Deborah Vogts's Blog, page 134
July 15, 2011
Egg Drop Soup
This is a very easy recipe to serve with fried rice or egg rolls.
Egg Drop Soup
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
2 - 13 oz. chicken broth
2 well-beaten eggs
2 Tablespoons sliced onion, optional
In medium saucepan, slowly stir the chicken broth into the cornstarch. Heat, and stir constantly until slightly thickened. Slowly add beaten eggs, stirring once gently. Remove from heat. Garnish with onion if desired. Makes 4 servings.
Egg Drop Soup
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
2 - 13 oz. chicken broth
2 well-beaten eggs
2 Tablespoons sliced onion, optional
In medium saucepan, slowly stir the chicken broth into the cornstarch. Heat, and stir constantly until slightly thickened. Slowly add beaten eggs, stirring once gently. Remove from heat. Garnish with onion if desired. Makes 4 servings.
July 13, 2011
Prairie Wild Flowers
This summer, our youngest daughter has enjoyed taking some pictures of Prairie Wild Flowers. Identifying is sometimes difficult. If you can help me with any of these or see a mistake, please let me know. Here are a few of my favorites.
Sensitive Briar (Mimosa quadrivalvis)
Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina)
Common Spiderwort (Tradescantia obiensis)
Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
Need help with this one.
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) There were also some like this that were white.
Guessing on this one - Prairie Larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum) or Foxglove Beard Tongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Rose Vervain (Glandularia canadensis)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Sensitive Briar (Mimosa quadrivalvis)
Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina)
Common Spiderwort (Tradescantia obiensis)
Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) 
Need help with this one.
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) There were also some like this that were white.
Guessing on this one - Prairie Larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum) or Foxglove Beard Tongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Rose Vervain (Glandularia canadensis)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
July 12, 2011
Creating a Press Release
This week I want to go over the information you may want to include in your press release before the release of your book. *Taken from a series of articles on the CAN Marketing Blog.
While a lot of this may be done by the publicity director at your publishing house, it doesn't hurt to know what is needed for a press kit.
To begin, capture the attention of the reviewer with a "headline" about your new release. This could include a wonderful endorsement by a best-selling author, or a review by a major magazine or newspaper. After that, you'll want to include a 2-3 sentence book blurb that engages the reviewer and makes them want to read more. Follow this up with a longer blurb (two or three paragraphs). Include important information about the book -- ISBN #, price of book, contact information for the publisher, as well as your author website and email address. Also include a photo of the book cover.
Next write up a short and long bio of yourself. Include pertinent information that emphasises the work you are promoting. For example, if you are promoting a fictional book about pirates and you happen to be a history teacher, that might be good information to include in the bio. But if you are promoting your next romance series, how important is it for readers to know that you spent 15 years in the insurance business? Not very--unless of course, your book has something to do with the insurance business. Also, be sure to list any special awards your books may have received. One great way to research this is to go to amazon.com and browse the many different author biographies there.
To go along with the bio, include a professional author photo. Other items to include in your press release are top reviews or quotes, and sometimes authors will add questions and answers, which some media contacts will use as part of their interview.
While I enjoy this part of marketing, those hills and mountains can still be intimidating. But it's okay, Little Engine, you can do it! Take things one mile at a time.
Once you complete the pages for your press release, print a few copies on high quality paper, and with a good printer, and put together some folders to hand out to your local newspapers, radio or tv stations (and even more media possibilities that we'll go over next month). Include a business card, and promotional resources such as bookmarks, posters, postcards or a writing pen.
When I visit bookstores, I always offer the managers or owners one of these folders, and they always appreciate the effort. Click here to view author media page. (Scroll down to view the PDF items in my media kit, including the press releases created by Zondervan for Seeds of Summer and Snow Melts in Spring .)
Next Tuesday, we'll learn more about Creating a Media List. Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .
While a lot of this may be done by the publicity director at your publishing house, it doesn't hurt to know what is needed for a press kit.
