Thursday Thoughts: Universal Reasons

Posted on October 3, 2019 by Silver James

So, it’s a day. Not a great day. Not even a good day. This is not the blog I planned to post. Nope. After a fitful night’s sleep filled with worries and anxiety, I woke up this morning to a warm house. The AC guy who works for the BiL never did come back to replace the board but since the house stayed cool, we could sit at the bottom of the work list. But then the didn’t seem very cool last night. And it was really warm this morning despite cooler temps outside. Then the TV in the bedroom just flicked off. It was on and then black screen. We’re already down one TV and with other bills looming and our income down, new TV(s) not in the picture. Then the lights went out. At least in that part of the house, taking the AC unit with it. So this little dandy from the Universe is far more appropriate for my mood this morning at the buttcrack of dawn.

For every setback, disappointment and heartbreak, Silver, ask yourself, “What does this create the opportunity for?”

And therein you will find its gift.

Everything has a reason,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®
And if you look close enough, Silver, that reason will always be love, healing, or happy dancing, if not all three.

Dear Universe, I’m still waiting for a reason to happy dance. Love doesn’t put food on the table* or pay the bills and it’s hard to heal when you feel like you’re stuck down in a deep, dark hole. I’m ready to start happy dancing but a little cooperation would help. I keep telling myself “This too shall pass.” Still waiting.

*Well, love sort of does when you’re a romance author but when your brain is consumed with all the other crap going on in your life, it’s hard to put words up on the computer screen. It’s a vicious circle. No words, no new books. No new books, lagging sales.

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Wednesday Words: Band of Brothers

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Silver James

Another week has dribbled by and it’s time for another snippet based upon the #1lineWed theme over on Twitter. Today, it’s all about brotherhood, bands of brothers, brotherly love, etc. Interestingly enough, a bit of flash fiction I wrote on Monday fits the theme. FYI, I won the Judge’s Pet award for the following. If you are curious as to how one of the flash fiction challenges I participate in works, go check it out. This particular one is based on 3 prompts: a picture, a phrase, and a prompt by the judge–in this case a music video. Anyway, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Today’s bit is an unconnected snippet from the Russian side of my eventual Moonstruck Mafia series. I hope you enjoy.
****
Viktor glimpsed the back room through a door left ajar. That was more like Chinatown. Three old men, their faces wreathed by the smoke of the unfiltered cigarettes held between their lips, played cards. Out here, in the main room, he was caught in a Fellini movie—walls covered in Sixties pop art band posters, the Grateful Dead singing on the jukebox while tattooed Triad members wore their slick suits and looked tough. A sloe-eyed beauty, a rose tucked above her ear, occupied the stool next to where he stood. The bartender placed another drink in front of her and she gulped it down.

“Does it help?”

She laughed, a brittle sound that grated on his ears. “What do you think?”

“I think this is not the place for a girl like you.”

“Yeah? Goes to show what you know.” She caught the bartender’s attention with a lift of her chin and a raised finger. He returned her summons with a narrow-eyed look but delivered her drink a few moments later. She gulped this one as well. “Know what I think?”

He waited, without comment. wanting only to finish his business in this place so he could return to Brighton Beach where his Bratva brothers wore their hard-won ink like men rather than peacocks.

“I think you need to just keep on truckin’.”

One of the old men finally glanced up from the fan of cards in his hand. A soundless message passed between him and one of the peacocks, who gestured Viktor into the inner sanctum. He could now execute his orders. Mikhail had been content to let the Triads rule in Chinatown, left them to their number running, drug sales and opium dens, and protection rackets. But the ruling council had crossed the line so Viktor was here to deliver Mikhail’s message.

He shut the door in the peacock’s face and locked it. Show time.
****
And that’s how flash fiction works, though if you scrolled down to read my original on Cara’s blog, you’ll see that this was originally 250 words. I added a bit to the next to last paragraph. Writers, to have any brother words to share? Readers, what’s your favorite series that features brothers?

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Tuesday Treats: Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes

Posted on October 1, 2019 by Silver James

So…my friend Patti is not so much a fan of Pumpkin Spice Lattes but Salted Caramel is her thing. So…this one is for her.

