes.
October 10, 2012
week two contest
So last week we had vampires. This week, I'm thinking things that go bump in the night. And nothing goes bump in the night like the Darkness, from Dark Designs.
As before, everyone has until next Tuesday night to enter the contest. Just drop me an e-mail at l_prieto @ att.net. I highly recommend all of my work, but especially this one. DD is a pretty awesome story.
To whet your appetites, please check out the Interludes. One day I'll lengthen them out. Right now they're up on my site, free to read. My favorite one is Cynwolf's.
As before, everyone has until next Tuesday night to enter the contest. Just drop me an e-mail at l_prieto @ att.net. I highly recommend all of my work, but especially this one. DD is a pretty awesome story.
To whet your appetites, please check out the Interludes. One day I'll lengthen them out. Right now they're up on my site, free to read. My favorite one is Cynwolf's.
