Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

Times are tough here in New Zealand, much as they are worldwide. Unfortunately, some people try to take the easy way out and steal from others. I thought these security tips from my local paper would be a good reminder to everyone, especially with the holidays coming up.

1. Shut and lock all doors and close and lock all windows when no one is at home.

2. Do not “hide” keys outside your home. Burglars know this trick and will look for them.

3. Make sure valuables can’t be seen from outside.

4. Make your home look occupied when you’re away by using timers on radios and lights. Cancel milk, papers and mail deliveries. Have a neighbor collect junk mail.

5. When you buy new items like TVs, DVD players etc don’t leave the empty boxes out for rubbish collection or if you do, turn them inside out so you’re not advertising.

6. Hide or lock away passports and official documents because identity theft is on the rise. Note to self – don’t hide things so well you can’t find them later. I’m still looking for my car keys!

7. Don’t leave car keys near doors or windows.

8. Consider engraving your property. This puts thieves off because the resale value isn’t as good.

9. Keep a list of valuables (an up-to-date one) including serial numbers.

10. Deadlocks make it harder for burglars to get your belongings out if they enter via a window. Also lock internal doors such as those between the house and garage.

11. Window locks deter burglars because smashing glass attracts attention.

12. Visible alarms and security lighting is a good deterrent.

13. Invite neighbors to use your driveway and clothesline to make it look as if someone is at home.

14. Join a neighborhood watch.

Do you have any other good security tips to add? We might as well talk budgeting tips as well because as I mentioned, times are tough. What is your best money saving tip?

The idea for this post came to me in the wee hours of this morning. I woke up all of a sudden to the musical sound of my husband’s snoring. Now, we’ve been married for a while, and I have him well trained. I handle this snoring business in two ways.

1. I’ll put my hand on hubby’s shoulder and say in a firm voice, “Turn on your side.” Like a well-trained seal, he turns over on his side without even waking and the snoring stops. I go back to sleep and all is well in the world.

2. Hubby continues to snore and I’m tired. I get grumpy and that’s when I wade in with a well-placed elbow. It’s a take-no-prisoners jab, designed to shock a snoring husband awake. If I’ve got to suffer and be awake then so does he!

This morning I chose method number one and he did his seal flop. The snoring stopped and I went back to sleep. I’m lucky since this doesn’t happen very often.

The noise of snoring is caused by parts of the nose and throat – in particular, the soft palate – vibrating as a person breathes in and out. At night, the muscles that help keep your airways open relax and become floppy. This causes the airways to narrow and vibrate more, making snoring more likely. Alcohol, colds and allergies, being overweight, smoking and sleeping on your back can all contribute to snoring. Evidently more than 3.5 million people snore in Britain. That’s a lot of noise. I imagine the figures are similar in the US and New Zealand. I can only wonder what a spying alien might think about all the racket!

In the interests of transparency, I’d better add that I snore whenever I have a cold. As I tell hubby, I have to breathe!

Ways to treat snoring include not drinking alcohol before bed, maintaining a good weight for you, sleeping on your side, raising the head of the bed and using a humidifier. These days you can also purchase special nasal strips, which are said to help.

Do you have people who snore in your household? How do you cope?

Note: Just a reminder about the Bitten by Books – Naughty Nights of Christmas contest. There are lots of great books up for grabs. I’m on Night 12. Don’t delay because the contest will end very soon!

Each year I think about reading special seasonal stories for Valentine’s Day, Halloween and Christmas. I say to myself, “That’s a good idea. It would get you in the mood.” Somehow, that never happens. I never organize myself enough to follow through and the thought slips from my mind.

This year, though, was different! I’ve read two Christmas stories, and I thought I’d tell you about them.

The first was Sweet Charity by Lauren Dane. I was lucky enough to receive a sneak preview of this wonderful Christmas story before it comes out next week. Lauren writes such great characters. They’re always strong, and they know what they want. Charity, the heroine is a prime example of this. It’s coming up to Christmas and she decides to go after what she wants. Actually that should be “who” because she wants Gabriel. I’m not going to tell you more, except that it’s a great little story and I really enjoyed it. Here’s the link to the book page at Samhain. It’s available for purchase on 23 December.

