Penny Watson's Blog, page 60

Something About You

Yesterday while I was shopping for dinner, this song came on at the grocery store. I started dancing in the aisles! Hee heee... I saw Level 42 and Stevie Winwood in concert at West Point in 1987? It was a fantastic concert.



Happy Weekend!
Penelope

Pho

I am obsessed with soup. I already made chicken & chick pea soup this week, and enjoyed chicken & rice soup at my favorite Chinese restaurant.
Today I am making this quick and dirty Pho recipe....with chicken. It's light, flavorful, healthy and perfect for a nippy fall day! While searching for Pho recipes, I found 2 types. Some of them started out this way...."Find a chicken. Bring it home. Kill it. Butcher it. Let the hacked up carcass simmer for 192 hours in a cast iron pot that's been in your family for 14 generations....." The other recipes went something like this...."Buy pre-cooked chicken cubes and a box of chicken stock...." Since I'm a lazy ass, I'm going with the quick and dirty version....

Quick and Dirty Pho
Ingredients:
4 oz. noodles (rice vermicelli, or bun)
6 c. chicken stock (mine comes from a box!)
2 T fish sauce
4 cloves minced garlic
2 T minced fresh ginger
1 T minced lemon grass
5 scallions, chopped
2 c. shredded chicken (I poach mine, then shred it)
1 c. bean sprouts
1 c. bok choy

for toppings....limes, bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, mint, hot sauce

Directions:

1. Cook noodles.
2. Put chicken stock, fish sauce, ginger, lemon grass and scallions in a pot...bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cook for 10 minutes. Add in chicken, bean sprouts and bok choy. Cook for about 5 minutes.
3. Put noodles in bowl, pour pho over noodles. Garnish with extra sprouts and herbs. Squeeze fresh lime juice on top...don't forget that part. That's the best part! :^)

Yum! Enjoy!

Happy Soup Day,
Penelope

In The Matter Of Full Disclosure....

Authors are getting "outed" and I figured this was just as good a time as any to come clean. It's not that I wanted to deceive my fans, but it was just part of my branding to be a slightly chubby, big-haired heterosexual white girl from Pittsburgh.

It's difficult to write romance and have folks take you seriously when you look like this....


Sigh. I know. It's not pretty. I'm actually a Bonaire Giant Sea Anemone. Condylactis gigantea. It's pretty embarrassing. I'm not cute and cuddly. I have stinging cells on the tips of my tentacles.

If I were writing sci fi or marine biology textbooks, this would make for perfect branding. But alas, it's not so great for romance. How do you hug someone with stinging tentacles? It's difficult....really difficult. Although not impossible. Just ask my husband. He's a super good sport about the whole thing.

Folks seem to forget that authors have this ultra amazing thing called....imagination. We don't have to be a man to write from a man's POV. We don't have to be gay to write a gay story. We don't have to be a vampire to write about sparkly blood-sucking guys. And most importantly, we don't have to be terrestrial vertebrates to write about them.

I hope you don't all hate me now. Don't come too close or I'll sting the crap out of you.

With the utmost sincerity.... (Seriously. I'm not kidding this time),
Penelope

Now THAT'S What I'm Talking About

After reading the extremely disappointing Northern Fascination by Jennifer LaBrecque, which falsely advertised a rugged-looking bearded hero on the front cover (he was actually an executive weenie with a blackberry), I was thrilled to discover Primal Calling by Jillian Burns last night. This is another Harlequin Blaze, but this one did not disappoint. The hero was authentic through and through...a half-Inuit, big-bearded, Alaskan pilot who was gruff and scowling and beardy and grumpy. My kind of hero, baby! The heroine was fine (a prissy city girl who gets into a lot of trouble), the Alaskan setting was fully utilized (unlike the other book), and there was even some cool spiritual, magical Shaman-y stuff going on. Big Bonus: The appearance of the Snowy Owl, which is one of my favorite birds.

This book still had some typical Harlequin-style writing...

"Even hidden behind the shaggy hair and beard he was a handsome man. But there was something more. Something in the depth of his dark brown eyes that called to her."

What do you mean, "hidden behind the....beard?" Is she crazy?

This is a pretty lusty book, but the part that I liked the best was the satisfying ending....the tortured hero finally healed by a priss in high heels. Go Harly, Go Harly, Go Harly!

There was only one little, teeny-tiny, irritating problem with this book.....

He shaves off his beard.

NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the girl.

