Though I try and celebrate everyday, Halloween is extra special for me. I decorate, bake, make up goody bags with lots of candy, snacks, and prizes for my trick or treaters(sometimes overwhelming them with my costumed dog- Butler), but it’s all in fun.
In that same playful spirit, I am releasing my newest book, Desperately Seeking Vampire: Help Wanted Romance Series to Kindle unlimited and ebook on Amazon (link below the image)
Get your copy now and tell me what you think of it. Does it get you in the mood for some spooky fun?
So easy to get spooky!
I’ll be mixing up a batch of cocktails this evening, before I break out a bottle of Apothic Red Wine and my favorite NY aged cheddar. You can turn any drink spooky with a black olive stuffed cocktail onion. If you’redrinking adult beverages take and Uber or Lyft home and save that blood for a vampire.
Oh, did I mentioned it is a Trilogy… Oh well! Don’t let me get ahead of myself. First we need to pick a drink for this fine evening. So let’s ask Declan if he has any suggestions.
Declan: “Here’s an unusual drink that I discovered in my youth that has a sweet and sour velvety texture. The name of the drink is aptly named Black Velvet. For some reason, it is also called a Snakebite. Concocted to mark the death of Queen Victoria, that historical fact has somehow been lost. The drink is made up of half stout (Guinness) and half champagne, but it is more common the substitute the champagne with cider. it’s usually served in a pint glass so it’s not usually a ladies choice. For the ladies, it could be shared in half pint glasses.”
Now that we got our drink, lets dive into the books.
The entire trilogy is set in the USA, after a climate change drought spanning thirty years has all but destroyed the population. With the constitution long dead and the states fragmented, the ruthless president presides over what is left of the Union, its citizens living in domed citadels.
The only other survivors live off the grid in the wastelands, clinging onto life. This is the story of one such survivor, Jack Cole, whose family is taken by the Denverines as breeding stock for the citadel of Denver, and his lethal journey begins in an effort to rescue them.
This will not be his only challenge. In a world where you can trust no one, death is around every corner and your own worst enemy can be your own psyche. Dragged into a power struggle, he finds himself defending the Union against The Protectorate of Texas, run by AI technology with a conscious agenda. If he fails, humanity will be lost forever in favor of Artificial Intelligence computer algorithms and robotic machines.
Check these fantastic books… only 99c each, for a limited time on Kindle
And here is some more info about our featured guest author and connoisseur of “Black Velvet” cocktail Declan Conner:
Declan lives something of a nomadic life, traveling between Brazil, Portugal, and the UK. Over the last 12 years, he’s published 14 books, mostly thrillers. Besides authoring, he also has a passion for music and his guitar is never far away for the times when writer’s block rears its head. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen too often. More recently he has taken to writing speculative fiction as thrillers set in a future on Earth, fascinated from “what if” scenarios, when considering current disasters, AI, and climate change, and what that could mean for the individuals psyche, not to mention society if taken to extremes.
Today, I started my day by spending some time with the Perpetual Puppy and then heading out to see Blue Beetle. Overall a great movie- go see it if you can.
Still, my wandering heart wasn’t satisfied and I packed up half the crew and headed out to the beach. The sky was blue and the wind dragged sand off tiny pebbles, revealing hidden beauty.
Still more treasures were unearthed and I was shown shells of every color and size by the minions and the Mr. But the beach had one final treasure in store for me, a miniature library full of books and magazines. I’ll be dropping off copies of my books for eager readers, becuase everyone should have something to read on a long beach day.
Treasure!
I’ll be heading home for a cocktail (recipe below) and listening to Neil Gaiman on Audiobooks on the way.
PIÑA COLADA RECIPE: adults over the legal drinking age and responsible enough to not drive only please.
Ingredients-
1 1/2 OZ BACARDÍ RUM Of CHOICE
2 1/4 OZ PINEAPPLE JUICE
1/2 OZ CREAM OF COCONUT
Fill a tall glass with ice. Blend your ingredients and pour over ice. Garnish with a piece of fresh Pinapple and maraschino cherries. Just Yum!
Double, triple, or just make a pitcher for sharing with company- even a hit in the winter.
I’m here with some friends (21 and over crowd) at Brook Hollow Winery for some live music by Rich Ortiz, a glass of Rose (my company is enjoying a pitcher of cranberry raspberry wine slushy), some snacks provided by the food truck(try their mac and cheese- excellent) and majestic views despite the rain.
