Wednesday, October 31, 2012

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Lena Austin is not only a talented author of many genres, she is also a marvelous cook. Below is her fun recipe for all your Trick or Treaters of any age.

BLUE SLIME
One six-ounce package blueberry flavored gelatin
2 cups boiling water
4 cups cold water
3 cups lemonade, chilled
3 cups lemon-lime carbonated beverage, chilled

In a large mixing bowl, combine gelatin and two cups boiling water; stir until dissolved.

Stir in cold water. Cover and chill at least four hours. Gelatin will be partially set.

To serve, stir gelatin with a large spoon, fork, or wire whisk until gelatin is broken into small pieces.

Place ¼ cup of the lemonade in a large, clear glass or plastic tumbler. Add ½ cup of the gelatin to the lemonade, then add ¼ cup of the carbonated beverage.

Stir slightly and you're ready to slurp some slime. Do not over-stir.

Makes 12 servings.

While you're waiting for the Blue Slime to set, here's a little from Lena's exciting romance novel BERDACHE.

Lizard must convince the warrior Red Wolf to become a shaman –and a Berdache—or Red Wolf will go insane.

Red Wolf has always been the perfectly controlled Choctaw warrior. His childhood friend, the Berdache shaman Lizard, must convince Red Wolf to take the shaman’s training and learn to walk in both worlds safely. With the help of the captured Chickasaw maiden Moon to help, Lizard just might keep Red Wolf from going insane.

BUY LINK

Learn more about Lena Austin, also known as the Duchess of Depravity, on her website and blog where you’re sure to find some of the best recipes on the internet. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Have a great week. I'll be back Monday with Patricia Yager Delagrange. Until then...

BOO!

Slonae Taylor

Monday, October 29, 2012

HELLOWEEN

No, really. I didn't misspell it. HELLOWEEN is my new book. My eighth publication and my third adult horror collection. I am pleased to announce it is available on Amazon.

To give you a little taste of it, I'm including the first few lines of each of the six stories. Hope it whets your appetite and makes your skin crawl, even the tiniest little bit.

Samantha Combs delves into the darkness of the Halloween season, the decadence of October, and the evil of All Hallows Eve. And as usual, she asks you along for the ride.

Come meet all her new friends; an inventive chef, an abused wife with an unusual solution, the invisible friend so different in adulthood than when you were a kid, the self-made woman who learns everything comes with a price, the woman of circumstance who learns neighbors can be more than just nosy,and finally, a quiet, unassuming wife who has paid far too much attention to her husband's, um, hobby.

So, go ahead, mix, mingle, enjoy meeting them all, but remember...the scariest monsters are the ones safely tucked away, hidden in the normal, the regular, the mundane. And in the end, Good does conquer Evil....just not EVER the way you'll expect.


Eat at JOE’s
Reynaldo “Rey” Claude leaned over the wooden crate of tomatoes and inhaled deeply. The farmers market was always the best place to find the freshest ingredients for his culinary creations and Rey enjoyed his visits to gather the tasty produce. He strolled along the bustling wholesale market, making his choices and filling his basket. He was known there, and most vendors stopped to say hello and offer Rey a free sample of this, that, and the other. Which he took willingly. His food creations were like art pieces to him; each had to have its own special sauce. Pasta was pasta, but it was all about the sauce. He only wished his patrons felt the same.

DEMON IN THE GPS
Nadine Keller was running late. She still had a million things to do and had most of them on her mind, so when the GPS started talking to her, she didn’t immediately notice it. She had jumped into the Range Rover and flung the dry cleaning into the back seat. She dumped her overstuffed purse on the passenger seat and backed out of the mall parking lot. When she heard the calm, modulated voice telling her to turn left, she just obediently flicked on her signal and made the turn. Later, she would realize she didn’t remember programming an address into the GPS. She should have been wary then. GPS units didn’t just start talking to you out of the blue, demanding things.
Not like husbands did.

SKIN DEEP
Darla Demples punched the elevator button to the tenth floor. She shifted back and forth on her fashionable high heels and transferred her briefcase from her right shoulder to the left. Impatient, she poked the button again and began to tap her slender foot. Damn! You’d think the head of one of the largest cosmetics company could get a damn elevator when she wanted it. Her gaze fell on her company logo, proudly emblazoned on literally every surface in the lobby: Dollyface Cosmetics. She read the catch phrase underneath, pride welling within her: Look like a living doll, forever. Dolly smiled wistfully, remembering how she came up with the slogan, after a sleepless night with a very cranky baby daughter. Denise was almost an adult now, in college hundreds of miles away. She knew she didn’t see her near as often as she should, but she always found a way to validate that. I’m working for her future. She knows that. My success will set her up for the rest of her life, her and her future children.

