Beth Cato's Blog, page 102
August 3, 2015
Reprints FTW
First of all, book news!
The Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog had awfully nice things to say about The Clockwork Dagger and The Clockwork Crown: “Indeed, one of the things I find so winning about Octavia is her incredible compassion. When her enemies are hurt, she tends to them, as well as to her friends and strangers. She’s not a sap; she knows, the way doctors do, that triage is often necessary. The Clockwork Crown… provided a very satisfying conclusion to an excellent duology.”
I also have a Goodreads giveaway for The Clockwork Crown that ends Monday night! That’s TONIGHT! So enter and spread the word. Scroll down to find the widget.
Now, to the subject from the headline. I haven’t had much time to write new stories this year, but I have made an extra effort to seek out reprint markets. This has turned out surprisingly well. It amazes me that stories that were rejected five, ten times on initial submission are now selling multiple times as reprints–and for a heck of a lot more money, too.
Last week I shared the news about “Red Dust and Dancing Horses” in For Want of a Horse.” That same story will also be appearing next year in 2016 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide. That’s right, a middle-grade adventure anthology! How cool is that?! Plus, it’s very girl-positive, and that makes me REALLY happy. There will be a Kickstarter to expand the anthology; I’ll post more about this soon!
I also sold a reprint of my science fiction story “Overlap” to Science Fiction Short Stories from Flame Tree Press. They are publishing this as a deluxe hardcover–the book itself looks gorgeous! Plus, I’m tickled to share the anthology with several friends as well as classic authors like Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Jules Verne, and Jack London. This book will actually be out in the next few months–in time for Christmas!
Now here’s the giveaway link for The Clockwork Crown, as promised!
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px;
font-style: normal; background: white; }
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; }
.goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink {
display: inline-block;
color: #181818;
background-color: #F6F6EE;
border: 1px solid #9D8A78;
border-radius: 3px;
font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
font-weight: bold;
text-decoration: none;
outline: none;
font-size: 13px;
padding: 8px 12px;
}
.goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover {
color: #181818;
background-color: #F7F2ED;
border: 1px solid #AFAFAF;
text-decoration: none;
}
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Clockwork Crown
by Beth Cato
Giveaway ends August 03, 2015.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
August 2, 2015
Sunday Quote isn’t ready for August
“You always get more respect when you don’t have a happy ending.”
~Julia Quinn
July 29, 2015
Bready or Not: Legendary Macaroni and Cheese
I needed a make-ahead macaroni and cheese recipe. I already have several other reliable ones like Civil War Macaroni and Cheese and the Pioneer Woman’s recipe, but I didn’t need to babysit boiling milk or dirty a score of pots and pans as I was enjoying company over for a visit.
I have had John Legend’s recipe saved on Pinterest for years. I watched a video of him cooking the recipe with Martha Stewart and read tips from other cooks. I decided to halve the recipe, since this was a side for four people, and otherwise tweak things.
I did the bulk of the recipe in the morning. When it was time to start supper, all I had to do was heat the oven and add the paprika and bread crumbs. It baked up into an oozing, cheesy mass. Everyone raved over it. There were no leftovers.
My other mac and cheese recipes are great but this is the one I’ll keep handy for holidays or when company is coming. Tastiness and convenience? Heck yeah!
Halved and modified from John Legend’s Macaroni and Cheese, as featured on Martha Stewart.
Bready or Not: Legendary Macaroni and Cheese
Save
This modified version of John Legend’s recipe, as featured on Martha Stewart’s show, can be prepared in the morning and cooked later in the day! It’s everything macaroni and cheese should be: cheesy with a crunchy baked crust.
2 Tablespoons butter, plus more for baking dish
1 1/2 cups macaroni
1 can evaporated milk
1 large egg
3/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
12 ounces sharp and/or mix of cheddar cheeses, shredded
sprinkling of paprika
bread crumbs
If you plan to bake this right away, preheat oven to 375-degrees. Butter or spray a 9x9 baking dish.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt and macaroni. Cook until al dente. Drain the water and return the macaroni to the pot. Add butter and stir until it has melted.
In a medium bowl, whisk together evaporated milk and egg. Add seasoned salt, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Place about 1/3 of the macaroni in an even layer in the bottom of prepared baking dish. This should be just enough to cover the bottom. Cover with 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat twice more with remaining macaroni and cheese.
Pour the milk and seasonings mixture evenly over the contents of the baking dish. At this point, you can stash the dish in the fridge overnight or during the day until it's meal time.
When you're ready to bake, make sure the oven is preheated. Sprinkle the top of the macaroni with paprika and bread crumbs.
Bake until top layer is lightly browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
OM NOM NOM!
July 27, 2015
Later this fall…
Later this year, a reprint of my story “Red Dust and Dancing Horses” will appear in an anthology from Lethe Press called For Want of a Horse.
There will recent stories like mine, as well as reprintings of fairy tales and classics by authors like Ambrose Bierce, L. Frank Baum, and Washington Irving. I’m rather tickled by the table of contents. Me and the writer of The Wizard of Oz, hangin’ out.
Look for more info on the book’s release this fall!
July 26, 2015
Sunday Quote loves Crystal Light with Caffeine
“Write the kind of story you would like to read. People will give you all sorts of advice about writing, but if you are not writing something you like, no one else will like it either.”
