Sharon Wray's Blog, page 44

Love is in the Air

Yes, it’s still summer. And yes, I’m still on a blogging hiatus until I finish a few manuscripts that are due this fall. But I do want to share with you a new project I’m working on that has just gone up for preorder… a charity anthology titled Love is in the Air. 

Love is in the Air  will release on August 15, 2023.

Preorder Love is in the air here!

When life causes suffering, it also offers us second chances. This limited edition romance collection features 20+ stories of hope, happy ever afters, and the second chances it took to get there. This anthology includes stories of second chances at love and life as heroes and heroines embark on life changing journeys, whether changing careers or moving half way across the globe. If you’ve been longing for a second chance, these stories might inspire you to go out there and grab it.

My story in this collection, The Summer Promise, is the first book in my contemporary romance Kingsmill Courtships series about a small, forgotten town deep in Virginia’s Shenandoah Mountains that is also home to the Devil’s Renegade Motorcycle Club. These books offer a small town vibe with a MC, bad boys heroes fighting redemption, and strong heroines who will do anything to rebuild their lives. This series is steamy and sweet, funny and heartbreaking, and filled with quirky, unforgettable characters. Here is the blurb for The Summer Promise.

Sometimes the happiest endings begin with a broken promise.

When Army Ranger Gage Mosby returns to Kingsmill, Virginia, deep in the Shenandoah Mountains, he’s in for a reckoning. His family’s business–the Devil’s Renegade Biker Bar–is facing bankruptcy, his older brothers have lost control of their Motorcycle Club to a local thug, and his grown nephews are living irresponsible lives of debauchery. But the person he’s most worried about is Lily Dunmore. The beautiful woman he’d promised to love forever before he betrayed her in the most brutal way. 

Lily Dunmore, a celebrated pastry chef in Paris, has found a place in the world that’s safe and secure. A place far away from small-town gossip and sad memories. After being left at the altar by one man, and publicly betrayed by another, she became the girl everyone felt sorry for–until she moved to Paris. But when Lily returns home unexpectedly, she discovers that running from her past has left her vulnerable to deeply buried feelings and long-forgotten dreams. Dreams about Gage Mosby, the man she’s never forgotten. The man she still loves. 

Once the long-separated lovers meet again, they’ll have to decide if risking their hearts and forgiving each other is worth a lifetime of happiness.

About the collection:

All NET author proceeds are being pledged to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the highest-rated breast cancer organization in the United States and largest private funder of breast cancer research worldwide. While I’ve not suffered from this terrible disease, I lost Zoe, one of my best friends, to breast cancer a few years ago. I held her hand as she struggled with her diagnosis and treatment only to end up with Stage 4 cancer. It is our collective hope that this disease be eradicated during our lifetime. That’s why I’ve joined 20+ romance authors, who build their careers on hope and happy ever afters, to write this collection of second chances.

Our mission, as the participating authors in this collection, is to use our voices to help BCRF in their mission to prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research.

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Off to the Beach!

After a long hard talk with myself, I’ve decided to take a short summer break from blogging. While I love writing in this space, I have many many deadlines coming up and I’m traveling for the rest of the summer. So I’ve decided to pause the blog until mid-September, although I may throw up a post or two to share a recipe, photos from my travels, and book-related news.

Between September and December, I have six new short stories coming out. Two in the Deadly Force Romantic Suspense world and four (maybe five) in my short-story Contemporary Romance Kingsmill Courtship series. Plus, I have two full-length novels that need to be on my agents’ desks by Thanksgiving. And I still have a lot of writing to do. But that also means I’ll have lots of new releases coming up in 2022 and 2023. In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy a safe and quiet Summer and I can’t wait to see you again in the Fall!

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The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Chocolate Zucchini Bread

I love summer mornings with their early light and a coolness that lingers from the overnight storms. One of the things I love most about summer mornings is Chocolate Zucchini Bread that I make with zucchinis fresh from my garden. This recipe is easy and will last me all week, unless the kids are around. I serve it with hot coffee and fresh berries–if I can save the berries from the birds who prey on my berry vines. And I also give away loaves to my neighbors and friends.

This bread can be frozen after it cools and saved for a cold winter morning. I often will make two breads at once–one to eat and one to freeze for later or to give away. It’s also a great way to use up extra zucchini that appears this time of year. This recipe can also easily be turned into muffins which can also be frozen. I’ve served this bread as a dessert with vanilla or coffee-flavored ice cream.

I hope you all are enjoying your summer and taking advantage of all the fresh summer vegetables!

Sharon Wray

Yields 2 loaves

The Hungry {Romance Writer: Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This is a recipe I adapted from an old Good Housekeeping magazine many, many years ago. This bread freezes well once it cools completely. And the recipe can easily be doubled so you can eat one loaf and give away (or freeze) a second.

30 minPrep Time

1 hrCook Time

1 hr, 30 Total Time

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Ingredients

1 3/4 cups sugar3 eggs1 cup grapeseed oil2 cups grated zucchini1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract3 cups flour1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1 1/4 teaspoons salt1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/4 teaspoon baking powder1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips1/2 cups chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.lightly grease two 5"x9" loaf pans.In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, and oil. Then stir in the zucchini and pure vanilla extract.In another large bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Gently stir to combine the dry ingredients.Slowly stir the flour mixture into the egg/oil mixture. Stir just until blended.Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts until blended.Pour the batter into the pans, dividing the batter evenly.Bake the loaves for 1 hour or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.Cool the loaves on wire racks for 10 minutes. Pop out the breads and allow them to cool on wire racks for at least 45 minutes before serving.7.8.1.2235https://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-chocolate-zucchini-bread/ { "@context": "http://schema.org/", "url": [ "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/the-hungry-writer\/the-hungry-romance-writer-chocolate-zucchini-bread\/" ],"name" : "The Hungry {Romance Writer: Chocolate Zucchini Bread","description" : "This is a recipe I adapted from an old Good Housekeeping magazine many, many years ago. This bread freezes well once it cools completely. And the recipe can easily be doubled so you can eat one loaf and give away (or freeze) a second.","prepTime" : "PT30M","cookTime" : "PT1H","recipeYield" : "2 loaves","datePublished" : "2022-05-16 12:43:03","recipeInstructions":[ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "lightly grease two 5\"x9\" loaf pans." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, and oil. Then stir in the zucchini and pure vanilla extract." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "In another large bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Gently stir to combine the dry ingredients." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Slowly stir the flour mixture into the egg\/oil mixture. Stir just until blended. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts until blended. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Pour the batter into the pans, dividing the batter evenly." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Bake the loaves for 1 hour or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Cool the loaves on wire racks for 10 minutes. Pop out the breads and allow them to cool on wire racks for at least 45 minutes before serving." }],"keywords" : "The Hungry {Romance Writer: Chocolate Zucchini Bread","recipeIngredient" : ["1 3\/4 cups sugar","3 eggs","1 cup grapeseed oil","2 cups grated zucchini","1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract","3 cups flour","1\/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder","1 1\/4 teaspoons salt","1 teaspoon baking soda","1 teaspoon ground cinnamon","1\/4 teaspoon baking powder","1\/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips","1\/2 cups chopped pecans (optional)"], "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/3-Featured-Blog-Photos..-800-\u00d7-500-px-19.png" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sharon Wray" }, "nutrition": { "@type": "NutritionInformation", "servingsize": "1 serving"},"@type": "Recipe"} Subscribe

