C.D. Hersh's Blog, page 127
August 8, 2017
Wednesday Special Spotlight HL Carpenter
Shines On
The dynamic duo HL Carpenter who bring us their latest captivating cozy mystery and homemade ice cream to enjoy while reading. Be sure to get your copy today!
Berry us blue
by HL Carpenter
We have a confession to make. Sometimes…sometimes here in Carpenter Country we are not actually sitting at our computers all day working diligently on our next book. That’s right. Sometimes we…we go OUTSIDE! Into the SUNSHINE!
One of those special occasions took place in early May when we headed out to the u-pick field. Because we are serious blueberry pickers, we brought home enough berries to enjoy a few bowls fresh-from-the-field, to put a couple of handfuls on top of cereal, and to make biscuits, bread, buckles, cheesecake, coffee cake, crumbles, cobblers, donuts, muffins, pies, pancakes, scones, and ICE CREAM!
Are you screaming yet for blueberry ice cream? Us too. In fact, we’re going to take a break and sample a bowl. Here’s the recipe in case you want a break from your own busy day. You will need an ice cream maker (ours makes about 1½ quarts)and a blender or food processor for this recipe.
HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY ICE CREAM
1½ cups fresh blueberries, washed, and dried (slightly less than a pint of fresh, or you can use frozen berries if you drain them well)
1 pint (2 cups) heavy whipping cream
1 cup milk (whole or reduced fat, your choice – coconut milk is a delicious substitute)
½ cup sugar (more or less to suit your own sweet tooth — or teeth)
½ tsp. vanilla extract
Place rinsed blueberries in the blender or food processor and process for a minute or less.
Add the whipping cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract to the pureed blueberries in the blender.
Process 10-20 seconds, just until mixed – not too long, or you’ll have whipped cream.
Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and churn for 20 minutes.
If you like soft, milkshake-type ice cream, pass out the spoons and dig in. For firmer ice cream, scoop the ice cream into a container and freeze two hours.
Okay, break’s over – back to work!
We invite you to enjoy an excerpt from our cozy mystery, A Cause for Murder.
Septuagenarian sleuth Emma Twiggs thinks her neighbor’s death was an accident – until her friend Arnie says he suspects murder.
Arnie is convinced he knows the killer’s identity. He wants Emma to prove it.
Is Arnie right? And is he right in his belief that Emma’s best friend is the killer’s next target?
As Emma navigates madcap mayhem, multiple mysteries, and murderous motives, she discovers more than one person is hiding deadly secrets.
The question is, who has a cause for murder?
EXCERPT
It wasn’t the food. Happy Haven Retirement Community’s chef prepared delicious, artistically plated roast beef and mashed potatoes every Sunday evening.
Emma Twiggs set down her fork. No, the food wasn’t the problem.
It wasn’t the chatter or the whispers in the dining room, or the sidelong glances of other Happy Haven residents. Happy Haven was a hotbed of gossip and rumors. Being the topic du jour was familiar territory.
It certainly wasn’t her dinner companion. Arnie Bracken was always charming, kind, and intelligent, no matter what her best friend Olli thought.
No, food, chatter, and Arnie, combined or singular, were not the cause of her uneasiness.
The problem –
“I know what you’re thinking, Em,” Arnie said.
“Do you?” She picked up a glass of lemon-spritzed water and tried to swallow past the tightness in her throat. She could only hope he had no idea of what she was thinking.
“Sure.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “You’re wondering how someone as fit as Jo accidentally drowned in the swimming pool.”
Emma froze. Her fingers tightened on the glass. The chatter in the room faded into muted background noise. She had deliberately not been thinking about Jo. She would not think about Jo. How did Arnie know she’d been thinking about Jo?
“I’ll tell you how,” he said. “Jo was murdered, and Cahan murdered her.”
“I am not thinking about – Murdered?” The lump in her throat expanded to the size of the Brussels sprouts on her plate. “By Todd?”
“Murdered. By Cahan. And we need to prove he did the deed.”
“Arnie.” Emma set the glass on the table and uncurled her fingers from it. She coughed to clear the non-existent Brussels sprout from her throat. “The paramedics told us Jo’s death was accidental. An accidental drowning.”
“Yeah, I know all the euphemisms they used.”
