Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 66
December 31, 2017
Garlic, Cancer, Car Probs = Stress, Revisited #farming
For the balance of the year and the first week of January, 2018, I'm reprinting some popular posts dating back to 2013. Hope you enjoy again or for the first time. July, 2015
Tortuga Thursday
In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Oh yeah, one of those weeks.
Frank and helpers.Harvesting continues in spite of the rain. We finally had a dry day yesterday followed by another today. Makes it much less messy and the mud is drying so the garlic is cleaned easier. BUT with the moisture and the hot weather, all varieties are ready to harvest. Trouble is, we can only move so fast. We recruited three young neighbors for help. As of
Loosen the soil.today, Inchellium (only softneck we planted), Porcelain Music, and Purple Italian are harvested and curing. We barely got into the Red Chesnok today. Unless we can recruit some more help or we pick up speed (both unlikely), we have six more days of harvesting.
Rusty taking it easy.In the midst of harvest, Rusty had an emergency operation to remove his spleen. If we hadn't gotten him to the vet when we did, he would've bled out within the hour. Good news is he's recovering nicely from the operation. Bad news is the lab on the spleen came back as cancer, the most aggressive kind. They didn't see any other tumors or indications when they had him open, but chances are pretty high that it could already have spread. We're going with the low chance of survival. Christie and Frank did research on cancer in dogs and came up with a diet to ward off the evil condition. Rusty is loving his new diet:
MealtimeFatty chicken thighs with skin, choppedChicken bouillon from boiling the thighsHigh fat hamburgerBroccoli, spinach, and zuchinniOlive OilTumeric
SnackYogurt and blueberries
We're doing our best to keep him around a couple of more years at least. He'll be twelve in October. And as long as he feels good, he'll share this life with us.
Me, stringing garlic.When we got in the car to leave the vet, it wouldn't start. Our mechanic was shut down early for the 4th of July, so the car sat all weekend at the clinic. We had to have a new starter. Gosh, I hate car problems. But we're lucky to have found a great mechanic with reasonable prices.Wow, didn't mean to rain down nothing but bad news. But it was one of those weeks. This time next week, the garlic should just about all be out of the ground, and we can take a couple of days off to catch our breath before we start cleaning and trimming it. That'll be good! And as you can see, at least one of us in the family enjoys what the rain has done to our street.
Sadi loves mud puddles.
December 30, 2017
Solstice and Squash Soup (recipe!), Revisited #farming #recipe
For the balance of the year and the first week of January, 2018, I'm reprinting some popular posts dating back to 2013. Hope you enjoy again or for the first time.
December, 2014
Tortuga Thursday In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Playing with ribbon can be tricky
Christmas Day. Of course I wrote this in advance since we’ll be in Phoenix at my mom’s celebrating the holiday with family. Most of us have multiple stops today. Frank and I don’t so we’ll hang out at Mom’s and visit as the rest of the family wanders in and out.
Four days ago, we had our Solstice celebration on the farm. It was
The Solstice Fireeven more meaningful, and certainly more fun, with nearly two-year-old Sadi. We didn’t get through the entire fire ceremony since by that time she was overwhelmed with all the day’s activities. No problem. The day had tired all of us.
Sadi's first roasted marshmallowPart of our Solstice celebration is to have as much of the food we grow ourselves as possible. By December, the choices are fewer. So in addition to a great Irish lamb stew that Frank cooked, Christie made butternut squash (from our fields) soup. The recipe is below. It’s excellent!
Lance is getting some veggies growing in the greenhouse again after the
Still working on itearly hard freeze practically wiped us out. So far we have chard, onions, collard greens and the carrots are still hanging on. It’s not very pretty right now, but it’s a work in progress.
The crows disruptionThe garlic has started sprouting, and the crows are a menace. Apparently, they have yanked some of the tiny sprouts from the ground. Whether they are doing it as they dive for bugs or purposely going for garlic, we aren’t totally sure, but two rows are a bit torn up. We invested in a bb/pellet gun. When they come around early morning, Lance pops one with a bb and it clears them out for that day.
We’ve moved the RV to our home away from farm in Tonto Basin. I’ll save that story until next week. I have some good tips if you want to retire on limited funds that you might find interesting.