If my guy shaved his beard, I would fling him off a cliff. Just once I would like the heroine to say "Your beard kicks ass, honey. Let's get it on!"

Anyhow, this book promises a rugged, bearded Alaskan man, and it delivers.

Grade: A-/B+ (for beard-shaving disaster)

And in other news.....

The contest/giveaway for Sweet Magik is still going on....leave a comment!

Please stop by Julia Rachel Barrett's site today....I did a totally schizophrenic interview where I actually interviewed my own self. It's.....very unusual! Hee heeeeee!

ETA: And another great review for Sweet Magik at Romancing Rakes....yippee!

Happy Monday To Everyone,
Penelope

Sunday Cocktail

I have been researching holiday cocktail recipes to post on my website. (Wipes sweat from my brow and utters long-suffering sigh). Here's one that looks ridiculously good. I foresee a trip to the package store today to investigate the schnapps collection.
Gingerbread Man Cocktail
1 part Bailey's Irish Cream1 part Goldschläger (Swiss cinnamon Schnapps)1 part butterscotch Schnapps1 part Vodka
Combine in cocktail shaker w/ ice....skake it up, baby....strain into shot glasses. Get toasted! (I mean....toasty. Get toasty!)
Happy Sunday!Pen

Happy Release Day For Sweet Magik! Time For Another Giveaway!

The day is finally here! Sweet Magik (Klaus Brothers Series #2) is now available as an ebook and in print! (See linkies at the bottom of this post!) To celebrate, Penny and the Klaus Brothers are hosting a party today and giving away a copy of Sweet Magik and this adorable holiday necklace.....

(Yes, it got it from Etsy. So sue me!).

Please leave a comment after the post and you will be entered in the giveaway. Winners announced next week.


For those of you not familiar with the Klaus family, here's a cheat sheet....


Santa: Head Honcho for Klaus Enterprises
Nicholas Klaus: Oldest son of Santa, master pastry chef, owns Klaus Küche in the North Pole
Sven: Master Toy Builder at the North Pole, a.k.a Hippy Boy
Wolfgang: Director of Charitable Donations....buff and beardy! (schwing!)
Gregor: Financial guru....rocks a goatee
Oskar: Director of Elfin Resources, green-haired snowboarding punk, Bad Boy
Ingo: Elf at the North Pole


Penny: Let's get ready to party! Time to put on my 1980s itunes mix and get out the peppermint schnapps. Woo hoo! (Penny starts busting a move to "Push It" by Salt-N-Pepa)


Oskar: (blanches) What is she doing?


Sven: (doubled over with laughter) I think she's doing a cabbage patch....


Nicholas: Can someone please pull the plug on the ipod dock? Please? I'm begging you....


Wolfie: Not yet! This is entertaining. (takes incriminating photo with cell phone)


Gregor: (clears throat) Excuse me. Penny. Um, aren't we supposed to be talking about your latest book?


Penny: Huh? Oh yeah. (takes big swig from martini glass) Okay. Let's talk about Sweet Magik. Oskar, how psyched are you? It's your big day. You finally have your own book!


Oskar: Oh, super psyched for sure. Chucking my bachelorhood for the old ball-n-chain is a big thrill.


Penny: Are you being sarcastic?


Nicholas: Don't worry, O. I'm sure Penny fixed you up with the perfect woman. I got the perfect woman for me, after all. (Read all about Nicholas' holiday adventure in Sweet Inspiration).


Gregor: Or.....Penny may have used her writing powers for evil, instead of good.


Oskar: What's that supposed to mean?


Wolfie: (chuckles) Penny wouldn't do that.


Sven: (shoots Oskar a shit-eating grin) Yeah, seriously Oskar. I'm sure Penny has forgiven you for filling her stocking with coal last year.


Penny: (narrows eyes) Not really. I was expecting scented soaps and gift cards.


Gregor whispers to Oskar.....


Oskar: (clears his throat): I'm sure your stocking will be filled with itunes gift cards this year. So you can download more of that shitty, 1980s crap.... (Gregor whispers to him again)..... I mean, all those wonderful classics you love.


Penny: You know what this party needs?


Sven: Lumberjacks?


Wolfie: Super models?


Gregor: Champagne would be nice. Peppermint schnapps is so juvenile...


Penny: (shakes her head) No. What this party needs is.....Celine Dion's Holiday Mix!


All Klaus Brothers groan in unison.


Oskar: Dear God, make it stop.


Penny: Nothing gets me in the holiday mood more than that music. I just love Celine!


Ingo: Hi Penny! How are you?


