tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130255572024-03-12T19:20:20.090-07:00Rebecca York/Ruth GlickRebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-4481913989660997482021-09-20T17:39:00.002-07:002021-09-21T12:01:02.366-07:00KILLIAN UNBOUND<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Killian-Unbound-1-Rebecca-York-ebook/dp/B09G22GXJJ/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="400" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acXa32znVwk/YUkoOuj_irI/AAAAAAAAFeE/57KJ7ZqT6ugC_azH6k0IfllQnBJrqRvBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Killian-ad-400w.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Killian-Unbound-1-Rebecca-York-ebook/dp/B09G22GXJJ/"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ORDER FROM AMAZON</b></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Princess Sabina has always obeyed her father, King Norwen. But when he plans to marry her to a ruthless prince, she runs away. Soon captured, she’s thrown into a tower cell to await her punishment.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The prison is already occupied -- by a terrifying ghost. Hiding her fears, she befriends him, hoping they might help each other. As they grow close, she realizes he’s not a phantom but an enchanted mortal who remembers nothing of his past. Physical contact with Sabina is the key to bringing back the memory of the man she learns is named Killian. The more intimate they become, the more he remembers.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Their shared adversity forges a bond between them, but will they be free to acknowledge their love for each other, or will her ruthless father capture her and drag her away from the man she’s coming to love?</span></div></div>Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-42980326878813710192016-05-08T21:29:00.000-07:002016-05-08T21:33:52.603-07:00Preview from SUMMER HEATI’m excited to tell you I’m in a new boxed set coming out May 24 and up for pre-order now.<br />
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My story is OUTLAW JUSTICE about a couple who had a burning-hot relationship eight years ago. Now she’s on her husband’s murder list, and only Steve Justice can save her. Here’s the first chapter.</div>
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<b>CHAPTER ONE</b></div>
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“Just great,” Steve Outlaw muttered as he took in the beer bottles, pizza boxes, and other debris littering the floor of his mom’s old house on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Obviously, the last tenants had trashed the place.<br />
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The mess was bad enough, but something else made his senses tingle. The scent was wrong for a dwelling that had been closed up for weeks.<br />
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It smelled like someone was in here. Or maybe burglars had recently broken in, then cleared out.<br />
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He stifled a curse. If he’d still been on the job with the Baltimore PD, he would have been carrying his service revolver. But he’d quit six months ago after recovering from a nasty gunshot wound to the leg. Medical had wanted to keep him on desk duty, and he’d been too restless to sit on the sidelines.<br />
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Now he looked around the room, hoping to see something he could use as a weapon. When he spotted a broom leaning against the sagging couch, he picked it up and held it in front of him as he turned toward the closet near the door. The bad leg ached from the effort to move quietly. He ignored it and kept going.<br />
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The closet was clear and so were the dining room and the kitchen, except for a couple of folding chairs lying on their sides. But the smell of humanity was stronger near the pantry, and when he threw open the door, a figure leaped out, trying to knock him down in a frantic rush to escape. Since he wasn’t entirely steady on his feet, the tactic almost worked. Dropping the broom, he spun to the side, grabbing a slender arm and wrenching the intruder toward him.<br />
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The light was dim, but the breath froze in his lungs when he saw her face. Was he making it up? Or was the woman standing in front of him really Leah?<br />
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For a moment he was transported back to the last steamy afternoon they’d spent here, her naked body pressed to his, her fingernails digging into his shoulders, her lips moving urgently over his. In his teenager’s bed, the blue of her eyes had deepened with need, and her chestnut-colored hair had been a tangle around her elegant face.<br />
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Not now. His mind snapped back to reality as he saw her breath quicken and her hand tremble—not with passion but with fear.<br />
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“Leah?” he asked, struggling with his own roiling emotions as past and present collided.<br />
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Her head bobbed in answer to the sound of her name.<br />
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Trying to cope with this out-of-kilter meeting, he asked, “What in the name of God are you doing here?”<br />
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She glanced at him, then down at the tips of her running shoes, as though she could avoid confrontation by looking away. Although he didn’t want to break the physical contact, he could feel the tension radiating through her. To give both of them a little space, he let his hand drop away from her arm, but he kept his gaze fixed on her, hoping she wasn’t going to make another run for the door.<br />
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In a voice he had to strain to hear, she answered, “I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go.”<br />
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Again his mind zinged back to the intimate weeks they’d spent together in this very house—before she’d gone off to Boston University. He’d thought they’d resume their hot and heavy sexual relationship when she came home for Thanksgiving vacation. Instead, she stayed in Boston for the holiday because she’d met a guy named Warren Pendelton.<br />
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After reading her carefully worded letter, he’d snatched a beer mug off his desk and thrown it across the room, where it shattered against the wall. As the weeks dragged on, he’d gone from anger to resignation, yet he couldn’t let go of a tiny spark of hope—until she’d married the bastard the next year and dropped out of school.<br />
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He’d known he had to get over her, and he thought he’d succeeded. But as they stood facing each other, all the unfinished business simmering between them seemed to explode inside his head.<br />
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Struggling for some perspective, he tried to focus on the immediate problem—whatever it was.<br />
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“You can’t go home?”<br />
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He wasn’t prepared for her explosive laugh—or the way she sobered immediately—as though she’d allowed herself a few seconds of emotion that she was fighting to keep under strict control.<br />
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Raising her head, she met his questioning gaze. Her voice turned edgy as she said, “Sorry to intrude. I’ll get out of your way now.”</div>
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<b>END OF CHAPTER ONE</b></div>
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And as a special present to readers, we’re giving away a cookbook based on the boxed set, where each recipe is tied to one of the stories in the collection.<br />
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<b>You can get COOKING WITH THE AUTHORS OF SUMMER HEAT at these venues:</b><br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/Cook_Az"><b>Amazon</b></a><br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/Cook_BN"><b>Barnes and Noble</b></a><br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/Cook_Kb"><b>Kobo</b></a><br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/Cook_Ap"><b>Apple </b></a></div>
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Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-47457667304359728492015-06-29T09:45:00.000-07:002015-06-29T09:45:47.407-07:00 FRESHENING YOUR WORKIf you write for a long time, you may find that you repeat yourself. I mean, how many ways can you have your bad guy try to kill your hero and heroine?<br />
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Murder isn’t the only aspect of my stories where I try to be creative. Yeah, a lot of my heroes are agents for Decorah Security, and a number of them are even werewolves. Plus a lot of my heroines make their living from the arts, because those are professions I can identify with. And as an added bonus, when murderers come at them with a knife or a gun, they’re free to pack up their paintbrushes or cameras and disappear.<br />
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One thing I try to do in my work is set my stories in interesting places. I used Washington, DC, a lot because the city has cachet in the world of spy novels. It also happens to be the city where I grew up, so I know it well.<br />
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Similarly, I often use Columbia, Maryland, because I live here now. And right down the road is two-hundred-year-old Ellicott City, where the kitschy shopping street is wedged between massive cliffs leading down to the Patapsco River. Another location I go back to again and again is Maryland’s Eastern Shore because of the colonial charm, waterman culture, and opportunities for small-town politics.<br />
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I’m kind of embarrassed to say that I don’t know as much about some of the other locations around my state. But I had an opportunity to remedy that situation at a Blogger Bash sponsored by the Maryland Office of Tourism. They got a number of writers together with marketing directors from some of the state’s counties and also some interesting vendors. I knew Maryland had wineries. In fact I picked up a brochure for the Patuxent Wine Trail, which includes wineries in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Prince George’s and Saint Mary’s counties. And I had a nice chat with the winemaker from Big Cork Winery, which is thirty minutes west of Frederick.<br />
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Talking to the vintners has already got me thinking of a different kind of occupation for one of my heroines. And something I didn’t know is that we’ve got a distillery, Lyon Distilling Company, in St. Michaels Maryland. At the reception I tasted some of their wonderful rum, mixed with ginger beer. Now I’ve got another interesting business to include in my description of St. Michaels, a location I do use frequently, although I call it St. Stephens. One of my personal rules is that, if I’m going to murder people, I like to do it at a fictitious location.<br />
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One of the people I loved talking to at the bash was Betsy DeVore, the Director of Marketing and Digital Communications for the Hagerstown Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.<br />
I’ve driven past Hagerstown a lot of times on my way west. She made me want to stop there. It might be cool to set some scenes at the Antietam National Battlefield or the Chesapeake & Ohio National Historical Park.<br />
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If you’re looking for interesting locations for a book, use your state’s tourism office as a resource. The same thing goes if you’re looking for a fun day trip or overnight.<br />
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And tell me–where do you look for interesting locations to use in books–or simply to enjoy for a quick getaway?<br />
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Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-46413432681884522482015-04-22T02:42:00.000-07:002015-04-22T02:42:30.342-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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When a writer gets ready to publish her first indie book, she’s often giddy with excitement at the control she has over the project. Not only does she get to write the book she wants without conforming to a publisher’s many requirements, she gets to design her own cover, or hire the cover artist of her choice. Reality sets in when she realizes she’s in for hours of searching photo sites to find the perfect hunk, clinch couple or mountain landscape for her book.<br />
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But finding the right background and models for a cover is a piece of cake compared to scoring ten or so photos to make a book trailer.<br />
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The trailer for <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Missing-Decorah-Security-Book-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B00VXU2TKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429695667&sr=8-1&keywords=rx+missing+rebecca">Rx Missing</a></i>, my new Decorah Security novel that comes out April 28 on amazon.com, is a perfect example:<br />
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The story starts with my hero, Lieutenant Commander Mack Bradley, taking fire and bailing out of his F18 fighter jet. A very dramatic scene, but where could I get THAT photo?<br />
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The good news is that I could search Web sites where all U.S. government photos are free to the public. The bad news is that the only picture I could find of an F18 that wasn’t too far away to see any details was on the deck of an Aircraft carrier.<br />
