Genevive Chamblee's Blog, page 53
January 17, 2018
Sweet Creole Taste
Often, I’m asked how can someone not living in the area experience Creole culture. One of the best ways is by eating authentic Creole dishes. In a such a busy world, many people do not have the time to prepare some of the more complicated dishes of Creole cuisine. And for those with the time, they may not have the money to purchase all the ingredients. In older days, people lived off the land. They grew vegetables, raised livestock, hunted wild game, and fished from the ponds, bayous, and oceans. They didn’t live in a society that many need to comparison and ad-match shop in grocery stores and supermarkets. However, this does not mean all is lost. Here are three simple Creole desserts guaranteed to delight tastes buds, get one out of the kitchen in a jiffy, and not bust the piggy bank wide open.
Creole Fluff
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pint heavy whipping cream
6 tablespoons molasses (dark)
Pour whipping cream into a medium-sized bowl. Whisk in cinnamon. Slowly add molasses into the cream while continuing to whisk. Whisk until the cream comes to a firm peak. Spoon the mixture into bowls and eat immediately
Pralines
4 tablespoons butter (salted)
2 cups sugar (granulated)
2 cups brown sugar (light)
1 cup cream (light)
2 cups pecans (halved)
Grease a baking sheet with a nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Combine cream and sugar in a heavy saucepan. Over medium heat, allow the mixture to come to a boil. Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature. Allow the mixture to reach 228 degrees. Stir in pecans and butter. Stir constantly while allowing the temperature to reach 236 degrees. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for approximately five minutes. Stir lightly to ensure the mixture covers the pecans sufficiently. With a spoon, place the pecans on the greased cookie sheet. Allow to cool. NOTE: If stored properly in a jar or ten, pralines will stay good for several weeks.
Stuffed Figs
Figs
Marshmallows
This recipe requires one marshmallow for each fig. However, that also depends on the size of the figs and the size of the marshmallows.
Place the figs in warm water. Allow them to remain in the water for approximately sixty minutes. After the allotted time has elapsed, remove the figs and pat dry. Using a knife, split the figs. Stuff a marshmallow in each fig. Serve at room temperature.
Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feels free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.
My new book, Out of the Penalty Box, a fiction romance is now available for pre-order at bargain price at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be preordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Also, my paranormal romance short story “Under the Magnolia” in Haunted Hearts (Holiday Heartwarmers 4th vol.) is available for purchase. It can be read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Find it on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2Ab706S.
Copies of all my books are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click on http://bit.ly/2zJjUdb and signup today.
If you enjoy reading this blog, please share it with your friends and family. There’s never too many people in the bayou.
January 10, 2018
Gumbo No-No
Gumbo is one of Creoles’ and Cajuns’ most beloved dishes. There are hundreds of gumbo recipes ranging from simple to complex. Some recipes call for four to five ingredients (although, I don’t know many that call for that few) while others require up to twenty if not more. It is because of the large discrepancy in recipes that many may hold the belief that anything can go in gumbo. Well, I’m here to tell you: No the hell not! As a gumbo-loving Creole, there are some ingredients that are pure sacrilege to put in gumbo. So, here’s my list of the top ingredients not to put in gumbo.
**Disclaimer: these are my personal preferences. I’m sure not everyone will agree with me.**
Pop Tarts. Now, this may seem like common sense, and honestly, I’d never heard of such a travesty. Then, one day sure enough, there was a photo of a Pop Tart stuck in the gumbo. Don’t do this. This just isn’t right. Let me express this in my best Tom Hanks’ League of Their Own voice. There’s no Pop Tarts in gumbo.
Eggs. Oh boy. Let me channel Ricky Ricardo. Aye yai yai. I’m clueless where this originated or who thought it was a good idea, but someone did. And actually, I think maybe, including this ingredient has a bigger following than I thought. This consists of cooking the gumbo, bringing it to a rolling boil, then cracking a raw egg into a stirring spoon that is held atop the gumbo. The spoon is lowered slowly, just slightly breaching the surface of the gumbo. I supposed this is to allow the gumbo to flavor the egg. Who knows? I don’t, and frankly, I’m not trying to figure it out. In any case, the egg is held in this position for several minutes. Basically, the gumbo poaches the egg. Once poached, the egg is dumped into the gumbo. Now, there’s also another way to add eggs, and that’s simply to add the egg whole and allow it to boil in the gumbo. I believe that may be a more traditional “egg gumbo”.
Skittles. Come on now! I bet some of you are reading this and thinking I’m joking. Unfortunately, I am not. I had the bad luck of seeing this in person. Now, don’t get me wrong. Skittles are a great candy—just not in gumbo. Doing this is an injustice on two fronts: to the candy and to the gumbo. This should be illegal.
Miscellaneous four-legged animals with teeth. This is so disgusting that I’m not going to even bother discussing it. I’m just going to leave it here as is.
