Sharon Wray's Blog, page 43

Birthday Wishes and A Cover Reveal

Today is my birthday! But since it’s also a working day, I’m celebrating my birthday with a cover reveal for an anthology I’m in next year.

Wrong Side of the Tracks is a contemporary romance & motorcycle club anthology that comes out June 20, 2023, and I’m so excited to have a story included in this collection! The authors in this anthology will be writing about contemporary heroines who fall in love with the most unlikely of heroes. There will be suspense, betrayals, and lots of action–but every story promises a deeply satisfying happily ever after.

What are the details of this exciting new anthology? See the cover and preorder link below!

Even though October is my favorite month, now I’m counting the days until June!

Love, loyalty, and betrayal…Check out 15 passionate & thrilling Motorcycle Club romances that will keep you turning the pages until the very romantic end.

These men are used to getting their hands dirty, but it’s all about loyalty and brotherhood. When they hurt, their brothers hurt. And when someone crosses them… watch out…

Packed with danger, action and suspense, these stories are written by some of your favorite romance authors. So get ready to binge read this Limited Edition Contemporary Romance Anthology from start to finish.

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The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pumpkin Muffins

This week I’m continuing to share recipes for fall foods that are eaten, shared, and mentioned in my newest release Mister October. My story in this limited romance anthology is called One October Night, and it takes place in Kingsmill, VA, a tiny fictional town deep in the Shenandoah Mountains.

In the center of this town, there’s a small cafe owned by the heroine Clara’s Uncle Harry. Harry’s cafe serves as the meeting place for all of the characters, and Harry is a fun, quirky guy who knows way more about the all the folks in town than he admits. Harry’s cafe also offers all sorts of fall-themed treats. In One October Night, Pumpkin Scones and Pumpkin Lattes are some of the popular treats my characters (and I) enjoy! And this week, I’m sharing Harry’s recipe for Pumpkin Muffins. I hope you enjoy them!

Sharon Wray

Yields 12 large muffins or 60 mini muffins

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pumpkin Muffins

This is a recipe I found in an old Good Housekeeping magazine in 1999 and have adapted over the years. I love the whole wheat flour this recipe calls for, but I've also had great success with white flour, almond flour, and Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free flour. The original recipe also called for a granola topping, but I prefer Turbinado sugar or roasted pumpkin seeds. This recipe can be easily adapted for any type of diet, and they are perfect on a cold autumn morning with a hot cup of coffee!

20 minPrep Time

20 minCook Time

40 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

Muffins1 cup whole wheat flour (or flour of your choice)1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice*1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt1 cup packed light brown sugar1/4 cup grapeseed oil1 15-oz can pure packed pumpkin1 large eggs, lightly beatenTopping (choose 1 of the following 3 choices)1 cup granola cereal , crumbled1/4 cup Turbinado sugar1 cup roasted pumpkin seedsPumpkin Pie Spice*3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon2 teaspoons ground ginger2 teaspoons nutmeg1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice1 1/2teaspoons ground cloves

Instructions

Pumpkin Pie SpiceIn a small bowl, stir together the spices until will blended. Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Use as required.MuffinsPreheat the oven to 350 degrees F. If you're using large muffin pans, line 20 with paper liners or grease them with an oil spray (I prefer coconut oil). If you prefer mini muffins, line or grease 60 mini muffin cups.In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar and oil. Slowly stir in the pumpkin puree and the eggs. Whisk until all the ingredients are well blended.Slowly stir the egg/pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture. Stir the batter until just combined and pour the batter in to the prepared muffin cups. Fill each muffin 2/3 full.Choose one of the three toppings (granola, Turbinado coarse sugar, or roasted pumpkin seeds) and spread the topping over all of the muffins. For the granola and pumpkin seeds, gently press the topping Into the batter so it sticks on while baking.Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cooked muffins comes out clean.Remove pans from the oven and place on a baking rack for 10-15 minutes. Remove the muffins and allow them to cool completely on the baking rack.Makes 20 servings (1 large muffin or 3 mini muffins each)Store in an airtight container and they will last for about 3 days.7.8.1.2239https://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-pumpkin-muffins/ { "@context": "http://schema.org/", "url": [ "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/the-hungry-writer\/the-hungry-romance-writer-pumpkin-muffins\/" ],"name" : "The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pumpkin Muffins","description" : "This is a recipe I found in an old Good Housekeeping magazine in 1999 and have adapted over the years. I love the whole wheat flour this recipe calls for, but I've also had great success with white flour, almond flour, and Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free flour. The original recipe also called for a granola topping, but I prefer Turbinado sugar or roasted pumpkin seeds. This recipe can be easily adapted for any type of diet, and they are perfect on a cold autumn morning with a hot cup of coffee!","prepTime" : "PT20M","cookTime" : "PT20M","recipeYield" : "12 large muffins or 60 mini muffins","datePublished" : "2022-10-12 07:00:14","recipeInstructions":[ { "@type": "HowToSection", "name": "Pumpkin pie spice", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "In a small bowl, stir together the spices until will blended. Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Use as required." }]}, { "@type": "HowToSection", "name": "Muffins", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 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For the granola and pumpkin seeds, gently press the topping Into the batter so it sticks on while baking. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cooked muffins comes out clean." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Remove pans from the oven and place on a baking rack for 10-15 minutes. Remove the muffins and allow them to cool completely on the baking rack." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Makes 20 servings (1 large muffin or 3 mini muffins each)" }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Store in an airtight container and they will last for about 3 days." }]}],"keywords" : "The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pumpkin Muffins","recipeIngredient" : ["1 cup whole wheat flour (or flour of your choice)","1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice*","1\/2 teaspoon baking soda","1\/2 teaspoon baking powder","1\/4 teaspoon Kosher salt","1 cup packed light brown sugar","1\/4 cup grapeseed oil","1 15-oz can pure packed pumpkin","1 large eggs, lightly beaten","1 cup granola cereal , crumbled","1\/4 cup Turbinado sugar","1 cup roasted pumpkin seeds","3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon","2 teaspoons ground ginger","2 teaspoons nutmeg","1 1\/2 teaspoons ground allspice","1 1\/2teaspoons ground cloves"], "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/24.jpg" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sharon Wray" }, "nutrition": { "@type": "NutritionInformation", "servingsize": "1 serving"},"@type": "Recipe"}

