Sharon Wray's Blog, page 82

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pink Salt Pulled Pork

Today is the second installment of Carina’s Fundraising Party at her mansion in historic Savannah, GA. I’m with Sarah Munro, the heroine of ONE DARK WISH who is also the archivist in charge of Carina’s upcoming 17th Century Pirate Weapons Auction. ONE DARK WISH is the second book in my Deadly Force Series and I can’t believe it comes out in eleven days!

Last week Sarah and I drank Bumboo Rums and ate Fried Okra. I can’t wait to find out what’s being served next. Considering Carina is a U.S. Senator from Georgia as well as one of the wealthiest women in the city, I’m sure it will be amazing.

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Sarah Munro ~ “The sun is sinking and Sharon and I have enjoyed watching Carina Prioleau’s friends (aka the Beautiful People) and drinking the Bumboo Rums. But now the waitstaff is directing us to long tables set up on another courtyard in another part of the Carina’s enormous garden.

Sharon and I are a little nervous. So far, none of the Beautiful People have noticed us–and that’s a good thing. I’d prefer that Carina not notice Sharon because they don’t get along that well and I don’t want to antagonize our hostess. Carina sits on the board at the Savannah Preservation Office and I really need to keep that job. At least until my father gets better and I can return to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

But as we talk to the other guests, they seem fascinated by the fact that I’m a 17th century archivist and that Sharon is a romance author. Apparently, most of the people here were just born wealthy and don’t have to work unless they want to. I think they’re fascinated by those of us who work because we need to.

But all talk stops when dinner is served: Pink Salt Pulled Pork on slider rolls. Apparently, the pork was cooked on low heat all day after it’d been rubbed with oil and pink Himalayan salt. I was a bit doubtful until I ate it and the shredded pork melted on my tongue. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything so delicious. From the lack of conversation around the tables, I’m not the only one.

The jazz trio starts up again and after a few more bites, so does the small talk. Everyone is happy but instead of chatting about mundane things like inheritance taxes and summer homes, everyone just wants one thing–the recipe!!

When our server brings more sandwiches, Sharon whispers, “This is so good, I can’t imagine what’s next.”

Since my mouth is full, I nod and smile–until I see Carina standing nearby, glaring at me… and Sharon. I wipe my mouth with a linen napkin and raise my drink. Hopefully she’s had enough rum and salted pork that she won’t care. But from the way she’s striding towards us, with her blue eyes flashing like her diamond earrings, I doubt it. Instead of rising and meeting the conflict head on, I take another sandwich. If Carina asks me to leave, I’m not leaving hungry!!”

Sharon Wray

Yields 6 servings

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pink Salt Pulled Pork

This recipe came from my mother and I use it all the time on nights when the kids are running to events and I'm on deadline. The great thing about it is this meat is so versatile. You can serve it on rolls and add any sauce you want such as ranch, bleu cheese, ketchup, etc. Or just keep it plain (my favorite!) and eat it over a salad.

5 minPrep Time

7 hrCook Time

7 hr, 5 Total Time

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Ingredients

3 pounds boneless pork butt/shoulder*2 Tablespoons olive oil3 Tablespoons Pink Himalayan salt

Instructions

Wash the pork and stab it all over with a fork.Rub the pork with olive oil and then the salt.Place pork in a slow cooker and cook for 6-7 hours.Using two forks, shred meat and keep in slow cooker on warm until ready to serve.*If there's a bone in the meat, cook for another hour.Cooked meat can be frozen for up to six months.7.8.1.2108http://sharonwray.com/deadly-force-recipe-series/the-hungry-romance-writer-pink-salt-pulled-pork/







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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Pink Salt Pulled Pork appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Sarah Munro’s Elderberry Syrup

Winter will be here soon, and one of my favorite herbal remedies from fall through spring is Elderberry Syrup. Elderberry Syrup, made from the dried berries of the sambucus nigra plant, is full of naturally-occurring immune boosting compounds. My grandmother swore it shortened the life of colds and the flu, and elderberry syrup has been found in herbal recipes dating back to the earliest settlers in North America. Elderberries are also high in vitamins A, B, and C which we all run short during the long winter months.

