Friday, March 29, 2013

Catching UP!



Books that went to press or back to press this week:

THE VOLUNTEER, by Tom Ward.
    A volunteer firefighter and EMT, battles emergencies and PTSD both at the same time.

THE CHANGELING KILL, by Kathryn Flatt
    Jack Watson's, the hero of The Dreamer Gambit, is back for another mystery.

EYE OF THE STORM, by Tom Glaviano
    A hurricane rages up the coast, but the most dangerous threat may not be from the storm.



Galleys that went out, or went back again out this week :

 EDUCATION CAN BE MURDER, by A. G. Case
   When scandal threatens, a school administrator must solve the crime.

KNIGHT & DAY, by Kathryn J. Bain
   A "no man" policy doesn't count when someone is trying to kill you.

A DESIRE PATH, by Jan Shapin.
   What makes women fall for men who are tied to political causes?




Work began or continued on the following this week:


PARADOX, by Terry L. White

WIFE, LOST AND FOUND, by Ludima Burton

DABBLERS, by Kathryn J. Flatt

TRAPPED BY TERROR, by Anita Dumont

EXTREME INFLUENCE, by Ann Nolder Heinz

FREE FALL by Ann Nolder Heinz






Books waiting for information from the authors:

TIME: A Seasonal Short Story Collection by Gianni DeVincenti Hayes

SNIPER ON THE ROOF, by Warren Graffeo


Thanks for all the help, Everyone!
Happy Easter! Roger saw a Robin yesterday!



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Pirates? Or just someone trying to be nice???


Thanks to Maine author Debi Emmons
for sharing information about
www.storiesrus.com

It has come to our attention that a website located at www.storiesrus.com is listing and giving away free .html dowloads of some of the books from our company.  At the bottom of this post is a copy of the letter we wrote to them today. It looks as if someone got old file copies of books published by us some time ago.  Most were on sale before the year 2005.

That information could have come from almost anywhere. They might have bought the copies. They might have found them in the e-books folder in the 486 computer their Aunt Millie left to them. I don't know or care where or how the book files came into their possession. I only care that they cease and desist distributing our files. 
 
Finally, there is no law against giving books away. Any book that is in the Public Domain may be printed, sold, or given away for free by anyone. For those who don't know, many good free reads may be had from Project Guttenberg ( www.gutenberg.org ) and if folks would like to give away free reading that's a good place to confirm whether a title is in the public domain and therefore legal to give away.
 
Below is a copy of the letter we have mailed to the operators and domain registrants of the relevant web site today.

March 28, 2013

From: Write Words, Inc.
2934 Old Route 50
Cambridge, Md 21613


Fax 410-221-7510                                           
                                         
To: Network Solutions, LLC.
13861 Sunrise Valley Drive
Herndon, VA 20171

Fax:  571-434-4620
customerservice@networksolutions.com   

To: Administrative Contact, Karen Ledbetter
and Technical Contact, Ray B. Morris
AGHOSTWRITER.COM   / STORIESRUS.COM
PO Box 459
Drums, PA 18222

Dear Friends:

It has come to our attention that a web site you operate or host is offering free copies of many of our company’s published  books, including books by authors: Debi Emmons’s (Night of the Tiger); Terry L. White (Hang Your Head Over, The Last Priestess, and Mustard Seed, ); Louise Ulmer (Serenade of the South); Jay Hughes (Delivery Road); Nancy Madison (What the World Needs Now and Clues to Love); Robyn Chawner (One Last Kiss and Passion Aflame); Marie Prato (Web of Fear); Carlene Dater (The Color of Death); Barbara Adams (Cobwebs and A Different Year); and Robert Legleitner’s, (Death in the Ruins), along with two by myself, Arline Chase, (Spirit of Fire, and Second Fiddle). They are offered as free HTML downloads on the website at http://www.storiesrus.com now although when the website comes up, it identifies itself as “A Ghostwriter’s Nest.” 

I did contact the site staff via e-mail a few days ago, mentioning our copyrights, with the result that all the cover art and author's names were removed from the web site, though the full text of the books remained and downloads are still operational today.       

Despite what some may claim, there is a difference between electronic books and physical paper copies. Real books are real. They sit on my shelf. I can hand them out to friends to read and return. That’s okay to do. If I give you a copy of a paper book, I no longer have it to give to someone else. If I sell a used paper book to someone on eBay, it is gone. I cannot then sell it again. And again. And again....

But with electronic data, hundreds of copies can be given away, while the original data remains in hand. It doesn’t quite seem wrong to offer a copy of something we’ve bought and paid for to a friend. It may seem just the same as lending a paper book. But when we offer as many copies as we care to make, and when we allow people to access, even access for free, intellectual material that clearly is copyrighted to someone else, we are not operating within the law.

