Kate Collins's Blog, page 220
September 1, 2013
Labor Day Wishes
by Kate Collins
I'd like to take a minute to thank all of you readers for your love of mysteries. I love them, too, which is why I write them.
I wish you a happy, sunny Labor Day and a wonderful rest of the week. I'll be spending the day with family.
Kate
I'd like to take a minute to thank all of you readers for your love of mysteries. I love them, too, which is why I write them.
I wish you a happy, sunny Labor Day and a wonderful rest of the week. I'll be spending the day with family.
Kate
August 31, 2013
by Lucy ArlingtonWhy is it that we think of cucumbers as ...
by Lucy ArlingtonWhy is it that we think of cucumbers as cool? Even when we’ve picked them from our garden and they’re warm from the sun, we still consider them a refreshing vegetable. I love that about them—they are always refreshing no matter how you prepare them.
Where I live, in Bermuda, the temperatures are still hot even though today is the first of September. So we still enjoy “cool” cucumbers in our salads and summery suppers. The recipe that I’m sharing with you today is a deliciously light meal, healthy for you, and a tasty way to incorporate cucumbers.And the bonus for me in preparing it right now? Many of you know that I recently broke my wrist and have to do everything one-handed. This recipe utilizes the food processor so it’s something I can make even with my left arm in a cast (although I do need help peeling the avocado!).
Prepare this cold soup the next time you have a friend over for lunch. Top it with crabmeat, serve with a salad, and expect rave reviews.
Cold Cucumber Soup with Yogurt and Tarragon2 large cucumbers, halved and seeded--1/2 cup finely diced (reserve for serving), the rest coarsely chopped 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 green onions, chopped 2 celery stalks1 garlic clove 1/4 cup loosely packed flat-leaf parsley leaves 2 tablespoons loosely packed tarragon leaves 1 small avocado, peeled and cubedSalt Freshly ground white pepper 1/2 red onion, finely chopped1 small can of crabmeat, drained (optional)
1. In a food processor or blender, combine the chopped cucumber with the yogurt, lemon juice, green onion, garlic, parsley, tarragon and avocado. Blend until smooth. 2. Season with salt and white pepper, cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. 3. Season the soup again just before serving. Pour the soup into bowls. Garnish with the finely diced cucumber, red onion, and crabmeat if you wish, and serve.
August 30, 2013
Color My World
By Heather
One of the best things--and most anxiety-filled--about moving to the new house is making it our own. Choosing new furniture, where to hang beloved pictures, and what color to paint the rooms. It's a lot of decisions (some pricey ones, too), and we worry if we're making the right choices.
Currently it's paint giving me palpitations. Our paint decision making consists of bringing a ton of swatches home and taping them to the walls. It works better than you might think.
This week I had to choose a color for my office. My office at the old house was yellow, and I was ready for a change. I brought home a couple of paint swatches and fell in love with "Plum Smoke." It's a deep grayish purple. But it was darker than I thought I wanted, so I kept trying to steer myself toward the spring greens. Yet I always went back to that purple. So I decided to give it a go.
Yes, it's a dark shade, but I absolutely love it and couldn't be happier with the decision. It's a color that speaks to me, and in a room where I need to be super creative, speaking to me is a good thing.
So, here's my office at the beginning of this week:
Yikes!
And here it is now, all purplish. And organized (thank goodness!).
Soon there will be shelves in that cubby to the right of the cabinet.
As you can see, there are still no pictures on the wall (or electrical covers--ha!). I have so many pics that I'm having trouble deciding which to hang where... Baby steps, right?
One of the best things--and most anxiety-filled--about moving to the new house is making it our own. Choosing new furniture, where to hang beloved pictures, and what color to paint the rooms. It's a lot of decisions (some pricey ones, too), and we worry if we're making the right choices.
Currently it's paint giving me palpitations. Our paint decision making consists of bringing a ton of swatches home and taping them to the walls. It works better than you might think.
