Tag Archives: AUTHOR SPECIAL

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with Mark Knight

April 26, 2013 Karen Docter 1 Comment

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with MARK KNIGHT

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors.

Introducing author, MARK KNIGHT, and his favorite recipe for YORKSHIRE PUDDING!

About the author, Mark Knight….

Mark Knight grew up in Massachusetts, USA. Settling in the UK, Mark continued to write novels of differing genres, including horror and television scripts. Mark has worked on scripts for Hollywood’s Little Slices of Death production company and one for Illusion Studios, for which he has recently signed an Option Acquisition Agreement. He also won several short story competitions, and has had his work featured in published anthologies. Mark concentrates now on Young Adult urban fantasy novels.

Mark Knight:

I fell in love with books and movies very early on. Roald Dahl, Planet of the Apes, Tolkien, Star Wars…they were all part of my journey. From age sixteen I was compelled to write my own. I have always been fascinated by amazingly ‘out there’ type stories – be it fantasy, horror, or science fiction – that have an element of reality in them. You know, where you can say ‘Oh yeah, I can relate to that’ or ‘I know someone who has that problem’. To me, the more real your characters, their emotions, problems, etc, then the more thrilling it becomes when the fantastic comes knocking at their door.

For instance, Daniel Dark, the seventeen-year-old protagonist of Blood Family, has family problems that have led him to smoke weed and chug beer with his equally indolent friend. But then he discovers that he is a half-vampire with incredible powers. Finally, his dull going-nowhere life is supercharged.

Fifteen-year-old Solomon, hero of Solomon Grimm and the Well of Souls, comes from a broken home and suffers from hypoglycaemic attacks his diabetes. It screws up his life—until a gypsy curse renders him undead. Diabetes is the least of his problems now.

Dealing with the death of a parent was bad enough for Gunner Robinson. He has a sixth-sense, the ability to know when evil is near. Other powers are manifesting themselves as well, and they are getting him into trouble, at home and at school. Which is why he wound up in therapy. Telling the doc that he is a warrior angel reborn would definitely make things worse…

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BLOOD FAMILY by MARK KNIGHT
Book Blurb

Life as part of a debt-free, middle-class family in the New England suburbs should have been heaven.

But when your father is a Man of God and you’re a vampire, it sure can be hell.

Until the age of seventeen, Daniel Dark had no idea of his true origins. Something was ulcerating deep inside him, striving to claw its way free. Pastor Nathan Dark and his wife, Annie, had adopted him and brought him up as their own. But Daniel always felt that there was a secret they feared tell him…

Everything changes the day a mysterious package arrives at his home. It contains blood – human blood. It is a message from his true father – a vampire named Dominus. Daniel’s vampire half awakens and takes its first step out of the shadows. Vampires, Daniel learns, are not like in the movies. They’re worse, much worse, and cannot be killed by sunlight or stakes.

The once lazy, goalless youth transforms into sharp-sensed killer. Now, there is no turning back. On his trail is Pastor Nathan Dark, obsessed with destroying the boy he’d adopted as his own…

Armed with ever-evolving powers, Daniel sets off to find and free his birth mother, imprisoned by Dominus since the day of his birth.

It is a journey that takes Daniel to Mexico and the mysterious Mayan shaman woman, Xochil, guardian of Vampire secrets. From there the trail leads to misty moors of southern England, where he joins forces with Logan DuPris, a vampire hunter as attractive as she is deadly. Together they piece together the weird clues that lead to…

The Vampire Key

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BLOOD FAMILY
Excerpt

CHAPTER 13

As evening painted the sky a deep purple, Daniel stepped through his front door and looked around. As his life had changed, so too had all that surrounded him. He was sensing something. Daniel had never been one for deep thinking, but now his perceptions stretched themselves out over the landscape, over time, feeling out new possibilities and new horizons. He exhaled a big, purging breath, scratching the back of his head. Was he really going to do it? Leave home?

The ‘incident’ with Daelin had left him confused. Part of him had wanted to take advantage of her in the most gruesome and bloodiest of ways. Part of him wanted to protect her forever. Would it be best for her—and for him—to stay, or to leave? This wasn’t exactly something he could talk over with the town’s youth counselor. For the first time in his life, he had no one to fall back on. Future decisions would be down to him and him alone.

No more of this soul-searching crap. I want my bed.

Entering, he kicked off his sneakers and thudded up the stairs. As he grabbed the door handle to his room he halted. Mom stood there, down the hall, looking…defenseless.

“Daniel…”

“Just a minute, Mom.” He wanted to change his shirt a.s.a.p.—his unbidden hallucination had made him very sweaty, not to mention the sex play with Daelin.

He entered his room.

That was his first mistake.

Dad was waiting for him—he and six other pastors. Not one appeared to be in a forgiving mood.

It was a shock to Daniel—he hadn’t even seen any cars parked out front, not even Dad’s.

He then made his second mistake. He didn’t move quickly enough.

Another pastor, who had been waiting next to the door, kicked it shut. Then, the tallest of the ministers facing him shot him with what looked to be a crossbow. The arrow tore into the boy’s left shoulder, pinning him to his bedroom door. He roared in pain. Before the roar was over, an arrow pierced his other shoulder.

“I know you hate me for this, Daniel,” said Nathan Dark. “But I’m doing this to help you.”

“Help me?” spat Daniel. “You want to kill me!”

“It’s taken me years to put together this Deliverance Team, Daniel,” Pastor Dark told him. “And unlike even my own church denomination, our newly founded division knows about the existence of creatures like you.”

“Creatures like me?”

“Yes,” said Nathan coldly. “Demons—like you.”

The pastors rushed at Daniel as he grasped the arrow shafts, trying to pull himself free. The seven men began shouting out religious passages at him, fear knocking their phrases out of unison. Five of them restrained Daniel while two others (including his father) performed the laying on of hands, placing palms on his head and chest. Enraged, Daniel bellowed back at them, irises turning blood red as his would-be deliverers watched in increasing terror.

And something else was happening: the arrows that impaled Daniel were dissolving, actually turning to ash and smoke before their eyes. Through the tears in his son’s shirt Nathan Dark could see the arrow wounds healing before his eyes—flesh growing and knitting, liberated blood retreating back inside the boy’s body before the holes closed.

Revivified, Daniel flung his arms outward in a mighty push, hurling the men to the floor. The deliverers howled in pain.

Nathan Dark regained his senses. His son was nowhere in sight. Then, hearing a sound like the panting of a wounded wolf, he looked up. Daniel clung there, defying gravity, hugging the ceiling like a bat. Nathan barked through gritted teeth to the crossbow-wielder, who hastily reloaded his weapon of choice. He was good—very good—and had no trouble in unleashing another duo of deadly carbon shafts into the boy’s body—one in the leg, and the other in his shoulder. The idea was to get so many of them stuck in the youth that he would weaken long enough for the team to overpower him. In this case, ‘overpower’ would mean one of two things—either to free him of his curse, or to free him of his life.

Detaching from the ceiling, Daniel landed in the center of the pastors, now on their feet in a rough circle. He spun, elongated nails gashing each face in rapid succession. Blood sprayed in all directions. The deliverers reeled back in pain. But Nathan avoided injury, stepping back just long enough to retrieve from his jacket the object that he had secreted there as a last resort.

There had been accounts of wooden stakes actually working against demonics and undead entities, but Nathan had never verified any of these accounts. Sure, maybe it was just movie nonsense. But this, right here, right now, was real. He was going to put right this terrible wrong—this boy’s abominable existence—in God’s name. He would succeed no matter what, even if –

Daniel had locked his gaze on to his father. The stake dropped from his hand. Pastor Nathan Dark grabbed his head as though trying to keep it from falling off. The look of sheer terror in his face was proof enough that the hypnotic assault was working. The other members of the deliverance team watched, transfixed.

“No!” Nathan was screaming. “Don’t leave me in this place! Get me out! Take me out of here!” He was no longer in this world, not consciously. Daniel had succeeded in making this devout Christian man believe that he was in Hell.

It had not been difficult for Daniel to target his father’s greatest fear. But he didn’t know how long he could keep up the illusion. This ability was new to him, powered by raw instinct.

Sensing the approach of the other ministers, Daniel whirled to confront them.

“Keep back!” he warned. “Unless you want me to invade your little minds as well!” His own words frightened him. Never before had he spoken words like that, nor with such rage. What had he become?

Pastor Nathan Dark screamed even louder. Even Daniel had no idea as to what his Dad was seeing within his mind’s eye.

“Daniel! Stop it, now!”

Mom!

Daniel was shocked to see that she’d entered. He released his father.

Jerking his head toward the window across the room, he barked at it as though giving an order. The windowpane shot up with a bang.

Daniel’s exit was a blur—a dark streak that could have been the boy taking flight. No one in the room would ever know.

