Black Eyed Pea, Recipe

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 long ago family intrigue.

NEW YEARS IN THE SOUTH

Calls for Black-Eyed Peas

The tradition is that the more you eat of this dish on New Years Day, the more prosperous you will be in the coming year.

6-8 strips of bacon
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 pound dried black-eyed peas
Water

Serves 4. Recipe may be doubled...

In a dutch oven Fry the bacon until crisp, remove. When cool, crush into small bits and reserve for later.

Add chopped onion to bacon drippings and brown lightly.

Turn heat on high.

Add water to fill dutch oven 2/3 full.  Add dried peas and bring to a rolling boil for 15 to 20 minutes. (The high heat will release any gases the peas may produce and make life much more pleasant for your luck-seeking dinner guests who may overindulge.)

Season to taste with Salt, pepper, and 1 tsp. sugar.

Reduce heat and simmer until soup thickens and peas are soft. May be kept warm on the back of the stove, or cooked ahead, refrigerated, and reheated in the microwave.

Garnish servings with  bacon bits. Serve with hot biscuits dripping with butter.

Some folks add dumplings at the simmer stage. Feel free to do so, if you are a dumpling lover.

If you liked DEXTER, you'll probably like this one, too!

Rachel Starkey Tobias was born into the Starkey family shipping empire. During the year of 1930, a hard and ugly ruin slams many in this country. The events of the era later described as The Great Depression. None of this affects Rachel. She remains one of the wealthiest women in the world. She is also one of the deadliest.

Happy NEW YEAR 

readers and writers, everywhere. 

The best of futures to all of us!

2013 NEWS SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR

Despite the fact that Shelley spent from July to December doing nothing but expanding markets,  we published 28 new books in both paper and e-book editions during that time. All the while weathering computer problems and other  kinds of slow-us-down troubles.We are still behind, but will catch all of you up as quickly as we can. With both of us working from Jan. to June, we only managed 31 titles for a total of 59 new titles in 2013. Not too shabby for a small family firm.

NEW MARKETS AT SMASHWORDS AND KOBO

We listed more than 125 titles for sale at SmashWords, and  opened 135 for sale on Kobo, so far and are doing our best to get as many of our old catalog up for sale in new venues as possible. We will continue and list at other popular sites as quickly as we are able.

TEMPORARY CHANGES IN EDITORIAL STAFF

Shelley's day job ended, as of Dec. 31. Wish that meant more time for us, but she has an opportunity to continue her education if she returns to school full-time this semester and that's what she plans to do. NO WORRIES. Shelley is family, as well as an excellent editor, and she will be around whenever she is able. We wish her all success in expanding her opportunities. Meanwhile all the editing and publishing work will fall to me and I will do my best.

FREE BOOKS DURING THE HOLIDAYS WENT WELL

We did receive a mixed response on the free books during the holiday season. Some had many downloads, some none, depending on how much self-promotion the authors did.  It wasn't a work-intensive feature and We'd be willing to continue it during the year if authors are interested.  What do you all think about that?

FEWER TITLES TO BE SCHEDULED FOR NOW

What this does mean, however, is that we will be contracting for far fewer titles from new authors in the future. The submission process will remain the same, with a peer review by a committee of published authors deciding acceptance. It's just that fewer query letters will receive a positive response to send us a sample. 

THIS WILL NOT AFFECT ANY SERIES TITLES, OR OTHER TITLES ALREADY CONTRACTED WITH AUTHORS WHO ARE ALREADY INVOLVED WITH OUR HOUSE.

ANNUAL SLOWDOWN ANTICIPATED

We will be experiencing our usual year end slowdown, as our annual corporate taxes must be done, and authors quarterly royalties much be paid in January 2014. We will do our best to get back to production as quickly as possible.

MEDICAL PROBLEMS CAUSE SLOWED PRODUCTION TIME

My Dear Hubby was quite ill in the spring, but is better now. As for me, as most of you know, I am what my DH calls "extra sweet" (diabetic) and changes in my medication have resulted in a few recent health problems. I am sure my doctor will get the chemistry in balance soon.

