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!