Emma did too. The headline in Harmony Notes, the local daily, had read TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT HAPPY HAVEN. Unfortunate was the word murmured most frequently at the funeral service, followed closely by regrettable.
She said, “Harmony’s police department and the district medical examiner agreed with the paramedics.”
“They’re wrong.”
A trickle of condensation wept down the side of the glass and puddled into a teardrop on the table. All the words used to describe Jo’s death were wrong. Wrong and inadequate. Words were inadequate now too.
Because this was the problem she had been avoiding.
Her role in Jo’s death.
Florida-based mother/daughter author duo HL Carpenter write sweet, clean fiction that is suitable for everyone in your family. The Carpenters write from their studios in Carpenter Country, a magical place that, like their stories, is unreal but not untrue. When they’re not writing, they enjoy exploring the Land of What-If and practicing the fine art of Curiosity. Visit their website to enjoy gift reads and excerpts and to find out what’s happening in Carpenter Country.
Stay connected on Pinterest, Linkedin, Google+, and their Amazon Author Page.
August 7, 2017
Tell Again Tuesday Writing Openings
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
The Right Opening
By
Joanne Guidoccio
Have you ever experienced the tyranny of the blank page?
If you’re nodding in agreement, you are in good company. In fact, I believe every writer—from beginner to published—has experienced those feelings of doubt and apprehension, especially at the start of a new manuscript. That’s when gremlin thoughts are most powerful.
In this post, I will offer several suggestions on how to squash those gremlins and start writing the first page of your next manuscript.
First, I will dispel three popular rules:. . .
For the rest of the blog go to:
https://sisterhoodofsuspense.com/2017/05/23/the-right-opening/
August 3, 2017
Friday Feature Heroine Interview
Interview by
Vonnie Hughes
We’re delighted to introduce you to Vonnie Hughes author of DANGEROUS HOMECOMING that is a unique Historical Romance that definitely isn’t sweet.
Here is a short blurb:
Both of them are scarred by war; she because of the shattered men she nurses; he because of the loss of friends and the horrors he must endure daily.
Colwyn Hetherington has a chance to put it all behind him and return to England. Juliana Colebrook desperately wants to go to England to seek out her relatives. They take an almighty chance and travel together, setting in train a series of events that neither could have anticipated.
With only their love to sustain them, they clash head-on with the reality of England, 1813.
Vonnie is here with her sassy heroine. The blog is all yours, Vonnie!
Hello, Juliana. Tell us a little about yourself.
Good day. I’m Juliana Carlotta Ervedosa Colebrook. As you can tell, my Mama was Portuguese and my father was an Englishman. You will find me in the book DANGEROUS HOMECOMING. Of course the English would never get their tongues around ‘Ervedosa’ so I only use my full name when signing documents.
Do you consider yourself to be unconventional?
No. In no way do I consider myself unconventional; at least I didn’t while I lived and worked in Portugal, but since coming to England I have discovered that I am unconventional because I am loosely classed as a ‘lady’ yet I work for a living. I am a nurse with experience in tending very sick soldiers. Then again, I am a murderess twice over and one must suppose that could be called ‘unconventional.’ They were murders of necessity, I must hasten to add. I did not set out to murder anyone, but in each case I had no choice. Life is not easy for women in the nineteenth century.
Do you embrace your uniqueness?
I don’t think I embrace my uniqueness. I never thought about being unique when I was in Portugal, but once I arrived in England I did my best to fit in. The English can be very cold to those who do not fit in. And I did not want to upset my relatives whom I had not met for many, many years. So, yes, it was a struggle to fit in. In Portugal, since I was raised in a convent that specialized in training young women to nurse the sick or teach the children of the wealthy folk their basic reading and Latin, I was not at all unusual.
Who is your role model?
My role model? Well, I’m not sure. I cannot think of any woman I admire—stop! Of course I have a role model. My role model is the Marchioness of Trewbridge. What an amazing woman. Unlike most women of her class she is industrious, holds her family together with kindness and talks a great deal of sense. Yes, I’d like to be like the Marchioness.
If you could do anything without concern for the consequences, what would it be?
Marry Colly Hetherington of course. But my background would bring him down, so I must drop that daydream.
Is your ideal man unconventional?
