Greek Encounter

My guest on SlingWords today is Mona Risk who told me that she never thought that hazardous waste analysis would lead her to writing novels!

When her Ph.D. and work in chemistry landed her international contracts to refurbish laboratories, she traveled to more than sixty countries on business or vacation. To relax from her hectic schedule, she avidly read romance novels and mentally plotted her own books.

Eventually she left a scientific career to share with her readers the many stories brewing in her head. Mona likes to set her stories in the fascinating places she visited from exotic Belarus and historical France, to the beaches of Greece, the monuments of Egypt and the mysterious Islands of Seychelles.

Now, here's Mona to tell you why she set her latest romance novel on the Island of Mykonos, Greece.

Greek Encounter
by Mona Risk

There is always a special story behind the official story of a book, or a special reason that leads an author to select a particular setting for her novel. Why did I set my latest in Greece?

Granted, it’s a romantic place, an attractive island and a fabulous resort where tourists flock in summer. But then there are so many equally beautiful sites that I’ve visited during my numerous travels. Yet, they didn’t stir a similar yearning in my heart or even talked to my muse. It’s probably the Greek blood running in my veins that makes me love to go to Greece and share its beauty with my readers.

Backstory

From a book written by my uncle who lived in Canada, I learned that my ancestors dwelt in the Island of Salonika. The father, Yorgho Zanis, was a merchant selling fabrics in the old market area.

After his death, his three sons decided to immigrate to America, build their fortune and come back to their roots as rich men. But after they sailed for two days, one of the brothers became violently ill and had to disembark in the first port where the ship docked. He settled in Alexandria while his brothers continue to New York.

I visited Greece six times over the years and discovered its islands and beaches with renewed pleasure. I knew from the first time that I wanted to set a story there. Here's a sneak peak at Greek Encounter.

Can the pain of the past bring about the happiness of the future?

Stefano Kostapoulos plans to demolish the dilapidated Pink Villa inherited from his grandmother and build a modern resort on the Greek island of Mykonos. But the American co-owner refuses to sell his shares and sends his attorney to Greece—a lawyer Stefano plans to shred to pieces at the hearing.

Except that Counselor Ashley Sheppard is a gorgeous redhead who knocks Stefano off his axis when he meets her incognito. Sparks fly during a first encounter that leads to a memorable night of passion.

In court, Ashley is in for a nasty surprise. Her handsome Greek god is the opponent. Her heart gnaws with pain, yet she attacks him with all her strength to defend her grandfather’s case.

Stefano wins the lawsuit, but is about to lose Ashley. To keep her in Mykonos, he strikes a deal with his old enemy. Does Ashley dare to trust the Greek playboy? Or even understand her grandfather’s strange change of heart regarding the Pink Villa?

Excerpt

Ashley walked to the center of the room, addressing the judge. “Your honor, I came all the way from the USA to attend this hearing. Mr. Zanis is my grandfather. He’s also an eighty-two-year-old man in bad health. In Mykonos, you heard of this scandal and the feud between Mr. Zanis and the Kostapoulos family.” Crossing her arms, she surveyed the audience and studied their expressions, as her words were translated in Greek. Mostly curious smiles, interested looks, and a few sarcastic grins.

“Let me tell you the beautiful but sad story of two young people who loved each other. George Zanis—Yorgho as he was called here—was twenty, from a relatively poor family, who couldn’t afford to send him to college. He made the big mistake of falling in love with the prettiest girl in Mykonos. Elena was the daughter of the powerful mayor and richest man in town. To be able to ask for her hand in marriage, Yorgho worked two and three shifts a day as a mechanic and saved all his money. And then he did a crazy thing for the girl he loved. He bought an old house no one wanted, renovated it, and offered it to his girlfriend.”

During translation, she scanned her audience and let her gaze rest on Stefano. “As a lawyer, all I’ve seen in my life and in my personal experience are jerks who take advantage of innocent girls, or womanizers who collect nights of pleasure.”

A collective gasp answered her bold accusation. Stefano narrowed his eyes.

“But these young people were different. Innocents who believed in love.