We thank you all for being so patient with our scheduling problems this year, and  promise to keep up as best we can. We will do every book for which we are contracted as quickly as we can and get them up for sale in as many venues as possible. 

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS 

FROM ALL OF US

Shelley:  To get all A's  in my classes.

Dave: To love my wife more every day.

Chrissy: To play with my new sister, Friday.

Arline: Not to lose weight, get up early, or give up work. AND  To make sure Roger does his vertigo exercises every day.

Honeybear (Our bookstore cat): Not to let Jack take my place again this year. I know he has his eye on my job! But I have been the bookstore cat since January 1, 2000 (I was 11 when I started) and am Not Ready to Give it UP YET!

Jack Dempsey (our Bossy Blue tomcat): I do hearby resolve to lose weight. After all, twenty-eight pounds IS a bit corpulent, even for a tomcat. Meanwhile, I stand ready to take over any time the old girl gives up watching the store. Meanwhile, I'll let her think she's top cat around here. For Now!

Spunky (our youngest kitty): Let them do whatever...I'm having a nap. I promise I will have one every day.  Hmmm.... maybe several....

Catching UP!

By Arline Chase

Set in the 1890s, KILLRAVEN is the story of Hope Voeschell, a young woman brought up to believe in non-violence, and DeCoursey Rogers a man who has known violence first hand, and what happens when an isolated, peaceful, Chesapeake Bay island community is confronted with a murderer. 

 

Killraven is a fictional Chesapeake Bay island, an isolated place rich in the traditions of its independent people. The novel is based in part on characters that originally appeared in the award winning short story collection, THE DROWNED LAND and in part on family hitory.

 

 A FREE HOLIDAY GIFT!

    From Write Words Author

Arline Chase

Check out the opening page at www.writewordsinc.com

Scroll down to the bottom and then order the book as usual.

You will not be charged!

No print books went to press this week.  The following e-book editions went to press and should appear on your favorite sales wites within the week.

VENDETTA

by Ian Welch

Ethan is young man alone and destitute on the other side of the world. His Dad has been murdered, their business fails, his Mom unable to cope takes her own life. Rumors indicate one man is responsible. Ethan is desperate to learn the truth, but what can he do? He is dealing with a powerful adversary, a man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

TOBY MARTIN: STATE FAIR SECURITY, by Barbara Grengs.

The only event interrupting the summer blahs for Toby Martin, girl detective, and Freddy
Galvin, boy foil, is the Great Minnesota Get-Together: the one, the only, the Minnesota State Fair! Add to that a stolen knockwurst float, hateful pranks, mind games and a chase that puts Toby and Freddy in danger and you’ve got a Fair to remember.

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

A collection of stories and authors by one of our most popular authors.

Work began or continued on the following titles: 

EXIT PLANS, by Terry L. White

What happens when a group of senior citizens decide to manage the way they are treated at the end of their long and useful lives? Will they go along with the state of the art status quo – or find new reasons to get up on Thursday mornings to discuss their possible fates? Will they continue to live with loneliness – or find kindred spirits to share their journey?

THE MORGENSTEIN MURDERS: Jonas McCleary Series, Vol. 2, by C. M. Albrecht

Sequel to the popular SAND BLUFF MURDERS, detective Jonas McCleary moves to the city and finds himself facing a serial killer.




 
BLEEDING HEARTS: Killian Kendal Mystery Series, Vol. 1
   Winner of the Stonewall Society's 2002 Pride in the Arts Literary Award in the Whodunit Category! 

REAP THE WHIRLWIND: Killian Kendall Mystery Series, Vol. 2,  by Josh Aterovis.
   Suicide, or murder? That's the question in the second Killian Kendall mystery. Will Smith suspects murder when an old childhood pal drowns, and asks his friend Killian for help in solving the mystery.

TRUTH OF YESTERDAY,  by Josh Aterovis

ALL LOST THINGS, BY Josh Aterovis

CHANGE  OF WORLDS, by Josh Aterovis 

THE PROMISE, by Kaarina Brooks

All the best for the Holiday Season!