This week I had to choose a color for my office. My office at the old house was yellow, and I was ready for a change. I brought home a couple of paint swatches and fell in love with "Plum Smoke." It's a deep grayish purple. But it was darker than I thought I wanted, so I kept trying to steer myself toward the spring greens. Yet I always went back to that purple. So I decided to give it a go.
Yes, it's a dark shade, but I absolutely love it and couldn't be happier with the decision. It's a color that speaks to me, and in a room where I need to be super creative, speaking to me is a good thing.
So, here's my office at the beginning of this week:
Yikes!And here it is now, all purplish. And organized (thank goodness!).
Soon there will be shelves in that cubby to the right of the cabinet.As you can see, there are still no pictures on the wall (or electrical covers--ha!). I have so many pics that I'm having trouble deciding which to hang where... Baby steps, right?
The End?
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
There's something very sweet about writing "The End" at the end of a manuscript.
Okay, sometimes I write it and sometimes I don't. I finished my latest book yesterday (well, 2nd draft) and it felt like I should have written THE END. The ending seemed to have taken about a month to write. And for me this book was written quite fast. Most of it was written during July and August.
So when I got to the end of July I kept thinking, "I'm only a few chapters away from the end." Those few chapters turned out to be about EIGHT chapters from the end. It was like the Energizer Bunny ... it kept going and going and going and going.
So now that I'm finished (but not finished, FINISHED--I'll be polishing it for the next few weeks) I kind of feel ... lost. What will I do if I'm not writing these characters? I love them so much and they have more adventures in them, but now it's time to move on to the next project and leave them behind.
***SOB***
The thing is, I've got loads of ideas for stories (not necessarily full-length books), and not enough time to write them all, which makes me sad (and feel impatient). So I guess I won't say "The End" for now, but only ...
Dark Waters, Jeff Resnick Mystery #6, will debut on October 1st.
Preorder from Amazon now.
There's something very sweet about writing "The End" at the end of a manuscript.Okay, sometimes I write it and sometimes I don't. I finished my latest book yesterday (well, 2nd draft) and it felt like I should have written THE END. The ending seemed to have taken about a month to write. And for me this book was written quite fast. Most of it was written during July and August.
So when I got to the end of July I kept thinking, "I'm only a few chapters away from the end." Those few chapters turned out to be about EIGHT chapters from the end. It was like the Energizer Bunny ... it kept going and going and going and going.So now that I'm finished (but not finished, FINISHED--I'll be polishing it for the next few weeks) I kind of feel ... lost. What will I do if I'm not writing these characters? I love them so much and they have more adventures in them, but now it's time to move on to the next project and leave them behind.
***SOB***
The thing is, I've got loads of ideas for stories (not necessarily full-length books), and not enough time to write them all, which makes me sad (and feel impatient). So I guess I won't say "The End" for now, but only ...
Dark Waters, Jeff Resnick Mystery #6, will debut on October 1st.Preorder from Amazon now.
August 28, 2013
Crack the Case
by Julie
Fellow Cozy Chick Heather Webber recently talked (online) about how much she and her family enjoy the book Two Minute Mysteries. A Facebook friend, Pixie Poe, told us that if we liked the book, we ought to check out the board game: CRACK THE CASE. She said she would recommend the game to any mystery lover.
Intrigued, I investigated.
Now, before I get too far, I have to admit that we are a board and card game-playing family. Rook, Clue, Monopoly, Risk, 221B Baker Street, and Trivial Pursuit are all favorites in this house.
Crack the Case isn't available in local stores, but I was able to buy a like-new game via eBay.
My husband, our youngest daughter, and I weren't sure what to expect when we first gave it a whirl and I'll admit, it took a little adjustment. Cases are solved as the investigators learn answers to their questions. For each round, a moderator reads the case and the solution. He or she is allowed one of seven possible responses to the yes or no questions that the participants ask. We played a few rounds before we got the hang of it, but now we're hooked.