IMAGINARY FRIEND
Just because I’m telling you this story, doesn’t mean I’ll be alive at the end of it. I just want to clear that up. So there aren’t any surprises at the end. It’s how I kind of like to do things. I’ve never been one for surprises. Even when I was younger, when my birthday would come around, I made sure I knew all the plans ahead of time. I never wanted the surprise party all the other kids were begging for. Neither did Lenny. He hated them even more than me. Only, he couldn’t tell anyone. You see, Lenny was my imaginary friend.

Or maybe I should say is. I’m fully grown now, with an education, a great job and even my own office. In fact, that’s where I am right now. Lenny is here, too, somewhere. He doesn’t always come out, only when he thinks I need him. I guess I needed him earlier.

I suppose I should get the whole story out now, before they arrive. Just looking down at the bodies makes me a little scared of what they will think. What they might do to me. Lenny keeps saying I didn’t have a choice. He told me I had to do it. If not, I’d never be my own person. I’d never be free.

New Neighbors
Mindy Jasper hollered down the hall of her new house to her children.

“Jackson! Danielle! Hurry or we’ll be late for your first day of school.” She peered down the hall, then had to flatten herself against it to avoid being crushed by both of her children as they came hurtling toward her. Her daughter came first and spun around Mindy’s jeans-clad legs, hiding from her brother, who was only seconds behind her. He stopped when he reached his mom and sister, but only because he’d tired of the game. His sister didn’t look terrified anymore, not now that she was next to Mom, and to him, it was only fun if she was.

THE SERIAL KILLER’S WIFE
She heard the back door creak open and shut. Even though he always tried to be quiet, she never missed that unmistakable sound. Elaine Gardner had heard that sound a million times. Most of the time, it meant that her husband Roland was coming in from work, or from tending the garden, or from taking out the trash. She knew when it didn’t mean that. When he came in way past midnight, she knew it had an entirely different meaning: it meant her husband, Roland Gardner, was returning from a kill.

So, if any of these sound interesting or compel you to read them in some way, buy the book for a buck at Amazon and don't forget to tell me what you think.

Please click the titles to check out any or all of my SEVEN books!
SPELLBOUND
EVERSPELL
GHOSTLY
THE DETENTION DEMON
TEETH AND TALONS
WAY PAST MIDNIGHT
WATERDANCER

I am a Southern California author with seven published books, including the Global Ebook Award-winning debut title SPELLBOUND. I enjoy writing YA paranormal romance and supernatural fantasy, but I also dabble in the horror and sci-fi genres as well, and writing for the Middle Grade audience. I have plans for many more books in the future!

When I'm not writing, I work full time and enjoy spending time with my husband and two children. My guilty pleasures include reality television, the Food Network channel and shoes. I truly believe I can accomplish anything if I have the right pair of shoes. And I adore totally inappropriate earrings.

I love writing and publishing my work and I am in awe of the technological advances of our lives. E-readers and similar gadgets are bringing the written word to a generation that might never have discovered books otherwise and every time I see a kid pick one up to read something it fills me with joy to be a small part of that process. If a child can connect with literature because he or she did so electronically, a connection still was made. I am excited to see what our world has in store for literature and thrilled to be along for that ride.

CONNECT WITH ME!
Facebook
My blog
Twitter

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

~Samantha Combs
I'll be back Wednesday with a new recipe. Until then...

Happy scary reading!

Sloane Taylor

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

It's Wednesday. So What's Cooking?

Salmon on the Grill, Rice, and Broccoli Stir-fry

One last outdoor grill recipe before Indian summer turns into Old Man Winter. I am not a fish lover, especially salmon, but this recipe has won me over. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Salmon on the Grill
Rice
Broccoli Stir-fry
Chardonnay Wine



Salmon on the Grill
1 pound salmon filet
1 bottle Italian salad dressing – I prefer the low or no fat type
1 fresh lime
Pam


 
Place the salmon in a plastic bag. Squeeze the lime juice over the fish. Pour in enough salad dressing to cover the filets. Seal the bag and gently move it around to completely submerge the fish. Insert the salmon bag into a glass or aluminum bowl just large enough to hold the marinade in place. Marinade 3 hours or so, but not longer than 6.

