Colleen Houck's Blog, page 52
September 17, 2013
The Diary of a First Timer
Dear Diary,
Months after first contact, I met Aman last night. It was by accident. Not a bad accident, just not planned out. I recognized his face from the personal trainer board. I stalked him after first texting him back in May. Wait, did I just admit to stalking? Minor stalking. Diary, don't tell. Anyway, Aman. I had just finished a fitness class and needed to weigh in which was when I saw him and worked out why he looked familiar. We talked a bit but he had a client waiting. Now I have an idea brewing in my mind. It won't leave so let's act on it.
You see, my personal trainer at the time recommended Aman to me because he knows martial arts. We had texted a bit, I got information, it was a cool prospect, it had to get the back burner treatment. But now... but now I had an idea to make it work out. Colleen has martial arts mixed throughout her Tiger books. Jared acted out a few scenes so she could accurately describe the movements. Sometimes, he made me help him. That was hilarious. Me? Martial arts? Does flinching count? I'm not even kidding. Remember at family reunions years ago? My cousins would count how many times I managed to hit the tennis ball within the time we would play. One time merited cheers and congratulations. Two times had high fives going around. Three times was... did I make it to three? I think I at least managed one. Did I mention the flinching? I still have trouble catching a basketball....
So my brilliant idea is to learn wushu from Aman and then blog about it. I just have to pitch it to Colleen. And Jared. And myself.
Diary. I flinch.
5 September 2013
Dear Diary,
Everyone approves! Except the bank account for another week or so. Don't back out now, Suki.
10 September 2013
Dear Diary,
What was I thinking? I talked with Aman again tonight. This was my idea so I should be good with it, right? Then Aman used words like "powerful", "explosive", and "flexibility". I flinched a little on the inside. Okay, maybe I flinched a lot. And I might have shown it on my face. Still didn't fully commit but told Aman my idea. He liked it. As long as he gets to read the blog. Um. I guess so?
I'm still wrestling with this on the inside. On one hand, I'm excited. I have never ever done something like this before. I'm kind of hoping that if I learn some wushu, Jared will start up again. I could do cool stuff (to non wushu people, the "easy" wushu stuff would be sufficiently cool). It's a challenge. I like challenges. My bucket list is full of fitness things to do. Like those push ups where you push yourself off the ground and clap. And pull ups (which... I'm almost there!). And working with a trainer again. I miss Chris a lot! He encouraged me, he troubleshooted with me, he guided me, he pushed me. I need that again.
On the other hand.... I have never ever done something like this before. I don't even like those types of games where you have to play against other people. Which is just about every game in existence. I flinch when the basketball comes towards me. Or baseballs. Or volleyballs. I don't like punching. I have terrible flexibility (Chris said everything in the back of the body is connected. If one thing is tight, it affects everything. I am pretty much tight in the calves, hamstrings, lower back...). I don't do things explosively. Except for sprinting. And even then that might be debatable.
14 September 2013
Dear Diary,
No more procrastination. Let's get started. Kelsey didn't die. (Thank you, Colleen.) I shouldn't either. (Um, I'm comparing my mortality to a fictional character?)
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Hi everybody! I'm starting a new series here. It's called "why, oh why!" Okay, just kidding. I am starting wushu! And I am a brand new student to anything martial arts. Although I wrote in journal format to make it a little more story-like (I'm thinking "Book of a Thousand Days" by Shannon Hale), nothing I write will be fictional. All true, so I'll try not to embarrass myself too badly. Today was my first lesson and I can't wait to share more about that later this week.
Have any of you taken wushu either pre- or post-Tiger books? Do any of you have questions you want me to answer about wushu? Do you like my journal format?
September 16, 2013
FALL 2013 YA SCAVENGER HUNT!
Hello and Welcome to the 7th YA Scavenger Hunt!
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Hello! I am Colleen Houck, your hostess for this leg of the hunt.
I have a thing for boy bands.
My favorite color is blue.
I am the eldest of seven so babysitting is my middle name.
And I have 30 nieces and nephews who
all want to be mentioned in my books,
most of them as either a princess or a mermaid.
On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating YA author, you also get a secret number. Add up the numbers, and enter it for a chance to win a major prize--one lucky winner will receive at least one signed book from each author on my team in the hunt! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online until noon PST on Sunday, October 6th!
You can start right here or you can also go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage to find out all about the hunt. There are THREE contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all of them! I am a part of the GOLD TEAM--but there is also a red team and and blue team and if you do the those hunts too you'll have a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!
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If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, see the full list of prizes up for grabs, or if you get lost along the way, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage.
Looking for my exclusive bonus content? You'll have to keep searching. Somewhere on this blog hop, I've hidden two, that's right, I said two, deleted chapters from Tiger's Voyage. Both of them are written in Lokesh's perspective. Shocking reveals are just around the corner. Before you go on though, check out the amazing author I'm hosting. But, first, a few rules.
