TRAVEL WITH SERENA -- GUEST TRAVELER, AUTHOR ELLE DRUSKIN

American born author Elle Druskin has traveled the world, often with children in tow. Today she talks about traveling to Scotland with her children. A nurse by profession and academic, she has used her background in crafting her novels. To Catch A Cop, a romantic comedy/mystery was nominated as Best Romantic Comedy of 2010 by The Romance Reviews. To Catch A Crook, the second book in the To Catch series, is now available. Visit Elle at her website. -- AP

SCOTS WHA HAE!

My newest book, To Catch A Crook, takes place in London and the Scottish Highlands in the fictional town of Fraoch Falls. Fraoch, which is pronounced Frewoch, is Gaelic for heather. I first went to Scotland years ago after reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander and I'm still reading the series and been back to Scotland many times. Today there are Outlander tours, but in those days, you were on your own. It didn't dampen my pleasure and delight in Scotland, so I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of that with you, especially if you might be traveling with children.

Think you want to see Scotland? Who wouldn't? History, intrigue, architecture, cuisine, scenery and of course, the Scottish people. You can't miss. I've been to Scotland many times, and I’m still ready to get on a plane and go again. My children were so enchanted by my stories about Scotland that they begged me to take them, and they still talk about that trip even if it was many years ago. Traveling with kids is different. It's a slower pace, and the things that fascinate adults might be boring for children, depending on their personalities and ages, but the benefit is that you get to see another country through their eyes. We often went in the middle of winter, bundled up to face a climate where the sun barely comes out that time of year. (The sun rises around 9 and sets around 3 pm. Of course, that meant the kids were fooled by the long darkness and ready for bed by 7pm.)

Edinburgh Castle

I prepared my children, who were 6 and 11 at the time, by telling them what we would see and do and showing them pictures. They also enjoyed Robert Carlyle's Hamish MacBeth series and hoped they were going to run into Hamish somewhere. I think that helped them and gave us a chance to talk about the trip. We landed in Edinburgh after a long flight from Sydney, made our way to our Bed and Breakfast, and were ready to head out to Edinburgh Castle.

Bed and Breakfast is a good way to travel in the UK. It's cheaper than hotels and some of them are more accommodating with children. Some, not all. We were very lucky with the one in Edinburgh; the room was like something out of a Victorian picture book, with a real fireplace, although we relied on central heating, a necessity in a Scottish winter. The owner also had children and kindly invited mine down to play with his kids in the afternoon. This was great; kids want to be with other kids.

He also suggested that we order a delivery for dinner rather than trudge outside in the cold and dark, and he happily supplied any cutlery or plates that we needed. Other Bed and Breakfast arrangements were not as good; we stayed at one that could only be described as a "Tartan Nightmare." Everything from bedspreads to curtains was a plaid riot. In Beauly, up in the Highlands, we stayed at another that was quite Spartan, but when my son asked for a particular breakfast cereal, the owner took him by the hand and the next thing I knew, they were walking outside to the little grocery next door where he told my son to choose whatever he wanted. They also had a party on Saturday night with all the locals, a "ceilidh" where music and dancing went on until 4 am. I suspected we were invited because the noise would have kept us awake, anyway, but it was fun and a chance to spend some time with locals, doing the things that they do, not only touristy activities.

http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk

This is the official site for Edinburgh Castle including a lovely photo of it in the snow. This is a great starting point for any visit to Edinburgh; the castle, which is more of a fortress is perched on volcanic rock high above the city and at the start of the Royal Mile. I much prefer walking downhill to uphill <g> so off we went.

Holyrood Palace

There's so much to see within the castle grounds from the Great Hall to the Scottish National War Museum, Prisoner of War Museum and Regimental Museum of the Scottish Dragoons. For my son, this was fantastic! The uniforms, the swords, the cannons, all the colorful military kinds of things that lots of little boys love. We ended up buying several sets of tiny metal soldiers in one of the shops, and my son would line them up and have pretend battles.

