Thursday Thoughts: Universal Journey

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Silver James

I’m not a famous author. At best, I’m mid-list but hey. I sell some books. I get the occasional bit of fan mail. and I’ve made friends of some of my readers. S’all good. But you know what? The Universe has a point. None of us are born famous. Okay. MOST of us aren’t born famous or world-class or celebrated. Sometimes it does matter who you are rather than what you are but that’s a discussion for another day. Today is about journeys.

The one thing all famous authors, world-class athletes, business tycoons, singers, actors, and celebrated achievers in any field have in common, Silver, is that they all began their journeys when they were none of these things.

Yet still, they began their journeys.

You are so poised for greatness,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

One day, they’re going to name something big after you, Silver! Like a statue, a college… or a hurricane.

With my luck, it’ll be the hurricane! 🤣🤣🤣 But even hurricanes travel. They have to start somewhere as a small tropical dpression and then they build to a tropical storm and then all the things come together and a hurrican forms. Athletes start by learning to walk. And when they start to run or hit balls or make baskets or throw footballs or ride horses or pick up an epee or a rifle or hockey stick or whatever sport they pursue, they practive. They might have talent but if they don’t work at it, practice, get better, they won’t achieve that world-class status. Singers. Actors. Dancers. They start with a grain of talent and they work their tails off to climb the ladder of success. Sometimes, luck plays a part. Sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes, no matter what we do, we never hit those lofty goals. But you know what? We try. We take our grain of talent and we work to improve on it. We don’t give up. And isn’t that the bottom line? Never give up? Never give in? So i’ll keep writing and maybe, if the Universe is right, I’ll achieve my goal of being on a best-sellers list. If not, no biggie. I’ll have told some amazing stories, shared them with people who enjoyed them and I’ll have left my small mark on the world. That’s nothing to sneeze at my friends. Nothing at all. What journey are you going to start today?

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Wednesday Words: Thunder and Lightning

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Silver James

It’s Wednesday again. I don’t know why that surprises me. But it’s Wednesday. And that means words to fit the theme of #1lineWed from Twitter. Which I don’t do because…Twitter. But I like the nudge of the prompt, so there ya go. Anyway, these are new, first-draft words from NIGHT WISH. I don’t think it will be much of a spoiler that Gen and Wiz are on-again/off-again. A lot. Because…reasons. Anyway, she’s gone home and he finally follows her and shows up at her house. You can figure it out from there.
****
Wizard
No lights showed. I took a minute to check the place out in wolf form. Gen would live in a house like this—a cottage with shutters and flower boxes but the wreath on the door was something shiny and modern. Maybe she’d stopped doing predictable. Off to the west, lightning flickered, illuminating a low bank of clouds. Almost a minute later, the rumble of thunder followed. Indian summer had turned hot and humid and an old-fashioned storm brewed on the horizon. Perfect. It matched the storm roiling inside me.

Shifting back to human, I dressed. I’d parked my bike behind a boarded up building a couple of blocks away. Revving the motor, my engine rivaled the thunder rolling closer. Having no desire to get wet, I drove to Gen’s house and parked under the portico, my bike up tight to that ridiculous red car of hers. I climbed the steps to the porch and rang the bell, but I punched it three times before the overhead light flipped on. I heard two locks click before the door opened a crack.

Startled gray eyes skimmed over me and the sweet fragrance of peaches ripened, heated, and I scented cinnamon. Oh, yeah. She’d missed me. Gen opened the wide, stepping back without a word. This was probably the only invitation I’d get tonight. I followed her inside. She didn’t shut the door behind me. Not a good sign.

“You look good, babe.” She did, because she hadn’t changed a bit. I’d worried about that. She’d always looked perfect to me, had from the moment I laid eyes on her in that fucking pink frou-frou bridesmaid dress.

I got an eyeroll and headshake like she didn’t believe the compliment. “I’m not the one you expected, am I?”

“You can say that again,” she muttered. “I expected to never see you again.”

“That’s not the way this game is played.”

“This was never a game, Wizard.”

Hiding my satisfaction, I shrugged. “I told you once, Gen. You’re mine and I’ll never let you go.”

She flushed and her eyes flashed with anger. Good.

“I belong to no one.” She brushed past me.

