Divine Pear and Cranberry Pie

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family, friends, and great food. I took advantage of the fact that OG and I were on our own for the first time this year to experiment a bit. Our daughter is coming for Christmas and doesn't allow ANY deviation from family holiday traditions. She requires exactly the same foods, cooked exactly the same way, every year.

I love pumpkin pie (and make a pretty darned good one!), but yesterday I decided to bake another favorite - Pear and Cranberry Pie. It turned out fantastic, as always. For those who are interested, here's the recipe. I got it from the Sept/Oct 2008 issue of Cabin Life magazine.

Divine Pear and Cranberry Pie

2  unbaked 9-inch pie crusts, pierced with a fork

6  half-ripe pears, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks

2  tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp grated fresh lemon zest

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup sugar

3 tbsp all-purpose flour

   Pinch of salt

2-3 tbsp milk

   Sprinkling of sugar

1. Gently toss pears with lemon juice, zest, and cranberries.
2. Mix together sugar, flour, and salt. Combine with pear and berry mixture.
3. Layer pear and berry mixture into first pie crust.
4. Place second pie crust on top, seal edges, and cut small vents in the top with a knife.
5. Gently brush the top pie crust with milk. Sprinkle with sugar.
6. Bake in preheated 375-degree oven for 50-55 minutes.
7. Let pie cool for 1 hour before slicing.

Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!

When a Plotter Tries to Pants It

I just finished the fourth of ten short stories for a Christmas collection I want to release next year. Three scenes. Forty-eight hundred words. It took me six weeks. 

Yes, you read that right. Six Weeks. How is that possible? 

It's because I tried something new. I got impatient with myself and my tried-and-true process of detailed pre-writing that includes a plot outline. After all, I told myself, it's only three scenes. I should be able to start with a couple of characters and a general premise and bang something cute out in no time. Everyone else seems to be able to do it, or at least they say they do.

For several years I've suffered from "pantser envy". So many writers talk about letting the story flow, letting the characters take over, being surprised by where their story takes them. It sounds so seductive, so creative. A few will admit this method slows them down or causes extra work during editing and re-writes, but most pantsers seem satisfied with their process.

I tried, and it paralyzed me. I found every imaginable excuse not to work. I knew the beginning and the end, but had no idea how to get there. Without an outline, the story refused to reveal itself. I hadn't done enough pre-writing. I didn't know my characters well enough to know what they wanted and needed.

Some writers say even the idea of an outline stifles their creativity. For me, it's always been the most creative part of writing. It's when I get to make the story up, visualize the whole thing, then write it down without having to worry about craft issues. It's formalized brainstorming, fast forward from beginning to end. When I've finished my outline, I know what happens next. For me that banishes writer's block. Small surprises pop up along the way, but they delight rather than paralyze me.

I thought I wouldn't need an outline for a short story, but apparently I do. I'd like to finish this short story collection and one complete novel by the end of next year. If I don't try to reinvent the wheel and apply a reasonable amount of self-discipline, I think I can do it. 

The moral of this story: Honor your own process; it won't let you down.

Just in Time for Halloween - Linda Andrews' UNMASK MY HEART

Please join me in Welcoming Linda Andrews to The Second Half. Linda is the author of a brand new historical romance entitled UNMASK MY HEART. She's here to tell us about her story, and she has a giveaway for a lucky commenter! Take it away, Linda.

1914. A mere hundred years ago. So many of our modern conveniences were around then, that I knew I would have problems giving this the proper historical feel. And what better place to base Hope's Point Island on than Mackinac Island in Michigan. Easy-peasy right? After all, Mackinac has banned cars and done much to preserve it's Victorian heritage.

You know the saying about the best laid plans...

It seems that to draw those wealthy tourist dollars in, Mackinac had indoor plumbing, electricity, and telephone service on the Island as early as 1904. Ack!

