A Cake a Month: December

I did it! I baked a cake every month for a year! Wow, that was harder than expected. It's amazing how fast the weeks pass, a couple months I almost forgot to do it altogether. But here it is, the last day of the year, the last cake: Pumpkin Crunch Cake!

I made a lot of pumpkin cakes this year, but then, next to chocolate pumpkin's one of the more delicious things in my opinion. This one turned out...interesting. It was kind of a combination pie-cake. The bottom mixture was pumpkin and spice and ended up like a pie, while the top was cake and crumble. A really delicious combo. I did change the recipe just a little...instead of the full amount of pecans I used 1 cup of pecans and 1 cup of chocolate chips because everything's better with chocolate!

It was a delicious challenge and I'm glad I did it. Which brings me to the next topic: I hope you enjoyed my cake adventures, because it went over so well this year I'm going to try to do the same thing next year with cookies! There should be some interesting flavors of those out there on the internet to try. I don't think anybody around here is sad I'm putting a batch of cookies a month on my list for next year!

Well, best of luck with your goal lists and have an excellent start to the new year!

Cheers!

Wreck the Halls Cover Reveal!

Can you believe I have another cover reveal for you? I know, I know, but it's holiday related and this is it for 2017! This is a story that's part of the Dreamspinner 2017 Advent Calendar, and if you want the entire collection you can get it here! I can't reveal to you which day my story comes out, but I can reveal the cover to you, so here it is:

Isn't it neat? The story's about rival restaurant owners trying to drive each other out and was inspired by a trip I took to the state capitol (also where the story is set). With mischief and a happy ending, it's a good end to the year for me! You can skip the anticipation and just get yourself a copy here.

Cheers!

A Cake a Month: November

I made my cake before the end of the month this time. It was a good treat over the long holiday weekend, a delicious taste of autumn. This is Sara's Fresh Apple Spice cake, again from the Moosewood Favorite's book. I halved the recipe and am a little sad I did so--this was that good. It ended up being a coffee cake, and you know how much I like cake with coffee in the morning! There was brown sugar in the batter and it really made the cake for me. I had just a little cream left over from making mashed potatoes so I whipped it up for the topping there.

I would have posted this earlier (I still have another story coming out this year, this one holiday themed! the cover reveal will be up soon) but unfortunately my computer died, as they occasionally do. I'm just getting things back up and figured out now, but I hope to be back on track soon.

I just realized next month's my last cake-a-month month! I'll have to make something truly special...

Until then, cheers!

Frost and Frontiers Cover Reveal!

So remember how once upon a time I had a few F/F stories but then the publisher went out and they vanished? Well, now they've found a home! I'm so glad these stories are no longer just sitting around with no one to read them. As you can probably guess from the title, the stories range from fantasy to science fiction, two of my favorite genres (although I admittedly have many favorite genres). And I should probably say more about them but I just can't wait to show you this cover. I love it, it's so gorgeously blue!

Ahh didn't I tell you it was gorgeous? Frost and Frontiers will be out on December 9th and collects together "Frost and Ice," "Unexpected Dilemmas," and "Orbits." Just a few short, sweet, sexy tales of women loving women. I hope you enjoy!

Cheers!

Wind and Stone Cover Reveal!

Here is is! The sequel to Flame and Snow, another chunky fantasy adventure. Fantasy is definitely one of my favorite story types (along with science fiction and mystery, surprising!) and it was wonderful to continue on with the characters from the previous novel. Unfortunately for Akton and Talfryn, they don't really get to settle into life before the next crisis happens.

It was important to me to build a fantasy world where being all sorts of queer was normal and real, and I enjoyed writing all the characters so much. I'm kind of sad that this second book is the last, but hopefully there's enough adventure to make up for that! And Akton and Talfryn find even more love, so if you want to see the rest of their journey unfold, you can get Wind and Stone now!

Oh right, the cover! I think it pairs well with the first book, don't you?

As always, since this is a novel you can grab yourself a paperback copy here, if that's your preferred way to read.

Cheers!

A Cake a Month: October

Of course I went and made my October cake on the last day of the month...Sadly I didn't have any candy (yet...there's no need since trick-or-treaters don't drop by my neighborhood, but I can't promise I won't stay away from the bargain candy!) so the next best thing is a rich, pumpkiny cake, right?