Therefore, the giveaway books on the web site are in direct violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. There may be more than I have listed above, but that is what I have found on www.storiesrus.com so far this morning.

For the most part, the copyrights to these works are held by the authors and are now,  or were at one time in the past, licensed exclusively to Write Words, Inc. for distribution and sales. All were created after 1978 and are covered under copyright law for at least 75 years after they were created, regardless of whether the author is living or dead. They also list books we have sold in the past, but no longer have the right to carry, including works by Tara Manderino, Liz Hamlin, and Canadian author, Jan Spencer.    

It is possible that someone might believe, in error, that if the books are given away, it is not a copyright violation, But that is not the law as written in the US. If you distribute the material to anyone who clicks a button on the Internet, that is copyright infringement under the law. A Federal offence. Free books from the public domain may be posted, sold, or given away by anyone. But for works produced after 1978 that is not so.

To us, it appears the distributors somehow got hold of .html copies of some of our listings from about the year 2004, and took our files for their own use, perhaps believing they could legally do so. We appreciate their good taste in recognizing our abilities as publishers and the talents of our writers and former writers, but the market for e-book authors is very slim indeed in today’s economy. Please consider that each time a book is given away, our authors are robbed of a possible sale? And we are not dealing with a single author here, or even a single title, but with many.

We would like to see the operators of the site remove our books from their free content as quickly as possible.

If no reply is forthcoming and no action taken, then legal action may result.

Sincerely,




Arline Chase
publisher@ebooksonthe.net


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Easter Country Breakfast -- Recipe





by Terry L. White

Cheryl Mae has the power to stop the blood and to heal, but she can't stop the rural electrification project that will flood the Sacandaga valley, and she can't find love to stay.

Forced to leave her home at last, Cheryl Mae is dogged by a stalker as she enters nursing school and fights to find a new life in a strange world.

Easter Country Breakfast

  • 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup whipped topping
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1-1/4 cups buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 3/4 cup maple syrup, warmed
  • Additional blueberries, optional

Directions

  • For topping, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and whipped topping until smooth. Chill until serving.
  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, cracker crumbs, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Combine the eggs, buttermilk and butter; add to dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in blueberries.
  • Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form on top. Cook until the second side is golden brown. Spread topping over pancakes. Top with warm syrup; sprinkle with additional blueberries if desired.

    Yield: 
    12 pancakes (3/4 cup topping).

    Editor’s Note: If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw them before adding to the pancake batter. But be sure to thaw any berries used in the optional garnish.
 







                                                                 By Terry L. White

Cheryl Mae has the power to stop the blood and to heal, but she can't stop the rural electrification project that will flood the Sacandaga valley, and she can't find love to stay.

Forced to leave her home at last, Cheryl Mae is dogged by a stalker as she enters nursing school and fights to find a new life in a strange world.

Hearty Easter Breakfast



Directions

  • For topping, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and whipped topping until smooth. Chill until serving.
  •  In a large bowl, combine the flour, cracker crumbs, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Combine the eggs, buttermilk and butter; add to dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in blueberries.
  • Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form on top. Cook until the second side is golden brown. Spread topping over pancakes. Top with warm syrup; sprinkle with additional blueberries if desired. Yield: 12 pancakes (3/4 cup topping).

    Editor’s Note: If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw them before adding to the pancake batter. Be sure to thaw any berries used in the optional garnish.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013



A NEW BOOK IS ONE YOU HAVE NOT YET READ.
 
by Nina M. Osier

Captain Rik Boehmer is the first Human, the first native of the colony on Luna to which his ancestors fled from the Protectorate’s compulsory amalgamation of species, to leave that colony and enter military service. For this his people have ostracized him, allowing him to come home only for the purpose of fathering children in order to conserve the precious "pure Human" genes his body carries.

Now the Humans have a plan, and they’re ready to take back their world at any cost. So Rik Boehmer, caught squarely between his duty to his comrades and his love for his young family on Luna, has some hellishly difficult choices to make.

Science Fiction, Futuristic Romance, Adventure


Orbital Easter Bread

6-10 eggs in shell, uncooked
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shortening
Grated peel of 2 lemons
2 pkgs. active dry yeast
1/2 c. warm water (110-115 degrees)
2 eggs, room temperature
4 1/2 c. sifted all purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
Star shaped candy decorations
 
 
Wash uncooked eggs. Tint with egg coloring; set aside. 
 
Scald milk; add sugar, salt, shortening, and lemon peel. 
 
Cool to LUKEWARM *, sprinkle yeast on warm water; stir to dissolve; add to milk mixture with the 2 eggs, slightly beaten, and 2 1/2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, a little at a time, to form a dough that is easy to handle. Turn onto lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, 5-8 minutes.

Place in lightly greased bowl; turn dough over to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm place free from drafts until doubled, about 1 hour punch down; cover and let rise again until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.

