Savannah Hendricks's Blog, page 5

Magnolia Journal – Blueberry + Lemon – Vegan Modification

[image error]I loved my last vegan modification from the Magnolia Journal (spring issue, 2019) of Cinnamon + Nut bread. So, I decided to try out the second bread recipe on the same page. For this recipe I switched out the eggs, milk, and butter.

Eggs were swapped for chia seeds.

Milk was swapped for soy milk – same ratio.

Butter was swapped out for olive oil – same ratio.

I loved this bread slightly more than the Cinnamon + Nut, simply because I enjoyed the fresh blueberries in it. I did add about 1/4 a cup more blueberries than the recipe called for. The bread disappeared much quicker as well!!!

Interview with Cassidy Carter, Author of LOVE ON LOCATION

[image error]Please welcome author, Cassidy Carter to the blog!!! Her newest book, Love on Location releases tomorrow, March 12th from Hallmark Publishing!! Yet, Ms. Carter is not new to Hallmark Publishing. She also wrote The Perfect Catch (based on an original Hallmark movie). Please enjoy her interview!

You live far from any place like Cabins in the Pines, what brought you to write this specific story?

I grew up in the country, and I love the outdoors. And you’ll be familiar with the other inspiration for the setting, Savannah—Flagstaff, Arizona!

I struggled a bit with Love on Location at the start of the process, because I originally envisioned this tale of two best friends (who don’t realize that they’re meant for each other) set in a family-owned factory.  But there wasn’t much fun in that “location,” so the setting was switched to the Cabins in the Pines, a place that I hope the reader will find as engaging as the love story.

How much research did you have to do between the camping and TV production aspects of the story?

My family and I camp quite frequently, so the camp aspect of it is very familiar to me. I used some actual camp layout maps from places we’ve been to plan out what the Cabins in the Pines looked like. As far as the TV aspect, my husband and I watch quite a few business-makeover shows like The Profit and Hotel Hell and, of course, the business-investment show Shark Tank, so that inspired some aspects of Love on Location. And then I did do some research on these shows, but I also tried to keep the technical stuff pretty light in case I got anything wrong!

You are a professional editor, does that make writing easier?

In a way it does, but there are ways it makes things harder. It helps me write (hopefully) pretty clean first drafts, but it also makes me mortified when I miss something obvious. More on that below! That said, when I write, I try to put the words down as quickly as possible, without overthinking or being too critical. During my second draft is when I tend to catch things I wrote incorrectly. And I cringe! But on the other hand, it makes me very understanding of those whom I edit.

When you submit a manuscript and it’s accepted, do they send back edits? (Can an editor be edited??)

There are two types of edits you’ll see back as an author: story-level edits (some call these developmental or content edits) that basically critique and coach on the craft, plot, theme, details, all the nongrammatical aspects of a book; and copy edits, which come after revisions to clean up spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the like. And everyone can be edited. Sometimes, story-wise, you get too close to what you’re writing, and you don’t see a plot hole or a too-vague explanation or a comma splice. I love editors, and I love being edited. I am always grateful for a fresh pair of eyes. Stacey Donovan, the head of Hallmark Publishing, is really a master at this. She gives great notes, pointing out things I hadn’t considered or that I’d missed, and I really feel like she made this story much better than it would have been. (Thanks, Stacey!).

I must mention how jealous I am that you have the privilege of working with Ms. Donovan! Her blog posts are super helpful on many levels. Not to mention she is a joy to interact with on Twitter, and I loved her book, Sunset Cabin!!!

In your opinion, does being an editor make the odds of acceptance higher?

Really good one! I think it helps, because a clean-as-possible first draft is something that will stand out in a submissions pile, and having a publisher know that I have a background in helping others better their books might give me a slight edge, but anyone can have a similar chance. By that, I mean that any author submitting to a publisher can find something to set their query apart. For instance, if you’ve researched really well what a particular publisher is looking for, and you have knowledge or experience that helped you develop a character or write in a setting that fits what they want perfectly, use that! Let’s say you write a book about a plucky lumberjack in an all-woman lumberjack crew, and your book is about the heroine falling in love with the head of the competing all-male lumberjack team at the state logging competition. Adorable premise. But if this is the fictionalized version of how you actually met your husband in the same exact manner? That beats the rules that I can quote from the Chicago Manual of Style any day.

