BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR DONNELL ANN BELL

Donnell Ann Bell is a debut author for Bell Bridge Books and a two-time Golden Heart finalist.  Her romantic suspense novel, The Past Came Hunting was released in September, 2011.  She recently sold another award-winning book to Bell Bridge, currently titled Deadly Recall, as part of a two-book deal to be released late 2012 with a third suspense in 2013. 

Through January you can find The Past Came Hunting at a deep discount for $1.99. at both Amazon Kindle and Kobo readers. 

Read more about Donnell at her website and her two blogs, Get Lost in a Story  and 5 Scribes. 

Donnell is awarding two $10 Amazon or B&N gift cards to our readers today. To learn how you can win, read on. -- AP


About The Past Came Hunting: Fifteen years ago a young Colorado Springs police officer arrested a teen runaway accused of aiding a convenience store robbery and attempted murder. She was innocent, but still served prison time briefly. Her testimony sent the real thief to jail for much longer. Now she’s a young widow raising a son, and the man she put in prison is free and seeking revenge. She moves to a home in a new neighborhood—then learns that her next-door neighbor is the by-the-book officer who arrested her. Now he’s a Colorado Springs P.D. Lieutenant. Like it or not, he may be the only one who can protect her and her son from the past he helped create.

How do they KNOW that?

Hi, everyone! I’m excited to be here. Thanks to Lois Winston for the invitation because this blog is right up my craft-deprived alley. Currently, I’m looking for centerpiece advice for my son’s and his fiancé’s rehearsal dinner. It’s fun, but I sure could use some advice. The event will be held at a Mexican restaurant (so think Hispanic atmosphere). We’ll come back to this later <g>.

Right now, I’d like to talk about the crafty killer part of this blog. When I’m not involved with wedding plans, I write novels. I’m a huge fan of mystery/suspense and, as such, I read books, watch Law & Order, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Harry’s Law and more. 

But, while I enjoy these programs, I confess, I’m intimidated. I find myself curling up in a fetal position, thinking HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT? I’ll never be able to make my book sound as authentic as all these programs with high-paid experts at their disposal. Plus, I’m no spring chick anymore, I’ve got a wedding to help pay for; I can’t go back to school! I should give up right now.

Sorry. I love writing too much. So what can I do? Uncurl from my fetal position for one--that never helped anybody. Next, pick up the phone, call my local law enforcement, and request a ride-along. It’s a taxpayer’s prerogative, and if you can pass a background check, law enforcement agencies are happy to let citizens –er--ride-along. After all, it benefits them, too. It gives citizens an eye witness account and even helps LEO recruit volunteers. Did you know you can request a ride-along with the fire department, too? Both are fantastic opportunities.

Whether you’re a writer or a reader, ride-alongs are a learning adventure. Have you ever been on a ride-along or considered going on one? Let’s chat. Next, if any of you have centerpiece ideas? I’d love to hear about them. I’ll award two $10-gift certificates to either Amazon or B&N, one to a commenter about ride-alongs, and one, to a crafty person who helps me with my centerpieces.

Thanks, Donnell! What a generous offer! So, readers, any ideas for Donnell on her centerpiece dilemma? Any thoughts on ride-alongs? Let’s hear from you. -- AP

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE - UNSCENTED VS. FRAGRANCE FREE

Beauty editor Nicole Emmerling offers some advice for people with sensitive skin. -- AP

Sensitive skin is often even more sensitive in winter. To avoid irritants, buy lotions, moisturizers, cleansers, and make-up without scents. However, be aware that “unscented” products often contain scents to neutralize the scent of the product. These masking agents can also be irritating. To make sure you’re buying something truly fragrance-free, look for “fragrance free” on the label, not “unscented.”

A great tip, Nicole! Thanks for sharing. Our Book Club Friday guest this week has a very special treat for our readers. Be sure to stop by on Friday to find out what it is. -- AP-- AP

TIP OF THE DAY: HOW TO CLEAN AN LCD SCREEN

Did you receive a new flat-screen TV or computer monitor for Christmas? Be careful how you clean it! Never use glass cleaners on flat-screens. Over time the alcohol and ammonia in glass cleaners will etch into the screens and cloud the plastic coatings on high-def panels.

There are specific products sold for cleaning flat-screens, but they’re expensive, and you can do just as good a job without spending a lot. Here’s how:

To remove streaks and smudges, gently swipe a very slightly damp microfiber cloth across the screen. Repeat with a dry microfiber cloth.

For more stubborn grime, such as toddler handprints, moisten a cloth with equal parts distilled white vinegar and water.

Make sure you dust the screens on a regular basis, again using a microfiber cloth. You can reduce static that attracts dust by swiping the screen once a month with a used dryer sheet. Don’t use a fresh sheet. It will leave residue.

And most importantly, never spray any cleaning product directly onto the screen.


Our Book Club Friday guest this week has a very special treat for our readers. Be sure to stop by on Friday to find out what it is. -- AP

COOKING WITH CLORIS -- MUSHROOM PASTA

I love Portobello mushrooms. They’re a perfect meat substitute when you want something other than meatballs or sausage with your pasta. Cloris has a great mushroom pasta recipe to share today. -- AP

MUSHROOM PASTA
(serves 4)

Ingredients:

1 pkg. whole grain spaghetti

1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup white wine

4 cups Portobello mushrooms, chopped

3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

2 tablespoons lemon juice

4 cups fresh baby spinach

freshly grated parmesan cheese

Cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Drain. Rinse. Toss with a teaspoon of olive oil and set aside.