Make 2 large braided rings by dividing dough into 4 parts. Form each part into a 36 inch rope. On a greased baking sheet, shape 2 of the ropes into a very loosely braided ring, leaving space for 3-5 eggs. Repeat with other 2 ropes of dough for second ring. Insert the uncooked, colored eggs in spaces of each ring. Cover; let rise until doubled. Brush evenly with beaten egg.

Sprinkle with tiny decorating candies. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Serve warm or cold.

* If the scalded milk is too hot, it will kill the yeast and the bread won't rise. If it is too cold, the yeast will not go forth and multiply and the bread won't rise.  It must be just a comfortable temperature to dip a finger in.  Wash your hands before dipping, but don't worry too much about germs, as cooking the bread will kill any that get into the dough.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Trust your reader--writing tip





by Henry Louis Haynes

A new book is one you haven't yet  read.

The mean streets that feature stray pit bulls and drive-by shootings are no place for a naïve and innocent middle-school student from an exclusive, gated community in the exurbs. In the young adult story We Don’t Need You Here, Pedro “Pete” Chu-Wright’s world has been turned upside down when his father relocates his well-to-do family to a rough inner-city neighborhood where his father grew up. The father, a famous lawyer and former college basketball legend, has been tapped by the political establishment to start a political career as a state representative from his old neighborhood. However, he must actually live in the ‘hood to meet the residential requirement for election, and he also enrolls his children in the public schools there to make a good impression. Can Pete make the adjustment from attending private schools to attending the same decaying middle school his father once attended? And most of all, can he make it in a world ruled by Malik Jenkins, a complex character who is at once a braggart and a streetwise bully, but is also smart, irrepressible and perceptive? Malik was once an outstanding student but now, under the influence of a half-brother who has returned home, has drifted into a life of gangs and delinquency.

978-1-59431-908-2

Young Adult/Mystery/Suspense





Question from my e-mail:  I got a ms back from an agent with "Needs tightening!" scrawled across the title page.  Any idea what that means???

Answer:  It means the prose needs tightening.   In other words, as one of my teachers once told me, "Don't let all those words get in the way of what you're trying to say, Arline."

Knowing how to do that is the trick.  Sometimes this happens when, on first or second draft, we put in too many prepositional phrases. In the beginning, I often found it difficult to trust that my reader would really, "Get it!"  I explained everything waaay too much. It's a difficult thing to learn -- to trust your reader.

In an effort to show or explain exactly what we mean, it's only natural to use a lot of prepostions. But when there are too many, it can slow the pace and make the prose hard, or tiresome, to read. Look for words like "to", 'for", "so", "of," "and", "because," and "but". Then check to see if the phrase that follows is really necessary, or if what you have already said is enough. Especially, with "and" and "but" make certain the two elements are not just two ways of saying the same thing. This is one of my own personal failings, and I use the search function on my computer to find prepostions and make certain they are necessary.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Catching UP







NEW E-Books that went up, or went up again, this week!

MURDER IN THE NEWSROOM, by Robert Kanehl

THE BOUNTY OF PALMETTO KEY, by Shirley B. Ring

MICAH'S JEWEL: Moretti Men Series, Vol. 1, by Anna Dynowski

TWO FACES: TWO-FACED, by Kathryn Flatt

CHANGELING KILL, by Kathryn Flatt





Books that went to press, or back to press this week:


TRAPPED BY TERROR, by Anita Dumont

DREAMER GAMBIT, by Kathryn Flatt

CHANGELING KILL, by Kathryn Flatt

MURDER IN THE NEWSROOM by Robert Kanehl.






Work began or continued on the following:


THE VOLUNTEER, by Tom Ward

FREE FALL by Ann Nolder Heinz

DABBLERS, by Kathryn J. Flatt

TRAPPED BY TERROR, by Anita Dumont

EXTREME INFLUENCE, by Ann Nolder Heinz







Books waiting for information from the authors:

TIME: A Seasonal Short Story Collection by Gianni DeVincenti Hayes

SNIPER ON THE ROOF, by Warren Graffeo


Thanks for all the help, Everyone!
Happy Spring! Even though it snowed a bit last night.
 


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Alex Masters's Favorite Shrimp Salad -- recipe






A New Book is one you haven't yet Read!
By Brenda M. Boldin

Alex Masters has given up prostitution, lives on the "right" side of town, has a respectable job and is about to launch a singing career on the side. While making a deposit for her employer at Bay City Central, her past catches up with her in the time it takes a bank robber's bullet to pierce her arm. Alex finds herself caught in a tangle of robbery, murder and blackmail. Clearing herself of suspicion means returning to her former haunts while still maintaining her new-found respectability. Which "life" will win the balancing act when it's all over?

*This first in the Alex Masters series will leave you eager for the sequel.

