Sandra Byrd's Blog, page 11
November 13, 2017
Enter to win over 50 Inspirational Romances!
Today, I have a fun surprise that I’d like to share with you.
I’ve teamed up with 51 fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of inspirational romances to 2 lucky winners, PLUS a brand new eReader to the Grand Prize winner!
Oh, and did I mention you’ll receive a collection of FREE ebooks just for entering? ;D
You can win my novel A Lady in Disguise, plus books from authors like Susan May Warren and Robert Tate Miller.
Enter the giveaway by clicking here: http://bit.ly/inspy-holidays-nov2017
Good luck, and enjoy!
September 18, 2017
Supernatural Brownie Recipe
Last month, we celebrated my daughter’s birthday by hosting an Afternoon Tea party. Although most of our recipes were English-inspired such as cucumber sandwiches and scones, one big hit was rather more American – Supernatural Brownies. I found the recipe in a number of places, but I’ve linked, below, to one that has fabulous step-by-step instructions. Those brownies partnered perfectly with tea … with coffee … with nothing at all just before bed.
One tip – I froze mine before slicing them – that is why they came out so neat. When they thaw, they still taste perfect, so no worries on that front. Enjoy them with your new tea cup and saucer if you’re participating in my annual tea cup exchange. And do let me know how you like them!
2017 Teacup and Coffee Mug Exchange!
Welcome to my Third Annual Teacup and Coffee Mug Exchange!
Love tea? Coffee? New friends? Join us and get a beautiful treasure and a new tea-pal in the process. It’s very simple to participate! You agree to send a carefully packaged teacup and saucer (or a coffee mug) to someone, and she agrees to send one to you. Please select something to give that you would like to receive as a gift. You must use tracking and insurance, as I cannot be responsible for lost or damaged mail. If yours doesn’t reach your tea-pal, you’ll be responsible for claiming the insurance and sending a replacement.
Once all of the names are gathered, Renee will match partners and send each set of new friends the email and mailing address of their tea-pal. (You must be a newsletter subscriber to participate.) You and your tea-pal will correspond via email if you like, and ship your treasures to one another. Please send a picture of your teacup or mug to Renee, after you receive it. She will place everyone’s teacup photo in a collage to feature on my website and social media pages.
Again, please keep in mind that you are participating in this exchange at your own risk. USPS Priority Mail includes tracking and up to $50 insurance with the cost of shipping to cover any damages. Easy peasy!
I can’t wait to meet my new tea-pal. The set in the picture, above, is what I’ll be sending to her. What will you send to your new friend?
Review My New Devotional!
Do you read and love devotionals? Either online or in paper? I’m looking for a few devo readers – who also post reviews – to review my new devotional. If you think you might be interested … read on!
Although the book will debut on October 3rd, it’s ready to send right now. The two years I spent writing the book felt like a second honeymoon of sorts with God, and that’s just what I hope you, dear reader, experience. Here’s the blurb from my publisher:
To experience something is to live it, to encounter it, to understand it, to explore with our hearts, minds, and souls as well as with the five physical senses and our God-given spiritual ones. Every action we do with and for God, every good day and bad day, we walk hand-in-hand with God, experiencing Him.
Experiencing God’s love takes time. Love unfurls its blossoms in our lives when we concentrate all of our senses on the small gifts we pass by every day. Time slows, and we finally get to hear God’s beautiful background hum to our lives.
The One Year Experiencing God’s Love Devotional helps you intentionally carve out those moments in your day to savor God and his love for you.
Please fill out the form linked below if you would like to be considered to receive a free copy in exchange for your honest review! Due to shipping costs, reviewers outside of the US may receive an e-book. You must let me know of your interest by Friday, September 22nd in order to be considered. Thank you!!
July 14, 2017
The Ultimate BBQ Chicken
Summer tastes like tangy, tomato-y barbecue. I love seared steaks and juicy burgers, lacquered ribs are tasty, of course, but I have always shied away from chicken. I love BBQ chicken! It’s just that I always dry it out.
Not with this recipe.
If you follow this easy recipe for brining, saucing, and cooking, your chicken will be perfectly moist. I promise! The recipe doubles or triples and freezes well, too. I follow the BBQ sauce recipe almost exactly except I leave out the brown sugar and add a little piri-piri sauce. If you give this a try, will you let me know? Which BBQ meat (or non-meat, we BBQ Quorn for our vegetarian daughter) is your favorite?
July Giveaway
Let’s play a fun game – put your generated book title in the comments section of this post (not the original Facebook post) for a chance to win one of five historical bookmarks I’m giving away this month.