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Here’s the picture I found:<br />
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Actually, it makes a good “danger” scene with all that smoke billowing up. The problem is that there are also guys standing around the plane. I eliminated two of them by cropping the photo. Since I don’t use Photoshop, I had to figure out some way to block out the guy right in front of the plane. I did that with the picture’s caption.</div>
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After solving the plane problem, I went on to my h/h. I needed a hero with short dark hair and a dark-haired heroine. But I was going to need several different poses for the various scenes I wanted to illustrate, so I looked for people whose faces were obscured. I found a picture I thought would work on Canva (a site where you can compose various Web and print projects and buy inexpensive pictures). Unfortunately, the shot I wanted had an inappropriate detail. The heroine is holding a pregnancy test stick!</div>
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Could I get rid of that unfortunate detail—again without access to Photoshop? Mostly, by writing over it with big white letters, and then adding a caption.</div>
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And what about the mad scientist I found to illustrate the medical thriller aspect of my plot. I suspect the scientist I used is a woman—where my bad guy is a man. Go ahead and play the video a few times, and see if you think he’s had a sex-change operation.</div>
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I fudged something in almost every photo I used.</div>
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But my main goal was to get you interested in the book. I just wish I had the budget to hire models and shoot the pictures myself. But then I’d still be stuck trying to find the right people.</div>
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Next time I’ll talk more about the video techniques I’m learning.</div>
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Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-79098117625275138582014-11-11T02:08:00.002-08:002014-11-11T07:52:32.782-08:00GETTING COVERED<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P5CNK1E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00P5CNK1E&linkCode=as2&tag=ruthglick&linkId=ZSBFB3HURWKHSI4E"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P5CNK1E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00P5CNK1E&linkCode=as2&tag=ruthglick&linkId=ZSBFB3HURWKHSI4E" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LwhalD_Z8io/VGHfofYMB_I/AAAAAAAAAgY/wAV2i8_XIGY/s1600/CoverFinalMD-DestinationWedding.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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My new Decorah Security novella,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P5CNK1E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00P5CNK1E&linkCode=as2&tag=ruthglick&linkId=ZSBFB3HURWKHSI4E"><i> Destination Wedding</i></a>, has one of my favorite covers. It’s striking, sexy, evocative—perfect for the story about an heiress, Camille Norland, who’s kidnapped by a Russian mobster and taken to his private Caribbean island where he plans to marry her against her will. Nick Cassidy is desperate to rescue her, and he’s able to sneak onto the island and mingle with the wedding guests as he waits for the right moment to spirit Camille away. Once the story was finished, I started thinking about the cover.</div>
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There are lots of good things about indie publishing. For starters, you can write the book you want, making it whatever length works best for the story. And you don’t have to fight an editor to get the perfect title.<br />
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Then there’s the first thing the prospective reader will see—the cover. I thought that when I started indie publishing, it would be a snap to get illustrations I loved—rather than the hit or miss offerings my publishers—dare I say—slapped on my books. To be fair, some were really great. I will forever love the cover of my Harlequin Intrigue, More than a Man. Others made me want to weep or scream when the characters looked nothing like my hero and heroine, and the scene might as well have come from outer space as the manuscript I’d provided.<br />
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But I quickly discovered that getting it exactly right isn’t all that easy, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P5CNK1E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00P5CNK1E&linkCode=as2&tag=ruthglick&linkId=ZSBFB3HURWKHSI4E"><i>Destination Wedding</i></a> is a nice example of what it takes. I wish I could do my own covers, but I don’t have the time to learn Photoshop and get good at using it. Instead I’ve relied heavily on Su at Earthly Charms. I like her because she listens to my concepts. Then she might steer me in a better direction when she knows what I’m thinking won’t work the way I expect.<br />
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I’ve come to the conclusion that a couple embracing is often the right way to go with romantic suspense. Or a sexy guy alone can work. But I’ve found that I can’t have only one idea in my head because it might not be possible with the photos available.<br />
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Because <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P5CNK1E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00P5CNK1E&linkCode=as2&tag=ruthglick&linkId=ZSBFB3HURWKHSI4E"><i>Destination Wedding</i></a> takes place on a tropical island, I thought about using a beach setting—or possibly a jungle. However, background is the easy part. The hard part is coming up with a great looking guy or couple who fits your story. And finding him/them usually means looking at screen after screen of sexy men. (Admittedly a lot more fun than actually sitting and writing.)<br />
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I found a guy who was almost perfect for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P5CNK1E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00P5CNK1E&linkCode=as2&tag=ruthglick&linkId=ZSBFB3HURWKHSI4E"><i>Destination Wedding</i></a> cover. He’s wearing a tuxedo shirt unbuttoned and standing a beach. He’s got a great body. But I didn’t like the wise-ass expression on his face. Which led me to ask Su, “Can we cut off the top of his head?” She sent me back a version with his brains missing, but I thought she’d gone a little too far, so she adjusted the cut to show his sensual mouth. After we took care of the face problem, I needed to find a woman who worked for the would-be bride in the story. That sent me back to the stock- photo sites, this time looking for a long-haired blond in a wedding dress. I sent Su several candidates, and she made the final choice. Luckily there was no problem about the two of them touching. As you can see, she’s standing in the background, looking out to sea, praying he’ll show up and rescue her before the wedding night.<br />
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Often my covers need a separate background. In this case, the shot of the guy on the beach cut out that step. Su put the picture together and added my name and the book title. Now if you’ll just send me URLs of great-looking guys or hot but tasteful couples embracing, the next job will be even easier.<br />
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What attracts you to a book cover? Do you want to see an embracing couple? Is a hot guy alone as good?<br />
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Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-31249918722427455912013-09-14T23:30:00.000-07:002013-09-15T07:38:11.870-07:00JACK'S APPLE BETTYJack Brandt, the hero of <i>BAD NIGHTS</i>, my new Sourcebooks romantic suspense release, had parents who separated when he was young. But he did have a few good memories from his childhood, including some of the desserts his mother used to make. This Apple Betty is one of his favorites. It’s a little like bread pudding but with more fruit than bread. Recently Jack was lucky enough to have found the right woman, Morgan Rains, who loves cooking. <br />
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This recipe is for her, so she can surprise Jack with one of his all-time favorites, but I hope you’ll enjoy it, too. Note that I’ve taken a lot of the calories and carbs out of the dish by using Splenda instead of sugar. I’ve used a combination of red and Granny Smith apples, and I’ve left the skins on. You could also peel them if you like.<br />
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Makes six to seven servings.<br />
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1 cup Splenda<br />
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
8 cups cored and cubed apples (about 8)<br />
4 cups light bread cubes (I like to use Light Oatmeal Bread)<br />
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine<br />
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1. In a 1-cup measure, stir together the Splenda and cinnamon.<br />
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2. In a large, microwave-safe bowl, stir together the apples and Splenda mixture. Microwave on high power for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring two or three times, until apples are partially cooked.<br />
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3. Meanwhile, spread the bread cubes on a cookie sheet with sides. Toast in the broiler 5 or 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until cubes are browned. Watch the cubes carefully to make sure they don’t burn.<br />
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4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<br />
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5. Transfer apples and cooking juice to an 8 ½ by 11-inch baking pan. Stir in bread cubes. Slowly drizzle the melted butter over the mixture. Stir to coat well.<br />
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6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once, until the apples are cooked through.<br />
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I serve the Betty with no-sugar-added ice cream or half and half. It will keep in the refrigerator for two or three days.Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-11047582510467330872013-06-17T11:06:00.000-07:002013-06-18T15:53:07.510-07:00Turkey and MoreAs you may know, I’m married to Mr. Travel. He loves exploring the U.S. and the world. And I've heard him brag recently that we’ve visited the sites of five of the seven wonders of the ancient world. I say “the sites,” because most of them—like the Colossus of Rhodes—have fallen to dust. (Or scrap merchants, in the case of the Colossus.) We saw the Great Pyramid of Giza on August 12, 2001. I remember the date because we had been in Nairobi the day before, after a safari in Kenya and Tanzania. If we’d been traveling a month later, we would have been grounded and unable to return to the U.S. until the 9/11 flight ban was lifted.<br />
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My husband’s latest delight was visiting the site of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. (Another ancient wonder.) You can no longer see it, but its parts live on as building blocks in the castle at Bodrum, Turkey.<br />
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Our visit to Turkey began peacefully enough, with walking tours of the famous sites in Sultanahmet, the old-city part of Istanbul. We marveled at Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Topkapi, the Mosaic Museum, the Grand Bazaar. And my favorite was the old Basilica Cistern near the Hagia Sophia. You go down into a watery cavern, supported by columns stolen from various Roman and Greek temples. To even out the height, one sports a giant head of Medusa at the base.<br />
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My writer friend, Patricia Rosemoor, joined us near the end of this Istanbul visit. Then we all flew to Cappadocia, a region of weird rock formations, many hollowed out as living quarters, and even an underground city—going back to the time of the Hittites. We stayed in a cave hotel and took a balloon ride over the unique landscape. Bodrum was next, where we all climbed around the castle, admired the gardens, the statues and the view of the harbor. One highlight was the “Museum of Underwater Archaeology,” where recovered shipwrecks and the goods they carried were displayed, some from the 25th century BC. (That date is not a typo!)<br />
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We’d planned our trip to Istanbul to take in the antiquities first, then later returned to stay at a hotel on the Bosphorus, where we could visit the Asian side of the city. But when we came back to Istanbul from Bodrum, we ran smack into the protests. Our hotel was close to the park that the protesters want preserved. From our eighth-floor window, and also from the windows in the dining rooms, we watched police hurl tear gas and try to clear the area with water cannons. And at 2:00 a.m. one day, tear gas seeped into our room, stinging my eyes. The violence wasn’t all on the part of the police, however. We watched protesters remove paving stones and billboards to make barricades, which we had to walk past to leave the hotel.<br />
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People have asked me, “Were you scared?” No, but the riots trapped us inside the hotel for a day. Finally we did get out for a visit to the Spice Market and took a Bosphorus cruise—being careful to get back before the evening rioting started again.<br />
