Linky Love - Blogger Community

Time for links, y'all! And today's links are from the blogger community.

And a big Thank You to blogspot Blogger for making it easy to open links to a new page - at last! yay!

Jessica Nelson BookingIt. Whenever I see her profile photo, it makes me smile. There is a sweetness about Jessica and it comes out in her blog and in her comments she leaves.

Diane Estrella "That's what I'm here for" has a fun Christmas quiz going on. She also reviews books and products, and her energy bounds off her blog page.

I have a new Blogger friend whose blog I am exploring - From Sarah, With Joy. And "joy" does describe what I've experienced stopping by her place.

Hilary Melton-Butcher has such an interesting blog "Positive Letters . . . Inspirational Stories," chock full of information on things you don't realize you longed to know until you get there, and Voila! She's told you all about something so interesting, you leave feeling smarter and more wordly.

I laughed when I watched Carolyn V's "Checkboard Squares" video on Zombie Love - and I HATE zombies . . .  ungh - but danged if I couldn't get that song out of my mind.

Reader Unboxed - it's all about books and reading and it's the sister site of Writer Unboxed. I love both of these blogs, and am a member of Writer Unboxed, for which I've linked to before.

Folks, if you haven't stopped by John Bord's Ink Spots, then slip on over there. His writings are starkly beautiful, and he's just a nice guy to boot. Sometimes he writes of social issues and whether I agree or do not, I always leave his blog thinking.

Colby Marshall Spittin' out words like a llama is quirky and fun, and, ohhh!, I do believe she has a form of synesthesia, so that makes her my new "writing interest" - I want to study her, for I have a character who will probably be in my next book who has synesthesia.

Click on over to Eryl at The Kitchen Bitch Ponders . . . because she's just cool and I like her and I love that title, too.

And finally, last one for this Friday's Linky Love is Titus the Dog - I have two of her poetry collections and have ordered the latest. The words are gorgeous and profound, yes, but, the covers are exceptional as well.

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As an aside - I am writing this on Wednesday because I have to unplug all of Thursday and perhaps into Friday. However, from what I understand, beginning on Saturday the 17th is the Amazon Kindle Promo for Sweetie (and as well for the anthology The Firefly Dance). Sweetie, and Firefly, will be priced by Amazon for $.99 for one week only - through the 23rd. After that, it goes back to regular price. So, there you go, a Christmas Kindle Book Promo. Thank you for your support - without my readers, my writing is lonely and unloved :-D .

Just found out this, apparently Amazon has Sweetie and FD at .99cents instead of what I thought! lawd! wow. Far as I know, just for the week still. Firefly is priced the same.

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See y'all on Monday!

Friday Linky Love in this wonderful Community of Bloggers we are!

bffs are wunnerful - in blogland too!

Yes, folks - I am back to three days a week posting, after months  of wailing and gnashing my teeth over my deadline I thought I'd never make (of course I will and the final in the Graces Trilogy will be out in a few months!), and after my father's illness and passing - oh how wonderful you all are and were for supporting me, and for your understanding I am appreciative.

Which takes me to how much of a community Blogger Land is, and why I have missed my thrice-weekly posting, and my visiting your  blogs. What a wonderful community of people there are out there in Blogger Land!

Friday is Linky Love day, so here are a few offerings. As always, I invite you to tell me about any gooey noughty goodness you find out there so I can share it - yes, even if it is your own site.

What brought me back to excitement over my blog? Why Kristen Lamb's blog and her book "Are you there blog, it's me, Writer." I've mentioned Kristen before, but she bears mentioning again if this whole Social Networking thang has you beating your head against the wall (as the bruises on said pea-head of mine will attest).

I was curious what would happen if I clicked on "Next Blog" - something I never think to do, and it brought me to The Simple Woman's Day Book blog - where "thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the everyday moments." Looks interesting, so I think I'll check it out further.

Jan O'Hara is one of the blogs I miss visiting regularly - she makes me laugh and think and giggle and go "hmmmmm." Miz Tart at Tartitude is wunnerful.

I have also missed the Amazing Voyages of the Turtle, Sandra Leigh's blog about her travels here there and yonder. She is amazing.

Author Jody Hedlund always has interesting and informative posts for writers. I learn a lot about myself as it pertains to my writing life from these posts and sometimes find I am writing much too long comments! lawd!

Hungry? Like to "pass a good time" with music and food and a really nice person down in the Louisiana Swampland? Then visit Marguerite at Cajun Delights. I lived in South Louisiana many years and her blog reminds me of the food and fun and people there.

Deb Shucka's blog "Catbird Scout" is another for whom I have missed reading regularly - her intimate, poignant, and beatifully-written blog never ceases to amaze me with just how lovely a person, and a writer, Deb is. She's also an editor at our Rose & Thorn journal.

