Tomorrow, hopefully the citizens of this country (USA) will gather
together and be thankful for what we have.
Statics tells us, most people have cell phones and TV here in this
country, and many people living west of the coast have a roof over
their heads. I feel so sorry for the poor people in NJ and NY who
have lost everything. If you can contribute to a charity of your choice
give as much as you can, because a lot of those people have nothing
now.
But for those of you who are enjoying reasonably good health and
have food to eat. although it may be less than you'd like, at least
we are alive. I feel that keenly this Thanksgiving. When you almost
don't make it, being alive suddenly is something in itself for which
to be extemely thankful. And I am. I'm still breathing, my heart
is still beating and I can move around without much help. Guess the
changes are all part of the aging process.
I'm thankful for so many things. As the song goes, "Every night I
count my blessings". May you also have many blessings to count.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
Showing posts with label author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Thursday, July 07, 2011
An author's shinning moment
Some have asked me what value there is in writing Romance.
There was one shining moment in my early career which gives purpose to what I do.
I'm a retired school teacher but for nearly thirty years I taught school. When I started writing I was teaching Home Economics in the high school. At the time, I was forty something (No woman tells her true age.) I was definitely seen as the grandmotherly type.
One afternoon, as I hurried to the workroom for something, (I don't remember what) one of my male students, a senior, stopped me in the hall. He wanted to know if he could talk to me. He wanted to talk about my novel. By this time, I got a bit defensive if anyone said they wanted to talk about MY book because in my conservative district a romance author teaching Home Ec was frowned on by some parents.
He indicated he wished to have his say someplace private, not in the hallway, so we went to a corner of the library. I assured him we would talk, and I figured, "Oh boy, here it comes again! Another - shame on you, or how could you, or my parents..." I'd heard it all before.
However, once we gained a quiet corner, he hung his head and admitted that my book was the first book he'd ever read. I remember asking if he liked it and all he did was nod.
A couple of years later I ran into that same student in a local bookstore, his arms full of hardbacks, best selling novels and nonfiction books. I got an accusing look and he quiped, "Look what you've done to me. Now I spend all my extra money on books."
If my books convince one young person reading is worthwhile, then my work has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
Watch for my December short story, "A Matter of Passion"
from Champagne Books
There was one shining moment in my early career which gives purpose to what I do.
I'm a retired school teacher but for nearly thirty years I taught school. When I started writing I was teaching Home Economics in the high school. At the time, I was forty something (No woman tells her true age.) I was definitely seen as the grandmotherly type.
One afternoon, as I hurried to the workroom for something, (I don't remember what) one of my male students, a senior, stopped me in the hall. He wanted to know if he could talk to me. He wanted to talk about my novel. By this time, I got a bit defensive if anyone said they wanted to talk about MY book because in my conservative district a romance author teaching Home Ec was frowned on by some parents.
He indicated he wished to have his say someplace private, not in the hallway, so we went to a corner of the library. I assured him we would talk, and I figured, "Oh boy, here it comes again! Another - shame on you, or how could you, or my parents..." I'd heard it all before.
However, once we gained a quiet corner, he hung his head and admitted that my book was the first book he'd ever read. I remember asking if he liked it and all he did was nod.
A couple of years later I ran into that same student in a local bookstore, his arms full of hardbacks, best selling novels and nonfiction books. I got an accusing look and he quiped, "Look what you've done to me. Now I spend all my extra money on books."
If my books convince one young person reading is worthwhile, then my work has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
Watch for my December short story, "A Matter of Passion"
from Champagne Books
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
TODAY MEET AUTHOR HOLLY HUNT
Holly's books are a very different cup of tea from
the historical romance I write, but is great fun
to meet authors who write in genres different from
mine.
So, please welcome Holly Hunt.
The Devil was never a fun person. After attempting to seize power from God, he was assigned to the Pit of Flames and painted black as night by humanity. The Prince of Darkness has been causing havoc, torment, disease and disaster for the hell of it for thousands of years.
But what if that's not how it went down?
Lucifer Morningstar (please, for the love of Tartarus, don't call him "The Devil") lives in New York City, a place infested with a gang called the Hellraisers. Tormented by the death of his wife Sera at the hands of God, he takes little care and pleasure in his favourite activities—cooking and reading fantasy books—let alone bothering to save (or tempt) humanity from themselves.