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In ONE DARK WISH, the second book in my Deadly Force romantic thriller series, the heroine Sarah Munro (who is also a historian specializing in the 17th century) has a side hobby of reformulating herbal remedies she’s collected from colonial-era sources. Below is her modern recipe for Elderberry Syrup. While herbals are not substitutes for modern medicines, I’ve found they can often ease the symptoms and shorten the length of time my family is sick.

The syrup can be taken by a teaspoonful, every day. Or added to an herbal tea, poured over pancakes, or mixed with sparkling water. The price of the dried berries fluctuates through the year and I try to buy them in the summer to make the syrup in the fall. It’s always so disheartening, as the flu season ramps up, to watch the price of these berries skyrocket. One day I’ll have a bush and will be able to dry my own!

Sarah Munro’s Elderberry Syrup

INGREDIENTS

3½ cups filtered water2/3 cup dried elderberries (sambucus nigra) 2 Tablespoons grated ginger1 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 teaspoon dried orange peel1/2 teaspoon ground cloves1/2 teaspoon dried rose hips (optional)1 cup honey or maple syrup

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium saucepan, combine water, elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, orange peel, cloves, and rose hips (if using).Bring to a low boil. Cover and simmer until liquid is reduced by half. (about 40 minutes to an hour, depending on the heat of your stove)Remove pot from heat and place on a towel on the counter. Cool for 15 minutes.With a slotted spoon or a small potato masher, carefully crush the berries.Strain the liquid into a 4-cup glass measuring cup. Let the liquid sit, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, until it’s cooler. Toss the berries onto your compost pile (or trash). Sometimes, when the berries are really expensive, I’ll make another 1/2 batch of syrup with the used berries. It’s not as potent but better than nothing!Add the honey or maple syrup and stir well.Pour the syrup into a mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle.This recipe makes about 2 cups of syrup.Store in the fridge. It keeps for up to four weeks. But if you take it daily it won’t last that long.







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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post Sarah Munro’s Elderberry Syrup appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Deadly Force Primer Part 1: The Fianna

In anticipation of ONE DARK WISH‘s release later this month, I’ve put together a primer about the Deadly Force Series. In today’s post, I’m discussing a secretive group of men that is threaded through these stories as both friend and foe of the ex-Green Beret heroes who populate the series. This group is known as the Fianna. 

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In all of the Deadly Force books, the Fianna are led by a man known as the Prince. The men in the Fianna come from every army in the world. For personal reasons, each man leaves his men and his family and tithes to the Fianna where they then undergo extreme training for missions that are not sanctioned by any government. This army has more money than most nations and works completely on their own.  They are known for their assassinations although they perform many other missions that protect the innocent and bring justice where there was none previously. Governments and their armies stay out of their way. 

But the idea of a secret army, that undergoes pagan-like training (including running naked in the woods during winter and speaking only in memorized Shakespearean verse) is not made up. My fictional army is based entirely on the life and history of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the hero of the Fenian cycle of Celtic Poetry. According to the exploits of Fionn and his men, they lived in Ireland prior to the Roman Invasions of Britain. As Rome expanded their empire, Fionn gathered men, trained them hard, and attacked the Romans before they could get a foothold in Ireland. Irish storytellers (and some historians) believe that Fionn’s army is the reason why Rome never settled Ireland. 

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These Irish fairytales about Fionn and his men are, of course, loaded with fairies and magic and druid priests, but there is some written historical evidence about a fierce tribe of young men who traveled from town to town, protecting them from all invaders—from Roman to Viking. The stories themselves are so much fun to read and the men, when they’re not fighting or falling in love, think up more and more brutal ways to train. The key thing about these men is that they are required to give up everything that ties them to this world—all their worldly goods and the people whom they love and who love them back. 

