Traci Hohenstein's Blog: A Few of My Favorite Things, page 3

Guest Blog by Sibel Hodge

To plot or not to plot? That is the question!

I often get asked the question in interviews whether I plan out my plot in advance before I start writing. Urgh, the dreaded P word, I think! I hate plotting. Absolutely hate it!

There are some authors out there who won't type a single letter until they've got every inch of their plot structure finely tuned in advance. Some authors know their characters intimately before they begin writing, down to what they just had for breakfast. And I wish I could be like that, I really do. I think it could make my job a whole lot easier. But I'm definitely a fly by the seat of my knickers kind of girl! If I get too hung up spending a lot of time plotting in advance, I tend to lose my creativity. I start thinking about it too much and get nowhere. I think I must suffer from some kind of plot dyslexia, because as soon as I pull out a pad and pen and start trying to come up with vast plot notes, the words swim in front of my face in a blur. Is there such a thing as plot-o-phobia?

But do we actually need a plot? Well…yes. Unfortunately, it's a necessary evil if you want to write a novel. Without a plot, it's just words on the paper. Your plot should encompass all sorts of things: goals of the characters, conflict, crises, turning points, climax, resolution. And everything you write should advance the plot, although I personally think when writing comedy, you can get away with a few extras in there!

When I wrote my debut romantic comedy, Fourteen Days Later, I didn't have a clue about any kind of plot, or characters, or structure. All I knew was that my heroine had to do a fourteen-day life-changing challenge, where she completed a new task every day. I knew my ending, but I didn't have a clue what happened in the middle. Hmm…slight problem, I hear you say! Well, yes, but as soon as I started tapping out the words on the keyboard it all developed naturally. My characters invented their own plot as they went along.

So far, so good, but what about the next novel? Surely this must've been some bizarre fluke, and I'd have to actually think of a plot in advance for the next one. Well, yes and no. My second novel, The Fashion Police, was a comedy mystery. Because of the mystery element, I did need to know a few things before I started. Otherwise how would I weave in all the clues? So this time I did actually write an eency weency plot before I started. It was about three lines for each chapter of things I needed to happen. That was it, though, and I still didn't have hardly any of my "clues" in there. But again, it all seemed to come together as I wrote it. Creative or crazy? I'm not sure which.

With my third novel, My Perfect Wedding, I was getting really stressed trying to plot. My mind was just a blank. I knew that Helen Grey (my heroine from Fourteen Days Later) was moving to Cyprus to get married, and that she got mixed up in a crazy plot to assassinate a local businessman and steal an ancient statue. But that was all I knew! I read about different plot techniques like the Snowflake method and using index cards or graphs to detail the plot, even plotting software, but the plot-dyslexia was kicking in big time! Robert McKee's Story is an excellent book, by the way, for plotting. (It's for screenplays but works just as well for novels.) But none of it helped me in writing a plot in advance. I wrote a few lines for the first two chapters and after that, nada! So once again, I just started to write and my characters invented their own story. The voices in my head just tell me to do things. Good job I write, otherwise I might have to be medicated!

My fourth novel was also a mystery, so again I thought I'd need to at least write some lines of plot to allow for my clues. And this time I did it! Hurrah, I wrote out my plot in advance, doing a storyboard of a paragraph per chapter of things I needed to include. In a lot of ways it was easier to write Be Careful What You Wish For in this way, but now I'm trying to think of the plot for my next novel and have a big stress-head thing going on because I feel like I should be plotting in advance.

In my world (which is sometimes scary!) my plot advances on its own, with one scene following on from the next. And what works for one author won't work for another. Even what works for one novel won't always work for another However you choose to write a novel or story is very personal. Who knows whether I'll finally get to write an advanced detailed plot for my next novel? Watch this space and I'll let you know!