We got through about half of the "easy" cases, which aren't easy at all, before we moved to the more difficult ones. There's another group of "most difficult" that we haven't even attempted yet.
This game is a lot of fun and requires a great deal of out-of-the-box thinking. The bad part is that there are only so many game cards. Once we've gone through them, we'll be done. Bummer!!
Do you enjoy playing board or card games? What are some of your favorites?
Fellow Cozy Chick Heather Webber recently talked (online) about how much she and her family enjoy the book Two Minute Mysteries. A Facebook friend, Pixie Poe, told us that if we liked the book, we ought to check out the board game: CRACK THE CASE. She said she would recommend the game to any mystery lover.
Intrigued, I investigated.
Now, before I get too far, I have to admit that we are a board and card game-playing family. Rook, Clue, Monopoly, Risk, 221B Baker Street, and Trivial Pursuit are all favorites in this house.
Crack the Case isn't available in local stores, but I was able to buy a like-new game via eBay.
My husband, our youngest daughter, and I weren't sure what to expect when we first gave it a whirl and I'll admit, it took a little adjustment. Cases are solved as the investigators learn answers to their questions. For each round, a moderator reads the case and the solution. He or she is allowed one of seven possible responses to the yes or no questions that the participants ask. We played a few rounds before we got the hang of it, but now we're hooked.
We got through about half of the "easy" cases, which aren't easy at all, before we moved to the more difficult ones. There's another group of "most difficult" that we haven't even attempted yet.
This game is a lot of fun and requires a great deal of out-of-the-box thinking. The bad part is that there are only so many game cards. Once we've gone through them, we'll be done. Bummer!!
Do you enjoy playing board or card games? What are some of your favorites?
August 27, 2013
Uncomplicating A Corded Life
by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed
I've been thinking a lot about all the electronic stuff we seem to accumulate, and I'm seriously going to try to uncomplicate my life. I have a desk top, laptop, tablet, and smart phone. All that stuff in the photo I used in the recent Unplugging post started me down this path, because I'm pretty sure I have all that junk (minus the watch).
The desk top is a Godsend since I spend so much time writing. It stays for sure. The smart phone could be dummied downed when my contract expires next year. Hope I'm strong enough to cut the cord when the time comes.
That brings me to a device to use during travel, something I can write on if necessary. The laptop is an older model and heavy to tote, but it's familiar to me. But what about the nice and light tablet? I have a Kindle Fire, the larger version, but it's still a shrimp compared to my others. Here it is with one of my coffee cups beside it for size comparison. I ordered this cool keyboard and it syncs nicely.
So I've been experimenting with it. Okay, to be honest, I just watched the Under the Dome pilot using Amazon Prime and I've played around with email. But I haven't attempted to actually work on a story with it. I think I need to upload the work-in-progress to google drive and work on it there, since the Fire doesn't support Word. That's tonight's assignment. If all goes well, the tablet will become my travel buddy and the laptop will be history.
Any tips, suggestions, observations? Which of your 'stuff' is your favorite?
I've been thinking a lot about all the electronic stuff we seem to accumulate, and I'm seriously going to try to uncomplicate my life. I have a desk top, laptop, tablet, and smart phone. All that stuff in the photo I used in the recent Unplugging post started me down this path, because I'm pretty sure I have all that junk (minus the watch).The desk top is a Godsend since I spend so much time writing. It stays for sure. The smart phone could be dummied downed when my contract expires next year. Hope I'm strong enough to cut the cord when the time comes.
That brings me to a device to use during travel, something I can write on if necessary. The laptop is an older model and heavy to tote, but it's familiar to me. But what about the nice and light tablet? I have a Kindle Fire, the larger version, but it's still a shrimp compared to my others. Here it is with one of my coffee cups beside it for size comparison. I ordered this cool keyboard and it syncs nicely.
