Who Is Mistral Dawn?

Mistral Dawn is a thirty-something gal who has lived on both coasts of the US but somehow never in the middle. She currently resides in the Southeast US with her kitty cats (please spay or neuter! :-)) where she works as a hospital drudge and attends graduate school. Taken By The Huntsman is her first effort at writing fiction and if it is well received she has ideas for several more novels and short-stories in this series. Please feel free to visit her on FaceBook or drop her a line at mistralkdawn@gmail.com

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Ring In The #NewYear #Recipe!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

Since it's New Year's Eve, I thought I'd share a lighter recipe to help us all prepare for those New Year's resolution diets. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
4 large lettuce leaves
1 cup brown rice cooked
1 14oz package button mushrooms sliced
1 large onion chopped
1 large tomato chopped
1 zucchini chopped
1 large carrot shredded
1 bell pepper chopped
2 cups baby spinach leaves chopped
1 12oz can kidney beans drained and rinsed
1 cup pine nuts toasted
5 cloves garlic minced
2 cups fresh basil shredded
1 cup red wine (your choice) or 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sriracha (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Put the olive oil in a skillet with the onions and pepper and saute until they soften. Add the mushrooms and continue to saute until they soften. Add the remaining vegetables, beans, garlic, salt and pepper, and sriracha (optional), and continue to saute until spinach leaves are wilted. Add the pine nuts and deglaze the pan with the wine or vinegar. Simmer for a few minutes while stirring to combine all the ingredients. Add the rice and stir to combine. Remove from heat and serve on top of the lettuce leaves.

Bon Appetit and Happy New Year!! :-)







Saturday, December 30, 2017

Santa's Little #Authors #Christmas #Giveaway! $160 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for the holidays!  Please take a moment to check out the Santa's Little Authors Christmas Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 50 prizes, and the grand prize is $160 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)




Friday, December 29, 2017

#Interview With Alexa Whitewolf!




Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got a new guest to introduce you all to, today. Please, everyone give a warm welcome to Alexa Whitewolf! Alexa, can you, please, tell us about yourself and how many books you have written?

Alexa: I was born in Romania (yep, Dracula's country!) in 1992. As a curious kid, I devoured every book I could on Greek, Roman, Ancient Egyptian mythology. I studied university in political science and languages. I speak five of them: French, English, Romanian, Italian, Spanish... It was my fascination with the mythologies and languages that led to a VERY overactive imagination from a young age. As I moved to Canada and headed into school here, life challenges and experiences meant I needed to express myself, and writing became the way. I currently have four books out, two series. The Avalon Chronicles is a retelling of the Arthurian legend, though mine focuses on the obscure character of the Lady of the Lake and her struggles both in the past and present. The Sage's Legacy, book 1 was the first novel I wrote at a young age. I then wrote the second, and pretty much watched them collect dust until I got back into writing in university. It follows the saga of Freya and Brennan, two teenagers with mythical powers and clashing personalities that have to save the world from ghosts.

Me: The Lady of the Lake is one of my favorite figures from the Arthur stories. :-) What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

Alexa: The Dragon Manuscript, book 2 of The Sage's Legacy, is the continuation of Freya's story (and struggle). This entire series was slightly inspired by events from my youth. Freya's character is very similar to my own, but she acts tougher in certain situations. My dogs are a constant inspiration for animal companions in the books I write, and Freya's familiar is just one of the results :-)

Me: Animals add a lot to stories, I agree! What are you working on now?

Alexa: The final installments in my two series; Avalon Nightmares and The Relics of the Underworld. This will wrap up The Avalon Chronicles and The Sage's Legacy series , leaving me to move on to other untested landscapes! I've also recently finished a regular romance book, Blood Ties, Love Binds which is due for release at Xmas. You can read more on the series my website, including exclusive peeks and more!
Me: How exciting! I agree, it's fun to try new things. What authors, or books, have influenced you?

Alexa: Growing up, I read Alexandre Dumas and Christian Jacq in my formative years of 8-12yrs old. Then I moved on to JK Rowling, P.C. Cast's "Goddess" series, other YA novels, and eventually to adult thrillers like James Patterson and James Rollins. I have to say the mythology books read when I was young were a great influence on me.

Me: I'm with you, the sci-fi and fantasy genres are my first love, but I still enjoy curing up with Edmond Dantes as he get the revenge he's longed for and finds it as bitter as the emotions that spawned it.What are you reading now?

Alexa: I've really gotten sucked into James Rollins' Sigma series!!! And a brand new novel called Singularity by Eldon Farrell, of which I'm reading an ARC. Epic story, a must for anyone who enjoys a good thriller! Sometimes doing the wrong thing, is the only right thing you can do.