He was gone.

CONNECT WITH MARK AND HIS BOOK:

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Family-Quest-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00C456EJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367033768&sr=8-1&keywords=blood+family

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Family-Quest-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00C456EJU/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364730430&sr=1-11

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C456EJU

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I hope you enjoy the recipe Mark is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 88 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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YORKSHIRE PUDDING
[Serves 6]

A classic Yorkshire Pudding is quick, easy to make and with this, my best Yorkshire Pudding recipe, guarantees success every time. A traditional Yorkshire Pudding fresh from the oven should be well-risen, golden brown with a crisp exterior and soft middle.

Yorkshire Puddings are a classic British recipe and one of the major components of England’s national dish, Roast Beef and Yorkshire Puddings, a regional dish with national (and international) appeal.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

4 large, fresh eggs, measured in a jug
Equal quantity of milk to eggs
Equal quantity of all purpose/plain flour to eggs
Pinch of salt
2 tbsp lard, beef dripping or vegetable oil

Preparation:

Heat the oven to the highest temperature possible, however, do not exceed 450F/230C or the fat may burn.
Pour the eggs and milk into a large mixing bowl and add the pinch of salt. Whisk thoroughly with an electric hand beater or hand whisk. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.
Gradually sieve the same volume of flour (as the eggs) into the milk and egg mixture, again using an electric hand beater or hand-whisk to create a lump free batter resembling thick cream, if there are any lumps pass the batter through a fine sieve.
Leave the batter to rest in the kitchen for a minimum of 30 minutes, longer if possible – up to several hours.
Place a pea-sized piece of lard, dripping or ½ tsp vegetable oil into your chosen Yorkshire pudding tin/5cm hole tin or 12-hole muffin tin and heat in the oven until the fat is smoking. Give the batter another good whisk adding 2 tbsps of cold water and fill a third of each section of the tin with batter and return quickly to the oven.
Leave to cook until golden brown approx 20 minutes. Repeat the last step again until all the batter is used up.Serving Yorkshire Pudding
- In Yorkshire serving the pudding is traditionally with gravy a starter dish followed by the meat and vegetables. More often smaller puddings cooked in muffin tins are served alongside meat and vegetables.
- Yorkshire pudding isn’t reserved only for Sunday lunch. A large pudding filled with a meaty stew or chili is a dish in its own right.
- Cold left-over Yorkshire Puddings make a lovely snack with a little jam or honey.
- Yorkshire Puddings do not reheat well, becoming brittle and dry.

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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Mark will give away an ebook copy of his book, BLOOD FAMILY, to one of his lucky readers who comments on his Killer Fixin’s blog!! Winner will be randomly selected and announced Monday, April 29, 2013. Thanks, Mark, for sharing your story and recipe with us!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with Jennie Marts

April 12, 2013 Karen Docter 10 Comments

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with JENNIE MARTS

Introducing author, JENNIE MARTS, and her favorite recipe for BETTER THAN SEX CHOCOLATE CAKE!

About the author, Jennie Marts….

Jennie Marts has been dreaming about writing a novel since she was in fifth grade and self-published her first Nancy Drew style mystery to a small readership of family, teachers, and two friends.

She lives in Colorado with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. Tucker, her golden retriever, was the inspiration for the dog, Beau, in this story.

Jennie enjoys being a member of (RWA) Romance Writers of America, the Pikes Peak Chapter of RWA, and Pikes Peak Writers.

Jennie spends her spare time playing volleyball and reading and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes or friends.

Jennie loves to hear from readers. Visit her website at www.jenniemarts.com or follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books.

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ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT AND I AIN’T GOT NO BODY by Jennie Marts

Hi, my name is Jennie Marts and I am excited to share a little bit with you about my recently released romantic comedy, Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got No Body. My story features an ordinary school teacher named Sunny Vale whose well-meaning friends decide to help her find her Mr. Right.

Sunny considers herself a dog-loving, romance-reading, homebody. But her life goes from dull to deadly when her book club fires her from her own love life and sets her up on six blind dates- one of whom might be with a murderer. More trouble arrives in the dead of night, in the form of Jake Landon, a mysterious stranger, who breaks into her neighbor’s house and possibly her heart. But Jake is packing more than a loaded gun in his well-fitting Levi’s. He brings an arsenal of secrets and plenty of heat to Sunny’s ho-hum summer.

Jake Landon finds himself caught up in the capers of the sexy blonde in the house next door. But he has his own agenda which doesn’t involve playing hero to a curvy second-grade teacher and babysitting her panty-puking puppy. He’s got other problems like fiery explosions, a missing person…and a parade of jerks Sunny insists on dating.

Could Sunny’s Mr. Right be right under her nose? Even though Jake is gorgeous, likes her dog, and has abs she can crack an egg on, can she really go out with him if he’s just murdered her next door neighbor?

JAKE’S COFEESHOP INTERVIEW

Today, I am sharing with you a little inside scoop not available in the book. Let’s take a peek into the small town of Pleasant Valley, CO, where Janice Tuttlebaum, local reporter has just cornered Jake in the coffeeshop. The whole town is talking about Walter’s disappearance and this handsome stranger who has moved into Walter’s home. Nobody’s nosier than Janice, except maybe Edna, Sunny’s 80-year-old neighbor, friend and fellow book club member. Edna has been suspicious of Jake from the start, ever since she saw him sneaking around the night of the — but I’m giving too much away.

I think Janice is trying to interview Jake now. She certainly has her chair pulled close enough to his to smell his aftershave or sneak a bite of his danish. Let’s listen in…..

“This is Janice Tuttlebaum from the Pleasant Valley Times,” she says into a small handheld recorder. She also has a steno pad on the table and is scribbling notes whiles she talks. “I am here today interviewing Jake Landon, the witness who reported our local townsmen, Walter Mead, missing. Jake, what do you know about Mr. Mead’s disappearance?”

Jake sighs and folds his newspaper in half. “Not much. I expected him to be here when I arrived in town. It’s been several weeks and we really have no idea what happened to him.” He takes a sip of his coffee, then turns the questions to Janice. “How well do you know Walter? What can you tell me about him?”

“Well, he was just the sweetest old man. He fixed my front gate last summer and wouldn’t let me pay him a thing. He said his only payment was to have me bake him one of my cherry pies. My pies are prize winning at the county fair every summer. I mean, er…..I will be conducting this interview, Mr. Landon.” Flustered by the attention of this handsome rogue, Janice pats her chest and tries to take back control of the interview. “Exactly what is your relationship with Walter, er…Mr. Mead?”

Jake gives her a mischievous grin. “I’d rather talk about this cherry pie of yours….”

A bell tinkles as the front door opens, and in walks Edna, fanning herself from the summer heat. “Whoo-ee, it’s hotter than two rats — What are you doing here, Mr. Froofroo Coffee? Do you think you have enough whipped cream on that drink?”

Another sigh escapes Jake. “I ran into Ms. Tuttlebaum here while I was getting my coffee, and she asked to interview me for the local paper.”

“Why are you sitting so close together?” Edna asks, as she squeezes a chair in between them. Fluffing her hair, she turns to Janice. “Now, let me tell you, I have been neighbors with Walter for almost twenty years, and I am telling you, I suspect foul play. You work for the paper, what are you doing to find Walter?”

“Well, we…uh…we certainly would cooperate or try to help….wait a minute….doesn’t anyone understand I am the reporter here. I ask the questions.”

“Geez, touchy.” Edna turns to Jake. “What did you do to make her mad?”

“Nothing! I don’t even know her. I was just sitting here drinking my coffee, trying to read the paper…”

“Why is she all grouchy then?” Edna asks in a not-so-subtle whisper.

Janice huffs. “I am most certainly not grouchy. Now if you will excuse us, I was trying to conduct an interview, Ms……?”

“Allen. That’s with two L’s.” Edna looks pointedly at her steno pad, and gives her a conspiratorial wink. “In case you want to quote me.”

The bell tinkles again and Sunny marches in, eyes scanning the store for her neighbor. “Edna, what is taking so long? I’ve been in the car for 10 minutes…… Oh, hi, Jake. What are you doing here?”

“Evidently NOT drinking coffee, OR reading the paper. I think I’ll just take my coffee to go. Bye, Sunny.” Jake nods his goodbye at the women. “See you around. Edna. Nice to meet you, Janice.”

Janice and Sunny watch him walk out the door, both obviously appreciating the view.

Edna taps on the reporter’s notebook. “Alright Janice, now we can get down to the real story. If you two could peel your eyes off the man’s bum for a minute, I am telling you this guy, Jake, is the real trouble. We don’t know where he came from or what he does. I think he’s dangerous.”

Sunny scoffs. “Oh Edna, you are always exaggerating! Don’t start rumors.”

