Is Monday Over Yet?

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Silver James

My get up and go got up and went. This is one of those days, and likely one of those weeks, where there won’t be enough coffee in the world to get me jumpstarted. Ah well. Such is life. Of course, even that beats the alternative.

Okay. There was a week and a weekend. Stuff happened. Other stuff didn’t happen. Where to begin?

Baseball is back. Yay! My Cards are off to a decent start with their opening homestand against the Pirates, up 2-1. I’m not a fan of mixing politics and sports so I’ve learned not to tune in until after the start time. I might miss the first few pitches but I can live with that. It’s baseball. In T-ball news, Stormy had a good game last Monday. The head coach was on vacation so Only was left in charge of the team. She did good, but she’s always been a great coach. Tonight is their last game. They’ll get their medals and then go on to something else until next spring.

In reading news, I listened to a book that went on my Best Books of the Year list: Heather Webber’s SOUTH OF THE BUTTONWOOD TREE. This is a sweetly poignant book full of southern small town life and secrets. It’s magical like moonlight on magnolia blossoms. There’s a touch of romance, second chances, magic, and family. Did I mention the magic? This book is southern magical realism at it’s best. I was sniffling and wiping tears, all while smiling. Yes, there were sad parts and some scary parts, but mostly the words just touched my heart so much I teared up. On the flip side of that, I finished up Shelley Laurenston’s Pride series and rolled over into her Honey Badger Chronicles series. Bears and honey badgers. What’s not to make me laugh?

TV is mostly…not. I’m oddly drawn to shows like “Strange Evidence,” “What on Earth,” “Paranormal Caught on Camera,” and “Mystic Britain.” Anything to avoid reality. Except I totally miss “Live PD” and evidently, A&E’s ratings are tanking since they canceled the show. Serves them right. Moving on. It’s Monday. I don’t feel like ranting and it’s not fair to subject y’all to one.

I did get some writing done. I’ve added a couple of chapters and a few scenes. Not enough but it’s progress. I don’t know why NIGHT WISH is so hard to write. Oh, the heroine did insist I give her a name change. I originally called her Jennifer “Jen” Hall. Nope. Yesterday, she got stubborn on me (after I kept typing Gen instead of Jen), and informed me that her name is Geneva “Gen” Pruitt. Okay. Who am I to argue. A little seek-and-find to change her name in the 24K words already written and it’s all good. I keep stopping and reading through the scenes I’ve already written, all in an effort to figure out where they go in the whole scheme of things. I have a few that I’m scratching my head over that will probably end up on the cutting room floor as they say.

So, that’s pretty much my life to date. We’re still healthy and hiding out unless we have to get out in the world. I’m learning to feel less guilty about naps and not working on WIPs because my brain refuses to brain. As long as I add words each week, s’all good, right? And write? I think so. Anyway, new week. Either the world will bring the same ol’ same ol’ or something news. Crossing fingers for something new. How are things in your neck of the words? Or worlds? Depending on whether you’re a writer or a reader. 😉 Let’s hope this week brings lots of new possibilities!

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Friday Free-For-All

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Silver James

It’s Friday. Or is that Fri-yay! Anyway, we’ve survived another week. I wanted to share these fun linky-dinks because they all made me smile, or laugh, or go awwwww. I promise if you click through, you’ll end your week on a bright note. Grab the beverage of your choice and take a quick break!

THIS ONE made me laugh and roll my eyes at the same time. Maybe some of these “guys” could be cover models for some of my books… 

Okay, THESE CATS get equal time for posing like pin-up girls. 

I have to admit, I’ve been tempted a time or ten to write book dedications LIKE THESE. 

I don’t get–or TRUST!–TikTok but when something like this shows up in my Cheezburger feed? Y’all know how awful my sense of humor is. This totally made me gigglesnort: TikTok users recreating a scene from The Princess Diaries USING THEIR CATS! Y’all will know exactly which scene it is the moment it starts.

