Sharon Ledwith's Blog, page 19
September 21, 2022
Book Tour: Uncommon by Justine Alley Dowsett and Murandy Damodred...
Uncommon by Justine Alley Dowsett & Murandy Damodred
About Uncommon:Rygal Saline has always stood in his sister’s shadow. As heir to the Clan Chief, Rhea has been trained in the art of leadership and warfare. Rygal is just, well, Rygal.
After several years away at a College in Ismera, Rygal returns to Jaram for his father’s funeral only to find a letter from his sister. She’s gone, she’s sorry, and she expects him to take her place as the next clan chief. Never envisioning a place for himself within the clan, let alone taking on the responsibilities of leadership, Rygal finds himself alone and out of his depth.
Desperate for companionship and for someone he can turn to for help, he writes a letter to every eligible maiden on the continent, hoping to find a wife. The letters travel far and wide. Most are rejected until an accident of fate sends Rygal’s letters into the hands of two women for whom they were never intended, setting in motion a plot that threatens to bring Clan Jaram to the brink of war.
Exclusive Excerpt:
Emily was a scullery maid. She knew this beyond a shadow of a doubt because her head was in a pot, her hands were raw and chafed, and she sat on the worn stone floor of the scullery, her legs splayed out to either side of the aforementioned pot, bracing it so she could reach the very bottom and scrub it until it shined. Or at least until it gleamed dully; the pots were getting old, like everything else in Hyatt House.
Nothing less would do. Not for Lady Dorothea Hyatt and not for Cook, who would swat Emily’s bottom with her long handled spoon if she so much as thought of doing less than was expected of her. Speaking of the cook…Emily ducked her head out of the oversized stock pot and listened for a moment. The kitchen beyond the partially open scullery door where the light was coming from was uncharacteristically silent. Maybe she fell asleep again.
Emily gave a sniff and could just make out a whiff of blueberry scones, fresh from the oven. Her stomach growled plaintively. She listened a moment longer, but didn’t hear any sounds of Cook pattering about, or even the woman’s snores, which were quite distinctive.
Curious and more than a little hungry, Emily got to her feet, leaving the scrubbing brush on the floor of the scullery. She wiped her hands on the front of her already filthy apron, and then darted to the faded wooden door for a look. Peeking her head slowly around the door, she found the kitchen devoid of people. There was no Cook in sight and no other staff either; not that that was odd, there were hardly enough of them left to bump into each other anymore.
Absently smoothing her unruly nest of curly red hair in a futile attempt to make herself look like she could possibly belong in a room where food was prepared, Emily strode purposefully into the old, but well-appointed kitchen. Her feet were chilled by the cool tiles of the kitchen floor through the holes in her worn stockings, while her nose led her to where the scones rested on the countertop.
She took a deep sniff, filling her belly with the warm fragrant fumes in case they were all she got, then after looking both ways she confirmed she was indeed alone before she reached out and snatched the smallest, most misshapen looking scone; the reject, the one nobody would miss. Emily was about to shove that scone between her meagre breasts to hide it and then scurry back to the scullery to devour it in secret, when the faintest hint of a conversation drew her attention beyond the world of misshapen scones and dirty dishes.
“No, there will be no discussion,” Dorothea’s voice rose to the point it could be heard clearly from the parlour, two rooms away. “Your services are simply no longer required.”
There are so few of us left now as it is. Emily worried her bottom lip, wondering which of the maids would be leaving this time. A list of possible victims floated through her mind. Old Victor? She considered the gruff old groundskeeper, who was surly to everyone but had always been kind to her in his own way. He’d let her pick flowers out of the gardens a time or two to decorate her little attic bedroom and he let her visit the stables sometimes to spend time with the horses.
Becca? Oh, I hope it isn’t Becca. Until recently, Becca had been the house’s chambermaid, responsible for cleaning rooms and turning down beds and such. But ever since Darla had been dismissed Becca had been doing double duty, serving at meals, taking care of the elderly Lady Anastasia, and handling tea service on top of her regular duties. From where Emily stood, Becca was indispensable, but there was no accounting for the thought process of a woman like Dorothea.
Emily was just about running out of potential subjects as the washing-woman already only came by on Sundays, when the person in question spoke and her thick, mannish voice gave her away as nothing else could have. “I’ll take my leave then,” Cook said, “but mark me, you won’t find anyone near as good willing to work for the pennies you provide. Perhaps you’re doing me a favour in the long run. I can make more coin elsewhere.”
