Epic Voting is open for the Arianas

Shelley and Arline both worked on this cover that
was entered in the Children's YA division.

Ever since his mother died, David Sinclair, a tenth grader, can’t seem to finish anything he starts. After his alcoholic father gripes about all the money he’s blown on Karate lessons, tennis lessons, and several other things for his son that came to nothing, David decides to try out for the Heather Heights High School football team as a placekicker and builds his own practice goal in the field behind his house.

        Voting is open for the Arianas!!

For any of you who are EPIC members, or who are cover artists who may have entered books, please don't forget to vote.

You MUST log into the website before voting:

http://www.epicorg.com/competitions/ariana-ebook-cover-art-competition/ariana-cover-art-awards-judging.html

We would be thrilled if you would take the time to choose a cover in EACH category, but you do have the option to not vote for any category in which you do not see a winning cover or a category which makes you uncomfortable.

Know that if you change your mind about any category cover, you can log in and update your choices. Each time you submit your vote you should see a small box telling you that your choice has been recorded.

Chicago Beef Sandwiches -- recipe

A classic collection of novellas, each with a psychological turn. Chicago author, Victor Uribe’s,  work runs the gamut from the traditional who-done-it mystery, to more mystical stories with elements of magic realism. 

 Classic Chicago Beef Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups water
  
• 1/2 cup red cooking wine
  
• 1 packet dry onion soup mix
  
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
  
• 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  
• 4 pounds chuck roast
  
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen bell pepper stir-fry mix

Directions

1. In a slow cooker combine the water, soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, marjoram, and thyme.
   
2. Add the meat and the stir-fry mix. Cook for half a day on high setting or all day on low setting, or until the meat falls apart. Pull the meat apart and stir all together.
    
3. Serve on hard rolls with chips.

Chapter Breaks--writing tip

by Steven Clark Bradley

Today, America faces enemies that make the world of the Cold War seem like much brighter times. Islamic forces have declared Jihad on America causing the greatest threat to the life of the United States since World War II. In Patriot Acts, America finds itself under covert nuclear attack from the Islamic Republic of Iran which has linked up with radical American Militia groups. They have set aside their political and religious differences to carry out the widest attack to America in the nation 's history. 

 

Question from the e-mail: How do you know when the end of a chapter comes?  People keep telling me mine are too long. Along with, "That's too far-fetched!" That's the one that comes up most often. But if I make every scene it's own chapter some of them would only be three sentences long.

 

Answer:  Well making each scene a chapter works for some authors, like the one above, but it does tend to make books expensive to print, because of all the white space. A good story is always worth the paper though, as is the case above...

 

You asked for my own method, so here it is.  I never divide my book into chapters until after it is finished! I don't worry about whether I need a cliffhanger for the end of a scene, because it comes at the end of a chapter. I put cliffhangers, or at least a question/hook, at the end of every scene.

 

I just write the story, one scene after another,  all in one big file. This makes it easy if I want to rearrange the scenes, or have something happen earlier, or later, than the time I thought to write the scene. Admittedly, I am not a linear thinker.

 

I also never pad the story to make it a certain length and I don’t advise you to do that either. Write the story one scene at a time. Then go on to the next and the next and so on, always following the action.  I don't outline, so this is the only way I can do it.

 

Some scenes will be only a few paragraphs. Some will be several pages long. Mine average about five pages. Though they can be less than one and up to nine. If a scene runs more than nine pages, I know I’ve lost track of something and begin it with a string of ????? to let me know that the scene will need work.  BUT I never stop and do the work, THEN! I go RIGHT ON with the next scene.  By the time I have finished the book, I will know always what to do there. If not, I just delete it and make it's point in another scene.

 

Once the story is finished, I go back and put chapter headings in at scene breaks, blocking out between 15 and 20 pages at a time. 

 

If I want a three chapter sample, I can go and do that at the beginning of the book and copy those pages into a separate file called sample, and so on. But I really don’t like to break the story up until it is pretty well finished. 

 

The reason is that quite often I find I need to insert scenes in places I had not anticipated. For instance: in The Ghost Dancer, I had no plans for Elaine to come west. She was only to be mentioned as a reason for Christy’s leaving home. I mentioned that Christy had a sister named Ellen, who was  partly the reason she had decided to go west and thought I was through with HER.

 

Then I wrote a scene and Elaine walked in, saying, “I’ve had a perfectly miserable trip!” I erased that, but she kept coming back! So then I had to go back and write in a brief scene where Ellen found out a secret and left home, and another equally brief scene to show the perfectly miserable trip, and so when she showed up on the train, the reader was ready for her – and not as shocked as I was when she walked into that private railroad car.

