Unedited Excerpt from Into The Past

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Erin, Griffin, Into The Past, It's About Time series, Susan A. Royal, time travel, unedited excerpt

I’m hard at work on Book 3 of my It’s About Time Series: To The Past. So I thought I’d share an excerpt and give my readers a hint of things to come. I’ve barely gotten started, and Erin’s already in trouble.

A faint noise sounded from somewhere in the alleyway behind me, echoing in the looming shadows forming as darkness descended. Common sense argued it was a stray dog or cat, prowling around outside the tavern kitchen in hopes of finding food scraps. Or a night bird stalking its prey. Or some tipsy farmer. But what if it was none of those things? My steps faltered as I strained to listen, possibilities racing through my mind.

The noise came again, closer and more distinct this time. A fist of tension squeezed all the air from my lungs and made every nerve in my body taut with the realization the noise wasn’t some animal. Neither was it someone stumbling around in the dark, trying to find his way home. Pebbles crunched beneath heels and moved closer.

“Who’s there?”

At the sound of my voice, all noise stopped. Someone must be following me.

Panic set my feet in motion. Filled with jutting angles instead of a straight line, the narrow alleyway between the tavern and the buildings on the other side was like trying to run through a maze in the dark. I stumbled over uneven ground, praying I wouldn’t fall.

After bursting out of the alleyway, I turned left and threw myself against the rough stone wall at the back of the tavern. Every muscle in my body trembled with exhaustion. My lungs were on fire and my heart was racing. I flattened a hand against my chest as if to keep it from escaping.

The castle was less than a hundred yards away, its dark shape crouching at the top of the hill. Flames from the torches along the wall flickered, beckoning like the signal from a lighthouse. All I had to do was run up the hill and through the gates to be safe. The thought left me giddy with relief. Only one problem. There was no foliage on either side of the path leading up to the gate. Once I left the shelter of the buildings, I’d be running in plain sight of whoever was after me.

While struggling to control my breathing, grim determination took over. I had no one to blame but myself. It’d been my bright idea to sneak off to the tavern all alone in the first place.

As it was, I’d only been halfway through my first mug of ale before spotting a familiar face. Damn the luck. The stocky young man making his way into the tavern wasn’t just an acquaintance. We had a history. The son of Griffin’s closest friend, Deroc had known me when I masqueraded as a boy on my first visit to the castle. While other patrons noticed nothing more than an ordinary young man with a few coins to spend on ale, Deroc would almost certainly see past my disguise and recognize me.

As wife to Sir Griffin, knight and seneschal to Lord John, I was considered a lady, and ladies did not frequent taverns. Not alone and certainly not at night. If he saw me, there was no doubt in my mind what would happen. He would insist on escorting me from the tavern and back to our quarters. I could refuse, but then he’d go straight to Griffin and spill his guts about where he’d seen me.

Deroc’s appearance had left me with no other choice but to slip out a side door and make my way home, praying he’d been too busy ogling the barmaids to pay any attention to my hasty exit. Or maybe not. Maybe he had seen me leaving the tavern and was following to see where I was going. He might be trying to frighten me bad and teach me a lesson.

Not likely…Who was I trying to kid?

Griffin had warned me. My stomach twisted in a knot at the thought of our conversation. “Do not leave castle grounds without an escort. Strangers pass through the village every day.”

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting a little? We’re talking about people, not monsters.”

“Aye, ‘tis true most of them are harmless travelers, but I do not want to take the  chance.” After that he’d lectured me at length, reminding me of all the dangers in his world. Why hadn’t I listened?

Who’s following Erin down a dark alleyway and why? And why’s she there all by herself? If she’d listened to Griffin, none of this would have happened. This time her stubborn determination may result in something she never expected.

I’m not done yet, so stay tuned! And please, let me know what you think so far.