Anita from Life with a Cherry on Top is one of those quiet blogs that doesn't announce itself and make a lot of noise, just as Anita herself is! But I adore Anita and her blog. Visiting her makes me feel calmed and warm and toasty.

Another of our Rose & Thorn editors is Janna Qualman over at Something She Wrote. We both stumbled upon Rod McKeun's poetry books and that makes me smile. She is also one of those quiet writers who doesn't shout out, but she should!

Terri Tiffani's blog is titled "Inspirational Writer" and that is just what she is, which is why she has such a loyal following, and I've missed reading her blog.

And there are many more - and I will be linking to those in the coming Fridays.

Ah, feels good to be back, y'all!

You all have a wonderful weekend!

Salt Rising Bread Recipe by Katie Ivene & re-link to yesterdays blog!

First - check out the blog post from yesterday to put your link for our "shout out" to local community vendors & blogger community "vendors" so we can shop this Christmas, or any time of the year, really -- birthdays, anniversaries, et cetera -- to support our blogger community and our local economies! Thank you to those of you who have already placed your links in the comments post below. In a few days, I will post the list, and as we receive more, I'll post those as well. If you are ready to shop now, just click on the link, or scroll down to the blog below and you'll find the links in the comments section.

Gumbo Writer has inspired me to put up a recipe. Next time GMR cooks one of his dee-lish dishes, I'm going to photograph it and put up the recipe. Maybe I'll do even do that when I make my Pinto Beans & Cornbread -mm-mmm! But for now, I thought I'd place one here from the Tender Graces book. Katie Ivene, Momma, wrote this one. Someone emailed me about this recipe this morning, and I wish her luck in baking this bread!

Katie Ivene’s Salt Rising Bread

To make the sponge:
3 between sized potatoes
3 tablespoons of meal
1 teaspoon sugar
Pinch of soda
4 cups water that’s come to the boil

The next day:
2 cups of sweet milk that’s warmed a bit
1 cup of water that’s come to the boil
2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon of soda
2 tablespoons of shortening (and best not be using any petal puss pig lard in my recipe!)
Flour

Makes three loaves unless it makes four or two, sometimes I change the recipe so you best check it twice. The day ahead, while the kids are still outside playing before supper, peel and slice up the potatoes and add the meal, sugar, soda, and water that’s come to the boil. Put all that in a glass bowl or big jar if you still have one that’s not broke, and cover it up with a good weight-sized dishrag. Let it stand in a warm place all the night and don’t let the kids play around to knock it over or else you got to start over again.

The next morning there should be a foam risen up top of it. Get the potatoes out of the mixture, and then add milk, water, soda, salt, and shortening. Add flour just enough to make the dough stiff enough to knead up until it’s right. Keep the kids out of the dough with their dirty hands or else you got to throw the nasty dough away and start all over. While kneading, think on things that’s been bothering you and soon the answer will come. Shape the dough into loaves. Put the loaves in greased up pans, cover with a dishrag, and let them rise again until twice the size. Then bake the loaves in a 400 degree oven until it’s done, maybe 40 minutes or so. Give the kids warm bread with apple butter and send them outside so you can think straight. Serve the bread to your husband so he can see just what you can do when you set your mind to it even if you can do more than bake bread at least the bread gets his attention.

google image: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1413/821391486_f1343b66b0.jpg

These blogs are made for walking, and that's just what I'll do....

Hello friends. Tomorrow I want to post more about "writing craft" (dangling participles for one). But this is Sunday and on Sunday's I like to Blog Walk. But I have to mention:

I received a very nice Kreative Blogger award from Ranch Girl Ramblings and, a few weeks ago, from Cathy, a Humane award. I have been very bad about following the "rules" when I receive an award, but it in no way lessens the joy and appreciation I feel at receiving the awards . . . thank you!

I also want to say thank fellow bloggers David Pereda (author of a book I can’t wait to buy at his signing at Osondu’s next month: Havana Top Secrets) – and Small Footprints (who’s green living tips are important and inspiring)- for supporting me at Malaprops last night. Both have kind and open expressions that match their personalities (she is lovely with a perfect "peaches and cream" complexion I envied, and he is handsome and distinquished); I am glad to know them now “in person.” It is such a delight for me to meet bloggers in person. Katsoup drove hours from her home to my Osondu author's reception and I am still amazed and grateful (she is a beautiful person with life bubbling out of her pores). I met Carol at the Writer's porch recently (and her photos do not do her justice - she's lovely and classy and full of fun-etic energy), and Debbie of Suburb Sanity (Not only is she a pretty woman, she is as intelligent and interesting as her posts are). In the past I've met other bloggers for whom I've enjoyed coming to know. We can't all meet in person, but it sure is fun when we do.

I want you all to know my appreciation is honest and true. I print out your reviews, comments, emails, and put them in my keepsake book. Thank you. My life has become busy and scattered, so if I forget something or someone, or I miss an email from you, please know that it isn't for lack of trying or respect.