Beets. I don’t know where to start with this one. I suppose it’s not as atrocious as other ingredients but no. All I can guess is that maybe someone got a beet confused with a red onion. I don’t know how, but it’s possible. I don’t know what you’re cooking by including beets, but it sure the heck ain’t gumbo.
Peter Piper picked a peck of … pumpernickel. At first, when I heard this, I was like “okay, it’s replacing the rice”. I could maybe see that a little bit. (I’m very tolerant.) But that’s not how the pumpernickel was being used. It was being added while cooking. Now, anyone with any knowledge of physics or chemistry would know why not to add a bread to a gumbo while cooking. Can I say soggy mess? It doesn’t even make for a dumpling texture.
I’m going to get into trouble for this next one but I’m adding it anyway. Nutria. I get it. Some people like eating nutria. Some say it’s no different than eating beaver, possum, or coon. Okay. I don’t eat those things, either, but I find them somewhat more palatable than nutria. I’m sorry. I just can’t do it. Nutria is on my list of don’ts, and it’s going to stay that way. I apologize to all the nutria gumbo lovers, but yuck!
The next ingredient isn’t a no, but it made my list because it can be a pain. Undeboned chicken. Some people say the bones help add flavor, and I’m not going to argue with that. The problem I find with it is that I don’t like picking out the bones, especially the breast bones. It’s pretty much the same when adding crab in the shell and having to pick out the shells as one eats. It’s annoying. Of course, I suppose one could eat the shells and bones.
The next on my list is not an added an ingredient but an omitted ingredient. Okraless gumbo. Not everyone likes okra. What’s weird to me is that when people say they made gumbo but left out the okra is that that word “gumbo” literally means “okra” is West African. It’s where the recipe derived its name. So, if there is no okra, is it really gumbo? Call it soup maybe.
Hot dogs. Who ever? Maybe I’m too eccentric and old-fashioned but hot dogs in gumbo don’t seem right. I understand that the tradition of gumbo started by the people being resourceful and using ingredients available to them. Perhaps hot dogs are what is available to most people now. In this tough economy, I’m not going to knock anyone for cutting back and trying to save a penny. But hot dog is an ingredient I can’t wrap my head around.
Cauliflower. Okay, I’m going to admit bias here. I don’t typically like cauliflower anyway, so putting it in my gumbo is just an added no.
Deer tamales. This one made me say, “Do what?” First, I don’t believe tamales and gumbo should be used in the same sentence. But many people do make venison gumbo. So, I’m going to assume the deer tamale thing is a spin on the venison version. So, I’ll give this one a pass, but I’m leaving it on the list because it sounds weird. “Hey, Molly, make me a bowl of that deer tamale gumbo.” Nope, just doesn’t sound right to me.
Orange slices. A friend served this at a Christmas party because she thought it was festive. The only thing festive about that dish was the bowl it was served in.
Veined shrimp. Back in the day that I could eat shrimp before I developed my nasty little allergy of anaphylactic shock, I used to love shrimp. I still think back fondly and am very jealous of those who can still enjoy shellfish without a trip to the ER … or possibly to the morgue. But the one thing that I never enjoyed then was having the vein left in the shrimp. It took away the flavor, and aesthetically, it looked less appealing. So, add the shrimp but devein it first.
That is my list. If you have a gumbo no-no, leave me a comment.
Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feels free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.
My new book, Out of the Penalty Box, a fiction romance is now available for pre-order at bargain price at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be preordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Also, my paranormal romance short story “Under the Magnolia” in Haunted Hearts (Holiday Heartwarmers 4th vol.) is available for purchase. It can be read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Find it on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2Ab706S.
Copies of all my books are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click on http://bit.ly/2zJjUdb and signup today.
If you enjoy reading this blog, please share it with your friends and family. There’s never too many people in the bayou.
January 6, 2018
The Pirates Are Coming
It’s January and everything is about to get bouncing here in the bayou. As promised, I have lots happening this year, and I want to share those things here. Well, here’s one of the first. A couple of months ago, I announce that my story “Cargo” had been accepted for publication. It will be included in the anthology, Pirates: Boys Behaving Badly #3. Being accepted for publication is thrilling in and of itself, but what is more thrilling is that the anthology it is included in is edited by the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Ms. Delilah Devlin.
Now, for those of you unfamiliar with Delilah Devlin, she knows a thing or two about romance and bringing the steam to steamy. She has published over 140 stories and won multiple awards. Visit her website at www.deliahdevlin.com.
As the name denotes: Pirates: Boys Behaving Badly #3 is the third installment of an anthology of short stories about pirates who are … well, being pirates. These aren’t the boy next door that one takes home to mama. However, if readers are expecting the entire anthology to be “Aye aye, mateys,” readers would be wrong. In this anthology, the pirates break the mold. There is sci-fi, steampunk, and contemporary pirates thrown into the mix of traditional. But the one thing they all have in common: none of them behave. What pirate does?