Butternut Squash
Christie’s Butternut Squash Soup
(this fed four adults, one child, and we had leftovers-our butternut are large)
Ingredients: Two large butternut squash, cut in half and seeds scooped out ½ large onion, diced (note here: If you want to include some other veggies you may. Christie added a small amount of fresh spinach) Rice milk (or any milk product you prefer) as needed for a soup consistency 5-6 slices of bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled Spices to your taste: Salt Curry powder Cinnamon Black pepper
Bake squash at 400 degrees for one hour and fifteen minutes. Baste with butter occasionally. In a pan, cook the onion and any other veggie you might like in a couple of tbs of butter. Puree cooked butternut in a blender adding the milk of your choice to the consistency desired. Pour into a pan, add seasoning and bacon. Heat for at least ½ hour to blend the spices. Enjoy!
Some Santa's in the RV
December, 2014
Tortuga Thursday In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Playing with ribbon can be trickyChristmas Day. Of course I wrote this in advance since we’ll be in Phoenix at my mom’s celebrating the holiday with family. Most of us have multiple stops today. Frank and I don’t so we’ll hang out at Mom’s and visit as the rest of the family wanders in and out.
Four days ago, we had our Solstice celebration on the farm. It was
The Solstice Fireeven more meaningful, and certainly more fun, with nearly two-year-old Sadi. We didn’t get through the entire fire ceremony since by that time she was overwhelmed with all the day’s activities. No problem. The day had tired all of us.
Sadi's first roasted marshmallowPart of our Solstice celebration is to have as much of the food we grow ourselves as possible. By December, the choices are fewer. So in addition to a great Irish lamb stew that Frank cooked, Christie made butternut squash (from our fields) soup. The recipe is below. It’s excellent!Lance is getting some veggies growing in the greenhouse again after the
Still working on itearly hard freeze practically wiped us out. So far we have chard, onions, collard greens and the carrots are still hanging on. It’s not very pretty right now, but it’s a work in progress.
The crows disruptionThe garlic has started sprouting, and the crows are a menace. Apparently, they have yanked some of the tiny sprouts from the ground. Whether they are doing it as they dive for bugs or purposely going for garlic, we aren’t totally sure, but two rows are a bit torn up. We invested in a bb/pellet gun. When they come around early morning, Lance pops one with a bb and it clears them out for that day. We’ve moved the RV to our home away from farm in Tonto Basin. I’ll save that story until next week. I have some good tips if you want to retire on limited funds that you might find interesting.
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Butternut Squash
Christie’s Butternut Squash Soup
(this fed four adults, one child, and we had leftovers-our butternut are large) Ingredients: Two large butternut squash, cut in half and seeds scooped out ½ large onion, diced (note here: If you want to include some other veggies you may. Christie added a small amount of fresh spinach) Rice milk (or any milk product you prefer) as needed for a soup consistency 5-6 slices of bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled Spices to your taste: Salt Curry powder Cinnamon Black pepper
Bake squash at 400 degrees for one hour and fifteen minutes. Baste with butter occasionally. In a pan, cook the onion and any other veggie you might like in a couple of tbs of butter. Puree cooked butternut in a blender adding the milk of your choice to the consistency desired. Pour into a pan, add seasoning and bacon. Heat for at least ½ hour to blend the spices. Enjoy!
Some Santa's in the RVDecember 29, 2017
All Alone Can Be Scary by Diane Burton
FEARLESS FRIDAYI love Fearless Friday, and today Diane has a fun story that is sure to entertain!
The scariest thing I ever did was to go to Hawaii by myself. That isn’t how the trip started, though. My girlfriend and I were supposed to go together. Then she left earlier to visit friends. I’d met a terrific guy that summer and almost didn’t go. He convinced me that I’d regret it if I didn’t. So, I flew by myself…first time. Upon arrival in Honolulu, my girlfriend told me she was staying with her friends but had booked a hotel for me, just off Waikiki Beach. At $8/night. Can you believe that??? Her friends, who were so nice, offered to take me anywhere on Oahu and invited me to a real luau in their backyard. The food was phenomenal. Still, I was on my own. Since my friend had already been to the other islands, except the Big Island, she preferred to stay with her friends, so we would meet up there. I’d never toured anywhere by myself. But, what the heck? I was there, and I’d already booked flights to three islands. I took a bus tour of Kauai. I stayed three days on Maui (again in an $8/night hotel), rented a car, and toured on my own. I even drove the Hana Road by myself. Scary but worth it. My friend met me on Hawaii (the Big Island), again I rented a car, and we had a great time touring.
