C.D. Hersh's Blog, page 66
August 9, 2021
Tell Again Tuesday Writing with plants
World Building: PlantsBy Cindy Tomamichel
As a plant person – a gardener, not some sort of cross species mutant – I find it weird that some people wander through the world without seeing plants as individuals. They never ask themselves what it is, and often seem to not even see it as they trudge through a garden bed. I suspect it is a modern thing, for our ancestors relied on an in depth knowledge of plants for their survival. Today? Not so much.
How does this relate to books? Firstly there is . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:
August 5, 2021
Friday Feature The color of your shoes
I have worked out most of my life. I started ice skating at five. I skied and swam. When I was 24, I started officiating sports and called football, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, and basketball games, an avocation I practiced for 40 years. When I was 30, I got my first health club membership and I have had one ever since.
So, I’m a long-time gym rat. I’ve lifted weights, utilized aerobics equipment, and practiced yoga, but I’m primarily a lap swimmer. I mention this because recently I turned the golden corner for those of us who spend time at the gym. The reason? Silver Sneakers.
For the uninformed, Silver Sneakers is a health and fitness program that provides gym access and fitness classes for people 65 and older. It’s covered by some Medicare plans. That means I no longer have to shell out those monthly fees to the health club.
The idea, of course, is to keep old people moving so they’re less likely to succumb to problems like heart disease, broken bones from falls, high-blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. If people get exercise, chances are they won’t become ill or injured, which keeps those Medicare costs down.
I’ve been swimming laps regularly for 35 years, so I am pretty comfortable working out.
I was feeling pretty smug the day I walked into the club and asked to be moved to the Silver Sneakers rolls. I had just finished swimming a thousand meters – sadly, I used to swim two thousand, but as I’ve already intimated, I’m old.
“Of course! I’d be happy to help,” a tall, twenty-something smiled down at me. “Sit right here. Just show me your ID and your membership card, Ms. Montgomery.”
I noted he was very solicitous.
After putting the important bits of information into the computer and handing me my new key fob, he placed both elbows on the desk. “Now, we can provide you with a free one-hour counseling session.”
“What for?”
He tilted his head. “To help you learn how to work out.”
I squinted. Did I look like I needed help finding my way around the gym? Did I look like I spent my days on the couch eating Ding Dongs? Did I look like I didn’t know a free weight from a foam roller?
Then, I had an I-glimpsed-myself-in-a-store-window moment. I know you’ve done it. You walk by a reflective surface and the person you see staring back is not the one you always imagined. I was forced to consider how this nice young man saw me. He smiled sweetly. I stared back, realizing I might now appear to be a little old lady.
I said I’d think about the offer. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to see if there’s anything I’ve been missing. I thanked him and left. Though I stared at the floor whenever I got close to a window.
Here’s a little from my latest women’s fiction book. I hope you enjoy it.
A woman flees an abusive husband and finds hope in the wilds of the Arizona desert.
Rebecca Quinn escapes her controlling husband and, with nowhere else to go, hops the red-eye to Arizona. There, Gaby Strand – her aunt’s college roommate – gives her shelter at the Salt River Inn, a 1930’s guesthouse located in the wildly beautiful Tonto National Forest.
Becca struggles with post-traumatic stress, but is enthralled by the splendor and fragility of the Sonoran Desert. The once aspiring artist meets Noah Tanner, a cattle rancher and beekeeper, Oscar Billingsley, a retired psychiatrist and avid birder, and a blacksmith named Walt. Thanks to her new friends and a small band of wild horses, Becca adjusts to life in the desert and rekindles her love of art.
Then, Becca’s husband tracks her down, forcing her to summon all her strength. But can she finally stop running away?
Amazon Buy Links E-Book – Paperback
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.
August 3, 2021
Wednesday Special Spotlight Self Crusting Quiche #recipe
The perfect lunch or dinner that’s great for leftover vegetables. The extra bonus – it’s easy to make. Let your imagination rule on the veggies. Onion, broccoli, mushroom, cauliflower, courgettes, capsicums, corn kernels…whatever you have on hand tastes amazing in this recipe. Chopped, cooked bacon or a small can of salmon are welcome additions.
SELF-CRUSTING QUICHE
3 tbsp. butter
3 medium eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
Pinch of salt
Pepper to taste
2.5 cups mixed vegetables, chopped
1 cup grated cheese with a snappy flavor for oomph
Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C).
Coat an ovenproof dish large enough to hold all ingredients with butter. Set aside.
Mix eggs, milk, flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.
