Blog Archives
St Patrick’s Day Fun and Food
St Patrick’s Day. When I think of this holiday, I think ‘Irish’ and ‘Green’.
We also think Corned beef and cabbage : )
I cook this every year around St Patrick’s Day (and any other time I can get away with it, LOL). So today I thought I’d share my take on the recipe.
CROCKPOT CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
1 (3 to 4 lb.) corned beef brisket
1 large head cabbage (preferably savoy)
6 cloves garlic, peeled
1 pound carrots, peeled
6 large potatoes
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp. black pepper, ground
Wash brisket. Using a small sharp knife, cut tiny X slits in the meat and insert garlic cloves pieces.
Place the meat in a large Crock-Pot and cover with water.
Bring to a boil on high setting. Boil for 10 minutes, skimming off the grey foam that rises to the surface using a wire skimmer or large spoon.
Reduce heat to lower setting and allow to simmer (not boil) for 5 hours, adding water as needed to keep covered.
Meanwhile, prepare vegetables. Quarter the cabbage, dice potatoes and carrots.
During last few hours, add vegetables and continue to cook until vegetables are tender.
Giveaway
Since I love giving stuff away 🙂 On this hop, I’ll be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card (winner will be drawn on Sunday) plus all commenters are entered into the Hop’s grand prize drawings.
Just answer the question in the comments: What comes to mind when you think of St Patrick’s day, and do you have any traditional ways to celebrate?
And don’t forget to visit the other wonderful authors in this hop, and see what goodies they’re giving away…
…We’re having a Blog Hop to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and wearing green! Over 120 authors are going to be telling anything they can about being Irish, celebrating the day, wearing green, drinking green beer… pretty much anything!
Each author will be giving away a prize. Like a swag pack, gift cards, ebooks, print books, and so much more.
PLUS We have TWO Grand Prizes for TWO different winners! *gasp*
Grand Prize 1: Winner’s Choice of a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
Grand Prize 2: Winner’s Choice of a $90 Amazon or Barnes&Noble Gift Card
Isn’t that exciting? LOL. So you as a reader – what do you have to do? Well, come on over to these websites on Friday March 16th and comment on as many as you want. The grand prize winners will be chosen at random from the commenters – meaning you can comment on EACH blog – meaning 120 entries to the grand prize.
CLICK HERE to see the other hoppers 🙂
And good luck ya’ll 🙂
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Holiday Bloghop Winners
Thank you all for sharing such wonderful, inspiring holiday memories with me. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and added to those memories. My kids have kept me busy, opening toys (and putting some together, LOL) as well as shopping for new fish 🙂
We’ve played games, watched movies, laughed and cuddled a bunch.
Now, on to the goodies ~
I used Random.org to choose the 3 winners:
Susan Ricci
Cheryl Lynne
books4me2
Congrats 🙂
Please email me with your choice of one of my ebooks (PDF format). Click here to see the choices.
The Grand Prize winner of a Kindle Fire and a $20 Amazon gift card will be chosen within the week and the winner will be emailed directly.
Happy Holidays Ya’ll 🙂
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One week left ~ KindleFire BlogHop
eReaders and eBooks are hot. So hot, they’re on fire! The Kindle Fire, that is.
Now through DECEMBER 15, 2011, I’m participating in the “Reading next to the (Kindle) Fire” holiday giveaway. The prize? A brand, spankin’ new Kindle Fire and 20+ eBooks in Romance, Paranormal, Science Fiction, mystery and YA!
How do you enter?
1. Join/follow my blog
2. Click HERE to be taken to official entry form. Fill in the required information (it’s just a few smidgens), and you’re entered! While you’re over there, check out the full list of participating authors and books to be given to the winner.
The winner recieves a bunch of e-books, including Dragos 1: Burned (Now available on Amazon.com)
Good Luck and Happy Holidays : )
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Black Friday Bloghop & Giveaway
On Black Friday myself and 22 other authors will be joining together for an AWESOME blog hop! The theme? Why, holiday shopping tips & deals, of course!