Although most tourists will be in Edinburgh in the summer (lots of daylight and much better weather,) we had a few advantages going in December. No long lines for anything, and the castle staff had plenty of time to spend with the kids. They demonstrated how to roll up in a plaid—a length of tartan fabric, and turn it into a kilt and let the kids try. There's no way they would have had time for that in the summer.

The castle has many ghosts associated with its history and the kids loved that. They weren't sure if ghosts were real but they tended to believe it.  Everything from a ghostly drummer warning of impending attack to a musician trapped in the tunnel that runs below the Royal Mile fascinated my children. They were particularly taken by the story of the "ghost dog" who arises from the dog cemetery within the castle grounds. Yep, dog cemetery. "If people can be ghosts, why not a dog?" asked my son. Made perfect sense to him.

My daughter loved seeing the Honors of Scotland, the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and the Royal Palace. Being older, she appreciated the history much more than my son and understood the familiar joke that happens every day at 1 pm. At that time, the castle cannon, (The One O'clock Gun) booms over the city. One huge kaboom. The joke? People often ask why at One and not at Noon, where there would be twelve cannons. Of course, the Scots always reply, "You're in Scotland. Far more economical to fire off one cannon than twelve." That went over my son's head but he loved the cannon anyway.

There's a lot to see within the Castle but the best way to approach a visit is to go online and plan in advance. The kids also enjoyed the recorders with headsets and could play them at marked spots throughout the grounds and listen while looking at the various sites.

As you walk down the Royal Mile, there are plenty of places to stop and visit, especially with children. The Royal Mile runs all the way down to Holyrood Palace which looks more like a "fairytale castle" than Edinburgh Castle, and the New Scottish Parliament.  It's the oldest street in the city and full of shops, tourist traps, pubs, whiskey tasting (skip that one with the kids <g>) and things like the Writers' Museum (think Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Burns.) Lots of other places like John Knox House, the High Kirk of St. Giles, Outlook Tower, etc.

A few places of interest for kids: Brodie Close. Edinburgh is full of wynds, little alleys that are dark and kind of creepy even during the daytime. Brodie Close is named for William Brodie. Robert Louis Stephenson used Brodie (a respectable man by day, a burglar at night) for his classic novel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Kids also will enjoy the Brass Rubbing Center where they can make impressions from replicas of the ancient Pictish crosses and the Museum of Childhood, which houses a collection of historical toys, dolls and books.

Greyfriar's Bobby statue

A must see with the kids is a slight detour from the Royal Mile, not more than a minute's walk to Greyfriar's Kirkyard. I made sure that my children saw the old Disney movie about Greyfriar's Bobby and they couldn't wait to see the Kirkyard. Even before you get to the kirkyard, there is a small statue of Bobby (a Skye terrier) on a pedestal. If you don't know the story, Bobby was owned by John Gray, known locally as Auld Jock. When Jock died, he was buried in an unmarked grave in the kirkyard. Bobby was so attached to Jock, that he remained at his master's grave for 14 years. Fed and cared for by the locals, Bobby is an Edinburgh legend, and his signal to leave the kirkyard was that famous One O'Clock Gun.  Off he would go, be fed, and return to guard his master's grave. Bobby is buried in the kirkyard, too. Huntley House, which is on the Royal Mile displays Bobby's collar.

Thanks so much for the virtual tour, Elle! Readers, how many of you have been to Scotland? How many plan to go someday? -- AP

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE - GERMS IN THE KITCHEN

Health editor Janice Kerr talks about the germiest place in your kitchen and what you can do about it. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia! Do you know which item in your kitchen is the #1 breeding ground for all sorts of sickness causing bacteria? It’s your kitchen sponge. And every time you use that sponge to wipe down your kitchen counters, table, or appliances, you’re spreading harmful bacteria.

Ideally, you should dispose of a sponge or kitchen cloth after each use, but that can get very costly and few people do so. How often do you replace your sponge? Not as often as you should, I’m willing to bet. And do you ever disinfect it? Dish soap alone isn’t going to do the trick.

