Libraries are Fun

The 2007 Holiday season is fast approaching--not to mention my birthday--! I have much to celebrate and be thankful for this year.

In October the Durham County Library held a Romance Tea.The Heart of Carolina published Regency Writers were invited to make up a panel. It was a super day. The guests who came out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon were full of questions and fun. I displayed a copy of BROMPTON MANOR and then donated it as a prize.

On Monday, I received a call from a librarian from Apex who was given my name by one of their librarians who met me at the ALA conference. I have been invited to partcipate in their brown bag lunch event on February 14.

As a long time fan of libraries, I am delighted the publication of BROMPTON MANOR by Avalon Books has provided me with these opportunities.

Among my most pleasurable memories of early childhood are a memory of sitting at a school desk and discovering I could read the words in a Dick and Jane primer and the day I first remember walking into the children's section of my hometown public library and thinking I had entered a land of enchantment.

In my adult life, as my family moved around the country, one of the first things I looked for in every new community was the nearest public library. Each of my four daughters are avid readers and have passed this joyous endeavor on to their children.

Having more and more research books available on the internet is a great benefit, but I am hopeful ink, paper and glue books never disappear.

But whatever is ahead, I look forward to the challanges and the joys.

Chocolate Haystacks

Satisfy a sweet tooth and get your crunch at the same time. Keep the ingredients in your pantry and you can whip up a batch whenever you get the urge.

Chocolate Haystacks

1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk chocolate)
1 Tbs. shortening (must be the solid at room temp. kind)
1 1/2 cups (3 oz. can) chow mein noodles--broken coarsley

Line a tray with wax paper. Put all chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) for 1 minute. Stir. If not completely melted, Microwave on MEDIUM another 15 seconds and then stir. Repeat 15 seconds until mixture is smooth.

Add chow mein noodles. Stir to coat. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto wax paper. Let stand until cool enough to eat (or until firm). You may have to refrigerate to firm. Store in covered container in refrigerator. Makes 2 dozen.

Boston and the Revolution

The Massachusetts State House, located in the center of Boston at the crest of Beacon Hill is an interesting structure. The orignial portion is still there and still used. The newer portion is well-integrated.

After Boston, there are six State Houses to go before we will have visited all fifty: California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho and Hawaii remain. Both Idaho and Utah are being renovated and Idaho is closed to the public. Making the rounds of the State Houses has been an amazing experience in touching the history of this great nation.

Since the 2008 RWA Conference is being held in San Francisco, the California, Oregon and Washington State Houses will be on the travel agenda.

In Boston we not only visited the State House but also toured the US Constitution--used in the War of 1812 and docked at the Boston Naval Yard--Feneuil Hall, Quincy Market and The old State House. I love Boston. The flavor of the city reminds me of London--a blend of the old with the new.

Pedestrians consider the streets of Boston nothing more than additional sidewalks. They cross on the red hand and on the walking guy icon--! They cross anywhere they choose.

Adding to the wonder, we visited the town of Quincy to tour the Adams' residences. The properties are a remarkable preservation of history by the Adams' descendents and the National Park Service.

So I am steeped in the history of the nations birth and my head is full of the romance of past times. Stories pop pop pop in my head. If only I could write a book in a minute.

Because I am enchanted by all of this, I am lableling this post under romance.

Writing the Bones

You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself into one.

Henry David Thoreau

RWA Conference

With copies of BROMPTON MANOR supplied by Avalon Books, the publisher, I enjoyed the heady experience of sitting behind one of the long tables with my book on display during the literacy autographing at the RWA Conference.

I did not have the line that Nora Roberts gets each year, nor the line Sherrilyn Kenyon attracted. But Ms. Kenyon was wearing an eye catching head dress--a life-sized (at least it appeared life-sized) replica of a black swan. I do hope the swan was a replica and not the product of a taxidermist--anyway....

To my happy surprise--always--several people picked up my book to purchase. The attractive cover is a big draw and a super sales tool.

I'm not sure of the exact number of authors who participated this year, but for earlier years I have heard the number 400. This year's event raised $56,o00 from the sale of authors books--all donated. The proceeds are given to organizations whose purpose is to promote literacy.