The other story I read and enjoyed was A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr. I’ve mentioned Robyn Carr a lot recently. I’ve fallen in love with her Virgin River series. I like the sense of community in the books, the repeat glimpses into characters’ lives from previous books and the small town setting. This one is set during the run up to Christmas and features Marcie and ex-marine Ian who has stepped away from life and lives as a hermit, high up on the mountain. Ian was Marcié’s husband’s senior officer (oops – that’s a mouthful!) and he tried to save Bobby. He carried him to medical transport but Bobby died. Marcie wants to track Ian down and give him some of her husband’s old letters. She wants to talk with him and thank him. Marcie changes Ian and helps him get the past into perspective.

This is a great book. It stands alone but your enjoyment will be much richer if you read the series from book one. And as an aside, if you start at book one now, you’ll be ready for the next three books in the series that come out back-to-back, starting in Feb 2009.

Do you like seasonal stories? Holiday stories? Do you read them? Do you have any favorites you’d like to recommend or do a mini review for in the comments section?

Note: two posts today. Don’t forget to check out the 3D post below.

Yes, it’s true. I’ve been a naughty girl. I’m taking part in Bitten by Books’ Naughty Nights of Christmas, and today I’m it. Win a download of Cat and Mouse. Here’s the link to Bitten by Books and the details.

Deliciously Decadent December contestant Kathy Kulig, come on down! Kathy’s contribution to the fun and games is Desert of the Damned. Here’s the info:

DESERT OF THE DAMNED by Kathy Kulig
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Paranormal
ISBN: 9781419919527
Release Date: 12/19/08
Length: Novel

While working on an environmental project in the Arizona desert, research scientist Amy Weston finds herself caught in the war between two men. Dante Akanto lures her into the desert to explore the dark side of her passions, pleasuring her in ways she never thought possible with his bizarre sex games. And park ranger Jake Montag has a compelling mysticism and powerful sensuality that’s impossible to resist.

But the two men, demon and shapeshifter, are engaged in a supernatural fight between worlds. Amy and her high level of life force energy is the key. Dante’s world and his immortality depend on claiming her as his own. The choice Amy makes between the two men will affect both her world and her future.

Reader Advisory: Contains scenes of mild bondage.

Buy:
Excerpt:

For more chances to win visit the other Triple D author blogs.

Shelley Munro
Samantha Kane
Cheryl Dragon
Amy Ruttan
Aubrey Ross
Angelia Sparrow
Emma Petersen
LA Day

Wanna find out where the Deliciously Decadent December authors will be next? Join our Yahoo group for updates and chances to win copies of our latest releases. Click here to join.

Rules:
1. Leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win.
2. Winner will be chosen at random via Random.org
3. You can enter a total of 9 times by leaving a comment on each Triple D author’s blog but you will only allowed to win once.
4. You must be 18 and older to enter and/or win.
5. You must collect your prize within 10 days of prize announcement or prize is null & void.

Want your very own copy of Kathy Kulig’s DESERT OF THE DAMNED? Leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win an ebook copy of this release.

Congratulations to the 3D winners to date:

Lindseye – Emma Petersen’s Seducing St. Nic
Lexee – Amy Ruttan’s Rain God
Fedora – Aubrey Ross’ Crimson Prey
Cathy M – Cheryl Dragon’s Quintuplets
Karin – LA Day’s Greek Temptation

My special guest today is Leah Braemel, another blogging friend who comes from Canada. Her very first book, Private Property is out with Samhain Publishing on 27 January 2009. Meanwhile today, Leah is talking about family rituals and she has a very yummy looking recipe for us. Over to Leah…

I want to thank Shelley for inviting me today, it’s my very first ‘guest blog’ so I’m thrilled. Oh, and Happy Birthday, Shelley!”

I love Christmas, I always have. I love the lights and the carols and the joy in watching someone else open a present you’ve chosen specifically for them. So when I had my boys, I wanted to pass that joy on to them.

Every year, we drove to a tree farm to choose ‘the perfect’ spruce or pine to bring home. Every year, our beautifully decorated tree fell down in the middle of the night at least twice, soaking the carpet with gallons of water.

Every year, the boys would write letters to Santa that they would hand deliver to the postmen and -women who collected them at the Santa Claus parade.

The first week of December, I’d bake a gingerbread house and spend the next week assembling it. Every Christmas day, my husband and boys would eye it hungrily, waiting for my approval to bash the heck out of it and retrieve the candies I’d so carefully ‘iced’ to the roof.