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Christmas in July

I am so excited to be involved in THREE holiday anthologies this year, and I can’t wait to share them with you. One Christmas story is from my Deadly Force romantic suspense world, and the other two are from my new contemporary romance Kingsmill Courtship series. Scroll down for a sneak peak–and preorder links–for all three anthologies filled with holiday stories from some of your favorite romance authors. One of the thing I love about these projects is that one is sweet and tender, one is funny as heck, and the other is steamy enough to melt the snow on your windows.

Christmas Love Stories & Steamy Romance…Tied-up in a beautiful holiday gift. Just for you.

Cancel your plans and spend this holiday season with your favorite romance authors who have teamed up to bring you 26 brand new stories inspired by Christmas.

This collection has it all: fake relationships, second chances, friends to lovers, and falling for best friend’s brother. There’s even a Christmas Eve wedding!

Each of the authors will have an unforgettable, steamy love story. So grab a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, and meet your next favorite author today.

Let’s Get Naughty is the perfect anthology for you to binge on this holiday season while eating cookies in front of the Christmas tree.

My story, Home for the Honeymoon, is a contemporary, small-town romance guaranteed to make you laugh and cry while you wait for Santa to arrive!

PREORDER LET’S GET NAUGHTY HERE D ear Santa,
Before I explain… how much have the elves told you?

Who’s ready for a little naughty & nice in their romance stories this year? 

With some mistletoe and holiday cheer, anything can–and does–happen during Christmas in this new and exclusive holiday anthology.

Your favorite contemporary authors have gathered around the wintery hearth to bring you holiday romances with all the sexy feels. If you’re not on the naughty list yet, you will be after indulging in these steamy reads about second chances, billionaires, motorcycle clubs, and so many of your other favorite tropes. 

Even if you’re trying to stay off of Santa’s watchlist, these romances will put you in a celebratory mood and warm your heart all season long.

My story, Eve’s Christmas Kiss, is a contemporary, second-chance, small-town romance about a motorcycle-riding bad boy and the woman he’s determined to win back.

PREORDER WANTED: MISTLETOE HEREChristmas Wishes and New Year’s Kisses…

is a wonderfully festive collection of holiday-themed romance novellas and short stories from some of the world’s most loved indie authors.

My story, The Christmas Lily, is a poignant story of Rafe and Juliet’s first Christmas, set months before Rafe’s disappearance. Juliet is determined to wrangle her tiny hometown into having the perfect Christmas only to learn that sometimes happiness and love are found in the most unexpected places.

(Rafe and Juliet are the hero and heroine of Every Deep Desire, book 1 in the Deadly Force series).

Preorder Christmas wishes & new year’s kisses hereSubscribe

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Sarah Munro’s Coconut Hair Mask

In the middle of summer, when your hair has suffered damage from the sun, sunscreen chemicals, chlorine in the pool, or salty ocean water, it’s always nice to apply a nourishing hair mask. This one, made from coconut oil and sugar and essential oils not only adds needed moisture to your hair and scalp, it also smells wonderful. The coconut oil, rich in fatty acids, helps make the scalp less itchy. The peppermint and tea tree oils add an antimicrobial and antibacterial element to the mask and also help with circulation to the scalp. The sugar, because it breaks down to glycolic acid, helps get rid of dandruff and leaves the hair feeling soft and silky.

The recipe below for the Coconut Hair Mask is a simple one that dates back centuries. That is why Sarah Munro, (my PhD historian and heroine in book 2 of the Deadly Force series, ONE DARK WISH), has added it to her collection of DIY herbal recipes.

Sarah Munro’s Coconut Hair MaskIngredients:2 Tablespoons of raw unrefined coconut oil4 teaspoons of raw sugar2 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil5 drops of Peppermint Essential OilDirections:

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Mix well!

Using your fingers, work the mask through your damp or dry hair. It’s easier if you partition your hair into 2-inch wide sections. When all of the oil mixture is worked into your hair, run a comb through it. Then, if your hair is longer or shoulder length, tie it up with a clip. If it’s short, just comb it away from your face. (You don’t want any of the sugar granules to get into your eyes.)

Allow this mixture to sit on your head for 5-10 minutes, while you shower. Then, before you finish showering, rinse your hair thoroughly. Again, being careful to keep the mask away from your eyes.

This mask is safe enough to use overnight. Just apply to damp or dry hair and cover with a shower cap. Then, when you wake, rinse it out.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER ABOUT WILD PLANTS, FORAGING , AND MAKING HERBAL REMEDIES:

I am not a medical professional and nothing written on this blog is medical advice. None of my statements have been evaluated by the FDA (I am legally required to give you this disclaimer).

It is important to do your due diligence before foraging, harvesting, and/or consuming any type of medicinal plant.

If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor about any potential drug interactions.If you are allergic to anything, make sure whatever you are foraging is not in the same family. Example: While dandelions are typically considered safe, those who are allergic to ragweed, latex, daisies, or any other plants in the same or similar families, may not be able to consume dandelion.

Always research potential side effects, dosage recommendations, and how to properly prepare and consume each medicinal plant.

