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Wednesday Words: What Dreams May Come
Posted in Writing Life
Tagged #ThursdayTheads, good stuff, inspiration, Penumbra Papers, quotes, reading, snippet, Wednesday Words, WIPs, writing
7 Comments
Tuesday Treats & Titles: Irish Soda Bread Muffins
It’s March! St. Patrick’s Day is coming! Yippee!! Yes, there is Irish in me and I don’t mean coffee. 😉My maternal grandmother was a Ryan and that’s about as Irish as you can get. And her father’s name was Patrick. And you can’t get more more Irish when it comes to food than Irish soda bread. This takes bread a step into the treat world.
There are many Irish wolves in my Moonstruck world but the largest congregation is in Boston. You can pick any of the mates and I’d lay odds they have this recipe stuck back somewhere for when they have time to bake. If not, I’m guessing there’s a bakery in the neighborhood that serveds them up by the dozen. They wanted me to share the recipe so you can practice before St. Paddy’s Day gets here and they also want me to suggest you grab their book, MOONSTRUCK MAFIA: BOSTON, so you can read all about them. If you’ve already read the book, maybe it’s time for a reread and maybe make time to drop a review at your favorite bookseller site? Anyway, you can click on either pic with the cover, along with the title. The links take you to Books2Read where you can find the seller of your choice! Happy munching!
Posted in Books, Writing Life
Tagged books, characters, food, good stuff, links, Moonstruck Mafia, reading, recipe, Tuesday Titles, Tuesday Treats
7 Comments
Marching into First Monday
For as long as I can remember, I had daffodils and/or jonquils blooming on my birthday–at least in those years that there was a garden available. There have been the odd years when due to circumstances and on account of because there were no blooms. This is one of those years. No blooms yesterday. Ah, well. Mother Nature’s bender messed with the weather which messed with the green growing things. It’s okay. There’s always next year. This is a picure from a few years ago.
In other news, Stormy had a soccer tournament. His team did awesome! As of this typing, they’d won 3 games and were headed to the championship match. I’ll up date this at some point with that game.
Some writing took place. Better than nothing, right?
To celebrate my trip around the sun, LG played Door Dasher and went to grab BBQ from our favorite local chain. I had ribs and curly fries. The meal was all kinds of yummy. I haven’t had ribs in ages! We sat on the comfy furniture in the family room, watched ON PATROL LIVE, and chowed on excellent BBQ. A perfect evening.
The present I didn’t “gift” to myself but I sort of did, finally arrived. I had funds left on my Christmas GC from Shoe Carnival. I found a pair of Sketcher boots on sale and ordered them last Sunday. They were supposed to arrive Wednesday–operative word being “Wednsday.” Below is the wending-windy path the box took to get to me. Don’t read it unless you’re interested. The good news is, the boots arrived, they fit, and they are extra comfy! I highly recommend them. No plans for the week. What’s up with y’all?
Shipping History
Today (2/28/260
7:10 AM | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
On FedEx vehicle for delivery
7:06 AM | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Arrived at FedEx location
7:04 AM | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
At local FedEx facility – Delivery scheduled via FedEx Ground, not US Postal Service
7:04 AM | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
At local FedEx facility
2:35 AM | DALLAS, TX
Departed FedEx location
Friday, February 27
9:01 PM | DALLAS, TX
Arrived at FedEx location
Thursday, February 26
7:16 PM | HUTCHINS, TX
On the way
5:58 AM | OLATHE, KS
Departed FedEx location
Wednesday, February 25
2:43 PM | OLATHE, KS
Arrived at FedEx location
1:25 AM | LENEXA, KS
Departed FedEx location
Tuesday, February 24
8:31 PM | LENEXA, KS
Arrived at FedEx location
8:10 AM | SAINT PAUL, MN
Departed FedEx location
1:55 AM | SAINT PAUL, MN
Arrived at FedEx location
Monday, February 23
9:50 PM | MOSINEE, WI
Left FedEx origin facility
9:06 PM | MOSINEE, WI
Arrived at FedEx location
6:27 PM | MOSINEE, WI
Picked up
Friday Sinema: Let’s Dance
Ya gotta love the dad bods. And the dads dancing. Just a fun few minutes on this bright Friday morning as a way to rev up for the weekend. Have a great one, all!
