Rachael Stapleton's Blog, page 8

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Adventures of a Bookish Foodie: AUTUMN & the Annual Schlacht

Photo Credit: www.mcall.comAutumn season connotes many things: falling leaves, warm fires, cozy mysteries, and pumpkin spiced low-fat no-fat chai lattes (hmmmmm). Putting the garden to bed, fretting over a non offensive, yet creative costume for that annual Hallowe’en party you love going to also comes to mind. But for me there’s something else: something not forgotten, but no longer practiced because it is culturally specific, based on a country that no longer exists, spurred along by people no longer living.Can this intro form part of a foodie blog? You better believe it! For that thing I pine for, that singular thing that meant AUTUMN to me when I was a child was none other than the annual Schlacht.



WARNING: SOME CONTENT MAY SEEM STRANGESchlact? What’s that? Well, gentle reader, it’s complicated. Schlacht is a German word that literally means ‘battle’.  But to a family of Danube Swabians, it meant quite another. Danube Swabians once formed a colorful community in a part of the former Yugoslavia that covered sections of modern day Serbia and Croatia. German speaking (sort of), these one-time settlers busied themselves with farming operations both small and large, while maintaining vibrant little village (town) main streets that featured the usual butcher, baker, and candlestick maker. After the Second World War, many Danube Swabians relocated to parts of Western Europe and North America. My crew came to Toronto, Canada, bringing with them feather beds, pots and pans, an unusual dialect that few Germans could understand, and a recipe for bratwurst that could challenge Johnsonville Brats for sausage supremacy…ON A WORLD SCALE.Schlacht to them, did not mean ‘battle’ but a machine-like operation that saw fine ground pork reduced to a culinary masterpiece that polemics could not decry; in other words: a seasoned dialectic contained gorgeously in brine soaked intestines (you thought sausage casings came from the store?) hung up to cure and dry all in the sanctity of grandma’s basement.
HISTORYSausage making, like most things these days, need not be carried out at home. It’s far easier to just jump in the car and pick up a pack from the grocery store. Right? But that wasn’t the point behind the Schlacht. In the 1970s everybody was struggling. There was no internet, no reality television and not a lot of money for highbrow-lowbrow entertainments. Gathering the family every fall to make sausage was something like Christmas, and for a little ethnic kid looking forward to Hallowe’en, what could be better than stirring up the contents of a giant cauldron on Oma’s basement kitchen stove? While dad ground the freshly carved meat, Oma parsed out the secret seasonings that would keep her brats moist while maintaining a rich red color through the drying and smoking process.
I will never forget my ten year old self stress-working the bratwurst press, an ancient gizmo hauled over on the boat. Barrel like, it held about ten gallons of meat at a time, all to be pressed into brine soaked casings (see above) by means of a hand crank that forced the contents into their proper place through a long, narrow stainless steel tube. The PSI behind this operation must have been staggering, as only my dad and older brother were strong enough to operate the crank.The task of getting the meat into the casing evenly (without air bubbles) and then twisting them at the right moment into perfectly equal-sized links fell to me and Oma. Try catching ground pork out of a wurst press under high pressure. I dare you to!
TODAY’S BRATWURST Dad and Oma are gone along with the aunts and uncles who joined in on the annual Schlachterei. But the memories are vivid. Every now and then, my brother will make a small batch – his cask select if you will. I, too, make it, but without stomach casings and large cauldrons.I don’t know if dad would approve of this Dude method of sausage making—I do them up in the fry pan without casings-- but I’m sure he’d smile at the effort.The Schlacht is the tradition, and keeping the tradition alive is the battle.Have a great autumn, everyone.Adult, unapologetic and cognizant, I am
THE RECIPEThis is a tough share for me, in that my grandmother always left out at least one or two ingredients so that no one else’s wurst would match hers. To honor her, I present the modified recipe. Modification is also a tradition:
25 lbs ground pork1.5 cups of paprika mixed with REAL beer to make it nice and pasty (this is a visual thing people).5 cup of salt.3 cup of pepper7 cloves of garlic smooshed und chopped15 shakes of cayennePinch of sugar1 bottle of beer and balance water equal to 2 cups of liquid
Mix in a big ol’ bowl with bare, well-washed hands, and load up the wurst press.I don’t have the brine recipe anymore for raw sausage casings. Don’t need them. Cured casings can be purchased at many large grocery stores and butcher shops.Enjoy!










Find me and my varied interests at:Website: www.abfunkhauser.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamfunkhauser
Facebook: www.facebook.com/heuerlostandfound


Heuer Lost And FoundUnapologetic Lives Book 1A. B. Funkhauser
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Metaphysical, Paranormal, Dark Humor
Publisher: Solstice Publishing
Date of Publication:  April 23, 2015
Number of pages:        237Word Count:                66,235
Formats available:       Electronic, Paper Back
Cover Artist: Michelle Crocker
ISBN/EAN13:  1625262043 / 9781625262042
ASIN:  B00V6KLAMA
Book Description:      
Unrepentant cooze hound lawyer Jürgen Heuer dies suddenly and unexpectedly in his litter-strewn home. Undiscovered, he rages against God, Nazis, deep fryers and analogous women who disappoint him.
At last found, he is delivered to Weibigand Brothers Funeral Home, a ramshackle establishment peopled with above average eccentrics, including boozy Enid, a former girl friend with serious denial issues. With her help and the help of a wise cracking spirit guide, Heuer will try to move on to the next plane. But before he can do this, he must endure an inept embalming, feral whispers, and Enid’s flawed recollections of their murky past.
Is it really worth it?


“Heuer” as in “lawyer”: Heuer the Lawyer






Short Excerpt:
Jürgen Heuer did many things in his lifetime, but murdering another human being was not among them. Of course he considered it at times—having Fuhrer blood in his veins practically demanded it—but logic always trumped emotion and that was what kept him from breaking the law this time. Standing over enough explosives to level a half block, he replaced the matches in the pocket of his pimp suit, leaving Werner to curse and mutter at the 61 Division cops who had better things to do than visit the hermit house a second time.
Irmtraut, understandably, was not impressed when he appeared before her to explain. “Since our first meeting, you have forced an angina attack on your neighbor, preyed on the wits of the only person who loves you, and wreaked havoc at the office juice bar.”
“That, I can explain—” he interjected, relishing, somewhat guiltily, all the drama he’d created. “I merely sought to dispatch any papers incriminating to me. Instead, I found a bunch of tawdry shits besmirching my name.” He flapped his arms chicken-like. “They decided I was peculiar and with all these rainbow flags going up over town, they were making allegations.” He was not gay. He was nothing at all. Why did everybody insist on assigning labels? He was dead. It didn’t matter. And he hadn’t meant to set all the juice-o machines to malfunction in tandem, nor had he intended for Miss Samantha to go ass over heel and break an arm.
Irmtraut laughed at his childish protests, suggesting that he busy himself with the World Cup soccer scores. “Germany is leading, and the betting octopus is expected to weigh against the Spaniards.”
He scoffed at the suggestion; a German victory was a foregone conclusion. “Why waste time on a sure thing?”
“Indeed?” Irmtraut said. “Let’s look at something unsure then—your peccadillos, for example.”
“My what?” He was not familiar with the term ‘peccadillos.’
Irmtraut wiggled her ponderous mid-section to an unheard smoky beat.
“Oh, that,” he recalled, cringing over his play at self-release.
“Yes,” she said. “When you thought I was sleeping, only I wasn’t.”
He would gladly discuss the arsenal in the basement, the strange paste covering his bedroom walls, or his intriguing disdain for the prodigal father. What was not up for examination was his wandering hands and the miracles they accomplished.
“You will not do that again,” she commanded.


About the Author:

A.B. Funkhauser is a funeral director, classic car nut and wildlife enthusiast living in Ontario, Canada. Like most funeral directors, she is governed by a strong sense of altruism fueled by the belief that life chooses us and we not it. Her debut novel, HEUER LOST AND FOUND, released in April 2015 after five years of studious effort, has inspired four other full length works and over a dozen short stories. Her sophomore effort, SCOOTER NATION, is in edits for a 2016 release..
Website: www.abfunkhauser.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamfunkhauser
Facebook: www.facebook.com/heuerlostandfound
Publisher: http://solsticepublishing.com/
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1FPJXcOFAQ’s: http://abfunkhauser.com/faqs/Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-C5qBpb0YcInterview Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2yhaXfh-nsInterview Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoPthI1HvmoEmail: a.b.funkhauser@rogers.comGeo Buy Link: http://myBook.to/heuerlostandfound
PRAISE


“The macabre black comedy Heuer Lost And Found, written by A.B. Funkhauser, is definitely a different sort of book! You will enjoy this book with its mixture of horror and humour.”