Total Time: 1 Hr. 31 Min.
Prep Time: 20 Min.
Cook Time: 1 Hr. 11 Min.
24 servings

Bake Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes for a delicious chocolatey treat. These salted caramel cupcakes are as cute as they are tasty and easy to make.

What You Need
1 pkg. (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix
2 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding, divided
1 jar (12.25 oz.) caramel ice cream topping
2 oz. BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1 cup milk
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
2 tsp. sea salt

Let’s Make It
1 – Heat oven to 350°F.
2 – Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes, blending 1 pkg. dry pudding mix into batter before spooning into prepared muffin cups. Cool cupcakes in pans 10 min.; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
3 – Use small sharp knife to cut 1-1/4-inch-wide hole in top of each cupcake, being careful to not cut through to bottom of cake. Fill holes with caramel topping; cover with cupcake tops.
4 – Melt chocolate as directed on package; cool slightly. Beat remaining pudding mix, milk and powdered sugar in large bowl with whisk 2 min.; stir in COOL WHIP. Spread frosting onto cupcakes; drizzle with chocolate. Sprinkle with salt.

You know the drill. For the full nutitritional details, CLICK HERE. Isabelle Fontaine, heroine of ROGUE MOON and mate of Rudy Tornjak, was raised on cafe au lait out in the Louisiana bayous but when she discovered salted caramel, she became an instant convert. Needless to say, she loves these cupcakes and even though Rudy teases her about them being frou-frou food, he’s been known to polish of a pan of them, along with several cups of cafe au lait, when Izzy isn’t looking. If you haven’t read their story, you can read ROGUE MOON for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription or buy it to keep for $2.99. Just click on the cover or the title.

So what flavor are you?

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End of Month Monday

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Silver James

How can a month with only 30 days have five–count them FIVE–Mondays?!?!?!? Also how can September be over. It was just yesterday that school started, it was time for the state fair, fall arrived with a broken promise of autumnal temperatures. I do like that word. Autumnal. Doesn’t it sound just…cool?!?

So anyway. I took off the weekend which is why this post is late posting. So there’s that. There was 3-on-3 kindergarden soccer, naps, and sports.

Speaking of sports. It took them 162 games but my St. Louis Cardinals clinched the NL Central division. It took the help of the Colorado Rockies beating the Milwaukee Brewers while the Cards lost to the Chicago Cubs. Then yesterday, the Cards came on strong and beat the Cubs 9-0 while the Rockies fought the Brew Crew to a 4-3 win in 13 innings. Cards finished 2 games ahead. Next up, the league championship. Cards take on Atlanta Braves later this week. In college football, both OSU and OU won. OU remains in the top 10 while OSU moves into the top 25–finally! Yeah they, lost to Texas but just barely, and Texas is in the top 15. Anyway, the Coaches Poll has the Cowboys at #25 while the AP moved us all the way to #21. Go figure.

In other news, fall TV has started. I’m admitting to my newest addiction–The Masked Singer. This show caught my attention last year. See, all these celebrities dress up in the most AMAZING and elaborate costumes. And they sing. After the producer gives clues about their identity. Then the celebrity panel tries to guess who they are. The “contestents” go head-to-head and the audience and panel vote who moves on. Anyway, it’s cray-cray but fascinating. Last year, some big names “competed.” So there’s that to keep me occupied one night a week. Also, Ziva David has returned to NCIS. The character reappeared in last season’s finale. Which I haven’t watched. It’s on DVR. I was afraid it was some sort of fever dream suffered by Gibbs but turns out, she isn’t dead. Surely that isn’t a spoiler to anyone at this point. Anyway. I’m going to wait unti her story arc is over and then marathon watch. No gossip on how the show will handle Tony and their daughter. Also, Live PD. And Live Rescue, which has a new host. The show needs to hire me to be the Tom Morris version for Rescue. I’d fly to NYC every week for that.