Penny: Ingo! So good to see you. These guys are giving me a hard time about my musical selection. Don't elves listen to music while they work?


Ingo: (nods) Yah. I like Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker."


Penny: Uh, okay. That's....nice.


Sven: (laughs) I don't think the elves listen to Brit Brit while they work.


Penny: That's super hilarious, Hippy Boy. How's the recycling going this year?


Sven: (lifts a glass bottle out of the cardboard bin) Good for me. Not so good for you. Slacker.


Wolfie: Any hints about Oskar's love life? I can't wait to see what happens in Sweet Magik.


Penny: Well.... I'll give you a few hints. If you like snowboarding and surfing and librarians and magic and snowball fights and demons and evil elves and nice elves and conflicted elves and sexy time and magical snowmen and parties and Star Wars-style epic battles, then Sweet Magik is the book for you!


All Klaus Brothers look stunned.


Oskar: For cripes sakes, Pen. You even got Star Wars in there?


Penny: Of course. It's my favorite movie.


Gregor: (nods head thoughtfully) Wow. That sounds....


Nicholas: Interesting.


Wolfie: Strange.


Sven: Totally wack.


Gregor: Totally Penny.


Oskar: I just hope you didn't pair me up with a brown bagger or something.


Penny: Of course not. She is beautiful and kind and courageous. You deserve nothing less than that. In spite of the coal-in-my-stocking fiasco.


Oskar: (blows out a relieved breath of air) Cool!


All Klaus Brothers high five Oskar!


Penny: Thanks to everyone who stopped by today. Please leave a comment for Oskar and the gang. One lucky commenter will win a copy of Sweet Magik (ebook) as well as the adorable holiday necklace. 


A few early review snippets are dribbling in for Sweet Magik.....


From Julie at Outlandish Dreaming.... "Heartwarming holiday romance."
From Katiebabs at Babbling About Books..."Perfect holiday read."
From Christi at Smitten With Reading...."[Sweet Magik] is full of adventure, suspense, danger, romance and at its heart, it is full of Christmas magic." See full review here!
From Gaby at Oh My Books..."If you are looking for a heart warming romance for this Christmas, this one is for you!" See full review here!


I am stoked!


Purchase Sweet Magik (print copy) at The Wild Rose Press.
Purchase Sweet Magik (print copy) at Amazon.
Purchase ebook at The Wild Rose Press.
Ebook will soon be available on Amazon Kindle....link coming soon!






Book Blurb:



Oskar Klaus' job is killing him. Not even his favorite hobbies (extreme snowboarding and browsing old bookstores) are enough to snap him out of his funk. It's not easy living in the shadow of four successful older brothers and a father named Santa. Little does he know that a kiss on New Year's Eve is about to turn his life upside-down.
Kiana Grant's Manhattan life is a world away from her childhood in Oahu. She traded sunsets and surfing for a respectable career in library science, but Oskar Klaus is a temptation that's hard to resist. Before she knows it, she's in the midst of an outrageous adventure in the North Pole, dealing with mischievous elves, wicked demons, and a devastating attraction to Santa's youngest son.
There's just one problem...a bitter elf hell-bent on revenge threatens the future of everyone in the North Pole, even Santa himself...
❅❅❅
Excerpt for SWEET MAGIK.....
             He never heard the end of the countdown.
            One minute he was leaning toward her, and the next he was lost in a tropical Eden. Sweet and lush, surrounded by warm breezes and the feel of sand beneath his bare feet. The scent of perfumed flowers filled the air, and he groaned as Kiana's slender arms wound around his neck. She let out a breathy sigh just before her lips touched his. So softly, so gently, he wasn't sure if it was real. He brushed his mouth over hers and she opened for him, tasting of tea and honey and paradise. Greedy for more, his hands slid under her baggy blouse, stroking the smooth skin of her back. He pressed her closer until he felt the pounding beat of her heart against his chest. Her fingers fluttered like a butterfly against the stubble on his cheek, finally resting there and tracing his jaw.
            He deepened the kiss, pushing her back against the cushions of the sofa, devouring her mouth. Her leg hooked over his knee pushing the drab gray skirt up her thigh. A long expanse of soft skin rubbed against his trousers. Without thinking, he moved a hand to her leg and dragged his palm along the bare skin. He could swear he heard the sound of the ocean, waves crashing and returning to sea. He moaned and Kiana gasped in delight. He was having difficulty breathing, so he pulled back, nipping her lip on the way. The heat of a scorching sun bathed his body, and before his eyes finally snapped open, he heard the faint sound of a ukulele playing. Then, silence.
            His eyes opened and he found himself sitting in the darkened corner of the living room, alone on the sofa. In his hands he held a pair of tortoise shell glasses.
            Kiana was gone.