My wolf perked up. He liked to play chase. “Game on, baby.”
****
So there it is. Wiz is ready to play but trust me, Gen is giving him a run for his money. I’m making progress with the story but time is getting tight. Still, new words are new words and each one gets me closer to THE END. What about y’all? Writers, got any stormy words to share with us today? And readers, do you find storms romantic? Becasue…some do, don’cha know. 😉

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Tuesday Treats: 30-Minute Chicken Skillet Manicotti

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Silver James

I’m a big fan of Italian food. I’m also a big fan of easy and quick Italian food. Or Mexican food. Or any kind of tasty food for that matter. Because, let’s face it. I. Like. Food. I just don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen putting it all together these days because I’m all lazy and stuff. This is quick, and pretty darn tasty.

Total Time: 30 Min.
Prep Time: 30 Min.
8 servings

Stuff manicotti shells with chicken, tomatoes and cheese for a 30-Minute Chicken Manicotti Skillet. This chicken manicotti skillet is great for weeknights.

What You Need
1-1/2 cups CLASSICO Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 cup water
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1/4 cup KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing
1/4 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Italian* Five Cheese with a TOUCH OF PHILADELPHIA, divided
8 manicotti shells, uncooked
* Made with quality cheeses crafted in the USA.

Let’s Make It
1 – Mix pasta sauce, tomatoes and water until blended.
2 – Combine 3/4 cup of the sauce with chicken, dressing, basil and 1/2 cup cheese; spoon into manicotti shells. Place in nonstick skillet; top with remaining sauce. Turn to evenly coat manicotti with sauce. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium heat 15 min. or until manicotti is tender, turning after 8 min.
3 – Remove from heat. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; let stand 5 min. or until melted.

Kitchen Tips
Tip 1 – Substitute: Substitute 1 lb. ground beef, cooked and drained, for the chopped cooked chicken.

Tip 2 – Plan Ahead for Leftovers: Preparing dinner can be easier if you plan ahead to have leftovers. Roast an extra-large chicken one night, then enjoy this easy skillet dish made with the leftover cooked chicken the next night.

Personal note: I don’t do tomatoes. Allergy. So I leave them out but your mileage may vary so dump ’em in if that’s your preference. 😉

Head to My Food and Family by CLICKING HERE for the full details. And as usual, my heroines aren’t the only ones who can cook. Some of my guys cook too. Like David “Pops” West, chief of the Tarpley Volunteer Fire Department, silver fox, foster dad, and all-round good guy. Just ask Elena Rodriguez, his heroine in FIGHTING FOR ELENA, part of Susan Stoker’s Operation Alpha: Police and Fire series, and book 1 of the Tarpley VFD mini-series. If you haven’t read this book yet, you can read free on Kindle Unlimited or add it to your keeper shelf in digital and/or paperback. Just click on the book cover or title for the link.

What about y’all? What’s your favorite ethnic food?
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Half-Way Monday

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Silver James

So, this whole waking up waaaaay before the butt-crack of dawn is getting old. REALLY old! And it makes me feel older than I am and I’m older than dirt. Thing is, once I wake up, I’m awake. Pretty much. Sometimes, if it’s like 2 or 3 a.m., I can doze off. But from 4 a.m. on? I’m awake. I might not be up, but I’m awake. I wish I could blame it on the critters but I can’t. Ah well. It’s also the middle of the month. August is half over. Yay! Sunrise and sunset are later and earlier, respectively. I’m ready for fall! I don’t like hot weather. Not too fond of cold, but I can get warm a whole lot easier than I can cool off.

Yes, I’m rambling. There’s not a whole lot to discuss. Stormy spend a lot of time over here last week while Baseball Boy got ready for the start of school. Stormy heads back to school Wednesday. I think the only one in their family who is sad about that is Dozer, their dog. He’s enjoyed having his people home for all these months.

Starbucks keeps sucking me in with bonus stars. And there’s a game going on so I don’t spend my stars when I buy stuff because…plays. Except this isn’t one of those games where you do/buy this/that/another to finish the game. Nope. this one is an electronic ball drop game like plinko. I suck so no wins or free stars for me. Ah well. Jake likes to ride and get his puppucino.

I got new words written last week. Several days were over 2K, a couple were around 1K and there was one or two where it was more like 100. But new words. Only and I are in discussions about the cover. I’m still pushing to be done by the end of the month because I have to write a 50K in September and October for a Susan Stoker/Tarpley VFD release in February. But hey, new words and pretty steady stream of them on a daily basis! Yay for AuGoWriMo!