Emily could just imagine the expression on Dorothea’s lined face. Her pursed lips and pinched brows over icy blue eyes. The wrinkles on her forehead pulled tight and straining against the clips that held her greying black hair in an immaculate bun without a single strand out of her control, despite the white strip that always made Emily think of a skunk and reminded her to always be wary of Dorothea’s temper.
“Perhaps,” Dorothea responded and it was not in agreement.
In her preoccupation, Emily had gotten right up to the pale blue kitchen door so she could better hear what was going on. Now, heavy footfalls warned her that somebody, probably Cook, was headed her way, and if she didn’t snap to she would be crushed by the door swinging inwards on its hinges.
Emily jumped backwards like a cat startled by a foreign object. She narrowly missed being struck by the door, but she hadn’t moved fast or far enough to avoid being spotted by Cook and she still held the incriminating scone tightly in her grimy fist.
Visit the Tour Hosts:
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2022/09/book-tour-host-schedule-uncommon-by.html
Book Details:
ASIN: B0B9V77GQH
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing; 1st edition
Publication Date: September 17, 2022
Print Length: 339 pages
Order Links:
Mirror World Publishing ebook: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/uncommon-ebook
Mirror World Publishing paperback: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/uncommon-paperback
Amazon US:
https://amzn.to/3QAtse1
Meet the Authors:
Justine Alley Dowsett (right) is the author of more than ten novels and one of the founders of Mirror World Publishing. Her books, which she often co-writes with her sister, Murandy Damodred (left), range from young adult science fiction to dark fantasy/romance. She earned a BA in Drama from the University of Windsor, honed her skills as an entrepreneur by tackling video game production, and now she dedicates her time to writing, publishing, and occasionally roleplaying with her friends.
With a background in Drama and Communications from the University of Windsor, Murandy Damodred enjoys fantasy fiction with strong romantic subplots. She is an avid role-player and is happiest when living vicariously through her characters. Though she'd rather think of herself as the heroine of her next novel, in the real world she is a nurse and a mom of two living in Windsor, Ontario.
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mirrorworldpublishing
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/mirrorworldpub
Amazon:
http://amzn.to/2obPWUL
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/28439132-mirror-world
Blog:
http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.wordpress.com/
Publisher Website:
http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-d6tf8fpn4_mjraKjM-hUQ
September 18, 2022
Start the Season with this Healthy Recipe and Venture into a Fantastical Young Adult Read this Fall...
I discovered this healthy recipe from an online diet and exercise program I purchased last year and loved it! It packs a different punch to your taste buds while providing a healthier choice to add to your personal menu. Who said a burrito needed to be unhealthy? This easy recipe provides anti-inflammatory properties from apple cider vinegar, immune boosting benefits from garlic, and healthy, inflammation-cooling fats from olive oil. Instead of heading to your local fast-food Mex-Tex joint, try making your own burrito at home.
Chipotle Chicken Wrap1 garlic clove1 tbsp. olive oil1 tsp. chili powder1 tsp. apple cider vinegarJuice from ½ lemonPinch of salt and pepper½ tsp. paprika4-6 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced1 cup romaine lettuce or spinach, chopped1 tbsp. shredded carrots½ cup quinoa, cooked, optionalSliced avocado, optional
Salsa
½ tomato, diced¼ onion, diced2 tbsp. chopped cilantroSqueeze of lemon juiceNote: you can use your favorite brand of salsa if you chooseMake your chipotle sauce first by blending blend together garlic, olive oil, chili powder, vinegar, lemon juice, paprika, salt and pepper until smooth (ideally in a blender). Use this sauce to marinate your chicken in a zip lock bag for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Mix together all of your salsa ingredients in a bowl.
Cook the chicken in a sauté pan until thoroughly cooked through, about 10 minutes.
Serve on a bed of lettuce with chicken and salsa on top. Add cooked quinoa and/or avocado if desired.
While you’re waiting for your healthy wrap to digest why not put your feet up and relax on the couch with a good book? May I suggest a visit to Fairy Falls, or if you’re feeling really adventurous, a trip back in time with The Last Timekeepers? Whichever you choose, either series will transport you to another time and place, taking you away from whatever troubles you.
Here’s a glimpse of the premises of both my young adult series:
The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventures…
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers—legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial—five classmates are sent into the past to restore balance, and bring order back into the world, one mission at a time.
Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are the only hope for our past.
