Wednesday Words: Guilty as Charged

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Silver James

Last week’s #1lineWed theme was innocent. This week is sort of a no-brainer (especially since I’m the one picking out the themes! 😆 ) Guilt makes people do weird things. And the guilty have to live with what they’ve done. Despite the fact that I mostly write on the dark side, and my characters often have a lot to feel guilty about, I only found one excerpt that used the word guilt. Go figure! Anyway, this is the opening to Gravedigger’s story. And no. Don’t ask me when it will be done. Digger is one of those characters who is very secretive about his story.
****
The Russian faced the room, flanked by Hardass, Easy, and me. Representatives from every local chapter of the motorcycle club stared back at us, waiting. The alpha Wolf energy in the room electrified the atmosphere and the air stank of burning tires. Rage. The Nightriders were entitled.

Russki glanced my way. “Show them.”

I grabbed the corner of the plastic tarp covering the conference table and jerked it off. Nobody made a sound but the fury ramped up so high the temperature in church turned frigid.

“This is Spider, sent from the Hell Dogs as a warning.” Russki’s deadly voice dropped into the well of seething anger.

A man rose to his feet. “I’m Ripper, president of the Mizzippee chapter,” he drawled. “Spider was mine. Went missin’ from Biloxi ’bout two weeks ago. Dropped right the fuck off the radar. Now I know why.”

Ripper’s face was devoid of emotion as he struggled to keep from shifting. Growls and snarls edged in around the silence. I covered the body. Spider was a brother. We would treat him with respect in death.

“The Hell Dogs are without honor. They attack our women. Our children.” Every eye remained glued on the Russian’s face as he spoke. “We will hunt down the Hell Dogs and every club that thinks to align with them. We will not stop until we wipe them from the face of the earth. Until Fallen Angel is strung up for my personal attention.”

A low murmur ran through the Wolves. The Russian—before he challenged and killed Bricks McIntire, the former national president of the Nightriders—worked for the Russian mob. He’d been an enforcer, assassin, a Wolf well-versed in the intricate art of torture. No one wanted to be the focus of Russki’s talents.

My nose flared as more scents wafted in the closed air—frustration, its acrid sulfur reminiscent of matches struck and blown out, and the hot pepper sauce of determination. Every man in this room was an Alpha Wolf. Not one of them would hesitate to fight to the death.

Another fragrance tickled my consciousness, a teasing memory not even ten years could repress. Violets and brown sugar. I shoved thoughts of her away. I had no time for what-might-have-beens. My brothers and I were in a life-and-death fight. Too many innocents had already been hurt. Even if I knew where to find her…I severed that train of thought, grimacing as the stench of rotten eggs—my own guilt—washed over me.

Easy’s gaze cut to me, his brows pulled together. I gave him a headshake to divert his focus. Carolina. She might as well be dead to me. It had been my fault. All of it.

The Russian caught my attention. Time to do my job as club enforcer. I raised my fist. “We ride. We hunt. We kill. Nightriders forever. Forever Nightriders.” A hundred voices echoed my challenge.

My name is Gravedigger and I came by it honestly.
****
What about y’all? Are you feeling guilty because you haven’t shared any words? 😉

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Tuesday Treats: Shredded Chicken Empanadas

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Silver James

I made these last week. they were pretty darn tasty. The mixing of ingredients was fast. Dealing with the pie crusts and “fixing” them took a little time but it was worth it. They were surprisingly filling, though I would say that two empanadas would make one serving. I only used one pie crust, cut the ingredients in half, and only made 8. We each ate 3 (they aren’t huge) each with two left over. Just enough spice for taste would would be good served with a side salad.

Prep Time: 25min.
Total Time: 40min.
Servings: 16 servings
Experience a delicious burst of flavor when you try Shredded Chicken Empanadas with Cheese. Simply combine shredded cooked chicken, Mexican-style cheese, chipotle aioli and fresh cilantro for the delicious empanada filling.

What You Need

2 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts
1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese
1/3 cup KRAFT Chipotle Aioli (I used Chipotle Mayo which is basically the same thing as aioli)
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 egg
1 Tbsp. water
1 pkg. (14.1 oz.) ready-to-use refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
1 tsp. chili powder

Make It

Heat oven to 375ºF.
Combine first 4 ingredients. Whisk egg and water until blended.

Unroll 1 pie crust on lightly floured surface; roll out to 12-inch diameter with rolling pin. Cut into 8 (4-inch) rounds with biscuit cutter, rerolling scraps as necessary; place in single layer on parchment-covered baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pie crust.

