Summer Time Treat

Ooey Gooey Karo Krispers


1 cup light or dark Karo corn surup
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup crunchy or creamy peanut butter
1 cup oatmeal
2 cups corn flakes (or other favorite cereal)
2 cups crisp rise cereal (or other favorite cereal)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips (optional)

Pour corn syrup, sugar, and salt into a large saucepan. Stir over medium high heat until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Stir in peanut butter. Remove from heat and stir in oatmeal, corn flakes, and crisp rice cereal. Pour into greased 8-inch square pan and set aside.

Melt chocolate chips in small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Spread over bars. cut into squares and serve.

Optional - melt peanut butter chips and use small spoon to dot onto bars in any design you prefer.

Hope you enjoy,

Tina

Can You Say Your Done?

I have been working on the next book in my Executives Wives Club series

Breath - CEO Affair is about another of the wives, who lost their husband in a fatal car wreck.

The first question I ask myself when I finish the first draft is...

What else do I need to add?

Did I put everything I want in the book in the draft?

Usually, the answer is no. Why?

Because as I'm speeding through getting all the plot ideas down on paper, I may not be thinking about everything that is involved in the background for each character.

The first draft is just that a draft. Now, it's time to add more to the mix.

So during my rewrite process, I make sure to add things I may have missed.

More setting,
emotion
deepening scenes.

Once I go through the manuscript and add these things, I then ask if about the word count. Is it too high or too low for the genre I'm looking at.  Usually, I like to have somewhere between 85,000 and 100,000 words.

Next I start in on the grammar, spelling and tightening the proses.

This can take weeks to reread the manuscript and check for errors.

One of the things I like to do is have the Dragon software package read the story to me. It helps me hear where problems in the wording might occur.

Right now, this is where I am in my book -- Breath - CEO Affair.

Working consistently I hope to finished this phase of the rewrite process up and then get on to chose the perfect cover.

Am I done?  No...but I'm moving toward that moment where I send it off to my editor.

How about you? When do you say your done?

Tina

Blood Bound

 

Blood Bound

by Melanie Atkins

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Fueled by grief after his fiancée is brutally murdered, Detective Sam Walker focuses on finding her killer -- a calculating predator who binds books with human skin. Dani Barrington, the newest member of NOPD's Victim and Witness Assistance Unit and a survivor of another frightening attack, helps him discover the terrifying link between the monster's known victims. Despite his anguish, Sam is struck by Dani's strength and determination, especially when her inquisitive nature makes her the killer's next target. He must find a way to protect her or risk losing the one woman who can bring his dead heart back to life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

"Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned." NOPD Detective Sam Walker's low rasp echoed inside the tiny confessional within the deep recesses of St. Mary's Church. He pressed his damp palms to his thighs. "It's been nine months since my last confession."
"Continue."
"My sins are... indescribable..." He let the word trail off. Sweat pooled at the base of his spine. "I don't know if I can--"
"You must voice your transgressions, son, to get them off your chest. It's the only way to gain absolution."
"I don't deserve God's forgiveness."
"Sam, tell me the truth." Father O'Malley cleared his throat. "Is this about Kristen?"
"She died a horrible death," Sam whispered, his heart breaking all over again for his fiancée and the family he would never have with her.
The priest paused.
"It's been a long time."
"Eight fucking -- sorry, Father." Sam broke off and swallowed, doing his best to regain his composure. "Eight long months. I thought I was coping, but I can't get past it. Especially since I'm the reason she's dead."
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
Sam pressed his lips together. Every time he thought about his fiancée's brutal murder, his gut clenched. He should have taken her to dinner that night like he'd promised, instead of letting the job get in the way. The Glock riding his hip was a constant reminder he'd been a detective first, and her intended husband second.
God should damn me straight to hell.
Father O'Malley shifted inside the tiny booth, and the ornate screen between them shuddered. The too-sweet odor of funeral lilies wafted over Sam.
"You didn't murder her, my son. Some sick, depraved individual did it."
"I was supposed to protect her."
"You were doing your job."
"When I should have been with her. Keeping her safe." Agony pierced his soul. He dropped his elbows to his knees and hung his head. His voice broke. "I let her die."
"You didn't let her die, Sam. A terrible thing happened. It wasn't your fault. God doesn't hold you responsible." "Well, He should. I'm guilty."
"Sam--"
"He... he skinned her, Father. I don't know why, but he did." Tears burned his eyes.
Clearly shaken, Father O'Malley murmured more words of condolence. "I'll say another prayer for her soul."
"It's my fault she's gone. I can never do enough penance to make up for it." Sam shuddered. "Not in this lifetime."
"I want you to say one Our Father and one Hail Mary."
Sam barked a harsh laugh.
"That doesn't even scratch the surface. I can't even--"
"Wait. I'm not finished." Father O'Malley regained his poise, and his strong, even tone reverberated in Sam's ears. "I also want you to pray for the person responsible for Kristen's death."
"Hell, no!" Sam blurted, the idea of absolution jolting his brittle psyche. "I can't pray for that sick son of a bitch. He's killed four women, including Kristen, after brutalizing them, and we have no idea who he is. We're working day and night--"
"That's your penance, son." Father O'Malley said, gravely. "In addition, you must perform the Act of Contrition and say the Rosary. Don't let that individual's cruel soul steal yours."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Melanie Atkins a multi-published author of romantic suspense, an editor for an online publishing company, and an avid reader. Writing is more than an escape for her—it’s a way of life. She grew up in the Deep South listening to tall tales and penning stories about her cats. Now she writes gripping stories of love, suspense, and mystery with the help of her furry little feline muses.

