Sharon Ledwith's Blog, page 9

I’m Celebrating Victoria Day by Getting Grilled in My Author Life…

Recently, I wascornered, er asked to have a chit-chat with Mirror World Publishing’spromotional specialist, Rhiannon Lotze. Though this interview appeared on theirblog at the end of February 2024, I thought it would be appropriate to sharethis Q&A with my readers on the Victoria Day holiday here in Canada. So, ifyou’re opening the cottage, setting up your trailer at the campground, or inyour backyard garden getting your hands dirty, take a break, grab a chair andyour favourite beverage, then relax to find out what the next chapter of myauthor life looks like in the near future. Cheers, and enjoy the grilling…

Mostauthors are also avid readers. Would you also consider yourself to be an avidreader? What was the first book you remember that you couldn’t put down?

Actually, no. I’m a slow reader, so it takes a lot of time for me to read, saya 300-page book. So, I select my books wisely – sometimes buying them ahead oftime for research purposes – or what other readers have recommended. The firstbook I couldn’t put down? Hmm. Hard question! I’d have to say the time travelromance, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon,where I paced myself every night, and absorbed the story in my own time. Punintended.

What would you say were your first earlyexperiences that showed you the power of language and writing? 

In high school, a girlfriend of mine had a way with words. Even when she wrotea letter or poem, she chose her words carefully, and from the heart. I wished Icould write like that; to easily articulate stories or poems like she did. Ittook quite a few years for me to jump into the writing pool and try my hand atwriting a book, but I got up the courage in my mid-thirties, and took that leapof faith.

Finding time to write can be a struggle for plentyof authors. How do you maximize your writing time? What would you consider“maximization” when it comes to your particular style of writing?

I’ve been retired for over twenty years, so I plan my days where I’m eitherwriting or editing or creating a blog post or ad blurb. I find scheduling mywriting time in a day planner helps tremendously. When I first started writing(mid 90s), I used to drop my son off at school, then go home and hone my crafton the days I was off from working at our graphic trade business.

To be honest, I do have a problemwith ‘maximization’, as I attend to checking emails, sharing author friends’posts, and promoting my books first, before I sit down and actually write inthe day. Guess I’d better revisit my priorities! LOL! I’m a very intuitiveplotter with a touch of the methodical thrown into the mix. So, even if I plot outa book, my muse eventually hijacks the story, and takes me in anotherdirection. Gotta love when that happens!

Do you normally think of the plot first or thecharacters first? Can you describe your process for developing the stories youwrite?

I think of both, actually. Presently, I’m writing two young adult book serieswith Mirror World Publishing. The Last Timekeepers time travel adventuresinclude the same cast of main characters, though the POV switches with eachbook. My other series, Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls, are stand-alone bookswith a different psychic teen solving a mystery in the small tourist town ofFairy Falls. Though, each character from my teen psychic mysteries makes acameo in the next book, the story focuses on the new character and thechallenges she or he face possessing a psychic ability. It’s quite exciting andfun to keep those characters moving forward.

 I’m a very organized person, so Iplanned each book out for both book series, and created a master list. It’squite fluid, so if something changes, or I get a better idea for a title orpremise of each book, I can easily add or change it in the documents. When I’mready to sit down and plot out the next book in the queue, I pull out mycharacter tracking sheets, a pad of lined paper, and get to work developing thestory. There’s a lot of research involved in both series, so I make sure I’vegot most of the information needed before I start. If it sounds like a lot ofwork, it is, but the end results are so rewarding! 

What are three things you must have in yourwriting space to stay focused?

Single Malt Scotch. LOL! Kidding. Definitely a bottle of water (or sometimes atea or coffee depending on the time of day). My office door must be shut (Ilike quiet when I write). And a few healthy snacks in my desk drawer likealmonds or walnuts, and a bar of dark chocolate. Face it. When you’re hungry,your mind is not focused on your story. Wink. 

How often do you take risks in your writing? Haveyou ever tried something risky that turned out really well or really poorly?

I don’t take too many risks, but I’ve changed directions in where I want totake both my series. I’ve always included characters with diverse ethnic backgroundsand cultures, as well as feature characters with different gender identities.This is our world now, and I love the cornucopia of expressions offered by eachand every one of my characters who can shine their own light in a sometimesharsh and dark world. Risk comes with rewards, so even sitting at my keyboardand writing something completely out of my comfort zone is a risk I’m willingto take. Whether it ends really well or really poorly, I’m more concerned withgetting the message out of my bones, and onto the screen or paper. It’s socathartic.

If there’s one thing you could change in thepublishing industry, what would it be?

The ridiculous amount of book marketing authors must do. LOL! Noseriously. It’s crazy!

You enjoy writing about topics that revolve aroundthings like mysteries and legends and the arcane, just to name a few. Whattopic or theme would you like to explore in your magnum opus?