Always make sure you are foraging what you believe to be. Fully prepare and study the anatomy before harvesting wild plants.

Always make sure your kitchen/work area is clean and that all materials are sterilized.

Do not forage plants from areas that have been sprayed within the past 2 years at the very least.

I am not legally or morally responsible for the health of any of my readers. Please do your own research!

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2022 Mid-Summer Middle Grade & Young Adult Book List

It’s so hot and humid that all I want to do is hang out by the pool and hide inside with the A.C. blasting. That means it must be time for the 2022 Mid-Summer Middle Grade & Young Adult book list! As I’ve mentioned before, this is NOT a best-seller or new release list. This is an ongoing, cumulative list of books the kids in my reading army have read and is updated twice a year. They find their books on their own, usually in libraries or through recommendations from friends. With so many books being published–both traditionally and independently–it’s gotten so hard to keep up. So I want to thank my preteen & teen readers for their help and suggestions, as well as my blog readers who’ve made this list such a popular download. This summer we added over fifty books and the current list is now over 60 pages long. You are all so awesome!

And if you’d like a refresher about how publishers and librarians classify Middle Grade and Young Adult books–and why–I wrote a blog post to help clarify the rules.

Thank you to Amazon for book embeds links and blurbs*

This bi-annual compilation offers a good cross-section of genres for teens and tweens. A lot of new YA Fantasy and Middle Grade Non-Fiction were recently released. I was happy to find so many non-fiction books geared toward pre-teen boys as well. As a mother of a son, I know how hard it can be to get them reading during the summer. We’ve also added many new Middle Grade Action/Adventure books. There are books on the list for all readers to get them through the rest of the summer!

Below are a few highlights in no particular order. For the entire printable list, click here:  2022 Mid-Summer MG/YA Book List.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

In the sequel to Victoria Aveyard’s instant number one New York Times best-selling Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge. 

Andry, a former squire, continues to fight for hope amid blood and chaos.

Dom, a grieving immortal, strives to fulfill a broken oath.

Sorasa, an outcast assassin, faces her past when it returns with sharpened teeth.

Valtik, an old sorceress, summons a mighty power.

And Corayne, a pirate’s daughter with an ancient magic in her blood, steps closer to becoming the hero she’s destined to be.

Together they must assemble an army to face Queen Erida and Taristan’s wicked forces. But something deadly waits in the shadows, something that might consume the world before there’s any hope for victory.

The Forsaken hunger for vengeance, leaving Steel and me with no choice but to follow Camiel to the only place strong enough to protect me—Eden, an ancient, hidden city darkened by my family’s secrets.

But Eden isn’t the safe haven I expected, and family runs deeper than blood.

As Thorne grows stronger by the day, his Fallen forces threaten to raze London—and then the world—to cinders. In order to stop him, the entire angelic community has to unite, but ancient feuds and millennia of prejudice put everything at risk.

My heart knows where I belong—fighting beside my loved ones—but I have a secret that could doom them all. There’s a dark power growing inside me, hellish and spiraling beyond my control.

The realms have merged. The darkness calls to me. And there’s only one thing standing in my way . . . Steel.

She’d failed them. All of them. And now she was paying the price.

Kiva thought she knew what she wanted—revenge. But feelings change, people change . . . everything has changed.

After what happened at the palace, Kiva is desperate to know if her friends and family are safe, and whether those she wronged can ever forgive her. But with the kingdoms closer to the brink of war than they’ve ever been, and Kiva far away from the conflict, more is at stake than her own broken heart.

A fresh start will mean a perilous quest, forcing mortal enemies and uneasy allies together in a race against the clock to save not just Evalon, but all of Wenderall. With her loyalties now set, Kiva can no longer just survive—she must fight for what she believes in. For who she believes in. But with danger coming from every side, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, does she have what it takes to stand, or will she fall?

With the borders breaking down, and their friends in the settlement in deadly danger, Cadence and Airlie need to act fast. Instead they’re caught up in politics where torn allegiances threaten their freedom.

But the greatest danger lies across the border in the fallen kingdom. The threat of the General still looms large, and the wild power is far beyond the control of any one person.

After a lifetime of deception, the sisters are still discovering their power and heritage. Airlie wants to let go of her final secret, but she worries it could pave the path to further destruction, and she fears its revelation might mean losing Cadence for good. But it also might offer their only hope of salvation. If the sisters have any chance of saving their world, they must do it together.

To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.

The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.

Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi, and Sabaa Tahir, this is the explosive first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-nominated author Tahereh Mafi.

Juliette and Warner fought hard to take down the Reestablishment once and for all. Life in the aftermath isn’t easy, as they and their friends at the Sanctuary work with their limited resources to stabilize the world.

Warner has his sights set on more than just politics. Since he proposed to Juliette two weeks ago, he’s been eager to finally marry her, the person he loves more than anything and has endured so much to be with. But with so much chaos around them, it’s been nearly impossible for them to have a wedding. And even Juliette has been distracted by everything they need to do.

At long last, Warner and Juliette’s future together is within reach, but the world continues to try to pull them apart. Will they finally be able to be happily, officially, together?

#1  New York Times  bestselling author Holly Black returns to the opulent world of Elfhame in the first book in a thrilling new duology, following Jude’s brother Oak, and the changeling queen, Suren.

A reluctant prince. A runaway queen. And a quest that may destroy them both. 

Eden had her best friend Katie—she didn’t need anyone else. But then there was Truman.

Katie’s older brother, the artist. The recluse. The boy with the innocent smile and the dangerous eyes.

Eden had never really known Truman—not until the night of Katie’s accident. That was the night they’d finally let each other into their orbits—only to have the sky come crashing down on them.

With Katie in the hospital and Truman fleeing from his grief without a word, Eden is left alone to grapple with her own pain. But when Truman returns to the city, can Eden let him back into her life knowing that their first kiss is what tore their world apart?

In the dark, cold reaches of the north lives a storyteller and his daughter. He told his daughter, Satu, many stories—romances like the girl who loved a star and changed herself into a nightingale so she could always see him shining—but the most important story he told her was his own. This storyteller was once the formidable North Wind, but he lost his power by trading it away in exchange for mortality—he loved her mother too much to live without her. The loss of his magic impacted more than just their family, however, and now the world is unraveling in the wake of this imbalance.