Thursday Thoughts: Universal Moves
Does anyone here play chess? Or checkers? Risk? I’m pretty sure we’ve all said at some point in our lives, “It’s your move.” It’s all about strategy and planning. Sometimes, though, we don’t know what move to make. This happens a lot when writing a novel. Simply put, stuff happens. Emotional stuff. Action stuff. Good stuff. Bad stuff. When an author starts writing a book, the dream is to get it finished and into the hands of readers. Then stuff happens in real life and the writer gets all wrapped around the axel and stuff comes to a complete halt. No forward movement. Or very little, in fits and starts, with promises and excuses. Then the Universe shows up and pretty much boils it down to this:
When you move toward a dream, Silver, it moves toward you.
When you move every day, it moves every day.
Someone pass me a calculator –
The Universe
©www.tut.comP.S. Do the math, Silver, and keep moving… this could be your week!!
Too bad I’m terrible at math. Still, to me, the Universe means that it’s time to lead, follow, or get the hell out of my own way. Your mileage may vary. This message really hit home as I’ve been struggling–as y’all know–when it comes to Ariel’s Dang Book. The thing I need to keep in mind is that I need to move. Every day. If I “move” (ie. write) every day, the book moves ever closer to The End. I need to get out of my own way. I need to stop thinking that I need all these words written every day. Yeah, yeah. I used to write fast. I don’t any more. I used to be focused. Now I’m easily distracted. I get excited if I write 250 words on a Thursday. When I win, place, or show based on a random judge’s judgement, I know that the words are good ones because the writers who take the challenge each week are not novices. To write, you need to be in your head but if you get too deep into your head, you get lost in the weeds. New goal. Words every day. Whether one sentence, 250 words, a few pages, a chapter. It doesn’t matter. If I don’t start, I won’t finish. It’s that simple and that hard.
Posted in Craft, Writing Life
Tagged inspiration, links, musing, quotes, Thursday Thoughts, Universe, WIPs, writing
2 Comments
Wednesday Words: Know What I Mean?
February is almost over and days are getting longer. At least for another couple of weeks and then we’ll be dragged back into darkness thanks to Daylight Saving Time, which saves nothing and only screws up everyone’s body clock. But, that’s not why we’re here today. Nope. Today is about new words and inspiration. The fun news is, I won last weeks’s Thursday Threads and this is what the judge had to say: Of all the wonderful pieces this week, this one feels the most layered and controlled. The domestic calm contrasts beautifully with the unsettling revelation about dreams. The worldbuilding is subtle but rich. The dialogue carries tension without exposition overload. The closing exchange lands cleanly and ominously. Loved it! His opinion did wonders for my ego! Here’s the prompt: *”You know what I mean?”*
****
Ariel neatly sliced his French toast into exact squares. He had not doused the plate with syrup and three link sausages lined up with military precision next to a perfectly round fried egg, the yolk almost orange in color staring at him like the sun through a white cloud. He ignored Druic, regretting the fact he’d told the kid of his dream.
Druic looked everywhere but at the man sitting across the table from him. He poked at the pile of scrambled eggs on his plate then chased a piece of bacon across it. He sipped his coffee, drank his orange juice. And he fretted. Fae did not dream and the fact that not only had Ariel dreamed vividly, but that he was willing to discuss it put him on alert. In the back of his mind, he knew he should make note of this occurrence and notify Queen Titania but dreams were…bad. They were often the precursor to madness in his people. He didn’t want Ariel to be crazy. He jerked when Ariel spoke.
“I know what you’re thinking, Druic.”
He forced himself to look at the other fae. “I don’t want you to be mad!” He blurted the works without thinking.
Ariel nodded. “What do you know of dreams?”
The boy floundered so Ariel continued. “We don’t dream. But we can enter other’s dreams. Do you know what I mean?”