Clarissa Avario is a woman on the wrong side of both lines. A former Hellraiser now on their hit list, she's beyond the protection of both the corrupt police force of New York City and the Hellraiser leader she used to love.
When Lucifer saves Clarissa from those same Hellraisers, a spark of romance blossoms. Despite repeated warnings from her cat Aspen, Clarissa falls in love with Lucifer. And if there's one thing that can topple God's careful and logical running of the universe (brought to you by Heaven Inc.), it's love. Love is unpredictable.
Love is tragic.
Love is power.
To prevent the loss of Her throne, God must fight back against Lucifer and Clarissa. But how do you defeat the purest of loves, let alone Lucifer Morningstar?
A bit about Holly:
Born in 1990, Holly Hunt's exposure to reading started at birth with the likes of Stephen King and Dean Koontz, her mother’s favourite authors. At the age of 15, Holly began to experiment with her writing. Her first serious novel was almost 180,000 words long and followed the exploits of a half-breed Fire Elemental through 5,000 years of the world’s history. Since then, Holly has completed over a dozen books, ranging from werewolves taking over Canada to disease-ridden vampires saving the world from insane yetis and Bunyips.
Visit Holly's Blog --- RHYTHEM POETS
the historical romance I write, but is great fun
to meet authors who write in genres different from
mine.
So, please welcome Holly Hunt.
The Devil was never a fun person. After attempting to seize power from God, he was assigned to the Pit of Flames and painted black as night by humanity. The Prince of Darkness has been causing havoc, torment, disease and disaster for the hell of it for thousands of years.
But what if that's not how it went down?
Lucifer Morningstar (please, for the love of Tartarus, don't call him "The Devil") lives in New York City, a place infested with a gang called the Hellraisers. Tormented by the death of his wife Sera at the hands of God, he takes little care and pleasure in his favourite activities—cooking and reading fantasy books—let alone bothering to save (or tempt) humanity from themselves.
Clarissa Avario is a woman on the wrong side of both lines. A former Hellraiser now on their hit list, she's beyond the protection of both the corrupt police force of New York City and the Hellraiser leader she used to love.
When Lucifer saves Clarissa from those same Hellraisers, a spark of romance blossoms. Despite repeated warnings from her cat Aspen, Clarissa falls in love with Lucifer. And if there's one thing that can topple God's careful and logical running of the universe (brought to you by Heaven Inc.), it's love. Love is unpredictable.
Love is tragic.
Love is power.
To prevent the loss of Her throne, God must fight back against Lucifer and Clarissa. But how do you defeat the purest of loves, let alone Lucifer Morningstar?
A bit about Holly:
Born in 1990, Holly Hunt's exposure to reading started at birth with the likes of Stephen King and Dean Koontz, her mother’s favourite authors. At the age of 15, Holly began to experiment with her writing. Her first serious novel was almost 180,000 words long and followed the exploits of a half-breed Fire Elemental through 5,000 years of the world’s history. Since then, Holly has completed over a dozen books, ranging from werewolves taking over Canada to disease-ridden vampires saving the world from insane yetis and Bunyips.
Visit Holly's Blog --- RHYTHEM POETS
Thursday, May 12, 2011
MEET ANOTHER AUTHOR!
Allison Knight is on my blog today sharing her story of how she became a writer. So I thought it would be fun to share my experience on her blog. I wish I could say I always knew I’d be a writer and that I’d won an essay contest, but my career didn’t begin that way. The area in which I excelled in elementary school was art. Several of my colored chalk drawings were entered into a contest. I didn’t win anything, but it was an honor to be selected to participate.
Even though I loved to draw, I spent hours reading. Art was forgotten and interest didn’t resurface until the 1970s when my children were small. I took oil painting lessons for several years and turned out a number of pictures but nothing spectacular. During high school, college, and the thirty years I worked as a public school teacher, I read. In college I read The Agony and Ecstasy and other literary works. In the 1970s I read the John Jakes series, everything of Barbara Michaels, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and Anya Seton I could get my hands on. It wasn’t until the late 1970s and early 1980s I discovered the romances of Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen Woodiwess and from then on romances became a large part of my reading material.
Today, I read a little of everything—suspense, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, mainstream—but romance is still at the top of the list. My husband and I both enjoy reading eBooks, Larry on his cell phone and I use both my Nook and my cell phone. No, I don’t believe paper books will become obsolete nor would I want them to. I love to see my own books in print.