—Diana Harrison, Author ALWAYS AND FOREVER


“This beautifully written, quirky, sad, but also often humorous story of Heuer and Enid gives us a glimpse into the fascinating, closed world of the funeral director.”

—Yvonne Hess, Charter Member, The Brooklin 7


“The book runs the gamut of emotions. One minute you want to cry for the characters, the next you are uncontrollably laughing out loud, and your husband is looking at you like you lost your mind, at least mine did.”

http://teresanoel.blogspot.ca/2015/05/heuer-lost-and-found-unapologetic-lives


“The writing style is racy with no words wasted.”

—David K. Bryant, Author TREAD CAREFULLY ON THE SEA


“For a story centered around death, it is full of life.”

—Rocky Rochford, Author RISE OF ELOHIM CHRONICLES


“Like Breaking Bad’s Walter White, Heuer is not a likeable man, but I somehow found myself rooting for him. A strange, complicated character.”

—Kasey Balko, Pickering, Ontario



Raw, clever, organic, intriguing and morbid at the same … breathing life and laughter into a world of death.

—Josie Montano, Author VEILED SECRETS

Adventures of a Bookish Foodie: Cooking for Paranormals is Bloody Hard Business

Several months ago, six authors decided to put together a stew (or is it a roux?) of new paranormal noir novelettes—the spirit of film noir with a paranormal twist. The name of the collection? Dark Secrets.
What does that have to do with food? Well, hey, even faeries have to eat. So here is a three-course meal from some of the authors, paranormal noir style. (Wait, you might say—is that two soup courses? Just roll with it, okay?)
The Appetizer: Faerie Gumbo, by Suzanne JohnsonIn my paranormal noir novelette The Consort, the Faerie Winter Princess Tamara and faery-in-hiding Liandra are in New Orleans. The appetizer served in their French Quarter restaurant is gumbo.
Gumbo is all about the roux. Butter, flour, and water, browned to a dark burnt siena color. Cook it too short a time and it’s bland; cook it too long and it’s bitter. Faeries like their roux just right. Lazy people like the author like the slow-cooker version.
1/2 cup vegetable oil or butter1/2 cup flour1 c chopped onion1/2 cup chopped celery3/4 cup green bell pepper, diced1 pound andouille (or smoked sausage), sliced1 Tbsp minced garlic3 cups okra, sliced½ tsp thyme2 bay leaves¼ tsp cayenne pepper¼ tsp black pepper1/2 fryer, cut into pieces, or six chicken thighs, skinned and salted5 cups chicken broth1 15-oz can stewed tomatoes1/3 cup shallots, chopped
Heat oil to high temperature in a large skillet; add flour and whisk until it turns dark brown (if using butter, note that this happens pretty quickly—don’t overcook). Add onion, celery, green pepper and andouille and cook until vegetables are soft. Add garlic, okra, thyme, bay leaves, cayenne and black pepper and stir another five minutes. Place in a slow-cooker. Top with the chicken pieces, broth, and stewed tomatoes, and cook for 5-6 hours on low. Stir in green onions and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Serve alone or over steamed rice. Serves 6.
Main Course: Djinn Stew, by Mina Khan

My story in the DARK SECRETS Anthology is The Djinn in the Mirror, which is a paranormal Cinderella story with a young witch as the heroine and a wicked sexy djinn instead of a fairy godmother.The heroine Dahlia, step-daughter of a power hungry wizard, works as a free housekeeper and cook for her step-father’s commune.  She is used to cooking meals that stretch, and stews are definitely part of her repertoire. Once the story is done with, Dahlia reclaims the house as her rightful inheritance and works with her heroic djinn Ashmael to turn it back into a working ranch and farm. Since she has a soft spot for Ash, it’s a given that she’d make a special stew for him reminiscent of his childhood. I’d imagine Moroccan flavors and spices would be pretty close to what he grew up eating.Of course, Dahlia wouldn’t use frozen meatballs, but for myself and for most modern readers, I think convenience is a big plus. Additionally, my kids will eat anything with meatballs.Personally I love this stew because the house smells amazing while it’s cooking and in the end you have a warm and comforting meal. As a food writer (my official day job), I try to come up with recipes which are healthy, interesting, and satisfying. I hope y’all enjoy the stew as much as my family does!
Mina’s Moroccan-Inspired Meatball Stew2 tablespoons olive oil2 cinnamon sticks2 bay leaves5 cardamom pods, cracked5 cloves6 black peppercorns1 1/2 cups chopped onions1 1/2 cups diced potatoes1 cup baby carrots6 garlic cloves, minced1/2 teaspoon turmeric1 teaspoon ground coriander1 teaspoon Spanish paprika1 teaspoon ground cumin2 cups beef brothFrozen meatballs (as many as you want)1 jalapeno, de-seeded and minced (optional)1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice1 15.5-ounce canned garbanzo beans/chickpeas, drained1 cup whole green or black olives1/2 cup chopped dried apricots1 5-ounce package baby spinach leavesSalt to taste1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro plus additional for garnish1/4 cup thinly sliced chives or green onions
Serve over Brown Rice or Couscous with fresh chopped Cilantro and Lemon wedges to squeeze.
Directions:1. Heat oil in a large pot or a dutch oven.2. Add whole spices (cinnamon to peppercorns) and cook for about 2 minutes. 3. Add chopped onions, potatoes and carrots and cook until onions are softened.4. Add in ground spices (turmeric to cumin), cook using bits of broth to keep the spices from sticking (but don't too much liquid at a time because you want to cook the rawness out of the spices)5. When the spices look cooked, add in remaining broth, meatballs, jalapeno, tomatoes and chickpeas or garbanzos and apricots. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. (Potatoes and carrots should be tender by the end of it)6. Add in olives and spinach, stir, Add salt to taste. Take off heat and top with fresh cilantro and green onions. Stir before serving over rice or couscous.
Dessert: Megan Hart’s Sweet as Sin Chocolate Muffins From her paranormal noir novella, Dance with the Devil….because the devil loves him some chocolate!
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
Mix dry ingredients: flour, sugar, 3/4 cup chocolate chips, cocoa powder and baking soda. Beat egg, yogurt, milk, and vegetable oil separately until smooth. Combine with chocolate mixture and stir until batter is just blended. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

