Valerie Davisson's Blog, page 5

Lemony Chicken Kale Soup

I MUST BE IN A SOUP MOOD this month, just saw my last post featured one of my favorites, pho, although I usually go out for that one – you’ve got to have that great, homemade beef broth for good pho.

I like making this with leftover roast chicken – makes for an easy dinner on days when my writing goes long, which according to my husband is every day…:)ha

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion – diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks celery – diced
5 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon vinegar (balsamic or Bragg’s apple cider)
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 cup cooked chicken, cut or shredded
2 bunches kale, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
lemon zest for extra kick
salt and pepper
Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS  Heat oil in a large pot. Saute onions and celery until soft, add chicken, mustard, and kale with lemon zest. Continue to saute another few minutes. Add broth, lemon juice and vinegar, reduce heat. Simmer covered for half an hour. Voila! Sprinkle some Parmigiano Reggiano on it before serving and with a tossed green salad and a baguette, you’ve got a refreshing, tasty meal!

 

Pho, Food Trucks and Family

MEMORIES FORMED AT PIVOTAL TIMES IN MY LIFE often pop up as I’m imagining Logan’s next adventure. FOREST PARK is a good example. When I returned to school as an adult, part of my Anthropology coursework involved collecting the life histories of Vietnamese refugees, particularly those who came during the mass exit in 1975. At that time, people had very strong feelings for and against the war and the Vietnamese people who came here as a result of that war.

As I listen to the news now—I hear the same concerns about refugees coming across the Mexican border that I heard expressed back then about Vietnamese refugees. I remember wanting to understand who was right. Were refugees a drain or a boon to our society? I encourage everyone to dig into the data and answer that question for themselves. As for me, by getting to know individual Vietnamese people and their families, as well as checking on federal and state data available at the time, I learned a great deal. The wrenching story of the choices parents had to make, the gold bars and the temporary camps, came up more than once.

In the course of interviewing people, I was often invited to share a meal. My father’s daughter, anything involving new food was right up my alley! Everyone was generous with their time and what little resources they had. One woman tried to teach me how to make pho, the satisfying, rice noodle soup that is a staple in every Vietnamese home. She told me it was simple, gave me instructions. I decided to make it for her and her children that weekend.

I diligently spent Saturday morning boiling beef bones for the broth, adding spices, and preparing everything for her arrival. I even found Thai basil for garnish, which was scarce at that time. When she arrived, she took one whiff, wrinkled her nose and said, “Smells awful!” She quickly went into the kitchen and peeked into the offending soup pot.

“Oh!” she said.

Understanding dawning, she laughed and grabbing a large spoon, started skimming white scum off the top of the liquid. Since this was second nature to her, she just assumed I’d know to do that when making the broth. She didn’t know she was dealing with an American whose mother served canned spinach without batting an eye. We had a good laugh and I made something else for lunch. The next time we shared a meal, she taught me to make something easier, shrimp and other things wrapped in lettuce leaves, dipped in fish sauce. Light and delicious!

But back to the story of FOREST PARK…For many years, I flew up to Portland, OR often and spent a day walking the city before driving out to the coast to spend a week with my sister where she lived in Lincoln City, OR.

I loved those days of autonomous wandering, which always included trying a new ethnic dish at the gathering of food trucks across the street from the Governor Hotel, where I liked to stay. (It’s now called the Sentinel, for it’s guardian like statues gracing the building).

One of those food trucks became Than’s Pho in the book. Like all immigrants, the women who work it have roots that reach back to their home country, while making a go of it in their new home, America. Not all the immigrants are good. Not all are bad. I hope I show how the refugee experience changes externals, but not our essential natures. I love exploring how my characters choose to react to the circumstances in which they find themselves.

Portland, OR is a character itself. Like most cities, it has a unique personality and presence. And like most cities, it has its share of problems, including homelessness and crime, which also find their way into the story. One of the homeless, G.I. Joe, a Vietnam vet, becomes one of the main characters in the story, another human being affected by that war. He finds a home in Forest Park, an urban forest with miles of trails and its own haunted house, right in the city.

In all of my books, I try not to shy away from tough, social topics, but I also hold to a ‘No Preaching’ policy. Different characters in my stories share their points of view, which often differ. Living in different countries growing up had that effect on me. I tend to see the world from multiple perspectives.