“No sir.”
“We—or at least some of us—have the ability to walk into another’s dreams. We can manipulate them. Guide them. Whisper to their subconscious and lure them into doing our bidding. It’s just another form of enchantment.”
Shocked, Druic could only ask, “Who?”
“My guess is Titania.”
“But why?”
“Because she can.”
****
Yes, there are dreams involved, only they might not be dreams. And Titania is almost as persistent as Sade when it comes to interferring with Ariel’s Dang Book. Add in a nosy werewolf and a pesky dragon and it’s no wonder I keep chasing my tail on this one. Anyway, new words are welcome. Writers, grab the prompt if it sparks ideas. Readers, this is when I normally ask a question that pertains to the snippet but today? I got nuthin’. Know what I mean? 😉
Posted in Writing Life
Tagged #ThursdayThreads, inspiration, Penumbra Papers, quotes, reading, snippet, Wednesday Words, WIPs, writing
5 Comments
Tuesday Treats & Titles: Grape Dumplings to the Rescue
I first tried grape dumplings years ago at the Chickasaw Tribal Center and Museum. They have a cafe there and grape dumplings are a specialty. Best stuff ever! Needless to say, when I created a Choctaw character for one of my books, it was naturaly to make them his favorite. Plus, given the situation in Mexico right now, a first (or reread) of this book seems a bit appropriate because there’s a Mexican drug cartel involved. This is truly a comfort food, and traditional in several of the Five Tribes. While harvesting and cooking “possum grapes” was the old way, modern tribal cooks have updated the recipe to make it easy and still just as delicious. There comfort in tradttions and this recipe is an old one handed down generation to generation.
GRAPE DUMPLINGS RECIPE
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg
1¼ cups water
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
64 ounces grape juice
Sugar to taste
Let’s Make It
Place flour in a bowl. Make a well in center of flour and crack an egg into center. Using your fingers, begin mixing the egg into the flour and add water as you go. Form the dough into a ball and roll out very thin. Cut into 1-inch squares.
In a large pot place grape juice and sugar to taste. Bring to a rolling boil. Drop dumplings into boiling grape juice. Mix 1 Tablespoon cornstarch in 1 cup water. Add to hot grape juice. Cook for a few minutes so it thickens a bit and serve hot.
Kitchen Tip:
There are two different versions I’ve seen. One uses water for the dough. They other uses grape juice. Next time I make them I’ll be trying it with the juice!
Serve warm in a bowl. You can top with whipped cream or ice cream or just eat them plain.
As mentioned in the intor, this is one of Hawkins “Hawk” Greenwood’s favorite treats and his grandmother teaches Dana Peterson how to make them in the book. While Hawk is Choctaw, I’ll admit to finding a video of how to make these on Chickasaw-TV. THIS VERSION uses grape juice to make the recipe. You should check out the video just to hear the wonderful reminiscenses by the tribal elder. She’s all kinds of awesome! And I’ll admit that she rather reminds me Mariam Greenwood, Hawk’s ipokni, which means grandmother in the Choctaw language. If you want to read Hawk and Dana’s updated and revised story–including a kidnapping, rescue, and a road trip full of bikers–grab a copy of RESCUE MOON from your favorite online book seller. If you have a Hoopla subscription or can access through your local libary like I can, you can borrow it to read for free. Check out BOOKS2READ for the link to your fave store or click on either cover photos to get there.
I have to admit, now I’m hungry for these. I may have to add the ingredients to my grocery list for this weeki. What about y’all? What’s your favorite “hand-me-down” dessert?
Posted in Books, Writing Life
Tagged books, characters, food, good stuff, links, Moonstruck Wolf, reading, recipe, Tuesday Titles, Tuesday Treats
7 Comments
Monday Mixtape
February is almost over. How did that happen?
