Jennifer J. Chow's Blog, page 53

By The Numbers: Blurbs, Formatting, and More!

“Your lucky number for this week is the number three.”

Actually, this post is brought to you by the number 9. Countdown has begun for my cozy mystery, SENIORS SLEUTH, to be released on May 9th. My head’s been swimming with numbers while sorting through all the kinks of making this book happen:

Cover Design

10 sample covers my designer made me

It’s been intense trying to find an image that sets the right mood. I need something that projects light-hearted and funny. It’s also got to hint at the macabre (it is a murder mystery after all). Plus, I’m trying to incorporate the seniors theme.

Blurbs

8 authors I approached to blurb my book

Currently, I have four testimonials in my hot little hands. Two decided to pass, and two more are potentials.

Formatting

1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Odd-numbered pages that must appear on the right side (recto) of the book
0, 2, 4, 6, 8 Even-numbered pages that must appear on the left side (verso) of the book

Certain things like the title page must occur on the right side. Things like chapter beginnings are also traditionally placed recto, but novels have a slight fudge factor because people don’t mind reading straight through the pages, irregardless of where the words fall.

Reviewers

29 contacts that I need to send advanced copies out to

This is, of course, an ongoing list. And this does not include NetGalley, where I’ll also post my work.

p.s. 5 adjectives that have been used to describe my book: “delightful,” “charming,” “clever,” “humorous,” and “intriguing”

Foodie Friday: Pickled Cucumber Salad

Pickled cucumber salad: cucumbers marinated in a sweet and salty mixture

I hate pickles. They’re too sour for me. Often, they make my mouth pucker.

However, I really enjoy pickled cucumber salad. It’s marinated in rice vinegar. There’s a hint of tartness, but that’s counterbalanced by a sweet (and sometimes spicy) flavor. The key to a nice cucumber salad is in its crispness. This salad is often served as an appetizer, and with its mix of contrasting tastes, it whets the appetite for the main course.

Fun fact: Use Persian cucumbers or salt the cucumbers (let them sit for thirty minutes to get the excess water out) to get a better crunch factor. 

 

Wii Games Help Seniors

“Be prepared for extra energy.”

A recent study found that “exergames” may help older adults stay active. Video games like Wii Sports or Wii Fit (which uses a board to do the exercises) can help senior citizens get fit. I’ve also found success with those kind of Wii games.

I’ve had my fair share of gym time, but I’m what you might call a shy member. There are things that don’t jive with me in that environment, such as:

Locker rooms: They remind me of gym class in junior high, and I always hated changing in front of others. Plus, I tend to forget the combination to my lock.
Physical trainers: For some reason, these professionals hone in on me. I’m such a pushover that I listen to their spiels. Once, I even signed up for personal sessions (though I didn’t have the time or the money) because he “really needed to meet a quota,” but then I reneged shortly after.
Waiting period: Sometimes all the machines get filled, and I need to wait for an opening. Or there are actual time limits imposed on the usage (I’m thinking about you, UCLA Wooden Center).

However, I am a proponent of exercising in the privacy of my home. I’ve tried a variety of tapes/DVDs, including Pilates, Richard Simmons, and Tae Bo. Then when video games took off, I used them for fitness training as well. In fact, on my first visit to the OB/GYN when I was pregnant with my oldest child, I filled out the medical information form and put Dance Dance Revolution as part of my exercise routine. But you know what, games like Wii Fit and Wii EA Sports Active really did help me take off the weight once my child was born.

Anyway, video games seem to help older adults with exercising regularly. They’ve also been linked to improving mood and providing connection among the senior community.

What’s your favorite Wii game?

 

Spiral Mooncake

Spiral mooncake: puff pastry version of the mooncake

Sometimes you can elevate mooncakes into works of edible art. When I first discovered these spiral-shaped pastries, I was fascinated.

I have a love-hate relationship with mooncakes. Some taste just okay, but I love the symbolism behind them. Usually eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, they’re circular, dense treats.

The beauty of spiral mooncakes is in their fluffy layers. Think: phyllo dough. Shaping the dough requires skill, and I hear that dipping and frying them in hot oil brings out the best crispness in texture.  (Healthier chefs will opt for baking them.)

These mooncakes traditionally have a yam filling, which provides a nice bright purple contrasting color on the inside. If preferred, you can also use other flavors, like lotus and red bean paste.