To save the North, Satu embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim her father’s magic, but she isn’t the only one searching for it. In the snow-laden mountains, she finds herself in a deadly race with the Winter Lord who wants the North Wind’s destructive powers for himself.

Satu has the chance to be the heroine of her own fairy tale, only this one has an ending she never could have imagined.

Judy I. Lin’s sweeping debut A Magic Steeped in Poison, first in a duology, is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.

I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, “These are the hands that buried my mother.”

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life. 

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain. 

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​ 

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion.

On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help. Expecting to hear that Mrs. Janssen wants meat or kerosene, Hanneke is shocked by the older woman’s frantic plea to find a person–a Jewish teenager Mrs. Janssen had been hiding, who has vanished without a trace from a secret room. Hanneke initially wants nothing to do with such dangerous work, but is ultimately drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations that lead her into the heart of the resistance, open her eyes to the horrors of the Nazi war machine, and compel her to take desperate action.

Middle Grade Fiction and Non-Fiction Books

Twelve-year-old Amber has no interest in useless girly skills. Nicknamed “Princess Persnickety” at a young age by a frustrated nursery maid, the feisty first daughter of the kingdom yearns for adventure. So she’s thrilled when a foreign messenger’s mount speaks to her… and swears her to secrecy.

Stefan wishes he knew where he came from. Adopted by poor weavers, his only skill seems to be caring for animals. But when a herald’s camel tells him the realm is in great danger, the young lad and his royal best friend are the only two who can save it.

With the beast claiming his real owner was ambushed, Amber helps disguise her low-born pal so he can ride off in search of the truth. And as Stefan rushes into the desert, the courageous commoner hopes he and his conversational quadruped are swift enough for the clever girl to delay her father from marching straight into a trap.

Can three unlikely heroes deliver everyone from darkness?

Percy Jackson meets Tristan Strong in this hilarious, action-packed middle grade contemporary fantasy that follows a young boy as he journeys across China to seal the underworld shut and save the mortal realm.

Zachary Ying never had many opportunities to learn about his Chinese heritage. His single mom was busy enough making sure they got by, and his schools never taught anything except Western history and myths. So Zack is woefully unprepared when he discovers he was born to host the spirit of the First Emperor of China for a vital mission: sealing the leaking portal to the Chinese underworld before the upcoming Ghost Month blows it wide open.

The mission takes an immediate wrong turn when the First Emperor botches his attempt to possess Zack’s body and binds to Zack’s AR gaming headset instead, leading to a battle where Zack’s mom’s soul gets taken by demons. Now, with one of history’s most infamous tyrants yapping in his headset, Zack must journey across China to heist magical artifacts and defeat figures from history and myth, all while learning to wield the emperor’s incredible water dragon powers.

And if Zack can’t finish the mission in time, the spirits of the underworld will flood into the mortal realm, and he could lose his mom forever.

Soar into a breathtaking world of heroes and unicorns as you’ve never seen them before in this fantastical middle grade debut perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Eragon series!

Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call. 

Skandar is thrust into a world of epic sky battles, dangerous clashes with wild unicorns, and rumors of a shadowy villain amassing a unicorn army. And the closer Skandar grows to his newfound friends and community of riders, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets—especially when he discovers their lives may all be in graver danger than he ever imagined.

Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a trilogy filled with #blackgirlmagic. Perfect for fans of  Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky , the Percy Jackson series, and  Nevermoor . 

Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good. So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton—if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real.

Now she must compete for a spot against kids who’ve known about magic their whole lives. No matter how hard she tries, Amari can’t seem to escape their intense doubt and scrutiny—especially once her supernaturally enhanced talent is deemed “illegal.” With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she’s an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Kwame Mbalia’s epic fantasy, a middle grade American Gods set in a richly-imagined world populated with African American folk heroes and West African gods.

Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy.

But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie’s notebook. Tristan chases after it–is that a doll?–and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature’s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world.

Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American folk heroes John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price.

Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?

WINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDAL • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
 
Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother.

Some stories refuse to stay bottled up…

When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni’s Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal–return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni’s health–Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice…and the courage to face a tiger.

Sometimes middle school can make you feel like you’re totally alone in the universe…but what if we aren’t alone at all?
 
Thanks to her best friend, Reagan, Mallory Moss knows the rules of middle school. The most important one? You have to fit in to survive. But then Jennifer Chan moves in across the street, and that rule doesn’t seem to apply. Jennifer doesn’t care about the laws of middle school, or the laws of the universe. She believes in aliens—and she thinks she can find them.
 
Then Jennifer goes missing. Using clues from Jennifer’s journals, Mallory goes searching. But the closer she gets, the more Mallory has to confront why Jennifer might have run . . . and face the truth within herself.
 
Tae Keller lights up the sky with this insightful story about shifting friendships, right and wrong, and the power we all hold to influence and change one another. No one is alone.

The fifth installment of the popular Lemonade War series! Siblings Jessie and Evan Treski have waged a lemonade war, sought justice in a class trial, unmasked a bell thief, and stood at opposite ends over the right to keep secrets. Now they are creating a magic show—a professional magic show, in their own backyard!

They practice, they study, and they practice some more. And who shows up? Their father, who has done such a good job of disappearing over the past few years. 

Just as Evan and Jessie took on running a business in The Lemonade War and a court of law in The Lemonade Crime, in this fifth novel of the bestselling Lemonade War series, they take on the challenges of magic and illusion, all while discovering some hidden truths about their own family. Another fresh, funny, emotionally charged novel by the author Books for Kids calls “one of the best writers for the middle grades around.”

Black boy joy is…
 
Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit.
Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race.
Finding your voice—and your rhymes—during tough times.
Flying on your skateboard like nobody’s watching.
 
And more! From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.

As World War II comes to a close, the United States and the Soviet Union emerge as the two greatest world powers on extreme opposites of the political spectrum. After the United States showed its hand with the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, the Soviets refuse to be left behind. With communism sweeping the globe, the two nations begin a neck-and-neck competition to build even more destructive bombs and conquer the Space Race. In their battle for dominance, spy planes fly above, armed submarines swim deep below, and undercover agents meet in the dead of night.

The Cold War game grows more precarious as weapons are pointed towards each other, with fingers literally on the trigger. The decades-long showdown culminates in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world’s close call with the third—and final—world war.

