Happy Memorial Weekend!!!
Thank you to all the service men and women who have served so we can all have freedom.
Congratulations to Eric and Ashley on their upcoming wedding tomorrow.
What are You Reading Thursday
I am reading the advanced copy of Karen Halls upcoming Christmas short story anthology Love Came at Christmas from Books to Go Now. Her first in print edition of these stories. Wow, what a holiday treat if you haven’t already gotten these gems in electronic form. The anthology includes Christmas Stockings, The Comet that Came for Christmas, and the very popular A Christmas Proposal.
Rumor Has It Wednesday
My website was updated yesterday. Did you notice what changed?
Multi-published author, Rachel Brimble, will be my guest author on Monday. Be sure to drop by to say hi.
Breaking News! The Good Luck Potion Book #3 in The Good Luck Series is going free for three days next week. May 31-June 2. Be sure to spread the word.
30 days from this date I along with numerous other Romfest romance authors will be signing books at Books-a-Million at Governor’s Crossing in Pigeon Forge, TN from 1 – 4 p.m. Make plans to join us!
Recipe Tuesday
Flatbread Pizza!
A new favorite of mine. My mom and I ate at Chili’s last week and they have a new flatbread appetizer. We did the 2 for $20 deal so we got an appetizer with our meal. We ordered the Chicken Chipolte flatbread, but our waiter accidentally hit the Margherita flatbread instead. OMG was that mistake ever a good one. I don’t think we could have enjoyed anything anymore than we did that flatbread. We’ve decided to go back and order flatbread with a salad and make a meal out of that.
And of course, when I find something I absolutely love I have to share it here on my blog. I am NOT claiming this recipe will give you as good as a restaurants, but you can try it and see if you like it.
Flatbread Crust
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cups (6 oz.) lukewarm water
- 1 tsp. active-dry or instant yeast
- 2 cups (10 oz.) unbleached all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 500°F and let heat for at least a half an hour. If you have a pizza stone, put that in to get hot as the oven preheats.
Combine water and yeast in a mixing bowl, stir to dissolve the yeast. Add the flour and salt and mix until it forms a ball of dough. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface along with any loose flour still in the bowl. Knead until all the flour is incorporated, and the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. The dough should still feel moist and slightly tacky. Add more flour (1 tbsp. at a time) if it is sticking to your hands or the counter. Let the dough rise or double in size for at least an hour and a half. Use all or refrigerate unused portion up to 3 days.
Using two 12″ pieces of parchment paper, divide dough in two pieces. Working with one piece of dough at a time, shape it into a large disk with your hands and lay it on the parchment paper. Work from the middle of the dough outwards with the heel of your hand to gently press and stretch the dough until it’s about 1/4 of an inch thick or less. For a thinner crust use a rolling pin. The dough will stick to the parchment paper making it easier to roll out. Leaving the crust on the paper, add toppings and bake for 5 minutes. The parchment will release from the crust and you can remove it when you rotate the pizza before baking it another 3-5 minutes, or the crust is golden brown and the cheese looks toasty.
Margherita Pizza
- 1 lb. (2 large) ripe summer tomatoes or 1 16 oz. can whole or diced tomatoes
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4 cup loosely packed basil, sliced into ribbons
- 8 oz. mozzarella cheese, sliced
- Salt and pepper
Cut tomatoes into wedges and trim away the stem area, squeezing wedges over a bowl to remove the excess juice and seeds. Combine the tomatoes with the garlic and half of the basil in a food processor or blender. Process until the tomatoes break down into a sauce, scraping down the sides as needed. Spread a light layer of sauce over the unbaked flatbread. Top with half of the slices of mozzarella. Leave some space between the pieces. Transfer the flatbread to the baking sheet and bake, sprinkling with more basil when you removed it from the oven. Cool briefly before slicing and serving.
Guest Author Monday
Please join me in welcoming today’s guest author — Lorrie Struiff
I’m a curious author with some sound advice about free books
Do you read multiple genres or do you stick to only one, two or three?
Do you follow your favorite authors only, or do you spread your reading wings and try a new author once in a while?
I’m asking because these questions float around in my mind. I’m such a curious person.
Me? I’m a multiple genre reader—very multiple. I do try new authors.
I only have a few hundred books in my E-reader, both purchased and free that I’ve been downloading over the past year. The freebies I see on Facebook and blogs are both from small press publishers and Indies. Again to satisfy my curiosity, I have read roughly over fifteen freebie short stories and novellas in the past few months.