To begin, capture the attention of the reviewer with a "headline" about your new release. This could include a wonderful endorsement by a best-selling author, or a review by a major magazine or newspaper. After that, you'll want to include a 2-3 sentence book blurb that engages the reviewer and makes them want to read more. Follow this up with a longer blurb (two or three paragraphs). Include important information about the book -- ISBN #, price of book, contact information for the publisher, as well as your author website and email address. Also include a photo of the book cover.
Next write up a short and long bio of yourself. Include pertinent information that emphasises the work you are promoting. For example, if you are promoting a fictional book about pirates and you happen to be a history teacher, that might be good information to include in the bio. But if you are promoting your next romance series, how important is it for readers to know that you spent 15 years in the insurance business? Not very--unless of course, your book has something to do with the insurance business. Also, be sure to list any special awards your books may have received. One great way to research this is to go to amazon.com and browse the many different author biographies there.
To go along with the bio, include a professional author photo. Other items to include in your press release are top reviews or quotes, and sometimes authors will add questions and answers, which some media contacts will use as part of their interview.
While I enjoy this part of marketing, those hills and mountains can still be intimidating. But it's okay, Little Engine, you can do it! Take things one mile at a time.
Once you complete the pages for your press release, print a few copies on high quality paper, and with a good printer, and put together some folders to hand out to your local newspapers, radio or tv stations (and even more media possibilities that we'll go over next month). Include a business card, and promotional resources such as bookmarks, posters, postcards or a writing pen.
When I visit bookstores, I always offer the managers or owners one of these folders, and they always appreciate the effort. Click here to view author media page. (Scroll down to view the PDF items in my media kit, including the press releases created by Zondervan for Seeds of Summer and Snow Melts in Spring .)
Next Tuesday, we'll learn more about Creating a Media List. Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .
July 11, 2011
Old Soldiers & Sailors Reunion
Every year we celebrate what we fondly call "Bean Week" in our hometown. This year marks the 138th Annual Old Soldiers & Sailors Reunion that first began in 1873. On Friday night, navy beans are served in huge black kettles to anyone who wants them. Folks from miles around bring their pots and containers to collect beans for their family supper.
Here's the recipe:
1400 pounds Great Northern Beans125 pounds bacon50 pounds onionWater as neededSalt and Pepper to taste
7:00 AM - Wash and soak the beans. Hang 53 cast iron kettles on steel-pipe cooking racks. Divide beans among the kettles; divide and add other ingredients.
11:00 AM - Ignite wood kindling beneath the kettles, adding wood as needed.
6:00 PM - Serve the beans!
Here's the recipe:
1400 pounds Great Northern Beans125 pounds bacon50 pounds onionWater as neededSalt and Pepper to taste
7:00 AM - Wash and soak the beans. Hang 53 cast iron kettles on steel-pipe cooking racks. Divide beans among the kettles; divide and add other ingredients.
11:00 AM - Ignite wood kindling beneath the kettles, adding wood as needed.
6:00 PM - Serve the beans!
July 8, 2011
Egg Rolls
Although this recipe calls for a bit of work, it is well worth the effort. Yum!
1/2 pound bulk sausage
2 cups cooked chicken, diced
2 cups shredded cabbage
1 cup bamboo shoots, diced
1/2 cup water chestnuts, chopped
1/3 cup mushrooms, chopped
1 Tablespoon dry sherry
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 package egg roll wraps
In large skillet, brown sausage until fully cooked. Add cooked chicken and cabbage. Cook until cabbage is tender. Add bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, mushrooms, dry sherry, salt, sugar and pepper. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Let cool.
To prepare, add 1/3 heaping cup sausage filling to each egg roll wrap. Coat edges of wrap with water and roll from corner to corner. Repeat until filling is gone. To cook, you may either deep fry for a few minutes on each side, or bake in 400 degree oven, lightly coating each roll with a little oil. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown. Serves 10-12.
1/2 pound bulk sausage
2 cups cooked chicken, diced
2 cups shredded cabbage
1 cup bamboo shoots, diced
1/2 cup water chestnuts, chopped
1/3 cup mushrooms, chopped
1 Tablespoon dry sherry
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 package egg roll wraps
In large skillet, brown sausage until fully cooked. Add cooked chicken and cabbage. Cook until cabbage is tender. Add bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, mushrooms, dry sherry, salt, sugar and pepper. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Let cool.