I will do some blog walking, and then work on VK2, and then! Today is Roger’s birthday, so I am going to prepare homemade pizza tonight!

Below is Happy Birthday Roger! in WingDings font *laughing:

Happy Birthday Roger!

We are family; I got all my ...bloggers...with me!

( GMR painted this - I told him one day how I'd know I "made it" when I became an M&M cartoon *laughing*.... so, this is what he did...haw!)

Last day to vote for our Angie Gumbo Writer! Y'all just take a moment to click on that little thumbs up *smiling* CLICK HERE She's neck and neck with another blog! vote vote vote!

It is dark outside; I'm up quite early this morning: before Fat Lazy Lab Jake, before Good Man Roger, before the birds. It is silent, as our cove at Killian Knob can be - but through the closed windows and doors I still hear our creek -- the rains have brought it back as it was before.

I am overwhelmed at the support I am receiving from you all. To think, people I have never met face-to-face have become an important part of my life. You "see" them if not daily, then weekly. You are sad for them when they are sad, happy when they are happy. I can see some of us sitting around a table in a cafe, sharing coffee and something sweet, laughing and talking, and as we do, we are marveling at all the places we come from: here near far there yonder.

There will be no way I can do anything but say THANK YOU for all your support with Tender Graces - I only hope my words do your support justice. For TG is a love letter to everyone who reads her. As I wrote my Virginia Kate saga, I thought of all of you and all the hands that would hold her and that kept me writing and writing and writing. The thought it will soon happen just overwhelms me, but in that surreal but good way.

These days, publishing is a strange business. One never knows what will "work" and what will send books gathering dust on shelves and what makes them best-sellers. I hope the love and sincerity of my words will sell my books. I hope the story will sell it. The writing and language. I hope I do you all Proud; that is my wish.

Word of mouth - all of you - telling others about a good book you've read is, to me, one (or THE) most important thing when it comes to our books. A person reads your book and loves it and then tells someone and that person reads it and loves it and tells another and on the chain goes.

Never Ever Ever discount the important role that you, Dear Readers, have in the writer's life. I mean that in so many ways.

One day I hope to sell enough books to buy up land on this little mountain at Killian Knob so that all destruction - the cutting down of too many trees, the putting up of lights(blasphemy!), the postage-sized lots, My Muse Trail One decimated, Kayla's creek: gone....I hope that one day I can preserve what's left. I believe in having Goals - even if they seem too "out there" and lofty and hard. Maybe it'll happen, who am I to say it will not? But, I dream of walking Muse Trail One again, where the forest has taken over again, and Muse Trails Levels Two and Three remain wild as they are right now still. It is a "hard" goal, for writers do not make much money from the sale of their books: which is why we do it from Love. You may be surprised at what we make per book -- love...love....it is Love that keeps ups writing.

One more thing I have in mind: I contacted some libraries here in Western North Carolina about carrying my book and received very positive interest, but was saddened to learn that many small county libraries do not have a budget for books! Can you imagine? One of my other dreams is to help libraries --- those sanctuaries of my youth --- I am going to donate my book wherever I can; I do realize I can't do this at every library in every county (or parish of Louisiana) in every city, but, I can start somewhere. I urge you all to try to help your local libraries: donate books - it doesn't have to be mine (laughing!) - or find out how you can help. We need our libraries! We need our Independent Booksellers and Independent Presses....together, we are a strong force.



Namaste....*muwah*

Getting to Know Us - Getting to Know all About Us....

I thought last night how wonderful a group of people we have round these here blogging lands. How supportive we are of each other. How we make each other laugh, cry, think, believe, join in, and et - cet-era et cetera et cetera!

So, on Saturdays I'd like to have a "getting to know us" post. And of course, anyone who wants to join in can. It's just a way of expanding just a little further/farther from blog to blog. Some of us visit all the same places, and some do not. (If right now you are reading this and thinking, "I hope she doesn't mention me, I like staying in my quiet corner of the blog world without any fingers pointing my way "- please let me know in the comments or email me!)

So my first Getting To Know Us starts off with Debbie at Suburb Sanity. Shes "a 46 year old married mom to 17 year old boy/girl twins as well as 15 and 11 year old sons. I love blogging about the crazy things in my life...and yours."

But Debbie is of course more than that. She's funny and ironic and mischievous, and though she'll go "pah, stop it..." when I say this, but she's also a nice person - warm and witty and kind. Debbie and I think we may have some of the same distant Kin....running around in bare-feet saying wise but awkward things while keeping downwind from the outhouse.

But, go by yourself if you haven't already, say a big "howdy do" to Debbie, and get to know her better.

Ta ta for now, everyone! Muwah! Have a wonderful Sat'dy ...

(google image from Debbie's place, and from one hundred and fifty cartoon friends)