Falling Into Monday

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Silver James

Tomorrow is the Autumnal Equinox, when light and dark are balanced, equal. After that, the days grow shorter, the nights longer, and we face that stupid shifting of time in about a month. I love Fall, but for that stupidity. Anyway. Today is the last day of summer. Happy Fall, Y’all!

So, a week ago, I had edits/revisions on the next Red Dirt Royalty book for Harlequin Desire. Got those turned in on Monday of last week. Late Thursday, I got the final set of edits–the ones where all the typos, skipped words, and word changes have to be made because that puppy heads to the typesetters for printing ASAP. On Friday, I got started. And I finished up yesterday afternoon and emailed it back to NY. Yayayay. Today, I’m back to work on NIGHT WISH because in 10 days, I have to start on FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE. Wish me luck! My brain needs to kick into high gear and Iffy needs to get on a chocolate high or something.

Audio book listening went fairly well last week, too. Mostly stuck with my marathon of the In Death books. I’m currently on INDULGENCE IN DEATH. I’m ahead on my Goodreads Challenge so Yay!

My Cards are hanging in there. They haven’t given up the ghost yet on grabbing a play-off spot in this crazy season that befits this crazy year. My OSU Cowboys won–barely–on Saturday. I have this thing about being a jinx so when I’m watching a team that I cheer for and they start doing not so good, I change the channel or put in earplugs and don’t watch or something. Believe it or not, over 50% of the time, the team comes back. Whew!

Been watching HGTV/DIY/DAM networks, often their house hunting type shows. I’ve decided I’d really like to live on the water somewhere. I just want to be able to look out, or sit on my deck or porch to see it. Lake, pond, creek, ocean. I’m not choosy. I don’t want to get in the lake, pond, creek, or ocean. I just want to look at it. Yeah. I’m weird.

So…writing, listening, sports, TV. Is there anything else in life? Not in my world. In the week ahead, there’s writing, listening, sports, and TV. Dude, I’m soooo exciting! What’s your week look like?

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Friday Sinema: Working From Home

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Silver James

Ah, the joy of being retired. I didn’t get any funny clips to air on social media during the lockdown because I work from home and only zoomed a couple of times. Here’s your giggles and grins for the day. Grab a beverage, sip sparingly, and enjoy the next 8 minutes. Have a great weekend!

 

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Pictures

Posted on September 17, 2020 by Silver James

There’s an old saying–a picture is worth a thousand words. As a writer, I sort of take that to heart, but not. Which makes no sense, right? Only to me, it does. Yes, I use words to paint the picture I want my readers to see. I use them to color my characters’ emotions, their environment, how they act. I translate the picture I have of the scene in my imagination into words so my readers can see it in theirs.

For some strange reason, the painting of “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by George Seurat always comes to mind when I think of that phrase. It’s the painting in the center of the movie “Sunday in the Park with George.” In the painting, people lounge along the river, enjoying the green grass and the shade of the trees despite their uncomfortable Victorian clothing. There are dogs sniffing around and a couple stands stiffly side-by-side as they gaze out over the scene. Some of the ladies carry parasols and some of the men are more formally dressed than others, denoting a difference in class. Now, don’t ask me why I think of this painting or the movie when the picture/1000 words comes up. Just the weird way my brain works. Anyway, while it’s talking of something else, the Universe keeps the writer in mind…

One of the most transformative things you could ever begin doing, Silver, is to start “thinking in pictures.”

Of what you want, of what you love, of who you dream of becoming.

Thoughts become things,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®
And to think such thoughts, Silver, with your heart.

How does this apply to writing? We have to imbue our characters with wants and desires, give them a story arc so they can become who they dream of becoming. And then I’ll use those 1000 words to paint the scene around them–the river and the trees and the uncomfortable clothes, and of course, a dog or two, or even a cat. Or maybe a Wolf. But why should I think such thoughts with my heart? Becasue I write romance. 😉 Sounds simple, right? So, writers, do you think in pictures? And readers, who do you dream of becoming?

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Wednesday Words: A Whiter Shade of Pale

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Silver James

Ten points to anyone who gets the title! Today’s #1lineWed prompt is **Pale/Impale**. Since there are no vampires in the current WIPs, here’s a quick scene from NIGHT WISH. Yes, with RDR#9 back in NY, I’m once again working feverishly to get this book ready for release. This isn’t a spoiler. Just a teaser of a scene. And I’m not giving y’all any background. You just have to take it as it. 😉
****
Wizard
I was the first one through the doorway. Gunsmoke hazed the air, the acrid stench clogging my nose. Gravedigger and Easy plowed into me because I’d stopped cold. No one spoke while we surveyed the room.

A guy wearing one of our cuts sprawled on the floor, dead eyes focused on the figure standing over him, a Glock dangling from the woman’s slack hand. Fuck. I’d know those sweet curves anywhere. Gen. What the hell was she doing here?

“He’s dead,” Gravedigger announced. He’d know.

“Wiz, you need to get the gun.” Easy’s low voice wasn’t meant to carry.

“Yeah,” I agreed.

