Blog Archives
A Month of Memories…
I didn’t post all this week…still crazy from the holiday, and so much going on personally and at work. So I thought I’d pop in on this bright and beautiful Saturday morning, the very first day of December.
There were alot of GRATITUDE posts floating around Facebook in November, everyone posting days of what they were thankful for. November was all about thankfulness, as it should be. We should stop and take notice of our blessings…we tend to spend way too much time complaining about what we lack. So November was a great time to take stock and see things right side up.
December, to me, is about memories. About all the traditions we had growing up, big and little. Smells and sounds and tastes and tactile memories that define the month of December and Christmas. So I’m going to do a little daily memory log this month, sharing my memories with you. And hopefully it will trigger some of your own, and you’ll share yours!
Today, Day #1, is the smell and feel of cold air, drinking hot spiced tea on the old brick porch with my mom.
Enjoy your memories!
Aunt Bernie’s Spicy Crackers! from BEFORE AND EVER SINCE
In the spirit of book-y love and snack addiction, I wanted to round out this week with the recipe for the spicy crackers Aunt Bernie makes in BEFORE AND EVER SINCE. 
Cassidy loves them, Emily loves them, even health crazy Holly loves them. So here you are–your very own recipe to make them yourself. EASY peasy and sooooo good. Enjoy!
TEXAS FIRE CRACKERS
(served by Aunt Bernie… good as appetizer or with gumbo…)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 2/3 cup vegetable or olive oil
2 1-oz pkgs Ranch Dressing mix
1 16oz box Saltine crackers
Place vegetable oil, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, ranch dressing mix, and crushed red pepper flakes in a 2-gallon plastic zip lock bag, seal, and smoosh with hands to thoroughly combine the oil and spices. Place crackers into bag, seal, and turn over and over to cover the crackers with the spice mix. Let the bag sit for about an hour, then turn them again. Repeat several more times until crackers are well-coated with spice mix. The longer they sit in the mix, the better. Remove crackers and let air dry. Serve!
Now you can make these for your family…or make them for yourself as a wonderful snack while you curl up and read! LOL! Enjoy!
@ @ @ @ @
Off The Beaten Path with Cynthia Ellingsen
Here we are again at Off The Beaten Path! A once-a-month opportunity to get to know a very special romance or women’s fiction author, in a fun and hopefully interactive way. We all like to get to know our favorite authors a little better, and I want to make that fun for everyone.
This month, I’m so excited to have the fabulous Cynthia Ellingsen here!!
*cue applause*
Cynthia and I met at this past summer’s RWA National Conference, where our mutual editor introduced us at the Berkley cocktail party. We were fast friends! What fun we had out on the patio (waiting for the heater) brainstorming promo ideas and people watching. Cynthia is hysterically funny, witty, gorgeous, fearless, and one of those rare people that look you in the eye with so much intensity and genuine interest in what you’re saying, that it blows you away. She’s a gem, this one! And a very talented author as well! Her first book, THE WHOLE PACKAGE, came out last year, and it’s a hoot! If you love stories about best friends and the crazy antics they can get into, this one’s for you! And she’s got another winner on the way with MARRIAGE MATTERS in March! (available for preorder!)
But I’m going to let Cynthia talk now… so…
* * * *
Me: Hey Cynthia!! *waving from Texas* First question…Top ingredients on any food product are the primary make up of that food. What top three words would you use to describe yourself? And you can’t use “writer”, because that’s too easy.
Cynthia: *waves from Kentucky* 1) Funny, 2) friendly, 3) Aries.
Me: I love candles and burn them year round, and my family knows my preferences when it comes to scents. What are yours? If not candles, maybe lotion or cologne?
Cynthia: Vanilla! I love the smell of a vanilla candle or a pumpkin spice candle. And I wish they could create a candle called “fireplace”, because I absolutely love that smell.
Me: Oh…I would love a “fireplace” one too. Okay, next question… I cry at sad movies…especially animal ones. What type of movies take you down?
Cynthia: Dead Poet’s Society. It’s so good, so inspirational. I think I’ve cried every single time I’ve seen it.
Me: If you could go back and tell your younger self one important thing, what would it be?
Cynthia: To buy stock in Apple! And Starbucks! And Apple! (Oh, dear. Was this answer supposed to be something uplifting? Fail.)
Me: (laughing) Starbucks is like the mother ship to me, as well as a tall glass of sweet tea. What is your favorite beverage?
