Happy Halloween

                                                  Have a safe and fun Halloween.

The Dilemma of Creating Believable Characters

As I finish up revisions for Honor Bound, I've been jotting down ideas about the heroine in the next book on the series. Ava discovers a special affinity for animals. They seem to be drawn to her and she to them.

I keep having an image of her sitting in a grassy field or meadow surrounded by forest animals like rabbits, deer, and birds. Sort of like a scene out of Snow White where she's depicted with birds eating out of her hand and other woodland creatures coming up to her.

I'd like to include a scene like what I've described above, but I want it to come across as believable at the same time. I don't have a problem with having paranormal elements in the story, but I don't want her affinity with animals to related to or due to a "special power." I'm trying to figure out how I can portray animals being drawn to Ava because of who she is, because of her innate compassion and kindness. But even as I write that last sentence, I wonder if that would be less believable than animals being drawn to her because some paranormal reason.

It's something I'm going to have to figure out how to handle if I do end up including her special bond with animals. My other option is leaving that character trait out of the story and I'm not sure I really want to do that.

This I know for sure...

I sometimes have a hard time coming up with things to write about in This I Know For Sure posts.

I don't travel unless you count visiting my nephew and his family in Ithaca, NY once a year or so. Since he only lives about two hours away, I'm not sure that's actually considered traveling.

I don't have any little ones, other than the cats, to share exploits of or about. My job certainly isn't exciting enough to share stories about. Now if I were a nurse or a firefighter like my sister and nephew...

I do like to keep up with what's happening in the area where I live and in the world, but who wants to read about the depressing state of the US on a blog when you hear about it on the news every day. I read a lot, but include what I'm reading at the time in my Wednesday posts.

I write of course. I don't talk about it much to people who aren't writers because you start talking about your characters and such and you can actually see the person's eyes glaze over in boredom.

I enjoy doing various types of crafts like crocheting, cross stitching and making cards for birthdays, holidays, and such for friends and family. Sharing craft stories can be off putting to people who don't enjoy crafting so I don't post much about it. On occasion, I will post pictures of the cards I've made.

So the gist of this post?  I must live a very boring life. 😄

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): I finished the revisions/edits on three more chapters. Getting closer to the end. This week I have two appointments after work so I'm not sure how much I'll get accomplished revision-wise. I'm going to focus on getting my writing group assignment done as it's due next Tuesday.

Quote of the Week: "Discipline is doing what needs to be done, even if you don't want to do it." ~ Unknown

What I'm Reading: I just started Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab. This is the first book in the A Mind For Murder mystery series. There are three books in the series. 

Random Thoughts: Looking forward to seeing the Bohemian Rhapsody movie which opens in my area on 11/1. 

Random Photo of the Week:

                                         Mrs. Green likes to share my sweater.

Another Way to Enjoy Chocolate

We had a new stove delivered last Friday because the oven in the old one wouldn't warm past 150 degrees. With the colder weather settling in, I definitely needed an oven that actually heated up. To  test out the new one, I made Chocolate Babka. It's a coffee cake like bread. It goes great with a hot cup of coffee (or tea) and the Sunday paper.

The best recipe I've found, and I've tried a few different ones, is from the King Arthur flour website.  I do have to admit that I don't always use the King Arthur brand. I use whatever brand of flour I have in the house and it works out fine. I also usually buy just enough dry milk powder from the local grocery store's bulk food section that I need for the recipe rather than buy a whole container that I may never use up before the expiration date comes up. 

Here's what it looks like: 

 And here's the link to the recipe - King Arthur Flour - Chocolate Babka Recipe
I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.

This I know for sure...

Do you play the lottery? I don't play with any real regularity, just now and then when the mood strikes. I am playing the Mega Millions lottery today with a couple of co-workers. We're hoping it will increase our odds of winning.

I don't usually play when the jackpot is so huge because it seems like everyone plays at that time even if they don't normally so it makes it even more impossible to win.

I'm not hoping to win the jackpot, but I'd love to win maybe the 3rd or 4th prize amount. It seems more attainable, but most likely not by much.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): I did so few pages last week that I almost want to say I didn't make any progress. Here's to a better week this week.

Quote of the Week: “Your goals are important. They are worthy, and worth doing well. So invest time and thought into planning for a pace that can lead you to success.” ~ Allie Pleiter (paraphrased)

What I'm Reading: I'm reading If I Only Had A Duke by Lenora Bell. This is the second book in the Disgraceful Dukes series. I should be done reading it by the end of the week.

Random Thoughts: My great-nephew's first birthday party was this past weekend. It's hard to believe a year has gone by since he was born.

Random Photo of the Week:

Mrs. Green likes to sleep in the laundry basket. It doesn't matter if there's laundry in it or not.

Apologies

Due to unforeseen circumstances, no post today. 😞

This I know for sure...

I try very hard not to post anything here that might be considered inflammatory. With Hurricane Michael battering the south earlier this week and Hurricane Florence occurring not to long ago, I really felt compelled to write this post.

