Mona Karel Author

Welcome to Mona’s stop on the Secret Santa Blog Hop.  Gotta say, that hot guy is really getting around WHEW!!
Hope he’s not too worn out by the end of the tour.  The grand prize for participation is a Kindle Fire loaded with wonderful books. I’m sharing below how to maximize your chances to win.

My favorite Christmas tradition has been hand made gifts.  Some years it’s trays of cookies, or maybe artwork on mugs.  This year it’s going to be home made vanilla extract.  The ingredients are super simple: vanilla beans and vodka.  I’ll share the procedure tomorrow…get some nice glass containers, enough to hold about 1/2 cup each.

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 first chance, here is tonight’s QUESTION

I’ve been involved in purebred dogs for over forty years and since tonight (12/16) is the finale of the AKC Invitational Show in Florida, my first question is going to be dog related.  But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a dog person to answer.

Question for December 17: What was Bethany’s dog’s name in Teach Me To Forget?

I’ll be posting something new every day so you can hop back over here for a couple more chances to win the Kindle loaded with books and/or a great gift card.  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

For those who haven’t been following my blog this last year, this is my first year without my husband Tom. Last Christmas his hospital bed was in the middle of the living room, and he was able to spend his final days surrounded by our love.  To heck with fancy gifts, hug those who love you and forgive those who can’t.

For once in my life, I have no answer to that silly question.  I have my front teeth, at least at this particular moment. I have friends and family who love me, most of the time sufficiently but not too much.  I have a fabulous employer who has stuck with me through thick, thin, and near disaster. I have my health, my dogs, a roof over my head, protection from the storms.

I don’t have my husband of nearly twenty-five years. That ended last January and I’m facing my first Christmas in a long time alone.  Alone isn’t such a bad thing, especially for someone who has more than once been alone in large crowds.

But enough of the downer post.  What I want for Christmas, other than World Peace (I am such a fan of Miss Congeniality!) is the opportunity to read and share really wonderful books in a wide range of genre and style.  In the last several days, instead of writing on a paranormal erotic novella, a first for me, I’ve read an Urban Fantasy, a m/m romance, a semi classic, and an historical.  All slightly off beat, all delightful.

So now you’re wondering about what books have captured my admittedly off beat interest?  So glad you asked. The Urban Fantasy is Doranna Durgin’s Kodiak Chained; the m/m romance (that’s male/male for the more innocent!) is Tara Lain’s delightful Snow Balls, the semi classic is The Cowboy and the Cossack (recommended by a friend at least a year ago but not read until now…sorry, Susan!) and the historical romance is Tessa Dare’s The Scandalous Dissolute No-Good Mr. Wright.  Yes, it is as much fun as the title implies.

As for my own writing, instead of the Romantic Suspense requested by a publisher, or the halfway done then abandoned NaNo book, I’m plotting out the story of Gabriel, from My Killer My Love.  Turns out he didn’t die when he tried to hurt Kendra and Mykhael.  But the Atrahasis are really, really mad at him, and he has to live among humans for a while.  Poor guy.

Krsiten Lamb came up with another awesome blog, and this one applies to so many aspects of our lives.

How Do We Handle Rejection and Keep on Pressing?.

To pair with Kristen’s bottom kicking advice, there’s one from Skinny Artist, Five Fears That Can Destroy An Artist

Among them Self Doubt (oooh, good one!)  And if that doesn’t put you into a let’s take on the world mood, then how about low carb shortbread?  I kid you not, this is an amazing snack, and so simple to make.  The first time I made it I followed the recipe but ignored the directions. It was okay but, eh, I could do without it.  Well, when all else fails, do try to read the directions!!  It’s from The Low Carb, Whole Food, Gluten Free Foodie, a new favorite recipe site for me

Some of the amazing LERA authors

And very generous members

low carb shortbread  Lots of yummy pictures with the recipe!  I made these for the LERA Christmas Party, Tip Share, and Present Exchange/Stealing.

I’ll be sharing more recipes and tips this season, but for now, remember to hug those you love, and forgive those who can’t love you. It’s their loss.

I admit, I led a pretty sheltered life as a kid.  My father was in the Navy, but we didn’t move much, and when we did, they chose neighborhoods with good schools, even if that meant my father had to commute further when he wasn’t at a more remote location.  Certainly my History teachers drilled me in the reasons for and results of warfare. I understood about the draft, being of the Viet Nam era, and about sacrifices and losses in war, in fact I wrote a term paper on the letters home from my father’s younger brother, who died in Korea.  My last year in high school we were based in Japan, where I was up close and personal with the injuries and losses.  Still as more of an observer than a participant.

