One more week...

Hidden Possibilities, book 2 in the Endless Possibilities series, will be released in one week.

Yes, I'm having a difficult time wrapping my mind around the idea.

I'm also in the midst of my usual rewrite of Unexpected Possibilities, book 3 in the Endless Possibilities series.

I'm sharing a snippet of Hidden Possibilities over at my author page on FB.

https://www.facebook.com/LaurelHawkes

Progress report...

I'm preparing Unexpected Possibilities, book 2 of the Endless Possibilities series, for sending to the publisher in another few months. I've been stuck on chapters 7 and 8.

Note to self: If it simply doesn't work with little changes and tweaks, then step back and re-write. Start by breaking up the paragraph you're stuck on into single sentences and figure out if they are related or if they're several thoughts, needing their own paragraph, crammed together.

Sometimes, my brain hurries ahead of my fingers, and I group several concepts together in an effort to cover everything, however briefly. In truth, they need to be expanded and developed. I'll figure it out and get the hang of this, eventually. :-)

Wordless

Post picks this week...

Writers In The Storm shares a blog on writing a synopsis. Not my favorite thing to do. Don't let the title unsettle you. The advice is sound, and there are some great comments.
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/a-sexy-synopsis/

Author Leigh Covington shares a little about the recently released anthology Overcoming Adversity:
http://leigh-covington.blogspot.com/2013/03/overcoming-adversity-anthology-release_4.html

A Woman Like Me shares a bit of inspiration:
http://awomanlikemeblog.com/2013/03/04/be-a-light-march-4/#more-261

Patricia Johns shares a wonderful idea for a Bible gift:
http://patriciajohnsromance.com/2013/03/04/a-family-bible/

Kris Tualla gives an inside peek to her hero Brander Hansen (a fascinating character):
http://romancingthegenres.blogspot.com/2013/03/death-and-taxes-well-death-anyway.html

May your day be blessed.

Interesting grammar article...

...posted over on Yahoo. I thought it worth reading.

http://news.yahoo.com/7-bogus-grammar-errors-dont-worry-060000215.html

Thank you, Ben Yagoda.

Ebook week...

I try to keep my link post to Saturdays. However, this is "Read an Ebook Week," and I didn't want you to miss out. Stephanie Burkhart shared a bit of history on ebooks.

http://sgcardin.blogspot.com/2013/03/read-ebook-week-3-9-march-2013.html

I own an ereader, Kindle. I love it for trying new authors. Ebooks are generally less expensive than paperbacks. If I don't like the book, it's easy to delete. If I do like the author, I buy paperback.

The ereader is great for traveling. No longer do I need to figure out where to pack the books I want to read.

My preference is paperback.

Why?

Easy answer:

I have never had a paperback freeze, refusing to allow me to turn the page, or tell me I have to shut down and recharge the battery.

The link picks for the week...

Patty Froese shares how she bet her husband, over at Dora Hiers' blog (made me smile, definitely worth the short read):
http://dorahiers.blogspot.ca/2013/02/my-first-christian-guy-by-patty-froese.html

Barri Bryan shares a memory from the 30's:
http://barribryan.com/blog/who-steals-my-purse-a-30s-memory/

There were more, but editing means my time is curtailed.

God bless.

Wordless

End of February....

Already! How does this happen? One sixth of the year is gone!

Today, I'm doing an bit of personal inventory. It needs to be done every once in a while, to make sure I'm still on track.

This year, I promised myself the word for the year would be CREATE. I would create a haven where I live. I would create a healthier me. And I would create more stories.

How am I doing?

Next book out is Endless Possibilities series book 2 Hidden Possibilities, on March 21, 2013. Whoohoo! I've posted the cover. It's a perfect fit for the series.

I've been working on edits for The Silver Locket Sisterhood series boo2 Mark's Grace, coming out May 21, 2013. As always, with help from my editor, it's MUCH better.

I'm exercising more and eating healthier. I promised myself I would not step on the scale. I am not a number in a box. I also freak myself out if I lose weight. Long story. Measurements say I'm doing better. Yes!