I spent two weeks in Hawaii. When I was lonely, I called my boyfriend back home—$15 for the first and third calls, the middle one was $45 (way more than my hotel rooms!). That middle call was after the luau, and I’d woken him in the middle of the night! I knew he was a great guy when he didn’t complain. I had a great time but wished I’d had someone to share the trip with. When I got off the plane back home, he proposed. Told you he was a great guy. That was forty-five years ago. We’re still together. I loved Hawaii, but the only thing missing was being with my guy. I’ll make it back someday. With him, of course. Diane Burton’s life has had its ups and downs, but always with her guy. They have two adult children and five grandchildren. They all live in a resort town on the west coast of Michigan, near the Lake Michigan beaches. That resort town served as the model for the locale of her Alex O’Hara mystery series and the Far Haven Tales. Diane also writes science fiction romances. Her heroines are daring and braver than Diane will ever be. Except for that trip to Hawaii.
Diane’s eleventh and most recent book, Romance Rekindled, is a Christmas double romance, using characters from the Alex O’Hara mysteries.
Blurb: Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?
Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.
Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords
Until January 1st all Diane’s books are either free or half off at Smashwords.
December 28, 2017
Rotting Onions - a Cure, Revisited #farming
For the balance of the year and the first week of January, 2018, (excluding the 29th when I have a great guest, Diane Burton) I'm reprinting some popular posts dating back to 2013. Hope you enjoy again or for the first time.
July, 2014
Tortuga Thursday In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Sadi in the cucumbersGrasshoppers this year are in locust biblical proportions. I exaggerate only slightly. Lance has tried every natural/organic way possible to get rid of them but they thrive. Although we've been much more successful this year at keeping the weeds down in the garden, a few other areas have gone ignored. Weeds harbor grasshoppers as well as other unwanted bugs so I went on the warpath. All good sized weeds met their end. The potatoes are the most bothered.
We had little black bugs and aphids in the greenhouse a month or two
back. A bucket with some water and rotting onions set inside the greenhouse was the cure. Stinks awfully - I guess the bugs don't like it either.
Pickle jar processingThe cucumbers are beautiful this year. The jars of Pirate Pickles look great. We perfected the point at which to harvest so there will be more pickles in each jar. Consistency is important and demanded by the head Pirate, Lance.
Some of our other veggies, like the zucchini, do not get the same manic attention. Most of the zucchini goes in the dogs' food so we aren't that concerned about size. You zucchini lovers out there are probably screaming "what?" but, yes, most of it goes to the dogs.
Giant and normal zucchiniBut not all...
Like tonight we had grilled veggies which is about our favorite on Tortuga. If you haven't purchased a grill pan for vegetables, you really should. Tonight we had zucchini, yellow squash, onions, bell peppers, kohlrabi, and patti pan (the patti pan and yellow squash from our neighbors and the rest from our garden). Cut the vegetables in chunks or thick slices, toss in a bowl with olive oil and lemon pepper and grill on the barbecue for about 45 minutes. Sooooo good.
The monsoons continue. The wind is the killer. We've lost about 30% of the cayenne pepper plants to the
Monsoons mean mudstorms. The rain has been great for the crops but the wind is bothersome. We're a windswept prairie. We are very happy to have the rain because the Big Chino Aquifer was in desperate need of replenishing. Wouldn't want the well to go dry.
Butternut Squash Plants
Tortuga Thursday In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Sadi in the cucumbersGrasshoppers this year are in locust biblical proportions. I exaggerate only slightly. Lance has tried every natural/organic way possible to get rid of them but they thrive. Although we've been much more successful this year at keeping the weeds down in the garden, a few other areas have gone ignored. Weeds harbor grasshoppers as well as other unwanted bugs so I went on the warpath. All good sized weeds met their end. The potatoes are the most bothered.We had little black bugs and aphids in the greenhouse a month or two
back. A bucket with some water and rotting onions set inside the greenhouse was the cure. Stinks awfully - I guess the bugs don't like it either.
Pickle jar processingThe cucumbers are beautiful this year. The jars of Pirate Pickles look great. We perfected the point at which to harvest so there will be more pickles in each jar. Consistency is important and demanded by the head Pirate, Lance.Some of our other veggies, like the zucchini, do not get the same manic attention. Most of the zucchini goes in the dogs' food so we aren't that concerned about size. You zucchini lovers out there are probably screaming "what?" but, yes, most of it goes to the dogs.
Giant and normal zucchiniBut not all... Like tonight we had grilled veggies which is about our favorite on Tortuga. If you haven't purchased a grill pan for vegetables, you really should. Tonight we had zucchini, yellow squash, onions, bell peppers, kohlrabi, and patti pan (the patti pan and yellow squash from our neighbors and the rest from our garden). Cut the vegetables in chunks or thick slices, toss in a bowl with olive oil and lemon pepper and grill on the barbecue for about 45 minutes. Sooooo good.
