Live to Love on the Edge Blog

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The Writing Blizzard #WisdomWednesday

From that day in the fifth grade when my English teacher assigned our class project – to write a book – I knew I wanted to be a writer. I’d always been an avid reader, but until that day, it hadn’t occurred to me that the stories in my head could become a story that one day others would read.

I kept at it through high school, college, and law school. The child of immigrant parents and an immigrant myself, education was important, but so was a career that would pay the bills. My parents, especially my mom, didn’t think writing would do it and I am eternally grateful that I was an obedient child since my day job has provided me with many wonderful opportunities.

But so did the world of writing. New friends and new places to visit. Of course, that was balanced out by something I didn’t expect: the writing blizzard. The flurries of ideas that might not ever become anything more. The avalanche of rejection letters that gave way to an even greater avalanche of edits, marketing demands, business obligations, and more.

A lot of new writers I meet think that getting published is the hard part. I gently try to prepare them for the greater blizzard of work that comes after publication.

But if writing is your passion, you put your head down and weather the blizzard because something bright and wonderful emerges from the storm: a new story.

And then the blizzard begins all over again!

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Turnip Redux Recipe #TuesdayTip #CooksTreat

My hubby and I love root vegetables, especially carrots, beets and turnips. It’s great to be able to go to the farm market near my office and pick up some locally grown veggies and the one vendor actually has them for really reasonable prices. Here’s a photo of what the green market looks like on a regular day!

Last weekend I picked up some lovely turnips whose greens were still fresh and vibrant. Perfect for making what I call Turnip Redux which was inspired by a recipe from A Chef’s Life on PBS. This recipe uses both the turnip and the greens hence the redux.

For those of you who have not tried turnips, please give them a shot. They are cruciferous veggies that have lots of health benefits. Cancer-fighting, bone and lung health, cardiovascular and digestive aid thanks to Vitamin K and fiber in the greens. Plus, low in calories!

Turnip Redux

2 pounds turnips, peeled and cubed
Turnip greens, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 onion, chopped
Olive oil
2 tbsp butter (optional)
2 slices bacon chopped (optional)

Directions

Cook the turnips in salted boiling water until tender. Drain and coarsely mash.

Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the bacon (optional). Once the bacon is close to crispy, remove from the oil and add the chopped onion. Sweat it out until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for a minute of two. Add the greens and cook until almost soft. Add the mashed turnips to the greens and cook for another five minutes or so. Add the butter and toss. Garnish with the crispy bacon. The last two steps, butter and bacon are optional.

That’s it! This makes a great side dish for any grilled meat and again, HEALTHY! Enjoy.

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Delicious David Gandy #ManCandyMonday #AtTheShore

I don’t like to repeat, but sometimes someone is just too delicious not to repeat, especially when I see these commercials on TV. Of course, I imagine I’m the lucky girl in that raft or maybe a more empowered version with David in the raft and me jumping off the cliff (NEVER – you all know I hate heights!).

Come to think of it, I could so see David playing Owen Pierce from ONE SUMMER NIGHT. Sigh.

Click here to see the David Gandy Dolce & Gabbana commercial if you can’t see it below!

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Weekend Movies? Guardians of the Galaxy 2 or Wonder Woman? #FridayFun

I have been so chained to my desk with both my day job and writing, that I haven’t had a chance to see two movies that were both on my “have to watch” list: Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Wonder Woman.

I’d love to hear from you if you’ve seen either of the movies and if so, what you thought of them! Maybe let me know which one you’d go see first if you’ve already seen both.

Also, don’t forget I’ve got a month long contest going! You can enter multiple times daily until June 30. Just click here of visit this link: http://bit.ly/2qJqPP5

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50 Book & RITA Pin #ThrowbackThursday

With the RWA Conference coming up in July, I’m so excited. I’m getting together promo items, I’ve got a date with some new RWA members for a trip to Disney, other dates with my agent and publisher, a signing . . . SO MUCH TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.

And I’ve divested all the assorted pins from my badge holder and have left only two for now: My 50 Book Pin and my RITA nomination pin. So that’s today’s Throwback! My two pins.

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Jersey Shore Sangria #WineWednesday

With summer hopefully arriving in a few days, I love having a pitcher of sangria ready for when I come off one of the lovely Jersey Shore beaches. It’s a delightful way to cool off on hot summer days and nights. I’ve been playing with the recipe and have created this refreshing variation on the traditional mix! I hope you enjoy it. Why is it Jersey Shore Sangria? ‘Cuz that’s where I drink it the most. LOL!