So, as a fiction writer, I took all of these myths, and legends, and gossip and spun it into my books, adding my own tidbits along the way. Below is a list of terms used throughout the series to describe my fictional version of the Fianna.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prince: The leader of the Fianna. Any Fianna warrior can become the Prince if he challenges the current Prince  The challenging warrior must defeat the standing Prince in armed combat (of the standing Prince’s choice) and then complete his walk through the Gauntlet. If a warrior survives both, then the Council holds a vote of confidence. If the vote is unanimous, the warrior becomes the new Prince.

Warrior: A man who goes through the Fianna’s recruiting requirements and successfully becomes a foot soldier. In order to become a full-fledged warrior, a man must pass four stages of training, each one harder than the last, culminating in his Tithe. It could take up to two years to become a full-fledged warrior.

Recruit: A man going through the brutal process of becoming a warrior.

Pair: Fianna warriors always work in twos, also known as hunter/killer pairs. Once two men are paired, they stay together for life. If one dies, then the other takes another partner or may be given the option of becoming a Ghost.

Ghost: A seasoned warrior who no longer works in hunter/killer pairs and works on his own under the Prince’s direct command. A Ghost has more options and flexility with how he runs his operations.

Prince’s Second: the warrior who is the Prince’s second-in-command. This warrior is in charge of recruitment of potential warriors and all Fianna training.

Council: A group of ten warriors, chosen by the entire Fianna army, who sits in judgment of rogue warriors who’ve broken the honor codes. The Council also votes on the new Prince. A new council is chosen every two years and any warrior in good standing may run for a seat.

Misericord: All warriors carry a misericord which is a thin, very sharp retractable sword. When retracted, it’s is about ten inches long. Made of steel, it’s a deadly blade that when slipped beneath the armpit can pierce the heart. When slipped behind the ear, it takes out the brain stem. It’s a fierce, silent weapon that leaves a small entrance wound and little blood behind.

Intellectual Training: The first of the four stages of Fianna training. All recruits learn how to speak Latin, memorize all of the words in Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, learn to speak in verse from these plays and sonnets, keep a nightly diary in Latin, pass exams to prove advanced proficiency in math, science, and languages. All recruits must know all military history and memorize strategy.

Physical Training: The second of the four stages of Fianna training. All recruits undergo a brutal, medieval form of training including: fighting naked in the middle of winter, being hunted through the woods by other warriors, sword/misericord training, sniper rifle training, small arms combat training, urban fighting techniques, hand-to-hand-combat including knives, rocks, etc., must be able to swim five miles in a freezing cold lake, and various other horrible things I don’t want to add here.

Gauntlet: The third of the four stages of Fianna training. When a recruit has completed the first two stages, he must suffer the Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is an alley with forty full-fledged warriors (twenty on each side), each one holding a weapon. The recruit must fight his way through this column of forty men. If he makes it to the end, and is still alive, he can go on to the fourth stage.

Tithe: The fourth stage of Fianna training. If a recruit makes it through the Gauntlet, he is given the choice to make his tithe. The Prince chooses an individual tithe for each recruit. A tithe can be a gift from the recruit to the Prince, or is a promise to give something up for the Fianna. Each warrior’s tithe, though, strips him of the thing that he loves most in the world, the thing that ties him to the world. It could be a demand for a warrior’s life-long celibacy or the demand for poverty or a demand that the warrior leaves behind those he loves forever. Whatever the tithe is, it will cut each warrior off from what he loves most in the world. Thereby tying the warrior to the Fianna brotherhood forever.

Name: After a recruit makes it through the four stages of training and becomes a warrior, the Prince will give him a new name derived from one of Shakespeare’s works or the original Fenian Cycle of Irish poetry.

Tattoo: After a warrior is named, his left arm is tattooed with a sword piercing a heart. His new warrior name is inked below the pierced heart.

Honor Codes: A list of rules all Fianna warriors live by based on the original rules Fionn Mac Cumhaill required of his own men in old Ireland.