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mysteries…
Imagine a teenager possessing a psychic ability and struggling to cope with its freakish power. There’s no hope for a normal life, and no one who understands. Now, imagine being uprooted and forced to live in a small tourist town where nothing much ever happens. It’s bores-ville from the get-go. Until mysterious things start to happen.
Welcome to Fairy Falls. Expect the unexpected.
The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventure Series:
The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave, Book #3
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The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, Book #2 Buy Links:
MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀
The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book #1 Buy Links:
MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀
Legend of the Timekeepers, prequel Buy Links:
MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mystery Series:
Lost and Found, Book One Buy Links:
MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE
Blackflies and Blueberries, Book Two Buy Links:
MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE
BONUS: Download the free PDF short story The Terrible, Mighty Crystal HERE
September 11, 2022
Guest Post: Are Friends Electric? Farewell, Fridge-Freezer... by Author Carol Browne
Humans tend to become emotionally attached to inanimate objects. People love their cars, for example. I don’t have a car, but I do have a fridge-freezer. Or rather, I did. It died on me this week, announcing its demise by tripping out all the lights and the other household appliances and sending me into a panic that had me phoning my landlord for help. He sent round an electrician who restored equilibrium to the fuse box and read the fridge-freezer its last rites. I joked with the electrician: “How dare it break down after twenty-eight years of constant service!” He agreed that they don’t make white goods like that anymore. But when he’d gone, I felt a bit sad. I remembered the day I bought that fridge-freezer brand new. I had escaped from a bad marriage and found a place to rent and was filling it with what I needed to start my new life. Things were not destined to go smoothly, however, and there were to be many house moves and relationships ahead. Throughout all those house moves my longest-lasting relationship has been with my fridge-freezer!
I sat at the kitchen table and reminisced. All the things I had been through over those twenty-eight years! And that fridge-freezer had stood without complaint in whatever kitchen it found itself in (and for a few years, in a draughty back porch). It moved between houses and bungalows, from the town to the countryside, bumping about in removal vans and trucks. Along the way it lost its pristine-white sheen and gathered fridge magnets like barnacles. Its edges became a little rusty, the shelves cracked and the little light no longer worked when the door was opened. But it steadfastly did its duty, a silent witness to the dramas around it and the passing of time. And sometimes when I woke in the night, its gurgling and purring sounds drifted from the kitchen to my room and reassured me, though I don’t know why. It was just a machine but somehow it had become a friend.
I remembered as a child the time before we even had a fridge and how difficult it was for my mother to keep food fresh. The day the first fridge arrived was everyone’s birthday come at once! It had an icebox and that meant ice cream! Nowadays, we take such devices for granted. What a shock it is when they stop working for us.
Yes, I had taken that fridge-freezer for granted. It never let me down until this week and I am lost without it until a replacement is delivered. We have been through a lot together and I know I will never see its like again. It will be a wrench to see it loaded onto yet another truck, because this time it won’t be going to another kitchen in another home. This time it will make its final journey when the city council hauls it away to put it out of its misery.
Yes, it’s an inanimate object, insensate and soulless and just a hulk made of plastic and metal, but I know that when they take it away, I will be thinking, “Goodbye, old friend. Thanks for everything. It’s been a blast.”
Once upon a time a little girl wrote a poem about a flower.Impressed, her teacher pinned it to the wall and, in doing so, showed the child which path to follow.
Over the years poems and stories flowed from her pen like magic from a wizard’s wand.
She is much older now, a little wiser too, and she lives in rural Cambridgeshire, where there are many trees to hug.
But inside her still is that little girl who loved Nature and discovered the magic of words.
She hopes to live happily ever after.
Stay connected with Carol on her website and blog , Facebook , and Twitter .
Fantasy author Carol Browne is a published author who is currently seeking an agent.
September 4, 2022
Enjoy a Breakfast Sandwich at the Cottage or Campground this Summer by Author Helen Carpenter...
Cheese sandwiches for breakfast anyone? Oh yes—and this simple-to-make chewy and crunchy cheese melt combo is the sandwich of choice. Chewy mozzarella, crunchy fresh green peppers and onions, spicy pepperoni, and Italian seasonings deliciously stacked on buttery English muffin rounds make breaking your night's fast a pleasure.
Melted Cheese Sandwich6 English muffins, store-bought or hand-baked
1 tbsp. butter, softened
12 slices (1-oz each) mozzarella cheese
1 sweet onion
1 large green pepper
6 oz. sliced pepperoni
Garlic salt
Italian seasoning
Split each muffin and lightly butter the outer side. Place one-half of each muffin buttered side down in frying pan.