Every year, after we’d set out home made cookies and milk for Santa, and spread hay and carrots in the backyard for the reindeer, the boys would sit down for the traditional reading of “The Night Before Christmas” before scurrying upstairs. Then my hubby and I would wait until they were asleep before bringing down the carefully hidden presents to place beneath the tree.

Unfortunately most of those traditions have died off. The Christmas tree farms got edged out as the cities took over the rural areas. Even the pre-cut lots run by the Boy Scouts in the local A&P parking lot and other enterprising tree farmers who would take over empty lots haven’t sprung up in the past few years. But that’s okay because about five years ago, tired of having to mop up after our dog once again toppled the tree, we gave in and bought an artificial tree. Now instead of having to run around the week before Christmas to guarantee a fresh tree Christmas Day, we drag out the boxes and put it up on the first weekend of December and decorate at our leisure.

The letters to Santa and the annual trek to the Santa Claus parade stopped long ago, replaced with Christmas lists that would make Donald Trump’s accountant cringe.

I stopped making the gingerbread house when my eldest suggested, “why don’t you just put the candies out for us to eat?” Since making a gingerbread house from scratch and assembling it are a lot of work, I must admit that was one tradition I was glad to see end. But still, I miss the final product.

Our cherished “Night Before Christmas” book has disappeared, and the cookies we used to set out are now served as an evening snack for everyone to enjoy. The presents are still brought down around midnight, but now the boys (who tower over us) assist in that chore, since my dear hubby and I stash our presents for each other in their rooms.

But even though some of those cherished rituals aren’t observed, others have evolved and flourished. Back when my eldest was about ten, he’d begged and pleaded for a rather pricey remote control car. Santa was naughty that year. Instead of placing the car under the tree, he left a card in my eldest’s stocking with a clue as to where another gift could be found. So began the traditional Christmas Treasure Hunt. We don’t hold a treasure hunt every year – only for those extra special gifts. A brand new computer for the boys one year, another for my hubby a few years later. The whole family gets into the spirit – the ones hiding the present rub their hands in glee while writing obscure poems. The recipient rubs their head in confusion trying to decipher the clues while wanting to open every closet and peer under every bed until they found their carefully concealed present.

The one tradition that hasn’t stopped has been my baking. I love the way the house smells when I’m done, I love the anxious faces waiting until I give the okay to help themselves to the bounty. Usually I spend two days in the kitchen making peanut butter cookies, peanut butter logs, peanut brittle (sensing a trend?), chocolate macaroons, cherry jewel bars, coconut ice, oatmeal cookies, oatmeal squares, shortbread and Nanaimo bars. I’m already getting sideways looks from both the boys and my hubby as they whisper, “When are you making the macaroons?”

Most of the recipes are ones that have been passed down from my mother, but a couple are new – the Nanaimo bars, and the peanut brittle. And the one I’ve sent for Shelley to put up today. I got the recipe for pizza-pan cookies from my youngest’s kindergarten teacher when I helped them assemble a gingerbread house to help raise funds for a family in need. They’re easy to make, and not your usual type of cookie. Instead of rolling the dough into balls or dropping it from a spoon, you fill a pizza pan with the batter and let it cook as one big round cookie. Then when you take it out of the oven and it’s cooled down a while, you slice it just the way you do a pizza. (I usually buy the tin foil pizza pans just for these)

Pizza Pan Cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 package (or 1 ½ cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
(You can get inventive and try raisins or M&M pieces, etc.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease two 12-inch pizza pans. Cream butter, sugars, cream cheese and vanilla in a large bowl. Add eggs; beat until light. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Add to creamed mixture; blend well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Divide dough in half; press each half evenly into the pizza pans.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Cool completely in pans on wire racks. When cool, the cookies may be decorated with icing, icing sugar or other toppings. To serve, cut into slim wedges or break into pieces.

Leah
http://www.leahbraemel.com

PRIVATE PROPERTY – January 27, 2009
Excerpt
PERSONAL PROTECTION – May 2009

NOTE: I have two posts today. Don’t forget to check out my Thursday Thirteen post below!

Come and celebrate a Deliciously Decadent December with Ellora’s Cave Author, Samantha Kane.