Janice, now all ears, flips to a new page in her steno notepad, clicks her pen several times then begins taking notes. “Now, Ms Allen, with two L’s, you said. What exactly do you mean by danger?”

“Well, now I’ve got your attention. You might want to wipe that drool off your chin, Janice. Let me tell you about this Jake character….”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Sunny says. “Sorry, we don’t really know anything about the man.”

“Oh, she’s just saying that because she has the hotsie-totsie’s for him! If you know what I mean, Janice.” Edna winks at the reporter again, but Janice doesn’t notice as she continues to write furiously.

“What? I do not! What are you writing there?” Sunny cranes her neck to see Janice’s pad. “Quit writing! Edna, I am leaving, so if you want a ride home, you better get your hotsie-totsie out to the car! I don’t even want coffee anymore!” She pulls on Edna’s purse strap while Edna is making ‘call me’ miming motions with her hand up to her ear to Janice.

“I gotta go, Janice. But mark my words, this guy might be booty-licious, but there is trouble brewing in Pleasant Valley…”

Well, that’s a small dose of life in Pleasant Valley. For more of the antics of Sunny and her pals, the Pleasant Valley Page Turners, check out ‘Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got No Body, available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle editions.

I am often told that Edna is a favorite character in my book, due to her fun and quirky personality. I would love it if you left a comment about a favorite character you love, in fiction or in real life, that makes you laugh just by thinking about them. Edna is a composite character made up of several older women in my life, but especially, my own grandmother, who always had me stitches.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free Kindle copy of Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got No Body. And I have included one of Edna’s favorite recipes- Better Than Sex Chocolate Cake- it is easy and so yummy! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the book.

CONNECT WITH JENNIE AND HER BOOK:

Website: www.jenniemarts.com

Facebook: Jennie Marts Books

Email: jenniemarts@yahoo.com

Amazon buy links for Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got No Body:

Kindle

Paperback

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I hope you enjoy the recipe Jennie is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 86 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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BETTER THAN SEX CHOCOLATE CAKE

From the kitchen of Jennie Marts – Author of Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got No Body

1 German Chocolate Cake Mix

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup butterscotch ice cream topping

2 Heath candy bars, crushed (or crushed toffee pieces)

1 carton of Cool Whip

Mix and bake cake mix in a 9×13-inch pan, according to package directions. Remove cake and while hot, poke several holes in the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top of the cake. Then pour the butterscotch topping over the top of the cake. Let stand until cool. Spread Cool Whip over the top of the cake then sprinkle with toffee pieces. Enjoy!

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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Jennie will give away a Kindle copy of her book, ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT AND I AIN’T GOT NO BODY, to one of her lucky readers who comments on her Killer Fixin’s blog!! Winner will be randomly selected and announced Monday, April 15, 2013. Thanks, Jennie, for sharing your stories with us!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with Ashlynne Laynne

March 29, 2013 Karen Docter Leave a comment

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with MARI COLLIER

Introducing author, ASHLYNNE LAYNNE, and her favorite recipe for EASY BROCCOLI CASSEROLE!

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About the author, Ashlynne Laynne ….

Ashlynne Laynneis a songwriter, poet and author of erotic paranormal and contemporary romance, who has always had a soft spot in her heart for vampires but grew tired of the garlic fearing, sun-loathing creatures of old. An avid horror movie fan, she tends to enjoy media and music that is of a younger, more eclectic nature. This was the catalyst for her writing The Progeny. The vampire/witch pairing is unique and different when most books pair vampires with werewolves.

Ashlynne loves writing on the edge—combining the erotica and romance genres—and thinks of Ascher and Shauna as the wicked, damned version of Romeo and Juliet. She is currently working on book four of her Progeny Series, book one of her upcoming Rocker Series, and an untitled novella WIP. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family. She juggles the hats of wife, mother, full time employee and part-time writer, hoping to write exclusively one day soon. Find and follow here online on Twitter.Check out her Manic Readers page, Blogand Website, or leave her a note in her Reader Email.

Ashlynne lives in North Carolina with her husband and teenage son.

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BOOK PEEK – BLOOD PROMISE by ASHLYNNE LAYNNE

Blood Promise (The Progeny Series #3)

“Their love is fated by an ancient prophecy. Now the promise is fulfilled.”

Ascher Rousseau is a half-human, half vampire whose life has been a series of prophecies and predictions. After finding incredible love and passion with Shauna—a Wiccan with powers beyond anything he’s ever known—he seals to her and hopes for happiness. But his enemies seek to destroy all that he loves, and he finds that happiness never lasts for long.

Darkness is descending and a vampiric revolution is nearing. A new brood of hatchlings is born to join their darkling brothers, in preparation for war. A preordained chain of events is set into motion that could lead to the rise of the demonic “cloaked one” and his half-human fallen children, while ending humanity—as we know it.

Can a supernatural love and the loyal bond of a family save the Rousseaus and the world from certain extinction?

ABOUT THE PROGENY SERIES

At its core, The Progeny Series is simply about a man and woman who fall in love, and the fact that he’s a half-blood (half-human, half vampire) and she’s a Wiccan human are secondary factors. When we meet Ascher, he’s grumpy. Frankly, who could blame him? He’s engaged to seal to Ursula—a cold and careless vampire who wants nothing more than to get her hands on a bloodstone— and he feels conflicted about his existence.

All of that changes when he meets Shawnette McCutchin. She’s beautiful, intriguing and possesses some of the most potent blood that he’s ever smelled. A war immediately begins inside Ascher. He craves Shauna’s blood just as much as he craves her body and the closer they get, the harder it is for him to control his urges. After Ascher calls off the sealing to Ursula, the trouble begins. His family’s peaceful period ends when Ursula’s army attacks the Rousseaus.

This series encompasses a family dynamic of which we’ve never seen. The Rousseaus share a common mortal and immortal bloodline, but loyalty is the thread binding this clan. Shauna and Ascher’s dissuaded love only strengthens the family bonds. Their unique union transcends bloodlines and completes the prophecy, defying the beliefs of centuries old covenants while shattering the wall between the Wiccan and vampire worlds that has existed for ages. This series is erotic paranormal romance intended for adults, as it contains adult sensuality, language and themes.

The Progeny Series is available for purchase at Amazon US Amazon UK BN Smashwords

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I hope you enjoy the recipe Ashlynne is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 84 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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EASY BROCCOLI CASSEROLE

½ stick melted butter

(1) can cream of mushroom soup

(1) can cream of chicken soup

(1) 8 oz. jar of Cheez Whiz

(2) 10 oz pkg of thawed chopped broccoli

1 ½ C Minute rice (if you shop generic it’s instant rice)

¾ C chopped onion

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in casserole dish and bake in a 325 degree oven for 1 hour.

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Thanks, Ashlynne, for sharing your story AND your delicious recipe with us!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with Mari Collier

March 15, 2013 Karen Docter 6 Comments

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with MARI COLLIER

Introducing author, MARI COLLIER, and her favorite recipe for HUCK FINN CHEESE PIE!

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About the author, Mari Collier….

Mari Collier was born in Iowa and grew up on a farm. She’s lived in Arizona, Washington, and now resides in Twentynine Palms, CA. She’s a Director on the Board or the Twentynine Palms Historical Society and Coordinator for the Desert Writers Guild. Previous employment includes bookkeeper, collector, receptionist, and Advanced Super Agent for Nintendo of America. Earthbound is the prequel to Gather the Children, and available online. Several short stories have been published and she pens two columns for the Old Schoolhouse Journal.

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BOOK PEEK – EARTHBOUND by Mari Collier

A man with Thalian-Justine genes is marooned on the planet Earth. He has the spaceship and has hidden it in the wilds of Texas. He must survive on this violent planet and return to destroy the Justines and avenge his mother and Thalia. He takes the name of MacDonald and rescues Rolfe during a barroom brawl. He joins Rolfe in the fur trade until it ends. They become traders until a Kiowa raid destroys their goods. MacDonald admits he has gold hidden away. A trip to the spaceship provides funds for a land grant from the state of Texas. MacDonald becomes a Scout for the 2^nd Dragoons. During a raid on a Comanche camp, he rescues Anna, a woman tall enough and warrior enough to match him. Will MacDonald and Anna survive plaque, the enmity of their Southern neighbors, a raid on Schmidt’s Corner, and the Civil War?

EXCERPT – EARTHBOUND by Mari Collier

Outside a whoop cut through her thoughts and she snapped the last diaper pin into place and put Auggie back into the crib. Auggie promptly resumed his screams.

His screams were covered by the whooping going on outside and the whinny of a horse. Anna ran for the front door ready to face whatever was out there and yet she knew.

She looked upward over the door to two empty gun racks and knew it was futile. Mr. Lawrence had taken both the rifle and the shotgun. She grabbed the broom set by the door and rushed out. Three Comanche warriors sat there looking at the small ranch house and buildings. It was as if they knew there was no one inside but a woman. Comanche women didn’t fight. They were trained to grab their children and then run and hide.

