Mona Karel Author

When we call friends or family, inevitably, someone will ask: “Whatcha been up to?” As a lead in to catching up.  Occasionally the question brings irritation, since what we’ve been doing says too much about the lack of excitement in our lives.  Even so, it can be a catalyst to sharing, and the reply can be:

“So glad you asked.”

In the week since I last wrote here, I blogged for Orange County on the idea of Mature Romance books. Would this be a successful genre? Mature Romances? I’d enjoy hearing your take on this idea.

On the recipe front, I came across cauliflower pizza crusts…seriously! I’ve tried almond flour crusts, which were yummy, but this was my first foray into cauliflower, though I have made cauliflower cheese “bread,” including a green chili version that is pretty yummy. I started with this recipe: Original Cauliflower Pizza Crust

1 cup cauliflower**
1 egg
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp fennel
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp parsley

toppings (make sure meats are cooked)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Farenheit. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray (or use parchment paper)

In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Press evenly on the pan. Sprinkle evenly with fennel, oregano and parsley.

Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes (15-20 minutes if you double the recipe).

**Most of these recipes call for cooked, riced cauliflower, either fresh or frozen. Sometimes I will get fancy and steam my cauliflower but most of the time I toss the 12 ounce bag of frozen cauliflower into the microwave until it’s hot, then drain, and use my (favorite kitchen tool) stick blender to mash it.

I made this as a pizza on Friday night and (sorry) gobbled it down too fast for pictures.  But the next morning I still had
some “dough” left.  Being of eclectic appetite, I decided to create a substitute for Indian Tacos (fried dough with all sorts of dangerously yummy toppings). While baking the crust, I cooked up some hot green chiles, then added eggs and cheese to the pan. Lacking fresh tomatoes (need to get to the market!) I used fire roasted salsa, and chopped up romaine lettuce as a garnish.  And it was GOOD.

On the writing front, I’ve been dusting off a series I started way back when, about a ranch in Northern New Mexico that serves as a resting place for people who need somewhere to decompress before easing back into their lives after battle. This first book concerns the daughter of a mercenary and a retired combatant. Both of them need to learn to forgive themselves for their past and trust each other if they’re going to have a future together.  It starts:

“She knew that walk.  With a slight hesitation in one leg he prowled like a wounded predator, conditioned to succeed against the most dangerous game of all.  Even limping, his reactions would be instantaneous, his balance superior.  By itself, his body would be a weapon.  He’d be the best man to have on your side in a battle.  After the battle, he’d unwind with a drink and a woman.  The drink would be strong and straight.  The woman would be bosomy and not too bright.  He’d very likely spend more time with the drink than the woman.”

So. Whatcha Been Up To???

First off, if you missed the message, the manic lady pin will soon be in the hands of Pamela Truesdale, through Random.org, since Gwynyfyr was too busy playing in the snow to pick. Congratulations Pamela and thank you all for participating. I’m going through my ridiculously large collection of funky jewelry so watch this space for further contests.

It is a new year, with new ambitions and a new outlook . I have been a writer most of my life, though as Alex said on the fabulous sit com TAXI, most of us see ourselves as anything but who we really want to be.  In Alex’s case, he was the only taxi driver, everyone else was driving to support the life they thought they wanted. All too often I’ve heard “I’m going to write full time as soon as…” and the blank fills in with retirement, children growing up, other people’s dreams.  And they put off writing until it becomes their dream instead of their reality.

Anyone who has followed this blog knows I’m a major fan of Kristen Lamb’s blog, never more so than now.  She started out the year with an in our face blog about not defeating ourselves before we first put pen to paper (or pencil, or ink, or…you get it I’m sure) with Lies That Can Poison Your Dreams and followed up with three days of excellent writing tips, culminating in Talent is Cheaper than Table Salt, taken from a quote by Stephen King, which continues: “What separates the talented individual from the successful is a lot of hard work.” Her blog today is about stepping away from our comfort zones and putting our writing first.  Not necessarily ahead of paying the bills, but definitely ahead of mindlessly watching television, or trolling the Internet for the latest non-news from Hollywood.  Even more, it’s about mindset.