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the gold team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). Hint: the secret number is highlighted in
GOLD.
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally. Anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 6th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way, I'll introduce the author I am hosting on this hunt.
I am super excited to be hosting...
TERA LYNN CHILDS
Tera Lynn's Bio: Tera Lynn Childs is the award-winning author of the mythology-based Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp, the mermaid tales Forgive My Fins, Fins Are Forever and Just For Fins, and a new trilogy about monster-hunting descendants of Medusa that includes Sweet Venom, Sweet Shadows, and Sweet Legacy. She has two new e-novellas coming soon, Goddess In Time and Pretty In Pearls, and has e-published two fun chick lit romances, Eye Candy and Straight Stalk. Tera lives nowhere in particular and spends her time writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages.
Now I have known Tera Lynn a long time. We first met at the Romantic Times Convention in Los Angeles back in 2011 if I remember correctly. I think it was RT's
111
th conference. Wait. Nope, I checked. This year will be RT's 31st conference. Yeah. Now that I think about it, 111 doesn't make much sense. Anyway...
The book she's showcasing on the Fall 2013 Hunt is....
Goddess in Time
This is an Oh. My. Gods. novella, which comes out November 5th
Now I have read several of Tera Lynn's books but I haven't started this series yet so I'm very excited to see her bonus material!
Here is some info about GODDESS IN TIME.
As a descendant of Greek gods, Nicole has attended the Academy alongside other students with magical powers on a Greek island. Life is pretty perfect—except for the fact that she was sentenced to stay there because of a childhood prank that also resulted in her parents’ banishment. When Nicole discovers a book that teaches the forbidden magic of time travel, she knows she must take a chance to right her wrong. With the help of her friends Troy and Phoebe, Nicole sets off on a quest that will take her from the heights of Mt. Olympus to the ocean depths of Poseidon’s home and to the bowels of Hades. Can she mend her mistakes? And is changing the past what she really wants? The past and future combine in thrilling, unpredictable ways—especially when Greek gods are involved!
I am putting the first two books in the series here too in case you are interested in starting at the beginning. For more on this series or to peruse Tera Lynn's other books, check out her website.
Now for Tera Lynn's
TOP SECRET BONUS MATERIAL
The opening scene of her still unreleased novella!
Are you excited?
Cause I am!
And here it is!
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I probably shouldn’t have taken the book. Burn that—I know I shouldn’t have taken the book. Mrs. Philipoulos is pretty cool for a descendant of revenge goddess Nemesis, as long as you don’t mess with her library books. If she had seen me stuff one in my bag she’d be in serious fits. Instant detention for at least a year.
But when you’re in the top secret archives of Olympus in the top secret second basement of the top secret school for the descendants of the Greek gods, on a tiny island in the Aegean that the rest of the world believes to be uninhabited, and a book starts glowing as you walk by, you kind of have to pay attention. It would have been practically negligent of me to ignore it.
I almost passed right by. I was only in the archives to help my friend Phoebe find the transcript of her dad’s trial, but she was several steps ahead of me. The dusty burgundy cover didn’t exactly stand out among shelf after shelf of musty, old, leather-bound books. Except for the Olympic records, which include files from forever right up until the present, nothing in the archive is less than a hundred years old. In other words, it blended like ice in the Arctic.
As I got close, though, the faded lettering on the spine glowed. Commanded my attention. I couldn’t help but read the words formed by the light-etched script.
The Art and Science of Chronoportation
No author’s name. No publisher’s mark or call number or any writing beyond the title on the spine. Nothing to indicate it might even be listed in the admin-only section of the digital catalog.
I pulled the volume from the shelf, shoved it into my messenger bag, and pretended like nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.
Now, in my dorm room almost a week later, with the door locked and my extraspecial do-not-enter assurance in place, I know why the book glowed. Why it called to me. It was waiting for me, to give me the one thing I’ve been waiting ten long years for: the chance to fix everything.
And today is the day I will finally find the courage to actually read it.
“Calm the fluff down,” I tell myself, pacing back and forth in front of my desk like the kind of person who stresses about things, which I’m (usually) not. Like saying the words out loud might have more impact on my freak-out. “Just because it’s the title of the book doesn’t mean it’s real.”
I pull out my desk chair, plop onto the seat, and straighten the book on the surface of my desk. I nudge it into perfect center.
Letting my nervous energy out by chipping the black polish off my nails bit by bit, I resist the urge to start pacing again.
I am so not a fidgeter. I push limits and bend rules and pretty much let everything go. Or at least I try to. But most of the annoying stuff in life is inconsequential, which makes worrying about it ridiculous.
This book—this possibility—is . . . world-changing.
I’ve heard about chronoportation all my life. The mysterious, dangerous, and highly illegal power of time travel. But it’s just a joke, an urban legend like Bigfoot, Atlantis, and the Seven Cities of Gold. Hematheos conspiracy kooks have spent centuries trying to unravel its secrets, to find the key to unlocking the fourth dimension. It’s an unending quest because it doesn’t exist.