Here are a few tips to keep your sponge from making you and your family sick:

• Place your sponge in the dishwasher every time you run a cycle.

• Several times a week, wet the sponge and microwave it for 2 minutes.

• Replace your sponge every two weeks.

Thanks, Janice. I have to admit, I’m guilty of keeping my kitchen sponges until they start to fall apart. These are good tips for keeping those sponges from making us sick. -- AP

COOKING WITH CLORIS -- WATERMELON & GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Food editor Cloris McWerther is back today with a salad recipe that will really keep you cool. -- AP

WATERMELON AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lime juice
4 cups seedless watermelon, rind removed and cut into chunks
1 seedless cucumber, sliced thin
3 cups mixed greens
3 oz. crumbled goat cheese
1/4 cup slivered almonds

In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, wine vinegar, and lime juice. Add watermelon, cucumber, and mixed greens to the bowl and toss. Divide into four portions. Top each with crumbled goat cheese and sprinkle on almonds.

Hmm…I’ll bet you could add some cooked shrimp or chicken to this recipe and make it a meal instead of a side dish. What do you think, readers? -- AP

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- SEA SHELL PHOTO FRAME

The final seashell craft for the month is the simplest. Make up several in varying sizes to form a grouping of your vacation memories. -- AP

SEASHELL FRAME

MATERIALS: wooden frame, assorted shells, hot glue gun and glue sticks.

Glue shells in a grouping at one corner of frame or all around frame.

Now, really, can it get any easier than that? -- AP

THIS WEEK'S BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNER

Thanks to all who stopped by this week at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers. We hope you'll come back often and also tell your friends about us. We have lots of exciting posts and guests planned for the months ahead. I’d also like to thank Mike Orenduff for being our Book Club Friday guest and offering a copy of The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy to one of our readers who posted a comment this week. The winner this week is Elizabeth. Elizabeth, please email your mailing address to me at anastasiapollack@gmail.com. I’ll forward the information to Mike, and he’ll mail the book to you.

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR MIKE ORENDUFF

Award-winning mystery author Mike Orenduff grew up in a house so close to the Rio Grande he could Frisbee a tortilla into Mexico from his back yard, a practice frowned upon by his mother. Like his protagonist Hubert Schuze in his Pot Thief mystery series, Mike studied anthropology. He holds a doctorate in mathematical logic and he published a number of works with such scintillating titles as A Partially Truth-Functional Modal Calculus and Are Modal Contexts Referentially Opaque? Mike’s latest Pot Thief mystery is The Pot Thief Who Studied Escoffier. Read more about Mike and his Pot Thief books at his website. 


Mike has generously offered a copy of  The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy to one of our readers who posts a comment to the blog this week. -- AP 

Why Do We Read

Like many authors, I became a writer after years of being an avid reader. I read all kinds of books – adventure, historical, travel, suspense, humor, and fantasy. But my favorite was murder mysteries. So when I retired and decided to try my hand at writing, I chose the mystery genre. After all those years of reading, you would think I knew why people read, but I didn’t. I just knew I loved to read, and many of my friends also loved to read. I never asked myself why.

I had been reading mysteries for over fifty years and I taught logic for forty years, so I figured I had the experience and skill to construct great plots. But when I gave my first stories to friends and family to read, they didn’t like them. It was only then that I asked myself why I read. Why anyone reads.

Thinking back on the books I loved the most, I realized they had one thing in common – interesting characters. The adventure books I liked the most were not those that had the wildest adventures; they were the ones with the most interesting adventurer. The travel books I liked the best were not those that dealt with the most exotic locations but with interesting travelers. And my favorite mysteries were those with the most engaging people. And it wasn’t always the protagonist who hooked me on a book. I liked Doyle because I found Dr. Watson such an engaging fellow, not because of Holmes’ stilted deductions. I didn’t like Nero Wolf as a person, but I loved Archie Goodwin, and that was enough to make me read all of Rex Stout’s books.