I had the pleasure of reading Sibel's new novel, Be Careful What You Wish For, and it was a delightful read. Visit her website for a chance to win that novel along with many other great books! Thanks for hosting today Sibel. xx Traci

website http://www.sibelhodge.com/
Twitter http://twitter.com/sibelhodge
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sibel-Hodge-Author-of-romantic-comedy-and-comedy-mystery-books/246194485016

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Great Beach Reads Summer 2011 – Part 2

Lay down your beach blanket, put on your shades, and download one of these great books on your Kindle. This week, the theme is romance. All are priced under $4 – which makes it all the sweeter. Happy reading! xx Traci

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Guest Blog by Thea Atkinson

When I write my fiction, it's really a bit of discovery for me about who is populating the story. I can say I start with a variety of things and that a variety of things keeps me going, flogging through the first draft, editing the final, but it's really all about character for me.

Great for Thea the writer, but what about the reader?

Lots of my fiction has subtle plot and heavy characterization. It's called 'quiet fiction.' Not the kind of fiction that would set Twilight readers aflame with passion to buy a Thea novel, but I do think that attention to character is important no matter what the story. Regardless of genre or whether it's plot based fiction, readers do want to connect with a human being…even if it's just on the page. It's ultimately why we read: It's like hearing a juicy bit of gossip, or getting in on the best of a worst time in someone's life. Conflict is great—and necessary—but if the conflict isn't happening to someone we care about, we don't … care.

As a character driven writer, of course, I think character is all important.

So, who hasn't struggled with getting character just right? One of the writing exercises I get my workshop students to do is based on my 'tickle trunk' (a concept stolen my a childhood television show called Mr. Dressup. I populate the trunk with lots of clothes that I pick up from the thrift shop: boots, shirts, dresses, aprons, etc. and I get them to pick one item from the trunk. Then I tell them that a character is waiting to speak to them, and that this item is what they're wearing.

We do a few other things with this exercise, but that's the basic idea.

How can you use it?

Simple: go to a thrift store and select an outfit: too big, too small, men's women's…doesn't matter. Then go try it on. Imagine the character wearing these clothes. What's going through their head? What do they like about the outfit? What do they hate? Better yet, what possessed them to put it on today?

It's the meandering through this character's mind that will help you understand them enough to bring them to life. You might use none of what you think, but it will be there in the pages, in the words, in the subtext, and a reader will say, "Wow. I'm not sure why, but this character just felt real to me."

Of course, they won't know why, but you will.

Have fun.

Thanks Thea for sharing your character development techniques. For more information on Thea and her books, please visit her Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Thea-Atkinson/e/B0046DIT0U/ref=sr_tc_img_2?qid=1303908598&sr=1-2-ent

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Sample Sunday is back…..

A Sneak Peek…to another Rachel Scott and Florida Omni Search missing person case. This novel is about finding missing teenager Amber Knowles who disappeared while on a cruise to the Bahamas. (See below for delicious recipe for Shrimp Scampi. One of my favorite summer recipes)

  Asylum Harbor

My name is Amber Knowles and I am one of the thousands of people who go missing every day. Of course, the day I went missing started out beautiful with lots of sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. My parents had dropped me and my two best friends off at the Tampa dock. We were taking a cruise on the SeaStar Cruise line to the Bahamas. This was our high school graduation present and a chance to let loose before college.

    My parents weren't too happy to see me go. They were worried – with good cause I suppose. You see, my dad is the Governor of Florida and he planned on announcing his intent to run for presidency in the next election. He was a little concerned about sending his only daughter on a trip without any security. I fought desperately for that freedom and he finally gave in.

    Now, I kinda wish he did send someone.

    The first day we set sail to Key West. My best friends, Nicole and Rowan, were just as excited as me to spend a couple of hours shopping and hitting the famous Duval Street. We even managed to score some margaritas at Sloppy Joes. However, that night back on the ship was when the fun came to an end for me.

    After a nice dinner, we decide to check out the nightclub Aqua. As we approach the door to Aqua, I see a cute guy in a white uniform with the SeaStar logo. He introduced himself as Josh McCain. He is a VIP host. I know it sounds clique, but Josh has the most beautiful green eyes I have ever seen. He walks us to a private room and tells us to let him know if we need anything.

