Joely Sue Burkhart's Blog, page 81

Behind the Name: Wyre

Paperback Writer gave me this idea for my post today thanks to hers, . I thought I'd share with you how I came up with the name Lady Doctor Wyre.

I have a female character in a skewed Regency setting with a science fiction touch.  I wanted a name that blended both of those elements–no matter how crazy that sounds–which also hinted at the underlying world. So I took a piece of paper and drew a line down the middle.  On the left, I started writing all the key words and...

Nesting…in the kitchen

For some reason, I'm on a homemade kick lately. Today at lunch, I started two whole chickens on the stove.  Once they were boiled, I drained off that broth, stripped the carcasses, and then tossed the bones back in to boil for several hours.  I had enough broth to make homemade chicken & noodles for dinner tonight (with enough leftovers that I can make another double batch of noodles tomorrow and have another dinner!), with a huge Tuperware container of broth in the fridge, and four quart...

Team John or Team Clint?

The revisions on the holiday novella are done and it's off to a few readers while I work on a blurb and synopsis.  I'm on target to submit by 7/15! Yay!

Meanwhile, we watched several Westerns this past week, and I'm starting to wonder if there are two very distinct camps.  Until this year, I'd never watched a Clint Eastwood movie, and since I wanted to keep a bit of Old West feel to my SFR (ala Firefly), I decided to watch some of the really famous Westerns for inspiration.  Months ago, I...

Retake Homemade: Zucchini Muffins

My dad brought me a whole sack of home-grown zucchini, and two of the summer squash were so large, I couldn't help but picture shredded zucchini in some delish breakfast muffins!  I don't know that I can convince the two youngest monsters to eat these, but I don't care — they're wonderful!  (more for meeee!)  This recipe is adapted from Jane Brody's Good Food Book (she makes bread with hers).

"Grate" Zucchini Muffins

3/4 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. unbleached white flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp baking ...

Vacation Reads Blog Tour – Week 2

This week's Vacation Reads Blog Tour features four new titles, including interviews with the authors, book blurbs, and more.  Check for more information at the Vacation Reads web site and don't forget to leave comments at at least one of our participating blogs (see Vacation Reads for the full list), as well as on the site itself, to enter our drawing to win prizes that include copies of our authors' books, and more!

   

AETHER AGE ANTHOLOGY, edited by Brandon Bell

 

A past remade…

Take flight o...

Friday Snippet: Lady Doctor Wyre

I'm madly revising the holiday novella to get it submitted in time (by July 15th) and I've almost reached the halfway mark.  My goal is to finish this pass by Monday and then work on a brief synopsis and blurb to accompany the submission.  Interested beta readers will hopefully hear from me around Monday.

Skipping ahead a bit from the last excerpt I posted for you, this snippet takes us into the "dark outlaw's" POV that Lady Wyre briefly referenced.  Yes, I know, another assassin, sigh.  But t...

Review: The Bloodgate Guardian

From Long & Short Romance Reviews, 4 Books for The Bloodgate Guardian:

Ms. Burkhart also believes in making her couple work hard for their happily ever after. So much so, that by the time it finally comes around her audience will release the breath they've been holding. Her supporting characters are mostly demons and are unbelievably demonic, let's just say that Ms. Burkhart has an excellent imagination and isn't afraid to use it. This romance is so full of pitfalls that you'll need handrails...

Reflections on Romance

I love many romances, I do, honestly.  But sometimes I'm disappointed by the genre restrictions. 

I was reading an enjoyable romance by an author I love, and the heroine was forced to choose between two men (granted, not my favorite trope at all, because you know what I'd say:  let Guinevere have both King Arthur and Sir Lancelot!)  But this wasn't an erotic romance, so I knew she was going to choose one or the other.  I suspected something a little odd was going on, and then one particular...

Retake Homemade: Rice Pilaf

I'm a little late — the "Retake Homemade" posts are supposed to be on Saturday.  But with the holiday craziness this weekend, I just didn't have time to post.  I figured better late than never. 

My recipe is inspired by Suzanne McMinn's Homemade "Uncle Ben's" post.  I went to our local organic foods store and bought wild rice, red and brown riece, and parboiled rice in bulk.  I got several large bags of rice for well under $10 (although I don't have my receipts handy).  I was nervous because m...

Carina Guest: Leah Braemel

Thanks to Joely for inviting me to blog for her today.  I must admit that I have stared at a blank screen for days trying to figure out what was left to write about Texas Tangle that I hadn't already covered.  So I sent a call out on Twitter begging for blogging ideas:

Author KJ Read asked "Tell us about writing: the good, the bad, the ugly. Pros and Cons of making writing your job."

Ho boy, the good – the highs when you receive "the call" or "the email" from an editor saying they want your...