Merry Christmas

Wishing you a joyous season filled with peace and love.

One Loving Thing Day (December 21st)

We’ve had dark times this year filled with sadness and grief.  Our hearts are heavy and we feel helpless, lost, alone. But I think there is something beautiful we can do to help one another and I hope you will join me.

In the Northern Hemisphere, December 21^st is our shortest, darkest, day of the year.  Right now it might feel that the darkness will never end. The truth is that every day after December 21^st will be longer and brighter. Each day to come can be full of hope if we support one another.

The last three years, I challenged people on CNN.com to bring sunshine to others by going out and doing one loving thing on December 21st.  Just one thing.  I was blown away by the responses I received.  A woman who had lost her job and her home stepped up to the plate to help others.  Several people participated.  It was really moving.

These are tough times. Let’s help one another by opening our arms.

I challenge you again to do one act of kindness for a loved one or total stranger on December 21st. That's all. It doesn't have to be earth moving, just a simple thing that shows you care. You can leave a comment as to what the thing was, or tell what loving thing someone did for you.

Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, this will be the best darkest day ever.

Thank you!

Happy Day

Exactly twenty-four years ago I walked into the Santa Barbara Mission and married my best friend, my one great love, the other half of my heart.

Today, I am still smiling.

Still hopelessly, deeply in  love.

Still sappy. Ah, what can I say? I'm a romantic.

XO

The Next Big Thing

Hi gang,

The wonderful and brilliant writer, Orly Konig-Lopez (Orly's website) tagged me to play a game called The Next Big Thing in which authors hold the microphone for a minute, answer ten questions about the stories they are working on, and then pass the mic to five other authors. It is has been illuminating. And fun.

Here is my shot at the microphone:

What is your working title of your book?

I am still throwing names at the wall. Here are a few that have stuck:

Epicenter

Love at the Epicenter

Her Guardian, His Angel

Um, any suggestions you have might be helpful. Seriously, any suggestions. Post in the comments and if I use it I will give you credit in the book.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Originally, it was a sequel to Catch Me in Castile set in Port-au-Prince, but my editor at the time rejected it because she didn't like the set-up. I will always be grateful for that rejection. I even sent the editor a thank you for rejecting me! Why? The timing was wrong.

If I had sold that original story it would have been released within days of the devastating earthquake. It might have felt disrespectful to those who had lost so much. In hindsight, that rejection was the best thing that could have happened to this story.

Instead, of celebrating the release of my sequel, I sat riveted to my television, tears streaming while I witnessed the human survival, strength and success stories in Haiti. I wanted to pour that love and human spirit into my book in honor of the survivors and those who fought to save lives.

Epicenter (or whatever it's name is) was born.

What genre does your book fall under? 

Single-Title (with a hint of paranormal)

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Luke Carter....Josh Lucas

Dr.Ysabeau Morno...Halle Berry

The two old Voodoo Priestesses who keep trying to steal the show will have to be great actors as well.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

It is the love story of an American philanthropist and a Haitian doctor are fighting to save lives when the greatest earthquake Haiti has ever known rips their world apart. 

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? 

I am looking for an agent at the moment.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

The first first draft (the sequel to Catch Me in Castile) took about eight months. After my editor rejected it, I tossed out all but a few scenes and started over. After researching before and after the earthquake, scouring YouTube for any videos of the city prior to the devastation (thank you to those families who posted videos inside the Hotel Montana before it was leveled), watching the news and reading first-hand accounts, I started writing the new book and was finished with the first draft in two months. I honestly never thought I could write anything that fast. The story seemed to write itself.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 

Hmmm. That's a tough one. Readers have told me that my stories remind them of Jodi Picoult's. That is a huge compliment.

Who or what inspired you to write this book? 

The earthquake survivors and the search and rescue teams who gave everything to save lives.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? 

Don't be surprised if it makes you laugh, cry and knocks the floor out from beneath your feet. Currently, it is a finalist in four writing contests!

And now to pass the microphone to a few of my awesome writer friends. Look for their answers on their websites next week.

Selena Robins selenarobinsmusings.com/ 

Renee Wildes reneewildes.net 

Nancy Lauzon nancylauzon.com 

A. Catherine Noon acatherinenoon.blogspot.com

Cyn Appel appelslyces.blogspot.com

Love To the Veterans

Today in the United States is Veterans Day.

I want to express my deepest gratitude and love to you amazingly brave veterans and to your families. What you all have sacrificed and given to this great nation is beyond words. Thank you!

To those still serving please stay safe and come home soon.

Big hugs from one grateful American,

Kimberley

Tasty Tuesday Sweet and Spicy Jalapeno Fudge

A couple weeks ago, I tore my calf muscle. Not totally, just enough to be bunged up and lying around for a while. My little boy wanted to make fudge for the Halloween party but since I couldn't help him, he made it himself.

I gotta say it was divine.

I asked him if I could share his recipe with you all for Tasty Tuesday and he flatly denied me.

Me! His crippled mother.

Oh well. He wanted to keep his recipe a secret, so I searched the web and found another with a little more kick. And his fudge did make me feel better.

Enjoy!

Spicy and Sweet Jalapeño Fudge

3 cups sugar

¾ cups margarine

5 oz. evaporated milk

12 squares Baker’s Semi-Sweet chocolate, chopped

7 oz. Puffed Marshmallow Crème

1 tsp of vanilla

5-10 pickled jalapeño pepper rings

1 tsp of cinnamon

In blender, mix the jalapeño peppers until fine.

Line a 9-inch square pan with foil.

In a large saucepan, bring sugar, butter and milk to full rolling boil on medium heat and keep boiling for 4 minutes while stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add chocolate and marshmallow crème, stir until melted. Stir in vanilla and jalapeño peppers. Pour into 9-inch pan. Sprinkle cinnamon across the top. Cut into squares once cooled.

And here a few more recipes you might be interested in:

The Baked Pumpkin by Pg Forte - http://rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-baked-pumpkin.html

Zesty Guacomole Salsa by Moira Keith http://moirakeith.com/2012/11/06/zesty-guacamole-salsa/

I'm a Pepper...You're a Pepper by Selena Robins - http://selenarobinsmusings.com/2012/11/05/im-a-pepper-youre-a-pepper/

Ghost ship

Forget about ghosts, my friend Nancy Lauzon saw a ghost ship.
Cooooool.

Check out her story over at Denise Agnew's Haunted blog.

Guest author: Nancy Lauzon