The book is real, though.
I’ve rubbed my fingertips over the edges enough to make sure of that. The leather is worn so smooth I know it must be centuries old, and the heavy coating of dust on the top edge suggests it hasn’t been touched in almost as long. Which also makes me believe it might be legitimate. Why would Olympus and Mrs. Philipoulos go to all the bother of hiding the book in the super-restricted archives if the thirteenth power was pure fiction?
There’s only one way to find out.
Sucking in a deep breath, I lean forward to my desk, where the book sits. Waiting. It’s not that I’m afraid to flip open the cover. Okay, I’m a little afraid. Who knows what will happen to me when I take a peek? If Olympus really wanted the contents of the book hands-off, they might have installed supernatural protection. There might be a hideous or painful curse sealed into the pages.
Which is why the book has been sitting under the hamper in my closet. Every morning I take it out and put it on my desk, with every intention of finally reading it. I don’t know what’s holding me back. Let’s just say fear is a completely foreign emotion to me, so I’m not dealing with it particularly well.
“Oh for the love of Zeus,” I snap at myself. “Stop being ridiculous.”
How can I fix things if I’m too scared to even read a stupid book?
I reach for the leather cover.
My hand freezes, hovering over the gilt lettering of the title, almost like an invisible force is keeping me from making contact. I know the only force at work here is fear. Fear of the unknown.
“Not knowing is worse,” I whisper. Worse than any punishment Olympus could throw at me.
Without allowing myself another weakhearted thought, I dip my fingers beneath the cover and fling the burgundy leather to the side.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Aaarck!”
I leap back, away from the book, sending myself and my chair sprawling across the linoleum tile floor. My heart races, prepared for swarms of locusts or fire-breathing monsters. Or both.
I check my skin for boils.
Knock, knock, knock.
It takes a few seconds for my brain to register the fact that someone is knocking on my door. Probably someone mostly human—I hope—since minions of Olympus don’t usually bother much with courtesy.
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I love bonus material! =)
If you think this series is just what you've been looking for, you can buy your copy on Amazon.
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Thank you so much for visiting the TIGER'S CURSE SERIES website! While you're here don't forget to enter the bonus contest I am running exclusively during the YA Scavenger Hunt.
I will be giving away ten copies of the first book in my series, TIGER'S CURSE, as well as a grand prize pictured below. This prize pack is something you don't want to miss out on. To be eligible to win, enter on the rafflecopter below.
*Grand Package includes Tiger's Curse book w/ exclusive content, Tiger's Quest book signed by author (not shown in picture), Shakespeare Thank you Note Cards, purple nail polish, jewelry, bookmark, and a signed fan letter! (If the winner is international, a visa gift card will be given in place of prize package shown above.)
For an extra bonus entry, leave a comment on this blog and answer the following: What is your favorite sub-genre for YA books? Are you a science fiction fan? Would you prefer more historical romance? Or do you gravitate towards the paranormal? List your favorite of these and/or any others on my comments section below.
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Ready to move on to the next link in the hunt?
LINK TO NEXT BLOG
YA Scavenger Hunt Authors Announced!
Hello YA Fans!
I'm very exited to reveal to you the 60, count 'em 60 authors that will be featured on the Fall 2013 YA Scavenger Hunt! That means that not only do you get access to exclusive bonus material from each one, and a chance to enter so many contests that it will blow your mind, but there is also an opportunity to win an entire library shelf full of books because each author will be giving away one featured book as a prize. This time around I will be on the Gold Team. I may be showcasing a deleted scene, a new short story, or I might, perhaps give you an extended scene from my new Egyptian book. Who knows? With so many possibilities how can you miss it?
The YA Scavenger Hunt will be live from Oct 3rd at noon pacific until Oct 6th at the same time. That will give you lots of time to read...well, pretty much everything. So, without further ado, here are our fabulous YA Hunt authors!
