Becky Wade's Blog, page 81

First Century Foods

I have discovered a wonderful book: Food at the Time of the Bible, by Miriam Feinberg Vamosh. I use it as I write, of course, because I can’t have my first-century characters sit down to eat something that didn’t exist in their part of the world . . . or I can’t have observant Jewish characters eating something that was forbidden. (I was once taken to task for having Samson eat wild rabbits, but he wasn’t exactly observant, was he? He wasn’t supposed to marry Gentile women or touch dead bodies, and he didn’t seem to mind doing those things.)

I’m writing about the first century Romans now, and on their tables you might find sow’s udder, stuffed with kidneys; dormice (yes, the kind that squeak) smothered in honey and poppy seeds; snails and urchins; a roasted pig, standing on his feet, stuffed with sausages and fruit; very expensive fetuses of rabbits; or a roasted wild boar into which live birds had been inserted . . . they would escape when the boar was cut open. Oy! (Those recipes are NOT in Miriam’s book!)

Anyway–I thought I’d give you a Jewish recipe you can make for your family–and know that it was something Jesus and his family could have eaten. This comes from Miriam Vamosh’s work, so if you want more recipes and information, you can get the book on Amazon. Enjoy!

Semolina cake

Joanna’s Semolina Cake with Almonds

1 cup butter

1/2 cup honey

1 cup ground almonds

2 Tbs. yogurt

1/2 cup blanched almonds, halved

1 cup milk

2 cups semolina

SYRUP:

2/3 cup honey

1/3 cup water

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Grease an 8 inch square baking pan. Place ingredients for the syrup in a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer five minutes.

Heat the butter, milk, and honey till boiling and remove from the heat. Add the semolina, almonds and yogurt and mix well. Fold in the blanched almonds. Pour into baking pan and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately pour syrup over the cake. Cut into squares and serve warm . . . or cold.

Does this sound like something your family would enjoy? Or would you prefer Roman food, like a baked dormouse? (Aside: Did you know the passages below the seats of an amphitheater were called the vomitorium? Apparently they would overindulge in the Coliseum and . . . ugh. Though I am not surprised, considering their menu . . . )

Inspired by Scripture

The authors of Inspired by Life…and Fiction want to wish you and yours a very blessed Thanksgiving holiday. You, our readers, are one of the many things we are grateful for!

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashVerseoftheDay.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with Scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.

Decisions, Decisions

In my last blog post, I shared a little bit about the changing face of publishing since I got my start in 1984. I’m even more aware of the changes as I move more deeply into the indie publishing world.

Wide or Kindle Unlimited?

One of the decisions an indie author has to make is whether to go wide (meaning ebooks are available across numerous devices and retailers) or whether to be exclusive to Amazon and enter the Kindle Unlimited program. Authors toss these terms around a lot and discuss the benefits and downsides amongst themselves.

But are readers aware of the reasons some ebooks are exclusive to the Kindle or Kindle app? I thought it might be worth talking about.

First, the decision to go wide is pretty much automatic for publishing houses for a number of reasons. Mainly, putting all of your eggs in one basket is rarely a great business plan. Amazon sells a lot more things than just books. Books aren’t Amazon’s main concern, but books are the main concern for publishers. Books are their only concern.

However, Amazon does make being exclusive with them worthwhile for indie authors. Many authors make 70% or more of their income each month via the Kindle Unlimited program (they are paid by pages read). And since Amazon is where the majority of ebook sales happen, Kindle Unlimited is often the best way, financially, for an author to go.

Of course, being exclusive for the Kindle means that Nook readers and Kobo readers, et al, can’t get an author’s books. I don’t include iPads or other tablets in that statement because people can use the Kindle app on those devices.

Now it’s my turn to decide!

When I began releasing my backlist books in the indie market, it made sense to go with Kindle Unlimited. These weren’t new books. They were books that in the “old days” would have disappeared after eight weeks or so on bookshelves. I was just giving them new life, and I wanted them to be where the majority of readers are. Not just the majority of ebook buyers. Kindle Unlimited subscribers are voracious readers. Like binging on Netflix. They read, read, read.

As I approached the release of my new indie, All She Ever Dreamed (not a backlist book from one of my Christian publishers), I began assessing what I wanted to do long-term in regard to wide or KU. How can I best serve my readers, including the ones who don’t own a Kindle, while still making the wisest decision for myself? For a number of reasons, All She Ever Dreamed will be an Amazon exclusive for ebooks, but look for me to try brief wide releases when my new series debuts in 2023. The exclusivity is only for ebooks. Readers will be able to find or order the paperback and/or audio from other retailers in addition to Amazon.