Top each muffin half with 1 slice of mozzarella, 1 sweet onion ring, 1 green pepper ring, and 1 ounce of pepperoni. Season to taste with garlic salt and Italian seasoning. Add another layer of mozzarella. Place remaining half of muffin on top, buttered-side up.
Fry sandwiches in covered skillet, turning once, until cheese melts and sandwich is heated through. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Once upon a time there was a mother/daughter author duo named Helen and Lorri, who wrote as HL Carpenter. the Carpenters worked from their studios in Carpenter Country, a magical place that, like their stories was unreal but not untrue. Then one day Lorri left her studio to explore the land of What-If, and like others who have lost a loved one the magical place lost much of its magic. But thanks to family, plus an amazing group of wordsmiths named Authors Moving Forward (AMF), the magic is slowly returning.Helen Carpenter loves liking and sharing blog posts from other authors. She lives in Florida with her husband of many years and appreciates everyday, especially those without hurricanes.
Stay connected on her blog and Facebook.
August 28, 2022
The Perils of Passwords by Author C.D. Hersh...
Love them or hate them we have to live with them.
Our lives have come down to passwords. If you can’t remember them you can’t get into any of your social media applications. You can’t pay your bills or access your email and in some cases your smart phone.
Google “passwords” and you get 41M plus hits that encompass anything from password managers to safes to recovery programs and generators. Passwords are big business and if you don’t have them, as mentioned above, you have problems.
Protection has always been of importance even to the early cave dwellers. If your cave wasn’t high up a cliff anyone could just walk in and take the meat you had killed the day before. As time progressed man became smarter about keeping things safe. Today to keep things safe we have whole home systems that monitor 24/7. However, that still doesn’t cover the ones you need when you want to tweet or get money out of the ATM.
One solution is to spend big bucks for a password generator and then have a password keeper to store the various passwords you have to maintain. Here is a simple password generator and keeper that only costs a dollar per password.
You say that can’t be.
Pull out a George Washington from your purse or wallet. Take a close look at the bill. You can use any denomination but to keep costs down George is the one to go with. Notice the ten digit serial number? That’s the password generator.
There are two ways to use this generator. One is to use the numbers printed on the bill. Which might not be as secure as the method we’ll explain next. Of course, with systems today you have to use more than numbers and sometimes even special characters. We’ll get to those in a minute.
To generate the letters from the serial number start with the first letter of the serial number. If the next number is an even number, move forward in the alphabet that many letters and use it as a capital. If the number is odd move backwards and use it as lower case. When the number is zero use the same letter, you just used only different case. Do this for each successive number and you will have a string of randomized letters, ten characters long.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
For example, if the serial number on your bill is K94785309C you come up with the ten characters as KbFyGbyYpC. When you get to A or Z you continue at the beginning or end to continue your count. Your random password is now generated.
If you need special characters, they usually include the @, #, $ or &. Insert them in order between the upper and lower case letters. Thus, the fourteen-character password we have now generated is K@b#F$y&GbyYpC.
If the serial number is E54522034B then you get E@z#D$y&ACCzDB. Once the special characters are used, don’t repeat them again in that password. Mix in other special characters that are allowed, as you desire.
What about the password keeper you ask? That’s the dollar bill you used to generate the password. Use a post-it-note to put the name of the social media or other account name on the bill. Put it in a second wallet in a secure place until it is time to update your password on that account. That dollar is not spendable for you and is why this all costs a dollar per account.
Of course, once you have all your account passwords set up, the next time you update your password is free as you change the dollars out. Hope this is helpful to you.
Let us know if this works for you or you have another idea in the comments below.
If this piques your interest, then the links for our books are on our Amazon Author Page
C.D. Hersh–Two hearts creating everlasting love stories.
Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after. They have a short Christmas story, Kissing Santa, in a Christmas anthology titled Sizzle in the Snow: Soul Mate Christmas Collection, with seven other authors. Plus, their paranormal series titled The Turning Stone Chronicles.
They are looking forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life.
August 21, 2022
Cover Reveal: Uncommon by Justine Alley Dowsett and Murandy Damodred...
Uncommon by Justine Alley Dowsett & Murandy Damodred
About Uncommon:
Rygal Saline has always stood in his sister’s shadow. As heir to the Clan Chief, Rhea has been trained in the art of leadership and warfare. Rygal is just, well, Rygal.