Stir in vegetables and bacon or salmon if you’re using them.
Blend in cheese.
Pour mixture into a greased dish.
Bake 40 minutes or until a sharp knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Here’s a little from Vonnie’s Regency romance to perk your interest.
Matthew Monfort has two excellent reasons for loathing members of the ton, but thanks to his father’s machinations, he finds himself inveigled into offering for Lady Verity Tristan. Well, it’s time he married and she’s…well, she’s different; in fact, she’s quite delightful…and intelligent…and sweet… but she needn’t think she’s going to win him over.
AMAZON BUY LINK
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 on The Wild Rose Press and Amazon.
Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads.
August 2, 2021
Tell Again Tuesday The Best Book Marketing is Free: Amazon Author Central
Getting the most out of Your Amazon Author PageBy Penny Sansevieri
We often to complicate the heck out of things, don’t we? But the thing is, the best book marketing doesn’t have to be complicated – stop overthinking how to sell books on Amazon. . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:July 29, 2021
Friday Feature A Place at the Table
It was a foregone conclusion that eighteen year old Lee Greene of Peebles, Adams County, Ohio would be drafted, but like so many young couples living everywhere under the specter of World War II, his sweetheart Roma Gaffin and he got married anyway. The date was September 29, 1942. By Christmas of that same year they were pregnant for me. A few weeks before my birth, my father was drafted into the US Navy, with the expectation that following his training he would be shipped to somewhere in the Pacific Theater of the war. My mother stayed on at my grandparent’s farm in Peebles, and it was in a bedroom there that I was born, assisted into the world by Old Doc Ellison. My father first laid eyes on me a few weeks later—on the occasion of his return home after receiving an honorable medical discharge from the Navy.
There was little separation in my mind between my parents and my grandparents when I was a kid. Despite the fact that by the time of my toddlerhood, my parents, little brother, and I had settled in Columbus, Ohio, the farm and its inhabitants play central roles in the script of my childhood. We spent every weekend and holiday there, and my brother and I stayed at the farm during every summer until I was an adolescent. One of my most vibrant memories is of Lena, my grandmother, thick around the middle by then, her chestnut hair peppered with white, utilitarian apron tied around her waist, standing before her cook stove. With fresh peaches plucked from trees in the farm’s orchard or stash of canned goods in the cellar, and butter churned from the milk of resident cows, in her wood-filled cook stove, lacking the modern convenience of temperature control, my grandmother whipped up peach cobbler to rival any big city bakery. Breads, muffins, cakes, cookies, pies, cobblers—all the baked goods consumed by her large family were the products of her masterful hands. An abundance of her baked goods was the highlight of her high-holiday dinners.
~LENA’S PEACH COBBLER~
The Peaches
5 peaches, peeled, cored, and sliced*
1 cup sugar
¼ tsp. salt
Add peaches, sugar, and salt to a saucepan. Stir well to combine. Cook on medium heat for just a few minutes—until the sugar is dissolved and juices are drawn from the peaches.
Remove from heat and set aside.
*(If using canned or glass jar peaches in an amount of about 1 quart, skip the above step)
The Batter
6 tbsp. butter
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
¾ cup milk
Ground cinnamon to taste
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Add butter to a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place the pan in the oven while it preheats, to melt butter then remove pan from oven.
Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a medium size bowl. Stir in milk until just combined. Pour mixture over melted butter and smooth to an even layer.
Spoon peaches and juice (or canned/glass jar peaches, if using) over batter. Sprinkle cinnamon generously over the top.
Bake for about 38-40 minutes. Serve warm topped with a scoop of ice cream, if desired.
I didn’t inherit my grandmother’s prowess in the kitchen but once in a while, I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror, and I see fleeting fragments of her in me. I did inherit her affinity for storytelling. I hear her colorful depictions of local gossip so clearly in my mind’s ear. She was also a prolific writer of delightful and informative letters, the greater number of them penned during the Great Depression and World II. Many of them are transcribed in, and form the spine of, Guardians and Other Angels, my novel of historical fiction, based on the true story of three generations of my family. And of course, my formidable grandmother is a key figure of it.
One review of the novel states: “5 stars…Wonderfully Written! This was a thoroughly enjoyable book. I loved the Americana. [It] reached out and touched my heart, mind and soul. [It] provided tremendous insight into what many American families endured during the first half of the 20th century. It captures you and draws you in. This is most certainly a five-star novel.”
Read more on Amazon.