Ember Runs: Four times a year, during the Ember Days that separate the seasons, recruits are stripped naked, their hair (which has grown longer) is braided, and they’re hunted through the woods at night by seasoned warriors. Each recruit must run until he is captured. If he makes any noise (breaks twigs, grunt, etc), or if one hair is out of his braid, points are deducted. Once captured, they’re buried in a hole in the ground with only one arm free and holding a stick. With this stick, he must fight off the warriors who captured him until he can no longer defend himself. He is then given points based on how far he ran before his capture, given points for how long he fought with one arm, and given points for how many warriors he took out on his own. If a recruit doesn’t get the required minimum points, he must leave the training program and will never become a warrior. If he succeeds, he’s allowed to continue the training program.

Next week, part two will introduce the heroes of the Deadly Force Series!!

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post Deadly Force Primer Part 1: The Fianna appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Bumboo Rum & Fried Okra

September is a big month for me. ONE DARK WISH, the second book in the Deadly Force series will release on September 24 and I’m so excited. I wrote this book over a year ago so it will seem surreal to finally see it on the shelf.

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To celebrate, I’m taking us to a deleted scened in the book. In this story, Sarah Munro (the heroine in ONE DARK WISH) is a historian who specializes in the 17th and 18th centuries, specifically the history of the pirates who plagued the Caribbean and the southeastern U.S. One of the scenes in this story takes place at an auction for 17th Century pirate weapons that Sarah has been working on for Carina Prioleau, one of the U.S. senators from Georgia.

To build excitement for this once-in-a-lifetime auction of rare pirate artifacts, Carina held a private supper for her wealthier donors. Sarah, unbeknownst to Carina, has allowed me to follow her into this private fundraising supper so I could get a glimpse into Carina’s world. The party is being held in Carina’s mansion in historic Savannah (which I’ve never been in!) and you’re welcome to join us!

Sarah Munro ~ “Although I’ve been working on a project to archive 17th century pirate weapons for Senator Carina Prioleau for months now, I’ve never been invited to her mansion. But tonight I’m taking Sharon (my favorite author!) with me to Carina’s fundraising dinner. I’m not sure what to expect, but I’ve no doubt Carina’s posh friends will ignore the archivist. I’m sneaking Sharon in so I have someone to talk to!

Luckily, no one notices us when we enter the enormous foyer of Carina’s home. A split staircase dominates the space and the bar is set up in the corner. A waiter swings by with a silver tray and mentions that the appetizers will be served on the patio. Since neither Sharon nor I know how to get to the patio, we take two glasses off the waiter’s tray and survey the women in gowns and men in tuxedoes miling around us.

I always sniff drinks before I sip, but when I taste it I smile. I tell Sharon that the drink is bumboo. Bumboo is a rum-based cocktail that pirates used to drink when they weren’t causing trouble around the Caribbean. Sharon finishes her drink and winks at me. Considering the amount of research she’s done for this series, I know she recognizes the drink as well. Rum, grenadine, and nutmeg. Perfect for a late summer September evening.

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BUMBOO RUM COCKTAIL

2 fluid ounces dark rum

1 fluid ounces lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon grenadine

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 

ice cubes

DIRECTIONS: Fill a drink shaker with ice. Add all of the ingredients to the shaker. Shake and strain into a glass. Makes 1 drink.

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After grabbing two more drinks, we follow a beautiful couple onto the patio that overlooks a formal garden. A jazz trio plays nearby and more waitstaff walks around with trays of… fried okra. Although I was born in Savannah, I was raised in Boston so I’m not that familiar with fried southern food. But from the huge amount that Sharon has on her small plate, I figure it can’t be that bad.

And I have to admit that the fried okra is delicious. It’s lightly fried and slightly tangy. By now we’ve had two bumboos and are working on our third. As we make our way across the patio, bypass huge columns holding enormous floral arrangements, and walk around the spray fountains, we find a table in the corner. We can sit and finish our apps without anyone noticing we’re eating more than we should.