My room is a little more organized. I have a "clutter spot," I struggle to tame. I'm much happier with all the changes I've made. Go me!

How am I doing?

I'm doing good.

Note to self...

Best editing music, ever:

Lord of the Rings

Howard Shore is a gifted musician.

This week's link picks...

Writers In The Storm has an excellent post on the accuracy needed in writing historical novels.
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/writing-historicals-how-accurate-must-you-be/

I love this kind of stuff. Beth Trissel shares a bit of herb lore:
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/content.php?2548-Herbal-Lore-by-Beth-Trissel

Number One London is sharing their visit to London, and I particularly enjoyed this post:
http://onelondonone.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-couple-in-england-day-three-part-two.html

Lynette Endicott is hosting Mary Galusha and her new inspirational historical release:
http://www.lynetteendicott.com/563#.USgiMI7FW_V

Barri Bryan shared an intriguing short story:
http://barribryan.com/blog/kismet/

Debra Parmley added a Cover Model Corner to her website, starting with my favorite Jimmy Thomas:
http://www.debraparmley.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=112:cover-model-corner-new-on-my-website

Wordless

Patty Froese's newest release...

 

Eye of the Beholder

by Patty Froese

How beautiful are you? If you were to rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, where would you land?

I don't think anyone is terribly comfortable with that exercise. We've been trained by the media to criticize ourselves. A droop, a sag, a blemish... Those are inexcusable. Actresses are publicly mocked for having gained a little weight or having some "cottage cheese cellulite" on their thighs, exposed by the prying lenses of unwelcome cameras.

Women have babies and are judged by their "bounce back" time, ridiculous as that may be.

A woman's value is not based on something as fickle as Hollywood ideals, but the constant battery of messages coming from the media would have us believe something else. Companies want us to believe that tubes and vials will make us beautiful, that certain styles will help us maintain our youth, that dyes will make us feel lovely. From diets to exercise machines, clothing lines to skin creams, the woman in this modern age is bombarded by messages that she just isn't enough, and she needs some help. Big time.

So when we look at ourselves in the mirror, what do we see? I always joke that it isn't fair to judge me only on my looks, because when you add in my personality, I get at least a three point lift on that number.  And while I'm only joking around when I talk like that, there is truth under the laughter.

Beauty is more than skin deep.

But how much more?

Would you still feel beautiful if you had to wear unflattering clothing? Would you feel beautiful if all your hair fell out? Would you feel beautiful if scars covered your face and distorted your smile?

And if you stopped feeling beautiful, would you feel loved?

Where does our beauty come from?

In Eye of the Beholder, my heroine loses her looks in a freak accident. She goes from stunningly beautiful, capturing the admiration of everyone around her, to scarred and pitied. Doors no longer fly open for her, and the face in the mirror seems to belong to a stranger. When she goes up to the autumn woods to try to make peace with what she cannot change, she's faced with more than the reality of her new looks--she's faced with a man from her past who lost more than she ever knew.

When a woman loses her looks, what is there left to love?

Blurb:

Tricia Hunter was an extraordinary beauty...before a horrible bus accident left her irreparably scarred. In an effort to accept the things she cannot change, she heads to her uncle's cabin for some time alone.

Forest ranger Jesse Reynolds recognizes Tricia the minute he sees her, but nothing flickers in her eyes. That's fine by him. The same accident that stole her good looks killed his fiance, and he simply can't bring himself to feel sorry for Tricia like everyone else in her life seems to do.

Thrown together in the autumn woods, they are faced with the past, an uncertain future, and a struggle to find out why God allows terrible things to happen.

Buy links:

Pelican Book Group: http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/eye-of-the-beholder

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eye-of-the-Beholder-ebook/dp/B00BG26H4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361214930&sr=8-1&keywords=eye+of+the+beholder+by+patty+froese

I've hosted Patty on my blog previously. If you'd like to see some other things she's been doing click on her name in the Labels section at the end of this post.