My story “Cargo” centers around Jasper, who is captain of the Fauna. Jasper considers himself as an environmental pirate is protector and defender of the sea. But protecting and defending doesn’t come cheap. He and his crew have to get paid, and sometimes, well, he has to alleviate others in order to receive his paycheck. Their latest job is that the crew has been commissioned to retrieve cargo from the Sea Lily. The gig seems simple enough until the crew realizes what the Sea Lily’s cargo is. Now, instead of Jasper stealing a ship, he’s at risk of having his heart stolen.
Warning: This is a very steamy read meant for adult and mature readers. It packs in a lot of heat and handling it without gloves could be dangerous.
“Cargo” was a very fun and exciting story for me to write. It challenged me to once again push boundaries, and everyone who knows me knows how I love a challenge and pushing boundaries. It also was an opportunity too good to pass. I am delighted to be published along aside so many other fantastic writers. The anthology is teeming with writing talent. Check it out. It’s loads of pirating, scandalous fun.
Pirates: Boys Behaving Badly #3 is scheduled to be released this month. That’s right, January 2018, Pirates: Boys Behaving Badly #3 will go live. For purchases, visit my Amazon author page at www.amazon.com/author/genevivechamblee or my Goodreads author page at www.goodreads.com/Creole_Girl. Of course, as always, I’ll have updates and links to it on Creole Bayou (www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com) as well. If you do grab a copy, leave me a review and let me know what you think.
Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feels free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.
My new book, Out of the Penalty Box, a fiction romance is now available for pre-order at a bargain price at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be preordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Also, my paranormal romance short story “Under the Magnolia” in Haunted Hearts (Holiday Heartwarmers 4th vol.) is available for purchase. It can be read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Find it on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2Ab706S.
Copies of all my books are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click on http://bit.ly/2zJjUdb and signup today.
If you enjoy reading this blog, please share it with your friends and family. There’s never too many people in the bayou.
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January 5, 2018
Life’s Roux – Meet Hubb
It’s time for me to introduce the co-star of Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors. He’s a bit of an introvert, but he can’t be quite forever. So, here he is.
Name: Hubele Faustin Mercier (Nickname: Hubb)
Age: 31
General physical description: Cajun
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Type of home/ neighborhood: Blue collar, hardworking, backbone of America
Relationship status: Never married and scorned on relationships
Family background: Large and very close-knit.
Friends: He’s closest to his brothers
Other close relationships: Hubb values his privacy and is Introverted
Relationship with women: What relationship? He’s sworn them off years ago.
Job: Mechanic and Landscape Architect
Dress style: Casual, comfortable, and whatever is in his closet
Religion: Roman Catholic
Attitude to religion: Let’s just say there’s a good thing he believes in confession
Favorite pastimes: Pastime? Cars and sports, particularly SEC football
Hobbies: Art
Favorite sports: Athletics
Favorite foods: Meat and potatoes. He isn’t picky.
Strongest positive personality trait: Sense of justice and fairness
Strongest negative personality trait: He can be inflexible at times
Sense of humor: Dry wit and brutal. But make him laugh and it’s a beautiful thing.
Temper: Don’t tick him off.
Consideration for others: He won’t admit it, but yes
How other people see him: Stubborn and aloof
Opinion of himself: Honest
Ambitions: To make an honest living.
Philosophy of life: Karma will catch up with everyone
The most important thing to know about this character: His bite is much worse than his bark.
Visit http://www.eredsage.com/store for contact details, review copies, photos, and an author bio.
Website: www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/genevivechamblee
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/genevivechambleeauthor
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To order Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, visit http://www.eredsage.com/store.
Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feels free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.
My new book, Out of the Penalty Box, a fiction romance is now available for order at a bargain price at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered from iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Don’t have much time for reading or in a hurry? Check out my microfic, “Country Club Charades” in Fake For You at https://www.hottreepublishing.com/fla... that also was released this week.
My steamy short story “Cargo” in Pirates: Boys Behaving Badly Anthology #3 is available for purchase. Find it at http://amzn.to/2DV5btz.
Also, my paranormal romance short story “Under the Magnolia Tree” in Haunted Hearts (Holiday Heartwarmers 4th vol.) is available for purchase. It can be read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Find it on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2Ab706S.
Copies of all my books are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click on http://bit.ly/2zJjUdb and signup today.
If you enjoy reading this blog, please share it with your friends and family. There’s never too many people in the bayou.
January 4, 2018
Life’s Roux – Meet Lexi
Today is the first Wednesday of the month, which means this is my writing post for #IWSG. So far, 2018 has been an electric year but it’s only going to get more lit. With the release of Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors happening this week and Pirates: Boys Behaving Badly Anthology #3 and Out of the Penalty Box both on schedule to be released soon, I must expect to see a lot happening in the bayou. So, this writing post is going to slightly different than my other writing posts in that I’m going to talk about both the writing process and my book release.
Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors was long in the making, and as a writer, it was one of those projects that at times it seemed easier to abandon than to complete. Not that I don’t have complete confidence in the story, but sometimes the vision in the mind is very difficult to get on paper. I had several snags with computer issues off of the charts. One of the most important things a writer can do is bag up everything constantly. Flash drives, CD-Rom, and the Cloud are an author’s best friend.
Also, sitting a manuscript aside for a while does not mean the death of it. This can be a very good thing–like a very good roux, allowing all the flavoring and seasoning to marinate and blend. And speaking of roux…
Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors is the story of businesswoman Lexi Beaudeur, and blue-collar worker Hubb Mercier. Lexi is too busy for romance, and Hubb is too nonsense for it. Lexi meets Hubb when she enters the wrong hotel door at the destination wedding of her BFF who has a propensity for trouble. When things grow out-of-control, Lexi seeks help from Hubb who is reluctant to become involved, and the price they pay is higher than either expects.
So, let’s meet Lexi.
Name: Alexandria Lauren Beaudeur (Nickname: Lexi)
Age: Never ask a lady her age
General physical description: Creole
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Type of home/ neighborhood: Old money areas like Steele Boulevard
Relationship status: Single with a dog, Never married (Lexi’s never been married, either)
Family background: Her parents are happily married, and she has one sister. Due to travel and work, she rarely sees her family. They aren’t estranged, but she doesn’t always inform them of what is going on her life. However, she does strive to make them proud. She’s smart and ivy school educated.
Friends: Melissa is her BFF
Other close relationships:
Relationship with men: Complex
Relationship with women: There are those who love
Job: She’s CEO in the family business
Dress style: Professional
Religion: Roman Catholic
Attitude to religion: Practicing, tolerant, non-pushy, still a sinner
Favorite pastimes: Pastime? Who has pastime? She works 25 hours a day. Yes, that’s correct 25.
Hobbies: Workaholics don’t have hobbies
Favorite sports: Football, of course
Favorite foods: Chocolate, beignets
Strongest positive personality trait: Caring
Strongest negative personality trait: Bossy
Sense of humor: It’s there—one just has to find it.
Temper: Patient and tolerant
Consideration for others: Always, it’s her thing
How other people see her: stuffy
Opinion of herself: Respectable
Ambitions: To uphold the family name
Philosophy of life: Maintain order
The most important thing to know about Lexi: Be careful not to stereotype. She will surprise others.
To order Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, visit http://www.eredsage.com/store.
Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feels free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.
Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, my steamy romantic comedy, is available at Red Sage Publishing. To order, follow the link to http://bit.ly/2CtE7Ez or to Amazon at http://amzn.to/2lCQXpt.
Don’t have much time for reading or in a hurry? Check out my microfic, “Country Club Charades” in Fake For You at https://www.hottreepublishing.com/fla... that also was released this week.
My new book, Out of the Penalty Box, a fiction romance is now available for order at a bargain price at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered from iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
My steamy short story “Cargo” in Pirates: Boys Behaving Badly Anthology #3 is available for purchase. Find it at http://amzn.to/2DV5btz.
Also, my paranormal romance short story “Under the Magnolia Tree” in Haunted Hearts (Holiday Heartwarmers 4th vol.) is available for purchase. It can be read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Find it on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2Ab706S.
Copies of all my books are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click on http://bit.ly/2zJjUdb and signup today.
If you enjoy reading this blog, please share it with your friends and family. There’s never too many people in the bayou.
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The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
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Visit http://www.eredsage.com/store for contact details, review copies, photos, and an author bio.
Website: www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/genevivechamblee
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/genevivechambleeauthor
January 3, 2018
Helpful Guide to Venture into the World of Anthology Contribution (How-To)
Let’s face it: breaking into the writing world can be difficult. It’s an overcrowded market where few are noticed. Traditional publishers focus mainly on their high-profile clients while self-publishing still holds a stigma (although that is changing) of not being authentic. This in part is due to vanity presses, and the poor quality (amateur cover art, poor grammar, lack of editing, etc.) of some (not all) self-published novels. Agents are hard to acquire, and many writers abandon the traditional routes or tire of waiting and decide to carve their own path. Some writers find one way to do this is have their work published in an anthology.
An anthology is a published collection or assortment of music/songs, poems, stories, and/or literary works. A new or unestablished writer may find anthologies appealing because they give writers a way to establish writing credits and build a following. Being published in an anthology financially may be more viable than attempting to independently self-publishing. But before publishing in an anthology, there are many important considerations a writer should ask himself/herself.
Before beginning, there are several disclaimers I want to make. First, this post is not to bash anthologies. Anthologies are great. The reason for my writing this solely is to help new writers make informed choices. After working diligently but getting nowhere then having an opportunity to publish in an anthology might make a writer pounce on the chance. But stopping for a moment to consider before rushing into an agreement may be the best thing a writer can do for his/her career.