As Anna ran out the door one of the men slid down from his horse and started up the one step onto the porch. She was holding the bottom end of the broom and swung the hard hickory shaft against his knees. They had not expected her to fight; nor had they expected a woman taller than they were. The man’s knees buckled and he went down. Anna swung the broom again with all her strength and smashed it into his head. Her next blow was straight down into the ribs and she heard one crack. She whirled to face the next man coming toward her.

The first man’s horse had reared and fled toward the cornfield. It wanted no part of the flailing broom. The horse next to it began to rear and back away, but his rider had it back under control. He was grinning as though this were some sort of fluke; a woman downing a Comanche warrior. The other man was up on the porch. He was watching her, waiting for her to swing the broom again. Anna realized he was waiting to catch it, sure that his masculine strength was more than hers.

She edged to the side. Perhaps she could draw them away from the house. Her teeth were set, the lips drawn tight. She would stop them somehow and she started to swing and then hurriedly pulled the broom handle back. The Comanche grabbed air and she swung the broom into his arm, side-stepped, and slammed the hickory handle into the man’s head. He went down to his knees.

The other Comanche stepped out of the house carrying the squalling Auggie by one heel, swinging him back and forth. Anna’s mouth dropped and her eyes widened. The man looked ready to bash Auggie’s head into the doorframe. All the while he was looking at her, his head cocked to one side.

Anna dropped the broom and held out her arms for her baby. The Comanche stepped up to her and started to let Auggie drop. She grabbed him and held him tight. The other one had risen and approached with a knife, but the man that had held Auggie shook his head and said something in their language. He directed the man to go inside. He motioned Anna to walk over to the other one. He nudged him with one foot. To Anna his words had no meaning.

The one with the broken rib pulled himself up and looked for his horse. It was gone. His voice rose in anger. The one in charge said something to him. Anna was able to understand the contempt in his voice. There was no pity for a warrior bested by a woman.

She saw movement coming from the field. Was Mr. Lawrence coming to rescue them? Her heart sank. It was two more Comanche warriors and Daniel was riding in front of one.

CONNECT WITH MARI AND HER SERIES:

You will find me online at: http://www.maricollier.com/

Earthbound Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.com/Earthbound-Volume-1-ebook/dp/B00BEM4OZA/ref=tmm_kin_title_0

Earthbound paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Earthbound-Volume-1-Mari-Collier/dp/061576133X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Gather The Children: http://www.amazon.com/Gather-Children-Mari-Collier/dp/1604417374/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236400448&sr=8-1

Gather The Children: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gather-the-children-mari-collier/1100095269?ean=9781604417371&itm=9&

Before We Leave Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Before-We-Leave-ebook/dp/B006M3XMEK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1324219927&sr=8-3

Before We Leave Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/before-we-leave-mari-collier/1107928798?ean=9781618426994&itm=2&usri=mari+collier

Before We Leave iBook: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/before-we-leave/id487907160?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Short stories on Smashwords.com can be accessed from here: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Skewedmind

Mari Collier’s Blog: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4618494.Mari_Collier/blog?auto_login_attempted=true

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Twisted-Tales-From-A-Skewed-Mind/124947397618599

~~~~

I hope you enjoy the recipe Mari is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 82 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HUCK FINN CHEESE PIE
[An Original Recipe by Mari Collier]

2 1/2 Cups frozen blue huckleberries (Substitute frozen blueberries)
1 ½ Cups Sugar
8 Oz. Package Cream Cheese
3 Tbs. Cornstarch
½ Cup Milk
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
1 Tsp. Vanilla
1/2 Tsp. Salt
Dash of Cinnamon
1 Egg
1 Unbaked 9 ½ to 10 In. pie flan (high rim)

Heat oven to 400^0.

Combine huckleberries, 1 cup of the sugar, 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, ¼ teaspoon of salt, lemon juice, and dash of cinnamon in three quart pan. Cook over moderate heat 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently until thickened and clear. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

While fruit mixture is cooling soften cream cheese (30 to 40 seconds in microwave) and blend in ½ cup of sugar and ¼ teaspoon salt. Beat in eggs one-at-a time using an electric mixer. Blend in milk and vanilla on low speed. Pour the blue huckleberry mixture into the pie shell. Next, pour the cream cheese mixture slowly over the top. Do this in a circular motion.

Bake on lowest shelf in oven at 400⁰ for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325⁰ and bake for 40 to 50 minutes longer until top is golden brown (not burned) and center is set. Let cool before serving. It tastes best if put into the refrigerator and served cold. You can use whipping cream, but this pie is rich enough without it.

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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Mari will give away a Kindle (or Nook) copy of BEFORE WE LEAVE (the sequel to GATHER THE CHILDREN) to one lucky reader!! Comment on this Karen’s Killer Fixin’s blos for a chance to win. Winner will be randomly selected and announced Monday, March 18, 2013. Thanks, Mari, for sharing your story AND your delicious recipe with us!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Triple Author Special with Cynthia Woolf

January 18, 2013 Karen Docter Leave a comment

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with CYNTHIA WOOLF

Introducing author, CYNTHIA WOOLF, and her favorite recipe for MONSTER COOKIES!

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About the author, Cynthia Woolf….

Cynthia Woolf was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in the mountains west of Golden. She spent her early years running wild around the mountain side with her friends.

Their closest neighbor was one quarter of a mile away, so her little brother was her playmate and her best friend. That fierce friendship lasted until his death in 2006.

Cynthia was and is an avid reader. Her mother was a librarian and brought new books home each week. This is where young Cynthia first got the storytelling bug. She wrote her first story at the age of ten. A romance about a little boy she liked at the time.

She worked her way through college and went to work full time straight after graduation and there was little time to write. Then in 1990 she and two friends started a round robin writing a story about pirates. She found that she missed the writing and kept on with other stories. In 1992 she joined Colorado Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America. Unfortunately, the loss of her job demanded she not renew her memberships and her writing stagnated for many years.

In 2001, she saw an ad in the paper for a writers conference being put on by CRW and decided she’d attend. One of her favorite authors, Catherine Coulter, was the keynote speaker. Cynthia was lucky enough to have a seat at Ms. Coulter’s table at the luncheon and after talking with her, decided she needed to get back to her writing. She rejoined both CRW and RWA that day and hasn’t looked back.

Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband Jim and the great friends she’s made at CRW for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.

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BOOK PEEK – THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – JENALA by Cynthia Woolf

Jenala Delasa is alone and in trouble. Someone wants her kalcion mine. They’ll stop at nothing, even murder. Jenala needs help.

Santro Baltin is just what the beautiful red-head needs. He’s huge, a master swordsman, and has a heart big enough to give her the room she needs to heal. When it comes to Jenala’s enemy however, he has his own agenda.

To defeat the notorious Zlaten Vandalar, they have to work together, mind to mind, shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart.

EXCERPT – THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – JENALA by Cynthia Woolf

Swords clashed. Jenala Delasa fought savagely for her life against the man who would dare try to get her kalcion mine. And claim her. The bastard Zlaten Vandalar. The man she believed murdered her father six months ago. He attacked her with the intention of kidnapping and raping her, giving her no choice but to be claimed under the law. She’d fall on her own sword before she’d allow him to claim her. No, he attacked her in the narrow alleyway with every intention of kidnapping and raping her.

A passerby, having heard the gray metal swords clanging off of each other, sparks flying, and her shouts of rage, rushed to watch the spectacle. Jenala dared him a quick glance when he yelled and ran toward them. Momentarily startled, she missed her jab. Zlaten sidestepped, turned and flayed open her back from the left shoulder to the bottom of her ribcage on the right side. Jenala fell to the ground. Zlaten looked up at the stranger approaching and visibly paled. He sneered at her as he ran a finger through her blood that dripped from the tip of his sword. “You’re not fit now. I’ll come when you’re healed then you’ll be mine.” He looked up at the stranger getting closer, turned and ran.

The stranger came to her, her sword still tightly gripped in her right hand. She dropped to her knees, never releasing her sword. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth from where she’d bitten her tongue. She looked up with pain bleary eyes, expecting to see reproach or perhaps opportunity. If this man decided to claim her as Zlaten had, she could not fight him off. Instead she saw compassion. He removed his shirt and took great care to wrap her back to staunch the flow of blood. Jenala hissed at the contact, white flashing light blurred her vision. She knew he tried his best to cause her as little pain as possible, but it didn’t matter Jenala didn’t know if she could handle the searing pain another moment. He picked her up and carried her toward town. The only person who could help was the town nupenian, who cared for animals. The quack they had for a doctor would surely kill her and she wasn’t taking the chance. Brenton could sew her up as well as the doctor could.

“Take me to the nupenian,” she said, her voice little more than a croak.