Fortunately, there were small details I could use to establish that 'olde tyme' feel, but before we get to the excerpt, tell me the one thing (excluding computers and cellphones) that makes it obvious the story takes place in another time. I'll let random.org chose one person who leaves a comment with their email address to win some Halloween bling.

Here's a blurb about the story: 

Her heart can't give him up. Her head can't trust him.

Everyone Phoebe Monpetit has ever loved eventually abandoned her. Even Gabriel Stephens, the man she thought she'd marry. For the last twelve years, she's muddled through alone, cobbling a life together.

Gabriel took the first opportunity to escape his family's constant fighting and rarely looked back. When war explodes across Europe, he learns what his cowardice has really cost him.

This Halloween, he'll use every trick he can to win back Phoebe's heart.

Will she keep her true feelings covered, or will she let Gabe unmask her heart?

And now for an excerpt to tempt you:

           Meowing, Thom hunkered down on the oilcloth floor by the sardine can she used to hold his food.

"Yes." Phoebe leaned against the door to shut it. The frigid breeze whistled through the openings around the jamb. After filling the cat's dish half-full, she joined her grandmother at the stove. "And I have six bottles this morning to sell."

Gigi grunted. Lifting the lid off the birch bark basket, she chipped off a piece of maple sugar from the lump inside the makak and added the clear solid to the saucepan of water.

Phoebe held her breath while pouring the rest of the milk into the kettle.

Grandmother usually returned from the lower peninsula in a happy mood, glad to be home and full of stories of the summer's events. She hadn't said a word since Gabe had left without a greeting last night, slamming the door behind him.

Setting the bucket in the tin sink, Phoebe filled it half full with cold water from the tap.

Gigi scraped the Johnnycake off the skillet and flipped it.

Phoebe sighed. She would have to question her grandmother. Her stomach cramped. But could it wait until after breakfast? Four heaping spoonfuls of cocoa turned the cream a light brown color.

Muttering, Gigi tossed a thumb-sized piece of maple sugar into the warming cocoa.

No point in putting it off. "Is something wrong, Gigi?"

Grandmother's black eyes narrowed. Hefting the skillet, she slid the corn cakes on a blue and white plate containing half a dozen others then returned the pan to the stove. "Yes, something is wrong."

Using a wooden spoon, Gigi scooped out a dollop of grease from the jar on the wooden counter and added it to the pan. A deft shake later, the oil coated the entire surface.

Knowing her grandmother would reveal everything on her own timetable, Phoebe took tea cups, saucers, and plates from the ledge near the sink. The bone china rattled in her hands. Generations of French brides would haunt her if she broke a single piece. She carefully set the place settings on the table and added two polished forks and knives.

Daisies embroidered the linen napkins sitting next to the blue plates. Her reflection frowned back at her from the copper pots hanging on the wall opposite the door. Both were the dowry of the last French bride to emigrate to America and used only on special occasions, like today.

You can find UNMASK MY HEART only on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Unmask-Heart-Halloween-Historical-Romance-ebook/dp/B00ODALVOC/

The Big Six-Oh: Lessons on Aging

Today is my birthday. It’s a big one, and I’m none too pleased. After a certain age, if you complain about your birthday, people always say, “It’s better than the alternative” in a disgustingly cheery voice. They’re right, of course, but that doesn't keep me from wanting to slap them. In honor of entering my seventh decade, I've decided to share a few of my observations on aging. They’re not earth-shattering or original, but they are personal. If you’ve already passed this milestone, see if they resonate with you. If not, just look at what you have to look forward to!

1.    Your body will never be the same again. I've always been reasonably energetic and youthful, but things are changing, and I know they won’t go back. I still exercise daily, but I can no longer get up from a squat without using my arms. If I have to pick something up off the floor, I kneel. When OG needs my help carrying something heavy, I no longer assume it’ll be a breeze. It won’t. Menopause has stolen every last speck of collagen in my body. Everything’s starting to sag, and my fat seems to be migrating. Parts that used to be well-padded are now spare; parts that used to be svelte now look like sacks of pudding. On the upside, I can still do everything I want to do, just not as quickly.