Heat grill to medium. Spray Pam onto a doubled sheet of aluminum foil. Lay the prepared foil on the grill, then add the fish skin side up. Grill 7 minutes each side. Turn once. Scrape off the silver skin before you serve the salmon.

Dress up the salmon when you serve it by sprinkling a little fresh, chopped parsley over the fish. No fresh? Dried works just as well. The chopped green from onions/scallions works nicely, too.

Rice
Use your favorite brand of rice, mine is Uncle Ben’s Original. Prepare with fresh or canned chicken broth in place of water.

Cook per package directions.

Broccoli Stir-fry
4 mini carrots sliced on an angle
½ cup olive oil – possibly more
½ medium onion sliced
1 inch piece gingerroot peeled and cut into strips
1 head broccoli trimmed and cut into florets
½ small sweet red pepper cored, seeded and cut into strips
½ small yellow pepper cored, seeded and cut into strips
2 large garlic cloves pressed
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
2 green onions sliced on an angle
5 mini Bello mushrooms cleaned and sliced into thirds
1 tbsp. lime or lemon juice

Have all the ingredients prepped and on the counter before you begin cooking.

In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add onion, carrot and gingerroot. Sauté until carrot is almost soft. Test by inserting a toothpick into the carrot. Remove as many gingerroot pieces as you can find. Don’t worry if some are left in the pan.

Add broccoli, red and yellow peppers, and garlic. Sprinkle on red pepper flakes. Stir constantly to insure broccoli is well coated with the oil. Add more oil if necessary. Squeeze on the lime or lemon juice. Sauté 2 - 4 minutes, but be sure the broccoli and peppers still have crunch to them.

Blend in green onions and mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms are heated through. Serve quickly.

Serves 4 - 6

Have a wonderful weekend. I'll be back Monday with S.G. Rogers. Until then...

Happy Writing!

Sloane Taylor
Twitter
Amazon Author Page

Monday, October 22, 2012

Feel the Rhythm of the Wolf

I'm excited to share with you AMAZON, Book One in The Ushers series, a hot, new release from VANESSA NORTH.

Jack's routine investigation of rogue wolf sightings threatens to uncover both Bianca's secrets and her passionate nature. Can she trust him enough to make the sacrifice her destiny demands?

BLURB:
Born albino, Bianca was spared death in infancy when her mother found safe haven among the ghosts and misfits of Amazon Pack. As Guardian of Amazon, she protects the hidden pack with a ferocity that belies her delicate appearance.

Jack’s routine investigation of rogue wolf sightings in his territory uncovers both Bianca’s secrets and her passionate nature. He finds her alluring and terrifying: he’s convinced she’s his mate, but is she also the Usher--key to their culture’s most sacred prophecies?

The Usher’s destiny requires a sacrifice to repair a rift in wolf culture and set the Goddess free. Can Jack and Bianca trust each other enough to pay that price?

EXCERPT:
Bianca pulled her v-neck t-shirt over her head, shucking off her shoes and jeans. Jack immediately started shedding his clothes as well. Growing up among wolves, he’d never really given much thought to nudity. Their bodies grew in size as they shifted, so he was accustomed to stripping down before a run in order to preserve his wardrobe.

He glanced over at the Albina as she shook her hair out. Standing in the moonlight, she was stunning. He saw her delicate pink nipples were still hard and aroused from his kiss. The curls of hair on her mound were as fair as her hair, and he saw the delicate pink folds glistening, swollen with arousal, peeking through the white curls. Her beauty was astounding.

He saw marks on her skin, leaned closer to examine them. Tattoos, he realized. All wolves were tattooed after their first shift. Most of them were tattooed in black ink with colors for emphasis, but several of hers were done in white. As befits Albina, he thought as he admired the elegant symbols. Her entire back was covered, here and there a shadow in grey? or a bit of color drawing attention to some of the more consequential tattoos. Clearly, she was a powerful Guardian for her pack--she’d not have been tattooed so many times without having achieved her place of power by virtue of her skills.

As she turned to fold her discarded clothes, he could see some scars on her body, remnants of fights won. The tattoos glimmered in the dark, beckoning him to trace them with his fingers, his tongue. He groaned, and she looked over her shoulder at him with a smile.