THE BLUE TEAM
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ANN AGUIRRE
AMBER ARGYLE
ANNA CAREY
SHELLEY CORIELL
KIMBERLY DERTING
TARA FULLER
CLAUDIA GRAY
TERI HARMAN
KAY HONEYMAN
AMALIE HOWARD
SOPHIE JORDAN
ALEX LONDON
DAWN METCALF
ELIZABETH NORRIS
KATHLEEN PEACOCK
KIM BACCELLIA
CARRIE RYAN
JESSICA SHIRVINGTON
APRIL GENEVIEVE TUCHOLKE
JILL WILLIAMSON
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THE RED TEAM
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GENNIFER ALBIN
GWENDA BOND
RACHEL CARTER
JULIE CROSS
DEBRA DRIZA
MICHELLE GAGNON
SHAUNTA GRIMES
RACHEL HARRIS
P.J. HOOVER
TARA HUDSON
JESSICA KHOURY
KATHERINE LONGSHORE
PAGE MORGAN
AMY CHRISTINE PARKER
AMY PLUM
C. J. REDWINE
OLIVIA SAMMS
J. A. SOUDERS
CORINA VACCO
SUSANNE WINNACKER
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THE GOLD TEAM
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RITA ARENS
JESSICA BRODY
TERA LYNN CHILDS
TRACY DEEBS
SARAH BETH DURST
COLE GIBSEN
CYNTHIA HAND
LEANNA RENEE HIEBER
COLLEEN HOUCK
MICHELE JAFFE
SUZANNE LAZEAR
MINDY MCGINNIS
LEA NOLAN
FIONA PAUL
LISSA PRICE
GINA ROSATI
VICTORIA SCOTT
ELIZA TILTON
MELISSA WEST
TRISHA WOLFE
Well fans, there you have it. Five dozen YA authors for you to check out before the hunt. Now if only I had that many donuts. Hmm...
Leave a comment to tell me which book you're
the most interested in learning more about.
Have a great week everyone!
Colleen
September 10, 2013
September contest winner!
(And yes, I know the saying goes "a picture is worth a thousand words" but I changed it slightly to fit this month's contest.)
This months writing contest was a HUGE success! I can't tell you how many poems and short stories I've read and there were hundreds of entries! Every entry was well thought out, imaginative, and illustrated poetic word painting. I think each contestant should know that you have potential and I encourage you to work hard to find your voice if writing is something you are passionate about. So, congratulations on taking another step in a writer's journey!
To recap the contest for those just tuning in, I posted a picture (shown below) and challenged you (the readers) to write a short piece using the picture as your inspiration. It could be anything; a poem, a short story, an opening statement, a pretend news or magazine or news article, a scene from a story, parable, anything. I gave everyone about one week to write and the prize is a surprise this time. The theme was Kelsey's Favorite Things.
Here's the picture,
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It was really tough choosing one winner, but there is but one prize to give out so. . . the moment you've been waiting for.
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This month's writing contest goes to
Jess Tsang
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Windows to the Soul
"Despite a fog-shrouded moon only offering darkness, and a wind which should have rippled its surface, it was startlingly clear. Kneeling, I set my lantern down, an imperceptible pull ensnaring me. I peered at the water, expecting something extraordinary to explain its mesmerizing enchantment. But it was just me who stared back, copper curls blowing over a pale face. Looking closer, I reeled back, clutching my chest. Her eyes were dark grey, mottled with eerie lifelessness. Fingering the edges of my eyes, I blinked profusely, but the image remained. Had my eyes lost their greenness, or was it merely a trick of the light? Releasing a shaky breath, my hand reached out. Before I could touch the water, a crow landed on my knee, issuing a spine-chilling caw. I stumbled forward in surprise, plunging into the water.
Cold, muddy swirls surrounded me, obscuring my vision. I fumbled, trying to reach the surface. Eyes widening as the water thickened and dragged at my skirts, I was pulled into its depths. A stream of bubbles escaped my lips as I squeezed my eyes closed in desperate prayer.
Suddenly, I opened my eyes, stunned. I knelt in front of the water, hand posed as if to touch it, yet completely dry. My reflection had green eyes. I didn’t realize anything was wrong until my arm tugged away of its own accord. My body stood up without my command. I felt and saw my reflection flash a satisfied grin before I unwillingly walked away. I tried to scream or thrash, but I was stuck. The crow flew past, staring bleakly at me with mottled grey eyes. Hopelessness swamped me. I had swapped into the world of reflection. Incapable of making actions; ruled by the girl with the green eyes."
Congratulations Jess!!
Now to reveal the prize for this month! Jess will be receiving a "Kelsey's Favorite Things" packaged in a beautiful antique carrying case. The package contains a signed hard back Tiger's Quest, Tiger's Series Poster, jewel book mark, and it will also include:
K elsey’s favorite things
Writing
Kelsey loves to write in her journal and carries it with her wherever she goes
Hair Ribbons
Wearing a French braid tied up with a hair ribbon is a signature Kelsey look
Mr. Kadam’s Soap
Mr. Kadam prides himself in homemade soaps and leaves Kelsey fragrant soaps as a gift
Love notes from Ren
Kelsey treasures all the little notes and poems from Ren
Poetry
Some of her favorite memories include reading Shakespeare with Ren
Happy September Tiger fans! Stay tuned for other reveals and giveaways.
Till next time~
Linda Louise Lotti
September 5, 2013
Egyptian contest for WIP teaser
I am so very close to finishing this Egyptian book so I wanted to do one more teaser for you before I turn it in and it goes through edits.
Here it is...