The monsoons continue. The wind is the killer. We've lost about 30% of the cayenne pepper plants to the
Monsoons mean mudstorms. The rain has been great for the crops but the wind is bothersome. We're a windswept prairie. We are very happy to have the rain because the Big Chino Aquifer was in desperate need of replenishing. Wouldn't want the well to go dry.
Butternut Squash PlantsDecember 27, 2017
Scoring Big Revisited #farming
For the balance of the year and the first week of January, 2018, I'm reprinting some popular posts dating back to 2013. Hope you enjoy again or for the first time.
August, 2013
Tortuga Thursday In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Lance scores a big oneAlthough some days it feels like the dog days of summer on the prairie, harvesting is going strong. And there are some crops that have yet to come ready such as potatoes. Cabbage is doing great!
Eight hundred jars and counting. Who needs a dining room? That's our pickle room. But then so is the kitchen. The cucumber plants continue to produce and pickling still ties up the kitchen all day long. As the season nears an end, the cucumbers are less than perfect as far as how they look. Because of that, we're doing more relish than pickles.
Ugly pickles probably won't sell. But I have to brag here, Frank's relish is outstanding. His standard relish issweet and dill at the same time. And his spicy relish is so very unique. These relishes will not be limited to hotdogs and hamburgers - think roast beef, pork chops and gourmet sandwiches.
I've been more involved this week than normal. I usually harvest the jalapenos, dill, bell peppers and onions for his recipes, but my duties have been expanded to helping in the kitchen a bit too. Christie is off the farm taking real estate classes. She's loving it. I'm missing her for more than her winning personality. Which she has. She normally assists Frank with the canning. I've also been doing dinner every night. Another chore that she doesn't consider a chore and gladly does. But I'll suffer through. LOL She'll make an excellent real estate agent.
Back to pickling. One huge draw back of this house is it's all electric. With the stove going all day long, our electric bill went up another $60. It's already outrageous because of the hot summer we've had. I also suspect the unit is old and inefficient. I'm having to rob other budget line items to cover our half of the electric bill. I'll report on the shortfall at the end of the summer and pickling season. My bailout plan of winning one of the smaller lotteries might not work.
The tomato distractionThis morning, I headed out to pick green beans as I do every other morning and got sidetracked by tomatoes. I couldn't help stopping and picking. They're way more fun to pick than green beans which require more bending and parting leaves.
Carrots are the hardest to harvest for me. It's tough to get them loose
A rainbow of carrotsfrom the soil. I some times have to dig. I've been known to break them down in the dirt. We have red, yellow and orange carrots. Wonder why we only see orange in the grocery store.
Onions are kind of fun to harvest. They come up easy and in all sizes. We have three varieties. Not too fond of tying and hanging but love
White onions hanging to dryonions so much, it's worth the trouble.
At least I got my harvesting in before the rains hit. As I'm writing this on Wednesday afternoon, out my window I see Lance trudging back and forth through the mud. Better him than me.
August, 2013
Tortuga Thursday In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Lance scores a big oneAlthough some days it feels like the dog days of summer on the prairie, harvesting is going strong. And there are some crops that have yet to come ready such as potatoes. Cabbage is doing great!Eight hundred jars and counting. Who needs a dining room? That's our pickle room. But then so is the kitchen. The cucumber plants continue to produce and pickling still ties up the kitchen all day long. As the season nears an end, the cucumbers are less than perfect as far as how they look. Because of that, we're doing more relish than pickles.
Ugly pickles probably won't sell. But I have to brag here, Frank's relish is outstanding. His standard relish issweet and dill at the same time. And his spicy relish is so very unique. These relishes will not be limited to hotdogs and hamburgers - think roast beef, pork chops and gourmet sandwiches.
I've been more involved this week than normal. I usually harvest the jalapenos, dill, bell peppers and onions for his recipes, but my duties have been expanded to helping in the kitchen a bit too. Christie is off the farm taking real estate classes. She's loving it. I'm missing her for more than her winning personality. Which she has. She normally assists Frank with the canning. I've also been doing dinner every night. Another chore that she doesn't consider a chore and gladly does. But I'll suffer through. LOL She'll make an excellent real estate agent.Back to pickling. One huge draw back of this house is it's all electric. With the stove going all day long, our electric bill went up another $60. It's already outrageous because of the hot summer we've had. I also suspect the unit is old and inefficient. I'm having to rob other budget line items to cover our half of the electric bill. I'll report on the shortfall at the end of the summer and pickling season. My bailout plan of winning one of the smaller lotteries might not work.
