Amara Cudney's Blog
March 21, 2017
The Crystal Bowl
The Crystal Bowl is my latest book. It is a fable based on Celtic mythology and has been so much fun to write and to research.
There are many commonalities between Christian and Celtic beliefs. In my research it was apparent that the Celtic traditions mirror many traditions that we have in our American culture today such as Easter and Christmas.
Most Celtic holidays are centered around the sun and its position to the earth. During the Spring ( Celts refer to as Alban Eilir) it is a time of balance, when light and dark join, and winter and spring meet as they pass each other across the equator.
excerpt from THE CRYSTAL BOWL
That morning when Adalyne awoke, the birds sang and she knew, the seeds would be sown today. For all life has consciousness and knows the way.
During my research I found that the Easter bunny was a symbol of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was the rabbit. Exchange of eggs also came from the celts who considered them to be a symbol of fertility and new life.
I believe as the Celts did that Spring is also a time of renewal and birth, a chance to begin again. The Crystal Bowl is a book about endurance, love and knowing that hate and anger will never win over love and compassion.
I'm in the next stages of editing and will keep you posted as to its release. Enjoy this season and enjoy this recipe for a Spring cake.
SIMNEL CAKE
Ingredients
100g/4oz glacé cherries
225g/8oz butter, softened
225g/8oz light muscovado sugar
4 large eggs
225g/8oz self-raising flour
225g/8oz sultanas
100g/4oz currants
50g/2oz chopped candied peel
2 lemons, grated zest only
2 tsp ground mixed spice
For the filling and topping
450g/1lb marzipan
1-2 tbsp apricot jam, warmed
How-to-videos
Method
Preheat the oven to 150C/280F/Gas 2. Grease and line a 20cm/ 8in cake tin.
Cut the cherries into quarters, put in a sieve and rinse under running water. Drain well then dry thoroughly on kitchen paper.
Place the cherries in a bowl with the butter, sugar, eggs, self-raising flour, sultanas, currants, candied peel, lemon zest and mixed spice and beat well until thoroughly mixed. Pour half the mixture into the prepared tin.
Take one-third of the marzipan and roll it out to a circle the size of the tin and then place on top of the cake mixture. Spoon the remaining cake mixture on top and level the surface.
Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 2½ hours, or until well risen, evenly brown and firm to the touch. Cover with aluminium foil after one hour if the top is browning too quickly. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out, peel off the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack.
When the cake is cool, brush the top with a little warmed apricot jam and roll out half the remaining marzipan to fit the top. Press firmly on the top and crimp the edges to decorate. Mark a criss-cross pattern on the marzipan with a sharp knife. Form the remaining marzipan into 11 balls.
Brush the marzipan with beaten egg and arrange the marzipan balls around the edge of the cake. Brush the tops of the balls with beaten egg and then carefully place the cake under a hot grill until the top is lightly toasted.
Recipe by Mary Berry
There are many commonalities between Christian and Celtic beliefs. In my research it was apparent that the Celtic traditions mirror many traditions that we have in our American culture today such as Easter and Christmas.
Most Celtic holidays are centered around the sun and its position to the earth. During the Spring ( Celts refer to as Alban Eilir) it is a time of balance, when light and dark join, and winter and spring meet as they pass each other across the equator.
excerpt from THE CRYSTAL BOWL
That morning when Adalyne awoke, the birds sang and she knew, the seeds would be sown today. For all life has consciousness and knows the way.
During my research I found that the Easter bunny was a symbol of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was the rabbit. Exchange of eggs also came from the celts who considered them to be a symbol of fertility and new life.
I believe as the Celts did that Spring is also a time of renewal and birth, a chance to begin again. The Crystal Bowl is a book about endurance, love and knowing that hate and anger will never win over love and compassion.
I'm in the next stages of editing and will keep you posted as to its release. Enjoy this season and enjoy this recipe for a Spring cake.
SIMNEL CAKE
Ingredients
100g/4oz glacé cherries
225g/8oz butter, softened
225g/8oz light muscovado sugar
4 large eggs
225g/8oz self-raising flour
225g/8oz sultanas
100g/4oz currants
50g/2oz chopped candied peel
2 lemons, grated zest only
2 tsp ground mixed spice
For the filling and topping
450g/1lb marzipan
1-2 tbsp apricot jam, warmed
How-to-videos
Method
Preheat the oven to 150C/280F/Gas 2. Grease and line a 20cm/ 8in cake tin.
Cut the cherries into quarters, put in a sieve and rinse under running water. Drain well then dry thoroughly on kitchen paper.