AND we’ve got a deal for you! One random commenter (can be on any of the blogs) will win a Kindle Fire, along with the prizes below! That’s the easiest kind of shopping I can think of…
Prizes:
– Cassandra Carr: copy of either of my two current releases, Talk to Me or Head Games
– Kristabel Reed: back list copy of one of her stories and then on her own blog a $10 GC plus a copy of her newest release, Risque, a Regency Menage Tale
– Lucy Felthouse: back list copy of any of her single-title books
– Cari Quinn: back list copy of one of her books
– Leigh Elwood: two back list copies of her books
– Natasha Blackthorne: copies of her two Regency era novellas: Grey’s Lady and Waltz of Seduction
– Amber Kallyn: e-copy of Dragos 1
– Camryn Rhys: Kindle copies of The Barn Dance and Off the Record – Foodie Erotic Romances
– Lissa Matthews: two of her back list books
– Misa Buckley: an e-copy of Ironhaven and To Reach the Dawn
– Lacey Wolfe: a copy of Ambers Muse
– Courtney Sheets: a $25 GC to Ravenous Romance and a copy of Kona Warrior – PDF
– Sara Brookes: an e-copy of one of my back list books
– Cynthia Arsuaga: a copy of an e-book, and on her own blog five book charm book tethers
– Louisa Bacio: .pdf copy of my first book in The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf series, and on her own blog a $10 certificate to Ravenous Romance, and each commenter will also be entered to win a Goody Bag of new Orleans treats
– Malia Mallory: one copy each of The ABC’s of Erotica and Santa’s Back Door Baby
– Cynthia Eden: a copy of Angel of Darkness (either print or digital)
WHAT a list of prizes!!! Be sure to come back on Friday!
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TRS Party Time ~ All Weekend
The TRS party starts… Now!
From Friday to Sunday, read great excerpts and be entered into a ton of giveaways by great authors. Come join the fun.
http://theromancestudio.com/party/
I’ll be giving away e-books and goodies all weekend : )
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Please welcome Cindy Carroll ~ and Giveaway
I’m honored to have Cindy Carroll with us today. Author and teacher, she has an upcoming class on how screenwriting can help fiction writers. Check it out : ) http://www.writersonlineclasses.com/?page_id=592
Also, comment here to win a lecture packet from Cindy.
And, action!
First I want to say thank you to Amber for allowing me to guest blog here to kick off my blog tour! I love writing novels and scripts. And I love talking about how screenwriting techniques can improve your novel.
Action. There’s a reason it’s not lights, camera, passive. How boring would that be? Action is what movies and television are all about. They’re moving pictures, so they have to move. Of course there are two kinds of action. But I’m not talking action movies here with explosions, car chases, gun fights. Though I do love all that stuff. I’m talking active writing. Whether you write novels or scripts you have to keep the writing active. Avoid passive voice as much as possible.
In scripts those sections of description describing the action are actually labelled action in screenwriting softwares. Too much describing what’s going on slows the pace and lessens the white space. Scripts should have lots of white space. Script readers actually skip over large chunks of action. Novel readers would never do that would they? Uh, yes, they would.
Novels need white space too. Just because novels aren’t moving pictures doesn’t mean they can be passive. Lots of narrative in passive voice, not enough dialogue, too much introspection make for a slow paced book.
What can you learn from reading scripts and watching movies that can help your novels? Here’s an example of action that sets the scene from one of my favourite action movies – True Lies.
EXT. CHATEAU – NIGHT
The driveway and motorcourt are filled with cars. A formal dress party is in progress… a private reception for a middle-eastern dignitary. Tuxedoed men escort their diamond-encrusted ladies through the huge front doors, where they doff their overcoats and are politely scanned with hand-held metal detectors by white gloved security staffers.
The walled perimeter of the house runs along the lake, forming a kind of rampart. There is an opening, to a kind of waterway or canal, which connects to the private docks inside the grounds. There is a steel grating across the opening. The bars disappear down into the thin ice of early winter.