2.    Anything can happen at any time. After OG’s stroke last spring, we ran smack dab into the reality of mortality—our own and each other’s. He escaped without significant effects, but we recognize the outcome could have been very different. After sixty, you can no longer glibly acknowledge that life might throw you an unexpected curve ball. You have to accept it in the marrow of your bones.

3.    Take time to appreciate the small wonders and everyday beauty around you. I find I’m much more interested in nature than when I was younger. I look for beauty in the tiny details as well as the broad vistas. That’s a big part of why Carmel Valley speaks to me. I’ve never been surrounded by such beauty, and it’s more important to me now than ever before.

4.    Take the time and effort to truly get to know and understand yourself. When we’re working and raising families, there’s not much time for introspection. Someone always needs something, and we do what we must to get by day to day. When those demands lessen, you owe it to yourself to figure out what makes you tick and what you need to live the rest of your life in the most satisfying way possible.

5.    Have good role models. Pay attention to the older people in your life, whether family or friends. Spend time with them. What choices have they made to improve the quality of their lives as they age? My maternal grandmother lived to be ninety-eight, and she was a huge influence on me, especially in the last several decades of her life. I learned what I need to know about being old from Gram.

6.    Be kind—to yourself and others. This speaks for itself. There will be those who need your help, and you will need theirs. Accept and rejoice in it.

I’d love to hear how you feel about growing older. I’m trying to accept it as a blessing as well as a challenge, but I’ll confess that some days I find myself repeating OG’s perennial observation: “It isn't easy”.

Cover Reveal for TEACH ME by Ella Sheridan

Author Ella Sheridan has a brand new release coming out soon, entitled Teach Me, and she's here to share the cover with us. Welcome, Ella!

Teach Me (Southern Nights Book One)

A woman determined to heal…

Shy researcher Jess Kingston spent the last eight weeks recovering from her ex-boyfriend’s brutal attack. Body healed, she’s ready to put her life back together—except her ex isn’t ready to let go. She won’t cower in a corner while Brit tortures her, but she’s powerless to fight back.

A man determined to resist…

Ex-military security specialist Conlan James avoids commitment like the plague. His job, his Harley, and the occasional one-night stand are all he needs, until the day he rescues Jess from a tense situation and realizes he can’t get her off his mind. He can teach her to protect herself, but protecting his heart is another matter.

A madman determined to win…

As the deadly game of cat-and-mouse with Brit heats up, so does the hunger between Con and Jess. Safety might be found in numbers, but in bed, all bets are off—and the wrong move could lead to heartbreak. Or death.

Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite:

     What the hell are you doing here?

     This wasn’t the first time in the last five minutes that Conlan had asked himself the same question. Maybe if he had an answer, the revolving door in his brain would stop spinning, but that didn’t seem likely. Not anytime soon. Not with the beautiful brunette he’d come to see sitting close enough that, if he let himself look, he could detect the light dusting of freckles across her nose. But he wasn’t looking, and he shouldn’t be here, so how had he ended up standing in line behind the thirtysomething latte league? It sure as hell wasn’t for the coffee.

     Legs braced wide, he shifted from one hip to the other, the creak of his motorcycle chaps reminding him he could be enjoying a few extra minutes on the Harley before work instead of spending that precious time here, mooning over a woman. Doe Eyes. The first time he’d seen her all those months ago, he’d thought her eyes reminded him of sweet Georgia pecans and skittish does. The name stuck, as had the memory of her eyes—and a hundred other glimpses he shouldn’t have taken.

     Another name called, another latte dispensed, another shuffle forward.

     He hadn’t seen those eyes in eight weeks, and yet still he’d shown up every Monday, like clockwork, hoping for one more glimpse and calling himself an idiot. Wasn’t like he planned on asking her out. So why the hell did he torture himself with these weekly forays into enemy territory?