“Kathy has changed already, are you ready?” she asked, turning to stare at his body in the moonlight. Hard and muscled everywhere, his upper body hairy and tattooed all over. She looked at his signs and symbols of strength and honor, a visual representation of his place in his pack. They confirmed that he was a fit mate for her--his beautiful body bore scars of fights clearly dominated, and the tattoos that marked him as a leader curled around them.

She smiled, her gaze lingering at the proof of his arousal, standing proudly from the bed of black curls at the top of his legs. She blushed slightly as she realized he had followed her gaze. He grinned back at her with a wink as he sank to his knees.

She had seen many wolves shift before. However, she found herself curiously watching him, to see if her mate--there was no longer a doubt in her mind that he was indeed her mate—would seem different from those others.

It was sensual, witnessing his change--his body shook and he turned his head with a loud cracking noise. He owned his change like only a powerful wolf could--it was masterful, graceful almost, as his black fur grew over his body. Then he sat, watching her, a huge black wolf with golden-brown eyes. He was resplendent. She knelt next to him, still in her human form, and caressed between his ears. His fur was soft and his eyes kind. He closed them and rolled his head into her hand like a dog seeking a touch from his mistress. His essential masculine scent still surrounded him in his animal form, and as she stroked his head, he snorted and his tongue lolled out between sharp lethal teeth to lap at her hand. She loved the feel of his fur between her fingers, and he clearly enjoyed her attentions. But then he shook his head, took a couple of steps towards the woods and whined back at her. If they were mated, they’d be able to read each other’s thoughts, as pack-mates could, and even more than that, they’d be able to share their feelings through their mate bond. But even without that bond, she could sense his eagerness to run.

She grinned and let loose her wolf, feeling the change work over her, bringing forward the animal, tucking the woman away inside.

BUY LINK

Vanessa North
was born in New England but moved to the South as a teenager, where she learned to appreciate biscuits and gravy, bluegrass, and that most welcome of greetings: “Hey y’all!”

She has a degree in Mass Communication, but has long since abandoned journalism in favor of writing romance. Instead of telling the news, V would rather tell stories. Vanessa has a voracious appetite for books and loves all kinds. She writes obsessively: every day brings new ideas and stories to tell. When she’s not buried in a book—hers or someone else’s—you can find her taking thousands of photographs of the people she loves.

She lives in Northwest Georgia with her handsome husband, not-quite-civilized twin boy-children, and a pack of dogs.

Learn more about Vanessa North on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

I'll be back Wednesday with a new menu. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane Taylor
Twitter
Amazon Author Page

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

It's Wednesday. So What's Cooking?

Country Style Ribs with Barbeque Sauce, Boiled Potatoes, and Caesar Salad.

When my workload is heavy, I want a dinner so easy it practically cooks itself. This week’s menu does just that.

Country Style Ribs with Barbeque Sauce
Boiled Potatoes
Caesar Salad
Dry White Wine – Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay

Country Style Ribs with Barbeque Sauce

Country style pork ribs preferably on the bone
Chicken stock
Barbeque sauce

Preheat oven to 325°F

Place ribs in an ovenproof dish in a single layer. Pour in about a half inch of stock or slightly more. Cover tight and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour. The time depends on the thickness of the meat.

Do a visual check for doneness. You should not see any pink color close to the bone. REMEMBER – meat continues to cook for a short time after it is removed from the oven.

Serve with your favorite barbeque sauce.

Boiled Potatoes
Red potatoes peeled and quartered 1 per person
Chicken stock
1 bay leaf
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Butter to taste

Add potatoes to a saucepan that holds them comfortable. Pour in stock halfway up the potatoes. Top off with water, covering potatoes by an inch or so. Add bay leaf. Set a lid on top.

You can do up to this point earlier in the day. Leave on the counter or stovetop until you are ready to cook.

Bring to a boil over medium heat. Adjust the lid and heat so the water continues a soft/light boil, but does not spill over. Cook for 15-20 minutes, then test for doneness. A fork will insert easily.

Drain potatoes and discard bay leaf. Sprinkle pepper over potatoes. Add butter. Stir carefully so as not to damage potato shapes.