A Shelf Awareness Best Children’s Book of 2021
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of 2021
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book of the Year
A Newbery Honor book 
A National Book Awards finalist for Young People’s Literature
A Washington PostBest Kids Books of the Year title

Discover the Korean War through the eyes of the journalist who covered it in this installment of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series

In 1950, Marguerite Higgins (1920–1966) was made bureau chief of the Far East Asia desk for the New York Herald Tribune. Tensions were high on the Korean peninsula, where a border drawn after WWII split the country into North and South. When the North Korean army crossed the border with Soviet tanks, it was war. Marguerite was there when the Communists captured Seoul. She fled with the refugees heading south, but when the bridges were blown over the Han River, she was trapped in enemy territory. Her eyewitness account of the invasion was a newspaper smash hit. She risked her life in one dangerous situation after another––all for the sake of good story. Then she was told that women didn’t belong on the frontlines. The United States Army officially ordered her out of Korea. She appealed to General Douglas MacArthur, and he personally lifted the ban on female war correspondents, which allowed her the chance to report on many of the major events of the Korean War. 

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales are graphic novels that tell the thrilling, shocking, gruesome, and TRUE stories of American history. Read them all—if you dare!

“Much like The Boy In the Striped Pajamas or The Book Thief,” this remarkable memoir from Leon Leyson, one of the youngest children to survive the Holocaust on Oskar Schindler’s list, “brings to readers a story of bravery and the fight for a chance to live” (VOYA).

This, the only memoir published by a former Schindler’s list child, perfectly captures the innocence of a small boy who goes through the unthinkable. Leon Leyson (born Leib Lezjon) was only ten years old when the Nazis invaded Poland and his family was forced to relocate to the Krakow ghetto. With incredible luck, perseverance, and grit, Leyson was able to survive the sadism of the Nazis, including that of the demonic Amon Goeth, commandant of Plaszow, the concentration camp outside Krakow.

Ultimately, it was the generosity and cunning of one man, Oskar Schindler, who saved Leon Leyson’s life, and the lives of his mother, his father, and two of his four siblings, by adding their names to his list of workers in his factory—a list that became world renowned: Schindler’s list.

Told with an abundance of dignity and a remarkable lack of rancor and venom, The Boy on the Wooden Box is a legacy of hope, a memoir unlike anything you’ve ever read.

Disclaimer: Some of these books are (or once were) controversial. Some older YAs have closed-door or open-door adult situations, and others (YA & MG) deal with harsh issues such as suicide, bullying, war, poverty, and loss of a parent. As a librarian, reader’s advisor, and mother, I’ve learned that tweens and teens tend to read within their comfort zone, both emotionally and reading-level wise. All of these books offer a chance for parents and kids to discuss which topics are appropriate now and which books are best left for another time. But I hope you all find books that will give your family new adventures and imaginary friends.

See you in February for the 2023 Mid-Winter Young Adult and Middle Grade Book List!

*The books listed in this blog post are in no particular order.

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The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Grilled Tilapia

Since this is the month of entertaining outside, I’m sharing some of my favorite summertime recipes that I serve to family and friends. Today I’m making Grilled Tilapia that is both easy and delicious. Not everyone loves seafood, but I’ve found that tilapia is a mild enough fish that even the most determined fish-hater can enjoy it.. But the marinade I use for this recipe also works well with chicken.

I serve this fish with my Black Bean Salsa, homemade cornbread, and a green salad filled with veggies fresh from the garden. I hope you all are enjoying these hot summer nights… it’ll start snowing soon enough. LOL.

Sharon Wray

Yields Serves 4

The Hungry {Romance Writer: Grilled Tilapia

This is an easy fish dish to make on a hot summer night. Although I usually grill the tilapia, it can be baked in the oven as well. And this recipe is easy doubled for a larger crowd.

10 minPrep Time

5 minCook Time

15 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

Grilled Tilapia2 pounds tilapia fillets1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil1 teaspoon teaspoon cajun seasoning1 teaspoon Old Bay SeasoningAioli1 cup mayonnaise6 garlic cloves, minced1 1?2 Tablespoons lemon juice1 1?2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard3?4 teaspoon dried tarragon

Instructions

Preheat the grill.On a piece of parchment paper, spread the oil on both sides of the tilapia filets.In a small bowl, combine all of the aioli ingredients and stir until well mixed. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (can be made a day ahead)Combine all of the seasonings in a small bowl and sprinkle the combined seasonings on both sides of the tilapia filets.Cook the filets on the grill at medium-hight heat for 4-5 minutes. Turn once during the grilling process.Serve the fish immediately with the aioli.7.8.1.2234https://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-grilled-tilapia/ { "@context": "http://schema.org/", "url": [ "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/the-hungry-writer\/the-hungry-romance-writer-grilled-tilapia\/" ],"name" : "The Hungry {Romance Writer: Grilled Tilapia","description" : "This is an easy fish dish to make on a hot summer night. Although I usually grill the tilapia, it can be baked in the oven as well. And this recipe is easy doubled for a larger crowd.","prepTime" : "PT10M","cookTime" : "PT5M","recipeYield" : "Serves 4","datePublished" : "2022-05-16 09:05:39","recipeInstructions":[ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Preheat the grill. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "On a piece of parchment paper, spread the oil on both sides of the tilapia filets." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "In a small bowl, combine all of the aioli ingredients and stir until well mixed. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (can be made a day ahead)" }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Combine all of the seasonings in a small bowl and sprinkle the combined seasonings on both sides of the tilapia filets." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Cook the filets on the grill at medium-hight heat for 4-5 minutes. Turn once during the grilling process. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Serve the fish immediately with the aioli. " }],"keywords" : "The Hungry {Romance Writer: Grilled Tilapia","recipeIngredient" : ["2 pounds tilapia fillets","1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil","1 teaspoon teaspoon cajun seasoning","1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning","1 cup mayonnaise","6 garlic cloves, minced","1 1?2 Tablespoons lemon juice","1 1?2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard","3?4 teaspoon dried tarragon"], "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https:\/\/sharonwray.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/53.png" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sharon Wray" }, "nutrition": { "@type": "NutritionInformation", "servingsize": "1 serving"},"@type": "Recipe"} Subscribe

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Prep & Plan: Week Thirty-Six

This summer has been all about traveling. Not just for myself and my family, but also for millions of us who’ve hit the road after being locked down for so long. The last few weeks, I’ve been discussing how to travel safely by making sure you’re car is ready for any emergency, your First Aid kit is up-to-date, and your pets are safe while you’re on the road. So today I want to discuss something else–how to stay safe while in a hotel, motel, or short-term-rental like an AirBnB.