To readers and writers everywhere,

           May each of you find beauty in your lives every single day!

           My gift to you is my annual solstice poem, because no matter where you live, or what you celebrate at this time of year you will all have a Solstice...

           I write one poem a year to celebrate with all of you.


  Walk in Beauty

Beauty lies in cardinals flying in a cascade of early snow
   And an elderly arthritic tabby easing painfully up on my desk
      Who suddenly moves with fluid grace
In family sharing Sunday dinner and a Dolphin football triumph!

Beauty lies in a son who keeps a serene promise every day
    A daughter who stands at the doorway to new and better things
        And in blessed news about a biopsy,
Oh, the joy of living in a country town on the banks of Hudson Creek.

Beauty lies within a warm, open heart,
     The sharp scent of a fresh pine wreath garnished with carnations
         In the joy of a life filled with service to others
We’re blessed in her love for every living creature.   

Beauty lies in the sweet smile of my husband,
    In warm sunshine that glows through a frosted window
       In candle flames that burn behind stained glass
And in a son’s casual offer, “Give us a shout, if you need anything.”
      
“Walk in Beauty,” is an old Navajo Blessing...
     May each of you find beauty in every day,
         Love and joy in every moment, pleasure in every breath
And life’s satisfaction, in even the small things.

The trick is to look past illness and threats of more...
      past aches and pains and petty, day-to-day annoyance,
         And see life, like that ancient, cat who creeps slowly into my lap
Cuddles soft and warm beneath my chin, and starts to purr....   
                    — Arline Chase
                         Winter Solstice 2013

We will be closed until next week, although we will have a new free book on Friday.

Catching Up!

 

A Free Christmas Gift

From Write Words Author

Barbara Garro

Check out the opening page at www.writewordsinc.com

Scroll down to the bottom and then order the book as usual.

You will not be charged!

 

 

No books went to press or back to press this week:

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

Work began or continued on the following:

THE MORGENSTEIN MURDERS: Jonas McCleary Series, Vol. 2, by C. M. Albrecht
   Sequel to the popular SAND BLUFF MURDERS, detective Jonas McCleary moves to the city and finds himself facing a serial killer.

 
BLEEDING HEARTS: Killian Kendal Mystery Series, Vol. 1
   Winner of the Stonewall Society's 2002 Pride in the Arts Literary Award in the Whodunit Category! 

REAP THE WHIRLWIND: Killian Kendall Mystery Series, Vol. 2,  by Josh Aterovis.
   Suicide, or murder? That's the question in the second Killian Kendall mystery. Will Smith suspects murder when an old childhood pal drowns, and asks his friend Killian for help in solving the mystery.

TRUTH OF YESTERDAY,  by Josh Aterovis

ALL LOST THINGS, BY Josh Aterovis

CHANGE  OF WORLDS, by Josh Aterovis 

THE PROMISE, by Kaarina Brooks

Finally a note of apology to all those whose books I had hoped to have finished by now and who are still in process. I am most sorry if your book didn't get completed on time. I had thought most of you would still be possible, then the computer problems prooved to have been more deadly than originally thought.

The best to all of you for the Holiday season!

Collection of Horror Stories for the Holidays

by Marie Prato

Escape into an alternate universe with each horrific tale. Leave the weariness of Christmas shopping, holiday meal planning, cleaning and all the "company" preparations behind in the real world. Believe us, you'll find worse fears in this collection of horrific short fiction.

Question from the e-mail:  Is writing an art? Or can anyone do it?

Answer:  It is both and anyone can Learn to do it on some level.

I do believe that writing is an art. But it’s also a craft. No one can write your stories but you. No one can create exactly as you can. No one else on earth has your “voice.”

But there are tips and little techniques that you can learn to make the work easier for you. And there are grammar rules that each of us must learn and they don't always come naturally, even to folks with undeniable talent.

Just as an artist learns to mix colors, what glaze or wash will enhance a color, or help to make water look "wet," so will a writer learn how to get across to the reader the story that goes on in her head.

Like anything you do, the more practice you put in, the better you get at it.