Alex Masters's Favorite Shrimp Salad


Special equipment

4 (12 inch) skewers 
 
 
For the Shrimp

1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed
1 -1 1/2 lb jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails left on
4 -6 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces

Salad

2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups mixed greens
1 medium avocado, thinly sliced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced



Directions:

1
For shrimp: In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, garlic, and red-pepper flakes. Add shrimp and scallions and toss to coat; refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2
For the salad: In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, oil, jalapenos, black pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon salt; let stand at room temperature while shrimp is marinating. In a large bowl, combine greens, avocado, and bell pepper.

3
Generously coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium-high. Alternately thread shrimp and scallions into 8 skewers. Lightly sprinkle shrimp and scallions with salt and grill, turning once and basting with any remaining marinade, until shrimp just turn pink, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove shrimp and scallions from skewers and add to salad mixture. Add dressing and toss gently. Arrange salad on 4 plates and serve.


Saturday, March 16, 2013

A Guest Blog from Author F. M. Meredith



My Connection With Arline Chase

Arline lives in a small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It is the same place my husband called home until he joined the Navy. I lived there for a short period of time and my first child was born there. I grew up in Los Angeles and I found everything [in Maryland] to be very different from what I was used to.

Over the years, we went back to visit several times. I came to appreciate the beauty and history of the town and its surroundings, including the Chesapeake Bay and all the various waterways.

On one of these visits, I appeared with Arline and other authors in the basement of the library. (I could be wrong about the location, it was a long, long time ago.) After this event, we walked over to a local coffee and lunch spot that also sold books. (I know this place has since moved—and may not even be in business anymore.)

[Sadly the owners moved to Branson, Mo.,  hoping to find more customers than they did here. We are the largest county in the state, but with only 30,000 people in all – about 46 people per square mile, so book sales were not what they had hoped.]

Arline and other authors were also at this event. I was fortunate in the fact that after it was over, Arline offered to drive me home. We were staying at my husband’s cousin’s home way out in the country and right on the bay. Of course we had a great time chatting in all these places about the publishing business, which has changed greatly since that time.        

[As I recall, we were in the midst of a Hurricane that came right up the bay, Isabel, perhaps. Of course, that didn’t phase Marilyn. She had her mind on books and completely ignored the rental cars that had floated around in the front yard of the family she visited.]

E-books were fairly new, as was print-on-demand. Both things have changed the publishing industry tremendously.  We expected both to explode. They did, but it took longer than we imagined.

[I remember how pleased I was to find that Marilyn agreed with my estimation of the viability of e-books, when everyone in the publishing industry was completely against them! They all swore e-books were too troublesome and they’d never catch on!!!]

Probably one of the most fantastic things about being an author is making a connection with people like Arline. It’s been years since that visit, and I may have a few facts wrong, but I remember it fondly.  Perhaps Arline will chime in and correct or add something that’s I’ve forgotten.

[Same for me, Marilyn. I bought your book that day (and many more since) and enjoyed every word. Thanks again for being on my blog and for sharing your insider information with us here.]

     Now a bit about my latest book, Dangerous Impulses:

An attractive new-hire captivates Officer Gordon Butler, Officer Felix Zachary’s wife Wendy is befuddled by her new baby, Ryan and Barbara Strickland receive unsettling news about her pregnancy, while the bloody murder of a mother and her son and an unidentified drug that sickens teenaged partiers jolts the Rocky Bluff P.D.

                Contest:

The person who comments on the most blog posts on this tour may have a character named after him or her in the next Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel or choose a book from the previous titles in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series in either paper or for Kindle.

                Rocky Bluff P.D. Series:

Though each book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series is written as a stand-alone, I know there are people who like to read a series in order. From the beginning to the end:

Final Respects
Bad Tidings
Fringe Benefits
Smell of Death
No Sanctuary
An Axe to Grind
Angel Lost
No Bells
Dangerous Impulses


                       About F. M. Meredith: 

F.M. is also known as Marilyn Meredith, the author of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. She first became interested in writing about law enforcement when she lived in a neighborhood filled with police officers and their families. The interest was fanned when her daughter married a police officer and the tradition has continued with a grandson and grandson-in-law who are deputies.

She’s also serves on the board of the Public Safety Writers Association, and has many friends in different law enforcement fields. For twenty plus years, she and her husband lived in a small beach community located in Southern California much like the fictional Rocky Bluff. She is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Epic, and Mystery Writers of America.

Webpage: http://fictionforyou.com/
Blog: http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/
And I’m on Facebook and Twitter as MarilynMeredith

Tomorrow you can find me at http://jlgreger.blogspot.com/





                                   

Friday, March 15, 2013

Catching UP!