Sharon whispers her thanks for sneaking her in here tonight, and I nod. I’m glad she’s with me too. It’s more fun when I have someone to talk to as we watch the beautiful people wander around with rum bumboos and plates of fried okra. Now we just have to hope that Carina doesn’t notice my plus one is the author who killed off her husband before the Deadly Force Series even started. Carina is still salty about that!”

Sharon Wray

Yields 6-8 servings

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Fried Okra

My sister-in-law in Charleston, SC gave me this recipe and I love it. This recipe is why I now grow okra in my Virginia garden. She also gave me the idea of cutting open a brown paper shopping bag and laying it out flat on the counter to drain the okra as it comes out of the fryer. It's more absorbent than paper towels and makes clean up easier.

20 minPrep Time

5 minCook Time

25 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

4-6 cups oil (peanut, safflower, or coconut oils)1 cup flour1/2 cup cornmeal2 Tablespoons salt2 teaspoons ground pepper1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper1/2 teaspoon garlic powder1/2 cup buttermilk2 pounds fresh okra, washed, ends cut off, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Instructions

Heat oil in a large, deep cast iron skillet (or other heavy-bottomed skillet), making sure the oil is no deeper than 1 inch.In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder.If you don't have buttermilk, add 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar to a glass measuring cup. Fill the cup up to the 1/2-cup mark with milk. Let sit for a few minutes until lightly curdled.Dip okra in buttermilk and then dredge in cornmeal/flour mixture. Coat well.In batches, add okra to hot oil and cook until golden brown.As each batch finishes, drain on paper towels or a brown paper shopping bag cut open and laid flat on the counter.When all okra is fried, serve immediately!7.8.1.2107http://sharonwray.com/deadly-force-recipe-series/the-hungry-romance-writer-bumboo-rum-fried-okra/







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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Bumboo Rum & Fried Okra appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Sarah Munro’s Herbal Bath Salts

Herbal salt baths are such a treat and this herbal bath recipe is so easy to make. Sarah Munro, the heroine in ONE DARK WISH and the second book in my Deadly Force series, is a historian who has a side hobby of collecting and updating herbal 17th century recipes. And her herbal bath salts is one of my favorites!

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The main ingredient is Epsom salts (naturally occurring magnesium) because it’s a detoxing mineral that helps eliminate heavy metals from your body and eases muscle aches. It can even help with inflammation. But like all things, it must be used in moderation. In heavy doses it can cause lightheadedness and nausea. So this herbal bath recipe uses less than a 1/4 cup in each linen bag that you drop into the bath. It’s the perfect amount to help you relax.

And if you’ve never used bath salts before, do a skin test first just to make sure there are no allergic reactions.

This recipe can be easily customized by the type of herbs and essential oils you use. You can use either dry or fresh herbs. My favorite herbs to pick from the garden are peppermint, lavender (leaves and flowers), and chamomile (leaves and flowers). Eucalyptus is also another excellent choice. I love combining fresh chamomile with a few drops of lavender or geranium essential oil. Peppermint with lemon essential oil is nice too. Since it’s your bath, you get to pick the scents! Now on to the recipe.

The Art and Grace of a Gratitude Journal

Previously on this blog I’ve written about the benefits of keeping a journal. Today I’d like to expand on that.

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There are many types of journals–diaries, travel journals, food journals, etc, but there’s another kind of journal that does more than keep track of your life. There’s a journaling practice that’s been proven to reduce stress and improve happiness. It’s known as Gratitude Journaling.

There’s no doubt that every day we’re bombarded with negative images and messages. Everything in the world is (and always has been) dire. Everyone is stressed. And all of us eventually have to do things like pay taxes and attend funerals. If we only listened to the world around us, we’d never believe that anything good ever happens. We’d only believe that life is hard and then it’s over.

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But there’s another way to look at life. Despite all of the difficulties found in adulting, there are also good times. There are weddings and comedy clubs and birthday parties. There’s the surprise reunion with an old friend and a last minute cup of tea with your neighbor who just happened to bring over homemade cookies warm from the oven.

