Author Archives: dorothy

Be a Part Of My Launch Week Readers Circle

A Respectable Actress, a Romantic Times TOP PICK  will be published on October 13! I’m looking for a few avid readers to be a part of my Launch Week Readers Circle to help spread the word about this new book. By completing a few fun and super easy challenges, you’ll not only be among the first to read the book, but you will also receive a special thank you gift from me.

I will be sending out the books to the Circle members very soon because the challenges must be completed by October 30. I have only a certain number of books available so let me know right away if you are interested.

Why the hurry? More than 300,000 new books are published every year just in the US alone.  For every space on a bookstore shelf, there are over 100 books vying for that exposure. So it’s easy for books by newer authors to be overlooked. That’s why I’m asking for your help in drawing readers’ attention to this book, and why I’m willing to say thank you for your help  with a special gift I know you will enjoy.

If you are interested in history, mystery, and romance I’d love to have you join the circle. Just click on “contact” here on this website and send me your email address AND your mailing address so I will know where to send the book…and your thank you gift.. I will send you the book and the five quick challenges right away!

August Wrap Up

I’m trying something new here on the blog–posting a monthly round up of all that has been going on. I hope you enjoy this peek into my world.

Books Read:  I’m writing biographical fiction these days so I’ve been reading as many other writers of bio fiction as I can. The great standout this month was Alice Hoffman’s new novel, The Marriage of Opposites, about the woman who gave birth to Camille Pissaro, who became one of the world’s most influential Impressionist painters. The story is set on the lush island of St Thomas and in Paris and the descriptions are  breathtaking. I adored everything about this novel, and learned something, too.

It wouldn’t be summer without a beach book from Dorothea Benton Frank. I am always a year behind. This month I read The Hurricane Sisters, which features her trademark humor, quirky characters and that wonderful Lowcountry setting.This one carries a message about abuse that makes it a cut above some of her other titles.

I also read Elizabeth Gilbert’s The Signature of All Things, and Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman. Cathy Gohlke’s new WW2 novel, Secrets She Kept is a standout. All of her books are good, but this one is exceptional.

Meals Consumed: The summer veggies were at their peak here in August and I made a veggie plate nearly every week consisting of corn on the cob, fresh tomatoes, fried okra, silver skin peas, and watermelon. A new little Italian restaurant called Napa Flats has opened in the neighborhood and we have become regulars there for the pizza and their wonderful fish tacos. Oh, and the fabulous gelato.

Movies Watched:  The Theory of Everything, a bio pic about Stephen Hawking. It was very well done, but strangely unsatisfying.

Writing stuff: I finished MRS LEE AND MRS GRAY on August 5 and turned it in to my editor. Now I am waiting for her revision notes and VERY excitedly waiting to see the first ideas for the cover. Meantime I had some lovely news about A RESPECTABLE ACTRESS–Romantic Times gave it a glowing review, and named it a TOP PICK. I’m excited for the release of this book next month.

I’m getting some very nice letters from readers of the Fair Magnolias novella collection. Four stories just the right length for the beach I think.

The most fun came from a letter from a reader who shares the same name as one of my characters from BEYOND ALL MEASURE. I love getting reader mail, and this one was especially enjoyable.

Last week I had a chance to catch up with my good friend and writer extraordinaire, Pamela Morsi. We don’t have time to get together often, but when we do, we make an afternoon of it. I’m thrilled that she is re releasing SIMPLE JESS, one my favorites.

So I’ll see you at the end of September. Meantime, may you be blessed beyond your wildest dreams.

 

 

Plates of Summer Goodness

So it’s August and the hottest of several hot months here in my corner of Texas. To say that we are tired of 100 degree days is an understatement. But this time of year the markets are brimming with our favorite summer veggies and lately I’ve been making summer veggie plates for dinner. Last week the okra looked good, and the corn so I made fried okra with corn on the cob, and simmered a batch of collard greens. It took me back to the summers of my childhood when my parents made a huge garden every year. There was always something good from the garden at every meal…cream peas, tomatoes, green beans, and always luscious tomatoes that tasted good still warm from the sun with just a sprinkle of salt to bring out the flavor.

Yesterday I got some very nice looking zucchini and some turnip greens that will become tonight’s dinner served along with a platter of sliced heirloom tomatoes, a pitcher of iced tea and watermelon for dessert.

Easy chocolate muffins

Easy chocolate muffins

However, even these plates of summer goodness can’t stop me from wishing for fall when it will be cool enough to bake again. Here is one of my favorite fall recipes–delicious chocolate chip muffins made with only three ingredients. This recipe makes a dozen muffins that are perfect for breakfast, or a mid morning coffee break, or tucked into the kids’ lunch boxes for school. I hope you enjoy:

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 12 muffin tin with cooking spray or use paper liners. In a large mixing bowl combine one 16.5 oz box of chocolate cake mix with one 16 ounce can of pumpkin ( NOT the pie filling, just the plain pumpkin) and one cup of chocolate chips. Mix thoroughly, pour into the prepared muffin tin and bake for 25 minutes or till the muffins test done. COOL COMPLETELY before attempting to remove from the pan.

Want to Win A Kindle? Come on to the party!

It’s giveaway time again, friends. The Very Official Fair Magnolias Blog Tour begins today, to be followed next month by an online author chat with me and my co authors, Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, and Elizabeth Musser. I’m interested to see how this is going to work since Elizabeth lives in Lyon, France! The time difference will mean she will be up really late taking part in the conversation. Anyway, our wonderful publisher is giving away a KIndle as part of the publication celebration. Even if you already have a Kindle,  maybe you’d like to win it to give as a gift.

AmongFairMagnolias1The party will be held on August 13th. All four of us will be reminding you of the date until you are sick of it, but please do come and chat, and invite your friends to attend as well. This will be my fourth Facebook author chat and it’s always a very fast  hour with trivia games and prizes and lots of fun.

Keep up with the latest here: www.facebook.com/dorothylovebooks

See you there!