So I've been experimenting with it. Okay, to be honest, I just watched the Under the Dome pilot using Amazon Prime and I've played around with email. But I haven't attempted to actually work on a story with it. I think I need to upload the work-in-progress to google drive and work on it there, since the Fire doesn't support Word. That's tonight's assignment. If all goes well, the tablet will become my travel buddy and the laptop will be history.
Any tips, suggestions, observations? Which of your 'stuff' is your favorite?
Going Non-Stop
by Maggie Sefton
Yep. It's been non-stop since I arrived last Thursday here in my old hometown area
Northern Virginia. The birthday party my four girls arranged for me was WONDERFUL! :) Lots of yummy food and bunches of old friends and family talking and laughing and talking and eating and . . .you guessed it, more talking. And my granddaughter AnaSofia's 6th birthday party was lively fun and parents and family got to sit around and enjoy brats, hot dogs, & burgers and talk, talk, talk. I always enjoy meeting the families in my daughter Christine's neighborhood of Burke, VA. Great people.
I promise I'll have some more photos next week. Talking late with old friends kept me up waaaay late last night so I didn't post as I usually do on Monday night. So, I want to get this up right away. This photo shows my four girls (Christine next to Melissa next to sister-friend Nancy, moi, then daughter Serena, sister-friend Diane, and youngest daughter Maria).
This weekend will be the wild & weird Family Football Weekend in NYC with the game Saturday at the Meadowlands. Penn State vs. Syracuse. Watch for a Penn State wide receiver #80. :)
Yep. It's been non-stop since I arrived last Thursday here in my old hometown area
Northern Virginia. The birthday party my four girls arranged for me was WONDERFUL! :) Lots of yummy food and bunches of old friends and family talking and laughing and talking and eating and . . .you guessed it, more talking. And my granddaughter AnaSofia's 6th birthday party was lively fun and parents and family got to sit around and enjoy brats, hot dogs, & burgers and talk, talk, talk. I always enjoy meeting the families in my daughter Christine's neighborhood of Burke, VA. Great people.
I promise I'll have some more photos next week. Talking late with old friends kept me up waaaay late last night so I didn't post as I usually do on Monday night. So, I want to get this up right away. This photo shows my four girls (Christine next to Melissa next to sister-friend Nancy, moi, then daughter Serena, sister-friend Diane, and youngest daughter Maria).
This weekend will be the wild & weird Family Football Weekend in NYC with the game Saturday at the Meadowlands. Penn State vs. Syracuse. Watch for a Penn State wide receiver #80. :)
August 25, 2013
Proof of Heaven
by Kate Collins
Many of you know that my husband passed away nearly three years ago suddenly and tragically, sending me into a tailspin of grief and shock. Those who have followed my posts know that I received signs almost immediately that he is around me, signs I still receive daily. So my interest in the afterlife is very intense. I've read many books on the subject, so recently, on a road trip, I listened to the audio book of PROOF OF HEAVEN: A NEUROSURGEON'S JOURNEY INTO THE AFTERLIFE, by Eben Alexander.
What a fascinating story! A renown, preeminent neurosurgeon, a man of science who believed science held all the answers, who doubted the existence of God, tells such a compelling story about his near death experience that my hours on the road flew by. I highly recommend this book.
But what I found disturbing is that so many doctors and other scientific minded people cannot fathom that there can be more to life than just this life! Even with uncontroversial proof, many doubt it. How closed-minded of them.
If you've lost a loved one, as most of us have, I urge you to read this. It's so amazing and unbelievably comforting to know that we survive. Not only survive, but thrive!
If you do read it, or listen to it, drop me a comment on Facebook and let me know what you think.
Happy reading!
p.s. Another bit of news you may have heard: SEED NO EVIL made the New York Times Bestseller List after one week out! Yippee!!
Many of you know that my husband passed away nearly three years ago suddenly and tragically, sending me into a tailspin of grief and shock. Those who have followed my posts know that I received signs almost immediately that he is around me, signs I still receive daily. So my interest in the afterlife is very intense. I've read many books on the subject, so recently, on a road trip, I listened to the audio book of PROOF OF HEAVEN: A NEUROSURGEON'S JOURNEY INTO THE AFTERLIFE, by Eben Alexander.
