Passionate Cooks Guest Post: Vallory Vance

Vallory Vance joins us today to talk about her passionate recipe and her newest release.

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When I serve the Second Chance Tortillas recipe from the Passionate Cooks cookbook for brunch with friends, I mix up a batch of Bloody Marys to go along with them. The spicy tomato drink is a great accompaniment especially on a cold day. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
• 4 cups tomato juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

• 2 teaspoons curry powder

• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups vodka
• Garnish Ideas – celery stalk, spicy pickled string bean, lemon wedge

Directions:
• Combine first 7 ingredients in a large pitcher. Chill overnight.
• Add vodka to pitcher; stir well. Fill glasses. Garnish as you like.

BIO

This new author is a color inside the lines Human Resources professional living in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex by day. After her family consisting of a husband of almost twenty years, three kids and two dogs have filled her evenings with laughter, she sits down to her laptop to write tales of the first moments of falling in love when nothing else seems to matter.

A a fortieth birthday present to herself, she decided to share her stories. Vallory Vance is the pen name she uses to write contemporary romances that range from sweet to spicy. You can find her most days on the Vallory V ~ A Romance Author Blog.

Music for Her Soul Summary

Lena Spencer is a practical woman whose world is carefully ordered by schedules and timelines and she doesn’t like surprises. So when she receives a call from a beautiful model detailing an affair with her boyfriend, her world is thrown into chaos. With the help of her boisterous sister and niece, Lena manages to pick up the pieces and resume her role as a single working mom with the added bonus of a few slinky dresses to show off the figure she’d always hidden. Feeling sexy and confident, she is almost prepared for Ethan’s return from a European tour. Almost.

Musician, Ethan Holden, realized too late that he’d miscalculated the level of Lena’s fury. A ten month tour through Europe and a crazed fan had proven too much for the both of them. Returning to his hometown, he is determined to win her back despite her resistance. But can he give up the music he loves if that’s the only thing she wants?

Available from Amazon.com as a Kindle Edition
Available from Barnes and Noble as a Nook Book
Available from All Romance in Multiple Formats

Online Connections:
• Blog: Vallory V – A Romance Author Blog
• Twitter: @ValloryVance
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vallory-Vance

Passionate Cooks Guest Post: Sharon Kleve

I'm so excited to have fellow Passionate Cooks author Sharon Kleve on my blog today to talk about her recipe and her latest release.

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Besides writing, cooking is my passion and I spend a lot of time in my kitchen. A few years ago we remodeled it and now I have a large kitchen that inspires me to do even more.

A couple weeks before our sixteenth year wedding anniversary this year instead of going out I created a romantic dinner for two. That’s how I came up with Lip Smacking Pork Roulade and I make it once a month now.

We drank a couple glasses of chardonnay and looked longing into each other eyes. My husband says that’s cheaper than an upgrade on a diamond ring. Ha ha!

Klutzy Love Blurb:

Corny is a hot chick with a great job that she loves. All that changed in the blink of an eye when her boss had an accident involving an oversized rubber band. She’s still a hot chick, but her boss is dead.

Steve Spears is a seasoned narcotics cop who ends up wanting to strangle Corny on a regular basis. After finding out Corny’s dream of opening a pet detective business, he decides he doesn’t want a girlfriend who routinely puts herself in danger. That’s his job!

Corny misses Steve, but she’s getting on with her life. She decides to get a month’s worth of dating out of the way in a single night, by combining her three favorite things—men, food, and alcohol.

Steve’s big gun and cop’s intuition saves Corny’s life, but not from another trip to the emergency room. He makes Corny promise never to get hurt again—she agreed, but has her fingers crossed behind her back.

Klutzy Love Excerpt:

I raised my salty-rimmed margarita, "Let's make a toast to Mr. Langfield; he was kind, kooky, and had poor taste in women."

"Here, here. God bless the silly romantic fool," Kitty cheered and twirled her hair around her finger.

"I second that," Brenda clinked her glass to ours and munched on chips and salsa.

After a sip from my drink my sexy-guy radar started to beep. I did a quick scan of the restaurant and spotted my target. I discreetly waved my hand above my head and said, "Target acquired... target acquired." We laughed until we about peed our pants and then I leaned forward and quietly asked, "Do you think he heard me?" then giggled more. "I've seen my share of gorgeous men, but that guy is smok’n hot."

"Oh boy, is he ever," Kitty and Brenda said in unison and fanned their faces dramatically.

"He's been looking my way. I'm giving him my, 'you can buy me a drink' look."

All of a sudden Kitty rolled her eyes toward the bar and whispered, "Holy moly, he's coming this way."

Sure enough he made his way through the crowd on the dance floor towards our table. Before I hyperventilated from excitement, Kitty kicked me in the shin. "Thanks, I needed that." Kitty could be pretty levelheaded in stressful situations.