❆❆❆


Merry Christmas To All And To All A Good Night!Penelope

A Touch Of Whimsy, A Scruffy Kiss & A First Review: Happy Thursday!

Happy Thursday! I am extremely happy that Wednesday is over. In summary, I accidentally deleted a 1300-word blog post, then spent an hour trying to retrieve it, then gave up and rewrote the whole damned thing, then exploded a jar of pasta sauce in my white kitchen, then smashed my leg in the car door, and then had a epic battle with my daughter about her homework.

Happy Thursday!

In an effort to make myself feel better last night, I surfed Etsy for cute Christmas-y stuff, and I watched the season premiere of Top Chef (fun!). The whimsical bookmark above was one of the sweetest, most whimsical things I found while on-line shopping. So cute! Here is the link for it on Etsy.

I also re-read Liz Carlyle's No True Gentleman , which is on my all-time fav historical list. Here's a nice paragraph from the book. Note the POV changes within the same paragraph. Carlyle has them popping back and forth throughout this book.

"Catherine gasped but did not draw away. Instead, her fingers curled into the fabric of his cloak, dragging her body against his. The gasp became a soft sound of need. Again, he raked his mouth over hers, heedlessly chafing her with the stubble of his beard. Max did not need to see the elegant line of her jaw or the inviting swell of her bottom lip to know that he had to taste her more deeply. His body had thrummed with lust the moment he'd seized her hand and swept her across Walrafen's ballroom."

Stubbly beard! I'll take it! ☺

Finally, I awoke this morning to find the first posted review for Sweet Magik . According to Gaby at Oh My Books, "If you are looking for a heart warming romance for this Christmas, this one is for you!"

Happy Thursday! Wednesday is just a distant memory.

Hope everyone has a great day and avoids splattering vodka sauce all over themselves like a horror movie,
Penelope

P.S. Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the party with the Klaus Brothers. We will be giving away a copy of Sweet Magik and a fun holiday necklace (surprisingly, from Etsy!....hee hee).

Push It Real Good

For some inexplicable reason, I woke up this morning singing this song. If you want to feel bad-ass and like you can take over the world, listen to this song for a couple of minutes. It's a great way to start the day! Salt-N-Pepa, baby!

Work it, baby. Oh baby baby!

Still searching for my 1980s time machine. Don't you wish we could have a dance party with all the book bloggers, authors, and reviewers, with non-stop 1980s music and gigantic martini glasses?

Dreaming........







Push It Real Good,Penelope

PennyNoWriMoFoSho

Here we go again....another writing challenge. Someone decided to make November the month to pack in a 50,000 word novel...NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Which could be a cool concept, except for a few small details....

You know. That day with the turkey and cranberry sauce and stuffing and stuff?

Not only do Americans get to commemorate the Pilgrims and the Native Americans getting together and eating stuff, but the American school system has decided that this holiest of holidays warrants its own "Break".....as in, Thanksgiving Break. As in....the kids are home. Screaming. Yelling. Using the computer. Begging for candy. Inviting over their friends.

As in.....there is no way in holy hell I am getting a 50,000 word novel written this month. Add on Veteran's Day holiday, and a professional day off from school, and you're left with lots of screaming children at home.

Now, I'm sure that there are writers who are able to block out the shrieking and write something worthy of publication. I can't even write a grocery list with Nickelodeon blaring in the background, Britney blaring on itunes, boys screaming in the basement as they kill virtual zombies, and my daughter and her friends having a dance party in the living room.

Then again, I'm not sure what month would be optimal for this challenge. March actually looks pretty good. It's a boring month, and the kids are forced to go to school.

I have decided that this is the month that I am going to rekindle my writing, but my challenge is much mo easier than NaNoWriMo. More like PenNoWriSoMo, instead....PenWriSlowMo. How about that one? How about.....20,000 words? That might be a good goal? How about....have some fun? I like it!

Well, I know fosho that November will include lots of turkey dishes, family squabbles, my daughter's adoption day celebration, and probably some writing.

This I KnoFoSho.

Happy Writing, Everyone!

SoShoI'mKo,
Pen

Happy Halloweenie!

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If I ever tried to put a humiliating costume like this on Lucy, she would probably bite me!
HAPPY HALLOWEENIE!