Multi-award-winning author and artist Linda Lee Greene describes her life as a telescope that when trained on her past reveals how each piece of it, whether good or bad or in-between, was necessary in the unfoldment of her fine art and literary paths.
Greene moved from farm-girl to city-girl; dance instructor to wife, mother, and homemaker; divorcee to single-working-mom and adult-college-student; and interior designer to multi-award-winning artist and author, essayist, and blogger. It was decades of challenging life experiences and debilitating, chronic illness that gave birth to her dormant flair for art and writing. Greene was three days shy of her fifty-seventh birthday when her creative spirit took a hold of her.
She found her way to her lonely easel soon thereafter. Since then Greene has accepted commissions and displayed her artwork in shows and galleries in and around the USA. She is also a member of artist and writer associations.
July 27, 2021
Wednesday Special Spotlight World Building My Way
Sometimes you need a change of pace. Returning from a conference two years ago, I recognized an itch to do something different. I had been writing a series of books involving Victorian heroes working in and returning home from the far reaches of the British empire with a heavy dose of history. It was a familiar world with interrelated families and characters that wandered in and out of one another’s books, but it was wearying. They took time to write. Each required research—sometimes a lot. It was time for a change. I don’t know how other writers build new worlds, but this is what happened to me.
As the airplane sped cross country, I realized I wanted to write a Regency series, but what? Nothing about the marriage mart or London society rose to the surface. What did come into focus was a coaching inn, one of those warm, welcoming places. I let that image develop in my mind and eventually a village appeared around it, a river, a bridge, and a road leading uphill toward a manor, the seat of the local aristocratic family. I had begun world building.
Structures and roads, however do not make a world. It needed to populate it with interconnected families. I began to imagine the innkeeper’s sons. The aristocrat on the hill became an earl. Were they friends? Were they rivals? What if one of the innkeeper’s sons was in actuality the natural son of the earl? By the time the plane landed, I had the basics for the Ashmead world.
That’s where my muse left off and craft began. Step one is always character building. I use detailed character questionnaires to develop well rounded character sketches. I need to know their wounds and scars, their goals and talents, their appearance, their obsessions and event their favorite swear words. In this case I also needed to know what they thought of one another and how they related.
Setting comes next. I find contemporary county directories useful for identifying no end of detail: types of businesses, prices, surnames, assembly rooms, and so on. Books on travel from first decades of the 19th century were a rich source as well, especially for inns, and contemporary maps also helped me envision my village and the land around it. Soon I had created a general map of Ashmead on Afon, and a growing list of local folk: the vicar, grocer, physician, beekeeper, tenant farmers, and so on. 
After dragging my previous heroes from Canton to Ottawa to Calcutta and back to London, it was a relief to give the new series a cozy home base. Once I know who my people were, and what their village was like, I could begin to think about plot and the conflicts and complexities that would give their stories life.
I’ve created a Facebook Group that provides a guide to the Ashmead people and places for my readers. While this is a work in progress, you can find it under Caroline Warfield’s Fellow Travelers .
About the Series, The Ashmead Heirs
When the Earl of Clarion leaves a will with bequests for all his children, legitimate and not, listing each of his bastards and their mothers by name, he complicates the lives of many in the village of Ashmead.
One sleepy village
One scandalous will
Four beleaguered heirs
About Book One, The Wayward Son
Sir Robert Benson’s life is in London. He fled Ashmead the day he discovered the man he thought was his father had lied to him, and the girl he loved was beyond his reach. Only a nameless plea from his sister—his half-sister—brings him back to discover he’s been left an estate with a choice piece of land. He will not allow a ludicrous bequest from the earl who sired him turn him into a mockery of landed gentry. When a feisty little termagant with flashing eyes—and a musket—tries to turn Rob off the land—his land—he’s too amused and intrigued to turn away. But the longer he stays, the tighter the bonds that tie him to Ashmead become, strengthened by the powerful draw of the woman rooted on land he’s determined to sell.
Lucy Whitaker’s life is Willowbrook, its land, its tenants, its prosperity, but she always knew it wasn’t hers, knew the missing heir would come eventually. When a powerful man with military bearing rides up looking as if he wants to come in and count the silver, she turns him away, but her heart sinks. She can’t deny Rob Benson his property; she can only try to make him love the place as she does, for her peoples’ sake. A traitorous corner of her heart wishes Rob would love it for her sake.
His life is London and diplomatic intrigue; hers is Ashmead and the land. How can they forge something lasting when they are torn in two directions?
Available on Kindle Unlimited or for purchase on Amazon.