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Dinner And A Movie Monday ~ Steel Magnolias

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Sally Field, Shrimp Gumbo, southern women, Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias is the 1989 film about the bond a group of southern women from Louisiana share and how they deal with life and death. Daryl Hannah plays the part of Anelle, a recent beauty school graduate hired by Truvy Jones, played by Dolly Parton to work in her home-based beauty salon in northwestern Louisiana. Sally Field and Julia Roberts play mother, M’Lynn, and daughter, Shelby, who are regular customers, as well as Clairee, Olympia Dukakis, the cheerful widow of the late former mayor and disagreeable Ouiser, played by Shirley MacLaine.

In the opening scenes we learn of M’lynn’s concern for Shelby who is about to be married and has been told her body cannot withstand a pregancy. Months later when Shelby announces she is pregant, M’Lynn is too worried to share in the joy. Even when Shelby confesses that she hopes the arrival of a baby might make her marriage a little easier, M’Lynn is unable to rejoice. After she gives birth to a healthy baby boy, she begins showing signs of kidney failure. Her mother donates a kidney and Shelby rallies, but is later found unconscious on the porch of her house.. Her body has rejected the new kidney and sends her into a coma.

The doctors inform the family that Shelby is likely to remain comatose indefinitely, and her family decides to take her off life support. At the funeral, after the other mourners have left, M’Lynn breaks down in hysterics in front of Ouiser, Clairee, Truvy, and Annelle but is comforted by the other women. Eventually M’Lynn accepts her daughter’s death and focuses her energy on helping raise her grandson.

I remember watching this movie for the first time shortly before my daughter married. I was in an emotional state to begin with, but no more the five minutes into it, I found myself sobbing uncontrollably. Soon afterward I was laughing hysterically. During the course of the movie I went from one extreme to the other. My husband thought I was losing it. These women were typical Southern women. I’m from the south, so I know. The title says it all.Outside they appear to be fragile and delicate, but inside they are made of steel. It is one of my all-time favorite movies. Our recipe this time is Shrimp Gumbo. I can think of nothing that says Louisiana better.

SHRIMP GUMBO

• 1 pound sliced Andouille or smoked sausage
• 2 to 3 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 yellow or green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen thawed okra slices
• 1 teaspoon Creole or Cajun spices
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 pound medium shrimp
• salt and pepper, to taste
• hot cooked rice
• chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions for garnish

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 90 minutes

• Total Time: 120 minutes
• Yield: 6 Servings

Preparation

1. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage in 2 to 3 teaspoons of vegetable oil; remove sausage to a plate and set aside.
2. In a large kettle or dutch oven combine the chicken broth and tomatoes. Put over medium heat to bring to a simmer
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, combine the 1/2 cup of oil and the flour. Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is brown. Don’t let the mixture burn.
4. To the skillet, add the chopped onion, celery, and bell pepper; cook, stirring constantly with a spoon, until vegetables are softened. Stir the vegetable mixture into the simmering tomato and broth mixture.
5. Put the skillet back on the heat and add 2 more teaspoons of oil; reduce to medium heat. Add the okra and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and not ropy/sticky.
6. Add the okra to the simmering pot along with the Creole or Cajun seasoning, the bay leaf, and cooked sausage. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat for 1 hour.
7. Add the shrimp and cook for 15 to 20 minutes longer, until shrimp is cooked through.
8. Taste and add salt and pepper, to taste.
9. Serve the gumbo over a mound of hot boiled long-grain white rice. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley or green onions.

Murder, Mayhem and The Minister

Tags

JQ Rose, Murder To Coda, MuseItUp Publishing, mystery, Susan A. Royal Blog

My guest author today is J. Q. Rose. And if the title to today’s interview didn’t grab your attention, then check out the photo of her in the little red convertible below. Woohoo!!

But don’t stop there. Read on to find out more about this lovely lady.

