Terry Odell's Blog, page 219

What’s Cooking Wednesday — Is it Soup Yet?

Don’t forget: Mimi Foster has some great stuff she’s giving away. Scroll down to yesterday’s post.

With fall in the air, a hearty soup is welcome. This isn’t really a recipe, but rather ingredients that worked to make a yummy barley, split pea, and lentil soup. All amounts are approximate—use what you have, what you like. Leave out stuff you don’t like.

Lentil, Split Pea, Barley & Kale Soup

Ingredients:

Olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1–2 carrots, sliced (I used part of a bag of baby carrots, cut into ½...

Win a $25 Gift Card and More

The October Booklover’s Bench contest is underway. This month, the winner will have a choice of a $25 gift card from either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. There will be FIVE runners up, each winning a book of their choice from the Prize Vault. Enter now. Contest ends October 18th.

In the Interview Room — Mimi Foster

Today I welcome Mimi Foster to Terry’s Place. Mimi is the mother of five daughters, five grands, and an incurable romantic. She and her husband live in Colorado Springs. She’s got THREE prizes, so be sure to read to the end to see what you can win, and how to enter.

Plotter or Panster?

The more I write, the more I become a Plotter, but only in the most general of terms. When I conceive a book idea, there are a few things I’m thinking about that I know I want in the story. As the storyline perco...

To Hear or Not to Hear — Part 4

First, thanks to everyone who commented on last Thursday’s post about query letters and book descriptions. Based on your suggestions, I’ve come up with what I hope is a better version. It’s on my website in the Coming Soon section, and I’d love it if you’d pop over and let me know what you think of the new copy. And I’ll remind you again about the contest over at Booklover’s Bench!

Today, I’m going to continue with posts about my venture into audio book production. If you remember, last time I...

And More Winners

Thanks to all who entered my 1701 Box of Books giveaway. Rafflecopter’s random selection process chose Rhonda Brittingham as the winner, and a box of new and gently-read books will be on its way to her this week.

Also, there were two entrants who knew why 1701 was significant: Ana K and Karin T. They’re each getting a download of any one of my books. Star Trek lives!

And the Winner is …

Patricia Smith Wood’s random number generator selected Karen Mayers as the winner of a copy of The Easter Egg Murder. Congratulations, Karen!

Thanks to all who left comments. And if you want more chances to win stuff, today’s the last day of my Box of Books contest. It’s also the start of the October Booklover’s Bench contest, where we’re giving away a $25 gift card and books by our authors.

Friday Field Trip — Fall on Hwy 67

Fall is in the air, and the aspens are starting to turn. Hubster and I drove up Highway 67 toward Victor and Cripple Creek to see how things are coming along. Some nice hints of what’s to come.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

5 Tips for Writing Query Letters

Have you entered my box of books contest yet? Click the link at the top of the blog. And there’s still time to leave a comment on Patricia Smith Wood’s post to win a book.

The second Sisters in Crime sponsored workshop was given by Robert Dugoni, and he addressed writing query letters and synopses. My initial thought was that I’m not likely to be querying an agent any time soon, but it occurred to me that writing a query letter or short synopsis requires the same skill as writing a good book d...

What’s Cooking Wednesday — Lamb Artichoke Kabobs

Have you clicked on the ‘box of books’ link and entered to win yet? Please do! And share with your friends.

Hubster grilled these on his “night to cook” a while back.

Lamb and Artichoke Kabobs

Ingredients:

½ c olive oil

¼ c balsamic vinegar

4 garlic cloves, crushed

S&P to taste

2 lb. lamb, cut in 1 inch cubes

1 red onion, cut into chunks

2 14.75 jars artichoke hearts (water packed)

Instructions:

Whisk together olive oil and vinegar. Stir in garlic, Salt and pepper. (Note: this makes an easy marinade even...

In the Interview Room — Patricia Smith Wood

Today I welcome Patricia Smith Wood to Terry’s Place. Patricia (or Pat, as she is known to her friends) is a newly published mystery writer from New Mexico. Her first book of a series is The Easter Egg Murder, and she’d like to give away a copy to a reader of the blog. Please leave a comment and you will be in the running for the free book. You have until Friday to comment.

Plotter or a Panster?

I’m definitely a Panster. I tried being a Plotter, but I found it hemmed me in too much. I work best...