LEGOS! At the San Antonio Zoo! Talk about cool animals. 😉

See, not too many links and when you click, a new tab in your browser should open so you don’t have to flip back and forth. I’m glad to see the end of this week, even though I don’t really have plans. Except…BASEBALL! Have a good weekend!

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Symbols

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Silver James

This has been a long week and it’s only Thursday. When things get dark, I tend to look for signs. And lo and behold, the Universe decided to toss me one. Of course, it’s not really telling me anything I didn’t already know but hey, the reminder is appreciated all the same. Because sometimes, we need to be reminded. I too often lett what’s out there *sweeps hand out* affect what’s in here. *taps head* This is something I need to work on, according to the Universe.

Pssst… Hey, gorgeous! Want to know a secret?

Everything in your life is a symbol, Silver.

A reflection. A clue. A reminder.

Of what you understand, and of what you don’t, made manifest.

Look to the beauty for truth. And to what hurts, for its beauty.

Your biggest fan,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Oh, yes indeed, Silver, life is fair. As fair as it is beautiful. Though this can’t always be seen from too close, in terms of either time or space.

And isn’t that the crux of things? That sometimes we’re too close to really see? That old saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees” is oft-quoated for a reason. It’s time to look inward and focus outward. Or look outward and focus inward. Whatever works. As writers, we need to remember to look for the truth in our words, to find the beauty in our stories, no matter how hard those words are to come by, no matter how difficult it is to create. As I said above, I’ve got to shove away reality and retreat into the worlds I can control and dream and create. Because my words will affect other people, and I need to be mindful of that. Gah! I totally dislike that word. Mindful. 🙄 The morning traffice reporter usees that word every other sentence. But in this case, I can’t think of one that works better. So I’ll be mindful of my words. And hopefully, my words will be mindful of me. What about y’all? Are you too close to see the whole story?

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Wednesday Words: Crash and Burn All Over Again

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Silver James

When I discovered this week’s #1lineWed prompt, I was really tempted to pull something from one of my books. CRASH AND BURN is a good one but then I realized that I had the theme in my current WIP, NIGHT WISH. And since I’m trying to tease y’all into getting excited about reading it this fall, I figured I give you a totally new–and first draft–snippet. The scene is mostly self-explanatory.
****
Jen
I knew he was too good to be true. Wiz was…well…everything. Handsome. Rugged. Sexy. Funny. All male. Did I mention sexy? And never to be mine. Because I was none of those things. Okay, none of those things in the female version. I was plain—unless I spent way too much time on hair and makeup. Wimpy and out of shape. I’d never be anyone’s idea of a pin-up girl.
Did I mention dull? That’s another word often used to describe me. Definitely not sexy or hot. I knew this was a train wreck waiting to happen and that train not only derailed, it plowed right through the station.

“Babe?”

Looking up, I discovered Wiz standing about four feet away, watching me in that intently focused way that made me feel like we were prey and predator. He still wore that other woman’s lipstick on his mouth and neck. I lifted my chin. I might not be a skinny-ass size zero but I had my pride.

“Jen, it’s not what you think.” Wiz reached for me but I backed away.

“Maybe I would have believed you, but you didn’t even take the time to wipe away the evidence.”

His lids hooded his eyes, but for a moment, I swore I caught a flash of feral red in them before he shuttered his expression.
“I’m an idiot,” I admitted, my heart crashing to earth and burning up in flames of embarrassment. How could I be so stupid? Preparing for the inevitable, I let him off the hook. “Believing someone like you would want to hook up with someone like me? Not happening. Our worlds are too different, Wiz. So no hard feelings, okay?”

He just stared then ground out, “Not okay. You’re mine, Pink.”

“No, I’m not.”

