Mary Quast's Blog, page 15

#Thursday13 - Quotes from Crow Magic

  I've taken todays list from my book Crow Magic.   1.“Well, well. What do we have here? Why, it’s the poster boy for the rich and flashy cowboys. Where’s your hat?” he teased. “Don’t you think you’re too…shiny?”  2.“I don’t wear a hat and I happen to prefer shiny, thank you very much. I merely planned on a comfortable night of gambling here in Las Vegas.”  3.“The Crow is a carrier of souls from darkness into light and defeats fear in the shadows. He is a keeper of spiritual law.” Her breath caught in her throat and she lifted her eyes to meet his black, glassy stare. “I wish I could keep you with me always and you could shield me from my own fears lurking in the shadows of my mind.”  4. “You have been a mouse too long.” He whispered to the wind, “It is time to let the fiery angel fly. Trust me. Believe in me. I will show you how to soar.”  5.“Your skin is the blush of the palest flower.” He inhaled. “Hmm…I smell honeysuckle. You have the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen. It is so vibrant with fierce, turbulent colors. Inside you is an inferno of sexuality yearning to be released. My angel, come with me into the darkness so I may help you find light.”  6. “Walk gently through the wood, and you will know its splendor. They are the skin, the tissue, the life of the world.” Tecumseh tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “Find the beauty in all things, even the darkness; for without darkness we wouldn’t know light.”  7.“That’s it, my fiery angel.” His breath caressed her neck. “Wake up and take what you want. Empowerment of a woman begins deep within her. Feed your power. Use me to grow stronger.”  8. “Part of getting over a fear is becoming familiar with what you are afraid of.”  9. “I am a man who is yours tonight, Lucy.” He walked toward her with arms out from his sides, exposing his nudity. “Draw on the power within you. Look at me. Overcome your apprehension of men. Have I not shown you gentleness?" 10. “Lay down.” Her voice firm with the command, she stepped back and pointed to the blanket.  11. “By the spirits, woman, be careful what you do.”  12. “Hmm….” The sexy feminine purr about killed him. “Spirit of the Crow, I want to fly. Can you help me fly?” 13. “Relax and lean into me.” His rhythmic voice lulled her into complete trust. “Close your eyes. It is time to not see but to feel.***************
  Lucy Richards is tired of being timid around men. Hoping to overcome her fears and feel like a real woman, she turns to Madame Eve to find a man who will fulfill that goal. Eve arranges a one-night stand with a handsome Shawnee shaman who will teach Lucy to use her womanly power and take her to unimaginable heights.

Shape shifter Seth Crowe is a Keeper of the Spiritual Law who carries souls from darkness to light, and enjoys using his body to accomplish his magic.

Tucked away in the Castillo Poconos Resort, Seth helps Lucy find spiritual and sexual freedom, never dreaming he might find his own mate in the bargain. BUY FROM AMAZON 
   Be sure to Visit Thursday 13 Blog for more amazing authors with super cool lists.  

WEDNESDAY MORNING CHILL

A Writer's Dilemma - Euphemisms

When you are a Romance Writer, you often have to use euphemisms. 
We reach out to other writers at times to help when the mind goes blank. I love being in this industry. There is never a boring day.
plural noun: euphemismsa mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

There are about 1,000 recognized euphemisms for ‘vagina’ in the English language. There's even a Pocket Guide to Vaginal Euphemisms

How about Camel Toe song from the Bob & Tom Show to start your day? Fur Burger, Flesh Cavern, Gash, Pink Taco, Penis Cozy, Whisker Biscuit, Honey Pot, Squish Mitten, Meat Wallet, Fish Barrel?

   Okay... that will keep me busy all day.

Reflection of an Eagle Spirit

The hero of Eagle Dance is a Native American eagle shifter. Dyami has a spiritual guide within his soul and has been blessed with the ability to change from man to animal at will. 

The man often reflects strong attributes of the animal.

Native wisdom also honors the eagle for their opportunistic ways. It's not that they're skilled hunters (they are), but the go about gaining their needs in ways that are most efficient. This is a lesson for conserving resources. Work smarter, not harder.

The eagle reminds us to be victorious, brave and strong. We are do be these things with humility. Honor, respect and dignity are very important to those who have an eagle spirit.

Meditate for a moment. Does the great spirit send you an eagle?

Dyami Schafer, a Native American from a Michigan Chippewa tribe, leads a lonely life due to his large size and unusual appearance. When his nesting instinct sets in, he turns to Madame Eve and her 1Night Stand dating service to help him find his spirit mate. Or at least a woman who accepts him as an eagle shifter.

Amanda Collins never stopped loving the Chippewa boy she knew from her childhood. Maybe a night with a Native American man will help her forget the past and let her move on with her life.
Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a step into the past before dancing into the future. With the help of Madame Eve, will the Spirit of the Eagle carry Dyami and Amanda?
BUY NOW on Amazon

Who Reads Romance?

 During any given period, women who read romance novels have a tendency to have twice as many lovers as those who don’t. People who read romance have sex 70% more often than those who don't.

The Romance Reader

In 2017, RWA commissioned

"The Romance Book Buyer 2017: A Study by NPD Book for Romance Writers of America."

A portion of the results can be found below. 

Who is the romance reader?

·        Female: 82%

·        Male: 18%

·        Average age of the romance reader: 35–39 years old

·        Ethnicity:

73% White/Caucasian

 12% Black/African American

7% Latino/Hispanic

4% Asian/Asian American.

·        Sexual orientation:

86% heterosexual or straight

9%  bisexual, pansexual, or other bi+ identity

2% gay or lesbian.

Reading Habits

·        Most frequent readers are younger, aged 34 and below.

·        92% of survey respondents are print readers

·        64% are e-book readers

·        35% are audiobook users.