I heard a hiss like bubbling ocean foam washing across the sand. A movement above me caught my eye. Through the shimmering dome overhead, the stars burned brighter than I’d ever seen before which shouldn’t have been possible since we were so close to a major city. They pulsed brilliantly and the familiar constellations seemed to be almost close enough for me to touch. The more distant stars appeared closer as well, and as I gazed overhead, I felt as if my body was weightless, like I could float upward into the night and become lost in the universe.
Somehow I was able to see the colors of the stars with my naked eye which I knew was impossible. Nearby planets were suddenly visible. I could make out the rings of Saturn, a binary star, and a distant galaxy, and then, the world shifted. The stars fell.
Here is an image that inspired the scene that is on my secret Pinterest page.
My sister in law, Suki, has created an Egyptian themed prize to go along with this book. Follow the directions below for a chance to win!
The prize this week goes to one random winner from the comments of this blog post. The prize pack contains a beautiful blue necklace, a gold (colored, not real gold!) bracelet cuff, and copper eyeliner. This all screamed Egyptian to me and I couldn't pass them up to give to one of you!
(Okay, I'm actually not sure why this photo is sideways.... so I might delete the picture unless I can figure it out!)
Pretty! Good luck!
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Mom Phrases
I have a new mom phrase this week.
Cooked your own goose-I found two origins of this phrase. One was about a Swedish king who retaliated against his rebellious people and ended up destroying a city, his favorite goose along with it. The answer I like better is that a person becomes so desperate that they must cook their goose and feast on its meat in order to survive. This results in not only having no goose eggs to eat in the future but there will also not be any more goslings to replenish the flock. In essence, you've made a choice that will lead to your own destruction.
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Hope you all have a great week! Happy back to school too!
Colleen
September 3, 2013
Georgia and its Peaches
Georgia and its Peaches
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Have any of you noticed all the peaches in the grocery market or at the local farmer's markets? It's peach season and this post is all about Georgia and its peaches! Did you know August is National Peach Month? I know technically August is over but the peaches are still ripe for the picking!
For those of you who read my earlier post, Authors after Dark Book Convention, you might remember it was located in Savannah, Georgia or “the peach state”. We weren’t able to get out and see the sights as we would have liked but the little we did, we thoroughly enjoyed. We dined at Paula Deen’s famous restaurant, The Lady and Sons and the oldest house in Georgia, The Pirate House. We learned a little history at the Pirate House including the cultivation and production of the peaches.
So, in honor of Georgia, and in celebration of National Peach Month, today's theme is all about the southern state and its peaches.
The Georgia peach is the classic summer fruit that brings with it such memories as homemade peach ice cream after swimming and playing outside, or getting sticky all over from biting into a ripe and juicy sweet peach on a warm summer day, or the scent of peaches perfuming the kitchen as mom baked peach cobbler on Sunday after church. Have your taste buds started drooling yet? I think the perfect recipe to start with would have to be the baked peach cobbler. I've included a few recipes that I LOVE with for you to try while the peaches are in season.
Fun facts about Georgia State
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- Georgia was named after King George II. Georgia became the first southern state to join the union in 1788.
- Before white settlers inhabited Georgia territories, it was primarily home to Cherokee Indians. In the year 1832, the Indians were forced to leave their homes and settle in Oklahoma territory. On that long and difficult march, thousands died. Their journey has since been labeled The Trail of Tears.
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- Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. A dedicated historic site in his honor was founded by his wife called, The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, a place where you can learn about his life and the visionary man that he was.
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-Jimmy Carter is the only U.S. president from Georgia.
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-In Atlanta, it is illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole. No joke!
-In Atlanta, it is illegal to put an ice cream cone in your back pocket on Sunday. True also! Rumor has it, it is because if a horse follows you home you can claim it as your own. The ice cream entices the horse to follow you supposedly.
-In Georgia City it is illegal to throw rocks at birds. This city is known as a bird sanctuary and has been for many years.
A short history on the peach
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Peaches are native to North-West China, where they were first cultivated. They were transplanted to Europe and it was in the 16th century when Franciscan monks introduced peaches to the state of Georgia. Cherokee Indians grew peaches and plums in Georgia’s soils up through the 18th century. Raphael Moses, a Columbus Planter and Confederate, began marketing peaches in 1851 and gets credit for being the first to sell peaches successfully outside the South.
Peach production exploded after the Civil War, when Georgia farmers were looking for alternative to cotton. They were so successful that in the following decades, Georgia earned its nickname “the Peach State”. In April 7th, 1995 they were labeled officially as the Peach State.
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How to pick the best peaches
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Once picked, peaches do NOT get any sweeter. They do get softer and juicier, but never sweeter. That is why it is important to avoid purchasing peaches that were green when picked.
Look for peaches that show a background of color; yellow or cream with a rosy blush. Avoid any with a green undertone. They were picked too early.
Look for peaches with smooth, unwrinkled skin and no bruises.
Choose peaches that give slightly at the seam when pressed with your thumb, even if the rest of the peach is firm.
Leave peaches at room temperature if picked from a tree. Leave peaches in refrigerator if picked from a store. They will keep for 3-5 days.