Fun fact: The Mid-Autumn Festival for 2015 lands on September 27th.

Tomb-Sweeping Day

“Love is a warm fire to keep the soul warm.”

April 5th marked Ching Ming, a time when families gather together to honor their ancestors. The literal meaning of the festival is “clear and bright,” which offers an odd juxtaposition of cheerfulness with solemnity. Traditional rituals include sweeping graves, along with warm weather activities like kite flying (because the festival happens near the coming of spring). I’m not one for mandated holidays, but I think it’s important to recognize and respect those who’ve gone before us.

Share your favorite memory of a loved one who’s passed on.

Foodie Friday First: Loganberry Pie

Over the summer, I visited Whidbey Island near Seattle and tried out…

Loganberry pie: a delicious pie filled with dark-colored berries

I ate at Whidbey Pies & Cafe, which has a farm attached to it. Fresh organic produce is grown on the spot and served to customers (their quinoa salad is amazing). For dessert, I debated on getting the more literary huckleberry pie, but then opted for their specialty, loganberry pie. Here’s a recipe for it from Bobby Flay.

I loved the tart taste of the berries contrasting with the sweetness of sugar. The beautiful rich color of the berries also made the inside filling seem jewel-colored. The loganberry is said to be either a red form of the blackberry, or a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry.

Fun fact: After buying this “local” pie, my Seattle friend informed me that the loganberry was cultivated in California (by James Harvey Logan in Santa Cruz)! 

 

Pen Names and Pseudonyms

“Versatility is one of your outstanding traits.”

One of my UCLA writing professors told me that it’s wise to be established in one genre before branching out. Like the rebel I am, I’ve decided to publish a cozy book (confession: my previous book was categorized as multicultural women’s fiction). My solution? Use a pen name.

Pseudonyms help readers to easily figure out what genre they’re buying. For example, J.K. Rowling first published her mysteries under the name of Robert Galbraith. However, after reading Toby Neal’s excellent post about changing names (and potentially losing readership), I’ve opted to use my initials (J.J. Chow) for my Asian-American mystery. It helps folks understand that I’m writing a different type of novel (and I can still use this website domain!).

What are your thoughts on pen names? Do you have any favorite authors who use them?

Also, I’m excited to be celebrating three years with Wordsmith Studio! These online writing friends helped me establish my blog, build an author platform, and encouraged me in my writing career.

 

Foodie Friday: Fried Shrimp Ball

Fried shrimp ball: crispy shrimp delicacy served at dim sum

In the upper right hand corner.

This was one of the dim sum treats that I fell in love with as a child. They reminded me of eating pom poms. Of course, the most exciting part of the food was the crunchy little tentacles that stuck out of the ball. (One of my kids insists on just eating the “crunchies,” which kind of defeats the purpose of eating a shrimp ball.)

It’s a deep-fried delicacy, so I imagine it’s highly unhealthy. But once in a while, you’re entitled to a treat, right?

Fun fact: Dim sum means to “touch your heart.” 

Calendar Girls in America

“Many admire your social and physical appearance.”

That’s right. Seniors in America are raising money using provocative calendars. An Ohio assisted living center is trying to help kids in need of shoes. Read more about the effort from Pleasant Pointe Assisted Living here.

Let me tell you, I absolutely loved Calendar Girls when it first came out. (As an aside, Helen Mirren is an amazing actress in all of her films.) Anyway, I’m really glad that the movie and the recent calendar effort above show three important aspects about older women:

1) Generosity. Older adults love to contribute back to their community and invest in worthy causes.

2) Fun. There’s still a lot of energy that seniors can funnel into creative and enjoyable pursuits.

3) Beauty. There’s room for older women to be depicted as beautiful (and yes, sexy).

Hooray also for the renaissance of love stories on film with senior leads!

What’s your favorite movie with older character(s)?

Foodie Friday: Thousand-Layer Pancake

Thousand-layer pancake: fluffy and layered carb treat

Tired of traditional pancakes? How about having multi-tiered ones? I first ate these because I loved their intricate designs (kind of like how I’m in awe of the weaves in funnel cakes).

In texture, they’re similar to scallion pancakes. They’re chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside (except they’re not inundated with green onions). Since they lack much flavor, I prefer their crusty cousin: roti. (I love dipping roti in curry sauce!)

What’s your favorite pancake ever?

(In college, I really enjoyed fresh banana pancakes made at the dining hall.)