I’m working up to that with the two book series I have on the go. Once they’refinished, I want to develop a trilogy based on how humanity is growing andevolving, and what’s next for us. I’ve actually written ideas and book titlesfor this magnum opus, and hope I livelong enough to breathe life into this unique creative endeavor. Fingerscrossed!

Writing is a craft that is typically learned andhoned over many years of practice. If you could pick one famous author (dead oralive) to mentor you, who would it be?

Wow, tough question! You know, I would love to be mentored by Rick Riordan, who’screated this whole mythical universe of characters and their stories, and hasan enterprise based on his book series that’s geared for middle grade and youngadult readers. Love the humour and wit he injects in all of his books. Plus, hehas an ‘in’ with the Disney Corporation. Sign me up!

How would you define success as a writer?

That I basically learned the craft of writing a novel from the ground up. Ittook fifteen years of practice, patience, and perseverance to actually get myfirst book published. Truthfully, many people would have given up. Writing isnot only an investment in yourself, it’s an investment in your readers. It’s aprocess that you have to LOVE, no matter what. So, just showing up for myselfas a writer, getting the work done, and believing in my ultimate goal of reachingreaders throughout the world is success to me. The gravy part of this journeyis creating long term relationships with those readers, and getting paid forjust being me.

Do you have anything else to add?

First, I want to thank youfor interrogating, er I mean interviewing me, Rhiannon. Your questions are allthought-provoking and insightful. I just have an update in my writing world.Shortly, I’ll be submitting the third installment of Mysterious Tales of FairyFalls titled, Stick and Stones, forpublication in 2025. It’s about fourteen-year-old Thane Berg, who’s beenforced to live with his estranged father in Fairy Falls, and how he deals withhis unique gift of psychokinesis (the ability to move objects and bend metals). Then, it’s on to book fourof my time travel saga, The LastTimekeepers and the Reluctant Scribe, which will feature Treena Mui’s POV.There’s gonna be a lot of research for this tale, with tons of twists,entanglements, and of course my brand of humour. Stay tuned, and happy reading,everyone!

Submission Alert: Mirror World Publishing is Accepting Submissions for Against All Odds Anthology...

Submissions for Against All Odds, the third volume of Mirror World Publishing's Far, Far Away series is now open! 

Contest opened May 1st, 2024 and Mirror World Publishing will be accepting submissions until the end of May. 
This post has everything you need to know about what Mirror World Publishing is looking forand how to submit your work!
What Mirror World Publishing is looking for: 
Short stories and novellas ranging between 5000 to 25,000 words that are science fiction, fantasy, adventure, time travel, romance, or some combination of the above that focus on a theme of love against the odds. This includes love in dangerous places and times, love between diverse or marginalized populations, love in unlikely or unusual circumstances.

Mirror World Publishing is looking for original, unpublished works and as always they prefer stories with engaging openings, character-driven stories, and quality world-building.

There is a fee of $25 CAD to enter, but all money raised will go toward prizes for the winning entries as well as production of the book, Against All Odds: Far, Far Away Vol. 3,  to be released next summer.

Winning entries will receive: 
A contract for publication in Against All Odds + a minimum prize of $75 CAD + 1 Author Copy of the finished paperback, and option to order more copies at wholesale cost

As always, submissions and inquiries are to be sent to submissions[at]mirrorworldpublishing.com. Or by filling out this entry form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAyVtxZIlrfOwO_Wf5iiMMfwTHM-GrcViij_3N7nHzJSk9lw/viewform?usp=sf_link

If you’re not a writer, or don’t plan to enter but still want to support the creation of Against All Odds, please consider donating through this link: https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/product/against-all-odds-anthology-contest-entry/112

Or purchasing an ebook or paperback copy of Far, Far Away (vol. 1) or From Here to There (vol.2) in our store and we’ll put aside all profit form these titles in the month of May to go toward the contest and production of Against All Odds (Vol. 3)!

Connect with Mirror World Publishing:
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/mirrorworldpublishing

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/mirrorworldpub

BLOG: http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.wordpress.com

PUBLISHER WEBSITE: http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-d6tf8fpn4_mjraKjM-hUQ

STORE: https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com...

Links for Volumes 1 & 2:
FAR, FAR AWAY, Vol. 1

Paperback: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/far-far-away-anthology-paperback

Ebook: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/far-far-away-anthology-ebook

FROM HERE TO THERE, Vol. 2

Paperback: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/from-here-to-there-anthology-paperback

Ebook: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/from-here-to-there-anthology-ebook

Author in the Kitchen: Sweet Treat from the Deep South and a Sultry Southern Read by YA Paranormal Author Leigh Goff...

Here is a dessert I confiscated and made my own. This New Orleans treat is perfect on a special night for two as well as holiday gatherings and everything in between.