Look out for peaches with tan circles. This is an early sign of decay.
*Tips if picking from a tree
- The peaches on the outer, more exposed sections of the tree will be larger, brighter in color, juicier and have higher sugar content (a benefit of sun exposure).
- Give a gentle squeeze, and if it gives a little to your squeeze, it’s ripe.
* Tips if picking from a local farmer’s market or peach stand.
- These peaches are already ripe you can usually ask to taste the peaches from the different cultivars before selecting.
* Tips if picking from a grocer’s market
-Find out where the fruit was shipped from. If it is unclear, ask the produce department. Generally, the further the distance, the earlier the fruit was picked indicating a less mature and a less sweet peach.
-Do not be fooled by the size or the deep color. What you should do is pick up the fruit and smell it near the stem. If it gives a sweet peach aroma, it is most likely a ripe and flavorful peach. Also give a gentle squeeze to see if it gives slightly. It is a good rule of thumb to pick a small quantity as they ripen very quickly unless you intend to preserve them via canning or freezing.
Here’s a short video on preparing and preserving your peaches below.
The Georgia peach is the classic summer fruit that brings with it such memories as homemade peach ice cream after swimming and playing outside, or getting sticky from biting into a ripe and juicy sweet peach on a warm summer day, or the scent of peaches perfuming the kitchen as mom baked peach cobbler on Sunday after church. Have your taste buds started drooling yet? I think the perfect recipe to start with would have to be the baked peach cobbler. I've included a few recipes that I LOVE with for you to try while the peaches are in season.
Homemade Peach Ice Cream
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I recently tried out a recipe for homemade peach ice cream and it wasn't nearly sweet enough. I will say the creaminess and texture was excellent though. So, I've made a few changes and I think this recipe will hit the spot!
First I went to the store to purchase the ingredients. I live in Tucson, Arizona so getting Georgia peaches is pretty near impossible. I asked the grocery produce department where their peaches came from and he was very helpful. He even gave me a schedule of when peaches from different locations would be available. The ones I purchased were from Washington state but the produce employee recommended I go to Wilcox (less than an hour away) where I could pick my own peaches right off the tree. So, I just may make a little trip out of it and get me some fresh peaches!!
OK, here's the list of ingredients,
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-10 fresh peaches- peeled, pitted and chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
-1 pint half-and-half cream
-1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
-1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
-3 egg yolks
-1 Tbs vanilla extract
-2 cups whole milk, or as needed
Directions:
- Peel, pit and slice peaches. *Don't discard the peel and pits. We will use them later. The trick to peeling peaches is to throw them in boiling water for about one minute. Remove and let cool in ice bath. The peel will come right off!
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- Puree peaches with the lemon juice and sugar in a blender or food processor. Place puree mixture in freezer until ready to combine with milk mixture.
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- Whisk 3 egg yolks
- In a sauce pan, combine the peach peels and pits with half-and-half, evaporated milk, condensed milk and egg yolks. Simmer on low for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
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-Strain milk mixture and throw away the peels and pits. Place saran wrap or wax paper on milk mixture and put in fridge until completely cooled.
- Combine milk mixture with peach puree. Add the 2 cups whole milk (or more if desired).
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-Pour into ice cream maker. Fill ice cream maker with ice and rock salt and make according to machine's instructions.
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- Serve it up and enjoy!! This should make about 1 gallon.
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*As an option you could add in crumbled praline pecans or toasted pecans. Mmm, delicious!!
Peach Cobbler
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Southern Peach Cobbler
Ingredients:
- 8-10 fresh peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
-1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp. cornstarch
-1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
-1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6 Tbs. unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
- 1/4 cup boiling water
Mix together
-3 Tbs. white sugar and 1 tsp ground cinnamon and set aside
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. (220 C).
- In large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend in butter with fingers or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.
- Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.
-Serve by itself or with some vanilla ice cream and enjoy!!
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As a bonus, we would like to extend a peach recipe challenge to you! Over the next month, we invite you to experiment with peaches using recipes you'd like to try and then attempt to perfect it. Then, take a picture of your master recipe and send it, along with your recipe, to me at lindalouiselotti@colleenhouck.net for a chance to win an "Everything Peaches Gift Basket! This contest will run through all of September so that you have ample time to perfect your recipe! The deadline to submit will be October 5th, 2013.
Good luck and enjoy the peaches while they are still in season!!
Till next time~
Linda Louise Lotti
September 1, 2013
September Contest!
September Contest-A picture is worth a hundred words!
For those of you who love to read and also have a passion for writing, this contest is designed with you in mind. Or, if perhaps writing isn’t your thing but you are interested in winning an AWESOME prize package, then lend your ear for this month’s contest.