After writing feature articles in magazines, newspapers, and online magazines for over fifteen years, J.Q. Rose entered the world of fiction. Her published mysteries are Sunshine Boulevard, and Coda to Murder released by Muse It Up Publishing. With her non-fiction book for girls, Girls Succeed!, she returns to her first love, writing about real people. Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. She spends winters in Florida and summers up north camping and hunting toads, frogs, and salamanders with her four grandsons and granddaughter.

Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined she would be caring for a flock that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.

Here’s a little teaser for Coda To Murder: Pastor Christine Hobbs has been in the pulpit business for over five years. She never imagined herself caring for a flock that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.

Detective Cole Stephens doesn’t want the pretty pastor to get away with murdering the church music director. His investigative methods infuriate Christine as much as his deep brown eyes attract her.

Can they find the real killer and build a loving relationship based on trust?
Now we come to the part of the interview I love. I get to pick J.Q.’s brain and find out all kinds of different things about her, things I might not learn from reading her bio. J. Q. will you describe what you consider your ideal writing conditions.A sunny day, a quiet time with no one in the house, no one outdoors mowing the lawn or grinding-gear garbage trucks on the street, cool enough that I need my old tattered flannel shirt to keep me cozy, freshly trimmed nails, cup of coffee or tea (I’m trying to keep a cup of water on my desk to sip to alleviate caffeine), Facebook and email done, my desk chair adjusted to the correct height, and laptop works with no hiccups.I’ve heard a lot of authors say they need quiet. I don’t mind background noise as long as it stays in the background. 

Name a book/author you can read again and again and always learn something new.

Stephen King’s On Writing Not crazy about his auto biography but the information “on writing” is inspiring, practical, and presented in his tell-it-like-it-is style.

I’ve read On Writing as well, and I agree.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

I’m having so much fun creating a mystery/romance/paranormal. Yes, that’s a LOT of genres to juggle in one book. My main character, Lauren, is the daughter of a funeral home director, like me. She has to return home to help in the business and to help care for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease. We all know there are dead bodies at a funeral home, but the body of a murdered man is dropped off in the funeral home garage. At least they picked the right funeral home because Swartz across town does a terrible job of embalming. Besides worrying about her mother, the police investigation into the murder targeting Lauren and her family as suspects, a shadow man keeps interfering in her life. See what I mean? A lot of genres and I haven’t even mentioned the romance yet!

Now this sounds intriguing. No wonder you need for it to be quiet when you write. Your mind is going a hundred different directions!

 

As authors, we all need to feel as though our writing is ‘reaching’ our readers. Tell me, what is the best compliment you ever received as an author?

A reviewer who mentioned she enjoyed the “gentle love story within the murder mystery” said the following about Coda to Murder—“I can honestly say that I was completely surprised by the final unmasking of the killer, who had me fooled along with everyone else.” The mystery writer within me jumped for joy because the twist at the end that surprises the reader is my goal.

Wow, that’s fantastic.

Now, Describe one of your favorite characters and tell us who you patterned them after and why. I had a great time writing Gloria Hart. She is the main character in my mystery/horror novella, Sunshine Boulevard. Gloria is the essence of all the ladies who live in my Senior Community. I was able to exaggerate the characteristics of women past 60 to make her fun and interesting. Trying to keep healthy, being in a long time marriage where she and her husband, Jim, know each other so well, caring so much about people in her community and always believing in the good part of people were just some of her traits I wove into the story.

I’m like you. I love to incorporate real ‘characters’ into my stories.

Here’s a fun question. What is something we’ll never catch you doing?

You’ll never catch me eating shrimp. I was raised in Central lllinois—miles away from shrimp beds. (Now I hear there are shrimp farms though that could be “farmed” in that area.) I am just learning to like fish, but it has to have lots of batter on it and slathered with tartar sauce before I’ll taste it.

 

Last, but no least. What is the one thing you never seem to have enough time for?

The easiest question to answer—Reading. So many books. I used to only read one book at a time. But nowadays I seem to have two or three going at the same time.

I hear you!