With the house visible BG, we CRANE DOWN below the parapet wall along which a guard is a white exposure-suit is walking… down along the dark wall to the grating… TILTING DOWN to see a glow pulsing under the ice.
Note how the action isn’t overdone. There isn’t a whole lot of description to set the scene but can you picture it? Can you picture the scene if you haven’t seen the movie? If you have seen the movie do you remember this scene? In screenwriting the writer puts in just enough detail to paint a picture but the rest of the details – the colour of the walls, what’s on the table in the character’s living room, what kind of TV they have – are decided on by other departments. Painting too detailed a picture may let the reader picture exactly what you, the writer, envisioned but it doesn’t let the reader use her imagination at all.
I talk about action and a whole lot more in my Is That Hollywood Calling? – How Thinking Like a Screenwriter Can Improve Your Novel. Comment here to be entered to win a lecture packet. If you don’t win, don’t worry! There’s still time to register for the class at: http://www.writersonlineclasses.com/?page_id=592
***
Cindy
http://www.cindycarroll.com/blog
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCindyCarroll
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Monday Updates
I hope your Memorial Day and the weekend has been awesome 🙂
Just a reminder to check out my post about keeping those who’ve served in our minds and hearts. Plus, I’m calling this time of year my Blogversary, so you can win some neat stuff, including a free e-book. Check it out.
I got a great review (my first) for Dragos 4: Inflamed by The Romance Studio: 4 stars. “I love the way Kallyn brought them all back together for an all out magic war at the end. The characters are strong and determined, and while the magic flares up all around them, there is no coincidence to what they can do or not do. Kallyn has clearly defined their strengths and limitations throughout the series. That definition makes for a very honest magical read. Very well done. Summer is coming, so heat up your world with the Dragos family of fire-breathing dragons.” Read in Full here.
And, All Romance E-Books is giving a 50% e-book rebate sale this whole weekend. If you buy an ebook, like, say, one of mine, you’ll get 50% of the price back 🙂 Books for free, WOOT! Who can beat that?
In deference to the holiday, I’ll be doing a post later about sexy and yummy men in uniform.
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Thank you and Anniversary Give Away ~ Who wants a free Ebook?
I remember doing a Thank you post last year. Which means I’ve been blogging for a year now.
So first, and most importantly, I want to thank everyone we’ll be remembering this Monday. Memorial Day is a great event. I have family who’ve served. Gladly and with all their heart.
My uncle (married to my favorite Aunt) ended up being deployed just a few months after their marriage. It was a tough time for my Aunt. Even though I was still pretty much a kid, I remember how much she hurt. They talked on the phone and sent letters as often as they could, but it was still a difficult, worrisome time. Yet they loved each other, and their love stayed strong even through the year of separation.
When my uncle came back, they continued on with their lives. Today, after hardships and other trials, they still love each other very much. They have a family now, and I’m so proud of them for pushing through the tough times.
In fact, they are one of the couples I think about while writing… At least, the non-spicy parts, LOL. They let their love conquer all adversity, from deployment to biological factors when trying to start a family. In recent years, with the depression, they’ve faced layoffs and foreclosure, yet their marriage is still as strong today as it was when they said those magic words, “I do”.
They are my example that no matter what, love really can last.
And my Uncle is my example when I think of everything our military gives up in order to keep us free.
So Thank you to those wonderful men and women who put their own lives on hold to protect us.
Thank you to all who give their lives for me and everyone who calls themselves an American.
Whether you believe in war or not, Thank you to all who go out and sacrifice so the rest of us don’t have to.
Politics have nothing to do with Memorial Day. Only thanks does.
And now, for the giveaway.
For everyone who responds to this email by Monday night at 11:59pm (PST) I will enter for a GRAND PRIZE drawing of your choice of one of my Dragos e-books.
I will also enter 3 people to win a complete set of Dragos Romance Trading Cards.
So tell me, why are you thankful for our veterans? Who do you remember the most on these days, and what does it mean to you?
