Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

Things have been crazy-busy this week, but I’ve just about made it through my to-do list before I head off on holiday. I’m finally packed and ready to fly to China tomorrow night. Puppy Bella has been helping with the packing, running off with every pair of socks and plastic bag we leave unattended. To say I’m excited about this holiday is an understatement. The more I read about China, the more eager I am to see some of the sights. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and panda bears.

I’m hoping to report in now and then with a quick blog. We’ll see how I go. Meanwhile, have a great September. I’ll catch up with you on my return.

Going out with someone new can be nerve-racking and stressful. I’m currently researching a new story where first dates are involved, and here are some commonsense suggestions I’ve discovered to get through that date without breaking a sweat. I’ll definitely be using these in my fictional first date…or not!

1. Don’t call it a date. Keep it casual and keep the pressure off.

2. Limit the length of the date. If the date is a disaster, it’s best not to prolong it! Choose an activity such as coffee or a walk in the park or go for a drink.

3. Have a backup plan in case something goes wrong.

4. Don’t be late. It sets a bad impression.

5. Agree on what to wear so neither of you are surprised when you meet for the date.

6. Groom appropriately i.e. wear a deodorant and make sure you don’t still have lunch stuck in your teeth.

7. Don’t drink too much alcohol.

8. Be assertive without being aggressive. Make decisions but don’t be too bossy!

9. Go somewhere quiet so that you can hear each other talk and get to know each other.

10. Don’t talk about your ex! No one wants to hear about the one who got away.

11. Offer compliments if there is something about your date that you like.

12. Don’t do all the talking. Listen as well.

I didn’t date that much, since I met my husband when I was quite young, but I do remember a first date where the guy reeked of garlic and wanted to kiss. Yuck!

Do you have any advice for first dates or any first date horror stories?

Thank you to everyone who visited my blog during the last two weeks. The winner of my eBook Bundle Contest is:

Ella Gray. Congrats, Ella!

This week also saw the release of my gay paranormal romance, Lone Wolf. Thanks to everyone who followed my VBT for Lone Wolf. The winner of the $20 Amazon gift card is:

Mary Preston. Congrats, Mary!

I’ve emailed both winners directly. Thanks again for all your support.

Raspberry Surprise Muffins

This is an Alison Holst recipe, and one that I make frequently because I really like the combination of raspberry and coffee.

2 cups self-raising flour (or 2 cups plain flour & 2 teaspoons baking powder)
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
100 grams butter (3.5 ounces or 1 stick butter)
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon instant coffee
Rind of 1 lemon
½ cup raspberry jam
¼ cup sifted icing sugar (powdered sugar)
1 – 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Place flour, sugar, cinnamon and cloves in a large bowl. Melt the butter. Dissolve the instant coffee in the milk and add the beaten egg and lemon rind. Add the liquids (butter and milk mix) to the dry ingredients. Fold together but don’t overmix.

Fill a 12 muffin pan with muffin cases. Half fill each case then make a tiny well in the center. Place a teaspoon of raspberry jam in the well. Divide the remaining mixture between the muffin cases, covering all the jam.

Bake at 200 C for 10 – 12 minutes. Once the muffins are almost cool, make the icing/frosting. Mix the icing sugar with just enough lemon juice to make a thin icing/frosting. Drizzle over the top of the muffins.

Serve with a cup of coffee and enjoy!

This is the final day of my Lone Wolf virtual tour. I’m visiting Sara York’s blog and talking about authors, life experience and characters. Is there a connection between an author’s life experience and their writing?

Don’t forget–if you comment on my post at Sara’s blog you’ll be in the draw to win a $20 Amazon voucher.

Wolves have loomed large on my mind recently with the release of my latest book Lone Wolf, so this week I thought the differences between wolves and dogs would make an excellent TT topic.

Thirteen Differences Between Wolves and Dogs

1. The skeletons of wolf and dog are quite different. There are diagrams on In the Company of Wolves which show the difference between the two.

2. Dogs behave like adolescent wolves throughout their lives while wolves mature in their behavior.

3. Wolves don’t shed like dogs. They lose their winter coats in spring and grow a summer coat. Our puppy seems to shed constantly!

4. Wolves tend to do what they want to do whenever the mood strikes them, while dogs happily wait for their owners.

5. Wolves seldom bark while barking is the main method of communication for a dog.

6. Wolves typically ingest fur, bones and other things while these things would make a domestic dog ill.

7. The muzzle of a wolf is typically much longer than a dogs.

8. Every wolf in the pack helps to raise the pups. They regurgitate food for the pups. Dogs don’t do this.

9. Wolves rarely kill anything for fun. When they make a kill it’s for food. Dogs can kill as a type of game i.e. to show their masters how clever they are.

10. Wolves come into heat only once a year while dogs come into heat several times.

11. Wolves have much smaller litters 2 – 4 pups. A dog can have up to 12 puppies.

12. Wolves have longer legs, bigger feet and broader skulls than dogs.

13. Wolves live in packs, which have a distinct hierarchy of alpha wolves and submissive wolves. This is apparent even with the pups in the pack.