Unfortunately, Yorgho was rejected by Elena’s family. As a last resort to win her hand in marriage, he decided to seek his fortune in America and come back a rich man to marry her. Elena promised to wait for him. Like many young lovers, they gave in to their passion and shared a night in each other’s arms. Big mistake,” she spat out, with a disgusted glance toward Stefano who smiled.

God, how she wanted to punch that smile. She spun toward the judge. “You know the rest. A pregnant Elena was forced to marry to save the honor of her family. She lost the child two days before her wedding. What you don’t know is that Yorgho and Elena remained friends all their lives and exchanged letters once or twice a month. Elena visited the Pink Villa regularly to read her best friend’s letters.”

Not The End -- Greek Encounter is available on Amazon.

* * *

Joan, thank you for hosting me on your beautiful blog.

Takeaway Truth

It's my pleasure to host authors. Try new authors and new genres. You may find some great books.

How To Make Mozzarella Cheese

We're up at our Hill Country house for a little R&R after our daughter's wedding. One of our sons and his family are vacationing at our home in the Houston-area since it's spring break for their kids so the Hill Country quiet is what we needed.

My husband had asked me to pack the ingredients for a batch of mozzarella because he wants to "help" me make pizza. (I learned that recipe in Italy when we went.) That's one of the downsides of being a good cook--your family always wants you to cook rather than ordering out or going out.

In my romantic comedy OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER (Book 1, The Good, The Bad, and The Girly), my heroine is Stormy Clarkson, and her hobby is making artisan cheeses.

I guess you could say that Stormy taught me how to make mozzarella. In the opening scene, she's demonstrating how to make this cheese in your own kitchen.

When I wrote this book, I actually procured all the ingredients and did this myself to see how it was done. I mean, how can I tell others, in a scene, how to make mozzarella at home if I haven't done it myself?

So today I'm going to whip out my Kindle, open it to my copy of Old Enough To Know Better, click on the recipe in the Bonus Features section and make some mozzarella. I thought I'd print the recipe here in case you haven't read the book and would still like to make this cheese. It's easy.

Stormy's Recipe for Homemade Mozzarella Cheese
from Old Enough To Know Better by Joan Reeves

Equipment

5 quart covered stainless pot with a heavy bottom.

1-cup Pyrex measuring cup.

2-cup Pyrex measuring cup.

dairy thermometer that reads 20°F to 220°F that's 20°C to 110°C.

long bladed knife.

cheesecloth or a non-terrycloth dishtowel.

8 inch strainer.

large container to catch the draining whey.

1000 W microwave oven.

Ingredients

Note: I ordered citric acid powder and Junket Rennet (Junket is a brand name.) online. I also purchased a dairy thermometer from online. All this is supposed to be available at health food stores, artisanal food shops that cater to home canners, and some pharmacies, but I couldn't find them in my local area.

1 gallon of milk of your choice

1 and 1/4 teaspoons citric acid powder dissolved in 1/2 cup cool water

1/2 tablet Junket rennet tablet suspended in 1/4 cup cool water

Instructions

1. Warm milk over gentle heat 88°F (31°C). Be careful not to scorch the mixture.

2. Dissolve 1 and 1/4 teaspoons citric acid powder into 1/2 cup cool water in the smaller measuring cup. Add to the 88°F milk. Stir well.

3. Dissolve the 1/2 tablet of Junket Rennet in the 1/4 cup cool water using the smaller measuring cup. Stir thoroughly into the warmed milk mixture. Let set undisturbed for one to two hours, until a clean break is achieved.

4. Using the long bladed knife, cut the curd into 1/2 inch cubes.

5. Warm the curds and whey over low heat. Stir gently to keep the curds separated until the temperature reaches 108°F (42°C). Keep it at that temperature for 35 minutes. Stir every 5minutes to keep the curds separated and off the bottom of the pot.

6. Line the 8 inch or larger strainer with cheesecloth or a 100% cotton open-weave, clean dishcloth. Place the strainer over a 1 gallon container. Pour the curds and whey through this strainer. Let it drain for at least 15 min. At this point, you can save the whey to make ricotta cheese. (If you would like a recipe for ricotta cheese, please e-mail me.)