 

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The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pumpkin Muffins appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Highwayman: A Romantic Halloween Poem

This time of year, I tend to read thematically darker poems and stories. I adore poems and short stories like The Raven, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Young Goodman Brown. But one of my favorite stories also happens to be a romance… albeit with a tragic ending. I don’t know any romance writer who doesn’t love stories of dashing highwaymen and their adventures, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of my favorite Halloween poems is The Highwayman. This romantic ballad and narrative poem, written by Alfred Noyes, is one of the best in the genre. Alfred Noyes wrote this story when he was just 24 and published it in the August 1906 issue of Blackwood’s Magazine. The poem was later republished in an award-winning collection of Noyes’ poetry titled Forty Singing Seamen and Other Poems.

When Noyes was 24, he rented a cottage in Bagshot Heath in Surrey, England. At the time, the area was quite remote and wild, surrounded by woods, enormous pine forests, and heaths filled with purple heather that survived the vicious winds that scraped over the moors. During an interview about this poem, which he wrote in about two days, Noyes admitted that “The Highwayman suggested itself to me one blustery night when the sound of the wind in the pines gave me the first line.”

The Highwayman, a poem set in 18th century rural England, is about an unnamed highwayman who is desperately in love with a woman named Bess. Bess is the daughter of the owner of a local inn that sits along a dark highway in the middle of the woods. Against her father’s wishes, Bess falls in the love the dashing young highwayman who comes by to see her secretly in the dark. One night the highwayman is betrayed by Jim, a jealous man who works in the stables owned by Bess’s father. When Bess discovers there is a plot to capture her lover, she sacrifices her own life to save his from an ambush. When the highwayman discovers Bess has died, he seeks revenge and is killed during a brutal fight. Yet, in the final stanza, the lovers–now ghosts–meet again to walk the lonely highway during the long, dark nights from early autumn through late winter.

While this is a tragic poem, it’s about love, courage and sacrifice. It’s about lovers who try to keep their promises to each other despite the fact that Fate attempts to separate them. Although they are killed, their souls reunite after death and they choose an eternity of roaming the earth together, hand in hand. It’s a perfect ghostly romance to read on a dark autumn night before a roaring fire and drinking hot apple cider. I hope you enjoy it! Because it’s in the Public Domain, I am allowed to post it below.

The HighwaymanBY ALFRED NOYESPART ONE

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.

The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.   

The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,   

And the highwayman came riding—

         Riding—riding—

The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

He’d a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,   

A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin.

They fitted with never a wrinkle. His boots were up to the thigh.   

And he rode with a jewelled twinkle,

His pistol butts a-twinkle,

His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.

Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard.

He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred.   

He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there   

But the landlord’s black-eyed daughter,

         Bess, the landlord’s daughter,

Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

And dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked

Where Tim the ostler listened. His face was white and peaked.   

His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,   

But he loved the landlord’s daughter,

         The landlord’s red-lipped daughter.

Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say—

“One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I’m after a prize to-night,

But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;

Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,   

Then look for me by moonlight,

         Watch for me by moonlight,

I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.”

He rose upright in the stirrups. He scarce could reach her hand,

But she loosened her hair in the casement. His face burnt like a brand

As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;   

And he kissed its waves in the moonlight,

         (O, sweet black waves in the moonlight!)

Then he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west.

PART TWO

He did not come in the dawning. He did not come at noon;   

And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise of the moon,   

When the road was a gypsy’s ribbon, looping the purple moor,   

A red-coat troop came marching—

         Marching—marching—

King George’s men came marching, up to the old inn-door.

They said no word to the landlord. They drank his ale instead.   

But they gagged his daughter, and bound her, to the foot of her narrow bed.

Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets at their side!   

There was death at every window;

         And hell at one dark window;

For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride.

They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest.

They had bound a musket beside her, with the muzzle beneath her breast!

“Now, keep good watch!” and they kissed her. She heard the doomed man say—

Look for me by moonlight;

Watch for me by moonlight;

I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way!

She twisted her hands behind her; but all the knots held good!

She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!   

They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years

Till, now, on the stroke of midnight,

         Cold, on the stroke of midnight,

The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!

The tip of one finger touched it. She strove no more for the rest.   

Up, she stood up to attention, with the muzzle beneath her breast.   

She would not risk their hearing; she would not strive again;   

For the road lay bare in the moonlight;

         Blank and bare in the moonlight;

And the blood of her veins, in the moonlight, throbbed to her love’s refrain.

Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horsehoofs ringing clear;   

Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot, in the distance? Were they deaf that they did not hear?

Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,

The highwayman came riding—

         Riding—riding—

The red coats looked to their priming! She stood up, straight and still.

Tlot-tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot-tlot, in the echoing night!   

Nearer he came and nearer. Her face was like a light.

Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath,   

Then her finger moved in the moonlight,

         Her musket shattered the moonlight,

Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him—with her death.

He turned. He spurred to the west; he did not know who stood   

Bowed, with her head o’er the musket, drenched with her own blood!   

Not till the dawn he heard it, and his face grew grey to hear   

How Bess, the landlord’s daughter,

         The landlord’s black-eyed daughter,

Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.

Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,

With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high.

Blood red were his spurs in the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat;

When they shot him down on the highway,

         Down like a dog on the highway,

And he lay in his blood on the highway, with a bunch of lace at his throat.

.       .       .

And still of a winter’s night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,

When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,   

When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,   

A highwayman comes riding—

         Riding—riding—

A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.

Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard.

He taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred.   