Here are a few tips to make preparing this dessert easier:

Soak the raisins in bourbon before you start this recipe. You can even soak them a day or two ahead.

The bread you use should be a little dry. If the bread you are using is fresh, after you cube it, spread it out on a sheet pan and put it in a 200° F oven for 10 minutes.

Go easy on the bourbon sauce. It is strong! But so delicious.

Bread Pudding
1 cup raisins
¼ cup bourbon whiskey
1 loaf French bread, at least a day old, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 qt. milk
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. allspice
¼ – ½ tsp. cinnamon
3 tbsp. butter, melted

Combine raisins and bourbon in a small bowl. Cover and soak for 1 to 2 hours or until the raisins have absorbed most of the bourbon.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Pour milk into a large bowl. Add bread and press into milk with your hands or a large spoon until all the milk is absorbed.

In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until frothy. Whisk in sugar, vanilla, allspice, and cinnamon. Pour over bread mixture. Add bourbon-soaked raisins, with or without the remaining soaking liquid. Stir gently to combine.

Pour melted butter onto bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Coat the bottom and the sides of the pan well with the butter. Pour in bread mixture then egg mixture.

Bake 35 – 45 minutes, until liquid has set. The pudding is done when the edges are just brown and pulling away from the pan edge.

Bourbon Sauce
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
½ cup Kentucky bourbon whiskey, amount according to taste

Make the bourbon sauce while the bread pudding is cooking.

Melt butter in a saucepan on low heat. Whisk in sugar and egg. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove pan from heat.

Do not allow mixture to simmer! Or the sauce will curdle. By the way, if your sauce curdles, just take it off the heat and blend it smooth in a blender.

Whisk in bourbon. Whisk again before serving. The sauce should be soft, creamy, and smooth.

Serve with whiskey sauce on the side. This dessert is best eaten the day it is made.

Please allow me to share a sneak peek of my Southern Gothic book while you enjoy your pudding.

Koush Hollow:
Where bayou magic abounds and all that glitters…is deadly.

After her father’s untimely death, Jenna Ashby moves to Koush Hollow, a bayou town outside of New Orleans, dreading life with her wealthy mother.

As the sixteen-year-old eco-warrior is introduced to the Diamonds & Pearls, her mother’s exclusive social club, she comes to the troubling realization that secrets are a way of life in Koush Hollow.

 How do the Diamonds & Pearls look so young, where does their money come from, and why is life along the bayou disappearing?

As Jenna is drawn into their seductive world, her curiosity and concerns beg her to uncover the truth. However, in this town where mysticism abounds and secrets are deadly, the truth is not what Jenna could have ever imagined.

Available in Audiobook, E-book, and Paperback

Leigh Goff writes young adult fiction. She is a graduate from the University of Maryland and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).

Born and raised on the East Coast, she now lives in Maryland where she enjoys the area's great history and culture.

Her third young adult novel, Koush Hollow, a Southern gothic set in New Orleans, will release on September 1, 2020 from The Parliament House.

Learn more about Leigh Goff on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest , and Goodreads .

Author in the Garden by Cozy Mystery Writer and Garden Guru Emma Lane...

Years ago, when webought an old house, we promptly began the task of remuddling. Yes, notremolding, but muddling. We were careful to check out similar homes in the area, so we didn’t change it too much. But I had deck on my mind and no house likeours was showing anything similar to a deck. We had a lot of things to dobefore frivolous building could begin, but I was impatient. In my mind it wasalready there. 

So, I picked out my first privacy plant. It wasan ordinary lavender lilac, a puny thing I dug up from my better half’schildhood home. Only in my imagination was it a visible noise barrier from thebusy highway out front. 

Oh, I petted it andgave it water during that first hot summer. By the next year I had mostly forgottenabout it. Too many other plants to tend and this one was surviving without me.Long story short, by the time the deck was finally number one on the task list,my lilac was blooming and looked like this. 

I’m pleased I hadthe foresight to plan ahead. In the summer, we enjoy total privacy whilelounging in gentle summer breezes directly off the kitchen. Originally, wethought to put a roof over it, but once we sat staring up through the foliageof an ancient maple, we allowed nature to coax us to leave it be.  

Lilacs bloom in theearly spring. I leave it to either your own experiences or your imagination howheavenly the fragrance is from these old-fashioned shrubs. Hardy and trouble free, theydelight year after year. I highly recommend you plant one.

Here is a glimpse into my latest Cozy Mystery. It is the 4th in the Detective Kevin Fowler series.

When is it not fun to be a blond? 

What happenswhen a blond beauty hits town like a tornado stirring up memories and causingturmoil? Detective Kevin Fowler and his wife, the former Beverly Hampton, ownerof the local newspaper, are settling into blissful married life. AlthoughBeverly is sanguine over the demand on Kevin’s time by the good people ofHubbard, she is more than dubious when his duties include the escort of adrop-dead gorgeous female from his past.