RETREAT FROM LOVE (Brothers In Arms)
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Historical/menage, gay, Regency
ISBN: 9781419919428
Release Date: 12/17/08
Length: Plus Novel
Price: $7.99

Blurb:

Brothers In Arms Book Five

A man with everything except his heart’s desire.
Frederick Thorne, Duke of Ashland, has been in love with Brett Haversham for years. If the only way to have him is to give him what he wants Freddy will share him, in bed and out, with the woman Brett loves. The woman who was Freddy’s first love.

A man sacrificing everything for the past.
Brett Haversham is in love with two people he’s sworn never to touch. But his desires prove to be stronger than his resolve when they both set out to seduce him–together. The incredible sex they share overwhelms him.

A woman with nothing left to lose.
Anne Goode lost her fiance Bertie in the war. Now his younger brother Freddy is back, all grown up into the handsome and powerful duke. And he’s brought Bertie’s best friend Brett with him. Lonely and already ruined, Anne can’t resist taking both of them as her lovers. Is the uncontrollable desire between the three enough to heal the wounds of the past and overcome the problems of the present? They must accept love rather than retreat from it.

Buy:
Excerpt:
Blog
Website

Want your very own copy of Samantha Kane’s /Retreat From Love/? Leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win an ebook copy of this release.

Not sure what to comment about? Here’s an idea. What is your favorite sub-genre of historical romance? Regency? Georgian? Old West? Or something more exotic or unusual?

For more chances to win visit the other Triple D author blogs.

Shelley Munro
Samantha Kane
Cheryl Dragon
Amy Ruttan
Aubrey Ross
Angelia Sparrow
Emma Petersen
LA Day

Wanna find out where the Deliciously Decadent December authors will be next? Join our Yahoo group for updates and chances to win copies of our latest releases. Click here to join.

*Rules:*
1. Leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win.
2. Winner will be chosen at random via Random.org
3. You can enter a total of 9 times by leaving a comment on each Triple D author’s blog but you will only allowed to win once.
4. You must be 18 and older to enter and/or win.
5. You must collect your prize within 10 days of prize announcement or prize is null & void.

Here are some suggestions for gifts to purchase for writers.

1. A Sony reader or a Kindle. Not exactly cheap, but any writer or reader would love this gift.

2. A subscription to Writer’s Digest or Romantic Times magazines.

3. An alphasmart. Also expensive but I love mine. It’s an older one and still going strong. I use it all the time.

4. Moleskin notebooks. All writers love notebooks to jot things in and plot.

5. A digital voice recorder. Perfect to use in the middle of the night when a pen and paper is never where you left it last or when you’re on the move.

6. A T-shirt just for a writer.

7. A coffee mug because writer’s need caffiene.

8. A writing course – either at a local university or college or an online one. I always enjoy the Kiss of Death chapter’s online writing classes but there are heaps of others available.

9. Magnetic Poetry – here’s one called Writer’s Remedy to help with writer’s block.

10. A writer’s survival kit – put together your own kit including notebooks, pens, post it notes, chocolate etc. Add whatever you think a particular writer needs to survive.

11. A Storyboard Notebook from Levenger. There are lots of other great writer gifts here, too!

12. Book vouchers. What writer doesn’t enjoy buying new books? Buy a voucher from an online store or a traditional one. There are lots to choose from including Amazon, Barns & Noble, Fishpond.

13. Buy one of my print books from Ellora’s Cave. They’re all on sale until the end of December at $3 each. Romancing the Alien is a bargain at $3 because it’s a rea….lly fat book. Summer in the City of Sails, Romancing the Alien, Dreams of Oasis III, and Men to Die For. (You might not receive these in time for Christmas but you won’t have time to read until after, right?)

I could have added laptops, bags, pens and maybe jewelry. I’m sure there are other things too. Have I missed anything on your wishlist? What would you like for Christmas? What should I add to my list?

My special guest today is fellow Ellora’s Cave and Deliciously Decadent December author, LA Day. Check out her latest release, Greek Temptation a few posts below! Over to Laura…

First off, I want to thank Shelley for inviting me here especially during her birthday month. Happy Birthday, Shelley, I hope you get everything you want.

For those that don’t know me I love to read and write erotic romance but I have another passion and that is animal welfare. With the holidays drawing so near, everyone’s thoughts turn to giving and we all know of many needy causes. I’m not one to promote one cause over another. There are so many, most are very deserving and I know all of our pockets are a bit lighter this year.