7. When it has finished draining, place the curd in a large bowl, break it up, and thoroughly mix in 1 teaspoon of salt.

8. Place 1 cup of the salted curd into the 2 cup measuring cup. Microwave on high for 45 seconds. (If your microwave is less than 1000 watts, you may need to adjust the time in order to get the desired elasticity.)

9. Separate the hot curd from container, using the back of a fork. Turn it out on a clean work surface or larger bowl if necessary. The curd is hot so be careful. Knead with your hands to distribute the heat evenly.

10. Return the curd to the large Pyrex measuring cup. Heat again in the microwave for 20 more seconds. Remove, stretch and fold the curd to make it smooth and elastic. Shape into a soft ball.

11. Place the soft ball of cheese into cold, salted water (about 1/3 cup of salt per quart of water) in an airtight container.

12. Place the container in the refrigerator, and let it age for at least a day. You can store in the fridge up to a week.

Takeaway Truth

I love putting Bonus Features in my books. I also love this cheese. It is so good! Try it.

Brand Images With Copyright Notice

Before my daughter nixed the idea of publishing one of her bridal photographs on SlingWords this past Saturday, I had already prepared the image by "branding" it with a copyright notice.

This is easy to do. If you're using your own photographs on your websites and would like to at least make it more difficult for someone to "lift" the image without your permission, let me tell you how to go about it.

There are a lot of free and fee-based apps that accomplish this. I like Watermark Tool because it's easy to use and free.

WatermarkTool.com

"Watermark Tool is an online watermarking software that allows you to quickly and easily protect your images with a visible watermark."

There are a lot of options available, and you can personalize the branding by text size, color, and position of the brand.

The basic Watermark Tool is free. You don't even have to register if you don't want to. You have instant access to the app.

If you want more features, then sign up for WMT Plus which gives you a higher file size limit, the ability to save your watermark settings for future use, and the option to use an image as a watermark.

Takeaway Truth

Do what you can to protect your images and keep someone from unauthorized use of them. This is one way.

Weddings

Yesterday was our youngest child's wedding. I cried like a baby.

Why?

Because she was so beautiful.

Because a couple of years ago, I was scared she might not survive a DVT.

Because a couple of years ago, I didn't know if she'd ever be able to walk normally again.

She was beautiful, radiant, and, most of all, so happy as she walked gracefully down the aisle on her father's arm. The groom was handsome, loving, and so happy--and ready--to marry the one woman who seems made just for him. Indeed, there could be no other for either of them.

For all those reasons, I wept tears of joy as did many people in the church.

From the Brahma Sutras: "When the one man loves the one woman and the one woman loves the one man, the very angels desert heaven and come and sit in that house and sing for joy."

Takeaway Truth

Love is the greatest of all emotions.

Best Wishes, Adina and Mike

I have been told in no uncertain terms NOT to publish a picture of my daughter in her wedding dress in case her fiance, by some weird happenstance, sees her in the completely stunning wedding gown before the wedding ceremony late this afternoon.

That's right. Today is the big day! Finally. I hear Etta James singing At Last inside my head.

Our baby, the last of our little chicks, is getting married today. As My husband said, "Bring on the empty nest!"

Darn. There goes Etta James singing again.

Takeaway Truth

Adina and Mike, we love you!

3 Marketing Habits To Adopt

Every author is constantly trying to figure out how to sell more books. What worked last month, may not be effective this month. Part of the problem is that everyone is looking for an instant fix. A magic answer. The rest of the problem is that there is no magic solution and no one way that works for everyone.

(This article previously appeared on Writing Hacks, my subscription newsletter for writers. Subscribe today if you'd like articles like this as soon as they are published.)

Here are 3 habits that you can use to help you though.

1. Think Long Term.

You need to develop a marketing strategy that focuses on long term goals. Becoming a "name" or selling a 10K books this month isn't going to happen overnight. Be patient and write some achievable goals designed to help you increase your name recognition and awareness of your brand. Start with one thing, i.e., blogging every day, and build your brand. Or decide Twitter will be your go-to network to build your brand. Learn all you can about it. You can't possibly hit every social network and be effective. So decide what is doable for you.

Make a plan. That old axiom still applies: Plan your work; work your plan. Be consistent. Be patient. Be in it for the long haul.