    After an hour of dancing, I start feeling sick to my stomach. I don't know if it's the alcohol or if I am getting seasick. Probably a little of both.

    "I'm not feeling well," I tell Rowan as I lay my head down on the edge of the sofa in the VIP room. The velvet feels cool against my skin.

    "I'll go get you some water," Rowan says. "Stay right here."

    A few minutes later Josh walks in with a glass of water. "I ran into your friend at the bar. She said you weren't feeling well. I offered to bring this to you," he says sweetly, handing me the ice cold water.

    I take a sip and immediately I feel my stomach rolling around.

    "I don't feel so good."

    "Do you want to go lay down? I can walk you back to your cabin and get the ship's doctor for you. It's probably seasickness."

    "That's okay." I tell him. I feel embarrassed for being sick.

    Rowan and Nicole walk back into the room to check on me.

    "Hey, you don't look so good," Nicole says.

    "You want us to go back to the cabin with you?" Rowan offers.

    "No, that's okay," I start to protest.

    "I offered to walk back with her. I can get some medicine from the commissary shop for her," Josh tells my friends.

    After a few minutes of encouraging me to go back to the room, I finally give in and let Josh walk me back.

    On the walk back to my cabin, he tells me he is from California and has worked with the cruise ship for about eight months. I can't help but wonder if he is flirting with me.

    I tell him I just graduated from high school and will be attending Florida State University this fall. "I plan on becoming a veterinarian and they have the best program in Florida," I tell him. "Plus, it's close to home, which my parents like."

    What I don't tell him is what it's like being the daughter of a prominent governor and all the stress and problems it causes me.

    We get to my cabin, which I can tell he is impressed by.

    "Wow, the penthouse suite. You must be someone special," he says. The penthouse suite costs like $8000 for the four-day cruise. If he only knew.

    I don't reply and immediately lay down on the sofa. My stomach is still rolling around and now I am getting a headache.

    "Why don't you rest and I will call the doctor for you. He is really nice."

    "No, I don't want to go through all the trouble. I just need something for my stomach."

Josh insists on going to get some medicine at the ship's commissary and I let him.

    "I had trouble with seasickness when I first started working. What really helps is fresh air and looking out over the ocean."

    So I decide to wait out on the balcony while he gets the medicine.

    The night sky takes my breath away. The effect of the hundreds of stars combined with the thousands of twinkling lights from the cruise ship reminds me of Christmas time. 

I pull my long blonde hair into a ponytail and slide off my pink flip flops, taking a big breath of the salty air.

    A gust of wind out of nowhere picks up a flip flop and tosses it over the railing. I grab the railing and look over the top just in time to see the shoe get swallowed up in the foamy wake.

    I start to wonder what happened to Josh. He should have been back by now. It is then I hear the sliding glass door open behind me. I turned around and see Josh.

    "Hey there. I thought you forgot me," I say.    He has a strange look on his face. "What's wrong?"

    Then someone gives Josh a hard push onto the balcony.

    I stare at the strange man in shock. He has a gun pointed to Josh's head. 

    "What are you doing? Are you crazy?" I  scream at this stranger.

    "Move it," The man says, pushing Josh further out onto the balcony.

    "Leave her alone. She doesn't know anything," Josh finally says.

    "What is going on?" I ask again. "Josh, who is this?" This is like a bad scene playing out in a movie.

    "Come on, Amber. Join the party." The man motions to me with the gun.

    It takes me a second to realize what the man said. How does he know my name?

    I press my back into the balcony railing. There is no way I am going anywhere with this lunatic. Apparently he has the wrong room or something!

    "Leave her out of this. She doesn't know anything," Josh pleads.

    "Not my problem. No witnesses." The man raises the gun and points it toward me. 

    Now I really start to panic. It is silly now to think this, but I can't help but wish my dad would have sent security with me. I turn around and can just faintly make what looks like the lights of a coastline. We must be near our next stop in the Bahamas. If I jump, I may have a chance to make it to shore. My hands are shaking as I climb the railing and throw my leg over the side. Contemplating, I look down at the ten story drop into the swirling water below. 