Okay – what’s the title of your romance novel? Mine would be Mr. Right and The Nanny. Seeing as I was once a nanny, and did indeed marry Mr. Right …
Please visit Harlequin on Facebook to view the complete graphic!
May 23, 2017
2nd Annual British Blooms and Books Giveaway
Hello, gentle reader, and welcome to the second annual British Blooms and Books giveaway! This week, we’d like to celebrate the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show. After enjoying this post, please visit each of the other five authors’ blogs (links provided below) and, after a bit of reading fun, follow one simple instruction and then leave a comment on each blog. You’ll be entered to win a fabulous, British Blooms and Books prize. (US winners only, please, due to shipping the petit fours.) Enjoy, and thank you for stopping by!
Victorian Flower Language
The Victorian Era was one in which people considered themselves strictly held to moral standards – especially between the sexes. It was a time when young women were often accompanied by a mother, aunt, or another appropriate chaperone, and private conversation was not always possible. Expensive gifts were not given until a person was engaged to be married, and affections were not openly expressed early in courtship – at least not where others could see or hear. Not to be dissuaded, our romantic Victorians found other—perhaps more charming—ways to express their affections.
The language of flowers allowed men and women to say things, quietly, that society would not allow them to say aloud. Here are five of my favorites that were favorites then, too:
Roses: A white one said, “I am worthy of you.” Perhaps this would be sent after a romantic partner was suspected of courting more than one woman.
Tulips: A red tulip, sent, was a bold declaration of love. There would be no wondering if there were marital intentions after the receipt of a bouquet of such!
Carnations: A red one said, “Alas! For my poor heart!” Take pity on the man. Give him another chance.
Purple Lilacs: The first declaration of love. Imagine the thrill when these heady blossoms arrived to perfume the room and announce the affection you’d hoped to hear!
Oleander: This flower meant … beware. Oh! Who would send such a warning? It has my gothic mind turning toward the next mystery…
Tea hats photo courtesy of Divine Delights
Giveaway Rules: One grand prize winner who comments on each of the six authors’ blogs and agrees to the one boldfaced condition posted at the end of each post will win a signed copy of each of the books plus delivery of six English hat petit fours to enjoy while you read! Name will be drawn via random.org
To enter my giveaway, Please sign up for my newsletter (if you’re already signed up, just let me know in the comments).
Finished? Well done! Please visit these other fabulous authors of England-set historicals to see what flowers mean to them and their heroines.
May 22, 2017
A Victorian Fashion Prize Pack Giveaway!
This month’s giveaway is a chance to win the box full of Victorian inspired goodies. Please comment, below, on either your favorite current fashion or one you wish would come back in style. Mine? I love looking at ladies in beautiful hats, and wish we could wear more of them. In a week or two, Renee will draw one winner at random from the comments below. Be sure to watch your email! If you win, you will receive a message from me with instructions to claim your prize!
Easy Petit Fours Recipe!
I love petit fours, and sometimes I indulge and order from Divine Delights. But you can make petit fours at home – like I did, with the ones featured above – and they are so easy, you can do it as often as you like.
Here is a short list of what you’ll need:
* Premade pound cake (Costco’s are wonderful, even in muffin form)
* Candy Melts (see links and sources, below) in whatever colors you desire
* Candy Melts EZ Thins
* Sugared Flowers (see links and sources, below).
Directions:
1. Cut all crusts off of the pound cake. Cut cake into two-bite sized squares. It doesn’t matter if they aren’t perfectly square. The icing will cover a multitude of sins.
2. Melt the candy melts in the microwave, a double boiler, or candy quick melter, according to package instructions. If, after it’s all melted, it seems too thick, add in a couple of tablespoons of Candy Melts EZ Thins until the consistency will make it easy to dip the cake.
3. Using clean or gloved hands, or a small set of tongs, dip the cake squares into the liquid candy melt until it reaches about ¾ of the way in. Remove the cake, and place on a piece of parchment paper. If dipping doesn’t work for you, for some reason, feel free to take a large spoon and drizzle the melted topping over the top of the cake squares until it’s running down the sides.
4. While the coating is still moist, affix one of the candy flowers.
5. Repeat for all cake squares! Let cool completely on counter or in the fridge and the coating will set up.
Sources:
Candy Melts: Purchase at craft stores like Michael’s or online at Amazon (click for product link).
EZ Thins: Again, craft store or Amazon (click to link to product).
Sugared Flowers: I bought mine on Etsy (click for exact product) but craft stores carry them, too.