Second, this post is for writers seeking to publish in an anthology with other writers and not for writers who are planning to publish a collection of their own works. Some of the considerations listed herein may be useful for a writer who simply is compiling a list of his/her writings to create an anthology. If so, wonderful. However, most will be useful to those writers who are submitting stories or poems to anthologies that will host other writers.
Third, this list of considerations is not all-inclusive. There are plenty more questions that could and should be asked. Feel free to add to this list in the comment sections. Also, this list is in no particular order of importance. Not every consideration will apply to every writer or to every anthology.
Now, with the housekeeping out of the way, let’s get started.
How well does the writer know the other writers in the anthology? This is important for many reasons. First, as a writer one probably has spent months perfecting his/her story or poem and may have invested money for professional editing if this service wasn’t provided by the publisher of the anthology. One would hope, every work is a quality piece free of glaring grammatical errors and typos. But is it? Have the other contributing writers invested in their own work to make it top quality?
Are the other writers dedicated to helping market the anthology, or will they sit back and allow one or a handful of writers do all marketing footwork? Has a marketing plan been discussed as a group, or is each writer expected to develop a plan? Profits from sales are split. How will one writer feel if he/she learns that he/she is spending several hours daily marketing and is generating sales only to have those funds divided with other writers who have done nothing in the way of marketing.’
How big are the fanbases of the other writers? How long have they been writing? How many published works do they have? Will publishing in this anthology help expose the writer’s work to a broader audience? Some new writers or lesser known writers may not have much of a following. If this is the case, they may benefit from being in an anthology with well-established writers. However, for a more established writer, the benefits may be less.
How many authors will be contributing? This isn’t something that only affects financial payout and exposure. It also may affect purchases. For example, say there are sixty contributors. There may be so many writers included in the anthology that it makes a print book extremely expensive. Expensive books from new authors is never a good thing. Furthermore, there may be so many writers included that a reader may not realize a particular writer has contributed. An author may become lost in the vast number in the anthology. Furthermore, if the stories in the beginning of the anthology fail to impress or disinterest readers, they may stop reading and never get to the stories in the rear of the book.
Are the fanbases of the other contributing writers close to the writer’s targeted audience? This may be of lesser importance, but it’s still something to consider. Suppose many of the contributing writers are SF and have a large following but one writer is historical romance. The SF writers’ readers may not be interested in reading a historical romance. Thus, they may pass over the story—or worse, write a negative review because they disliked it. One may question how a scenario like this could occur since all anthologies are genre-related. However, that is not the case. Some anthologies are themed based with works in multiple genres. This could be positive in that it may attract readers who normally wouldn’t be exposed to more than one genre.
Additionally, a writer will need to ask if being published besides other writers will hurt his/her reputation or brand. What is this all about? Say, for example, one author writes children or Christian fiction. If the anthology has adult erotica, the child author or Christian author may be criticized and experience difficulties with future publishing in the child or Christian realm. Instead of enticing new followers, it may alienate established followers.
Are there famous authors in the anthology? This is definitely a plus when considering exposure. However, it also means readers may have high expectations and compare to the other authors. Is a writer prepared to have his/her work compared to the other contributing authors?
How well does the publisher communicate with writers? Is a contract involved? Are the terms clear? How are payments divided? Is a payment plan schedule listed? Have there been complains of writers not getting paid? How is payment made? Who retains the rights and ownership of the content? Ask the writers who have published in the anthology or with the publisher. Look on the website to see if they list the contract terms or have a sample contract provided. Many publishers will have this listed somewhere on their site.
Will publishing in an anthology limit what or how a writer can use his/her characters in future works? For example, suppose a writer creates a story about a character named Captain Xavier Potter, and this character is a mutant wizard superhero with a shield that must save the world from a facially disfigured villain. (Yes, I went there.) The writer may want to use this character in a series of adventure books. Will having this character in an anthology prevent future use of this character by having exclusive use for the duration of publication? (It is important to read the contracts carefully.) If later the writer wants to pitch this series to another publisher, is this other publisher willing to accept not having a completed series sort to speak.
What is the qualification/expertise of the publisher? Is the publisher competent? How many anthologies have the publisher printed? How long has the publisher been in business? What is the publisher’s reputation? Will the publisher ensure that the final product is a quality product? Will the publisher orchestrate an overall marketing plan? Have there been complaints from readers? Answering these questions can save a ton of headaches. Research, research, research. Avoid being scammed or having your hard work being published in a place that it is doomed for failure.