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I know I’ve been a witness to history in the making. Actually, what I saw on our return trip to Istanbul saddened me. There’s so much to see and do in Turkey. Although we only scratched the surface, we enjoyed many unique experiences you won’t see anywhere else. We loved the ancient sites, the shopping, and a glimpse into another way of life. The people were warm and friendly. One highlight of our trip was a home visit to a family in Cappadocia, where the mom and daughter-in-law fixed us a delicious meal, and one of the school-age boys brought us a newly-hatched chick to admire. Another great interaction was with the man in charge of the breakfast room in our first hotel in Istanbul. I’d bought cat food for a stray mom cat and her kittens, then found out he was sneaking them cheese. <br />
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As I traveled around, I saw a lot of people whose jobs are dependent on the tourist industry. People working for Turkish Airlines, in hotels, restaurants, bazaars, at the attractions and in the Bodrum marina. And there were scores of tourists—from the U.S. and Europe. But I think the government’s repressive reaction to the protesters has seriously cut that source of income. I know people who have already canceled trips to Turkey. And every time I read about the unrest, I pray that the people and the authorities can come up with a peaceful resolution—quickly. But I honestly don’t see it happening. <br />
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Maybe some year you’ll get to see the fantastic sights I saw in Turkey. But I don’t think it’s going to be soon.<br />
<br />Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-66058574515762205342013-03-18T18:55:00.000-07:002013-06-25T17:02:54.654-07:00Research and Fun in Central America<br />
The next book I’m writing for Sourcebooks, BETRAYED, features a heroine from Central America, and I picked up some fantastic background material for her while on a trip to Central America a few weeks ago. I learned about the educational system, the drug trade, health care, and political corruption. And I watched the military men striding around with their automatic weapons at the ready.<br />
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There’s so much to recommend this part of the world that I keep going back. I love the people, the birds and animals and the amazing flowers. And I especially love tramping around Mayan sites where thriving cities flourished more than fifteen hundred years ago.<br />
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In Belize we started our trip at a zoo Harrison Ford helped establish when he was filming Mosquito Coast. All the animals there are native to Belize, including this boa constrictor I’m holding. <br />
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We also visited Mayan ruins in the country, including Cahal Pech and Xunantunich. Although the stone carvings at Xunantunich are a reconstruction, they make a very impressive presentation. And getting there was half the fun---crossing a river on a cool ferry that the operator worked with a hand crank.<br />
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The most jaw-dropping ruins we saw were at Tikal in Guatemala, which we had visited 19 years ago. We loved coming back and seeing how much more of this “New York of the Mayas” that archaeologists have uncovered. Here’s a picture Norman took from the top of temple 4, which is 212 feet tall. I climbed up the switchback staircase that’s been installed so you can get to the top relatively easily, but I hate heights; and with a whole bunch of people milling around on the narrow ledge up there, I didn’t stay long.<br />
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Another highlight of our trip was beautiful Lake Atitlan, formed by a gigantic volcanic explosion and still ringed by volcanoes that belch smoke and ash. Our hotel was right on the water, and we took a boat trip from their dock to several villages where we visited a weaving cooperative and a street market. As we motored into one village, we saw how the level of the lake is rising, swallowing trees and buildings along the shore.<br />
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And here are vegetables at the indoor market in a village called Chichicastenango. </div>
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Our next stop was Antigua, a World Heritage city, where we stayed for three days, exploring the cobblestone streets, the ruins, the markets, and several museums, like the Mayan music museum.<br />
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One of the highlights of the trip was an abbreviated Mayan ceremony, where we purified ourselves with bunches of rue and cast colored candles into a fire in a metal cauldron. It was the dry season, but as we tossed blue candles symbolizing water into the fire, a light rain began to fall.<br />
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Here’s an Antigua street scene near our hotel.</div>
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I loved the macaws at the entrance to Copan. </div>
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The carved stelae inside the ancient site are spectacular.</div>
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And here’s a replica of the temple that archaeologists found underneath another temple–so that the coloration on the exterior was preserved. </div>
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And look at Norman providing a perch for some parrots.</div>
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We had a fantastic time exploring Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. In fact we liked it so much that we’re planning another trip in January–to two of the places we liked best, Antigua and Lake Atitlan.<br />
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Do you like to travel. And if so–what’s your favorite destination?<br />
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Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-80451392805898618292013-02-14T08:39:00.000-08:002013-02-14T08:39:45.925-08:00New Look for my Blog<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/ON-EDGE-Decorah-Security-ebook/dp/B00B34Q1O6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360859626&sr=1-1&keywords=on+edge+decorah" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c_TY843nOxs/UR0RdBqQHQI/AAAAAAAAAbo/nmexPYN8DfI/s1600/OnEdge-125w.jpg" uea="true" /></a></div>
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With the help of the incomparable Paula Graves, and a power assist from the ever-talented Norman Glick, I’ve got a new look for my blog. And if you rush over to www.freepartay.com , you can get a copy of two of my Decorah Security stories for FREE (today only!) on Amazon. And when you get to the free ParTay, you’ll see a lot of other authors you will want to buy.</div>
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I’ve heard disputes about giving away books on Amazon. Some authors think that it works as great publicity. Others think that so many free books mean readers will just wait until a book goes free. I’ve had<u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/ON-EDGE-Decorah-Security-ebook/dp/B00B34Q1O6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360859626&sr=1-1&keywords=on+edge+decorah"> On Edge</a></u> and <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ambushed-Decorah-Security-ebook/dp/B006LFWDJY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360859872&sr=1-1&keywords=ambushed+decorah">Ambushed</a></u> free yesterday and today, and I’m getting a lot of sales for my other books at the same time. Going free has worked for me as my primary publicity tool. Every time I do it, I get increased sales. What do you think about free books as publicity? Are there too many? If you’re an author, has it worked for you?<br />
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I’ve put my books free through Kindle Select. I know there are authors who also have a book “permafree” by having Amazon price-match free books in other venues. Which do you think works better? <br />
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And, by the way, how do you like the new look for the blog?Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-5842845654155542562013-01-15T16:51:00.000-08:002013-01-15T16:54:13.643-08:00The Joy of Short Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have friends who love to turn out long books. For some writers, 150,000 words a pop is nothing. The mammoth novel has never been my favorite form. If I have to pick my natural length, it would probably be the novella. And the short story is also a treat for me.<br />
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Too bad I wasn’t born soon enough to take advantage of the golden age of short stories in the Nineteen-Twenties and Thirties. Back then, the major writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Edith Wharton could live off the income from stories—sold to popular magazines such as <i>Colliers </i>and <i>The Saturday Evening Post</i>.<br />
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I read a lot of those stories later when I was an American Studies major at The George Washington University and then as a graduate student at the University of Maryland. And I loved them.<br />
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But my fondness for the form actually started earlier, when I discovered science fiction as a kid. From the age of ten until into my twenties, science fiction was a lot of my leisure-time reading. And the most frequent variety was the short story.<br />
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I’m going to skip over decades when the short story declined in American culture, mostly due to the dying out of the magazines that published them. It’s more fun to go right to today’s resurgence of the market. And I’ll credit the rebirth to indie publishing. You don’t have to be invited into an anthology to write a short story today or find a magazine that still buys them. You can write the stories that stir your creativity and publish them in e-format.<br />
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Some authors are doing them to keep readers happy between novels. Others are writing them because they have an idea they want to explore that won’t work in novel form but may be perfect for a short story.<br />
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I’ve done a couple of them myself—AMBUSHED and HOT AND DANGEROUS—as well as a novella, CHAINED.<br />
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All of them are the kind of fast-paced romantic suspense I’ve been writing for years, where a man and a woman fall in love against a backdrop of terrible danger. The risks intensify the emotions building between them. And the hero is likely to be a guy with paranormal powers that add to his sexual appeal and his warrior skills.<br />
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I’m loving the freedom that the indie market has opened up for writers—especially the ability to publish stories of any length you want. And luckily for us, readers are appreciating these shorter works, too.<br />
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What’s your favorite story length for leisure reading? Or do you love the freedom to choose what’s best for your mood of the moment?<br />
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And stop by <a href="http://bit.ly/TYxidH">Lunch Time Reads</a> at <a href="http://bit.ly/TYxidH">http://bit.ly/TYxidH</a> , where you can find some great short stories by favorite authors, each for 99c.<br />
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<br />Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-76130325078132477782013-01-08T22:33:00.000-08:002013-01-08T22:33:43.128-08:00Authors Unleashed<br />
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Where do you get your ideas? That’s the question I hear the most from fans and people who don’t spend their lives writing fiction.<br />
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I used to give a flip answer---that I bought them from a little shop in Ellicott City, the charming old town just down the road from my house.<br />
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Now I tell the truth. If you’re a writer, ideas for stories whirl around in your mind all the time. You just have to choose which ones you’re going to develop.<br />
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Until a few years ago authors were restricted to writing the stories publishers wanted to buy. Now there are no restrictions. You can write anything you want, publish it yourself, and sell your work to readers.<br />
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I jumped into the indie market just over a year ago with a novel, DARK MOON, a novella, CHAINED, and a short story AMBUSHED. During 2012 I added another novel, DARK POWERS, and a short story, HOT AND DANGEROUS, all the while keeping up my “day job,” writing for Harlequin Intrigue, Sourcebooks, and Carina. <br />
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This month, I’ve put several of the above titles together into a DECORAH SECURITY COLLECTION that’s doing really well on Amazon.<br />
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Indie publishing is a wild ride with some big advantages and also some disadvantages. Nobody tells you how long to make the book. If you have an idea that will work better for a short story than a novel, you can go write and publish it. And nobody censors you. If your bad guys tend to use the F word when they’re angry, they can sling the trash talk with the best of them.<br />
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Then there’s the book cover. Over the years, I’ve been disappointed by so many of the covers my publisher has provided for my books. Now I get to pick the guy, the pose and the background. It’s exactly MY vision of my story, which is more satisfying than you know. <br />
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And it doesn’t matter if romantic suspense is “in” or “out” or if an editor wants paranormal or not. I can do it my way.<br />