Next up…DEVIL’S CLAW: Logan Book 3, where I explore sea otters, a Coast Guard rescue during a violent storm, environmentalists vs land developers, and two half-siblings who didn’t know the other existed, with very different visions for a pristine piece of coastal property they both claim to be theirs.

Use What You Know

ALMOST AS MUCH AS I LOVE WRITING, I love research. Every time I sit down to write a new Logan McKenna novel—actually, long before that, when the story first starts stirring—obscure bits of knowledge or experiences pop into my head that spark story elements, plot lines, characters or scenes.

I thought it might be fun to share with you some of that process. I’ve been lucky or unlucky, depending on how you look at it, to have lived a patchwork life, so have a lot of varied experiences to pull from.

Take SHATTERED: Logan Book 1, for example. When I first started tossing around the idea of writing a Mystery series, I had recently completed a Cultural Anthropology degree. Included in my undergraduate work were courses in Physical Anthropology and Archaeology. One of those classes was Geology. I loved it.

As a kid in Italy, I remember collecting geodes that had cracked open near the railroad tracks. I didn’t understand what they were or where they came from. To me, the magical, amethyst interiors were fairy caves. I wanted to live in one. Years later, a retired Geology professor taught some classes in my very small high school in Arizona. Learning that all quarts crystals had six sides and what those layers in the low mountains around me represented was just as magical.

Then, when I returned to college once my boys were in school, my Geology professor brought out a hunk of black, shiny rock that was swirled—not a straight line in sight. Wow! He told us how Native Americans used this material for weapons and work tools and that someone made a set of surgical instruments out of it that proved to be sharper and more precise than anything made from steel.

But how it was formed was what got me hooked. Obsidian, otherwise known as volcanic glass, was just lava cooled so quickly (usually by flowing into the ocean) that it hardened before it had time to align itself into crystalline structures. Wow! and Double Wow!

So, when I decided to set my story in an Arts Festival—modeled after the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach, CA, near where I lived at the time, and the murder victim was one of the glassblowers…well…of course, obsidian leaped to mind. It wasn’t long before I found the perfect way to weave it into my story. That’s not exactly true, because obsidian weaved itself into the story, all I did was write it down.

I still had to do my homework, for this and many other aspects of the story I knew nothing about, such as glassblowing itself, its history, technical details, the culture surrounding it, but this bit of knowledge gave the story that little indefinable oomph. When we include things we love (or hate, I suppose, but I haven’t had that experience yet) our stories are better.

Hope you enjoy this glimpse into the research and writing of SHATTERED. Next up is FOREST PARK: Logan Book 2, which was inspired by one of my favorite cities, Portland, OR and my love of Vietnamese food.

Happy Easter/Passover/Whatever…!

EVERY SPRING THE EARTH RENEWS HERSELF and we humans celebrate in many ways. Whether you’ll be dancing around the May pole, enjoying Easter Sunday dinner or sharing Passover with relatives and friends, I hope Spring 2019 brings you an opportunity to refresh and renew. Happy whatever it is you celebrate!

We all need a good spring cleaning from time to time. Whether you’re a writer like me or not, we all need to get up and get outside, away from our computers, shake it off, live a little! I had some gnarly things to deal with this last week that took me away from the fun part of my job, which is creative writing, so will be taking my own advice. This morning I took my dog, Finn, for a walk along the ocean into some misty rain, above pounding waves. It was awesome! We both enjoyed ourselves. Cleared my head.

So, gather roses while you may and all that. Go barefoot! Play with the dog! Switch it up and try something new. Monday morning you’ll be glad you did.

Ditching Your Traditional Publisher?

SWITCHING FROM TRADITIONAL to Self-Publishing? Why would anyone do that, you ask? Well, as hard as it is to believe, more than a few authors are ditching their publisher and either completely self publishing their books, or partner publishing with someone experienced and savvy about marketing and publicity. Since getting that ‘Yes, we want to publish your book!’ letter is what most writers dream of, it seems counter intuitive to go backwards. For years, self-publishing was called ‘vanity publishing’ and there are still some of those out there, but there are a ton of Indie authors doing just as well on their own as they would being ‘published’ by someone else.

For one thing, not all publishers are equal. Many do nothing more than flow your book into print and eBook formats, no quality check or proofing of any kind, and offer no marketing or publicity support. Most often it’s because they can’t. They are not experienced, traditional publishers with media contacts to get your book reviewed, arrange book tours, or get you radio, TV, or magazine interviews.