He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there   

But the landlord’s black-eyed daughter,

         Bess, the landlord’s daughter,

Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

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Witch Trials: Beyond Salem

It’s October and Halloween is coming soon. That means I’m researching historical anecdotes about this time of year and also doing research for my next Deadly Force novel. Some of this research includes studying the history of witchcraft accusations in early colonial America that pre-date the Salem Witch Trials which occurred in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692.

The Salem Trials were an important milestone in my research because they were the last of the successful witchcraft accusations that led to executions. Many historians believe that the accusations stopped after the Salem Trials because the rest of the colonies were so shaken by what had happened in that the small New England town. And, about twelve years after the Salem Trials, Nicholas Trott (the Chief Justice of the South Carolina colony) wrote a treatise (often called “Eight Charges”) regarding how witch trials should be held. This treatise made it difficult to accuse anyone due to the amount of evidence required. This treatise made going to trial so difficult that the colonies began ignoring accusations. Nicholas Trott’s rules eventually were codified into law by the U.S. Supreme Court.

I don’t want to go into the legal effects the Salem trials had on the colonies–it’s just important to understand that the Salem Trials were the final act of witch trials in the U.S. that began in 1642 in Connecticut and the surrounding colonies. Another quick note: In Europe, accused witches (men and women) were burned because witchcraft was a crime against the church (i.e. heresy). In the early American colonies, due to the number of Puritan settlers who had distanced themselves from the European churches, witchcraft became a crime against the state. That meant colonial death penalties included hanging, pressing, or drowning. According to my research, there’s no evidence an accused witch was ever officially put to death by burning in American colonies.

Anyway, In 1642 in the Connecticut colony, witchcraft became punishable by death (by the state). In 1647 in Hartford, CT, a young woman named Alse Young was supposedly the first person executed as a witch. I say supposedly because no records from her trial (or any earlier trials) have survived, and the secondary sources regarding her death are sketchy. What historians do know is that she was accused of beginning an epidemic in a nearby community and executed as a witch.

Life in the colonies was really hard. The Puritan settlers suffered terribly from exposure, hunger, disease, and all sorts of other horrible events. Winters were long and they lived in darkness that it would be tough for modern people to understand. Due to their difficult situations, the Puritans blamed many of these difficulties on the Devil and his minions who wreaked havoc through witchcraft. Between 1647 and 1697, approximately 36 people in New England (mostly in Connecticut) were accused of witchcraft, charged, and executed. The numbers may be off because so many court records have been lost. But we do know that of those 36 named witches, 11 were hanged (9 women and 2 men). Two men were also hanged along side their wives. It’s unclear what happened to the other people who were charged. They were either executed or banished to the wilderness which was considered an even harsher death sentence.

In 1648, Connecticut hanged their second witch, a woman named Mary Johnson. Mary had been arrested, imprisoned, and tortured for years. Finally, after being brutally tortured, she admitted to “familiarity with the Devil”. (ConnecticutHistory.org.) Mary’s “confession” is the first legally recorded confession of witchcraft in the American colonies. Years later, her confession would be torn apart by Chief Justice Nicholas Trott and used as an example his treatise on how to handle (and not handle) witchcraft cases.

Beginning in 1642, only one person’s testimony was needed to bring a charge of witchcraft against another. Although people complained to no avail, the law stated that one witness could bring about the conviction and execution of another with no physical evidence. (Again, these cases ended up being the fuel Chief Justice Nicholas Trott used to mostly end the witch trials in all of the colonies). The problem with this type of evidential requirement is evident. Anyone, for any reason, could charge another. Neighbors who fought over land rights, or people who became jealous of others’ financial success, wreaked havoc in small rural towns. While it seems silly now to think that neighbors would fight over a dead ox (probably killed by a mountain lion or something else), the consequences of these laws became deadly. More and more people began to accuse each other leading right up to the witch frenzy in Salem in 1692.

In 1662, Connecticut suffered from what historians call the “Hartford Witch Panic”. Three people were accused, charged, and executed within a few weeks. Even though the rules had changed and now multiple witnesses were required, people began to revolt. So Connecticut’s colonial governor, John Winthrop the Younger, changed what kind of “evidence” was needed to arrest someone and put forth a requirement that witnesses had to be vetted for other agendas. The governor also allowed people who’d been accused, and acquitted, to sue their accusers for slander.

By 1668, rules about torturing witches to get a confession began to change as well. Hot irons were considered cruel and unusual punishment, and courts began acquitting more people than they executed. But still the witch frenzy continued in smaller, more remote towns. Then in early 1692 (before the Salem trials began), the small town of Fairfield, CT had a number of high-profile witchcraft accusations that resulted in all acquittals. By this point, the populace was divided. Some believed that all the accusations were due to malice and family feuds, while others still believed the Devil was behind all of the calamities that kept occurring in the colonies.

There is even a story about a Connecticut man, in 1693, named Hugh Croatia who claimed he made a pact with the Devil and practiced witchcraft. But the court called him an “ignoramus” and made him pay a fine and set him free. So by the time the Salem accusations began, things all throughout New England were very tense. People were divided on how they felt about this issue, including judges, lawyers, and people within family units.

Luckily for historians, the records for the Salem Trials are intact including all of the legal arguments and witness statements. It’s clear from the documents that the level of fear and paranoia that consumed Salem was incredibly intense. More intense than any other town in all of the American colonies. It was as if those people who truly believed the Devil was causing mischief were taking their last stand to keep the old rules in place. In less than four months, 20 people were executed for witchcraft. But those executions had the opposite result. People were done with accusations and executions, and laws were passed to stop these trials. It took another twelve or so years before the last witch was formally accused in the U.S. (there were others later in the 19th century, but they were all thrown out of court thanks to Nicholas Trott’s treatise). While what happened in 1692 was a tragedy, the Salem Trials were the beginning of the end of witchcraft trials in the American colonies.