And there you have it—a perfectly paranormal noir meal just in time for fall!
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Dark Secrets:
A Paranormal Noir AnthologyRachel Caine, Cynthia Eden, Megan Hart, Suzanne Johnson, Jeffe Kennedy, Mina Khan
Genre: Paranormal Noir, Romance, Fantasy, Urban FantasyDate of Publication:  September 29, 2015ISBN: 978-1-942840-05-3ASIN: B0147D7JTU
Number of pages: Approx. 350Word Count: Approx. 150,000
Cover Artist: Robin Ludwig Design
Book Description:
Six award-winning authors bring you this spellbinding collection of stories about dark desires, mysterious worlds, and danger that lurks in the shadows of the night. Where nothing is black and white; where things might not be as they seem; where magic and mayhem rule.
MARION, MISSING by Rachel Caine
Valentine is a detective with two major problems: he's been offered a kidnapping case that will probably get him killed, and his partner won't let him turn it down. He owes her that much … since his partner's a ghost, and he's the one who killed her. A dark, haunting noir mystery of love, hate and loss.
FEMME FATALE by Cynthia Eden
PI Mick Swayne has seen it all—his clients have included liars, thieves, and even killers. He thinks he can handle anything and anyone. Then she walks into his office. Savannah Moreau is beautiful, seductive, and…a vampire? The gorgeous vamp hires Mick to help her track down a killer who is hunting in Chicago, but as Mick slips deeper into Savannah’s paranormal world, he wonders if he can really trust his new client…
DANCE WITH THE DEVIL by Megan Hart
When the devil starts the music, you'd better get ready to dance.
Kathleen Murphy has sold her soul to the devil. Fame, fortune, success...everything she's ever dreamed of is hers, and all she has to do is the devil's bidding. When love comes knocking, the last thing in the world she wants to do is involve Jake in her twisted world, but the devil's started up the jukebox and Kathleen has no choice but to learn the steps.
THE CONSORT by Suzanne Johnson
Faulkner Hearne, the captain of the ruthless Fae Hunters, finds his duty at odds with his heart when he’s ordered to capture the consort of Faerie’s cruel Prince of Summer when she flees across the veil into modern New Orleans. Can Faulk turn Liandra over to a certain death at the hands of the prince, or will he risk a war with Faerie in order to save her? An all-new novella set in the Sentinels of New Orleans multiverse.
HEART’S BLOOD by Jeffe Kennedy, a Twelve Kingdoms novella
A dark fairytale retelling of a princess robbed of rank, husband and even her name. Nix is nothing. The Princess Natilde—her former waiting woman—attacked her on the journey to wed Prince Cavan, stripping her of everything and taking her place. With no serving skills, Nix becomes a goose girl. Perhaps if Nix keeps her promise never to reveal who she really is, Natilde won’t carry out her vile threats. Prince Cavan entered his arranged marriage determined to have a congenial, if not loving relationship with his future queen—for the sake of both their kingdoms. But, his wife repels him more each day and he finds himself absurdly drawn to the lovely Nix....With broken vows, anguish and dark secrets between them, Cavan and Nix struggle to find the magic to restore what’s gone terribly wrong... if it ever can be.
THE DJINN IN THE MIRROR by Mina Khan, a Djinn World novella
A paranormal Cinderella story with a young witch as the heroine and a wicked, sexy djinn instead of a fairy godmother....Dahlia, the step-daughter of a power hungry wizard, promises to free a djinn trapped in a mirror if he rescues her from impending death. But Ashmael the djinn has his own agenda: to trick & seduce his way to freedom. The only problem is he ends up falling for Dahlia. Can he win his freedom and save the girl?


About the Authors:
Rachel Caineis the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 internationally bestselling author of more than 45 novels that span the categories of horror, suspense, urban fantasy, science fiction, media tie-in, historical, and young adult. She’s also the author of more than 100 short stories.
http://www.rachelcaine.com
Twitter: @rachelcaine
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rachelcainefanpage

Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a three-time finalist for the prestigious RITA® award. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over fifty novels and novellas.
http://www.cynthiaeden.com
Twitter: @cynthiaeden
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cynthiaedenfanpage

Megan Hartis a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author who writes in many genres including mainstream fiction, erotic fiction, science fiction, romance, fantasy and horror.
http://www.meganhart.com
Twitter: @megan_hart
Facebook: www.facebook.com/megan.hart

Suzanne Johnsonis the author of the award-winning Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series. Writing as Susannah Sandlin, she is author of the award-winning Penton Legacy paranormal romance series as well as The Collectors romantic suspense series, including Lovely, Dark, and Deep, winner of the 2015 Holt Medallion and the 2015 Booksellers Best Award winner for romantic suspense. Her new Wildlife Wardens romantic suspense series begins in 2016 with Wild Man’s Bluff.
http://www.suzannejohnsonauthor.com
Twitter: @suzanne_johnson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorSuzanneJohnson

Jeffe Kennedyis an award-winning author whose works include non-fiction, poetry, short fiction, and novels. Her most recent works include a number of fiction series: the fantasy romance novels of A Covenant of Thorns; the contemporary BDSM novellas of the Facets of Passion, an erotic  contemporary serial novel, Master of the Opera, the fantasy series The Twelve Kingdoms, and the erotic romance trilogy, Falling Under. The first of the Twelve Kingdoms books, The Mark of the Tala, has been nominated for the RT Book of the Year while the sequel, The Tears of the Rose, has been nominated for best fantasy romance of the year. Jeffe lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two Maine coon cats, plentiful free-range lizards and a very handsome Doctor of Oriental Medicine.
http://www.jeffekennedy.com
Twitter: @jeffekennedy
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Author.Jeffe.Kennedy

Award-winning author Mina Khan grew up in Bangladesh on stories of djinns, ghosts and monsters. These childhood fancies now color her fiction. She daydreams of hunky paranormal heroes, magic, mayhem and mischief and writes them down as stories. She is the author of the Djinn World Chronicles, including The Djinn’s Dilemma and A Tale of Two Djinns, as well as Wildfire, a paranormal mystery with cowboys and dragons.
http://minakhan.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @SpiceBites

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Mina.Khan.Author



‪#‎Adventuresofabookishfoodie‬
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‪#‎MeganHart‬ ‪#‎SuzanneJohnson‬ ‪#‎JeffeKennedy‬ ‪#‎MinaKhan‬

Meet K.C Sprayberry: This Week's Treasured & Tipsy Timeslip Traveller

Travel and make-believe go hand in hand. Whether we're in the present or the past, in a haunted castle, an enchanted forest or a broken down building, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and traveling the world can bring the imagination to life.
mcmillaninn.com It may only be September but as a true lover of Halloween I feel it's never too early for things to go bump in the night. With that being said, lets head to the Peach State. It may be known for southern hospitality and gorgeous historic sites but its also home to a ghost or two. Grab some popcorn, turn down the lights and let's follow this weeks guest K.C Sprayberry as she leads us on a ghost tour of Landry, Georgia where her latest novel Ghostes: Trouble to the Max takes place. This small town is located in the Northwest Georgia mountains, not far from Dalton and Chattanooga. Get ready for this hotbed of ghostly activity!
#Travel #AuthorInterview #TreasuredTipsyTimeslip #RachaelStapleton #Georgia #Landry #Spooky #Spookyplaces #Ghostes #KCSprayberry #SolsticePublishing

KC’s Top 5 Spooky Places in Landry Georgia Landry, Georgia:A typical Southern town, except for the extraordinary number of hauntings. Well… there has been a dry spell for the Ghosties. They long for adventure and dive into it headlong once they hear of a ghostly teller giving away free samples at the local bank. Their euphoria at defeating that ghost is soon deflated once they discover this is only the beginning.



Blogger Insert: Want to visit more of Georgia's most haunted places. Check out this website for a map to all the spooktacular places to go. 
http://www.hauntedplaces.org/state/Ge...

And if you’re ever traveling to Savannah, be sure to experience the Ghosts and Gravestones Haunted Tour. You can  explore the treacherous grounds with a guide and group. Here's a few teasers from their website.
http://ghosttoursinsavannah.comThe Olde Pink House, SavannahA Georgian-style mansion built in 1771, the Olde Pink House is an elegant restaurant located in Savannah’s historic district on Reynolds Square. Originally the home of Joseph Habersham Jr., who built the house and lived in it until he died in 1802, today the Olde Pink House is known for its Southern-style cuisine with a modern twist. Yet it is its resident ghosts that draw the attention of ghost enthusiasts from around the country. The most often seen apparition is that of Habersham himself, who is said to appear mostly between October and March. Others have been spooked by the sight of a man dressed in Revolutionary-style clothing sitting at the end of the bar, only to disappear when people turn their back on him. The ghosts of slave children are perhaps the most disturbing sight for many folks; these mischievous apparitions are said to have locked patrons in the downstairs bathroom. Waitresses at the restaurant encourage guests to use the upstairs restroom.
Oakland Cemetery, AtlantaOriginally called the City Burial Place, Oakland Cemetery is the final resting place of close to 70,000 people, including governors, generals, clergyman and several famous Georgia residents. Within the sprawling, naturally beautiful 40 acres, the cemetery has many unknown buried and according to paranormal experts, numerous spirits, both angry and friendly. The most well known supernatural occurrence is that of the roll call of the dead. It is said that on the Confederate side of the burial grounds, people have heard names being called out in a military-like roll call. Responses to the names being called have also been heard. Other disturbing sightings include visitors seeing a Union soldier being hung from a tree and the sight of Jasper Newton Smith rising out of his statue in the middle of the night to watch over the cemetery. Legends, myths or truths? Visit the Oakland Cemetery to find out the truth.

Now back to our guest host K.C Sprayberry
First Baptist Church:
One wouldn’t think the biggest church in town would be haunted, but this one is, and that ghost has the screechiest voice ever conceived. He returns, along with Hailey’s sworn enemy, giving her shudders and leaves her confused as to what is going on.



