Terry Odell's Blog, page 15

WCW – Cucumber Radish Salad

WCW – Cucumber Radish Salad

Summertime. It’s hot. Who wants to heat up the kitchen (and the whole house)? We’ve been grilling a lot. Here’s a cucumber radish salad recipe that would make a great side.

Cucumber Radish Salad

Ingredients:
1/4 c fresh lime juice
1 T sugar
2 Cucumbers, thinly sliced (I used 1 big one, peeled)
1 bunch radishes, thinly sliced
1/3 c golden raisins (I used regular, since I didn’t have golden)

Instructions:
In a small bowl, mix lime juice and sugar.
In a medium bowl, co...

Multitasking? Not When I’m Writing.

Multitasking? Not When I’m Writing.

Image by Chen from Pixabay

I know there are those who can multitask, working on multiple writing projects at once. Book A in the morning, book B after lunch. I’m not one of them.

I’ve gone through my first full readthrough of Double Intrigue. I still have time before I send it to my editor, and I’m still waiting for feedback from one of my critique partners on the final chapters.

This isn’t unusual for me. Why don’t I start the next book while there’s a lull? ...

Friday Fotos – Cover Reveal for Double Intrigue

Friday Fotos – Cover Reveal for Double Intrigue

Thanks to all to chimed in with their cover preferences. I’ve taken all responses into consideration, and consulted my editor for her input as well.

So here, in the words of social media, is the Cover Reveal: Ta Da!

Have a nice weekend to those who celebrate.

How can he solve crimes if he’s not allowed to investigate?
Gordon Hepler, Mapleton’s Chief of Police, has his hands full. A murder, followed by several assaults. Are they related to the ex...

Things Are Still Busy

Things Are Still Busy

I’m busy with my first round edits of Double Intrigue. If you didn’t express your choices for my title fonts for the book’s cover, there’s still time to take the 1 question survey.

Also, I have a new character interview over at my Substack publication, Writings and Wanderings . This time, it’s Ryan Harper, hero of When Danger Calls.

As soon as he opens the door to my office, I’m sure there’s been a mistake.

“I’m Ryan Harper, ma’am,” he says.

I check the list my secretary g...

More Cover Help

Fonts: More Cover Help

Title fonts have to be easy to read. I played around with mine a little, and I thought I’d share them with you. I kept the same font, but I changed the way it’s displayed.

First, I want to thank everyone who participated in helping me decide on a cover for the new book. If you want to see the choices again, look here.

Cover Option #1 was the front runner by a sizeable margin.

Option One

Now, it’s a matter of the text. Although I’m not a fan of big, bold, capital letters on...

Friday Fotos – Choose My Cover

Choose My Cover

Help me choose the cover for my new book. I’ve got a title–Double Intrigue. I’ll be using an image I took on my Christmas Market tour last December, and I’ve narrowed it down to four. (Note to self: always shoot a few verticals if there’s the remotest chance of needing a cover image–much easier to deal with.) All of the scenes are places the characters see/visit in the book.

For those who care about details:

Option 1 was taken on our tour of Regensburg.

Option 2 was a night view ...

Too Many Names

Too Many Names

I recently read—okay, started—a book that I set aside after three chapters. I’d received the book at Left Coast Crime, when one of the publishers hosted an “open house” for its authors in attendance and they had stacks of their books to sign and give away. I accepted almost all of them. It would have been rude to tell them you weren’t interested, especially since the books were free. I have giveaways via my newsletter, and I figured the books would be put to good use, either befor...

It’s July and I’m Editing

It’s July and I’m Editing

I’ve reached “The End” on my manuscript, and it’s time for editing.

A brief aside: It’s July The 4th is almost here. (Where did the time go?)  PLEASE think of pets and vets if you’re setting off fireworks. More dogs go missing on the 4th than any other day of the year. Better yet, go to a public display.

Back to my post topic. Editing. My goal for this month is to finish my first round edits of the new book. Newsletter subscribers will get the first look at the title, a...

Killer Con – Recap 5

Killer Con – Recap 5

Blood Spatter

The two techs who talked about evidence collection the previous day presented an entire session on blood spatter.
Note: It’s Spatter, not Splatter!

Did you miss my previous posts? Here’s #1, #2,  #3 and #4

Blood spatter isn’t as common as people think. Variables include the type of instrument, the force applied, and the surface the blood falls on.

Blood spatter can help determine the angle, the distance, and the area of origin. It might indicate the type of ins...

WCW – Sesame Cucumber Avocado Salad

WCW – Sesame Cucumber Avocado Salad

The Hubster made this sesame cucumber avocado salad, adapted from a NYT recipe. It’s quick, easy, and great for a summer day.

Ingredients:
Dressing
2 T toasted sesame oil
2 T rice vinegar
1 T toasted sesame seeds
1T  granulated sugar
1½ t soy sauce or tamari
½ t red pepper flakes (or to taste)

Salad
2 ripe avocados
1 pound cucumbers (such as Persian or English), trimmed and thinly sliced
2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
Salt and Pepper
Toasted sesame se...