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Of course, you don’t have the support of a big publishing company behind you. You pay the cover artist. And you need to find a good editor and a copy editor---if you want your work to be as polished as possible, with no typos or pesky spelling mistakes. Then you either learn how to put it up on Amazon and other sites, or you find someone to do it for you. After that, nobody is going to push your book but you. You’ve got to stay active on social media and interact with fans. Which is fun, since it keeps you connected with the world from your writing cave.<br />
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There are frustrations in the self-publishing business. But the control over my work outweighs them. Next up in the DECORAH SECURITY series is ON EDGE, a prequel telling how Frank Decorah got to be the head of Decorah Security.<br />
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I’ve got a couple more projects on the drawing boards as well, which means there’s lots more work for me ahead. And I hope a lot more reading fun for you. <br />
Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-53502047315286974102012-11-29T01:54:00.000-08:002012-11-29T01:54:55.918-08:00CRANBERRY ORANGE SAUCE RECIPE<br />
When I want to take a break from writing, I often head for the kitchen. I’ve made this wonderful cranberry sauce before, and I finally made myself write down the recipe as I worked. It’s great on turkey, ham or lamb. I also love putting it on my breakfast cottage cheese.<br />
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Cranberry Orange Sauce<br />
Makes 4 cups<br />
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2 12-oz bags of fresh cranberries<br />
1 navel orange<br />
4 cups water<br />
2 ½ cups Splenda<br />
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1.Wash and pick over cranberries. Transfer to a large saucepan or small Dutch oven, and set aside.<br />
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2. Cut stem and navel end off of orange, and cut into eighths. Place in a food processor, and process until chopped. Transfer orange to pot with cranberries.<br />
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3. Add water and Splenda. Bring to a boil, then lower heat so that cranberry-orange mixture simmers. Simmer for 30 minutes. <br />
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4. Bring mixture to a boil, and cook at a low boil, stirring frequently, for ten minutes until sauce has been reduced by about one third. Be careful to keep sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Cool and transfer to refrigerator or freezer containers. Cranberry sauce will keep for up to a month in the refrigerator and up to six months in the freezer.<br />
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Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-46985747878323739182012-09-02T17:47:00.000-07:002012-09-03T09:33:38.665-07:00The Cookie Queen Has Done It Again<br />
To say that my cookbook author friend Nancy Baggett has an enduring passion for cookies may be an understatement. Cookie crazy even crosses my mind, so I start the conversation with my long-time writer colleague and occasional cookbook collaborator by asking her if this label is apt. <br />
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“I don’t know about crazy,” the youthful-looking grandmother of two responds with a laugh. “But I have been an avid cookie baker since I was about six and have been professionally creating cookie recipes and writing about them for more than thirty-five years.” No doubt those decades of experience help explain why noted food editor Nancy Wall Hopkins of Better Homes and Gardens refers to Baggett as the “cookie queen,” calls her recipes “flawless,” and says they’re ones Americans “will want to bake again and again.”<br />
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The cookie queen’s years of experience and reputation for meticulous recipe testing are also likely why so many other culinary professionals consider her the nation’s top cookie expert. Over the years, she’s developed recipes and written articles for a large share of their publications, including Bon Appetit, Woman’s Day, House Beautiful, Family Circle, Cooking Light, Eating Well, Fine Cooking, Country Gardens Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times to name only a few. And, oh yes, they know her from her popular and critically acclaimed cookie books. The ink is just dry on her third huge, well-photographed, full color work on the subject, this one titled Simply Sensational Cookies.<br />
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As we head towards the family room, I notice the aroma of vanilla, butter, and chocolate in the air. In her pleasant, well-appointed kitchen I see a long granite island covered with tidy racks of hot pink, yellow, and burgundy-iced flower-shaped sugar cookies and what appear to be several hundred almond-studded chocolate biscotti laid out on more racks over by the stove. Two corner walls are decorated with large pegboards holding dozens of cookie cutters. Ahead on the den mantelpiece I spy two charming little cookie houses on display. When I comment on them she tells me her granddaughter decorated the Valentine’s Day-themed cottage all by herself. “She was sooo proud,” she notes.<br />
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“Cookies, cookies everywhere, and not a one to eat!” She waves toward the countertop and paraphrases the famous Coleridge “Ancient Mariner” line as we walk past. “Those are all going with me to a food conference,” she says, “so I can only give you a couple to sample.” She explains that the “painted daisies” cookies are featured in her Simply Sensational Cookies book, and emphasizes that they are iced with “all natural colors.” When I look skeptical she adds that the bright shades come mostly from readily available fruit juices. “NO petrochemical food dyes involved, and NO mashed beets or boiled purple cabbage either!” she says, clearly pleased with that line.<br />
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“I had to come up with some easy ways to create naturally beautiful cookies because I enjoy crafting and decorating with my grandkids, but absolutely don’t want them eating sprinkles and icings loaded with Red # 40, and Yellow #5 and #6 and the other usual food color suspects,” she explains. She adds that a few years back she developed a severe allergy to the very similar red and yellow petrochemical-based “azo” dyes found in lipsticks, so also prefers to avoid eating food dyes herself. “I’ve included all the traditional decorating recipes in the book, but felt it was really important to offer healthier alternatives to those who want or need them,” she explains. She then mentions that with more and more commercially prepared foods containing artificial colorants and other unnecessary additives these days, “many home bakers and cooks are worrying and want to take control and banish the iffy products from what they make.” <br />
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I’d planned to ask Baggett how, after two highly-regarded and very comprehensive cookie tomes already on her resume (one was an IACP and James Beard cookbook award winner), she could possibly offer anything new in her Simply Sensational Cookies. But now instead, I reformulate and ask whether the emphasis on natural ingredients is what’s novel in this latest title. “Partly, but it’s different in more fundamental ways,” she says. “In the other two, I delved deeply into culinary history and mostly celebrated the cookies people traditionally bake around America and the world.” She says that in contrast, her latest book focuses more on the “contemporary cookies people are baking now, or soon will be,” though she has included streamlined and updated versions of classic, too. “We tend to have fewer hours to devote to baking today, and we like bolder flavors and more decadence even in the old favorites,” she notes.<br />
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She says that the word “simple” in the book title reflects an emphasis on easy throughout, and this also sets the new book apart. “Many of today’s most avid cookie bakers barely know how far to drop a drop cookie,” she observes, “and even if they do, they’re only home long enough to dash in, throw together a quick batch and rush off again.” So, she says that all the recipes are streamlined as much as possible, and notes that the book devotes several chapters to semi-homemade cookies (featuring doctored logs of store-bought dough), no-bake cookies, and “extra-easy” ones calling for pared-down ingredients and steps. <br />
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Plus, she says that the large majority of the recipes in the book are new. “The introduction of chocolate morsels has completely altered and is still changing the American cookie baking repertoire—even now ‘modernized’ and novel offerings are appearing almost daily,” she states. She cites the ongoing “chocolification,” phenomenon—the habit of jazzing up and revamping all sorts of formerly “plain” peanut butter, oatmeal, butter cookies and shortbreads with chocolate chunks or bits or various other flavored baking morsels. Some additional current trends she says she capitalized on in developing the Simply Sensational recipes: The taste for complex flavor combos simultaneously featuring hot, salty, spicy, and even smoky all at once. The creative use of fresh herbs like lavender, sage and rosemary, edible flowers, green tea and exotic spices. And the growing popularity of “really fun ‘crossover’ and semi-savory cocktail cookies” that combine the characteristic of crackers and cookies. “In one chapter I’ve taken the ideas behind good old grahams, animal crackers and cheese straws and run with them—think thin, crisp chocolate chip wafers, grissini-like Cajun hot sticks, and buttery tarragon-chevre nuggets,” she says.<br />
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All this talk of cookies has made me very hungry, so I’m primed when she suggests we wind up and enjoy a cup of tea and some samples. Truthfully, I’ve eaten many of Nancy’s cookies before, so I’m already predisposed to enjoy them. But the chocolate-almond biscotti are even more chocolatey and nutty, not to mention more munchable, than I expect. “Three sources of almond—paste, extract and toasted slivers—and two sources of chocolate flavor—cocoa powder and chocolate morsels,” she explains.<br />
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The painted daisy sugar cookies are even more of a revelation, because the glossy, eye-catching icings on top add zing and fruity flavor instead of just the bland layer of super-sweetness normally contributed by artificially colored decorations. “These are not only pretty, but taste wonderful,” I say. All hail to the cookie queen; she’s done it again! <br />
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If you’re interested in knowing more about Nancy’s book, or would like to see some of her recipes or photography, visit her blog at <a href="http://www.kitchenlane.com/">www.kitchenlane.com</a>. You can follow her on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/nancybaggett">nancybaggett</a>; or on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Baggett-Bakes/156947697678428?ref=sgm">NancyBaggettBakes</a>;<br />
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Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-56635546037203971612012-06-18T14:54:00.000-07:002012-06-18T16:44:16.446-07:00LOCAL INSPIRATION<span style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I was shopping in Ellicott City a couple of weeks ago. I should go down there more often just because it’s a good place to soak up charm. It’s a 250-year-old town about fifteen minutes from where I live in Maryland. The kind of place where you drive right out of the modern world and into the past. I’m lucky it’s so close by, and I’ve used it in several of my books, including HER BABY’S FATHER, my Harlequin Intrigue coming out in September. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIkhmGU5fLw/T9-ke-MOeoI/AAAAAAAAAXk/qr6bYP9dRfo/s1600/HerBabysFather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIkhmGU5fLw/T9-ke-MOeoI/AAAAAAAAAXk/qr6bYP9dRfo/s320/HerBabysFather.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Strolling the narrow streets and driving up into the steep hills above Main Street give me inspiration for books. It’s kind of like going to an ancient European town. Main Street is deep in a river valley, lined with stone buildings that have been converted to shops and restaurants. There are antique dealers and quirky boutiques you won’t find anywhere else. And there’s a railroad museum, converted from the first terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which came to Ellicott </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">City from Baltimore. In 1830 a horse raced a train speeding along the tracks, and the horse won.<br /><br />One shop I love is the Forget-Me-Not Factory. </span><span style="background-color: white;">It’s got all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff--from dragon and wolf ornaments to costumes I might want to wear at the RT Booklovers Convention. On my last visit, I found a deck of cards with three howling wolves on the back, I snatched them up. They’re perfect for me. I love wolves, especially werewolves, of course.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div>
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Writers get their inspiration from anything and everything around them. Over the years, the charming streets of Ellicott City have given me a lot of food for thought, starting way back when I wrote for Dell Ecstasy. Remember that line? If you do, you’re admitting that you were reading romances in the early 80’s—when I started writing them.</div>
