Saturday Snapshots: 11/30/13

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Young Love

http://pretty-photography.tumblr.com/

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

If there is a chance you'll be preparing your holiday dinner all day, you might want to try this easy and delicious breakfast to tide yourself and your guests over until the big meal of the day. I found this recipe for Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole at All Kinds of Yumm. Note: best to use a 4 quart crock pot.

Ingredients

1 bag 26 oz. frozen hash browns
12 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1 16 oz. roll of sausage
16 oz. shredded cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Spray your crock pot with cooking spray and spread your hash browns evenly on the bottom.

Brown your sausage over medium heat until cooked then drain.

Layer sausage on top of the hash browns.

Layer your cheese over your sausage then mix your three ingredients together.

In a separate bowl, whisk your eggs slowly then add your milk. Whisk again then add your ground mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk until completely combined.

Pour egg mixture into your crock pot and combine with the rest of the ingredients.

Turn your crock pot on low and cook for 6 to 8 hours.

You can cook this overnight and wake to the scent of a home cooked breakfast!

This was so easy to prepare before I went to bed. I took less than twenty minutes and I woke up the next morning to the heavenly smell instead of my blasting alarm.

Sunday Sneak Peek - Sydney Logan

Today's Sunday Sneak Peek is from Sydney Logan. She's back with another holiday short story that is sure to put you in the holiday spirit. Be sure to enter her giveaway for an Amazon gift card and a handcrafted Christmas bracelet!  

Coming November 29 Exclusively on Amazon Kindle

It’s Christmas Eve, and Justin Banks is on the hunt for a last-minute gift for his wife, Megan. With the help of a homeless man and the beat of a drum, Justin stumbles upon the one thing Megan has always wanted. The one thing money can’t buy. It's amazing what we can hear if we just take a moment and really listen.

 

There’s something really beautiful about my wife, and it is a quality that a lot of people never have the chance to witness. There is a certain look in her eyes and a particular expression on her face that lets you know she's made a decision, and you’re an idiot if you even try to stand in her way. I have seen her work her magic on stubborn clients, deadbeat dads, and arrogant attorneys.  

This kid doesn't stand a chance.   

Megan drops to her knees in front of the little boy, right there on the dirty ground. “Luke, I just made some homemade chili. Do you like chili?”   

He nods quickly.   

“I also made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Justin loves them, and I always make a bunch extra. Do you like peanut butter and jelly?”   

Luke licks his lips, and my heart breaks.   

“Why don't you come home with us? You can help Justin eat his sandwiches, and later, we'll try to find your parents.”   

I can see the indecision on his little face. He doesn’t want to say no. That’s another incredible thing about my wife. Telling her no is virtually impossible.   

“My mom told me to stay here.”  

“But it's so cold, Luke,” Megan murmurs, her voice breaking with emotion.  

“I'll be okay.”

Megan lowers her head, and for just a second, I worry that even my amazing wife has met her match. But then I hear her quiet sniffles, and Luke's face falls when he realizes she’s crying.    He steps closer to her. “Why are you crying, Megan?”    She lifts her head and gazes into the little boy's eyes. “Because I'm going to worry about you tonight. I'm afraid you'll be hungry and cold.”   I hold my breath as he reaches for her, pressing his dirty little hand against her face. Megan doesn’t even flinch.    “I'll go home with you, Megan. Please don't cry.” Luke then looks up at me. “Can I bring my drum?”    “Of course you can.”    Megan sighs with relief and rises to her feet.  With a smile as bright as the stars, the little boy takes my wife's hand. She takes mine, and the three of us walk out of the cold alleyway.

      

Available November 29 

Exclusively on Amazon Kindle 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Sydney Logan holds a Master's degree in Elementary Education and lives in East Tennessee. With the 2012 release of her novel, Lessons Learned, she made the transition from bookworm to author. Her second book, Mountain Charm, was released in 2013. She is also the author of three short stories. When she isn't writing, Sydney enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat. Visit her website at www.sydneylogan.com.

Saturday Snapshot: 11/23/13

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you’ll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start and old idea of a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you’ll enjoy these images from around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you’ll post a snippet or link in the comments.