Everything is so lush and green in the vineyard and the surrounding hills are flocked out in summers best while a dense fog covers the caps. The ground is wet, so I’m not expecting to see fireflies on St. Andrew’s Eve, but the quiet soft noises of evening fill the space as the light wanes.
Whoever you’re with on your birthday, wherever you are, make every moment special.
Tonight our Liquid Friday Blog is on location at Brook Hollow Winery. In just a week this lovely and scenic winery will host Roz Lee’s A Day or Two of Wine Romance and More- book fair. We’ve eager attended her events as they are spectacular turn outs.
A glass of wine and a wonderful view
This year is a multi-genre event, so stop by, visit the authors, have a wine tasting and a glass of wine and buy a bottle for home. I’m drinking the rose tonight and enjoying the peace and scenic views with my editor, who knew?!
Ally Brown
As I start my second glass of wine, I’d like to take a moment to remind you to support your local authors. Hours and tears go into each and every book, and unlike AI writing you can get hooked into a series. I generally take three months to write a book and six to edit it. We now have more than ten works published (2 full books and eight quick reads). Do take a look at them and let me know what you think. I love, love, love feedback from my readers and you always make me smile. The link is below.
If you haven’t checked out the other authors I’ve hosted, you’re in for surprises. Roz Lee is a favorite of mine and she has multi genre work I think you’re going to love. Link is below.
St. Patrick’s Day falls on the same day as my Liquid Friday blog this year, so there will be enough green beer and silly cocktails to keep you busy. To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we’re going to make a batch of cupcakes. Since it falls on a weekday and I’m up to my eyeballs multi-tasking, we’ll use a boxed mix and keep it simple and flavorful. I’m tossing my corned beef in the crock pot with potatoes, carrots, cabbage wedges, and some peppercorns, so I can keep my oven free for baking.
Let’s get started.
Grab you favorite green cupcake liners and heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, we’re baking.
Cupcake Ingredients:
1 Box chocolate cake mix (I use Duncan Hines but really any brand will do)
1 1/4 cup Guinness to replace the water portion on the box
3 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil (yes, you can still substitute 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup applesauce for oil for lower fat cupcakes)
Before you put liners in your favorite cupcake tin, sprinkle some rice in between. This gives you a little air cushion so you have the perfect bottoms on your cupcakes. If you decide to skip the liners, grab two 9″ cake pans and fill equally for a chocolate cake that will make you lick your lips. Once your done baking, save the rice to reuse next time.
Mix wet ingredients and slowly whisk in the box mix until smooth. Pour 1/2 to 2/3 full into cupcake liners and bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 23 minutes (they’ll spring back when you touch them or a toothpick will come out clean).
While your cupcakes are baking its time to make the frosting. If you used a red velvet chocolate cake mix use the doctored cream cheese icing mix at the bottom of the page, otherwise mix up a batch of Bailey’s Flavored Buttercream(recipes below).
NOTE: If you’re serving children omit alcohol from icing-most alcohol will cook out in the oven for the cupcakes, but we don’t bake the icing, so just omit the alcohol.
Bailey’s Flavored Buttercream icing
2 sticks butter (8oz total) softened
1 1/2 to 2 cups powdered sugar
1-2 teaspoon(s) vanilla sugar (blended sugar and vanilla bean)
3 Tablespoons Bailey’s Irish Cream Liquor
Hand or machine blend until smooth and fluffy. Put in a pastry bag and decorate cooled cupcakes. Top with sprinkles, party picks, or shaved chocolate.
Jameson Black Barrel Cream Cheese Icing
1 stick butter softened
1 package (8oz.) Phili Cream Cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons Jameson Black Barrel Whiskey
Since you have some liquid in this recipe, you won’t need any milk. If, however you omit the alcohol, add 1-2 Tablespoon milk.
Blend until incorporated and then whip for added volume. Spoon frost or use a pastry bag with this icing and top with some sugar crystals or a light dusting of brown sugar for extra flavor.
Whichever version you went with, I hope your cupcakes come out great and you have a safe and happy holiday.
Join my mailing list or keep checking back for new recipes, cocktails, authors and their books, and some of my crazy stories.
We are featuring a paranormal teen fantasy this week, so we’ll keep our treats fun and light.
