MONDAY MUSINGS: UNPLUGGING FROM THE COMPUTER AND PLUGGING INTO LIFE

This past three days I’ve unplugged from my computer. In fact, this is the first day I’ve been back on the computer since Friday. I was surprised with my sense of reluctance to even turn on the computer today. I don’t even want to know how many emails I have. I’ll look later.

  

We used the time to go a few places we’ve wanted to explore. Nothing spectacular. We chose to follow our curiosity with a few day trips. It was a beautiful weekend for driving. When we drive someplace together we also do a lot of talking and that might start out with family happenings, work, and then branches out into all sorts of interesting topics. My husband is well read and has many interests, as do I, and he’s a good conversationalist. I love those times when we can talk about all sorts of things. Saturday and Sunday, we spent the morning out and about and the afternoons and evening watching movies I haven’t had the time to see. I finally got to see the second Captain America movie, which I loved. A lot of action and suspense and it was good to see Robert Redford back in the movies and in a good role. 

This morning has been filled with ticking off a couple of projects that need to be done here at the McKye household. Later this afternoon is cleared for baking. I’m making bread and saving enough extra dough (to be stored in the fridge) for cinnamon caramel pull-apart bread for later in the week. Yummy stuff!

I know I need to unplug from the computer more often and plan on doing so more this summer. I’ll be around, but not as much. We have lots of things we want to do, both projects here at home and places to see. I need to take some time off from the ball and chain that is my computer and concentrate on some of the simple pleasures in life. Taking time to savor the small adventures and break away from the fog of ennui. You know living and experiencing life rather than intellectualizing it via computer. 

I’ll see you again for IWSG on Wednesday. 

I hope you take some time, as I will be, to smell the roses and explore and appreciate your corner of the world. Have a great week!   

MONDAY MUSINGS—LETTING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT PLAY

I thought I’d start the morning out with something Celtic and energetic—not sure about you guys, but I need it. Plus, I love Slainte and really like Heath’s fiddle playing and his bagpipes. These guys are having a great time playing and that’s always a joy to hear.

This past weekend I actually only worked a half day on Saturday and off on Sunday. It’s been a good long while since I had almost a whole weekend off. I was planning to go see Jurassic World but Dan decided he’d rather see it next weekend. Quality time off, what do I do? Write? Well I do have some clamoring characters but I told them they’d just have to wait (although I did spend some time writing in my notebook while sitting outside).  When you spend as much time in front of a computer as I do, the last thing you want to do is sit in front of one and so writing was out. I couldn’t face my office or my computer another minute.

  

I exercised my creative spirit in other ways. I worked in my garden, admired my tomatoes, planted some more blueberries, counted my healthy strawberries—about half are doing fine and I’m looking forward to eating lots of them soon. I also worried about my eight new fruit trees—they’re not responding from bare root. I’m giving them another week and then if they still aren’t responding, me and the nursery staff is going to have words.

  

My creative spirit also wanted to play baker. I haven’t done a lot of baking with yeast in several years. I used to make my bread and rolls. Between having had MRSA and then the shoulder reconstruction, I got out of the habit of that kind of baking.  For one, it takes quite a bit of time and physical effort. I had a hankering for yeasty cinnamon rolls. The recipe I have used for years produces some yummy cinnamon rolls and I used to know it by heart. I had to dig it out so I could proceed. Sheesh.

The first batch…well…let’s just say they weren’t great. Personally, I think they’d have made great hockey pucks although the horses thought they were great. Second batch were good but still not great. Part of it was adjusting for my new stove (relatively new—2 years old so the proofing of the dough was different as was this oven’s temps). The other part of the problem is when working yeast dough it takes practice. I don’t use a bread machine and then there is remembering temperatures for liquids so you don’t kill the yeast or being too rough with the dough so it becomes tough. Use the skill or lose it. It all comes back, well most of it, especially the second time around. Third batch will be a charm—just as soon as I buy more yeast.

• So, how was your weekend? See any good movies? Read any good books?

• Did you let your creative spirit out to play? How did that work out for you?

C.H. ADMIRAND—WHEN THE STORY DOESN'T FLOW...

There are many ways writers work through knotty problems of characters not talking or plot points not working. My guest, romance author C.H. Admirand, tells us one of the ways she handles recalcitrant story issues—she bakes.

As an author, there are days when the story just isn't flowing the way it should and my characters aren't talking to me. This happens from time to time and to clear my head, I can either do mindless mundane household chores or wander into my sanctuary—the kitchen and
—start baking.