Maple Nut Bon-Bons

Now an award winning movie, Burnett's childrn's classic still tugs at the hearstrings. Sara Crew daughter of a British Captain is left in an American boarding school while her father goes off to fight. Treated like a princess, because she is supposed to come into wealth, her life changes drastically when it's reported to Miss Minchin, the head-mistress, that her father is dead and Sara left destitute.

Maple Nut Bon Bons

Ingredients:
3 C maple syrup   (Not diet or sugar-free)
1 C milk
1/2 C pecans, chopped
Preparation:

• Pour the maple syrup into a large heavy saucepan.
• Add the milk and place the pan over medium heat.
• Bring to a rapid boil and continue boiling until mixture reaches 235 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool 3 minutes.
• Beat the mixture with an electric mixer on low speed until it becomes creamy.
• Carefully stir in the pecans.
• Spread the mixture into a square baking pan lined with wax paper.
• Cool until the fudge becomes firm and then cut into bite sized pieces. Serving Size: 18 pieces
  
  
  
  

Stupid or Crazy

Sexy, sassy and dead, Tiffany LeBouf is pulled into Hell by the incompetent demon Gutril. Paired with the demon Chip, she is sent to find Gutril after he is summoned to Ohio by a teenage girl goofing off with a spell she'd found online . They are given three days to find Gutril and bring him back before he can select a mortal host and remain here.

The Good News and Bad News Department

The bad news is that the laptop is having problems again. I have replaced the batteries to no effect. If  your book is in the works and not yet completed or had its galleys fixed, it's quite likely that they won't reach you before the holiday. But I will do the best I can....

The good news is that Roger, my Dear Hubby, has grown tired of my kvetching and searching for the parts I need, and found the ones I KNEW I had, but haven't been able to find. So there is hope for the new laptop I purchased in Nov. this year....

Last week, someone asked me why I was still in the publishing business. "How come you just don't take it easy?" they said. "You must be crazy just to work all the time when you don't HAVE to. 

"Well I truly enjoy what I do. I like it. This kind of work is fun."

My husband made a face The same one he made this morning, before he found the parts I needed, just before he reminded me of what happened to our  family doctor who had the following experience:

Dr. Smythe visited a patient at the local mental hospital, which was situated on the banks of a lovely wide river. When he came out, he discovered he had a flat tire. While he was changing the tire, a patient came along, picked up all his lug nuts from the hubcap,  and sailed them, one-by-one, into the expanse of blue water. In shock, the doctor watched without protest as the patient wandered away.

Another patient, who was raking leaves nearby, watched it all without comment. 

“Why didn't you say something? You could've stopped him!" our doctor upbraided the second patient. "What am I going to do now?”

    The second patient leaned on his rake a moment, then said, “Just take one lug nut off each of the other three wheels, put the spare on with those nuts, and drive to a parts store where you can buy more lug nuts.”

    “Wow, that’s great!” the doctor said. “How did you ever think of that?”

    “I’m in here because I’m crazy," the patient replied. "Not because I’m stupid!”

So I guess Dear Hubby's point is that as a publisher I'm either crazy or stupid. Funny thing abut him is, he's usually right, too!

Whatever the reason, I do still enjoy it.

A Free Holiday Gift

 A Free Holiday Gift from Author Elena Dorothy Bowman

The last voice heard from the house was an 18th Century ancestor's blood-curdling screams in the dark of night. What was it about the "house" that made people tremble? Why had no one dared venture near it since 1789? Had it not been there for centuries, tall, empty, beckoning?

This book will be a free download until Dec. 21st. 

It's on the front page. Just scroll down and order as usual.

You will not be charged.

Catching UP!

Free Christmas Book this week!

A Holiday Gift to you from

Author Louise Ulmer

 

Did you know that in Russia, Christmas Gifts are brought by a woman? Meet Babushka! In the Ballad of Babushka, we learn of the Russian peasant who met the Three Kings on their journey as they followed the star.

Check out the opening page at www.writewordsinc.com

Scroll down to the bottom and then order the book as usual.