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Before I became a novelist, I began my writing career as a newspaper reporter, and one of the papers I wrote for was the Howard County Times, which was published in Ellicott City. Back before they got the flood control straightened out, the town would be inundated with water during bad storms like Hurricane Agnes in 1967. That storm made an impression that stuck with me, and in RELUCTANT MERGER (published in 1983), I had my reporter heroine trapped in the newspaper plant during a flood—which I moved down by the river to make the setting more dangerous. The water was rising, and the newspaper owner hero came charging to the rescue. They had to save each other from drowning and ended up making love, of course. </div>
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The hero of my novella “Remington and Juliet” has an estate outside of Ellicott City.</div>
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Several of the werewolf heroes in my Moon series live in Ellicott City. They don’t care much about the charm of the old town, but they do like the surrounding wooded areas where they can change from human to wolf form and go for a nice run where nobody’s around. </div>
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I love traveling, and I get lots of ideas for my books from far-flung locations. But I’m lucky that I don’t have to travel far to soak up some of the best atmosphere around.</div>
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Do you have an area near your home that’s oozing with charm?</div>
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Comment or tell me what you think of the cover of HER BABY'S FATHER for a chance to win a copy of my Harlequin Intrigue, SUDDEN INSIGHT.</div>
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<br />Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-46851645637730597392012-03-02T00:46:00.000-08:002012-03-02T06:57:20.060-08:00The Roots of Paranormal Romantic Suspense<br />
I write paranormal romantic suspense, but several years ago, when I was preparing a talk on the horror genre, I realized that the roots of my books reach all the way back to the dawn of time. One of the ways the shaman of an ancient tribe maintained power over his people was to protect them from the scary creatures who roamed the night. In those ancient monsters are the ancestors of today’s literary vampires, werewolves, demons, ghosts, and all the other beasts who fill the paranormal universe. <br />
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Today they’ve morphed into the heroes of paranormal romance. In my Moon series, for example, I’m writing about a family of very sexy alpha males–who happen to be werewolves. My first werewolf was Ross Marshal in KILLING MOON, and only the right woman could help him make peace with the wolf side of his being.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bnkqyBdue7s/T1CIThYyO_I/AAAAAAAAAWc/6LXONneFvyM/s1600/DarkMoon-cover-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bnkqyBdue7s/T1CIThYyO_I/AAAAAAAAAWc/6LXONneFvyM/s1600/DarkMoon-cover-200.jpg" /></a> In my latest book, DARK MOON, which is also part of my Decorah Security series, Cole Marshall and another Decorah Security agent, Emma Richards, are sent to rescue a young woman who’s been kidnapped by a business rival of her father. The man’s holding her on a cruise ship that’s been converted to a pleasure palace for the rich and kinky, and Cole has the job because his werewolf talents are going to be invaluable. He’s got to “sniff out” where to find the kidnap victim. At the same time, he and Emma are coping with their attraction for each other in the sexually charged atmosphere of the ship.<br />
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In the past, shape-shifters, vampires and demons were almost always the enemy. It was like a cowboy movie where we knew that bad guys had black hats and the good guys had white hats. But modern paranormal heroes have blurred these lines. My werewolves may be the heroes of my books, but you never know when their savage side will emerge. The only way Cole can save himself, on his own trying to get information is to rip out the throat of a security guard. Then he’s got to dispose of the body, come back to Emma and pretend nothing happened. <br />
Is that edge of danger and unpredictability part of the appeal of the shape-shifter? The realization that you never know what’s going to happen. And the knowledge that these are guys who live outside the bounds of civilization. Often they can blend into society, but you never know when they’re going to tear off that clothing and expose the animal side of their nature. And when they do–watch out. Because anything can happen.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you read paranormal romance? If so, what’s the attraction for you?<br />
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One commenter will win one of my fave Harlequin Intrigues. If you want to win, please include your e-mail address, so I can contact you.<br />
<br />Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-15523942917464887952012-02-22T19:26:00.000-08:002012-02-22T19:26:25.251-08:00Romantic Suspense Heroes<br />
I got the idea for this blog topic from the February Intrigue Authors Newsletter. All the authors said what they were looking for in the hero of a romantic suspense novel.<br />
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This was my answer:<br />
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For me, he’s got to be tough on the outside but tender at his core. A take-charge kind of guy who has his own inner strength and a strong sense of right and wrong–which might not dovetail with the conventional wisdom. I mean, he might bend the law, if he thinks the ends justify the means. And in a fight, he probably won’t stick to Marquess of Queensberry rules.<br />
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He’s got good instincts about people, a good sense of humor, a strong streak of personal loyalty. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, and he confronts problems head-on, which is good because danger has a way of catching up with him, sooner rather than later. <br />
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He’s a complicated guy, with something in his background that makes him wary of relationships. A woman who’s going to win his love must get past the protective wall he’s built around his emotions. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-hRCi6VunE/T0WxWo-JzXI/AAAAAAAAAWU/tGJb9Xur2TY/s1600/DarkMoon-cover-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-hRCi6VunE/T0WxWo-JzXI/AAAAAAAAAWU/tGJb9Xur2TY/s1600/DarkMoon-cover-200.jpg" /></a>But he enjoys sex, and he’s an excellent lover, sensitive to his partner’s needs. And if he has something extra–say the ability to change into a wolf, like Cole Marshall, the hero of my Decorah Security novel, DARK MOON, that’s a definite plus.<br />
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And one more thing. He looks a lot like my husband. Only younger, thinner and taller. If I describe him as anything besides dark-haired and dark-eyed, with a five o’clock shadow, I’m lying.<br />
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These are the kind of alpha males I write about.<br />
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What do you want in the hero of a romantic suspense novel? Comment for a chance to win two of my favorite Harlequin Intrigues--autographed. If you want a chance to win, please include an e-mail address in your comment.<br />
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<br />Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-16788049143817972182012-02-13T21:15:00.000-08:002012-02-14T07:31:07.326-08:00Special Valentine Treat by Nancy BaggettI wanted to give you a special Valentine treat, and I knew the perfect place to get one. From my friend <a href="http://www.kitchenlane.com/">Nancy Baggett</a>, the author of many wonderful baking books including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-American-Dessert-Book-Nancy-Baggett/dp/0618240004/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329195675&sr=1-1">THE ALL AMERICAN DESSERT BOOK</a>.<br />
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Here’s a recipe of hers that looks perfect for Valentine’s Day.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Molten Lava Chocolate-Raspberry Mini-Cakes</span></b></div>
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Use any ramekins or small, shallow baking dishes that hold about 3/4-cup each for these mini-cakes. Just be sure that the dishes are shallow, as the cakes are tricky to remove from the traditional, 4-inch deep custard cups.<br />
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Tip: Though the look is less dramatic, it’s possible to bake and serve the cakes in classic crème brûlée dishes for an easier, fuss-free presentation. In this case, just drizzle some melted raspberry jam back and forth over each cake, then add a little dollop of whipped cream to the center.<br />
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12 ounces bittersweet (60 to 70 percent cacao) or semisweet chocolate, broken up or coarsely chopped<br />
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into chunks<br />
3 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam, plus 2 tablespoons, melted, for garnish<br />
5 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk<br />
3/4 cup granulated sugar<br />
½ teaspoon raspberry extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
Pinch of salt<br />
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour<br />
1/2 cup powdered sugar<br />
2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder<br />
Lightly sweetened whipped cream or powdered sugar for garnish, optional<br />
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Generously butter six or seven 3/4-cup soufflé dishes, ramekins, or shallow custard cups. In a microwave-safe medium bowl, combine the chocolate and butter. Microwave on high power for 1 minute, then stop and stir. Continue microwaving on medium power, stopping and stirring at 30-second intervals, until the chocolate and butter are barely melted, stirring occasionally; let the residual heat finish the job. (Alternatively, in a heavy medium saucepan, warm the chocolate and butter over lowest heat, stirring frequently, until partially melted; be very careful not to burn. Immediately remove from the heat.) Stir in 3 tablespoons jam until it melts and the chocolate mixture cools to warm.<br />
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In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and yolk until blended. Add the granulated sugar, extract, and salt, whisking until evenly incorporated. Whisk in the chocolate mixture. Sift the flour, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder over the batter and whisk until smoothly incorporated. If the batter seems very stiff and dry, stir in up to 2 tablespoons warm water. Divide the batter among the prepared dishes; they should be fairly full. The unbaked cakes will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.<br />
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Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Place the dishes on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (a little longer if the batter has been refrigerated), or until the tops are browner at the edges and rise above the dish rims. The center tops should be soft to the touch and look underdone, and the consistency pudding-like when a toothpick is inserted in the center. Run a paring knife around the dishes and under the bottoms of the cakes until completely loosened. Let cool on a wire rack for 6 to 7 minutes to cool slightly and firm up.To plate, center a dessert plate directly over a cake top. Using oven mitts and holding the two tightly against each other, invert the cake onto the plate. Repeat with the remaining cakes. Garnish the plates with drizzled melted raspberry jam, as shown, if desired. (I pipe it using a pastry bag or through a sturdy plastic baggie with a tiny hole snipped in one corner.) Serve immediately, garnished with lightly sweetened whipped cream (or with sifted powdered sugar over top) if desired.<br />
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Alternative do-ahead unmolding option: The warm cakes can be unmolded and placed all together on an ovenproof platter, covered, and set aside for a few hours. Reheat in a 325 degree F oven just until warmed through but not hot before serving. Transfer to individual dessert plates using a wide spatula.<br />
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The cakes will keep, airtight and refrigerated, for up to a week. Reheat, as directed above, before serving.<br />
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Makes 6 or 7 mini-cakes.<br />
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And here are links to two more of her fabulous recipes, a couple of very tempting variations on the brownie theme:<br />
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<a href="http://www.kitchenlane.com/2008/09/better-for-you-brownies.html">Better-for-You Brownies</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.kitchenlane.com/2008/09/lowneys-1907-heirloom-brownies.html">Lowney's 1907 Heirloom Brownies</a><br />
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What's your favorite Valentine treat? <br />
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<br />Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-68349781503424509342012-02-01T10:50:00.000-08:002012-02-01T10:50:39.638-08:00DECORAH SECURITY, A New Paranormal Romantic Suspense Series<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve always thought that one
of the best ways to connect with my readers is through related stories. I’ve done that with my long-running 43 Light
Street series for Harlequin Intrigue and my Moon books for Berkley. And I wanted to use a similar format with the
Decorah Security series, which I launched in December with three titles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The usual thriller or
detective series has one main protagonist who comes back book after book. Romantic thrillers are a little different
because it’s not just about the peril.