The tomato distractionThis morning, I headed out to pick green beans as I do every other morning and got sidetracked by tomatoes. I couldn't help stopping and picking. They're way more fun to pick than green beans which require more bending and parting leaves.Carrots are the hardest to harvest for me. It's tough to get them loose
A rainbow of carrotsfrom the soil. I some times have to dig. I've been known to break them down in the dirt. We have red, yellow and orange carrots. Wonder why we only see orange in the grocery store.Onions are kind of fun to harvest. They come up easy and in all sizes. We have three varieties. Not too fond of tying and hanging but love
White onions hanging to dryonions so much, it's worth the trouble. At least I got my harvesting in before the rains hit. As I'm writing this on Wednesday afternoon, out my window I see Lance trudging back and forth through the mud. Better him than me.
December 14, 2017
Goodbye Trippin' Thursday...
no more Trippin' Thursday meets In-Between-Years
I have to tell you, I haven't been very excited over this Thursday slot on my blog. Am I boring you, too? Back when we had the farm, there was more than enough to write about. Our experiment with growing both veggies and two families under one roof never left me with a blank page. When that time in our life ended, we took to limbo pretty spontaneously. We're happy. But limbo doesn't offer much excitement for a reader. So, until the next chapter, the one beyond these In-Between-Years, gets going, I think it best to throw Thursdays into limbo, too.
I'm looking forward to 2018 much more than I did 2017. There are changes on the horizon every direction I gaze. Stay tuned.
Keep coming back for Muse Monday, Wicked Wednesday, and Fearless Friday. Meet authors and new books. Visit with those you know, yet learn something new. I'll throw in some local color now and then, and keep you updated on my books. Discoveries of all kinds lay ahead in 2018 and I'll take you along on the ride.
If you haven't followed me on BookBub yet, I invite you to do so: Please click HERE!
And there are many other places you can connect with me now and in the year to come:
Visit my web page at www.brendawhiteside.comOr on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/#!/brendawhitesid2I blog on the 9th and 24th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.comAll of my books can be found on my Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003V15WF8Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside
I have to tell you, I haven't been very excited over this Thursday slot on my blog. Am I boring you, too? Back when we had the farm, there was more than enough to write about. Our experiment with growing both veggies and two families under one roof never left me with a blank page. When that time in our life ended, we took to limbo pretty spontaneously. We're happy. But limbo doesn't offer much excitement for a reader. So, until the next chapter, the one beyond these In-Between-Years, gets going, I think it best to throw Thursdays into limbo, too.I'm looking forward to 2018 much more than I did 2017. There are changes on the horizon every direction I gaze. Stay tuned.
Keep coming back for Muse Monday, Wicked Wednesday, and Fearless Friday. Meet authors and new books. Visit with those you know, yet learn something new. I'll throw in some local color now and then, and keep you updated on my books. Discoveries of all kinds lay ahead in 2018 and I'll take you along on the ride.If you haven't followed me on BookBub yet, I invite you to do so: Please click HERE!
And there are many other places you can connect with me now and in the year to come:
Visit my web page at www.brendawhiteside.comOr on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/#!/brendawhitesid2I blog on the 9th and 24th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.comAll of my books can be found on my Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003V15WF8Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside
December 13, 2017
Wicked Muse
Wicked WednesdayMy muse has been really upset with me over the last several weeks. Once Thanksgiving got close, I haven’t taken enough time at the computer keyboard, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about the next series. Scenes have been flitting around in my head, and something very strange is happening. Normally, my characters will have a past, back story in author speak, that is necessary for me to develop the character, but won’t make it into the book.
Surprise! Surprise! Says my wicked muse.
There are characters popping up in the back story, events in the town of Joshua, Arizona from the past, that are demanding to be told. I’m in a quandary how to handle this. Two separate series or a series that spans nearly fifty years? Do I start with present day and then drop back to the past for the second series…kind of do a Star Wars movie sequence? This much…I do not know yet.
The holidays have kept my fingers from getting these ideas into the computer, but this can’t go on much longer. My head is bursting with ideas and if I don’t get them out, I’m sure some will seep out my ears and be lost forever.
Meanwhile, I have two books in the audio process right now. The fifth and final book in the Love and Murder Series is on my editor’s desk. And I’ve been juggling more than one promo.
I’m sure you’re as busy as I am with holiday family happenings. Are you finding time to read? When I finally climb into bed, I plump the pillows and open a good book. I’ve tasked myself with finding new authors and having fun with that. I’ve read books by Alison Henderson, Jannine Gallant, and Rolynn Anderson. Right now, I’m reading a time travel by Casi McLean.
Have you discovered any new authors lately? I’d love to hear!