Not really. Colly is what he is. I cannot think of other men when I think about Colly. Other men cease to exist. He is kind and so very honourable. Screamingly so. Ah, what a man.
Any juicy details to share?
Hah! Read the book.
How about showing us a piece of your story?
Umm, here goes.
She clasped her penknife tightly in her free hand and hid it beneath her skirts. The dead eyes swivelled from Kit’s hemp binding, now lying on the floor, to Juliana’s face where she hovered protectively in front of Kit.
‘What a clever young lady,’ the revolting animal purred. At the menace in his voice, Juliana felt as though a snake had slithered up her spine. She stood up and held out her ungloved left hand to show him how she had untied the ropes. Dead-Eyes was too wary to come any closer, and she knew he couldn’t see in the dimness that the knots had been sliced through.
The pale eyebrows rose. ‘Perhaps those dexterous fingers can be put to better use. Come here.’ He crooked a long, thin forefinger and the muscles at the bottom of Juliana’s stomach jolted. Hold yourself together, Juliana. Your plan relies on your being as close to him as possible.
Slowly she sidled towards the creature and for the first time she saw signs of life in the cold eyes.
‘I always interview our new young ladies before they are thrust on our clients,’ he purred thickly. ‘I like to … warm them up, so to speak.’
Bile rose in her throat. She had never seen an iceberg but she had heard about them, and she had the distinct impression that a huge chunk of iceberg had just washed into the room. ‘Warm them up?’ She didn’t think so. Please, please, please God, don’t let him have touched Tilly.
Clutching the penknife in the palm of her right hand, she shuffled closer to him, measuring the distance carefully and also his height. Yes, he was tall. So was she. Flexing her body she moved closer, as if in a trance. His arm shot out and grabbed her.
‘No!’ Kit yelled behind her.
‘Stay back, Kit,’ she warned.
‘That’s right, my dear. You understand. You want to be tutored by Benny Ames, don’t you?’ He tugged her flush against his body.
Struggling not to recoil, she saw he was sweating. His tongue slid greedily over his yellowed teeth and he clasped her left hand like a lover. She kept her right hand hidden in her skirts. Ames’s breathing deepened as he tried to rub her left hand over his erection. Even as she struck, he was so lost in a haze of sexual pleasure he had no idea what had happened.
‘Hurry, Kit. Run!’ she yelled.
This time she was prepared for the blood. It spurted out of his throat in a great arc, dousing the holland covers beside them. Juliana ducked backwards holding the slippery knife handle. The knife blade was buried in Ames’s neck. He clutched his throat, his eyes wide with stupefaction.
Juliana’s stomach lurched and she dropped the handle. As Ames made the most fearsome gurgling sounds she edged around his flailing body and raced to the door. She hurtled down the stairs and cannoned into Kit. ‘Hurry, Kit. Hurry. Get out of here.’ She shoved the front door open and pushed him outside.
Kit slanted a glance back over his shoulder as his little legs sped along. ‘Where are we going?’
‘To the Rosemary Lane Inn. Hurry!’
‘But I don’t know where it is!’ He kept on running all the same, tugging Juliana along by the hand.
Juliana cast a quick glance behind them. The blue door with number 32 painted on it still stood innocently ajar and she could hear no sounds of pursuit.
‘Run towards the traffic noise,’ she gasped.
A few people glanced at them as they rushed by, but nobody seemed interested in a scruffy boy and a bloodstained, dishevelled young woman running helter skelter up the alleyways. No doubt it was a common sight in these parts.
As they stumbled from the dank alleyway into a wider street she saw a sign stuck on a building façade that said ‘Chamber Street’. The steady throbbing of her sore, bruised feet echoed the drumming in her head. Swaying, she knew she was nearly done for.
Kit glanced back and tugged her hand. ‘Come on, miss,’ he encouraged her, then he raised their clasped hands and stared at the red stains on Juliana’s fingers. ‘Thank you,’ was all he said.
Breathless, she gulped and said nothing, fighting her queasy stomach. Soon it would happen – the reaction. Last time she had shaken as if with the ague for several hours. And when she had finally found herself safe, she had huddled into a ball and cried and cried and cried. She had cried for her mother and for herself, and for all the other women who had been held in the power of men who did not deserve them.