 

Turns out that my subconscious knew I'd need to use Ellen later in the story, as a foil, and have her do all the stuff that would have made Christy look like a nitwit. Tenderfoot Ellen, not heroine Christy gets kidnapped, etc.

And as for the story mentioned at the top of this page. It takes place in an alternate reality. It is both a thriller and a fantasy. A cautionary tale of something that hasn't happened -- yet. It doesn't have to be real, OR true. It only has to be good!

Saratoga's Famous Melon and Proscuitto

Connor O'Malley marries Sinead Brennan-Cavanaugh by proxy, forcing him to leave a peaceful Irish horse farm for the turbulent streets of New York during the Civil War Draft riots.

"A fantastic (summer) read...5 Roses," --LoveRomances.com

Saratoga's Famous Melon and Proscuitto

Ingredients:

1/2 large cantaloupe sliced into wedges, rind removed
1/4 to 1/2 pound imported proscuitto, sliced paper thin
Assorted baby lettuces
Berry Syrup, (recipe follows)

Directions

Layout on the edge of a plate, 3 or 4 baby lettuce leaves. Over the lettuce lay out 2 thin wedges of cantaloupe and drape 2 to 3 slices of proscuitto over the melon. Garnish with berry syrup.

Berry Syrup:

1 quart berries, you should use the freshest berries you can find, we prefer to use
raspberries or blackberries

1/2 to 1 cup red wine, a cabernet sauvignon will work fine here

Sugar

Arrowroot

Cold water

Combine the berries and the red wine in a non-reactive saucepan and bring to a simmer. Let cook for about twenty minutes and adjust the flavor with sugar if necessary to achieve a balanced flavor. Combine some arrowroot with a little cold water and stir into the sauce to give it a nice shine and a little body. Let cool.

Correction!!

Correction for Friday, August 2, 2013

Catching UP!

Books that went to press, or back to press this week: 
None.

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

A GHOST OF BROTHER JONATHAN'S: Shannon Delaney Paranormal Mystery Series, Vol. 6

   Her sixth mystery takes Shannon Delaney on a cold-case quest to investigate the mystery surrounding one of California’s legendary shipwrecks…of 150 years ago.

A ROSE FOR A FOREVER LOVE: A Coverton Mills Romance, by Lynette Hall Hampton
   Seth Armstrong felt obligated to marry his collage when she became pregnant. The marriage is never a happy one and they both want out, but when Eve learns he’s fallen in love with someone else, she threatens to run to her home in England and never let him see his children again.

 WHERE THE JARIBU FLIES, by Romona Hilliger
    Kate, the English heiress arrives in Australia hellbent 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.

Work began or Continued on the following:
SEER, TYRO, FIEND, by Kathryn Flatt
   When a fledgling investigator comes to Stefanie Durant's Windsong Lake art studio to ask her to use her psychic ability to find a missing insurance beneficiary, she refuses. Yet she cannot stop thinking about Nadine Oberg, a teen who ran away from home and disappeared on the streets of Chicago ten years ago.

A SNUG LIFE SOMEWHERE,  by Jan Shapin
   A Snug Life Somewhere is about Penny Joe Copper, daughter of a roustabout shingle weaver, who is caught up in a 1916 union tragedy known as the Everett Massacre. Her brother Horace is killed, as is the cousin of a radical organizer, Gabe. When her love affair with Marcel, a music student seven years her junior, is thwarted, Penny Jo is pulled into Gabe’s campaign to avenge the “Everett Martyrs.”

LIVING THE CALL, by Barbara Garro
    By listening and answering God's call to serve...consider being a lifeboat and keeping people afloat. Hold out a ladder to raise people up. We are all God has to serve Him on our planet. Do you believe that? Or are you thinking God can do everything Himself?

LAINEE DELANEY BACK IN BUSINESS, by Frances Langley
    Lainee Delaney, social debutante turned private investigator wannabe, and substitute teacher gotta be to make ends meet, has just landed her first big case. Enter straight-laced and amazingly hot Cade Gainess, an acquaintance from Lainee's past who has done nothing but irritate her in their brief dealings with each other.

WHILE I DANCED, by Lynn Slaughter
   The only time 15-year-old Cass feels alive is when she’s dancing, her safe place and refuge from growing tensions on the home front. A lot is riding on the audition for a prestigious summer workshop in Boston. If she gets in, she’ll have a real shot at her dream of making it as a professional dancer.

News Flash!

   We're proud to announce that after having the first two titles as e-books only for the past eight years, we will be republishing them and all five of the Killian Kendall Mystery Series, in both paper and e-book formats.


