Nancy Naigle's Blog, page 37

National Penuche Fudge Day

I’ll admit it. I’d never heard of Penuche Fudge or Penuche Frosting until I met my husband’s family. It’s a mexican candy and in his family they use it as a cake frosting over spice cake. Once you’ve had a slice, you’ll know why it’s a favorite.

It used to be a real labor of love to make because your arm practically goes numb and feels like it’ll drop off by the time it’s complete, but I’ve gotten smart and use the bread beaters on my fancy mixer and now I don’t mind whipping up this family favorite for my husband or my step-daughter (It’s both their favs!)

So on National Penuche Day, I thought I’d share our family recipe for this treat so you can try it out on your family. If you care to share a favorite recipe of yours — that would be fun, too!

Hugs and happy sweet treats~

PENUCHE FUDGE/ICING RECIPE

In saucepan melt ……………….. 1 cup butter

Stir in………………………… 2 cups light brown sugar packed

Continue cooking over low heat for 2 minutes stirring constantly – in one direction.

Stir in………………………… 1/2 cup milk

Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring contantly. Keep that full rolling boil for about a minute as it turns to a syrup, then set the pan in cold water. When you can hold your hand on the bottom of the pan the syrup is cool enough.

**You can continue in your cooking pot if you’re making the penuche by hand start to finish — but if you’re going to leverage your fancy mixer with the bread beaters — transfer the syrup to the mixing bowl now.

Now, stir in …………………… 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups of SIFTED confectioners sugar.

Add the confectioners sugar and beat, continuing until thick enough to spread. That’s going to be very thick. Like stand your spoon up in it thick.

If too thin – keep adding confectioners sugar.

If too thick – add a litle hot water – that’s easy to fix.

ENJOY!!

Goodreads Winners ~ July 2012

Hi Friends,

I just got back from having lots of fun at ThrillerFest in New York City. While I was out of town, I ran a GoodReads contest so you’d know I was thinking about you while I was away.

Big congratulations to:

Kee-Lee Stocks of Iowa

Ilana Weiss of Ohio

I mailed out their signed copies of OUT OF FOCUS yesterday.

Hugs and Happy Reading~

If you’re curious about ThrillerFest … stop by my facebook page and check out the photo album I posted.

https://www.facebook.com/NancyNaigleAuthor?ref=hl#!/media/set/?set=a.4326675286771.2182348.1283832730&type=3

Suspense…Any Way You Like It

For those of you that helped me raise over $1400 to find a cure for diabetes in the Brenda Novak Annual Online Auction — you’ve heard the phrase, Suspense…Any Way You Like It. I named my category after it this year.

If you take a click over to www.RomanceANDSuspense.com you find our landing page. This saying came about when four writer made friends at an RWA conference. We all write very different stories, the one common denomintor — suspense.

Adrienne Giordano writes fantastic contemporary romantic suspense with hot heroes that’ll stick with you (and invade your dreams!) Her Private Protector series has done really well and I dare say that if you read the first one, you’ll order the rest.

Tracey Devlyn's debut novel came out this spring. A Lady's Revenge is categorized as an historical thriller, but let me tell you – don't let historical keep you from picking up this book. This ain't your momma's historical. A Lady's Revenge just happens to be set back then, but this story is dark, adventurous and has romance that'll sizzle you silly. Her next book, Check Mate, My Lord will be out in early 2013 and I can't wait!

Tracy March writes big city thrillers. Her debut novel, Girl Three, snapped up quite a few awards on the path to publication and you'll get to read it for yourself early 2013. Keep her on your watch list. She’s got two other books on the horizon, too.

Then there's me with my small town love stories. Of course, you know that.

So there you have it — Suspense…any way you like it.

You can get to all of our websites from the RomanceandSuspense.com site.

Hugs and happy reading~

Nancy

I think I’m feelin’ flush

Okay, it’s a bad joke. But here’s the story to back it up. (Oh lord, that was not an intentional pun at all!)

So, one of the cool things about my author website is that I get all these neat statistics and I can even see where people came to www.NancyNaigle.com from if they followed a link.