The focus is on the developing relationship between the hero and heroine
as well as on the action plot. It’s also
the story of a man and a woman falling in love against a background of suspense
and danger, and it isn’t until after they’ve dispatched the bad guys that the
reader is sure they’re going to work out their complex relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s a challenge for the
writer. But also fun. You’re always weaving the two plots together
so that if you pulled out either one, the story would fall apart. And with the Decorah Security series, there’s
another element as well. All of the
agents have paranormal powers–or they’re dealing with a paranormal case.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Bringing the first three
Decorah Security stories to publication was a year-long project for me. And though DARK MOON is the third book in the
series, it’s the one I wrote first because I thought of it as a transition
between my Berkley Moon books and the new series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">DARK MOON Cover<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">DARK MOON features the main
Decorah Security players, Frank Decorah and the in-house staff who have
secondary roles in all the stories. We
also meet a guy who’s going to be the hero of a future Decorah novel, even
though he’s playing the part of a bad guy in this story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The spotlight is on agents
Cole Marshall and Emma Richards, who are sent on a desperate mission to rescue
Karen Hopewell, a young woman kidnapped by a business rival of her father. But Bruno Del Conte is no ordinary
businessman. He lives on a cruise ship
that’s been converted into a sexual playground for the rich and kinky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Going under cover, Cole and
Emma must play the role of lovers while they search for Karen. On the ship, they’re threatened by a mutiny
in progress and also by Del Conte’s security chief who digs into their
backgrounds to find out who they really are and why they’re on board. At the same time, they struggle with the
intensity of the personal relationship neither of them thought they wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And, oh yeah, just to
complicate matters, Cole’s a werewolf who fears Emma will discover his secret
in the worst possible manner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I finished DARK MOON, let it
sit, and went through my three or four edits.
But I was nervous about the story.
After more than 130 books with major publishers, this was my first indie
project, and I didn’t want anyone to say, “It’s not up to her usual
standards.” It helped me to send it to a
beta reader who came back and said she loved it. But I wasn’t ready to loose the book on the
world quite yet. I hired a professional
editor, who made some suggestions and line edited. And of course, my faithful proofreader, my
husband, made sure nobody would see my dyslexic spelling and typing errors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile, I was working on
CHAINED. Originally it was a stand-alone
novella until I realized it fit perfectly into the Decorah Security universe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">CHAINED Cover<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s the story of Isabella
Flores, a woman on the run from thugs who want to kill her. When she hides out at a ranch her father
owns, she hooks up with Matt Houseman, the ghost of the Decorah agent she loved
and lost. Both are surprised that their
relationship turns sensual. And when the
bad guys find Isabella, Matt helps save her life. But is he really a phantom? And can Isabella turn the tables and bring
him back to life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Continuing with the series in
reverse order, I edited CHAINED, then wrote AMBUSHED. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">AMBUSHED Cover<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Since it’s a short story, I made it the
introduction to the series. Decorah
operative Jordan Stone is guarding Elizabeth Bannerman, the only witness
against an alleged terrorist. When
Jordan and Elizabeth are ambushed, they hide from armed men out to assassinate
her. And when it looks like they may not
survive, they both acknowledge the sexual attraction that’s been simmering
between them. Jordan is determined to
save Elizabeth’s life, but can he cope with his strong feelings for her?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But now it’s
launch time for
Decorah Security, and I’m excited to see how this new venture
works out. How do you like series; and if you do, what kind?</span></div>
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<b><u>If you comment on my post, you may win a small stuffed wolf and one of my favorite Harlequin Intrigues.</u></b></div>Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-66799158289156056662010-09-27T23:22:00.000-07:002010-09-27T23:27:04.326-07:00Black and Red Bean Tortilla Bake<div>This is one of my low-fat recipes, so feel free to add fat back in if you want. You could use full-fat Cheddar cheese, for example, and regular sour cream.</div><div><br /></div><div>The recipe is from THE DIABETES SNACK MUNCH NIBBLE NOSH BOOK, 3rd Edition, by Ruth Glick, published by the American Diabetes Association.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Preparation time: 15 minutes</div><div><br /></div><div>12 servings/serving size: I piece about 3 by 2½ inches</div><div><br /></div><div>Tex-Mex flavors predominate in this easy layered bake. It’s great as part of a buffet or when you want to feed a gang of hungry male snackers.</div><div><br /></div><div>2 cups frozen mixed pepper and onion stir-fry</div><div><br /></div><div>2 garlic cloves, minced</div><div><br /></div><div>2 tsp olive oil</div><div><br /></div><div>1 cup mild salsa</div><div><br /></div><div>1 15-oz can reduced-sodium tomato sauce or regular tomato sauce</div><div><br /></div><div>1½ tsp ground cumin</div><div><br /></div><div>1 tsp chili powder</div><div><br /></div><div>1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and well-drained</div><div><br /></div><div>1 16-oz can reduced-sodium kidney beans, or regular kidney beans, drained</div><div><br /></div><div>12 to 14 6-in corn tortillas</div><div><br /></div><div>1 cup reduced-fat cottage cheese (1% fat)</div><div><br /></div><div>2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (8 oz) (5 grams of fat per oz)</div><div><br /></div><div>Garnish:</div><div><br /></div><div>1 large tomato, chopped</div><div><br /></div><div>1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion tops</div><div><br /></div><div>½ cup nonfat or reduced-fat sour cream</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small pot or very large saucepan, combine the pepper-onion mixture, garlic, and oil. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft, about 5 or 6 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Add the salsa, tomato sauce, cumin, and chili powder. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in the black beans and kidney beans. Remove from burner.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Spread one half of the bean mixture evenly in the bottom of a 9½ x 13 inch baking pan. Top with one half of the tortillas in an overlapping layer. With the back of a large spoon, spread the cottage cheese evenly over the tortillas. Top with one half of the Cheddar cheese. Add the remaining tortillas, then the remaining bean mixture.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with the remaining Cheddar cheese, and bake uncovered an additional 5 to 6 minutes or until the cheese is partially melted.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. To serve, cut into 12 rectangles, and garnish with tomatoes, green onion, and sour cream. </div><div><br /></div>Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-56574826293321744192010-05-04T13:15:00.000-07:002010-05-04T23:41:40.672-07:00RT10Columbus was a fabulous place for a conference. I wouldn't have believed it before I went, but I loved the city. The hotel and conference center were right next to the High Street area, a very lively part of town. We walked down there to a couple of wonderful restaurants. And on Sunday we went over to the North Market where there were lots of food stands. We munched on ham and cheese croissants for lunch.<br /><br />The conference center, next to the hotel, had a good food court where we had several lunches. We loved the Greek restaurant there.<br /><br />I think that if you can't be outrageous at RT, where can you be? So I decided to wear the saris I'd bought in India--and also the ones I got at home after our trip to India. Lots of people commented on them. I was planning to also wear them at RWA. Wonder what's going to happen at RWA this year?<br /><br />Here I am w/ Kathryn Falk at Club RT.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-CGrOTndCI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/-qZmknYLqLM/s1600/RT8334.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467518024760652834" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-CGrOTndCI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/-qZmknYLqLM/s320/RT8334.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left"><br />I did a couple of panels--one on Thrillers and one on Paranormal. The most interesting thing to me was hearing how other writers work. I can't imagine doing a suspense plot by the seat of my pants. But apparently a lot of people do it. Also fun to hear what paranormal elements authors are putting into their books. I would not have believed you could sell shape-shifter snakes. But they exist.<br /><br />At the Thriller Panel with Gennita Low, Cindy Gerard, CJ Lyons, Heather Graham and Robert Gregory Browne.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EQF_vTC8I/AAAAAAAAAR8/dblnAZsIzoE/s1600/RT8345.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467669117799697346" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EQF_vTC8I/AAAAAAAAAR8/dblnAZsIzoE/s320/RT8345.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Here are some of my impressions of RT10.<br /><br />It was fun hooking up with old friends at the conference, like Angela Knight and her husband. But I also got to know some people I hadn't really talked to before.<br /><br />Michael Woodcock, Angela Knight, me and Norman at the Vampire Ball.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-CHKLG8q9I/AAAAAAAAARE/XPooZF7hchQ/s1600/RT8371.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467518556478155730" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-CHKLG8q9I/AAAAAAAAARE/XPooZF7hchQ/s320/RT8371.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left"><br />Norman w/ Barry Eisler. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EOD8SrH7I/AAAAAAAAARM/YhGWyC5AQuU/s1600/RT8377.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467666883491340210" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EOD8SrH7I/AAAAAAAAARM/YhGWyC5AQuU/s320/RT8377.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">At the Book Fair with Sarah Zettel. </div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EOXPQiW7I/AAAAAAAAARU/lQdT2oegCVY/s1600/RT8376.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467667215000165298" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EOXPQiW7I/AAAAAAAAARU/lQdT2oegCVY/s320/RT8376.