Tell us what drove you to write Love on Location?

I love Hallmark, and I love sweet romance. After I did the novelization of The Perfect Catch, I wanted to show readers a little more of my style, so I was so thrilled about Hallmark’s move to original fiction. I like exploring the emotional aspects of how two people can come together in the middle of life happening; not always perfect, not always on time, not always without friction—but just when it’s needed.

What has been your favorite place to see/visit?

So far, I’ve only ever traveled within the United States. But I’m so crazy about Northern Arizona in the summer, I’d have to say it’s my current favorite.

What place are you excited to visit but have yet to?

A lot of the big state parks that I haven’t been to yet! I want to hook up the camper and go see Yellowstone, Yosemite, Redwood National.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I don’t think you have the space for me to include everything! I typically get up early, try to wrangle a reluctant kindergartener to school, and entertain a very cheeky three-year old while I juggle editing and writing. I try to split my day between editing, usually during the day because that’s when clients are easiest to communicate with, and writing, which I do in the evenings and at night. I’m a definite night owl, so my day is fueled by lots of caffeine.

Are you the chef in the family? If so what is your favorite dish to make, if not what is your favorite dish to enjoy?

I do nearly all of the cooking. I love to cook, and my husband is not that keen on cooking himself, so we have an arrangement. I cook, and he does the dishes. It’s a great deal. And I cook a ton of different things! I make a pretty killer coconut curry chicken, but I also love to whip up a full-on Southern breakfast (biscuits, gravy, grits, eggs, and bacon).[image error]

What is your favorite Hallmark movie?

Edge of the Garden! Have you seen it? Oh my gosh. I don’t want to give the ending away, but I cried.

I have seen it! It is great. My personal favorite is the Vineyard series Hallmark Channel does!)

What’s next for you?

So much. I really want to continue the story of the Cabins in the Pines family, and I’m dying to start a cozy mystery series. I’ll update you when there’s anything new to report!

I’ll be looking forward to new news!! 

Visit Cassidy’s website

Purchase Love on Location from Barnes & Noble and Amazon

5 Picture Books Perfect for March

The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing, with illustrations by Amy Wummer  – You guessed it, a St. Patty’s take on The Night Before Christmas. A cute story that will have children asking for another read.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover! by Lucille Colandro, with illustrations by Jared Lee – I personally love this series and was not aware there was a St. Patty’s themed one until now!

The Luckiest Leprechaun: A Tail-Wagging Tale of Friendship by Justine Korman, with illustrations by Denise Brunkus. This story is smart, sarcastic, and funny, with lovely illustrations too!!! You can watch it read aloud here.

How to Trap a Leprechaun by Sue Fliess, with illustrations by Emma Randall – fun illustrations and story, with notes for educators and parents on how to allow your child/children how to make a trap.

As part of the Ready to Read series: The Luck of the Irish by Margaret McNamara, with illustrations by Mike Gordon – While this story is meant for an early reader, it can easily be used as a read aloud book for preschoolers.

 

How to Land a Book Deal or Agent

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Write

Let others critique your work and accept their critique notes

Read

Edit

Don’t give up

Write

Critique other’s works

Read

Write

Let others critique your work and accept their critique notes

Edit

Critique other’s works

Don’t give up

Write

Read

Let others critique your work and accept their critique notes

Write

Edit

Read

Don’t give up

Don’t give up

Don’t give up

IT IS THAT SIMPLE, YET THAT CHALLENGING TOO!

Bloodline

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It should have been you,

Not her.

Your visits a thunderstorm.

Dust of hatred follows.

A failed soul amongst the others.

There is zero hope for you.

I’ll save myself,

I’ve done so before.

For I see the beauty,

You are blind to.