When we returned to the States, we went through Hawaii and of course we hit the “attractions,” which included the Arizona Memorial, and the “Punchbowl” National Cemetery.  Faced with row upon row upon row of graves, stretching from one end of the dead volcano to the other, I finally realized the true cost of war, and was forever changed.  At the Arizona, I didn’t read the names or the history, I simply stood looking into the water, and felt the weight of all those who had died that morning.

After that, we visited all the places my parents had wanted to see, including Little Big Horn.  This was long before the earthquake that revealed so many secrets.  I didn’t see much more than a large empty field.  But I felt again the echoes of so many dead, for such incomprehensible reasons.

We all know war is hell.  Sometimes war may seem to be a necessity, and perhaps sometimes it is.  But how, in an era of what we believe is increased understanding, we can continue to believe tearing apart the lives and souls of young people will provide a long  term solution to any problem, escapes me. I’m told I’m too much of an idealist. I only know I looked out across those acres of ground level markers, and wept for lives cut short, hopes never realized, futures never lived.  And wondered how civilized we had truly become.

People sometimes ask what in the world can be done with these skinny dogs. Other than run them around the show ring, or push them off the couch when we want to sit down.   Both of which have some merit but don’t make for great long term activities.   Not to mention they don’t make our ‘lukis real happy to be around us.

When it comes to having fun, nothing pleases a Saluki more than running.  Given the competitive nature of humans, nothing pleases us more than running our Salukis against each other.  To help organize their running, hard working people get together to hold a Lure Trial, where, honest, the dogs chase after plastic bags. Yeah, I had my doubts but from how the critters act, it’s obvious a good time is had by all.

And when they come home, they sleep very soundly, and dream of running the fields…or surfing the counters.

While my fellow writers were plowing their way to that 50,000 word goal by writing every day, I was doing what I pretty much always do…huge bursts of writing, then nothing for several days.  Which, yes, does bring the numbers up but does not make for a “real” NaNo win.  The purpose of NaNo (in my mind at least) is to reset our writing habits, to put our bottom ends in our chair every day until we’ve put enough words on the page for that day’s goal.  Not to continue our long time habit of procrastination to the last possible second, then pounding away to get works on the page.

This method does work for some people, and did work for me for a long time.  Until the gaps between those huge bursts of writing got longer and longer. A housekeeping analogy would be how much easier it is to wash dishes every day instead of plowing through the stack when one can no longer see the counter. Yeah, I carry that feast/famine habit through a lot of my life.

At 30,000 plus words and one week left, I quit NaNo.  Yes I could have made up the missing words and been a “success” but it would have been the same hollow victory as in the past.  This was brought home to me by another of Kristen Lamb’s wonderful  Blogs, this one about retraining our bad habits.  I can’t really say I saw the light but I did see a light, probably from mentally pounding my head on the desk.  And I realized, yet again, how we sabotage ourselves, as writers and as humans.

So, it starts today, and continues on.  Would you like to join me in this quest to retrain (**) years of bad habits?  The first step seems to be acknowledging those habits.  Done.  Next step is taking that next step.

Here we go…..

[I can’t sign off without acknowledging the writers who have helped encourage me to this point. If you have a chance, check out their blogs. There’s Kristen, of course.  And Terry O’Dell is always good for time management tips.  Instead of loading you down with more links, I’ll share them out. You’ll be hearing a lot more from me, one small step at a time]