But now was not the time for self-indulgence. She must protect Kit. She lifted her chin and plodded on.
Footsteps pounded behind them. Twisting around, she shoved Kit out of the way.
‘Juliana!’
Colly. On a wave of relief so strong it dizzied her, she ran straight into his arms.
BUY LINKS
Amazon
Smashwords
Vonnie Hughes is a multi-published author in both Regency books and contemporary suspense. She loves the intricacies of the social rules of the Regency period and the far-ranging consequences of the Napoleonic Code. And with suspense she has free rein to explore forensic matters and the strong convolutions of the human mind. Like many writers, some days she hates the whole process, but somehow she just cannot let it go.
Vonnie was born in New Zealand, but she and her husband now live happily in Australia. If you visit Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand be sure to stroll through the Japanese Garden. These is a bronze plaque engraved with a haiku describing the peacefulness of that environment. The poem was written by Vonnie.
All of Vonnie’s books are available at The Wild Rose Press and Amazon.
Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads.
August 1, 2017
Wednesday Special Spotlight Idioms
Shines On
Sharon Ledwith
IT’S ALL GREEK by Sharon Ledwith
Practically everyone has heard of the idiom ‘It’s all Greek to me’ or ‘It’s all Greek’, meaning that something is not understandable. Another translation is “Graecum est; non legitur” (“it is Greek, [therefore] it cannot be read”). I believe William Shakespeare used this line or something close to it in his play Julius Caesar. Regardless of the origin, when people don’t understand people, words, cultures or even other species, there’s a breakdown in communication. And that’s not good. Wars can start, marriages break down, and relationships fail.
In the first book of Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls series, Lost and Found, the main character, Meagan Walsh has the psychic ability to talk to animals. Imagine possessing the ‘power’ to be a diplomat between animals and humans? To bridge that gap, and find common ground. In the first book of The Last Timekeepers time travel adventure series, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, my main characters are given a ‘Babel’ necklace. The main purpose of this necklace is to break any language barriers while on a mission in the past so that my characters will be able to understand and talk to everyone they meet. Boy, I could have used one of those Babels in French class!
One thing we can all understand is food! It’s universal and we all need food to survive. So I thought I’d share this awesome recipe my hubby made for me recently. It’s called Greek Shepherd’s Pie, and trust me, your taste buds don’t need a translator for this dish! Opa!
BBC Good Food
GREEK SHEPHERD’S PIE
Feta Potato Topping
5 cups (1.25 L) cubed peeled potatoes
¼ cup (60 ml) butter
¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
¼ tsp. (1 ml) freshly ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. (1 ml) salt
¼ tsp. (1 ml) freshly ground pepper
1¼ cups (310 ml) shredded feta cheese
Cook potatoes in boiling salted water until tender; drain.
Add butter, sour cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Mash until mixture is smooth. Stir in feta cheese.
Cover and set aside while you prepare the filling.
Meat Filling
1½ cups (375 ml) chopped onions
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp. (15 ml) olive oil
2 lb (1 kg) lean ground beef
1 can (14 oz/396 g) diced tomatoes
¼ cup (60 ml) dry red wine or canned beef broth
1 tbsp. (15 ml) mint, crumbled
1½ tsp. (7.5 ml) cinnamon
1 tsp. (5 ml) oregano, crumbled
¾ tsp. (4 ml) salt
½ tsp. (2.5 ml) allspice
½ tsp. (2.5 ml) freshly ground pepper
¼ tsp. (1 ml) freshly ground nutmeg
¼ cup (60 ml) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Paprika
Preheat oven to 400° F (205° C)
Use a large skillet or Dutch oven set over medium-heat. Saute onions and garlic in oil for 2 minutes.
Add beef and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
Stir in the next 9 ingredients (tomatoes through nutmeg).
Bring the pot to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese.
Transfer mixture to a greased shallow 3 quart (3 L) baking dish. Spoon feta potato topping over meat mixture and spread decoratively. Sprinkle with paprika.
May be prepared to this point and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
Bake, uncovered, at for 40-45 minutes or until topping is lightly browned and filling is bubbly.