What a fascinating story! A renown, preeminent neurosurgeon, a man of science who believed science held all the answers, who doubted the existence of God, tells such a compelling story about his near death experience that my hours on the road flew by. I highly recommend this book.
But what I found disturbing is that so many doctors and other scientific minded people cannot fathom that there can be more to life than just this life! Even with uncontroversial proof, many doubt it. How closed-minded of them.
If you've lost a loved one, as most of us have, I urge you to read this. It's so amazing and unbelievably comforting to know that we survive. Not only survive, but thrive!
If you do read it, or listen to it, drop me a comment on Facebook and let me know what you think.
Happy reading!
p.s. Another bit of news you may have heard: SEED NO EVIL made the New York Times Bestseller List after one week out! Yippee!!
August 24, 2013
What If You Saw This ...
by Leann
Fun time at the rental house this week. What would you do if THIS showed up on the steps outside the back door?
We had this visitor and this is exactly what he looked like--and he was about three feet long. What did I do? I screamed like I was auditioning for Scary Movie 20. See, my precious and fearless dog thought this would be something she'd like to play with. All I can say is, thank goodness for the obedience training she's had. Sit and stay works very well with her, very well indeed.
My husband happened to be home--which was lucky for me. I am not a snake whisperer. I was bitten by a snake as a child. It was a harmless one, but it hung on to the webbing between my thumb and index finger. I needed help to get the thing to let go. Childhood horrors tend to come rushing back when facing a three foot snake that's shaking its tail like a rattler.
We knew it wasn't a rattlesnake, of course, but because we feared the dog might be harmed, my husband killed the snake. Afterward I rushed to the computer and looked for images that matched this reptile and I learned it is an Eastern king snake. But then I was sad to learn that he was harmless to humans and that these snakes are immune to the venom of poisonous snakes. In fact, they eat rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. Great. We'd murdered our protector!
I was bummed about it for the rest of the day until, low and behold, I went to let the dog out and there was another one waiting at the door--maybe hoping Rosie wanted to play. Needless to say, we are leaving this one alone. Yes, we will be checking the porch carefully before we let the dog out. And no, I do not want to know how many more snakes are living under those outdoor backstairs or what meals have lured them there. Add that to the list of things I never want to know about this place.
Ever had an encounter with a snake? I'm sure there are plenty of you out there.
Fun time at the rental house this week. What would you do if THIS showed up on the steps outside the back door?
We had this visitor and this is exactly what he looked like--and he was about three feet long. What did I do? I screamed like I was auditioning for Scary Movie 20. See, my precious and fearless dog thought this would be something she'd like to play with. All I can say is, thank goodness for the obedience training she's had. Sit and stay works very well with her, very well indeed.My husband happened to be home--which was lucky for me. I am not a snake whisperer. I was bitten by a snake as a child. It was a harmless one, but it hung on to the webbing between my thumb and index finger. I needed help to get the thing to let go. Childhood horrors tend to come rushing back when facing a three foot snake that's shaking its tail like a rattler.
We knew it wasn't a rattlesnake, of course, but because we feared the dog might be harmed, my husband killed the snake. Afterward I rushed to the computer and looked for images that matched this reptile and I learned it is an Eastern king snake. But then I was sad to learn that he was harmless to humans and that these snakes are immune to the venom of poisonous snakes. In fact, they eat rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. Great. We'd murdered our protector!
I was bummed about it for the rest of the day until, low and behold, I went to let the dog out and there was another one waiting at the door--maybe hoping Rosie wanted to play. Needless to say, we are leaving this one alone. Yes, we will be checking the porch carefully before we let the dog out. And no, I do not want to know how many more snakes are living under those outdoor backstairs or what meals have lured them there. Add that to the list of things I never want to know about this place.