The Cards are back and look serious about their baseball. They took Saturday’s double header. Sunday’s game was tight. And then it wasn’t. Still, they went 2-1 against the White Sox. I’m glad to have them back! They have 17 days to make up so lots of double headers. I hope they have the stamina. 🤞

Finished off two library audio books. Luke Arnold (the actor who played John Silver in “Black Sails”) narrated his own book. He has an awesome voice and the fantasy, THE LAST SMILE IN SUNDER CITY was sad and exciting and hopeful and I’ll be looking for a sequal, just in case. If straight fantasy is your thing, you might give it a look. The other book is a very sexy paranormal romance by Susanne Wright. I’m also sprinkling in re-listens to the In Death series. No more holds at the library but a new book by fave authors Ilona Andrews set in their Hidden Legacy world drops in about 9 days. I love the series so there will be a marathon. 😆

Still not watching much TV but for the freaky stuff like What on Earh? and Strange Evidence. And movies? Pffft. Just not interested. I know. Boring.

And…that’s about the summation of my week and weekend. Saturday and Sunday I was lump except for some words written, trips to Starbucks, baseball and listening to books. Not a bad life but totally not noteworthy. Hope y’all are doing more fun stuff than me. Anything exciting occur? Any news you want to share? Got plans for this week? I’m foreseeing naps if I don’t get my stupid cicadian rhythms ironed out. Have a great week!

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Friday Sinema: Walk on the Wild Side

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Silver James

It’s Friday. How did that happen so fast? Like this week, this video is short. And it sort of made me laugh because the male wolf in it? Yeah, he sort of reminded me–at least personality-wise–of several of the Wolves I know (and love!). Who does he remind you of? Have a great weekend!

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Hindsight

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Silver James

So, the other day on a friend’s blog, she was talking about authors telling potential readers that their books are just like *insert best selling author(s) name here*. Back when I was cold querying agents and editors, one of the things they often wanted to know in my introductory letter/email was what author did I resemble in my work. I HATED that part. I didn’t think I wrote like anyone else. In fact, I did one of those on-line things where you copy/paste a snippet of your WIP and the algorythms do their thing and spits out who you write like. One time, I got Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen, people! An old-school Norwegian playwright. Another time, I got Joseph Heller. Of Catch-22 fame. Seriously? Talk about skewed! The closest I got was one that said I write like Agatha Christie but I’m darn sure not going to tout that. I mean, that’s like me saying I’m the next Nora Roberts/JD Robb. I wish they made on of those things for romance writers. Romance is a rather rarefied writing style. Also, I think they just put names in on a rotation and it doesn’t really matter what words you plug in.

Anyway. It was an interesting discussion and if any of you think my writing reminds you of some best-selling author’s, PLEASE! I’d love to know. If I ever get asked that again, I can honestly say, “Well, I have readers who have compared me to _____________ (Fill in the blank.)

What does this have to do with hindsight and the Universe?

Sometimes, Silver, when you look back at the trail you’ve tread, it’s actually hard to believe you were as scared or confused or uncertain as you were, yet still you rocked it.

I say, remember that next time you feel scared, confused, or uncertain.

You’re on fire,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Works the same for running out of chocolate, Silver.

In my roundabout way, I’m looking back on my trail. I was scared (still am more often than not), extremely confused because I didn’t have a clue how it all worked, and uncertain? Oh hell yeah! I was well into middle age before I got really serious about getting published. Oh, I’d puttered around, queried a few times, submitted some works, garnered my share of rejections, sold a few essay/opinion pieces to niche publications, but no fiction. And every rejection put my plans that much further on the back burner. Where was the Universe’s message when I needed it all those years ago?!?! Anyway, I kept writing, finally found my nerve, got an agent (and parted from her a few years later), sold some manuscripts and self-published others. I’m still scared, confused, and uncertain, but I see the path before me and that’s half the battle. Right? Right! So, writers, take heart. And readers, I am really REALLY curious about your thoughts on my style. You know, just in case… 😉

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Wednesday Words: Friends

Posted on August 12, 2020 by Silver James

Well now. It’s Wednesdeay again and time for more words. I have some. Yay! Today’s theme is FRIENDS. I was not a fan of the show but when you have friends in low places, it’s all good. Today’s very rough, first draft offering comes from Wiz’s POV. The road to a HEA between he and Geneva is not very smooth. There’s him. And her. And all their issues. And then there’s all the MC stuff going down. Luckily, the old ladies are looking after Gen. I think you might be able to figure out what’s going on…
****
Wizard
I pushed the kitchen door open and it slammed against the wall. I wasn’t pissed. Much. The noise in the clubroom behind me didn’t cover up the door’s bang. The two women standing next to the stove stared at me, wide-eyed and pretending innocence. Inhaling deeply, I let my wolf’s senses sort through the various scents permeating the room.

“Oh, hi, Wiz.” Sam wiggled fingers in a gesture to match her voice. Easy’s old lady thought she was pulling one over on me. She cut her eyes to Shy, Gravedigger’s mate. She just rolled her eyes and glowered. Shy had been an MP in the Army. She didn’t put up with bullshit.