Magnolia Journal Vegan Modification – Cinnamon + Nut

[image error]The latest issue of Magnolia Journal (spring 2019) has several quick bread recipes. And I know I promised a lot more vegan and plant-based modification recipes from Magnolia Table Cookbook. (Writing life has kind of taken over a bit more lately).

So on this rainy day, with the newest issue in hand, I dove in and turned the recipe vegan.

The cinnamon and nut bread recipe called for 1 egg, which I switched out for chia seeds along with 1 cup milk which I substituted with soy milk. The recipe also called for vegetable oil, but I didn’t have any on hand, so I used olive oil. The baking time didn’t change with these modifications. I did add a bit of clove spice, which was not in the recipe.[image error]

I give this recipe a gold star. Even with the modifications. Not only was it easy to make, but it tasted absolutely delicious. (Even if it doesn’t look anything like the picture in the magazine)

 

Lovely Picture Books About Love

Somebunny Loves You by Melinda Rumbaugh and illustrations by Cee Biscoe

available Feb 12

My Mom Always Looks After Me So Much! by Sean Taylor, illustrations by David Barrow

available Feb 5

I Love You, Little One by Holly Surplice

available Jan 29th

You’re My Little Sweet Pea by Zondervan, and illustrations by  Kit Chase 

available Jan 22nd

 

Dragon’s in Love by Alexandre Lacroix and Ronan Badel

available Jan 15th 

You Make Me Happy by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Alison Brown 

available Jan 15th 

Why. Do. We. Do. This?!

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Writers, have you ever been working on a story and stopped to check something, anything else? You should be writing, but you’re not. I’m doing it right now! Manuscript open, pen in hand, mid-edit, when I decide I need to write this post, check social media, oh look dishes need to be washed.

Why. Do. We. Do. This?

Why does the procrastination switch flip so flipping often? (say that ten times fast)

I tried to answer this question on my own. My response is fear, it must be the fear of finishing or fear of finding out that I can’t finish.

The story needs to be worked on, yet there we are, checking this or that.

Now the question is, how do we stop?

I know many put their cell phones away, or turn off their internet. Sometimes that is not enough, because look dishes! Look the floor needs to be cleaned. Oh, laundry!

Does it come down to doubt within our work and our selves? That once we remind ourselves we can do it and not be afraid we can power through the distractions and finish the manuscript?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on WHY. DO. WE. DO. THIS?!

January Picture Books to Read

A new year, and a new book…books. Regardless of how many books you have set to read this year, here are a few picture books to keep your little ones feeling rather, mostly…furry, and laughing in the new year.

 

How Tickles Saved Pickles by Maddie Johnson: this true story picture book is full of uber cute piglet and pig photos. And even a few dogs. This story is pigfect for all animal lovers.

 

 

Zola’s Elephant by Randall de Seve, illustrations by Pamela Zagarenski: The story and colors comes alive in this imaginative story about new neighbors. Readers will be enchanted by the story and illustrations. Kids will absolutely relate, maybe even some adults who think the grass is greener on the other side.

 

 

Walk Your Dog by Elizabeth Stevens Omlor, illustrations by Neesha Hudson: As I write this I’m still trying to decide if I liked this story or not. The illustrations are cute, but you’ll need to decide if this is a winner or not when you read it.

 

 

I Mustache You to Read with Me by Andrea Vilemont Moreau, illustrations by Clinton G. Bowers: This book could not be any punnier! (see what I did there). Kids will love this book enough to LOL and parents won’t mind reading it over…and over…and over again.

 

 

 

The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee: This unique story had me hooked! Since I am a fan of the author’s other books, including It’s Only Stanley, I had high expectations. I think little ones will even pick up on the sarcastic tone of the book. A must read for sure!

 

Cover Reveal for Grounded in January!

The day is finally here! Please join me over on The Biblio Blonde blog for the cover reveal of my first sweet romance novel, coming in January (of course!) of 2019.

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Normally, I break for the holidays with the blog, but this year will be different. I will take a short break, but I will be back before January 1st. Of course, as always, I will have a new look for the New Year, but this year it will be before the New Year! So stay tuned!

I wish all my readers a wonderful Thanksgiving, and just in case, a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Kwanzaa.