However, there is one cause that is very dear to my heart and that is the protection and care of our four-legged friends. It breaks my heart to see neglected pets and strays roaming the streets, not to mention the number of animals euthanized each year. Every town has a local shelter or animal sanctuary in need of assistance or donations. And, let’s not forget one of the easiest and best things we can all do is have our pets spayed and neutered.

This year, my daughter and I have decided to give up some of our presents in favor of supporting a local shelter. I know this isn’t feasible for everyone but if you have a few extra dollars or maybe some room in your home remember there is not a more unconditional love than that of a loyal pet.

However, you spend your holiday season; I hope your days are filled with love, laughter and of course hot reading material.

While I don’t usually incorporate pets into my stories, I do write about animals of a different kind…the Alpha Male. Whether my heroes are shifters, vampires, spacemen or executives, they all share a few aggressive, animalistic traits. If you share my passion for two-legged animals check out my website.

Remember, Alpha Males are only a ‘Day’ away!

Laura/LA Day

Excerpt from Greek Temptation
Blog
Website

Question from Shelley: Do you like reading stories that feature animals? Why or why not? Do you have any recommendations?

My special guest today is Paige Tyler. I met Paige online through Romance Divas. I was immediately seduced by her tagline: “Stories so hot, they’ll make your cheeks blush!” Oh, and her excerpt Thursday Thirteens are pretty good too. Paige is talking about her book, Animal Attraction today – an EPPIE finalist.

Before I talk about my new release from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, a hot paranormal erotic romance called Animal Attraction, I have to say a big thank you to Shelley for asking me to guest blog! I’m so flattered!

Now onto Animal Attraction! I don’t usually try to come up with a story based on a specific theme that a publisher is looking for when they put out a “call for submissions.” I tend to write whatever storyline pops into my head, so writing on demand about a specific theme isn’t really my thing. However, when I first read that Whiskey Creek Press Torrid was coming out with a new line of books called the Men of Alaska Series, there was something about it that immediately captured my attention. I had been wanting to write a werewolf romance for a while, and what better setting than the wilds of Alaska? Besides, what’s more exciting than a hot, hunky, outdoorsy hero, right?! Once I did a little bit of research on Fairbanks, the story just started to write itself!

I thought it would be more fun for my heroine to be a skeptic, so I made her a reluctant reporter for a paranormal magazine. I knew that would lead to lots of amusing interaction with the hunky hero, who just happens to be a werewolf, of course!

As I said before, I don’t usually find myself looking at “calls for submissions” from publishers, but I’m so glad I decided to write for Whiskey Creek Press Torrid’s Men of Alaska. Animal Attraction is really one of my very best books, if fact, it was just selected as an EPPIE Finalist.

I enjoyed writing the book so much that a sequel was in the works before I even knew it! It’s called Animal Instinct, and trust me, it’s going to be just as hot and steamy as the first one. Keep your eyes out for it, it’s coming soon!

Blurb:

Frustrated when none of the real newspapers will hire her as a reporter, Eliza Bradley takes the only job she can get – at a paranormal magazine. Her first assignment takes her to Fairbanks , Alaska to investigate the possibility that a werewolf has killed two local hikers.

She forgets about the story, however, when she meets Hunter McCall, a local college professor and an expert on wolves. The man is an absolute hunk, and she finds herself spending more time in his bed than worrying about werewolves. That is, until Eliza finds out that Hunter isn’t just an animal in the sack, he’s an animal out of it, too – of the werewolf variety! Talk about a complicated relationship!

But Eliza can’t dwell on Hunter’s little shapeshifting issues. There’s another werewolf out there with a taste for human blood, and she and Hunter are the only ones who can stop him.

Question from Shelley: I’ve visited Alaska, and I know what a vast and lonely place it must be in the middle of winter. Do you think you have what it takes to live in Alaska year around? Why or why not? What would you miss most? What do you think you would enjoy most? (You can assume you have one of Paige’s hunky Men of Alaska with you or not – it depends on you and how you want to answer the question!)

Read Chapter One!

Buy it in eBook or Print at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid!

Buy the Kindle Edition!

Watch the Trailer!

Paige Tyler’s Website!