You will not be charged!

A fun read to share with the little ones. 

If you want the animated HTML version, just e-mail

arline@mail.com

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

LIVING THE CALL OF GOD: Jesus Series, Vol. 3, by Barbara Garro
   With Vol. 3 of her popular Jesus Series, Living the Call of God, Barbara Garro suggests a new approach to giving glory to God through service. You love God so much, you long to do things that
please Him. When you understand you can use your talents to serve your way, when and where you like, you feel more confident serving.

E-book editions went to press today and should 

be available in most venues within the week.

TOBY MARTIN: STATE FAIR SECURITY, by Barbara Grengs.

The only event interrupting the summer blahs for Toby Martin, girl detective, and Freddy
Galvin, boy foil, is the Great Minnesota Get-Together: the one, the only, the Minnesota State Fair! Add to that a stolen knockwurst float, hateful pranks, mind games and a chase that puts Toby and Freddy in danger and you’ve got a Fair to remember.

FACING THE FIRE,  by Robert Kanehl.

A monster devours the town, building by building. The fire brigade makes one last stand, while the town’s elderly, sick, and children stand on the town pier, facing the cold Atlantic or death by fire, unless someone comes up with a miracle.

NO Galleys went out, or went out again, this week:

Work began or continued on the following:

THE MORGENSTEIN MURDERS: Jonas McCleary Series, Vol. 2, by C. M. Albrecht
   Sequel to the popular SAND BLUFF MURDERS, detective Jonas McCleary moves to the city and finds himself facing a serial killer.

 
BLEEDING HEARTS: Killian Kendal Mystery Series, Vol. 1
   Winner of the Stonewall Society's 2002 Pride in the Arts Literary Award in the Whodunit Category! 

REAP THE WHIRLWIND: Killian Kendall Mystery Series, Vol. 2,  by Josh Aterovis.
   Suicide, or murder? That's the question in the second Killian Kendall mystery. Will Smith suspects murder when an old childhood pal drowns, and asks his friend Killian for help in solving the mystery.

TRUTH OF YESTERDAY,  by Josh Aterovis

ALL LOST THINGS, BY Josh Aterovis

CHANGE  OF WORLDS, by Josh Aterovis 

THE PROMISE, by Kaarina Brooks

Will play Catch UP tomorrow.

 Escape the hustle and bustle of the season for a few hours 

spent with a wonderful Australian Love Story!

Kate, the English heiress arrives in Australia hell-bent on making the outback her home. But when she runs into Brad, the reclusive, Australian naturalist; himself, hellbent on keeping society at bay, personalities clash.


Catching UP will appear tomorrow!  Just got a bit behind this week:

Quick and Easy Holiday Brownies

Ingredients

Original recipe makes 20 bars

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 eggs

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup black walnut pieces

Check All Add to Shopping List

Directions

1. Melt the butter or margarine and mix all ingredients in the order given.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes in a 9 x 13 inch greased pan.

If it didn't happen that way...

First in a series of 5!

A great gift for pre-teen mystery lovers.

One by one neighborhood dogs disappear. One by one the ransom notes arrive. When Toby Martin and her best pal, Freddy, discover Toby’s dog is the next intended victim, they become first-rate detectives.

Question from the e-mail:  When I write a story based on fact, how close to the truth do I have to stay? I am quite sure that if I write things that happened to me, others may remember things differently...

Answer: The trick is to tell the best story you can and then remind people that if they don't like your version, they can always write their own...

The trick is not to let facts get in the way of a “good story.”

Journalist Adela Rogers St.Johns was one of the first women news reporters and covered all the "Big" stories of her era, including the crash of the Hindenberg and the Lindburgh Kidnapping. When she wrote her own life story, THE HONEYCOMB, plenty of people she had known from the past called her on facts, saying, “That’s not the way it really happened.”

Her reply was always the same, “If it didn’t happen that way, then it should’ve!”

