A Writer's Life

I'm just back from a terrific, very fast/intense conference on Book Marketing and Promotion. Novelist Inc 2016 has to be one of the top writers conferences in 2016 and held in Florida! I learned so much.
Watch for my new cover, THE BRIDE'S BASKET? 3rd in my Basket Series.

I'm working hard and updating my e-Newsletter with all sorts of new stuff. Make sure you are SUBSCRIBED? Headed for giveaways and prizes. My beta readers are hard at work reading THE BRIDE'S BASKET, out Nov. That's the third in the series.

That's me in the reptile print. :) Showed the shot to my daughter, who said, "Mm. Interesting." Translate that how you will. :)

Every one of those people are know-how pros. They were shooting videos with their cells as if it were nothing. (I'm still practicing.)

Our photos look like we're partying, but oh, so, not true. We networked, shared information, when not sitting in writer's workshops, like those given from Mark Dawson on marketing on Facebook. Draft2Digital, Bookbub and others were there, mingling and helping. A photographer was there for individual promo shots and I can't wait to get mine--mine is so outdated. (Psst. I've aged a bit since starting 30 years ago. :))

I'm one of many who are called a "hybrid", that is, published in Traditional and in Indie (self-published). I am truly amazed at the runners in Indie and how much they do. Many have teams of course, Virtual Assistants, Editors, Assistants, Cover Artists, and Marketers for them. However, many of us do most of it ourselves.

 Here's a great shot of one luncheon, and believe me, it's important to eat right, because as much as you learn, the pace is stressful. So gluten-free menus were super. Thank you, Trade Winds Resort in St. Petersberg, FL. Excellent care all the way around.

The next shot is of a swan in the water mote just outside our window. Paddleboats paddling away during the day. I actually networked so much, I only saw the beach during one dinner.

I leave you with the swimming swan and the reminder to sign up for my ENEWSLETTER as I am working very hard on it now. AND building a brand new website.

ALSO... You don't want to miss my fantastic new cover for THE BRIDE'S BASKET, 3rd in my Basket Series.

Upcoming & Potstickers

The Ebook of this is out now, but the paperback cover is so gorgeous, I wanted you to see it now. Thank you, NajQamberDesigns.

Amazon/Nook

The Basket Maker's Wife:
 Safely hidden away from her horrifying past, single mother Nora loves her elderly friend, the inituitive owner of The Basket Shop. A young woman on-the-run arrives, and the three women's lives unite, changing Nora forever. Amid a cast of characters who love her, Nora fearfully faces the past, a new full life, and the terror of a shocking gift that has waited for her....

 A Different Kind of Story from Cait London:

 The Basket Maker’s Wife concerns the Celtic trio: The Maiden, The Mother, and The Crone (Elder woman). Those are the three stages of a woman’s life, and I hope you enjoy the women, their lives and loves in The Basket Maker’s Wife.

I usually write about things I know, rather the elements involved and am working on another book in which I'll use the following Freeze Now, Serve Later Recipe. It's great for Brrr Weather.

These are ground pork dumplings, sometimes called potstickers by our family. I usually put these together while watching a movie and freeze for later.

Some of my family likes them browned in sesame oil, but I prefer them in chicken broth. (Broth is usually onions, garlic, some red pepper flakes, parsley or chives, maybe mushrooms.)

The Big Tip is to use plenty of flour on your parchment paper/cookie sheet and to separate them. The Dumpling Wrappers are delicate.

There are several "Korean Mandu" videos on YouTube. Isn't YouTube great? I call it my University. :)

Here's the basic recipe:
1 lb ground fresh pork
tofu if wanted
finely chopped green onions
garlic
2 TBS corn starch
2 TBS sesame oil
soy sauce, not much
salt as needed

Use in the proportions you like. I mix this and separate, working with 1/2 and keeping the other cold. Put a teaspoon of meat mixture in the center of the wrapper, smooth water around the edges, and crimp. Freeze.

I've used green chives and white onions in lieu of green onions. I've skipped the tofu at times, and added different available greens, i.e. kale. Be sure to keep everything finely chopped. These dumplings are great to freeze on the cookie sheet and later place into plastic bags. Kids love them fried in sesame oil.

A supply of dumpling wrappers is always at the ready in my freezer.

I hope you have time to enjoy the upcoming holidays, either with family and/or friends, or just settling into a quiet time with dumpling soup and perhaps reading The Basket Maker's Wife Amazon/Nook :)