Are there fees that publisher will require to be paid (e.g., monies towards cover art, promotion, printing, copyright, etc.). Some fees that a small-press publisher ask may be legitimate. Just because a publisher asks for payment does not mean it is a scam. The best way to determine if the fees are legitimate is if the publisher makes a full disclosure upfront of these fees and provide details of how the funds will be used. For example, a small-press or indie publisher may ask each participating writer to split the cost of a book trailer. It would be a one-time fee and a specific, reasonable amount. Another good rule of thumb when answering these questions is the ask other writers and research the publisher. It is important for a writer to make a distinction between what are fees from a legitimate publisher and what is a vanity press. Basically, with a vanity press, writers pay to be published. If one is unsure of what a vanity press is, by all means, do not use the Wikipedia definition, as it lists self-publishers, publishers-on-demand (POD), and vanity publishers as one entity. Instead, search sites like Writers Beware for a more accurate definition.
Another closely related consider is if the anthology call for submission truly legit or is it the waste of a writer’s time? Some anthologies are published by groups of friends. There’s nothing fraudulent about that. But sometimes, this can be a shady way for a select group to make money at the expense of others. For example, an anthology is slated to publish ten short stories and has an open call for submissions. What isn’t revealed is that seven of the ten slots are already filled with the publisher’s buddies. The “open call” is an underhanded way to generate interest and advertise the publication to hopeful participants. The publisher might “suggest” that previous volumes of the anthology or the works of writers (the publisher’s friends) be read (and the only way to read them is to purchase them) in order for the hopeful participate to familiarize himself/herself with the general types of works accepted in the anthology for publication. If the same writers are appearing in every volume of the anthology, writers making submissions may want to ask why that is. It could be that these writers are top-notched, and their writings simply outshine all of the competition. Or it could be that some anthologies have an automatic inclusion of some writers. There’s nothing unethical or deceitful about that policy. It only becomes questionable when it is presented/advertised that all submissions will be weighed and measured equally.
Will the time and effort spent writing and marketing for the anthology be better spent working on an individual/solo project/book? Writers are busy, and the writing process can be time-consuming. After weighing the pros and cons of anthology publishing, some writers might find that their better interest is completing their novel or constructing their own anthology.
Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feels free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads.
Copies of all my books are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, my steamy romantic comedy which was released this week, is available at Red Sage Publishing. To order, follow the link to http://bit.ly/2CtE7Ez or to Amazon at http://amzn.to/2lCQXpt.
My new book, Out of the Penalty Box, a fiction romance is now available for pre-order at a bargain price at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be preordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Don’t have much time for reading or in a hurry? Check out my microfic, “Country Club Charades” in Fake For You at https://www.hottreepublishing.com/fla... that also was released this week.
My steamy short story “Cargo” in Pirates: Boys Behaving Badly Anthology #3 is available for purchase. Find it at http://amzn.to/2DV5btz.
Also, my paranormal romance short story “Under the Magnolia Tree” in Haunted Hearts (Holiday Heartwarmers 4th vol.) is available for purchase. It can be read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Find it on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2Ab706S.
Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click on http://bit.ly/2zJjUdb and signup today. I have lots of exciting news to come.
If you enjoy reading this blog, please share it with your friends and family. There’s never too many people in the bayou.
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January 2, 2018
It’s getting close – #OotPB
Happy New Year!!!
I’m excited to announce that today will begin my series of special blogs in celebration of my upcoming release of Out of the Penalty Box. All month, I will be making posts giving sneak peeks and little surprises that I hope each of you will enjoy.
As I’ve said frequently, Out of the Penalty has been a labor of love. It has taken a village to make it a reality, and I’m proud to have made it to the finish line. It’s slightly different from my usual style but in the same spirit. As always, I’ve stuck to my southern, Creole, and Cajun roots. Read closely, and you may find an Easter egg or two hidden.
If after reading, you like the book, please let me know. I’d love to hear from you. Even if you didn’t enjoy it, I still would appreciate the feedback. Thank you all for being supportive of my blog and my books.
You can purchases Out of the Penalty Box at the following links.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2hXOJn8
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2hNaEcW
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2iJwYVo
iTunes: http://apple.co/2zXFie7
Nook: http://bit.ly/2AqIxvq
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zrLBXR
Copies of all my books are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click on http://bit.ly/2zJjUdb and signup today.
If you enjoy reading this blog, please share it with your friends and family. There’s never too many people in the bayou.
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January 1, 2018
Book Release- Life’s Roux
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
It’s a New Year, and I’m kicking it off with my first surprise for 2018. Celebrate it with me. Yes, it is the release of Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, the steamy contemporary multicultural romantic comedy. Be prepared to laugh.
Visit http://www.eredsage.com/store for contact details, review copies, photos, and an author bio.
Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors
Author Genevive Chamblee makes beach vacation even steamier
Sometimes entering the wrong door is right
Hubb Mercier is minding his own business when a customer walks into his garage on Christmas Eve with car repair he wants yesterday. Only the customer doesn’t have cash and Hubb is paid months later with an expense paid vacation in Palm Beach, Florida. What is supposed to be two weeks of relaxation turns into a dubious scheme when he opens his doors to two beautiful women. He’s left wondering how he got himself into the mess, and even more, how is he going to find his way out. Read what this Cajun and Creole get up to when they leave the bayous of Louisiana.