Smooth Sailing Christmas Cake

Gianni DeVincenti Hayes, Ph.D, has put her heart and soul into a story that allows readers to explore humanity’s feelings: Adoration for others, thoughts, dreams, as well as the fears and hate, that constantly plague us. The story emphasizes the importance of communication with, and love for, another—or the lack of love, even for God—that forces each of us to go on that risky journey, called “The Search.” Roxane, who despises her father, gets a double dose of abhorrence and disgust when he tries to fix Roxane’s furnace in freezing Christmas weather. The resulting tragedy puts Roxane on a path of self-destruction, causing her to isolate herself from everyone. She must go on that search to find cause for her own existence.

Smooth Sailing Christmas Cake

what you need

• 1 pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix
• 1 pkg. (4 oz.)  Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided
• 1 can  (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 can  (12 oz.) evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream
• 1 cup  thawed Frozen Whipped Topping

1 PREPARE cake batter and bake in 13x9-inch pan as directed on package. Cool cake in pan 10 min. Pierce cake with large fork at 1/2-inch intervals.

2 MELT 3 oz. chocolate as directed on package; set aside. Blend milks and sour cream in blender until smooth. Add melted chocolate; blend well. Pour over cake, re-piercing cake if necessary until milk mixture is absorbed. Refrigerate 1 hour. Meanwhile, make curls from remaining chocolate. (See Tip.)

3 FROST cake with Whipped Topping; top with chocolate curls. Keep refrigerated.

Cranberry Muffins

by Beverly Jennings

The Savannah River winds its way through When the Jaybird Sings, bringing to five-year-old Maria, ships from far away and forbidden adventure, even the hint of ghosts. Maria comes to terms with a frightful looking one-eyed grandmother, discovers the marvels of the early Twentieth Century and enjoys a rollicking family life.


Quick Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

1 pkg. (18.25 oz.) Yellow cake mix

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground nutmeg

¼ tsp. ground cloves

1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped

1 cup crisp red apple, chopped

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper liners.

In large bowl, mix together cake mix, pumpkin puree, spices, cranberries and apple until smooth. Spoon equal amounts of batter into muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 25 min., or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Glued Eyes?

A Genealogical Mystery!

Canadian doctor and amateur genealogist Anne McPhail finds a murdered woman on the floor of the library in Culver's Mill's, a small town in Vermont. Jennifer Smith, the dead librarian was a gifted genealogical researcher who had been collecting information about her clients, and using it to blackmail them. She had extorted money from all kinds of people: local wealthy families; Russian criminals, and quiet, unassuming grandmothers. Anne takes a dangerous journey, retracing Jennifer’s steps through the small-town family histories find the murderer amongst her victims.

Question from the E-mail:  My writers' group jumped all over me because I said a character's eyes were "glued to the page" of the message she was reading. I've seen it done a thousand times. What's wrong with that???

Answer:  First, you  HAVE seen it done a thousand times and that IS what's wrong with it. It's a real cliche!  

Second, because you have seen it so often, you will not pick up on it as a problem when you put on your editor's hat, and look for things to fix, revise or change, before showing the ms to anyone else.

Also, as a publisher I can tell you that "Wandering Eyes" are one of the most common flaws for new writers and can generate cruel humor amongst editors.  

Actually, in all my years of reading, I have seen only ONE book were eyes were actually glued--one of Tami Hoad's where a serial killer super-glued his victims' eyes shut.  It's supposed to be a metaphor and one that's not exactly accurate, although you will "see it done" often!

I HAVE read printed stories, where eyes "slid up and down" someone else's body, "dropped into a coffee cup," and "rolled around the floor." (All those examples are from best-selling authors, as well.) Good editors catch such phrases, as with few exceptions, eyes remain inside the head. 

People, especially editors, with little compassion and a mean sense of humor make cruel fun of "wandering eyes." In an elevator at a Romance Writers' Converence in Washington DC, I heard two of New York's best editors making fun of eyes in recent submissions that had "Slid over someone's breasts," "absorbed someone's luscious lips," and "delved deep within the woman he held." A novice myself at the time, I said nothing, but marked it down as a lesson learned.

HINT: Sometimes you can substitute "gaze," "glance," or "look."