Now, about how I came to be a writer. Back in 1990 I’d just finished reading a romance and commented to my husband, “I think I could write a romance novel.” He said, “Well, why don’t you.”
Seventeen years and about seven rewrites and many classes later, my first novel, When the Ocotillo Bloom, came out with Wings Press. Champagne Books re-released it in 2009. Since then I’ve had five additional releases and two short story releases. In December 2011 my futuristic romantic suspense, Born in Ice, will be released by Champagne Books. Another short time travel story, A Marshal of Her Own, a sequel to A Law of Her Own will be out from The Wild Rose Press sometime soon.
At present I’m working on a romantic suspense that takes place along Route 66 in New Mexico and the third short time travel story to follow A Marshal of Her Own.
My latest work, A Way Back, from Champagne Books is a time travel set in the 1930s oil fields of Texas.
Here is a short blurb.
In the 1930s oil fields of Texas, a woman from the future finds new purpose as she helps a banker rebuild his financial empire.
Amber Mathis, a Wall Street investment banker, returns to her office after burying her mother. Distraught, tired of the rat race, she's determined to make a career change. In the elevator she falls and rises to find herself in a vintage lift. The date is February 25, 1930, and a man stands on the window ledge in her office ready to jump.
Wellman Hathaway, owner and CEO of Hathaway Bank in New York struggles to pay his depositors half their losses. A woman claiming to be from the future appears in his office and involves him in a scheme that forces them into marriage. With Amber's knowledge of the financial history of the 1930s, they travel to the oil fields of Texas to recoup Wellman's funds.
Two people from different centuries are thrown together to survive a difficult time. Will they find more than A Way Back to prosperity?
Thank you all for stopping by today. I’d love for you to leave a comment for me and one for Allison on my blog at Linda Laroque Author I give away an eBook every month to one lucky commenter.
Happy Reading and Writing!
Linda
Linda LaRoque is a retired teacher who loves Texas, it's flora and fauna, and its people. Her contemporary and historical time travel stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas and the Midwest. You can visit Linda on her website at Linda Laroque
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Meet A Science Fiction Author
WHY SCI-FI?
Who doesn’t want to be transported into another world, another universe…
Okay, but that’s not strictly why I like to write science fiction since the same could be said for any book you read. You run the risk of falling head first into the world created by the writer, whether it’s a mushy romance, a grisly detective tale, or a way-out-there fantasy with the ever-popular vampires and witches. Every single book you read takes you someplace else other than where you are. And yes, even the dull boring ones, cause you imagine being someplace else rather than having to read the book.
But why did I choose science fiction? Not quite sure, but I do love the genre. Maybe because I have a fascination with wanting to know what the future would be like. It didn’t help that the TV shows and movies that had me riveted were the likes of Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, and well, you get the idea. Maybe I’m an inherent geek. Scratch that, I am a closet geek who surrounds herself with all sorts of techie stuff. That being said, science fiction doesn’t necessarily have to be set in the future, or on a different planet, universe, dimension…it could be happening in the here and now. Throw in some choice tech words and cool gadgets, and there you go. These days, there’s all sorts of sub-genres in sci-fi, from hard core sci-fi to space opera to science fiction romance.
When I set out to write my book, The Lancaster Rule, I knew I wanted to write a story so engaging with adventure and excitement and unforgettable characters that live in a world that was believable enough to be real. And I knew I didn’t want it be in the present time, if I wanted to go wild with making up stuff. That was the fun part…just making things up and telling extremely tall tales. After all, it’s the future, it hasn’t happened yet, it hasn’t been invented yet, anything can happen!
When I put together the skeleton of the Lancaster story, I knew I’d created something that needed a little more playtime with, more explanation, more details. I knew that if I wrote a trilogy, I could somehow fully capture the story in its entirety. Hence the sequel, The Master Key was born, and then the final story, The Eternal Knot. And with each book, I could introduce another small element of the future as, well, I see it. Drop a little bit here, tuck it in there so it looks like part of everyday life.
After completing the trilogy, I had more ideas bubbling around in the back burner. I sketched out a rough outline and decided to try a more ‘contemporary’ novel. You know, one based in the present time with a little murder, some mystery, and a little romance (gotta have the love, right?) It wasn’t working. But I did try, then hit the delete button and started from scratch, this time flinging it back into the future that I’d already created. After all, the world there had already been built and I knew it so well.