Amazon Buy Link
Amazon Buy Link
Surprise! Surprise! Says my wicked muse.
There are characters popping up in the back story, events in the town of Joshua, Arizona from the past, that are demanding to be told. I’m in a quandary how to handle this. Two separate series or a series that spans nearly fifty years? Do I start with present day and then drop back to the past for the second series…kind of do a Star Wars movie sequence? This much…I do not know yet.The holidays have kept my fingers from getting these ideas into the computer, but this can’t go on much longer. My head is bursting with ideas and if I don’t get them out, I’m sure some will seep out my ears and be lost forever.
Meanwhile, I have two books in the audio process right now. The fifth and final book in the Love and Murder Series is on my editor’s desk. And I’ve been juggling more than one promo.
I’m sure you’re as busy as I am with holiday family happenings. Are you finding time to read? When I finally climb into bed, I plump the pillows and open a good book. I’ve tasked myself with finding new authors and having fun with that. I’ve read books by Alison Henderson, Jannine Gallant, and Rolynn Anderson. Right now, I’m reading a time travel by Casi McLean.
Have you discovered any new authors lately? I’d love to hear!
Amazon Buy Link
Amazon Buy LinkDecember 6, 2017
Writing Wild Wolves by Sylvie Grayson
WICKED WEDNESDAYI love wolves, or photos of wolves, I suppose. There is some degree of wickedness in these lovely creatures, so I think Sylvie's post is apropos...and interesting. Please welcome her today and read on.
I’m a strong believer in using what I know when writing my books. I’ve been surprised many times by authors who write about business or sports or other pursuits but don’t seem to have the background knowledge needed to make the scenes convincing or even accurate.When I was a child, my family moved to the North Peace River area of British Columbia. We lived on a homestead, which meant a small hand-built log cabin with no power or running water. The school in the village went to grade eight, so after that it was home schooling. I was thirteen and my younger sister nine, when I was designated to walk her the mile and a half to the bus stop to get her to class, and meet her again in the afternoon.
One morning, I had seen her onto the school bus, and turned to walk home. Our dog, Captain, was a wayward beast and had come with us, but soon ran off chasing rabbits, yipping through the trees on a fruitless quest. Walking down the road, I called him. Soon, I heard him coming, his cries getting louder as he approached. He bounded up the snowbank on the side of the road, and down onto the roadway. But he didn’t stop, running flat out across the road and up the bank on the other side, out of sight through the trees.
I soon saw why. Two large timber wolves leaped out of the bush to the top of the snowbank and paused when they saw me. I froze. We stared at each other. I thought—I’m going to die now. I ran at them, waving my arms wide to appear as large and intimidating as possible, yelling as loud as I could. They jumped down the bank, loped across the road, up the other bank and into the forest after Captain.
I truly believed we’d never see our dog again. He had been running flat out, yet these wild creatures did a leisurely lope that was at least as fast. Our dog returned home around noon. He was exhausted and slept in front of the stove for the rest of the day.
When writing False Confession, I had a real urge to include scenes from those days. It isn’t often I write about the Canadian north, the blizzards and days of snow and cold. But here was my chance. So although the book is set in Victoria, British Columbia, the characters take a trip to the northern part of the province. Here is an excerpt—
False Confession excerpt --
Surprisingly the wind was dying down but the snow continued to fall in a dense curtain all around him. After tying an orange warning tag to the truck bumper, he headed back down the road.When he got to the driveway turn off, he spied a set of prints in the snow superimposed over his own. They looked like impressions made by a very large dog, which seemed unlikely. Dogs didn’t roam far from home in this type of weather, and these paw marks were remarkably far apart, indicating a long reach.His gaze sharpened as he peered through the thick fall of snow. The tracks led straight down the drive toward the cabin. As he got closer, he saw movement ahead of him and stopped where he stood as his gut clenched. A tall, mottled grey shape paced sinuously past the front door of the cabin and turned toward the woodpile. A thick ruff around its neck and nose to the ground, the wolf moved with purpose as it explored their tracks in the snow.Alex froze. What should he do now? Was he in danger? Was the animal hungry enough to consider him dinner? He waited, anxious, as the wolf changed direction and patrolled back toward the front door. Glory had better not choose that moment to open the door and look out, because who knew what her reaction would be, or what would happen then.He moved forward a dozen feet, heart hammering in his chest, as the wolf raised its head and stared directly at him. They both remained immobile. Then the wolf turned and trotted noiselessly behind the woodpile and into the woods.Alex ploughed his way steadily toward the cabin door through the heavy snowfall, keeping an eye on the spot where the wolf had disappeared. The light was dull as night approached, and he needed to get inside.Lungs labouring, he reached the door and stepped through, slamming it behind him and throwing the latch. He paused to catch his breath and allow his heart rate to slow.Better not tell Glory about that encounter. She was already nervous as hell about their precarious situation.