2. Know your brand.

Yeah, you there. What is your brand? What kind of writing are you known for or want to be known for? You need to give a lot of thought to this because it's virtually impossible to market yourself and/or your work unless you know what your product is. If you honestly don't know how to market your work, then find an author who writes a similar book. See how they market themselves. Emulate. Don't copy. Con't try to be that author. The world doesn't need another Nora Roberts or Amanda Hocking or Joe Konrath. Besides, you'll never be anything but a pale imitation so it's always best to be you.

Be yourself, but learn how to present yourself and your work. Once you've discovered or determined your identity as a writer, decide how you're going to get that point across. Then at every opportunity, display your brand online and in the real world.

3. Increase your visibility.

You must be noticed. No one will want to find your books if you sit quietly in a corner. Investigate low cost ways that make a big impact. Write articles, book reviews, blog, guest blog, comment, speak up, Tweet, Facebook, attend writers club meetings, network. There are thousands of ways to get noticed online and in the real world.

Figure out what you can do that's just a step out of your comfort zone. You see, you have to step out of your comfort zone to grow. If you're not satisfied with your sales numbers or your career growth, you must do something different because if you keep doing the same old thing, you'll keep getting the same old results.

Takeaway Truth

This is the year to do something different. Take action. Discover your writer identity. Draw up a plan. Get moving now.

"Old Enough" Now Available Everywhere

My experiment with Amazon's Kindle Owners Lending Library aka Prime Select is ended. I had my "cougar-licious romance" enrolled in the program.

As of yesterday, OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER (Book 1 of The Good, The Bad, and The Girly), the book I had enrolled, is now available at all the major ebook sellers.

My Experience

I gave a detailed report last week in Writing Hacks, my subscription newsletter. Here's a condensed version for those who don't subscribe.

Having a book enrolled in KOLL, Kindle Owners Lending Library, was an interesting experiment. For me, it wasn't particularly advantageous. Others made out like bandits, I understand, but my books are already low-priced. I mean, if I were going to exercise my Prime right to "borrow" a book at no cost, I would get one of the more expensive ebooks I want to read--not a book that's already at a low price point.

Upset Readers

Also, I received emails from readers who were upset because the book wasn't available for their Nook or their iPad. They knew they could get a Kindle app for other devices, but they simply didn't want to buy from Amazon. I found there are a lot of people with that sentiment.

So, I gathered my stats and bided my time. When the contracted time limit for the book expired, I immediately uploaded it to the other ebook sellers. In fact, I stayed up until 2 AM to get that done.

Takeaway Truth

Try new things. Some will work out; some won't. But you won't know until you try.

Defining Moments

When I teach characterization to aspiring writers, I often talk about the defining moment, that moment that changes a character and sets him on a new path. Just like characters we create and try to make come alive on the page, we too have defining moments in life.

Today, I'm pleased to welcome Liz Flaherty to SlingWords because she's going to talk about a defining moment. In this case, the defining moment was in her own life.

Liz hangs out at Facebook so drop by and say hello. The lovely cover to the left is her new book, One More Summer, from Carina Press.

Now, please welcome, Liz Flaherty.

Defining Moments
by Liz Flaherty

Life is new and wonderful for me these days. I retired from the post office in 2011, promptly gained 15 pounds—overnight, I swear!—and promised my grandkids, The Magnificent Seven, that I would make each of them a bed-size quilt. I also planned to write all day, every day. What was I thinking?

Backstory

I’ve learned to write when I feel like it, sew when I feel like it, and maybe even to eat a little less. I’ve gone back to school, where, yes, I am far and away the oldest kid in class. I’ve learned to share the house and sometimes even the kitchen with Duane, my husband of, oh, lots of years.
And I’m having a Very, Very Good Time.

My fifth book—I’m not an overnight success, but I never give up—One More Summer, is a new release by Carina Press. It's already out digitally and will be released in print May 1. I am thrilled to the point everyone I know rolls their eyes as soon as I open my mouth.

Defining Moments

I’ve had several defining moments in my life, ones that changed me forever. I imagine you’ve had them, too, and I’d love to hear about them. This post is about the first one I remember. It’s also about being amazed, overwhelmed, and triumphant.