Reading. Or listening in my case. I hate when a really hyped book falls short for me. I never know if it’s me or the book. Since most readers apparently love it (but I think it has more to do with the state of the world than anything) I’m gonna say it’s me. I was bored, disliked the protagonist, and the so-called twist fell flat. It came thissss close to a DNF. In more hopeful news, I’m almost finished with the “last” book in the Guild Hunter/Archangel series by Nalini Singh. It’s the only book that truly pissed me off. HUGE cliffhanger at the end and the newest release just dropped last week. Once I finish ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY, I can immediately–cliffhanger be damned–roll over to ARCHANGEL’S WAR.

That’s pretty much my world at present. Nothing earth-shattering. Nothing exciting. Just sort of floating along keeping my head above water wishing the dog days of summer would go chase squirrels or something. I’m hoping cooler temps will get me off my arse. We’ll see. The local weather crew says Thursday. 🤞 What’s up in your world?

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Friday Sinema: Med School Style

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Silver James

Who knew there’s a whole subgenre of song parodies geared toward med school?!?! That’s an hour of my life I won’t get back, even though I was rolling my eyes and laughing. In the mean time, ear worm ahoy! I dare you to click it! and have a great weekend!

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Knowing

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Silver James

I’m nosy. I eavesdrop on conversations in public places. I watch people. I want to know what’s going on. Why? Because I’m a writer. Writers are almost always students of human nature. We have to be. Yes, characters and stories are born in our imaginations but we need to “clothe” those characters and put words in their mouths–words that sound real, not made up. We need to tell stories that could be real, not made up. Even when writing fantasy or science fiction. Because our characters and our stories need to be relatable. Right? Right. So, I want to know! Except according to the Universe, that’s not really how it works. Or does it?

You’ll know when you need to know, Silver, and not a moment earlier.

That’s how it works when the answer you’re looking for depends on other events that must first settle, new players that need to be gathered, and serendipities that are still being calculated.

Silver, sometimes, not even I know, until I know.

But you will,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

In the meantime, Silver, keep dreaming, keep busy, and if you’re feelin’ it, happy dance.

When you stop and think about it, yes, this does make sense when it comes to writing. On several different levels. You don’t want info dumps–about character backstories or their motivation or their feelings. You want the reader to peel back the onion skin, so to speak, of a character’s personality, of their story. The same with the overall plot arc. The story has to unfold organically on the page. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. There are also turning points and black moments, climaxes and big reveals (and I don’t necessarily mean that in the sexy sense, though when writing romance, there should be those kinds too!). So yeah, I get the message, Universe. As a writer, I need to be a reader too. I have to write for the reader, and sometimes, I forget that. That’s what editing and revisions are for, right?

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Wednesday Words: Hello, Again.

Posted on September 25, 2019 by Silver James

Another Hump Day and time for #1lineWed over on Twitter, if anyone is inclined to play. Hello, Dolly! You had me at hello. Hello, again. Meet cute. Meet sexy. Hard to get into a romance until the hero and the heroine say hello. On that note, here’s a meet…scary? This snippet started as a bit of flash fiction but don’t ask me what story it will eventually tell. There’s a book here, though. I’m pretty sure of that. I just need to figure out what, when, where, who, why, and how. Easy peasy. In the meantime, say hello to the weirdness that is my head. 😉
****
Her clunky boots echoed in the tomb-like silence of the church. The stone floors were hollowed out by the weight of hundreds of years and thousands of parishioners treading this same path. Rows of flickering blood-red votive candles drew her like the proverbial moth. She felt more like that dead cat, as her subconscious reminded her,
Your curiosity is going to kill you!

Maybe. Maybe not. No time for a chastisement that came far too late.

“Why are you here?”

Her lungs seized, heart pounding as those words whispered across the back of her neck, leaving goosebumps in their wake. The question wasn’t asked by her psyche, but she considered answers. Why was she there? Redemption? Perhaps. Resurrection? No. Not that.

Movement caught her attention. She watched in fascinated horror as Stygian blackness coalesced behind a statue of some forgotten saint.

Who’s there!” She made her words were a demand rather than questioning. She waited a heartbeat. Two. When no answer came, she added, “I’m not afraid of you.”

“You should be.” The shadows morphed into the silhouette of a man.

Her heart hammered in her chest but she stiffened her knees and spine. “Not me.”