Links
Website: www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/genevivechamblee
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/genevivechambleeauthor
Red Sage Publishers: http://www.eredsage.com/store
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December 27, 2017
Year’s End
As 2017 comes to a close, I look back on Creole Bayou with fondness. Thank you to all my readers for your support throughout the year. You each have been a blessing.
This year I’ve seen the publication of four short stories: “Valentine Mistletoe”, “Oasis Haze”, “Under the Magnolia”, and “Harmonious Variations”. Each of these was fun to write and challenged me to explore my writing style and creativity. Out of these, although I cannot choose a favorite, I think Oasis Haze was the most shocking and experimental for me. Therefore, it always will be special in a different way for me.
Creole Bayou underwent a major overhaul, and it continues to grow and improve daily. I cannot say there haven’t been bumps in the road, but they’ve been worth it. As the saying goes: anything difficult is worth the struggle.
Additionally, a set day (Wednesday) for my weekly blog was set, and everyone seems to be satisfied with that choice. I’ve met some awesome writers, and participated in awesome challenges. I’ve also learned so much from readers and research in not only the technicalities of blogging but in the content of my subjects. There are so many wonderful stories out there, and I wish I could share each one. Speaking of which…
If you happen to have a story that you would like me to tell on my blog or be interviewed in a post, please contact me. As I’ve said in previous posts, some subjects are more sensitive and require a great deal of time to develop. I have not forgotten about these topics or placed them on the back burner. I just want to have them correct when I do post. Thanks to each of you for bearing with me in this matter.
In 2018, I’m looking forward to the publications of my novels, Out of the Penalty Box and Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors. Also, scheduled for release is my short story “Cargo”. Other projects are underway, and yes, “the beast” is still one of them. I haven’t talked about it because it has a big bite. It also has a cousin. But I am determined to tame them both, and when I do, I will announce it first here. Other projects are planned and in progress, but it’s too premature to mention any of them.
To close out this year with my regular weekly blog post, I thought it was fitting to toast it with some traditional Creole and Cajun spirits. Again, thank you all and hope to see each of you in the new year. Psst… I do already have something special planned.
Milk Punch
2 ounces bourbon ½ oz powdered sugar (sifted)
1 ounce brandy ¼ ounce vanilla extract
1 ounce rum (dark) ⅛ ounce nutmeg
1 ounce half & half ice
1 ounce milk (cold)
Fill a mixing glass three-quarters full with ice. Over the ice pour the bourbon, brandy, rum, half & half, and milk, and powdered sugar. Vigorously, shake for approximately 45 seconds or until chilled. Add nutmeg and shake again for approximately an additional ten seconds. Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice. Drink and enjoy.
Hurricane
2 ounces rum (dark) 1 ounce pomegranate juice
2 ounces rum (light) ¼ teaspoon corn syrup
2 ounces passion fruit juice 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (sifted)
1 ounce lime juice Orange slices
1 ounce orange juice Maraschino cherries
Fill a mixing glass approximately three-quarters full with ice. Ove the ice, pour the rum (dark and light), passion fruit juice, lime juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice, and corn syrup into the mixing glass. Shake vigorously approximately thirty seconds. Add the powdered sugar and shake again for approximately an additional ten seconds. Pour into a glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feels free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.
My new book, Out of the Penalty Box, a fiction romance is now available for pre-order at a bargain price at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be preordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Also, my paranormal romantic short story “Under the Magnolia” in Haunted Hearts (Holiday Heartwarmers 4th vol.) is available for purchase. It can be read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Find it on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2Ab706S.
Copies of all my books are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click on http://bit.ly/2zJjUdb and signup today.
If you enjoy reading this blog, please share it with your friends and family. There’s never too many people in the bayou.
December 25, 2017
Christmas Music
If you’re like me, the holiday season can be a mixture of emotions—stress, sadness, joy, anger, frustration, hope—and make one feel like he/she is riding a multipolar rollercoaster. I’m stressed due to having to make travel plans and dealing with getting time off from work, shopping and the decision of what to buy for gifts, decorating and figuring out which light on the string is causing it not to illuminate, sadness due to the loved ones no longer here on this earth and dying traditions/Christmas spirit I see in the town, anger due to unappreciative people and the rudeness displayed by some, frustration from the sheer commercialism and long lines to purchase junk, and hope for more prosperous future. Well, by Christmas Day, I’ve run the gauntlet of emotions and am all “emotioned” out. All I want to do is chill in front of the tv and decompress. And if your cable situation is like mine, you’ll find limited view choices of every horrible rendition of Charles Dickerson’s a Christmas Carol or a marathon of A Christmas Story, which I hate. I really wanted him to shoot out more than his eye. I always find myself desperate for something to watch.