Back blurb—False Confession
Did Glory fall for the wrong man, or is someone lying?
Music teacher Glory has given up on men, with good reason. Then she meets the handsome lead guitar player in the band she has just joined.
Alex, body builder and construction foreman, is determinedly single because he’s given up on women. But that’s before he meets the keyboard player who just joined his brother’s rock band. Suddenly his interest is revived and he goes on a crusade to gain Glory’s attention.
But when Alex disappears and the police claim they have a confession giving damning evidence against him, Glory has to make a decision. Can she trust the man she’s fallen for, or has she been fooled into believing a lie?
Buy link for Amazon - http://amzn.to/2v0GLLZWebsite – www.sylviegrayson.comEmail – sylviegraysonauthor@gmail.com
December 5, 2017
Christmas Suspense #TuesdayThoughts
How about a great holiday read that's full of suspense AND romance? Love, Murder, dishonest politicians, snow, small Arizona mountain town, rock star, and most of all suspense...
This Christmas, Penny Spark’s desire to reconnect with family causes her to expose her true identity—a secret she’s hidden for thirteen years from the political powers who murdered her family.
Jake Winters is out of rehab and coming to grips with his demons. When he meets Penny, he believes this holiday season could be the start of life after rock star status…until her secrets blow up his world.
With a government agent turned hit man closing in on her, Penny and Jake race to expose the presidential contender behind the murders of her family. Even if they win the race with death, the murder that stands between them could end their hope for a new life.
Amazon Buy Link
This Christmas, Penny Spark’s desire to reconnect with family causes her to expose her true identity—a secret she’s hidden for thirteen years from the political powers who murdered her family.
Jake Winters is out of rehab and coming to grips with his demons. When he meets Penny, he believes this holiday season could be the start of life after rock star status…until her secrets blow up his world.
With a government agent turned hit man closing in on her, Penny and Jake race to expose the presidential contender behind the murders of her family. Even if they win the race with death, the murder that stands between them could end their hope for a new life.
Amazon Buy Link
November 27, 2017
Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Both by Sylvie Grayson
MUSE MONDAY
Please join me in welcoming Sylvie Grayson as my guest today.
I never thought I would be writing sci fi/ fantasy. I have read quite a bit of it, but started out writing contemporary romantic suspense. I like the challenge of the suspense, and enjoy the relationships that blossom from the stories. But fantasy grabbed me. Thus began the Last War series. I have four books out now and am working on Book Five.
Writing sci fi was a real eye-opener. Suddenly I got to invent my whole world rather than try to fit the story into the one we live in today. It was astonishingly freeing. Now I go back and forth, one contemporary for each fantasy. It keeps me interested, it keeps me fresh. The only drawback is that because it is an invented world, I have to read my copious notes and pore over the maps and lists of words I have created to get up to speed before I begin each new story.
You’ll notice I move between calling it sci fi and then fantasy, or usually sci fi/ fantasy. That’s because my critique group and I can’t decide where these stories fit, so we put them in both!
Here is the blurb and an excerpt for Khandarken Rising, The Last War: Book One.
Back Blurb –
Major Dante Regiment must find a way to protect Beth, as the Emperor is not the only one causing chaos in Khandarken
The Emperor has been defeated. New countries have arisen from the ashes of the old Empire. The citizens swear they will never need to fight again after that long and painful war.
Bethlehem Farmer is helping her brother Abram run Farmer Holdings in south Khandarken after their father died in the final battles. She is looking after the dispossessed, keeping the farm productive and the talc mine working in the hills behind their land. But when Abram takes a trip with Uncle Jade into the northern territory and disappears without a trace, she's left on her own. Suddenly things are not what they seem and no one can be trusted.
Major Dante Regiment is sent by his father, the General of Khandarken, to find out what the situation is at Farmer Holdings. What he sees shakes him to the core and fuels his grim determination to protect Bethlehem at all cost, even with his life.
Buy link – books2read.com/Khandarkenrising
Excerpt –
Abe left in a fury. Now as he travelled along the Southern Highway, a forest of evergreens flashing past on each side, he felt himself cooling off and rational thought taking over. Madill Advisor might have been Gregoff Farmer’s lawyer, but they could find someone else to do the legal work of enforcing the will and transferring Holdings.
