Friday, November 19, 2021

NaNo, Crafts, and A New Book by Rose Phillips

Goodies!

It's all NaNoWriMo all the time here (more details about my work in progress coming soon!), so here's a bunch of photos of the latest batch of baking and knitting from the past few months!

We sponsored a goat and got some cheese!

My phone isn't good at moon photos...


Making spinach börek!

Yum!
Visiting a different spot on the Rhone river
Birthday cake!

Other birthday goodies

A Barbados coconut cake, in honour of the big conference at work, hosted by Barbados
Trying a new wine at a restaurant by the Rhone
Interesting poster of the list of members of a neighbourhood "circle" -- basically an excuse for a social club to get together!
I had the duck!
My friends had the fish
Dessert!


Another birthday cake!

Baklava! (At a different restaurant)

Starting a new knitting project!
Love having pregnant friends, as an excuse to knit pretty baby things!

 

I also recently read the latest book by Rose Phillips!

I've blogged about her books before, especially about how they keep me up all night, reading!

Slowly Falling by Rose Phillips


"Chloe uses work to hide from the world, but she can’t escape her thoughts. Since the death of her track-star boyfriend, her panic attacks are sneaking up on her. A lot. And while others may think her odd behavior is because of his loss, the truth is she’s always been just this side of “crazy.” Until now, her compulsive daily rituals kept them at bay. At least in public.

When Derrick walks into her life, she’s distracted enough to back away from the edge of her mental precipice. Convinced he’s her safe haven, she falls blindly into a relationship. With him, she dreams of being like every other seventeen-year-old. It seems so easy, but it's not.

How do you face the future when the past won't let you go?"

This one also kept me up late! I loved the pace, the instant attraction between Chloe and Derrick, and the gradual deepening of their relationship. Also that on-tenterhooks feeling of not wanting them to be pulled apart but knowing that things are going to get rocky before they get even better. A great read for both teens and adults!

Please share some links to your favourite recipes!

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

IWSG, Tolkien Experience, and My New Book! Druid's Moon

Ooh, it's time for November's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day!


Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.   

You ready?
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!


This month's optional question:
What's harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?


The awesome co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe, and Lee Lowery!



Ooh, now that's an easy question -- the blurb is much more difficult!

It's like an elevator pitch for the story, and tricky to get right. You need to provide enough information to ground the reader but be just mysterious enough that they're lured into reading the story...

Titles are fun! I play around with the images in the story, put words into anagram generators or fun title generators online, mix and stir and eventually...voila! A title!

Speaking of which...

I have a new book coming out next year!

Druid's Moon by Deniz Bevan, published by Dancing Lemur Press

And here's the blurb!
Lyne Vanlith, an archaeologist who seeks a logical explanation to any mystery, discovers an ancient Druidic curse on her first dig. When the signs foretold by the curse descend on her, Lyne can't find a reasonable interpretation.

And that's even before a Beast rescues her from a monstrous sea-creature. She drops a grateful kiss on the snout of the Beast, who transforms into a man, Frederick Cunnick, Baron of Lansladron. Lyne is meant to be Beauty to his Beast-and break the curse forever.

Now both spellkeeper and monster are targeting Lyne. She must take up her legendary role, to defeat the curse and save Frederick-and herself. Instead of logic, for the first time, Lyne must trust her heart.

Pre-order links are up!

 
Here are some photos I tried to take (with my phone) of the last full moon:


This week I'm the guest at Luke Shelton's Tolkien Experience Project blog!

Have you guest posted on a blog or podcast recently?

Friday, September 24, 2021

All-Crafts Post and Views!

M

y latest series of baking and views from around the house!


And more photos by the budding photographer!



Bread!

Heirloom apples from our garden!

Poğaça

Bread with tuna...

...or with butter and jam!

Outlander baking!



Donkey!

Strawberry!



Sheep!



Grapes!





Red lentil soup!

And tomatoes from our balcony!

Our first apple tree







Watching a storm roll in




All the photos below were taken by Em!
































Which are your favourite flowers?