Fun With Dick and Jane

If you are of “a certain age,” you probably remember the Dick and Jane series of books from the first grade. The first word of the first book (I think it was the gray one) was “Look.” I don’t know if other children knew how to read before they started school, but I didn’t, so there began my amazement. Words on paper, starting with just that one, would open more windows to me in my life than any other one thing.

By the end of the first week of school, I had read the whole book. I sat on a spare stool in the barn and read to the cats while my mother and brothers did the milking. When I went to school and told the teacher what I’d accomplished, she said, no, I had not and that lying was a sin. She grabbed my arm and shook me.

Uh, Not So Much Fun

Just that quickly, I was overwhelmed. I was six years old—believe me when I say I wasn’t above lying—but not about this. Not about something as important as a book. As reading. (My older brothers, on the other hand, I would have thrown to the wolves in a heartbeat. I was such a little darling.)

Then she made me read the book aloud, standing beside her desk with the thin volume’s paper covers trembling in my hands while everyone else got to go to recess. I stumbled here and there, and I’m sure the tales of Dick, Jane, Sally, and their pets have never been narrated in a more pathetic, halting voice. But I read it. The whole damn book. And that’s when I learned about triumph.

After that, she let me read with the second grade sometimes and made sure I had all the books I wanted to read at my disposal. I don’t remember if she apologized or not, nor do I think she ever particularly liked me. I hadn’t even thought of Mrs. Sullivan for years until today, when I was thinking about reading and books and what they mean to me.

Still Reading

Fifty-five years after the first grade—yes, really!—I remain amazed by the joy of reading, of black marks on a white page being entire exciting worlds unto themselves. Although I still love holding a book in my hands, holding a Kindle is no less exciting. The more things change, intone people of my age and older, the more they stay the same. Uh-huh. That’s about right.

Some Things Don't Change

I’m also still overwhelmed. By emotional and mental cruelty, yes, but also by how much there is out there to read. To enjoy or not. To learn from or not. There are, as t-shirt wisdom tells us (these t-shirts are likely my age or older, too—I don’t know), there are “so many books, so little time.”

And triumph! From reading that first “Look,” to being able to read that book when the teacher thought I couldn’t, to writing and selling my own books, the feeling of success has never gone away. Never lessened.

Grateful Because...

Mrs. Sullivan may not have liked me much, and memory tells me I didn’t have warm fuzzies about her. I am nonetheless grateful to her.

Because she amazed me by giving me that first book on that first day and telling me the first word was “look.” I’ve been looking and reading ever since.

And because she overwhelmed me by introducing new feelings and making new demands on my six-year-old self.

I’ve been overwhelmed much of my life. By saying Yes too often. By burning too many candles at both ends of the day. By saying, "Of course it’s a book," when a manuscript seemed beyond redemption.

There are much worse things than being overwhelmed. Being bored for one. Playing it too safe for another. I like overwhelmed—it’s as good for my soul at 61 as it was at six.

And because she introduced me to triumph when I read that damn book for her. And gave me a taste for it.

What about you? When was your first defining moment?

Takeaway Truth

Reflecting on those moments that made you the person you are helps you know yourself. Know yourself and what made you, and you'll know how to create a fictional character who seems real.

How Do You Capture Readers

Since we're in a countdown for my daughter's wedding Saturday, I'm having to prioritize my time in favor of family obligations.

That means that writing, blogging, and all that goes with being an author must take a back seat for a while. I'm distressed that I'm leaving all of you word slingers and readers without my daily two cents.

So I thought I'd post some of the articles I've written on other blogs and on my various other websites. Today, I'm giving you a blog post I wrote in February for 99cent Ebooks.

If you are primarily a reader, rather than a writer, you may find some of these insights explain much about the books you see for sale.

How Do You Capture Readers?

Whether you are a reader or a writer, chances are, you know the answer to this question. A book captures a reader with an intoxicating first sentence, first paragraph, first page–followed by equally addicting pages two through two hundred or more.

Oh, compelling cover art, back "blurb," author quotes, and a few other things help too. Unfortunately, most of these other things cannot be controlled by authors if they are published by traditional print or ebook publishers. If they are indie authors who self-publish, then they have a complete control over the entire package.