The Old High School:
It takes massive research for Hailey and the Ghosties to learn that their problems lie within the walls of the building where their seventh grade classes are being held. The middle school is under renovation and they are lucky, or unlucky if you look at it from another perspective, to figure out a special type of ghost, fire demons, once infested the buildings where they’re currently going every day. Can Hailey and her crew get to the bottom of this problem before everything is ash?

The Police Station: It’s safe at the police station. Right? Of course it is… or maybe it’s not so safe. Hailey believes she’s stopped the fire demons but then discovers 3 of them escaped and are about to unleash their wrath in the one place in town she thought safe. Can she, her usual crew, and their three new recruits stop those demons in time? Will crossing the streams work this time?

The Lake:Celebration turns to fear. Everything is wet. The Ghosties thought they’d have a great summer, a time for fun and relaxing, until the Memorial Day barbecue/birthday party celebration for two of their recruits turns into a race against time. Will their action be the end of the Ghosties?




Ghostes: Trouble to the Max takes place in Landry, Georgia. This small town is located in the Northwest Georgia mountains, not far from Dalton and Chattanooga. Landry is a hotbed of ghostly activity, which keeps Hailey and her crew busy. She, Tink, Sly, Annie, and Freddie have always managed to control their ghosts but something new is happening. They have no clue how to handle ghosts that won’t talk to them. Even worse, Hailey can’t shake the feeling that something truly awful is on the horizon!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/KC-Sprayberry/331150236901202
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcsowriter
Blog: http://outofcontrolcharacters.blogspot.com/
Website: www.kcsprayberry.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5011219.K_C_Sprayberry
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005DI1YOU
Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KcSprayberry/posts
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kcsprayberry/boards/
Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/kcsowriter

Adventures of a Bookish Foodie: Steak Pie, a Benefit of Being British by Marriage

Well, it was a beautiful hot week here in Ontario but it will officially be Autumn in two days. My flip flops aren't quite tucked away thanks to this Indian summer but my sweaters are near at hand and as with every change of the season, the end of summer means a change to how we eat. Thankfully there is something so comforting about cold weather food and I'm not the only one who thinks so. This weeks cozy chef, Christy Carlyle agrees and she says being married to a Scotsman means she gets to sample yummy cold weather British cuisine at home. Her husband doesn’t cook a lot, but he treats her to delicious UK staples when he does. One of the dishes she asks for most often is steak pie. His family favored a simple recipe that involves stewed meat in brown gravy covered by rolled puff pastry painted with a light egg wash.

#ChristyCarlyle #Adventuresofabookishfoodie‬‪
#ScottishstyleSteakPie #Britophile #OneScandalousKiss #fallrecipes  #Cozyrecipes ‬‪

I like to tease my Scottish husband that by marrying him, I became British by marriage. He’s not convinced. The truth is that I’m a longtime Britophile. My grandma’s father was from Cornwall, and though I never got to meet my great grandfather, Grandma talked about him often and her Michigan home was full of framed images of his Cornish village. Every once in a while she’d receive letters from her “English cousins,” and we’d read and re-read those letters as if they were precious treasures.

I studied history and English in college and always leaned toward British literature and history. The first time I ever travelled outside of the United States, it was to go on a university study trip to London. I haven’t been back to the UK for many years, but these days I get my fix by watching British costume dramas like Poldark. And, of course, I also write historical romance set in Britain. One Scandalous Kiss, the first in my Accidental Heirs series from Avon Impulse, is set in late Victorian era England. 
Scottish-style Steak Pie

1 lb. (at least) of stew meat

Water to cover meat

1 sheet of puff pastry

1-2 Oxo cubes (can be found online or at any shop that carries British foods)

1 egg yolk

Oil to coat stewing pan

Brown chunks of beef and then cover with water to stew for half an hour. Add 1-2 Oxo cubes to make a thin gravy among the beef. Once beef is tender and the gravy is savory to taste, add it to a small-ish casserole tin or dish.

Preheat your over to 350-400, depending on the type of dish you use.Roll puff pastry large enough to cover the sides of the dish and gently lay it over the dish, allowing some pastry to hang down around the edges. Lightly brush egg yolk across the top of the pastry in order to encourage a firm, shiny crust. Bake until the pastry is cooked through and browned on top, about 20 minutes in a 350-400 preheated oven.It’s a simple recipe, but it’s scrumptious! We usually make mashed potatoes and peas to accompany the steak pie. I have to admit that when I try to make it, the pastry usually sinks into the gravy, but it still tastes just as good.



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Meet Rose Shababy: This Week's Treasured & Tipsy Timeslip Traveller

Travel and make-believe go hand in hand. Whether we're in the present or the past, in a haunted castle, an enchanted forest or a broken down building, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and traveling the world can bring the imagination to life.

When I think of Seattle, I think of rain, grunge, and hippies but today's guest is going to show us it's more than just a cool city filled with coffee shops where musicians and artists bleed their truth. Although that doesn't sound too bad. Please join this week's guest, Author Rose Shababy​, a savvy woman who can hang in a museum in the morning and take in a live, local band at night. As an author, she was told to write what she knew. She didn't know a lot of places, but she did know Seattle. Let's tour with her, shall we?  #Travel #AuthorInterview #TreasuredTipsyTimeslip #RachaelStapleton #Seattle #PikePlaceMarket #BethsCafe #Bainbridge #Bewitchingbooktours

I’ve lived in the inland northwest my entire life. The stunning landscape ranges from majestic mountains, to amber waves of grain, to lush rain forests as you get closer to the Pacific Northwest. Many come here, and stay, because of the natural beauty all around them.
I spent most of my youth in the wilderness of north Idaho and I love it, but the truth is I’m kind of a city girl. I love the amalgam of people, the culture, the food, the low hum of humanity at night when you think all is quiet. I like being able to find an open restaurant at two a.m., or going to a concert without driving 200 miles, having an art community of artists, actors, filmmakers, writers. It seemed like a pretty good idea to stick to the landscape I know, so I set my novel, The Blue Effect in Seattle, a city I’ve become more and more acquainted with as the years go by.
The Blue Effect is an urban sci-fi superhero novel with a hint of romance and a dash of Noir styling, which fits well, as most Noir fiction takes place in the dirty city.But just because there are dark and dirty corners of every city, doesn’t mean there aren’t amazing things to see and/or do.1.       Pike Place Market 




So, a lot of folks will tell you that Pike place Market is just a tourist attraction, but don’t let them scare you away. It’s been open for over 100 years, and from one end to the other is filled with locally grown produce, fresh fish, fresh flowers, crafters, artists, musicians and the list goes on.
Right under the Public Market sign, you’ll find Pike Place Fish Market, where you can buy everything from cod to lobster to oysters, and the fishmongers toss huge fish back and forth.

A few feet away you can take a narrow staircase down to Post Alley and check out the fascinating, albeit disgusting, gum wall and make your own donation.
Walk down the main plaza and you’ll find rows and rows of fresh, seasonal flowers, a beautiful and colorful sight. You can buy produce from local farmers, some items you’ve never even heard of. You’ll find a gourmet Italian food store, a comic book and novelty shop, a tea shop, a candy store, and dozens more.
And you can sit in one of the little restaurants, order up some crab cakes and chowder, and watch as the most eclectic group of people walk by. You’ll see men in suits, new age kids with dreadlocks, women in stilettos carrying dogs in purses, old hippies in cotton smocks, punk rockers, homeless people, black, white, Asian, Indian, Native American, you name it, you’ll see it, and they all come together to coexist in one marvelous, fantastic place.2.       Beth’s Café Whenever I go to Seattle, I have to stop for breakfast at Beth’s. The café looks like a biker bar, and the staff matches the exterior, but it has a certain charm. They’re open 24/7, so go anytime, although if you want breakfast on the weekend, you’ll probably have to wait a while (it’s worth it, I promise) because they don’t take reservations.



One of the most interesting things about Beth’s is that the walls are covered in drawings from the customers. From silly to interesting to strange and disturbing, at every skill level, you’ll spend as much time studying the walls as you will eating and talking to your companions. And every time you go in, it’s different.

Oh, and did I mention it’s the home of the 12 egg omelet?  My favorite, The Triple Bypass, which contains bacon, sausage, ham, double Swiss cheese and double American cheese. It comes with unlimited hash browns, and they serve the behemoth on a pizza platter. Beth’s has been featured on a variety of TV shows, including Man vs. Food. He lost, by the way.