BLEEDING HEARTS, Vol.1
REAP THE WHIRLWIND, Vol. 2
ALL LOST THINGS, Vol. 3
THE TRUTH OF YESTERDAY, Vol. 4
A CHANGE OF WORLDS, Vol. 5, and

That Makes Three new volumes We are adding to  the Killian Kendall Mystery Series, by Josh Aterovis.
   The Killian Kendall Mysteries have been among our most popular series books for the past eight years. We are pleased to be able to offer all of them at last.

Work began or continued on the following:

LIVING THE CALL, by Barbara Garro
    By listening and answering God's call to serve...consider being a lifeboat and keeping people afloat. Hold out a ladder to raise people up. We are all God has to serve Him on our planet. Do you believe that? Or are you thinking God can do everything Himself?


VENDETTA, by Ian Welch

   Gold fever was sweeping the world. 1849, a gold strike in the Sacramento Valley

triggered an influx of prospectors from all corners of the globe. They all had the one dream,

instant wealth. By 1855 the Californian gold rush was over, but new discoveries were being

made all around the world and word soon reached the Californian miners. The lure of the

precious yellow metal was strong, many boarded sailing ships to seek their fortunes in far off

countries.

A SNUG LIFE SOMEWHERE,  by Jan Shapin
   A Snug Life Somewhere is about Penny Joe Copper, daughter of a roustabout shingle weaver, who is caught up in a 1916 union tragedy known as the Everett Massacre. Her brother Horace is killed, as is the cousin of a radical organizer, Gabe. When her love affair with Marcel, a music student seven years her junior, is thwarted, Penny Jo is pulled into Gabe’s campaign to avenge the “Everett Martyrs.”

LAINEE DELANEY BACK IN BUSINESS, by Frances Langley
    Lainee Delaney, social debutante turned private investigator wannabe, and substitute teacher gotta be to make ends meet, has just landed her first big case. Enter straight-laced and amazingly hot Cade Gainess, an acquaintance from Lainee's past who has done nothing but irritate her in their brief dealings with each other.

WHILE I DANCED, by Lynn Slaughter
   The only time 15-year-old Cass feels alive is when she’s dancing, her safe place and refuge from growing tensions on the home front. A lot is riding on the audition for a prestigious summer workshop in Boston. If she gets in, she’ll have a real shot at her dream of making it as a professional dancer.

POWERS IN BALANCE: the Red Knight Chronicles, Vol. 6, by Ray Morand
 There is a bloody war being waged between the mage-ruled Kingdom of Ludnikan led by the dark-elf armies of the Nameless King against the elven Kingdom of Nadezhda and her ally the Kingdom of Niadhardal.

Catching UP!

Books that went to press, or back to press this week: 
None.

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

A GHOST OF BROTHER JONATHAN'S: Shannon Delaney Paranormal Mystery Series, Vol. 6

   Her sixth mystery takes Shannon Delaney on a cold-case quest to investigate the mystery surrounding one of California’s legendary shipwrecks…of 150 years ago.

A ROSE FOR A FOREVER LOVE: A Coverton Mills Romance, by Lynette Hall Hampton
   Seth Armstrong felt obligated to marry his collage when she became pregnant. The marriage is never a happy one and they both want out, but when Eve learns he’s fallen in love with someone else, she threatens to run to her home in England and never let him see his children again.

 WHERE THE JARIBU FLIES, by Romona Hilliger
    Kate, the English heiress arrives in Australia hellbent 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.

Work began or Continued on the following:
SEER, TYRO, FIEND, by Kathryn Flatt
   When a fledgling investigator comes to Stefanie Durant's Windsong Lake art studio to ask her to use her psychic ability to find a missing insurance beneficiary, she refuses. Yet she cannot stop thinking about Nadine Oberg, a teen who ran away from home and disappeared on the streets of Chicago ten years ago.

A SNUG LIFE SOMEWHERE,  by Jan Shapin
   A Snug Life Somewhere is about Penny Joe Copper, daughter of a roustabout shingle weaver, who is caught up in a 1916 union tragedy known as the Everett Massacre. Her brother Horace is killed, as is the cousin of a radical organizer, Gabe. When her love affair with Marcel, a music student seven years her junior, is thwarted, Penny Jo is pulled into Gabe’s campaign to avenge the “Everett Martyrs.”

LIVING THE CALL, by Barbara Garro
    By listening and answering God's call to serve...consider being a lifeboat and keeping people afloat. Hold out a ladder to raise people up. We are all God has to serve Him on our planet. Do you believe that? Or are you thinking God can do everything Himself?