Today’s image: Sorrow

Photo from: http://www.inspirational-friendship-poems.com/
images/grief-poems.jpg

The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

November 20, 2013

Writing & Publishing Tips

 

Time Management

When you're an author, the phrase "time management" can seem almost laughable. Especially if you have another demanding job that doesn't always allow you the time you wish to have for putting work into your writing. I have met many people along my writing journey who tell me that they would love to write a book and even have a few great ideas but simply don't have the time.  My response is always the same. Make the time.

If writing is something important to you and you hope to someday make a career out of it, you must dedicate yourself despite the numerous other demands that life presents to you. This can be a difficult task and at times seem impossible. I am here to tell you that it is possible.

My best ideas come to me when I am short on time. It seems that when that rare occasion comes along, a day in which I can completely focus on nothing but writing, I end up spending most of my time either staring blankly at a computer screen, or shuffling through the many interesting posts by my friends and followers on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook.

Perhaps it is because I work well under pressure? However, the reason doesn't seem to really matter. What matters is that most humans perform their work well when they have no other option but to simply get the required tasks completed.

When working a fulltime (or more) job, it seems there isn't any time left in the day for writing. After household chores, dinner, and family obligations, most of us desire nothing more than to simply let our heads hit the pillow and start again tomorrow. It is at this exact time that you need to discipline yourself. You will be happy you did.

Some days, I only have about a half hour or so to dedicate to my author career. Whether it be a quick 500 words typed into Microsoft on my phone while on break at work or scheduling blog posts for the next week, any work is good work and keeps your creative juices flowing.

Don't let time be an issue. Use every minute of every day to be as productive as you can.

Using tools to stay organized helps greatly in this area. Things like calendars, planners, social media schedulers, and email reminders will prompt you to keep working even when you're exhausted. Trust me, these assets make life a lot easier.

Another issue that can hinder your time management skills is a lack of belief that your work is important. From time to time I think that may of us authors question whether or not a certain task really needs to be completed. If you originally thought at one point in time that it was important, chances are it still is. Don't let your mood dictate your decisions. Fatigue and stress can greatly influence our choices. If it was put on your "to-do" list, do it.

Lastly, if you skip a day because you just couldn't accomplish one more ting, that's ok. Remember there is always tomorrow. Just don't give up.

 

By Author to Author Member and Contributor, Andrea Goodson. You can learn more about Andrea on her website, www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

Sydney Logan's Giveaway & New Release

Sydney Logan is publishing another holiday story! The Little Drummer Boy is set for release on November 29th! In the meantime, visit Sydney's website to enter her giveaway for a $10.00 Amazon gift card and a hand-crafted bracelet! http://www.sydneylogan.com/2013/11/giveaway-little-drummer-boy-by-sydney.html

Ninety-Nine in November

Author L.V. Lewis has put her first book in the Ghetto Girl Romance Quadrilogy on sale for 99 cents the entire month of November! If you are a Fifty Shades fan and would like an exciting twist from a cultural perspective, then this book is for you! Check it out! http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Jungle-Ghetto-Romance-Quadrilogy-ebook/dp/B009ZL7DJQ

 

Author Lindsey Gray Celebrates New Release

Lindsey Gray's new release, Not The Same Season, went live yesterday! Download your copy today! http://www.amazon.com/Not-Same-Season-Lindsey-Gray-ebook/dp/B00GRGZMM2

 

Meet Up With T.M. Franklin in Seattle

T. M. Franklin will be at the Barnes & Noble at 600 Pine St. in Seattle, WA signing books, chatting with readers, and doing giveaways from 2:00pm-4:00pm on Friday, November 22nd! Make sure to pay her a visit if you're in he area!

T.M. Franklin Hosts Giveaway & Blog Tour

Author T.M. Franklin is on tour and hosting a giveaway! Visit her blog for details- www.tmfranklin.com and enter the giveaway here - http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YWY2YzM5YWI0MWE1NWIzOGZhNzVjMDg5MTliMGJkOjE1/

Andrea Goodson to Reveal Cover for To Be Loved

Join author Andrea Goodson on Thursday, November 26th as she reveals the cover to her upcoming YA new release, To Be Loved! You can also enter for a chance to win a signed paperback! All bloggers are invited to participate. Contact Andrea via her website for more information. www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com.

Wednesday's Weird Word

Atrabilious

Definition: referring to somebody who is gloomy, morose, irritable or bad-tempered.