I sniffed again. There it was. A faint whiff of peaches, overridden by fake fresh air. I noticed the can of air freshener that Shy hadn’t quite managed to nudge behind her. Gen. She’d been here. And since these two were doing their best to cover that up, Gen had been standing in this kitchen recently. Fuck.

“Where is she?”

The old ladies exchanged looks again. Shy hooked her thumbs in her jeans and Sam crossed her arms over her chest.
“She who?”

“Don’t fuck with me, Sam.”

“You might be a bastard, Wizard, but Gen is still our friend so screw you.” Shy’s gaze narrowed and fuck if I didn’t actually see the light bulb go off in her eyes. “Wait. What’s really going on?”

“Club business.” The cold voice whipped through the room and we all jumped. Even me. I’d been so intent on the old ladies, the club prez had managed to sneak up even on me. That said, thank fuck for the Russian. Nobody argued with him.

Shy and Sam glowered at him. The Russian was covered in Teflon so their shit bounced off him and hit me. I jumped in before Russki did. “There is no Gen. Not on club property. She and me? We’re done. You wanna keep her—” I made my voice sound like I didn’t give a shit. “Go for it. But not around me or any of the other brothers.”

Sam’s eyes widened. “What are you saying, Wiz?”

“Speakin’ English here, Sam. Do I need to get Easy to explain the facts of club life to you? Again?”

Little bitch shot me the finger, not that I could blame her. One more look passed between the two of them and then they pushed past me—or tried, anyway. I didn’t move so Sam gave me a shove. I was laughing at her when Shy’s fist caught me in the jaw. Damn but that woman knew how to throw a punch.

“That’s for being a total prick.” Shy stared at the Russian. His expression never changed. “And someday, you cold-hearted bastard, you’ll get a taste of your own medicine and I’m gonna laugh at your sorry ass.”

Then they were gone, punching through the swinging door so that it slammed against the clubroom wall. The noise out there dwindled to silence and moments later, Gravedigger and Easy were standing framed in the door.

“What the hell, Wiz?” Easy grumbled. Digger just growled.

“Fuck off. All y’all.”

I went out the back door. My bike was parked by the Barracks. At the moment, I only wanted the freedom of the open road.

“Wizard.”

Not even the Russian could stop me. Not this time.

“Cover him.”

I ignored that order too, kick-starting my Harley, settling onto the seat and roaring off toward the front gate. Motherfucker better be open or I’d be ramming straight through it.
****
Yeah, I’d say Wiz is not in a good mood. That’s what happens when club business gets in the way of claiming a mate. 😉 What about y’all? Writers, any friendly words to share? Readers, which characters would you like to be friends with?

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Tuesday Treats: Three-Ingredient Cloud Bread

Posted on August 11, 2020 by Silver James

Sometimes, store-bought just doesn’t cut it and you want something that looks fancy when you make up a board. “What’s a board?” you ask. That’s when you make up a snazzy spread of fruit, cheese, meat, crackers, breads, and other goodies and you “present” it on a large serving plate or an actual board–like a cutting board. Anyway, it looks good. These bread rounds take your presentation to the next level.

Total Time: 35 Min.
Prep Time: 15 Min.
Cook Time: 20 Min.
5 servings – 2 pieces of bread each

Keep your baking as simple as 1-2-3 with our Three-Ingredient Cloud Bread recipe. This Three-Ingredient Cloud Bread is made with eggs, cream of tartar and savory PHILADELPHIA Garlic & Herb Cream Cheese Spread.

What You Need
3 eggs, separated
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
3 Tbsp. PHILADELPHIA Garlic & Herb Cream Cheese Spread

Let’s Make It
1 – Heat oven to 300°F.
2 – Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in medium bowl with mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form; set aside.
3 – Beat cream cheese spread in separate medium bowl with mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add egg yolks; beat just until blended. Fold in egg whites.
4 – Scoop cream cheese mixture into 5 mounds on each of 2 baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray, using about 1/4 cup cream cheese mixture for each mound. Use back of spoon to spread each meringue mound into 3-1/2-inch round.
5 – Bake 17 to 20 min. or until peaks of meringue rounds are golden brown. Cool 5 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

Kitchen Tips
Tip 1 – Substitute: Prepare using your favorite flavor of PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread.

Tip 2 – Note: For breads with a softer texture, store cooled breads in tightly covered container at room temperature up to 24 hours before serving.