Spoon 2 Tbsp. chicken mixture onto center of each dough round; brush edge with egg. Fold in half. Gently press tops to remove excess air; seal edges with fork. Brush with remaining egg. Sprinkle with chili powder.
Bake 15 min. or until golden brown.

For more information, go to the Kraft recipe card by CLICKING HERE. Savannah Wolfe Barron (Chase Barron’s rather inconvenient CONVENIENT COWGIRL BRIDE) makes these because they are quick, tasty, and she can heap some salsa on top.

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Monday Lateness

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Silver James

I’m not sure of making the suckitude less but I shall endeavor. 😆

Yes, It’s Monday–the last Monday of the month, in fact. Where did June go? And the year is almost half over? Yikes! So…

There was a weekend. I did a little yard work Interesting, right? Yeah, I know. The glamorous life of a romance author. Said life is on-going. I’m going to get my Muse in gear this week. No. Seriously. Stop laughing! 😉

As to what I did over the weekend, beyond putzing in the yard, I listened to a couple more books in the Guildhunter/Archangel series by Nalini Singh. The latest book comes out in July and I wanted to catch up on the whole story arc. Nalini is amazing when it comes to weaving multiple threads into her series. I want to be her when I grow up. (Yeah, yeah! I know I’m almost old enough to be her mother…) Anyway, I’m currently on ARCHANGEL’S SHADOWS which means I’m almost done. Next up will be a read of Jennifer Lyon’s SAVAGED DREAMS.

I don’t want to talk about the Cardinals. I have a big ol’ sad there. They did manage to beat the Pirates last night so there won’t be a sweep but dang… Also, TCU, the last Big 12 team in the College World Series went home Saturday. At least they got to the semi-finals of the CWS and made Florida work for their spot in the finals. LSU also beat #1 seed Oregon State to play in the finals. Geaux Tigers!

TV. Lawyer Guy and I watched a movie. A zombie movie. Set in the Alps. With extreme snowboarders. *squints eyes shut* What has been seen cannot be unseen. “Attack of the Zombie Lederhosen.” It was…like a trainwreck. We couldn’t look away. In fact, we stalled dinner to see the end. I…have no words. And no excuse.

That’s my update for today. Now it’s time to sort through email (I didn’t even turn on the computer yesterday!) and then I have to knuckle down. Today’s writing goal? A full chapter on Tucker’s story and at least a scene each on my other two projects. Daylight is burning far too fast for me to stay lazy!

What did y’all do this weekend? And what’s on your agenda for this week? We’ll compare notes when it’s over. 😆

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Friday Sinema: Encounter

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Silver James

Yeah…back to putting the sin in “sinema”…. I want to write this book! Just sayin’…

Have a great weekend.

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Baby Steps

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Silver James

Back when I was a kid–like all kids do–I dreamed about what my life would be like when I grew up. At various times, I wanted to be a dancer, an actress, a cop, a bureaucrat, and a writer. I danced (not professionally). I acted (semi-professionally). I worked for a police department as a technical investigator–and for a fire department. I was a bureaucrat (in the state court system). And now I’m a writer. Not bad for one lifetime. Each of those careers began with the dream–with baby steps along the path so I’m not too surprised this message from the Universe resonates.

The baby steps in the beginning of a journey, Silver, always seem inadequate compared to the brilliance of the dream that inspired them. This is natural. If the dream wasn’t so far “out there” and dazzling, it wouldn’t be worth dreaming! Just don’t be led to think that the physical ground you cover with your baby steps is all that they accomplish. Because for every mortal step you take, another cog in a giant wheel behind the curtains of time and space advances, and with it 10,000 new possibilities.

Better than Star Trek,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

And you shall wonder, Silver, at what you ever did to deserve so very much.

This idea works not only in life but in my ultimate dream–that of being a published author. Each story starts as a dream and then with baby steps–in the form of words and sentences–I work to create something new out of gossamer threads of inspiration, out of dreams. And yeah…it’s better than Star Trek. 😆

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Wednesday Words: Innocence of the Innocent

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Silver James

Another Hump Day to get up and over. Today’s #1lineWed theme is **INNOCENT or INNOCENCE**. I found one instance of those words in my current Penumbra Papers WIP. I keep vacillating on the title. I’m currently toying with ECHOES AMONG THE STONES. Anyway, this is Roman’s story. For those unfamiliar, Roman is the gargoyle Sentinel who acted as Sade’s bodyguard when she was a child. Now he is the Legate of New Orleans, a neutral authority in a city wide-open to Magicks and Mundanes alike. Here is the opening salvo of the book:

Chapter 1

Destinies are a dime a dozen and Fate is the biggest bitch of all. The thought drummed against Roman’s psyche like the rain tapping against the striped awning above his head. He toed a chunk of what appeared to be granite lying next to the curb, blocking the water running along the edge of the street. Two feet away, a stone head appeared to be crying as raindrops stained the face.

