Happy Memorial Day

Please take a moment today to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It’s only right we honor them, for with their sacrifice comes family grief and should come with complete national gratitiude.

Thank you to our armed forces all around the world, in safety and in danger. For all you do, have done and will do in the future to protect the American dream – we fly the flag for you!

Give the girl a hand!

Did you notice the new header here at the blog? Thanks once again to the talents of Theresa at Jolie Web Designs I redid my website and my blog to match!

And I did them quick.

Jolie Web Designs has a really quick turn-around time. Theresa did my custom title and navigations link and I think the template is gorgeous! So summery and light. When you get a minute, go check it out at Debora Dennis Mills and leave me a message – let me know what you think of the redesign!

I’m in the process of looking for a new word meter for the blog, so that can be updated soon – anyone have a good one that will fit in my sidebar – please let me know.

I’ll be enjoying the long weekend, with barbeques and packing (cause the move is lingering off in the not-to-distant future) – I hope you have some great plans of your own.

Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Today’s Coffee: Gloria Jean’s - Swiss Chocolate Almond (like a candy bar in my coffee cup! )

To Be or Not To Be – Funny

What a question. See if you read paranormal you’ve probably made the discovery that it’s usually fairly dark. With worlds filled with vampires, werewolves and all sorts of un-dead creatures of the night. When was the last time you picked up a humorous lighthearted paranormal – ala- The Ghost and Mrs. Muir type story?

Don’t get me wrong – these stories are great and I love them as much as the next paranormal fan. But, do we always need dark and sinister?

Is there room for the quirky pirate ghost who not only wants the heroine to find the treasure, but plays matchmaker as well – of course with his own odd personality traits shining through?

Is there room for the dead mobster whose just a little peeved that his girlfriend has found herself on the run and in love with a federal agent – something he plans to put an end to even if he is dead?

Now, I’m not claiming to be funny. I don’t do slapstick or physical humor. I call it more of an attitude. My ghosts have plenty of attitude – like me

They have a sense of humor, they have to, don’t they – they’re dead.

So to continue my quest, I spent quite a bit of time over at my local Barnes & Noble yesterday afternoon – enough time to down a grande white chocolate mocha with extra whipped cream. I pulled out paranormal after paranormal searching for a lighthearted ghostly romance – Took me a while, but I found one.

Getting back to the question above – do you want a little humor in your paranormal romance?

Today’s Coffee: Gloria Jean’s - Irish Cream

No Words

As if I don’t have enough to think about – family, buying a house, moving and having my TWO novels in a good enough place to pitch at conference – I now have another distraction to add to the list.

Over at the Smart Bitches there is the discussion to end all discussions going on. Even NORA jumped into the fray to express both her concern and her opinions!

As one of her legions of fans and admirers, I am more than willing to join the group of people in search of the WWND bracelets – would that make us a cult? I don’t care – I want in!

Speaking of a loss of words. It seems that Miss Snark has also hung up her hat and has retired from the blogosphere.

Yes all you snarklings out there – she’s given out all the advice she can give. We are now officially on our own, left to remember her words of wisdom and snarkisms – we can now go forth and get published without fear that we’ve done something horribly wrong!

Thank you Miss Snark, Nora and Smart Bitches for keeping us all on track, for helping us keep up with the times and giving us the confidence to pursue our publishing dreams…

No other words can sum up my feelings better than – “thank you and happy trails until we meet again!”

Todays Coffee: Gloria Jeans - Mudslide (yummmy)

17th Century Sugared Gingerbread

“There being no sugar cane in this country, those trees (maples) supply that liquor, which being boiled up and evaporated turns to a kind of sugar somewhat brownish but very good” – Joutel (1687) – In reference to the Plymouth Colony

One of my current manuscripts is set in an New England reenactment village circa 1806. So, researching the times and daily lives of the people of the day has been somewhat extensive for me. From the general store wares, the blacksmith shop and what the people ate – it’s been an interesting adventure.

Food and cooking was a pretty big deal. No going to the store when you ran out of milk or eggs – the woman was out there from sunrise to sunset collecting those eggs and cooking all day over a hot fire.

“She that is ignorant in cookery, may love and obey, but she cannot cherish and keep her husband.” – THE ENGLISH HUSWIFE – Gervase Markham (1615)

So, according to this tidbit – by all accounts I should be divorced. I’m not the best cook (a fact that has been established in more than one post on this blog.) I must add here that I have been truly blessed to have a husband that not only loves to cook – but is darn good at it. We eat well!

In honor of Mother’s Day I thought I’d post a sweet recipe courtesy of our early settlers.

SUGAR GINGERBREAD

Rub one-half pound of butter and one pound of sugar (they used maple – but you don’t have to!) together. Add six well-beaten eggs, then one pound of flour and two tablespoons ginger. Sift together. Back in two square tin sheets for forty minutes in a mild oven. (325 for us.)

Enjoy.

Today’s Coffee: Green Mountain - Southern Pecan