And there you have it! A feast fit for any family who loves to try culturally-flavored recipes, and dares to venture the road less traveled. Want more adventure and excitement in your reading life? How about a trip to Fairy Falls? Just remember to pack lightly.
Imagine a teenager possessing a psychic ability and struggling to cope with this freakish power, all the while trying to lead a normal life. 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. Welcome to Fairy Falls. Expect the unexpected.
The Fairy Falls Animal Shelter is in trouble. Money trouble. It’s up to an old calico cat named Whiskey—a shelter cat who has mastered the skill of observation—to find a new human pack leader so that their home will be saved. With the help of Nobel, the leader of the shelter dogs, the animals set out to use the ancient skill of telepathy to contact any human who bothers to listen to them. Unfortunately for fifteen-year-old Meagan Walsh, she hears them, loud and clear.
Forced to live with her Aunt Izzy in the safe and quiet town of Fairy Falls, Meagan is caught stealing and is sentenced to do community hours at the animal shelter where her aunt works. Realizing Meagan can hear her, Whiskey decides that Meagan just might have the pack leader qualities necessary to save the animals. Avoiding Whiskey and the rest of shelter animals becomes impossible for Meagan, so she finally gives in and promises to help them. Meagan, along with her newfound friends, Reid Robertson and Natalie Knight, discover that someone in Fairy Falls is not only out to destroy the shelter, but the animals as well.
Can Meagan convince her aunt and co-workers that the animals are in danger? If she fails, then all the animals’ voices will be silenced forever.
BUY LINKS
Amazon Kindle – Amazon Paperback – Barnes & Noble – Mirror World Publishing ebook – Mirror World Publishing Paperback
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Smashwords. Look up her Amazon Author page for a list of current books. Be sure to check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.
July 31, 2017
Tell Again Tuesday Know Your Characters
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
How To Get To Know Your Characters – Take Them Shopping!
By Lucy Mitchell
Do you want to get to know your fictional characters?
Do you feel like you and your characters need to bond?
Don’t despair! I have an amazing new trick for writing better characters. It involves two of my favourite pastimes; writing and shopping.
As writers we need to create interesting and compelling characters because no one will enjoy reading about them if they are dull and lifeless.
We have to make our imaginary friends come alive and to do this we . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:
https://blondewritemore.com/2017/05/07/create-characters-shopping/
July 27, 2017
Friday Feature Holiday Flag cake
Guest
Sara Daniel
Not only is author Sara Daniel a terrific writer, she’s also one dynamite baker. Sara is sharing her special Fourth of July dessert. (Note: This is good for any patriotic holiday or just because) You’ll love it! Now here’s Sara…
Nothing beats Independence Day for showing our pride in our country. Flags wave proudly, and red, white and blue are suddenly displayed on every piece of merchandise in the local discount store.
While I don’t have flag plates, napkins or—God forbid—a star-spangled bikini, I love bringing out my once-a-year crafty side to make an American Flag Cake for a cool patriotic treat.
So to satisfy your sweet-tooth I offer you my easy and delicious recipe.
American Flag Cake
pound cake
8oz Cool Whip
Blueberries
Strawberries, sliced
Pound cake can be store bought or made from scratch. Here’s a quick recipe:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. nutmeg
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Beat sugar into butter 2 tablespoons at a time until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, then eggs one at a time. Mix in remaining ingredients.
Bake in a greased and floured 9 X 5 pan for 1 hour. Cool completely.
To Assemble American Flag Cake
Cut pound cake into slices and lay across the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan.
Cover cake with a smooth layer of Cool Whip.
Turn pan horizontal. In upper left corner, fill an approximately 3-4 inch by 3-4 inch square with blueberries.
Make seven horizontal lines of strawberry slices. The first four lines should begin from the blueberry section to the far right edge. The bottom three lines should span the entire length of the pan. The top and bottom lines should be touching the top and bottom of the pan respectively to create 13 alternating red and white stripes.
The last step is very important – Thank a member of our Armed Forces and/or a Veteran, and share a piece of patriotic cake.
Enjoy.
~Sara
Sara Daniel writes what she loves to read—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She battles a serious NASCAR addiction, was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels, and loses her car keys several times a day.
Learn more about Sara on her website and blog. Subscribe to Sara’s newsletter.
Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
July 25, 2017
Wednesday Special Spotlight Breakfast
Shines On
Breakfast by Sloane Taylor who brings us her Omelet recipe
Omelets are delicious for breakfast with croissants, jam, sausage and perhaps a mimosa on special occasions. Dress them up with French bread, butter, fruit salad, and iced tea for a refreshing lunch. And nothing is better on a hot summer night than an omelet with sautéed broccoli, sliced tomato, and a cool glass of white wine. Give them a try and then tell me which one is your favorite.
Photo by zole4
A PERFECT OMELET
1½ tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. onion, coarsely chopped
2 large eggs
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Pinch of ground thyme
Small handful extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Small handful aged Swiss cheese, shredded
Chives or parsley, optional
Preheat oven to 220°F.
Use an 8-inch, non-stick skillet, to melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Shuffle the pan often so the onion doesn’t burn
Turn the heat to almost medium-high. Whisk together eggs, pepper, and thyme, then pour into the hot pan. Gently swirl the pan to prevent the eggs from sticking. As they set, carefully lift the edges to allow raw egg to flow onto the hot pan.
Sprinkle the cheeses evenly across the eggs. Flip one side of the omelet over the other to make a half-moon. Slide onto a plate and set in the oven while you prepare more omelets.
The finished omelet will be a nice yellow color with the cheese melted. Sometimes they will have browned a bit. Don’t worry; this does not affect the delicate taste. Sprinkle with the chives or parsley and serve.
An added treat is a handful of chopped ham strewn across the egg mixture right before you sprinkle on the cheese.
May you enjoy all the days of your life around a well laden table!
Sloane Taylor
Twitter
Amazon Author Page
July 24, 2017
Tell Again Tuesday Dialogue Tags
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
Dealing with Dialogue Tags
By Joanne Guidoccio
Glancing back at some of my earlier work, I cringe at my use of “said bookisms” such as roared, admonished, exclaimed, queried, and hissed. I was trying to avoid overusing the word “said” and searched for suitable alternatives. I realize now that substituting those words made it sound like I enjoyed using my thesaurus. Instead, I was annoying the reader and drawing attention away from the dialogue.
From different workshop facilitators, I’ve learned that . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:
https://joanneguidoccio.com/2017/04/28/dealing-with-dialogue-tags-3/
July 20, 2017
Friday Feature Strawberry Cheesecake
Guest Chris Pavesic talks about cheesecake and books[image error]
This is a quick and easy recipe that is perfect for the late spring/early summer. There is very little preparation involved in this 4-ingredient dish and you have a beautiful looking dessert for your family and friends.
Ingredients
1 Quart of Fresh Strawberries
1 8 OZ Package of Cream Cheese
1 Tablespoon of Vanilla
1 Package of Animal Crackers (my family likes the chocolate ones)
Materials
1 Large Bowl
1 Knife
Paper Towel
1 Serving Plate
1 Measuring Spoon
1 Hand Mixer
1 Icing Decorator
Directions
Wash the strawberries and cut off the stem/leaves. Use the largest berries for the containers, reserving the smaller ones for the filling. Cut the bottom off of the berries so they can sit flat on a plate and hollow out the center so it can hold the filling. Place the “container” berries on the paper towel. This helps them to dry a bit so the juices do not run off onto the plate after they are filled.
In a bowl blend the cream cheese, vanilla, and small strawberries. After it is well blended, put the mixture into the icing decorator and fill the container berries.
Place the filled berries on the plate and top with an animal cracker of your choice.
Serve immediately.
[image error]
Praise for Heart & Mind:
“The author has managed to weave an intricate web about being true to yourself. One shouldn’t be guided or led by others. Above all, feel the magic in your own heart. As the fairy godmother believes sometimes it is best not to mess with destiny.” –Chief, USN Ret…VT Town—a Top 500 Reviewer on Amazon.com
Praise for The World In Front of Me:
“Picked up this short story because I noted it was previously published in Penumbra, which was a pretty high quality publication. And this story lived up to my expectations for a professional quality piece.
The story’s main idea reminded me a lot of the Lakeside community in Neil Gaimon’s American Gods, but I won’t say anymore about that for fear of giving away spoilers. But fans of Gaimon should really enjoy this story. Fans of strong women who make tough choices should enjoy this as well”—KSluss—Review on Amazon.com
Praise for Going Home:
“This is an excellent short story that is full of surprises for the reader. Martial law is about to be imposed in the colony.