He kissed me breathless, and I crashed and burned all over again, but in a totally different way.
****
And that’s it, boys and girls. The good news is, new words are coming. Also, there’s a reason he calls her Pink. You’ll find out one of these days. In the meantime, writers, any crashes or burns to share? Readers, are you fascinated by train wrecks of the romance kind?

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Tuesday Treats: Mile-High Peanut Butter Pie

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Silver James

Two of my favorite flavors–separate or apart–is peanut butter and chocolate. Chocolate peanut clusters are my Kryptonight with Reeces Peanut Butter Cups coming in a close second. Anyway, for a summertime dessert, this one is hard to beat if you happen to approve of my flavor addictions. 😉 

Total Time: 3 Hr. 45 Min.
Prep Time: 20 Min.
Cook Time: 3 Hr. 25 Min.
12 servings

Enjoy this tasty peanut butter pie made with chocolate pudding, vanilla wafers and COOL WHIP. Mile-High Peanut Butter Pie takes only 20 minutes to prep.

What You Need
35 vanilla wafers, finely crushed
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding
2 cups cold milk, divided
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
1/2 oz. BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

Let’s Make It
1 – Heat oven to 375ºF.
2 – Combine wafer crumbs and butter; press onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate. Bake 10 min.; cool.
3 – Beat chocolate pudding mix and 1 cup milk with whisk 2 min. (Pudding will be thick.) Spread onto bottom of crust. Gradually add remaining milk to cream cheese in large bowl, beating constantly with mixer until well blended. Add dry vanilla pudding mix; beat 2 min.
4 – Reserve 1 Tbsp. peanut butter. Add remaining peanut butter to vanilla pudding mixture; beat until blended. Gently stir in 1 cup COOL WHIP. Spread over chocolate pudding layer to within 1 inch of edge. Top with remaining COOL WHIP.
5 – Refrigerate 3 hours. When ready to serve, microwave remaining peanut butter in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 15 sec. or until melted when stirred. Melt chocolate as directed on package. Drizzle peanut butter, then chocolate over pie.

Kitchen Tips
Tip 1 – Variation: Prepare using reduced-fat vanilla wafers, fat-free milk, PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, reduced-fat peanut butter, COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping, 1 pkg. (1.4 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Sugar Free Instant Pudding and 1 pkg. (1 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Sugar Free Fat Free Instant Pudding.

Tip 2 – Substitute: Substitute 1 pkg. (3.3 oz.) JELL-O White Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding for the vanilla pudding.

Tip 3 – Peanut Butter Trifle: Do not crush wafers. Place half the wafers in 1-1/2-qt. bowl. Prepare pudding mixtures as directed; spoon in layers over wafers. Top with remaining wafers and COOL WHIP; drizzle with melted peanut butter and chocolate.

In addition to the nutritional information, there’s a how-to video so CLICK ON OVER to My Food and Family! This is such a popular recipe among my characters that they were all raising their hands to be picked. That’s when they all moved out of the pregnant lady’s way. Lainey Walker, the heroine of NIGHT MOVES, and mate to Hollywood Hilton pointed out that she craves this pie like damn and whoah and she can make it all be herself without help, even while “sticking out so far I can’t even belly up to the bar, much less the kitchen counter.” Notice Hollywood standing over in the corner all but doubled over with laughter, hand clamped tightly over his mouth. Also notice that Lainey is totally ready for motherhood as she raised her twin little brothers and therefore has eyes in the back of her head. Watch her pick up the granite rolling pin she uses to crunch the vanilla wafers and bean Wood with it. Good thing Wolve’s have hard heads, right? Anyway, you can read how they med in NIGHT MOVES and watch for the next chapter of their life coming as a side story in NIGHT WISH (coming this fall!). Just click on the cover or the titles to head over to buy your copy from your favorite on-line store if you don’t have one already!

