AUTHOR LOIS WINSTON TALKS LITERARY PALATE CLEANSERS #AMREADING

Palate Cleansers

By Lois Winston

 

As much as I enjoy tossing dead bodies at the feet of Anastasia Pollack, my reluctant amateur sleuth, there are times when I need to step away from murder and mayhem. Because so many of my plots are inspired by real-life crimes and events, I not only write about murder and mayhem, I read about murder and mayhem—a lot! For that reason, every so often I find I need a literary palate cleanser.

 

I also do a lot of catch-up reading whenever I finish writing a book. I’m not someone who can jump right into the next project as soon as I finish one. As much as I love getting Anastasia in trouble, there are times when I need a break from her as well. I’m sure she also appreciates a break from me and all those dead bodies.

 

So, I thought I’d share some of my favorite non-mystery reads of the last few months and what I thought of them.

 

Imagine Summer by Shelley Noble

Some beach reads are pure fluff. Not Shelley Noble’s books. Although set in beach locales, this author writes thought-provoking women’s fiction. In Imagine Summer she tackles deep-seated sibling rivalries taken to extremes and shows how they impact us throughout our lives, even when we think we’ve moved on. We’ve all known an Amy, and I dare say, many of us have suffered from the experience. Noble’s skill with words and her ability to create realistic characters allows us to understand the complexities of human nature, making for a compelling read.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

I was immediately drawn into this book and couldn't stop reading. The characters are either real people or fictional versions of real people who were involved in the secret work of codebreaking at Bletchley Park in England during WWII. Parts of this book will make you cheer while other parts will make you cry and still others will make you seethe with anger, but isn't that what a good book should do?

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

A well-researched, heart-wrenching novel about the blue-skinned people of Kentucky during the 1930's with lessons that will resonate in today's world.

Noah’s Wife by T.K. Thorne

The author takes the story of Noah's Ark, mixes it with modern-day knowledge from archeological digs and scientific evidence, and spins a tale of what might really have occurred. With excellent writing and characters that are both realistic and engaging, the novel is told through the eyes of a brave young girl whose differences make her question everyone and everything. This is a story readers won't soon forget.

Do you only read a certain genre, or do you like reading across multiple genres? And what have you read lately that has stood out for you?

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--WHAT MY AUTHOR AND I HAVE BEEN READING LATELY

This is a first. In the 10-1/2 years since the inception of this blog, we’ve had two guests in a row need to reschedule, Thursday’s guest due to a move and today’s guest because her publisher pushed back her release date. She’s rescheduled for late next month. That means once again, you’re stuck with yours truly today. “Stuck” being the operative word here.  

We’re all stuck lately, aren’t we? You humans are stuck dealing with a vicious pandemic. Those of us who only live on the page are stuck with having our lives manipulated by our authors. In my case, that means Lois Winston is constantly forcing me to confront murder and mayhem. Of course, what all of you are going through is much worse. No matter what Lois dumps on me, I know I’ll survive. After all, without me, there is no Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series.

 

Right now, Lois is taking a break from writing as she promotes the recent release of A Sew Deadly Cruise, my latest adventure. This means I don’t have to worry about what she’s planning to do to me next—at least not for a few weeks. I’m sure by next month she’ll come up with a new way to torture me, and the cycle will begin all over again. Such is the life of a reluctant amateur sleuth.

 

While Lois is giving me a rest, she’s been catching up on her TBR pile, which nowadays resides in her Kindle, lessening the risk of a huge stack of books toppling over and causing bodily harm to her delicate tootsies. I’ve been reading over her shoulder, and I have to tell you, we’ve both been enjoying some really good reads lately. Given that it’s Book Club Friday, I thought I’d share a few of them with you.

 

First up is Lucky’s Beach by Shelley Noble. Noble writes books set at various beach locations up and down the east coast, but her books are far from fluff. She tackles real-life issues in her stories, making them not only enjoyable reads but thought-provoking as well. Lucky’s Beach is no exception.  

 

Liese Sherwood-Fabre writes The Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes. The series explores the life of thirteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes as he develops his skills while investigating his first murders. There are two books in the series so far, The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife and The Adventure of the Murdered Gypsy.  

 

Finally, Fishing for Trouble, the second book in Elizabeth Logan’s Alaska Diner Mystery Series, won’t be out until the end of November, but it’s available for pre-order now. Lois was lucky enough to read this book pre-publication and thoroughly enjoyed it. Elizabeth Logan is the newest pen name of author Camille Minichino, who has been a frequent guest on this blog and will make a return visit next month.  

 

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to enjoy what little peace I have left before Lois once again starts pulling my strings.