Perhaps I can attempt a non-sci-fi book in the future. Perhaps… But for now, I’ll stick to the world I created, in the future as I see it, filled with all sorts of interesting and exciting characters as they go through life.
For more information on me, visit
My blog/website: The Lancaster Rule
Or become a fan of my: Facebook pages
Or
Follow me on Twitter: TKToppin
Monday, January 10, 2011
Two interesting bits
Soon I'll be posting a blog from an author friend.
We've agreed to share blogs, so you don't have to
listen to (read) me all the time. So, that's the first
bit. I'll post her blog's URL on the 18th, when I will
visit her. When she's ready to post here, she'll post
my blog address on her blog. So I think you will find
her work fascinating. Be sure to check back often to
see when she'll post.
The second bit is almost important. I'm a great believer
in the digital market. All but one of my children and my
husband reads books on the Kindle. I have a Sony, and one
of my granddaughters has a Nook. This week, I take each
day to lead you through my adventures into digital
publishing on Novel Spot.
You'll need to register to make a comment but you can
read about my experiences by going to:
Novel Spot - Behind the Scenes
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
watch for Roses For My Lady available
from Champagne Books in February
We've agreed to share blogs, so you don't have to
listen to (read) me all the time. So, that's the first
bit. I'll post her blog's URL on the 18th, when I will
visit her. When she's ready to post here, she'll post
my blog address on her blog. So I think you will find
her work fascinating. Be sure to check back often to
see when she'll post.
The second bit is almost important. I'm a great believer
in the digital market. All but one of my children and my
husband reads books on the Kindle. I have a Sony, and one
of my granddaughters has a Nook. This week, I take each
day to lead you through my adventures into digital
publishing on Novel Spot.
You'll need to register to make a comment but you can
read about my experiences by going to:
Novel Spot - Behind the Scenes
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
watch for Roses For My Lady available
from Champagne Books in February
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
This business of e-readers
My old Sony reader died. It took forever to load, and
then I wasn't certain the font could be changed. Like
all of the electronic products, life is only about three
years and this was at least that old. I bought it when
the Sony first went on sale.
I was in the process of buying some e-books and I really
didn't want to wait to have a reader shipped to me, so
I spent some time on the internet to see if any local
stores stocked e-readers.
Low and behold, Target had the Sony, and they also carried
the Kindle. Unfortunately, the Kindles were all sold out,
which tells me e-readers are gaining in popularity, even
if major bookstores and publishers don't want to admit it.
I bought the new Sony, with the touch screen and went home
to plug it in and before supper time, it was charged up
and ready to go. No wonder Amazon announced they had
sold more e-books than hard cover books by almost 2-1
in the first quarter of this year.
I guess I'm at the right place at the right time. My books
are available now for the Amazon Kindle, and can be downloaded
from many of the book seller sites that sell e-books. The
ease of loading a book to the reader, the speed of download,
and the ability to read that book right away is just wonderful.
On top of that, I can change the font to large so I can read
with ease. I really do love this.
Allison Knight
"Battlesong" available in August
from Champagne books.
And yes, it's an e-book.
then I wasn't certain the font could be changed. Like
all of the electronic products, life is only about three
years and this was at least that old. I bought it when
the Sony first went on sale.
I was in the process of buying some e-books and I really
didn't want to wait to have a reader shipped to me, so
I spent some time on the internet to see if any local
stores stocked e-readers.
Low and behold, Target had the Sony, and they also carried
the Kindle. Unfortunately, the Kindles were all sold out,
which tells me e-readers are gaining in popularity, even
if major bookstores and publishers don't want to admit it.
I bought the new Sony, with the touch screen and went home
to plug it in and before supper time, it was charged up
and ready to go. No wonder Amazon announced they had
sold more e-books than hard cover books by almost 2-1
in the first quarter of this year.
I guess I'm at the right place at the right time. My books
are available now for the Amazon Kindle, and can be downloaded
from many of the book seller sites that sell e-books. The
ease of loading a book to the reader, the speed of download,
and the ability to read that book right away is just wonderful.
On top of that, I can change the font to large so I can read
with ease. I really do love this.
Allison Knight
"Battlesong" available in August
from Champagne books.