    "Look, we can work this out. I will tell you what you want to know if you just let her go inside," Josh tells the man.

    "Don't think so, Josh." The man holds the gun steady at me.

    "Amber, what are you doing?" Josh asks me as I sit on the railing, leaning my body toward the water.

    I feel the icy finger of fear grip my heart as I look into the water again. A loud pop rings out through the night as I vanish into darkness.

SCRUMPDELIUMPIOUS SHRIMP SCAMPI

Ingredients:




1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black
pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 pounds fresh shrimp, shelled and
deveined without tails


1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
2 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoons brandy




Directions:



1.
In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly. Dredge shrimp in flour mixture.


2.
In a large skillet, saute dredged shrimp in olive oil for 5 minutes over high heat. Toss shrimp often to prevent burning. Transfer shrimp with a slotted spoon to a serving dish, leaving the oil in the pan.


3.
In the same pan, saute the garlic, shallot, parsley and oregano over medium heat for 3 minutes; stirring constantly. Spoon the mixture over the shrimp. Return pan to the heat. Preheat your broiler for medium heat.


4.
Pour the wine and brandy into the skillet and ignite with a match or lighter. When the flames die down, stir to loosen any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet; pour over shrimp.


5.
Place the serving dish of shrimp in a preheated broiler for about 2 minutes.

Serve over hot pasta or rice. Yummy.

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Guest Blog by Lia Fairchild

Not Another Peep…

Year after year a staple at Easter time, Marshmallow Peeps sit humbly nestled in the grass of your child's Easter basket. But what do we really know about these squishy, sugary treats? For starters, did you know that peeps have been around for almost 60 years? In 1953 peeps were introduced to the Just Born Candy Company. Sam Born started the company in 1910 after he emigrated from Russia to the US. When he first started making peeps, it took 27 hours just to make one peep. Now it takes just six minutes.

And, can you believe that Peeps chicks have 0 grams of fat? Yay for mommies! Peeps come in all shapes and sizes including chicks, bunnies, snowmen, pumpkins, trees and other holiday themed designs. In 1999 they launched their website and the first flavored peeps: vanilla.

In case you missed it, last year Just Born came out with chocolate covered peeps. Now we're talkin! For more fun facts and some great party recipes like the one below visit their website at http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/

SWEET PEEPS® MACAROONS

Ingredients

12 PEEPS® Milk or Dark Chocolate Dipped Chicks

3 cups sweetened flaked coconut

¾ cup sugar

3 large egg whites

¼ tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. almond extract

Kitchen Tools Needed:

2 cookie sheets

Measuring cup

Measuring spoons

Parchment paper

Large bowl

Stirring spoon

Spatula

Wire rack

Directions

Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, stir coconut, sugar, egg whites, salt, vanilla and almond extract until well combined.

Refrigerate one half hour.

Drop batter by rounded tablespoons (approx 1 inch apart) so they are about 2 inches in diameter.

Bake at 325° F for 25 minutes or until slightly golden.

Cool 1 – 3 minutes on cookie trays. Remove with a spatula and transfer to wire rack.

Top each with a PEEPS® Milk or Dark Chocolate Dipped Chick and let cool completely.

 

Makes:

12 Sweet PEEPS® Macaroons

Warning:

Pans removed from oven will be extremely hot. Please use heat resistant oven mitts. Parental supervision is advised.

AUTHOR BIO

Lia Fairchild is a native Californian who loves reading, writing, movies, and anything else related to the arts. Writing is something she's thought about all her life, so the completion of her first novel, In Search of Lucy, is truly satisfying. Lia holds a B.A. degree in Journalism and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Her most enjoyable moments are spent with her family, traveling, spending time outdoors, or simply laughing and being together. Look for updates on her next book at http://www.liafairchild.com or follow her on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/#!/liafairchild

Have a Happy Easter everyone and a blessed weekend!

xxTraci

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SPRING FLING *SALE*

Everyone LOVES a good sale. Get these great books on your Kindle now for under $3.