Research... links

While I'm looking for exactly the right word, I find some of the most interesting stories and websites, like this one:
http://mayimhayim.org/Poetry/God%20and%20the%20Geese.htm

Writers In The Storm Blog shared a great article on building and author website. I need to make some changes.
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/the-cheese-factor-keep-the-cheesiness-out-of-your-author-website/

J. Morgan visited Lynette Endicott for the whole week, and it's pretty funny:
http://www.lynetteendicott.com/

Barri Bryan shares a bit of history, namely a true love story from 1901:
http://barribryan.com/blog/

There were a lot more blogs, but they were mostly Valentine's Day related... I'm thinking of creating a day a month to celebrate love... Maybe every 14th... I'll keep you posted.

Found on FB on Valentine's Day...

Matthew: Have you seen it?
James: Seen what?
Jack: What does it matter? He's returned to gloat.
James: Be a sport, Jack.
Jack: Why?
Matthew: In Crab Street, Jack?
James: Don't bait him.
Mark: Never mind the grump. Spill it, Matthew.
Jack: You, too?
James: Why so aggrieved, Jack?
Matthew: Truly, Jack. You complain like a child deprived of a treat.
Jack: Deliver your news and be quick about it.
Matthew: No need to snap and snarl.
Jack: Button it.
Matthew: Choose, Jack. Talk or silence. I can't do both.
Jack: Stubble it.
James: Matthew, ignore the grumpletonian and share your news.
Matthew: Yesterday, our story's cover was revealed to the world.
James: Brilliant!
Mark: Awesome, Matthew!
Jack: Of course it was.
James: Fribble.
Jack: You accuse me of behaving foolishly?
James: Yes.
Mark: Cowboy up, Jack. Your turn is coming.
James: You are still up in arms about a lack of story?
Jack: All well and good for you to advise patience. She is working on your story even as we speak.
James: Not quite, but close.
Mark: Gentlemen, one of our own is in dire straights.
Matthew: You have a plan.
Mark: Yes.
James: What do you suggest we do?
Mark: We beg and plead with Laurel for some small crumb.
Jack: I beg your pardon?
James: Quiet, Jack. Mark has an excellent idea.
Matthew: What crumb should we ask for?
Mark: It is Valentine's Day.
Matthew: An excellent idea.
James: Decidedly.
Jack: What?
Mark: We ask our fair lady to reveal the name of your heroine.
Jack: You would do this for me?
Matthew: Without a doubt. Our brotherhood formed in the fires of our lady's creativity. It's the least we can do for one of our own.
Jack: I don't know what to say.
James: Thank you would be good.
Jack: Thank you.
Laurel: As you wish, gentlemen. Abigail Stewart. Happy Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day...

One dear hero will receive a special treat over at FB, today.

https://www.facebook.com/LaurelHawkes

I hope you make the day special.

Being single, this holiday is kind of a tossup. Sometimes, I don't care. Sometimes, it's really difficult.

This year, I'm trying something different.

I'm not going to pretend like it doesn't matter, because it does. When asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" my answer was always the same: I want to be a wife and mother.

I'm not.

To be honest, I'm not sorry. God saw things in my life I didn't. The choices I would have made 20, 10, or even a year or two ago would have made me miserable. I thought I had my priorities straight. I didn't. I think I do now. Fortunately, God knows, and He's in control.

I'm not going to be miserable and throw myself a pity party either. Terribly unproductive things, pity parties.

I'm celebrating learning how to love. I think I finally am.

Having fun is important, too. I decided to buy myself a little hand blender for my banana/Carnation Instant Breakfast milkshakes. Summer is coming, and I'm ready. I'll also be using it for creating some natural beauty products, as I do much better without additives. :-) What I didn't buy myself: A box of chocolate or flowers. I realized that those things aren't about love. I enjoy those things. I love them like I love cookies and cake and pasta and a pretty place setting and a charming trinket.

Love is something you do for God, someone else, and yourself.

Newest Book Cover...

Look what showed up in my email! The cover art for Hidden Possibilities, Endless Possibilities series book 2. Coming March 21st! Didn't Carol Fiorillo, with Desert Breeze Publishing, do another gorgeous job?

My Lemon Chicken whatever...