     Sex. Or sex appeal, at least.

     Another step closer to the counter. The move didn’t ease the constriction behind the zipper of his jeans. This was what she did to him, thinking about her. Especially now, after so long apart.

     The thought had a snort escaping. Ahead of him, Mr. Suit and Tie startled and glanced over a shoulder, but Conlan ignored the look. He was too busy figuring out when “this” had become enough like a relationship in his head that he would think things like “after so long apart.” Doe Eyes might appear prominently in his thoughts from time to time—especially certain times—but he’d never seen her outside of this coffee shop. And he wouldn’t. A quick roll in the hay was one thing, but Doe Eyes wasn’t the kind of woman who had one-night stands. He could tell that much just by looking at her. She was a relationship kind of woman, and he was a relationship-phobic kind of guy. Which meant he seriously needed to get a grip—and not on the part of him growing even harder at the idea.

     Idiot was right.

I know you can't wait, so here are the preorder links:

Amazon               http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Southern-Nights-Book-ebook/dp/B00NW16WTC/ref=la_B00G3BYYN4_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411680673&sr=1-4

ARe        https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-teachme-1635417-149.html

Kobo     http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/teach-me-11

Meet Ella:

Ella grew up in the Deep South, where books provided adventures, friends, and her first taste of romance. Now she writes her own romantic adventures, with plenty of hot alpha men and the women who love and challenge them. With a day job, a husband, two active teenagers, and two not so active cats, Ella is always busy, but getting the voices in her head down on paper is a top priority. Connect with Ella at

Author Website: www.ellasheridanauthor.com

Author Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/IJkRf

Author E-mail: ellasheridan.writer@gmail.com

Social Media Links:

Amazon Author Page                     https://www.amazon.com/author/ellasheridan

Facebook Author Page                  https://facebook.com/ellasheridanauthor

Twitter (@AuthorESheridan)      https://twitter.com/AuthorESheridan

Goodreads                                         https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7350508.Ella_Sheridan

NEW RELEASE! Risking it All by JM Stewart

My friend, writer JM Stewart, has a brand new release I'm thrilled to share with you. If you love contemporary romance, you won't want to miss Risking it All!

Love requires a leap of faith...

She’s everything he wants…

For years, Kyle Morgan has hidden his true feelings from the gorgeous girl next door that he grew up loving and protecting. But when she shows up at his apartment in the middle of the night, desperately needing comfort and support, his iron will begins to waver…

…and the only thing he can’t bear to lose.

Kyle was always the big brother Cecelia Anton never had, but suddenly her goofy best friend has become a sexy man she can’t keep her thoughts—or hands—off of. As their deep connection melts into uncontrollable desire, Ceci is willing to put it all on the line for a shot at true love. Only Kyle is keeping a terrible secret about Ceci’s past that could destroy not only their lifelong friendship but their happily-ever-after…

Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite:

For a moment, she stared, her eyes searching his, then she straightened her shoulders. “Why’d you kiss me?”

Panic curled through him, sending his pulse pounding into his rib cage. Damn. Why hadn’t he expected her to ask that? But he couldn’t answer it. To do so would be tempting fate. An intense need for distance seized him. Half afraid he’d lose his mind and do something else he’d regret, like pull her into his arms and show her why he’d kissed her, he shot to his feet.

He flashed her a smile he knew had to look as phony as it felt. “Headache’s better. Thanks.”

He didn’t wait for a response but strode toward the yard.

“I need to know, Kyle.”

His answer sat on the tip of his tongue, but the voice of reason sounded in his head. Don’t say it. Whatever you do, do not say it. Just keep walking.

Her soft footsteps sounded behind him. “You can’t just do something like that and walk away and expect me not to question it. You blow hot and cold, do you know that? I know desire when I see it, yet you just keep walking away.”