Cynthia: I really love a hearty smoothie with blueberries and whatever else. A café by my house sells one with peanut butter and blueberries. So good – like drinking a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Me: Okay now I want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich…sigh. If you could pick a dream vacation where money was no object, what would it be?
Cynthia: Ooh, a Four Seasons getaway in Maui and Kauai with my husband. Hawaii’s so beautiful – we love it. When are you sending the tickets again? I’ve already got my lei on!
Me: Sure!!! Tickets are on their way, via carrier pigeon! LOL! Okay… If you could go back and revisit another day at any point in your life, what would it be?
Cynthia: Aww, how fun would that be?! I vote for any holiday with my whole family. Such good memories.
Me: I know you and I already did this together over Karen White, but is there anyone else you would be a total crazy fan girl over if you met them in person?
Cynthia: Ha! Yes, I’m sure Karen White was like, “Whoa. Who are these two crazy girls?” But she was so awesome. If given the opportunity to flip out again, I think I’d probably get gaga over any author I read all the time when I was young. Judy Blume, obviously. Beverly Cleary, for sure. Ann M. Martin, no question. And if we want to stroll away from literary and on over to the favorite band category, I would light up like a Christmas tree if I bumped into Coldplay on the street. And in this scenario, they’d certainly be singing.
Me: What is your favorite curl-up-on-the-couch-and-hibernate comfort food?
Cynthia: Anything salty. I went through a big Cheetos phase. It’s probably for the best that’s over.
Me: Don’t even get me started on Cheetos. O.o So… what is your favorite all time movie that you could watch over and over?
Cynthia: Since we’re approaching the holiday season, I’m gonna go with a whole series: A Christmas Story, Rudolph and Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation. Snuggled up with the hubs, a big fuzzy blanket and some snacks, this sounds like a perfect scenario.
Absolutely amazing to have Cynthia here with us today, and now she’s graciously giving away a signed copy of her book, THE WHOLE PACKAGE! I’m telling you, you don’t want to miss this! Leave a comment for Cynthia below, and a random winner will be chosen tonight to win!
So jump in there and enter!! Good luck!
Cynthia is an author and screenwriter who lives in Lexington, KY with her husband. THE WHOLE PACKAGE is her debut novel, and her second novel, MARRIAGE MATTERS, will be out in March 2013.
My squee moments…
I mentioned that I was signing at the John Cooper School Signature Author Series last Friday…
Did I mention that I was going to meet Kathryn Stockett?
Well I did! I mean, not like hey we’re bff’s and dishing about lotion scents and recipes, but I did get my picture taken with her and Tate Taylor, who did the movie version of THE HELP.
Yeah, I was excited. AND if you didn’t see me squeeing all over Facebook, I had a childhood fangirl moment with the oldest Hardy Boy, when he was there with two other authors as the cover artist. He does photography now. AND he gushed over my cover. And told me how clever my chapter booklets were. AND I got a picture with him too!
(me and Parker Stevenson)
Yay!
So…now back to reality, but during that reality, today I’m at The Book Pushers, talking about the hugest theme in BEFORE AND EVER SINCE, which is the power of secrets. Stop by for a chance at a giveaway!
Y’all have a great day!
Life Lesson #8 from savvy Emily Lockwood
BEFORE AND EVER SINCE is now available! I get lots of questions asking me what it’s about.
Basically, the main character, Emily Lockwood has alot on her plate. She is successful in her own right, with a solid real estate career, but has a headstrong daughter, a mother who marches to her own drummer, and an ex-husband who needs sex therapy. Enter into this picture a house with an agenda, and the return of her first love, rocking a tool belt and a paintbrush and dark eyes full of secrets, and Emily just flat out has things to get through and get over. I call them the “Emily Lockwood Life Lessons”.
We can all learn things from Emily. And this is the last one she has to share. I’ve so enjoyed sharing Emily and her life lessons with you! I hope you’ve enjoyed it too.
Life Lesson #8 from Emily in BEFORE AND EVER SINCE…
MOTHERS KNOW EVERYTHING, NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU GET.
…an excerpt from the book…
I rounded a corner of the wall and leaned my back against it, breathing in the cold air fast to stop the burn from coming back up.
But it wasn’t to be stopped. Everything stung on its way out. My skin felt hot, my eyes burned, my stomach threatened to upheave the nachos. My chest felt as if it would cave in from the lack of oxygen, as my sobs took over and beat the crap out of me. I slid down the rough brick wall till I was half sitting, half squatting on the ground.