If you or your loved ones are going to be in the path of a hurricane, wild fire, or the like and are told you should evacuate, please do so. Don't stay in your home thinking you'll be fine and will ride it out. Then flooding happens or the fire is bearing down on your home and you need help getting out of your home so you call first responders to come get you.

I realize the job of first responders is to aid citizens, but their job is to help people who are involved in accidents or events beyond their control, not to help people who were given the opportunity to get out of the path of danger and destruction and chose not to.

Every time you or your loved one stays in an area that has been told to evacuate and then call for help from first responders, you are putting the first responder in my family and in many other families in danger because you were too stubborn to listen to the authorities and seek shelter elsewhere.

I feel that if you or your loved ones want to stay in your home regardless of the oncoming weather/fire, then you are on your own regardless of what might happen. NO first responders should be required to come to your rescue. You made the choice to risk your life or the lives of your loved ones and should have to take responsibility for that whatever the outcome may be. 

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): I managed to get about 20 pages done last week. At this rate, I won't be done by the middle of the month. I'm hoping to get a lot done this week, though even if I'm successful I most likely won't finish the book until the end of the month.

Quote of the Week: "The ones who believed in themselves the most were the ones who won." ~ Florence Griffith Joyner

What I'm Reading: I've set aside Tailspin by Sandra Brown to read The Duke With The Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne. This is the 6th book in the Victorian Rebels series. I love this series and am really enjoying this book.

Random Thoughts: My cat back to his normal self in terms of eating and playing. I'm hoping the seizure was a one time thing and won't happen again. I'm taking him back to the vet for another blood test at the end of the week. His white blood cell count was low when they tested it a week and a half ago. They want to retest it to see if it's still low or if it has rebounded to a normal level or is at least showing an upward trend. Since he is acting like he always has before, I'm hoping his white blood cell count is in a good range.

Random Photo of the Week:

                    Mrs. Green likes to sleep in the laundry basket whether it's full or not.
 

A Writer's Process

I ran across a book titled The Writing Life edited by Marie Arana while at my local library. It's a collection of essays from the Washington Post Book World. The essays are on a variety of topics such as becoming a writer, using raw material, searching for a publisher, critics, and more. Each of the essays was written by a well-known author or such notable people as former president Jimmy Carter.

I'm sharing this information because I found some of the essays fascinating from the viewpoint of a reader. It was interesting to see how authors like Joyce Carol Oates, Mary Higgins Clark, Patricia Cornwell, Ray Bradbury, Carl Sagan and more approached the writing process.

I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

This I know for sure...

One of my sisters has been going through a rough time the last year or so. I've tried to help her in any way I could by offering support, helping with paperwork, going to appointments with her, even just listening to her voice her worries, fears, and concerns.

She finally received good news in the middle of last month and is doing much better all the way around. I'm sure the relief from the constant stress of worrying has gone a long way to help her feel like she's finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

She stopped by my house Wednesday morning to visit with our mother who lives with me. She said she made sure to come early enough to see me before I left for work. She brought me a thank you gift for everything I'd done for her. Everything I did, I did because I wanted to help and because she's my sister, not because I expected anything in return.

The gift she gave me is a very expensive set of artist grade colored pencils that I was coveting but really couldn't justify the expense for. When she gave them to me, she said she thought I could use them when I make cards for birthdays, holidays, and such without even knowing that I wanted a set. I guess your family really does know you best.  😊

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): My mom and I both had separate appointments two days last week. One of my cats had a seizure on Wednesday night. I spent the next two days back and forth at the vet's office so I didn't get any writing done last week. 

Quote of the Week: "Fall in love with the process and the results will come." ~ Eric Thomas

What I'm Reading: I started reading Tailspin by Sandra Brown on Monday night. 

Random Thoughts:  My cat is still undergoing testing to find out what caused his seizure. In the past I've often wished he could talk to me. Now more than ever, I wish he could talk so he can tell me how he's feeling and if he's okay.

Random Photo of the Week:

                   
                            Somebody resting and hopefully on the road to recovery.

 

Drowning in Cornmeal

I bought cornmeal to use for a couple of bread recipes that called for it to be used on the bottom of the loaf, like an English muffin or some types of pizza. Unfortunately, the smallest bag my local grocery store carries is a 2 pound bag which was much, much more than I needed.

I like to make corn muffins from time to time so I didn't think I'd have any problem using the leftover cornmeal. Well, I've made muffins three times so far and still have about half of the bag left. I went hunting for some different recipes I could make to use the rest of it.

My sister has a cookbook titled The Perfect Cookie by the Editors at America's Test Kitchen. When I mentioned my dilemma. She told me there were a couple of recipes in the book using cornmeal. This weekend I made one of them - Cornmeal-Orange Cookies.

Due to the copyright, I don't want to include the recipe in this post, but I will say that the cookies are very similar to shortbread type of cookie. While the recipe only calls for orange zest, I added 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract and used 1/2 teaspoon less of the vanilla extract called for.

They turned out pretty well and go great with a cup of hot tea.