Caesar Salad for Two
1 egg coddled
1 large glove garlic
½ tsp. Anchovy paste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
½ tbsp. Dijon mustard
½ tbsp. lemon juice, preferably fresh
1 drop white vinegar or as close to as possible
¼ cup olive oil
Romaine lettuce, 3 leaves per person, washed and dried
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Remove egg from refrigerator while assembling all the ingredients on your counter.

Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Coddle the egg by cooking it for 2 minutes. Rinse under cold water, crack shell and scoop the runny egg into a small bowl. Break up the solid white pieces and lightly mix. Later, you will add some of this to the salad dressing.

In a large glass or wooden bowl, mash the garlic with a spoon and fork into coarse pieces. Rub the sides of the bowl with the oil that has been released.

Add the anchovy, pepper, and mustard. Mix well. Pour in the lemon juice and vinegar. Mix well. Add in ½ – ¾ of the coddled egg. Mix well. Blend in the olive oil until the dressing is frothy.

Tear the lettuce into bit-size pieces over the salad bowl. Toss, then add ¼ cup or so of Parmesan. Toss again. Serve in individual bowls and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Serve immediately.

For a larger salad, adjust proportionally, but do not exceed two eggs.

Have a wonderful remainder of the week and weekend. I'll be back Monday with Vanessa North. Until then...

Bon Appétit!

Sloane Taylor
Twitter

Monday, October 15, 2012

Life as a God

Today we’re talking to the Sun God himself, Apollo, about his story Apollo Rising.

Thank you for coming to chat with us today. Why do you think Nancy DiMauro choose you to represent her?


I think it’s the blonde curls. [Absently flicks a lock of his hair.] She’s got a thing for them, and being the Sun god and all, I traded an extra hour of sunlight for the opportunity. She wanted to give her kids one last day of summer. Fair trade.

Tell us a little about yourself?

The family thing’s a bit complicated. I have a twin sister, Artemis. You so don’t want to see her when she’s mad. When we were children we had to protect our mother, Leto, a Titan, from Hera’s wrath since Zeus is our father. When Hera sent her pet, the Python, after Mom, I killed the beast when I was only four days old. We gods grow up so quickly. [Smiles.] We celebrated Python’s death with games. It was there Cupid shot me with a gold arrow. [Runs hand through hair and furrows brow.] I’ve never been what you would call lucky in love.

What is your birth date?

We didn’t really have calendars back then, and the passing of the years doesn’t mean as much to an immortal as it does to you. I have a number of feast days but tend to think of my “birthday” as the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

Where do you live? What is it about that area that drew you there?

I have houses all over the world, and of course, my palace on Olympus. The place I consider home is just outside Old Towne Alexandria in Virginia. I love that it’s so close to the Potomac River, which reminds me a bit of the Styx. Olde Town is an eclectic mix of old and new, and that appeals to me.

What do you wish people would know about you?
That I’m not my father. I’ve only ever loved Daphne, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t care about my lovers through the eons, and most of them didn’t end with bad fates. The ones that did. . . they still haunt me.

If you loved Daphne so much, why did you wait until now to try to break the curse?
Fate is a funny thing. It unfolds as it will. A person needs to be ready to embrace whatever Fate has planned for him. For me, that means a few thousand lessons in humility and asking for help. Arrogance, you see, [Shrugs.] it’s my fatal flaw. I wouldn’t be part of the Greek Pantheon without one.

What music do you listen too?

God of Music, remember? I listen to all of it. I just love when one of the Muses prods someone into doing the unexpected.

Will we be seeing more of you or are you stepping out of the lime light?
I’m hoping to step out of the lime light, but I doubt the Fates will allow it.

What is your perfect evening?
Evening is Artemis’s time. She’s the moon goddess. Now, my perfect solar eclipse? That’s a different story.

Why?
I’m an aspect of the sun, and light refracts. This means at any given moment, I can actually be in two thousand places at once. While, I’m sitting here with you, some of my other aspects are driving the sun chariot, inspiring artists, listening to a symphony, and having a discussion with my oracle.

Sounds exhausting. What do you do to relax?
I play my lyre, and spend time with Daphne.

Is there anything you wish Nancy had kept her mouth shut about?
[Gaze wanders to the ceiling.] I wish she hadn’t mentioned my collection of art that depicts Daphne. Alex, my oracle, is right. It makes me look more than a bit stalker-y.