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left">RT makes writers pay to put their promotional materials on promotion lane and limits the amount of space they have. Actually, I think this is a good idea because it keeps down the amount of stuff sitting around. It's fun going through the materials, picking up things from other writers and deciding what works and what doesn't. I personally think that if the thing you're giving away doesn't have your name on it, you shouldn't bother. (I don't mean a business card tied to a back scratcher.)<br /><br />RT runs a good awards ceremony that clicks along fairly quickly. This year they had the editor of Cosmo as an award ceremony speaker. Since they gave a special award to Barbara Taylor Bradford, she was also on hand. She told a hilarious story about a fan who'd brought a lot of books for her to sign. One had a bullet hole in it. The woman's husband had shot the book, but not to worry. They are now divorced.<br /><br />I won the award for best Harlequin Intrigue. Here I am with other winners, Charlaine Harris, Barbara Taylor Bradford and Sue Grimshaw. </div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EOpDBW5KI/AAAAAAAAARc/-pLC5srv8kk/s1600/RT8358.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467667520952919202" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EOpDBW5KI/AAAAAAAAARc/-pLC5srv8kk/s320/RT8358.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left"><br />Here I’m giving Borders Romance buyer, Sue Grimshaw, her Melinda Helfer Fairy Godmother Award.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EO4uDrewI/AAAAAAAAARk/J-PKhIIcq5c/s1600/RT8352.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467667790203419394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EO4uDrewI/AAAAAAAAARk/J-PKhIIcq5c/s320/RT8352.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left"><br />RT makes it easy to connect with fans at Club RT, where you can sit at a table and talk to readers. I always enjoy that. And there's also a dealers room in the same location, where you can buy unique clothing and jewelry.<br /><br />Here I am with Lisa Childs at Club RT.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EPHDSEaiI/AAAAAAAAARs/0BfROCfuYrw/s1600/RT8330.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467668036419086882" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EPHDSEaiI/AAAAAAAAARs/0BfROCfuYrw/s320/RT8330.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left"><br />I also did interviews with Between Your Sheets (video--which will appear on NovelsAlive.tv) and with Circle of Seven for one of their podcasts later this month.<br /><br />The hotel was comfortable but strangely didn't have an upscale restaurant, only a coffee shop and a bar. Because the conference was spread out, there wasn't one central place where you could see people. But the bar was usually crowded, as you might expect. Some of us got breakfast at Einstein Brothers Bagels. Really yummy! Unfortunately, they were closed on the weekend, and we had to get inferior bagels at a coffee shop (also in the hotel).<br /><br />In the past few years, I was seeing a lot of e-pub authors at RT and not so many print published, but I see this shifting. There were a lot of NY published authors on hand in Columbus.<br /><br />RT is also a party blast. The Faery Ball is always fun. You wouldn't believe how much effort some people put into costumes. Also at the Vampire Ball. As promised, I wore my transvestite vampire outfit and had a great time. Norman wore his tux to both balls. (See above)<br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EPWTLO1lI/AAAAAAAAAR0/dQUHLBaoC1c/s1600/RT8373.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 223px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467668298383414866" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S-EPWTLO1lI/AAAAAAAAAR0/dQUHLBaoC1c/s320/RT8373.jpg" /></a></p><div align="left"></div>Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-56608195837678901262010-04-07T15:37:00.000-07:002010-04-07T18:22:18.145-07:00India TripNorman took so many great pictures in India that it’s hard to choose just a few to show you here. But here’s an idea of what we saw on our trip.<br /><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70M8i6-EnI/AAAAAAAAAO0/8cUv2iSM_04/s1600/6633.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457532557748736626" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70M8i6-EnI/AAAAAAAAAO0/8cUv2iSM_04/s320/6633.jpg" /></a>This picture from Varanasi shows the temple grounds where Hindus burn their dead. Like other tourists, we watched some of the ceremonies from a boat in the Ganges. Most boats are small, with one man rowing and three passengers. But I saw some boatmen rowing up to fifteen people. They must be strong.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70NkijhIbI/AAAAAAAAAO8/ztxtqdZfN-E/s1600/6639.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457533244845138354" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70NkijhIbI/AAAAAAAAAO8/ztxtqdZfN-E/s320/6639.jpg" /></a> A little later in the evening you can see some of the boats and the lights along the shore.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70O97ju-tI/AAAAAAAAAPE/IV6QZshK-Og/s1600/6662.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457534780565289682" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70O97ju-tI/AAAAAAAAAPE/IV6QZshK-Og/s320/6662.jpg" /></a> Here are women getting ready to bathe in the Ganges. They wear their saris. The men strip to bathing trunks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70PFPwDP-I/AAAAAAAAAPM/TK7l9UhVsq4/s1600/6885.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457534906244743138" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70PFPwDP-I/AAAAAAAAAPM/TK7l9UhVsq4/s320/6885.jpg" /></a> Not the usual view of the Taj Mahal. Instead, we’re across the river in a beautiful garden, early in the morning.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70P1mbhLgI/AAAAAAAAAPU/Y3TWj2Dpxck/s1600/6902.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457535736966360578" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70P1mbhLgI/AAAAAAAAAPU/Y3TWj2Dpxck/s320/6902.jpg" /></a>This truck driver’s got a problem. He’s transporting an elephant, but it won’t clear the overpass. I guess they had to unload her or go around.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70QV4jOpWI/AAAAAAAAAPc/MOuVm45m8ps/s1600/6997.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457536291586352482" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70QV4jOpWI/AAAAAAAAAPc/MOuVm45m8ps/s320/6997.jpg" /></a> Visitors to the Ranthambore Tiger Preserve. Sadly, we didn’t see any tigers. But when we arrived at the Ranthambore train station, there were special greeters wandering around–-black pigs. And as we headed for the parking lot, I saw a cow going into the waiting room.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70QfSHQhgI/AAAAAAAAAPk/wD8vIb5-A90/s1600/7273.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457536453067179522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70QfSHQhgI/AAAAAAAAAPk/wD8vIb5-A90/s320/7273.jpg" /></a> This is one of the small towns we drove through on the road between Ranthambore and Jaipur. There were lots of camels pulling carts. Lots of dogs. Cows wandering at will. Trucks. Motor scooters. Total chaos.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70Qlqji4FI/AAAAAAAAAPs/v3N78Q4SK4g/s1600/7331.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457536562707488850" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70Qlqji4FI/AAAAAAAAAPs/v3N78Q4SK4g/s320/7331.jpg" /></a> And here I am with a snake charmer. I may be smiling, but I wasn’t too happy to be sitting a few feet from a cobra. Norman urged me onto the blanket, though.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70QtZ-wW_I/AAAAAAAAAP0/hujS-FrWEbE/s1600/7419.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457536695697169394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70QtZ-wW_I/AAAAAAAAAP0/hujS-FrWEbE/s320/7419.jpg" /></a> Here I am with Norman riding an elephant at the Amber Fort in Jaipur. Remind me that I don’t have to do it again. Twice is definitely enough. (The first time was in Thailand.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70Q1404jNI/AAAAAAAAAP8/NHm807l76bo/s1600/7396.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457536841416215762" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70Q1404jNI/AAAAAAAAAP8/NHm807l76bo/s320/7396.jpg" /></a> I like this girl because you can see her face painting.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70Q6mp_XzI/AAAAAAAAAQE/_doiltvJj7E/s1600/7530.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457536922438033202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70Q6mp_XzI/AAAAAAAAAQE/_doiltvJj7E/s320/7530.jpg" /></a> One of the highlights of our trip was when Norman, Patricia Rosemoor and I had dinner with a family in Jaipur. Their extended family lived in one house, built around a lovely courtyard. The living room and dining room were open to the interior court. The house was on an ordinary street in the Pink City, but as soon as you walked up the alley and through their front door, you were in another world.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RBTOSUFI/AAAAAAAAAQM/kfh4kgn48Cc/s1600/7779.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457537037480644690" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RBTOSUFI/AAAAAAAAAQM/kfh4kgn48Cc/s320/7779.jpg" /></a> Five people on a motor scooter was not an unusual sight.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RH8lQKgI/AAAAAAAAAQU/oa_KhmkF2nE/s1600/7827.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457537151662041602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RH8lQKgI/AAAAAAAAAQU/oa_KhmkF2nE/s320/7827.jpg" /></a> Lunch in the courtyard of a restaurant in Jodhpur. Again, you could never tell from the street what was hidden behind high walls.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RNQrA_CI/AAAAAAAAAQc/spIN2dPBAoE/s1600/7972.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457537242954267682" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RNQrA_CI/AAAAAAAAAQc/spIN2dPBAoE/s320/7972.jpg" /></a> On the road between Jodhpur and Udaipur. This was part of a Jain temple complex.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RV0lNMJI/AAAAAAAAAQk/7-bazngMVvc/s1600/8153.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457537390032531602" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RV0lNMJI/AAAAAAAAAQk/7-bazngMVvc/s320/8153.jpg" /></a> Our fabulous hotel in Udaipur. The Lake Palace, built on an island. Norman, Patricia and I ate dinner on the rooftop restaurant, where we could look across the water at the Maharajah's palace. The food was western-style, for a change. The service was excellent, and the view was spectacular. A very memorable evening.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RckokjPI/AAAAAAAAAQs/XI8Olw907Js/s1600/8132.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457537506010762482" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RckokjPI/AAAAAAAAAQs/XI8Olw907Js/s320/8132.jpg" /></a> Outside the hotel coffee shop after breakfast. India is a country of such contrasts. Luxury hotels and people sleeping on the streets<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RjisoHMI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/yWEZttIyNv8/s1600/7837.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457537625749986498" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S70RjisoHMI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/yWEZttIyNv8/s320/7837.jpg" /></a></div><div>And here’s a road repair crew.