More Recipes

So, thanks to yesterday's post and Diane Mott Davidson, I've decided to add yet another recipe. This one is a slight twist on the one I posted yesterday, but I thought it was much much better. Especially straight from the oven. 

The foundation is the same, but there are a couple of slight tweaks, I've listed them in blue. 

Dick Mott Hannah

So, I only got the most incredible compliment today! My BFF told me my cookies were the BEST! She is the best baker I've ever experienced, so hearing from her that the cookies are the bomb means quite a bit of something! (She does tend to exaggerate, but in this case I'll be happy to take even the exaggerated compliment).

Following the trend started yesterday, the one about recipes in mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson, I offer this . . . the (possibly exaggerated) bomb cooking recipe.

Reddit vs NaNo Forums

A part of a writing reddit that I enjoy commenting and discussing on had an interesting question the other day. It's fun because the writers in this group are so young and inexperienced. The NaNo forum has experienced and serious writers. Reddit has youth and inexperience. 

One of the redditors asked if it's okay to steal ideas from other novels or authors. 

Cooking

I baked alot yesterday. Read alot too. Enjoyed a cooking class from a local caterer as well. Made me think of Dianne Mott Davidson books (see HERE). The mystery series that revolves around catering and cooking. I love that it includes recipes of the dishes that are a part of the story. 

I only read a couple then I moved on. The schtick didn't stick. Why not? I think it's because it's one note. . . . on dimensional . . . not new each time. 

A Year Later?

I have heard from many people lately about my latest book (see HERE). One was a comment here on the blog (HERE) from my old friendo Kimbo (see HERE), another was at home, several neighbors, and I've gotten ten texts and a couple of emails too. all of them have been quite complimentary and that's fun. But with each contact I get more concerned.

Why concerned?

McNally's Cover is a Let Down

I have to admit, I'm a little let down. I've been compiling these posts with covers (see HERE) for the past few months and really been enjoying it. I was hoping for more out of McNally's Secret. I was hoping for at least a peak at an artists representation of Archie. Instead we get a stamp (which makes sense) another cover that is derivative of the first, then a completely generic cover. Not even a pulp to make me smile!

McNally First Line

I know that I've posted this before (see HERE), but it's worth posting twice . . . if only because I'm reading it again. So, like I said last time, I'm a huge fan of Lawrence Sanders, so naturally, I'm going to like his first line, but isn't this one just stupendous as a first line?

It only gets better from there. 

I'm reading this one now because as I mentioned last week, I'm trying to stay in focus with my writing and get some writing done. A McNally might not be as serious as I would like, it's far more light-hearted than my regular writing and reading, but it's so fun I can't help myself. 

High Stakes Cover

Yesterday and last week I wrote about what i'm reading right now (see HERE). The week before that I wrote about the first line from that book, as I often like to do (see HERE for all my first lines and why I catalog them). As anyone who follows this blog knows, I am currently in a phase of liking to see all the different varieties of covers that go along with the books I read (see HERE). 

This first one is what I like best about Dick Francis books. This style. this is what I was trying to mimic with my first series of covers for my own books. I failed. I do still like this style though. 

Funny Ole World of Writing

This week, I didn't have a tone of meetings, so I thought I would have a ton of time to write. I have that writing bug right now, I was hoping to capitalize on it. Sadly, I did not.   

Work piled up quickly. Tons of little things, a couple of big ones, and more politics and personnel decisions than I normally have to deal with. It's the end of the year, and so we are dealing with wage increases and bonuses, and no matter how generous you think you might be, it's never as generous as your employees hope. 

Old School

Now that I've finished old Trav McGee and Nightmare in Pink (see HERE), I've moved on to more Dick Francis. This time it's High Stakes see (HERE). 

I'm really looking forward to this one. I have never read it and it's among the older version of Dick Francis' work.

Within the first few lines the reader is reminded that this is from a bygone(ish) era.