Sunday Quote loves the Prydain Chronicles
Read More“Dealing with the impossible, fantasy can show us what may be really possible. If there is grief, there is the possibility of consolation; if hurt, the possibility of healing; and above all, the curative power of hope. If fantasy speaks to us as we are, it also speaks to us as we might be.”
~Lloyd Alexander
Podcast Stories for the Weekend
Two of my older stories just debuted in audio. “Bless This House” was first published at Daily Science Fiction in 2010; it’s now on Far-Fetched Fables alongside a story by Seanan McGuire!
Next, I have “A Lonesome Speck of Home” at StarShipSofa. My space opera crossover of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers and Up is there for your listening pleasure along with Rachael K. Jones’s “Makeisha in Time” (one of the best stories published last year) and an interview with the Director of SETI. My story starts at about 21:30.
The first publication of “A Lonesome Speck of Home” is somewhat frustrating for me, even years later. It was accepted for the first issue of Blue Shift Magazine. The story was published online, but the publisher crumbled before the full magazine was ever printed. So, it was published in part, but likely not read. It feels good for “Lonesome Speck” to be in audio now, at a place where people can finally discover it. Yay!
#SFWApro
Read MoreA Pushcart Nom and Other Horse Stories
I was horse obsessed as a kid and I never really outgrew that love. Maybe that’s why some of my favorite stories and poems feature horses. I actually have a whole bunch of horse-related announcements this time around.
My poem “What Happened Among the Stars” has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. My poem even inspired this gorgeous cover art by Marge Simon.
My story “The Souls of Horses” will be featured in Clockwork Phoenix 5 edited by Mike Allen. This is… huge news. First of all, this is my all-time favorite story, one that was pleasantly rejected by most of the pro magazines out there. Secondly, the Clockwork Phoenix series is incredible. The stories get nominated for lots of awards, with reason–they are mind-blowingly good. That makes me really excited to read the full book. Check out the full table of contents.
An old and dear favorite story of mine, “Red Dust and Dancing Horses,” has been reprinted several times now. This is my horse story on Mars, where horses can’t exist. Its newest publication is in the 2016 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide. This is for middle grade readers with an emphasis on girl-positive stories, which makes me especially happy. This would make for a great Christmas gift. Just sayin’.
#SFWAPro
Read MoreBready or Not: Cocoa Peppermint Cookies
I bake a wide variety of things and send the goodies along with my husband to his work. When the guys there say, “These cookies are among the best ever,” that makes me take notice.
I first found this recipe on a bag of Andes Baking Chips, dubbed with the long name of “Andes Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies.” Whew. I modified it by taking out the nuts (they just don’t pair well with peppermint, I think) and compensating by adding more mint chocolate chips. Because you can’t go wrong with that.
I chilled the dough, since that often produces better cookies, and I was surprised at how much this dough still spread. Be sure you space out those dough balls!
These cookies would be fantastic for a holiday cookie exchange or to give as a gift. The Andes chips look fantastically festive against the backdrop of rich dough… and you know what? They taste darn good, too.
Modified from a recipe found on Andes Peppermint Crunch Chips package; also found online.
Bready or Not: Cocoa Peppermint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks
- 2 Tablespoons espresso powder
- 2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup baking cocoa sifted
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 package Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips 10 oz
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate or chopped candy bars
- 1 cup mint chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a small saucepan on low heat, melt the butter with the espresso powder, stirring often. When the two are incorporated, remove the pan from heat and set aside to cool for an hour.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the main dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
- Now it's time for the big mixing bowl. Pour in the cooled butter mixture, then add the white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Beat at medium speed for a few minutes until it's all creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Gradually work in the flour mixture a bit at a time until it's just blended. Now stir in the Andes Chips and the extra chocolate.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and stash it in the fridge to chill for a few hours or days, or even freeze it.
- When it's time to bake, preheat oven to 350-degrees.
- Drop the dough in rounded tablespoons about two inches apart on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet; note that this dough does spread, even when the dough is chilled.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Let them rest of the cookie sheet a few more minutes to set, the transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- OM NOM NOM!
A desktop Kindle app! Who knew?!
My parents have some issues with new technology. As my mom has joked, “We’re not qualified to have smart phones.” They’re okay with this, really, but it does mean they haven’t been able to buy my ebooks like Wings of Sorrow and Bone because they lack a reading platform.
However, I just found how there IS an option for my parents: a desktop version of the Kindle app! I sent my mom this link, where she could download the Kindle app for most devices.
I know my folks aren’t the only ones who lack a standard platform for Kindle books, so I hope this little PSA comes in handy. It might be useful for people reading for the forthcoming award season, too, if they send the documents to their Kindle account.
#SFWAPro
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