 

 

Be Careful What You Wish For  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VGWJYE

The Gift of Joy http://tinyurl.com/3bm35pd

Impeding Justice http://amzn.to/hlJjAc 

The Crossing http://amzn.to/ekjIo1

In Search of Lucy http://amzn.to/i1uX06

Feathers http://www.amazon.com/Feathers-ebook/dp/B004S7EZBG

Mine Alone http://ow.ly/4CHwc http://www.amazon.com/Mine-Alone-ebook/dp/B004QL6D64/

This Last Summer http://www.amazon.com/This-Last-Summer-ebook/dp/B004774N6E

Burn Out http://tinyurl.com/448nkz5

Take No More  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EYUH9C

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004EYUH9C

Doubleback

http://www.amazon.com/Doubleback-ebook/dp/B002SG7OWG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303175942&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doubleback-ebook/dp/B002SG7OWG/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1

The Gifts, A Jacody Ives Mystery http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U4WVQ4/

 

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Welcome Guest Faith Mortimer

Every Tuesday and Friday, I will be featuring guest bloggers….authors, readers, and other interesting people. Today we have Faith Mortimer, author of The Crossing, which is one of my summer beach reads picks! Without further ado…here's Faith.

There is life after work!…

When Chris, my husband, was given early retirement, we grasped the opportunity to live our new life as we wanted. The children had completed their education, our parents were in good health and we had no financial worries. A retirement seminar gave guidance on how to plan the future, maybe a little golf, redecorating the home, a few holidays. We thought: BORING and blew the money on a new Yacht! Both Chris and I are qualified RYA Yachtmasters and we decided to make good use of our sailing skills.

We downsized our house, bought a fabulous fifty-foot sloop and after a year's planning, left England's shores to cross the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean, by way of Spain, Portugal, The Canaries and the African Cape Verde Islands.

On board 'Altarial' we were a crew of three including our eldest son, Ross. The Atlantic crossing was a real adventure. We kept in radio contact with eleven other yachts also crossing, passing on relevant information; weather, and ship sightings, suspicious craft and anything else of interest. Sometimes we saw another boat but generally most were way off in the distance.

How we would spend our days at sea?  We'd planned on learning Spanish, practicing the guitar and writing. On arrival in Antigua we realised we had done none of these! Once at sea and away from 'normal everyday activities' the body relaxes into a different state and mind set. For instance, everything took twice as long to do. The reason? There was no need to worry about 'time constraints'. It's amazing how long one can sit and gaze at the sea. As a writer, I was lost for hours, conjecturing stories within my head.

Ross left us in Antigua to return home and from thereon for 95% of the time Chris and I sailed the yacht on our own. We met may other sailing cruisers, made loads of friends, and soon we were sailing from island to island in company with other yachts. It was a fantastic life; we dived, explored the fascinating Caribbean Islands and in all sailed as far north as New York and as far south as Venezuela.

The following seven years were not without excitement. Stormy weather, dragging anchors, equipment failure, rescues at sea, but really, what a great life!  Family visits, time relaxing with friends and, of course, people watching are highlights, with ship maintenance, cooking and cleaning the daily routine of the cruising life.

Whilst sailing off Venezuela we were always wary of suspicious looking craft – some yachties reported pirates and on a couple of occasions we were followed by some dodgy looking boats. In those waters you took no chances, never sailed alone or anchored at night without at least another yacht in company. We didn't carry firearms, but for those who've seen the Nicole Kidman film, "Dead Calm", you'll know what damage a flare-gun can do!! We had one and knew how to use it if necessary.

Whilst most people are good and welcoming, there is always the occasional unsavoury character who likes nothing better than to lift 'nice' items off your boat. One night at anchor in Antigua's English Harbour, we retired to our cabin only to be awakened with our alarm blaring around the anchorage. Groggy with sleep, Chris went up into the cockpit to turn the thing off; thinking it was a false alarm. As I stuck my head out from the cabin hatch I spied a tall figure lurking in the shadows on deck. I called out a warning, and I'm still not sure who was more surprised, my butt-naked husband or the intruder!

