Mia Fox's Blog, page 19

What’s Mia Making?

What do you do when your characters are having hissy fits and decide to run away from home? Procrastination comes to mind. But, in my effort to ban that negative word from my vocabulary and life I’ve decided to create a new column: “What’s Mia Making?”

Some of you smarty pants might be saying, “Ah Mia, you’ve got writers block again.” That’s one way of thinking of it. But for me, a girl who prefers to see the glass as half full, it’s my way of doing something useful for my family while imagining what my characters would say if they were in the kitchen with me. Raven from “Released” would probably threaten to add two or three extra tablespoons of salt because she’s always one for throwing that into wounds!

Today’s endeavor is an amazing refrigerator cookie. What makes them so good? They have more delicious ingredients per capita than your average cookie. M&Ms, nutella, peanut butter, and even instant coffee granules are included. The original recipe comes from the Pioneer Woman’s website and once baked they are flat and crisp. If you prefer a fuller figure, bustier cookie like I do, just add 1 teaspoon of baking powder as well as the existing baking soda to the recipe. Enjoy!

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Tara Brown’s “The Four Horsemen”

Today marks the release of Tara Brown’s “The Four Horsemen,” book two of her Light Trilogy.

“You were born dead and only the dead may claim you”

Her dreams have not changed, nor have the words being whispered to her.

Rayne has until her birthday to finish the job she started,

but just as she ends the second devil, things change.

She discovers the Van Helsings are not the only things hunting her.

The four horsemen of the apocalypse have also begun a journey of their own, leaving disaster and chaos everywhere they go.

They hunt her to the ends of the earth and its darkest corners.

What they find surprises them.

Still dependent upon her friends and the magic of the world others cannot see, Rayne finds herself in the fight for more than just her life.

She must also find the strength to save the world.

She must be The Light of the World.

Get your copy today:

The Four Horsemen on Amazon

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“Text” Cover Reveal by Cambria Hebert

Only a few more weeks to wait until Cambria Hebert’s “Text” will launch on November 8, 2013. Until then, you’ll have to be satisfied with a peek at this gorgeous cover, designed by Mae I Design. This is a NA contemporary novel that is part of Cambria’s “Take It Off” series. Due to graphic language and sexual content this book is recommended for readers 18+.

Here’s the synopsis:

One text can change everything.

Honor Calhoun never thought her life would ever be like the books she writes for a living. One morning while out for a run, she learns not all bad things are plots in novels. Some horrors can actually come true.

She faces off with a persistent attacker, holds her own, but in the end is taken hostage and thrown into a hole. In the middle of the woods.

But Honor didn’t go down there alone.

She took her kidnapper’s phone with her. With a spotty signal and a dying battery, her hope is slim.

Nathan Reed is an active duty Marine stationed at a small reserve base in Pennsylvania. All he wants is a calm and uneventful duty station where he can forget the memories of his time in a war-torn country.

But a single text changes everything.

Nathan becomes Honor’s only hope for survival, and he has to go against the clock, push aside his past, and take on a mission for a girl he’s never met.

Both of them want freedom… but they have to survive long enough to obtain it.

Add “Text” to your Goodreads TBR list!

Text is on Goodreads

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Writer’s Block Solution #1 – Brown Sugar Pound Cake

I’ve come up with a solution for writer’s block…bake a cake! It’s creative. It’s satisfying. It allows my mind to relax. And best of all, it feeds my sweet cravings. So I’ve decided from time to time, I’ll post my fav recipes. This recipe, originally by Nancie McDermott author of Southern Cakes, would be just the sort of thing Suki from my novel “Released” would bake.

Warning: If you’re concerned about counting calories, cholesterol, fat, this isn’t the cake for you. It contains three sticks of butter and an entire box of brown sugar, oh my! But I figure if you’re going to take time away from writing to bake, it might as well be a sigh-worthy endeavor.

For the cake

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pans

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup milk, preferably whole

3 sticks (12 ounces) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for the pan

One 1-pound box (about 2 3/4 cups) dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

5 large eggs

For the caramel glaze (optional)

1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup evaporated milk

4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Butter and flour a 10-inch tube pan or two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans.

2. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and stir with a fork to mix well. Stir the vanilla into the milk and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, beat the butter with a mixer at high speed until light and fluffy. Add the brown sugar in 3 additions, mixing well after each, and then add the granulated sugar all at once, beating well after each addition. Add the eggs, 1 t a time, beating well after each addition. Add half the flour and then half the milk, beating at low speed just until the flour or milk disappears into the batter. Add the rest of the flour and then the remaining milk in the same way.

4. Quickly scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 1 hour and 10 minutes (55 to 60 minutes for loaf pans), or until the cake is nicely browned at the edges, springs back when touched lightly at the center, and a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

5. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack or a folded kitchen towel for 20 to 30 minutes. Loosen the cake from the pan with a table knife and turn it out onto a wire rack or a plate, top side up, to cool completely, top side up.

Make the caramel glaze (optional)

6. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the butter melts and blends with the brown sugar to make a smooth sauce, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the milk, and let the icing come to a gentle boil.

7. Stir well, remove from the heat, and add the sifted confectioners’ sugar and the vanilla. Beat well with a mixer, whisk, or spoon for 1 or 2 minutes, until the glaze thickens and loses a little of its shine.