Sharon Kleve Bio:

Sharon Kleve was born and raised in Washington and currently lives on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband.

She loves romance. She loves reading romance, living romance, and especially loves writing about romance. She gets no greater feeling than watching her characters come alive in each other's arms. Most of all, she loves giving her characters the happily ever after they deserve—with a few bumps and bruises along the way.

One of her favorite things to do is picking up a new book and sinking into the story, immersing herself in the emotions between the characters. She hopes to inspire her readers the same way her favorite authors have inspired her.

When not writing, she can usually be found either curled up in her recliner with her cat and a good book, or in the kitchen baking sourdough bread or bagels.

Author of "The Corny Myers Series"

Book One, Flamingo Blues, Published December 2011

Book Two, Be Mine, Published February 2012

Book Three, Klutzy Love, Published August 2012

Contact me at:

http://www.sharonkleve.com/
http://authorsharonkleve.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/sharonrkleve

https://twitter.com/#!/SharonKleve

https://pinterest.com/srkleve/

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=tab_pro

https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/106597108511066054614/106597108511066054614/posts#106597108511066054614/posts

Links to Purchase:

Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords

The Awkward Homework Assignment

Stop by Seeing is Believing for my monthly Fun Friday post. Today I discuss what is to date the most awkward homework assignment I assisted on with one of my children.

http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/fun-friday-the-homework-assignment-a-r-norris/

It's Complete! It's Complete!

The Telomere Trilogy is complete now! End of Eternity releases today. Yes, today! Look how pretty they are together.

*sigh*

Captain Noah Bonney and her crew were some of my favorite characters to write. She's the woman I want to grow up to be: strong, patient, smart, kickass.

Okay, okay...let me give you the spiel on End of Eternity.

BLURB:

Luna thought her journey away from her people's world was over. Now, she's forced to join the lost daughter in her journey with Captain Noah Bonney's crew to learn why these women coexist with men. Something unbelievable to the all woman race. Adding to the confusing change in Dokkaebi directive and teachings, is the presence of the gold-eyed man that stirred something in her heart. A forbidden attraction that goes against all her teachings and her people's ways.

Damani Wassack isn't happy with the situation either. Telomere Watchers lead secluded and separate lives. Yet now, he and the other watchers must come to the surface, show all their secrets and work with outsiders. If that weren't enough, he can't get that sneer from the man-hating warrior woman out of his mind. Or her fierce dedication, strong spirit, and sense of duty and honor. The package is appealing, and completely impossible.

EXCERPT:

Luna was sunk, she knew later as they lay in the cot. He'd passed out against her as soon as she finished with the healing. Exhausted herself, she'd called for low lights and let herself drop against the wall, cradling him so his head lay on her lower stomach. The braided Mohawk was a mess. She hesitated long enough to feel nervous before reaching out and working the binding off.

"Oh, it's like silk," she murmured on a purr, running her fingers through the mane of dark auburn hair to unravel the braiding. It draped forward in thick locks, partially concealing his face.

The low lights from the vessel reflected off the silver tattoo etched, right up by the shoulder blade. In an absent way, she traced it with her finger and sighed.

She knew the mechanics of being with a man. It'd been taught in preparation for her Procreation Journey. What she hadn't expected was that need, as the Essence called it. So new and uncommon. Similar, yet different from the affection she had for her Dokkaebi, and more than what the elders describe of attraction. She slid her fingers from his tattoo to his face, brushed the hair off it to trace his brow and nose, ending at the red tattoos on his hairline.

The wonder of man, the Essence echoed inside her. What wonders they bring to women. This is different from the first of those who landed. Very interesting.

Luna frowned and wondered if it was the Essence intrigued by this man, or her. Could she separate those feelings? Were they manipulating her?

I am intrigued by all and yet none in particular, Child. Unlike you.

Was this what Namid felt for the Scott McCree? Frustrated, she tried to figure out how to approach the situation. Obviously, she could do little to resist him much longer. But she would not give her life and soul to him. Not even for a child in her belly. Not even cast out in this world would she change. Yet if she loved him, she feared she might end up spilling all and more at his feet. At his mercy. At his will.

He stirred in his sleep, reached out and snuggled into her, resting his head in between her pelvic bones. His warm hand kneaded her thigh before settling again into deep sleep.

Everything changes, daughter.

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PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon, B&N

Well, now back to writing The Naga People, my current sci-fi WIP. Ciao all!

Passionate Cooks Now Available for Free Download

I've included my "Heavenly Pillows" sopapilla recipe in All Romance's free cookbook.

I know, I know... no one expected ME to be a contributor in a cookbook. (Yet another sign 2012 might be the date of the end of the world.) But until it happens, enjoy all the groovy recipes. Download it here: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-passionatecooks-944744-174.html

It's free, so why wouldn't you?

The Daunting Abyss of Marketing and Promotion

I'll be the first to admit, I am horrible at getting my name and books out there. Right now, I'm staring at a promotional to-do list that is fifty-million items long...