Moretti Men Series, Vol. 1
by Anna Dynowski

Jet-setter, Santino Moretti died and left the Triple-M property, worth nearly $25 million, to his three neglected sons: Micah, Marek, and Matteo, each born of a different marriage, and each unknown
by the others. Before any one of them can inherit, he must take turns living on the farm for three months, then they must return and all three live together for a final three months. Half-brothers,
city boys, and complete strangers—they face the biggest challenge of their lives: to put aside their distrust and bitterness and live together as a kind and caring family.

A fast climb up the political ladder, fast red sports cars, and fast sexy women make up Micah Moretti’s world. He has it all: money, power, politics. And the Prime Minister’s seat is within his grasp until a scandal pulls him down and pushes him to Willow Creek, Ontario and the Triple M Farm, a place where he can slow down, lie low, and plot his comeback. Plans don’t include working the “family” horse farm with his “brothers.” Or running straight into Sierra Rilstone, a constituent with deep ties to the community, and the hometown girl who stole his heart many years ago. Good thing they have nothing in common now. Except their undeniable attraction— and her young daughter, Savannah.

Books that went to press, or went back to press this week:

MICAH'S JEWELL: The Morretti Men Series, Vol. 1, by Anna Dynowski

MURDER IN THE NEWSROOM, by Robert Kanehl

TWO FACES: TWO-FACED, by Kathryn Flatt








New E-Books Released this week:

THE BOUNTY OF PALMETTO KEY, by Shirley B. Ring.

MICAH'S JEWEL: The Moretti Men Series, Vol.1, by Anna Dynowski








Galleys that went out, or went out again, this week:

CHANGELING KILL: JackWatson Series, Vol. 2 by Kathryn Flatt

EDUCATION CAN BE MURDER, by A. G. Case

EYE OF THE STORM, by Tom Glaviano



TRAPPED BY TERROR, by Anita Dumont






Work began or continued on the following:



THE VOLUNTEER, by Tom Ward

FREE FALL by Ann Nolder Heinz

DABBLERS, by Kathryn J. Flatt

TRAPPED BY TERROR, by Anita Dumont

EXTREME INFLUENCE, by Ann Nolder Heinz







Books waiting for information from the authors:

TIME: A Seasonal Short Story Collection by Gianni DeVincenti Hayes

SNIPER ON THE ROOF, by Warren Graffeo


Thanks for all the help, Everyone!
Happy Spring! Roger saw a Robin yesterday!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Chocolate Spiders -- recipe







Jude St. Onge is a man on the run. He is an addict who has stolen a large cache of drugs from Detroit drug kingpin Mitchell Parson, who is determined to retrieve the drugs and take his revenge on Jude. After the torture slaying of Jude’s wife, and the kidnapping of Jude’s daughter, Angelina, the last thing Mitchell Parson expected to hear when he picked up the phone was: “I have your sons.” Raymond Little, with a murder conviction in his past, and newspaper reporter Ted Rogers have become unusual allies with Jude in an attempt to rescue his daughter. Together they kidnap Parson’s two boys, hoping to secure Angelina’s release. Risks for both hostage-takers skyrocket as the two sides square off, while Detroit Homicide Detectives work the case unaware of all that is at stake in the investigation. Only Ray and Ted can save the endangered children in Children of the Enemy.

A Scarey book deserves a scarey recipe.


Chocolate Marshmallow Spiders


Ingredients

  • 2 bars milk chocolate
  • 20 pink and white marshmallows
  • 15 sticks firm liquorice, such as Bassetti
  • 40 raisins, chocolate drops or sultanas

Method

1. Break the chocolate into chunks and melt in a bowl in microwave or over a pan of boiling water.

2. Individually dip the marshmallows into the chocolate ensuring all are evenly coated. Put onto greaseproof paper.

3. Cut the liquorice into 5cm legs, slice lengthways into two or four, depending on thickness, so that you end up with 160 thin legs. Gently push 8 legs into the body of the marshmallow spider, add two raisins for the eyes, then set aside to set.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Research for your novel -- writing tip








                                              by Thornton Parsons

What would you do if you uncovered evidence of a 70-year-old murder? Would you notify the authorities or would you “let sleeping dogs lie?” These are questions that Cathy Billings must answer in Go Tell Aunt Rhody. When Cathy discovers Lynette’s hidden diary, it changes the rest of her life with it’s tale of love and death.

As she reads, Cathy becomes obsessed. She cannot rest until she finds out what happened to Lynette and her longago family intrigue. Cathy embarks on a quest that causes her to question her own values and beliefs. When she finds that Lynette is still living, she is forced to make decisions that will have a lasting impact, not only on the lives of the family in the diary, but on her own family, as well.

Question from the e-mail


Question:  How much research is  really necessary to write a historical novel? I have a book I want to write and I've been working on the research for more than a year, but I'm not nearly ready to start...any advice?

Answer:  In his excellent book, On Writing, Stephen King recommends that we not do any research until after the first draft work is done. He says it eliminates the danger of getting caught up in the research and losing track of the story. Story first. He said he often puts notes right into the text to remind himself (find out xxx) so that he knows what to look up later.