AUTHOR LOIS WINSTON'S SUMMER READING LIST

We’re heading into the hot, hazy, and humid days of summer. As a kid, I grew up in a cramped city apartment that was no picnic at any time of the year but downright beastly in the summer. Back then, kids were kicked out of the house first thing in the morning to fend for themselves much of the day. Summer camp was only for the rich suburban kids and community centers with organized activities didn’t exist yet.

So I spent as much time as possible hanging out in cool places—that’s cool, as in temperature—not “cool” as in the street corners where the “cool” kids hung out. As the class nerd, I was the furthest thing imaginable from a “cool” kid. Still, I liked to stay cool. So I spent my days at the library where I first tackled the mandatory summer reading list, then ducked into the adult section, grabbed whatever book caught my fancy, and found a secluded corner away from the prying eyes of the librarians to lose myself in fiction. (Marjorie Morningstar was my introduction to sex!)

Life has changed greatly since them. I’m still not considered a “cool” kid, but nowadays air-conditioning is everywhere. Even though I don’t have to camp out at the library to keep cool, I still try to make a sizable dent in my TBR pile over the summer months. So I thought I’d share with you some of the books I plan to read this summer.

First up on my list is Lighthouse Beach by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Noble. The book is described as “a heartrending and uplifting novel about friendship, love, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for our dreams.” I’ve chosen this as my first summer read because it takes place along the shores of Maine, and if you’ve been following the blog recently, you know I recently spent some time along the Maine coast.

Lighthouse Beach

What was supposed to be an idyllic wedding leads to an unexpected journey of self-discovery… 

When Lillo Gray pulls up to Kennebunkport’s most exclusive hotel wearing a borrowed dress and driving a borrowed VW van, she knows she’s made a big mistake. She’s not even sure why Jessica Parker invited her to her posh wedding. They haven’t seen each other since they were unhappy fourteen-year-old girls at fat camp. And now they’re from two completely different worlds. There’s no way Lillo fits in the rarefied circles Jessica travels in. 

Jess isn’t sure she’s ready to go through with this wedding, but she’s been too busy making everyone else happy to think about what she wants. But when she and her two closest friends, Allie and Diana, along with Lillo, discover her fiancé with his pants down in the hotel parking lot, she’s humiliated…and slightly relieved. In a rush to escape her crumbling life, Jess, Allie, and Diana pile into Lillo’s beat-up old van and head up the coast to Lighthouse Island. Once there, she hopes to figure out the next chapter in her life. 

Nursing broken hearts and broken dreams, four lost women embark on a journey to find their way back into happiness with new love, friendship, and the healing power of Lighthouse Beach.

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KILLER CRAFTS & CRAFTY KILLERS HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE--CYBER MONDAY EDITION

Today is Cyber Monday. Around the world tens of thousands (if not more) people will be stealing time out of their workday to nail down some of their holiday shopping, hoping to score some great gift deals. Over the next few weeks we’ll all continue to shop, often online. So here at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers we’re offering some gift suggestions in the form of books—both the old-fashioned kind and the digital kind—that will make some of your recipients squeal with glee—or in the case of today’s offering, drool with delight.

Up first today is Bake, Love, Write: 105Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Advice on Love and Writing, a dessert cookbook and so much more. This book not only includes 105 scrumptious dessert recipes, but it introduces readers to some wonderful authors who offer advice on life, love, and writing. Best of all, by purchasing this book, you’re helping feed hungry kids. A percentage of all sales will be donated to No KidHungry.

Bake, Love, Write: 105 Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Adviceon Love and Writing

edited by Lois Winston

What do most authors have in common, no matter what genre they write? They love desserts. Sweets sustain them through pending deadlines and take the sting out of crushing rejection letters and nasty reviews. They also often celebrate their successes—selling a book, winning a writing award, making a bestseller list, or receiving a fabulous review—with decadent indulgences. And when authors chat with each other, they often talk about their writing and their lives. Recipes. Writing. Relationships. In this cookbook 105 authors not only share their favorite recipes for fabulous cakes, pies, cookies, candy, and more, they also share the best advice they’ve ever received on writing and relationships.