Okay, THAT may be an exaggeration, but this is my blog so I can be as melodramatic as I want.

I don't usually compare myself to other writers, because that path leads to depression, insecurity and most likely insanity. But in the area of marketing, promotion, and all around public relations, I can't help but notice that my fellow writers seem so much better at it.

And their sales show it.

They work their asses off balancing the time of writing and creativity with the work of letting people know their book(s) is/are out there. I'm so impressed and fascinated by the seemingly natural flow.

I am not comfortable boasting about my book in the respect as "see here for purchase". Oh, I can chat up all the science and world building in it and the basis for its development and inclusion in the story, but that's just geeking out, isn't it?

Yeah, I thought so. *sigh*

I can do what I hope are interesting articles about science, technology, research, and/or development, but most of the time I get so excited about the topic that I forget to tie it to one of my stories and add a book summary and purchase links.

So, back to the thing that prompted this post. I'm staring at the daunting abyss of promotion items I need to do. There's interview questionnaires, topic items for blog posts (with their link to a published or soon-to-be published story), blog tour requests to send out to my blogging buddies, and excerpt posts to send off to Yahoo Groups and Facebook.

Usually I try and end a post like this with a "here's what I'm going to do about it" paragraph, but truthfully folks, I'm too overwhelmed and, yes, frightened to come up with some solutions.

Yours truly, quivering in the corner,

A. R.

Space Travel - gazing the shore beyond the horizon

Whether it's interplanetary, interstellar, or intergalactic, space travel has some hefty challenges to overcome. The one I want to cover today is distance.

Flippers on? Okay, let's dive in.

The speed of light is equal to 186,000 miles per second. (Here I thought my husband was speedy Gonzales at 80 mph!) Using Termination Shock as the "edge", our Solar System is reported to be about 22 light-hours across, which is about 1/400th a light year.

Doesn't seem like that big, does it? I admit, using light years does kind of soften the true size of things. Dampens the perspective, so to speak. So, let's put it in miles. First visualize a mile in your head. Now let's do this arithmetic style:

          186,000 x 60 = 11,160,000 million miles per minute
          11,160,000 x 60 = 669,600,000 million miles per hour
          669,600,000 x 22 = 14,731,200,000 billion miles wide

I'm impressed (both at my math skills if I'm correct and in the true size of the Solar System). That's almost 15 billion miles across! Earth is 24,906 around miles at its equator. You'd have to go around the Earth's equator 591,472 times to equal the Solar System's distance

All right, at this point, let's be honest. The Milky Way galaxy is about 90,000 light years across. Talk about speck of dust! We are a microbe! For the sake of sanity, let's exclude intergalactic travel in this post for now, shall we?

Good, now considering the first commercial flight using an airplane was only in 1913 or 1914 (couldn't clarify in my research) how can we possibly imagine even getting to the closest habitable planet? Mars ranges from 34 million to 250 million miles away from Earth. I mean, even becoming interplanetary residents is daunting.

But let's put on our positivity hats... no, not the aluminum ones, the positivity ones... Yeah, those there to the left. We've made great strides since those first commercial flights and now airflight is a natural transportation method all over the world.

NASA has taken several rovers to Mars and it's only about 6 months. Yeah, I know that's just robots, but baby steps folks, baby steps. Stay with me here.

Virgin Galactic is well on its way with the commercial space flights. And a Russian company is slated to open the first orbital hotel in 2016 .

The private sector is where our advancement into space will come from. We'll slowly move beyond our earthly society and will pace our technological advancements in modes of space travel to meet the changing needs.

Come on, do we really need faster than light (FTL) travel technology when we're just settling into space colonies, moons and planets?

Truthfully, what's a 6 to 12 month trip for someone moving to colonize off Earth? Pioneers ventured that long to start a new life in a time when they knew they'd never go "back home" again. It'll be those with the same mindset gearing up for multi-planet civilization.

Sure, they could speed up the trip a little, but it's not bad as it stands now if they build gravity treatment into the vessel, such a body centrifuges.

Now, when we get ready to go interstellar baby, that's when we need to bump up our travel game. We'd have to first decide how we're getting there. Most likely, it'll be a mix of things. Those first few will want/need to travel in generational ships that are slower than light. They could also travel in suspended animation with a mix of frozen embryos to colonize a new world in another star system.

That's a long wait and I don't think I could do that.

My interstellar style would be through Faster Than Light (FTL) technology either using warp drive technology or something more realistic such as quantaportation. Of course, a quantaportation grid would need to be laid out first before it would work. That could be done through unmanned technology with robots setting up receiver stations throughout.

Sources:
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/73118.html
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4026/contents.html
http://www.space.com/9128-cyborg-astronauts-needed-colonize-space.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_8109558_problems-space-exploration-travel.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/science/space/18starship.html?ref=science&_r=0moc.semityn.www