Note: I pulled one of my books from Kindle Unlimited last spring for a promotion. So, as a test to see how it will do, Speak to Me of Love is now available on Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble as well as in the Kindle Store and on Scribd.

I hope this post has been informative and helped readers understand why indie authors make the decision to go wide or go with Kindle Unlimited. Some authors even alternate between the two.

For those of you who read ebooks, what device do you use? Kindle, iPad, Nook, Kobo, something else?

~robin

PS It’s just 11 days until the release of Like the Wind. This will be my last contemporary/dual-time story for a while as I’ve got several historical romances scheduled to release in 2023 and 2024. Publishers Weekly thought this story is charming, and advance readers seem to agree. I hope you will too.

The Art of Reading

One of the things that I love about Victorian era portraits is that many of them show the connection between women and books. One of my favorite artists from this time period is Charles Edward Perugini. He was an Italian artist who moved to England to study under Lord Leighton.

He started painting classical scenes then turned his talents to the more profitable work of portrait painting, especially for women and children.

Girl Reading

One fun tidbit I discovered about this artist is that he married the youngest daughter of Charles Dickens! Kate was herself an artist. The painting above is believed to be a portrait of Kate. I can’t help but think his connection to Dickens influenced his choice of subject. I wonder if he suggested a lady hold a book if she was unsure of how to pose.

Here are some of my favorite Perugini paintings featuring ladies and books.

Reading on a Sunny AfternoonThe Ramparts, Walmer Castle – Portrait of Countess Granville and LadiesIn the OrangeryIdle Moments

Don’t they all seem so wonderfully peaceful? I would be happy to climb into any one of these portraits.

Which painting is your favorite?

Saying Goodbye

As you read this, we are on our way home from the East Coast, where we’ve traveled twice in the past two weeks. 

On Oct. 31 we got word that Jeff’s mother had passed away. While she hadn’t been in great health, the conversation the prior week was about moving her to assisted living, not end of life issues. She lived in Pennsylvania, in a small town a 3 hour drive from any major airport. Jeff’s sister also lives 3 hours away by car. My mother-in-law was widowed from her most recent husband and lived alone. Which meant we all had to get there, make arrangements, and begin to take care of things. We scheduled her service for the following weekend.

This past Friday, all our kids and I flew up and drove in. (Jeff was already in the area on a previously scheduled business trip!) My sister-in-law’s family also drove in. 

As we got together and talked, we realized it had been 15 years since we had all been together—the last time being my niece’s baptism the summer after her birth (Yes, she turned 15 this summer.), so it turned into quite the family occasion. 

We had a lovely service of remembrance where we involved all the grandchildren. Our nephew Tedd, quite the musician, played the prelude and “Be Thou My Vision” on the keyboard. His sister, Karlee, played “Amazing Grace” on the flute. Our son Nathan played “It is Well with My Soul” on the keyboard, while our son Aaron said the opening prayer and our daughter, Elizabeth, read a passage from the Book of John. Then Jeff did the eulogy. He did a great job of both honoring his mom and presenting the gospel. 

After that, it 2 1/2 long days of work. The work of sorting through a life in possessions and finances. To be honest, it wasn’t a pretty picture. And there will be lots of stress to come in the next few months as we try to get things sorted. But even in that, we have felt the presence of the Lord and the prayers of our friends and family. We’ve also seen the hand of God working in so many ways, both before and after her death. We are very close to Jeff’s sister, so there is no stress there. And we are so very, very grateful for all of that. 

If your parents are still living, give them a call just to say hi. Hug them tightly next time you see them in person. 

If you are a parent whose age continues to creep upward, please keep an updated list of all your passwords, accounts, and financial obligations. And clean out those closets and cabinets! I promise your children will love you even more for your thoughtfulness in making their job easier at the end of your days. 

Love Down-home Southern Cooking?

Just in time for Thanksgiving!

If you’re looking for down-home, delicious Southern Cooking, meet Tammy of Collard Valley Cooks in South Georgia!

Delightful. Unpretentious. And a fabulous Southern Cook. That’s Tammy (and Chris, her husband, who does the videoing)!

TAMMY MAKING HOMEMADE FRIED APPLE PIES

I don’t exactly remember when I ran across Tammy’s YouTube channel. It’s been a while. But every recipe I’ve tried of hers is absolutely delicious, and Southern through and through.