3.       The Troll Under the Bridge If you’re looking for a fun photo op, you have to go check out the Troll Under the Bridge, also known as the Fremont Troll, under the north end of the Aurora Bridge. As legend has it, he likes to snack cars, as evidenced by the Volkswagen firmly grasped in one hand. He’s an interactive art piece, so it’s alright to climb all over him. And, if you’re like me, when you’re ready for that picture, you can stick your head up his nose and pretend you’re a booger.



4.       Teatro ZinZanni
Teatro ZinZanni is a dinner theater/cabaret/vaudeville show in across from the Seattle Center. With only one other location in the world (San Francisco), it’s truly unique to the Northwest.

The building is a European cabaret tent, known as spiegeltents (mirror tents), consists of over 4000 pieces, and can be broken down by three or four people in a single day. Of course, this theater has been in one place for years.


They have singers, acrobatics, comedy, dancing/singing wait staff, you name it. They serve a delicious 5 course meal while you enjoy the show, and sometimes if you’re lucky, or unlucky depending on your perspective, they pull an audience member up on stage to participate. The tickets are a little pricey, but if you can swing it, it’s worth every penny.
5.       The Ferry to Bainbridge

Taking a ferry is kind of a must when visiting Seattle, and there’s no better place to ferry to than Bainbridge Island. Beautiful, lush, and with so much to see, it’s worth a day trip. The island is a great place for biker’s and you can travel along roads that hug the coastline. From one end of the island to the other, you’ll find charming homes, restaurants, pubs, boating, rain forests, parks, beaches, and on and on and on.
And finally, when you head back to Seattle on the last ferry of the night, make sure to go out on deck and check out the skyline as the lights wink on one by one. The beauty of the city truly takes my breath away. Dirty city? Maybe. But not through my lens.



The Blue EffectRenegade Heroes Rose Shababy
Genre: Adult Urban Sci-fi/Fantasy
Now a 3 Part Serial
Blue Brennan is as intelligent as she is beautiful, but she knows when people look at her, all they see is a pretty face. With no family or friends, she also knows she’s alone in the world. She tells herself she’s fine with that, after all, the only person you can trust is yourself. Then she meets Kasey, an unusual and oddly appealing man who sees right through all the barriers she’s erected. He reveals himself as much more than an ordinary man through a strange vision, and introduces her to his equally extraordinary friends. Kasey insists that Blue is one of them, but she resists, too scared to let herself become part of something. Going back to her lonely existence, she finds herself more alone than ever. When her emotions take over in one terrible moment, the powers she denied rage out of control, and she realizes the only person who can help her is Kasey. But finding him means finding herself. Is Blue ready to face the truth about who, and what, she is?
Episode 1: Paper DollsFree at Amazon    BN    iTunes    KoboEpisode 2: The RevelationAmazon    BN    iTunes    KoboEpisode 3: The Last DanceAmazon    BN    iTunes    Kobo Excerpt:“How do you do that?” I asked, finding my voice. I looked around the dance floor, at all the people frozen like 3D photographs. It didn’t make sense that I wasn’t scared by the situation at hand, but fear didn’t factor into my emotional state at all. I also wondered what it would be like to walk through the crowd and note all their bodily contortions and facial expressions, but I held back. At the moment I was more interested in hearing what this man had to say. “How did you make everything stop?”“As to how I do what I do, I can only tell you that I do it. I know someone that can explain the how better than I. As to this,” he waggled a finger toward the still figures in the room, “this is all you. I can only help you … amplify what you had inside you to begin with.”It was my turn to laugh, but it was humorless and harsh. “What are you talking about?”“You have felt different all your life, no?”“Sure. But doesn’t everybody?” I answered with an eye roll and looked around the room again. “Look at these morons. They’re all playing dress up, hiding their real selves from each other. But the truth is they’re desperate to find someone to love them. Hoping they’ll be important to someone, anyone, because they sure as hell don’t feel important to themselves. Hoping they’ll actually matter. Hoping that someone can take away the emptiness they feel every time they look in the mirror.”He shook his head. “You are talking about yourself, not them. And they are not all like that. They are not the lifeless paper dolls you think they are, not even the ones trying so hard to stand out. And neither are you.”His words confused me, and I felt myself growing angry. “Who are you?” I didn’t like the things he made me feel anymore, and I longed for the simplicity of the liquored-up daze I’d enjoyed earlier. I wanted to run away from him, but in the same moment I realized that nothing could have made me turn away from this strange man.“My name is Kasimir Korsak. My friends call my Kasey. I would very much like to include you in that group.”I shook my head. “If you know so much about me, you would know that I don’t have friends.” I put as much disdain into the last word as I could. I might want to find out more about the things that were happening, but that didn’t mean I trusted him. “Besides, what possible reason do I have to believe anything you say?”His eyes were still steady on mine when he spoke. “You already trust me, Blue. You do not want to admit it because I am a stranger, but deep down you believe me because you hear truth in my words. You look around the room and see truth. You are different. Special.” He held out his hands, palms up in a gesture of openness. “You are like me, only you have not learned how to use your abilities yet.”Abilities? I gaped at him. What the hell does that mean?We stood in the strange, echoless silence, neither of us taking our eyes off the other. I wanted his words to be true. I wanted the differentness I’d always felt to be something special, wanted it with an urgency that pierced through the numbness. In the few moments I’d spent with this man I’d felt more emotions than I’d felt in years.The realization finally brought forth fear, but it also brought excitement, and I wanted more. If his words were true, and he and I were alike, maybe that meant I actually belonged somewhere.“I can show you if you let me.” He smiled again and as we stared at one another, thoughts that weren’t mine raced through my head.Give me a chance to show you. There are others like us. You do not have to be alone anymore.“Why should I?”“What are your options?” He smiled. “Someone once said, ‘I may never be what I want to be, what I ought to be, but how will I know unless I try?’ That is all I am asking you to do, try.”“Who said that?”He grinned wider. “A superhero.”I rolled my eyes. “You’re kidding, right? This isn’t a fucking comic book.”




About the Author:
Rose Shababy and her family reside in eastern Washington State. Rose grew up in the Northwest but swears she’s going to move to warmer climates someday. She’s claimed this for over 20 years, however, and has yet to move more than 75 miles away from her mother.
Rose has a deep love of all things Star Trek and yearns to travel the heavens, as well as an intense desire to be bitten by a radioactive spider.
Unfortunately she sucks at science and math so she hasn’t been able bring her dreams to life, instead living vicariously through books, comics, television and film. She hopes to someday make a million dollars so she can afford to buy her way to the international space station, but she’d settle for being able to fly around the world and leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Rose also loves to cook and worked for years in a gourmet Italian grocery and deli where she learned to hone her skills. She prepares culinary masterpieces for her family, but fervently wishes the dishes would wash themselves. Especially now that her dishwashers/children are nearly grown and only one still lives at home.Rose likes to use her free time wisely. For instance, she likes to daydream, will often read for hours until she falls asleep on the couch with an electric blanket and a warm tabby cat curled up on her hip, as well as spending cozy weekend days watching Syfy movies like Sharknado and Mega Piranha with her husband.
If Rose were a cartoon animal, she’d prefer to be a wise old owl or a sleek and sexy jaguar, but in reality she’d probably be a myopic mole with coke-bottle glasses.
http://roseshababy.com/
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Adventures of a Bookish Foodie: Pizza Most Deceptive

Nothin' says summer lovin' like a traditional wood-burning pizza oven, or so my guest cozy chef, historical writer A.S. Fenichel would have us believe. She's taking a page from the Europeans who have long embraced homemade, wood-fired oven baked pizza. Just check out her gorgeous pizza oven in the back yard. #ASFenichel #Adventuresofabookishfoodie‬‪
#Woodfiredpizza #Pizzasnob #Italy #Deception #fallrecipes #Cozyrecipes ‬‪#Historicalauthor
It’s nice to be here today. I love food and this is right up my alley. My favorite food is Italian food, which has nothing to do with my new book, Deception. Deception takes place in the early nineteenth century and mostly in Edinburgh, Scotland. They would have eaten a lot of mutton, sausage and perhaps some quail, dove and trout. They likely would not have used much in the way of seasoning, shame that. 
The good news is, Italian food is rich, flavorful and stunning to look at. When super-hubby and I got married we went to Italy on our honeymoon and spent the first six days at a cooking school. We learned so much technique and also the foundations of Italian cooking, keep it fresh and simple and you will have delicious food.

