Autumn update . . . audiobooks, author interviews, editing and more

Wow! It's November. Already? That's just not possible. I remember last January, but spring and summer are a blur. Folks say time flies when you're having fun, so I might take this as a good sign. Or, maybe I need a new saying like, "Time flies when you're working hard for what you love."

I am, by turns, exhausted and invigorated. Life itself has thrown unexpected challenges my way this past year. That's what life does. But, the obstacles we face are opportunities, too. Experiencing  hardship, we distill life down to those things that matter most. We reach out and find strength in those who love us, and they're empowered by seeing the good that their love brings. I'm learning to find something beautiful in every day--no matter how small. What we focus on becomes what we see. And, I choose to see the light behind every shadow.

It's easy to see the good side when you're surrounded by good people. At the Nebraska Writers Guild fall conference in early October, I met so many writers excited about the work of writing and eager to share what they know. I'm already looking forward to the spring conference. I've also had the honor of being featured in the author spotlight at Write Good Books, Jason Bougger's blog for new and aspiring authors. If you're a writer, you can find some great tips and resources on the blog. And, if you're a reader, it's a good place to learn about up-and-coming authors.

On the writing front, I've been working on the last round of revisions for Gates the Hours Keep, the third book in the Tales of Malstria series. I'm a bit behind my original schedule but am closing in on the last chunk of editing. I'll be releasing the ebook and paperback in early 2016.

I've saved the most exciting news for last. This week, I've received the first set of recordings from The Taking audiobook narrator, Maria Marquis. She's amazing! Listening to her interpretation, I'm experiencing the characters and story in an entirely new light. The secrets seem deeper; the shadows, darker; the goodness, brighter. I feel fortunate to be working with a talented and hard-working producer and can't wait to hear the whole thing.

That's fall so far. We'll see what winter brings.

The Scariest Book You've Ever Read

At last, it's October--my favorite time of year. Crisp colorful leaves, golden light, sweater weather, and the scent of warm cider. What's not to love?

One of my favorite ways to enjoy an October afternoon is reading a creepy book. I'm always looking for a new one, so if you have any suggestions, please share. What's the scariest book you've ever read? What made it frightening?

Listen to a free short story

Let me read you a story. A story of summer as I remember it. A story about possibilities, compromises, and growing up.

To hear the whole broadcast and more from Nebraska writers, visit the Platte River Sampler on KZUM.

Nebraska Book Festival

Join me and fellow Nebraska authors on April 25 for the Nebraska Book Festival at the University of Nebraska Omaha Weitz Community Engagement Center. Free and open to everyone, the festival provides workshops and readings and the chance to talk with a few of Nebraska's recently published authors. I'll be leading a morning workshop to help new authors prepare for the opportunities and challenges of self-publishing, and I'm excited to share what I've learned. 

Here's the festival's preliminary schedule. Hope to see you there!

Tangled now available with bonus content

Whew! It's been a busy couple weeks. In the process of working 12+ hour days--drawn in so deep I sometimes forget to eat--I've rediscovered my passion. The harder I work, the happier I am.

One immediate result of that work: Tangled is now available on Smashwords. The Smashwords edition will also be available soon at Apple ibooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and more (check your favorite online seller or libary, and I will post links when I have them, as well). This edition includes book group discussion questions and a sneak peek excerpt from Gates the Hours Keep.

Update, you can now find Tangled at:

Kobo
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Oyster
Scribd

Have you been sleeping well?

You have? Well, I can fix that.

If you've been waiting to buy The Taking or Tangled, your patience has paid off. Right now both Tales of Malstria books are on sale for only 99 cents in the US and 0.99 at Amazon UK.

Not sure whether to give them a try? Here's what readers are saying:

What's Sambocade, anyway?

Since readers have asked me about food, clothing, and places mentioned in my books, I thought it would be fun to share sources of inspiration and research from time to time. Today, I'm starting with food.

I come from a family of big-eaters. If we had a family crest, it would show a double-dip ice cream cone with the motto, "There's Always Room For Ice Cream," emblazoned just beneath it. Food wasn't simply nourishment, it was a central part of our family culture. So, ever since childhood, I've been interested in cooking and recipes.

Interested does not equal skilled.

As a girl, I began collecting cookbooks. Authentic Mexican food, Christmas cookies from around the world--anything involving food that represented other cultures or eras. I would read through the recipes, alchemical formulas promising culinary gold. If a cookbook had pictures, I'd thumb through them again and again, dreaming.

I cooked nothing. Nada. Nichts.

Well, I grew up. I left home. I cooked. Culinary gold, it was not (nor is it now, after years of practice).  But, my fascination for the alchemy remains. One of my favorite experiments is trying the foods my characters are eating.

While writing Tangled I went through a baking phase. In the months between finishing grad school and finding a full time job, I baked (and ate) a different cheesecake every week. I was baking so much, I even wrote my baking self a cameo appearance in the book. I got pretty good at baking cheesecakes. Trying my hand at sambocade (an elderflower cheesecake) seemed only natural.

from British Library, Lansdowne 451,  f. 6 

I used the modern sambocade  recipe from A Boke of Gode Cookery. I bought rosewater and elderflowers just to make it. Having no food processor, I blended the ingredients manually. (That's more medieval anyway, right?) I popped it in the oven, baked it, checked it, baked it some more. What I eventually pulled out of the oven was black around the edges and still jiggly in the middle. I'm no fan of jiggly food, but for the sake of research, I persevered.

I ate it. All of it. I eat my mistakes with true commitment. I eat my mistakes alone--you can only ask so much of your friends.

It's been a decade almost. I remember mouthfuls of char and bland bites of crusty not-quite-cheese over cottage cheese curdles. By week's end, I faced the sambocade with dread.

Alas, I took no photos. Just as well, I suppose. If you'd seen my version, you'd never have wanted to try sambocade. If you're curious what delicious sambocade would look like, check out this one from Fromage Homage. Almost makes me want to try again.