To prepare, add 1/3 heaping cup sausage filling to each egg roll wrap. Coat edges of wrap with water and roll from corner to corner. Repeat until filling is gone. To cook, you may either deep fry for a few minutes on each side, or bake in 400 degree oven, lightly coating each roll with a little oil. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown. Serves 10-12.
July 6, 2011
Visit with Sam & Dave
Dave's family and "Ruby" our dog.Last week we enjoyed a visit from our oldest daughter and her husband who live in Phoenix. While it was a short visit (Sun-Wed), we had a wonderful time together.
We started things off with an outdoor barbecue with friends and family. On the menu: grilled pork chops, baked beans, pasta salad, garden salad, and Ranch Loaves--topped off with monster s'mores!
Our Uncle Bob who is a real entertainerThis was followed by a little singing and entertainment.
The next two days were spent catching up. The kids rode horses, colored pictures (are you ever too old to do that?), and visited a few family members.
Next month, we're planning to meet Sam & Dave for a vacation in Silverton, CO where we'll camp in the mountains. We haven't been on vacation for five years, so this is a real treat for us to return to a favorite camping spot. I'm really looking forward to an entire week with our family . . . and also the cooler weather and beautiful scenery. What about you? Do you have a vacation planned for the summer?
July 5, 2011
Author Promotional Items
This week I want to go over some promotional items you may want to consider purchasing prior to the release of your book. *Taken from a series of articles on the CAN Marketing Blog.
Little engine, this month is an easy ride—no mountains or big hills to climb, only the straight long journey of say, a prairie or the plains of Kansas. Easy, but still an important aspect of marketing.
As I entered into the final stretch before my first book came out with Zondervan in 2009, I went over my notes to make sure I was staying within my marketing budget. From there, I began making a list of promotional items I thought I might want to offer my readers. And promotional items are just that--things that promote you. For me, that meant each item would have my name, my Country at Heart tagline, my website url and whatever else I might be able to add. The items that interested me most were:
Ballpoint pensBookmarksBusiness CardsPostcards and/or PostersGrab BagsMisc. Items
With this list in mind, I began searching various places online for the best bargains. I'd also visited several authors about the promo items they offered on their book signing tables and where they had purchased their supplies. Most offered bookmarks and pens or pencils. Some offered little gadgety things that went along with their book themes such as key chains, erasers, hand stress relievers, etc. For this sort of thing, Oriental Trading is a good place to start looking.
Patti Lacy had made grab bags out of cellophane bags, which included sparkly confetti pieces, business cards, bookmarks, and tea bags with her book cover on them, all tied together with color-coordinated ribbon. I liked her idea and wanted to create a grab bag all my own. Try a hobby or craft store for good prices on such items.
It's important to mention, too, that you should contact your publisher/marketing department to see if they are willing to take care of any of these promotional items. If so, you'll save a considerable amount of money and time. Also keep in mind when you are purchasing your promotional items that the more you order, the better pricebreak you'll receive. That may mean order 1,000 items instead of 500--which would save you more money in the end. If you can make your promo items generic enough to use for more than one book, all the better.
Here are a few links you might consider when you shop:
Pens:National PenPens R UsAmsterdam Printing
Bookmarks/Postcards/Business Cards:Print RunnerVistaprint
Or you might consider having someone design your bookmarks, postcards or business cards. Here are two designers who do this:
Dineen Miller - Designer Girl GraphicsNovel Website Design
Now, is all this necessary? No. But if you have the money in your budget, it's nice to offer people something to take with them from your table, whether they buy a book or not. If you can only afford one item, I would suggest offering bookmarks.
Next Tuesday, we'll go over Creating PR Materials. Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .
Little engine, this month is an easy ride—no mountains or big hills to climb, only the straight long journey of say, a prairie or the plains of Kansas. Easy, but still an important aspect of marketing.