Melanie is an active member of Romance Writers of America®, the Magnolia State Romance Writers (MSRW), the Published Author Network (PAN), the Electronic and Small Press Authors' Network (ESPAN), the Electronically Published Internet Connection (EPIC), Sisters in Crime (SinC), the Red Dog Writers, the Gulf Coast Writers Association, the Southern Writers, the Mississippi Authors Guild and the Byram Writers’ Group. She currently serves as Past President of MSRW.

www.melanieatkins.com

www.wordpress.melanieatkins.com

GIVING AWAY: 

 

Melanie will be awarding the winner's choice of a backlist eBook to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

 

 Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/virtual-super-book-blast-blood-bound-by.html

Thanks Melanie for stopping by and best of luck with your book,

Tina

Put the Time Monster in the Corner

This is about setting limits for yourself. We can’t do it all. No matter how much we might want too. We have to let some things go, say no and move on.

I think this is the perfect time to say that this is the end of my time management blog series.

Many things ripple across the sands of time. The next wave has washed up a beautiful shell that has unbelievable possibilities.

I need to get busy writing.

Best of luck with all that you do,

Tina

Sometimes We Need to be Stubborn

At certain times, the need to drive through a difficult situation shows us that it takes a stubborn attitude to succeed.

For me, this hits whenever I get to the last part of the book I'm writting. I know how I want it to end. I see the finish line ahead, but my energy to complete the task wanes. I want to start something new, I need to work on the synopsis, there's a book I want to read, etc. A million and one other things suddenly sound so much more enticing than writing that final chapter.

This is where a stubborn desire to get the job done, pulls me through. Makes me sit in the chair, type the words and finish the book.

Once I'm done, then that persistant little donkey in my head lets me rest. I'm free to work on all those other tasks and get on with life.

So as much as you might dislike your stubborn streak, be glad you have it. Because when you really need it, your little donkey is what helps you get the job done.


Tina

Avoiding the Second Punch of the Time Monster

Peat and Repeat were seating on a wall.
Peat fell off.
Who’s left?

How many times did it take you to get tire of this joke?

Well, life feeds us the same type of comedy.

We repeat many of the same task over and over until we are ready to scream for it to stop.

So if you haven’t guess by now, my next tip for saving time is -- don’t repeat the same job task.

(Some things are worth repeating. Hey, I’m a romance writer. Couldn’t help but throw in that line.)

Now back to business.

• Create program macros – that automate your work.

My favorite macro is F10 on my keyboard. It does spell check for me so I don’t have to go through all the keystrokes to check my document.

• Reuse information – don’t rewrite a letter over and over.

All writer use this went we send out query letters. Write once send to seven or eight different editors.

• Create document templates.

I do this when I create worksheets. I have one that I use when I do my rewrites that identifies all the items I want in a scene.

• Learn shortcuts

Forgot to set something out for dinner, hey make reservations or drop by the deli in your local grocery store. Either way it’s one least thing to worry about.

• If people are asking you the same questions over and over. Create a frequently asked question document.

Don’t do this yet, but once I get my website up I will probably add it to my site.

As always look for ways to let the wind fill your sails and carry you forward, don’t keep trying to row that boat.

Killing the Minions of the Time Monster

All of us know people who slow us down. Either they don’t plan ahead, or they get behind and hand you their stuff at the last minute.

This can kill a well laid out schedule if you are depending on someone to get something done.

Some things that might help:

1. Reorganize – Review the way things need to be done so that you’re not held up by them.
2. Set deadlines - If they don’t meet your schedule let them know you won’t be done on time. (This is important even if you’re at the bottom of the food chain. They have to know others are depending on you too.)
3. Keep moving - Either by working on something else until you get the information you need or by getting enough key information from them that you can keep working without waiting for them to finish.
4. Learn other’s method of working - Some people are always in crisis mode, find out who these people are and give them an earlier deadline, that way you might get the information by the time you need it. Or if a person gets things right away, you might put off giving them the work so that when they get it back to you, you’ll be able to finish it right away.

As we keep learning again and again, planning is the key to winnin the battle against the time monster.