Place the cherries in a bowl with the butter, sugar, eggs, self-raising flour, sultanas, currants, candied peel, lemon zest and mixed spice and beat well until thoroughly mixed. Pour half the mixture into the prepared tin.
Take one-third of the marzipan and roll it out to a circle the size of the tin and then place on top of the cake mixture. Spoon the remaining cake mixture on top and level the surface.
Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 2½ hours, or until well risen, evenly brown and firm to the touch. Cover with aluminium foil after one hour if the top is browning too quickly. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out, peel off the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack.
When the cake is cool, brush the top with a little warmed apricot jam and roll out half the remaining marzipan to fit the top. Press firmly on the top and crimp the edges to decorate. Mark a criss-cross pattern on the marzipan with a sharp knife. Form the remaining marzipan into 11 balls.
Brush the marzipan with beaten egg and arrange the marzipan balls around the edge of the cake. Brush the tops of the balls with beaten egg and then carefully place the cake under a hot grill until the top is lightly toasted.
Recipe by Mary Berry
February 18, 2016
For Black History Month
I'm not black, it's true. But I am aghast at the blatant racism and terror that I see happening in our country lately. I know that racism has always existed and that crimes against blacks as well as children as well as women as well as....there is no end to the list as you well know. One story in particular got me. It got me real bad and I couldn't stop thinking about it.
For day after day, when I went on Yahoo, Dylan Roof's face stared back at me. He was famous. Was that what he had really wanted, I wondered?
His depraved image was everywhere and I wanted to find out what would cause one human being, and a very young one at that, to act so violently against another.
What I found out was that this boy grew up in the south and had a horrible childhood. He learned to hate at a very young age. He also became incredibly introverted and had very few friends. He eventually turned to drugs and that is when he thought it would be a good idea to shoot nine innocent people in a church while they were praying.
TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON is a story that came from that. I wanted to look at his side of things and tell his story as well as look at how families who suffer this type of hideous crime, prevail. I'm not sure I could get over something like that. I'm sure it would take a great spiritual strength from God and I wonder if I'd come out of it with my mind intact. Simone is my heroine and she is one touch lady.
I hope you'll read my story and that you'll let me know what you thought. Right now, I'm offering it for 1.99 on Amazon.
http://amzn.to/1ShfCfY
For day after day, when I went on Yahoo, Dylan Roof's face stared back at me. He was famous. Was that what he had really wanted, I wondered?
His depraved image was everywhere and I wanted to find out what would cause one human being, and a very young one at that, to act so violently against another.
What I found out was that this boy grew up in the south and had a horrible childhood. He learned to hate at a very young age. He also became incredibly introverted and had very few friends. He eventually turned to drugs and that is when he thought it would be a good idea to shoot nine innocent people in a church while they were praying.
TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON is a story that came from that. I wanted to look at his side of things and tell his story as well as look at how families who suffer this type of hideous crime, prevail. I'm not sure I could get over something like that. I'm sure it would take a great spiritual strength from God and I wonder if I'd come out of it with my mind intact. Simone is my heroine and she is one touch lady.
I hope you'll read my story and that you'll let me know what you thought. Right now, I'm offering it for 1.99 on Amazon.
http://amzn.to/1ShfCfY
June 15, 2015
Exploding Books
The thing is, we are the worker bees when it comes to writing a book but how could we possibly take any credit when, for me anyway, the story explodes out of me. Oh sure, I claim the credit, I say I'm writing the book, but really the book writes itself.
I've set up writing hours, made schedules, written outlines and guess what? Some of it works but really I lose control at a certain point. The story will go where it wants to and I have no say.
My job is to sit at the computer and type as fast as the words are coming out. It's up to me to revise and clean up and try to make it look as good as possible. But the story? It belongs to itself.
Does anyone else feel this way about writing?
I've set up writing hours, made schedules, written outlines and guess what? Some of it works but really I lose control at a certain point. The story will go where it wants to and I have no say.
My job is to sit at the computer and type as fast as the words are coming out. It's up to me to revise and clean up and try to make it look as good as possible. But the story? It belongs to itself.
Does anyone else feel this way about writing?
March 3, 2015
National Reading Month
Happy National Reading Month To All!
How Will You Celebrate?
How do you take time to read? I love to take the whole day with nothing to do but read and lay in my hammock turning pages. That is FUN!!!
Do you read poetry to someone you love?
Do you go to a school and read to children? Children never tire of being read to.
How about making a video of you reading and sending it to your grands?