I’m so glad I’m not always a reviewer. I figure if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
Please forgive my honesty. I do know there are many superb writers out there trying to sell their books on FB and blogs. I’ve read some of them, too, and have given a few reviews.
That said, some of the freebies I’ve been reading lately, well, let’s say I’m not impressed. Yes, yes, I know I have no room to talk, I’m no Hemmingway myself, but I am foremost a reader. Aren’t all writers?
Now, either some of the freebies are the authors’ early works and not their best, or worse–the stories are their best to date.
I know that I still have a lot to learn as writing is a growing process and you get better with each story you write, but…
Some of the freebies I have read have such a thin plot—if any– no substance to the story, and no tension, and most of all, a very weak climax. I go–huh? What did I just read? I call them a ‘nothing story.’ So disappointing. I won’t purchase a new “for sale” story by that author. Not after I just read a ‘nothing’ story by them.
Let’s get something straight. I’m not talking about the books small presses allow free dates for authors to give their books away for promotion. If they are promoting, the stories are usually worth reading. It’s a great opportunity to find a new author to follow.
But some of the authors, and I did say some authors, who they themselves give freebies away I believe are going to lose future readership.
So dear authors, please be careful what you offer to the readers. If you want to promote yourself as an author, give them a free good sample of your work to read.
I imagine I will get a lot of flak on this article, but, do you agree or don’t you?
Arrgh! Don’t beat me.
I’m almost afraid to promote my two short stories now. Lol. But, of course I will anyway.
From BooksToGoNow, I give you Wild Blackberries and The Last Dance.
And I will offer free, one of these short stories of choice in PDF format that you can convert, to one lovely commenter.
As a multi-genre author, let me tell you a little about them.
Morgan is researching on an Indian reservation in Prescott, Arizona, for her new paranormal novel. She doesn’t believe in the paranormal, but writes it for the trend and the nice royalties. That is until her soon to be divorced husband tries to kill her, and she survives by her wits and a little “strange” help.
On Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Blackberries-ebook/dp/B004C0554A/
Bren’ and Rip have been friends since they met. Now that they are in High School, Brenda finds herself in love with Rip. Growing up in the fifties seems idyllic but in this short story about love and loss, relationships can be more than simple crushes and sometimes young love isn’t enough.
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Dance-ebook/dp/B004O6MUNG/
Where you can find my other works.
Amazon, buy page: http://www.amazon.com/Lorrie-Unites-Struiff/e/B0046DA65Q/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1357417814&sr=1-2-ent
Blog: http://lorriejuly.blogspot.com/—-Hit my published works page.
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/lorrie.struiff
Pintrest: https://pinterest.com/811lms/
In case you are wondering, I live very near Pittsburgh, PA. I have been writing for over ten years and have led various workshops in my area. I write in my quiet den on my laptop and conjure up my fictional characters to give the readers, I hope, a satisfying read. What fun to see what trouble they get into and how they wiggle out of tense situations?
Thanks, Lorrie, for dropping by and sharing with us today. We wish you much success in your writing.
Sunday Sundaes
Today started off with church. On our way we found that the power was out in Halls making crossing through intersections tricky. Some people don’t know they are supposed to treat intersections as a four way stop when the traffic lights aren’t working. When we came out of church we found that like the last few days it also rained. And with it came the humidity.
We had a quick lunch of burgers, potato salad and macaroni salad (both Amish style that we picked up at the grocery). They were very good. Then I was off to critique to meet with my writing friends. Sharon made a greek cheese ball and had raspberry lemon bars. Both were yummy. Besides critiquing, we discussed Romfest plans, SMRW upcoming elections speculating on who might run for office for next term since the nominating committee is already at work.
It was a fun afternoon. Even if it did rain again. But as long as it isn’t flooding or too cold and wet I’m not complaining.
Play Date Saturday
Yesterday was a full day of shopping. Gathering supplies for flower arrangements. Well we began working on them and discovered we needed to return the filler flowers and go with something else. So we are going back to Hobby Lobby to return and buy more flowers. We’re also picking up a few bags of the flat marbles to add sparkle to the crystal bowls we are using.
Besides the flower arrangements I now know what I’m wearing for the High Tea and the masquerade party during Romfest. I have my hat for the High Tea. I found my cowboy hat for Western night. Now for my head piece for the masquerade party. I’m working on my outfit for the Naughty White party. Everything is coming together and I’m getting very excited for June 19-23 to get here.