Tell us about Daphne. What drew you to her?
Do you have an eternity? For me, it started long before Cupid shot me with that damned arrow. From my chariot, I look down on the world. I saw Daphne running through the fields and hunting game. The way the light flashed on her throat was entrancing. Her slender wrists and ankles begged to be caressed, and the sinuous lines of her body drove me mad with desire.

Then, my rival Leucippus disguised himself as a girl and hid within Daphne’s troop of nymphs. I told Daphne that she had an intruder in her ranks, and that the nymphs should bathe naked and thus expose him. They tore him apart. She was… remarkable in her fury. I would have seduced her then, but I knew she swore to follow Artemis’s path and take no lovers. I intended to honor Daphne’s choice. Then Cupid shot me with a golden arrow, and reason had no place in my heart. I had to make Daphne mine.

What really pushes your buttons?
Cupid. Enough said.

You’re not on the cover. How come?
Did you see how beautiful Daphne looks? Besides I am there in the way the sunlight and the rainbow bathe her skin. I’m really very happy with the cover.

What’s you biggest turn ons?
Daphne. [Laughs.] Could I be any more predictable? Music is also wonderful. It’s kept me sane through the eons Daphne’s been trapped in the laurel tree.

What are your biggest Turn offs?

Wow. There’s really not much that can ruin the mood. I’m a very sensual being.

What your favorite Ice cream flavor, Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry?

Yes.

Do you believe in ghosts?
You’re kidding, right? I’ve seen, and talked with spirits of those long past from the mortal realm in the Underworld. Hades rules over what you would call ghosts. So, yes, I believe in ghosts.

What is your biggest fear?
Losing Daphne forever.

Why should the readers be interested in Apollo Rising?

Who doesn’t like a good love story? Cupid once said that the reason heroes go on quests is to prove that they deserve the prize. The winged freak was right about that. Even for the gods, love extracts a terrible price.

Like most of the Greek myths, Apollo Rising is about so much more than whether I can break Daphne’s curse and restore her to her true form. It’s a story about accepting responsibility for our mistakes, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for love. Would you make a deal with Hades, the devil himself, if it was the only way to free your love even at the cost of everything else? I have to tell you, my uncle’s not a fun man to barter with, and he hates giving up the souls in his care.

Thanks for joining us. I look forward to reading about your quest.
My pleasure.

EXCERPT:
A soft glow beckoned from around a corner. While Hades pretended to be a traditionalist, he indulged in modern conveniences every chance he could. Ultra-violet panels, the ones mortals used to simulate sunlight, glowed from inside the walls. They brought day into the vaulted cavern. Hades had encrusted the ceiling with aquamarines since Apollo’s last visit. The light played off them simulating a summer sky. Another token of Hades’s love. Stalactites wider than a city bus hung from the ceiling. Others met stalagmites to form fluted columns reminiscent of the Pantheon. Stone draperies served as curtains, which separated Persphone’s chamber, and Hades’s media room from the main audience hall.

Reaching the center of the room, Apollo dropped to one knee.

“Lord Hades, I come to you as a supplicant.”

Hades could have passed for one of the stalagmites with his sharp and jagged features. His skin held a bluish cast from lack of sunlight. Obsidian color hair hung loose to his shoulders. Flint hard eyes glared at Apollo.

Persephone, on the other hand, reminded Apollo of a spring breeze. Sunshine colored hair swept away from olive skin, slightly pales in her time in the Underworld. Her bright ginger-colored tunic broke the unrelieved grays and blacks of the great hall.

“What brings you here?” Hades’s voice reverberated through the chamber.

Apollo raised an eyebrow. “I seek information, and possibly a trade.”

“Rise.”

The few times Apollo had needed something from Hades, he’d been treated as an honored guest. But not this time.

Enraged to the point of incivility by Persephone’s upcoming desertion, Hades was likely to vent his temper on any target. Sadly, Apollo provided him with one that could give him a decent fight. Daphne’s soul might cost more than Apollo could pay.

“What do you wish of me?” Hades asked.

“I wish to barter for Daphne’s soul.”

“I never said I had her.”

They’d never been friends, but then, they hadn’t been enemies either. There really wasn’t any reason for Hades to oppose Apollo’s attempt to rescue Daphne.

“Does that mean you are going to vie her to me?” Apollo asked.

“Give? Give? Now why would I do that?” Hades’s laugh grated in Apollo’s ears.

“What do you want, Hades?”