Or how about visiting a hospital and reading to patients?
There are so many ways to enjoy reading, I hope you’ll find time this month and always.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sam and I are still working on the video which isn’t as easy as we thought it’d be. Our new target date is the end of March this year.
The HerShop workshop I attended with Amy Ferris was so good for me. I felt as though I blossomed in the midst of a dozen women writers. We each dug deep into our beings and created some sensational work.
The contest for the cover art of TURNING THE WORLD RIGHT SIDE UP is not getting enough submissions. I heard that the kids are very swamped at this time of year, so I want to open the contest to anyone who would like to submit their work to be eligible for the $100.00 prize.
I’ll be presenting TURNING THE WORLD RIGHT SIDE UP at the Kauai Writer’s Conference in May. I’ve scheduled a meeting with Elizabeth Kracht, an editor at Kimberly Cameron and Associates. Scary and exciting.
And look for our weekly GIVEAWAYS on FACEBOOK every SATURDAY. FUN, FUN. We had a great tag meeting last week with two winners. They choose a copy of Merili's Wine and one of Bonnie's Surprise.
To all book lovers everywhere, I love and appreciate you with all my heart.
Visit my web page
http://www.amaracudney.com
Love, Amara
How Will You Celebrate?
How do you take time to read? I love to take the whole day with nothing to do but read and lay in my hammock turning pages. That is FUN!!!
Do you read poetry to someone you love?
Do you go to a school and read to children? Children never tire of being read to.
How about making a video of you reading and sending it to your grands?
Or how about visiting a hospital and reading to patients?
There are so many ways to enjoy reading, I hope you’ll find time this month and always.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sam and I are still working on the video which isn’t as easy as we thought it’d be. Our new target date is the end of March this year.
The HerShop workshop I attended with Amy Ferris was so good for me. I felt as though I blossomed in the midst of a dozen women writers. We each dug deep into our beings and created some sensational work.
The contest for the cover art of TURNING THE WORLD RIGHT SIDE UP is not getting enough submissions. I heard that the kids are very swamped at this time of year, so I want to open the contest to anyone who would like to submit their work to be eligible for the $100.00 prize.
I’ll be presenting TURNING THE WORLD RIGHT SIDE UP at the Kauai Writer’s Conference in May. I’ve scheduled a meeting with Elizabeth Kracht, an editor at Kimberly Cameron and Associates. Scary and exciting.
And look for our weekly GIVEAWAYS on FACEBOOK every SATURDAY. FUN, FUN. We had a great tag meeting last week with two winners. They choose a copy of Merili's Wine and one of Bonnie's Surprise.
To all book lovers everywhere, I love and appreciate you with all my heart.
Visit my web page
http://www.amaracudney.com
Love, Amara
February 11, 2015
Love is in th eair.........
A FREE GIFT FOR YOU!
Love is in the air…………
February is such a great month. It’s full of hope and anticipation for Spring and a new start. It’s also a great time for me to reflect on all the people who have made a difference in my life in the past year and show my appreciation for them.
And, of course, Love. Love is the greatest healer, the only healer really.
I’m very excited to announce our GIVE AWAY for VALENTINES DAY.
And just because I do love and appreciate all of you who have supported me with your encouragement, wisdom and reviews-
DRUMROLL...............
All of my books and short stories will be FREE on AMAZON on Valentines Day. You can choose one book or get them all. And, if you buy a hard copy of either The Broken Road or Merili’s Wine you automatically get a free copy of the Kindle version. So…..
Happy Valentines Day
Merili’s Wine http://amzn.to/1wLi2YJ
The Broken Road http://amzn.to/1MedTTh
The Prayer http://amzn.to/1vlqaLa
The Girls http://amzn.to/1FA7ixT
The Heart of Forgiveness http://amzn.to/16Uro9W
Bonnie’s Surprise http://amzn.to/11IDEre
On Feb 22, I’ll be taking a writing workshop in Waimea, Hi with Amy Ferris, the author of Marrying George Clooney, Confessions From a Midlife Crisis and many other works. There truly is nothing like sitting all day with other writers and writing from your heart and I’m very excited to sit with a writer of this caliber.
I’m also working on the second draft of TURNING THE WORLD RIGHT SIDE UP. Yup, I finished the first draft. In May,
I’ll be going to a writers conference on Kauai where I’ll meet with an editor who will do a professional critique of my book. I'm going to wait to publish the book until then, who knows, maybe I'll get some offers from publishers. Wouldn't that be amazing? I like amazing!
We're still taking submissions for the cover art, keep 'em coming..$100.00 prize!