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NaNoWriMo Preptober: Part 1

I can’t believe it’s already October, and it’s time to prep for another NaNoWriMo! I sometimes get stressed when I see how quickly time passes, especially when I’m actually thinking about Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas presents! So in order to slow down my mind, I’ve decided to do NaNo again this year. Some years I “win” and some years I don’t, but the winning doesn’t matter. It’s the trying that counts because it’s in the trying that the writing habit is built. I personally believe that’s the entire point of attempting to write 50K words in one month.

So let’s get started! Some of what you see below is the same as last year (and the year before that), but I’ve also added links to some wonderful writing YouTubers who offer great advice–for NaNo beginners and for advanced NaNo writers. Many of these videos also come with links for free printables.

If you are serious about trying to “win” NaNo, one of the best ways to start is to be super-organized. I blog, am working on two novellas due in a few weeks, and am getting another book ready to go on submission. I also want to get a good chunk of my current Christmas book done before, well, Christmas. So I came up with a daily checklist. Although today is October 10, it won’t be hard to catch up. And if you need to double-up on days, do whatever you can. This list, the first in a series, is just a guideline to help you mentally prepare to write 50K words in November. 

We all write different things in different ways, so change/add/delete whatever works for you! 

I’m also working on an annotated bibliography here on the website that is available for free to anyone who is interested. While I would never presume to tell another writer how to write a book, I am a reference librarian who is good at organizing and making lists of resources for authors at all stages of their careers.

Now let’s get started!Announce your novel on NaNoWriMo.org. Choose the title, genre/sub-genre, and length of the story. (Here is a great YouTube video from Sarra Cannon at HeartBreathings, one of my all-time favorite writers, on how to actually join the NaNo website)Check your calendar/schedule for November and set aside days and times you know you can write. Do it now before your schedule fills up! (Here is another video from Sarra that offers a free Preptober Planning Guide with a full calendar)Set up your Scrivener or Word file. Play around with templates. (Alexa Donne, another great YouTuber and author, has some great videos on how to set up Scrivener for beginners and for Scrivener for advanced writers. Bethany Atazadeh, another great YouTuber and author, has this great tutorial on tips for setting up a Word document for NaNo.)Write a logline: Who, what, when/where, how, & why (See Hauge, Michael, Selling Your Story in Sixty Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Story Read, Michael Wiese Productions, 2006 for a great walkthrough on how to do this.)Decide on the type plot structure you want to follow and jot down the basics you already know. (Blake Snyder’s Beat Sheets, The Hero’s Journey, etc. See the annotated bibliography for more resources)Make a list of character names and roles they play in the story. (primary and secondary)Brainstorm your characters’ traits, personalities, etc. and create character summary sheets (Enneagram? Archetypes?)If you have any ideas of scenes you already know, journal about them quickly. Just get them down before you forget.Decide on a setting and do some preliminary research.Buy the perfect writing candle to light for inspiration while you write. (Not a necessity, but fun to do)Fill out a world-building questionnaire (especially if writing sci-fi or fantasy or paranormal).Research ways to build a series bible, if necessary for your story/series/world. (Here’s another video by Bethany Atazadeh on building a Story Bible)Create a writing music playlist or white noise.Research local NaNoWriMo write-ins.Plan rewards and reward system.Pre-plan easy meals for November, maybe even make some and freeze ahead.Choose a new writing craft book to read this month. (some suggestions below)Stock up on snacks/coffee/tea/treats for November.Find other NaNoWriMo friends/accountability partners.Clean and prepare your writing space. Buy whatever office supplies you may need (notecards, highlighters, colored markers, etc).Buy a new journal and begin brainstorming your story outline.Abbreviated Writing Craft Bibliography BELOW are a few books on my ONGOING LIST OF FAVORITE WRITING CRAFT BOOKS, ALPHABETICAL BY AUTHOR’S LAST NAME:

Bell, James Scott, Write Your Novel from the Middle, 2014.

Bork, Erik, The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage, or Fiction, 2018.

D’Costa, H.R., Sparkling Story Drafts: How to Outline Your Way Toward Cleaner Rough Drafts, Reduce Your Revision Time, and Get a First-Rate Screenplay or Novel onto the Marketplace, 2018.

Hauge, Michael, Selling Your Story in Sixty Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Story Read, 2006.

Hauge, Michael, Storytelling Made Easy, 2017

Hayes, Gwen, Romancing the Beat, 2016

Henley, Jodi, Practical Emotional Structure: An Easy to Understand Plain-English Guide to Emotional Theory and the Transformational Character Arc, 2013.

Weiland, K.M., Outlining Your Novel, 2013.

Weiland, K.M., Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story, 2013.

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It’s That Time of Year… for Halloween Tricks & Book Treats!

I still can’t believe summer is over! But one of the great things about fall, besides all the pumpkin-themed food, is the Annual Tricks & Book Treats Halloween Giveaway we do in the Midnight in the Garden Facebook Group! If you’d like to spend the day with the Midnight in the Garden authors, winning giveaways, books, and swag, join the group and visit us on Friday, October 28, 2022. We can’t wait to see you!

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The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pumpkin Scones

It’s Friday! I’m so glad to be blogging again, and for the month of October for The Hungry {Romance} Writer column, I’m sharing recipes for fall foods that are eaten, shared, and mentioned in my newest release Mister October. My story in this limited romance anthology is called One October Night, and it takes place in Kingsmill, VA, a tiny fictional town deep in the Shenandoah Mountains. In the center of this town, there’s a small cafe that serves as the meeting place for all of the characters. The cafe also offers all sorts of holiday treats. In One October Night, Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Scones, and Pumpkin Lattes are some of the popular things my characters (and I) enjoy!

This is not the easiest scone recipe, but the extra work to freeze and grate the butter, as well as the recommendation to blot the pumpkin puree, really makes these scones light and fluffy instead of too hard or too dense. This recipe is a dish-mash of two recipes I’ve used over the years. The first is from www.sallysbakingaddiction.com and the other is from Simply Scones, a tiny recipe book published in 1988. I hope you enjoy them!