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Monday Summer in the City

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Silver James

It’s hot. And humid. And hot. Not sure why this is a thing. It’s mid-July in Oklahoma. I might believe in climate change if it were say…60 degrees at 6 a.m. instead of 80. Ah, the dog days of summer. My dogs are laying on top of the AC vents. I’m laying under the ceiling fan. I want to sleep. And drink cold things and eat ice cream. Sounds like a plan to me.

What I don’t want to do is work. I don’t want to organize my office and get it rearranged–which it is in desperate need of. I don’t want to sit at the computer and write new words. I don’t want to clean house, cook, or anything else. I think this is called the summer doldrums.

So, there was a week and a weekend and this is my normal Monday update so I should just be brimming with news. 🥱 Is it naptime yet? So, in a nutshell, I got a few words written, only part of them dealing with the WIP. I continued listening to my re-listen of the Pride series. I watched “Good Bones,” “Beach Bargain Hunters: Renovation,” and…”Windy City Rehab”? I think I woke up to that one but switched over to the local news so I could discover how hot it was going to be.

The highlight of the week was Stormy. Between T-ball Monday and coming over Friday afternoon to play, have dinner, spend the night, have breakfast, and lunch, we got to bookend the week with one of our favorite little people. Okay, he IS our favorite little person. Only and Baseball Boy picked him up to head to a friend’s house for a swim Saturday afternoon after a gourmet lunch catered by Chik-fil-A. 😉 Stormy’s taking swimming lessons so pretty sure they had fun. He was fun while he was here, too. He and his Big Daddy aka Lawyer Guy went through a bunch of the Hot Wheels they’ve been collecting. Some are to play with, some are to keep. LG tries to get doubles so Stormy can play and collect at the same time. I asked him what he wanted for dinner and was informed, “Baloney cheese sammiches!” He and LG had bologna and cheese sandwiches on Texas toast and I had roasted chicken and cheese. Easy to cook. His parents don’t do bologna. Neither do I, but I keep it in the house because that’s what married people do. I love tuna casserole but I haven’t made it since about a month into our marriage when LG informed me he hated two things: tuna casserole and mac-n-cheese. Ah, the sacrifices I make! Do I indulge when he’s gone? Damn straight I do! 🤣 Oh! The other thing is, Stormy introduced us to “The Floor is Lava.” It’s a game show. On…Netflix? Anyway, 3 teams of 3 adults have to cross a room filled with obstacles while the “floor” bubbles like lava. It involves leaps and balance, and cargo nets, and monkey bars, and swinging from chandeliers, and disappearing steps, and it’s oddly fascinating in a slow-motion train-wreck kind of way. Who knew?

Anyway, that’s pretty much what my life is like these days–sitting under the AC, staring at the computer monitor, letting hot dogs in and out, and listening to old favorite books. And napping. Who knew I’d make up for all that lost nap time when I was a kid? I hope to get work done this week. Or more naps in. Whichever happens the most. And coffee. Sadly, I can slug back an extra-large cup of coffee and be fighting to keep my eyes open 15 minutes later. What’s going on in your world? How’s your weather and how are you coping? Any good books, TV, or movies to recommend?

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Friday Sinema: Like This

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Silver James

As per my usual stumbling around on Youtube, I tripped over this video and just like that *snaps fingers* I got insight into Jen’s psyche and why she keeps putting up with Wiz despite all his shenanigans. NIGHT WISH is starting to really take shape now. And…This is a good song to boot. So, sit back, take a few minutes of music time and get ready for the weekend. Stormy’s coming to spend the night so I’m going to enjoy my quiet time while I have the chance! 😉