Any kind of traveling requires a situational awareness you don’t normally use when you’re safe at home. There are all sorts of hotels and motels throughout the U.S., but just because one hotel is more expensive than the other doesn’t mean it’s safer. Thieves will target an area where they find things to steal and the opportunity to do so. And a higher price tag can often lull visitors into a false sense of security. The fact that expensive hotels have a lot of security measures in place proves that hotel security is a nation-wide problem.

There are crooks and gangs of thieves who specifically target tourist hotels. If you’re heading to a popular tourist area, extra vigilance is always advised. Your safety always begins with your attention to your surroundings–aka situational awareness. And it stinks that if you go away to relax that you still have to be on alert. But that’s the way of the world. So what should you do to protect yourself and your family? Below are a few ideas and things to think about, and you can adapt these ideas to the area and situation where you’re staying. How you protect yourself in a large city motel is different than what you’d do in a Summer cabin on a lake.

The tips below may seem like a lot, but I promise you I’m not paranoid. I’m just careful. Why? Because I’ve traveled A LOT in my life–all over the world–and have learned that only you are responsible for your own safety. So you need to take it seriously. It’s much easier to prevent a crime than to pick up the pieces afterwards. As a woman who once had her passport stolen in a foreign country, I speak from experience. The other thing I can promise that the more you do the tips listed below, the more they will become habits that you don’t even realize you’re doing. And that’s a good thing!

Now, having said all of that, I hope you all stay safe on your travels this summer. And, above all, have fun! You deserve this time off!!

Tips for Hotel & Motel & Short-Term Rental SafetyWhen you check in, act as if you’re paying attention to security by asking questions at the front desk or rental representative. Ask about door locks, how the credit card information is stored, if the lobby door is locked at night…things like that. While the answers are important, the more important reason to do this is to show anyone who might be watching (including front desk staff) that you’re not a distracted traveler. You are telling everyone around you that you have situational awareness and are paying attention.

“Be grey and Blend in” ~ this one is hard when you’re traveling with a family. But staying as nondescript as possible means that others won’t notice you. If you are a brightly-dressed tourist acting as if you’re lost or confused, you become a target. This is especially important when you have little kids and strollers and lots of baggage. If you’re traveling with a family, consider having one adult do all the check-in things while the rest of the family waits outside until the room is ready. Then you all process up to the room without making a lot of noise of fuss. Stay as unobtrusive as possible. Once you begin acting this way, you’ll be surprised at how many people are not “grey” and how much they stand out. If they stand out to you, they are being noticed by others, including others who are up to no good.

Always keep your luggage in sight and close you. Even if you have to let others go ahead of you in line, or if you have to wait to use the restroom. Never leave your bags unattended.

Avoid bottom and top floors. Large city hotels rarely have first-floor rooms, but beach motels and highway motels do have ground level rooms. Ground level rooms are easy to break into and get away from, like a smash-and-grab theft. And never leave things on ground floor balconies. It’s not uncommon for people to be in the bathroom, and to leave a sliding glass door unlocked because they’re in the room, and for thieves take all of their valuables before they leave the bathroom. Also, second floors and above often have an added layer of security if the elevator needs a room key to make it work. On the other hand, top floors may leave you trapped if there’s a threat coming up from below. If there’s no escape from that top floor, you’re trapped.

Study the building’s layout. There are usually maps of the building and the individual rooms on the back of hotel room doors. If you don’t see one, ask the front desk. It only takes a few minutes to study this map and memorize all of the exits. This is important for fire escapes as well as for anticipating where thieves could be hiding or come from. And remember, the closest exit may not be the way you got to your room. By studying the building’s layout, you’ll have a better chance of escape regardless of the threat. Also check the restaurants, lobbies, bars, and parking lots/garages. I promise it doesn’t take long–unless you’re in a casino since they are built to be confusing and to keep you inside.

Know where your car is parked. If you park it yourself, pay attention to how you walk to the hotel. Where are you in the parking garage? If you’re in a lot, check the surrounding areas. Is it deserted? In a sketchy neighborhood? Make sure you know how long it would take to get you and your family back to the car in an emergency. If the car is parked by a valet, it’s perfectly reasonable question to ask where it is being stored and what kind of security the valet lot has as well as where they store the keys.

Be wary of open WiFi sources and protect your digital data. Always use a VPN and keep the apps you’ll be using updated. Even “secure” wifi sources can be suspect so make sure you use the most secure settings on all of your devices. And shut off any kind of bluetooth function on all of your devices while in public. Be careful about providing any kind of private date and, if in doubt, contact the front desk. Do not log into any of your financial accounts, including paying bills or buying things online. All of these apps provide a way for data thieves to steal your information, including your identity. I know ride-sharing and food-delivery services are used a lot while traveling–just be careful and always use a VPN. And when you’re surfing the internet, only go to sites that start with “HTTPS” instead of “HTTP”. The “S” means it has a security certificate.

Always, always, always keep your doors and windows locked. If you’re inside and you have an upper floor room with a window or balcony, keep them locked if you’re not using them. Many thieves are former employees of these hotels so they know how the place runs and understand when people straggle back to the hotel after a long day and are tired and not as careful about locking their doors and windows.

Hotel room safes aren’t always safe. If you’re not keeping your valuables with you during the day, you’ll have to decide if you want to hide your valuables somewhere in your room or use the safe. If the hotel has a central safe, you can always ask to use that. That one is usually protected and may come with some insurance coverage.

If you’re in a hotel or motel in a sketchy part of town, keep the DO NOT DISTURB sign on your doorknob and keep your blinds close. Of course, keep all windows and doors locked as well. If you’re in a motel, park your car as close to your room as possible. If anything happens inside the room, you can press your car alarm button on your key ring. The noise will help distract the bad guys and may give you a chance to get away. Also, turn on the T.V. loud enough for anyone in the hallway to hear. The bad guys are less likely to choose your room if they know you’re inside.