So, lots of stuff going on. It’s important for me to remember to take time for myself and my family and to remember why I’m doing all of this-FOR LOVE and FUN.
Love is in the air…………
February is such a great month. It’s full of hope and anticipation for Spring and a new start. It’s also a great time for me to reflect on all the people who have made a difference in my life in the past year and show my appreciation for them.
And, of course, Love. Love is the greatest healer, the only healer really.
I’m very excited to announce our GIVE AWAY for VALENTINES DAY.
And just because I do love and appreciate all of you who have supported me with your encouragement, wisdom and reviews-
DRUMROLL...............
All of my books and short stories will be FREE on AMAZON on Valentines Day. You can choose one book or get them all. And, if you buy a hard copy of either The Broken Road or Merili’s Wine you automatically get a free copy of the Kindle version. So…..
Happy Valentines Day
Merili’s Wine http://amzn.to/1wLi2YJ
The Broken Road http://amzn.to/1MedTTh
The Prayer http://amzn.to/1vlqaLa
The Girls http://amzn.to/1FA7ixT
The Heart of Forgiveness http://amzn.to/16Uro9W
Bonnie’s Surprise http://amzn.to/11IDEre
On Feb 22, I’ll be taking a writing workshop in Waimea, Hi with Amy Ferris, the author of Marrying George Clooney, Confessions From a Midlife Crisis and many other works. There truly is nothing like sitting all day with other writers and writing from your heart and I’m very excited to sit with a writer of this caliber.
I’m also working on the second draft of TURNING THE WORLD RIGHT SIDE UP. Yup, I finished the first draft. In May,
I’ll be going to a writers conference on Kauai where I’ll meet with an editor who will do a professional critique of my book. I'm going to wait to publish the book until then, who knows, maybe I'll get some offers from publishers. Wouldn't that be amazing? I like amazing!
We're still taking submissions for the cover art, keep 'em coming..$100.00 prize!
So, lots of stuff going on. It’s important for me to remember to take time for myself and my family and to remember why I’m doing all of this-FOR LOVE and FUN.
December 15, 2014
Merili at Christmas
Merili was sober. She was faced with doing things she'd never done alone. She'd either been with Dan or her parents, but now she was going to have to figure out how to have a holiday that didn't include alcohol, a boyfriend or her family. She was terrified. Then she started focusing on the good within her and within her life.
Right now, she's doing pretty good. She's connected with people in the program and going to parties where she's having tons of fun. Merili wants to share with you, so here goes.
Hi everyone. Amara has done such a great job at writing my story, I am so grateful. She's actually written many women's stories which is awesome. I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone right now. You are truly loved and it's okay to enjoy yourself.
It's such a wonderful time of year. There's so much love and compassion. Feel it, feel it's wonder and if you find time, read my story.
With love,
Merili
Right now, she's doing pretty good. She's connected with people in the program and going to parties where she's having tons of fun. Merili wants to share with you, so here goes.
Hi everyone. Amara has done such a great job at writing my story, I am so grateful. She's actually written many women's stories which is awesome. I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone right now. You are truly loved and it's okay to enjoy yourself.
It's such a wonderful time of year. There's so much love and compassion. Feel it, feel it's wonder and if you find time, read my story.
With love,
Merili
November 22, 2014
New Book
This is the time when I reflect on what I'm grateful for. I know that people are suffering, they're hurting and this time of year can put a lot of pressure on people who have lost love ones or who don't have enough to "fit it" with what is advertised as "all those happy people".
That's why I write. I write to tell your stories, the ones I hear everyday. I don't need to make anything up, it's all there for me in life.
This week I spent time with my friend Kathrin who has headed a project to help a young pregnant girl What I've seen is an outpouring of love beyond anything I would have expected. People have given generously and with love.
We all want to do something. Kathrin gave me a chance to do something for someone and I'm grateful. I'm grateful for being a writer and for being able to tell the stories that are burning in my heart and in other's.
I thank God today for all the blessings that I have. I'm well into my 2nd book. Being a writer is hard sometimes. It takes a tremendous amount of disipline and fortitude. I thank God for the gift of being able to have the time to write.
Thanks to everyone who supports me and reads my stories. You are the love in my life and the reason I keep doing it. Thank you.
May your season be filled with joy and blessings. Find the light in this dark time of year. The joy is available in abundance. Just open your eyes and you'll see it.
Love,
Amara
That's why I write. I write to tell your stories, the ones I hear everyday. I don't need to make anything up, it's all there for me in life.