When my hands are busy smooshing butter in a deep bowl, adding in flour, sugar, spices, etc. my mind is free to go where it wants, oftentimes solving a plot point, or deciding just where I need to take my characters next.

But sometimes, all of that free-thinking has my recipes going haywire. Let me share a few pics of what was in my mind an epic failure—but the taste-test (provided free of charge by the men in my life) proved that while it might have looked like and epic failure, the flavor was stellar. LOL!

My daughter’s friend, Courtney, never tasted the chocolatey-peanut butter goodness of Funny Bones before Drakes’ Cakes closed their bakery. But, she heard about my sadness over not being able to buy them anymore and shared a recipe she had for peanut butter filled chocolate cupcakes.

They looked great in the picture, so I figured I’d give it a try. Well, there is one tiny tidbit you need to know. I never—well that’s not true, I rarely (closer to the truth) follow a recipe. I change it A.) Because I don’t have a particular ingredient, or B.) Because I don’t like a particular ingredient. LOL! Welcome to my kitchen.

Anyway, I didn’t have any paper muffin cups, so I decided to use my square shaped muffin tin instead. Mistake number one because the square shaped muffins weren’t as deep as the standard muffin tins.

Then I changed the recipe because A.) Things taste better with whole milk, and B.) I didn’t have any 2% milk. ;)

So far so good…

           

EPIC FAILURE

Here’s a picture of what they looked like after I struggled to extract them from the muffin tin—EPIC FAILURE! But I continued to salvage what I could. *sigh*

           
Meanwhile, I baked another batch and tried to add less in the muffin tins so they wouldn't do the whole Vesuvius-thing. The results were a little bit better—not so much oozing up over the sides of the muffin tin to form one large muffin. *sigh*

Here’s a pic of them iced before mega-consumption—yes and here is where I finally smile because although they didn't look like the picture, they tasted like “I’ll have another one—just to make sure.”

ICING HIDES ALL FLAWS

            

A BIG thank you to Ms. Courtney for sharing her recipe! And of course to my guys for being willing to try any baked good—no matter how ugly it might be before it’s iced. ;)

How do you handle creative projects when the ideas are flowing?

Happy Reading!

C.H.




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

BUY: Amazon, Barnes and Noble,
Chapters/Indigo, iBookstore,
Discover a New Love

WELCOME BACK TO APPLE GROVE BY C.H. ADMIRAND – IN STORES DECEMBER 2013

There's No Place Like Home...

Grace Mulcahy thought she'd finally gotten Apple Grove, Ohio, out of her system. Then she's lured back for a family barbecue and spies a broad-shouldered hottie hanging out at the grill. He somehow seems utterly at ease, whether flipping burgers or horsing around with her hellion nephews. Why didn't her brother-in-law tell her he had such gorgeous friends? Suddenly her mouth is watering for more than her best friend's famous pie.

Some fires aren't meant to be fought…

When firefighter Pat Garahan sees Grace, it's like a five-alarm bell goes off and he's the one ablaze. She says she wants to leave Apple Grove, but he will do whatever it takes to keep her around. The life of a firefighter isn't an easy one though, and he'll have to prove their immediate spark can have a lasting chance at love…EXCERPT (Chapter 1, publisher website)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

C.H. Admirand was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but 
grew up in New Jersey. She has been delighting readers with her Secret Life of Cowboys Series, featuring three cowboy brothers with Irish charm, as well as the Small Town USA Series, with the quirky characters of Apple Grove, OH. She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ best traits, in New Jersey. For more information, please visit www.CHAdmirand.com. You can also find CH: Facebook and Twitter

GIVING OUR READERS OPTIONS

It's a pleasure to welcome back romance author CH Admirand to Over Coffee. She has such a passion for life and I admire that. Since she loves to bake I've decided to put her yummy Black Raspberry/Rhubarb Pandowdy on the coffee bar for us to enjoy with our coffee.
Speaking of yummy, she has a new book ready to whisk you back to Apple Grove and drool over  meet, Jack Gannon, and a cute pup named Jameson. Both will steal your heart.

Good Morning, Sia. Thank you for inviting me to guest blog today with your readers, I’m delighted to be here. So many things are happening right now in my writing life—and in so many different directions! After turning in the copyedits for my 15^th book, which will be the third book in my contemporary small town series: Welcome Back to Apple Grove (in stores December 2013), I had a chat with my editor at Sourcebooks and am so glad that I did. She asked what I’d be interested in writing next. The industry has many ups and downs and is always changing direction—as with all of the other aspects of my life, it seems—and keeping up with those changes while still being able to continue to write and publish your stories is definitely a challenge.

