Which Of My Characters Would I Like To Be By Rose Amberly
This week Rose Amberly author of Secret Christmas in Darling Wood returns to my blog to tell us about one of her characters she would like to be and to share a recipe …
Dear Reader,
I’m delighted to visit Morton Gray’s fabulous blog. She asked me: Which of your own characters would you like to be and why?
Believe it or not, in twenty years as a writer, I’ve never been asked this question. Thank you Morton for making me think about it.
There is a little of me in every character I write, even the crusty old men. But if I had to choose then it’s Haneen Hemingway because she can create miracles out of nothing. In my recent novel, Secret Christmas in Darling Wood, we meet her when she’s planning to take her 3 year-old daughter and escape from her abusive husband.
An almost impossible dream because he has her credit cards and phone locked so she has no money. Even worse, he’s a policeman and can access traffic cameras to find trace her movements. But Haneen is a believer that ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ so she thinks of an ingenious escape plan without him being able to find her.
But having very little money, how can she create a good Christmas celebration for her little girl. And as if this were not enough, she rescues an injured man. So here we are in a hut in the middle of the forest, no furniture, an old fashioned wood burner for heating, boiling water and cooking.
I like the fact that with no money, she gives everyone the best Christmas they’ve ever had. It’s that creative thinking that I really admire.
So here is a favourite recipe from the book and a few hacks for cheap solutions with yummy results.
Spicy Butternut Squash Soup
Place the butternut squash whole on a baking sheet and into an oven on a medium heat for 45 minutes until the squash can be squeezed and feels soft.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly then pull the skin off – it comes off very easily. Cut into cubes and drop into the simmering stock. (boiled water, stock, a pinch of chili flakes, a pinch of all spice, a teaspoon of fennel seeds)
Allow the whole to come to a boil the take of the heat, blend until smooth then add a little cream and adjust salt to taste.
Kitchen hacks for low budget yummy foods.
Gravy: Slice onions, add a little salt, oil, and place all in a deep backing tray and place in the oven on medium heat for an hour until onions caramelized. This will make your gravy sweeter and richer.Don’t know what to do with left over mash or left over porridge? Add to soup then blend, it’s a wonderful way to thicken sauces and soups.If you don’t want to use wine in sauces, tea works very well.A little about me and my work
My name is Rose Amberly and I started writing as a hobby while working as a therapist. But my love of a good story took over and I’m now a full time writer. I live in London and enjoy cultivating geraniums with unusual colours. My first five books were set in the English Channel but my latest book is set in Wales which is the start of a new series.
To connect with Rose you can use the following links:-
Facebook: La Canette Stories
Website: www.roseamberly.com
Five heart warming novels set in an exquisitely beautiful island full of wild flowers, stary nights and a generous but sometimes crazy small community. (click on each title to learn more)
Plain Jane Wanted The Unwanted BrideDream CatcherThe Secret House of Honey and Hope: A Wishlist of Impossible things.And the latest book is set in Wales but links to the previous series
About Secret Christmas in Darling Wood
This has to be the best Christmas ever but how when they have no money or a place to live?
Running away from her violent husband, Haneen and her daughter must stay hidden. But when the little girl asks how will Father Christmas find them to deliver their presents, it breaks her heart and she promises to make it a wonderful Christmas no matter what.
Twenty years ago, Evan Kendric promised his dying grandfather to make enough money to restore the once beautiful family manor house in Darling Wood. Keeping that promise and refusing to sell the property has cost Evan his business, his swanky London home and his marriage. How can he even begin to renovate his grandfather’s house when all he has left is £50? It’s not even enough to last him through the loneliest Christmas ever.
Buying link : Secret Christmas in Darling Wood
Thank you for visiting Morton S. Gray’s blog. For those of you who haven’t yet read any of my books yet, the good news is that all of the six published titles are currently only 99p as eBooks or available free on Kindle Unlimited.
I also hope to have news of a new addition to The Secrets of Borteen Bay series shortly.
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About The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series
Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe
Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post.
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Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books