There is some concern over the persistentvandalism of residential mailboxes, but an infamous arsonist has decidedpeaceful but dull Hubbard would make a great place from which to operate. Hebrazenly locates down the block from the detective and his wife.

What bait and tackle shop in the village has adual purpose? Kevin ponders why two goons have invaded town shooting at andattempting to kidnap and murder three women. A state patrolman, aptly nicknamed Rooster, teases Fowler at the riotous scene of a traffic accident wherethe press, not the police, wins the day.

Another mystery and adventure with a satisfyingending that unfolds in peaceful Hubbard, New York, small-town Americana, whereDetective Kevin Fowler keeps an ever-vigilant watch.

Amazon Buy Link

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 .

Author in the Kitchen: Celebrate Mother's Day with Cookbook Author Sloane Taylor...

Mother's Day is Sunday May 12th this year.

Dosomething really nice today for the lady who does so much for you throughoutthe year. This brunch will show how much you love, care and appreciate her. A few fresh flowers onthe table are a nice touch, along with a lace tablecloth, and generous glass of mimosa. Wink. Cheers to all you Moms out there! 

MENUQuicheFresh Fruit SaladCroissantsRaspberry JamButterZucchini Bread forDessertMimosas

 

Quiche1frozen deep-dish pie shell1tsp. (5g) butter6bacon strips, cut into ¼ in. (.64cm) pieces*¼cup (30g) onions, chopped2eggs2egg yolks1¼cups (230ml) heavy cream3pinches white pepper**¾cup (85g) swiss cheese, grated2tbsp. (25g) butter, cut in small bites

Preheatoven to 375° F (190°C). 

Placepie shell on cookie sheet. Use a fork to poke several sets of holes in thebottom and around the sides of the shell. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from ovenand set aside. 

Meltbutter in a heavy skillet. Add bacon, and ham if you’re including it, and onionwhen foam subsides. Cook until meat is lightly browned. Remove from skilletwith a slotted spoon to paper towels. 

Beator whisk eggs, yolks, cream, and seasonings in a large bowl. Stir in cheese. 

Scattermeat, into pie shell. Gently ladle in egg mixture. Sprinkle the top with butterbits. 

Bakefor 25 minutes or until a sharp knife inserted in the middle of the quiche comesout clean. 

Thedish may be served hot, warm, or room temperature. It also makes a wonderfulappetizer. Leftovers reheat in the microwave beautifully. 

*Dicedham, ¼ lb. (125g), is also good in this recipe in place of the bacon or alongwith. All other ingredients and process remains the same. 

**No need to buy white pepper if youdon’t have it. Use black pepper only a little more as it is not as strong aswhite pepper.

May you enjoy all the days of your life filled with good friends, laughter, and seated around a well-laden table!

Sloane

Sloane Taylor is an Award-Winning author with a second passion in her life. She is an avid cook and posts new recipes on her blog every Wednesday. The recipes are user friendly, meaning easy.

Taylor's cookbooks, Date Night Dinners, Summer Sizzle, and Recipes to Create Holidays Extraordinaire are released by Toque & Dagger Publishing and available at all book vendors.

Excerpts from her books and free reads can be found on her website, blog, and her Amazon Author Page. Connect with Taylor on Facebook and Twitter.

Authors: Do We Really Need to Go All In With Our Book Marketing Strategy…

Book Marketing is a Gamble for Many AuthorsFed up with doing Facebook ads that at one time gave me greatreach and amazing clicks, but no buys, I decided that these kinds of ads didn’tserve me anymore. So, in March (2024), I asked for feedback from my fellowauthors on what they did that works for them in their book marketing andpromotional world. I received quite a lot of responses—especially from myFacebook groups—and decided to put together a list of their responses. To giveyou the gist, here’s the original call to action I put out on my social mediaaccounts:

“I’m searching for other ways to market andpromote my books, since Facebook ads don’t seem to be playing nice, and don’tserve my purposes anymore. So, I thought I’d ask my fellow authors what you doto get your books out there and into the hands of your readers, beyond theusual social media posts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn I see throughout myfeeds.

For example, do you pay for ads on Twitteror LinkedIn? If so, do they work for you? Have you ever hired a promotionalspecialist or company (which can get quite pricey) to do your book marketing?If so, what was the experience, and were they worth it? Or do you do your ownmarketing, scheduling your posts ahead of time? I’d really like some solidadvice, and frankly I’m tired of being approached by these so-called ‘marketingspecialists’ on all my social media accounts.

Thanks in advance for any advice orsuggestions you can share. I appreciate it!”

