Kate Collins's Blog, page 316
February 1, 2011
Short Stories Are Back!
I grew up with short stories - The Brothers Grimm, Edgar Allen Poe, Twain's dark tales, Hawthorne, Agatha Christie. Two of my favorites were The Lottery (Shirley Jackson) and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (James Thurber), but narrowing it down to only two was hard. There were so many good ones with dramatic endings and twists that left powerful impressions on me.When I began writing, I started with short stories because I could vary my POV, settings, etc. in a short amount of time. I used them as testing grounds to find my passion and my voice. Even back then, getting a short story published was almost impossible because the market had dried up. Nobody was reading short stories anymore.
Eventually, I placed two of mine in literary journals. Passages North at Northern Michigan paid me in copies. A Room of One's Own out of Canada promised $35, which I never received. After that, I moved into long fiction, writing mysteries.
I'm thrilled to tell you that short stories are back and they are as popular as ever. Short stories are experiencing a resurrection thanks to a little device called an eReader. Authors are able to publish short stories through Kindle, Nook, and all the rest. And people are downloading them in mass quantities.Several of the Cozy Chicks have published short stories. Below are the links to our Kindle editions where you can read more about them (and even download them). If you don't have a Kindle, you can download the free PC computer version here or download the free MAC version here.
Deb Baker - Secret Pages / Whatever It Takes
L.L. Bartlett - Bah! Humbug / Cold Case / Abused: A Daughter's Story
Lorraine Bartlett - We're So Sorry, Uncle Albert / An Unconditional Love / Prisoner of Love
Kate Collins - (YA stories) Janey Webster - Experienced Babysitter / Jason Jerviss at Your Service
Leann Sweeney - Dying Embers
Heather Webber - Sweet Dreams / Definitely Maybe
So what about you - do you read short stories? What are some of your favorites?
January 31, 2011
Our January Gift Card Winner!
Keep up the comments, folks! We'll pick another winner at the end of this month!
WHAT? NO CARROTS?by Lucy Arlington I don't know about you...
by Lucy Arlington I don't know about you, but carrots have always been a staple in our house. The one vegetable everyone would eat. Sweet and crunchy, carrots make a great snack. I put them in salads, soups, stews, muffins and cakes. Who could imagine life without carrots?The first time I went grocery shopping in Bermuda (yes, I live part of the year on this lovely island) I could not find carrots. Not in the four different supermarkets I visited. You can imagine my puzzlement. I discovered that carrots are grown on the island, and because they are a local crop, grocers are not allowed to import them even when they aren't available from the farmers.
So now I generally make due with frozen carrots for stews and soups, and bags of grated carrots (which are allowed to be imported) for baking needs. Of course, the bunches of freshly harvested Bermuda carrots are a highly desired commodity. Friends tell friends, "Lindo's have carrots today," and we all rush to Lindo's to buy them. They are crunchy, sweet, and delicious. But fertile soil is shallow in Bermuda, so they are also very short and stubby. No longer do I peel long, slender, orange tapers, but struggle with thick roots that are about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. Still, they are carrots! And I'm happy. In honor of the carrot, and my hubby's February birthday, today I share with you his all-time favorite cake. Although not at all diet friendly despite the carrots, this is such a great recipe it made me love carrot cake for the cake and not just the cream cheese icing! When I bake it in Bermuda this month, though, I won't be grating any precious Bermuda carrots. I'll buy a bag of the imported grated ones. REALLY GREAT CARROT CAKECAKE:2 ¼ cups flour2 tsp baking soda2 tsp cinnamon1 tsp baking powder1 tsp salt1 ½ cups sugar3 eggs1 tsp vanilla1 cup vegetable oil2 cups finely grated carrots (about 6 medium North American carrots!)1 can (14 oz) crushed pineapple, drained1 cup shredded coconut1 cup chopped walnutsCREAM CHEESE ICING:1 pkg (250 gm) cream cheese, softened1/3 cup butter, softened1 tsp vanilla2 cups sifted icing sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13x9 inch baking pan and line the base with greased parchment.2. Stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.3. In a separate bowl and using an electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs on high speed until thickened and pale yellow. Beat in vanilla, then beat in oil in a thin stream until well combined.4. Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture, along with carrots, pineapple, coconut, and walnuts until well combined.5. Spoon batter into a prepared pan, smoothing surface with a spatula.6. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then remove from the pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.7. Icing: Using and electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, then beat in vanilla. On low speed, beat in icing sugar until smooth and fluffy. Spread frosting over top of cake.Makes 16 servings.
WHAT? NO CARROTS?by Lucy Arlington I don't know about...
by Lucy Arlington
I don't know about you, but carrots have always been a staple in our house. The one vegetable everyone would eat. Sweet and crunchy, carrots make a great snack. I put them in salads, soups, stews, muffins and cakes. Who could imagine life without carrots?