For instance, right now Sourcebooks and my editor is interested in seeing one of my favorite genres to write: Historical Western Romance!

I finally got the rights back to my Historical Irish Western Series, and after editing them to freshen them up a bit, and having new covers and a logo created for the series, I have released the first two books, with plans to release books 3 and 4 by summer’s end. They are doing really well as e-books, something that wasn't even available at the time my first book was published. Crazy thought, right? LOL!

But, what does my releasing my backlist have to do with the new idea I have for Sourcebooks? Everything.

Doesn't this mean that I’m in direct competition with my publisher? Not at all.

Let me explain. Readers who haven’t yet discovered my Irish Western Series will hopefully pick them up and realize that my stories are all connected. My Contemporary Cowboys for Sourcebooks are descendants of Marshal Justiss who first appeared in the 2^nd book in my Historical Irish Western Series.

During the Sourcebooks Spotlight at RT in Kansas City, Editorial Manager Deb Werksman explained that authors self-publishing their backlist is good for their current releases because it can drive awareness and sales to their current titles. It is a win/win situation for authors and publishers.

If a reader enjoys an author’s voice, what could be better than giving our readers more options? Not a thing—IMHO. Although I’m a huge fan of Julie Garwood’s Medievals, I love her contemporary series. Whatever Nora Roberts writes, I’ll read! I am a first and always a rabid Romance fan. :-)

I am planning to have a link between my new Historical Western Romance idea for Sourcebooks that will connect both my contemporary cowboy series and my Irish Western Series that I’m re-releasing myself. Although, I’m not sure what that will be yet. But I’m working on it.

Did I mention that characters from that wisp of an idea were arguing in my head while I was rinsing the gorgeous blueberries and cherries I’d picked up at the grocery store?

CH ADMIRAND

Anyway…berries make me think of baking and making jam…which makes me think of the recipes my editor encouraged me to include in each book in my contemporary small town trilogy.

It seems that one of my characters is always baking something—or working out in the garden (aka playing in the dirt. LOL)! Anyway, I was delighted to include some of our favorite recipes for readers. I have pictures of them and I've been posting them on my blog, Facebook and Twitter.

CH ADMIRAND

So be sure to follow me and find out what I’m baking next…I recently posted pics of the Black Raspberry/Rhubarb Pandowdy I’d baked along with pics of the new recipe I’m trying to create for baked Doughnuts. Both are yummy. Just ask my guys. LOL!

Baking reminds me of the hub of gossip in my series the Apple Grove Diner which brings me back around to ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE. I loved writing this story and having the chance to include something I’m passionate about—respecting and helping our Veterans; and rescuing dogs from high-kill shelters into the plot of the story. I don’t batter the reader over the head with dos and don’ts, and I don’t get up on my soapbox and preach. The ideas just sorta worked their way into Cait and Jack’s story and I am glad they did.

• Do you have something that you are passionate about—besides reading Romance?

So brew a cup of tea or put on a pot of coffee, and let me tell you about my latest…

                                                                                                                                                                                                              
         

BUY: Amazon,  B & N, IndieBound Chapters/Indigo

ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE BY 
C.H. ADMIRAND – IN STORES JUNE 2013

Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (pop. 597), a small town with a big heart.

Caitlin Mulcahy loves her family. She really does. But sometimes they can drive her to her last shred of sanity—from her dad ("I'm not meddling, I just want what's best for you") to her eight-months-pregnant older sister to her younger sister, who will do just about anything to avoid real work. Cait just needs to get away, even if for only an hour.

When she sees someone in need of help on the side of the road, of course she's going to pull over. She might even be able to fix his engine—after all, the Mulcahy family is a handy bunch. She's not expecting that former Navy medic Jack Gannon and a little black puppy named Jameson will be the ones who end up rescuing in her.

“The talented Admirand is able to write about these serious issues realistically but in a way that makes this book still feel light and fun.” ​—RT Book Reviews, 4½ Stars

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

C.H. Admirand was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but grew up in New Jersey. She has been delighting readers with her Secret Life of Cowboys Series, featuring three cowboy brothers with Irish charm, and is now working on the next book in her small town contemporary romance series, featuring the town and quirky characters of Apple Grove, OH. She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ best traits, in New Jersey. For more information, please visit www.CHAdmirand.com.