After several years away at a College in Ismera, Rygal returns to Jaram for his father’s funeral only to find a letter from his sister. She’s gone, she’s sorry, and she expects him to take her place as the next clan chief. Never envisioning a place for himself within the clan, let alone taking on the responsibilities of leadership, Rygal finds himself alone and out of his depth.
Desperate for companionship and for someone he can turn to for help, he writes a letter to every eligible maiden on the continent, hoping to find a wife. The letters travel far and wide. Most are rejected until an accident of fate sends Rygal’s letters into the hands of two women for whom they were never intended, setting in motion a plot that threatens to bring Clan Jaram to the brink of war.
Visit the Tour Hosts:
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2022/08/cover-reveal-host-schedule-uncommon-by.html
Book Details:
ASIN: B0B9V77GQH
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing; 1st edition
Publication Date: September 17, 2022
Print Length: 339 pages
Pre-Order Links:
Mirror World Publishing ebook: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/uncommon-ebook
Mirror World Publishing paperback: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/uncommon-paperback
Amazon US:
https://amzn.to/3QAtse1
Meet the Authors:
Justine Alley Dowsett (right) is the author of more than ten novels and one of the founders of Mirror World Publishing. Her books, which she often co-writes with her sister, Murandy Damodred (left), range from young adult science fiction to dark fantasy/romance. She earned a BA in Drama from the University of Windsor, honed her skills as an entrepreneur by tackling video game production, and now she dedicates her time to writing, publishing, and occasionally roleplaying with her friends.
With a background in Drama and Communications from the University of Windsor, Murandy Damodred enjoys fantasy fiction with strong romantic subplots. She is an avid role-player and is happiest when living vicariously through her characters. Though she'd rather think of herself as the heroine of her next novel, in the real world she is a nurse and a mom of two living in Windsor, Ontario.
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mirrorworldpublishing
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/mirrorworldpub
Amazon:
http://amzn.to/2obPWUL
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/28439132-mirror-world
Blog:
http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.wordpress.com/
Publisher Website:
http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-d6tf8fpn4_mjraKjM-hUQ
August 14, 2022
Power of the Witch: Curses, Spells, and Love by YA Author Leigh Goff...
The light of Protection, I carry it strong.
No ill wishes or trouble, can come along.
You cannot harm me, or weaken my soul.
My light is my weapon, and peace is my goal.
–Author Unknown
What is a witch, but a powerful woman? In my stories what makes her powerful is more than magic. It is the willingness to sacrifice herself for the ones she loves. It is the ability to face her fears with courage she didn’t know she had. It’s also having the heart to tap into her talents when needed, and if that includes spell casting and curse breaking at any cost, so be it.
Because of reader interest in the witches’ spells in my books, I compiled a few from Disenchanted and Bewitching Hannah to share. In my latest novel, KOUSH HOLLOW, the magic comes from the women of the bayou–it embodies the mysticism of the Deep South and is equally powerful.
DISENCHANTED
Sixteen-year-old Sophie Goodchild from the wickedly wonderful town of Wethersfield, Connecticut struggles with her magic as she finds forbidden love along with a centuries-old true love curse. Here are a few spells, some spoken in Latin, from Disenchanted.
“Ictus.” Sophie hopes for a windstorm when she encounters a boy who should be her family enemy, but she’s love struck and only flower petals rain down on her and Alexavier.
“Verum.” Sophie casts this spell on the boy she thinks she must hate, but instead of him speaking the truth, a heart shape appears in the bark of a mulberry tree trunk behind him. The tree is significant in this story as it is in Pyramus and Thisbe. They are the ill-fated couple, like Romeo and Juliet, and they planned to meet under a mulberry tree.
“Semper memoriam tui delebo Diamond”- She commands Judge Mather to forget about the rare red diamond used as a blood charm that has caused so much trouble.
BEWITCHING HANNAH
When an ancient prophecy reveals the rise of a young, powerful Chesapeake witch and the impending death of another, sixteen-year-old Hannah Fitzgerald realizes she can no longer repress the magic that has taken away so much. There’s also the Grey witch’s Arundell Curse plaguing Hannah and her mysterious love interest, W.
“By the power of fire, I do summon and churn, and call thee forth to blaze and burn.” Hannah casts this spell, needing heat from her hands to burn through a seatbelt when she’s trapped in a fiery wreck.
Her frenemy, Arora, demonstrates her dark magic when she captures an insect and kills it with this spell, “By my command and desire, your pesky little death I require.”