We read because we like to meet new and interesting people. Even better, we meet them without any of the anxiety and hassle of meeting real people. We don’t have to wear one of those silly “Hi My Name Is” stickers on our shirt. We don’t have to hold up our end of the conversation. We can escape a boor or a dullard by just closing the book and without fear of offending anyone. And we can do all of this in the comfort of our home while wearing pajamas and eating nachos.

I do not intend to imply that all readers are introverts. But even the most gregarious among us can tire of the social scene. Just ask yourself if you’ve ever been at a party and wished you were at home with a good book.

The Booklist starred review of Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun – written by the host of this blog – starts with these words: “"Oddball characters, uproariously funny situations, and a heroine with a strong sense of irony.” Not plot. Not mystery. Oddball characters and a heroine with a strong sense of irony. That is why we read.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, Mike, and for the mention of Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun at the end of your post. We are definitely an oddball group of characters! ;-)  Readers, don't forget to post a comment to be entered into the drawing to win a copy of The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy. Be sure to check back on Sunday to find out if you're the lucky winner.-- AP

TRAVEL WITH SERENA -- GUEST TRAVELER, AUTHOR ANGELA HENRY

Author Angela Henry took a solo trip to Paris several years ago. Today she offers some common sense travel tips. Angela is the author of the suspense thriller The Paris Secret as well as the Kendra Clayton mystery series. For more info about her and her books, please visit her at her website. -- AP

Paris Pour Un: Tips for Traveling Solo

By Angela Henry

In 2007, I took a solo trip to Paris, France. I was apprehensive about going alone to a foreign country where I barely knew the language.  But I did my homework before I left, discovered some very valuable tips, and had a wonderful time. Here are five things i did to make sure I had a safe trip.

1. Research, Research, Research-Before I left for Paris, I researched the city and its culture and customs. For example, did you know it’s considered rude to enter a shop in Paris and not greet the shopkeeper or to stare at people on the metro? I didn’t. I also researched the area around my hotel for the closest metro stations, restaurants, and ATMs. Doing your research before you leave will go a long way in helping your trip go smoothly.

2. Learn some French-It’s also a good idea to learn some basic French before you go. Fodor’s has a French language page with 150 phrases you can use on your trip. Even if you mangle the French language, the French will appreciate that you’re trying.

http://www.fodors.com/language/french/

3. Don’t look like a tourist – Sweatshirts, tracksuits, and white tennis shoes will instantly mark you as a tourist and a target for pickpockets. Wear comfortable and casual clothes that will help you blend in and not draw attention to yourself. Leave your flashy, valuable jewelry at home. The Paris Escapes website has excellent advice on what to wear while in Paris. http://www.parisescapes.com/paris_wear.html

4.  Make Copies Of Important Documents-Leave your passport in your room. Also, make photocopies of all your important documents and credit cards to keep on hand in case they get lost or stolen.   

5.  Know where to go for help-You are subject to the laws of the country you’re visiting while you are there. If you do your homework on the culture and customs before you arrive, you shouldn’t have any problems. But if by chance you encounter legal trouble, seeking help from your country’s embassy or consulate would be your best bet. Just make sure that you’re aware of their hours and make an appointment.

Check out the following books for more info and have a wonderful trip!

Bon Voyage!

Women Travel Tips

http://www.womentraveltips.com/tips7.shtml

Journeywoman

http://www.journeywoman.com/gfc/paris_solo.html

Single Minded Women

http://singlemindedwomen.com/women-travel/top-5-cities-for-single-travel-in-2010/

Solo Travel

http://www.solotravel.org/women-travel-tips.htm

Naughty Paris (For the Daring!)

http://www.naughtyparisguide.com/the-naughty-paris-guidebook/

Thanks so much, Angela! Your tips for Paris can be used no matter where we travel and whether we’re going solo, with someone else, or in a group. Readers, have any of you ever been brave enough to travel alone to a foreign country? Let’s hear from you. Post a comment to be entered in the drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author this week. -- AP

MONEY MATTERS WITH SHEILA--TOP 10 MONEY SAVING TIPS

Our money guru Sheila Conway is here today with her Top 10 List of  money saving tips. -- AP

1. Never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. You’ll wind up buying all sorts of junk food your body and your wallet can’t afford.