Coming:
October 2021: The Defiant Daughter
January 2022: The Forgotten Daughter
May 2022: The Upright Son
Award winning author Caroline Warfield has been many things: traveler, librarian, poet, raiser of children, bird watcher, Internet and Web services manager, conference speaker, indexer, tech writer, genealogist—even a nun. She reckons she is on at least her third act, happily working in an office surrounded by windows where she lets her characters lead her to adventures in England and the far-flung corners of the British Empire. She nudges them to explore the riskiest territory of all, the human heart.
July 26, 2021
Tell Again Tuesday Writing or Road Trip
WHY WRITING A BOOK IS LIKE TAKING A ROAD TRIPBy Lucy Mitchell
I’m halfway through writing a book and I can’t help thinking this process feels like a road trip.
Here are the similarities:
Stage 1 – Everything is going to be just fine…
This is the start of the road trip / writing a book. Delusion sets in as . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:July 22, 2021
Friday Feature Valuable Memories from Anne Montgomery
A while back, I returned home to find the front door ajar. My first concern was that my dogs had gotten out, but when I went inside, they both stared at me and wagged their tails. Did I spy a wee sense of guilt on their doggy faces?
Though I saw nothing out of place in the living room, something felt wrong. Then, I approached my bedroom and a chill ran down my spine. The mess inside showed I’d been burglarized. I briefly wondered if the perpetrator was still in the house, but since the dogs were sitting placidly, I realized I was alone.
“Really?” I squinted at my two cattle-dog pups. “You couldn’t bark or something?”
They responded by vigorously wagging their tails.
I turned back to the mess in my room. The drawers had been rifled. The decorative boxes on my dresser had been dumped onto the bed, what remained of my jewelry scattered in glittery bits on the bedspread and floor. It was easy to see that the good stuff was gone. That the really good stuff was in a safe gave me a moment of relief. But then I thought of my ring, the emerald and diamond piece my sweetie pie presented to me on a beautiful day in the desert, an adornment he purchased because of my love of emeralds and because he wanted us to be together forever.
The box where I kept the ring was empty.
It wasn’t until later that I noticed my office had been searched as well, but nothing appeared to be missing.
Sadly, I was wrong. “I can’t find my log.”
“I’m sure it’s here somewhere,” Ryan said.
But we searched and the book was gone. I was heartbroken.
What had disappeared was my dive log, a planner, of sorts, dedicated to those of us who scuba dive. The idea is that when you’re a new diver, reflecting on what happened underwater is a good way to become a better diver. Generally, we document the conditions: water and air temperature, dive site, date, and dive profile. Then we write down what we saw – beautiful jewel colored fishes on a sunlit reef, magnificent sharks, charming dolphins, sea turtles and star fish and eels and nudibranchs.
But we also revisit what went wrong on a dive: losing track of your partner, not paying attention to air consumption, getting caught in a current, misplacing the dive boat. The log contains stamps, as well, verifying special dives on wrecks and others where we descended below 100 feet.
So, the log is a reflection on our dive memories and underwater performance. The idea is to document your first one hundred dives, a milestone I was approaching.
The other day, Ryan and I were walking our dogs. I don’t recall how the question came up, but it hung between us. “Which do you miss more, your emerald ring or your dive log?” he asked.
I didn’t answer right away, but I couldn’t lie. “My dive log,” I said wistfully.
“I knew you’d say that.” Then he smiled.
I’m so glad he understood.
Now, I have a new dive log that Ryan bought me, one with lots of clean, white pages. I guess I’ll just have to start over, so I’ve got a lot of diving to do.
Yes!
Here’s a little from my latest women’s fiction book. I hope you enjoy it.
A woman flees an abusive husband and finds hope in the wilds of the Arizona desert.
Rebecca Quinn escapes her controlling husband and, with nowhere else to go, hops the red-eye to Arizona. There, Gaby Strand – her aunt’s college roommate – gives her shelter at the Salt River Inn, a 1930’s guesthouse located in the wildly beautiful Tonto National Forest.
Becca struggles with post-traumatic stress, but is enthralled by the splendor and fragility of the Sonoran Desert. The once aspiring artist meets Noah Tanner, a cattle rancher and beekeeper, Oscar Billingsley, a retired psychiatrist and avid birder, and a blacksmith named Walt. Thanks to her new friends and a small band of wild horses, Becca adjusts to life in the desert and rekindles her love of art.
Then, Becca’s husband tracks her down, forcing her to summon all her strength. But can she finally stop running away?