This may sound a bit crazy, but consider taking a portable bug sweeper & camera detector. These work great for short term rental properties. While companies like AirBnB prohibit owners from using these devices, some owners still use them. It doesn’t take long to sweep a room with a portable RF detector to find any hidden cameras or listening devices. These are all available on Amazon. I also use these when I am forced to stop at sketchy public bathrooms.

Never keep your key in the paper envelope it comes with because that has your room number on it. Keep the key separate from anything that might identify which room–or even which hotel–you’re in.

If you’re nervous about traveling alone, consider a travel-sized door locking device or a doorstop–these are available on Amazon and don’t cost much.

Consider traveling with a portable Carbon Monoxide detector. They are cheap and easy to pack… because you just never know.

Consider traveling with a back-up credit card. If your CC is compromised on your trip, you’ll need another way to pay for things like hotels, planes, rental cars and other things that require a CC instead of cash.Subscribe

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The Best and Most Beautiful Things

An edited essay reposted from the archives.

It was neither the best day, nor the most beautiful. But no amount of rain could dampen my mood. I sat across from a writing friend I’d known for years and drank my iced tea. (A little sweet for this girl from New Jersey who now lives in Virginia, but I’ve adapted.) Despite the drenching, we’d met for lunch at my favorite cafe. She’d just received another stellar review, I’d just released another book–with a short story releasing soon–so we were celebrating. We’d even planned on splitting dessert. A huge double chocolate brownie with ice cream.

“So,” my friend said with a self-satisfied half-smile. “How does it feel not to have made a bestseller list with your last release?”

I choked on my tea and my heart skipped around, searching for a rhythm somewhere between shock, anger, and ripping out her hair. Finally I responded with a weak, “Not everyone is a bestseller on release day.” Great. Now I was on the defensive. Not a familiar place for this particular Jersey girl. So I added, “I’m proud of this book. It’s my first indie release and I love the story.”

“You have all of these books out yet you haven’t made the big sales.” She might as well as added the word loser as a stand-alone emphasis sentence.

I didn’t understand. She was my friend. We were supposed to support each other on our journeys, regardless of how long it took to reach our goals. She’d published her first manuscript almost immediately after finishing it, hit a huge bestseller list with her preorders, and had a bright publishing future. I’d been truly happy for her. Yet now I was under attack.

“Aaannnd,” she drew out the word while her perfectly-painted nails held her straw so she could sip her tea, “most of your published friends are at least USA Today bestsellers, if not NYT authors. You’ve been left behind.”

Then she reached over to squeeze my hand in fake concern, as if I didn’t see through her what is wrong with you? putdown. “I’m worried that at this rate, you’ll never be anything more than a mildest author.”

I pulled away and sat up until my aching S-curved spine straightened against the chairback. I’m not very good at a lot of things, but for some reason I’ve been blessed with the Jersey-girl comeback gene. Despite the fact I’m a huge introvert and quiet in public, I never regret not having the perfect retort until hours after an event because I’ve usually said it, made my point, and moved on. Except, for some reason, this was different. This hurt. My words–my reliable verbal defense–disappeared. All I wanted to do was run and hide.

But since Jersey girls don’t run away, I borrowed someone else’s words. “Every artist was once an amateur. There’s no shame in that.”

She scoffed. “You’re quoting Whitman?”

“No.” I took a long, slow sip of my too-sweet tea and scored my first hit. “Emerson.”

The waitress came by and I waved off the dessert menu. I wasn’t about to cry, but the back of my throat itched and my hands felt hot. When my friend didn’t respond, I shattered the silence. “Since when did this writing thing become a race?”

Lame, but I’m not Emerson.

“First of all, it’s a publishing thing, not a writing thing.” She tapped a red-tipped finger against slayer lips. “Maybe that’s your problem.”

We’d entered full-on combat mode? “So much for using “I” statements.”

She shrugged. “People are talking. It’s embarrassing.”

Embarrassing? “For me or you?”

She looked down and away. To the left. Betrayal burned, not unlike the night before when I’d hurt my fingers pulling a burnt marshmallow off a stick so my daughter could make s’mores over our backyard bonfire. Except last night I’d been able to lick off the sweet residue and make another. Today’s scorching could empower my self-doubts, incite my internal editor, and encourage my muse take off. Today’s scorching could derail my career before I even give it a chance. Today’s scorching could leave a scar. Today’s scorching could destroy my confidence and self-esteem. If I allowed it.

As I drank my tea and watched her squirm, unable to admit she was embarrassed by my apparent lack of talent, ambition, or self-awareness, I realized a few things. The first was I have never asked for, nor needed, her validation. I have always been a storyteller, but I came to the actual writing gig late. I wish that wasn’t the case, but since it is, there’s no use regretting it. I started writing down my stories years ago when my father was diagnosed with cancer and I had to move, with my four-year old twins, to another state to care for him while my husband held everything together at home. The writing became a desperate kind of therapy. Then, after my dad died and the grief kicked in, writing became life-saving.

Since his death, I have written eight and half manuscripts, garnered eight Golden Heart finals (RWA’s pre-published contest) in six years, and somehow snagged the agent of my dreams (probably because she got tired of me pestering her every year with a new manuscript). Then I sold to Sourcebooks/Random House and am now a hybrid author with multiple books published… and many more on preorder. For the past eighteen years, I have written my way out of too many griefs, through two lay-offs, around children who grew from preschoolers into young adults, a pandemic, and many other of life’s traumas. For almost two decades, I studied craft, wrote over two million words, and thought I’d made trusted friendships.

But as the woman across from me refused to meet my gaze, I knew that while I had made many wonderful friends, she wasn’t one of them. She was talking about me behind my back. She pitied me. And that truth made me sad. I’d shared my words with her and she’d shown her jagged edges.

I bit my tongue until I tasted blood. Then I waved over the waitress. “I’ll have a hazelnut latte and the double chocolate brownie with ice cream.” I glanced at the friend I didn’t recognize anymore and smiled. “One fork.”

Her eyes widened in spite of the heavy mascara weighing down her eyelashes. “I don’t understand.”

“You’re jealous.”

Her palms hit the table and she leaned forward, almost out of her chair. Anger pinched her face until she resembled a feral ferret. “Of you?”