The Winter Olympics are over. I’ll admit I wasn’t all that interested. I caught a couple of the figure skating routines. There was some spped skaing on late one night (or early one morning, depending on your point of view). There were some ski events–downhill, specialty, and crosscountry that I peeked at. I saw the Italian wolfdog cross the finish line. That was fine and I’ve heard the rumor that he was awarded an honorary medal. I would have liked to have seen the bobsledding but forgot to check the schedule and it seemed like whenever I tuned it, it was curling. Nothing against curling but…yeah. . I did watch the USA women’s hockey team take gold. Yippee! And then I watched the USA men hockey take gold against Canada on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Olympics. I loved the unbridled patriotism the team showed! Since the TV was on, I ended up watching the closing ceremonies. They were…a rather psychedelically hypnotic homage to many things Italian AND sports. Oh, and the life cycle of water. That’s not a dig. It was fascinating. The music was outstanding, the imagery incredible and yeah, I was a bit misty-eyed when it was finished.
In two years, the Summer Olympics will start. The majority of them will be in LA. Some of the watersports (canoe & rafting(?) sorry, can’t remember) and softball (YAY!) will be here in OKC. It’ll be fun.
In other news, I wrote a little, rearranged some chapters, and made some general progress. Sadly, life kept intererring. Nothing bad, just distracting.
We loaded up the boys and headed out on Saturday. Stormy had soccer. There was a high school volleyball tournament at the same the facility as the soccer games. Sooooo many people! And those teams didn’t leave between matches. The noise was crazy. Anyway, Stormy played well and even made a goal but his team lost. We were so glad to get out of there! It was great to see the Kids and the boys were very good and calm though they were totally ready to get out of there too.
Not much else is going on. I did laundry. I even took the lint catcher apart on the dryer and gave it a good cleaning. Why yes, I was avoiding writing, why do you ask? 🙄
As for the coming week, I have no plans and fewer goals. We shall see what we shall see. What are y’all looking at?
Posted in Writing Life
Tagged critters, family, follow up, good stuff, Monday, sports, writing
5 Comments
Friday Cinema: Cerberus
I fell down the rabbit hole yesterday looking for a video for today. I caught the video of the Italian wolfdog who decided to run with the Olympic crosscountry skiers and crossed the finish line. I wanted something funny and lighthearted. Nothing really reached the “good video” levels so here. This is a favorite I think I’ve shared before. I keep it in the back of my mind for when I’m thinking about the Hard Target series. Which I”m not. I’m currently “in” Rochester but hey…words! Anyway, I hope you enjoy. Have a great weekend and watch out for the weather if you are facing any of the weird systems out there.
Thursday Thoughts: Universal Flaws
Earlier this week, I discussed character flaws. Apparently, the Universe follows this blog because this popped up in my inbox. Perfect people are boring. Uninteresting. They have no place to go but down, and while delivering a come-uppance to those practically perfect people might be fun and entertaining, it’s short-lived. The true entertainment comes from watching a flawed character stumbling around in the dark while they figure things out. This is what the Big U had to impart:
What if every shortcoming, slip, or bobble you notice in another person, Silver, was choreographed by Divine Intelligence inviting you to wonder, ask, and think about how you might increase your own awesomeness?
Yeah, that’s how I roll –
The Universe
©www.tut.comP.S. Awesomeness, Silver, is a word in our dictionaries here. Your pic is beside it.
Take *me* out of the equation and substitute *your character*. Basically, this is the roadmap of creating character arcs. Looks easy peasy, right? You create a character with baggage. The character juggles and bumbles and in the end, grows. I used Sade earlier as an example. Today, I give you Ariel. He’s cocky. He knows he’s a chick magnet. Heck, that’s his whole reason for being–according to Oberon. He is the King’s Seducer. That was great for while, but along the way, Ari met some humans and lo and behold, it’s just possible that their humanity rubbed off on our favorite Fae. That’s his story and I’m sticking to it. In the end, I hope he is full of awesomeness. Writers, what flaws do you give your characters? And I include secondary characters in that. They need depth too, to keep things interesting. Readers, what are your favorite flaws to find in a character?
Posted in Craft, Writing Life
Tagged craft, inspiration, links, musing, quotes, Thursday Thoughts, Universe, WIPs, writing
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