Sunday, June 24, 2012

Lynn Dove: my guest here today

I welcome another John 3:16 Marketing Network author to my blog today. Welcome, Lynn Dove!






Lynn is the author of a trilogy of young adult novels: Shoot the Wounded, Heal the Wounded and Love the Wounded.







“Although these books were written for Young Adults the lessons learned in these books can be applied to anyone . . . Lynn addresses the unique challenges that teens and young adults will inevitably face. As adults sometimes we forget what it was like during our teen years and find it hard to relate to our teen children. Lynn has found a way to do just that through her books. If you have a teenager or know of someone who is in their teen years then this is a must-have book to give to them as a gift.” – Deborah Malone – author – Death in Dahlonega

Head over to Lynn's blog to read more about her novels and find out how you can receive some special e-gifts from Lynn.



Cooking with author Jocelyn Green!

Welcome to my blog, Jocelyn Green, a fellow Moody (River North) author!





Jocelyn stopped by to tell us about her novel and about her favorite foods.


She says: My tastes tend to change according to the season. When it’s cool or cold out, I could usually go for Mexican food (the real stuff, not Taco Bell). I love the warm, vibrant flavors! I was a nanny in Mexico one summer and fell in love with authentic Mexican food then.


But lately, my favorite thing to make is homemade granola, which I mix in with vanilla Greek yogurt and blueberries or bananas. It makes a great breakfast or snack (or lunch!). I make a week’s worth of granola at a time and keep it in a cookie jar on the counter. It’s so easy to mix it up—it’s my go-to snack when I’m writing!


Thank you, Jocelyn. I love both authentic Mexican food and granola. Now let's read about your novel, Wedded to War.


It's April 1861, and the Union Army's Medical Department is a disaster, completely unprepared for the magnitude of war. A small group of New York City women, including 28-year-old Charlotte Waverly, decide to do something about it, and end up changing the course of the war, despite criticism, ridicule and social ostracism. Charlotte leaves a life of privilege, wealth-and confining expectations-to be one of the first female nurses for the Union Army. She quickly discovers that she's fighting more than just the Rebellion by working in the hospitals. Corruption, harassment, and opposition from Northern doctors threaten to push her out of her new role. At the same time, her sweetheart disapproves of her shocking strength and independence, forcing her to make an impossible decision: Will she choose love and marriage, or duty to a cause that seems to be losing? An Irish immigrant named Ruby O'Flannery, who turns to the unthinkable in the face of starvation, holds the secret that will unlock the door to Charlotte's future. But will the rich and poor confide in each other in time?








Wedded to War is a work of fiction, but the story is inspired by the true life of Civil War nurse Georgeanna Woolsey. Woolsey's letters and journals, written over 150 years ago, offer a thorough look of what pioneering nurses endured.


Wedded to War can be ordered from Amazon now.


Special Deals! Wedded to War ebook version will be FREE June 24-28! After that it will be $1.99 from July 1-7, then it will be $2.99 from July 8-14.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Guest author: Carol Stratton

Glad to have Carol Stratton, another wonderful author from John 3:16 Marketing Network here with me.





Moving. Again. Where is home? I'm tired of packing. Moving.


For all those who know what this feels like, Carol Stratton's book is for you! Changing Zipcodes: Finding Community Wherever You're Transplanted is a devotional for those who want encouragement for the tasks and lifestyle of constant relocating.





You can order Changing Zipcodes at Amazon.


Carol wants to reach couples who struggle with the impact multiple moves have on marriages. Click below to read about the campaign for The Art of Marriage.


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Stories from Cuba

One of the groups I belong to is the John 3:16 Marketing Network. We are a bunch of authors, supporting each other by getting information about our books out to the masses. The concept was inspired by Lorilyn Roberts, and is a beautiful vision----authors looking out for other authors, helping to share their books with the rest of the world.


Today I'm focusing on two books by Roberto Ornan Roche, an author from Cuba. The books have been translated from Spanish into English.








The Lighthouse of Asaph: Unforgettable Christian Reflections is a small book available on both Kindle and in paperback. It's based on Psalm 73.


This book may be ordered from Amazon.





Roberto's other book is called The Cuban Christian Writer: Redemption, Encouragement & Restoration Stories. It's available here.


Monday, June 4, 2012

All Things Southern: 'Nana Puddin'

Okay, all you cooks and chefs of the delicious. Have you really lived if you haven't tasted one of the South's most fabulous desserts----'Nana Puddin' or, as they call it in Johnston County, nanner puddin'? For you non-Southern types, that would be Banana Pudding. What is this delicacy and how did it originate?


'Nana Puddin' is a rich treat made of layers. And more layers. These resemble the British trifle and therefore, look pretty when served in a clear glass dish so that you can see the sliced bananas, vanilla wafers, and sweet, creamy custard pudding. Often, a white meringue tops the dish. For those who don't want the hassle of beating all those egg whites for the meringue, whipped cream works well.


Now I won't confess to having grown up in the South because that would be a lie. Although my mama's from Virginia and my daddy lived in Alabama, I do pride myself of that Southern heritage. I had an Aunt Sweetsie, an Aunt Chatchee and a cousin named Ann Page, so I feel that I can claim to be a tad bit Southern. My mama even made sweet tea, fried chicken, and grits in Japan where I grew up. And I know we had a couple servings of that very yellow pudding.



One thing to make note of is this: Beware of any Southerner who says his mama made nanner puddin' way back during the Gold Rush or the Civil War. He's telling a story. That's because bananas weren't introduced to the USA until the latter part of the 19th century when they were shipped over from the Caribbean. According to Our State magazine, the bananas arrived in the ports of New Orleans and Charleston. Once Southerners got a hold of this sweet fruit, those recipes began to generate. People started taking banana pudding to pot-luck events and restaurants added the dessert to their menus.


Soon vanilla cookie boxes, the most famous being Nilla, included Banana Pudding recipes on their sides. You can try those or choose from one of the two below.

Try Paula Deen's recipe here if you want a meringue topping.


For a whipped topping, try Mama Daisy's recipe here.