A Gratitude Journal is one of those things in life that’s simple yet not easy. (Like dieting!) It’s nothing more than a daily record of your blessings, of things you’re grateful for, or even just the things that made you smile. It’s an accounting of the good things and people and moments of your life. Keeping a gratitude journal takes you out of the chaos in your head and allows you to clearly see the truth of your life, not what the mass media want you to believe.

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There are no rules to keeping a gratitude journal. On simple way is to start by keeping a notebook by your bedside table and every night, before you go to sleep, write down five things you’re grateful for. It could be as simple as the fact the leftovers you had for dinner tasted better the second night. Or the unexpected text message with smiling emojis you received from a friend. It doesn’t matter what the five things are, just that you mentally review your day and record them.

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Here are a few ideas to help you succeed:



Write frequently, at least three times a week. Daily is even better. Regardless of how often you journal, pick a time of day and a place in which to work and be consistent. Do you want to journal in bed before going to sleep? During lunch in the patio behind your office building? Before dinner while your food is in the oven? Just pick one that works for you!While you’re recording these five things, be as specific as possible. When you read the entry over later, you don’t want to just remember the event or moment. You want to remember the emotions associated with it. Being specific amplifies gratitude. Saying you’re grateful that your neighbor brought over homemade cookies after she heard about your horrible day at work brings forth more emotions than just saying you appreciate your neighbors.Record events and moments that were complete surprises and how grateful you are for what happened. I don’t mean just surprise parties. It’s more about unexpected moments like someone paying for you coffee or a pretty card received in the mail.If you find yourself being grateful every day for the same thing (and that’s okay!), try to focus on a different aspect of this thing so you can elicit a different emotion. When good things happen, we often experience multiple emotions. See if you can describe the hidden ones.Treat all of these recordable events as gifts. Not like birthday presents, but like small gifts you weren’t expecting. Treating these moments like gifts helps foster gratitude.Don’t be afraid to list negative things that you’re grateful for. Sometimes negative things are a blessing in disguise, although it may take us time to realize that. But when you do suddenly realize why you didn’t get that job or why that person you dated once didn’t call you back is actually a good thing, write it down!Keep it pretty. This is not a rule, just a suggestion. By using different colored pens and washi tape and adding in small photos and postcards, etc, the journal becomes even more personal. Besides, sometimes it’s fun to write in different colors! For those who don’t like to decorate, choose a journal with paper you love and the perfect pen. When you love what you’re writing with, it becomes a joy instead of a chore.

Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post The Art and Grace of a Gratitude Journal appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Lemon Meringue Pie

It’s the last Friday of the month which means it’s the last night of Pops Montfort’s family dinner out on the Isle of Grace. And nothing says the end of summer like sparklers and a Lemon Meringue Pie!

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Pops Montfort ~ “The sun has set and my son Philip has found fireworks in a dresser in his old bedroom. While my son Rafe sets off the larger rockets, Philip and my daughter-in-law Juliet fling sparklers at each other—like they used to do when they were kids. While they play with the fireworks, I bring out the hot coffee and the dessert I know everyone loves: Lemon Meringue Pie.

When Juliet gets tired of playing with Philip, she grabs the blanket and lays it on the ground. I bring over two plates of pie and we eat and watch my sons fire Roman candles at each other. Juliet is a bit concerned, but I’ve raised boys and know that even if I wanted to stop them, they’d ignore me. Besides, they’re adults. They know if they get hurt they’ll have to drive themselves to the ER.

When they’re done with the fireworks, Rafe throws himself down next to Juliet and Philip brings over the rest of the pie. As we laugh over past fireworks escapades (seriously, the Isle of Grace is so isolated no one cares), the boys finish off the pie before Juliet gets the second piece I’ve promised her. Luckily, I’ve made two pies and send Rafe inside to get it. Philip goes with him which leaves me alone with Juliet to watch the stars.

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There’s so much I want to say to her, to thank her for loving my son, but I’m no good with words. Then Juliet grabs my hand and squeezes and I know that she knows how I feel. And I don’t have to say anything.