And yes, it's an e-book.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
June Jubliee
Coffee Time Romance is having a Jubilee all through
the month of June. I have my own forum where I talk
about goals, books and characters. If you'd like
to comment or visit, feel free. On the 25th of the
month, I'm having my own author's spotlight. Since I
love to bake, I'll be sharing a couple of favorite
recipes, some of them my own.
Also, since I love to knit, I'll try to explain the
difference between the Dutch method of knitting
and the German method. Most people don't know
there's a difference, not in the product or the way
the yarn goes together, but the way it gets that way.
If you're intrigued, I hope you'll joy me.
Allison Knight
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance With A Sensual Touch
Watch for "Battlesong" coming in August
the month of June. I have my own forum where I talk
about goals, books and characters. If you'd like
to comment or visit, feel free. On the 25th of the
month, I'm having my own author's spotlight. Since I
love to bake, I'll be sharing a couple of favorite
recipes, some of them my own.
Also, since I love to knit, I'll try to explain the
difference between the Dutch method of knitting
and the German method. Most people don't know
there's a difference, not in the product or the way
the yarn goes together, but the way it gets that way.
If you're intrigued, I hope you'll joy me.
Allison Knight
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance With A Sensual Touch
Watch for "Battlesong" coming in August
Monday, March 29, 2010
You Know You're in Trouble when...
You know you're in trouble when you go to the hospital and people start saying
"Hi, how are you?" and "Are you back again?"
Dear heavens, I managed to land in the hospital a week and a half apart!
This time I feared I was finished. I had the worst chest pain I've ever
had in my life. I KNEW I was having a heart attack. (Maybe I should stop
watching all the women on TV advertising asprin because they had a
heart attack) I had classic symptoms, and if that's what it feels
like my sympathy to anyone who's had a real attack.
Thank the lord, mine was a severe reaction to medication I was taking
(and had taken several times before) for my persistant lung condition.
Now, yes, I'll stay away from the drug for the rest of my life. Not
going to take that one for any reason...
I've been trying to figure out how to put my experience in another
book, but so far, I've come up blank. It would have to be a contemporary,
and I'm in the middle of historicals.
Well, just another tidbit to store away in my crowded brain to perhaps
use another day. In the meantime, I've got my conference under my belt
I'm ready to apply fingers to keyboard, and finish my 17th century novel.
I'm also playing around with another short story, and I want to visit
an idea I had about New Orleans.
Spring for us meant a trip from cold, gray Michigan to the flowering
south and a week in New Orleans during our Easter break. Oh, such glorious
memories. Today was the kind of day, bright sun, clear skies, flowers
everywhere, that made me think of New Orleans and as usual, characters
starting talking and dancing around in my head. I should be used
to it by now, however, crazy how just the kind of day sets something
like another story, an idea, or characters playing with my mind.
Now I need to make a few notes, so the idea doesn't slip away.
They have before.
Off to find paper and pencil and start scribbling.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Battlesong", the sequel to "Heartsong"
available from Champagne Books In August
"Hi, how are you?" and "Are you back again?"
Dear heavens, I managed to land in the hospital a week and a half apart!
This time I feared I was finished. I had the worst chest pain I've ever
had in my life. I KNEW I was having a heart attack. (Maybe I should stop
watching all the women on TV advertising asprin because they had a
heart attack) I had classic symptoms, and if that's what it feels
like my sympathy to anyone who's had a real attack.
Thank the lord, mine was a severe reaction to medication I was taking
(and had taken several times before) for my persistant lung condition.
Now, yes, I'll stay away from the drug for the rest of my life. Not
going to take that one for any reason...
I've been trying to figure out how to put my experience in another
book, but so far, I've come up blank. It would have to be a contemporary,
and I'm in the middle of historicals.
Well, just another tidbit to store away in my crowded brain to perhaps
use another day. In the meantime, I've got my conference under my belt
I'm ready to apply fingers to keyboard, and finish my 17th century novel.
I'm also playing around with another short story, and I want to visit
an idea I had about New Orleans.
Spring for us meant a trip from cold, gray Michigan to the flowering
south and a week in New Orleans during our Easter break. Oh, such glorious
memories. Today was the kind of day, bright sun, clear skies, flowers
everywhere, that made me think of New Orleans and as usual, characters
starting talking and dancing around in my head. I should be used
to it by now, however, crazy how just the kind of day sets something
like another story, an idea, or characters playing with my mind.
Now I need to make a few notes, so the idea doesn't slip away.