2. Shop in bulk at warehouse stores.

3. Never buy the first version of any new technology. Version 2.0 will be better and cheaper.

4. Never buy the extended warranty. It’s not cost effective, just a way for the store to make more money off you.

5. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.

6. Never believe the salesman. Get everything in writing.

7. Before purchasing items on line, search for discount coupons and free shipping codes.

8. Always keep your receipts. Many stores will no longer accept returns or exchanges without one.

9. Don’t be bullied by a high pressure salesman. Walk away. Fast.

10. If it sounds like it’s too good a deal to be true, it probably is. Let “caveat emptor” (buyer beware) be your slogan.


All sensible advice, Sheila. I'd add try not to go to the supermarket with your husband or kids. You'll wind up spending twice as much! What about you, readers? Any tips you'd like to share? Post a comment to be entered in the drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author this week. -- AP

COOKING WITH CLORIS -- NOT YOUR TYPICAL TUNA SALAD

It’s still beastly hot outside, and no one feels like cooking. So today food editor Cloris McWerther has another tasty, no-cook recipe for dinner. -- AP

TUNA WITH FRUIT SALAD

Ingredients:
2 cans water-packed tuna, drained and broken up
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 large apple, peeled and diced
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dry dill
1 tablespoon dried, minced onion
1 head romaine lettuce, rinsed and torn into bite size pieces
1 cup whole wheat croutons
3 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese

Whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, dill, and onion. Cover and chill 1 hr. Set aside 4 tablespoons of dressing. Combine tuna, celery, apple, cranberries, and lettuce with remaining dressing. In a separate bowl toss the 4 tablespoons of dressing with the lettuce, croutons, and cheese. Divide the salad into four portions and top each with 1/4 of the tuna mixture.

I think Cloris has another winner here. What do you think, readers? Post a comment to be entered in the drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author this week. -- AP

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- SHELL JARS AND BATH SALTS

Continuing our seashell theme, this week’s craft is super simple and would make a great hostess gift if you’re invited to a friend or family member’s seaside vacation home. Make a dozen or so and keep them on hand for whenever needed. A set of three in a basket makes for a perfect gift.-- AP

MATERIALS: small glass jars with screw-on lids (available at craft stores,) hot glue gun and glue sticks, decorative shells, bath crystals or beads.

1. Glue a couple of shells to the jar lid. 


2. Fill the jar with bath crystals or beads.

If you’d like to make your own bath salts, here’s an easy recipe:

BATH SALTS

MATERIALS: 3 cups Epsom salts, 2 cups sea salt, 1/2 ounce essential oil, 1 cup baking soda (optional -- baking soda will soften the skin and condition the water), wire whisk, air tight glass containers (such as Mason jars).

1. Whisk salts together well in a glass or metal bowl. 


2. Add essential oil and continue to whisk together. 


3. Whisk in baking soda, if desired. 


4. Spoon into jars. Seal tightly.

That’s all there is to it! How much simpler can you get? Actually, even simpler. Watch for next week’s shell craft to see what I mean. Meanwhile, post a comment to be entered in the drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author this week.-- AP

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR MELISSA BOURBON

Today we welcome Melissa Bourbon, the author of the new A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series. Pleating for Mercy, the first book in the series, was released earlier this month. Melissa, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, is also the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series, the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox, and the author of two romantic suspense novels to be released in 2012. She also works as the marketing director for a publisher. Read more about Melissa at her website. -- AP-- AP

I’m so happy to be at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers today, and especially glad to be sharing a little about Pleating for Mercy.  It was released about 2 weeks ago, hit the Barnes & Noble mass market mystery list at #14, and hit Bookscan’s list at #19!  I couldn’t be more thrilled!!