Six years ago we moved to Texas from New Jersey and were devastated by the state of pizza in the state of Texas. We love it here, but we missed our beloved pizza. If you’ve ever been or you ever go to New Jersey, try the pizza and you’ll know what I’m saying. And if you are going, let me know, I’ll tell you some of the best places in the area to get your pizza.

By now you realize I’m a bit of a pizza snob. I want a thin crust, a flavorful sauce and great toppings. So guess what we did! We built our own pizza oven in the back yard. Yup!!! It’s fabulous and on a cool night, it doubles as a fireplace.

You can for sure make pizza in your oven or even on your grill, but you may want to par-cook you crust first just so it gets crunchy and not soggy. Our oven gets up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit and cooks a pizza in about three minutes. It will take about 10 in your oven with a pizza stone and a preheated oven of 550, which is probably as high as your oven goes.

crunchycreamysweetHere’s how you do it:

The dough:

1 packet of yeast

1 scant cup of warm water

½ teaspoon honey

4 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbls salt

2 Tbls olive oil

Bloom the yeast. I split the water. The water should be between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. To half a cup of water I add the yeast and honey and stir. While that blooms, I put the flour and salt in a mixer with the dough hook attachment. Once there is a nice fluff on the top of the yeast water, I start the mixer and add the yeast water. Then get another half a cup of water and slowly add. Be careful hear. It may require more or less water depending on the weather. When the dough gathers around the hook you can stop the mixer and pull it out.

Kneed the dough on a floured board for about ten minutes until shiny and elastic. Drizzle the olive oil down the sides of a large bowl so that the bowl is coated. This will keep the dough from sticking. Place the dough in the bowl and cover with a damp cloth. I try not to let the cloth touch the dough. Put the dough in a warm place for at least an hour but no more than two.

Punch down your dough and form into a ball on a floured board. Cut into 4 even pieces and form into balls. At this point, I drizzle a little more oil on a baking sheet, place the dough balls far apart and cover with a damp cloth. Put it back in a warm place for 20 minutes and your dough will be perfect.

The Sauce:

Most Pizza sauces are raw, so feel free to do that if you like. I love my simple cooked sauce on the pizza and think it gives it great flavor.

Red Sauce

Diced tomato – 1 Can (15 oz)

Tomato paste – 3 oz (more if you like a thicker sauce)

Garlic – 2or3 cloves

Onion – 1 small diced

Olive oil – 3 or 4 tbls

Salt and pepper

Parsley and/or basil (optional)

In a large pan add olive oil. Press whole garlic against a cutting board to release the flavor and toss the entire clove into the COLD oil. Turn the heat on med and allow the garlic to brown on both sides (don’t let it burn) Remove the garlic and add the onions. Cook until translucent. Add tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and add tomato paste. Let simmer for 10 min or until veggies are cooked. Salt and pepper to taste.

Note: cool your sauce before putting it on raw dough.

Heat your oven as high as it will go. Use a pizza stone if using a regular oven and put the stone in before you turn the oven on. Let it heat for at least 30 minutes so the stone is good and hot.

Roll out your dough to the desired thickness and size. Spoon on sauce, cheese and whatever toppings you like. Put the pizza in the oven and keep an eye on the first one so you get an idea of how long it takes in your oven. Pull it out when the crust is brown and the sauce and cheese are bubbly.

Enjoy!

Thanks very much for having me here today. I love to cook and share my recipes. This is so much fun. I hope you enjoy the pizza and Deception.



Deception The Demon Hunters Book 2A.S. Fenichel
Genre: Historical PNR
Publisher: Kensington/Lyrical
Date of Publication: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 9781616505622ASIN: B00ONTR7WS
Number of pages: 232Word Count: 78,957
Cover Artist: Morgan Pielli
Book Description:
When Demons threaten Regency London, only a Lady can stop them.
Lillian Dellacourt is beautiful, refined and absolutely lethal. She’s also the most feared and merciless demon hunter in The Company. She’s come a long way from the penniless seamstress’s daughter sold to the highest bidder, and it wasn’t by trusting a man, let alone an exiled Marquis with more on his mind than slaying the hellspawn . . .
For Dorian Lambert, Marquis de Montalembert, being sent to keep track of Lillian is no mean task. He’s wanted the fiery vixen since he first heard of her five years ago. But wooing the lady while fighting the demon uprising is no easy feat, especially when the lady’s tongue is as sharp as the Japanese sai blades she favors for eviscerating the spawn of hell.
These two will have to learn to trust each other fast, because the demon master is back, and he’s planning to turn Edinburgh into a living hell…
Amazon    BN     Kobo     iBooks     KensingtonExcerpt: Chapter 1
Gripping the chair arms to keep herself seated, Lillian fought an urge to leave and never set foot inside Castle Brendaligh again.It had been a demoralizing battle and they had lost, but they had lived. They had done all they could, but still the demon master had ascended into man’s world.“You failed and we are all likely to die because of it. I hold every person at this table responsible for the state of England. You have ruined us.” Lord Clayton’s voice grated on Lillian’s nerves.Accounts of the battle were clear. Nearly everyone in the room had risked their lives trying to disrupt the ascension, not to mention keep the earl’s daughter, Belinda, from becoming a demon sacrifice. Making such a show of ferocious reprimands insulted their brave and selfless efforts. If not for the fact that he was her best friend’s father, she might have indulged her desire to pull a sai blade from her boot and slice his throat.As if Lord Clayton, the Earl of Shafton, needed to attract more attention, he waved his hands. “You had one mission, to keep the master from entering our world. All you had to do was kill one demon, but you failed. You should all be shot for treason. Treason!”His bright red face gave her hope his heart might fail and save her the trouble of killing him. Other hunters at the table murmured, but no one spoke out.Everyone in this room is to blame. You had the perfect opportunity to end this mess. Nowthe master is free of his realm and living in ours. It’s only a matter of time before he is strong enough to destroy everything we hold dear. When your families are killed mercilessly, will you sit here so unrepentant about failing in your duty?”“Father, really.” Belinda Thurston rolled her eyes.Lillian missed Reece’s steadying presence. Reece might have even been able to stop his lordship’s tirade with a few quick-witted remarks. Her partner had nearly died, and now lay upstairs recovering from demon poisoning.“Don’t you roll your eyes at me, Belinda. You are equally to blame. You were with the master for days and made no attempt to destroy him.”Gabriel, Belinda’s husband, bristled. It was of course a ridiculous statement. The Earl of Tullering was not used to public abuse of his family. “Just a minute, my lord. You are out of order. Belinda was in no position to defeat the demon master. The information she gathered will be very helpful in our eventual victory.”Shafton pointed a fat finger. “I do not want to hear about information that will take years to decipher. You, Tullering, are by far the most culpable. You and that woman”—he pointed at Lillian—“made a conscious choice not to destroy the master.”Lillian reached toward her boot and let the hard steel of her sai blade handle bring her comfort. One second and Shafton’s head could be rolling down the long table and land in Drake Cullum’s lap.Besides Shafton, Drake and his assistant, Dorian Lambert, were the only ones present who had not been at the battle. Their leader, Drake, had attended to assign new orders to the hunters.Shafton said, “You could have destroyed the beast as it rose and was weakened. I know you had the opportunity, but you chose to save yourself. It was selfish and stupid.”Lillian could kill him and no one would be able to stop her. Of course, there were  always consequences when dealing with men in power. She’d lose her home within The Company. Yet another arrogant earl would not take her from her rightful place. She was in control. It was nothing like her youth and the titled man who’d ruined her life.Belinda said, “They saved my life, Father.”“It was the wrong choice, Belinda. You might have cost us our one chance to stop this.” Shafton narrowed his eyes on Lillian.Lillian said, “I can imagine your pleasure if we had allowed your only child to become the master’s sacrifice. Perhaps we should have stood by and watched until the master, with his full power rose, from the depths of hell and destroyed us all. As it is, Reece Foxjohn is still recovering from battle and the rest of us might have been sucked into the demon’s realm. But by all means, my lord, go on and tell us how you know we willfully failed on our mission. I do not recall your life being in danger that day at Fatum Manor. You were safely tucked away in your castle while the rest of us faced death or worse.”“You are out of order, Dellacourt.” Shafton said her name as if it were a curse.Lillian wasn’t sure when she had stood up, but clutching the leather wrapped steel, she rounded the table toward the earl. “If you have something you want to say about my abilities, my lord, I suggest you do so. I will be happy to display them for you, and we can evaluate them together.”“Miss Dellacourt.” A warning came from the other end of the table.“You were not there. You cannot know if we could have destroyed the master. As far as I’m concerned, we made the only choice possible under the circumstances. Maybe if your intelligence had supplied us with the location of the gateway before the master had grown so powerful, we might have been able to seal him in.”“How dare you imply that I failed in some way? You who completely disregard orders  at will.” She had only ever hated one man the way she despised Shafton, and he too was an earl. At least that one was dead. Steeling her nerves, she slid the sai blade through the pocket cut in her skirt. “You speak of orders that were selfish and almost succeeded in getting your own family killed.”“You have no right to question me or my motives.” To his credit, he faced her and stared her in the eye.“I have every right when you point your fat finger at me.”“Who do you think you are? I know where you come from Lillian Dellacourt. I know what you are.”Drake Cullum pounded the table. “Shafton, that will do.” The demon hunters’ leader stood rigid, narrow-eyed. He was formidable when he was calm, but enraging him was never a good idea. He was furious now.Had she gone too far? The idea she might have overstepped her bounds with Cullum was enough to make her relax the grip on her blade. Lillian turned and stormed from the dining room.Shafton yelled something about not having dismissed her from the meeting.Once in the hallway, she pulled her second blade and turned to go back in and finish what she’d started. It would be nothing to remove his pompous head from his shoulders.Cullum stood in the doorway. He smiled at her and closed the door, baring her reentry.Had she ever seen him smile before? No instance came to mind. She stomped toward the front entrance. She’d leave the damn castle, get her carriage, and ride like the devil back to London. Yet the one person in the world she could really talk to was a resident of Brendaligh. Holding her full skirts with both hands, she sprinted up the curved grand staircase.