The first time I went grocery shopping in Bermuda (yes, I live part of the year on this lovely island) I could not find carrots. Not in the four different supermarkets I visited. You can imagine my puzzlement. I discovered that carrots are grown on the island, and because they are a local crop, grocers are not allowed to import them even when they aren't available from the farmers.
So now I generally make due with frozen carrots for stews and soups, and bags of grated carrots (which are allowed to be imported) for baking needs. Of course, the bunches of freshly harvested Bermuda carrots are a highly desired commodity. Friends tell friends, "Lindo's have carrots today," and we all rush to Lindo's to buy them. They are crunchy, sweet, and delicious. But fertile soil is shallow in Bermuda, so they are also very short and stubby. No longer do I peel long, slender, orange tapers, but struggle with thick roots that are about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. Still, they are carrots! And I'm happy.
In honor of the carrot, and my hubby's February birthday, today I share with you his all-time favorite cake. Although not at all diet friendly despite the carrots, this is such a great recipe it made me love carrot cake for the cake and not just the cream cheese icing! When I bake it in Bermuda this month, though, I won't be grating any precious Bermuda carrots. I'll buy a bag of the imported grated ones.
REALLY GREAT CARROT CAKE
CAKE:
2 ¼ cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 ½ cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups finely grated carrots (about 6 medium North American carrots!)
1 can (14 oz) crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
CREAM CHEESE ICING:
1 pkg (250 gm) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups sifted icing sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13x9 inch baking pan and line the base with greased parchment.2. Stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl and using an electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs on high speed until thickened and pale yellow. Beat in vanilla, then beat in oil in a thin stream until well combined.
4. Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture, along with carrots, pineapple, coconut, and walnuts until well combined.
5. Spoon batter into a prepared pan, smoothing surface with a spatula.
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then remove from the pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.
7. Icing: Using and electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, then beat in vanilla. On low speed, beat in icing sugar until smooth and fluffy. Spread frosting over top of cake.
Makes 16 servings.
Watch for News Next Tuesday!
Next Tuesday, I'll be posting about my booksignings & appearances in the Los Angeles area from February 10th through February 13th. Check out my website if you're curious now. www.maggiesefton.com. And, I'll be posting on Facebook as well. Meanwhile, have a great week!
COFFEE, TEA, OR . . . GEE WHIZ! How do I decide?
by Kate Collins
My daughter came to visit me recently. She's a huge fan of Starbucks, so one of our daily outings was to the local branch to get her a grande red eye in a venti cup with a cold soy topper or a dopio soy espresso machiatto. I think that's what she asked for, but don't quote me on it.
Going with her was quite a learning experience. On our first trip she ordered her uber-sophisticated coffee then turned to me and said, "What do you want, Mom?"
So there I stood like I'd just come out of a twenty-year coma, staring at all the choices on the board on the wall.
"Mom?" my daughter urged. "Hello?"
I could feel the eyes of everyone in line behind us burning holes in the back of my head.
"Coffee!" I blurted, feeling instantly relieved.
"Just plain coffee?" my Chicago-wise child asked, casting apologetic glances at the customers in line.
Hey, it's not like I don't know a good cup of coffee when I taste one. I've been to Paris, Rome, Athens . . . I know what genuine
gourmet espresso is and I have yet to find it in the States, unfortunately. So at home I make my own blend – and it doesn't cost me $3.50 for one cup.When I'm away from home and am forced to make such a weighty decision, I usually revert to the easiest choice – green tea. But now my daughter informs me that Chicago has a tea shop devoted to every known variety of loose leaf teas. The owners consider tea an art form.
My daughter wants to take me there. I'm afraid already.
What's your favorite – coffee, tea, or one of those ultra complicated specialty drinks? How about your favorite coffee shop? My daughter is always on the hunt for a new place to sample.
January 29, 2011
I'll Be Back
This post will be brief. Because I am having major shoulder trouble, my husband has banned me from my computer until I can type without pain. He had to rush to work so I am sneaking online to tell you that I will be back next week, hopefully in a lot less pain.
In the meantime, I can say that advance review copies have gone out for the book due out in April, The Cat, The Lady and The Liar. Dollycas read it and was kind enough to post her wonderful review on the Barnes and Noble's site as well as on Good Reads. She liked it! And my editor tells me it is her favorite of all the books I've written.
Better finish up before I get caught--but I have to say, maybe a week of not typing will give my arms muscles and tendons a break. Now, if I can STAND to sleep in the recliner. Yup. His idea.