They have before.
Off to find paper and pencil and start scribbling.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Battlesong", the sequel to "Heartsong"
available from Champagne Books In August
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Record Keeping
A new Year - and I've just spent days putting all
the records for 2009 together. Many years ago,
when my husband kept the records, he set a program
up using spread sheets. When I took over, and
under his supervision, I continued with his program.
Why? you asked. Well, my dad worked for the dreadful
organization called the IRS. He was an auditor, back
in the days when the collectors and the auditor worked
in different departments. Dad was probably the most
honest person I've ever known. He couldn't have
cheated or lied to anyone about anything if his life
depended on it. He also made it clear the most
important thing you can do when working with the
IRS, was have records - of everything. If it was a
legit expense and you had the receipt, you could
deduct it.
To this day, I have almost every receipt for every
penny that went into the business, or the household,
for the entire year - and for all the years before.
My only problem is storage, 'cause, although I scan
business receipts, I don't scan household receipts.
So, yeh! I do have a few. (grinning) Boxes and Boxes!
I can only smile thinking about our kids going through
all the receipts when they have to clean up after us.
Oh, I know I don't need to keep anything older than
seven years (great having a father with all the rules
at hand) but I still keep everything for a lot longer
than that. Just think, I can compare prices for
groceries, books, computers supplies dating back
nearly a decade. If I looked - maybe longer!
Allison, now trying to find another box for the
papers from this year so I can get back to writing.
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch"
the records for 2009 together. Many years ago,
when my husband kept the records, he set a program
up using spread sheets. When I took over, and
under his supervision, I continued with his program.
Why? you asked. Well, my dad worked for the dreadful
organization called the IRS. He was an auditor, back
in the days when the collectors and the auditor worked
in different departments. Dad was probably the most
honest person I've ever known. He couldn't have
cheated or lied to anyone about anything if his life
depended on it. He also made it clear the most
important thing you can do when working with the
IRS, was have records - of everything. If it was a
legit expense and you had the receipt, you could
deduct it.
To this day, I have almost every receipt for every
penny that went into the business, or the household,
for the entire year - and for all the years before.
My only problem is storage, 'cause, although I scan
business receipts, I don't scan household receipts.
So, yeh! I do have a few. (grinning) Boxes and Boxes!
I can only smile thinking about our kids going through
all the receipts when they have to clean up after us.
Oh, I know I don't need to keep anything older than
seven years (great having a father with all the rules
at hand) but I still keep everything for a lot longer
than that. Just think, I can compare prices for
groceries, books, computers supplies dating back
nearly a decade. If I looked - maybe longer!
Allison, now trying to find another box for the
papers from this year so I can get back to writing.
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch"
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
My Favorite Cookie Recipe
Every year at Christmas time, my whole family insists
I bake those little white cookies and I always comply.
First a bit about these cookies. I got the recipe way
back in the 1950's. I had just started teaching Home
Economics. (Back then we did teach cooking) and
"Betty Crocker" sent a Christmas cookie recipe phamplet
to all the schools who requested it. This recipe was
in the little book. I tried it, my family loved these
and after I married I continued to make them. Now I
have to send them to the children who are no longer
close and I most definitely have to have lots for
the family who visits.
The name is "Petits Gateaux Tailles", or little cakes
cut off. Brought from France to Scotland, the Scots
called them Petticoat Tails. Of course over the years
I've added my own touches.
Mix thoroughly:
1 cup soft butter (don't use margarine)
1 cup sifted confectioners sugar
1/4 cup rum (white or dark doesn't matter)
(If I didn't have rum, I used whiskey or brandy - never scotch)
Sift together and stir in:
2 1/2 cup sifted flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Add:
3/4 finely chopped nuts (either walnuts
or pecans)
Mix with hands. Press into two long smooth rolls about
2 inches in diameter. Warp in wax paper and chill for
several hours. (I make mine the day before and refrigerate
overnight)
Slice into thin slices about 1/8 inch thick. Place a little
apart on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes.
in a preheated 400 degree oven. (They should be firm to the
touch and slightly browned at the edges). When cool shake
gently in a plastic bag of powdered sugar. (about 1 & 1/2 cups)
(Little White Cakes Cut Off)
Enjoy, and Merry Christmas
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch"
'Battlesong' the sequel for 'Heartsong' available
in August 2010
I bake those little white cookies and I always comply.
