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Monday, March 25, 2019

#COOKING WITH CLORIS--BAGELS AND INSPIRATION FROM AUTHOR ELIZABETH ROSE

Today, in our continuing series on how authors get their ideas, we feature Elizabeth Rose, bestselling author of more than 80 books and counting. Mainly known for her medieval series, she also writes paranormal, contemporary, and western romances. Learn more about Elizabeth and her books at her website. 

Starstruck Cowboy is a book that almost never got published. I started writing more than twenty years ago, and this was the third book I ever wrote and also the first contemporary romance.

Back then my works were stored on floppy disks. Well, I changed and updated computers several times since then. I couldn’t find a copy of this book and thought it was lost forever. Recently, I found it on a floppy disk but had no way to read it. So I bought a floppy disk reader and plugged it into my computer and was thrilled to see that the book hadn’t disappeared into a black hole after all. With a little revising and lots of editing, I am happy to say that Luke Tyler and Star Brighton’s story has been born after all.

As writers, our inspirations come from anywhere and everywhere in life. There is a scene at the beginning of this book when Luke and Star first meet. Luke is driving a limo with darkened windows. He turns off the highway and doesn’t pull back as Star Brighton is driving past. It almost becomes a game of chicken with the two of them, since neither of them wants to yield. Well, this happened to me many years ago. I was in Star’s position, and a limo with darkened windows almost ran me off the road. That got me fired up, and I decided to put the scene in my book.

At the end of this story, there is a cameo appearance by James Taylor. Not the singer, but the hero from Wrangling James – Book 6 of my Bad Boys of Sweetwater, Tarnished Saints Series, a twelve book series about twelve brothers who are sons of a preacher but far from saints. As a matter of fact, they’re nothing but trouble.

Tarnished Saints, is my favorite series of all the ones I’ve written because it’s inspired by my own life. It takes place in a small town and on a lake in Michigan. I grew up visiting my grandparents on that Michigan lake.

Getting back to Starstruck Cowboy, it’s a fun read about two people willing to do whatever it takes to save their ranches. I hope you enjoy a quick visit to Texarkana where Luke is about to find out that Star has a strong right hook.

Keto Bagel Recipe
(Low calorie and gluten free)

Yield: 6 bagels

Ingredients:
1-3/4 cups almond flour
1 tsp. each garlic powder, basil, oregano and parsley*
1 T. baking powder
2 oz cream cheese
2 eggs
salt
pepper
2-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
chopped nuts
Asiago or Parmesan cheese

Mix dry ingredients and spices in one bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk eggs with a sprinkle of salt and ground pepper.

In a third bowl cube cream cheese. Add mozzarella and microwave till soft. (1 min & 15 sec at 70% power then mix, 45 sec 70% power, mix, 45 sec 60%.)

Mix eggs into cheese. Add dry ingredients.

Knead dough until completely mixed. (I refrigerate a little afterwards to make the dough less sticky and to shape it into bagels.)

Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Separate dough into 6 pieces. Roll each into log and shape into round bagel. Top with chopped nuts and/or fresh Asiago or parmesan cheese.

Bake 12 - 15 min. at 400 degrees.

TIP: Put a 2nd baking tray on bottom shelf while preheating. When bagels go in, put a few ice cubes on bottom tray for humidity to help the bagels rise.

Serve fresh or freeze.

* If desired, you can choose your favorite herbs and spices instead.

Starstruck Cowboy:
Working Man Series, Book 1

Luke Tyler is a cowboy turned stuntman, trying to raise money to buy back his ranch. When the low-budget movie shoots on location at Bright Star Ranch, Luke meets up with the feisty rancher’s daughter, Star Brighton. However, his charming ways don’t work on her. Star is a tough cookie, and can herd cattle and run a ranch with little to no help. But after one kiss from Luke, Star starts wishing she were playing the role of his leading lady instead.

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