Sharon Wray

Yields 8 Large Scones

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pumpkin Scones

This recipe is a combination of one from www.sallysbakingaddition.com and a recipe from an old cookbook called Simply Scones, published in 1988. I love this recipe, though, because it calls for the pumpkin puree to be blotted (directions in the recipe) to prevent the batter from becoming too watery. It also uses frozen, grated butter which makes the scones extra tender and flaky and allows the butter to evenly distribute throughout the batter. I wish these scones froze well, but they really taste best fresh from the oven or warmed up the next day. But if you know you're going to freeze them, don't frost them. Frost them once you defrost the scones. Then reheat in the oven with some of the icing. That way the icing doesn't get all gooey. (yes, I know, a very culinary term! lol)

25 minPrep Time

25 minCook Time

50 minTotal Time

Save Recipe Print Recipe var print_b = document.getElementById('mpp_print_button'); var save_b = document.getElementById('mpp_saverecipe_button'); print_b.onclick = function(){ zlrPrint( "mpprecipe-container-238", "https://sharonwray.com/wp-content/plu...", "mpprecipe-design22", "1", "#" ) }; save_b.onclick = function(){ window.open('https://sharonwray.mealplannerpro.com...' + window.location.href); return false; }; My Recipes My Lists My Calendar

Ingredients

Scones2 cups flour (leveled)2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (recipe below*)1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup unsalted butter, frozen1/3 cup + 2 Tablespoons heavy cream, divided1 large egg1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree (blotted*)1/2 cup light brown sugar1 teaspoon pure vanilla extractTurbinado coarse sugarMaple Glaze Icing2 Tablespoons unsalted butter (cold but not frozen)1/3 cup pure maple syrup1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugarpinch of Kosher salt, to tastePumpkin Pie Spice3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon2 teaspoons ground ginger2 teaspoons nutmeg1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice1 1/2teaspoons ground cloves

Instructions

Pumpkin Pie SpiceIn a small bowl, stir together the spices until will blended. Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Use as required.Blotting the Pumpkin PureeLine a large glass bowl with three layers of paper towels. Dump in the pumpkin puree and, using more paper towels, blot out some of the moisture. You don't have to get all of it, just enough to prevent to prevent the batter from being too watery.SconesAdjust the baking rack to the middle (or middle-low) position in the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to line a large baking sheet.In a large bowl, stir together the 1/3 cup heavy cream, egg, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Set aside.In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.Using a box grater, grate the frozen butter onto a plate and add to the flour mixture. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingers until the mixture forms into crumbs that are smaller than a pea.Slowly add the egg/pumpkin mixture to the flour mixture, stirring the batter until it's just combined and all the flour is moistened. Do not over mix!Flour your hands and work the dough (in the bowl) into a ball.Flour a counter and transfer the dough ball to the counter. Roll the dough a few times and press into an 8-inch round disc. Using a very sharp knife, cut the dough into 8 wedges.Place the wedges, 2-3 inches apart on the baking sheet.With a pastry brush, brush the remaining heavy cream on top of each scone and sprinkle with Turbinado sugar.Bake for 20-25 minutes or until they begin to just lightly brown around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool on a baking rack.Drizzle the maple glaze icing over the warm scones.Maple Glace IcingWhile the scones are baking, melt the butter and maple syrup together in small saucepan over low heat. Whisk frequently.When the butter has melted, take the pan off the heat and whisk in the confectioners' sugar until the mixture is smooth.Add a pinch of Kosher salt, if necessary.Scones can be eaten immediately or will last for about two days at room temp. They can also be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.7.8.1.2238https://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-pumpkin-scones/ { "@context": "http://schema.org/", "url": [ "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/the-hungry-writer\/the-hungry-romance-writer-pumpkin-scones\/" ],"name" : "The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pumpkin Scones","description" : "This recipe is a combination of one from www.sallysbakingaddition.com and a recipe from an old cookbook called Simply Scones, published in 1988. I love this recipe, though, because it calls for the pumpkin puree to be blotted (directions in the recipe) to prevent the batter from becoming too watery. It also uses frozen, grated butter which makes the scones extra tender and flaky and allows the butter to evenly distribute throughout the batter. I wish these scones froze well, but they really taste best fresh from the oven or warmed up the next day. But if you know you're going to freeze them, don't frost them. Frost them once you defrost the scones. Then reheat in the oven with some of the icing. That way the icing doesn't get all gooey. (yes, I know, a very culinary term! lol)","prepTime" : "PT25M","cookTime" : "PT25M","recipeYield" : "8 Large Scones","datePublished" : "2022-10-06 06:13:58","recipeInstructions":[ { "@type": "HowToSection", "name": "Pumpkin pie spice", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "In a small bowl, stir together the spices until will blended. Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Use as required." }]}, { "@type": "HowToSection", "name": "Blotting the pumpkin puree", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Line a large glass bowl with three layers of paper towels. Dump in the pumpkin puree and, using more paper towels, blot out some of the moisture. You don't have to get all of it, just enough to prevent to prevent the batter from being too watery." }]}, { "@type": "HowToSection", "name": "Scones", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Adjust the baking rack to the middle (or middle-low) position in the oven and preheat the oven to 400\u00b0F. Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to line a large baking sheet. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "In a large bowl, stir together the 1\/3 cup heavy cream, egg, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Set aside." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Using a box grater, grate the frozen butter onto a plate and add to the flour mixture. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingers until the mixture forms into crumbs that are smaller than a pea. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Slowly add the egg\/pumpkin mixture to the flour mixture, stirring the batter until it's just combined and all the flour is moistened. Do not over mix!" }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Flour your hands and work the dough (in the bowl) into a ball. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Flour a counter and transfer the dough ball to the counter. Roll the dough a few times and press into an 8-inch round disc. Using a very sharp knife, cut the dough into 8 wedges." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Place the wedges, 2-3 inches apart on the baking sheet. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "With a pastry brush, brush the remaining heavy cream on top of each scone and sprinkle with Turbinado sugar." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Bake for 20-25 minutes or until they begin to just lightly brown around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool on a baking rack." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Drizzle the maple glaze icing over the warm scones." }]}, { "@type": "HowToSection", "name": "Maple glace icing", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "While the scones are baking, melt the butter and maple syrup together in small saucepan over low heat. Whisk frequently." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "When the butter has melted, take the pan off the heat and whisk in the confectioners' sugar until the mixture is smooth. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Add a pinch of Kosher salt, if necessary. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Scones can be eaten immediately or will last for about two days at room temp. They can also be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days." }]}],"keywords" : "The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pumpkin Scones","recipeIngredient" : ["2 cups flour (leveled)","2 1\/2 teaspoons baking powder","1 teaspoon ground cinnamon","1 1\/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (recipe below*)","1\/2 teaspoon salt","1\/2 cup unsalted butter, frozen","1\/3 cup + 2 Tablespoons heavy cream, divided","1 large egg","1\/2 cup canned pumpkin puree (blotted*)","1\/2 cup light brown sugar","1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract","Turbinado coarse sugar ","2 Tablespoons unsalted butter (cold but not frozen)","1\/3 cup pure maple syrup","1 cup sifted confectioners\u2019 sugar","pinch of Kosher salt, to taste","3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon","2 teaspoons ground ginger","2 teaspoons nutmeg","1 1\/2 teaspoons ground allspice","1 1\/2teaspoons ground cloves"], "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/14.jpg" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sharon Wray" }, "nutrition": { "@type": "NutritionInformation", "servingsize": "1 serving"},"@type": "Recipe"} Subscribe