As I entered into the final stretch before my first book came out with Zondervan in 2009, I went over my notes to make sure I was staying within my marketing budget. From there, I began making a list of promotional items I thought I might want to offer my readers. And promotional items are just that--things that promote you. For me, that meant each item would have my name, my Country at Heart tagline, my website url and whatever else I might be able to add. The items that interested me most were:
Ballpoint pensBookmarksBusiness CardsPostcards and/or PostersGrab BagsMisc. Items
With this list in mind, I began searching various places online for the best bargains. I'd also visited several authors about the promo items they offered on their book signing tables and where they had purchased their supplies. Most offered bookmarks and pens or pencils. Some offered little gadgety things that went along with their book themes such as key chains, erasers, hand stress relievers, etc. For this sort of thing, Oriental Trading is a good place to start looking.
Patti Lacy had made grab bags out of cellophane bags, which included sparkly confetti pieces, business cards, bookmarks, and tea bags with her book cover on them, all tied together with color-coordinated ribbon. I liked her idea and wanted to create a grab bag all my own. Try a hobby or craft store for good prices on such items.
It's important to mention, too, that you should contact your publisher/marketing department to see if they are willing to take care of any of these promotional items. If so, you'll save a considerable amount of money and time. Also keep in mind when you are purchasing your promotional items that the more you order, the better pricebreak you'll receive. That may mean order 1,000 items instead of 500--which would save you more money in the end. If you can make your promo items generic enough to use for more than one book, all the better.
Here are a few links you might consider when you shop:
Pens:National PenPens R UsAmsterdam Printing
Bookmarks/Postcards/Business Cards:Print RunnerVistaprint
Or you might consider having someone design your bookmarks, postcards or business cards. Here are two designers who do this:
Dineen Miller - Designer Girl GraphicsNovel Website Design
Now, is all this necessary? No. But if you have the money in your budget, it's nice to offer people something to take with them from your table, whether they buy a book or not. If you can only afford one item, I would suggest offering bookmarks.
Next Tuesday, we'll go over Creating PR Materials. Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .
July 4, 2011
Mailbox Monday
I often hear from readers who wonder if my books will be made into movies. Wouldn't that be awesome and grand if that would ever happen?!! Here's one such letter I received recently from a satisfied reader:
Deborah,I LOVED Seeds of Summer. You really need to contact the Hallmark Channel and have this book as well as Snow Melts in the Spring made into a movie. Your books remind me of the movies that Hallmark has called Love Comes Softly.
Your books are great, fantastic, touch the heart, and need to be shared with everyone--and a movie would be great. You have a great gift and I am honored to be reading your books and anxiously await the next. I must say that your books, once I start reading cannot put down!!!!
Again, contact Hallmark or Lifetime or some other network about your stories. We need more authors like you to show the good in people. Take care and please keep writing. MK
Deborah,I LOVED Seeds of Summer. You really need to contact the Hallmark Channel and have this book as well as Snow Melts in the Spring made into a movie. Your books remind me of the movies that Hallmark has called Love Comes Softly.
Your books are great, fantastic, touch the heart, and need to be shared with everyone--and a movie would be great. You have a great gift and I am honored to be reading your books and anxiously await the next. I must say that your books, once I start reading cannot put down!!!!
Again, contact Hallmark or Lifetime or some other network about your stories. We need more authors like you to show the good in people. Take care and please keep writing. MK
July 1, 2011
Perfect Waffles
This is a recipe we enjoy, perfect for late summer evenings.
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks, beaten
2 cups milk
1/2 cup canola oil
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
In mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In glass measuring dish, combine egg yolks, milk, and oil; add to dry ingredients, beating just till blended. Carefully fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Do not overmix. Bake in preheated waffle baker. Makes 4 9-inch waffles.
2 cups flour3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks, beaten
2 cups milk
1/2 cup canola oil
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
In mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In glass measuring dish, combine egg yolks, milk, and oil; add to dry ingredients, beating just till blended. Carefully fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Do not overmix. Bake in preheated waffle baker. Makes 4 9-inch waffles.
June 29, 2011
Driving Through the Flint Hills
This past month, I've had a couple of opportunities to drive through the Flint Hills of Kansas. I always enjoy my day trips through the hills and try to take loads of pictures to share with you. Here are a few from a recent trip to Alta Vista.
Miles of Prairie
Gateway to the Prairie
High Bar Gate
Old Corral
Prairie Windmill
Creek Crossing Do you like to take drives in the country? Please share in the comments below.