The six-foot Rastafarian was arrested, but as we caught him before he had actually nicked anything the police had to release him. A week later he and two others were caught and in possession of stolen goods. Justice! We were delighted.

Life went on. I completed and passed the Science degree I'd started a couple of years before. My confidence soared – now I could write my first novel. With six months research, I wrote 'The Crossing' whilst living at sea. It wasn't always easy or perfect, but I loved the experience and opportunity. 'The Crossing' is now published in paperback and on Amazon in Kindle format.

In 2008, sadly we sold 'Altarial'. We've settled down in Cyprus and I've now completed my second novel 'The Assassins' Village's, a murder-thriller. This should be released in e format later this year. The third novel is well on its way.

Thanks Traci for asking me to write something. I look forward to reading other people's experiences with great interest.

To contact Faith: 

Website address: http://www.faithmortimerauthor.com/

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/FaithMortimer.Author

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/FaithMortimer  or @FaithMortimer

Amazon.co.uk: http://amzn.to/dWdVeu

Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/g7TL00

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Great Beach Reads Summer 2011 – Part I

It's that time of year – kids are close to getting out of school for summer and plans for vacations are in the making. Now is a great time to buy an e-reader – if you haven't done so already. No matter which one you buy, Kindle, Nook, iPad, or the many new e-readers on the market, the great thing is  - ereaders are perfect for taking to the beach and catching up on all the wonderful new books out there.

Every week, I will post some ebook finds to load up in your ereader. All genres, all wonderful authors, at an unbeatable price.

This week I'm featuring….Suspense/thriller/mystery. Click on pic to buy. Leave a comment and let me know how you liked the book!

Check back next week for Romantic ebooks.

Have a great summer.

xxTraci

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Contest update and more

Today you can find me over at Sibel's blog – doing an interview on Author's Coffee Time. Check it out here: http://www.sibelhodge.com/my-blog/authors-coffee-time-grab-a-caramel-macchiato-with-traci-hohenstein

Also, Burn Out is featured on IAU website today along with some other fabulous authors. Read all about it here: http://vmaarten.blogspot.com/2011/04/mystery-monday.html#comments

The contest is going great! I changed the entry rules…all you have to do is list your favorite book…and no it doesn't have to be BURN OUT. I'm giving away some great prizes from other authors – so enter today!

xxTraci

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Sample Sunday Italian Meatballs

 In Burn Out, Mike Mancini cooks a romantic dinner for Rachel – his mom's famous spaghetti and meatballs. Here is the recipe for the meatballs and an excerpt of that chapter.

Burn Out  is available for 99 cents for a limited time.

Mike Mancini Meatball Recipe

Ingredients:




1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese


1 1/2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf
parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups stale Italian bread, crumbled
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1 cup olive oil




Directions:



1.
Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.


2.
Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold its shape if rolled into meatballs. (I usually use about 1 1/4 cups of water). Shape into meatballs.


3.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel. (If your mixture is too wet, cover the meatballs while they are cooking so that they hold their shape better.)Serve with your favorite marinara sauce and noodles.

Read on for an excerpt from Burn Out.

Rachel walked in living room to the smell of garlic and tomatoes.  It was heavenly. "What is this?"

          Mike was stirring something in a pot on the stove. "Spaghetti and meatballs. My mom's special recipe. Guaranteed to heal what ails you."

He handed her a glass of red wine.

          "Thanks. It smells delicious."

          "You look very nice." Mike gave her kiss on the cheek.