8. Use at once. If the glaze hardens, stir in 1 or 2 spoonfuls of evaporated milk to soften it.

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Tina Folsom Offers Exclusive Excerpt

Fans of Tina Folsom’s Scanguards Vampires series have two reasons to celebrate. The first: her latest novel, “Thomas’s Choice,” is now available; and second, you can download an exclusive excerpt directly from her site.

Scanguards vampire and master of mind control Thomas has mentored newbie vampire Eddie for over a year—and been in love with him for just as long. But he believes that his love will never be reciprocated.

While patrolling San Francisco for evil vampires, Eddie kisses Thomas as a diversionary tactic and is shaken to the core by his reaction. He’s terrified of his sexual attraction to his mentor and afraid that moving forward and giving into his desires will destroy the relationship they have.

When hurt and disappointment about Eddie’s inability to commit leads Thomas onto a dark path that spells destruction for all those he loves, only Eddie can pull him back from the brink of eternal darkness. But does Eddie have the courage to face his true feelings in time to save the man who’s meant for him?

What’s up next in the series? Coming spring 2013 look for “Oliver’s Hunger.”

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Carry On Vulture

This morning another squirrel lost its life in a senseless game of traffic chicken. We’ve all seen it. The rogue squirrel who believes he’s faster than the oncoming cars. He waits until the very last moment, daring the driver not to break, as he runs as fast as his frenzied paws will take him to the other side of the road where he no doubt boasts to his squirrel lover about his racing prowess.

But not this morning. On this morning, the sight of a mangled squirrel was worse than usual. He wasn’t just road kill; he was carrion…a mid-morning snack for a turkey vulture.

Depending on where you live, you may not be familiar with turkey vultures. I wasn’t until I saw the most vile looking bird feasting on that poor squirrel. I had to take a moment from my writing to look it up and what I discovered amazed me. There is actually a Turkey Vulture Society. The very word ‘society’ suddenly made me look at this ugly, furry friend eating, breed of buzzard in a new light.

The site claims to “promote scientific studies of the life habits and needs of the turkey vulture.” I realized at that moment that there really is a society, club, hobby or organization for everyone, which gives this romantic writer cause to salute the turkey vulture.

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L.P. Dover’s “Trusting You” Debuts

For fans of L.P. Dover’s “Forever Fae” and “Second Chances” series, her latest is sure to please.

“Trusting You” will kick off with a fantastic release party on Tuesday, October 8 from 8-10pm EST here.

Here’s the teaser..

I trust you …

These are the three words that Melissa Ashford wishes she could say to someone; to the one person she can fully give herself to and not worry about being betrayed. Being twenty-eight years old and divorced from a cheating ex-husband, Melissa enjoys her freedom until one night she finds herself indulging in a one night stand that changes everything.

There’s something about the alluring Brett Walker that has Melissa feeling things she’s never had with any other man; feelings that not only scare her, but push her past her limits. Just when she begins to open her soul to this new love their bond is put to the test when jealousies from the past try to break them apart.

It’s not only Melissa’s trust that’s put on the line, but Brett’s as well. Will their love be strong enough to get them through the lies? Will Melissa finally be able to say those three words she’s been dying to say? I trust you …

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Five Facts Friday – Jackson Paul Baer

Time to meet another great author…Jackson Paul Baer, whose new book, “The Earth Bleeds Red,” published by Pandamoon Publishing, is due out October 18th. Here are Jackson’s five fact picks:

Favorite Time to Write – Night

Best Way to Turn Around a Bad Day – Tell someone close to you that you love them. 

If you could live anywhere, it would be — Ireland because I went there last November with my wife, and it stole my heart. 

If you could have chosen, during which time period would you most have liked to have grown up? Any time before 1900. While it would have been a completely different world, most people still read back then

Guilty Pleasure – Orange Rockstar (sugar free, recovery)

You can catch up with Jackson here:

Jackson Paul Baer Official Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

He’s also running a Goodreads giveaway for 3 autographed copies: 

Giveaway 

Check out his book’s promo video: 

Promo Video

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Your Book Featured on Indie Author News

These days, being an author doesn’t mean you’re just a writer. You’re also a marketing specialist, social media strategist, distribution expert…the list goes on. Indie Author News offers writers advertising opportunities that place your book directly in front of consumers.

The choices include:

Book Features

Interviews

New Book-Releases

Free Book of the Day

Indie Book of the Day

To find out more, follow the link to their online contact form.

Please note that I am in no way connected with Indie Author News. I just thought it was a neat little tidbit to pass on.

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Five Facts Friday with Tara Paradise

Tara Paradise is set to release her debut novel, “From This Moment,” in December of this year. Given her answers on these Five Facts Friday random questions, I can tell she’s a girl after my own heart.

FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD: I’m a cupcake kinda girl! Lemon Raspberry and Chocolate Coconut are my faves.

FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME: “You’ve Got Mail” because it’s the best romantic comedy ever! I ♥ Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks together on screen. Plus, it involves one of my favorite things ~~ books!

IF I COULD LIVE ANYWHERE, IT WOULD BE: Italy because it’s simply Bella! And because the sexiest, most romantic men in the world are Italian. I should know…I married one!

FAVORITE SUPER POWER: I would LOVE to possess Wonder Woman’s Magic Lasso of Truth.

BEST SUGGESTION FOR TURNING AROUND A BAD DAY: Wrapping my arms around my two little boys and hugging them tight. There’s nothing better than that!

You can find Tara on Facebook.

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