This book is for anybody who loves cozy mysteries, dressmaking, sewing, and/or anything crafty to read.

As I was thinking about visiting here, I got to thinking about why I write mysteries.  All I could come up with is that they are close to my heart.  Okay, truthfully, books of any kind are close to my heart, but mysteries, in particular.  The mystery can be large or small.  It can be the central focus of the story, or play a supporting role.  It really doesn’t matter to me the scope of the mystery elements, as long as it’s there in one way, shape, or form.

My love of mysteries started, like most young girls of a certain age--ehem, we don’t need to talk about age, now, do we?--with Nancy Drew.  From there I graduated straight to Agatha Christie.  I have a distinct memory of going with my mom to our town’s library so she could check out the last Hercule Poirot novel, Curtain.  She was crushed that it was to be Poirot’s last, and her love of these book intrigued me enough to start reading them.

I spent almost all of my high school lunches in one classroom or another reading.

Now, I should say that I’m a light-weight when it comes to these things.  Horror movies and books are not for me.  I threw Silence of the Lambs across the room once or twice while reading it, and I cover my eyes during certain parts of Dexter (though he and the show are morbidly fascinating and I LOVE it).

But I love the deduction. 

So, of course, I when my passion for writing grew until it couldn’t be denied, it was no surprise that it manifested itself in the form of mysteries.  I began with the Lola Cruz Mystery series, published initially with St. Martin’s Minotaur, and moving soon to a new publisher with the next 3 books in the series.

Then I wrote 2 romantic suspense, which, of course, have strong mystery elements in them.  They’re based on Mexican legends, and these will be coming out sometime next year.

Finally, my cozies, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL, have brought me full circle to the kind of mysteries I love the most.  They are small town, feel good whodunits.  They are like comfort food.  They just make me want to curl up in front of a fire and escape into the town of Bliss (if only we weren’t on our 40 something day of 100+ degree weather). 

Mystery, mystery, mystery.  The characters.  The communities.  The crime.  The puzzle.  The deductions.  The justice.  All of it makes for such a satisfying read.

I’m particularly lucky to now be part of a dynamic publishing group.  I’m the marketing director for the new boutique publisher, Entangled Publishing.  Here, I get to help market so many books, some of them romantic suspense or mystery, many of them paranormal, urban fantasy, and sci-fi, most of them with some strands of mystery and romance elements in them.  There’s no better job, and it has been so exciting to be part of something like this from the get-go. 

I’d like to know what everyone loves most about mysteries, and how heavy the mystery element needs to be in books you read. 

Thanks for joining us today, Melissa! Readers, anyone want to chime in and answer Melissa’s question? -- AP

TRAVEL WITH SERENA -- GUEST TRAVELER, AUTHOR JEANNE MATTHEWS

Today we welcome author and guest traveler Jeanne Matthews whose mystery, Bones of Contention, takes place in the land of Oz. (No, not Dorothy’s Oz, the other one.)  You can read more about Jeanne and her books at her website, but for now, she’s going to take us on a virtual trip to Australia. -- AP

Ayers Rock

Australians have dubbed their remarkable “Down Under” continent the Land of Oz, and in many ways, traveling through the diverse and surreal landscapes does feel like an Over-the-Rainbow experience.  

I found the Northern Territory, also known as “The Top End” or “Never Never Land” to be the weirdest and most wonderful part of the country.  It occupies twenty percent of the continent but contains only one percent of the population.  Its barren center, famed for the mystical Uluru (Ayers Rock), is a vast desert of red rocks and red soil.  The Outback is studded with eerie canyons, incongruous valleys of palms, gnarled coolabahs, and the fantastical boab trees that look as if God had planted them upside-down. 

Australian Outback

By contrast, the coastal northeast is a wetland, a National Heritage Site that is home to numerous Aboriginal tribes.  Some 750 species of birds flit about through the tropical rain forest – parrots, rosellas, lorikeets, and cockatoos – and the forest teems with creatures that seem to belong to a bygone age.   