About the Author:
A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She’s never looked back.
A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.
Multi-published in historical, paranormal, erotic and contemporary romance, A.S. is the author of The Demon Hunters series, the Psychic Mates series, and more. With several books currently contracted to multiple publishers, A.S. will be brining you her brand of edgy romance for years to come.
Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in the East Texas with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden. Her babies are both rescues and include a demanding dog and a temperamental cat both of which bring constant joy and laughter.
Web Site- http://asfenichel.net/
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Adventures of a Bookish Foodie: Soup, Sandwich & Free Sleuth Sunday

What's better on a crisp day then curling up with a cozy blanket, a new mystery and a warm meal? Not too much in my opinion. Which is why I've included recipes and a link to a free mystery that I laughed my way through just a week ago. Happy Cozy Sunday!

P.S - Have you ever been to The Cheese Shop in Peterborough? It's a cozy little shop nestled into a brick building next to Rare Steakhouse on Brock. Check it out!

On Friday night my hubby stopped by on his way home from work and picked up a variety of Stilton, Apple Smoked Cheddar and Gouda! Yum! So now it's Sunday and we're experiencing a blustery fall day. Let me see we have a bag full of cheese and a crisper full of fresh apples from my parents apple tree. What to do....what to do. Personally I grew up on grilled cheese and tomato soup. Not too heavy, but still warm and deeply satisfying, so how about a twist on an old favorite?
#Freebook #JanaDeLeon #Louisiana Longshot #Mystery #AmazonKindle #Recipes #Fall #Soup #Sandwich #Cozymystery
Aged Gouda, Smoked Applewood Cheddar and Apple Grilled Cheesemakes 2 sandwiches in about 15 minutesIngredients

4 slices of bread, about 1/2″ slices
1/4 lb of aged gouda 1/4 lb of applewood cheddar
1/2 apple, thinly sliced
dijon mustard
butter, oil or sprayOptional 1/4 cup caramelized onions

Directions Cranberry Bread Spray griddle with non-stick spray, oil or butter two slices of bread and set them aside. I like Bavarian Cranberry and nut. Spread a thin layer of dijon mustard on the other two slices.



On a large griddle, place the bread with the dijon mustard on the griddle, mustard side up over medium heat. Top each slice with 4-5 slices of apple and the cheese. (Option: Add 1-2 tbsp caramelized onions) Top with the remaining two slices of bread which you toasted up beside it, butter side up.


After 4-5 minutes, flip. Let the other side brown for an additional 4-5 minutes, until bread is toasty and cheese is melty. Cut in half or quarter and enjoy! We paired it with a nice Thai Coconut soup while the kids had Chicken Noodle.


Spicy Thai Tomato Coconut Curry SoupCooktime 20 minutesIngredients
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 can coconut milk
1 can water
1 small can of tomato paste
2 tbsp red curry paste
1 tbsp chill oil
2 roma tomatos, sliced
1 bunch cilantro
4 green onions, chopped

Directions
In a large saucepan, place the tomato soup, coconut milk, water, tomato paste, curry paste, chill oil, and tomatoes. Bring to a rolling boil.
In a large blender, pour mix from saucepan, and place cilantro and green onions in the blender. Blend until fully pureed. Serve hot.
*Option buy pre-made and warm on the stove. Campbells makes a yummy version.
Louisiana Longshot (A Miss Fortune Mystery, Book 1) Kindle EditionDownload Free
by Jana DeLeon

It was a hell of a long shot....

CIA assassin Fortune Redding is about to undertake her most difficult mission ever—in Sinful, Louisiana. With a leak at the CIA and a price placed on her head by one of the world's largest arms dealers, Fortune has to go off-grid, but she never expected to be this far out of her element. Posing as a former beauty queen turned librarian in a small bayou town seems worse than death to Fortune, but she's determined to fly below the radar until her boss finds the leak and puts the arms dealer out of play. Unfortunately, she hasn't even unpacked a suitcase before her newly inherited dog digs up a human bone in her backyard.

Thrust into the middle of a bayou murder mystery, Fortune teams up with a couple of seemingly sweet old ladies whose looks completely belie their hold on the little town. To top things off, the handsome local deputy is asking her too many questions. If she's not careful, this investigation might blow her cover and get her killed. Armed with her considerable skills and a group of elderly ladies the locals dub The Geritol Mafia, Fortune has no choice but to solve the murder before it's too late.

Looking for another GREAT mystery? Curse of the Purple Delhi Sapphire!

Former librarian Sophia Marcil is an expert when it comes to supernatural spells and ancient curses, not only has she studied them, she actually inherited one in the form of a sapphire and was transported to a past life. Now she’s back and keeping a low profile in the Emerald Isle with her strapping Irish love but she knows the maniac obsessed with her cursed gemstone is out there. She soon realizes he may be closer than she thinks when Cullen proposes with the very sapphire that’s cursed her. As soon as it touches her skin, she feels herself being wrenched back in time.

"Twists, turns, great characters, and time travel ... what's not to love!" Marissa Campbell Author of Avelynn
#mystery #timetravel #SolsticePublishing

"This is well worth the read, especially for those who enjoy time travel, mysteries, suspense and romance." Lacey Crowe
About the Author: Rachel Stapleton lives in a Second Empire Victorian with her husband and two children in Ontario, Canada and enjoys writing in the comforts of aged wood and arched dormers. She is the author of The Temple of Indra’s Jewel, Curse of the Purple Delhi Sapphire and is currently working on the third and most likely final book in the Temple of Indra series.
You are invited to subscribe to her website and follow her on social media.
www.RachaelStapleton.com http://RachaelStapleton.blogspot.ca/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Rachael-Stapleton/137831156290570https://twitter.com/RaquelleJaxsonhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7271862.Rachael_Stapletonhttp://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Stapleton/e/B00IE9W804 https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RachaelStapleton/posts

Meet Maighread MacKay: This Week's Treasured & Tipsy Timeslip Traveller

Travel and make-believe go hand in hand. Whether we're in the present or the past, in a haunted castle, an enchanted forest or a broken down building, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and traveling the world can bring the imagination to life.

Please join this week's guest, Maighread MacKay, an author and visual artist from Canada who loves all things mysterious and who much like myself, feels drawn to ancient castle ruins. Follow Maighread as she wanders the paths of her great-greats, taking us from Scotland to 1860's Ontario.