Time of the Silver Dragon: Tales of the Zodiac Shifter Book 1 currently available on Amazon
Storyline: After years of hard work, practice, and sacrifice, Silver has earned the honor of entering the coveted underground martial arts tournament in Chinatown. Her excitement is only matched by her fear of failure. Little does she knows that the tournament is not the end, but the beginning of trouble, trouble times twelve. After the tournament is over she must face the wrath of the grandmaster, her illusions about herself, and find out who her real friends are. She finds out that the myth of the twelve zodiac animals great race, the Jade Emperor, and even demons are real. In this frightening new reality, will she have the strength to save humanity?
We are featuring a paranormal teen fantasy this week, so we’ll keep our treats fun and light.
Time of the Silver Dragon: Tales of the Zodiac Shifter Book 1 currently available on Amazon
Storyline: After years of hard work, practice, and sacrifice, Silver has earned the honor of entering the coveted underground martial arts tournament in Chinatown. Her excitement is only matched by her fear of failure. Little does she knows that the tournament is not the end, but the beginning of trouble, trouble times twelve. After the tournament is over she must face the wrath of the grandmaster, her illusions about herself, and find out who her real friends are. She finds out that the myth of the twelve zodiac animals great race, the Jade Emperor, and even demons are real. In this frightening new reality, will she have the strength to save humanity?
Our recipe: Silky Onion Dip with veggies and crisps
Ingredients
1 container silky tofu
1-2 packages vegan onion dip mix
Fresh Veggies (carrot sticks, celery sticks, snow peas, sugar snap peas, cucumber slices, green and red pepper slices, blanched asparagus spears)
Crisps (your favorite chips, pretzels, or fried wonton wrappers)
Cut silky tofu into small squares and pulse in food processor with package of onion soup mix until blended. Add more soup mix to taste and put in a bowl surrounded by your favorite munchies- it’s that simple.
Serve your Silky Onion Dip and munchies to friends or just have a snack anytime. We absolutely love this with gingerale mixers (1 ounce pomegranate juice, matcha tea, grape juice, or orange juice to 4 parts gingerale).
It’s Mardi Gras and we couldn’t be happier! We’re making enough sweets and treats to keep us busy until Fat Tuesday(shrove Tuesday), but rather than give you a recipe, we’ve got a FREE ebook short story for you today on Amazon.
Just click the link below to download your copy (this weekend only) and get you in the Mardi Gras mood. Relax with a nice chicory coffee and some warm beignets or a slice of King’s Cake. Pick your favorite jazz artist from Louisiana and enjoy our short story.
If you enjoyed King of the Mardi Gras, leave us a review and check out our other books. Our All Tied Up In Knots series has 2 full books and 6 short reads- perfect to keep you busy between Mardi Gras parties.
Laissez les bons temps rouler. 🎺 (Let the good times roll.)
It’s officially February, and with 18 days left to go before Fat Tuesday and a freezing cold front moving into NJ, you know I had to give you a fantastic cocktail from New Orleans. It’s the perfect little something to make you feel warm and toasty inside and end Dry January ( For ages 21 and over. Don’t drink and drive)
There is something special about the history and charm of New Orleans and I hope you make that trip in time to see the gayety of Mardi Gras Parade floats going by. For now, let’s warm up with a nice cocktail.
Sazerac-
Ingredients-
Absinthe rinsed glass
2 parts(1.5 oz.) rye whisky
3 dashes Peychaud
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Splash of sugar, simple syrup, or Sugar cube(my favorite)
Lemon twist
How to:
Start by chilling a glass with ice cubes(or sticking in the freezer for a few minutes). The end product won’t be diluted with ice.
Once your glass is chilled rinse it with the absinthe of your choice and discard excess(or use it to rinse a few more glasses for company). This will leave a delicious flavor on the rim of the glass as well as a hint of the taste in the beverage.
Add 1.5 ounces rye whisky to your chilled and rinsed glass and in a second glass muddle a sugar cube with 2 dashes angostura bitters and 3 dashes Peychaud.
Add the sugar solution to your glass of rye whiskey and serve with a lemon twist. It’s the perfect cocktail and if you haven’t tried one yet, you’re missing out.
Enjoy! Let the good times roll.
Visit our other recipes for your cocktail parties and read some of our visiting authors.
edenfreed.com 