~~~~

BOOK PEEK ~ THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – RIZA by Cynthia Woolf

Dr. Riza Lamrona is on the run from a notorious space pirate. She knows his secrets and he wants her dead.

Darick Remaul was a Star Patrol detective who’s trained in trouble and sees it in Riza. He also sees beneath the baggy clothes and glasses to the beautiful woman underneath. Will he be able to get beneath her defenses before the pirate accomplishes his deadly task?

EXCERPT ~ THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – RIZA by Cynthia Woolf

“Ow! Are you trying to kill me, Doc?”

The man was understandably nervous, but he had to allow her to set his leg. She knew he was in a lot of pain. The bone stuck out through the skin and he had lost a lot of blood, but he needed to relax so she could set the leg.

“I haven’t even started yet. Stop being a baby. Here we go. You’ll feel a little pinch in your neck, then count backwards from one hundred.”

“Ouch! Little pinch!”

“Count, now!”

“One hundred, ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven, ninety….”

“Finally.” Riza worked quickly, not sure just how long he would stay out. She opened his leg, surgically implanted two kalcion rods and several screws to secure them to the bones. It would have been so much easier with a med-tech unit. But there were none on Gregara. They weren’t allowed. There were many things on the other civilized planets that weren’t allowed here, like blasters, but for some reason blasters always seemed to make it through the customs process. In Ruciem it seemed that as many people carried blasters as carried the traditional kalcion sword.

Most of the planet preferred to keep their customs, barbaric as they were. They used swords, not blasters and preferred the body to heal itself without help from technology. It made her work much more difficult. A broken leg like this one could have been healed in a few hours in a med-tech unit.

She stitched everything closed. Doing surgeries like this one allowed her to keep her skills sharp. It may not be necessary, but this man would have the smallest stitches ever put on a leg repair. Her skills as a plastic surgeon might not be usable here, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t keep her stitching up to par.

With her patient now awake and groggy, Riza went to talk to the next of kin. There was only one man in the waiting room. An extremely attractive man, if you liked handsome in a rugged sort of way. He hadn’t shaved recently and his inky black hair was on the long side, tied back with a leather strap. It suited him.

He stood as she approached. Well over six feet tall, he towered over her own five feet, ten inch height.

“Mr. Remaul?” she said holding out her hand.

“Yes.” His hand engulfed hers.

“I’m Riza Lamrona.”

“Doctor. How is Tarin?”

“He’ll be fine, but he’s going to have to stay in bed for a week or so before he’s ready to travel. I want to make sure the bones start to mend properly. Can you arrange that?”

“Of course. We have rooms at Wardson’s Bedstay.”

She nodded. “I wish there was a hospital here. A med-tech unit would be even better but….”

“I guess they don’t think they need one.”

“Well, he will heal fine, but it could be so much faster and better. You’re not from around here, are you?”

“No. I came from Alerkan a couple of years ago. And you, where are you from?”

“I’m from many places. Alerkan is one of them.” Riza retreated to her work. She didn’t want to make small talk. Her secrets were too dangerous. “Here are some pills to help with the pain. Have Tarin take them. Don’t let him try to ‘tough’ it out. Sarina Wardson is used to my sending her patients to care for. I’ll check on him in the morning.”

“What time do you want him here?”

“Oh, I’m staying with Sarina myself until I find a place of my own. I’ll come by before I head to work.”

“Good.”

“Yes. Um. Well. It was nice to meet you.” Riza wasn’t usually tongue-tied but she seemed to be with this man.

“You, too. Perhaps, since you are staying at Wardson’s, I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”

“Unless I get an emergency call, you can count on it.”

~~~~

BOOK PEEK ~ THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – HONORA by Cynthia Woolf

They stole her love, her life and want to steal the secrets secured in her mind. Secrets that could topple world governments and decimate quadrant security forever. Now she’s on an epic quest to find out why and make those responsible pay.

Honora Reyestat gave up everything to become a member of the esteemed Gregarian Guard. No family, no friends, no connections–nothing that can ever be used against her. Captured and enslaved, she’s become a prized gladiator for her master. Given the task of training a new slave, she recognizes a fellow Zolthor and the son of a tribal leader at that. Her mission changes from discovery of the enemy’s tactics and secrets to returning Joridan to his people.

Drawn to this fierce woman as no other, Joridan Dolana tries to explain she is wrong. He’s not Zolthor, he’s Centauri. He was raised on Centauri with his sister. Faced with proof of a father’s ultimate betrayal, he must choose between revenge and the protection of this woman who has sworn to never return his love.

~~~~

EXCERPT ~ THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – HONORA by Cynthia Woolf

“Oww” a woman’s voice awash with pain reached his ears.

“You disappoint me, Honora. You continue to try to escape me. When will you learn?” asked a whiney voiced man.

The whip struck flesh. Again the woman moaned but didn’t scream. She didn’t scream.

When he woke again he was not alone but the man with the whip was gone. Chained across the room from him, hung by her wrists, was a woman. He could see the lash marks on her back. Lash upon lash, new over old. They obstructed the beautiful tattoo of a dragon on her back. The blood hard to see within the red of the dragon.

Crawling to her he released her hands from the chains holding her up. She collapsed in a heap on the floor. He crawled back to his side of the room as darkness overtook him once more.

*****

The dried blood on her back cracked with each movement, but she worked through the pain as she stretched. Breathed deep and accepted the pain. Her sword weighed heavier in her hand than usual. More evidence of the lashing two nights ago. She looked down at the unconscious man at her feet. A new recruit. A Zolthor, like herself. Another reason Perdor punished her for her attempted escape, her sixth try in as many months.

This last punishment was the worst. Five lashes. Not enough to incapacitate her but enough to make her remember. Perdor wanted her to be able to train the new slave. He wanted them to be a team, good enough to take on all contenders. He’d be the only owner with two Zolthor fighting for him. Not just one, but a team. He was practically wetting himself in anticipation of the beras that he’ll win with a team of Zolthor fighters.

Again she looked down on the naked man. Long brown lashes lay against his cheek. A nice contrast to his golden blond hair. What color eyes did they hide? Blue? Green? Brown perhaps. She’d find out soon enough.

He was a beautiful man. Well formed. Broad shoulders. Trim waist. Long muscular legs. He looked like a warrior. Would be a good fighter. Maybe even a good lover as he appeared well endowed there as well.

He’d awakened from the drug induced sleep long enough to crawl over and release her from the chains. For that she was grateful. Her wrists didn’t hurt as much as usual because of him. Using her blades was easier than it had been after her previous punishments.

Time to wake up the sleeping man and get him trained. Time was short and she intended to make the most of it. He would learn or he would die.

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA AND HER SWORDS OF GREGARA SERIES:

Website: www.cynthiawoolf.com

Blog: www.cynthiawoolf.com/blog

Jenala – http://amzn.to/JFXEQv

Riza – http://amzn.to/IQv7mp

Honora – http://amzn.com/B00AS4MOJI

~~~~

Cynthia Woolf’s CENTAURI Series

I hope you enjoy the recipe Cynthia is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 72 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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MONSTER COOKIES

1 pound butter

1 dozen eggs

2 pounds brown sugar

4 cups white sugar

1 large package M&M

1 large package Reeses Pieces

1 large package chocolate chips

1 large package butterscotch chips

3 pounds peanut butter

8 teaspoons baking soda

1 tablespoon white Karo syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

18 cups oatmeal

In extra large bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, vanilla and sugars. Move to extra large soup pot. Add dry ingredients then add candies. Drop by tablespoon full. Makes 22 dozen cookies. Dough freezes well and the recipe can easily be cut in half or quarters.

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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Cynthia will give away a kindle gift (or Nook or Smashwords coupon) of SWORDS OF GREGARA – HONORA to one lucky reader, as well as a $5 Starbucks gift to a second lucky reader!! Comment on either her Monday Interview and/or Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs for a chance to win. Winners will be randomly selected and announced Monday, January 21, 2013. Thanks, Cynthia, for sharing your stories with us!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with Jodie Pierce

December 28, 2012 Karen Docter Leave a comment

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with JODIE PIERCE

Introducing author, JODIE PIERCE, and her favorite recipe for CHEESECAKE!

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About the author, Jodie Pierce….

Jodie Pierce is thirty-seven years old and lives with her hubby, John in Cleveland, Ohio along with four beautiful step-children. She has had a fascination with vampires since they were introduced to her as a child and has had a long history with them. It wasn’t until she started reading the Anne Rice vampire books that she was truly inspired. She was an exchange student in Brasil in high school so you can find some of her experiences from there in her stories. Many of her stories have historical or researched facts as she also enjoys research and learning about new places. She has published five short novels (Eternal Press), a short story in “Midnight Thirst 2”, an anthology(Melange Books), has two self-published books and has several short stories that she still works on. She’s always busy with the next great vampire story as her mind is non-stop and even plagues her dreams.

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BOOK PEEK ~ THE DEMISE OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN by Jodie Pierce

The Queen is once again ruling her subjects only this time it is a school for the ‘different’ children in Scotland. A school full of vampires, witches, warlocks, elves and fairies, one that is feared and hated by all who attend. A new group of witches and warlocks show up to her gates and cause all kinds of havoc within the school. Vampires and witches are at odds and only a few can see the survival of the school. An ancient lover and the Queen are reunited but at what costs? A new, as well as an old lover unite to attempt to take the Queen off her throne. Will it work? Will the Queen maintain her horrendous rule over the students? Can the spells woven work and change history? All will be told in the end.

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CONNECT WITH JODIE AND HER BOOKS:

http://www.thevampirequeen1@gmail.com

http://www.thevampirequeen1.weebly.com

http://www.thevampirequeen1.blogspot.com

http://www.jodiepierceauthor.blogspot.com/

http://www.vampiricallyrical.blogspot.com

www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/Sink_Your_Fangs_In
www.goodreads.com/user/show/5216941-jodie-pierce
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jodie-pierce/25/357/b22Twitter: vampiregdshttp://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/thevampirequeen https://www.facebook.com/jodie.pierce.14

http://www.facebook.com/jodie.pierce.779

http://www.facebook.com/VampiricalLyrical

http://www.facebook.com/authors.authority

Here are some of my buy links (I’ve only included my traditioinally published books)

The Vampire Queen:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Vampire-Queen-Jodie-Pierce/dp/1615723625/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356565598&sr=8-1&keywords=jodie+pierce

The Vampire Chronicles:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Vampire-Chronicles-Jodie-Pierce/dp/1615725814/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1356565598&sr=8-3&keywords=jodie+pierce

Demise of the Vampire Queen:

http://www.amazon.com/Demise-Vampire-Queen-Jodie-Pierce/dp/1615728074/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1356565598&sr=8-5&keywords=jodie+pierce

Condemned By A Vampire:

http://www.amazon.com/Condemned-Vampire-Jodie-Pierce/dp/1615726497/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&qid=1356565759&sr=8-24&keywords=jodie+pierce

Please also buy (all can be found on amazon & smashwords):

The Reluctant Vampire-self-published YA paranormal romance

Tales of the Vampire: From A-Z-self published personal anthology

Once Sanguist, Twice Bi-self published lesbian erotic paranormal romance

Midnight Thirsts 2-Traditionally published anthology

I hope you enjoy the recipe Jodie is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 71 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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CHEESECAKE

2 8-oz packages of cream cheese

2-tubes of crescent rolls

1-cup sugar

1-egg separated

1 tsp. vanilla

Sprinkle cinnamon (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread out one tube of crescent roll on wax paper so it’s 11×9 size. Grease bottom of 11×9 baking pan and place crescent roll in bottom. Stretch to fit all sides. Mix together cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and egg yolk until creamy. Spread mixture on top of crescent roll in pan. Spread out second crescent roll on wax paper to size of pan. Peel off and place on top of cream cheese mixture, spreading to all sides of the pan. Whip up the egg white and lightly brush it on top of crescent roll. Sprinkle sugar on top and finish with a light dusting of cinnamon on top (optional). Bake for 25 mins or until golden brown. Chill completely and serve cold. Enjoy!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special Triple with Deborah Palumbo

December 7, 2012 Karen Docter 1 Comment

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL TRIPLE** with DEBORAH PALUMBO

Introducing author, DEBORAH PALUMBO, and her favorite recipe for SWEET POTATO & CARAMELIZED APPLES CASSEROLE!

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About the author, Deborah Palumbo….

First let me say this is really exciting, being here again on your wonderful blog, sharing my books with you and a favorite recipe!!

I’m a self-pubbed fiction author now but I began as a young gal who from age 7 through 18 wrote poems for God, but I always wanted to write novels; it was something innate. That dream however, didn’t happen until I was unfortunately stricken with a debilitating illness; as a result, I have 9 novels published on Amazon and many more are sitting in my file waiting to be dusted off!

I spin yarns in several genres, available as ebooks and paperback: Paranormal…laced with mystery and romance, historical, and mystery/crime…you know who dunnit with frustrated detectives who are hot on the trail of some killer. The one element they all have in common is they are all mystery based.

I also co-wrote a screenplay with actor/writer Jordan Rhodes. I loved the experience immensely, but writing novels is still much preferred.

Okay so now that we’ve gotten my humble bio out of the way, we’re ready for the meat and potatoes.

You know, this was a difficult decision for me deciding which of my mystery/crime novels to spotlight, ( last time I discussed my vampire series The Undeparted) so I decided to do a little blurb about all three, but mainly focus on my crime noir with a vintage detective, When the Temperature Rises. I realize crime noir requires certain taste buds, but I just happen to love the Detective McAllister series… Book 2 is a WIP by the way….and hope you guys feel the same way!

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BOOK PEEK 1 ~ WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES by Deborah Palumbo

Before I take you for a spin in Detective Humphrey McAllister’s 1941 black Ford Sedan right up to the crime scene of Sam Santino’s murder, I want to explain some things to you about Humphrey.

Humphrey was constantly skirt chasing; blonde dames were like magnets and he had absolutely no self control. His other device was consuming too much of the funny water. Yeah, yeah he shook those nasty habits like dance hall girls doing the hoochie coochie, but it’s hard to prove you’ve got your act together. Pot bellied Captain Milroy has lost all faith in his Detective and reluctantly turns over the Santino case to Humph. Humph has 48 hours to solve it or he’s gonna be demoted from homicide to following bed jumpers at sleazy motels.

Let’s fast forward just a bit shall we. Santino got himself whacked pretty good. He’s shot up full of bullet holes so that he looks like a damn piece of swiss cheese. He’s alive when Humphrey arrives, barely alive; Humphrey dials the emergency wagon for poor Sam, but Sam expires before the wagon arrives. Before his unfortunate demise though he tries to convey some kind of message to Humphrey, but he has too much lead in him to complete a sentence. There might be a clue though but Humphrey can’t decipher it.

So, Humphrey sweeps the apartment for tangible clues and one clue leads to another and takes Humphrey on a journey to some pretty interesting people on his list; some are voluptuous blonde dames that attract the Detective like magnets, others are boxers who could lay Humphrey out with one right hook. But the most interesting suspect comes right out of left field like some fly ball: Roberta, Humphrey’s ex wife.

Now what you have to understand about Humphrey is he’s still carrying a torch for Roberta, so hauling her in is the last thing he wants to do. In fact, Humphrey’s thinking he’ll see ice skating in hell before he slaps handcuffs on her.

So anyway, he pulls up to Roberta’s quaint rancher with the green shutters and wants to see if he can shake that feeling about her guilt, but when Ro’s cat Tuna gets out of the house and dashes into the bushes, Humphrey does the gentlemanly thing and scoots down through the bushes to save Tuna. That’s when Humphrey gets the shock of his life!

Now I can’t tell you bupkis about what happened for obvious reasons. Whether or not he slaps a steel bracelet on his ex and hauls her off or not or let’s her walk into the sunset….well, you’ll have to read the novel WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES to find out!