I’ve made many a Chicken Pot Pie through the years but hers is by far the best—and easiest—I’ve made. The homemade white gravy (don’t let that scare you—remember, I said it’s EASY) takes it over the top!

Kelsey and I made Tammy’s recipe this weekend and oh my gracious . . .

The pie ready to go in! And Clifford watching.Just out of the oven.We might have made Tammy’s fried apple pies too, but who’s to say?Dishing it up!

If your cast iron skillet’s feeling a little neglected and you or someone you love is craving something comforting and creamy, this Chicken Pot Pie is the answer! Grab the recipe (and watch the tutorial) for Tammy’s Collard Valley Cooks Chicken Pot Pie!

Check out Tammy’s videos on Youtube:

Tammy has a special holiday series too. It’s full of old-fashioned recipes your mother and grandmother used to make. Down-home cookin’ to the max. Some of the recipes are definite splurges which makes them perfect for the holidays.

So what’s on your Thanksgiving menu for next week?

Ours is definitely Southern . . .

DISCLAIMER! Tentative menu (still awaiting input, as you can see) so don’t hold me to this. I may adios a dish or two if time—or kitchen help—runs short! So what are your Thanksgiving plans this year? Are you gathering with family and friends? Are you hosting or headed to someone’s house? Are you doing the bulk of the cooking or does everyone divide and conquer?

Also, if you’ve lost a loved one this year and this is your first Thanksgiving and Christmas without them, know that you’re not alone. The “first” holidays are always difficult. While the popular Christmas song may espouse “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!“—and we do have much to celebrate in Christ (all year long)—it’s also a difficult time of year. We dearly miss loved ones gone on before us, and those empty places at the table turn our hearts toward Home. So if this describes you, please know you’re not alone. And feel free to leave a comment so we can pray for you as a community as we head into the holidays!

Love from my corner of Nashville,

Tammy

Have you entered myNOVEMBER GIVEAWAY?

Enter to win today

Chances are if you read my novels, you’ve read The Inheritance. But you can still enter to win—and gift the copy to a friend who’s never read me before.

Sign up with YOUR email, then I’ll email you if you win and you can let me know if YOU want the eBook, or you can GIVE the eBook to a friend by providing their email address.

Upcoming Event (and a Free Book)

Ken and I are traveling again. It might seem a little crazy, but we headed north to Michigan! We have a good reason though! Tomorrow evening I’ll be signing copies of O Little Town at Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, along with my co-author Janyre Tromp (and we hope our other co-author, Amanda Wen will be able to join us via Zoom sometime during the evening.) If you happen to live in the area, we would LOVE to see you there! (Click on the book cover to order your copy.)

[Please scroll to the end of this post for information about a free e-book copy of A Vow to Cherish TODAY ONLY!]

Janyre, Amanda, and I have managed to get together in every combination except all three of us in one place at the same time! But here we are when we first announced that we’d contracted the book…and now it’s here!

Even though it’s been cold on our trip and we drove through snow in Illinois and Indiana on Saturday, Ken and I have really enjoyed the trip. We’ve already seen some great sights and added a new National Park to our been-there-done-that list!

We have yet to perfect the selfie-with-national-park-sign, but at least it shows we were there! We took a short, chilly hike at the nature center in Indiana Dunes State Park, which is inside the National Park.We kind of just happened upon the Pavilion on the beach of Lake Michigan and oh, what a cool place—even in winter!Apparently, the skyline of Chicago that you can see across the lake (almost 60 miles away) is actually just a mirage (or in this case, since the skyline is right-side-up, a “looming refraction” since the curvature of the earth wouldn’t allow a view of the actual skyline that far away when taken from the shore. It certainly LOOKED real! The Pavilion was refurbished in 2021 and just reopened this year. It is just amazing! We went inside to see what the architecture looked like, but an enticing smell led us into this restaurant, and when we heard some great live music, we decided we had to sit and stay a spell. We split a delicious Beach Burger and Truffle Fries (fries tossed in truffle oil then sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Oh. My! Delicious!) all with a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan (which looks for all the world like an ocean!)

Before you go, I wanted to let you know about a free book deal for my very first novel, A Vow to Cherish (today, November 14, only!) This book was the inspiration for the World Wide Pictures film of the same title, and I’ve also written a sequel, Within This Circle. My husband updated the covers for both books, and I think they make a beautiful set! Click on the book cover below to get your free copy via BookBub! A Vow to Cherish is now available as an audiobook too, read by the wonderful Julie Lancelot.