He heard a warning siren and turned his head to see the flashing lights of a Constable patrol truck approaching from behind. He slowed and was pulling his scooter toward the side of the road, when a roar sounded to his right and an aerial scooter came out of the trees. It came fast, heading straight for him. If he didn’t move he’d surely be hit. He gunned the small engine and tried to dodge it. From the corner of his eye, he saw another scooter coming at him from the other side. What was going on? He was going to be mowed down if he didn’t get out of the way of these two maniacs. A shot of alarm urged him on. Aerial scooters had much more capability and speed than his solar vehicle.
He was at top speed now, trying to keep himself on the road with no idea where the Constable patrol truck had disappeared to behind him. A flash of laserfire shot across his bow and he automatically slowed. The next flash hit the scooter, and it stalled for a moment before sputtering back to life. He felt a searing pain in his leg and realized his pants were on fire. Stretching with a gloved hand, he batted at the cloth as his skin singed under the heat, the other hand occupied with keeping the scooter aimed down the road.
The scooter frame jolted under the impact of bullets hitting the fender. He felt a strange sense of destiny. A moment ago he’d thought he could be injured when he saw the first aerial coming at him, but now realized he was under attack and may not even survive the encounter.
Please join me in welcoming Sylvie Grayson as my guest today.
I never thought I would be writing sci fi/ fantasy. I have read quite a bit of it, but started out writing contemporary romantic suspense. I like the challenge of the suspense, and enjoy the relationships that blossom from the stories. But fantasy grabbed me. Thus began the Last War series. I have four books out now and am working on Book Five.Writing sci fi was a real eye-opener. Suddenly I got to invent my whole world rather than try to fit the story into the one we live in today. It was astonishingly freeing. Now I go back and forth, one contemporary for each fantasy. It keeps me interested, it keeps me fresh. The only drawback is that because it is an invented world, I have to read my copious notes and pore over the maps and lists of words I have created to get up to speed before I begin each new story.
You’ll notice I move between calling it sci fi and then fantasy, or usually sci fi/ fantasy. That’s because my critique group and I can’t decide where these stories fit, so we put them in both!
Here is the blurb and an excerpt for Khandarken Rising, The Last War: Book One.
Back Blurb –Major Dante Regiment must find a way to protect Beth, as the Emperor is not the only one causing chaos in Khandarken
The Emperor has been defeated. New countries have arisen from the ashes of the old Empire. The citizens swear they will never need to fight again after that long and painful war.
Bethlehem Farmer is helping her brother Abram run Farmer Holdings in south Khandarken after their father died in the final battles. She is looking after the dispossessed, keeping the farm productive and the talc mine working in the hills behind their land. But when Abram takes a trip with Uncle Jade into the northern territory and disappears without a trace, she's left on her own. Suddenly things are not what they seem and no one can be trusted.
Major Dante Regiment is sent by his father, the General of Khandarken, to find out what the situation is at Farmer Holdings. What he sees shakes him to the core and fuels his grim determination to protect Bethlehem at all cost, even with his life.
Buy link – books2read.com/Khandarkenrising
Excerpt –
Abe left in a fury. Now as he travelled along the Southern Highway, a forest of evergreens flashing past on each side, he felt himself cooling off and rational thought taking over. Madill Advisor might have been Gregoff Farmer’s lawyer, but they could find someone else to do the legal work of enforcing the will and transferring Holdings.
He heard a warning siren and turned his head to see the flashing lights of a Constable patrol truck approaching from behind. He slowed and was pulling his scooter toward the side of the road, when a roar sounded to his right and an aerial scooter came out of the trees. It came fast, heading straight for him. If he didn’t move he’d surely be hit. He gunned the small engine and tried to dodge it. From the corner of his eye, he saw another scooter coming at him from the other side. What was going on? He was going to be mowed down if he didn’t get out of the way of these two maniacs. A shot of alarm urged him on. Aerial scooters had much more capability and speed than his solar vehicle.
He was at top speed now, trying to keep himself on the road with no idea where the Constable patrol truck had disappeared to behind him. A flash of laserfire shot across his bow and he automatically slowed. The next flash hit the scooter, and it stalled for a moment before sputtering back to life. He felt a searing pain in his leg and realized his pants were on fire. Stretching with a gloved hand, he batted at the cloth as his skin singed under the heat, the other hand occupied with keeping the scooter aimed down the road.
The scooter frame jolted under the impact of bullets hitting the fender. He felt a strange sense of destiny. A moment ago he’d thought he could be injured when he saw the first aerial coming at him, but now realized he was under attack and may not even survive the encounter.