(And remember to leave me a way to contact you for your prize, LOL)
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Winner ~ Cassandra Carr Book Giveaway
Thanks to everyone for coming out and sharing your pet peeves on Sunday when Cassandra Carr was here playing.
The winner of a copy of her e-book is Stephanie
Talk To Me Out Now
BUY LINK: http://www.loose-id.com/Talk-to-Me.aspx
Congrats!
Please email me at AmberKallyn (@) gmail (dot) com with your contact information and I’ll forward it to the lovely Cassandra Carr 🙂
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Win a Book! Come Play with Cassandra Carr
Welcome an awesome lady, author Cassandra Carr. She’s not only playing with us today, but she’s giving away a copy of her book.
What are your biggest pet peeves as a reader?
As a writer, I have a lot of pet peeves – most writers do. I think that may be due to writers being observant – little details do not escape our notice. The mile-high pile of dishes, on the other hand, conveniently will. Our laundry walks itself into the washer – it’s the only hope it has of getting done. But I digress…
Some of my pet peeves:
- Weird character names – if I have to keep stopping to think about how the character’s name is pronounced it takes me out of the story. That may be one reason I’m not a huge fan of fantasy/sci-fi.
- Breaks in continuity – we’ve all done it and I’m as guilty as the next writer, but if they keep on happening in an MS I really wonder how the author’s attention to detail. It makes me look at who published the book and possibly who the editor was.
- “Throw the book across the room” moments – I came across one very recently. The heroine was planning to leave her two children at a ball field where they were practicing without saying goodbye or telling them where she was going, so she could have coffee with the hero, WHO SHE’D JUST MET. File that under “author does not have children” and “heroine too stupid to live”.
- Too much description – I find that especially sci-fi and historical romance authors can be the biggest offenders here. While I am aware that a sci-fi author may be trying to build a world, or a historical romance author wants the reader to be transported back in time, enough is enough. I do not need four straight pages of description with no breaks for dialogue.
Well, I’m sure I could come up with others, but I’ll let you do that! Tell me what your pet peeves are. One random commenter will win a copy of my book. (Winner will be drawn on Wednesday, the 20th). Get talkin’!
Talk To Me Out Now
BUY LINK: http://www.loose-id.com/Talk-to-Me.aspx
Excerpt:
The elevator doors opened, and Drew hurried to unlock his apartment and punch his code into the security pad before continuing straight to his bedroom. He spun and picked Jamie up as she neared the door, and she let out a squeak of protest.
“Drew!”
“What? I’m trying to be romantic. Efficient too.” He grinned at her when she struggled to get out of his grip. The way she fought against him both amused and aroused him. “Not so fast,” he warned her. “I’m not planning to let you get away until I’m good and finished with you.”
Jamie cocked an eyebrow. “Good and finished? Be still my heart! Such dreamy talk from a man like you! I had no idea.”
Drew laughed and dropped Jamie on the king-size bed with enough force to make her bounce, then climbed on top of her. Before she could protest again, he’d pressed his erection into her belly and taken her lips in another deep kiss. Jamie melted beneath him, snaking her hands around his neck while his found her hips, pulling her closer. “You need to get naked,” he declared, rolling off her.
“Just me? That’s hardly fair. If I’m getting naked, then this time, so are you.” Her beautiful, full lips pouted at him.
He stood up, and in seconds, his pants and boxer briefs landed in a heap on the floor. He pulled his shirt over his head and added it to the pile. “Your turn.”
Jamie rose up on her elbows and stared at him in disbelief. “How did you do that so fast? And may I add, very nice.” She smiled and waggled her eyebrows, giving him a quick once-over.
“When I want something, I don’t waste time. And I want you naked. Now.”
He reached over and started yanking her top over her head, but she batted his hands away.
“Hey — stop that. You’re going to dislocate my shoulder with your beastlike strength.”