And wow, is this rich! The recipe for this Pumpkin Praline Cake is super simple and definitely makes a treat of a cake. I was so happy I didn't overcook my cake this time (I have a bad habit of thinking it's never done!) and it really did turn out great. Just look at it, swimming in buttery sugary sauce! It's almost too sweet for me...but that's not going to stop me from devouring it!

Cheers!

New Reality Cover Reveal!

I think I mentioned earlier I have a lot coming out in this last bit of the year. There's a bit of variety, too, I hope! It's been difficult to write for months, something I've been finding is common with a lot of writers at the moment. But, I'm getting back into the writing flow, and want to share with you my next story coming out (after Sweeter Than Honey, of course!).

New Reality is a science fiction story about love a little later in life, even after great loss. I know I tend to come back to this theme now and then--there's just something about love at an unexpected time, about getting a reset or a new chance at finding someone. It's not exactly as fun or light as some of my other stories--Connell's long-term lover and partner just died unexpectedly, and Wystan's been completely isolated for almost two decades, so there's some healing to be done. There's the added difficulty that they're apart, but still these men find a way to be there for each other.

Anyway, I hope it's satisfying. It will be out on November 8 from Dreamspinner Press. And now, the cover!

Thanks for reading! Cheers!
 

Sweeter Than Honey Cover Reveal!

If you're like me you just can't quite let summer go yet...Well, I wrote a short, sweet story for that! Set at the end of summer, Sweeter Than Honey is about endings and sweet beginnings. There's a little bit of beekeeping, a little bit of reporting, and definitely a little fun with honey!

These characters were fun to write and I'd babble on about them but the story's short and I don't want to give too much away. It's a little break from my fantasy novels (the next one will be coming soon, I promise!), back to contemporary set in a little town. Look for it from JMS Books on October 21!

Ready for the cover?

Cheers!

A Cake a Month: September

I almost can't believe it's the last week of September already--in part because it's been so hot! It's been getting up to the 90s here in Wisconsin and not cooling much at night. Where's autumn? I don't know. I'm sure the frosty mornings are on the way, though.

I have a couple apple trees and they actually made apples this year. It's always a question whether they will or not, because the blossoms are so sensitive that a good cold snap in spring can ruin the entire thing. But I knew I had to make a cake with apples this year! I'm very happy I got to use apples from my tree, and of course when I stumbled across this German Riesling Apple Cake I just had to make it. Apples and wine? Yes, please!

My spouse thinks it's more like bars than a cake, and I can see that...The cake bottom is dense and the topping is a bit like pie or other fruit filling. It's definitely not overly sweet, I'd say it has a little tartness to it even. Did I mention almost a whole bottle of Riesling went into it? I made sure the rest of it had a good home!

Cheers!

A Cake a Month: All the Cakes!

If you were wondering what had happened with all my cake baking...no, I did not stop! I've been managing to keep up with a cake a month (whyyyy did I think this was a good idea? It's so. much. cake.) but not posting about it (oops). What can I say, this year's been difficult for everyone. Obviously why cake is necessary.

Above is April's cake, an almond pound cake I got from my Moosewood's Favorites cookbook, which has been one of my more-used cookbooks. This was delicious and dense and another favorite while writing with coffee in the morning!

For May I made this Red Velvet Earthquake cake! Wow on this one, it was good but a bit much for me personally. Almost too sweet. It was for a friend's birthday, though, and for that it worked well.

Okay, okay, yes, June's cake is *technically* a cheesecake...hey, it has cake in the name! This Bourbon Cheesecake with Boozy Chocolate for Two was just amazing. This is definitely a make-again kind of thing because it was delicious and not too much cheesecake and well, looking at it now makes me want it again...

Oh no, July cake, I am so sorry. Look at that poor, ugly cake. It's just...not one of my better cakes. This is not the fault of the recipe, it's mine and mine alone. The recipe is fine! I decided I wanted to turn it into a surprise cake. But not make enough for two round layers. So it ended up being one round cake I cut in half and...Well, it was an interesting cakesperience.