I’ve been tagged in The Next Big Thing by Sci Fi writer Greta Van Der Rol. I met Greta through an on line workshop and being fond of good space opera was an immediate fan. Plus she lives in Australia, a place I really want to return to one day. I’m instructed to tell you all about my next book by answering these questions and then to tag five other authors about their Next Big Thing. So here I go!
What is the working title of your next book? A Question of Honor. WORKING title, I know it’s been used a lot!
Where did the idea come from for the book? I was lucky enough to be a member of OCC when Ann Maxwell was still in Southern California. She was incredibly generous with her time and did several talks along with signings. I pulled together my courage and asked her when she was going to write Utah’s story. She gave me a charming three cornered smile and said she probably wouldn’t “Why don’t you write it?” Well, I drove home thinking how I wouldn’t actually write Utah’s story but I would write… And out come Devin and Sydney.
What genre does your book fall under? Romantic Suspense
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? This is always my most difficult question since I don’t go to movies much any more, and my favorite actors just don’t work for Devin. He’s a not handsome sort of guy like Ty Randolph. So, maybe Russell Crowe? For Sydney, that’s a rough one. There was a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel who looked exactly like Sydney, which doesn’t much help does it? Maybe Gillian Anderson.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? The daughter of a mercenary risks her security, her life and her heart to rectify her sister’s dishonor. Now for the series, the synopsis would be Warriors wounded in body and spirit find hope for their future at a New Mexico ranch.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? I have a request from a digital publisher
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Around three months…I was a lot younger then!
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I’m sure there must be some but I’m drawing a blank. Sydney isn’t a gorgeous tall bosomy bombshell with legs that go on forever.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?  Certainly Ann Maxwell/Elizabeth Lowell gave me that final nudge to get serious about writing this series of my heart.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? There are depths to the people around us we never discover unless we stop to get to know them.  I try to show this with Devin and Sydney
Here are some exciting authors I’ve tagged to tell you about their Next Big Thing!

Lex Valentine who did my wonderful trailers

Zrinka Jelic also published by Black Opal Books

Cassandra Shaw another fabulous Australian writer

Paula Millhouse who galvanized a bunch of writers into this promotion

Hope you enjoy their next big things…and keep an eye out on the bookshelves for these great stories.

We have Amber Norris here this fine Wednesday, sharing one of the treasures of Mexican cooking, those yummy flaky fried bits of dough known as Sopapilla. In some restaurants these are served with your meal and you have the choice of eating them with your savory spicy food, or slathered with honey for dessert.  Either way, they are sublime. And doesn’t that recipe book look oh so tempting?  Let’s welcome Amber and see what’s cooking.

“Heavenly Pillows” Sopapillas

What’s more hot than a flaky dessert, dipped in honey and shared with the one you love? Yeah, it takes a bit of prep and build up, but so does the art of romance, does it not?

Sopapillas are a sentimental recipe for me. My grandfather brought the recipe over from Central Mexico when he moved to America. I used to love watching him sit in the kitchen and toss flirtatious comments to my grandma as she dropped the dough in the deep fryer. And then later, they’d cuddle against the counter and share one (or two) together.

The moments were so romantic, that when All Romance asked for romantic recipes I knew I had to share this one. Click HERE to download the free e-cookbook and see all the other fantastically romantic recipes.

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons shortening

Yummmmm Sopapilla

1 1/2 cups warm water

2 quarts oil for frying

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

 Instructions

1. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and shortening. Stir in water a little at a time until dough is smooth texture. Cover and let stand for 15-20 minutes.
2. Roll out on floured surface until ⅛-inch thick. Cut into 4 to 5-inch squares or triangles. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in deep fryer to 375 degrees F and fry until golden brown, flipping with tongs to ensure both sides are evenly tanned.
4. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle powdered sugar to desired amount and serve hot. As an alternative to the powdered sugar, you can sprinkle cinnamon sugar. To do this, mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon sugar, blend well and sprinkle to desired amount.
5. Serve with honey for dipping and enjoy! Makes about 2 dozen.

The Hispanic culture has always held a rich romantic element to me. When Damani Wassack, the main male character to my last installment of the Telomere Trilogy, popped into my mental life I knew he was from a Hispanic heritage. In End of Eternity, he tries not to be romantic or sentimental, but can’t stop his nature… especially against the Dokkaebi warrior Luna Dokkaebi. He knows that her hostile and contrary personality is only used to hide her fear of a world and an attraction to him she doesn’t understand. 

Book Blurb

Luna thought her journey away from her people’s world was over. Now, she’s forced to join the lost daughter in her journey with Captain Noah Bonney’s crew to learn why these women coexist with men. Something unbelievable to the all woman race. Adding to the confusing change in Dokkaebi directive and teachings, is the presence of the gold-eyed man that stirred something in her heart. A forbidden attraction that goes against all her teachings and her people’s ways.

Damani Wassack isn’t happy with the situation either. Telomere Watchers lead secluded and separate lives. Yet now, he and the other watchers must come to the surface, show all their secrets and work with outsiders. If that weren’t enough, he can’t get that sneer from the man-hating warrior woman out of his mind. Or her fierce dedication, strong spirit, and sense of duty and honor. The package is appealing, and completely impossible.

Purchase Links for End of Eternity

All Romance Books, Amazon, B&N, and Books on Board