Caridad’s Jersey Shore Sangria

Ingredients

    1 bottle red wine (a Malbec, Rioja, Cabernet or Pinot Noir will do. For those near a Wegman’s, their $6 Tempranillos, Malbecs and San Giovese will work great in this recipe!)
    1/2 bottle Chilled Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Cider (or any other sparkling cider)
    2 oranges
    1 cup frozen strawberries
    1/2 cup grapes

Directions

  • Peel oranges. Cut into eighths and then cut the eighths in half. Cut grapes in half. Cut frozen strawberries in half.
  • Place fruit into a pitcher and add wine. Let fruit and wine macerate for at least 10 minutes in the refridgerator. If you can wait longer, the flavors will be better.
  • Add chilled sparkling cider to fruit and wine mixture.
  • Remove some fruit from this mix and place in individual glasses. Pour wine/cider mixture into the glass and serve.

What I like about this mix is that you get the extra fruitiness and sweetness with the addition of the cider and don’t have to add sugar to get that.

Some recipes call for lemon in the mix and also don’t ask you to peel the citrus, but I find that the lemon and the peels make the mix too acidic. For a change of pace, cube some apples and toss them in or go even more tropical with some pineapple and mangop. Change up the recipe with a white wine which is just as tasty. A moscato would be perfect for a white sangria. You can also freeze a whole peeled orange and then toss that into the pitcher to keep the mixture cool, but not have it watered down. Thanks to my sister for that tip!

If you want an extra kick in your sangria, add a shot of either grenadine, creme de cassis, B&B, or Gran Marnier.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Wine Wednesday!

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#Vampire Reborn from The Calling is Reborn #TeaserTuesday

Today’s Teaser Tuesday is a look at VAMPIRE REBORN from THE CALLING IS REBORN Vampire Novel Series. I just love exploring where FBI Agent Diana Reyes and vampire Ryder Latimer are going in their relationship and I hope you’re enjoying it as well. I’ll shortly have DARE TO LOVE, the next installment in the series, up for you and will be working on FIGHT FOR LOVE, the next step in Diana and Ryder’s story, for late 2017.

Here’s a little teaser from VAMPIRE REBORN.

Teaser

Although his vampire blood called on him to rest during the day, Ryder regularly fought that need in his desire to be more human. To share time with Diana the way normal couples did. He had worked at his desk in the morning, checking on his various investments, and now the two of them were in the gym, working out.

Ryder moved through the steps in the kata, Diana beside him, shifting in unison.

A left turn to face forward followed by a low block with the left hand.

A step ahead with a sharp right-handed punch.

A quick whirl and back to the front for another low block.

They glided, pushed forward and back, almost as if in a ballet.

Pivot, forward, punch, and then retreat.

An upper cut followed by a drop of the hands to the hips with another one hundred eighty degree turn and a double high block.

From the corner of his eye, he measured Diana’s movements and strength since he hadn’t been the only one who had almost lost his life weeks earlier.

Not that you could tell from her fluid and powerful movements. There wasn’t a hint of hesitation or fragility to attest to the fact that his wife had not only been on death’s door, but that she’d recently given birth. Well, almost nothing. Her warrior’s body wore its lean muscled strength nicely, but the womanly curves were ever more rounded, especially her breasts.

Her command came in his head through their shared connection. Focus.

The warning made him stumble through the final punch and slide of the kata, but he recovered to end it gracefully.

They faced each other and bowed to acknowledge the completion of the exercise.

With the kata finished, she grinned and rolled her eyes. “Men. Show a little tit and it totally throws you off.”

Reaching out, he playfully squeezed her breast and said, “Nothing little about those.”

She slapped at him and he recognized the invitation in her gaze. “Think you can boss me around?” he asked.

“I know I can, remember?”

Yeah, he remembered all right. She’d beaten him more than once during their workouts, but he’d been training hard and this time, he planned on coming out on top. Literally.

“Prove it,” he challenged and put his hands up in a fighting stance.
She arched a brow and her demeanor grew a tad too serious for his taste. “Are you sure?”

“If you’re meaning to ask if I’m up to it – ”

“Are you?” she asked, but raised her hands and braced her legs slightly apart, ready for battle.

Her words stung more than any punch she could have landed. “Don’t patronize me, darlin’. I’m fit enough to protect you and Charlie.”

Order

The new additions to The Calling is Reborn series are free for Kindle Unlimited members. You can order them here:

For Love or Vengeance: http://amzn.to/2rPw3bk
To Love and Serve: http://amzn.to/2rZrqMV
Born to Love: http://amzn.to/2rwzMuc
Die for Love: http://amzn.to/2sc7vKB
Vampire Reborn: http://amzn.to/2scuZPs
The Calling is Reborn Vampire Novels Box Set: For Love or Vengeance, To Love and Serve, Born to Love: http://amzn.to/2rPaE2a

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