A secret room, trips on a train and a clandestine meeting are all part of this superb short story.
Most highly recommended”—Off Grid . . . And Loving It—a Top 500 Reviewer on Amazon.com
Praise for Wonderland:
“The writing is beautiful, the characters are complex and thoroughly developed and the story is fascinating. All of it together creates a world you don’t want to leave when the book ends. I am so glad I discovered this author and I cannot wait for her next book”—Mary—Review on Amazon.com
Read excerpts from all of the books written by Chris Pavesic on Amazon.
July 18, 2017
Wednesday Special Spotlight The Soul Mate Tree book seven
Shares
Never Give up on Love
by
Maggie Mundy
{NOTE: Donald read this in four straight hours and obviously found it engrossing. Called it a great read.}
About Maggie
I live in Adelaide, Australia with my husband, one cat, two dogs and a snake. I have a motorbike that I would like to ride more than I do and I love walking at the beach and listening to the waves. I’ve always loved reading all forms of fiction from high fantasy and paranormal to contemporary and decided the stories in my head needed to be written down. It was either that or start on medication. Unlike many, I didn’t know I wanted to be a writer until a few years back. I started off doing a degree in drama but soon realized my love was in writing, though there is a play lurking somewhere on my computer. My day job is as a nurse in the operating room. I believe romance can be fun to read and write, but it’s exciting to spice it up with the uncertainty that comes with suspense where the rules can be broken.
THE LEGEND OF THE SOUL MATE TREE:
I am old, I am ancient, my purpose is clear
To give those who are needy a treasure so dear.
They who come to my roots, touch my bark, stroke my leaves
Find the soul of their lives if they but believe.
When I call and you listen, your prize will be great
If your heart remains open and you don’t hesitate.
Do you yearn? Be you lonely? Is your time yet at hand?
Reach for me and I’ll give to you. I’m yours to command.
For your trust, for your faith, keep my secrets untold
And I’ll gift you forever, to have and to hold.
[image error]
An ancient legend spanning eras, continents, and worlds. To some, it’s nothing more than a dream. To others, a pretty fairy tale handed down through the generations.
For those in critical need of their own happy ending, a gift.
BLURB
Sometimes you want to die, but it’s not meant to be. Vincent became a vampire in 1847. He fights to keep humans safe from rogue vampires, but can never find love. One thing makes him go on and not find a way to die. The Soul Mate Tree saved his life with its shade and showed him a woman in the future who would need his help and show him love. He could be more than the bloodsucker he had become.
In 2015, Adele is a vampire hunter by night and a photographer by day. She has never allowed love into her life as it would only complicate things. Then she meets Vincent, and the attraction is instant.
Vincent must try and convince Adele to love him while they both fight off rogue vampires?
How will she cope when she realizes the man she has fallen in love with, is what she has been trained to kill.
Book Trailer for The Soul Mate Tree:
Excerpt:
She clipped another stake onto her belt just in case. As she got closer, Adele saw a man at the base of the tree. She couldn’t make out his face with the way he angled his body away from her.
He groaned as if in pain as the lights around the tree intensified. It must be a power surge or something she supposed. Maybe the poor guy was being electrocuted. She tried to remember her first aid.
“Are you hurt?” She called out. The man didn’t react and then the branches came down and covered him. That was weird. It was like the tree was alive or something. She didn’t want to leave someone hurt and in need of help and moved the branches aside. The guy was gone. She really was losing the plot. Maybe she had imagined him. As she moved away from the tree, she heard a whisper.
“Trust me, Adele. He will find you when you need him.”
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Other blogs/info on The Soul Mate Tree books:
Book One: Realm of the Dragon, by CiCi Cordelia, Blog post
Book Two: Can’t Stop the Music, by C.D. Hersh, Blog post
Book Three: Between Venus and Mars, by S.C. Mitchell, Blog post
Book Four: The Trail to Love , by Tina Susedik, Blog post
Book Five: Make Me a Match , by Mackenzie Lucas, Blog post
Book Six: A Promise Remembered , by Erin Riley, Blog post