When someone asks “What do you do?” as in what is our major life focus, how many of us relate our current work position? Maybe we have a fascinating hobby we like to brag on. How often do unpublished or barely published writers declare, loud and proud, “I am a writer”? It’s marginally easier for other artists, since they can point to paintings, sculpture, wall art as proof of their abilities.  Writers can only point to a computer screen or a loose stack of printed paper. Those who have reached the level of e-publishing can show a Kindle file, only to hear: “Can I find you in a book store?”  Well, I do spend time wandering the aisles, imagining how MY books will look on the shelves, but I don’t think that’s the intent of the question. Nor is the question meant to put us on the  spot, it’s based on decades of assumptions about our profession. Times and perceptions are changing, let’s change along with them.

So in this New Year, having survived a non-end of the world and fully prepared for any apocalypse that might occur, let’s all stand up and declare “I AM a Writer.”  Yes, we are.

Not that I’m going to be doing links every Friday but it seems like a good day to make suggestions on interesting blogs.  Especially since the yards are a sheet of ice and the dogs are going goofy.

First off, Kristen Lamb has gone to the silly side in her last two blogs: End of the World as we Know it and Holiday Spirit

These are both put down your coffee before reading posts.  Just want to warn you!

This time of year leads me to wax philosophical, and I’ve gone slightly nuts with chapter blogs.  On LERA I’m recalling that wonderful prose poem I heard when I was young (yeah, I was young at one time!) Desiderata and on the Orange County blog, Does Anybody Care it’s all about grammar rules and what readers really want.

The winner of a Gift Certificate of their choice is TRIX.  I’ve send you a private message

I’ve not yet received any requests to be in a drawing for an e-copy of one of my books.

Have a great weekend and don’t miss an opportunity to say “I Love You.” Except maybe to the cashier at Wal Mart, unless you really do.

Yeah, I did a Next Big Thing before the Great Vanilla Extract Creation along with that fabulous Secret Santa Blog Hop.  But I’ve been tagged again, and I really wanted to share the creation of this story. This time the tag was from fellow Black Opal Books author Zrinka Jelic AND Katja Willemsen . I’m going to tell you all about my next book by answering these questions and then to tag more authors about their Next Big Thing. So here I go!
What is the working title of your next book? Right now, it’s Gabriel’s Story, just so I have somewhere to store the files in Word Perfect.
Where did the idea come from for the book? In My Killer My Love , Gabriel is the half brother and nemesis of Mykhael.  He attempts to seduce Kendra and when that fails he tries to kill her.  If you’ve read the book you know what happens to him and as I was writing that scene my maniacal laughter (take THAT you jerk) scared the Salukis.
What genre does your book fall under? Paranormal Erotic Novella
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Ah, the tough question.  Cause Gabriel was disgustingly handsome in MKML and I’m writing him now as hot hot. I know my heroine is big and

From that scene in the glade when Gabriel tried to seduce Kendra. Who do you think should play him? courtesy of farconville at FreeDigitalPhotos…

beautiful, so among major players Kate Winslet would be good as long as she keeps up her weight.  I’ve started a Pinterest page: Gabriel’s Story
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?  In punishment for betraying his code, an immortal enforcer must learn humility among humans.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? I’m leaning to self publish
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? It will probably three months, maybe less if I can get my rear in gear and sit down to write.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? The idea came to fruition during a workshop with Angela Knight. I’m reaching for that wonderful combination of dedication, humor, courage and smoking hot she produces.

Who or What inspired you to write this book? I thought killing off Gabriel was a just ending, possibly because he represented so many way too handsome self centered men I’ve dealt with. Then readers started asking for his story, pointing out that love really should be able to “improve” the very worst characters.  And I thought Hmmmm.  The other inspiration was my own imagination going wild when I fed dogs late at night, with the world outside the windows dark and no way to know if anyone is watching.  And again Hmmmmmmm.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Other than the redemption through love idea, my heroine is full bodied and happy with herself.  Plus she’s doing a huge secret favor for a friend, which is how she ends up feeding dogs in a brightly lit room, not knowing who might be watching.
Here are some fabulous authors I’ve tagged to tell you about their Next Big Thing! First from the Secret Santa Blog Hop:

Haley Whitehall who really gets into her historical fiction!

Christine Morehouse who lives to rock the muses.

And just ’cause I think they’re fabulous, plus they’ve done great Next Big Thing posts

Greta Van Der Rol – Her NBT is a sequel to a great “lost in space, rescued by a hottie” story.  Especially since the hottie in question is a total jerk at first

Doranna Durgin – Her NBT is a Reckoner story but she has so many great ideas swirling around in her head, you really need to keep an eye on her!
—

So I borrowed from daytime television games. Heck, I’ve been borrowing Mr Hot for three days now! We’re coming down to the wire on the fabulous grand prize Secret Santa Blog Hop.  Don’t forget to check out Blog Central for more entries in the drawing for a Kindle Fire.  And don’t forget to be VERY sure your entries are acknowledged!