The recipe I used was Cellular Peptide Cake with Mint Frosting and the cake itself is tasty. But, uh, maybe if you're going to make it, follow the recipe better than I did and don't try to shove a bunch of mint M&M's inside it!

For August we're back to chocolate and whiskey and hmm now that I'm looking back on all my cakes this year I think I have a slight preference! When I first spotted the Double Chocolate Whiskey Cake with Whiskey Ganache, I apparently was convinced it was for one of your standard round cake pans and not a 10in spring form (I guess they're right when they tell you to read the recipe through before starting!) and so ended up with way too much cake...Seriously making a cake a month results in so. much. cake. I can't really stress that enough.

Anyway instead of dividing the batter into two round pans I put half in one and made a bunch of mini cakes in others. Then I threw a little birthday party for some toy dinosaurs I had, because it's just been a hard few months (I'm sure you know what I mean!) and I needed a little happiness in my day.

And that's where I'm at with cakes! Everyone needs a sweet diversion every now and then.

Cheers!

The World's Largest Penny and Update!

So it's again been a loooooong time and is it just me or is this summer going faster than ever? Well I went away for the weekend and noticed the World's Largest Penny was along the way and I just had to stop for it. Look at it! It's huge! It's made of concrete so not out of actual pennies, but it's nevertheless very neat.

There were pennies piled at the bottom too. The story is great. Dr. Kate, badass doctor of the northwoods, pushed to build a local hospital and apparently kids helped by getting penny donations. Hence the massive monument to the penny. I really love these sorts of interesting attractions and the stories behind them. I'm trying to get some inspiration out of it all!

On that note, a bit of a writing update. I've been working on a sequel to Flame and Snow and trying to figure out what to write next! I'm really tempted to go back to small town Wisconsin cozy mysteries and this penny only makes that worse. Otherwise I have a few shorter works that will be out towards the end of the year. I'll try to update more often!

Until then, Cheers!

Flame and Snow Cover Reveal!

Ahhh! It's been a long time and I'm sure no one wants to hear about my busy life--but!--I'm still writing! And I've got a new project coming out very soon. This one is totally different, too. No longer am I writing cozy mysteries! (I might go back someday though.) This new novel is a paranomal fantasy. Think shifters with magic powers in a second-world fantasy setting.

A little bit about it...It definitely has a strong fantasy flavor to it. I had a lot of fun describing the world and the places in it, and how the main characters related to it all. Because of course they're from the middle of nowhere, just trying to get by in their lives and not be discovered as shifters. Only...there's obviously a shifter nemesis with devious plots, and who could possibly stop him?

Probably the main characters. Probably. Check out the blurb:

Generations ago, shifters -- many with magic powers -- were accepted throughout Emylnor. But a war with the nearby dragon nation bred concern, and though Emylnor's forces beat back the invasion, the shifters retreated into hiding.

Akton is a weasel shifter who seems to have no magical talents. When he is hunted, Talfryn joins the fight, finally able to flex his salamander flame powers. But while they make a good team, the thrill quickly wears off when they uncover recruitment orders. A shifter named Basil is building an army.

Someone has to warn Queen Ylenia before Basil can launch Emylnor into another war. When Akton and Talfryn volunteer to deliver the information to her, they have no intention of getting deeply involved with the fight -- or each other. But to stop Basil, they need to learn to trust each other completely, and fast. Or all of Emylnor will burn ...

And now for the cover!

Perfect for a fantasy, right? You can preorder the ebook (which will be out on May 20th!) here, and the paperback (out on May 31) here.

Cheers!

A Cake a Month: March

I know it's a little late for it but this month I decided to make a king cake! After last month's ridiculously rich and sweet monstrosity this yeast dough-based cake seemed like a good idea.

There's an unending amount of king cake recipes online, but I used this one. I put food dye in my icing instead of using sprinkles because I didn't have sprinkles, and it still turned out looking impressive. It tastes good, too, and is great with coffee in the morning. Although I say that about every cake I make...Well, it's not a lie!

Cheers!

Yolks on You Box Set

The mysteries have all been cracked, the perps have all been apprehended, and the heroes have stumbled upon an egg-filled ever after, so what's next? A box set, of course! I'm very egg-cited to announce that all five of the Yolks on You mysteries are going to be available as a box set! Just look at that bright, happy cover.