In a large skillet, heat the remaining olive oil. Cook the onions and garlic until the onions are soft. Add the wine and cook approximately 5 minutes until most of the wine has evaporated. Add the mushrooms and sauté for about 6 or 7 minutes.

Add the parsley, lemon juice, and spinach. Saute for another minute until the spinach wilts. Add the pasta. Heat through.

Sprinkle with fresh parmesan cheese after plating.

Trust me, you won’t miss the meat in this dish! Meanwhile, our Book Club Friday guest this week has a very special treat for our readers. Be sure to stop by on Friday to find out what it is. -- AP

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- DECORATIVE LACE TOTE

Why carry your lunch to work in a paper bag? This lacy tote is a snap to make and an elegant way to carry your tuna fish sandwich. Or make a larger one for a reusable shopping bag. The blank canvas totes come in a variety of sizes and are available at craft stores. -- AP

Materials:
9” x 11” natural canvas tote

3/4-yd. 2” wide gathered natural Cluny lace

3/4-yd. 7/8” wide flat natural Cluny lace

7 assorted 2” natural lace medallions

assorted white, clear, and natural buttons in varying sizes

fabric glue

gem glue

air-soluble fabric marker

ruler

1. Using the fabric marker, draw two perpendicular lines 2” from center of tote.

2. Cut the flat Cluny lace into two equal pieces. Using the fabric glue, glue the flat edge of each piece to the outside of each line, lining up the top edge with the top of the tote and wrapping the bottom edge around to the bottom of the tote.

3. Using the fabric glue, glue the gathered Cluny lace to the top edge of the tote, overlapping cut ends at center back.

4. Using the fabric glue, glue the lace medallions randomly onto the tote, two on either side and three in the middle section.

5. Using the gem glue, glue the buttons randomly around the lace medallions.



Our Book Club Friday guest this week has a very special treat for our readers. Be sure to stop by on Friday to find out what it is. -- AP

THIS WEEK'S BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNER

Thanks to all who stopped by Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers this week and a special thanks to Susan Santangelo for being our Book Club Friday guest author. The winner of Susan's two baby boomer mysteries and the Retirement Can Be Murder socks is Mau. Mau, please send your mailing address to me at anastasiapollack@gmail.com so I can forward it to Susan.

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR SUSAN SANTANGELO

Our guest today is mystery author Susan Santangelo. Susan has been a feature writer, drama critic, and editor for daily and weekly newspapers in the New York metropolitan area, including a stint at Cosmopolitan magazine. She now writes the Baby Boomer Mysteries. A portion of the sales from this series is donated to the Breast Cancer Survival Center, a non-profit organization based in Connecticut which Susan founded in 1999 after being diagnosed with cancer herself. Read more about Susan and her books at her website. 

Susan is offering a copies of Retirement Can Be Murder and Moving Can Be Murder, along with a pair of Retirement Can Be Murder socks, to one of our readers. To enter the drawing, post a comment to the blog, and remember to check back on Sunday to see if you’re the lucky winner. -- AP

“Danger! Men doing laundry.”

That’s a sign hanging in the home of a friend of mine with a recently retired husband, and there’s a whole lotta truth in it!

When I started writing the Baby Boomer mysteries, I wanted to showcase the emotional impact of the aging process on Boomers. The series features Carol Andrews and her Beloved Husband Jim as they travel along life’s highway toward their twilight years. With one dead body thrown in.  Each book in the series (there are a total of 7 planned) is told from the wife’s perspective – big surprise there – and are written in the first person.

But the series didn’t start out that way.

The original premise was for my husband, who is also a writer, and me to co-author the books. I already had the first book title in mind: Retirement Can Be Murder. One chapter would be told from the wife’s point of view, the next from the husband’s, etc. Truthfully, my husband (My Personal Beloved) was thinking about retirement himself, and I was desperate to find something for us to do together besides learning to play golf. Plus, I didn’t want him interfering with the way I’d been (successfully) running our household for the past 40 years.      

I wrote the first chapter and showed it to him. He said, “That’s really cute. Write the second chapter.” And so on. And so on. Meanwhile, I was leaving breaks in between my chapters for his, while also trying to develop the plot line. By the time I got to Chapter 5 and he had written nothing, I finally asked him what his plan was. And he admitted he wasn’t into the project. “You write it,” he said, “and I’ll critique it.”

Huh?? As if!

I came up with a tag-line, which I use under each book title, “Every wife has a story.”  I’m realizing more and more, as I do book signings and talks, how true that is. Wives all over the country are identifying with the series. Many have shared their own (hilarious) stories of living with a retired husband. And several have asked me if Retirement Can Be Murder is a “How To” book, or if the wife kills the husband. Or vice versa. And these women were serious!

Hmm. Maybe at the end of the series. Or not.  

Thanks for joining us today, Susan! Readers, Susan says “every wife has a story.” Isn’t that the truth! Post a comment to enter the drawing for copies of Susan’s two books and a pair of Retirement Can Be Murder socks. -- AP