Please welcome today’s Guest Chef, Linda Andrews.  When I read that I was to be guest chef today, I almost fell out of my chair laughing. I am a foodie. I admit it. And if there was a club to break the foodie habit, I wouldn’t join. I love to cook food, eat food, watch shows about food, read books about chefs/restaurants/food and scan/collect recipes. But I was still surprised at how much food popped up in my stories. Sure characters need to eat, but a dining scene can easily become an info dump scene.  So I went back and [...]

by Elaine Burroughs Well, I’m breaking into new territory here. Usually my blog posts are about writing, tips on creativity, persistence, etc. But in these withering and humid August days, my brain cells are fading so it’s time to shift gears. “The Help” recently started in theaters, and I give this one an A. I’ve seen it twice and am now reading the (wonderful!) book authored by Kathryn Stockett. For those who haven’t seen the film, it’s about a recent Ole Miss graduate named Skeeter (played by a sassy and talented Emma Stone) who wants more out of life than [...]

It’s not easy being blonde. Read about my failed attempts to achieve my golden hair.

NEVER CRY WEREWOLF Author Heather Davis http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com Harper Teen ISBN 978-0-06-134925-6 Genre: Young Adult Paranormal From the back cover: Moonlight can totally change your life.  And it all starts so simply. You. Him. The moon.  You’re toast. Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately (how was she supposed to know Wes had “borrowed” that Porsche?).  But her step-mother totally overreacts when she catches Shelby in a post-curfew kiss with a hot senior.  Suddenly Shelby’s summer plans are on the shelf, and she’s being packed off to brat camp.  It’s good-by, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.  [...]

by Darcy Crowder Okay, not exactly a riveting blog post by any means, but I really want to know.  I love movies.  For me, a dream room would consist of dark paneled walls, plush sound absorbing carpet and deeply cushioned lounge chairs all pointed toward a wall-sized home theatre screen.  But probably not meant to be in this lifetime.  So I’ll content myself with movies on a large flat screen TV in our sun room – which is a pretty cool room in its own right – but I digress.  I love movies for the pure escapist entertainment they offer.  [...]

Okay, so I had this whole bit written out about how to make sushi for fun and bio-terrorism, but I ran into a couple of writers struggling with rejection and their situations really broke my heart. Yeah, I know. I was surprised to know I still had one too. Anyway, I realize listening to me talk about anything of merit is pretty much the literary equivalent of a hooker discussing love, but I figure I’ll try anyway. Maybe you’ll give me points for effort. I have no idea where to begin so I guess I’ll just jump in… While growing [...]

Please join us in welcoming Fiona Lowe, this week’s Guest Chef!  Fiona Lowe is an award-winning, multi-published author of romance fiction with Harlequin Mills & Boon and Carina Press.  When she’s not writing stories, she’s a weekend wife, a mother of two boys, and she’s trying really hard to instill in them heroic characteristics like cooking and ironing.  She’s an avid reader, a guardian of 80 rose bushes, attempts to stay fit and is often seen collapsed on the couch with a glass of wine.  This month she has two books out! Boomerang Bride and Career Girl in the Country. [...]