I had so much fun with Kiko and Dom and the ridiculousness of their town, Mount Angus, that it's been hard to leave them and move on. But I was running out of people to murder! I hope you've enjoyed following along with them yourself, and if you were interested but didn't know where to start...try the beginning! The box set is available here, and hopefully you'll find it all it's cracked up to be!

Happy reading and cheers!

A Cake a Month: February

This barely adequate photo does not do this cake justice. I'm into month two of the "bake a cake a month" goal on my Day Zero Project list, and this is better than the last. I think this goal will probably kill me.

So, above is a thin slice of Epic Chocolate Stout Cake with Chocolate Bourbon Sour Cream Frosting (recipe here), which is just as epic as it sounds. Really. If you have the time and want to impress people (for the love of all that is good and chocolatey, if you make this, make this for a group of people), this will do it. It is rich, oh so rich you can only eat a small piece at a time.

Or maybe that's just me...Cheers!

Eggs and Kisses Bonus Recipe

I don't even know how to begin this post--today's the release of the last Yolks on You book! I've had so much fun writing about Kiko and Dom's mystery solving and watching how their relationship develops that it's hard to let them go. But alas, it was time to tie their storyline up in a nice little bow, and I think this is a good place to end the series.

I hope you've had as much fun reading about them as I've had writing about them! As usual, you can find an ecopy of Eggs and Kisses at the JMS Books site (they have reward points now!) or you can get a print copy. Find out what sorts of chaos they get themselves into over Valentine's Day!

The recipe this time is an easy way to make a sweet breakfast! I give you: Nutella Cherry Heart Pies!

Nutella Cherry Heart Pies

1 15 oz box pie crusts (two crusts)
1 21 oz can cherry pie filling
nutella
cold water
powdered sugar (for serving)

1. Preheat oven to 450F. Roll out crusts and cut into quarters (like cutting a pizza).

2. Place one quarter over another (see picture below) to make four pairs. If some are slightly bigger, place the bigger ones over the small ones.

3. To make the pies heart shaped, cut out a little triangle from the middle of the curved part of the crust, and cut each of the side corners off (see picture below).

4. Flip the top crust up and add nutella and cherry pie filling, leaving space at the edges for pressing the pies shut.

5. Dip your finger in the cold water and run it around the edges of the crust (this will help seal the pies). Flip the top crust down and pinch the edges shut with a fork. Poke a few holes in the top (so your pies won't explode in the oven!).

6. Bake for 10 minutes or until edges of crust are golden brown. Serve with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and enjoy!

Easy to make (even if you can't cut hearts!) and definitely tasty enough to impress! (Plus, if you don't have a valentine, you have them all to yourself! I see no downside.)

Cheers!

A Cake a Month: January

You all probably know by now that I enjoy doing the Day Zero Project. I never get it all done, but I love having that list to prompt me to get up from the desk and do something else. This time around I'm baking a cake a month for a year--and figure I might as well tell you all about it!

That picture above is what happened when I attempted January's cake, Chocolate Candy Cane Swirl Bundt Cake (recipe here). I skipped the topping and just made the cake, and it was delicious! As a fan of all things mint, I can definitely say the peppermint swirl bit was the best! I've been pulling it out in the mornings with coffee, and it's a sweet way to get a little writing done. As I mentioned in my last post, I'm just finishing up the Yolks on You mysteries--but I'm cooking up something new, so stick around for that. And feel free to check out my various goals on Day Zero!

Cheers!

Yolks on You #5 Cover Reveal!

It's time to announce the fifth--and last--Yolks on You mystery! I don't know how to feel or what to say. I've had a great time writing Kiko and Dom, getting to know them and watching them solve mysteries in their weird little town, but here was the natural ending point, so end it must. I'm going to miss them!

Thanks for following along with them, and I hope you enjoy their last case. It's a sweet end to the series. So before I break down in tears as I wave good-bye to them, here's the cover:

And of course it's going to be arriving in time for Valentine's Day! You can pre-order Eggs and Kisses now and it'll be available on February 11th. Oh, and if you didn't already know this, JMS Books now has reward points! Just another egg-cellent reason to pick up a good book.

Cheers!