You can check out all the nutritional info over at My Food and Family by CLICKING HERE. Zeta Cordero, the heroine of UNDER THE ASSASSIN’S MOON is the first to admit that her Wolf mate, Brody Buchanan, is the better cook–especially when they are cruising around the Caribbean on his boat. However, her mother used to make cloud bread and when she found this recipe, she tried it. While not quite what she remembers from childhood, it’s still tasty and easy and what’s better when drifting around the turquoise blue of the Islands than a quick plate of munchables–fruit, cheese, bread, and meat for her carnivorous mate. Zeta and Brody’s story is an interesting one. He’s MIA from Delta Force and she’s a top CIA assassin sent to take him down. Curious? Just click on the cover or the title. This book is a stand-alone, part of my Moonstruck Wolf series and Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha world. You can read for free on Kindle Unlimited or buy it for the bargain price of $2.99 for your digital keeper shelf. And don’t forget the cloud bread! Zeta wants to know if your snack plates look as fancy as hers. She knows the ones I make are just dumped out on a paper plate and she’s hoping my friends are more stylish. 😉

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Hot August Nights and a Monday

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Silver James

Hot August Night. That used to be one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite singers. Oh, the fantasies I had about Neil Diamond when I was young and foolish. Back when such things mattered to an angsty teenager, Diamond’s songs were the sountrack to my life. Now I’m just old and married for like forever. Sort of. I’ve spent over half my life with the same man. We BOTH deserve medals. 🙂

So, as you can guess, the temperate weather we enjoyed in July is history. August, with its heat and humidity, came roaring in like Leo the Lion that is most of its astrological sign. I first typed “her”, when referring to August, and then realized that Leo is a male lion so I changed the pronoun to it. August just feels…feminine to me. Maybe because Virgo arrives at the end of the month? Who knows?

I got writing done! In fits and starts but over 10K words for the week. I hit the word lottery big a few days and barely got the cost of my Scratcher back the rest. Still, forward progress. The good news is, some of the loose threads have been woven in and can be neatly tied off down the road. Yay. I knew those weird snippets/characters would play a part somewhere. Iffy’s been running with scissors again so sometimes, it takes awhile for all the ideas to reveal where they mesh.

Reading/listening was okay. Moving ahead on my relisten of the In Death series. I can always count on them. That’s what favorite series/books are important to me. Even in a reading slump, I can find an oldie but goodie to fit the bill. Did listen to one new book. I should have liked it a whole lot. I wanted to like it a whole lot. WRitten by a writing duo I enjoyed, set (sort of) in a world a previous series (one I enjoyed) is set, kick-ass women, super soldiers, in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. All stuff that’s usually my catnip. But, this time out, I just didn’t connect and I was a bit underwhelmed. Others loved the book so it’s probably just me. Anyway, it came from the library so no big. Also had a new one from the library hit and I’ll be starting it ASAP. It’s an urban fantasy by a new-to-me author. The premise intrigues me: A former soldier turned PI tries to help the fantasy creatures whose lives he ruined in a world that’s lost its magic. It’s also from the library so no harm/no foul if I don’t like it. It’s reviews are mixed, but thought I’d give it a go.

TV and Sports? Eh. I REALLY mise LIVE PD and the Cards are still testing positive. Moving on.

Stormy is here today. He came for a few hours Friday–playtime with Big Daddy, lunch, a little school work with Jammie and then Baseball Boy was there to pick him up. BB had a meeting at the high school where he teaches. Schools are about to reopen and BB is in more meetings and class prep. So we have Stormy today, tonight, and tomorrow because he’s cute and sweet and his parents need the break! 🙄 Too bad it’s so hot!

There’s not a lot else going on around here. Life is pretty normal. I am taking Jake with me when I have to get out. He likes being with me and I like having him with me. It’s not like I get out a lot. I didn’t before the whole Covid thing but probably less now–or a least more curbside pickup errands than before. The main thing is that I’m in a tiny bit of a writing groove and considering I haven’t been in ages, this is the really big news. New books eventually. One this fall and two in February 2021 for sure. Hopefully, a seond one later this year but I’m not making promises. Depends on where my head decides to get off to.

So anyway, that’s my update for the past week and weekend. What’s up in your world? Big/small, good/bad, exciting/boring–I want to know! Here’s to a week filled with possibilities for all of us!

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Friday Sinema: Two Scotsman Walk into a Pub…

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Silver James

I have one word for you: KILTS! Okay, I have a few more words…MEN IN KILTS. I will be adding this to my DVR because…Graham McTavish! Oh, and Sam Heughan, too. Just watch the teaser. You’ll understand my delight! Have a great weekend. And cheers to men in kilts because…KILTS!

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