Authors who participated in Bake, Love, Write include: Brenda Novak, Lois Winston, Debra Holland, Dale Mayer, Shelley Noble, Caridad Pineiro, Diana Orgain, Lisa Verge Higgins, Lynn Cahoon, Jasmine Haynes, Jan Carol, Meg Bellamy, Bobbi Chukran, Melissa Keir, Amy Gamet, Kristy Tate, Terry Shames, Barbara Phinney, Kitsy Clare, Raine English, Cathryn Cade, Haley Whitehall, Shilpa Mudiganti, Melinda Curtis, Jessa Slade, Jill Blake, Daryl Devore, Molly MacRae, Elizabeth Rose, Helena Fairfax, Lourdes Venard, Jessica Aspen, Maegan Beaumont, Kay Kendall, Elizabeth John, Victoria Adams, Cyndi Pauwels, Alice Loweecey, June Shaw, Donnell Ann Bell, T. Michelle Nelson, Nina Milton, Pam DeVoe, Skye Taylor, Conda V. Douglas, Pepper Phillips, Judy Alter, Cadence Denton, Lesley Diehl, Erin Farwell, Regan Walker, Kaye Spencer, Barbara Monajem, Kathleen Kaska, Catherine Kean, Rose Anderson, Suzie Tullett, Deborah Hughes, Cynthia Luhrs, Judy Baker, Alicia Dean, Leslie Langtry, Janis Susan May, Mitzi Flyte, Ruby Merritt, Renee D. Field, Kathryn Quick, Susan Cory, Judy Penz Sheluk, Kay Manis, Kathryn Jane, Debra Goldstein, E. Ayers, Chantilly White, Sloan McBride, Triss Stein, Ana Morgan, Adele Downs, L.C. Giroux, Pamela Aares, Nancy Warren, Barbara Lohr, J.J. Cook, Lynn Reynolds, Cori Arnold, B.V. Lawson, Lynn Franklin, M.L. Guida, Irene Peterson, Sue Viders, Liese Sherwood-Fabre, Susan Santangelo, Sheila Seabrook, Elaine Charton, Sharleen Scott, Kathy Bennett, Jody Payne, Reggi Allder, Ashlyn Chase, Beverley Bateman, Susan Lohrer, Donis Casey, Barbara Leavy, Stacy Juba, Karen Rose Smith.

Check out the Bake, Love, Write video author Kaye Spencer created for the cookbook.

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COOKING WITH CLORIS--AUTHOR SHELLEY FREYDONT & CHRISTMAS DIVINITY

Shelley Freydont is the author of the Liv Montgomery Celebration Bay Mysteries published by Berkley Prime Crime. Her mysteries have been translated into seven languages. Shelley also writes women’s fiction as Shelley Noble. A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. Learn more about Shelley and her books at her website. 

It’s only October and you may be thinking it’s a little early to start thinking about Christmas dinners. But not in Celebration Bay. Because in Celebration Bay Every Day’s a Holiday. And though the pumpkins and apple cider are making the rounds, the townspeople are already planning for the next big festival.

In Silent Knife, former Manhattan event planner, Liv Montgomery and her Westie, Whiskey, are looking forward to their first Christmas in Celebration Bay and enjoying an old fashioned Christmas dinner with her landladies, Miss Edna and Miss Ida Zimmerman.

Unfortunately murder has struck at the heart of Celebration Bay’s Tree Lighting Festival. So while Ida and Edna are planning the dinner and checking their guest list, Liv is up to her elbows in murder.

It started with a feud between two Santas . . . .

Liv intends to have the case tied up with a ribbon before dinner is served. Miss Edna and Miss Ida are always willing to help, and they know she’ll need her energy to solve this one. It’s a good thing they just finished a batch of their Great Aunt Patsy’s Christmas Divinity Candy.

Great Aunt Patsy’s Christmas Divinity

A couple of Musts before beginning:

Divinity MUST be made on a dry day or it won’t harden. Do not attempt on a humid day. The egg white mixture MUST be beaten continually once you begin. It’s easier if you have two cooks, one to hold the electric mixer and one to heat the syrup. Miss Edna and Miss Ida always work together.

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

½ cup Karo Light Corn Syrup

1/3 cup water

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped cecans

Wax Paper

Place sugar, syrup and water in a heavy pan. Boil sugar, syrup and water until sugar is dissolved and liquid is clear.

In a large bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff. Add 1/3 of hot liquid to egg whites, beating constantly. (Remember, egg whites must be beaten continuously through the rest of the process.)

Return liquid to heat and cook until it spins a good thread. Add 1/3 more of hot liquid to egg whites, beating constantly. Continue beating and return liquid to heat and cook until it makes a hard brittle ball when dropped in cold water. Pour remainder of liquid into egg whites and continue beating. When it thickens, continue to beat by hand. When the mixture begins to hold its shape, add vanilla and nuts. Quickly drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper before the mixture hardens. Can be garnished with a pecan half if so desired. Let set. It will melt in your mouth.

Enjoy!

Silent Knife

Tis the season, but no one in Celebration Bay is feeling jolly. The local holiday store has been taken over by the new Trim A Tree store. Their products are lewd, crude and plastic, not at all in keeping with the town’s tasteful, traditional celebration. The manager, Grace Thornsby, gives new meaning to the name “Grinch”. And worst of all, she’s hired her own Santa to compete with the town’s official and beloved Santa.

But not for long . . . . someone is determined to get the town back to its good old fashioned values if it kills him . . . or anyone who stands in his way.

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