·        Tablets and smartphones are the most-used devices to read e-books.

·        Half of romance readers read romantic suspense,

followed by erotic

historical as the most popular genres.

·        Younger readers read more Young Adult, Erotic, and

Paranormal Romance and less Contemporary Romance than older readers.

Acquiring Romance Books

·        Top responses for how romance readers acquire romance novels:

borrow from a library

purchase in brick-and-mortar bookstores

acquire them from friends/relatives

purchase in print via an online store

purchase them as an e-book via an online store.

·        A higher percentage of readers buy from bricks-and-mortar stores than online,

and 15% use a subscription service.

·        One-third of readers searched for new authors in the past six months.

·        Content is listed as a more important purchase influence than recommendations.

Further Insights

The future of romance is the younger emerging readership.

These younger readers are:

·        diverse in sexual orientation and in ethnicity

·        more male

·        frequent readers

·        listening to audiobooks

·        reading e-books on smartphones

·        consuming YA, erotic, and paranormal romance

·        shopping at a greater number of online retailers

·        extremely engaged on social media and willing to experiment with new authors

Source and Methodology

Source: The Romance Book Buyer 2017: A Study by NPD Book for Romance Writers of America
Methodology

·        Sample of 2,000 romance book readers

·        Survey fielded in December 2017

·        Quota for gender and age

based on nationally representative sample of book buyers

who said they were likely to read a romance book in the future

·        Screener question:

Do you read romance fiction novels?

This would include books where

(1) there is a central love story and        

(2) the end of the story is positive.

Permission is granted by Romance Writers of America to link to this page

and/or use portions of the statistics with proper citation.

Do not reprint or copy this information in its entirety. 
†Source: NPD Books Romance Landscape:

A Study by NPD Book for Romance Writers of America.

 

Friday Night Fish

The only thing Flyboy Jr asked, was to have the pike he caught for dinner while he was home on the weekend.
Of course, Flyboy was happy to fulfill the request and added in some trout. After tast-testing spices, the guys decided on Blackened Seasoning. I tossed some brussel sprouts, carrot pieces and roma tomato quarters with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, & parsley then placed them on a stoneware pan to roast in a hot oven.
I love cooking with my honey.

While cooking up some rice pilaf, i thoght about which wine I "needed" with dinner.  I wanted something warm since the temp outside is still cold but i wanted it to compliment the meal. I selected 2018 Late Haervest Riesling from Chanteau Chantal. I picked up a couple bottles the last time we visted Flyboy Jr in Traverse City. I like how the sweetness of pear and apricot works with the spicy dish.

How do you like my favorite wine stopper?

Grandma's Irish Soda Bread

Grandma wasn't kidding when she said she believed we had a wee bit of Irish in us. Turned out, my DNA evaluation showed proof of the family tale. Gram with her gift of storytelling and cooking drew family members together. Nothing was better than Gram's bread. The smell of warm bread embodies LOVE.

Gram had a sweet tooth and loved breads. She would often toss a few raisins into her Irish Soda Bread, shhhh.... don't tell anyone. We all love Gram's breads and she would serve Irish Soda Bread with "Boiled Dinner". Corned beef (or ham, depending on the guests) with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onion and cabbage. The bread would be used to sop up the delicious, savory broth. I preferred my slice of warm bread with  butter.

Any leftover Irish Soda Bread was turned into French toast the next morning.

TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREADINGREDIENTS4 cups flour2 teaspoons baking soda1 teaspoon salt1 3/4 cups buttermilkINSTRUCTIONSPreheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually stir in the buttermilk until the dough comes together in a slightly sticky ball.Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead gently a few times. Form the dough into a ball and then press into the prepared pan so that the dough resembles a large disk. The dough should reach the edges of the pan, but may spring back slightly.Cut an X into the dough with a sharp knife, about 1/4 of an inch deep. Cover the pan of dough with another round cake pan turned upside down.Bake for 25-30 minutes, covered, then remove the top pan and bake uncovered for about 10 minutes more or until the crust is dark golden brown.
A little Irish Soda Bread history:

I want to give you just a few interesting facts about Irish Soda Bread.  Don’t worry I won’t bore you it’s only a few!

The cross that is slashed into the dough before baking was made to ward off devils and protect the house.  It also helps the center of the bread bake all the way through, so it’s very important not to skip that step!During the mid 1800s the Irish were making so much soda bread that baking soda almost doubled in price!Soda bread was served as an inexpensive way to put bread on the table.Real soda bread should only contain 4 ingredients: flour, buttermilk, salt, and of course baking soda.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patty's!

 I did an Ancestory.com DNA thing and participate in a DNA research project funded by the Smithsonian. During the research, I found out I have a wee bit of Irish in my blood. This is my first St. Patty's Day with that info. Yay! Kiss me, I'm Irish!

Have a wonderful day, friends and be sure to find a little romance.

Maple Syrup for Your Honey

It's almost Maple Syrup Season! Nothing beats a romantic morning with your honey than pure maple syrup over a batch of hot French toast or pancakes.

According to Michigan Farmers' Market Association, there are different grades of Michigan farmers market fresh maple syrup. While they are all delicious, different grades are best for different purposes. 

Grade A maple syrup is lighter and more delicately flavored, making it perfect for topping your pancakes or other treats. 

Grade B Michigan Maple Syrup 
Grade B maple syrup is stronger in caramel flavor and great for baking. This is a darker syrup with a more robust flavor and scent. 

Visit the the Made In Michigan Store for products

Follow these food safety tips to enjoy your farmers market fresh maple syrup:

Store pure maple syrup in the refrigerator – even if the bottle has not been opened.

Pure maple syrup in glass or tin containers may be stored in the refrigerator for up to one year.

Use syrup stored in plastic containers within three to six months.