His plan sounds like a good one to me. Finish the first draft before you do anything else. I have to admit I’ve lost a few books that way. 

Tuesday, March 12, 2013







                         Originally Published as Thy Brother's Reaper

                                       By Gianni DeVincent Hayes

Gillian Montague gave up journalism to become a private eye, then she finds a hell of a story.... A futuristic thriller.



Luifer's Chicken Wings
Great for Parties
  • 30 minutes to make
  • hot
  • spicy
  • cheap
  • easy 
  • not for the faint of heart

Ingredients

How to make it

  • Par-boil the wings. This gets rid of a lot of the excess fat and slimy stuff and makes sure they are done through.
  • Drain them and pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Mix the hot sauces, butter, vinegar, and garlic powder together.
  • SIDE NOTE: I purchased a long time ago a used tupperware bowl at a yardsale, for a quarter, the best wing investment I've ever made. It has a nice tight fitting lid, perfect for shaking. I highly recomend this to you. These can get messy and will stain a plastic bowl or lid.
  • Deep fry the wings (a few at a time) until they are a deep golden brown, the crispier the better.
  • As the wings come out of the oil drop them into the sauce mixture sprinkle some red pepper in, close the lid (tightly) and shake, shake,shake!
  • SAFTEY WARNING! Before taking the lid off the bowl, take a deep breath. The hot sauce and vinegar combined with the steam will take your breath away.
  • Repeat the steps until all the wings are done.
  • Serve with ribs of celery, or other crudities, and blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Lake Tahoe Style, Writer's Trout -- recuoe







A Book for Young Adults by Lew Moll


Young Jason Miller is bored because he's missing youth baseball while on a family vacation at Lake Tahoe, California. To make matters worse, he learns that his girlfriend has dumped him. Feeling like the world's biggest loser, he meets pretty fifteen-year-old Stephanie on the shore path and sees an opportunity to make up for being dumped. When she fails to show interest, however, he decides to try his older brother's Recipe for Making Out on her. His awkward and comic attempts to apply the recipe to Stephanie, though, cause him to weave a tangled web of deceit. When Stephanie suddenly becomes a suspect in a crime, Jason plays detective in the hope of clearing her name and winning her gratitude. Along the way, he learns that there is far more to teen relationships than a goal of making out.

Lake Tahoe Style, Writer's Trout
 
6 whole cleaned trout (about 8 oz.each)
1 cup milk
3 green onions (including tops), chopped
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon pepper Salt
6 strips bacon
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
Lemon wedges (optional)

Arrange fish in a single layer in a baking dish; pour milk over fish and let stand for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine onions, parsley,lemon juice and pepper. Remove fish from milk; sprinkle cavity of each trout with salt and spread with onion mixture. In a wide frying pan over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, drain, and set aside. Leave 3 tablespoons drippings in pan; reserve the remaining drippings. 


Combine flour and cornmeal on a piece of waxed paper; dredge trout in mixture until coated on both sides. Heat the 3 tablespoons bacon drippings in pan over medium heat; arrange half the fish in pan. Cook, turning once until fish is done -- takes 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Transfer fish to a platter, cover loosely, and keep warm. Cook remaining fish, adding reserved drippings as needed. Slip a bacon strip into cavity of each fish. Garnish with lemon wedges, if desires. Makes 6 servings.

 

Friday, March 8, 2013

Catching UP!






Catching UP!

Books that went to press, or back to press this week: 

THE BOUNTY OF PALMETTO KEY, by Shirley B. Ring

MURDER IN THE NEWSROOM, by Robert Kanehl

CHANGELING KILL, by Kathryn J. Flatt

TWO FACES: TWO-FACED, by Kathryn Flatt



Galleys that went out, or went out again, this week:

KNIGHT & DAY, by Kathryn J. Bain

MICAH'S JEWEL: Moretti Men Series, Vol. 1, by Anna Dynowski

EDUCATION CAN BE MURDER, by A. G. Case

EYE OF THE STORM, by Tom Glaviano








Work began or continued on the following:

FREE FALL by Ann Nolder Heinz

DABBLERS, by Kathryn J. Flatt

TRAPPED BY TERROR, by Anita Dumont

THE VOLUNTEER, by Tom Ward

EXTREME INFLUENCE, by Ann Nolder Heinz





Books waiting for information from the authors:


TIME: A Seasonal Short Story Collection by Gianni DeVincenti Hayes


SNIPER ON THE ROOF, by Warren Graffeo




Thursday, March 7, 2013

Shorebirds Hot Dogs






It's Spring Training time and if you are a Baseball Fan, you will enjoy Kenny Beck's account of his baseball career.  BULL DURHAM has nothing on him!