If you do I sure hope you enjoy it!

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book: “So you wanna make the bedsprings bounce?”

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES by Deborah Palumbo

EXCERPT

June eleventh 1948

All right, so he wasn’t the brightest bulb down at headquarters, and so what if his specialty was peeking between the sheets and not those fancy crimes of murder and mayhem. A crime was a crime and sheet hopping was illegal, well, when money was exchanged that is. And another thing, a man should have a second chance; he has the right to redeem himself, especially when he hasn’t had a drop of the fancy water in two years and wasn’t doll dizzy anymore. That irrepressible soft spot for the dames, well, it was repressible after all. Too bad his wife wasn’t around to congratulate him. Besides, Humphrey McAllister had his good points. He was an eager beaver, had a lot to prove, could be a class A detective only if; only if he stays sober and keeps his pants zipped up that is; so the Captain really should stop busting his chops and cut old Humphrey a break. Humph was working hard on his deficiencies. He was determined to prove he had what it takes to make it in homicide.

BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/B0096CGW3W/ref=sib_dp_kd#reader-link

BOOK PEEK 2 ~ THE DOCTORS by Deborah Palumbo

The FBI agent, Donald P. Cobbs who wears big Stetsons and lizard boots in god awful colors can’t believe his ears. It’s the third informant from his case that died in some kind of freak accident. Now he’s gotta wait for another green horn fresh out of residency to be hired by Lanny Loch and Richard Pathroff and hope the new guy on the block will be his newest informer. Or victim? Hence Adam J. Frye.

Adam and his wife Maggie think the hard days of med school and residency are behind them; the money will start rolling in, life will be smooth working for Doctors Loch and Pathroff, but their dreams are shattered when some cowboy FBI agent pays them a visit informing Adam that his life is in grave danger. He’s the fourth associate of Loch and Pathroff. The other three are dead. As doornails.

It isn’t long after Cobbs’ visit that Adam gets suspicious over the sudden deaths of some of his healthy patients. The straw that breaks the camel’s back is a young woman who comes to Frye with suspicions of her father’s untimely death and asks him to “check things out.” That’s when Adam decides to help the FBI. He and Maggie uncover a diabolical scheme that involves the mob.

Adam having aroused suspicion unknowingly by one of the mob’s key players, is on their watch list. Suddenly the tables turn on Adam when he’s set up on his own wire. He’s guilty in everybody’s eyes. He’s got to prove his innocence to the FBI, and he’s got to do this before he’s either thrown in jail or killed by the mob; made fish bait like the last unsuspecting associate. He can’t make an error, it’s life or death.

THE DOCTORS by Deborah Palumbo

EXCERPT

His brain was numb. Who could be ringing his doorbell at 3:30 in the morning? He decided to ignore it and stay in bed, but the bell was persistent. It could be a neighbor in distress. Should he get involved? It could be some juvenile delinquent playing a prank. Come to think of it, neighbors had been complaining about the element in the neighborhood lately, delinquent kids playing jokes that weren’t so funny, like spray painting cars and breaking windows. People didn’t have enough money to buy themselves groceries let alone get a new paint job for their cars or repair broken windows. Things were tough on some of those Philadelphia streets.

The doorbell buzzed over and over again. It got on Jim’s nerves and his sleepy disposition succumbed to anger. Those nasty brats needed a good lesson and he was just the guy to give it to them too. A reformed delinquent himself, he knew how to handle punks, the kind he once was. He flung the blue swirled cover off of himself, the warmth of it gone; he was in black boxers and was bare chested with a myriad of ugly blue tattoos from those days in the gang. He stepped out of bed, grabbed the trousers he had worn only hours before, they were flung over a flea market chair next to an old bureau loaded with dust, and pulled them up around his thirty two inch waist. His wallet fell out of the pocket; he picked it up and stuffed it back in. He pulled the hoodie over his dark hair, stepped right into his carefully placed slippers by the side of his bed and shuffled to the door. He hit the intercom like a fool, knowing darn well nobody would answer him, which they didn’t. He looked out of the peephole into the hallway; the light was out so he couldn’t see anyone or anything in the inky dark. If he didn’t put an end to it then and there, scare the shit out of those numbskulls, they’d be back again, waking him up out of a sound sleep the next night. He knew they were getting off waking people up in the middle of the night. It had to end before it became habitual. But he’d have to go chase them down the flight of stairs; no doubt they ran faster than he did. Still, he had a few good sprints left in him. Besides, he was already awake, so the decision was made.

BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/B007WL4CRM/ref=sib_dp_kd#reader-link

BOOK PEEK 3 ~ EDGE OF DARKNESS by Deborah Palumbo

“Edge of darkness is a taut suspenseful Detective thriller laced with humor that reminds one of the wit displayed by the character of Lenny from Law & Order. It’s an interesting read that would easily translate to film as it conveys visuals to the reader. For every Mickey Spillane fan out there – Mickey’s back – only he’s a female and her name is Deborah Palumbo” … JORDAN RHODES Actor/writer

BLURB: I’m not sure who I feel more sorry for: Alicia or Lieutenant Navarro. Alicia just lost her fiance to the hands of a vicious killer and is now being stalked by the same maniac who killed her boyfriend. She’s petrified because she knows he’s coming close and is determined to get her. Problem is, Lieutenant Navarro who is earnestly trying to protect her and solve the case is being accused by Alicia of being the killer. Everything sort of snowballs out of control for Navarro and suddenly he finds himself engulfed in circumstantial evidence that sure makes it seem that he is the cold blooded murderer.

He’s got to catch the killer now not only to keep Alicia and others safe but to prove his innocence.

But all he’s got is gut instinct. He’s got absolutely no proof, no evidence, no clues; not even the circumstantial garbage the DA loves to throw away in the trash.

One thing, a little hint: People aren’t what they seem.

BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/B007D3SM48/ref=sib_dp_kd#reader-link

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CONNECT WITH DEBORAH AT THE FOLLOWING HAUNTS:

WEBSITE: www.deborahpalumbo.com

BLOG: http://deborahpalumbotheundeparted.blogspot.com/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/deborahpalumbo2

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6441876.Deborah_Palumbo

I hope you enjoy the recipe Deborah is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 68 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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A NOTE FROM DEBBIE: YUMMY RECIPE, my very own concoction!

SWEET POTATO & CARAMELIZED APPLES CASSEROLE

Two large sweet potatoes
Two red delicious apples
Couple of tablespoons of butter, or as needed
1/3 to 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

Peel potatoes and slice in rounds. Place a single layer in buttered baking dish (8×8) and top with a layer of peeled, cored and sliced apple. Drop a dollop of butter over top and sprinkle sugar/cinnamon/salt mixture. Repeat the steps until all gone. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes to 1 hour.

For variety you may add raisins and caramelized onion to layers….it’s all scrumptious!

Serve this as a side dish with ham or beef, or with lunch. I suggest a provolone grilled cheese on seven grain bread with hot and sweet mustard. The sweet potato and caramelized apple casserole is a delicious side with a grilled provolone sandwich.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with Terri L. Austin

November 23, 2012 Karen Docter 12 Comments

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with TERRI L. AUSTIN

Introducing author, TERRI L. AUSTIN, and her favorite recipe for PUMPKIN BREAD!

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BOOK PEEK ~ LAST DINER STANDING by Terri L. Austin

Henery Press
978 1938383083
Released December 3, 2012

Rose Strickland is having a blue Christmas. Her friend is arrested for attempted murder, her sexy bad guy crush is marked by a hit man, and her boss is locked in an epic smackdown with a rival diner. Determined to save those she loves, Rose embarks on an investigation more tangled than a box of last year’s tree lights. With her eclectic gang at the ready, Rose stumbles across dead bodies, ex-cons, jilted lovers, and a gaggle of strippers as she searches for the truth. What she finds will leave her entrenched in a battle for freedom she might not survive.

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About the author, Terri L. Austin….

Terri L. Austin lives in Missouri with her funny, handsome husband and a high maintenance peekapoo. She’s the author of Diners, Dives and Dead Ends—a Rose Strickland Mystery. “Austin’s debut kicks off her planned series by introducing a quirky, feisty heroine and a great supporting cast of characters and putting them through quite a number of interesting twists.” Kirkus Reviews

She loves to hear from readers and you can finder her on Twitter, FB, Goodreads, TerriLAustin.com, and Henery Press. Terri and some of her writer friends have a Wednesday book chat on Little Read Hens. Stop by and join the conversation.

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LAST DINER STANDING by Terri L. Austin

EXCERPT

There are some absolutes in this life that are irrefutable. If you leave the house looking like crap, you’ll see someone you know, usually an ex-boyfriend. If you’re running late for an appointment, you’ll hit every red light on the way. And a three a.m. phone call is never good news. Either someone’s dead, in the hospital, or you’re a drunken booty call. But that Saturday morning, I discovered another reason to avoid the ringing harbinger of bad news.

“’ello,” I answered, my eyes still closed.

“Rose, I’m in jail, girl.”

I sniffed and sat up on my futon. “Janelle?”

“Of course it’s Janelle. They think I tried to kill Asshat.”

Scrubbing a hand over my eyes, I glanced at the clock. “Asshat?”

Janelle lowered her voice. “Rose, wake up and listen. I’m in jail, Asshat’s in a coma, and they’re saying I tried to kill him. I need help.”

Her dilemma finally penetrated my sleep-fogged brain. “Oh my God. Where are the kids?” Janelle had two, Damon, nine, and Sherise, seven. Both so cute you wanted to pinch their little cheeks. But I wouldn’t recommend it—that Sherise was a biter.

“They’re staying with my cousin, Sondra. But I got to get out of here. If they think I’m spending Christmas in jail then I’m Halle Damn Berry.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Call that fancy lawyer you know. He’ll figure it out.”