My sons return and we finish the pie and spend the rest of the night watching the stars. I can’t imagine a more perfect way to end such a wonderful evening.”

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Lemon Meringue Pie

This is one of my favorite summer pies. It's easy to make and, if you're short of time, buy a frozen piecrust.

30 minPrep Time

15 minCook Time

45 minTotal Time

Yields Serves 8-10

Author:


Sharon Wray

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Ingredients

Lemon Filling1 1/2 cups sugar6 Tablespoons cornstarchDash sea salt1 1/2 cups water3 large eggs, divided - lightly beat the egg yolks, keep whites for meringue2 tablespoons butter1/3 cup lemon juice (3 lemons)2 teaspoons grated lemon zest1 9-inch deep dish pastry shell, baked and cooledMeringue3 large egg whites, room temperature1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar6 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt.Stir in water, stirring over medium heat until thickened. Reduce heat and stir for another 2 minutes.Using 1 cup of hot filling at a time, gradually stir hot filling into egg yolks.Return filing to saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.Remove from heat. Stir in butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest.Pour hot filling into a pre-baked and cooled pastry shell.For meringue, beat egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar in a chilled bowl at medium speed until soft peaks form.Gradually add sugar, 1 Tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff and glossy.Spread over pie, sealing edges to pastry.Bake for 12-15 minutes or until meringue is golden.Cool on counter. Store in refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.7.8.1.2102http://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-lemon-meringue-pie/

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Lemon Meringue Pie appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Secret of Commonplace Journals

“Favorable conditions never come.” ~ C.S. Lewis

If you’ve never heard of a commonplace journal, you’re not alone. While most of us have heard of diaries, travel journals, gratitude journals, etc, most people have never heard of commonplace journals.

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Keeping a commonplace journal is less about recording your own ideas and more about collecting ideas that inspire you and you don’t want to forget. It’s non-narrative, non-chronological, and non-linear. It’s a notebook filled with quotes, random song lyrics, transcribed passages from websites and books, and anything else that you want to review later. The other benefit of handwriting things down is it makes things harder to forget.

Commonplace journals have been around for centuries, kept by all different types of people including the revolutionary Samuel Johnson and the authors Virginia Woolf and Jonathan Swift. They all wrote down passages from their favorite books, quotes by famous people, sketched things that interested them, and kept lists of events going on around them.

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But why? What is the real purpose behind the jotting down random bits of information? I believe the real reason people keep commonplace journals is because making connections between unrelated ideas drives creativity. Bringing together disparate things–like a quote you heard on the radio during your commute with a Broadway song lyric from the play you went to the night before–may just give you that title you need for your presentation.

The other reason why some people prefer commonplace journals is because of the very thing C.S. Lewis mentions in his quote “favorable conditions never come.” To rephrase, many of us journal keepers are perfectionists. But in our quest for the perfect pen and the perfect paper in the perfect journal, we are often afraid of the mess. With a commonplace journal, the mess is the whole point! Use washi tape to add a cocktail napkin with a funny saying to a page. Grab that crayon before you forget the name you’ve been thinking about for days that just popped into your head.

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It may never be the right time, or you may never have the right pen, to use the handmade journal your mother got your for your birthday. But there’s nothing stopping you from grabbing an old college-ruled notebook and diving in with that marker you found in the junk drawer. A commonplace journal gives you permission not to be perfect.

So how do you get started? First, find any notebook lying around your house or on sale at the dollar store. The cheaper the better. Grab that pen that’s been under your couch and the washi tape you’ve kept in your desk drawer since your daughter’s last birthday party. Once you have a few tools, you then have to make only one decision.

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Are you going to divide your commonplace journal up into sections such as quotes, book passages, important dates, etc? Or is it going to be a free-for-all with taped-on dried flowers on the opposite page of a song lyric? The beauty of a commonplace journal is that there are no rules. If your mind is in constant chaos spinning with thoughts, so goes your commonplace journal.