They say a picture is worth a 100 words. So, we’d like to put it to the test. Here’s how the contest will work. I will post a picture (shown below) and you will use that picture as your inspiration to write a short piece. It can be anything; a poem, a short story, an opening statement, a pretend news or magazine article, a scene from a story, parable, anything! Here are the rules for contest entry:
*Must have a title
*Must be 100-300 words
*Must be submitted by September 8th, 2013 by midnight PST
*Must submit writing to lindalouiselotti@colleenhouck.com
*Must provide your name and should you win, your mailing address for prize (only via email so your information remains private)
*Must be your own work and cannot be submitted on behalf of another
*One entry per person
*Have fun!!!!
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You won’t want to miss out on this month’s prize giveaway, it will be AMAZING! The Theme is Kelsey’s Favorite Things!
Till’ Sunday, September 8th! Winner will be announced later that week so stay tuned!!
~ by Linda Louise Lotti
August 30, 2013
Let's go v-v-v-vegan!
"Making vegan cookies again, I see. What's the special occasion?" I asked.
"Sarah jammed the wooden spoon into the dense dough several times as if the spoon were an icepick. "It's Sammy's turn to bring treats for his playdate."
I stifled a snigger by coughing.
She narrowed her eyes at me shrewdly. "Kelsey Hayes, just because your mother was the best cookie baker in the world doesn't mean I can't make a decent treat."
"It's not your skills I doubt, it's your ingredients," I said, picking up a jar. "Substitute nut butter, flax, protein powder, and agave. I'm surprised you don't put recycled paper in those things. Where's the chocolate?"
"I use carob sometimes."
"Carob is not chocolate. It tastes like brown chalk. If you're going to make cookies, you should make--"
"I know. I know. Pumpkin chocolate chip or double chocolate peanut butters. They're really bad for you, Kelsey," she said with a sigh.
"But they taste so good."
Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck pg 7-8
I couldn't resist. It sounded like a challenge just waiting to be grasped. So let's make some vegan cookies!
My first stop was to Pinterest vegan cookie recipes. Pinterest is the new Google, you know. I landed on some Coconut Chocolate Chip Vegan Cookies that can be found from the blog Cooking Quicknunc. I like coconut. I like chocolate chips. Let's do this!
Wait. Let's talk about what I did to this recipe. Mostly, I followed it. But honey isn't technically a vegan ingredient since it is an animal product. Although I love honey, I pulled out my coconut sugar instead. For the chocolate chips... well, I really wanted to make an true vegan cookie, so I used 100% chocolate. No milk fat or anything in it. Did you know... that stuff is dark! And bitter. And, well, not very pleasant to the taste buds.... we'll get to that in a bit.
Mix your dry ingredients together (flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt).
The recipe says to soften and thicken the flax seed/water mixture. Yeah, missed that bit and I was impatient. You too can be impatient like me and skip that step. Or don't! (Note: this is ground flax seed. Unground flax seed is undigestable.) Mix these ingredients together.
Fold the wet stuff into the dry stuff.
Check out that dough! It certainly wasn't dense like Sarah's cookies were. But wait... there's more!
Oiy. See that? 100% unsweetened chocolate. If you like this stuff, girl power to you! For the rest of us, pick up the semi sweet chocolate chips or an 80% bar or something. Unless you actually are vegan and have some other stuff you use (like carob). Anyway, add those ingredients in and mix a bit more.
Cook, cool, test. Except for the 100% chocolate, we really liked these cookies! They were moist enough the first day and got more dry a few days later. They were sweet enough without being a sugar overload. With some sweeter chocolate, these would have been a huge hit! So the challenge results are, in the words of Kelsey, "It's not your skills I doubt, it's your ingredients."
Do you have a favorite vegan cookie recipe?
Coconut Chocolate Chip Vegan Cookies
makes 18 to 22 cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups white flour, organic
1/2 cup organic coconut palm sugar
1/3 cup virgin coconut oil, melted (measure before melting)
*add an extra Tbsp of oil for extra rich & buttery cookies
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (semi-sweet and/or vegan )
1 banana, mashed
1/3 cup warm water + 1 tsp flax seeds (whisked and set aside for 5 minutes to thicken a bit)
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut
1/2 - 3/4 cup walnuts, raw
note: I use *unrefined* virgin coconut oil for a more coconut-y flavor
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, lightly grease or line baking sheet.
2. Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon. Toss.
3. Melt the coconut oil in the microwave - just a few seconds should soften.
4. Combine the flax/water mixture with the oil and vinegar and the mashed banana. Slowly fold this mixture into the dry mixture. Make sure it is not too hot of it will made the dough chewy.
5. Fold in the walnuts and coconut. Last, fold in the chocolate chips.
6. If you want perfectly round cookies, you should fridge the dough for 5-10 minutes and scoop into balls. But I just like to add the dough as is in semi-messy rough balls. This makes for more bumpy, bubbly cookies!
7. Cook for 15 minutes or until the edges brown and darken a bit. Cool. Serve. Store in the fridge or freezer if not eating within a day.
recipe adapted from lunch box bunch
August 26, 2013
A short history on the world of Dragons!