The response was immediate. My feeds filledup with helpful advice, and other authors waiting in the wings to know whatmagic-marketing-bullet would be best for them. Turns out this book biz is NOT aone-book-fits-all kind of marketing strategy. I knew all along that it wasn’t.I was just interested in seeing what other authors do out there, so I couldmake a conscious and rational decision on what’s best for ME. That said, belowis most of the feedback I received. Much of these ideas I’ve done, but thereare some that I haven’t, and may give them a go. In the long run, you mustdecide what’s best for YOU…

·        Startan email list and newsletter. If you have done so, continue to build it.

·        Don’tpay for subscribers—instead, engage with readers in genuine ways.

·        Getout there in person. Meet other writers, go to events and conferences,especially events that include both authors and readers. Always bring a signupsheet or QR code for your newsletter signup.

·        Shopat Indie bookstores. Be a part of the literary conversation.

·        Considerdoing Amazon ads. Apparently, Bryan Cohen offers free Amazon ad courses thatusually happen quarterly. Check out when the next course is available here: https://www.facebook.com/bestpageforward/reviews

·        Otheradvertising ventures are BookBub Feature Deals (which can get quite pricey) andBookBub ads. Apparently, most authors said to stay away from Twitter orLinkedIn ads.

·        Promotionaland review sites such as NetGalley, Fussy Librarian, Written Word Media, BargainBooksy, FreeBooksy, BookFunnel, and Hello Books just to name a few. Pricepoints vary, so do your research.

·        In-personevents such as craft shows, fairs, markets, and special events like holidays.

·        Podcastinterviews. An author friend pays $15 a month and gets two lists of tenpodcasters weekly who are looking for guests. Here’s the link: https://podcastguests.com/

·        YouTubeappearances or having your own show. Depending on your personality, helpful content,and author guests, this may be the way to go for you.

·        Guestblogging or working with book bloggers for reviews.

·        Speakingengagements based on your genre. So, if you write for children or teens,schools would be a good place to start.

·        Gettingbooks into your local library network.

·        Booksignings at your local bookstore, grocery stores, fundraisers, or anywhere elsethat’s connected with the setting, content, and genre of your books. Think outsidethe box for this. Does your book have a shelter animals slant? How about at alocal pet supply store? Cozy mystery with a baker as the main character? Checkout coffee shops or local bakery stores in your area. The possibilities areendless.

·        Garnishingpaid book reviews through Booklist, BookPage, ForeWord, Kirkus, LibraryJournal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Shelf Awareness to name a few.

·        Promotionalspecialists or companies. A word of warning on this: if these people approachyou, they’re most likely crossing a boundary or invading your virtual space.You’re the one who should be contacting them.

·        Payinga publicist. This one can get expensive, with prices ranging from $1250 to over—are you sitting down—$10,000 for a four to five-month campaign. Yikes! But,depending on the book, and if it’s worth your time and investment, then go forit!

·        Last,but not least, the tried and true method: Word of Mouth. Works. All. The. Time.   

Hmm.So many ideas, so little time to actually write those books to market. What aconundrum! With all this wealth of information listed above, I bet you’rewondering what marketing strategies I’ll be using moving forward. First, anadmission – I don’t have an email list. I’ve resisted having one for so longbecause frankly, I didn’t want to do the extra work involved with sending out anewsletter with barely anything to say. Book marketing expert Sandra Beckwith advises to start and build an email listfor the simple reason that if your pet social platform disappears or crashes, youlose everything. But not your email list. You own that sucker. Plus, it’s anexcellent way to get to know your readers and have genuine conversations withthem. Makes sense, but to be honest, I don’t feel this is the best use of mybook marketing time.

However,If you’re interested in starting an email list or building your existing list, writingcoach and speaker, Colleen M. Story has a couple ofgreat articles to whet your book marketing appetite with HERE and HERE. Check them outwhen time permits.

So what am I going todo? Nothing.At least for now. I’ve decided to take a break, take a breather, and takemyself out of the game of feeding all those book marketing ploys manipulatingauthors out of their hard-earned money. My former publisher used to say, Moneyflows to, not away, from the author. Wouldn’t that be nice if that wasthe norm? The best advice I received was from author VonnieHughes, a dear friend from New Zealand, who offered, “What about just writing because you can't help it and notwriting to be published but just writing for YOU?” In a perfect world, wouldn’t that beamazing? I may just heed her sage advice. As a life-longlearner, I strive to do better when I can, and hope what I learn, I can passalong to others. At least, that is my wish.

Does the thought of marketing or promoting your books make youcringe? Do you have an email list? Are you tired and overwhelmed with all themarketing strategies out there, that you chose to do the bare minimum ornothing? Is the continual expense of doing book promotions sucking the joy outof being a writer for you? If so, I totally understand, and would love to read your comments. Cheers andthanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you! 

Recipe and a Read: Cream Cheese Mini-Cakes and a Time Travel Romance by Author Stella May...