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Elizabeth Marie Pope’s The Sherwood Ring

Last year, around this time, I wrote a post about one of my favorite YA books of all time, The Perilous Gard. I usually re-read it in October since the book’s crisis happens on All Hallows Eve. The other book I re-read every year is the only other book that Elizabeth Marie Pope wrote called The Sherwood Ring. While it doesn’t end on Halloween, it is a story about love and redemption told to the young heroine by ghosts that haunt her uncle’s home. Ghosts that date back–and retell–a fascinating and true-yet-little-known story about the Revolutionary War.

This book, written by a brilliant scholar named Elizabeth Marie Pope (1917 – 1992) was originally published in 1958 by Houghton Mifflin Co., and is the first of the only two books she ever wrote. Elizabeth Marie Pope was born in Washington D.C .and received her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College. After finishing her PhD from Johns Hopkins University, she took a position teaching English at Mills College in Oakland, CA. Eventually, she became head of the English Department and taught at the college for 38 years.

Elizabeth Marie Pope’s passion was passionate about the origins of mythologies and legends. She believed there were four ways to teach myths. The first was historical-archaeological, where you teach what actually happened according to the evidence you have. The second way was psychological, through symbols that represent the deepest part of a person’s psyche. The third way was through anthropological theory, meaning through the seasons of life and nature (agricultural seasons, human birth, marriage, children, death, etc.) which are all marked by elaborate ceremonies. The fourth is analytic study, which is closer to a scientific study than the first three. This is where one breaks down the parts of the story and classifies them, as one would a scientific experiment. 

So what does this have to do with a YA book published decades ago? According to one of her former students (and this has not been corroborated), Elizabeth Marie Pope wrote her books as a way to show her students how myths affect literature. And her first book, The Sherwood Ring, is a ghostly tale of love and betrayal set in both the modern world as well as during the Revolutionary War. This classic novel is about four ghosts from the Revolutionary War who teach the young heroine, Peggy Grahame, about love, honor, romance, and redemption.

Peggy Grahame is a young woman who comes to her family’s massive estate in upstate New York to live with there great uncle Enos. Enos lives an isolated life and has named the home “Rest and Be Thankful.” Enos is also a bit forgetful and, when the story opens, he forgets to send someone to pick Peggy up at the train statin. As she walks home, she meets Pat Thorne, a young British scholar who is desperately seeking an audience with Enos in regards to questions Pat has uncovered while doing his own genealogical research.

When Enos sees Pat, Enos gets upset and throws him out of the mansion. Now Peggy is on her own, in the lonely home, where she discovers Uncle Enos is protecting a secret: four ghosts from the Revolutionary War who haunt the estate. These ghosts end up sharing their stories with Peggy–stories filled with intrigue, battles, espionage, and even a daring escape by the infamous Tory renegade Peaceable Sherwood in 1778. As Peggy’s own life becomes more intertwined with the ghostly stories, she discovers startling similarities between the ghostly stories and her own past. Similarities that could affect her future and even endanger her own life. When Peggy and Pat join forces, they are finally able to solve the mystery of the Sherwood Ring, set the historical record straight, and allow the past to finally rest.

This is a romance, but not in the traditional sense. Peggy is on her own, with the ghosts, for most of the story. While that in itself is not unusual now, this type of story structure was unusual in 1958. In this book, Peggy searches for the answers on her own until she realizes that she needs help, only to ask for it on her own terms. It’s the story of a young woman who comes to realize her own strength doesn’t come from how much she knows, but from how powerfully she loves. This is a perfect book for a cold autumn night along with a cup of hot cider. But I am warning you now–do not fall in love with the handsome and rakish Peaceable Sherwood. Otherwise he might show up to haunt your dreams. Yes, I speak from experience.

This book has been reprinted many, many times in hardcover and paperback with many different covers. If you decide to buy this book, look for an edition that was illustrated by Evaline Ness. Her drawings truly add to the story’s historical and ghostly aesthetic.

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ARC Teams… and Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

Yesterday I released Mister October, the first novella in my contemporary romance Kingsmill Courtships series. And, within the next month, I’ll be releasing three more novellas. Two sexy Santa stories set in the Kingsmill Courtships world, and a sweet Christmas story set in my romantic suspense Deadly Force world. Luckily for you all, I have a few slots left on my ARC list for these new releases, and below are the blurbs for the stories that still have a few ARCs available.

