tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806441090985920472024-02-21T10:31:09.313-08:00Love by ChocolateA PASSION FOR STORYTELLING, A LOVE OF CHOCOLATE AND OTHER OBSESSIONS.Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-76859548744712742632023-06-18T21:00:00.061-07:002023-06-18T21:00:00.137-07:00JELLY BEANS AND SPRING THINGS <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKrjZlGh1XZnBKI-JHdKUkajO_YJBjFsIq2Q9zyiyN2eRvCNEe40uGQLeKIt1ZPWnI5Qe6mk7lX81DYXVobtjcHz2JAbSqYupZYaKGrPw7Ga8xR3qI4jmhGHrpM3-voCdYxfaMoT37v7oDLjgWNoRx_KuBz0760dWgkijIHOZCwG8d_iZcli8igMx/s750/ForwardinTimewithJellyBeans_w17515_750.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><b>TODAY'S FEATURED AUTHOR—MICHELLE GODARD—RICHER</b></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">She's here today to celebrate the release of two new books for TWRP Jelly Beans and Spring Things series.</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKybRyOTCbcSiakEH1oA8smkYY5Nsqop5AzWmY56dtyB5kX9m6PsdLFWGi3r38qK_FYUzWsYI4cdx2yJlpNKWxoj_MjRvFvx7gZe0NmxgpuSTCud8cYN4ydFUUbv6OurKPO0qJfqI-X5oNvlejuRY2HB46ghPLL08Z73giBIzBaXxWwje_S7g8DnQu/s1306/IMG_E5A20BF30631-1.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKybRyOTCbcSiakEH1oA8smkYY5Nsqop5AzWmY56dtyB5kX9m6PsdLFWGi3r38qK_FYUzWsYI4cdx2yJlpNKWxoj_MjRvFvx7gZe0NmxgpuSTCud8cYN4ydFUUbv6OurKPO0qJfqI-X5oNvlejuRY2HB46ghPLL08Z73giBIzBaXxWwje_S7g8DnQu/s320/IMG_E5A20BF30631-1.jpeg" width="203" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCaYLCU9k-Hr3OB_vU4dNubzAqMEJhB4yqU7IpPBNzH3ydXADRFP1qHbJWIOU7VdI8EiqNvadOBCVIwfDsjEICaWZgn0vCVtZsc91M8Ks1spJdoDHw61-nEuAdcS4XaVQZtGRPDI_gN-0BR4HeRm0Sml6E4M0MfY0ouO2xxRlYCESGiWGOsvTcZ7D/s750/ForwardinTimewithJellyBeans_w17515_750.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCaYLCU9k-Hr3OB_vU4dNubzAqMEJhB4yqU7IpPBNzH3ydXADRFP1qHbJWIOU7VdI8EiqNvadOBCVIwfDsjEICaWZgn0vCVtZsc91M8Ks1spJdoDHw61-nEuAdcS4XaVQZtGRPDI_gN-0BR4HeRm0Sml6E4M0MfY0ouO2xxRlYCESGiWGOsvTcZ7D/s320/ForwardinTimewithJellyBeans_w17515_750.JPG" width="213" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">Buy links:<a href=" https://www.books2read.com/BackinTime" target="_blank"> </a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #954f72; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href=" https://www.books2read.com/BackinTime" target="_blank">https://www.books2read.com/BackinTim</a>e </span></span><a href="https://www.books2read.com/ForwardinTime" style="caret-color: rgb(149, 79, 114); color: #954f72; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px;" target="_blank">https://www.books2read.com/ForwardinTime</a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Michelle Godard-Richer</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back in Time with Jelly Beans (June 12, 2023)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Forward in Time with Jelly Beans (June 19, 2023)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">(The Hinchcliffe Sisters Duology)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Genres: time-travel romance, historical romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Welcome to the fictional town of Mayflower, Illinois during spring when the trees are budding, and the tulips are shooting out of the ground. The story begins in the year 2023 with Bella Thomas, a journalism student. While school is out for the summer, she digs into the history of her small town. In particular, a fire that burnt down the Mayflower Jelly Bean Factory, killed its handsome founder, Henry Hinchcliffe, and devastated the local economy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a twist of fate, she’s brought to the past a few months before the day of the fire in 1927. She meets the kind Hinchcliffe family and falls for Henry even though she believes he’s destined to marry someone else. Without any regard for herself, Bella is determined to prevent the fire that kills Henry, even if he can never be hers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jump ahead a few years to 1932, and Henry’s sister Henrietta’s story begins. She’s just graduated from medical school and reopened a clinic with another young doctor, but she doesn’t feel fulfilled. There’s an empty place in her heart that longs for a soulmate and the kind of enduring love her parents have.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Little does she know fate also has big plans for her. She’s snatched into the future then learns that unless she finds a way to save her nephew, he’ll be stillborn back in 1932. The answers to saving him may lie in the brilliant mind of a handsome doctor named Joshua Bingham. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bio: Michelle Godard-Richer is an award-winning thriller and romance author living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. With her degree in Criminology, she writes edge-of-your-seat suspenseful stories with strong protagonists and diabolical villains.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.michellegodardricher.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.michellegodardricher.com</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For more information about my new releases follow me in any of these places:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22332655.Michelle_Godard_Richer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Bookbub: </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/michelle-godard-richer" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/michelle-godard-richer</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/michellegodardricherauthor" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">https://www.instagram.com/michellegodardricherauthor</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/michelle-godard-richer-author" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">https://www.facebook.com/michelle-godard-richer-author</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://www.twitter.com/MGodardRicher" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">https://www.twitter.com/MGodardRicher</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>GOOD LUCK MICHELLE</b></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><h3 style="clear: both;"><div><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hope you enjoyed this blog and will stop by again to discover more new and exciting authors.</span></div></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Zelda</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-11744432895540732402023-06-14T05:29:00.098-07:002023-06-14T05:46:14.391-07:00Baking With Cherries<p></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWi_GigzwWiyS7cjuZR7-ac6IdDwFdkUfiZJpmJjxVmUa48J3g0WmFrtIGShXlBYSIN_hc1zVIzNXIYtNO2T2ioREJv36wVPCtb7oy1T_eumjg7Jhf6pHpfXmI8-IX1RqX0RCvVyunpw-IxurI2P37ltKNw3L7h2JQBGqOma4nJRnLlSa5-aNdjEe/s1080/BookBrushImage-2023-6-9-11-2723.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWi_GigzwWiyS7cjuZR7-ac6IdDwFdkUfiZJpmJjxVmUa48J3g0WmFrtIGShXlBYSIN_hc1zVIzNXIYtNO2T2ioREJv36wVPCtb7oy1T_eumjg7Jhf6pHpfXmI8-IX1RqX0RCvVyunpw-IxurI2P37ltKNw3L7h2JQBGqOma4nJRnLlSa5-aNdjEe/w200-h200/BookBrushImage-2023-6-9-11-2723.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Today is June 14—release </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">day of my latest book</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Cherry </i></p><p><i style="font-family: georgia;">Blossom Serendipity.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've been preparing for today with pink</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> drinks and cherry </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">desserts—cookies, pie,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and a delicious cherry bundt cake (recipe at end of blog).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmB01kVMSmM0mX16QNvO5Yl5zav1LDSW9vlznBPo6d3SSY-zXfagZPxxiCiSbJa16wnOLug0y0kE8qv7Yv4EgQ_gUqROvYS1L1fGkFF796QkKxnOo-KzaCdzbMXJuPyhSH11tAHAwQ4npPdoVqmCj4IAwW-g9OVnIQj5DnRxJUvSs9lI4iCUvzt6r1/s1252/IMG_1974.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="828" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmB01kVMSmM0mX16QNvO5Yl5zav1LDSW9vlznBPo6d3SSY-zXfagZPxxiCiSbJa16wnOLug0y0kE8qv7Yv4EgQ_gUqROvYS1L1fGkFF796QkKxnOo-KzaCdzbMXJuPyhSH11tAHAwQ4npPdoVqmCj4IAwW-g9OVnIQj5DnRxJUvSs9lI4iCUvzt6r1/w133-h200/IMG_1974.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/4cx2pzhb">https://tinyurl.com/4cx2pzhb</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Blurb</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">A chance meeting lands dating </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">columnist Lexi Anderson an </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">invitation to the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">most sought-after </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">D.C. event. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">Seeking inspiration for her </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">spring column, she </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">agrees to accompany an </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">older </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">gentleman she met at the Vietnam </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Memorial.</span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white;">Everyone lets go at the Pink </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white;">Tie Dinner. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white;">Navy Commander Steve MacDonald</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">is no exception. He’s attracted to Lexi and disappointed </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">she’s </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white;">returning to </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">New York in the morning. He </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">makes a plan guaranteeing </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">he’ll </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white;">see her during </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">New York’s Fleet Week </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">Lexi has </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">shared with her readers that she never gets involved with </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">a man in </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white;">uniform. When the magic of the evening disappears, will Lexi hold </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white;">tight to </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: georgia;">her dating rule?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Research</b> is always my favorite part of writing. <i>Cherry Blossom </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Serendipity</i> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">is part of the Wild Rose Press' </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Jelly Beans and Spring Things</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">series. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jelly beans </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">had to be mentioned in the story. I experimented with </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">different color </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">beans to </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">see how they dissolved in various liquids. The </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">primary ingredients for </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">jelly beans</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> are sugar, corn syrup, modified cornstarch,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and confectioner's glaze. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sugars </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">dissolve easily in liquids. Easy enough—I had </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">the perfect technique to </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">include jelly </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">beans in my story.</span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia;">Excerpt</b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Would you like another drink, sir?” A server glanced at the untouched drink. </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVT9rJ3ZmhdQZbJgDP7aTpwWmyJrXg14262ytMTrJnwjtOHUVbD455A1KjqfJdL1mscqT_WzrpvkE160EqNG_cXDvyA7y_Wj57Y7dBIkE49gl1HDxdBjRIHHIipaSxzqQzzRSoVCJzrmhzCAifoz_aWhG2tji6MXexfjXsay7t3AJty-zIW20GtC6/s3068/D24F212A-DC0D-4E51-9224-AE720BBD4513%202.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3068" data-original-width="2522" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVT9rJ3ZmhdQZbJgDP7aTpwWmyJrXg14262ytMTrJnwjtOHUVbD455A1KjqfJdL1mscqT_WzrpvkE160EqNG_cXDvyA7y_Wj57Y7dBIkE49gl1HDxdBjRIHHIipaSxzqQzzRSoVCJzrmhzCAifoz_aWhG2tji6MXexfjXsay7t3AJty-zIW20GtC6/w164-h200/D24F212A-DC0D-4E51-9224-AE720BBD4513%202.JPG" width="164" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Springtime Magic Martini</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Steve turned when Lexi laughed at something his </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">grandfather said. A cherry blossom necklace </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">shimmied with the movement of her chest. He looked</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> away and ordered a drink. “A ginger ale, please.” </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">No </i></p><p><i style="font-family: georgia;">more silly pink beverages with jelly beans.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> He needed </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">a clear head. The situation required a plan, one to help </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">her see beyond the uniform. Next week, he’d be in </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">New York preparing for Fleet Week. Would she meet him for a real drink when </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">he was off duty?”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Excerpt From: Zelda Benjamin. “Cherry Blossom Serendipity.” iBooks.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><b style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b></p>Semi-homemade Cherry Bundt Cake </b><p></p><p><b></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLD18-uHIdO08Lv_D9bYMvF0v5ukyu-IfU3lMPAeFXHqrP40MuA5e7syGWFwAHwOaVI8fgHUim2zi-gHNsxvVwvGIb5_VSAlvZuu0LkmxS0fc0gLIKaT68kuTC5x7J044bwiGpBf_pq17PdH2ziMehcXcNXkoV14NmgAgZU3-Jbxq2tuGWdx0kIc9/s4032/IMG_3205.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLD18-uHIdO08Lv_D9bYMvF0v5ukyu-IfU3lMPAeFXHqrP40MuA5e7syGWFwAHwOaVI8fgHUim2zi-gHNsxvVwvGIb5_VSAlvZuu0LkmxS0fc0gLIKaT68kuTC5x7J044bwiGpBf_pq17PdH2ziMehcXcNXkoV14NmgAgZU3-Jbxq2tuGWdx0kIc9/w200-h150/IMG_3205.