Ever had an encounter with a snake? I'm sure there are plenty of you out there.
August 23, 2013
Peach-Blackberry Tart with Shortbread Crust
By Ellery Adams
I'm not working on a Charmed Pie Shoppe mystery at the moment, but I'm always trying new recipes and looking for the next taste sensation to grace the pages of a future book. And because Ella Mae LeFaye lives in Georgia, it makes sense that I pay homage to the peach and this tart does just that. It looks like a ton of work, but it's not and even if you don't make the tart, use this handy trick for peeling peaches and just eat a blanched peach with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
This is a heavenly, magical, summer dessert!
And you? What unbelievably wonderful sugary treat have you enjoyed recently?
Peach-Blackberry Tart with Shortbread Crust
Shortbread CrustIngredients¾ cup cold butter, cubed1/3 cup confectioners' sugar 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Blend ingredients in food processor on pulse setting until your dough is crumbly.
Pat into a 9- or 10-inch tart pan. Prick crust with fork or use pie weights to keep from bubbling. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
Filling
1 pint fresh blackberries
3 or 4 medium fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced¾ cup sugar3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
pinch of salt1/3 cup buttermilk3 large eggs½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 Tablespoons butter, melted and cooled to room temperature1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
Grease tart pan.
While shortbread crust is baking, cut a X in the bottom of each peach with a knife. Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Put peaches in water and boil for 45 seconds. If they’re a little under ripe, boil for a full minute. Remove from heat and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain water and peel skin from peaches. Now pit and slice. Wash blackberries and pat dry.
When crust is finished baking, remove from oven and allow to cool. In the meantime, make the tart filling by combining sugar, flour, and salt in a medium bowl. Next, add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. After those are blended, whisk in melted butter and lemon zest.
Place blackberries and peaches on shortbread crust. Transfer to lined cookie sheet and then pour filling over the fruit. The filling will reach the top. Bake until center is set, 55- 60 minutes depending on the strength of your oven. Cool, remove from tart pan, and enjoy.
I'm not working on a Charmed Pie Shoppe mystery at the moment, but I'm always trying new recipes and looking for the next taste sensation to grace the pages of a future book. And because Ella Mae LeFaye lives in Georgia, it makes sense that I pay homage to the peach and this tart does just that. It looks like a ton of work, but it's not and even if you don't make the tart, use this handy trick for peeling peaches and just eat a blanched peach with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!This is a heavenly, magical, summer dessert!
And you? What unbelievably wonderful sugary treat have you enjoyed recently?
Peach-Blackberry Tart with Shortbread Crust
Shortbread CrustIngredients¾ cup cold butter, cubed1/3 cup confectioners' sugar 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Blend ingredients in food processor on pulse setting until your dough is crumbly.
Pat into a 9- or 10-inch tart pan. Prick crust with fork or use pie weights to keep from bubbling. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.Filling
1 pint fresh blackberries
3 or 4 medium fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced¾ cup sugar3 Tablespoons all-purpose flourpinch of salt1/3 cup buttermilk3 large eggs½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 Tablespoons butter, melted and cooled to room temperature1 ½ teaspoons lemon zestGrease tart pan.
While shortbread crust is baking, cut a X in the bottom of each peach with a knife. Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Put peaches in water and boil for 45 seconds. If they’re a little under ripe, boil for a full minute. Remove from heat and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain water and peel skin from peaches. Now pit and slice. Wash blackberries and pat dry.
When crust is finished baking, remove from oven and allow to cool. In the meantime, make the tart filling by combining sugar, flour, and salt in a medium bowl. Next, add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. After those are blended, whisk in melted butter and lemon zest. Place blackberries and peaches on shortbread crust. Transfer to lined cookie sheet and then pour filling over the fruit. The filling will reach the top. Bake until center is set, 55- 60 minutes depending on the strength of your oven. Cool, remove from tart pan, and enjoy.