     One of you lucky people can win a copy of Coda To Murder in your preferred format. All you have to do is leave a comment and include your email address. Good luck! J. Q. it’s been wonderful having you here today. Guys, to find out more about J. Q. Rose, go here:

http://tinyurl.com/aeuv4m4

Blog http://www.jqrose.com/

Email jqrose02@gmail.com

Buy links Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/ap376tb

MuseItUp Publishing http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/now-available-in-ebook/coda-to-murder-detail

B&N.com and major online booksellers

 

Dinner And A Movie Monday ~ Out Of Africa

Tags

Bobotie, movie review Meryl Streep, Out Of Africa, Robert Redford

Out of Africa is a 1985 film starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep and is based loosely on the autobiographical book Out of Africa, written by Danish author Karen Blixen, which was published in 1937. It received 28 film awards, including seven Academy Awards.

The story opens in Denmark, circa l913. Wealthy Danish woman, Karen Dinsen asks her friend, Bror Blixen, to enter into a marriage of convenience that will provide him financial stability and give her the title of Baroness. He agrees, and they move to Africa where she discovers Bror has used her money to purchase a coffee plantation. He shows little inclination to put any real work into it, preferring instead to become a game hunter. To make matters worse, Karen contracts syphilis from him and is forced to return to Denmark for a long and difficult period of treatment.

After she has recovered and returns to Africa, she realizes Bror has not changed and asks him to move out of their house. The coffee plantation runs into financial difficulties, and she is forced to rely on bank loans to make ends meet. Her friendship with Denys Finch Hatton a local big game hunter develops into an affair which turns into a lasting relationship. She and Denys not only share a love for each other, but also for independence. He is as impossible to domesticate as the wild animals he hunts.

When the plantation finally yields a good harvest at long last, a devastating fire breaks out in the processing shed. The crops and all of the factory equipment are destroyed. Now financially broke and her relationship with Denys over, Karen prepares to leave Africa to return home to Denmark.

The story is told from Karen’s viewpoint. Meryl Streep’s excellent speaking voice and Danish accent made the story even more personal. The cinematography was breathtaking. My favorite scene is the one where Denys takes her up in his plane and they fly over breathtaking landscapes, past thundering herds of animals and birds soaring into a beautiful African sky. At one point during the trip, she realizes why Denys loves Africa so much and reaches behind her to clasp his hand. To me, that was the most romantic scene in the entire movie, and I never think about it without getting tears in my eyes. It’s a beautiful movie.

 AFRICAN BOBOTIE

This recipe is for a plain version of the traditional Bobotie recipe, in that it omits the usual fruit and has less spices. It makes a pleasingly spiced slightly sweet dish, with a very light curry flavor. This South African original is similar to meatloaf. A slightly sweet curry flavors ground beef with a milk and egg custard on top. It’s delicious! I had the devil of a time finding an authentic recipe to go with this week’s review, and I hope this one is close enough and simple enough to try.

To make the bobotie filling

1 lb ground beef 2 eggs 2 slices stale white bread

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 T cooking oil

2 T hot water

2 T sugar

2 T lemon juice

2 t curry powder

½ t ground cloves

1 t garlic, crushed

1 t turmeric

½ t salt

 

Pre-heat the oven to 325 ^o F. Remove the crusts from the bread and the soak it in water for 10 minutes, squeeze out the excess and then crumble. In a large frying pan, heat the oil and braise the onion until golden. Break the two eggs into a large bowl and beat lightly. Mix in the mince Add the onion mixture from the frying pan, the hot water, lemon juice, crumbled bread, turmeric and sugar to the mince, mixing well. Spoon the mixture into a well-greased, oven-proof dish and bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown and then remove from the oven.

To make the bobotie topping:

1 egg, lightly beaten

½ c mile

Bay or lemon leaves for garnish.

 

Combine the egg with the milk and beat well. Pour the mixture over the bobotie and arrange the bay/lemon leaves as garnish.
Return to the oven and bake at 350 ^o F for 10 minutes, or until the topping has set.