This morning I was feeling quite international as I noticed that someone had visited my site from Belgium. How cool is that? Well, it was very cool, I agree. Until I noticed that they came from another link in Belgium and I took a peek at that link and it’s a “TOILET” site. Yep. A variety of belgian and french toilets and down below in a big long list of links is my name Nancy Naigle and the link to my website.

So should I be flattered, flush, or wipe this from my mind?

Hahaha – at least it was a good way to keep me humble.

Love and hugs~

Nancy

New Title for Out of Focus? What’s the Scoop?

Hey Friends,

Here’s the scoop. You probably remember that I signed a 4 book deal with Amazon Publishing earlier this year for my Adams Grove series. My editors and I have been re-working/revising the first two books, Sweet Tea and Serets and Out of Focus. I’m really excited about them, and I can’t wait for the new versions to get into readers hands. Since book three is Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes we want to find Out of Focus a new name that fits the story and the series.

With your help, I know we can find the perfect match! So, let’s see what we can come up with.

This story, if you haven’t read the original version, is about a commercial photographer, Kasey Phillips, who thinks her biggest problem is deciding whether to photograph Cody Tuggle’s honky-tonkin’ tour, until an accident on Route 58 claims the life of her husband.

In a desperate race against time as a hurricane threatens the eastern seaboard, they search for her three-year-old son who is missing from the wreckage.

A community and friends rally to help, but someone knows more than they are telling.

Some of the suggestions we’ve received so far are:

“Biscuits and Beaux” or “Biscuits and Bows”

Cornbread and Comfort

F-stops and heart drops

Country Songs and Hurricane Gone

Family Time and Country Line

Photographs and Lies

Mint Juleps and Justice

Country Songs and Hope Belongs

Camera Lens and Dead Ends

Bread Pudding and Promise

Porch Swings and Promises

Honeysuckle and Heartache

Pecan Pie and Alibis

Do any of those float your boat? Or can you do better?

________ AND _________.

Leave a comment with your entry or vote. Whoever comes up with the winning title will get a $25 Amazon gift card.

We brainstormed to help get you going.



Thanks y'all!

Booklovers Unite!

For those of you that know me well, you know that I attend several writers conferences and events each year. I love the chance to meet other readers and authors in person. So much of what we do anymore seems to be online and these in-person events put personality into those later online interactions.

My favorite events are those focused on readers AND authors.

For that reason, I’m starting a list of reader/author events across the nation.

I won’t necesarily be attending all of these, but I hope the list will help us all make more connections along the way.  Help me build this list — we’ll keep it updated with new entries, and don’t forget to leave a note about your experience at these events so others will know if it’s the right fit for them next time!

2012

JUNE – 6/20-24/2012 ROMFest – Gatlinburg, TN

JUNE – 6/21-24/2012 ROMCon - Denver, CO

AUGUST – 8/12th 1-4pm FREE  Adirondack Reader ~ Reader Author’s Fair - Inlet, NY

NOVEMBER – 11/3/2012 Southern Magic Romance Readers Luncheon - Birmingham, AL

NOVEMBER – 11/9-11/2012 Readers & ‘ritas -  Allen, TX

NOVEMBER – 11/10/2012 Heart of Louisiana’s Annual Romance Readers Luncheon

2013

JANUARY – 1/17-20/2013 Girlfriend Weekend - Jefferson, TX

APRIL  -  4/27/2013  Barbara Vey Reader Author Luncheon – Milwaukee, WI

MAY – date tbd Heart of Dixie Annual Reader Luncheon – Alabama

MAY – 5/31 – 6/1/2013 Arizona Dreamin’ Romance Reader Event - Chandler, AZ

JUNE – 2013 date not announed yet  Lori Foster Reader Author Get Together - Cincinnati, OH

Thoughout the year – http://www.bookyourlunch.com/ Greenville, SC – a series of author lunches at The Lazy Goat

Southern is more than an accent, Suga’

I spent last week in New York City for Book Expo America. I’ll be posting all the fabulous fun from the event, but before I get to that blog entry I just had to share this experience. I titled it Southern is more than an accent, Suga’ because aside from the fact that everyone I uttered a word to said, “Where are you from?” like it was so cute….but I swear there must be something to the way that a southern gal raises her arm and flips her hand in hopes for a taxi ride that just does not translate into Manhattanese.