I was asked for the recipe to the lemon chicken soup I made. I used Pampered Chef's recipe for "Greek Lemon Chicken Soup" from their cookbook It's good for you. I won't be sharing that recipe there, as I it's copyrighted. I will say that I used it as a springboard for the recipe I created. They used ingredients I couldn't (allergies) and ones I didn't want. To be honest, I don't really care for soup. I don't like drinking my meal. Bad memories. Anyway, what I really wanted was the flavor. I love the lemon, chicken, pasta combination, but I wanted something easier than heating up the oven, etc.

Here's another aspect of the problem: I'm single. It isn't easy finding really good recipes for one or two. Most recipes doesn't translate well into smaller portions. The recipe has to be so good I don't mind eating it for the next week. I've tried freezing and lost a lot of food that way. So, I only choose recipes I truly love. Actually, I'm learning to keep what I truly love and let everything else go. Life is too short to hang onto things I like when there's so much I love.

So, here we go. My recipe for Lemon Chicken yumminess...

Makes 8 generous servings:

Coconut oil and butter (about a 1 teaspoon each)
1 lb of carrots chopped (I was short by 2 medium-sized carrots and liked it)
2 cloves of garlic pressed
1 lemon zest and juice (about 1 teaspoon and 1/4 cup respectively)
Sprinkling of dehydrated onions (I never use as much as a recipe suggests. I want a hint of onion not to be overpowered by them.)
1 large and 1 small can of cooked chicken (about 16 oz)
1 can cream of chicken soup (condensed)
3 cans of chicken broth
2 cups of little pasta, which usually calls for a cooking time of about 5 minutes. (I used an alphabet variety because I had it on hand)

Prep, once you start, this goes fast:

Chop carrots to about the size of the end of your fingertip. I used a chopper. It's easier. Zest and juice lemon, save rind. Open all the cans and drain the chicken.

Heat coconut oil and butter in large sauce pan on medium. Once the oil is melted, add carrots and garlic. Saute for about 2 minutes.

Add sprinkle of dehydrated onions, chicken, zest, and juice.

Mix in condensed soup.

Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil.

Boil for 10 minutes.

Add pasta and cook for another 5 minutes.

Serve.

It's very thick, exactly the way I like it. If you prefer soupier, reduce the pasta.

Why didn't I use orzo, the way it is called for in most of the recipes? Since I'm not overly familiar with it, I don't keep it on hand. I'll have to try this with orzo sometime.

To remove carrot stains from your cutting board, turn half the lemon rind inside out and scrub board.
To remove garlic scent from your hands, use the other half of the lemon rind to rub all over your hands and rinse.

Did you know you can buy lemons in season when they're juicy and cheap. Zest them, juice them, and freeze them for use when they aren't so cheap.

Wordless

This week's links...

I know I usually post blog links, however, Yahoo had a great article in their Match section about what to walk away from in a man. I knew these, but sometimes it helps to see it in black and white:
http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=13124&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=1381809

Author Leslie Jones was a guest over at author VS Nelson's blog. I'm awed that these amazing women are in my RWA chapter. This is a short post and worth the read on writing military heroes. I've read Marcus Luttrell's book, and it changed my perspective of the alpha male, including knowing he wouldn't want the adulation.
http://authorvsnelson.com/blog/2013/02/08/writing-the-authentic-military-hero/

Tina Pinson is a guest over at Amber Stockton's blog. She is on my Wish List. So many books; so little time. She shares a bit of her journey as a writer.
http://amberstockton.blogspot.com/2013/02/guest-blogger-tina-pinson-and-to-carry.html

Stephanie Burkhart was in several places this week. I really enjoyed her short story A Polish Heart. It's where I learned about Blessing Baskets, something I've added to my Easter traditions.
http://sweetnotspicy.blogspot.com/2013/02/stephanie-burkhart-has-polish-heart-to.html
http://onceuponaword1.blogspot.com/2013/02/its-chocolate-lovers-month-by-stephanie.html

Barri Bryan shares a heartwarming memory over at her blog:
http://barribryan.com/blog/puppy-love/