What Writers Control

However, what all writers can control regardless of the publishing process is the writing–the words they choose and the way they put them together to create the story. That's what all writers should focus on.

Each time I start a manuscript, I think I've got the perfect opening sentence for the story and the character. Often, I compare my opening sentences to some of my favorites to see whether I feel that frisson of awareness that shivers up my spine when I read some of my all-time favorites.

I want to share some of these sentences that always intrigue me no matter how many times I've read them. They sing a siren song that made me read the book the first time, and they still tease me with their sense of music and rhythm. I think these opening sentences evoke an emotional response in the reader, and that's what readers can't resist.

Favorite Opening Sentences

"Last night I dreamt I went to Mandeley again." (Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier)

"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn’t know what I was doing in New York." (The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath)

"I never knew her in life." (The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy)

"Nobody was really surprised when it happened, not really, not at the subconscious level where savage things grow." (Carrie by Stephen King)

"Death was driving an emerald green Lexus." (Winter Moon by Dean Koontz)

"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." (A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens)

Opening Acts

The worst thing about reading someone else's sparkling prose is that I despair of ever being as good. The best thing is that I'm motivated to improve my writing skills. So I keep writing and working on my prose, from the first few sentences to the last one preceding, "The End."

Here are a few of the opening lines from some of my books. I write romantic comedy so I want to hit a humorous note from the very first sentence.

Just One Look.

I'm pretty sure every woman reading this excerpt from my first ebook romance can identify with my heroine.

"Jennifer Monroe shivered and rubbed the goose-bumped flesh of her arms. A meat locker would feel warmer than a doctor's examining room! Why do they have to keep it so cold? And why do they act as if you have nothing better to do than sit around clad only in a piece of paper and your birthday suit, and wait?"

Still The One

I'm fairly certain every woman has fantasized about what she'd do if given the chance to show someone from her past how she has grown from an ugly duckling to a swan.

"Ally Fletcher had waited six years for this opportunity. Six long years. There was no way a mere thunderstorm was going to stop her. Of course, in Texas, calling this a mere thunderstorm was like saying a Texas tornado was a mere puff of wind."

The Trouble With Love (Book 1, Texas One Night Stands)

"Every woman makes mistakes. Susannah Quinn glared at the door to the Sheriff's private office. Yep, every woman makes mistakes, but most women didn't have to put up with a constant reminder of their not so brilliant actions. And most women didn't have their mistake showing up at their office –flaunting tanned muscles and polluting the environment with clouds of testosterone and male arrogance. Of course, mistake didn't quite describe what she'd done. No tiny lapse in judgment for old Susannah Quinn. When she decided to throw common sense out the window, she didn't mess around."

Nobody's Cinderella (Book 1, San Antone Two-Step)

"Darcy Benton wondered if she needed to check into a hospital. Her nervous system seemed to have shorted out, producing feet that felt like blocks of ice and hands that perspired as if it were July rather than December. Her heart raced faster than a quarter horse, and her face felt as warm as a passive solar collector at the end of a hot Texas day."

Old Enough To Know Better (Book 1, The Good, The Bad, and The Girly)

"If you can't trust your friends, then who can you trust? Stormy clarkson planned to pose that question to her soon-to-be ex-friend Libby the minute she saw the conniving woman. In the meantime, all she could do was ignore Sean Butler, the physical manifestation of Libby's scheming."

What are the opening acts in some of your favorite books?

Takeaway Truth

I'm one of the luckiest people on the planet. I make my living by writing stories about love, romance, sex, commitment, and all the funny, crazy things that happen to a man and a woman who are made for each other–but who don't yet know it.

Anticipation

Scots author Samuel Smiles said, "An intense anticipation itself transforms possibility into reality."

The wedding is now less than a week away. Our daughter is nervous. Her fiance is seemingly relaxed.

Now that all the hard work is over and we've got all the wedding bills paid, I'm rather laid back and ready to unwind. (Want a growth career in a high income industry? Try anything to do with weddings!)

In fact, darling husband and I plan a week's vacation after the wedding, and I need it.

Takeaway Truth

Anticipation may make you wait, but time winds down, and, suddenly, the big day arrives. Oddly enough, then you have the sensation that it was only yesterday when you started planning the event.