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry Bundt Cake</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>This is one of those recipes I make from a cake mix. </p><p>I follow the follow the directions on the box and </p><p>make a few adjustments.</p><p>6 ounces maraschino cherries drained </p><p> 2 tbs flour to coat cherrie</p><p>8 tsp butter=1 stick I substitute butter for oil.</p><p>zest of 1 lemon</p><p>I add 2 1/2 tbs of almond four or crushed almonds </p><p>Preheat oven to 350 </p><p>Cream butter, eggs, and lemon. Beat well by hand or electric mixer.</p><p>Mix in dry ingredients. Beat well</p><p>Cut dry cherries in half (I like big chunks of cherries) and fold into batter. </p><p>Pour into well-greased bundt pan </p><p>Bake for 35-45 minutes ( all ovens are different) Cake should rise and be golden </p><p>on top before cooling in tin for 10 min. Turn onto cooling rack.</p><p>You can ice with a lemon icing or sprinkle powdered sugar on top.</p><p>Celebrate and Enjoy!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p>Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-52384719365410043812023-04-16T21:00:00.006-07:002023-04-16T21:00:00.224-07:00Jelly Beans and Spring Things Stories<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Today's featured author - Vicky Burkholder</h4><p></p><p>She's here today to celebrate the release of <b><i>Raining Jelly Beans</i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL_3mF1RMLI5giFOm3_h97iIDhWRgFSLaIuN09OFhi5glddwXjNYUcBa8zGrh9EC8Ufnw5BNY89RxRsvkC9CkNPMmaYYSluQMJtvOEm6wTPDxOYZNIJE_vYDnkSJWPF0p9przNUxQOsKWEYYMZRIgT9EBJ89I7-8FFrEl0OTtYQ4JjSk8KVhqpp4q/s750/RainingJellyBeans_w17335_750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL_3mF1RMLI5giFOm3_h97iIDhWRgFSLaIuN09OFhi5glddwXjNYUcBa8zGrh9EC8Ufnw5BNY89RxRsvkC9CkNPMmaYYSluQMJtvOEm6wTPDxOYZNIJE_vYDnkSJWPF0p9przNUxQOsKWEYYMZRIgT9EBJ89I7-8FFrEl0OTtYQ4JjSk8KVhqpp4q/w167-h231/RainingJellyBeans_w17335_750.jpg" width="167" /></a></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Blurb </i></b></h3></div></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Delia loves her life at the lodge but when an email arrives threatening her happiness, she vows to fight to protect her children. Hoping her ex won’t follow through with his threats, she confides her concerns to a local cop and her brother’s best friend Noah.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Noah has loved Delia from afar for a long time. But he knows she’s off limits because she’s Max’s little sister. So, when she asks for his help, he puts his love on the back burner to find her kidnapped twin girls and put her ex-husband behind bars.</span></div></div></div><p><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://www.thewildrosepress.com/bookauthor/vicky-burkholder Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Raining-Jelly-Beans-Spring-Things-ebook/dp/B0BVRQQMN4 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/raining-jelly-beans-vicky-burkholder/1143016056 Google Books: Books by Vicky Burkholder on Google Play iTunes: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/raining-jelly-beans/id6445620749 ">https://www.thewildrosepress.com/bookauthor/vicky-burkholder Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Raining-Jelly-Beans-Spring-Things-ebook/dp/B0BVRQQMN4 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/raining-jelly-beans-vicky-burkholder/1143016056 Google Books: Books by Vicky Burkholder on Google Play iTunes: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/raining-jelly-beans/id6445620749 </a><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><p></p><p><b><i></i></b></p><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Excerpt</i></b></h3><p></p><div><div>“Noah? What about him? We’re…friends.” Delia thought about her brother Max’s best friend, a tall, handsome local cop who lived about two miles down the mountain toward town. She’d had a crush on him in high school, but he’d been two years ahead of her and barely knew she was alive. She shrugged. “He’s Noah. I’m just Max’s little sister who was always in the way.”</div><div>Gigi huffed at her. “You’re impossible. You do realize that he’s been dating you for months now, don’t you?”</div><div>“Huh?” Her eyes went wide. “We’ve never been on a date.”</div><div>Gigi rolled her eyes and looked at her, one eyebrow raised. “Think about the nights he eats here. Where do you sit?”</div><div>Delia frowned and cocked her head, recalling all those nights. “We sit over by the fireplace.”</div><div>“Uh huh. And where are the rest of us?”</div><div>“You’re right there…” Delia’s eyes widened. “No, you’re not. You’re over near the buffet, with the kids.”</div><div>“Yep. And what do you two talk about while you’re eating?”</div><div>“We…” Another frown. “We talk about everything. About life, the girls…”</div><div>“And that’s not a date? Delia, you’ve been dating that man for months. Tell me you haven’t.”</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>About Vicky</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>As her alter-ego, Vicky has multiple homes all over the universe. She looks human - for the most part - but when she starts writing about characters being able to move things or flicking fire from their fingertips, or changing the course of rivers, people tend to get a little freaked out. She found the one guy out there in the universe who loves her for who she is and they've been together forever and raised four wonderful (now) adults. Her career includes work as a technical writer/editor, a stringer for the local newspaper, and an editor and copy editor for various publishers. At various times in her life, she has been a teacher, a secretary, a short-order cook, a computer specialist, a DJ, and a librarian. When not editing or writing, she can be found in the kitchen creating gluten free goodies for her family.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mxJmww2pngF99vDBRLAMQjSf1VV4_sGiPGj9kNIJdDmvlVa18sIgen3u9UpOXnDsdHP02rkcVwAVBnqxoyon_st1f5AtM44mKEzmXy5IGQ_KWY6whHJSXjX2750F1D2geelqhUj00XxzR_4cuwcjyhb6CSskweC3bn3k2WELxhnBJ0N61BE6mTxk/s4032/Vicky-Burkholder_photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mxJmww2pngF99vDBRLAMQjSf1VV4_sGiPGj9kNIJdDmvlVa18sIgen3u9UpOXnDsdHP02rkcVwAVBnqxoyon_st1f5AtM44mKEzmXy5IGQ_KWY6whHJSXjX2750F1D2geelqhUj00XxzR_4cuwcjyhb6CSskweC3bn3k2WELxhnBJ0N61BE6mTxk/w133-h177/Vicky-Burkholder_photo.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Which genre is your favorite? In line with the answer above, I can’t pin down an exact favorite. But if I had to say something, I’d say probably cozy mysteries and romantic comedies (any era) in the style of Sandra Hill or a good futuristic like Susan Grant and Linnea Sinclair. I like a little tongue-in-cheek humor when I read. Something that makes me smile. But they all have to have a HEA. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>To find out more about Vicky check the links below.</div><p></p><div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><a href="Website: http://www.vicky-burkholder.com Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Burkholder Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1264928.Vicky_Burkholder Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicky-Burkholder-535739543163598/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vickyburkholder Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vicky-burkholder">Website: http://www.vicky-burkholder.com Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Burkholder Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1264928.Vicky_Burkholder Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicky-Burkholder-535739543163598/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vickyburkholder Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vicky-burkholder</a><br /></span></div></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Good luck Vicky !</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">To my readers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hope you enjoyed this blog and will stop by again to discover more new and exciting spring reads.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zelda</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></h3><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\</div><br /><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><b></b><b><i><br /> </i></b></p>Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com1United States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-45085728844154988262023-04-10T08:44:00.001-07:002023-04-10T09:06:37.110-07:00Colors of Spring<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Shvdgcqn2vnmuc4ElXWghZG0vgcrQM5zsPOnY3XeHV5LxhJ4l8Ae5V3YHYs-ybU6njSnszQIpeSDBxX6BqM3Rdpj5DyKBxBDZ5ZB-xRoC6anI2SQxFrPnuVbc62iM_Eb2n9P52U_5xMyscGCcriX0j8vD87DPoQA-59yGweex2h4oj9kMCN3Xfqy/s4032/IMG_2636%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Shvdgcqn2vnmuc4ElXWghZG0vgcrQM5zsPOnY3XeHV5LxhJ4l8Ae5V3YHYs-ybU6njSnszQIpeSDBxX6BqM3Rdpj5DyKBxBDZ5ZB-xRoC6anI2SQxFrPnuVbc62iM_Eb2n9P52U_5xMyscGCcriX0j8vD87DPoQA-59yGweex2h4oj9kMCN3Xfqy/w180-h240/IMG_2636%202.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br /> To help celebrate longer days, vivid colors, and packing away our winter clothes, I'm joining a group of Wild Rose Press authors with stories for their Jelly Beans and Spring Things line.<br /><p></p><p>My spring story, Cherry Blossom Serendipity will be released on June 14. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qJ8Ebew30eAtR4aOrELDYeu6CUUEhnY__4_mhLsiUaK4Z8fgatzDMOE_A1K4DGYr_wjQeYHu5qdzHxkdPP0P8ah_SIwbMbJ65uwr3TesH_o5rvMb1jOn_7OsJGtolDlh4saZ3hGAQ6kaZZxFkwfs2-WFuUjWe7ORyL5wzy31SOJTGyLfwQVIEbEg/s1252/IMG_1974.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="828" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qJ8Ebew30eAtR4aOrELDYeu6CUUEhnY__4_mhLsiUaK4Z8fgatzDMOE_A1K4DGYr_wjQeYHu5qdzHxkdPP0P8ah_SIwbMbJ65uwr3TesH_o5rvMb1jOn_7OsJGtolDlh4saZ3hGAQ6kaZZxFkwfs2-WFuUjWe7ORyL5wzy31SOJTGyLfwQVIEbEg/w149-h222/IMG_1974.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Fun Research</h4><div>In order to include jelly beans in the story, I experimented with different color jelly beans in very tasty pink drinks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2Kkwg5iLwkKoBQwhwIB5VjVZSYz700mKSZ6jxVdmDuqLVqkHhrT6gQ31fsgFrNvJH4KZTUmuiE4e2Oy9Q1bnl43whC7edTYwrFsmlwak7ZPBTiqvGHlYtaAdIha0ebfVmA_TmPGfpKSRsJIcaCaF_kitMTdX5WTtpP2JWqci5ames6_zDlE1Kq5a/s3360/IMG_1511.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgZFwD6tvvu_iu6qmIlcbboS7nLrKh40LnC21YL_6-oFqbZ1WdafcqkfBxF3b1NB5vBTYW93s7CBHufRjexfiCHMeUL53WlCbTKH7gQa9OPqXP-93QHBBcRmaGNGGWwMxhTVamzcw9TS3sqCZWMdcV7zZ5pozV1g9ILtq-8VcNKWeFChX1l9h6Uym/s3068/D24F212A-DC0D-4E51-9224-AE720BBD4513.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3068" data-original-width="2522" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgZFwD6tvvu_iu6qmIlcbboS7nLrKh40LnC21YL_6-oFqbZ1WdafcqkfBxF3b1NB5vBTYW93s7CBHufRjexfiCHMeUL53WlCbTKH7gQa9OPqXP-93QHBBcRmaGNGGWwMxhTVamzcw9TS3sqCZWMdcV7zZ5pozV1g9ILtq-8VcNKWeFChX1l9h6Uym/w177-h194/D24F212A-DC0D-4E51-9224-AE720BBD4513.JPG" width="177" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5m8EVwUljv0sT13VLomn1n_-bE9XoUQC8emTVS3TzBiKbvgH-I8XUaPpRyxbJOUDahwy8SnKhLjOKsKPjrh2XiVh-tIUx8gbimRR9J_OVpoKmserho5AZbVEz4dIrVAKN1PO8EnFJAXVs0Vi51feV8TCx_A-yGLvv8aMyaVsn7pRD_9AWgwjmNXwM/s3360/IMG_1511.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3360" data-original-width="2483" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5m8EVwUljv0sT13VLomn1n_-bE9XoUQC8emTVS3TzBiKbvgH-I8XUaPpRyxbJOUDahwy8SnKhLjOKsKPjrh2XiVh-tIUx8gbimRR9J_OVpoKmserho5AZbVEz4dIrVAKN1PO8EnFJAXVs0Vi51feV8TCx_A-yGLvv8aMyaVsn7pRD_9AWgwjmNXwM/w168-h197/IMG_1511.JPG" width="168" /></a></div><p>Sugar content in jelly beans makes them dissolve. Added colors dissolve at different speeds. It was a fun experiment. You'll have to read the book to find out how I used the experiment to I write pink drinks and jelly beans into the story.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Spring Facts</h4><h4><span style="font-weight: normal;">For the next four decades the equinox will be on March 20.</span></h4><h4><span style="font-weight: normal;">It's the only day you can get an egg to stand on its end. Place it large end down on a flat surface and be patient. </span></h4><h4><span style="font-weight: normal;">Spring fever is not just a saying. Experts say the body’s makeup changes due to different diets, hormone production, and temperature.</span></h4><div><b>Jelly Beans and Spring Things Stories</b></div><p>Until June 20, the last day of spring, I'll feature authors writing sweet to sexy springtime stories. Stop by and discover your next favorite author. </p><p>Monday April 17 meet Vicky </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVgybg2z42VufNZcz9WvRG63KQuUSCLXRVQeTWcwLWuzp6_A-iJB0jdTJB_jpvG87nq4i1imZr6393lmNUtqH6JUNKCILbmii-Jask6Qn6pLXrmJTlenGqlpKlhOVaQDPitkifHAhCZJ96WYDyaFgxOKu41oYcBZhnMGUv8lmsQoIve5f0V6t6sd3/s750/RainingJellyBeans_w17335_750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVgybg2z42VufNZcz9WvRG63KQuUSCLXRVQeTWcwLWuzp6_A-iJB0jdTJB_jpvG87nq4i1imZr6393lmNUtqH6JUNKCILbmii-Jask6Qn6pLXrmJTlenGqlpKlhOVaQDPitkifHAhCZJ96WYDyaFgxOKu41oYcBZhnMGUv8lmsQoIve5f0V6t6sd3/w102-h143/RainingJellyBeans_w17335_750.jpg" width="102" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-52012537655439558332020-08-05T21:30:00.010-07:002020-08-05T21:30:03.913-07:00Marcia's Perfect Margarita Recipe<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PlIODMVNwjvFybygGFz6wss03iX68ba9sfR3uliIvPYIh0Bd6f_Yi1TnUQgdMqfghBfoUN5MGhdG9ZuiRVmJEITHyj28wOauEC8q23nvEtJwbR0-I-sG2aR21EeYq2jlNW7UkXNfdlw/s320/Me+Beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PlIODMVNwjvFybygGFz6wss03iX68ba9sfR3uliIvPYIh0Bd6f_Yi1TnUQgdMqfghBfoUN5MGhdG9ZuiRVmJEITHyj28wOauEC8q23nvEtJwbR0-I-sG2aR21EeYq2jlNW7UkXNfdlw/w192-h256/Me+Beach.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Today's guest blogger, Marcia King-Gamble talks about her latest release and her perfect margarita recipe. Thanks for stopping by.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Where is <b>Last Chance Beach</b>? It’s an island paradise. It’s<span style="color: #222222;">nowhere and everywhere, and the setting for the 14 short stories written by award-winning authors. I’m fortunate to be one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Last Chance Beach </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">is the island getaway everyone wants to go to. Think <i>Kokomo.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqIR8VRGQPvZUgurseKsTibX1fhhlEzKi8nla92HrKW_1sm5qd8eyqu-OcalR3PQWdXCz2zPn9TAuMK3DVhO6pwbz-WKNmPde3FBz64vexurnEFLI3KWoHcslJ5DvdNBGCK_S1PTpDnU/s605/Banner+Last+Chance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="605" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqIR8VRGQPvZUgurseKsTibX1fhhlEzKi8nla92HrKW_1sm5qd8eyqu-OcalR3PQWdXCz2zPn9TAuMK3DVhO6pwbz-WKNmPde3FBz64vexurnEFLI3KWoHcslJ5DvdNBGCK_S1PTpDnU/s0/Banner+Last+Chance.jpg" /></a></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">When I was first asked to be a part of this boxset, I jumped at it. I’m an island girl and writing an island story just spoke to me. So, let me tell you a bit about the island’s background. Better yet pick up a copy of the boxset on Amazon at the bargain price of 99 cents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Chance-Beach-Summers-End-ebook/dp/B08CV3GN3R" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Last-Chance-Beach-Summers-End-ebook/dp/B08CV3GN3R</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Legend has it that back in the day a poor man booked passage on a wealthy ship owner’s boat, fell in love with the tycoon’s daughter and got banished to the hold. The poor fellow managed to escape and swim ashore to the island. The distraught daughter goes in search of him to no avail. Running out of money, she ends up on <b>Last Chance Beach </b>and is taken in by the same minister and his wife who’d earlier rescued the battered and bruised fellow. Now they get a second chance at love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Don’t you just love a second chance romance?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">My contribution is titled <b>One Last Shot. </b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Just imagine what happens when a rising sitcom star’s sex tape goes viral, and she escapes to <b>Last Chance Beach </b>only to discover, renting next door, is a disgraced celebrity photographer. And heaven forbid she’s attracted to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Here’s an excerpt from my story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"> Kael Huntington was hotter than a firecracker and someone she could be interested in, that’s if she were anyone other than Dania Browne. But sitcom-star, Madeline Miller was off limits. She was now considered damaged goods, making a relationship impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Dania gulped back tears and hugged her knees to her chest. A nap hadn’t helped her mood one bit. How had she gotten herself into this mess? Bob lounging on the bed next to her, made a mewling sound, and gave a sympathetic lick to her face. She was the only one who believed Dania had been set up. Well, her agent, Maya Rosenstein believed in her too. Even her own family, the righteous pastor, Aurora Browne thought the video of her was a publicity stunt, done to further her career. Her mother had labeled Dania the devil’s spawn.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who would have thought that low key John Lewis would act like a jerk when she broke things off? He’d sent a sex tape to the media; one she did not make. He’d been shrewd enough to photoshop the video, placing her head on another woman’s body. No one had even questioned why her size B ta-tas had ballooned into voluptuous triple D’s. As far as she was concerned, John deserved to rot in hell.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">To get you in the mood, we offer a free drink recipe book you can download here:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cocktails-Last-Chance-Beach-Reeves-ebook/dp/B08DR4K3YX/ref" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Cocktails-Last-Chance-Beach-Reeves-ebook/dp/B08DR4K3YX/ref</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 34.2400016784668px;">Last Call <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 25.68000030517578px;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 25.68000030517578px;">Marcia King-Gamble</span><span style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Ingredients:</span><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><font face="calibri"> </font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.33333396911621px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px;">1 12 oz. can of Minute Maid Frozen Limeade<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.33333396911621px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjDVlf1VFUibTuX7QJ0BivFzslo26is6W4-iLiKPTqNewne5MWmG3cwRpJN5uhOrJrszP1kjDgxZlGB_qJTliQbiJw5abpLn-2R2tjnciaCEUBDAegH66Z6Q0f9V2uexCNPBFoIEmDdg/s1369/LCBCocktail.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 32px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1369" data-original-width="912" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjDVlf1VFUibTuX7QJ0BivFzslo26is6W4-iLiKPTqNewne5MWmG3cwRpJN5uhOrJrszP1kjDgxZlGB_qJTliQbiJw5abpLn-2R2tjnciaCEUBDAegH66Z6Q0f9V2uexCNPBFoIEmDdg/w174-h263/LCBCocktail.jpg" width="174" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px;">2 cans of water<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.33333396911621px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px;">2 tbsps. of sugar<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.33333396911621px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px;">2 cups of ice<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.33333396911621px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px;">2 ozs. of triple sec or Cointreau<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.33333396911621px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px;">6 ozs. of tequila or to liking<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.33333396911621px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px;">¼ cup fruit (strawberries, peaches, mangos) optional<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Directions: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Add ice to blender, frozen limeade, water, sugar, tequila, triple sec. Then blend about 30 secs. Add additional tequila, water, limeade as needed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Serves: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Serving Suggestions</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">: Pour into a margarita glass or mason jar. Use sea salt for the rim of glass if preferred.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">While this may taste like a Margarita, it’s like no Rita you’ve ever tasted. The Last Call came about when a fisherman from the mainland, sleeping aboard his boat, challenged the Rods bartender to invent a refreshing drink for mainlanders. The fisherman’s boat broke down and he swam ashore, blender in hand, making it to Rods just seconds before Last Call. The bartender was then forced to whip up a batch on the fly. The patrons already on their way to La-La Land, pronounced the Fisherman’s drink the best they’d ever had. And so, his drink became The Last Call. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">So, sit back, make yourself a cocktail, and enjoy the stories of romances found or rekindled on </span><b style="font-size: 11pt;">Last Chance Beach.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Thank you so much Zelda for having me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, caring for her animal family, and trying to keep sane.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Instagram</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">* </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Amazon</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">* </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Website</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">* </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Facebook</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">* </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Twitter</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><br /></div></div>Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-89368154500707424042020-02-26T10:00:00.001-08:002020-08-03T11:19:38.666-07:00Secrets of Star Bakers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Trial and error, time and a good reason are all you need to perfect your baking. Research for my new romance series was my reason to perfect my haphazard baking skills. Not only has it been the most tasty, but also the most rewarding of all my fact-finding adventures.<br />
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Trial and error means that sometimes your recipe will fail. I watch a lot of baking shows and see professional bakers make amateur mistakes that often have me talking to the TV. <i>They should know that cake is not cool enough to frost.</i> Of course, time is often not on the bakers' side in a competition. I once gave myself a time limit to bake a batch of cookies and failed miserably. </div>
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<b>Tip-don't rush the process you'll have a better chance of succeeding.</b></div>
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My cakes are most often semi-home sponges that I make ahead of time and put in the freezer. I make everything from log rolls to multi-layers with a simple recipe I found while doing my research.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kwD2uZU0g6NFh2ZOFsTFKuBjBgvB-VSYRsteCH5f8ELE5n2wEFMr-v7XZdpHhyI5fo-uNpFiPyl-Hw28x2pG3idxduLle7o0pdHaQrFALlhZx0I7XP5qypv_ITnZLOBDGscCX352bNk/s1600/IMG_7284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kwD2uZU0g6NFh2ZOFsTFKuBjBgvB-VSYRsteCH5f8ELE5n2wEFMr-v7XZdpHhyI5fo-uNpFiPyl-Hw28x2pG3idxduLle7o0pdHaQrFALlhZx0I7XP5qypv_ITnZLOBDGscCX352bNk/s200/IMG_7284.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frosting and fillings are easier to spread on frozen layers.</td></tr>
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<b>RECIPE</b></div>
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<b>Tip-Always preheat before starting </b><br />
Preheat oven to 350 </div>
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<b>Tip - Have all your ingredients ready to go - </b>butter needs to be softened and eggs may need to be at room temperature.<br />
Sometimes I'm all set to go and realize I don't have enough sugar or eggs. My husband's a good sport about going to the supermarketer for something I forgot, but he's not always available. I also prepare my pans by spraying with a non-stick spray then cover the bottom with parchment paper.<br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<b>1 BOX</b> ANY FLAVOR CAKE MIX All commercial brands work for this recipe, but my favorites are Duncan Hines yellow, white or devil's food.<br />
These companies have been making these mixes for decades and have it down pat. </div>
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<b>6 eggs </b> beat on high until lemon color</div>
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add <b>1/2 cup of water </b></div>
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<b>1/4 cup oil </b>I like the hint of olive oil especially in chocolate cakes</div>
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<b>Add cake mix</b><br />
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The recipe states to bake for 15-20 min until the center springs back.<br />
Depending on your oven, the type of pan and altitude, baking time is definitely a trial and error moment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp1fPBkVm4o5qqvQQnjRR5Ivxo9AeBCklpbT4VG0XQrh-Xej4QBNurH8pYU5xOS0xcTybnxGrZ1dZhMHEVe1WYaOdSZAeuNSZsmgaJCXspHlg-RAhP31m6BVeChMmMpkFbAAeWCt4rD4/s1600/IMG_8289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp1fPBkVm4o5qqvQQnjRR5Ivxo9AeBCklpbT4VG0XQrh-Xej4QBNurH8pYU5xOS0xcTybnxGrZ1dZhMHEVe1WYaOdSZAeuNSZsmgaJCXspHlg-RAhP31m6BVeChMmMpkFbAAeWCt4rD4/s200/IMG_8289.jpg" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I use 6" pans. I prefer more layers.</td></tr>
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Don't be afraid to experiment. I recently made a 3 layer Biscoff cake where I substituted 1 tablespoon of cookie butter for an egg. It gave the cake a subtle hint of flavor with most of the flavor coming from the Biscoff frosting and cookie crumbs between the layers. </div>
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I'm definitely lacking in cake decorating skills. Sprinkles, cookie crumbs and nuts can be very forgiving. The smaller layers make it easy to roll the frosted sides in the topping of your choice.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3L1csNLEQJ2-uyUsTCujme5TPekl2wPlnYgBkmS3meYNS-nwU-zJ7JG-SUB32lMopRTCcnzfhlAogX8XPtWoozCC2XNHLmMEffqhHuPA5YiBXIaelsMBiE4opQPIGmvvV5hh7w0THKL4/s1600/IMG_8281.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3L1csNLEQJ2-uyUsTCujme5TPekl2wPlnYgBkmS3meYNS-nwU-zJ7JG-SUB32lMopRTCcnzfhlAogX8XPtWoozCC2XNHLmMEffqhHuPA5YiBXIaelsMBiE4opQPIGmvvV5hh7w0THKL4/s200/IMG_8281.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
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<b>Happiness is homemade. </b><br />
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-2501644143993463862019-10-02T09:22:00.002-07:002019-10-03T06:51:13.598-07:00Baking the Perfect Sponge Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq3JvlNP7_VP0j780B06F2lYUlZJmDiaP4oX8TpARhp2FrMsZeW5B6YfeLT1UlXUMnH62xQo4UMmaqX6e-MwLUjtrfE3eKrYPJWB9bjneBfknihv9LxLepoR3g1BwNajgwgGKbpmq1yM/s1600/IMG_7309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1440" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq3JvlNP7_VP0j780B06F2lYUlZJmDiaP4oX8TpARhp2FrMsZeW5B6YfeLT1UlXUMnH62xQo4UMmaqX6e-MwLUjtrfE3eKrYPJWB9bjneBfknihv9LxLepoR3g1BwNajgwgGKbpmq1yM/s200/IMG_7309.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Let's start with a short history of my favorite sponge - a Victoria Sponge. The cake was named after Queen Victoria who always ate a slice with her afternoon tea. If you don't have the luxury of afternoon tea - it makes a great dessert cake too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgPeFUePm-P0OcD5463Fe1adWPID5sTf1lLDaM2BmhyoB_s6FSAGc-ybb1XLa-o4HFx3IcWT7Iwq7kedmBtBssPDGjxelkk-OMM5E-wbIveooAFcjcabeVbgx9a5HEuc6WmPQH7ZslkE/s1600/IMG_7449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgPeFUePm-P0OcD5463Fe1adWPID5sTf1lLDaM2BmhyoB_s6FSAGc-ybb1XLa-o4HFx3IcWT7Iwq7kedmBtBssPDGjxelkk-OMM5E-wbIveooAFcjcabeVbgx9a5HEuc6WmPQH7ZslkE/s200/IMG_7449.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJHEBhu6VWZOq898aF9B9qVwrwcblxF323tYwwodpP2PiVKjE3FZlPhTXl_uYghNnbgyS-ekY7RWw344sQGvgeei7kuhkr6esu76ufMH6uWMRrjJ_r_mF2SnYjQ7CvmgVX-gopBx5x9E/s1600/IMG_7362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJHEBhu6VWZOq898aF9B9qVwrwcblxF323tYwwodpP2PiVKjE3FZlPhTXl_uYghNnbgyS-ekY7RWw344sQGvgeei7kuhkr6esu76ufMH6uWMRrjJ_r_mF2SnYjQ7CvmgVX-gopBx5x9E/s200/IMG_7362.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyi0Kmd8Na5gRkLedKJWBeeScD6FTdYSd5D56j32vUEaUt56qwfQuIBjCAp-UXuTnAcEpQU0emOkJVY5SifW5mEiYaNI4PIZA_bgGO_dwHsY5rZxCkqe_rKJiIfd_PrBcoLFJ3mXZARo/s1600/IMG_7284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyi0Kmd8Na5gRkLedKJWBeeScD6FTdYSd5D56j32vUEaUt56qwfQuIBjCAp-UXuTnAcEpQU0emOkJVY5SifW5mEiYaNI4PIZA_bgGO_dwHsY5rZxCkqe_rKJiIfd_PrBcoLFJ3mXZARo/s200/IMG_7284.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
What makes this simple sponge cake different from other sponges is that the top of the cake is not iced or decorated. I'm not much of a decorator so this works well for me. All it needs is a dusting of powdered sugar. It traditionally has raspberry jam and clotted cream between the layers. Purist will say that if the cream is not Devonshire or Cornish cream it's not a true Victoria Sponge. If you don't live in the UK and have access to the cream - no worries. I've used fresh whipped cream, butter cream frosting and even a layer of Biscoff frosting.<br />
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I'm not a fan of raspberry so I'll use any jam I have on hand as well as chocolate ganache. Peach Prosecco preserve by Mrs. Bridges is my favorite.</div>
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I use a simple semi-homemade recipe for all my sponges. The traditional cake calls for 6" tins, but any size will do. I use the same recipe to make chocolate log rolls.</div>
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<b>RECIPE</b></div>
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Preheat oven to 350 </div>
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<b>1 BOX</b> ANY FLAVOR CAKE MIX My favorites are Duncan Hines yellow, white or devil's food. </div>
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<b>6 eggs </b> beat on high until lemon color</div>
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add <b>1/2 cup of water </b></div>
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<b>1/4 cup oil </b>I like the hint of olive oil especially in chocolate cakes</div>
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<b>Add cake mix</b></div>
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<b>Bake for 15 - 20 mins or until the cake springs back when touched in the center</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWO7pclsQu43nDVExYJZk38abOPiHePmZ0pz889-zSx3uXeEb8Laz2B59RfUGJhjQN0MoTkS-s6rfb-gFrqKfMo3l2R7HBOlGiU-C2lO7u7yDv5etbGNimOmMP5TmnVSs2cKZt8Xsy8g/s1600/IMG_7417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWO7pclsQu43nDVExYJZk38abOPiHePmZ0pz889-zSx3uXeEb8Laz2B59RfUGJhjQN0MoTkS-s6rfb-gFrqKfMo3l2R7HBOlGiU-C2lO7u7yDv5etbGNimOmMP5TmnVSs2cKZt8Xsy8g/s200/IMG_7417.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil's Food sponge log for July 4th</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c5wT9I8S5E8T36HutE3AWIAI4XzxVaaabUH-aUHYSRAqefwhfhg9MSsomkzgFQjLuJ6CBYmO3ZXzeqQ9YDGLIHmPt_uH6uDfBEBx-oiPE-NO28px4VikcXf59mSZxvZw0Xj-GNzlF2M/s1600/IMG_7736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1600" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c5wT9I8S5E8T36HutE3AWIAI4XzxVaaabUH-aUHYSRAqefwhfhg9MSsomkzgFQjLuJ6CBYmO3ZXzeqQ9YDGLIHmPt_uH6uDfBEBx-oiPE-NO28px4VikcXf59mSZxvZw0Xj-GNzlF2M/s200/IMG_7736.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">apple almond sponge</td></tr>
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I've made the sponges more than a week ahead. It freezes great. I usually add my center or fill my roll before freezing. Wrapped in a layer of plastic wrap then tin foil and another layer of plastic wrap it comes out fresh. If I'm frosting the cake, I do it while it's frozen and leave it in the fridge until a couple of hours before I serve. It tastes even better the next day.</div>
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I want to thank my friend Alyssa Maxwell <a href="https://www.alyssamaxwell.com/" target="_blank">https://www.alyssamaxwell.com</a> for the first photo with one of her lovely tea sets.</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-67077471012669431922017-07-31T10:42:00.002-07:002017-07-31T10:42:10.350-07:005 Things I Learned at RWA 2017<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Y014QKOYYKoy9r7ugUI63GT5mhAru6ynsieyQYJibblU07nKk9QtSy3NKl8Y20If4xTT2fYZOhYJhz0KkXkaZGsK6tUPSqf4B_NNThrpLca0Lug85lEN7U9HfoQs98SFSnOq4H1W57I/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Y014QKOYYKoy9r7ugUI63GT5mhAru6ynsieyQYJibblU07nKk9QtSy3NKl8Y20If4xTT2fYZOhYJhz0KkXkaZGsK6tUPSqf4B_NNThrpLca0Lug85lEN7U9HfoQs98SFSnOq4H1W57I/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>#5 Pick Five Things You Learned and Apply Them to Your Writing</b></div>
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Everyone comes home with a long list of things they're going to do to make them a more efficient and prolific writer. Seriously, how many of those things did you accomplish or still practice after your last conference. By keeping it simple and making your five choices realistic you're more likely to meet those goals. </div>
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<b>#4 Create a FB Author Page / Update Pinterest boards</b></div>
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I've been meaning to do this for some time. You need to have a profile page first - which I had. It wasn't difficult to do an author page. You create a banner, pick your audience and start posting. Followers will come. </div>
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<img border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUafD5Zkn_quo6AkIbNmMD1C6xKKZLfAS97406rW0B1MHhP3_CjT1X9De4iLf3JzlYBsqzsdaYf0kzembJ4kgtZku0zBReyA1mkkXg__BNErj2oWu6TQGMoJ6yTcYCjrevK6dfsDzDABI/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-07-31+at+12.37.31+PM.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/zeldabenjaminwriter" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/zeldabenjaminwriter</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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The most difficult thing about going on Pinterest is getting off. Update your Pinterest boards and make your books or writing info the first board. Make sure you add a description to each board and pin. It will help send traffic your way. Always include your website or blog address. <br />
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<b>#3 Check Out Neflix and Amazon Prime for Research.</b><br />
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My current WIP is targeted for Intrigue. I found a great show on Neflix for understanding what goes into being a bodyguard for celebrities and dignitaries. Prime has a list of documentaries on Military History direct from the men and woman who experience it.<br />
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<img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpORqjNdit2bb6RR6ZTPZyQbhdgJ7cSwn-IjXULolDmxuhPFhZiKlbFBLK68EhH-BDvlji28OwM5jM2tmxVjIpVpfXnVKP0uq0hWmIx0d2U89GOkdA0qcOqq-JBd2TRdhUBvnoqLs5IVM/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-07-31+at+12.54.09+PM.png" width="320" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80147339" target="_blank">https://www.netflix.com/title/80147339</a></div>
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<b>#2 Make a Productivity Chart</b><br />
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I always liked lists. Some lists are floating around in my head while others, I actually write down. Keep your expectations realistic for your life style, writing ability and goals. Know what you're capable of. I'm not a fast writer so I set my daily goal for 500 words. Aim higher if feel you need to, but don't discredit a lower limit. In a week you can have a chapter. Meeting those goals will help you understand when you expect to complete your 1st, 2nd and 3rd drafts.<br />
I like to do my stuff (exercise, social media and blog) in the mornings. I restart my day at 2pm when I sit down and write for 2 - 3 hours.<br />
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<b>#1 BICHOK </b><br />
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Nothing will get done if you don't put your butt in the chair and your hands on the keyboard.<br />
It's approaching the 2:00 hour so I'm off to reach my goal for the day.<br />
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<b>#1 1/2 Eat Chocolate Everyday</b></div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-27086935969992994212017-05-05T03:00:00.000-07:002017-05-05T04:36:22.729-07:00Conception of a Sweet Romantic Series<div>
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Writing series romance was not something I planned to do.<br />
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When I wrote the first book in my Love by Chocolate series, I never imaged I would create a four book series plus one novella. </div>
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Somewhere in the first book I realized one of the minor characters, Chloe had a chocolate story to tell. Since the heroine in Chocolate Secrets, Alex an ER nurse had no intention of continuing on with the family business someone had to tell the next story. The chocolate was calling and Kooky Chloe was the one to tell it. Book 2, Chocolate Magic was born.</div>
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Chloe's life is a puddle of melted chocolate, but help is on the way. Alex is back and a new friend Maddie is introduced along with a sexy hero who has no time for chocolate. Maddie, a trained pastry chef has her own puddle to wade through. Book 3, Chocolate Muse became Maddie's story.</div>
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An editor once told me that the nice thing about reading a series in order is that the reader meets old friends when previous characters make a cameo appearance. Readers who have been introduced to characters also their share secrets. For readers who are picking up the book out of sequence a short paragraph intertwined into the story can explain their role in the hero or heroine's life.</div>
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The setting, a rejuvenated Brooklyn neighborhood was already there for Book 4 when I placed Lily's little pastry shop at 4 1/2 Smith Street. Chocolate Couture steps out of the setting and crosses the bridge opening the potential for a different backdrop for another story. I haven't gone there yet. </div>
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Doing chocolate research is the best part of writing a series where chocolate becomes a character. But what to do with all that info? That's how the idea for my novella, Chocolate and Sensibility came about. </div>
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I took the information I had about chocolate production and set the story in the topics. The story belongs to Luis and Sophia, but it's a prequel to Lily's story. </div>
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When writing a stand alone story, I'm never sure where the story will take me. Imagine the places you can go when writing a series. </div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-77213155774133086012015-09-27T18:35:00.000-07:002015-09-28T05:12:40.113-07:00Addicted to Outlander<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When no one else will listen, I talk to myself. This is one of those times. Only another Outlander obsessed fan will understand. Here's how it all started.<br />
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I read <i>Outlander</i> for the <i>first</i> time in 1992. Outlander obsessed fans will understand what I mean by my first read. No one reads the series just once. I instantly fell in love with Jamie and Claire's story. And then, after book 4, <i>Drums of Autumn</i> I stopped reading.<br />
I didn't want to read about the lives of the other characters and I didn't want Jamie and Claire to start a new life away from Scotland.<br />
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The books were keepers and stayed on my shelf for years. When Starz announced they were making a TV series, I reread <i>Outlander</i> and waited for the season to start. I was hooked. I never expect much from TV or movie adaptations, but the casting and script exceeded my expectations. Sam and Caitriona gave life to the characters I remembered so vividly.<br />
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I know there are purist out there who are saying that the TV script and characters swayed from the books. They did at times, but it was okay.<br />
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When the season ended I crashed. What was I going to do? That's when I decided to give the rest of the series a chance. I reread book 4, <i>Drums of Autumn</i> (DOA). Over two decades had passed, but everything came back to me like I had just read the books. I was hooked again. As soon as I read the last page, I ordered the next 4 books in the series and read three of the four books in a month. I'm holding off on book 8.<br />
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There are others out there who feel the same way I do about reading book 8. The idea of finishing the series to this point without the possibility of the next book being available for awhile is more than I can handle. According to Diana Gabaldon, book 9 is not complete and has no scheduled publication date. I check her website often for updated excerpts from book 9. I don't mind spoilers.</div>
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As part of my Outlander withdrawal I've joined several wonderful groups where we discuss the books, the TV series and men in kilts. Everyone has suggestions on how to fill your time while waiting for the next book and the new TV season. </div>
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Diana Gabaldon has a site that explains the Chronology of the Outlander Series and the sub-series.</div>
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Her site makes more sense than the convoluted way I reread the first 4 books.</div>
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Here's how I did it. When I finished book 7, I reread book 2, <i>Dragonfly in Amber (</i>DIA<i>). </i>The TV season for book 2 is already in production. Next I read one of the novellas, <i>The Space Between. </i>It explains what happens to the characters in DIA and characters that appear in the later books. </div>
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I started to reread book 3, <i>Voyager </i>and paused to read one of the Lord John Grey books, <i>The Scottish Prisoner. </i></div>
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When I completed Voyager, I read two of the short stories. <i>A leaf on the Wind of All Hallows </i>explains what happened to Roger's parents. </div>
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<i>A Plague of Zombies</i> is a Lord John Grey story.</div>
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These books are on my kindle and I started them on my lunch break and finished them later in the evening. </div>
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Technically, I've read and reread the series except for book 8, <i>Written in My Own Heart's Blood. </i>It's difficult, but I'm still holding out. I'm thinking I might reread books 5, 6 and 7 again before I break down. </div>
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Thanks for visiting my blog. </div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-43631895980532555482015-03-15T03:00:00.000-07:002015-03-15T19:36:35.565-07:00Things You Didn't Know About March Madness/Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;">Good-bye February, hello March Madness. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;">The term “March Madness” started at a high school basketball tournament in Illinois in 1908. I'm not a big fan of the sport so for me the month of March is all about Spring. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;">To help celebrate the longer days, vivid colors, and packing away your heavy winter coat, I'm joining forty authors who have contributed books to create an awesome <i>Year of Reading</i> for one lucky reader! All you need to do is click on the link below and visit as many of the blogs listed as you can.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;"><a href="http://sweetbloghops.blogspot.com/">http://sweetbloghops.blogspot.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fun Facts About Spring</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During the Spring (Vernal ) Equinox, Earth's two hemispheres receive the sun's rays equally. Each hemisphere has 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of dark.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For the next four decades the equinox will be on March 20.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's the only day you can get an egg to stand on its end. Place it large end down on a flat surface and be patient.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spring fever is not just a saying. Experts say the body’s makeup changes due to different diets, hormone production, and temperature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blog Hop Prizes</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What are you looking forward to most in the month of March?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Leave a comment for a chance to win a Peace, Love, and Chocolate bag. The perfect way to carry all your Spring favorites.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNVl73E6guSLPNrUALhwaSTv6M9lepnBw8IyPD188Q6nskMjoQOkoMsAep_yciwd_FC-6bW0GN_WlnIUFcpI2Zmk629-Sa8JpGPBJEi61vABWEBnixFtAF3tfqJlOsNkXznpkvlJmiXM/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNVl73E6guSLPNrUALhwaSTv6M9lepnBw8IyPD188Q6nskMjoQOkoMsAep_yciwd_FC-6bW0GN_WlnIUFcpI2Zmk629-Sa8JpGPBJEi61vABWEBnixFtAF3tfqJlOsNkXznpkvlJmiXM/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" height="156" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; text-align: left;">Discover some new and exciting authors at great prices. (Free and on Sale) </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.cleanindiereadsale.com/">http://www.cleanindiereadsale.com</a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;">Visiting as many blogs as you can and filling out the secure google form will increase your chance of winning the <i>March Madness Book Bundle Grand Prize</i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Link for Grand Prize</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1chGQK8xf2WP6GFvCciebBBltedZyH1igU8sIDrfMaI8/viewform?usp=send_form">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1chGQK8xf2WP6GFvCciebBBltedZyH1igU8sIDrfMaI8/viewform?usp=send_form</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wishing you baskets full of Spring flowers and chocolate.</span><br />
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-80261454282624834872015-02-14T04:37:00.001-08:002015-02-21T12:57:57.033-08:00Every Romance Needs a Cute Meet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAyxVqZ1Mm3I5n1ITy1sZqVE-w_rFtN118Y8aijtbFXORgtYJNz_-qaO-VTmus9Bkp6f8Gt7IxDuBV5_jHmqyokbv8MskD3QlN21IuUv_Y6AjJVBUboSEYE8mldVpFgd4jLREFjqXxlk/s1600/th-2+10.19.48+AM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAyxVqZ1Mm3I5n1ITy1sZqVE-w_rFtN118Y8aijtbFXORgtYJNz_-qaO-VTmus9Bkp6f8Gt7IxDuBV5_jHmqyokbv8MskD3QlN21IuUv_Y6AjJVBUboSEYE8mldVpFgd4jLREFjqXxlk/s1600/th-2+10.19.48+AM.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Every romance writer knows that there are certain elements needed to create a story. They must establish time, place, and setting, plus create a cute meet for the hero and heroine.</span><br />
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The first meeting is an event that will irrevocably change their lives. How often have you been asked, "How did you two meet?"<br />
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How I met my husband</h3>
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In a movie while the credits are rolling the time and place would be established. It's the 1960's, the decade of Woodstock, Kent State, and peace and love.<br />
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My heroine is at a peace rally or Woodstock.<br />
The hero is in Germany, knee deep in snow while on practice maneuvers with the US Army.<br />
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Cute Meet</h3>
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The story starts on Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, NY.<br />
She's wearing cut off shorts, has long hair she ironed that morning, and there's a closed physics text book on her beach blanket.<br />
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He has shoulder length hair, wide sideburns, and a commitment problem.<br />
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They talk for hours and he takes her phone #.<br />
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<h3>
His Point of View - One week later</h3>
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He's resting on a beach blanket. She walks by, kicks sand on the blanket, and keeps walking. He pretends to ignore her.<br />
His friend comments, "Isn't that the girl you met last week?"<br />
"It is."<br />
"You going to talk to her?"<br />
"I guess I will." The sand is hot and he jogs over to her blanket. He asks permission to step on her blanket.<br />
She says, "No."<br />
<i>Maybe she's pissed that I didn't call. </i>In spite of the hot sand, he stays there and starts a conversation.<br />
She relents and invites him to sit down.<br />
He likes to talk and she's a good listener. The sun starts to set. His friend leaves our hero his car key so he can drive her home.<br />
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Happily Ever After</h3>
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She's easy to talk to and he tells her about the places he's visited. She dreams of traveling and knows this is the guy she wants to do it with.<br />
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***End Scene***</div>
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<br />Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-87657229125811991542015-02-09T04:41:00.001-08:002015-02-09T04:41:43.592-08:00Make Your Relationship Sizzle With Laughter<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKilWFRf_cmLJL4eeBmk6IwMRsabYYMhT2_AtWTe27TPF5dJcw4QkWp0aCL3RUFRIGQkM6WTI1Zs8HXxicoYahxvFKKqOYYM4Bz6yGYmN3vfhOAPww7-fwml4mTL0YN32y0m98-GdhEs/s1600/th-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKilWFRf_cmLJL4eeBmk6IwMRsabYYMhT2_AtWTe27TPF5dJcw4QkWp0aCL3RUFRIGQkM6WTI1Zs8HXxicoYahxvFKKqOYYM4Bz6yGYmN3vfhOAPww7-fwml4mTL0YN32y0m98-GdhEs/s1600/th-1.jpeg" height="160" width="200" /></a></div>
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We all know chocolate is good for you, but laughing isn't so bad either. Laughing is more contagious than a sneeze or a cough. It has health benefits that are free and all that's needed is a good joke, a funny story, or playing with pets or children.<br />
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<b>Love and laugh</b><br />
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A shared humorous experience keeps a relationship alive.<br />
It puts you in a good mood.<br />
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<b>Stay fit</b><br />
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Fifty-three facial muscles are used when laughing<br />
Laugh so hard that your stomach hurts.<br />
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Need a good laugh, read a romantic comedy.<br />
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<b>Meet Brooke Williams</b><br />
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I write romantic comedy because I want to give readers a break from everyday life and big stresses. My books are a chance to take a breather and forget the world for a few hours. That's what writing them does for me so I hope the same can be said for what it does for readers!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDueQwi6pHrKXVzjUtBqrOarE8cdcrcwg8ICOgC5HFdQBGBN54qiTYkMLHA38W65FQ0f6G_gVYQhgR7IJ7oN8EnRgcsmbeVKb-GXoB_zBkBNYbHE3ujCVBg0H8Oh27B3UcIl3Yw9-OnSI/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDueQwi6pHrKXVzjUtBqrOarE8cdcrcwg8ICOgC5HFdQBGBN54qiTYkMLHA38W65FQ0f6G_gVYQhgR7IJ7oN8EnRgcsmbeVKb-GXoB_zBkBNYbHE3ujCVBg0H8Oh27B3UcIl3Yw9-OnSI/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
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<b>Accept This Dandelion</b><br />
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Renee Lockhart has her eye on a lofty goal…to fill the open position of morning radio show host at the station where she works. When her co-workers sign her up for a local TV version of The Bachelor, Renee goes along with it in order to raise her profile. Upon seeing her bumbling audition, Ben McConnell, one of the most eligible bachelors in town, insists that Renee be placed on the show. But Ben gets much more than he expected in Renee… he gets a girl who can’t seem to do anything right…and a girl he can’t seem to resist.<br />
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For a good laugh check out Brooke's books<br />
Amazon US <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Accept-This-Dandelion-Brooke-Williams-ebook/dp/B00R54MUXY/ref=sr_1_">http://www.amazon.com/Accept-This-Dandelion-Brooke-Williams-ebook/dp/B00R54MUXY/ref=sr_1_</a><br />
Amazon UK <b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/lrlngzo">http://tinyurl.com/lrlngzo</a></b><br />
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What makes you laugh and smile?<br />
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<i>Eat chocolate, read romance, and stay young and healthy </i><br />
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<i><br /></i>Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-55759097903524994142015-01-13T03:30:00.000-08:002015-01-13T03:30:01.004-08:00Secrets of a Romantic Suspense Writer - Keely Keith<br />
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It's the second week into January and so far I have been true to my New Year's resolution. I've established a writing schedule, I finished the two books I started reading last year, and I'm posting the first in a series of blogs that will introduce writers from all genres. I hope you'll discover some new and exciting writers.<br />
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<h3>
Meet Keely Keith</h3>
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Keely is a bass guitarist and lives on a hilltop south of Nashville. When she isn’t writing stories or playing bass, Keely enjoys dancing, having coffee with friends, and sifting through vintage books at antique stores.<br />
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<br />Why did you decide to write romantic suspense?</h4>
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<span style="color: #373e4d; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That's a good question! I love a good suspense story and I'm a sucker for a slow-burning romance. When I started writing the Uncharted series, I wanted to create three books with each telling a separate and complete love story and also have an suspenseful story-arc over the series.</span></div>
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<h3>
Cover Reveal - <i>Unchartered Redemption</i></h3>
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<i>Uncharted Redemption is the second book in the Uncharted series. </i></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q8NUZBW" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q8NUZBW</a></div>
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Title: Uncharted Redemption</div>
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Author: Keely Brooke Keith</div>
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Release Date: February 24, 2015</div>
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Publisher: Edenbrooke Press</div>
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Levi Colburn, resentful of his father, haunted by his mother’s tragic death, and pained by his love for the unattainable Mandy Foster, breaks from the Land’s tradition and begins to build a life of his own. When rebels tear through the village of Good Springs, Levi vows to deliver justice and restore the woman he loves. As tradition stands in the way of redemption and threats from the outside world begin to appear, Levi must learn his greatest battles cannot be fought with his fists. Romantic, suspenseful, and filled with adventure, Uncharted Redemption weaves dramatic new layers into life in the Land.</div>
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Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll add Keely's new book to your reading list. I'm looking forward to the release of Uncharted Redemption. </div>
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Keep reading and eat chocolate everyday.</div>
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Zelda</div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-53151504803178873292014-12-12T07:07:00.002-08:002014-12-12T07:42:23.567-08:00Not Just Holiday Cookies, There are Cupcakes Too<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love the buttery goodness of holiday cookies as much as anyone. They're convenient to make ahead and fun to decorate. However, let's not forget the cupcake. How cute is this reindeer?</div>
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My go to dessert for this year is going to be champagne flutes filled with candy and topped with a cupcake. The possibilities are endless.<br />
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Chanukah</h3>
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I filled the flute with blue and white M&Ms. Stores like It'Sugar and Party Stores carry a huge selection of colors.</div>
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Christmas</h3>
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Red, white, and green chocolate covered sunflower seeds fill this base.</div>
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New Year's</h3>
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White and silver will be my color theme for New Year's.</div>
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Let your creative juices flow. Please share photos of your creations. Feel free to post them on my fb page.</div>
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Wishing you health, happiness, and a year filled with chocolate.</div>
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Don't forget to gift books for the holidays.</div>
Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-3895846488008668412014-12-03T06:51:00.001-08:002014-12-03T06:51:05.748-08:00Sipping Chocolate vs Hot Chocolate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To say that writing about chocolate has been fun, is stating the obvious. The research was an adventure that teased my taste buds with exciting new flavors and textures. One of my favorite discoveries is the different ways to prepare hot chocolate beverages<br />
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Sipping Chocolate</h3>
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Sipping chocolate, also called drinking chocolate is a European concept. Usually it's made by blending chopped chocolate into hot milk. I've tasted it with a small chocolate bar melted in. It's so thick and chocolatey you're forced to drink it slowly. Trying to describe the sensation as the thick chocolate assaulted my taste buds is almost impossible.</div>
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My favorite is Trader Joe's Sipping Chocolate. You can add milk to the powder to get the texture you prefer. I suggest drinking it slowly from a small cup.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCMcI0Cg-xMrTFTcs-Mnebx52DCjxvcpTu1I8TIRxEh49Dsi8Y3XFaxlXVaT-IZZMgq-I1R2pYMtfE8qHQa1iTr6dAr9lDOQnWdRO3GFcDUInD2oGI90HYZu3C9vBFlrHkdACR24AVbs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCMcI0Cg-xMrTFTcs-Mnebx52DCjxvcpTu1I8TIRxEh49Dsi8Y3XFaxlXVaT-IZZMgq-I1R2pYMtfE8qHQa1iTr6dAr9lDOQnWdRO3GFcDUInD2oGI90HYZu3C9vBFlrHkdACR24AVbs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="200" width="176" /></a></div>
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Hot Chocolate</h3>
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Many of us grew up drinking our hot chocolate from a packet. Add hot water and a favorite topping and we had cup of hot chocolate. Not much has changed. Hot chocolate is ground cocoa powder mixed with sugar and dry milk. Different brands might appeal to different taste buds. </div>
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Hot Cocoa</h3>
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Blend in hot milk or cream to your favorite cocoa powder and <i>Voila!</i> - hot cocoa. Sweeter blends appeal to drinkers who prefer milk chocolate over dark chocolate. My personal favorite is Godiva Hot Cocoa. The preparation instructions are explicit - <i>prepare with milk only</i>.</div>
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Cozy up with your favorite hot chocolate beverage and a good book.</div>
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Just in case you haven't had enough chocolate - <i>Chocolate Couture</i> is on sale <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H0L1HAO">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H0L1HAO</a></div>
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Here's an excerpt:</div>
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Lily Peradou watched as a tray of her lime-elderflower cupcakes toppled to the floor. Like a line of ballerinas falling into an orchestra pit, two-dozen of her most popular pastries now lay at her feet.</div>
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“Oh, Chef. What a mess.” Olivia, her assistant looked down at the floor. “I tried to warn you. It all happened so fast.” Friends and co-workers, embarrassed by Lily’s clumsiness, often tried to minimize the experience with excuses.</div>
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Lily knew better, she had no one to blame. She had caused the cupcakes’ demise. “I’ll clean up. You open the shop.”</div>
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Olivia stepped over the squished chocolate cakes and inched her way between Lily and the prep counter. A plethora of pans and mixing bowls hung from every available inch of wall space. Ovens, coolers, and baking appliances covered the opposite wall. In this cramped, but organized narrow kitchen, Lily managed to create the finest cakes in Brooklyn.</div>
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The shop at 4 ½ Smith Street would be considered limiting to anyone. No one suspected that the showcases filled with the sweetest desserts ever created held hidden dangers for a klutz like Lily.</div>
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Many years ago her brother, Zach had appropriately nicknamed her Clum,“a sticky matter in the universe that makes things go wrong. Being near Lily had the potential of a dormant volcano waiting to erupt. This morning’s big bang proved that not much had changed since that day when he bestowed the name on her.</div>
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This was not the time to think about past events. The mess at her feet needed immediate attention. She reached over the fallen sweets and grabbed her broom and dustpan. In minutes, the work-area sparkled.</div>
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Miraculously, two halves of the cupcake hung precariously at the edge of the counter. Lily worked best under pressure. Could she still make something out of this mess?”</div>
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Excerpt From: Zelda Benjamin. “Chocolate Couture.” </div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-41199398037666582152014-10-15T06:01:00.000-07:002014-10-15T06:01:29.813-07:00Every Dessert Has its Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Eat Dessert First</h3>
Every dessert has it's day, but today the possibilities are endless. It's <i><b>National Dessert Day</b></i>. Eating dessert is one of the simple pleasures in life. Don't deprive yourself. Studies have shown that there is meaning to eating dessert first. Depriving yourself can lead to increase binging later.<br />
<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120911125332.htm">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120911125332.htm</a><br />
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Don't Wreck a Dessert Experience by Feeling Guilty</h3>
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Pie, cake, ice cream, the list is endless.<br />
Indulge today. You deserve it. </div>
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On sale in honor of National Dessert Day.<br />
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<i>Warning: reading these books may lead to an increased chocolate consumption</i><br />
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Chocolate Muse <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QVHPKC" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QVHPKC </a><br />
Chocolate Secrets <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009PJ2XM0" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009PJ2XM0 </a></div>
Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-22200660829307585622014-10-07T03:00:00.000-07:002014-10-07T03:48:36.116-07:00Clean Indie Reads Fall Sale Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfowrzeEQUifythm0tgvvY1MC55Hst_Jt6YtycvCuWaaugrgaOjQB5wXX7oqPXTePmvV1j0U-IisiPMnrXmEu40xAIOeBOxZrFBoFaVUatYOHrsus9CjCl3a5AKiuRjkqFw8mmUbp8vo/s1600/cirfsbanner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfowrzeEQUifythm0tgvvY1MC55Hst_Jt6YtycvCuWaaugrgaOjQB5wXX7oqPXTePmvV1j0U-IisiPMnrXmEu40xAIOeBOxZrFBoFaVUatYOHrsus9CjCl3a5AKiuRjkqFw8mmUbp8vo/s1600/cirfsbanner.gif" height="65" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>FALLING LEAVES, FALLING PRICES</i></h3>
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CLEAN INDIE READS (CIR), THE HOME OF FLINCH-FREE FICTION IS HAVING A SALE OCT 5TH - OCT 11TH </h3>
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<b>HERE'S THE LINK TO ALL THE SALE BOOKS</b> <a href="http://arcaniarts.com/index.php/fall-clean-book-sale">http://arcaniarts.com/index.php/fall-clean-book-sale</a></div>
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<b><i>Chocolate Couture</i></b> can be found on the 99 cents sale list. If you prefer romance check out my Amazon Listmania: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/lm/R10RXJI18F6ETB/ref=cm_lm_pthnk_view?ie=UTF8&lm_bb=" target="_blank">romance books on sale</a></div>
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Some of the participating authors have joined together to create this fun blog hop. We have been asked if the changing seasons influence our writing and/or the choice of books we read.<br />
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My writing style doesn't change with the seasons, but I am always aware of seasonal details when I write. What's going on outside the window? Is there a holiday associated with the time of year?<br />
Although, I'm a sucker for sappy holiday movies, I'll read a holiday themed story anytime.<br />
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I live in S. Florida where Fall and Spring don't exist. We do have a winter which I'm sure many of you living in those snowbound places would debate.<br />
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<i><b>PRIZES</b></i></div>
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What do you think? Do you read seasonal books year round or only during the season?</div>
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Leave a comment with your email and you'll be eligible for a random drawing of a jute peace, love, and chocolate bag. (USA only)</div>
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<i><b> BLOG SCHEDULE</b></i> (not all bloggers are offering giveaways)</div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-6400421146694359452014-10-04T17:29:00.000-07:002014-10-04T17:59:35.755-07:00Snippet Sunday<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Weekend Writing Warriors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">On Snippet Sunday, writers from all genres share a work in progress, a soon-to-be released story, or a recently published work. Reading these snippets is a great way to meet and discover new and exciting authors.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Check out the link. </span></div>
<a href="http://www.wewriwa.com/" target="_blank"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="color: #993322; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">www.wewriwa.com</span></span></a></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Back story</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Every character has one. In today's snippet Noah meets someone who has her own reasons for sharing Lily's story with him</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></div>
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Snippet - <i>Chocolate Couture</i></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"> “The name Peradou Chocolate means nothing to you?” Agatha was digging deep, but Lily’s family was no concern of his.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"> “Should it?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"> “I know you don’t over indulge in sweets, but I’m sure you’ve heard of the famous international chocolate company.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Noah remembered a bogus discrimination suit against a chocolate company based in Manhattan. Even thought the name Peradou was unusual, he never put the two together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"> "Your new friend, Lily Peradou is the equivalent of chocolate royalty," Agatha said.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5Z3RY9uSHK8A1PKbBFJKzzH-5tfTdb8NgbTAJOhwDti3oyFUip7xAaM6o45rT_kBlZ5F7Dbro_oqLIow0buTS2VmmGHmzOLEGuu6l1GbVJt-Ji4VlHZ7QVrrNfJhJXM88zoT8WrlGCQ/s1600/wewriwa_button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5Z3RY9uSHK8A1PKbBFJKzzH-5tfTdb8NgbTAJOhwDti3oyFUip7xAaM6o45rT_kBlZ5F7Dbro_oqLIow0buTS2VmmGHmzOLEGuu6l1GbVJt-Ji4VlHZ7QVrrNfJhJXM88zoT8WrlGCQ/s1600/wewriwa_button.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"> To find out more about Lily and Noah and the other books in my <i>Love by Chocolate</i> series visit my website</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.zeldabenjamin.com/">www.zeldabenjamin.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks for stopping by. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Eat Chocolate Everyday.</i></span></div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-2827131077236720802014-09-27T18:39:00.000-07:002014-09-27T18:42:30.737-07:00Snippet Sunday<h2>
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Weekend Writing Warriors</h4>
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On Snippet Sunday, authors from a variety of genres post snippets from a work in progress, a recently published work, or a soon-to-be released novel. The snippets are fun to read and a great way to discover new authors.<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">Check out the link </span><a href="http://www.wewriwa.com/">www.wewriwa.com</a></span></div>
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<h4>
Chocolate Couture </h4>
Lily accepts an invitation to the grand opening for Noah's restaurant.<br />
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Snippet</h4>
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“It’s a welcome to the neighborhood gift.” Maybe she had been a bit too presumptuous, assuming he would see her cake as the friendly gesture she had meant it to be.</div>
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Pointing to the delicate pearls Noah said, “The cake looks like it would be more comfortable surrounded by champagne and caviar, not burgers and fries.”</div>
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“I thought you might like to add some class to the event.” She hadn’t meant for her comment to sound so harsh. If she hadn’t decided at the last minute to accept the invitation, she might have considered designing a more compatible cake to go with the food. Something resembling a burger, or cowboy boot, or maybe even a loud, towering, slightly trashy red velvet cake would have been more suitable.</div>
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To find out more about <i>Chocolate Couture </i>and the other books in my Love by Chocolate series go to my website</div>
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<a href="http://www.zeldabenjamin.com/">www.zeldabenjamin.com</a></div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-33923907466770631662014-09-20T18:05:00.000-07:002014-09-20T18:05:43.515-07:00Snippet Sunday<h2>
Snippet Sunday</h2>
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WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS</div>
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Sunday weekend writing warriors post 8 lines of something they are writing, something they are editing, or something that is already unleashed on the public. The snippets are fun to read and a great way to discover new and exciting authors. Reading as many snippets as I can has become a Sunday routine .<br />
Check out the link<br />
<a href="http://www.wewriwa.com/">http://www.wewriwa.com</a><br />
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<h4>
Chocolate Couture <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjId3nYR6sF7YIaoSG1CNyCvvyHTcR8eMGd0LF_Ne0nEm2LjfQwfGmw1CDUebJe8vSCL0fOYX-BoRtHO_wRRK35Dplt2pjQSnErDC4Hj1twQ7wBBCpIwZ3BK_18ze7iX87lw22E_iRa5ps/s1600/couture_ebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjId3nYR6sF7YIaoSG1CNyCvvyHTcR8eMGd0LF_Ne0nEm2LjfQwfGmw1CDUebJe8vSCL0fOYX-BoRtHO_wRRK35Dplt2pjQSnErDC4Hj1twQ7wBBCpIwZ3BK_18ze7iX87lw22E_iRa5ps/s1600/couture_ebook.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
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Lily and Noah discover a secret compartment in the vacant store between her pastry shop and his soon to open restaurant. A hidden letter could hold the secret to the success of each of their businesses.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Sunday Snippet</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: 'Garamond'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"> “Don’t worry about me.” Noah shrugged. “I’m just a
burger jock. I have no interest in secret compartments.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Garamond'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"> She
narrowed her eyes and looked up at him. “Be warned,
I’ve got an arsenal of recipes that will increase my sales
beyond your imagination.”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Garamond'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"> “You have no idea what I’m imaging right now.” His
confident smile and sexy voice soaked into her like her
apricot rum sauce soaking into dry sponge cake. </span><br />
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Visit my website for more info about <i>Chocolate Couture</i> and the other books in my<i> Love by Chocolate </i>series.</div>
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<a href="http://www.zeldabenjamin.com/">www.zeldabenjamin.com</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Keep life exciting, eat dessert first.</span></i></span></div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-37151672868980183652014-09-13T18:28:00.000-07:002014-09-13T18:30:05.649-07:00Snippet Sunday<h3>
Snippet Sunday</h3>
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Weekend Writing Warriors</div>
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Sunday weekend writing warriors post 8 lines of something they are writing, something they are editing, or something that is already unleashed on the public<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">. This is my second weekend post for Snippet Sunday. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Check out this link and read the snippets from new and exciting authors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.wewriwa.com/">http://www.wewriwa.com</a></div>
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Here's my snippet<br />
Last week, pastry chef Lily Peradou discovered a man roaming the alley behind her shop. <br />
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"Why are you snooping around the alley?”<br />
“I’ve been meaning to stop in and introduce myself.”<br />
“Why would you want to introduce yourself?” She was strangely flattered by his interest. Perhaps he had heard about her elderflower or chocolate cherry cordial cupcakes. Her ego slipped away as she thought of the risk of speaking to a stranger in a deserted alley— especially, a handsome stranger with a charming smile.<br />
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Time for me to check out the other snippets. Last weeks snippets were exiting and thought provoking. <br />
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Check out my website for more info about the other books in my Love by Chocolate series.<br />
<a href="http://www.zeldabenjamin.com/">www.zeldabenjamin.com</a><br />
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Peace, love, and chocolate.<br />
Zelda<br />
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Zelda Benjamin</div>
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Where to Start</h4>
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If you're Twitter savvy this blog post is not for you. There are still many people out there who just don't get the whole Twitter thing. The first thing they need to do is create a Twitter account. </div>
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There are lots of reasons people use Twitter. I'm not a celebrity junkie so I don't follow any stars, but that could be a reason you might want to Tweet. Do you like to hear the news as soon as it happens? Do you have a book or product you want to promote? Do you want to help your friends promote a product or book? Once you follow someone you can just click retweet and their tweet will retweet to your followers. </div>
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Tweets</h4>
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The best part of a Tweet is that it is short and sweet. Each Tweet is limited to 140 characters including punctuation and spaces. Twitter will automatically shorten any link you include. As you Tweet, the number of characters you have left appears next to the Tweet button. Did you bake a cake, review a book, or have a cover reveal? Tweet the info and include a link if you want to. No need to try and condense the entire recipe into 140 characters - just add the link.:) You can pre-schedule Tweets just like you do a blog. You can also pay Tweeting companies to put your Tweets out there. I've never done this so I can't say if it works or not. Many of my writing groups are very supportive and we retweet often. Here's one of my Tweets from this morning.</div>
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<div class="ProfileTweet-header u-cf" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.15s; color: #8899a6; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; transition: color 0.15s;">
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<a class="ProfileTweet-originalAuthorLink u-linkComplex js-nav js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="330472166" href="https://twitter.com/benjaminzelda" style="color: red; text-decoration: none !important;"><img alt="" class="ProfileTweet-avatar js-action-profile-avatar" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/506249566023188480/KPOdmObp_normal.jpeg" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 0px; float: left; height: 24px; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; width: 24px;" /><span class="ProfileTweet-originalAuthor u-floatLeft u-textTruncate js-action-profile-name" style="float: left !important; max-width: 60%; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; white-space: nowrap !important; word-wrap: normal !important;"><b class="ProfileTweet-fullname u-linkComplex-target" style="color: #292f33;">Zelda Benjamin</b> <span class="ProfileTweet-screenname u-inlineBlock u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #8899a6; direction: ltr !important; display: inline-block !important; font-size: 13px; max-width: 100%; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="at">@</span>benjaminzelda</span></span></a><span class="u-floatLeft" style="float: left !important;"> · </span><span class="u-floatLeft" style="float: left !important;"><span class="js-short-timestamp js-relative-timestamp" data-long-form="true" data-time="1410355565" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.15s; color: #8899a6; display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.15s; white-space: nowrap;"><a class="ProfileTweet-timestamp js-permalink js-nav js-tooltip" href="https://twitter.com/benjaminzelda/status/509694299336740864" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.15s; color: #8899a6; display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.15s; white-space: nowrap;" title="9:26 AM - 10 Sep 2014">8h</a></span></span><span class="u-floatLeft" style="float: left !important;"><br /></span></div>
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<a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fashion?src=hash" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #ff6666;">#</span>Fashion</a> is not necessarily about labels. <a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-expanded-url="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H0L1HAO" dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/RJ2EAgr6yg" rel="nofollow" style="color: red; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank" title="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H0L1HAO"><span class="tco-ellipsis"></span><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;">http://www.</span><span class="js-display-url">amazon.com/dp/B00H0L1HAO</span><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"></span><span class="tco-ellipsis"><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"> </span></span></a> <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kindle?src=hash" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #ff6666;">#</span>kindle</a> <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/romance?src=hash" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #ff6666;">#</span>romance</a></div>
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Followers</h4>
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In the search box put in a name or email of someone you're interested in following. Start with mine if you'd like. My Twitter name is benjaminzelda. If you want to mention me in a tweet you would type @benjaminzelda. People will follow you, but you don't have to follow them back.</div>
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Hashtags</h4>
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Words preceded by a # sign are hashtags. They are used to categorize keywords and topics. Chocolate Couture is a story that has a fashion component. I want people with a kindle, romance readers, and anyone interested in fashion to check out my book. Step out of your comfort level and use different hashtags.</div>
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<h4>
Analytical Dashboard</h4>
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This is something new. Twitter is allowing you to see your Twitter activity. Don't panic if you're just getting acquainted with Twitter. You don't have to do this. It's not on your Twitter page. You have to go to <a href="http://analytics.twitter.com/">analytics.twitter.com</a> to find the info.</div>
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What I like about this feature is that I can check to see if certain hashtags are engaged more than others. I can correlate the number of impressions and engagements with the sales number of my Montlake books on my Author Central page. Do weekends get more impressions and engagements than weekdays? Does the time of day that I Tweet make a difference?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvwuQl9s5VI0HcPjbjT0Qzi33ofdtzbQ6jvYeTX2NdNmNEJaA4mjEJm80ZBfdwFVSHt3ltivzv6MaqDghvmMXkITBvz4PJUmStvf5xi1T3kZ8Q3tg_Klj68eRJk4V4G0yM-wQsd7j0us/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-09-10+at+3.09.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvwuQl9s5VI0HcPjbjT0Qzi33ofdtzbQ6jvYeTX2NdNmNEJaA4mjEJm80ZBfdwFVSHt3ltivzv6MaqDghvmMXkITBvz4PJUmStvf5xi1T3kZ8Q3tg_Klj68eRJk4V4G0yM-wQsd7j0us/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-09-10+at+3.09.17+PM.png" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
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Read Tweets to see what engages you. Which hashtags get your attention. I've found that starting my Tweet with a quote related to the subject of the book I'm promoting gets more engagement than just Tweeting the link.</div>
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Happy Tweeting.</div>
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Peace, Love, and Chocolate.</div>
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Zelda</div>
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Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-8785999159811291292014-09-06T20:05:00.000-07:002014-09-06T20:07:02.180-07:00Snippet Sunday<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Weekend Writing Warriors</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sunday</span> authors post 8 to 10 lines of something they are writing, something they are editing, or something that is already unleashed on the public. Visit this site to read their snippets and discover some exciting new writers.<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <a href="http://www.wewriwa.com/" target="_blank">Weekend Writing Warriors</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Background to my snippet</span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Pastry chef Lily Peradou steps into the alley behind her shop and discovers she is not the only one interested in the vacant shop next door. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Snippet from Chocolate Couture</span></span></h4>
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The man jiggled the door handle. It was locked, of course.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maybe he was a relative of Sally’s. If he were related, she
would like to talk to him and make an offer for the store. The perfect solution
for her space problem was 5 Smith Street.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dwarfed by the giant metal container, Lily felt a temporary
sense of security. She used her advantage to assess the situation and the
stranger. He didn’t look like a tourist. There was no sign of a camera or
guidebook. He didn’t walk with a leisurely stroll of someone sightseeing. His
stride was with purpose.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hope you enjoy these snippets and follow the wonderful authors who wrote them.</div>
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Peace, Love, and Chocolate</div>
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Zelda</div>
Zelda Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087725666195499766noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880644109098592047.post-32057812156666614592014-08-25T03:00:00.000-07:002014-08-28T04:51:32.684-07:00Meet My Character Blog Hop<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408560982929_3873" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
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Everyone loves a Character. Are you ready to meet some interesting ones?<br />
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I'd like to thank Ariella Moon for inviting my to take part in this fun blog hop. I've been introduced to some fabulous authors and their great characters.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpX3TxuYCmVU8NdaNPiMU8H-NImnG4Zh8fDYb_8NEyC-6p9xS1Q9tPwnzrUqBCCYfeNA2WfpoKp7BG251N-LuZl9L4snqXRNMs0e5sSdh3VqbScbVMJiJ0lasO7LUbXgBJ6ieAx5GeqU/s1600/Morison-Knox_Karen-7748-Edit-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpX3TxuYCmVU8NdaNPiMU8H-NImnG4Zh8fDYb_8NEyC-6p9xS1Q9tPwnzrUqBCCYfeNA2WfpoKp7BG251N-LuZl9L4snqXRNMs0e5sSdh3VqbScbVMJiJ0lasO7LUbXgBJ6ieAx5GeqU/s1600/Morison-Knox_Karen-7748-Edit-web.jpg" height="200" width="155" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6;">
Ariella Moon is the author of the Teen Wytche Saga, a sweet Young Adult paranormal series. Ariella writes about magic, friendship, secrets, high school, and love in Spell Check, Spell Struck, and Spell Fire from Astraea Press.</div>