Maybe you were new when you started out and didn’t know what you needed. Maybe you’re really tech savvy and realize learning the self publishing and graphics software would be a piece of cake for you. Maybe you meet a dynamite publicist at a writers’ conference and would rather pay them to help get your book on the map than give away a large chunk of your royalties to your traditional publisher.

The reasons are many, but if you are considering this option, do your homework first! First, understand your current contract. Second, analyze your reasons for wanting to strike out on your own. Take an honest look at your resources: Time, Money, and Skills. Do you have what it takes to go it alone? Maybe you find that you’re doing most of the work anyway, so you might as well keep the profits. But make sure you thoroughly understand the market, the software options, and the time and/or money you have to dedicate to the necessary tasks to bring your book to a wider readership.

There’s a ton of information on this topic, but this article by Victoria Strauss of SFWA to be a great place to start. Whatever way you decide to go, make it an informed decision and then, get back to writing!

Finding Your Story

RESEARCH IS THE GARDEN from which our stories grow. How much do you appreciate good research? I love learning new things, so the authors I enjoy generally bring something to the table for me to gnaw on – spiritually, intellectually, personally.

If you’re a writer, how much research is enough? Too much? Are you ever worried you’re wasting time doing a ton of research for your novels, or are you stuck for your next story idea?

I don’t know how it works for other writers, but for me at least, it’s only when I begin to dig into an area or subject that interests me do story ideas start popping into my head. I just start talking to people, walking around the area, listening, smelling, eating the local food, and reading about it online, which leads to phone interviews, lunches, and libraries. Before you know it, I’m outlining the story with specific scenes and characters in mind already.

I love books that have obviously been researched well and have a ton of fun doing my own. Are you a reader who expects accuracy and interesting information in your stories, as well as well-written characters?

Little Whale Cove Artisan Showcase

COME JOIN THE FUN! If you’re going to be in town Saturday, November 10th, be sure and stop by. I’ll have autographed copies of my new book, VANISHING DAY: Logan Book 4, which won’t officially be released until November 20th! Grab one for yourself for a little holiday reading or stock up on Christmas gifts.

Appreciate the opportunity to join fellow authors and artists for my first local event here in my new home on the Oregon Coast.  Thank you, Enrique, for another great cover design!

Viciously attacked by an unknown assailant, Logan’s new neighbor, a young mother, clings to life in the ICU, her three-year-old daughter the only witness to the attack. Logan soon discovers her friend isn’t who she said she was. Without any ID, the police investigation stalls. Logan holds the only clue, but has no idea what it means or how dangerous it is. That’s never stopped her before, but this time her drive to uncover the truth draws the killer towards her. Before she realizes the danger, Logan’s in so deep she may never be able to claw her way out.

 

10-Day Book Cover Challenge!

FACEBOOK HAS ITS ISSUES, but sometimes I see great stuff on there. Take the 10-Day book cover challenge. Every day, you post the cover of a well-loved book that had an impact on your life, and of course, invite someone else to do the same. No explanations! Here are some of mine. Of course, I couldn’t stick to just 10….

Whales are Out!

MID-MORNING WRITING BREAKS are always fun this time of year. Whales are out in force this week! Every day I see at least 8 to 10 cruising past the rocks, hanging out and snacking in the kelp beds. Beautiful creatures. Just knowing they’re there makes me happy. I have a feeling one or more grey whales is going to swim into Book 5…

CITRUS-GLAZED COD

WHILE DOING RESEARCH FOR LOGAN BOOK 5, I managed to snag a spot in the last Shop at the Dock event of the summer in Newport, OR. The 90-minute walking tour teaches locals and tourists alike about the fisheries, boats, and what to look for when selecting fresh fish. Then they turn you loose to buy directly from the boats if you want to and come prepared with an ice chest and a wad of cash. Most only sell whole fish, so you may want to bring a buddy.

Wanting to try something new, I picked up some Black Cod, also known as Butterfish. Googled it and found a recipe that used what I had on hand: soy sauce, limes, rice wine vinegar, and some fresh mint. Only took 20 minutes, start to finish. Let me just say…

BLACK COD IS DELICIOUS! Here’s the Martha Stewart recipe.

I love being a writer! I get to learn so much and meet the most interesting people. There are entire worlds out there we know nothing about. I snagged some business cards and emails for people I want to interview later…Book 5 is going to be a fun one to write!