Savvy Savings

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Blue Fall

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Christmas at Pebble Creek

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Thank you for reading this week's edition of Author to Author's, The Wednesday Word! Visit us again next week for more news and savings to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word!

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Duchess Potatoes

Attempting to stick with the holiday side dish theme, I found this gem on Heidi's So-Called Life Blog. Duchess Potatoes is an easy way to dress up your favorite mashed potatoes. I also got a thumbs up from both of my kiddos because they thought they tasted better than tater tots. Go me!

Ingredients

2 pounds of baking potatoes
1/2 cup of butter, plus additional melted butter for topping
salt and peper to taste
1 egg

Peel and quarter your potatoes. I figured out about five large potatoes equaled two pounds.

I put the potatoes in water then set it to boil. You can boil your water first, then add your potatoes if you wish. End result should be potatoes cooked until fork tender. Drain and transfer back to pot or in a separate bowl. Add butter, salt, and pepper and mash well. You can do this with a fork, hand mixer, or standing mixer. Whichever way you do it, try to get as many of the lumps out as possible. Allow your potatoes to cool for 15-20 minutes then add your egg and mix well.

Transfer potatoes into your piping bag fitted with a large star tip. This is where having lumps could be a problem and clog up your tip. Pipe your potatoes onto your foil lined or greased baking sheet to form swirling peeks about 2 inches across. Brush with melted butter.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot.

Perfect balance of crispy and creamy. Plus they add a little flair to your table.

What are some of your favorite potato dishes?

Sunday Sneak Peek - Sherri Hayes

This weeks' Sneak Peek comes from A Christmas Proposal by Sherri Hayes. This is a holiday short that can be downloaded FREE from the publisher's website.

Summary
Matthew Andersen knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Cali Stanton. Since she came into his life just five months ago, his world had completely changed for the better. With everything in their lives finally coming together, he was determined to make their first Christmas a memorable one.

Excerpt

Turning into the driveway of the townhouse they shared, Cali quietly made her way into the house. He’d left the hall light on for her just like he usually did.

The house had little touches of Christmas everywhere, but she’d mostly kept her decorating frenzy to the living room. Matthew owned no Christmas decorations, so what was now adorning their home consisted of a mixture of new and some things she’d borrowed from her father’s house. He had enough Christmas decorations to cover his house more than once and that was saying something considering its size.

She tiptoed into the kitchen, noticing that everything was clean and in its place. After getting herself a drink of water, she turned off the light and walked up the stairs.

The bedroom was dark, but she could see his outline as he lay in their bed asleep. He was lying on his side, facing her, with his arm outstretched. If she had been in bed with him right now, his arm would be around her waist, tucking her into his side. It was his favorite way to sleep.

Cali walked across the room trying not to make any noise. As much as she’d love to just slip under the covers with him, she needed a shower.

She slowly stripped off her work clothes and stepped into the shower. The warm spray hit her full force, but she welcomed it. After a long shift, it eased the ache in her muscles.

No matter how quiet she tried to be so as not to wake Matthew, he slept so lightly that she rarely held out much hope. Sure enough, less than two minutes after turning on the shower, she heard the bathroom door open. Seconds later, warm muscular arms circled her waist. “Welcome home,” he murmured against her shoulder.

Author Bio

Sherri spent most of her childhood detesting English class. It was one of her least favorite subjects because she never seemed to fit into the standard mold. She wasn't good at spelling, or following grammar rules, and outlines made her head spin. For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an author.
At the age of thirty, all of that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternate ending, and give the characters their happily ever after. By the time the story finished, it was one of the top ten read stories on the site, and her readers were encouraging her to write more.
Six years later, Sherri is the author of six full-length novels, and one short story. Writing has become a creative outlet for Sherri that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. She is most well known for her Finding Anna Series about a young woman rescued from being a sex slave by a wealthy Dominant. The third book in that series, Truth, released July 25, 2013.

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Saturday Snapshots: 11/16/13

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Perfection

http://favim.com/image/198157/

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Heavenly Rolls

With the holidays right around the corner, I've been thinking about all those yummy favorites that have become a staple for those meals each year. The turkey, ham, or delicious roast is usually the main attraction, but what about our favorite side dishes? Today, I'm going to share with you a recipe from Lil' Luna. Her Heavenly Rolls are definitely something that should be on every holiday table.

