Showing posts from September, 2018



So there we were, with a packet of strawberries threatening to go soft and the need for a recipe to make good use of them. None of the sauce recipes we found called for as many berries as we had.

And then we realized all the recipes could be reduced to proportions. In this case, the proportions were 1:1:2, meaning that as long as we used 1 part water, 1 part sugar, and 2 parts strawberries, we could adjust the quantities to achieve the result we wanted.

Once the sauce was made and we were eating vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce topping, we began to think of all the ways we use proportions in our writing. Here are two examples.

Book covers The Golden Ratio or Golden Mean is a mathematical concept that creates a symmetrical, eye-pleasing composition. Yes, we know—math! EEK! Thanks to web-based calculators, you don't actually have to do the calculations.

But understanding the idea that proper proportions are an important design eleme…

The Power of Read Local by Leigh Goff

The Power of Read Local by Leigh Goff

 There is a social trend of ‘local first’ movements spreading around our nation that focuses on improving local economies and supporting communities from within. Supporting local, whether it be farms, shops, authors, or restaurants is a great way for groups of committed people to affect change in their neighborhoods. One of these ‘local first’ movements is called Read Local.

Read Local benefits the community and makes communities unique. An example of this is Maryland author Nora Roberts who has her own foundation that supports literacy, and she also donates to programs with local organizations being a priority.

When I wrote my second YA novel, Bewitching Hannah, historic downtown Annapolis inspired me. With my published novel, I wanted to highlight what makes my town unique with the hope of making it more of a destination than it already is. I included popular sights and historic houses as the settings where much of the action takes place.

The f…


Nearly every book I write involves food in some way or fashion. Some in slight ways some because a meal effected me so greatly I have to give it a staring role. This happened with Roosevelt beans when I was rafting on the Snake River. And they ended up along with the chef in Infiltrating her Pack.  I would like to say the same to Pumpkin Waffles but I have to admit to just loving pumpkin. So although there are Waffles in my story The Billionaire Trap they aren't Pumpkin... #sorrynotsorry

dom’s Morning After Pumpkin Waffles INGREDIENTS: ·2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour ·¼ cup brown sugar ·1 tsp baking powder ·2 tsp pumpkin spice ·1/2 teaspoon baking soda ·1/4 teaspoon salt ·2 large eggs ·1-1/3 cups milk ·1 cup fresh or canned pumpkin ·3 tablespoons butter, melted
Toppings ·Butter and maple syrup, optional (Always get the real stuff)

Perfect fall cupcakes from HL Carpenter

The day was perfect; one of those low humidity, blue sky, breeze-off-the-lake days that made tourists flock to central Florida. Green and yellow tents filled the park and costumes were the attire of choice. Dogs in costumes, babies in costumes, teens in costumes, turtles in costumes; every life form Andi encountered wore a costume. Her own costume was her usual jeans and boots, topped by a red tank and a red cap to match the red linen covering the platter of cupcakes in her hands. This year the cupcakes were salted caramel apple. The recipe was new and the friends who’d taste-tested had raved over them. They were sinfully delicious and should easily be the best cupcakes in the park. She’d still baked three batches before she was satisfied. Competition in the Cupcake Wars at the annual Cooter Festival was always fierce. She signed in, took her number, and walked to the table at the end of the tent. To get to her assigned spot, she had to step around a lumbering turtle. The damp lettuce le…

New Libra coming from Ann Gimpel

Zodiac Shifters



Unbalanced, Wylde Magic #3
Sparks ignite Flames turn hot Scorching hot But what would you expect from two dragons?