On with the final steps for vanilla extract.  We left off with the sliced and cut vanilla beans in their containers, waiting for the Piece de Resistance:  The vodka.

I generally pour with my right hand but I needed that hand to click the camera button (are there any left handed cameras???)  You want to fill up those containers so you cover the beans.  Seal up the container, give it a shake, then put it away in a dark place for at least a month.  Pull it out from time to time to give it another shake.  Soon you’ll have rich yummy pure vanilla extract.

You might wonder if this really works, or am I just spinning another fable.  Here’s proof: after less than 24 hours the vodka has begun to pull color (and flavor!) from the vanilla beans.  Sure wish my stories would work that fast!

If you go into a spate of cooking, or use it up in some other fashion, just add more vodka, rum, cognac, whatever,shake and let it set again for about a week.  In maybe six months you’ll want to pour off the liquid into another container, let the vanilla pods dry, cut them up, and add them to a canister of sugar, for vanilla sugar.  Now doesn’t that sounds just sooo gourmet???

So, for the final QUESTION:  Hmmm, what could it be??? Ah, here you go: In My Killer My Love what was the name of the Overlords who tried to control Mykhael and Kendra?

Just so you know, no one has gotten yesterday’s question right yet. Oops.  Everyone got Baron’s name right!

Since it is the season, and I’m really want to spread the love, if you haven’t read one or either of my books, I’m going to do an e-book gift, in addition to the gift card. Just let me know if you’re interested in being part of that drawing.  You can send a private message to tsent@ix.netcom.com

Don’t forget to hit Blog Hop Central to gather up lots of chances for those prizes, and that’s here: http://www.tabithablake.blogspot.com From Tabitha’s blog you can hop out to the other participants, for even more chances.  Just one more day!

Tomorrow (Thursday December 19) I’m going to do another “Next Big Thing,” this time an erotic novella sequel to My Killer My Love.  Stop by and let me know how it’s sounding to you.

Back again for Day Two of the huge blog hop/vanilla extract fun time. And yeah that hot guy is back again.  We get to share him for these three days. And I’ll repeat the ways you can really rack up entries for a chance at that Kindle Fire, once we get to the next step of the Vanilla Extract. I’m going to share the quick way to make extract. If you want to really get into it, you can follow Instructables directions which also include a lot of in depth information along with the intense directions.

Mine’s a bit easier. Now, extract isn’t usable right away, but once Christmas baking is over with no one does much for a month or so anyway, and it will be ready for Valentine’s day. Some people keep it around to flavor drinks also, if you’re so minded.  You got your glass bottles, right?

Vanilla beans can be found for a ridiculous price in health food and gourmet stores.  Or you can buy them in bulk on line.  These came from Saffron Imports and are much more reasonably priced. Bit of trivia, the vanilla is a pretty vine, related to orchids, and does best in a jungle atmosphere.  Not so great in New Mexico!

Directions call for a very sharp knife.  For me that means an Xacto knife, especially since we have them in excess since Tom used them to cut mats.  Carefully slice lengthwise.  Don’t go all the way through since you want to expose the middle but don’t want to split the bean.  Cut horizontally in two to three places on the bean.  I’m using three beans for each small container since I want to make a nice dark extract…plus I have a LOT of vanilla.  I’m folding the beans into the glass bottles, so there will be room for the lid to close tight once the vodka is added.  You can also use cognac or pretty much any sort of alcohol for an extract. If you use water, you make an infusion, or a really strong tea.

Now, for the Secret Santa part of the blog.  Remember, there are THREE WAYS to get more entries for the drawing. One for following my blog. One for leaving a comment and another for answering my question.

For that special chance, here is tonight’s QUESTION: In My Killer My Love what relationship was Gabriel to Mykhael?

You’ll want to link back to Blog Hop Central to gather up lots of chances for those prizes, and that’s here: http://www.tabithablake.blogspot.com From Tabitha’s blog you can hop out to the other participants, for even more chances. There are over forty great writers involved in this hop…I’m finding a lot of new books to read!

I’m going to be drawing a name from those who enter through this blog for a gift card of your choice, whether Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Black Opal Books.  See you tomorrow for the finishing touches on the vanilla extract.