LAINEY DELANEY BACK IN BUSINESS, by Fran Langley
    Lainee Delaney, social debutante turned private investigator wannabe, and substitute teacher gotta be to make ends meet, has just landed her first big case. Enter straight-laced and amazingly hot Cade Gainess, an acquaintance from Lainee's past who has done nothing but irritate her in their brief dealings with each other.

WHILE I DANCED, by Lynn Slaughter
   The only time 15-year-old Cass feels alive is when she’s dancing, her safe place and refuge from growing tensions on the home front. A lot is riding on the audition for a prestigious summer workshop in Boston. If she gets in, she’ll have a real shot at her dream of making it as a professional dancer.

News Flash!

   We're proud to announce that after having the first two titles as e-books only for the past eight years, we will be republishing them and all five of the Killian Kendall Mystery Series, in both paper and e-book formats.




BLEEDING HEARTS, Vol.1
REAP THE WHIRLWIND, Vol. 2
ALL LOST THINGS, Vol. 3
THE TRUTH OF YESTERDAY, Vol. 4
A CHANGE OF WORLDS, Vol. 5, and
That Makes Three new volumes in the Killian Kendall Mystery Series, by Josh Aterovis.
   The Killian Kendall Mysteries have been among our most popular series books for the past eight years. We are pleased to be able to offer all of them at last.

Work began or continued on the following:

LIVING THE CALL, by Barbara Garro
    By listening and answering God's call to serve...consider being a lifeboat and keeping people afloat. Hold out a ladder to raise people up. We are all God has to serve Him on our planet. Do you believe that? Or are you thinking God can do everything Himself?



VENDETTA, by Ian Welch

   Gold fever was sweeping the world. 1849, a gold strike in the Sacramento Valley

triggered an influx of prospectors from all corners of the globe. They all had the one dream,

instant wealth. By 1855 the Californian gold rush was over, but new discoveries were being

made all around the world and word soon reached the Californian miners. The lure of the

precious yellow metal was strong, many boarded sailing ships to seek their fortunes in far off

countries.

A SNUG LIFE SOMEWHERE,  by Jan Shapin
   A Snug Life Somewhere is about Penny Joe Copper, daughter of a roustabout shingle weaver, who is caught up in a 1916 union tragedy known as the Everett Massacre. Her brother Horace is killed, as is the cousin of a radical organizer, Gabe. When her love affair with Marcel, a music student seven years her junior, is thwarted, Penny Jo is pulled into Gabe’s campaign to avenge the “Everett Martyrs.”

LAINEE DELANEY BACK IN BUSINESS, by Frances Langley
    Lainee Delaney, social debutante turned private investigator wannabe, and substitute teacher gotta be to make ends meet, has just landed her first big case. Enter straight-laced and amazingly hot Cade Gainess, an acquaintance from Lainee's past who has done nothing but irritate her in their brief dealings with each other.

WHILE I DANCED, by Lynn Slaughter
   The only time 15-year-old Cass feels alive is when she’s dancing, her safe place and refuge from growing tensions on the home front. A lot is riding on the audition for a prestigious summer workshop in Boston. If she gets in, she’ll have a real shot at her dream of making it as a professional dancer.

POWERS IN BALANCE: the Red Knight Chronicles, Vol. 6, by Ray Morand
 There is a bloody war being waged between the mage-ruled Kingdom of Ludnikan led by the dark-elf armies of the Nameless King against the elven Kingdom of Nadezhda and her ally the Kingdom of Niadhardal.

Firehouse Peach Cobbler --Recipe

Gabrielle McPherson's looking for Mr. Right, but not if he's in a dangerous line of work. Then a firefighter saves her life.... In Book I of the Stockland FD Series, Lance Cavenaugh is drawn to Gabrielle, but he is plagued by demons—memories of a late fiance he couldn't save from a fire, and of the work he did as a volunteer at Ground Zero following 9/11.

Firehouse Peach Cobbler

Ingredients

Serves: 12

• 3 (16 ounce) cans sliced peaches in heavy syrup
• 1 (18 1/2 ounce) box yellow cake mix (cheapest works great)
• 1 pound margarine
  
  Prep: 5 mins | Cook: 45 mins

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Pour all three cans of peaches into your 9x13-inch baking dish

 

Sprinkle the bag of cake mix EVENLY over the peaches. DO NOT mix/stir/agitate! Just cover it.

Place tablespoon-sized dollops of the margarine all over the top of the cake mix. I try to leave no more than 1/2" between dollops. I mean this thing is COVERED with margarine!

Place in your oven for approximately 45 minutes. I usually just bake it until the top is a nice golden brown.

Pull this puppy out, and serve it up. Of course you will want to add a few scoops of vanilla ice cream