I’m no wimp. I promise you that. I’m a strong gal and I’ll tell you like it is, of course, it’ll be in a polite way that momma would be proud of, and no not everything that ends in bless your heart is an insult. A real southern lady rolls that phrase right off her tongue in sincere concern and prayers. Yes, really!

Anyway, back to the taxi situation. I was in New York City for four days and in I racked up a ZERO Sigma – 0% – losing streak to not be surpassed, perfect record in a not-so-good-kind of way in taxi hailin’. I stood with purpose and pushed my arm into the air (pulled in my pinky to not look too delicate) and whoosh those daggone yellow cars sped by me one right after another. I even stepped dangerously into the traffic stream praying for a little help to no avail. I couldn’t tell you if a light on the top means they have someone or not so I waved like a beauty queen on a float and forty glasses of sweet tea—nothing.

Monday night I had a wonderful time at the Amazon Publishing Cocktail Party at the boutique hotel INK48, and then headed off to the Providence where the IPPY Awards were being held. Now, if you’ve never heard of the Providence, honey, you take a moment right this minute and click this link because it is one of the most exquisite places I’ve ever been. http://www.metronomenyc.com/our-venues/providence-nyc  The Providence is an old church. It’s cathedral ceilings and fine wood contrast the sparkling chandeliers. It  is truly breathtaking.

I was being awarded the BEST BOOK MARKETING AWARD in this fairy tale location and let me tell you … I was excited! Hello, Sinatra, Streisand and Stevie Wonder himself sang in this space. Here I was, Nancy Naigle from Virginia receiving an award in this amazing space. It was a fun night, and I met interesting authors and heard great stories all evening. I got to see my book cover on the jumbotron, get my picture taken with an Olympic style (I swear that thing weighs two pounds) GOLD Medal around my neck and mingle with folks that understood the blood, sweat, tears, and prayers that had gone into that journey.

So, there I was at the Providence on 57th Street. I have this blingy gold medal hanging around my neck and it’s late. Okay, well not NY late, but totally Virginia girl late. I step out and for ten minutes I hailed and hailed and did a cab stop? Hail no!  Didn’t even slow down. It was like while my hand was in the air and I held my I’m-not-a-tourist stare steady my hand was saying, “Hey there, wouldn’t one of y’all please stop and take me back to my hotel, because my granny would just die if she knew I was about to walk the streets of NYC by myself in the dark. Helloooo. Please.” Um, yeah. Those cars swept past me in a quick y’all y’all y’all. I’m pretty sure not even one had a second thought about me. I honestly, and I am not exaggerating as I’m known to do at times, but I really truly would have paid $100 for a ride to the hotel. I’d much rather walk alone in the pitch black darkness of my country home road at the risk of a coyote, nickel-sized mosquitoes, or a pissed-off on-her-last-nerve ready-to-spray momma skunk than walk down a NY block alone.

I was staying down at the Marriout Marquis. Well, I don’t really know if it was down or up or mid, but it was at least like 2 big blocks and 12 little blocks away. And who the heck cares if the blocks are little or big? They’re scary when you don’t know the city and people don’t smile at you, or heck even look you in the eye. Where I come from if people don’t look you in the eye it’s because they’re up to no good. So, after trucking through the streets of NY on foot clutching my purse (it now contained my coveted IPPY medal) I walked and walked and walked. I had no idea if I was even really going in the right direction except that I did remember the Marriott Marquis was in Times Square and there were a lot of lights ahead. That had to mean something, right?

I dipped into a well-lit store and asked the clerk if I was anywhere near the Marriott Marquis. He looked at me like I was speaking another language and shrugged. I repeated myself and the other guy finally repeated the words and said keep going, pointing in the direction I’d been heading. Of course, my thoughts turned to evil young boys pranking on a lost girl and I wondered if they were sending me to a seedy section of town or in the wrong direction altogether for their own kicks and giggles.

Three blocks later I saw a sign that I was headed in the right direction. A huge monstrosity of an M&M store. I do love some M&Ms and that store had caught my attention on the ride in from the airport. Oh yes, that was in a taxi, but no hailing was involved just a line that reached at least 2 long or 6 short city blocks and over an hour of my time to get to the front. At least the airport taxi ladies just pointed me to a car. Had I had to hail…I may have never left the airport.