You see, my second realization was this: She envied me. Not for the bestseller flags or overflowing bank account. She envied me because she’d discovered the truth. In almost two decades, I have not only written many books but I’ve collected even more friends. And there is nothing more powerful in this difficult business than friends you make along the way. Friends she never made because her success came early on–and she was envied by others in return. I am blessed to have six Golden Heart classes of sisters and one brother who care about my journey, both trad and Indie authors who I can fall on for advice and comfort whenever I need, author buddies who would never mock me behind my back, who would never be embarrassed to sit next to me at lunch because my badge says AUTHOR instead of NYT BESTSELLER.

The third thing I discovered? She knew that those of us, both unpublished and published, who don’t push when we should pull, who struggle to hold on and don’t let go, who persevere through the hard because we know the only things that matter are the present and future readers, are the ones who will ultimately succeed. In our own way. In our own time. On our own terms. Always holding hands with those writers who’ve gone before, and those after.

“I am a Golden Heart Unsinkable, Starcatcher, Firebird, Lucky 13, Dreamweaver Dragonfly,” I said. “I am also a Sourcebooks/Random House author and an indie author who has more friends than that guy who won the lottery last week. One of my Golden Heart classes even has an unofficial victory song. Do you have a victory song?”

She grew fish lips. She knew, in that moment, she would never have that kind of support and love. Because she sold her very first manuscript, alone and without support, she was swimming in this ocean of sharks completely on her own. Whereas I had almost two decades of writing friends to balance the boat and sharpen the harpoons. So was I embarrassed I’m not yet a bestselling author? Or sad? Or scared?

(expletive deleted) No.

The waitress brought the dessert, placed it in front of me, and left. One fork glinted in the emerging sunlight.

“You’ll never succeed.” My ex-friend grabbed her purse and stood. “You’ll never be known. Never be seen.”

She tossed her hair and left the cafe, letting the door slam behind her.

The waitress hurried over with my latte and the check. “What was that all about?”

Of course my ex-friend left without paying. But I didn’t care. I had a dessert I didn’t have to share.

“She’s just mad because she inadvertently paid me a compliment.” I took a sip of my latte, then grabbed my fork. “Did you know that the best and most beautiful things in the world can’t be seen or even touched?”

She picked up my friend’s empty dishes and finished Helen Keller’s quote. “They must be felt with the heart.”

We laughed together until she nodded toward the window. “Look. The sun is out. We’re going to have a good day after all.”

“Not just a good day,” I said around a forkful of melting ice cream and chocolate. “We’re going to have the best future. And it’s going to be beautiful.”

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Sarah Munro’s Herbal Hair Rinse

Summer is here and the sun, seawater, and chlorine has had its way with my hair which is now dry and brittle. One of my favorite things to do during the summer is to make a DIY herbal hair rinse that helps strengthen my hair, and leave it shiny, without stripping out what remains of the natural oils. Since so many hair products are loaded with chemicals and strange smells, I prefer to make my own hair rinse.

All of the dried herbs in the recipe can be purchased from Amazon or any natural food store, both online or in the store itself. And if you don’t like the smell of oranges, you can replace the orange peel with lemon or lime peels. I’ve found that during the summer, if I use this after every shampoo, I can go longer between shampoos without any bad hair days. The recipe below, like so many of the recipes in this series, dates back to colonial days, which is why Sarah Munro, (my PhD historian and heroine in book 2 of the Deadly Force series, ONE DARK WISH), has added it to her collection of DIY herbal recipes.

Sarah Munro’s Herbal Hair RinseIngredients:1/4 cup dried nettle leaf1/4 cup dried horsetail3 Tablespoons dried basil3 Tablespoons dried rosemary4 Tablespoons died lavender6 slices of fresh orange rind3 cups white vinegarDirections:

Clean and sterilize a quart-sized glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Add all of the herbs to the jar and stir with a wooded spoon.

Pour the apple cider vinegar over the herbs, leaving a 1-inch headspace from the top of the jar. Add more vinegar if necessary.

Place the cap on the jar, twist to make sure it is tight, and shake well. Store the jar in a dark cabinet for at least three weeks, if not four. But remember to shake it daily. If at any point you notice the herbs soaking up the vinegar, add more vinegar to maintain that 1-inch headspace.

After time is up, strain the liquid into another clean and sterilized glass jar. Keep straining until there is no debris left from the herbs. It will be colored but must be clear of debris. Store the liquid in a clean glass jar in the refrigerator until ready to use.

TO USE: Before washing your hair, mix an equal part of the herbal/vinegar rinse with clean water, and place in another container to use now. For long hair, use 1 cup each of rinse and water. For medium-length hair, use 1/2 cup each of rinse and water. And for short hair, use 1/4 cup each of rinse and water. After washing your hair, tip your head backwards and slowly pour the vinegar/water mixture over your head so it falls down your back. (I promise the vinegar smell with evaporate). Work your fingers through you hair to distribute the herbal rinse. You can leave the rinse in or wash it out with clean water.

This rinse is so safe it can be used daily or whenever you feel like it.

DO NOT add the water until ready for use. While the vinegar rinse can last indefinitely in the refrigerator, once you add the water bacteria can begin to grow. So only mix the rinse with the water as soon as you’re ready to use it.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER ABOUT WILD PLANTS, FORAGING , AND MAKING HERBAL REMEDIES:

I am not a medical professional and nothing written on this blog is medical advice. None of my statements have been evaluated by the FDA (I am legally required to give you this disclaimer).

It is important to do your due diligence before foraging, harvesting, and/or consuming any type of medicinal plant.

If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor about any potential drug interactions.If you are allergic to anything, make sure whatever you are foraging is not in the same family. Example: While dandelions are typically considered safe, those who are allergic to ragweed, latex, daisies, or any other plants in the same or similar families, may not be able to consume dandelion.

Always research potential side effects, dosage recommendations, and how to properly prepare and consume each medicinal plant.

Always make sure you are foraging what you believe to be. Fully prepare and study the anatomy before harvesting wild plants.

Always make sure your kitchen/work area is clean and that all materials are sterilized.

Do not forage plants from areas that have been sprayed within the past 2 years at the very least.

I am not legally or morally responsible for the health of any of my readers. Please do your own research!

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The post Sarah Munro’s Herbal Hair Rinse appeared first on Sharon Wray.