The nefarious Emme using magic to fight with Hannah says, “For the trouble you have inflicted on me, double shall I inflict on you.” She snaps Hannah’s icy doppleganger statue in half and Hannah doubles over in agony.
KOUSH HOLLOW
As Jenna Ashby, the sixteen-year-old eco-warrior, is introduced to the Diamonds & Pearls, her mother’s exclusive New Orleans social club, she comes to the troubling realization that secrets are a way of life in Koush Hollow. She’s also cursed with her cold, narcissistic mother, Rayna, who’s ambitions are limitless.
In the excerpt below, Jenna is drawn to Voodoo priestess, Mama Ismay. She watches her create a mystical potion using bayou magic, but then Jenna is left with more questions than answers when she sees what’s in the mysterious aquarium.
EXCERPT
Mama Ismay reached for another bottle. The blue-green liquid within shimmered. “From da horseshoe crab.” She dripped blood into the malevolent liquid. From a bowl, she scooped silver-colored flakes and tossed them into the flames followed by a fistful of fine blue crystals.
I had to know. “Copper chloride?”
“Feu bleu. Blue fire.” Orange flames flashed to a cerulean blue and burned hot enough to heat my face from a distance. She sprinkled a fine pink powder onto a conch shell and held it over the fire for a few seconds while chanting.
“What are you saying?”
She raised the shell over her head. “I am summonin’ da magic of my ancestor spirits who came before me.” She dropped the whole shell into the pot and turned to me.
I lifted my eyebrows with surprise. Did she really believe she could summon magic from dead people?
“How did you find us?” A crease appeared between her brows. “I doubt our location was given readily.”
I stared, mesmerized by the mystical concoction, steam rising from its gurgling depths as it reduced over the crackling, blue fire. “I, um, did my research.”
“Dat’s what scientists do, no?”
I wasn’t sure about her so-called magic, but she was using quite a bit of science herself with that potion. Her expression left me wondering. “I know we don’t know each other that well, but you look like there’s something troubling you.”
“You shouldn’t have come here.” She covered the pot with a grassy cloth and headed to another room. I followed.
“Why not? I had a lot of questions and I felt you were the only one to answer them.”
Next to a chair covered in oyster shells was an antique aquarium with beautiful, brass seahorse legs and brass oyster-shaped lights that illuminated the water. Within the water delicate, glass spheres the size of golf balls in varied pastel hues floated up and down in a slow, rhythmic pattern, never reaching the surface. I stood over it for a better look. An unexpected wave of heat rose up and warmed my cheeks. “What is this?”
She snatched a dried, green strip from the table next to her and snapped off a mouthful. “Sea grass jerky. Want a piece?”
“No thanks.” My gaze returned to the mysterious floating balls. “I mean, why are there balls in a fish tank and what’s in them?”
“Da balls contain somethin’ more precious dan air.” She stepped closer and hovered her hands over the water and when she turned back to me, her cheeks were flushed with color.
AMAZON BUY LINKS Koush Hollow Bewitching Hannah Disenchanted
Leigh Goff loves writing young adult fiction with elements of magic and romance because it's also what she liked to read. Born and raised on the East Coast, she now lives in Maryland where she enjoys the area's great history and culture.
Leigh is a graduate of the University of Maryland, University College and a member of the Maryland Writers' Association and Romance Writers of America. She is also an approved artist with the Maryland State Arts Council. Her debut novel, Disenchanted, was inspired by the Wethersfield witches of Connecticut and was released by Mirror World Publishing. Leigh is currently working on her next novel, The Witch's Ring which is set in Annapolis.
Learn more about Leigh Goff on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest , and Goodreads .
August 7, 2022
Recipe and a Read: Healthy Baked Salmon and a Time Travel Romance by Author Stella May...
Honestly, I don’t like to cook fish, especially salmon, but this recipe almost cooks itself. Yes, it’s that easy. This recipe works great with a whole fillet, individual ones, or steaks. Give it a try.
Baked Salmon in Lemon Juice
1 salmon fillet1 or 2 lemonsSalt and pepper to taste, optional Pre-heat oven to 350° F.
Wash and dry salmon. If you use a whole fillet, cut into serving size pieces for easier handling. Lay fish into any ovenproof dish that has a cover or use an aluminum foil lined cookie sheet then cover the salmon with heavy aluminum foil.
Pour fresh squeezed lemon juice over fish. It must be half covered in liquid. Cover tightly with a lid or aluminum foil.
Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
You can sprinkle salt and pepper on before you bake the fish, but I prefer to cook it without.
And that’s it. Hope you enjoy this dish as much as my family does.
Here is a peek at Stella’s time travel romance for your reading pleasure.
One key unlocks the love of a lifetime…but could also break her heart.
Nika Morris’s sixth sense has helped build a successful business, lovingly restoring and reselling historic homes on Florida’s Amelia Island. But there’s one forlorn, neglected relic that’s pulled at her from the moment she saw it. The century-old Coleman house.
Quite unexpectedly, the house is handed to her on a silver platter—along with a mysterious letter, postmarked 1909, yet addressed personally to Nika. Its cryptic message: Find the key. You know where it is. Hurry, for goodness sake!
The message triggers an irresistible drive to find that key. When she does, one twist in an old grandfather clock throws her back in time, straight into the arms of deliciously, devilishly handsome Elijah Coleman.
Swept up in a journey of a lifetime, Nika finds herself falling in love with Eli—and with the family and friends that inhabit a time not even her vivid imagination could have conjured. But in one desperate moment of homesickness, she makes a decision that will not only alter the course of more than one life, but break her heart.
’Til Time Do Us Partis available in Kindle and Paperback at AMAZON.
Talented author Stella May is the penname for Marina Sardarova who has a fascinating history you should read on her website. Stella writes fantasy romance as well as time travel romance. She is the author of 'Till Time Do Us Part, Book 1 in her Upon a Time series, and the stand-alone book Rhapsody in Dreams. Love and family are two cornerstones of her stories and life. Stella’s books are available in e-book and paperback through all major vendors.
When not writing, Stella enjoys classical music, reading, and long walks along the ocean. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Leo of 35 years and their son George. They are her two best friends and are all partners in their family business.
Follow Stella on her website and blog Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
July 31, 2022
Come Celebrate Canada’s Civic Holiday in Cottage Country…
Pretty much every province or state has an area tourists flock to during the warmer summer months and long weekends. You know what I mean. A town or place where travelers arrive to put up their feet and let their hair down for the holidays. In my home province of Ontario in Canada, we have plenty of those nostalgic vacay spots. Towns swell to almost ten times their size when the kids get out for the summer until they return to reality at the beginning of September. However, there’s one town that’s near and dear to my heart they’ll never find on any map or GPS system: Fairy Falls—the setting for my teen psychic mysteries series.
I actually envisioned Fairy Falls from what I remembered of a tourist town during the early 1970s, while we were visiting a friend’s cottage. This town has since grown, but some small cottage towns never grew much, and when major highways were built to take on more traffic, these towns were bypassed, and much of their economy suffered. Call it the pros and cons of progress, but I think much of the innocence was lost to those quaint, tourist towns when change was forced upon them.
I didn’t want to lose that ‘small, tourist town feeling’ when I created Fairy Falls. True, change is good, but there’s something about going to a tourist town and connecting with the people living there that somehow leaves you feeling better than you did before you arrived. I also wanted to be realistic in the fact that growth is a necessary part of life, and Fairy Falls will have to deal with all kinds of challenges that will create conflict and divide the residents, believing that they are doing what’s best for their hometown.
So what would I recommend tourists see or do in Fairy Falls? When we used to live in cottage country, we’d visit the local bakery in the tiny town five minutes south of us. The smell of fresh baking does something to a body. Sometimes it takes you back to when life was simpler. The downtown core of Fairy Falls hosts such a bakery, and is situated so you can sit at one of the ample tables beside the Vista River and enjoy your sweet treat, while watching the boats slowly putt by. Or better yet, book a boat tour to go on a three-hour cruise that takes you through a lock system, and into Blueberry Lake. Don’t forget to wave at Gertie Ellis if you catch a glimpse of her on the shoreline while she’s inspecting her blueberry bushes.
Other draws to this tourist haven include The Court Jester, the local bar and grill, serving up down-home, mouth-watering food that you can’t get anywhere else. I suggest you try their Jester Burger, topped with a slice of Canadian back bacon and pepper jack cheese, piled high with onions, garlic, and mushrooms, all fresh from the Fairy Falls Farmers’ Market. Add a pint of locally brewed Blackfly beer, and this meal will bring tears of joy to your eyes! Sit on the patio and enjoy the view of the Vista River where it may transport you to back to those good old days, and happy childhood memories. Oh, and make sure you don’t forget to stop by the Fairy Falls Farmers’ Market on Saturdays to score a deal from one of the crafters, produce, or food stands. Tell them Sharon sent you…
Before you go, I’ve got a bonus treat for you that you can enjoy for the rest of the summer and beyond. Most of the ingredients can be found at any tourist town farmer’s market, but trust me, Gertie Ellis’s maple syrup and blueberries are to die for! Plus, the fact that fresh fruit is in season makes this tasty delight a lot easier to create. Happy holidays and enjoy wherever you vacation!