So the next time I go to NY, I’m considering ordering a small banner from VistaPrint that I can unscroll that says “Please stop, Suga’, I really really would appreciate a ride, and I’m an excellent tipper.” Maybe that’ll work. What do you think?

Reader Author Get-Togethers

Reader Author get-togethers are becoming more and more popular and I for one am thrilled about that.

They come in several varieties from a dessert party, afternoon tea, luncheon to a weekend-filled-with-fun escape like the annual Lori Foster Reader Author Get Together. I attended Lori’s event June 1-4th in West Chester, Ohio. Conveniently located near Cincinnati at the Marriott this event had over 500 attendees this year. It’s a casual array of events where you  feel comfortable chatting with your favorite author and jumping in on conversations about books. Aside from book signings there are games (I won a bottle of chocolate wine in the Pictionary game — since I don’t drink wine I handed it over to some blogger buddies headed back to Charlotte, NC), photo opportunities, raffles and give-aways. Most of these events work closely with their local libraries and/or charities and make it a fundraiser too. The 2012 Lori Foster RAGT raised money for One Way Farm and the Animal Assistance Foundation. I did my share of supporting through the purchase of 100′s of raffle tickets. Did I win anything? Nope, but I sure had lots of fun reconnecting with friends from last year, making new friends this year and schmoozing with some of my favorite authors like Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, Lori Foster, Duffy Brown, Toni Blake and a list too long to write here!  If you want to see who all was in attendance you can visit www.lorifoster.com

I’m going to start a list of reader-author events and keep it on my website to help more folks find and enjoy the opportunity to hang out with their favorite authors and make friends with like-minded readers. If you know of one … send me the information and I’ll add it to my list.

Hugs and happy reading~

Romance is in the Air~

Hi Friends

While some of y'all are getting your kids set for spring break this week – I'm off for a week of Writer Girl Fun.

This afternoon I'm jumping on a plane and heading for Milwaukee, WI. Tomorrow I'll be hanging with authors and readers at the Barbara Vey Readers Luncheon in Oak Creek. It's going to be such a fun day chatting about the books we love and giving away lots of awesome prizes.

Then, a quick drive down to Chicago (last time I was there it was because I was stuck due to my flights being cancelled – this will be way more fun!) for the big Romantic Times Convention. I've got a booth down in Club RT so I hope anyone attending will stop by and visit. I've got lots of fun planned including buttons – IF I WERE IN A NOVEL I'D BE… (you fill in the blank – I've got markers and stickers – should be a hoot! I might need several – let's see…I'll be a Size 6 – the crazy aunt – the secret admirer …)

I've also got a prize wheel. Just for signing up for newsletter updates from Friends of Crossroads you get to spin the wheel and you could win one of the adorable READ. RELAX. REPEAT. prizes pictured below. Beach bags and lunch bags with room for your favorite novel or eReader and huggies so your water bottle (or diet Coke) doesn't sweat on your books. Or you could get other prizes like bookmarks, treats or muah-muah something like a stick on moustache.  Fingers crossed for the adorable tote bag or cool bookmarks – although a moustache at one of these parties could be kind of fun, too. I can picture it now – glittery fairy wings and a big fat black moustache hahah.

Hope to see you there — but no worries – if you can't make it, I'll be posting fun updates here on my blog, facebook and twitter throughout the week and you know you can count on www.beyondherbook.com for updates from Barbara Vey, too!

Hugs and happy reading~

Nancy

Sweet Tea and Secrets – Sightings Around The Town

Hey Friends,

Just sharing a few online "flickr" photos of Sweet Tea and Secrets sightings around different towns this year. Here we are in Philadelphia, PA. More than 8,700 attendees gathered in Philadelphia, March 13–17, for the Public Library Association 2012 Biennial Conference and Sweet Tea and Secrets was on display.

See if you can spot the book cover or Adams Grove bookmarks among these pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43822981@N02/6882198672/in/set-72157629698620367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43822981@N02/6882203200/in/set-72157629698620367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43822981@N02/6882199626/in/set-72157629698620367/

This is the annual show that librarians attend to gather information from all the book publishers. Let's hope a few librarians fell in love with Adams Grove

Thanks for your caring support. I sure appreciate it.

Hugs and happy reading~
Nancy