And for those who prefer digital, there are so many options now such as Evernote, OneNote, Scrivener, and even your blog. But whatever you do, make it non-stressful and fun. Oh, and another tip? If you’re committed to a paper commonplace journal, keep it small that way it’s easier to carry around so you’re more likely to use it!

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post The Secret of Commonplace Journals appeared first on Sharon Wray.

EVERY DEEP DESIRE is on sale for $2.99!

Starting today EVERY DEEP DESIRE, the first book in the Deadly Force series, is on sale for $2.99 or less!!!

EVERY DEEP DESIRE has been called “Phenomenal!”, “genre-busting debut“, story-telling at its best“, “filled with action, adventure, intrigue, and romance,” and “a darkly compelling series” among other wonderful things.

And in anticipation of the release of ONE DARK WISH, the second book in the series, EVERY DEEP DESIRE will only be on sale for a short time. So grab your copy now. You won’t be disappointed!!!

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Until September 3, 2019, EVERY DEEP DESIRE is on sale for $2.99 or less at the following retailers:

Amazon Kindle: http://bit.ly/EDDazs

B&N Nook: http://bit.ly/EDDnks

iBooks: http://bit.ly/EDDiBs

Kobo: http://bit.ly/EDDkbs

Google Play: http://bit.ly/Eddgps

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He’s taking it all back
His honor, his freedom, and the woman he loves

Rafe Montfort was a decorated Green Beret, the best of the best, until a disastrous mission and an unforgivable betrayal destroyed his life. Now, this deadly soldier has returned to the sultry Georgia swamps to reunite with his brothers, and take back all he lost. But his wife Juliet must never know the truth behind what he’s done…or the dangerous secret that threatens to take him from her forever.

It took Juliet Capel eight long years to put her life back together after her husband was taken from her. Now Rafe is back, determined to protect her at any cost, and it’s not just her heart that’s in danger. The swamps hold a secret long buried and far deadlier than either of them could have imagined…

The post EVERY DEEP DESIRE is on sale for $2.99! appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Sarah Munro’s Rose Water Face Spray

Today is another recipe from Sarah Munro’s file of herbal remedies: Rose Water Face Spray.

As a historian, Sarah came across a 17th century herbal healer named Rebecca who was accused of witchcraft. Over a period of years, Sarah collected and updated all of Rebecca’s recipes, and I’m sharing them on the blog in anticipation of One Dark Wish’s release in a month. One Dark Wish, the second book in the Deadly Force romantic suspense series, is about about Sarah Munro and her sexy-yet-stubborn hero, ex-Green Beret Nate Walker.

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Rose water is an incredible ingredient to put on your skin. It has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. It can calm common problems and rashes and is so gentle it can be used on sensitive, dry, and oily skin. If you use home-grown roses, you can be sure they’re pesticide-free. Just make sure to use fragrant roses. Yes, it makes a difference.

Many toner recipes use alcohol-free witch hazel. But witch hazel, although a nice astringent, can be harsh on sensitive skin. Technically, the recipe below is a simple rose water but centuries ago it’s what women used as a toner. It’s gentle and so refreshing on your skin both in the morning and after you take off your makeup. It even works well if you spray it on your face throughout the day as a skin freshener. I like to store some in a small spray bottle and carry it in my purse while I travel!

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ROSE WATER FACE SPRAY

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup (tightly packed) fragrant rose petals (about 3-4 rose heads, freshly picked)water for rinsing petals1 1/2 cups water (distilled is preferred)

DIRECTIONS:

Rinse rose petals in a bowl of water. Drain.

If you’re using more rose petals, it’s a 1:3 ratio of petals to water.

Add the distilled water to a pot and stir in rose petals. Simmer rose petals in water for 30 minutes. Set pot aside and let cool.

Strain out rose petals and pour water into a glass spray bottle.

Homemade rose water keeps in the refrigerator for a week. Use morning and night as a toner and to freshen your face during the day.

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post Sarah Munro’s Rose Water Face Spray appeared first on Sharon Wray.