Gen’s head came up, horror etched across her pale skin. Her eyes were the size of silver dollars, and though hyperventilating, she managed to gasp out, “It was an accident.”

I stepped closer, reaching for her. “Gimme the gun, babe.”

“I didn’t mean to—” Her voice broke.

Grabbing the Glock, I passed it off to Easy then gathered her into my arms. “Who is he?”

“A…a…” She gave me a helpless look. “A Nightrider?”

“What did he do to you?” I growled the words. She jerked away from me, stumbling back and going down hard enough to bruise her sweet ass. I squatted next to her. “Shh, babe. It’s okay. I’ve got you. He’s not one of ours.”

“I killed him.”

“Did he hurt you?”

A breathy “No” accompanied Gen’s shudder. Her gaze glued onto my face. “But he tried.”

“We’ll fix this.”

We would. That’s what we did best—hide the bodies.
****
And there ya go. Writers, any impaled words of paleness to share? Readers, what makes you go pale?

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Tuesday Treats: Mini Pumpkin Spice Latte Cheesecakes

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Silver James

I’ve shared this recipe before but since it’s now officially Pumpkin Spice Latte season, figure it’s time to share it again. This recipe is perfect for flavor fans. Enjoy it with plain coffee or your very own latte.

Total Time: 4 Hr.
Prep Time: 30 Min.
Cook Time: 3 Hr. 30 Min.
24 servings

Serve the flavor of fall with Mini Pumpkin Spice Latte Cheesecakes! Our pumpkin spice latte cheesecakes feature canned pumpkin, instant coffee and more.

What You Need
24 European-style cookies for coffee (speculoos cookies), finely crushed (about 1-3/4 cups)
1 cup sugar, divided
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
2-1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 tsp. vanilla
3 egg s
1 Tbsp. MAXWELL HOUSE Instant Coffee
1 cup whipping cream

Let’s Make It
1 – Heat oven to 325°F.
2 – Combine cookie crumbs and 2 Tbsp. sugar; press onto bottoms of 24 paper-lined muffin cups, adding about 1 Tbsp. crumb mixture to each cup.
3 – Beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup of the remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add pumpkin, 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Stir in coffee granules until completely dissolved. Spoon over crusts.
4 – Bake 26 to 30 min. or until centers are almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 2 hours.
5 – Beat whipping cream with remaining 2 Tbsp. sugar in clean bowl with mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Spoon into pastry bag; use to pipe whipped cream over cheesecakes. Sprinkle with remaining pumpkin pie spice.

Kitchen Tips
Tip 1 – How to Pipe the Whipped Cream: Insert decorating tip in pastry bag. Fold down top of pastry bag about halfway, forming a cuff. Fill bag halfway with whipped cream. Unfold cuffed top and twist bag until it’s tight against the whipped cream. To pipe, hold bag firmly and squeeze from the top, keeping bag twisted closed to prevent leaking from the top of bag.

Tip 2 – Substitute: Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese.

My Tips
Speculoos: What the heck, you say?!? This is a type of Belgian coffee and spice cookie. You can also use Biscoff cookies. You can find speculoos at Trader Joe’s and Biscoffs at Walmart.

Piping: You can use a plastic bag with the corner cut in lieu of a pastry bag. Or, I’ve been known to use my cookie press with a piping tip.

If y’all want any additional details, CLICK HERE for all the nutrional details at My Food and Family. There’s one of my characters who won’t admit–

“I’m not f*cking afraid to admit it!”

“Okay, Sade. You admit that you have a love of pumpkin spice lattes. But see, the deal is, I feature a character who actually uses the recipe.”

“That’s not f*cking fair.”

“Sure it is. Because you don’t cook. And language, Sade. This is a PG blog.”

“I can make effing coffee. And there’s this little bakery down in the French Quarter that makes these muffins. I bet they’re even better than yours. So there.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll let you be the featured character today. Does that make you happy? Y’all know what to do–Sade’s story starts in THAT OL’ BLACK MAGIC, down in New Orleans. Where there is cafe au lait, and lattes, and pumpkin spice muffins, all given five stars by our very own FBI Special Agent Sade Marquis. The book is available wide so click on the cover or the title for the universal link to your favorite on-line bookstore. What about y’all? Is pumpkin spice anything an annual favorite?”

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Monday Deadlines

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Silver James

This pretty much sums up last week and my weekend. In fact, it says it all.

Deadline is today. I’ll get ‘er done. Please tell me y’all had a real life the last few days!?!?

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Friday Sinema: Going Nuts

Posted on September 11, 2020 by Silver James

Okay, okay. Yes. All this pandemic thing is finally getting to me. And this guy has waaaaaay too much time on his hand but you know what, I not only wasted 7 minutes of my day, I’m thinking I’d actually buy (if I had the extra cash) something like this and I’d go broke keeping it stocked with nuts. Also, I wish this guy lived next door. He’s warped and I like it! Happy Friday. Go nuts this weekend!