The movie version of A Vow to Cherish is now available on PureFlix. Click on the cover for more information.

Inspired by Scripture

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashVerseoftheDay.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with Scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.

Readers often ask me how they can help their favorite aut...

Readers often ask me how they can help their favorite authors. I love to get that question because it is so very easy to help your favorite authors. Today I want to share a few of those with you.

1) Tell your friends about the book. Word of mouth is still one large way that readers discover new-to-them authors . If you loved a book, then be sure to tell friends and family that are readers about it. You can use social media tools like twitter, facebook, Google+, etc. But also tell them in person. It’s very natural to talk about what you’ve been reading.

2) If you read a book and like it, then please post reviews. Don’t give spoiler details, but let other readers know why you liked it. Did you connect with the characters? Love the plot? Get engaged with the setting? Was there a spiritual thread that has stuck with you after you reached “the end?” Then write a quick review and post it any number of places. My favorites are: Amazon, Goodreads, Christianbook.com, and Barnes & Noble. You don’t need to stop there. It usually takes me 4 or 5 minutes to copy a review to those places, and it helps authors!

3) Give books as gifts. Not everybody is a reader, but many people love to get books as gifts. Especially if the book is tied to genres or places that they enjoy. For example, do you know someone who loves WWII? Then there are a dozen new Christian novels out that showcase different parts of that war. Books like Stars in the Night, The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron (on ebook sale right now for $1.99), The London House by Katherine Reay, and When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin. Know someone who loves to travel? Then look for books like Deadly Secrets on Mackinac Island and they can travel without leaving home.

4) Ask you local and church libraries to purchase a book. Many readers utilize their libraries, and this is a great way to get a book into more readers’ hands. It’s super easy. All you have to do is ask your local library (school, church, public) to add your favorite book to its collection. Many libraries will add books if they know their patrons are interested. And many have made it very easy to request books. If your local library has a website you can start by checking for an online request form.

This is a great way to help your favorite authors. When my books are in a library, more readers have a risk free way to try my books and see if they like them. It also make it possible for readers to discover my books who wouldn’t otherwise run across Christian fiction.

Other ways you can help are to let other people know about this opportunity by posting it to Facebook, twitter, pinning the image on Pinterest, Instagram, etc. I’ve added lots of ways to enter. And I’ve got lots of goodies to give away. The more the word spreads, the more goodies I’ll add to the pile.

How do you help spread the word about Christian fiction? Do you use any of the ways I’ve mentioned?

Four Fun Announcements

There’s a lot going on in my corner of the writing world at the moment!

#1 Turn to Me is six months old

Turn to Me, my most recent release, just celebrated its half birthday! If you haven’t met Luke yet, I’d love for you to do so because he has my heart. As it happens, the paperback is currently on sale for 50% off the list price and free shipping at Baker Book House.

#2 The Misty River Romance ebooks are on sale

Crazy good prices on the three novels in this series — happening now at all online retailers. This is a great time to catch up on one of the books you may have missed or scoop up all three for less than $6. KU readers — the first two novels plus the two novellas (Take a Chance on Me and You and Me) are also available via Kindle Unlimited.

#3 Nashville Meet and Greet

I’m traveling to Nashville next week! Several authors (including me) will be hanging out with readers and eating dinner at Assembly Food Hall on November 16th and we’d love for you to join us! I’m expecting Julie Klassen, TI Lowe, Amanda Dykes, Nicole Deese, Kristi Ann Hunter, Angela Ruth Strong, and more to be there. Come say hi and let’s chat about our love of books!

Here’s a picture from our last reader/writer gathering in Nashville. As you can see, we were a little squished. So I chose a food hall this time so we’d all have more elbow room.

Writers — the Art of Writing conference is happening on November 17th at Lipscomb University. It’s a wonderful event — laid-back, small, affordable, with terrific sessions. I highly recommend it.

Writers and readers — everyone is invited to dress fancy and attend the Christy Awards the night of the 17th.

#4 Book Exchange

The annual book exchange in my Facebook group has quickly become a favorite of many of the group’s members. You give a book and you get a book and it’s such a fun and festive way to support authors and celebrate the season. If you’d like to participate, join my “Cheer Squad” group here, then check out the featured post for details.

If you have any questions about the above, ask away! Happy weekend, everyone!