These little tastetreats are my own creation. It is an easy and skinny version of individualcheesecakes, yet still packed with plenty of flavor. This recipe makes one dozenlittle cakes. Dress them up with a bit of fruit on top after baking and you're good to go. Sorry, there's no picture. Those two rascals I live with ate them too fast.

Cream Cheese Mini-Cakes

1 package farmer’scheese1 packagePhiladelphia cream cheese2 eggs½ cup sour cream⅓ cup sugar1 tsp. vanillaextract½ cup almond flour½ tsp. bakingpowder 

Remove cheesesfrom refrigerator 2 hours before making this recipe. They both need to be atroom temperature to cream properly. 

Place cheeses in alarge bowl. Mix on a low speed with an electric mixer until creamed. 

Add eggs, sourcream, sugar, and vanilla. Increase mixer speed to blend well. Pour in almondflour and baking powder. Combine well. 

Pour mixture into muffintins lined with cupcake papers or do like me and use a silicone form forcupcakes. You’ll need to lightly oil it. 

Pre-heat oven to350° F. 

Very important: put a medium-sizedbowl filled with water on the bottom of your oven. 

Bake 35-40 min, oruntil golden brown.

Here is a peek atStella’s time travel romance novel for your reading pleasure. 

One key unlocks the love of a lifetime…but could alsobreak her heart.  

Nika Morris’s sixth sense has helped build a successfulbusiness, lovingly restoring and reselling historic homes on Florida’s AmeliaIsland. But there’s one forlorn, neglected relic that’s pulled at her from themoment she saw it. The century-old Coleman house.  

Quite unexpectedly, the house is handed to her on asilver platter—along with a mysterious letter, postmarked 1909, yet addressedpersonally to Nika. Its cryptic message: Find the key. You know where it is.Hurry, for goodness sake! 

The message triggers an irresistible drive to findthat key. When she does, one twist in an old grandfather clock throws herback in time, straight into the arms of deliciously, devilishly handsome ElijahColeman. 

Swept up in a journey of a lifetime, Nika finds herselffalling in love with Eli—and with the family and friends that inhabit a time noteven her vivid imagination could have conjured. But in one desperate moment ofhomesickness, she makes a decision that will not only alter the course of morethan one life, but break her heart. 

’Til Time Do UsPartis 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.

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Guest Post: A Writer's Imagination by Paranormal Romance Author C.D. Hersh...

 

People frequently ask howand where we got our ideas to write one story let alone a series. Honestly,sometimes it's not easy, almost like ramming your head into a huge cementabutment. Yet thankfully storylines and scenes magically appear in our minds.Sometimes more than we want.

Every book demands who,what, where, and why. The plotline. From time to time that necessity confusesthose images into a gnarled mess. But we work through it. 

So how do we find ideasthat allow our imaginations to run rampant? Magazines and old telephone booksare marvelous for coming up with character names. Be sure to follow the mix andmatch theory. That means do not use the full name of any one person or youmight find you have a lawsuit in the making.

We love to travel andoften our imaginations are sparked by a billboard or other people on the road,even pit stops offer fodder for a new story. Those diners and rest stops are awealth of fodder too an author.

The grocery store isanother great place to gain ideas. For example – the next time you’re in thestore take a good look at the lady scanning your purchases or maybe it’s thebagger who draws your attention. Maybe on this trip you notice somethingdifferent about one or the other. Maybe something different in her dark browneyes as if they’re hiding a secret. Of course, you can’t ask, so you allow yourimagination to take over. What if she’s a crime stopper by night? After a hardday on her feet, she shrugs out of her sweat filled uniform then into blackjeans, a black turtleneck, and low-heeled boots. She shakes out her chocolatebrown hair from its topknot and it cascades to her shoulders…You get the idea.

As writing partners, webounce ideas off each other with the C in C.D. Hersh writing explicit notes. Aftera few days or we revisit C's list and start the occasionally wonderful, butmore often heart wrenching, practice of elimination. After all, what writerdoesn’t love his/her words? We do our best not to judge or tick off each othertoo much since we're married. Besides, I love my wife. Seeing her happy makesme happy. 

Here is a little about our shapeshifter series on Amazon. We hope you enjoy reading about them as much as we did writing them.

TITLE: The Turning Stone Chronicles

GENRE: Urban fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

HEAT LEVEL: Sensual

Three ancient Celtic families. A magical Bloodstone that enables the wearers to shape shift. A charge to use the stone’s power to benefit mankind, and a battle, that is going on even today, to control the world. Can the Secret Society of shape shifters called the Turning Stone Society heal itself and bring peace to our world?