My Life in the Minor Leagues 
                                       by Kenny Beck

"What I’m about to tell you isn’t a typical baseball story. I don’t limp off the bench and hit a game-winning home-run in the World Series. I didn’t throw a perfect game in my last ever start, nor do I mentor some bonus-baby with a million-dollar-arm and two-cent head so he can mature and make it to the big leagues. And I promise you that I don’t end up playing catch with my dad in an Iowa cornfield at the end of this either. " So Begins Kenny Beck's tale as he follows the dream of every every young boy, who hopes one day to play in the "Big" leagues. Even though his was a short-lived career, it taught Kenny a great deal about life and left him with the satisfaction of not saying "I wish I could play baseball in the big leagues," but "When I played in the big leagues."


Shorebirds Hot Dogs


Original recipe makes 1 hot dog 
Multiply for More Servings
  • 1 all-beef hot dog 

  • 1 poppyseed hot dog bun 

  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard 

  • 1 tablespoon sweet green pickle relish 

  • 1 tablespoon chopped onion 
  • 2 tbsp crab meat, moistened with just enough mayonnaise to make it cling together.

  • 1 dash each celery salt and Old Bay Seasoning (Easy on the Old Bay)

Directions

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Reduce heat to low, place hot dog in water, and cook 5 minutes or until done. Remove hot dog and set aside. Carefully place a steamer basket into the pot and steam the hot dog bun 2 minutes or until warm.
  2. Place hot dog in the steamed bun. Pile on the toppings in this order: yellow mustard, sweet green pickle relish, onion, crab salad,  and seasonings. Don't even think about ketchup!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Irish Shepherd's Pie -- Recipe






By Dorice Nelson

Deadlocked by a legend, Kellach must find her kidnapped mother to remove the Dark Druid's curse and save her people from the rampaging Norse. Bruic the Badger must find local trading ports for the Norse in order to save his sons, who are held hstage by a Norseman, and to find his siblings, lost during his youth. Neither has time for love. Ah! Fate and circumstance tak the advantage away from them both...


Irish Shepherd's Pie



1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 lb ground beef or 1 lb lamb
1 large onion, finely diced
3 -4 large carrots, finely diced
1 cup frozen peas
3 -4 sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon butter
1 glass red wine
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup stock
1 large quantity mashed potatoes (estimating 1L or 6 cups, fresh or leftover)
1 egg, beaten
grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

1 Pre-heat oven to 200C/400°F.

2 Saute carrots in the olive oil until starting to get tender.

3 Add in the onions and saute for a minute or two then add the meat.

4 Season with black pepper and thyme.

5 Cook until browned then drain fat.

6 Add the butter and peas.

7 Sprinkle with flour and stir through.

8 Add tomato paste, wine and Worcestershire sauce.

9 Let this reduce slightly then add the chicken stock. Allow to reduce down until you have a thick meaty gravy. Season to your taste.

10 Remove from heat. Grease an oven proof dish** (9x13 works for me, as does an oval baker) with butter and add the sauce.

11 Spoon or pipe the mashed potatoes over top. Brush with egg and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if using.

12 Bake for about 20 minutes or until the potato is nice and browned on top.

13 Serve as is or with some crusty bread to mop up that yummy sauce!



Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Comments from C.M. Albrecht -- writing tip



                                                          by C.M. Albrecht

Chef Merle Blanc, he has the nose. And when millionaire Bernard Goldberg dies during his wedding luncheon in the chef's restaurant, Chef Blanc's nose, he smells the murder! What greater insult for Chef Blanc than that someone would be so callous as to commit a murder in his restaurant during a wedding reception he has so painstakingly prepared. But the doctors and police believe Goldberg's death was natural. Can Chef Blanc keep some forty guests and employees in his restaurant long enough for him to don his apron and cook a killer's goose before closing time?

"A fun read with lots of red herrings and false trails. I'm pleased to recommend Deadly Reception as a well told tale worth the time. Surprises in store for you. You'll want to read other tales by this very able storyteller. Enjoy. I sure did." — Anne K. Edwards www.mysteryfiction.net

E-mail comments from author C.M. Albrecht:

I was just reading about some of the sleazy publishing companies and their practices. Having had my share (and then some) of sleazy encounters with publishers and agents, etc. I suddenly realized how lucky I am to have managed to land with a company that treats its authors fairly and honestly. None of us may ever get rich at this, but at least we're not getting our pockets picked while some publisher or agent is "helping" us. Once an agent called me on a Sunday morning to tell me my manuscript was "very clean". I asked what that meant and he said there were no typos (which, knowing me, couldn't possibly be true, and besides, I doubt that you normally publish just anything that comes along just so there are no typos). He wanted to take me on and only wanted $350 to "generate a contract on the computer" before sending out my book to every publisher in the country. I've run into publishers who wanted me to pay for everything or (had fees for) some things.