~ Meg Cabot
July 24, 2015
Fae Friday
Last year my story “The Cartography of Shattered Trees” was included in a wonderful anthology called FAE. Well, the ebook is now on sale for just 99-cents!
Meet Robin Goodfellow as you’ve never seen him before, watch damsels in distress rescue themselves, get swept away with the selkies and enjoy tales of hobs, green men, pixies and phookas. One thing is for certain, these are not your grandmother’s fairy tales.
Fairies have been both mischievous and malignant creatures throughout history. They’ve dwelt in forests, collected teeth or crafted shoes. Fae is full of stories that honor that rich history while exploring new and interesting takes on the fair folk from castles to computer technologies to modern midwifing, the Old World to Indianapolis.
Fae bridges traditional and modern styles, from the familiar feeling of a good old-fashioned fairy tale to urban fantasy and horror with a fae twist. This anthology covers a vast swath of the fairy story spectrum, making the old new and exploring lush settings with beautiful prose and complex characters.
99-cents at all the places!
For Canadians: Amazon.ca
July 22, 2015
Bready or Not: Ritz Krispy Treats
It’s summer. Time to bust out the non-baked goodies!
If you’re like me, you open up a box of Ritz crackers for some occasion and then it ends up squatting on a pantry shelf for a while. The good news is that just about anything is good if it’s pulverized and mixed with melted marshmallows. Who knew?!
These are especially good because you get that whole salty/sweet combination. A drizzle of chocolate and a touch of large grain salt really adds oomph.
This does produce a thin layer in a small casserole pan. If you want thick bars, double the recipe!
I think this would also work really well with Ritz Sandwich Crackers with Peanut Butter, with peanut butter added instead of Biscoff. You could also use Club or other kinds of crackers. There are a ton of options!
Bready or Not: Ritz Krispy Treats
Save
A quick non-bake treat that uses Ritz crackers for a delicious mix of sweet and salty.
3 Tablespoons butter
4 cups (1 bag) mini marshmallows
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Biscoff spread or nut butter
2 sleeves Ritz crackers, crushed (makes 3 cups)
optional:
1/4 cup chocolate chips (to melt and drizzle)
pretzel or kosher salt
Prepare everything for quick mixing. Crush the crackers and measure the vanilla and Biscoff (or nut butter). Grease an 8x8 or 9x9 casserole pan.
In microwave or on stovetop, melt butter in a large bowl or pan. Add marshmallows and continue to heat on low; in microwave, heat for 25 seconds, stir, 25 more seconds, stir, until everything blends together.
Add the vanilla extract and Biscoff, then the crumbs. Stir until everything is well blended. Glop it into the prepared pan. Use a piece of wax paper and a glass or firm spatula to compress everything.
To add some topping for oomph, melt the chocolate and drizzle it over the treats. Immediately sprinkle some salt over it all.
Let set for an hour or so, until firm. Cut into small squares.
OM NOM NOM!
July 20, 2015
Goodreads Giveaway
I’m running a giveaway on Goodreads for a signed copy of The Clockwork Dagger! It runs through Tuesday. Please sign up and spread the word! I’ll have a giveaway for Clockwork Crown coming up soon, too.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Clockwork Dagger
by Beth Cato
Giveaway ends July 21, 2015.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
July 19, 2015
Sunday Quote stares at the calendar
“The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words.”
~ William H. Gass, A Temple of Texts
July 15, 2015
Bready or Not: Cardamom Honey Chicken: A Clockwork Dagger Recipe
In The Clockwork Crown, you meet some of Alonzo Garret’s family. You even find out some of his favorite foods.
“…And tonight, Cook is going to make your very, very favorite, cardamom chicken with cashews, and there will be lemon curd with shortbread for dessert.”
I chose cardamom chicken because 1) I love cardamom, 2) it’s not a common American way to flavor chicken, which sets apart my setting. When I wrote it, I figured that at some point I would need to make the recipe for myself.
Cardamom chicken recipes are out there but vary widely. I decided to combine bits and pieces to create something new. The result was mildly sweet, tender chicken that was fabulous served with its own citrusy drippings. It’s definitely a different taste, but a nice one.
There are lots of options for leftovers, too. Eat it as-is, or chop it up for a salad with a sweet dressing, or add some Greek yogurt or sour cream and make it a chicken salad for a wrap or sandwich. YUM!
I didn’t add any cashews to my chicken, but you certainly could do so to add texture. I suppose at some point I need to do a new shortbread recipe that will pair well with lemon curd, eh?
Bready or Not: Cardamom Honey Chicken: A Clockwork Dagger Recipe
Save
This original recipe inspired by The Clockwork Crown creates spicy, sweet chicken.
Marinade
1/4 cup cooking sherry
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1.5 pounds chicken tenders
Main dish
1 orange, thinly sliced
salt and pepper
Glaze
2 Tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Place marinade and chicken in a large Ziploc bag and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400-degrees. Place orange slices in a casserole dish and lay the chicken tenders on top. Season with salt and pepper.
Bake chicken for about 15 minutes, flip the tenders, and bake another 10 minutes. Whisk together the glaze ingredients.
Pull out the chicken and check for doneness; it should be fully cooked at this point. Change the oven to broil and move the rack a bit closer to the top. Brush the glaze over the chicken--use every drop! Put the chicken in to broil for just a few minutes.
The chicken is delicious on its own or with the sweet pan drippings. You might even want to chop the meat into pieces to allow them to soak in more flavor.
OM NOM NOM.