Drew laughed but allowed Jamie to gently pull her blouse over her head. He took it and tossed it on the chair near the window. Next she tugged her jeans off, leaving her in only her bra and panties, which Drew made short work of.
He groaned when she was fully nude. “God, you’re fucking gorgeous, you know that? And I’m gonna put my hands and my tongue and my mouth and my cock everywhere on and in your beautiful body, so you better be ready.”
Jamie shivered, and he covered her body with his, kissing her briefly before moving down her jawline, sucking and licking. This is gonna be good.
BUY LINK: http://www.loose-id.com/Talk-to-Me.aspx
BIO:
Cassandra Carr lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com, “like” her Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr.
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Freebies and Stayin’ Home Party Time!
Today through Sunday, I’m at The Romance Studio partying.
Since I’m one of the sad people not able to go to the RT Convention in California, I’m instead celebrating Stayin’ Home.
I’ll be posting book excerpts, as well as giving away goodies.
Do 2 of these: follow me on this blog, join my newsletter or follow me on Twitter And, comment on one of my posts at the party. (Then let me know in this post or here)
***IF you already follow this blog, AND Newsletter AND Twitter, and you comment on one of my party posts – You’re entered too : ) Just let me know in this post or here.
Up for grabs (winners can be drawn more than once):
#1 – Winners choice of any Amber Kallyn e-book
3 winners will receive their choice of:
Amber Kallyn Book Tote
Amber Kallyn Ball cap
Signed 12 x 18 Mini-poster (Dragos 1 & 2 available now)
5 winners will (in MAY) receive a complete set of Dragos Romance Trading Cards
***Every winner also recieves a bookmark, a book cover postcard and a dragony surprise : )
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Avoiding Sucky Mondays
Sometimes Mondays suck. Big time. Sometimes, not so much. (It can’t possibly be as bad as last Tuesday, which due to the holiday, got its limelight as a temporary Monday and dished out crap for all it was worth… But that’s another story 🙂
This week, I’m pretty much too busy to even realize it’s a Monday.
My critique group, 7 Evil Dwarves, has begun a new game. We’re pledging to write every single day. Each person picked how they wanted to track their work (time, page count or word count). The average choice is 1 hour a day. It doesn’t have to be in one sitting, just overall through the day. Every Monday, I’ll be listing our stats, per person.
Feel free to Join the fun. In the comments, tell us your daily goal. Then on Mondays, check in and let everyone know if you met it all 7 days, or not.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Also this week:
I’m a Featured Author at Whipped Cream 🙂 Squee. Blogs and interviews abound.
Prizes: Grand Winner, a copy of my new release Dragos 2: Scorched coming 1/28/11
Three winners to receive their choice of the following:
Amber Kallyn Ball cap
Amber Kallyn book bag
Small Poster (14×18) of Dragos Scorched cover
International winners will receive an emailed gift.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Today, 1/24, I’m at The Romance Studio blogging
Tuesday, I’ll be at Castles and Guns, discussing the myserious, sexy Alpha Male
Thursday is PARTY TIME! At the Romance Studio. Come read great excerpts, and win great prizes during my Release Party 🙂
And, this Friday for ya’ll who’ve asked, Dragos 2: Scorched comes out.
Blurb:
A rare Argentinean dragon shifter, Cynthianna “Anna” Hernandez has never known trust, peace or safety, not even by fleeing to the deepest wilds of Canada. When bounty hunter Garreth Dragos shows up during a blizzard, things get complicated as their inner dragons decide they’re perfect for each other. Things get worse when the dark mage hunting Anna finds them, sending his creatures to return her to his evil clutches. He’s willing to sacrifice anything and anybody to further his quest for power. Together, Anna and Garreth must trust in each other or all will be lost to evil.
Link: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1537
Read an Excerpt
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Party Baby!
Release day for Mistletoe 🙂
And, last night I found out my short story Alice is available now (See sidebar on the left)
But, today is a Release Party at The Romance Studio.
Come win Great Prizes, Read Excerpts and talk to your favorite authors.
12N to 8pm EST
Amber Kallyn 