Terry Odell's Blog, page 100
March 6, 2018
WCW – Chicken Marsala With Pasta
My son recommended this Chicken Marsala with Pasta recipe as something to try in my Instant Pot. I adapted it a bit, because … altitude. However, it’s delicious, and I’m definitely going to make it again.
If you want to see the original recipe, complete with step by step illustrated instructions, it’s at Jeffrey Eisner’s Pressure Luck cooking site (thanks for letting me share, Jeffrey!)
This is my slightly modified version.
Chicken Marsala With Pasta
Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
1 T unsalted bu...
When Danger Calls (CRF)
The post When Danger Calls (CRF) appeared first on Terry Odell.
March 4, 2018
Advertising a Free Book, Part 4
Does advertising a free book pay off? A while back, I summarized results of setting When Danger Calls to free, as Book 1 in my Blackthorne, Inc. series in conjunction with the release of Identity Crisis, the 7th book in the series.
You can find those posts here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
As I prepared to release Deadly Engagement, the 6th offering in my Mapleton Mystery series, I decided to do the same, setting Deadly Secrets to free. Again, I advertised the free book, using two of the same...
February 28, 2018
Stop and Think When Dealing With Feedback
Feedback should make a writer stop and think, not follow blindly.
A writer friend asked me to read an ARC of an upcoming book. I had a couple of issues, and I reported them. He replied that I wasn’t the only one who mentioned the problem, and asked if a suggested fix would solve the problem. The other person with the issue said it was better, but I went deeper and expressed the reasons I still needed more.
One comment was, “I don’t want to change your book.” The exchange brought up the questi...
February 27, 2018
WCW – Lentil Soup
Lentil Soup
I’ve tried cooking lentils, which are supposed to be quick and easy relative to other dried beans, but here at 9100 feet, they still take forever to cook. Now that I have my Instant Pot Ultra, which adjusts for altitude, I’m trying lots more recipes with beans and grains.
The recipe is based on Alton Brown’s Lentil Soup recipe, but cooked in the Instant Pot. If you live at a more ‘normal’ altitude, you can cook this on the stovetop.
Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
2 T olive oil
1 medium...
February 25, 2018
Suspension of Disbelief – How Far Will You Go?
When reading fiction, we want to get lost in the book. Part of the process is suspension of disbelief.
How far a reader is willing to go is a two-way street. The author needs to present the information in such a was that the reader accepts it could happen that way.
On our frequent Sunday breakfast outings, we often run into a man who referred to himself as a former ”Spook” and he had some amazing tales to share (the parts that he could tell) about his days working for the government. He also...
February 21, 2018
Facts, Opinions, and Current Events in Fiction
Facts, Opinions, and Current Events in Fiction
In the current political clime, it’s hard to avoid or ignore current events, and that goes for writing fiction, too. Even though fiction authors get to “make stuff up”, there’s going to be a basis of reality in what they write. But should their personal opinions drive the story?
Social media is filled with vitriol throwing people expressing their opinions on any topic. The only “right” way is their way. Religion and politics are two topics I keep...
WCW – Chicken With Broccoli
Today’s Recipe comes from fellow author and writing buddy, Karla Brandenburg. She said she’s trying to follow a healthy eating regimen, and this was a recipe she enjoyed.
Chicken and Broccoli
Ingredients:
1 lb raw, boneless, skinless chicken breast
6 c fresh broccoli, trimmed and chopped
c chicken broth
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 t soy sauce
2 t olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions:
Remove visible fat from chicken breast. Cut chicken into thin strips. In a bowl, coat chicken with soy s...
February 18, 2018
Deadlines, Word Counts, and Writing Goals
Deadlines, Word Counts, and Writing Goals
Everyone’s got their own definition of a “successful” writing day. Some go by the clock, some by a page count. Others, myself included, set a daily word count goal.
Regardless of your measure of success, finding the right goal can take some adjusting, and that’s not a bad thing. Goals should be flexible. Life happens, and sometimes we can’t meet our goals, but as long as you understand the reasons, you shouldn’t beat yourself up.
If you’re writing by...
February 14, 2018
Invisible Books in Series at Amazon
Invisible Books at Amazon
Little did I know Deadly Engagement would be one of the “invisible books” at Amazon.
Earlier this month, I released my 6th Mapleton book, Deadly Engagement. As I did when I released Identity Crisis, book 7 in my Blackthorne, Inc. series, I decided to follow a current marketing trend that says pricing the first book in a series as free drives more traffic to the series than pricing it at 99 cents. Since that had proved very successful, I set the price of Deadly Secre...