“Ever think maybe I wanted to kiss you?” The words left his mouth on a hoarse whisper, and God help him, a desperate need to see her eyes seized him. He turned to find her directly behind him. She stared for a fraction of a second too long, heat and curiosity blazed in her eyes. A heartbeat later, a light blush stole into her cheeks, but she didn't move, didn't say a word.

Everything inside of him ground to a halt, his mind twisting off in another direction. I’ll be damned. If ever he needed a confirmation, there it was. Whatever had happened between them was definitely not one-sided.

And lucky for us, the book is available EVERYWHERE!

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/1xUZJls

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1m0XdEJ

Amazon CA:  http://amzn.to/X8PA3R

Amazon AU:  http://bit.ly/X8PDwm

Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/1wiJmut

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1oDy0fo

iTunes:  http://bit.ly/1qt95Rs

Google Play:  http://bit.ly/1pY0JuS

Penguin:  http://bit.ly/1qONT7E

New Release! Cherished Moments by Mickie Sherwood

Please join me in welcoming Mickie Sherwood to The Second Half today! Mickie is the author of Cherished Moments, a new sweet romantic suspense. 

 

Here's a bit about the story:

Senator Jordan Dupré is reluctant to revisit her past. That thought crumbles at the sight of Deacon Burke. His commanding presence and charming smile transports her back to her youth. Back then, she kissed, loved, lied, and left him—taking a life-changing secret with her.

 

Scorned by Jordan’s dishonesty, Deke swears he never wants to see her lying face again. However, his heart knows better, and he never stops thinking of her. When Jordan’s husband is killed, Deke is summoned to the Senator’s aid, by an unlikely source—Unfortunately, he brings a secret of his own.

 

Will secrets from their past reignite their cherished moments?

 

Excerpt:

Deke’s number rang a long time before he finally answered. "Hello."

"Deke, it's me." Her throat felt scratchy from screaming. Clearing it only aggravated the rawness. "Thank you for being there."

"You know, I'll always be here for you, Jay."

"That man probably would have strangled me to death if you hadn't shown up when you did."

"What? What man? What are you talking about?"

Confusion settled over Jordan. "Wasn't that you in the parking lot a few minutes ago?"

"Jay, you banished me from your place. Remember?" He growled the words.

"It was so dark," Jordan revealed to him. "Then, who?" Her senses reeled. "Someone actually tried to harm me."

"I'm on my way.” Deke’s voice was even keeled though she deciphered an undercurrent of agony.

"I'm not at the office."

"You’re not. Then, where the hell are you?"

Now, she interpreted frustration in his tone. “I’m on my way to the lake."

"The lake? Where the hell is that?"

"Use my number to sync my signal, Deke. You'll have the directions. It hurt so badly to talk. I have to go."

"Jay!” he yelled into the phone.

"See you when you get there." She whispered goodbye, and then ended the call.

 

Buy links:

Topaz Publishing: http://www.topazpublishingllc.com/contemporary-romance.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/CHERISHED-MOMENTS-MICKIE-SHERWOOD-ebook/dp/B00JSWLXNY/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cherished-moments-mickie-sherwood/1119365472?ean=2940149550272

 

 

Find Mickie at:

http://www.mickiesherwood.com/blog

https://www.twitter.com/MickieSherwood

http://www.pinterest.com/MickieSherwood

http://www.goodreads.com/Louisiana_Lady

http://www.blurbsinbloom.com

 

Bio:

Mickie Sherwood is an author and a novice photographer. Using her backyard as the backdrop for her inspiration, she loves taking pictures of nature. Her love of photography incites her creativity for writing. Spending time with her family and cruise vacations, also stokes her imagination. With all of her interests combined, fascinating characters and intriguing circumstances can develop.

 

Mickie also enjoys a good laugh. Revel in the humorous stories she

shares about life, at her blog—Mickie's Mutterings.