I feel privileged to have been a part of this wonderful event.

Come Out Of Your Shell

Observe the turtle -

He only goes forward when he sticks out his neck.

The Wild Ride Continues

American Library Association Conference--here I come. After my WOW experience at BookExpo, I am jazzing about ALA.

Monday, June 25 from 9:30 to 10:30, I will be at the Romance Writers of America booth signing BROMPTON MANOR.

Avalon Books, publisher of BROMPTON MANOR and many other wonderful books, has been supportive and generous in providing copies of BROMPTON MANOR for me to sign at both the ALA and Book Expo.

Henceforth, 2007 will be referred to as the year of my book.

Good reading and happy memories.

Me and BookExpo

A weekend in New York City--hmm. So, as a reason to make a trip to the grandaddy of big cities, I applied for an opportunity to sign BROMPTON MANOR in the Romance Writer's of America booth at BookExpo--a stupendous feast of a convention for people connected to the book business.

What a fabulous experience. A line formed in front of my table--one person in the line showed me her spreadsheet schedule with BROMPTON MANOR printed in the 9:15 box. Before my alloted signing time of forty-five minutes was up, I was out of books and my ego was struming a merry tune.

The hustle and bustle of New York City paled in comparison.

Warp Speed

When life speeds up, grab the steering wheel with two hands and enjoy the ride for a long as it lasts.

Chocolate Chip Pie

If you live in Kentucky, you might put bourban in this pie, but it is good enough without the bourban--so good in fact you might eat more than your share.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

You will need a single 9-inch pie crust--bought or homemade--unbaked--fitted into a pie tin.

Then mix together 1 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour. Stir in 2 beaten eggs, 1/2 cup melted butter, 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Pour mixture into the pie shell and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

Let cool before diving in.

Book Signing

BookExpo in New York. I'll be there and signing BROMPTON MANOR. The book is available on Amazon for purchase or check your local library. If they don't have a copy, ask them to order a copy or two.

Think About It

Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Black Bottom Mini-Cupcakes

Another recipe utilizing that wonderful product--the chocolate chip. Oh yum!

If you don't have two mini-muffin pans, rush out and buy them and a package of mini-paper liners. They are handy.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line mini-muffin tins with paper liners.

Make Filling: Blend 8 oz. of room temperature cream cheese with 1 large egg and 1/3 cup sugar until smooth.

Make Cake Batter: Combine 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup sugar. Stir in 3/4 cup water; 1/3 cup vegetable oil; 1 Tablespoon cider vinegar; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Beat until smooth. Fill paper-lined cups 1/2 full. Top each with a half-teaspoon cream cheese mixture. Press 2 chocolate chips into cream cheese. Backe in center of oven for 14 minutes until firm.

Yield: 60 mini-cupcakes.

For standard cupcake pans: Line 24 muffin cups and follow above instructions except use 1 Tablespoon cream cheese mixture and 3 or 4 chocolate chips. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.

Yield: 24 cupcakes.

A dream is worth pursuing

If you have a dream, work as though it is real.

For Sale

I've been neglecting this blog for sometime. Life in general, and working to get my next sweet romance novel finished and sent off for consideration, has taken precedence.

Since my last post, BROMPTON MANOR, my sweet, Regency romance, is available for purchase from Amazon. Or look for it in your local library--if they don't have a copy of the book, request one.

Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

To make these yummy cookies:

Melt 1/2 cup of butter over low heat (or in the microwave). Mix 1 (16 oz.) jar peanut butter and 3 3/4 cups of powdered sugar together. Blend in the melted butter. Stir in 3 cups crispy cereal or corn flakes. Spread over the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan.

Melt 1 (16 oz.) package of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Sparead evenely over the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate to cool. Cut into 30 bars.

This recipe is taken from the top of a jar of Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter.

Author Copies

Gee whiz. It's the middle of January, and I'm caught up in a whirlwind of procrastination. But, today is a banner day. A box, containing my author copies of BROMPTON MANOR, arrived on my doorstep this morning.