Amazon Buy Links E-Book – Paperback
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.
July 20, 2021
Wednesday Special Spotlight Oven-Fried Chicken meal
Ready for some good down-home type cooking that’s finger lickin’ good but doesn’t splatter grease all over your stove? If so, then this is the menu for you.
MENU
Oven-Fried Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Corn
Spiked Watermelon
White Wine – Chablis
Oven-Fried Chicken
3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless – legs and thighs work great, too
Milk½ cup (50g) flour
1 tsp. (5ml) dried thyme
1 tsp. (5ml) dried marjoram
½ tsp. (2.5ml) garlic powder, not salt
1 tsp. (5ml) paprika
¼ cup ((52g) shortening or lard
¼ cup (57g) butter or margarine
3 tbsp. (45ml) fresh parsley, chopped or 1½ tbsp. (20ml) dried
Place chicken in a glass dish, cover with milk, and let sit for a minimum of 3 hours. This is a perfect way to use up milk when it is close to its expiration date. You can also marinade the pieces overnight. If you choose to go longer than 3 hours be sure to refrigerate the dish. I learned this tenderizing trick from a talented chef in Salzburg, Austria.
Combine flour, thyme, marjoram, garlic, and paprika in a plastic or paper bag.
Drain and pat chicken dry. Place pieces one at a time in bag and gently shake to thoroughly coat them. Lay chicken on a plate as you coat the remaining pieces. Set chicken in fridge for at least 20 minutes to set the coating.
Preheat oven to 425° F (220°C).
Add shortening and butter to a metal baking pan just large enough to hold the chicken. Place dish in oven until mixture is melted. Add chicken. Bake 15 minutes and then turn pieces over. Cook another 20 minutes or until juices run clear when pierced with a sharp knife.
REMEMBER – all meat continues to cook for 5 minutes or so after it is removed from the oven.
Remove chicken from baking dish to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any oil. Transfer pieces to a clean plate. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
You can also make this dish on your grill. Set the grill on medium-high. Watch carefully so the chicken doesn’t burn.
Mashed Potatoes
Chicken stock, not broth
3 tbsp. (43g) butter
Sour cream, a very large dollop
¼ cup (60ml) milk, at room temperature
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Parsley, snipped or chopped for garnish
Preheat oven to 220° F (100°C).
Pour one-inch (2.5cm) chicken stock into saucepan. Place potatoes in saucepan. Add tap water to cover by at least one inch (2.5cm). Cover pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower temperature to a strong simmer. Cook approximately 20 – 25 minutes. Potatoes are done when a fork inserts easily into a section.
Drain potatoes. Stir in butter, sour cream, and pepper. Mash well. Drizzle in milk. Mash and continue to add milk until you achieve the consistency you prefer.
Keep the saucepan warm in the oven while you finish preparing dinner.
Canned Corn
Sometimes it’s good to go easy and nothing is easier than canned veggies.
¼ tsp. (1.25ml) dried thyme
Pinch of salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Butter
Drain corn, then pour into micro wave safe bowl. Sprinkle on thyme, salt, and pepper. Lay pats of butter across the top. Micro wave for 3 minutes, stir and serve.
Spiked Watermelon
An adult pleasure that tops off any summer dinner, especially when you dine al fresco.
½ watermelon2 – 3 cups (450 – 750ml) vodka
Remove the seeds from the watermelon. Cut fruit into chunks or use a melon scooper to form balls. Place the cut pieces into a glass bowl.
Pour vodka over the melon. No need to cover the fruit. You just want enough so all the pieces contact with the vodka. Stir gently. Cover with cling wrap and refrigerate for several hours.
Serve melon from the bowl along with forks or long spoons.
Sloane Taylor is an Award-Winning romance author with a passion that consumes her day and night. She is an avid cook and posts new recipes on her blog every Wednesday. The recipes are user friendly, meaning easy.
Learn more about Taylor’s cookbooks, Date Night Dinners, Date Night Dinners Sizzling Summer,Recipes to Create Holidays Extraordinaire, and Date Night Dinners Italian Style on Amazon.
Excerpts from her romance books and free reads can be found on her website, blog, and her Amazon Author Page. Connect with Taylor on Facebook and Twitter.
Tell Again Tuesday Book Launch like a pro
How to Launch a Book Without Looking Like an AmateurBy Penny Sansevieri
When looking to launch a book, the last thing you want is to look like a book marketing amateur. It doesn’t do your book justice to present it without complete confidence.
Readers want and expect . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:
