Bree's AWOL

Since it looks like Bree won't be posting today, hop over to my (Cindy's) post about Indie Publishing

http://watched-thebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/secrets-to-indie-publishing-step-5.html

Count down to the launch of Watched...6 days....

Need a treat? Try these Easy, Yummy Scones

The Eats by Cindy

1. Mix 4 C. flour and 1 Tbl. instant yeast with 2 tsp. of sugar in a mixer bowl. (I like the Bosch)
2. Stir in 1 1/2 C. warm milk and 1/4 C. melted butter.
3. Stir in 3/4 tsp. salt and 1 beaten egg.

• Whatever mixer you use. Make sure you're using a dough hook. Knead for 5 minutes in machine. 
• Heat oil to 350 degrees. 
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put in a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled.
• Carefully punch down the dough and then roll onto a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick.
• Cut into the shape and size you want.
• Place into oil until light brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.

Serve with honey butter or cinnamon sugar.

A fun, easy treat everyone loves.

Ever been locked in a store when it closed for the night?

What the Heck by Cindy

One of my good friends got locked into a local garden nursery when it closed for the night.

  No joke.

She and her son were locked in the back of the nursery, in the greenhouses, where all the plants are. The doors to leave the nursery and go to the front of the store where the registers are, were also locked.

 Cell phone to the rescue. (Good thing she had one)

She called her husband, who tried the store, but of course, no one answered. He then called the police who tried to get a hold of the owners, but were unsuccessful.

In the meantime, my friend found a door that had a rusty spot for a lock, minus the lock, and she pushed and pushed until it opened. Now she was outside, on the grounds of the nursery. She got in her van and tried to find a way out through the back of the gardens, but a fence totally enclosed the entire place.

A locked fence.
No one could get her out.

Finally, the police got a hold of the owner and he came to let her out.

At first, he was pretty grumpy, but my friend showed him how it was his employees' fault and she ended up with a hundred bucks to spend in the nursery.

Get locked in for a hundred bucks?

What is the Concept of your Story? Larry Brooks Speaks out in Story Engineering

Writing-the Craft by Cindy

One of the 6 Core Concepts discussed in Larry Brooks, Story Engineering is Concept. If you don't have a grasp on the concept of your story, Larry says your book will not succeed. So, let's figure it out. What is Story Concept?

Concept is something that asks a question. The trick is making the concept a succinct What if question. He gives two examples to help clarify this.

                #1            An idea would be to travel to Florida

A concept is that you travel by car and stop at all the National Parks-the question being, What if you traveled by car and stopped at all the National Parks?

                #2           An idea would be to write about raising the Titanic

A concept would be that there are secrets hidden there that certain forces would kill to keep concealed. The question would be, What if there are secrets hidden there that certain forces would kill to keep concealed?

The answer to the question is your story.  If you are able to make your answer fresh and original or give it a new spin, it becomes compelling and what Larry Brooks calls High concept. You WANT your concept to be High concept.

 What is the concept of your story?

Love Handle Anyone?

Tidbits from My Travels by William

When I have a window seat on a plane, I often gaze out the window for a while until the new wears off.  On one particular flight I had a window seat.  I began gazing out the window and not paying very much attention to what was happening in the cabin of the plane as passengers were still boarding.

I did notice a lady had taken the seat right next to me.  After a few minutes while still looking out the window, I reached up and to my left and grabbed the arm rest and attempted to push it to down to its normal position.  I noticed it would not go all of the way down.  While still being preoccupied with whatever I was looking at outside, I attempted to push it down with much more force.  After it still would not go all the way down, I looked and noticed what the obstruction was—the lady’s large love handle. 

I was too embarrassed to ever really look at her.  I think I looked out the window the rest of the flight.

We Have a Winner!

Heidi Raccuia

You are the winner!

Please email me your address and I'll ship your copy of Watched out ASAP.

Thanks to everyone who participated. Come to my launch on June 6th at the Layton Barnes and Noble at 6:30 for more chances to win.

Review of City of Bones by Cassandra Clare Review

What I'm reading now by Cindy

When Clary discovers her world is much different than she had believed, she decides she must accept and explore this new world. She jumps head first into the world of Shadowhunters and demons hoping to make sense of her life. Falling for a Shadowhunter named Jace is only part of the reason she pushes forward. She must also find her mother, who has disappeared.
,
While I was able to come to terms with the massive number of similes in this book, I had a hard time loving the sarcastic, harsh characters that populate it. I felt unconnected and unconcerned with their plight. I wish I had cared about these characters because I think the storyline is unique and interesting.

I will not be reading any more of this series.  I say read it if you've got time to kill or you can  borrow it from a friend.

Confessions of an Avid Reader

Books I'm currently reading by Cindy

I thought I better fess-up. Hmmm. I've never written that before. (Fess-up, that is) It looks strange, but it passed spell check, so it must be okay, Right?  Anyway, I discovered I'm actually reading six books right now.

1. The Red Pyramid-hardback and huge- it stays by my bed
2. Shiver-paperback and borrowed-next to my pillow
3. Being Nikki-hardback and small-next to the couch
4. Millie's Fling-on the Nook-it goes with me everywhere
5. Story Engineering-on the Nook-I never leave home without it
6. Wings-on the Nook-again, with  me all the time

How many books are you reading right now and where do you keep them?

Best Orange Rolls Ever....and They're Easy

The Eats by Cindy

• Put the wet ingredients into the breadmaker or mixer

1. 1 1/2 c. warm milk
2. 1/4 c. butter melted
3. 1 beaten egg

• Put dry ingredients into the breadmaker or mixture

1. 1/2 c, sugar
2. 3/4 tsp salt
3. 4 c. flour
4. 1 Tbl. instant yeast.

• Start dough cycle on breadmaker.  
• If using a mixer, mix on low until it is all blended and using a dough hook knead on medium for about 6 minutes. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled. About 1 hour.
• When dough is done in breadmaker or has risen to double its size, roll it out into a big rectangle on a floured surface.
• Spread 1/4 c. butter onto dough with a basting brush.
• Make filling and spread over butter

1. 1/2 c. sugar
2. 1 Tbl fresh orange juice
3. 1 tsp. orange rind grated

• Roll dough jellyroll style
• Cut using a serrated knife into 12 equal pieces and put into a sprayed 9 X13 pan. Cover with sprayed plasic wrap
• Let rise to double, but not more- it takes about 1 hour in a warm place
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Do not over-bake.
• Make glaze

1. 3 Tbl. orange juice
2. 1/2 tsp grated orange rind
3. 2 oz of cream cheese
4. 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

• Whisk together and spread 1/2 over hot rolls and the other half  over them when you serve them.

These are so good, you'll have a hard time stopping at just one.

Sneaking Food and Outwitting Parents

What the Heck by Cindy

Friday I spent some time with some of my good friends at a reader's retreat in Bear Lake, Utah. We told more stories than we read and one made me chuckle more than any other and here is the short of it.

First off, let me say that my friend has a large family. The kids snacked and ate all the time-eating them out of house and home (at least all the "good stuff"). To prevent this, they installed a lock with a key on the food storage room. The problem? The key got left around or lost all the time and the kids took advantage of it.

So, they installed a lock box, similar to the ones on houses for sale, where the key sits in a compartment behind the key-pad. Punch in the code and the key is yours. Problem solved, right?

Not exactly, sure the key never got lost anymore, but when my friend reached for a bag of Goldfish in the storage room, it crumpled in her hand. HA! One of her kids had waited for her to go upstairs with one load of food and had snuck in to sneak the Goldfish. To make sure Mom didn't find out, the child blew air into the bag and closed it to make it appear full. In fact, several bags suffered the same fate.

All my friend could do was laugh and stand in awe at her child's ingenuity.

Have you ever snuck food?

Like Krispy Kreme?

My writer friend is having a contest and you can win 20 bucks to Krispy Kreme. Yum.

http://writegirl-writegirl.blogspot.com/2011/05/krispy-kreme-giveaway.html?showComment=1305928937058#c912463316028019046

good luck

Meeting the Naked Cowboy

Tidbits from my Travels by William

My fourteen year old daughter and I were in NYC on a cold, wet December day.  The rain had stopped as we made our way through Times Square. 

I heard a lot of screams and laughter and saw lots of women around the famous Naked Cowboy.  I had seen him on numerous occasions in Times Square on other visits there, wearing only his cowboy hat, cowboy boots, tighty-whiteys and carrying his guitar.  What a perfect photo op!  But, I couldn’t convince my daughter that it was.  She was so embarrassed; she wouldn’t approach him with me. 

We (the Naked Cowboy and I) shook hands and exchanged quick hellos.  He asked where I was from and if I was enjoying NYC.  He seemed like a very pleasant guy.  As he and I posed for a picture together, I thought about how cold it was and knew he had to be cold. 

I gave him a tip and he told me to put it inside his guitar along with the rest of his take for the day.  I wondered how long he had been out there in that weather, making his cold, hard cash.

Harry Potter's Secret Recipe for Butterbeer Revealed

 The Eats with Cindy

I just had my first Butterbeer! WHERE, you ask? At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. (Amazing…to say the least) 

Boy, that was a mouthful.

Can’t make it to Florida any time soon but you’d like a taste? Let me help you out.

Here it is, the ultra secret recipe-

Buy some cream soda and put it in the freezer. Yes, the freezer. Put a glass cup in there, too. Leave it for about an hour.

With five minutes to go, whip up a quarter cup of whipped cream with one tablespoon of powdered sugar until it reaches soft peaks.

Pour cream soda into chilled glass and spread the top with a big dollop of cream.

There you have it. Butterbeer at its finest. A rich, sweet treat.

Perfect Japanese Fried Rice and It's Not From Kobe

The Eats by Cindy

                                  Yumilicious Japanese Fried Rice

1. Cook 2 1/2 cups long grain rice.  (It's best if you refrigerate it overnight.)
2. Put 1-2 Tbl. oil into a large pan or wok. Heat.
3. Add 1/2 cup chopped onion and when almost translucent, add 2 large cloves of minced garlic
4. Add 2 diced, large chicken breasts and salt and pepper everything lightly. Cook and stir until almost cooked through
5. To one side of the pan, scramble three eggs. Salt and pepper lightly.
6. Add cold rice. Cover until heated through. Stir a couple of times.
7. Add 1/4 cup of butter. (Not margarine) Stir
8. Add 1/3 cup soy sauce and stir
9. Stir in about 1/2 cup of teriyaki sauce.
10. Steam for about 2 minutes.

Warning! Your family will request this every day...Just thought you should know.

Cassandra Clare's Book- City of Bones and Similes

Books I'm currently reading by Cindy

So, I’m reading Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones. Actually, I’ve been listening to it while in Orlando. Sorry for the inconsistent blogging this week...

I’m on chapter twelve and am intrigued by the crazy world Clare has built. The main character, Clary, (Since I’m listening to and not reading this book, I have no idea how to spell any of the names, but I’ll do my best.) discovers she is part of a world she didn’t know existed.

Clary is sassy and impatient. In fact, all the characters in this unique story “don’t take no guff.” Sarcasm laces almost every verbal exchange. Forget about finding sweetness in this story, it’s all about grit.

I’ve never read a book so chock full of similes, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.  Some of the time, I love them and other times, I find myself irritated, wanting to tell her to knock it off. What do you think? Has Cassandra Clare over-used similes in this book? Do you like it or not?

Showering for an Audience

Tidbits from my Travels by William

Sorry I didn't post this on my usual Thursday, I was travelling...

Ever been watched while you shower?  I have.

After enjoying a nice morning of snorkeling in Hanauma Bay on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, my friends and I wanted to refresh ourselves and get cleaned up for the day.  We drove toward Honolulu and found some showers on a beach.

As we began showering, with our swimming suits on, I noticed a lady in her fifties and her six to seven year old grandson, or I presumed to be a grandson, watching us.  As they watched us they walked toward us, making their way to a front row seat on the sidewalk, about eight to ten feet from us.  I couldn’t believe they were going to sit right there and just watch us shower. 

It appeared the boy was fascinated by one of my snorkeling companions, Chelsey.  He was obviously intrigued and his expression showed it.  The water was cold so we tried to hurry.  With our audience sitting nearby, it was an added incentive to finish up and leave.

No matter where I go in this crazy world, something amusing always happens!

Speedos and a Tall Blonde

Tidbits from my Travels by William

Several summers ago, my two daughters and I flew to Germany and met my wife. She was ending a European tour with her high school group.  Two of her students stayed with us after their tour ended. 

One day, we decided to go to a local swimming pool.  My first observation was that I was the only one wearing a long swimming suit.  Almost everyone else wore SPEEDOS.  While I stared at their lack of coverage, they stared at my excess coverage.

The water was so cold, we barely put our toes into the pool.  Instead of swimming, or freezing, we all decided to lie around and enjoy the sunshine.  A tall blonde, Laura, was one of the students who stayed with us. The towel she brought with her was not what we would consider large.  In fact, when held up, it only went from her chin to her waist. It was hilarious to see her lying on this small towel. She attracted quite the following of 12-13 year old boys. They began doing what any infatuated 12-13 year old boy would do, they threw things at her. Completely annoyed, she ended up grabbing some of the boy’s shoes and towels and throwing them into the pool. 

This started a verbal war between these boys and Laura.  I was impressed that Laura was able to hold her own in this war, in a language she spent a few short years learning. 

We’d already attracted some awesome attention thanks to my stylin’ shorts, and Laura’s war with the boys left us no choice but to pack and leave, laughing all the way.

Contest! Win a Copy of Watched





It's contest time and there are 5 easy ways to enter.

1. Become a follower of this blog- 1 entry (just click on the follower button on the left)
2. Send me a friend request on Facebook-1 entry
3. Link this contest to your facebook page- 1 entry per week (just click the gray "f" link at the bottom of this post)
4. Link the post about my book cover to facebook-1 entry per week (archived 4/10. Look on right side of page. Pull it up and click the gray "f" link at the bottom of that post)
5. Link the post about the Launch of my book at the Family Night with Local Authors- to facebook-1 entry per week (archived on right 5/1. Look on the right side of the page and pull up 5/1 and then click on the gray "f" link at the bottom of that post)

*After you have done one or all of these things, post a comment telling me what you did. Remember you can do #3-5 once a week until the contest ends. Just write another comment each week you do them.
**If you don't comment on this site...you won't be entered in the contest because I won't know what you did.

The prize- Get a copy of WATCHED delivered to your house before the launch on June 6th.

***The contest ends on May 26th at noon.  Good Luck!

Perfect Chicken and Rice Everytime

The Eats by Cindy

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Pour 1 can cream of mushroom soup and 1 can cream of chicken soup with 1/2 package dry onion soup mix into a large bowl. mix.
• Take out 3/4 cup of the mixture and put into a small bowl with 1/2 cup water. mix. Set aside.
• Add either 2 cups instant rice and 2 cups water  OR 4 cups already cooked long grain rice and no water, to mixture in the large bowl. Stir well.
• Pour into 9X13 pan.
• Place (bone in) pieces of chicken onto the rice.
• Pour the mixture in the small bowl over the chicken pieces.
• Cover the pan with tin foil and put into preheated oven.
• Cook for 1 hour covered and 1/2 hour uncovered.
• Juices should run clear when chicken is cooked or use a thermometer to check 170 degrees.

Delicious and Easy!

Family Night with Authors at Barnes and Noble

So, the time is set for my launch party at Barnes and Noble in Layton. June 6th, 6:30-8:30. This is more than a signing, it is a family Night Event. I've invited 10 of my local author friends to join me. There will be books of all genres for all ages. There will also be contests, prizes and games. You won't want to miss it.

Come back often. I'll be revealing the other authors over the next two weeks in random posts.

The suspense is killing me.