First a bit about these cookies. I got the recipe way
back in the 1950's. I had just started teaching Home
Economics. (Back then we did teach cooking) and
"Betty Crocker" sent a Christmas cookie recipe phamplet
to all the schools who requested it. This recipe was
in the little book. I tried it, my family loved these
and after I married I continued to make them. Now I
have to send them to the children who are no longer
close and I most definitely have to have lots for
the family who visits.
The name is "Petits Gateaux Tailles", or little cakes
cut off. Brought from France to Scotland, the Scots
called them Petticoat Tails. Of course over the years
I've added my own touches.
Mix thoroughly:
1 cup soft butter (don't use margarine)
1 cup sifted confectioners sugar
1/4 cup rum (white or dark doesn't matter)
(If I didn't have rum, I used whiskey or brandy - never scotch)
Sift together and stir in:
2 1/2 cup sifted flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Add:
3/4 finely chopped nuts (either walnuts
or pecans)
Mix with hands. Press into two long smooth rolls about
2 inches in diameter. Warp in wax paper and chill for
several hours. (I make mine the day before and refrigerate
overnight)
Slice into thin slices about 1/8 inch thick. Place a little
apart on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes.
in a preheated 400 degree oven. (They should be firm to the
touch and slightly browned at the edges). When cool shake
gently in a plastic bag of powdered sugar. (about 1 & 1/2 cups)
(Little White Cakes Cut Off)
Enjoy, and Merry Christmas
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch"
'Battlesong' the sequel for 'Heartsong' available
in August 2010
Friday, October 17, 2008
Approaching Winter
Ever wonder what the rest of the country might
be like toward the end of October. I used to
speculate, as northern nights turned cold. In
fact, in parts of the north, you designed or
bought a Halloween costune for your kids and
made sure it was big enough to fit over a snowsuit.
We've lived in a lot of places in the US and
fall always meant leaves changing color and
dropping to the earth to be accumulated and
burned. It meant getting out winter coats and
sweaters and remembering to check the coal
or oil for winter heating.
Here in the deep south, things are very different.
You sigh with relief that a hurricane passed you
by this year, you don't need to unpack winter coats
or sweaters because you don't have any, and
most of the homes are electric. A fireplace or
small heater, in case it gets cold, probably in
late December or January is all you need. I'm
told it's been 20 years since it snowed. And I
love it!
We do worry about the plants having enough moisture
in the ground to last the winter so we don't have
to water. There's an occasional thought about
stacking the pile of fire wood, but it's only
a small thought because the pile is tiny, maybe
a dozen quartered logs.
Now you understand why we love living in the south,
since we never did like the cold. Snow at
Christmas was nice, beautiful even, but the ice
and gray slush, the need for two wardrobes, the
expense of heating the house made winter a trial.
Nope! Southern living is definitely for me. Warm
weather, fresh seafood, the blue waters of the gulf
(when they behave) and the friendliness of the
people make this a wonderful place to live.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heartsong" available
now from Champagne Books
be like toward the end of October. I used to
speculate, as northern nights turned cold. In
fact, in parts of the north, you designed or
bought a Halloween costune for your kids and
made sure it was big enough to fit over a snowsuit.
We've lived in a lot of places in the US and
fall always meant leaves changing color and
dropping to the earth to be accumulated and
burned. It meant getting out winter coats and
sweaters and remembering to check the coal
or oil for winter heating.
Here in the deep south, things are very different.
You sigh with relief that a hurricane passed you
by this year, you don't need to unpack winter coats
or sweaters because you don't have any, and
most of the homes are electric. A fireplace or
small heater, in case it gets cold, probably in
late December or January is all you need. I'm
told it's been 20 years since it snowed. And I
love it!
We do worry about the plants having enough moisture
in the ground to last the winter so we don't have
to water. There's an occasional thought about
stacking the pile of fire wood, but it's only
a small thought because the pile is tiny, maybe
a dozen quartered logs.
Now you understand why we love living in the south,
since we never did like the cold. Snow at
Christmas was nice, beautiful even, but the ice
and gray slush, the need for two wardrobes, the
expense of heating the house made winter a trial.
Nope! Southern living is definitely for me. Warm
weather, fresh seafood, the blue waters of the gulf
(when they behave) and the friendliness of the
people make this a wonderful place to live.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heartsong" available
now from Champagne Books
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