Dane Harker. “I’ll call him and come see you in the morning. Will they let me bring you anything?”

“Cigarettes and toiletries. These bitches trade everything for cigarettes. And Rose? Thanks.”

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Connect with Terri L. Austin & her books:

Terri and some of her writer friends have a Wednesday book chat on Little Read Hens

Amazon

B&N

I hope you enjoy the recipe Terri is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 66 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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A Note from Terri: Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the changing leaves, the hint of wood smoke in the air, and pumpkins. I make this delicious bread whenever my kids are home from college. The spicy pumpkin smell fills the house and makes me happy. I’ve adapted this recipe from Gifts of Good Taste published by Leisure Arts in 1989.

PUMPKIN BREAD
[Makes 2 loaves]

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour and it works beautifully)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups brown sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup sour cream
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups pumpkin
2/3 cup water
1 ½ cups chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, spices, and sugars. Add oil, sour cream, eggs, pumpkin, and water. Combine until well blended. Stir in pecans. Lightly grease two 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. Pour batter into pans and bake 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool before removing from pans. Enjoy!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with Cathy Perkins

November 16, 2012 Karen Docter Leave a comment

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with CATHY PERKINS

Introducing author, CATHY PERKINS, and her favorite recipe for SMOKEY SPICE WINTER SQUASH SOUP!

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BOOK PEEK ~ HONOR CODE by Cathy Perkins

With HONOR CODE, award-winning author Cathy Perkins delivers a mystery NOVELLA linked to her recent mystery novel, THE PROFESSOR.

In a small southern town where everyone knows each other’s business, veteran detective Larry Robbins must solve the disappearance of eighty-year-old widower George Beason.

When evidence arises that Beason may have left town on his own, it would be easy for Robbins to close the case, but his gut instinct tells him more’s at stake. As he uncovers clues about Beason’s deceased wife and his estranged daughter, Robbins must untangle conflicting motives and hidden agendas to bring Beason home alive.

About the author, Cathy Perkins….

Cathy Perkins’ suspense writing lurks behind a financial day-job, where she learned firsthand the camouflage, hide in plain sight, skills employed by her villains. Born and raised in South Carolina, the setting for HONOR CODE and THE PROFESSOR, she now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her work-a-holic husband and a 75-pound Lab who thinks she’s still a lap-puppy. You can learn more on her website http://cperkinswrites.com

Connect with Cathy Perkins & her books:

Website http://cperkinswrites.com

Amazon http://amzn.to/QV32k6

I hope you enjoy the recipe Cathy is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 65 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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A Note From Cathy: Are you deep into NaNo, looking for a simple meal (time saver with the holidays right around the corner) or a hearty winter soup? Smokey Winter Squash Soup gives you all the above – and flexibility depending on what’s in your cupboard. My kids love this soup (a way to get vegetables into them!) and I love being able to toss everything into the cooker in the morning and know dinner’s taken care of for the day.

SMOKEY SPICE WINTER SQUASH SOUP
[Makes 8 generous servings]

1 medium sized winter squash (~2 – 3 pounds)
4 cups chicken stock
Red pepper – use 3 – 5 if using prepared roasted ones or 1 large fresh one
Garlic – 4 cloves minced or 3 Tbs prepared
1 large onion
¼ tsp ginger, minced (or ½ tsp ground)
½ cup peanut butter
1 can garbanzo beans (or substitute Great Northern or any white bean you prefer)
¼ tsp Chipotle pepper (this is where the ‘smokey’ comes from; substitute red pepper if you prefer)
Pinch cardamom (substitute ¼ tsp cloves or nutmeg)
¼ – ½ tsp mustard (I’ve actually substituted Dijon mustard here)
½ tsp cumin

Chop up the winter squash and either roast for 20 minutes or microwave 5 minutes. Allow to cool, then peel and place in soup pot or slow cooker

Add chicken stock and remaining ingredients. Cook low and slow until everything is tender. I set me slow cooker for 4 hours and check to see if the squash is tender. Add time as needed – don’t worry about overcooking, it just gets better the longer the soup ingredients have to mingle. Taste and add seasonings if desired.

Blend until smooth. (I use an immersion blender but a hand mixer or the old standby blender work as well)

Serve with crusty bread and a green salad. 8 generous servings

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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Cathy will give away one copy of HONOR CODE to one lucky reader!! Comment on her Karen’s Killer Fixin’s *Author Special* blog for a chance to win. Winner will be randomly selected and announced Monday, November 19, 2012. Thanks, Cathy, for sharing your story with us!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with Deborah Palumbo

November 2, 2012 Karen Docter 8 Comments

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with DEBORAH PALUMBO

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of his favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors.

Introducing author, DEBORAH PALUMBO, and her favorite recipe for PUMPKIN PANCAKES WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS & CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM!

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BOOK PEEK ~ THE BANISHED ONE by Deborah Palumbo

The Banished One, a serial killer vampire also named Lucius, is still wreaking havoc on the sleepy town in Tower City, and since he’s supernatural he can’t be captured by normal police procedure . A frustrated Lieutenant Welby, a staunch disbeliever in vampires is finally convinced he’s got a serial killer vampire on the loose and follows the old town rumors about vampires right to Quentin and his gothic castle to enlist Quentin’s supernatural aid in capturing Lucius. The question is, will Quentin make the Lieutenant one of The Undeparted, or will he battle Lucius and send him to hell?

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About the author, Deborah Palumbo….

I’m a self-pubbed author spinning yarns in two genres available in ebook and paperback on amazon…historical and paranormal laced with mystery and sometime spice…and Mystery/crime; you know, who dunnit with frustrated detectives who are hot on the trail of some killer.

I also co-wrote a screenplay with the acclaimed actor/writer Jordan Rhodes. www.jordanrhodes.com

I was honored to have caught Jordan’s attention with my mystery crime novel EDGE OF DARKNESS, hence his invitation to co-write with him. He wrote a review of me and my novel I’d love to share with you if you don’t mind a little bragging:

I wish I could say that I write these tales of love and murder and mayhem behind an antique desk, but the fact is I write in my king bed with my pillows scrunched up behind me! I began this whole writing journey when I became bedridden and homebound. Talk about fate. I had always wanted to write novels, since I was a kid, but it took a period of long confinement to bring about that dream.

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THE BANISHED ONE by Deborah Palumbo

EXCERPT

Suddenly a chemical shot through Lucius while he was watching that sexy female, similar to a feeling when he was mortal and checking out a hot babe. But this desire in his vampire state was more intense, almost electrified and mingled with this lustful craving for blood. He had to drink from her neck; taste her life’s essence, and he had to get laid. There was no fighting it, no self-control. He was accustomed to indulging every desire, no matter if they were spontaneous eruptions from some surging chemical, or a well-planned rendezvous.

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Connect with Deborah Palumbo & her books:

WEBSITE: www.deborahpalumbo.com

BLOG: http://deborahpalumbotheundeparted.blogspot.com/

AMAZON BOOK PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=deborah+palumbo&x=6&y=19

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/deborahpalumbo2

GOODREADS:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6441876.Deborah_Palumbo

WANTED: 1500 PEOPLE TO BORROW MY BOOKS FREE THIS MONTH BY JOINING AMAZON PRIME MEMBERS 1 MO FREE TRIAL.
Join up and borrow and all of DEBORAH PALUMBO books for FREE! http://amzn.to/SignupPrime via @amazon

I hope you enjoy the recipe Deborah is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 63 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PUMPKIN PANCAKES WITH CARMELIZED BANANAS & CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM

Here’s a wonderful Autumn recipe for everyone! How about some pumpkin pancakes with caramelized bananas with cinnamon whipped cream to go with your cup of java? Does that sound scrumptious or what!

Pumpkin Pancakes:

1 cup pastry flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/16 teaspoon cloves
1/16 teaspoon nutmeg
1/16 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 cup half-and-half
1-ounce melted butter
4 egg whites, whipped to soft peak
2 tablespoon vegetable oil

Caramelized Bananas:

4 bananas, cut in half lengthwise
2 ounces butter
4 tablespoons sugar

Cinnamon Whipped Cream:

4 ounces whipped cream
Cinnamon
1 tablespoon sugar

To make pancakes, sift together all of the dry ingredients. In a bowl, combine the puree, whole eggs, and the half-and-half. Add the flour mixture and stir, being careful not to over mix the batter. Finish with the melted butter. Gently fold in 1/2 the egg whites to loosen the batter and when the whites are nearly incorporated, fold in the remaining egg whites.

Heat the griddle to medium heat. Drizzle enough vegetable oil to prevent sticking and spoon batter onto griddle, spreading them with the back of the spoon. When pancakes are golden brown, flip to finish cooking.

Cut the bananas in 1/2 lengthwise. Heat a saute pan to medium and melt the butter and sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves and begins to caramelize. Add the bananas and toss to coat.

To prepare the whipped cream, whisk the cream, cinnamon, and sugar in a bowl until it holds a stiff peak.

To serve, stack the pancakes on each plate. Spoon syrup over the pancakes, top with the caramelized bananas and a dollop of cinnamon whipped cream.

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I want to thank you Karen for your gracious hospitality here on your blog! I had a great time and look forward to being friends.

Deborah Palumbo

Karen's Book Bench