When I turn to the internet on Christmas Day, I find that most of my friends are offline, celebrating with family and there’s not much trending other than best wishes for season’s greetings. Surely, I can’t be alone in this dilemma. So, I thought I’d do my part and provide a chuckle for holiday reading pleasure by creating a list (if Santa can do it, why can’t I?) of Christmas songs and how they fit into my life. I do actually love Christmas music and caroling; although, I’ve never gone caroling, which is a good thing since I sound like a frog with indigestion. If nothing else, reading this list will kill about ten minutes (and hopefully no brain cells).
So, without further ado, here are my Christmas songs picks.
My favorite Christmas song: I can’t pick just one here. The First Noel and O Holy Night
My most annoying Christmas song: Jingle Bell Rock but Holly Jolly Christmas comes a close second.
My most emotional Christmas song: Silent Night
My most uplifting Christmas song: Hark the Herald Angel Sing
The Christmas song that always brings tears to my eyes: This is a tie between Blue Christmas and Please Come Home for Christmas
The Christmas song that to embodies the spirit of Christmas: This is another tie. Do They Know It’s Christmas? and O Come, O Come Emmanuel
The most provocative Christmas Song: Santa Baby performed by Eartha Kitt
The best Christmas song in a movie: All I Want For Christmas in Love Actually
The Christmas song that holds the most memories for me: Ava Maria. This may not exactly be a Christmas song, but there’s a story behind this. A few years ago, my daughter was asked to perform at a church ceremony. Many parishioners had no idea that she played an instrument. Her performance had such an impact that she was invited to perform at the church’s Christmas concert where she played, you guessed it, Ava Maria on the flute and accompanied by a piano. It was very lovely and special. I cherish it in my heart.
The Christmas song that I think is overplayed: Jingle Bells
The Christmas song that makes me go “hmm”: Mary, Did You Know I’m uncertain if this is considered a Christmas song. But what makes me go “hmm” about this song is how it originated for me. Several years ago, this song apparently was performed by a singer on American Idol. I don’t know the singer’s name, as this occurred years after I had stopped watching. At work the following day, my coworkers were raving about it and pulled it up the video on the internet. That was the first time I’d ever heard the song. I wasn’t that impressed, which cast me in the minority. Since then, I hear it all the time as the trendy Christmas song. It has sprung up everywhere, and, quite frankly, it’s scary. Musically, it is an extremely challenging song and no one every singer can perform—but obviously, they think they can. High-pitched children squeal it at the top of their vocal cords. Church choirs jazz it up with their out-of-tune pianos. Soloists struggle through it with voice cracks. Every time I hear the intro music to this, I cringe, fearing a Forrest Gump moment of not knowing what I’m going to get. I don’t dislike this song, but if I never heard it again, it wouldn’t be too soon.
The song that it isn’t Christmas without hearing: First, I must tell the story behind this. In my home, we have some very bad Christmas traditions. By bad, I mean traditions that should end. One is that of breaking ornaments. It isn’t intentional; yet, it happens without fail. And it’s passed down through the generations like there’s no escaping it. It doesn’t matter how careful we are, something is bound to get destroyed. Even the plastic ones. And don’t say unbreakable or indestructible. (Remember what people said about the Titanic?) Don’t ask me how because it’s baffling. One year, when we thought we’d managed to escape the curse, my father bumped into the Christmas tree with the latter after placing the star on top. It knocked off nearly ornament. Crash. Bam. Boom. When we hear shattering, we know it’s officially the Christmas season. However, before we can make that declaration, one other thing must happen.
My father had an old radio in a built-in cabinet that looked like it was from the 1930s. (My family still owns it.) The only time that radio was played was at Christmas while decorating the tree (perhaps to drown the sound of smashing ornaments) and tuned in to a local radio station. Since it was in another room, the volume was elevated to a ghastly level. Many Christmas songs by various artists were played on this station, intermixed with popular tunes of the day. But the one song always played by the same artist was Silent Night by the Temptations. Usually, it was one of the first Christmas songs we heard. Since my father’s death, that radio hasn’t been played. However, I still don’t consider it Christmas until I hear the Temptations’ Silent Night on the radio. And yes, it has to be the radio. Part of the magic was hearing it wasn’t orchestrated. So, this part of the tradition isn’t bad because it makes me think of my father. But the ornaments … Oy!
And that is my Christmas song list. Merry Christmas! Season’s Greetings! Happy Holidays!
Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feels free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. If you create your own song list, tag me. I’d love to read it. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.
My new book, Out of the Penalty Box, a fiction romance is now available for pre-order at a bargain price at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be preordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Also, my paranormal romance short story “Under the Magnolia” in Haunted Hearts (Holiday Heartwarmers 4th vol.) is available for purchase. It can be read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Find it on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2Ab706S.
Copies of all my books are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click on http://bit.ly/2zJjUdb and signup today.
If you enjoy reading this blog, please share it with your friends and family. There’s never too many people in the bayou.
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