Find out in The Series The Turning Stone Chronicles

Book one of the chronicles titled “The Promised One” available on Amazon
In the wrong hands, the Turning Stone ring is a powerful weapon for evil. So, when homicide detective Alexi Jordan discovers her secret society mentor has been murdered and his magic ring stolen, she is forced to use her shape-shifting powers to catch the killer. By doing so, she risks the two most important things in her life—her badge and the man she loves.

Rhys Temple always knew his fiery cop partner and would-be-girlfriend, Alexi Jordan, had a few secrets. He considers that part of her charm. But when she changes into a man, he doesn’t find that as charming. He’ll keep her secret to keep her safe, but he’s not certain he can keep up a relationship—professional or personal.

Danny Shaw needs cash for the elaborate wedding his fiancée has planned, so he goes on a mugging spree. But when he kills a member of the secret society of Turning Stones and steals a magic ring that gives him the power to shape shift, Shaw gets more than he bargained for.

Book two of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “Blood Brothers” available on Amazon.
When Delaney Ramsey is enlisted to help train two of the most powerful shape shifters the Turning Stone Society has seen in thousands of years, she suspects one of them is responsible for the disappearance of her daughter. To complicate matters, the man has a secret that could destroy them all. Bound by honor to protect the suspect, Delaney must prove his guilt without losing her life to his terrible powers or revealing to the police captain she’s falling for that she’s a shape shifter with more than one agenda.

The minute Captain Williams lays eyes on Delaney Ramsey, he knows she’s trouble. Uncooperative, secretive, and sexy, he can’t get her out of his mind. When he discovers she has a personal agenda for sifting through all the criminal records in his precinct, and secretly investigating his best detective, he can’t let her out of his sight. He must find out what she’s looking for before she does something illegal. If she steps over the line, he’s not certain he can look the other way for the sake of love.

Book three of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “Son of the Moonless Night” currently available on Amazon.
Owen Todd Jordan Riley has a secret. He’s a shape shifter who has been hunting and killing his own kind. To him the only good shifter is a dead shifter. Revenge for the death of a friend motivates him, and nothing stands in his way . . . except Katrina Romanovski, the woman he is falling in love with.

Deputy coroner Katrina Romanovski has a secret, too. She hunts and kills paranormal beings like Owen. At least she did. When she rescues Owen from an attack by a werebear she is thrust back into the world she thought she’d left. Determined to find out what Owen knows about the bear, she begins a relationship meant to collect information. What she gets is something quite different love with a man she suspects of murder. Can she reconcile his deception and murderous revenge spree and find a way to redeem him? Or will she condemn him for the same things she has done and walk away from love?

Book four of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “The Mercenary & the Shifters” available on Amazon.
A desperate call from an ex-military buddy lands a mercenary soldier in the middle of a double kidnapping, caught in an ancient shape shifter war, and ensnared between two female shape shifters after the same thing ... him.

The first four books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles Series page are available on Amazon. Their standalone novella, Can’t Stop The Music, is in the Soul Mate Tree collection with twelve other authors from various genres.

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to the husband and wife co-authors whose pen name is C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s while co-authoring a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. As high school sweethearts, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after. Which is why they write it!

When they aren’t collaborating on a book, they enjoy reading; singing; theatre and drama; traveling; remodeling houses (Donald has remodeled something in every home they’ve owned); and antiquing. Catherine, who loves gardening, has recently drawn Donald into her world as a day laborer. Catherine is an award-winning gardener — you can see some of her garden on their website.

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.

You can see excerpts of their books, connect with, and follow C.D. Hersh at:

Website

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

Home-Style Dinner in a Bowl and a Taste of Two Young Adult Fantasy Adventure Series by Sharon Ledwith...

This one-pot Ham and Split Pea Soup is tremendously heart-warming and comforting, and absolutely ideal to make with that leftover holiday ham. Healthy and delicious this hearty soup is loaded with tender split peas, tasty ham, and lots of veggies for lunch or dinner! Soak the split peas the night before for a total of 10 hours before you begin. With a prep time of 15 minutes and a cook time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, this mouth-watering ‘meal in a bowl’ serves 6 of your closest pod members and freezes easily. Perfect for those looking to shed those pounds and want to eat healthier. I’d say that’s a win-win, wouldn’t you?

Home-Style Ham and Split Pea Soup 
2 cups dried split peas, green or yellow2 tsp. olive oil1 large onion, chopped3 ribs celery, chopped2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped3 cloves garlic, minced4 cups chicken broth, low sodium or no sodium added4 cups water1 bay leaf½ tsp. dried thymeSalt and pepper to taste1½ pounds meaty ham bone or ham shanks

Soak the split peas. Add the split peas to a pot and cover with 2 quarts of cold water. Soak overnight.

Sauté vegetables. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes until the vegetables soften and the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds or until aromatic.

Add remaining ingredients. Pour in the chicken broth, water, and stir. Add the split peas, bay leaf, dried thyme, and ham bone. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 1 ½ hours.