As a reward for reading this post, I’ve posted a recipe for Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins that make an appearance in Mister October at Harry’s Cafe. Harry’s Cafe is one of the settings in the Kingsmill Courtships series that takes place in the small town of Kingsmill, VA, tucked deep within the Shenandoah Mountains.

MISTER OCTOBER (Sweet, small town Fall-themed contemporary romance set in the Kingsmill Courtships world.)

Can he betray the woman he loves… to secure their happily ever after?

Jacob Mosby is no hero. He’s a hardworking, hard-playing man determined to make his small-town construction business a success. He’s also been bewitched by a one-night stand he had a year ago with Clara Wakefield. Although she left his bed without saying goodbye, and has barely spoken to him since, he’s decided to make her his wife before she runs away again. He just has no idea how until he learns Clara is running the Halloween Haunted House Charity Event…in his family’s abandoned mansion.

Clara Wakefield, a widow, mother, and successful event planner is filled with regrets. She married the wrong man and, after his death, slept with the right man. The right man who has other women on the side. Terrified of suffering another broken heart, and desperate to protect her teenage daughter from making the same mistakes, Clara takes one last job in her tiny town of Kingsmill, VA before moving to a large city. If her Halloween Haunted House succeeds, she’ll secure her future.

Yet when the haunted house’s roof mysteriously falls in, the volunteer ghosts disappear, and the high school witches curse the middle school vampires, Clara must rely on Jacob to help make her event a success. Even if it means losing her heart to the man she’s always loved… again.

LET’S GET NAUGHTY (Steamy, small town Christmas contemporary romance set in the Kingsmill Courtships world.)

How far will a man go to save his marriage?

Jacob Mosby is getting married on Christmas Eve and is desperate to be alone with his bride. Except when a blizzard cancels their flight and closes the mountain roads, they’re forced to honeymoon in their small hometown of Kingsmill, VA. Unfortunately, his house is under renovation, all the rooms at the inn are booked, and Clara, his beautiful wife, is desperate to save their plans. 

Clara is terrified if she doesn’t have the honeymoon she’s fantasized of, she’ll fail Jacob and their marriage will end before it begins. While it’s a ridiculous thought, past betrayals have made her determined to have a perfect wedding night. Except now that they’re stuck in Kingsmill on Christmas Eve, with no place to sleep, her fears may come true. Especially when their friends and family insist on “helping” with the new honeymoon plans, her teenage daughter goes missing, and a dangerous snowstorm puts those she loves in danger.

Now Jacob must convince Clara that true love, especially at Christmas, doesn’t promise a perfect life. It only promises a lifetime of imperfect happiness. A promise that’s worth sacrificing everything for… including the wedding night she’s always dreamed of.

WANTED: MISTLETOE (Steamy, small town Christmas contemporary romance set in the Kingsmill Courtships world.)

To save his wife, he’ll have to let her go.

Kane Mosby, the former leader of an outlaw motorcycle club, is a sexy rebel with a cause. His unexpected return to Kingsmill, VA for his brother’s Christmas wedding has rocked the small town and caused a stir in the local MC. Except he doesn’t care about gossip and is counting the hours until he can leave. Until he discovers his estranged wife is involved with the man who betrayed Kane years ago, forcing him to abandon the woman he’s never forgotten.

Eve Crenshaw is a beautiful, brilliant accountant with a secret that could tear their tiny hometown apart. A secret with direct ties to her ex-husband Kane. No one is more shocked than Eve when Kane appears at the wedding. But she’s even more distressed when she and Kane end up stranded together in a blizzard over Christmas and are forced to confront their past. A past that includes a failing marriage and a tragedy no parents should ever suffer. 

It doesn’t take long for sparks to fly and buried emotions to take over in a passionate-yet-tender way that will change both of their lives–until Kane’s past threatens to drive Eve away again. And this time she may disappear forever.

THE CHRISTMAS LILY (Sweet & clean Christmas contemporary romance set in the Deadly Force world)

Is Christmas Magic worth risking everything for, including those they care most about?

Juliet Capel, from a remote southern sea isle shrouded in history and secrets, has never truly belonged anywhere. But now that she’s married to the man she’s always loved, she’s determined to share her dream of the perfect Christmas with her new family and the people of the Isle of Grace who’ve never accepted her. Except on Christmas Eve, a rare snowstorm hits the isle, her father disappears, and Father Thomas threatens to cancel Midnight Mass. 

Green Beret Rafe Montfort will do anything for his new wife, even if that means hunting down everyone on the godforsaken Isle of Grace and forcing them to attend Midnight Mass. Although he doesn’t understand why his beautiful bride needs the acceptance of the people of the isle–especially those who treated her terribly during her poverty-stricken childhood–he knows this perfect Christmas is important to her. But what he’s willing to do for her could threaten everyone’s Christmas… along with their future happiness.

So if you love to read free books before they come out, and are excited about leaving honest reviews, you might want to consider joining the team!

Sharon Wray

Yields 18 muffins

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

I adapted this recipe from one I found online at the website www.thebittersideofsweet.com. This is a perfect recipe for a fall morning, and the muffins go great with hot chocolate or coffee.