<div style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6;">
Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. Ariella is a Reiki Master, author, and shaman. She lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.</div>
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<strong>Connect with Ariella Moon</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.ariellamoon.com/" style="color: #692569;">http://www.ariellamoon.com</a></div>
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Are you ready to meet my sassy New Yorker? </h2>
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What is the name of your character? Is she fictional or historical?</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWAAyaORmKHhlD0yl8DEWVFDHpYtww5-g2D_AuTF0gTWnyLLhhakmmqv_sqZZiSyMi_RCGjah2Ss4oGGV2xWyeC54B6h1eDzB00fiDdTxYDshWVNhWffT0_O6FegAg934qXwIHqNAH0c/s1600/couture_ebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWAAyaORmKHhlD0yl8DEWVFDHpYtww5-g2D_AuTF0gTWnyLLhhakmmqv_sqZZiSyMi_RCGjah2Ss4oGGV2xWyeC54B6h1eDzB00fiDdTxYDshWVNhWffT0_O6FegAg934qXwIHqNAH0c/s1600/couture_ebook.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_6_1408560982929_36">In my mind I had a vivid image of Lily Peradou. She's a fictional character, but reminds me of so many talented women determined to prove they can make it on their own. My cover artist did a fantastic job of portraying her image exactly as I imagined Lily.</span></div>
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<span class="">When and where is the story set?</span></h3>
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<span class="">The story is set in Brooklyn, NY . Most of the story takes place in Lily's tiny shop, <i>Pastry Art </i>at 4 1/2 Smith Street.</span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_6_1408560982929_40">What should we know about your character?</span></h3>
Lily is daring, independent, and loyal to her friends. She has just enough New York sass to get the job done. She is the equivalent of chocolate royalty, but has chosen to make it without help from her family of chocolate snobs. When life takes a sudden turn, she steps back and re-evaluates what's really important.<br />
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_6_1408560982929_44">What is her main conflict? What messes up her life?</span></h3>
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Lily's problems are compounded when she meets a former lawyer, Noah Adler in the alley behind her shop. She discovers he's the new owner of the burger place on the other side of the vacant store she inherits. Noah's interest in the shop between them makes Lily cautious. When Noah offers to help her with her legal battle against the heirs of the vacant property, she knows it will come with a price. Lily refuses his help, insisting she can defend herself against their ridiculous claim. Determined to prove that her <i>chocolate cherry cordial cakes </i>did not influence the late dress designer's will, she soon finds herself over her head in a melting pot of chocolate complications and love.</div>
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What is the personal goal of your character?</h3>
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<span class="" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Lily is determined to make her business a success by following her own ideas and passion. If she finds the right man to share her dreams - why not.</span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_6_1408560982929_52">Is there a working title for this novel, can we read more about it?</span></h3>
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<span class="" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To read more about <i>Chocolate Couture</i> and all the other books in my <i>Love by Chocolate</i> series visit my <a href="http://www.zeldabenjamin.com/" target="_blank">website</a> </span><br />
<span class="" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Available on </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H0L1HAO" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/chocolate-couture?store=nookstore&keyword=chocolate+couture" target="_blank"> Nook</a></div>
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<b>Next fun and fabulous tour - September 1</b></div>
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<b> Tara Fairfield</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408560982929_6376">Dr. Fairfield is a licensed psychologist and author with her doctorate from Northern Arizona University. She released her first YA fantasy novel, Makai Queen, in Feb. of 2013 and the sequel, Makai King, splashes onto the scene September 1st! She has been a featured guest on Teen Talk and Parent Talk radio with Nicole O’Dell (ChooseNOW Ministries) and writes a monthly column for parents of teens. Tara loves spending time kayaking, romping with her dogs or just hanging out with her grandchildren. She currently lives in Washington State w</span>here she can be close to her family and still smell the salty air of the Sound. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Makai-Queen-Tara-Fairfield/dp/193775670X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1408501310&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>: </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408560982929_6366" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://makaiqueen.com/" target="_blank">Websites</a>: <span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="http://tarafairfield.com/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #196ad4; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://tarafairfield.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MakaiQueen%20Twitter:" target="_blank">Facebook</a>: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/MakaiQueen" target="_blank">Twitter</a>: </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">D.B. Schaefer</span></h4>
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<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">D.B. Schaefer is the author of <i>Me & Georgette</i>, a quirky time-travel to famed </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Regency historical fiction writer Georgette Heyer. A former journalist, she was born and raised in the American Midwest, but headed to more exotic locales after university. <i>Me & Georgette</i> is her first novel.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Me-Georgette-D-B-Schaefer-ebook/dp/B00IT9VCV0/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408582237&sr=1-1&keywords=Georgette+and+me" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.dbschaefer.com./" target="_blank">website</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008193073364&fref=ts" target="_blank">facebook</a></div>
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<h4>
Mary King</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyrBjC5V2teN1qyxp1hXZ40-Ei_8YbZAgethQUh05HpNobs5liBiObjAQygP0FVwN1rJJZeyhLdi-dH7qTqnTM4hGl-uvmXgHODgQ94oPK4pnLqVs2iToEHSi3FUlHRGzxhDieMQNx-c/s1600/Mary+King.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyrBjC5V2teN1qyxp1hXZ40-Ei_8YbZAgethQUh05HpNobs5liBiObjAQygP0FVwN1rJJZeyhLdi-dH7qTqnTM4hGl-uvmXgHODgQ94oPK4pnLqVs2iToEHSi3FUlHRGzxhDieMQNx-c/s1600/Mary+King.JPG" height="200" width="197" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">My name is Mary King, and I'm a mature writer with decades of life and work experience. The youngest of three children, I was born in 1956, in Jacksonville, FL. I was fortunate to grow up during a time when some of the most profound and exciting historical events changed the world. English grammar and composition were favorite school subjects, as was music. By the time I reached my teens, I was a church organist and worked to become a violinist in the Jacksonville Youth Symphony. I also became a caregiver at a very early age, surrounded by family members with physical and cognitive disabilities. I attended Jacksonville University (FL), graduating with a BS in psychology in 1979.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">I've held numerous employment positions, some of which I combined with my passion for driving. Driver education was my starting point. From there I became a defensive driving classroom instructor, and then finally, a driver for Greyhound Bus Lines. By a stroke of luck, I eventually came to work in a spinal cord rehabilitation center, where I developed the first state-licensed driving school that specialized in adaptive driving for persons with disabilities.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">In 1996, I began to pursue my passion for writing fiction. My greatest achievement thus far (besides raising my kids) is creating The McFadden Series, a self-published saga featuring an adoptive family of teens with disabilities and the professional couple who cares for them. In addition, I write nonfiction material, having published online over two hundred informative articles. I've covered everything from caregiver support to southern living, environmental issues, senior topics, hurricanes, health issues, teenage topics, recipes, human interest stories and more. At present, I have fifteen Editor's Choice awards.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Some of my other interests include reading, writing book reviews, work-related research, listening to classical music, gardening, photography and cooking. I don't have much time for anything else, but in my leisure time, I enjoy reality TV shows, especially DIY-related programs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">My future goal is to move to the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, where I can indulge in a lifestyle filled with the arts and music. Of course, I plan to continue writing my novel series and nonfiction articles. Currently, I live in northwest Florida, on the gulf coast.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8349" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8378" style="color: #141823; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Amazon:<span class="yiv7382941563apple-converted-space"> </span> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8348" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://goo.gl/Z8PwT4" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8347" rel="nofollow" style="color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8346" style="color: blue;">http://goo.gl/Z8PwT4</span></a><span style="color: #141823;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8368" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Kindle: </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8367" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://goo.gl/iexE4n" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8366" rel="nofollow" style="color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8365" style="color: blue;">http://goo.gl/iexE4n</span></a><span style="color: #141823;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8328" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Barnes and Noble: </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8327" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8325" style="color: blue; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://goo.gl/vrdDJM" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_8326" rel="nofollow" style="color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://goo.gl/vrdDJM</a> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Amanda Ka</span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">y</span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I am a Paranormal/Fantasy Adult Romance Author. </span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am a Navy Wife and a mother of two. My daughter was born December 4, 2010 and my son was born July 18, 2013. My husband and I have been married for almost seven years, but we have been together since our junior year of high school and we have known each other since 8th grade, yes a long time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I am a Florida girl at heart, but since getting married I have lived in Washington, South Carolina, and our latest move Connecticut. I hold a B.A. in Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My Motto: <b>Not your average Fairy Tales</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-DAJ9xHq7M" target="_blank">Book Trailer</a>: </span><span class="yiv5492113875" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408891645687_7707" style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br clear="none" /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id907992304" target="_blank"> iBooks</a>: <br clear="none" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MKHDS46" target="_blank">Amazon</a>: <br clear="none" /><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940046249095" target="_blank">B&N</a>:<br /><a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-hunter-jackson-tales-a-three-book-set-1" target="_blank">Kobo</a>: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Jennifer Pitkin</span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWutjFlnTMNeluo7TsR7wCZbWsvTVmHKEs7P_wLRl12G4DgWZPzwhh8OSgu0JQUpo31op09u7HtWPR8UpCSbyP2W9N4tG0sCzq9D6RPk3JIoXYwR0n0SpoXYlyNNkLw6YxpfDVmh0Fu8/s1600/10608920_10102018873787710_1776561023_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWutjFlnTMNeluo7TsR7wCZbWsvTVmHKEs7P_wLRl12G4DgWZPzwhh8OSgu0JQUpo31op09u7HtWPR8UpCSbyP2W9N4tG0sCzq9D6RPk3JIoXYwR0n0SpoXYlyNNkLw6YxpfDVmh0Fu8/s1600/10608920_10102018873787710_1776561023_n.jpg" height="200" width="183" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Ever since she was a little girl on a farm in rural Iowa, Jennifer M. Pitkin's heart has been filled with wanderlust and adventure. She started writing at an early age, and has never stopped. After exploring Italy, Ethiopia and South Korea, Pitkin's desire to transport others to those places and to raise awareness of important humanitarian and social issues took hold in the form of her second fictional novel, Watchmen for Morning.
She received her Bachelor's Degree from Iowa State University and her Master's Degree from Pacific Oaks College. Her areas of both professional and personal interest and research include: adoption, global orphan care, Interpersonal Neurobiology, social justice and humanitarian aid work. Her adventures never stop as she raises her four small children with her beloved husband in Iowa.
Pitkin will be releasing three more books within the next year - connect with her online to stay updated!
Links:
Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/AuthorJenniferPitkin" target="_blank">facebook.com/AuthorJenniferPitkin</a><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Twitter: <a href="http://jennifer_pitkin/" target="_blank">@Jennifer_Pitkin</a>
<a href="http://authorjenniferpitkin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blogger</a>: <a href="http://authorjenniferpitkin.blogspot.com/">authorjenniferpitkin.blogspot.com</a></span></span><br />
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