What's Cooking?

 Hi everyone :-)

This month, I'm going to talk about something I love - food! We are foodie family...

We make all the things - even Milo's treats

And as such food always finds it way into my books (sort of like murder - people are going to die, eat, and have steamy sex in my books). I often use food as a way to reveal character traits. 

Leigh in Taking a Risk loves peanut M&M's. S he's slightly OCD... and a health nut so she buys a share size bag of M&M's every week and divides them out by color. Monday she eats all the red. Tuesday is blue and so one. When she's in really stressful situation she buys another package east extra of that day's color - just that day's color because that's part of her character.

Kelsey in my upcoming release Bayou Viper (Book 1 - Follow the Numbers series) eats BBQ chips dipped into jalapeno flavored cream cheese when she's thinking about a case. And will not eat food with the letter 'k' in it (a character reveal you need to read the book to find out).

Not only do I enjoy using food as way to add deepth to my characters but I use it add to the story overall. 

Cajun Stuff Shells is a meal Nic makes for her but before she'll eat it she needs to know all the ingredients (can't have things with the letter 'k'). The scene adds to Nic and Kelsey's relationship. A reminder they are in the south. 

Bayou Viper will be up for pre-order April 20th and released June 1st. BUT the cooking book - that includes Cajun Stuffed Shells will be a free download :-)

Interesting fact - while my love for doughnuts is well known, none of my characters share this love :-)

I guess I don't like to share ... even with fictional characters. 

Thanks for stopping by and see you next month.

 

Where Am I???? Finding direction

Hey Hey everyone!  Welcome to 2020 and my first blog post.

I'm sort of on a theme this month on my blog and social media stuff - New Beginnings.

But before we discuss that let share my 'funny story' - the theme for this month here on Romancing the Genres.

Now these stories honestly happened... as they say, I couldn't make this stuff up.

First you need to know I never - ever get lost. I may become misplaced but never lost. An example of this -

About 10 years, my family was staying with friends at their cabin on a beautiful lake -

I decided to take a walk. So I hook my leash on our dog and set off to walk around the lake. And I did, only I somehow got twisted around and ended up walking around the wrong lake - several times. Because you know that's how I am. This was before everyone carried cells so no calls. This new lake was pretty (no pictures because well no cell phone and I didn't grab my camera) but totally uninhibited. I kept thinking I'd recognize the trail I traveled down to find this treasure of a lake.

NOPE. You know what all trees sort of look alike. What should I do? I took our dog to the lake so she could get a drink and I could soak my feet.  Just as I was deciding I needed to circle the lake again, I heard a car!  Jerking the dog's leash I ran to the road. It was my amazing husband!

"You know this isn't our lake?"
"Yup." I climbed into the car. "I wanted to check out the neighborhood."
"You were lost."
"Nope, just checking stuff out."
"You've been gone three hours."
"There was a lot to look at."

He rolled his eyes and drove us back to the cabin. Where I ate many doughnuts and drink several glasses of wine.

Now I could have handled this many different ways - like paid attention to where I was going (I fail do that a lot) - started down the side roads hoping to hit the right one (which was the plan until super hubby came to the rescue) - but the real thing is I didn't freak out. I mean I knew eventually I'd figure it out.

What do you do when you find yourself misplaced?

Often people slip into panic mode the minute they find themselves in a unfamiliar place. But if you are going to be a writer, you need to step out - often. Things are always changing, shifting, moving.

The thing I like about writing is that it's something new - every time. Each book is a new beginning for my characters. They can grow as they circle around an unknown lake trying to figure out which trail will take them home.

My newest book - Taking Risk is all about trying something new - making a new beginning.

Leigh Ronaldson is one thing, it’s predictable. What’s wrong with having a routine? Apparently, it makes her boring or so her ex-boyfriend claimed as he dumped her. And her best friend agrees.

She decides to prove them wrong and books an extreme adventure in Ecuador. The hiking, kayaking, and camping she signed up for. She didn’t plan on the hot guide who by just looking at her made her squirm with desire and definitely not the drug cartel who wants them dead. 

Nick Greco golden rule is never to touch a client. NEVER. But rules can’t be broken.  Once the local drug cartel starts hunting them, he knows it will take all his skill to get out of the Amazon jungle alive.

And if your life is hanging in the balance even golden rules can be broken… 

It's available for pre-order here.

If you want to check out a teaser (and my new website) drop by and say hi. Lyncee Shillard

Have a month everyone! See you in February :-)