15 minPrep Time

14 minCook Time

29 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

Muffins1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, melted1 cup whole milk2 eggs1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1/2 cup brown sugar2 cups flour1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats2 teaspoons baking soda1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (recipe below)Topping4 Tablespoons salted butter, melted3 Tablespoons flour2 Tablespoons brown sugar1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (recipe below)Turbinado coarse sugar for dusting tops of muffinsPumpkin Pie Spice3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon2 teaspoons ground ginger2 teaspoons nutmeg1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice1 1/2 tsp. ground cloves

Instructions

Pumpkin Pie Spice:In a small bowl, mix together the four spices and store in an airtight glass jar or containerMuffins:Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line two muffin tins with paper liners. This recipe makes 18 muffins, so prep the pans for 18 muffins.Using a large bowl, combine the butter, milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree. Stir all the ingredients until well blended.In a smaller bowl, stir together the flour, oats, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Make sure all of the ingredients are blended.Slowly stir the flour mixture into the pumpkin puree. Stir until just combined, but don't over mix. Pour the batter into the muffin pans.Bake the muffins for 12-14 minutes.Topping:While the muffins are baking, making the topping. In another small bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the topping. Stir together the melted butter, flour, brown sugar, and pumpkin spice until the batter is smooth and glossy.Remove the baked muffins and place on a baking rack to cool. Upon taking the pans out of the oven, drizzle the topping over the tops of the each muffin.Sprinkle the top of each muffin with some Turbinado sugar.Serve immediately!7.8.1.2237https://sharonwray.com/anthologies/arc-teams-and-pumpkin-oatmeal-muffins/ { "@context": "http://schema.org/", "url": [ "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/anthologies\/arc-teams-and-pumpkin-oatmeal-muffins\/" ],"name" : "Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins","description" : "I adapted this recipe from one I found online at the website www.thebittersideofsweet.com. This is a perfect recipe for a fall morning, and the muffins go great with hot chocolate or coffee. ","prepTime" : "PT15M","cookTime" : "PT14M","recipeYield" : "18 muffins","datePublished" : "2022-10-05 12:51:33","recipeInstructions":[ { "@type": "HowToSection", "name": "Pumpkin pie spice:", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "In a small bowl, mix together the four spices and store in an airtight glass jar or container" }]}, { "@type": "HowToSection", "name": "Muffins:", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line two muffin tins with paper liners. This recipe makes 18 muffins, so prep the pans for 18 muffins." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Using a large bowl, combine the butter, milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree. Stir all the ingredients until well blended." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "In a smaller bowl, stir together the flour, oats, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Make sure all of the ingredients are blended." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Slowly stir the flour mixture into the pumpkin puree. Stir until just combined, but don't over mix. Pour the batter into the muffin pans. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Bake the muffins for 12-14 minutes. " }]}, { "@type": "HowToSection", "name": "Topping:", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "While the muffins are baking, making the topping. In another small bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the topping. Stir together the melted butter, flour, brown sugar, and pumpkin spice until the batter is smooth and glossy." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Remove the baked muffins and place on a baking rack to cool. Upon taking the pans out of the oven, drizzle the topping over the tops of the each muffin." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Sprinkle the top of each muffin with some Turbinado sugar." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Serve immediately! " }]}],"keywords" : "Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins","recipeIngredient" : ["1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, melted","1 cup whole milk","2 eggs","1\/2 cup canned pumpkin puree","1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract","1\/2 cup brown sugar","2 cups flour","1\/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats","2 teaspoons baking soda","1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (recipe below)","4 Tablespoons salted butter, melted","3 Tablespoons flour","2 Tablespoons brown sugar","1\/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (recipe below)","Turbinado coarse sugar for dusting tops of muffins","3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon","2 teaspoons ground ginger","2 teaspoons nutmeg","1 1\/2 teaspoons ground allspice","1 1\/2 tsp. ground cloves"], "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/6.png" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sharon Wray" }, "nutrition": { "@type": "NutritionInformation", "servingsize": "1 serving"},"@type": "Recipe"} Subscribe

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Mister October is Here… Just in Time for Halloween!

I can’t believe it’s been about six weeks or so since I’ve written in this space, and I missed you all! I love to blog daily, mostly because it’s a place where I can journal about the random things that interest me… and hopefully you all as well. I spent the time away writing for my many deadlines and traveling to see family. And while I’m grateful for the time away, I’m so happy to be home again.

Anyway, today is a huge day because one of my favorite stories that I’ve written this year is out now! One October Night, one of the first stories in my Kingsmill Courtships series, is now available for a limited time in the Mister October anthology.

BAD DECISIONS. BROKEN HEARTS. SECOND CHANCES

What do these all have in common? Mister October! 

Think naughty costumes, deliciously devious “snacks,” and spooky twists. And, of course, sexy heroes and HEAs! Follow our dauntless heroines through bad decisions, broken hearts and second chances. You’ll love the mix of suspense, comedy, sweet/steamy romance, and holiday drama without a drop of magic.

Are ready for a book that will keep you up all night? And when that doorbell rings, will you answer for Mister October?

My story on the anthology, One October Night, is a sweet, second-chance romance that takes place in Kingsmill, VA, a small town deep in the Shenandoah Mountains.

Can he betray the woman he loves… to secure their happily ever after?

Jacob Mosby is no hero. He’s a hardworking, hard-playing man determined to make his small-town construction business a success. He’s also been bewitched by a one-night stand he had a year ago with Clara Wakefield. Although she left his bed without saying goodbye, and has barely spoken to him since, he’s decided to make her his wife before she runs away again. He just has no idea how until he learns Clara is running the Halloween Haunted House Charity Event…in his family’s abandoned mansion.

Clara Wakefield, a widow, mother, and successful event planner is filled with regrets. She married the wrong man and, after his death, slept with the right man. The right man who has other women on the side. Terrified of suffering another broken heart, and desperate to protect her teenage daughter from making the same mistakes, Clara takes one last job in her tiny town of Kingsmill, VA before moving to a large city. If her Halloween Haunted House succeeds, she’ll secure her future.

Yet when the teenage vampires are caught vaping in the woods, the high school witches curse the skeletons in the basement, and someone sabotages the Haunted House, Clara must rely on Jacob to help make her event a success. Even if it means losing her heart to the man she’s always loved… again.

I hope you love One October Night as much as I loved writing it! And if you do read it, please leave an honest review on any vendor platform you prefer!

If you are not on my ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) list and would like to be, just click here to sign up. I’d love to have you join us!

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