Source: In the Company of Wolves

Note: that’s our puppy in the photo on the right. She knows she’s not meant to be up on the chair!

I’m visiting Words of Wisdom…From the Scarf Princess today. The Scarf Princess interviewed me about writing, travel and Lone Wolf, my new release from Samhain Publishing.

If you’re a regular visitor to my blog you already know how much I love to travel. Seeing different parts of the world broadens the mind and exposes us to new ideas, experiences and cultures. Personally I think it’s a great way of learning, and my experiences definitely bleed into my books.

Check out my interview, and don’t forget one commenter during my Lone Wolf blog tour will win a $20 gift card from Amazon.

The LONE WOLF VBT continues! Today I’m visiting BVS Reader’s Blog where I talk a little about reading and writing gay romances, plus of course a little about my latest release, Lone Wolf.

Here’s the link – BVS Reader’s Blog

Lone Wolf is out today at Samhain Publishing.

Here’s the blurb:

When you fall out of step, that’s when everything falls into place.

R.J. Blake begins a new session tutoring young werewolves in the old ways—before the introduction of the shift-suppressing drugs that allow their kind to live secretly among humans. He expects nothing out of the ordinary. Until sexy, smart, aggravating-as-hell Corey Wilson arrives. Older than the others, son of a powerful Los Angeles pack leader, Corey is an instant temptation he cannot afford.

The last thing Corey wants is three months stuck in the Yellowstone wilderness, followed by the stifling life his father has all mapped out for him. One glimpse of R.J., though, sparks a determination to seduce the older man before he leaves. Yet as R.J. guides him through the sometimes terrifying process of rediscovering his heritage, a deepening respect calls to his artistic soul and fuels a burst of creativity.

When their time comes to an end, Corey senses hesitation behind R.J.’s insistence that theirs was simply a summer fling. Inspiring him to take a leap of faith with consequences neither of them saw coming. A dangerous plot that reaches from the heart of their love to the highest office in the land…

Product Warnings
This book contains a young werewolf intent on seduction, an older werewolf determined to resist said seduction, werewolf politics and brutality, a little spilled blood, and hot, naked manlove in the great outdoors.

So, about the nail polish – this was one of the many questions I thought about while developing my world in Lone Wolf. Today I’m visiting Naughty Boys in the Backseat where I’m discussing nail polish and other things relating to my new release, Lone Wolf.

And continuing the nail polish discussion, I’ve just made an appointment to have my very first manicure. I don’t know why I’ve never had one before, but I thought it was about time I had the experience. I’m also having a pedicure. My second because I enjoyed the first one so much. At present I’m pondering what color polish I should choose to sport on my nails. A siren red maybe?

Do you have regular mani/pedis? What is your favorite color of nail polish?

1. Legends of werewolves have been with us since Greek times and even earlier.

2. European folk law in particular is full of tales of men shifting to wolves.

3. In one of the legends, Ovid (Metamorphoses) served human flesh to Zeus. In punishment, he was changed to a wolf.

4. Lycanthropy is a mental illness where a patient believes they have transformed into a wolf.

5. Curved fingernails, red hair, eyebrows that meet, hair that grows beneath the skin are all signs of a werewolf.

6. Werewolves have superhuman strength but are vulnerable to silver bullets.

7. The vulnerability to silver only appears in tales after 1935.

8. Werewolves are very active during a full moon.

9. In some tales, a special salve is rubbed over the body and this transforms a man to werewolf.

10. Some werewolves transform after donning a wolf skin or a wolf skin belt.

11. If a werewolf bites a human, the human will become a werewolf. This method of turning is a modern invention and does not appear in early legends.

12. Many of our recent thoughts/perceptions are due to Hollywood movies and popular novels, and they bear little relation to the old legends.

Today kicks off my Lone Wolf tour. My first stop is at Book Junkie. I hope you’ll pop over and visit. Don’t forget – every time you comment on one of my Lone Wolf VBT posts you’ll go into a draw to win a $20 Amazon gift card.

What do you think about werewolves? Do you have any tidbits to add to my werewolf list?

The recent snow in Auckland hit the news for several days in a row. I’ve lived in Auckland all my life, and have never seen snow here before. I took photos – please don’t laugh. That really is a misting of snow, although it didn’t last long.

Hubby and I took Bella for a walk to the bird reserve, not far from where we live. These proud parents were busy parading their young about for all to see. This pair normally only has one or two, but this year they’ve outdone themselves with seven offspring.

It’s not long until we head off to China. I intend to start packing this week. For once I’m not going to be packing at the last minute.

This coming week sees the release of Lone Wolf and my Virtual Book Tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. I hope you’ll be able to visit some of my stops. Everyone who visits the guest spots and comments on the posts will go into a draw to win a $20 Gift Certificate from Amazon.

My stops are below:

August 22: Book Junkie
August 23: Naughty Boys in the Backseat
August 24: Black Velvet Seductions Readers Blog
August 25: Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess
August 26: Sara York the Author of Sexy Books for Smart Women and Men

What did you get up to during the weekend?