Why the hell did he have to come back? If he didn’t want me then, fine. So why was he back now, acting as if he did? Holding me like that. Looking at me like that. Stirring up old shit.
“Emily!”
I jumped half out of my skin at the sound of my mother’s voice, and I scrambled unsuccessfully to get to my feet.
“Jesus, just—stay where you are, I’ll come to you,” she said, slowly getting to the ground. “Just takes me a minute.”
“I—just needed some air, Mom, I’m—”
“Oh yeah, I can see you’re the picture of wonderful,” she said. “Everyone has meltdowns behind buildings when things are going well.”
“I know,” I croaked. “I must look like a lunatic.”
“Luckily I speak the language.” My mom took one of my hands. “You’re in love with that man.”
New tears. New burn. “Well, that made me feel better, thanks.” The hiccupping sobs returned. It was all kinds of fabulous that other people could see what I was killing myself to keep hidden. Of course, the latest floorshow probably hadn’t left much to the imagination. We danced like people in love.
“Damn him,” I hissed.
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Available at all retail stores and online locations
Hot Tool Guy of the Day #7
In honor of release day, this is my inspiration for Ben. He holds no tools. He’s resting.
Life Lesson #6 from savvy Emily Lockwood
IT’S HERE!!
BEFORE AND EVER SINCE is out today! I get lots of questions asking me what it’s about.
Basically, the main character, Emily Lockwood has alot on her plate. She is successful in her own right, with a solid real estate career, but has a headstrong daughter, a mother who marches to her own drummer, and an ex-husband who needs sex therapy. Enter into this picture a house with an agenda, and the return of her first love, rocking a tool belt and a paintbrush and dark eyes full of secrets, and Emily just flat out has things to get through and get over. I call them the “Emily Lockwood Life Lessons”.
We can all learn things from Emily.
Life Lesson #6 from Emily in BEFORE AND EVER SINCE…
PAINT IS HOT.
…an excerpt from the book…
I went out through the garage, where Ben was leaned over a five gallon bucket of paint, stirring it with a flat piece of wood. Next to him on a makeshift table, were two other small cans of paint with little wooden stir sticks poking out.
“Why do you do that?” I asked.
“What?” he responded, not looking up.
“Bait him like that,” I said, picking my way carefully around the random tools and pieces of discarded wood on the floor. “Is it on purpose, or does he just bring out the twelve year old in you?”
I felt, rather than saw the smile. “Little of both, probably.”
“Why?” I repeated as I got closer, my three-inch heels playing hell with all the power cords.
“Because he’s the same condescending asshole now that he was then.”
“And–”
I was about to tell him that I agreed with him and he didn’t need to bait Kevin anymore. But then I remembered that there wouldn’t be a reason anyway since he’d left me and made all those petty arguments between them go away. The thoughts jumped over each other, distracting me long enough to step on a block of wood that turned under my foot.
“Oh–shi–” I exclaimed as I lurched sideways and the spike of my heel snapped off.
My left hand flailed out for support, met with one of the little stir sticks instead, and flipped it out of the can and across Ben’s face. The paint splattered across his left cheek and nose, and slung streaks into my hair as I continued my sideways direction right into his arms.
“Whoa!” he said, as I landed hard against him. “Are you okay?”
I gasped and then looked up just inches from his face, suddenly recalling the last time I was held so tightly against his body. I even was acutely aware of where his hands were and one of them was fairly south. Not that that had been by his choice. But then the sight of the paint across his face and in his eyebrows broke the moment and I clamped my lips shut as the laughter shook me.
“I’m–” I laughed again, trying to stop. “I’m so sorry.”
He let go with one hand to wipe a blob off his nose, and while I tried to stem the funny that just kept bubbling up in me, he smeared it along my cheek.
“Oh!” I said laughing. “Not cool!”
I looked down at my clothes as he set me back on my feet, but he didn’t back up for more space. Instead he picked a dripping clump of paint from my hair and smiled slowly, while we were still so close I could feel him breathe. His expression was playful and achingly reminiscent of the old days.
“Now you look really good,” he said, slowly backing up. He pushed a piece of hair from my face, the unexpected brush of his fingers against my temple causing me to catch my breath. His eyes met mine as I did that, and showed a flicker of something old.
“You were about to get paint in your eyes,” he said softly.
* * *
Available at all retail stores and online locations