Finish the soup. Carefully remove the bone from the soup, cut off the meat, and dice it. Return the meat back to the soup. Cook on low for another 30 minutes or until soup has thickened. Discard bay leaf and serve.

NOTES:

Always rinse your peas thoroughly before soaking or cooking to remove any dirt particles.

If it looks like your soup is too watery, remember the longer it cooks, the thicker it gets.

Add a little smoked paprika to the soup to enhance the smokiness of the ham.

If you don’t have enough ham, add some cooked bacon to amp up the flavor.

This soup can be kept refrigerated for about a week, or frozen for up to 3 months.

While you’re waiting on your soup to cook, how about taking a break by delving into one of my books? 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 entertain and engage, pulling you into another time and a different place.

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:

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The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book #1 Buy Links:

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Legend of the Timekeepers, prequel Buy Links:

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Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mystery Series:

Lost and Found, Book One Buy Links:

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Blackflies and Blueberries, Book Two Buy Links:

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Guest Post: Some Teens Should Try a Gap Year by Women's Fiction Author Anne Montgomery...

Youngpeople need to have an idea of what theywant to do in the future before going to college.

It'salmost time for the graduation season, and, in that regard, I want to mentionan idea with which I wholeheartedly agree. And yet, just a few years ago Iwould have been completely against the idea.

InAbby Fawk’s USA Today Article “College can wait, but finding your life purposecan’t,” Fawk opines that American teens facing that jump to a postsecondaryeducation are often unsure what they want their future to look like, so headingstraight to college is a mistake.

Asa former high school teacher of 20 years, I know Fawk is correct. I have facedhundreds of children across my desk, and when I asked what they thought theirlives might look like in ten years, I was—more often than not— faced with blankstares. I would then go into my, What do you want to be when you grow up? spiel.I’d ask: What do you like to do? What are you good at? What will someonepay you to do? And again, I often received no reply.

Thenthe children graduated, most without any idea regarding what might make themhappy in their business lives. We teachers have hammered into them that thenext stop must be college. (Note that when I say college, I’m referringto any form of post-high school education.  Wanting to be a carpenter, anelectrician, or an airplane mechanic are equally fine choices as wanting to bea doctor or a neurophysicist.)

Whatisn’t fine is having no idea what you want to study and then plowing ahead toyour college of choice.

Thatcollege education is expensive, sobefore you go, have a plan. 

“Collegeis the single biggest investment we can make in a young person’s life,” Hawksaid. “Four years at a flagship state school can now cost $100,000 and privatecollege can run three to four times that figure. Yet the vast majority ofstudents arrive unprepared to make the most of the experience.”

Fawkbelieves that it’s time for students to revisit the idea of a gap year. As Isaid earlier, I did my best to dissuade kids who wanted to take a year offbefore getting additional education, because statistics showed that once youngpeople start earning money, they are less likely to give up that cash flow andreturn to school.

ButFawk explained that a gap year, if done right, is not about losing forwardmomentum and can be a rewarding launch pad to a bright future.

“It’sto gather experiences and insights that inform everything that comes next,” shesaid.

Fawkis the founder and CEO of Global Citizen Year, a program devoted to givingyoung people the chance to immerse themselves in other cultures, to stretchtheir comfort zones, and to forge relationships with people who are differentthan they are. If this sounds a bit like the Peace Corps, it is. The idea is totake the year following high school graduation and expand one’s horizons. Tolearn more about yourself by living alongside others in a completely differentenvironment.

A gap year can include volunteer activities such as working with Habitat for Humanity.

Butthe GCY project is not the only way students can accomplish these goals. Astint in the military, the Peace Corps, or volunteering can also help youngpeople find out who they are and what they want in life.

Studiesshow that American teens are growing up more slowly than the generations thatproceeded them. Young people struggle with basic skills like time management,problem-solving, and navigating relationships. Why then do we shoehorn theminto making decisions that will impact the rest of their lives when many areclearly not ready?

Theidea is to give new high school graduates a little breathing room before theymake that leap. A well-thought-out gap year just might be the answer.

Please allow me to give you a brief intro to my latest women's fiction novel for your reading pleasure.

The past and present collide when a tenacious reporter seeks information on an eleventh century magician…and uncovers more than she bargained for.

In 1939, archeologists uncovered a tomb at the Northern Arizona site called Ridge Ruin. The man, bedecked in fine turquoise jewelry and intricate bead work, was surrounded by wooden swords with handles carved into animal hooves and human hands. The Hopi workers stepped back from the grave, knowing what the Moochiwimi sticks meant. This man, buried nine hundred years earlier, was a magician.

Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.

Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archaeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.

Amazon Buy Link

Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces.

When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.

Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia . Stay connected on Facebook , Linkedin , and Twitter .