One publisher wanted me to buy my ISBN, insisting it would greatly increase my sales. A few wanted me to pay for editorial services. As one publisher put it, "Our editor has to eat too." Some couldn't publish at this moment, but fortunately they had instituted a new department which boiled down to paying them to publish my stuff. 
 
I follow Preditors & Editors and Victoria Strauss and am constantly floored by the new schemes people come up with, all to fleece poor struggling writers. I was moved to offer a word of thanks to you and Shelley for trying to do an honest job and treat everyone fairly. It means a lot.
 
Best wishes and keep the blogs coming. Carl







Answer: Wellllll THANKS to C.M.!

I will post this on the blog if you don't mind. It might help with all those people who say one or more of the following, often-heard, quotes from query letters:

1. "I know I can make more money self-publishing and that's what I plan to do, eventually, but I thought I'd send this along so you could tell me what you think, anyway." (Like I have nothing to do but read your book and give you free advice...?)

2. "I have already paid someone to edit my book, so it's flawless and you wouldn't have any work to do!" (With the Noted exception of WWI Authors Judy Reveal and Terry L. White, both of whom do good editorial work, SOME folks who sell editorial services on the Internet have never heard of a style book and you wouldn't believe some of the "edited" ms. we  have received from folks who promised their customers they would be submitting "flawless" prose: missing chapters; books with the same chapter in twice; Misnumbered chapters so we don't know if there's a chapter missing, or if Chapter 10 should have been 9 and the rest are numbered incorrectly; books that have a return at the end of every line, as if typed on a typewriter -- can't tell you how long that would take to fix; and my personal favorite, a book with three chapters from another book interspersed in place of the three missing chapters of that book.)

3. I already have an ISBN, so you could save that money." (ISBNs are publisher specific. If someone wants to order the book, the ISBN tells them who to contact to buy the title. If you already have another publisher's ISBN, no one will come looking to buy the book from US.)


4. "I'm so glad to see my book up for sale at last, but amazon advises that we shouldn't price anything above $2.99, so can you put that price on my book so I can sell more copies...? I know it will be a best seller if you do!" (Well, actually a price that low indicates a self-published book and they advise that price to all their self-published authors and to those for whom they prepare files for a fee and ever-afterward plague with offers to sell them advertising that will increase sales and incidentally make money for amazon.... Many amazon  customers, myself included, have found good books at that price, but rarely have I found a book without problems. One popular authors characters had different names in their second series book, quite often people repeat actions, climb stairs when they already went up, or talk about the weather instead of the action. . And even successfully self-published authors like J.R. Rain have characters "take a peak" at a note. A peak is the top of a mountain, when you look at something you peek. Like anything else, with books, you pretty much get what you pay for and books that sell at $2.99 are usually not very good--JR Rain's excepted as he writes a good scary tale with lots of humor.  Even as hard as we try to edit our books so they are mistake free, there is no such thing as a perfect book. But we DO try.  We price our books at $6.50--well below the $9.99 recommended as the top price to publishers e-books, and far below the $15.99 and up prices from e-books published by the Big-6.  We chose that so we can qualify for breaks from on line stores, and also because the author will receive a higher royalty.)




5. "I follow Preditors & Editors." (So do we, CM and we have had an "approved" rating there for the past 13 years.)

Back in the dark ages when I taught writing, there were lots of rules. In publishing, there are only Two:

Never confuse your reader.

Never make work for your editor, Trust me, she has enough to do. 



Monday, March 4, 2013

Lenten Recipe








By Barbara Garro

Barbara Garro writes for the people in the pews, because she’s been one of them for over 50 years. She makes the New Testament come alive using St. Anthony’s style of writing for all to understand and grow spiritually. Families and Bible study groups will find thirty-three of Jesus’s parables in a discussion-friendly format.

ISBN 978-1-58431-847-4 Non-fiction / Bible Study / Inspiration

Has imprimatur.

Stir-Fry Tofu  -- Lenten Meal Recipe


Ingredients
U.S.


  • 1 cup(s) vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon(s) soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon(s) brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoon(s) cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
  • 2 teaspoon(s) vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoon(s) Asian sesame oil
  • 1 package(s) firm tofu, drained and cut into 1-inch by 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 clove(s) garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon(s) fresh ginger, peeled and minced
  • 8 ounce(s) mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced 
Directions:

 
 
In 2-cup measuring cup, combine broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt until well-blended.
  1. In nonstick 12-inch skillet, heat vegetable and sesame oils over medium-high heat. Add tofu and cook, stirring frequently (stir-frying), until heated through and lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Add carrot, red pepper, green onions, garlic, and ginger to skillet and stir-fry until vegetables are tender-crisp, about 3 minutes longer.
  2. Add mushrooms and stir-fry 3 minutes. Add broth mixture and tofu and stir-fry until sauce has thickened slightly and boils, about 3 minutes.