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Action

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Silver James

Some time ago, back before this whole social distancing thing, I was somewhere. It’s been so long I don’t really remember but let’s say, for the story’s sake, that I was at a cocktail party. People in sparkly clothes–okay, women because the men were all in suits and stuff–stood around with drinks in their hands making small talk. Because we ALL know you can’t make big talk at one of those things. Me? I was standing there in my equivalent of a little black dress muttering bad words under my breath because my feet hurt (whoever invented heels should be shot, drawn, quartered, skewered with live bamboo growing up through their feet and YES! that can happen because I saw it on an episode of “Strange Evidence” on the Science Channel) when a woman asked, after we were introduced, “I’m in real estate. What do you do?” I smiled and stated that I write books. “Ah,” she said archly. “I’ve always thought I should write a book. I have a way with words but I just never found the time.” Yeah. Okay. That one ranks right up there with, “Oh! You write books? I have a great idea, you should write it for me.” Uh, no. Just…hell, no. What does this have to do with anything? Writing books, of course. Writing is not easy. Not everyone can do it. And not everyone can keep doing it for years. Some do it better than others. Some do it faster. Some take YEARS to write their masterpiece (lookin’ at you, George R.R. Martin, even though I’m not a fan). The thing is, to be a writer, you have to write. No matter how few words a day. You have to sit and put words to paper, or a computer screen. You have to tell a story. And, yes, I am talking about writing fiction here, because I don’t do nonfiction. Thing is, we can’t sit around waiting for inspiration to strike like a lightning bolt. It doesn’t work that way. It HELPS when it does but mostly, it’s sitting here staring at a blank page in whatever software we use and thinking up words to fill up the space. Sometimes, we get lazy and decide that the whole thing just isn’t worth the effort because our brains aren’t braining. Or it’s raining. Or the world is crazy. Or…excuses, excuses. Trust me. I have a whole book of the darn things. I’m to the point now that I have no excuse. Which is why the Universe gave me a Gibbs Slap™ in the form of this:

Don’t wait for those feelings of excitement, confidence, and clarity, Silver, before you take action.

Take action, and they’ll follow.

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

If you have to, Silver, just pretend. Make believe. Fake it. Right now, get up, walk outside, smile, wave, wink, and exude.

There’s all sorts of advice about waiting around for inspiration, including the favorite of romance writers delivered by LaNora* herself: You can fix anything but a blank page. So yeah, the Universe just threw down the gauntlet. Because writing romance is all about pretending and make believe. And if my imagination is on strike and that darn Iffy, my Muse from hell, is carrying a protest sign right beside that darn imagination, it IS time to fake until I make it. So, I got up, walked outside, smiled, waived, winked, and exuded all the inspiration that I don’t have. Now it’s time to sit down and write. I’m gonna get right on that, right after I recaffienate. What are y’all gonna sit down and do?

*aka Nora Roberts and/or J.D. Robb

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Wednesday Words: It’s Not the Heat…

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Silver James

The heat dome is hovering and the dew point is in the high 70s. So’s the humidty percentage. Welcome to the good ol’ summertime. I’d roll my eyes but I’m afraid to get sweat in them. Oh, who am I kidding, I’m sitting under a ceiling fan with the AC going. Because it is so miserable outside, today’s theme for #1LineWed is apropos: heat, humidity, hot. Luckily, I had just the scene to share from NIGHT WISH. I’m not going to set it up, just let y’all kinda roll with it because I’m all mean like that. 😉

****
Jen
Early to bed, early to rise. Welcome to my life, I thought bitterly. I was neither wealthy, healthy or wise. No. I was simply mired in a swamp of depression, regrets, and feeling totally stupid. Why was I here? What had I been thinking? Masochist. That was me.

The AC in Rascal worked overtime. “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity,” the weatherman had intoned that morning. Seriously? Heat plus humidity added up to danged hot! And my hair was the lastest victim.

I heaved out of my car then leaned back in to grab my bag. I hated this job. Hated my apartment. Hated my life. I even hated myself but could I hate the one person who was the basis for all this? Oh, hell no. Not me. See? Masochist. Totally. I shut my car door and beeped the locks with my fob. Trudging to the front door, I fumbled for the other set of keys.

Something slammed into me and I careened into the building’s entrance, my face smashing against the glass door. Stunned, I tried to figure out what had happened. I caught a reflection in the glass. Two men. In hoodies. One had a gun. Did I mention I hated Mondays?