#Travel #AuthorInterview #TreasuredTipsyTimeslip #RachaelStapleton #Scotland #pioneers #Ontario #19thcentury

Scotland

If I ever get the chance, I would love to travel to Scotland. It is the land of my ancestors and I feel a drawing to it like no other place on earth. One of my great grandfathers was a stone mason and I love old stone building and walls, hence the nod to my ancestor in my novel Stone Cottage. 
http://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/Blog... Insert: The Land of Scots is also a favourite place of mine. From magnificent city landmarks to mysterious ruins, Scotland is renowned for its iconic castles. Head to Aberdeen City and Shire where you will find Scotland’s only designated Castle Trail boasting 17 highlights to visit. Dunnottar Castle is perched on a cliff-top, a beautiful fortress, while Craigievar is a fine example of Scottish baronial architecture and the striking curtain wall at http://www.visitscotland.com/about/hi...






http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland... Castle is a great symbol of Scottish independence & a source of national pride. Knights, nobles and foreign ambassadors once flocked to the Royal Court at Stirling Castle to revel in the castle's grandeur. A place of power, beauty and history, discover the favoured residence of Scotland's Kings and Queens!
Back to Maighread: I have also travelled around Ontario, Canada to visit pioneer museums, cemeteries, old stone houses and churches and such. I love the Ontario northland, with its water, rocks and trees. In the setting for my novel, Stone Cottage, a paranormal fiction that deals with reincarnation, past life regression and second chances, I tried to get the feel of old Scotland in a new land, placing the house in an older, more isolated setting while still keeping it in a close proximity to a modern city. It also adds to the mix of the time periods in the book from the 1860’s to 2015. 
In the museums and pioneer villages you can see the clothing, types of dwellings, utensils used, and all manner of objects from daily life that the ancients used. I love to wander the paths of history and wonder about the lives of the people. Who used this tool? What motivated them? What was their life like? What gave them happiness and joy? Check out my debut novel, Stone Cottage and delve into life  in the mid 1800’s Ontario, Canada.
Victoria Anne McBride is dead, mourned and buried. Unfortunately, she doesn’t see it that way and refuses to move on. There’s something she needs to tell her husband, Will. Until she does, she will wait for his return to their home, Stone Cottage. For as long as it takes, she will wait...wait...wait.Rebecca Wainwright is a 21stcentury woman. Determined, her world is perfect and in control. Just the way she likes it. Tragedy strikes and she descends into chaos. Trying to heal, she searches for a sanctuary...a place of her own, away from the burdensome concern of her family and best friend. A place where she can lick her wounds without anyone watching. She stumbles across a lovely stone home located off the beaten path and feels completely at home, as if she’d been there before. Why is she so drawn to this place? How can it help her to heal?Perhaps, Annie can help.




It’s Release Day! Author Maighread Mackay is proud to announce the release of Stone Cottage. Get your copy today: http://www.amazon.ca/Stone-Cottage-Ma...

“Stone cottage is the story of a successful privileged young woman who, through a series of tragedies, is forced to face her personal demons.....her journey takes her through the traditional and the non-traditional healing pathways. Both her explorations and ultimately her discoveries keep the reader riveted.....a tale almost impossible to put down.....MacKay has woven her magic once again.....kudos.” L. Beauchamp

‪#‎reading‬ ‪#‎bookboost‬ #Solsticepublishing ‪#‎Canadian‬‪#‎new‬ ‪#‎paranormal‬
Website: www.mhefferman.caFB: www.facebook.com/maighreadmackayTwitter: @maighreadmackayLinkedin: Author’s bio:    Maighread MacKay is an author and visual artist from the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada.  She is a member of the Writer’s Community of Durham Region (WCDR), and the PRAC (Pine Ridge Arts Council).Her publishing credits include three books for children:   Bedtime Treasures, The Mysterious Door and the Crystal Grove written under the name of Margaret L. Hefferman. Her novel Stone Cottage is her first foray into adult literature and will be released by Solstice Publishing on September 8, 2015. Her story “Being Santa” was accepted for publication in the 2015 Soup for the Soul: Merry Christmas which will release in October of this year. She has also published articles for a variety of magazines, including most recently, the Durham Region online magazine – More 2 Life 4 Women and the WCDR publication Word Weaver.
Reviews:

I found myself so into the story, so into the characters that I cried with them. I enjoyed the author's weave of time and relationships that are not bound by cognitive constructs but longings of the heart. This is a good reminder that second chances are often given to reconcile such human foibles that tear apart the self's own world, in ways we can only imagine...and they are imagined in this book. A good read. – R. Davies

Stone cottage is the story of a successful privileged young woman who, through a series of tragedies, is forced to face her personal demons.....her journey takes her through the traditional and the non-traditional healing pathways. Both her explorations and ultimately her discoveries keep the reader riveted.....a tale almost impossible to put down.....MacKay has woven her magic once again.....kudos. – L. Beauchamp

Adventures of a Bookish Foodie: Falling for Fall...Sneeze if you're with me.

The Carousel Did someone say pumpkin spice latte? Yep, its that time of year again, time for fiery red crunching leaves, the smells of cinnamon and nutmeg, and homemade Pumpkin Gnocchi. And although this end of summer has been a scorcher, I couldn't help but notice the leaves falling from the trees in my front yard made me slightly giddy.

Don't get me wrong, I love summer and I have thoroughly enjoyed my beach time, but who can resist the lure of crisp autumn nights, holiday pies, and the promise of a new school year.

And that's saying a lot because I have severe ragweed allergies which heighten in September. Let's hear it if you're with me! Achoo!

And yet I'm still an autumn enthusiast and I'm not the only one.You know who you are. You're already pinning images of leather boots on Pinterest while dreaming of sweaters, and pumpkin spice everything.

So for all those autumn loving foodies, I'm going to serve up a warm and cozy fall recipe each week. From pumpkin gnocchi to steak pie and pumpkin-apple-cinnamon blintze. I'm also going to feature writers throughout the season and ask them to share their favourite food or recipe.

The first recipe featured is Pumpkin Gnocchi...comfort in a bowl! Pumpkin is not just for Halloween, it's packed with antioxidants, vitamin A and it's a fantastic source of fibre. If you have not made gnocchi before then give this a go - I know I plan too! Instructions and picture below are compliments of The Skinny Fork. An amazing recipe website that I love to browse! Tune in next Monday for an end of summer recipe from oven-baked pizza lover and  historical writer A.S. Fenichel.

Clean Eating Pumpkin Gnocchi
http://www.theskinnyfork.com
Ever had the pleasure of trying gnocchi?

If you aren't familiar, these are sort of the italian equivalent to dumplings.

Gnocchi are traditionally made with semolina, flour, egg, potato, breadcrumbs, cheese, or other similar ingredients. These soft little pillows of pumpkin heaven are the perfect replacement for usual gnocchi, making any dish even more fall-friendly!





Making your own gnocchi does take some time, but I always find it to be a rather fun little 30-45 minute project. The process doesn't consume many brain cells, and with so few ingredients the dough comes together pretty quickly.

What takes the most time is cutting the pieces and then adding the texture to them with the back of a fork. Let me be very clear that the added dimples are entirely un-needed, so feel free to skip that step to make this a less time consuming project!

Gnocchi are pretty versatile. You can use them on their own in a sort of 'pasta' dish, toss them with some simple brown butter or Guiltless Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce, or even add them to soup!


Clean Eating Pumpkin Gnocchi

Servings: 4 • Size: About 1 Cup • Calories: 220.3 • Fat: 2.5 g • Carb: 40.5 g • Fiber: 8.5 g • Protein: 8.8 g • Sugar: 2 g • Sodium: 22 mg

Ingredients:1 C. 100% Pure Pumpkin Puree (Not pie filling!)

1 1/2 C. Whole Wheat White Flour

1 Large Egg

1/8 Tsp. Nutmeg

Salt & Pepper to Taste


Directions:
Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl.







Using your hands, mix everything together to form dough.


You will want the dough to be slightly sticky. Mine was also pretty dense.








Divide the dough into four sections.


Roll each section on a lightly floured surface until about 1/2" thick.








Cut the long rolled out sections ito 1" 'pillows'.


Dust the pillows with just a little bit of flour to help prevent sticking. If you want the traditional gnocchi indentation, gently press the pillows into the prongs of a fork.








Bring a large pot of water to a boil and ad the gnocchi. Cook in batches if necessary.


As soon at the gnocchi begins to rise to the surface, they are cooked!


Cooking doesn't take long. Mine started to rise to the surface of the boiling water in about 5 minutes or less.





Drain and let cook slightly.