          "Thanks. You too." Rachel took her wine and sat on one of the barstools, watching Mike work. She had a hard time deciding what to wear. She still didn't buy much when she replaced some of her wardrobe and the choices were limited. So Stacy ended up loaning her a simple black jersey knit dress with crochet detail on the cap sleeves and upper back. The dress hit just above the knees and showed off her tanned legs.  It was still hard to brush her hair and put on makeup due to the heavy bandage on her hand. But she felt like she did a fairly good job. Her eyebrows were still singed, so she had to take an eyebrow pencil and fill in the bare spots. She kept it simple and just put on some mascara to make her green eyes pop and a swipe of strawberry flavored lip gloss across her generous lips. She added mousse to her natural wavy hair to make it glossy. Rachel thought she looked pretty damn good for working with what she had. A spritz of Chanel Chance, her favorite perfume, and she was ready to go.

          She looked around the room, surprised. It was magically transformed. The candles sparkled on the table and jazz was playing in the background. This certainly feels like a date, she thought. Very romantic.

          Mike dished some spaghetti on the plates. "Please have a seat." He pulled out a chair for her. "Just let me get the garlic bread from the oven and we'll be ready to eat."

          She watched as he finished up getting the bread and salad to the table. Rachel thought he looked great in a pair of khaki pants with a polo button down shirt and scuffed cowboy boots on. She had never seen him out of jeans and a t-shirt, so this was a treat.

          "You clean up nice," Rachel said, teasing.

          "Yeah, I guess I do."

          "Everything looks great. Thanks for doing this." Rachel ate a forkful of spaghetti and savored the taste. "Yummy."

          "Mom would be proud."

          "Yes, she would. This is delicious."

          "I'm sure this nothing compared to fine cuisine you are used to in Miami."

          "I would rather eat this than anything I could get in Miami. This is pure comfort food."

          "How do you like living in Miami?" Mike reached for a piece of garlic bread to sop up some of the red sauce with.

          "It's great. All you can ask for. Great, white sandy beaches with emerald green waters. Nice weather year round. Shopping and restaurants galore. And an international airport to take you anywhere you need to go."

          "Sounds like a nice lifestyle."

          "And the Miami Heat. Can't forget my sports team," she said, taking a bite of the salad.

          "I never pegged you as sports fan."

          "Sure. I love basketball. I have season tickets. You should come with me sometime."

          "I would love to." Mike took a generous sip of his wine. "Is that an invitation?"

          "Yes. Hot dogs, beer and a basketball game. What more could you ask for?"

          "What else do you do in your spare time?"

          "Well, unfortunately I don't have a lot of spare time. When I do I like to shop. I'm an antique junkie. Also, have a weird thing for learning different languages."

          "I don't think it's weird. How did you get started?"

          "When I was starting out in real estate, I wanted to do all I could to stand out as a top agent. A lot of my clients were from other countries. So, the first language I learned was Spanish, since Miami is home to many Hispanics. I found it easy and fun to learn. After Spanish, I mastered other languages."

          "Such as?"

          "Ringraziarla per questa bella cena." Rachel waved her hand over the food and smiled. It was Italian for this dinner is delicious.

          "Grazie."

          Rachel looked amused. "Farla parla l'italiano?"  Do you speak Italian?

          "Un po'. La mia mamma è italiana," he answered. A little. My mom is Italian.

          "Nice. I love Italian. It is the most romantic language of all."

          "It sounds really nice when you say it," Mike said. "What else do you know?"

          "German and French. I was working on Mandarin Chinese before I got called on this case."

          "A woman of many talents. Is there anything else I should know?"

          "I'm a lousy cook. I have about twenty-five restaurant phone numbers memorized by heart. My kitchen drawers are filled with take- out menus instead of utensils. So this is a real treat." Rachel pointed to the plate of spaghetti, which was almost gone.

          Mike laughed. "Well, I love to cook. My mom taught me everything I know."

          "What are your specialities?"

          "Let's see… Besides spaghetti and meatballs, I can make lasagna, pasta carbonora, and a mean steak and twice-baked potato."

          "That's more than I can do. Bacon and eggs I have mastered fairly well, though."

          "Well then, you can make breakfast next time," Mike said.

          Rachel's heart skipped a beat. Breakfast. She thought about what that implied.

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