Boab Tree

Indigenous tribes have inhabited this place for over 50,000 years and the Territory offers the best opportunity to experience a bit of the native culture.  Aboriginal customs and beliefs, although not written until recently, have been passed down orally from generation to generation.  In their belief system, the past co-exists with the present and the future, and they continue to communicate with the ancestors who created the land and receive inspiration from their ancient wisdom.  Much of this inspiration is reflected in the totemic art rendered by local artists. 

I became so fascinated by the Territory’s unearthly beauties, the colorful Aussie lingo called Strine, and the ambience of Aboriginal mythology that I set my first novel, Bones of Contention, there.  I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Thanks so much for making Australia come alive for us, Jeanne. Readers, any of you ever been to Australia? Or is it on your Must-See list? -- AP         

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE - CAN'T SLEEP?

Health editor Janice Kerr is here today with some exciting news for insomia sufferers. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia. Melatonin is a hormone that makes you tired. Research has shown that if you dim your lights between dusk and bedtime, your body will produce melatonin up to an hour and a half sooner than if you keep your lights bright. This could reduce your risk of insomnia. And as an added bonus, it may also reduce your risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

So more candlelit dinners? What do you think readers? Any of you suffer from insomnia? Let’s hear from you. -- AP

COOKING WITH CLORIS -- MOVIE MOGUL MEATLOAF

Guest foodie Kate Gallison, aka Irene Fleming, takes over for Cloris today and offers the following recipe for your delectation. Her novel about early Hollywood, THE BRINK OF FAME, comes out today. Visit Kate/Irene at her website to learn more about her and her books. -- AP

When the film industry first set up shop in Hollywood, the moguls liked to lunch on dishes their mothers used to make. Louis B. Mayer gave the chef at his studio commissary his mother's recipe for chicken soup. Adolph Zukor of Paramount Pictures might well have been responsible for what Basil Rathbone is eating here between takes of The Court Jester (1955) while Angela Lansbury nibbles her hamburger.

MOVIE MOGUL MEATLOAF

Preheat oven to 350.

Put in a large bowl:

1 1/2 lbs ground chuck

1 c finely chopped onions

3/4 c bread crumbs

1/2 c ketchup

1/2 c chopped fresh parsley

2 eggs

3/4 t thyme

3/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

Knead with hands until well blended.  Place in loaf pan, mounding the top. Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes more. Slice and serve to passing film stars, if any. Or consume while watching The Court Jester, a really funny Danny Kaye costume flick.

Thanks for sharing, Kate. The Court Jester is one of my favorite movies. Have any of you readers seen it? It's perfect for when you need a good laugh. -- AP

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- SEA SHELL TOPIARY

I love making topiaries. I think they’re a very versatile decorative element for any time of year. Today I’m going to show you how to make a seashell topiary from some of those shells you collected at on your summer seaside trip. -- AP

MATERIALS: 2-1/2” diameter clay pot, 6” Styrofoam cone, small piece of floral foam, 5” length 1/4” dowel, primer and white spray paint, ball of white twine, assorted small shells, assorted small white and translucent flat buttons, hot glue gun and glue sticks, tacky glue, 2 sequin pins.

1. Paint the clay pot with primer, then white paint, allowing paint to dry between coats.

2. Apply vertical rows of tacky glue to the cone.

3. Pin the end of the twine to the bottom of the cone. Begin wrapping twine around cone, working from bottom to top. When you come to the top of the cone, cut excess and pin end.

4. Beginning at the bottom edge and working in horizontal rows, attach shells to cone with hot glue. Vary the direction of the shells, overlapping some.

5. Glue buttons randomly around shells in open spaces but leave some spaces uncovered for variety.

6. Glue buttons around the lip of the clay pot.

7. Glue floral foam into pot. Glue dowel into center of floral foam.

8. Place cone centered over pot and lower onto dowel. Remove cone from dowel. Fill hole in cone with tacky glue. Replace cone over dowel.