The figure chuckled, a sound both frightening and enticing. “Everyone is afraid of Death.”

That last word held weight, like a royal title. She was probably foolish for not showing fear. Still, that wasn’t her. Not anymore. She remained silent, forcing the being to speak again.

“Then who will save you?”

“No one. I’ll save myself.” She fancied the figure smiled at her bravado.

“Brash. Perhaps even admirable, but in the end, no one escapes.”

The man who stepped into the uncertain candlelight was too beautiful to be real. She fought the urge to hide her face, conquering the need when he laughed. Her scars had been won honorably. She wouldn’t disgrace them.

“It appears I’m too late. You’ve already been rescued from the—”

“Who are you?” she demanded, cutting him off.

“I have many names.” His smile amped up in wattage. “You may call me Starr.”

She knew then, who she faced. This night, she would dance with the devil himself.

“Hello, Lucifer.”
****
Writers, got any hellos for us? Readers, what’s your favorite meet cute?

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Tuesday Treats: Mini Pumpkin Spice Latte Cheesecakes

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Silver James

Yesterday was the first official day of fall. We all know that means it is officially Pumpkin Spice Latte season. And this recipe is perfect for 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.

Y’all know the drill. CLICK HERE for all the nutrional details at My Food and Family. Celie Monaghan, the heroine of BLOOD & FIRE, A MOONSTRUCK WOLF NOVEL, is a pumpkin spice latte girl. These treats were a big hit when she was an EMT in Austin, Texas. Now it’s a favorite of her mate, Rhys Kendric, though the Alpha Wolf wouldn’t admit it if you held his feet to the fire. You can read their story for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription or grab it for keeps for $2.99.

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First Monday in Autumn

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Silver James

It’s the autumnal equinox. That means that today has approximately the same amount of light as it does dark and from now on, the days will grow shorter while nights get longer. As long as the temperatures cool off, I’m totally on board with this.

So there was a week and a weekend. I feel like I could type “Wash. Rinse. Repeat.” and end with “Y’all have a good week!” and be done. Because basially? That was my week and weekend. However, it is Monday so I’ll try to be briefly boring.

Sports: I don’t get the college polls. Any other team has a bye week, they don’t move in the rankings. OU has a bye? They drop a position. Really tired of the Big 12 never getting any respect. OSU played Texas and while it was a close game, Texas pulled off the win. Boooo! But hey, Army won! And my Cards swept the Cubs and cinched a spot in the playoffs. They play a series against the Diamondbacks and then back home for the final series against the Cubs. Now they’re playing to cinch the divisional championship.

TV: I’m hooked on Ken Burns’ history of country music on PBS. Fascinating. Also, LIVE PD is back! They’re no longer following the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, which is a bummer, but they are back in Tulsa so that’s cool. I keep thinking that there are some new or returning series I’m excited about, but none come to mind. Bummer. Oh! Ziva is coming back for a few episodes of NCIS. I’ll watch while she’s on. Sadly, I stopped watching because most of the stories seemed like either retreads or really stretching the boundaries of my credulity.

Credulity. That’s a fun word to say. Just sayin’…

Reading: I’m about half-way through my relisten of Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter/Archangel series. The newest book releases tomorrow. I’ll probably get interrupted before I get there, though. I have two holds at the library getting ready to drop. I’m #1 in line for G.A. Aikens’ THE BLACKSMITH QUEEN and #2 in line for T.M. Logan’s 29 SECONDS. Because there’s still a wait list behind me, I’ll stop to listen to them immediately.

Let’s not talk about writing.

So, that’s my boring news. Anything exciting iun your world?

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Friday Sinema: Tomorrow Never…Dies?

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Silver James

Okay. After yesterday’s post, I had an earworm and I figured the best way to get rid of it was to pass it along to y’all. So, in my infinite wisdom and kindness, I went to YouTube and used “Tomorrow” for a search term. And this came up. James Bond and the Queen. London Olympics, 2012. I watched and that earworm immediately became null and void due to the total WTFery of this bit shown as part of the opening ceremonies.

Corgis! The Queen! James Bond! What’s not to love? Have a great weekend. I’ll see y’all on the other side. 🙂

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