“Open the door, bitch.”

Stars zoomed around my head like in the cartoons but my brain decided it was time to think. I could unlock the door and not hit the alarm code. Or I could hit the panic button. Or…not. Had my employer paid the alarm company? I’d bugged him about that for two months now.

“Bitch! Door!”

I dug in my bag for the keys, managing to spill a bunch of stuff in the process. Not that I cared. The one with the gun was now pressed up against me and the barrel of the gun pressed into that soft indention at the base of my skull. A shadow flickered in my peripheral vision and then there was nothing around me. I checked the glass door for reflections. No. Wasn’t my imagination. The two men were gone. Poof. Like puffs of smoke.

A third man appeared, this one tall, muscular, and wearing an all-too-familiar vest. For a moment, my heart seized. Wizard? But it wasn’t. Another Nightrider. One I didn’t recognize. He shook his head and looked like he wanted to tsk at me.
“Seriously, babe. You need to find a better job.”

Did I mention I hated Mondays? They just weren’t conducive to good health.
****

What are you doing to stay cool? Writers, do you have any heated words to share? Readers, where’s your favorite place to indulge in a good book when the temps steam up outside?

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Tuesday Treats: Lemon-Blueberry Bars

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Silver James

It’s summer time. It’s hot. And there’s fresh fruit by the carton at the grocery store or farmer’s market. This recipe combines two of my favorite hot-weather flavors: lemon and blueberry. This treat is easy to whip up and doesn’t totally heat up the kitchen.

Total Time: 1 Hr. 20 Min.
Prep Time: 20 Min.
Cook Time: 1 Hr.
32 servings

Bake up Lemon-Blueberry Bars for a moist, fruity treat. Our Lemon-Blueberry Bars join yellow cake and cream cheese with lemon zest and fresh blueberries.

What You Need
1/2 cup butter
1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
2 eggs, divided
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. zest and 3 Tbsp. juice from 1 lemon
2-1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Reynolds® is a registered trademark of Reynolds Consumer Products LLC

Let’s Make It
1 – Heat oven to 350ºF.
2 – Line 13×9-inch pan with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Microwave butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 to 1-1/2 min. or until melted. Add dry cake mix and 1 egg; beat with mixer until blended. Press 2/3 of the dough onto bottom of prepared pan.
3 – Beat cream cheese and sugar with mixer until blended. Add remaining egg, zest and juice; mix well. Pour over crust; top with berries. Pinch small pieces of the remaining dough between your fingers; press lightly into cream cheese layer.
4 – Bake 55 min. to 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Use foil handles to lift dessert from pan before cutting into bars.

Kitchen Tips
Tip 1 – How to Soften Cream Cheese: Place completely unwrapped package of cream cheese in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 10 sec. or just until softened. Add 15 sec. for each additional package of cream cheese.

Tip 2 – Note: For best results, refrigerate the cooled dessert before cutting into bars. Keep bars refrigerated.

Tip 3 – Substitute: Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese.

As usual, this recipe is brought to us by My Food and Family so CLICK ON OVER for all the details. Also, Dana Peterson, the heroine of RESCUE MOON, makes this all the time and shared the fact that her mate, Hawk Greenwood, has been known to steal the pan to eat them before anyone else can get a chance. A reader emailed and asked if any of my Moonstruck Wolf books included Ghost Bryson and his team (from Susan Stoker’s worlds.) I realized then that I hadn’t visited with Dana and Hawk in awhile so with that nudge, I asked for her favorite summer recipe and we both agreed this one is the bomb! Want to read how Hawk rescues Dana from a Mexican drug cartel? You can read RESCUE MOON for free with Kindle Unlimited or $2.99 to keep on your digital shelf. Just click on the title or the cover to head over to Amazon to grab it. What’s your favorite summertime flavor(s)?

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