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Challenges

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Silver James

My mission, and unlike Mr. Phelps and/or Mr. Hunt*, I can’t choose to not accept, is to finish the line edits and revisions on my next Harlequin Desire by Friday. My wonderful editor hinted that I could probably have until Monday. Imma gonna need it! The line edits are pretty easy–track changes/accept/decline. It’s the comments (aka questions/suggestions) that show up in the margins. Yeah…it’s a case of “What was I thinking?!?! Oh, wait…I wasn’t.” And that’s my challenge. Of course, the Universe just had to butt in with this:

Challenges in life don’t arise haphazardly, Silver, no matter how accidental or coincidental they may seem.

They only arrive when you’re ready for them.

Tallyho,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Not when you’re ready to be squashed, Silver, but when you’re ready to grow, overcome, and be more than who you were before they arrived.

I’m lucky to have my editor. He challenges me to reach deep. He doesn’t let me get lazy and take the easy way out. And no matter how much I gritch about it, he always ALWAYS makes my books better. He makes me grow, overcome, and be more than the writer I was before. Each and every time. And he’s so danged nice about it. I always get some grins and giggles and “atta girls.” He reminds me why I wanted to be an author in the first place. Even while I’m saying bad words under my breath and considering squashing the book because…well, this one was ready to be fixed. And that’s what I’m doing. And it wasn’t an accident or coincident that these edits arrived now, when I’m looking a hard deadlines on two other projects. Because I’m getting through the doldrums and finding my writing mojo again. So…hurray for challenges! What’s your challenge this week?

*the two spy guys (old skool and new) who head up the Mission Impossible team. And I bet you’re humming the theme song right this instant. 😉

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Wednesday Words: Tis the Season

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Silver James

With a change in seasons looming ever closer, the #1lineWed theme is **SEASON**. And, I’m in the middle of line edits for the next Red Dirt book coming in February from Harlequin Desire so I thought I throw in a little tease from that book. Since the heroine is a storm chaser, she’s all about the seasons because each one brings it’s own weather. I think this scene is fairly self-explanatory. 😉
****
There was always calm before the storm. They’d been getting along so well, but then again, they’d had a mild spring, Until now. Severe weather was out there waiting and Cooper realized he’d probably just stepped in a big ol’ pile of cow patties when he decreed that she was not going to be chasing tornadoes this year.

“You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do, Cooper Tate.” Britt was spitting mad. “It’s spring. Storm season. My job is to be out there—” She swept her arm in a wide arc indicating…the world. “This is what I do.”

“You’re pregnant.”

She cupped her palms on both sides of her belly. “Gee. Brilliant deduction. What was your first clue, Sherlock?”

“Britt—”

“Do not go there, Cooper. Don’t get all conciliatory and condescending. I’m perfectly healthy and thus capable of doing my job. My doctor has cleared me to work. The station has cleared me.”

He inhaled to argue again but she cut him off. “I sit in my truck. I drive my truck. I look at instrument readings. I’d say I take pictures but that’s what Leo is for. He’ll be with me. He’s perfectly capable of driving too. It’s just that trying to work the cameras and the communications equipment is better done when not driving. I’m not due until June. This is April. Heck, the doctor said I could work right up to the point my water breaks.”
****
And you can guess how Cooper reacted to that. 😆 So, writers–any seasonal words you want to share so we can enjoy them? Readers, what’s your favorite season?

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Tuesday Treats: Cinnamon Muffins

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Silver James

Falls is coming! Fall is coming! Fall is my favorite season because I’m all about the cool and the flavors that just seem so tasty while enjoying the cooler temps. Also, I’m really big on muffins and breads and…well…okay, pies and cakes and anything yummy. All of that said, my favorite fall flavor is cinnamon, and these muffins are just the medicine!

Total time: 35 mins.
Prep time: 15 Mins.
Cook time: 20 Mins.
12 Servings

Ingredients
2 cup flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup Melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon hot cocoa mix

Instructions
*Preheat oven 425 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups.
*In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and 2 T sugar
*In a small bowl mix egg, milk, and butter (melted)
*Stir egg mixture into the flour mixture
*Make topping and filling: combine 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, and hot cocoa mix
*Spoon half the batter into the muffin cups
*Sprinkle half the sugar mixture over the batter
*Spoon the remaining batter into the muffin cups and top with the sugar mixture
*Bake 15 to 20 minutes

Tips
1. You can substitute milk for coconut or almond milk.
2. My tip: I’ve used both soy milk and vanilla soy milk.

Y’all know the drill. HEAD HERE for all the nutritional details from Food Talk Daily. I’m not the only one in the “family” who enjoys fall. Or cinnamon muffins! Sean “Boomer” Donaldson remembers sneaking some from the old woman who occasionally took him in when he was a kid. He’s even been known to share some with Cody, his adopted son, when his mate Annie whips up a batch. You can read their story (plus Jacey and Nate’s!) in MOONSTRUCK: LIES. Or you can so the single route and read about them in WOLF MOON. Just click on the title or the cover to head over. MOONSTRUCK: LIES is available lots of places. WOLF MOON is only available from Amazon, but you can also read it free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. What about y’all? What’s your favorite fall flavor?

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