~ Ursela K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea
From the beginning of time, mankind has been fascinated with the idea of dragons. We’ve heard of the Firedrake dragon slayed by Beowulf, the Hydra of Lerna slayed by Hercules, St. George and the dragon, and even the story or Perseus and Andromeda where Poseidon sends a “sea monster” to ravage Aethiopia. Many fantasy novels include dragons and it is no wonder why. They are scary, cunning, wise, dangerous, and above all else, magical. R.A. Salvatore, author of Streams of Silver, said, “No, I would not want to live in a world without dragons, as I would not want to live in a world without magic, for that is a world without mystery, and that is a world without faith.”
In honor of Colleen Houck, we take a closer look at her FAVORITE mythological creature, the
dragon
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This dragon is described as having a long sinuous body, almost snake like and no wings. It is covered in red shiny scales with its top streaked with vermillion that glows a dim red and a black underbelly. Its head is large with long black-and-red tendrils trailing its black-bearded cheeks.
The Blue Dragon's Pet- Qinglong, Dragon of the Ocean, born in the Southern Ocean
This dragon first appeared wrapped around a castle ruin on top of the island, snoring. It has a similar in shape to his brother, Longjun, but has a longer head. His cheeks and brow are covered with feathers that shimmer like fish scales in brilliant blues and purples. Similar feathers trail down the spine and fan out at its tail and limbs like hair. It has golden talons, yellow eyes and a purple tongue.
The Green Dragon's Hunt- Luselong, Dragon of the Earth, born in the Indian Ocean
This dragon likes to play games, but only to his advantage. He is cunning and a cheat. He is first spotted hidden in the trees on an island. It's head is brown and knobby like old driftwood with a snout like a crocodile and pointed teeth. He has golden eyes and large antlers on the back of his head. Moss hangs off the horns and he too has a long snake-like body. His scales resembled green leaves and has gold talon feet. He also has a brown beard and mane of silky hair down its back like that of a horse's mane.
The Golden Dragon's Hoard- Jinselong, Dragon of the Treasures, born in the Atlantic
This dragon hoards gold in his underwater palace. He is greedy and barters for gold. He has scales made of hard golden disks that glint in water and vary in shades of gold with the darker tones on its back. He has four long spikes protruding from the back of its head and a trail of smaller spikes starting at its nose and travels the length of his spine. He has wise ginger-brown eyes. He can also shift to human form.
The Ice Dragon- Yinbailong, Dragon of the Ice, born in the freezing waters of the Arctic
This dragon too lives in an underwater lair both wondrous and frightening. The Ice Dragon's lair juts from the ocean floor like a crystal stalagmite with crystal sculptures in the shapes of water plants, trees, and flowers, with a bright light emanating from within. You first meet the white dragon in human form. He is lean and tall with smooth white hair, a prominent brow over icy blue eyes, thin lips and a wizened face full of expression. He is wise, possesses great magic and has a good bedside manner. When he shape shifts, his body cracks and splinters into thousands of shards and spills into a sparkling white body. He has blue dragon claws and eyes, a blue forked tongue and two horns on the back of its head, looking like long icicles, with smaller horns on its tail. He has a white mane stretching from the top of its noble head all the way down its back and surprisingly, the dragon is quite soft and warm.
There you have it, Houck's five dragons from Tiger's Voyage. Just use your imagination based off Houck's descriptions and you have a very unique and frighteningly beautiful version of dragons.
I hope you enjoyed this post all about Dragons! If there is a mythological creature you're dying to learn more about, include it in the comments section!
Till next time~
Linda Louise Lotti
August 22, 2013
WIP Teaser
As you can see from the last post, the Savannah conference was a whirlwind of activity. It was fun hanging out with other YA authors and with my sister and mom. They are the best entourage ever!
I just finished chapter 19 of my new book and I wanted to put up a teaser about it so without further ado...here it is.
Drowning in quicksand is a little better, I think, than drowning in water. There is no thrashing, kicking, or head shaking. There’s no desperate struggle for the surface. No glint of sun above to beckon you not to give up. There’s just a heaviness. An inevitable sinking. It’s as if your body has been bound in a warm cocoon.
I would imagine that the sensation is not unlike birth. The sand slides upwards over your skin, which is disorienting since it feels like it’s flowing in opposition to gravity. Intense, squeezing pressure wraps around your limbs and torso. Your lungs burn with fiery pain but you wait, and wait, and wait, hoping, praying, and pleading for the travails to be over, wishing for that moment of delivery when the cold rush of air finally allows you to scream.
I also wanted to do a puzzle contest with this one. Solve the puzzle to figure out my inspiration for this chapter. If you can guess what movie it's from, leave your answer with your puzzle time on the comments section. It's a really hard one this time. One random winner will be selected to win a book or audiobook of their choice. Good luck!