His gaze went hard. “A boon.”

“What kind?”

“Unlimited. To be provided when I demand.”

Apollo choked. If he agreed Hades could demand anything from him. Even the sun. The God of the Underworld had never been happy with his lot. Hades had helped his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, wrestle the cosmos from Cronus. The brothers then drew lots for their domains. Zeus chose the sky, which is why Apollo as his son, was the Sun God. Poseidon chose the sea. But the brothers tricked Hades into becoming Death. In choosing the underworld, Hades lost the ability to walk comfortably in the sunlight. But if he took the sun from Apollo, Hades could remain above ground with Persphone.

Could Phoebus Apollo lose the sun?

Who would he be without it?

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Learn more about Nancy DiMauro and her impressive work on her website Falcons Fables and blog.

Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

It's Wednesday. So What's Cooking?

Marinated Pork Chops, Roasted Potatoes, and Tossed Salad with Rosemary Flavored Dressing

Studs and I are big Chicago Bears fans and tailgate in our living room for all the games. It’s a lot of fun and we share some of those games with friends who are happy to exchange recipes as we flip and sip over an open grill.

The menu below works great on the stove and fantastic on a grill!

Marinated Pork Chops
Roasted Potatoes
Tossed Salad
Rosemary Flavored Olive Oil
Dry White Wine – Pinot Grigio


Marinated Pork Chops

Pork chops preferably with the bone
Olive oil
Green pepper seeded and cut in strips
Red pepper seeded and cut in strips
Sliced onion
Several cloves of fresh garlic pressed

Combine all the ingredients in a glass bowl. Make sure the chops are buried in the mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for two days.

Heat a frying pan on medium high. The pan is ready when you sprinkle on water droplets and they hop around the pan and evaporate quickly. Lay on the pork chops and brown on each side.

Lower the heat to medium. Add the peppers and onions. Cover the pan and fry until fork tender about 20 minutes or so.

TO GRILL:
Heat grill to medium high. Brown chops, both sides, on grate.

Lower the heat to medium. Move the chop to a grill safe pan and add the peppers and onions. Close the grill lid and fry until fork tender about 20 minutes or so.


Roasted Potatoes
New or small red potatoes unpeeled
Olive oil
Kosher, rock, or sea salt

The amounts of the ingredients are left up to your taste, but don’t be sparing if you want great flavor.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Wash potatoes under cool water and pat dry.

Pour a medium amount of olive oil into a ceramic or glass baking dish that will allow you to turn the potatoes easily. Drown them in the salt of your choice.

Roast in the oven, turning frequently until a toothpick can be easily inserted about 30 minutes.

TO GRILL:
Heat grill to medium high.

Pour a medium amount of olive oil into a grill safe pan that will allow you to turn the potatoes easily. Drown them in the salt of your choice.

Close the grill lid and roast, turning frequently until a toothpick can be easily inserted about 30 minutes.

Fresh Tossed Salad
Select at least two different types of lettuce. Clean out your fridge by throwing in cut up radishes, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, and anything else that strikes your fancy. Toss it all together then refrigerate, covered with a wet paper towel, until serving time.

The dressing is the Rosemary flavored oil below combined with a splash or two of white wine vinegar.

Rosemary Flavored Olive Oil

A good quality olive oil
Sprigs of fresh rosemary

Fill a glass bottle with the olive oil. Slip several sprigs of rosemary into the bottle. Be sure the herb is completely covered with the oil. Store out of the sun for three days. Remove the herbs and the flavored oil is good for two months.

This works well with all herbs and/or garlic.

Sit back and enjoy this scrumptious meal. It will not freeze. The best you can do is eat the chops and potatoes no more than two days later as lunch or a leftover dinner.

Have a wonderful weekend. I'll be back Monday with Nancy DiMauro and Apollo, the Sun God. Until then...

Bon Appétit!

Sloane Taylor
Twitter
Amazon Author Page

Monday, October 08, 2012

A DRUM ROLL PLEASE...


Musa Publishing is happy to announce the winners from their week long Anniversary Blog Hop.



1. Catherine Lee KINDLE FIRE


2. Duckysblue SWAG BAG #1
3. Cassandra SWAG BAG #2


Catherine Lee Free Download of Masquerade


Thank you to all those that commented and have supported Musa all year!

I'll be back Wednesday with a new menu. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane Taylor
Amazon Author Page