Roman, a gargoyle Sentinel and the Legate of New Orleans shoved his hands deep into his pockets to keep from wrapping them around the neck of the human who stood, quaking in his boots, before him. The young man opened his mouth to speak but one withering look shut him up again.

The sound of leather slapping against humid air wasn’t enough to distract Roman from his perusal of what appeared to be a shattered statue, nor did he look at the gargoyle who settled onto the sidewalk nearby.
“Roman.” Crevan, leader of the Sentinels stepped up beside him.

“I don’t recognize him, Le Vieil.” That bothered Roman on a deep, visceral level. There was a time when he’d known all of his brothers.

“He was young, barely out of the Refuge.”

“Why was he in my city?”

Crevan turned steely eyes on Roman. “Your city?”

“Yes, Le Vieil.” Roman used Crevan’s title but his tone was so dry dust should have puffed from between his lips. “New Orleans is mine.”

The unfortunate human chose that moment to pipe up. “Please, sir,” the kid whined. “I don’t know nuthin’ about this. I’m innocent. It wasn’t my idea.”

“There is no innocence, not even in death.” The words were out before Roman could stop them. He shackled his anger. Truly, it wasn’t the human’s fault. He stared at the broken remains of what had once been a gargoyle—one comparable to the mental age of the cowering youth in front of him.

Crevan cupped the human’s face in his huge hands and held the kid’s gaze. Silence slithered around them, along pewter tendrils of magic. “There,” Crevan eventually said. “It is done. He’ll take no memory with him and I have what he once knew.” His craggy face, when he turned to face Roman, was drenched with grief.

Roman instinctively knew the verdict. “We have to hunt.”
***
Do any of you have any innocent words to share? A character still cloaked in innocence? SHARE!!!

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Tuesday Treats: Coconut Snowball Cake

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Silver James

Today is the Summer Solstice and with about three weeks to go before America’s Independence Day, I think this recipe is a good one to share. So, for a 4th of July picnic, or just a good ol’ summertime dessert, how about a Coconut Snowball Cake??!!

Prep Time: 15min.
Total Time: 2hr. 10min.
Servings: 16 servings
What’s inside a snowball? More snow. What’s inside this coconut-flake-covered snowball cake? A berry colorful surprise, which can also be fun for a birthday boy or girl!

What You Need
1 pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix
1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin
1-1/4 cups cold milk, divided
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
1-1/2 cups BAKER’S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut

Make It
Heat oven to 350ºF.

Prepare cake batter, in 2-1/2-qt. ovenproof bowl sprayed with cooking spray, as directed on package; scrape side of bowl. Add dry gelatin mix and 1/4 cup milk; beat until blended.

Bake 55 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in bowl 10 min. Loosen cake from side of bowl with knife; invert onto wire rack. Remove bowl. Cool cake completely.

Meanwhile, beat dry pudding mix, sugar and remaining milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Stir in COOL WHIP. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Place cake, flat side down, on plate; frost with pudding mixture. Cover with coconut.

Y’all haven’t met Zoe Parker yet. I’m in the process of writing her romance with Tucker Tate. But when I saw this recipe, I knew it was something she would bake–and yes, this treat will show up in a scene in the book. 😉

If you’re intersted, you can get full details for the recipe HERE.

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Mid-Summer Monday

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Silver James

Tomorrow is the first day of Summer, also known as the Summer Solstice, and/or Midsummer’s Eve. Don’t ask. I have no answer. One of my favorite works by Shakespeare is “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” and Midsummer’s Eve plays a large part in my second published book, FAERIE FIRE.

So, I took a week off from blogging. Part of me missed it. Part of me didn’t. *shrug* Still, nice to be back. So, to catch up, since Monday is a “follow-up” post… 😉

TV and Sports: My Cards are giving me a big sad. 😦 And I’m doing more reading/listening to books than catching up with shows on TV. I think it all goes to a general ennui that’s settled into my head over the past couple of months. This, too, shall pass. I hope.