This week I spent time with my friend Kathrin who has headed a project to help a young pregnant girl What I've seen is an outpouring of love beyond anything I would have expected. People have given generously and with love.
We all want to do something. Kathrin gave me a chance to do something for someone and I'm grateful. I'm grateful for being a writer and for being able to tell the stories that are burning in my heart and in other's.
I thank God today for all the blessings that I have. I'm well into my 2nd book. Being a writer is hard sometimes. It takes a tremendous amount of disipline and fortitude. I thank God for the gift of being able to have the time to write.
Thanks to everyone who supports me and reads my stories. You are the love in my life and the reason I keep doing it. Thank you.
May your season be filled with joy and blessings. Find the light in this dark time of year. The joy is available in abundance. Just open your eyes and you'll see it.
Love,
Amara
October 6, 2014
Bargaining With God
Have you ever been in a situation and asked God to help you and promised that you'd never do that thing again? Well, that is what happens to my protagonist, Clancy. She's a young 18 year old girl who drives drunk and ends up in a car accident. A young mother was driving the other car and she had her baby with her.
Clancy is taken to jail and the baby's life hangs by a thread.
This is the book I'm working on now and hope to have finished by January, fingers crossed.
What do you think of the title?
It was called The Prayer (began as a short story available on Amazon) and I decided to change it so that it told more of a story. What do you all think?
Clancy is taken to jail and the baby's life hangs by a thread.
This is the book I'm working on now and hope to have finished by January, fingers crossed.
What do you think of the title?
It was called The Prayer (began as a short story available on Amazon) and I decided to change it so that it told more of a story. What do you all think?
How Did This Happen To Merili?
How Did This Happen to Merili?
Merili's Wine
Merili used to sit in her house and drink. Today, she chooses to walk on the beach, take time for herself and reflect on her life. She isn't sure if she and Dan can make it, all she can do is focus on her own recovery.
Merili's Wine is my newest book and I wanted to thank all of you for your support. Please keep those reviews coming, they are what helps a writer succeed.
Many of you may look at my book and see that it is about a woman who became an alcoholic. Many people might say, what's wrong with her, why doesn't she just stop?
I used to think that too. Alcoholism as well as many other addictions have a way of dragging you down a deep tunnel without any hope of getting out. Merili began drinking just to have fun. Then she drank just o cope with her life. Pretty soon the drink owned her.
I think that I've portrayed a pretty honest look at how she became an alcoholic and how she found herself surrendering to recovery.
Merili was lucky in that she did quit drinking and she did get help. But some of the characters she met along the way didn't get so lucky.
In my next newsletter, I'll introduce you to Tuck, a really nice guy who unfortunately didn't make it.
Until then, Aloha and blessings.
Merili's Wine
Merili used to sit in her house and drink. Today, she chooses to walk on the beach, take time for herself and reflect on her life. She isn't sure if she and Dan can make it, all she can do is focus on her own recovery.
Merili's Wine is my newest book and I wanted to thank all of you for your support. Please keep those reviews coming, they are what helps a writer succeed.
Many of you may look at my book and see that it is about a woman who became an alcoholic. Many people might say, what's wrong with her, why doesn't she just stop?
I used to think that too. Alcoholism as well as many other addictions have a way of dragging you down a deep tunnel without any hope of getting out. Merili began drinking just to have fun. Then she drank just o cope with her life. Pretty soon the drink owned her.
I think that I've portrayed a pretty honest look at how she became an alcoholic and how she found herself surrendering to recovery.
Merili was lucky in that she did quit drinking and she did get help. But some of the characters she met along the way didn't get so lucky.
In my next newsletter, I'll introduce you to Tuck, a really nice guy who unfortunately didn't make it.
Until then, Aloha and blessings.
September 6, 2014
Merili's Wine will get you, so sweet.
Merili's Wine is a book for anyone that has had addiction touch their lives-which is everyone.
Written with bold, piercing emotion, it takes courage to read this novel. Journey with the characters as they confront their addictive demons, alcohol, rage, and sex through the deepest darkness into the light of compassion and forgiveness.
Find yourself, lose yourself in Ms. Cudney's bold new novel that focuses a magnifier light of truth on present day problems.
Written by Rita N.
Written with bold, piercing emotion, it takes courage to read this novel. Journey with the characters as they confront their addictive demons, alcohol, rage, and sex through the deepest darkness into the light of compassion and forgiveness.
Find yourself, lose yourself in Ms. Cudney's bold new novel that focuses a magnifier light of truth on present day problems.
Written by Rita N.