Maple Blueberry Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup blueberry yogurt 3/4 cup low-fat milk 1 tablespoon maple syrup 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 cups frozen or fresh blueberriesMaterials:
Measuring cups Measuring spoons BlenderDirections:
In a blender, combine the yogurt, milk, syrup and cinnamon. Add blueberries and blend until smooth. Garnish with fruit. Cheers!
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mystery Series:
Lost and Found, Book One Buy Links:
MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE׀
Blackflies and Blueberries, Book Two Buy Links:
MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE׀
July 24, 2022
A Recipe and A Read: Southern Style Tomato Gravy and a Cozy Mystery by Author Emma (Janis) Lane...
I’m a displaced Georgia Peach living in Western New York and hardly ever saying “y’all” anymore. But I must share a delicious recipe from my past that my family and I still enjoy often.
If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re in for a treat. I warn you though, there are as many recipe variations for this gravy as the imagination can handle. The same is true for its uses. My hubby likes to whip up tomato gravy from the drippings of bacon or sausages. From there the choices to use this amazing gravy are many: over meat loaf, over fresh biscuits, over meat such as pork chops, southern fried steak, etc. I love mine over rice or grits. Another version is a favorite that’s a quickie made from V8 juice.
Here is a sample of one of the many ways to create one of the secrets of Southern Cooking. Feel free to improvise and create your own version and favorite.
TOMATO GRAVY
2 tomatoes or 1 can stewed tomatoes2 heaping tbsp. all-purpose flour2 tbsp. bacon or sausage drippings1 cup water or milk½ tsp. sugarSalt and/or pepper to taste2 green onions, chopped fine for garnish1 tbsp. parsley, chopped for garnish Optional Ingredients
Dash of garlic powder or onion powderPeel and chop tomatoes, set aside.
Measure flour to exact number of drippings, tablespoon to tablespoon, Add to hot drippings in stovetop skillet. Stir well to make a paste or roux. Cook on medium heat until thickened.
Add chopped tomatoes or chopped stewed tomatoes with juice, stir frequently.
Slowly add small amount of milk or water and thin to desired consistency. If you add milk to your tomato soup, you’ll no doubt prefer your gravy that way as well.
Add sugar, salt and/or pepper, and any of the optional ingredients. Heat through. Pour gravy into a serving bowl. Cascade garnish over the top and serve.
The V8 Recipe is simple. Add one heaping tablespoon of flour to cold juice. Stir to avoid lumps. Cook, stirring frequently, until desired thickness. Add a bit of salt and pepper. It hardly needs additional for extra flavor, but you will find your own preferences as you sample. Enjoy.
It brings out the delicious taste if you say “y’all” three times before you eat. Yes, ma’am!
Y’all come back now. 😊
Here is a peek at my latest cozy mystery for your reading enjoyment.
When is it not fun to be a blond? What happens when a blond beauty hits town like a tornado stirring up memories and causing turmoil? Detective Kevin Fowler and his wife, the former Beverly Hampton, owner of the local newspaper, are settling into blissful married life. Although Beverly is sanguine over the demand on Kevin’s time by the good people of Hubbard, she is more than dubious when his duties include the escort of a drop-dead gorgeous female from his past.
There is some concern over the persistent vandalism of residential mailboxes, but an infamous arsonist has decided peaceful but dull Hubbard would make a great place from which to operate. He brazenly locates down the block from the detective and his wife.
What bait and tackle shop in the village has a dual purpose? Kevin ponders why two goons have invaded town shooting at and attempting to kidnap and murder three women. A state patrolman, aptly nick named Rooster, teases Fowler at the riotous scene of a traffic accident where the press, not the police, wins the day.
Another mystery and adventure with a satisfying ending that unfolds in peaceful Hubbard, New York, small-town Americana, where Detective Kevin Fowler keeps an ever-vigilant watch.
Emma Lane is a gifted author who writes cozy mysteries as Janis Lane, Regency as Emma, and spice as Sunny Lane.
She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own.
Look for information about writing and plants on Emma's new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma's face.
Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter . Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest .