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>What a fantastic trip. I’d love to go back. I just wish India weren’t so far away. </div>Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-57776011769006764132010-03-02T11:49:00.000-08:002010-03-02T11:52:06.619-08:00HABITS OF THE PRODUCTIVE WRITER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S41r8gcEjhI/AAAAAAAAAOs/j2_3H9XcNCo/s1600-h/Powerhouse-125.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 125px; height: 199px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S41r8gcEjhI/AAAAAAAAAOs/j2_3H9XcNCo/s320/Powerhouse-125.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444126211804794386" /></a><div>Recently I was asked to be guest author for a book-in-a-week challenge group. Of course, that got me thinking about my own writing method. I write two to four books a year, which means I have to keep working at a steady pace. </div><div><br /></div><div>Long ago, I used to write slowly, then spend a lot of time editing. I figured out about fifteen years ago that I could write fast, then fix any problems later–if something needed fixing. But part of my process is to start each day editing the text I wrote the day before. That gets me back into the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>A key factor that allows me to write fast is having an outline to work from. With an outline, I know where the book is going. Without one, I might write scenes that don’t really fit into the book. I know outlining is difficult for some writers, but it’s a skill that can be learned. And I’ve found that it’s a lot easier to fix a fifteen-page outline than it is to fix the same things in a 400-page book.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even when I have an outline, I must think about every scene as I write it. Often my outline is very vague on details. It might say, “And then they escape from the psychotic killers,” and I have to figure out what’s really happening and if it’s even going to work the way I thought it would.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I don’t think a writer can justify a scene just for “character development.” It’s got to also advance the plot in some way.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I’m writing romantic suspense, I must make sure that each scene carries both the relationship and the suspense. For example, if the hero and heroine are going to kiss or make love, they must also be thinking about the danger stalking them. Often, I also alternate scenes with the bad guys looking for them or planning what they’re going to do to them when they catch up.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are times when I write a scene that I know isn’t quite right. I write it anyway so I can move forward and think of it as “holding the place” for the scene that’s going to work better. If you’re trying to write really fast, you may have to go with that concept. On the other hand, sometimes I do get stalled. If a scene simply won’t flow at all, it means I don’t understand the character motivation. Or I haven’t blocked out the action well enough. If any of that’s true, I GET UP from the computer. Sometimes just walking away for a while helps me think. Other times, it may take a couple of days to figure out what’s wrong. In that case, I might pick up another project until I get unstuck.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I develop a story, I think about character and plot at the same time. My h/h must be the right ones for the story I’m telling. And the plot must be designed for THOSE CHARACTERS. I try not to have someone do something “out of character” just because I want or need it to happen. I call that “jerking the characters around for the sake of the plot.” If I want the heroine to do something stupid, I start early in the book establishing that she WOULD do it. In LASSITER’S LAW, for example, I have her creating the crisis for the action climax by turning herself over to the bad guy. I start very early in the story building up to that moment so the reader would believe she’d done it.</div><div><br /></div><div>In KILLING MOON, my hero, Ross Marshall, is a werewolf detective who uses his wolf senses to solve crimes. His specialty is finding missing persons, and as the story opens, he’s stalking a serial killer. But he’s also concerned about his genetic heritage. Which is why I pair him with a woman who’s a physician and a genetic specialist. They meet after the killer wounds him, and she saves his life. Yet she knows he has secrets and wonders what kind of man she’s fallen in love with. As the plot unfolds she becomes entangled in the investigation. Five years ago, Ross ripped out the throat of another serial killer after the cops failed to act. He’s sworn never to kill again. Until he has to save the heroine’s life.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I develop the plot and characters, I also think about the location. Where will this story take place? LASSITER’S LAW is set in Western Maryland because I wanted the heroine to be hiding out in the rural environment where she grew up.</div><div><br /></div><div>KILLING MOON is set in the Maryland/DC area because that’s where I live, and I know it well. My werewolf lives out in the country where he can roam in wolf form. But he has easy access to the DC suburbs. I also picked the location because I think people find this setting interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I have enough details to feel comfortable with my location, I get to work, although I might have to do some research as I write. For KILLING MOON, I drove to Montgomery Mall and got to know the shopping center.</div><div><br /></div><div>For LASSITER’S LAW, I relied on trips I’d taken to Western Maryland. </div><div><br /></div><div>I’ve been asked if I wait for inspiration or work every day. My answer is that a career novelist must make a commitment to a regular work schedule. If I’m writing a first draft, I try to produce ten pages a day. Sometimes I can do more, but if I push too hard, I’m likely to turn out less the next day. </div><div><br /></div><div>The good news is that the more you write, the easier it becomes. I think everybody’s got a “writing muscle.” Like any other muscle, it becomes stronger with exercise.</div><div><br /></div><div>So don’t be afraid to plunge in. Give yourself permission to write pages that are less than perfect. You can always fix them later. </div>Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-34112987810292437422010-02-08T09:55:00.000-08:002010-02-08T10:10:21.996-08:00Cabin Fever?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S3BQzaVHFYI/AAAAAAAAAOU/se0g1eDs97w/s1600-h/blizzard-4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435933594407605634" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S3BQzaVHFYI/AAAAAAAAAOU/se0g1eDs97w/s320/blizzard-4.jpg" /></a><br />I’m still stuck in the house two days after the big February snowstorm of 2010. So far, I've edited 90 pages of my WIP. I need to plow through another 40 before I pick up moving forward again. But I’m emerging to shovel. I shoveled a path from the front door to the sidewalk. That took 45 minutes. I keep going out to work on the cars for maybe 20-30 minutes at a time. When I was a kid, I hated "snow pants." Now I love having the ones I bought for our polar bear chasing trip to Churchill. Also the arctic boots.<br /><br />Food's my big problem at the moment. Unfortunately, I'm a good cook, so I keep going into kitchen and making hearty stuff. Spaghetti sauce. Beef burgundy. Ham and bean soup. Real hot chocolate. (Not the mix. You can make real chocolate with Splenda instead of sugar.) Unfortunately, I’ve also got a big bag of cheese popcorn that I opened!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S3BSZm0EcxI/AAAAAAAAAOk/ikwW5MGU15k/s1600-h/blizzard-3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435935350105338642" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S3BSZm0EcxI/AAAAAAAAAOk/ikwW5MGU15k/s320/blizzard-3.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Lucky for us, we’ve got power. (Unlike some families in the neighboring counties.) So there’s plenty of entertainment in here. We have tons of Criminal Minds DVDs to watch. We also just finished the 2nd season of The Tudors." </div><div><br />I’ve been floundering out into the deep snow to feed the birds and squirrels. I'm putting birdseed in shallow pans. Squirrels leap on it. Birds are worried that it's some kind of trap.</div><div><br />Are you part of the great whiteout of 2010? How are you surviving?</div><br /><div>Rebecca </div><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S3BQdk_Oo8I/AAAAAAAAAOE/C3ST9-2dLGk/s1600-h/blizzard-1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435933219311494082" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/S3BQdk_Oo8I/AAAAAAAAAOE/C3ST9-2dLGk/s320/blizzard-1.jpg" /></a>Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-55870261552109361832009-12-17T18:53:00.000-08:002009-12-17T18:56:18.865-08:00Mulled "Cider"<br /><br />7 servings/serving size: 1 cup<br /><br />I served a version of this "cider" tonight to my writing group, and everyone wanted the recipe. Here's a version I used in Snack Attack. <br /><br />I’ve always loved the taste of hot mulled cider, but the amount of sugar in apple cider is off the charts. So I devised this hot winter drink that tastes a lot like mulled cider–but without that high sugar content. It’s easy to double this recipe if you want to serve a large pot of this flavorful hot punch.<br /><br />6 cups hot decaffeinated or caffeinated tea<br />1 cup orange juice<br />2 Tbsp lemon juice<br />3/4 cup Splenda, or to taste<br />1/2 tsp vanilla<br />1/4 tsp orange extract<br />1 cinnamon stick<br />6 whole cloves<br /><br />Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes to allow the spices to permeate the liquid. Ladle into mugs. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator 2 or 3 days. Rewarm in the microwave.Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025557.post-33391876179083989502009-12-05T12:24:00.001-08:002009-12-05T12:43:13.043-08:00Wintry Willow Oaks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/SxrCOGnTyAI/AAAAAAAAAN0/i9y-gCB7zyA/s1600-h/woak-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/SxrCOGnTyAI/AAAAAAAAAN0/i9y-gCB7zyA/s320/woak-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411851449788516354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/SxrBvX3dBoI/AAAAAAAAANs/xANODnnfd_A/s1600-h/woak-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/SxrBvX3dBoI/AAAAAAAAANs/xANODnnfd_A/s320/woak-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411850921843689090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/SxrCYasd7aI/AAAAAAAAAN8/tC1C_sIp-BA/s1600-h/woak-3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPq7l9TXkWA/SxrCYasd7aI/AAAAAAAAAN8/tC1C_sIp-BA/s320/woak-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411851626977553826" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#99FFFF;">We’re having our first snowfall in the Baltimore-DC area. Large wet flakes slanting down and making the world beautiful. Here are some pictures of the willow oaks in back of my house. Let’s hope the driving’s okay tomorrow when we have to go out.</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>Rebecca Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868406006575223127noreply@blogger.com0