The Kindness of Friends and Strangers
So, there we were Wednesday evening, reading the morning paper (yes, you read that right. We read USA Today in the morning and save the local rag for the evening) when our cat Chester jumped up to sit on Mr. L's lap.And missed.
Missed three times.
Later that evening, Chester started to stumble around and we knew something was terribly wrong.
According to an article in USA Today earlier this week, we're like millions of other fools who let our cats (and dogs) sleep with us. Well, Chester sleeps right between Mr. L and me. He got up to turn around and fell over.
We got up around five that morning and had a long three hours wait until the vet took calls at eight. And then, it was difficult to get through because every other cat owner with a sick kitty was trying to call at the same time. But by 8:14 I had a 10 am appointment. They said they were squeezing us in. We virtually never wait at the vet's office, but we got there 10 minutes early and had to wait another 15 for our turn.The vet picked up instantly that there was something wrong with him. She spent more than half an hour with him (did you know they can take a cat's blood pressure? Not easily but it can be done). She showed us how wonky his eyes were and said it looked neurological to her. But she wanted to do blood tests just to make sure. Of course, the next day the tests came back negative. (Our boy has never had a sick day in his life.) She thought he either had a stroke or has a brain tumor.
Not happy news. We've got an appointment for Monday with the traveling vet who comes to town only a couple of times a month and there might be an MRI in Chester's future. What the next step is . . . we're not sure. And we're scared of losing our boy.I posted about Chester on Thursday on my LLBartlett Facebook page, where I have very few friends (in comparison with my Lorna and Lorraine pages) and was astounded that so many people (more than 30) sent their regards.
My friends (and Cozy Chick) Ellery Adams and Dru-Ann Love (who reviews Cozies for us on the 15th of the month) posted about Chester on their pages, and the flood of sympathy and good wishes came through again. I'm so touched that so many people cared enough to comment. But then, so many of them have lived with the fear of losing, and/or losing a beloved pet themselves. We're kindred spirits us pet owners. We love our families and we love our pets with little distinguishing the two. Love is love, after all.
So now we live through the scary weekend and face up to whatever Mr. Vet From Cornell has to tell us on Monday. And if we hear bad news, I'll try to be brave and hold my kitty near and think about the kindness of my friends and the strangers who are all pulling for my boy.
Thank you.
January 28, 2011
Blast From the Past Snacks
Earlier this week, I found myself at a large gas station somewhere off I-75 in southern Georgia. It was one of those gas stations that have a restaurant (or two), a small grocery store (at least it seems like it), and even showers for those who spend most days on the road.It was a brief pit stop for me as I drove home from Florida. The rental car needed gas, and I had a serious case of the munchies. So I roamed the aisles, looking for snacks. Trust me when I say there was a lot to choose from. It was just a matter of picking between salty and sweet.
I went with salty (as I almost always do), and headed for the potato chips. I was trying to decide between Andy Capp's Hot Fries or Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream when I spotted them.
Them being taco-flavored Doritos. In the retro packaging, too! It flashed me right back to my childhood. I used to eat taco-flavored Doritos all the time as a kid. Apparently they're on shelves for a limited time only, and I knew I had to have them. I have to admit, they're not as good as I remember, but buying them was worth the little trip down memory lane.
Is there a snack food that brings you back to your childhood? Or one that you wish would make a reappearance?
January 26, 2011
Fabulous February
This is not a phrase you'd normally hear me speak. I don't like February. It's grey, rainy, icy, and cold. Just when you've had enough of winter, it stretches before you with only one bright spot: Valentine's Day. And the only bright spot about that silly holiday is candy!
So why is February fabulous this year? Because it's the perfect month to read. If you can read through February, you'll arrive atMarch and be granted a few teaser days of spring and the belief that you'll one day see flowers in the garden and feel sunlight on your skin.
Stay cozy this February by reading two fantastic new books by Lorraine Bartlett and Heather Webber. They're being released next week and you'll want to get your hands on a copy of each before they sell out!
A Crafty Killing: A Victoria Square Mystery – Lorraine Bartlett
First in a new series! The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. Business under Ezra has been faltering-but was it enough to provoke someone to murder? Only Kate can find the answer.
Absolutely, Positively – Heather Webber
Lucy Valentine is still searching for love—for her clients and for her self—and this time, she's about to go public with her private displays of affection…
"Exposed" by a Boston Herald reporter, Lucy is suddenly the talk of the town. Long back-story short: Even though the rest of her Valentine ancestors were blessed by Cupid with psychic abilities, Lucy's only special power lies in her ability to find things. This skill has proven quite a blessing for those who come to her matchmaking agency in search of finding their long-lost loves. Now that Lucy's secret is out, she has more new clients than she knows what to do with. But soon a certain man of mystery steals Lucy's spotlight…
So....are you tempted or have you already ordered one or both of these February treats?