Ingredients

1 tbsp yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1/2 tsp sugar
1 cup warm milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup flour
2 eggs
3 cups flour
melted butter

Mix 1 TB yeast with 1/4 cup warm water and 1/2 tsp. sugar. Let stand until bubbly.

In a large bowl mix 1 cup warm milk, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp. salt with a wooden spoon.

Add 1 cups of flour to mixture, and mix well. Add 2 eggs and beat until smooth (mix vigorously be hand). Add yeast mixture and mix vigorously until smooth.

Add 3 cups of flour to the yeast mixture, stirring after each cup is added. The dough should be very sticky.

Pour the dough in a large bowl and cover with a warm, damp tea towel or plastic wrap. Put bowl in a warm place to rise for a few hours until the dough has doubled in size.

Once the dough has doubled in size punch down and divide in half.

Roll dough onto a floured surface making a circle about 12 inches round. Dough should be about 3/8" thick.

Brush dough with melted butter. Cut with a pizza cutter 12 to 16 pizza-like slices from each of your circles. Roll each slice from the rounded edge to the point like a crescent roll. 

Place in a greased 11 x 16 metal pan and do 3 across and 8 to 10 rows down. Cover again 

with your tea towel or plastic wrap and let rise for a few more hours until doubled in size.

Bake at 375 degrees until lightly browned, about 15-20 minutes. Brush with melted butter while warm and enjoy.

What are some of your favorite holiday side dishes?

Sneak Peek Sunday - Lindsey Gray

Today's sneak peek is of the holiday short story, Not the Same Season by Lindsey Gray.

Coming November 19th from The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House!

Two broken hearts embarked on a holiday season in a way they never had before. Divorced.

Mitch had been badly burned by love, but was willing to take a chance . . . with the right woman.

Hannah had lived everyday with the grief love had brought her and followed her everywhere.

Can two hearts find love and heal each other during the most difficult season of the year?

Add to your Goodreads

Excerpt

Their lips touched once more, but the controlled burn from the restaurant was now a sudden burst of fire. The soft, tentative kiss turned into an all-consuming, full-bodied explosion.

Hannah couldn’t fathom what was happening. She had never let her desires rule her body in such a way before. She knew she wanted him. She knew she needed him. She knew she had to tell him.

She pulled back to take a breath and whisper, “I can only promise you tonight. Beyond that . . .”

“I know.” He pressed soft kisses on both corners of her mouth, her chin, and her nose. “I know you’re not ready for everything, but I will give you whatever I can. Will you let me?”

“Yes,” she sighed.

A brilliant smile swept across his perfect lips. All the fear and anguish melted away as the tip of his tongue darted out to wet his lips. She slowly lowered her mouth to his and was taken back when he grabbed the back of her head and ravaged her lips. She could feel her nipples harden through the thin material of her dress and rub against his chest. As he lowered her onto the couch, he moved to hover above her. She could feel his hardness as it dug into her hip. When she moaned, he couldn’t help but press harder against her.

Hannah gasped as the dampness spread between her thighs. She was perfectly at ease with taking him right there, but Mitch had other ideas.

In a movement of Herculean strength, Mitch scooped her up bridal-style and took off out of the living room, up the stairs, and into his bedroom.

He plopped her down on the bed with a light thud. She rested back on her elbows as he ripped his T-shirt over his head. He grasped the tie of her dress at her hip and pulled the thin material, and it instantly gave way. When he parted her dress, he was met with utter perfection. Nude-colored thigh-high stockings, beige lace boy shorts, a matching bra, and nothing else.

“You are gorgeous.” His eyes moved over every curve until she brought her hand to cover her stomach. “Don’t,” he pleaded as he reached for her hand. She slowly removed it to reveal a few discolored lines gracing her skin.

Her breath hitched as he traced each stretch mark with his fingertips. His lips met each one with a soft, delicate kiss.

“These make you even more beautiful.”

Silent tears streamed down her face as she threaded her fingers through his hair. 

Author Bio

Lindsey Gray dreamed of being several different things as a child such as a doctor, an actress, and a chef, but none held her attention like putting pen to paper and creating her own world through words. Those words led her to The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House and the rest, as they say, is history. She has written three full-length novels through The Writer’s Coffee Shop and she has no plans to slow her creations down any time soon. A mid-west native, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, reading on her new e-reader, and making life interesting at each and every turn.

Author Links

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr / Amazon / TWCS