Reading: I’ve glommed onto a few new releases from favorite authors. I finished up a marathon re-listen to Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series in preparation for the release of SILVER SILENCE. OMG! This book is going on my Best Book of the Year list. Haven’t been many to make the list so far. Because BEARS! Well, bear shifters (changelings in Nalini’s world), to be precise. I ❤ the Bears! I laughed through probably 90% of the book, despite some serious goings-on in the world. I sniffle-cried a couple of times and the ending (a slight cliffhanger on one thread which left me with my heart in my throat and sad) left me loving Silver Mercant, her Bear, and the new direction of the world. Now I have to wait a long time to get the next installment. *sigh*

The Gang gathered yesterday at Hideaway Pizza to celebrate Father’s Day. We lost my dad over 20 years ago but I miss him every single day. We lost Lawyer Guy’s Dad over 10 years ago and I know the boys miss him every day. We were lucky to have them both. LG and his brother remind me of both men, and that’s a very good thing.

Time to knuckle down this week. I’ve been looking at deadlines and thinking “Ah, no sweat. I have plenty of time.” Yeah…no. I need lots of new words today and every day. I’m getting an early start today. How about the rest of you? Early start or putting it off? 😉

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Friday Free-for-all: Links of Awesomeness

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Silver James

Friday has once again rolled around. In my odd moments of procrastination, I did a little web surfing because I’m all lazy like that. Here are four links that made me laugh out loud–one time scaring the cat, and twice scaring the cat AND the Newfies. I’m issuing a Liquids Alert for this post. Don’t drink and guard your electronic devices. Have a 🙂 day and a 😀 weekend!

You’ll want to friend this Australian police department on FB for their DAY IN THE LIFE posts–too funny!

Person on the street interviews of moms, in front of their kids, about things their kids don’t know about them. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR MOM…

I shouldn’t have laughed as hard as I did at these REALISTIC FAMILY PHOTOS. Bloody brilliant and hysterically true.

A comedian walked into the Los Angeles Zoo, and posted these unauthorized but hilarious ZOO SIGNS behind.

And last but not least, there’s passive office behavior and there’s agressive office behavior and then there’s truly funny passive-agressive office behavior as evidenced by these OFFICE NOTES.

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Wednesday Words: A New Hope

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Silver James

I hope everyone is having a perfectly hopeful Hump Day because as you know, hope springs eternal, there’s a new hope in Star Wars and…okay. I’ll stop now. In case I haven’t hammered it home yet, today’s #1lineWed theme is **HOPE**.

Today, mine are from the rough draft of Red Dirt Royalty #8, as yet unnamed, which is Tucker’s story. Tucker is in eastern Tennessee looking at some new talent for Bent Star Records. Here’s hoping he knows what he’s in for. 😉

****
Jerking the wheel, Tucker cursed and fought gravity but kept the T-bird between the lines. He blinked at the car that passed then pulled away from him. Was that a Trans Am? He laughed out loud. It was. It was a freaking Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am. Covered in paper flowers and trailing beers cans. Good grief. Then something white and filmy flew up through the open T-tops on the Trans Am. He watched, fascinated, as the backwash from the car sent the thing soaring. Tucker slowed and downshifted, paying more attention to the material sailing toward him than he was the road.

A truck hit its air horn, and for the second time, Tucker jerked his car back into the correct lane—just in time for the white material to snag on his radio antenna. He slowed further, reached over, and grabbed the lacy thing. It wasn’t until he had it in his hand that he realized it was a wedding veil. Complete with a sparkling, plastic tiara. Yeah, that gathering had definitely been a wedding and evidently the newlyweds were in a real hurry. He accelerated back to the speed limit and wondered if the groom had the bride in his lap while he was driving, then hoped they wouldn’t wreck.

Twenty minutes later, he spotted a cloud of smoke just over the crest of a hill. Crap. He hoped his wayward thoughts hadn’t jinxed the couple. Tucker slowed down as he hit the top. Halfway down, the Trans Am was pulled off to the side of the road. Oily black smoke poured from the exhaust pipes but he didn’t see any flames. The thing had probably blown its engine. As he edged his car closer, he caught sight of a woman wearing a white dress. She had the frothy skirt hiked up around her thighs as she kicked the car with her white western boots. She glanced up—briefly—then went back to kicking.

Tucker pulled over and parked in front of the Trans Am—out of the choking smoke. He looked around for the groom, but it appeared the bride was alone. Curious. He got out and as her curses washed over him, he approached with a bit of trepidation. Apparently, the woman was not happy with the entire male gender. Taking his life and manhood in his hands, he stopped out of kicking distance.
****
Go forth, find and share your hopeful words.

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