Me: Now, that's the God's honest truth. For those who might consider reading your book, what would you tell them to expect?

Alexa: That's hard! If you're reading my YA, I'd advise to expect lots of lip from an otherwise feisty teenager but also a story that's more than a YA, a coming of age. These kids have the world on their shoulders and their bratty attitude only hides a warm inside If it's Avalon you're reading, I'd tell you to expect 2-in-1 stories, because it's a reincarnation. Romance and magic galore! In general, you'll find my books have both dark and light in them, but there's always surprises.

Me: Sounds like fun! :-) What is your favorite part of being an author?

Alexa: Being able to share my stories and write at any time. Being an author is the most freeing!

Me: I agree! Do you have a day job as well?

Alexa: I do! I have a love/hate relationship with it. But writing is what makes me happiest.

Me: Well, even writers need to pay the bills. ;-) What are the hardest and easiest parts about being a writer?

Alexa: Easiest? New ideas for books. Hardest? Editing. Formatting. Marketing. Gah!

Me: I think every indie author ever is right there with you on marketing. ;-) What genre do you place your books in?

Alexa: Fantasy. Fantasy/romance and Fantasy/YA.

Me: Cool! Is there anything else you'd like to tell your readers?

Alexa: Yes!!! Please sign up for my mailing list on www.alexawhitewolf.com or by emailing me or follow me on social media. This holiday season I have some surprises coming with free books + an early bird copy of my new werewolf series, Moonlight Rogues!!! If you love your males alpha and your females feisty, you don't want to miss it!

Me: Wonderful! And so these fine folks can find your work, are there any links you'd like me to post?

Alexa:
My book links:
Avalon Dreams (Avalon Chronicles Book 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JTLWT2W
Avalon Wishes (Avalon Chronicles Book 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727QR4ZT
The Dragon Medallion (The Sage’s Legacy, Book 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6LPWTB
The Dragon Manuscript (The Sage’s Legacy, Book 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6LPWTB

My author profile links:
https://www.amazon.com/Alexa-Whitewolf/e/B01JZH0HK6/
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/alexaw92
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/660987.Alexa_Whitewolf

My social media links: (follow me)
https://www.facebook.com/alexawhitewolfauthor/
https://twitter.com/alexa_whitewolf
https://www.pinterest.ca/alexawhitewolf/

Other links:
Email: alexa.whitewolf@gmail.com
My blog: https://www.alexawhitewolf.com/blog
My author website: www.alexawhitewolf.com

Me: Perfect! Thank you so much for joining me here, today, Alexa. And thank you to everyone else who dropped by, as well! Don't forget to stop back tomorrow for the latest in Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)



Thursday, December 28, 2017

#APC #Spotlight: Amongst The Killing By Joe Compton!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Joe Compton in my APC spotlight, today! Joe is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and his serial killer, mystery, suspense, crime thriller novel, Amongst the Killing, looks great! Here's the description:
There are 2 sides to every story...
For as long as he could remember Detective Charles Street wanted to be a police officer, moreover a Detective. He wanted to be knee deep in the action, working the biggest cases, and reaping the biggest rewards. He also didn’t think when his dream job came a calling that it would ever turn into his nightmare.

For as long as he could remember Jack Casey just wanted to be free, his own man to do what he pleased when pleased. He too craved the action and when his dream life came a calling, he didn’t think he would meet anyone his equal and definitely didn’t think he could ever have difficulty leave the world he loathed and mocked behind.

Amongst The Killing documents each of their stories, told in their own words, as the moments unfolded when their paths first crossed and their lives intersected. How two men, with two different philosophies, could be so different and yet so connected.
As the ultimate cat and mouse game unfolds, each has to deal separately with the others decisions and the effects it has in turning their lives sideways and upside down. Will one of them crack? Will one of them even succeed? Ultimately the journey may mean more than the game and show both of them the outcome neither was ever expecting.
If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:


Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)



Wednesday, December 27, 2017

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 662


Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal


Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)
Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Six-Hundred-Sixty-Two:
My hominid-servant has been quite determinedly busy, today. She eschewed her normal habit of sitting for extended periods of time and has, instead, been hurrying back and forth within my domicile. She spent most of the day in the cooking room preparing food that she refused to share but that smelled particularly interesting.

At first, I attempted to persuade her to allow me to sample her work by weaving my way in between her feet as she walked. It seemed to me that even if she didn't intend to allow me access to the exotic edibles she was working with, by disrupting her balance I would increase the chances of their making their way to within my grasp, anyway. However, the only thing that resulted from my efforts was that my hominid-servant repeatedly tread upon my person and then scolded me for "being underfoot."

Since that tactic didn't have the desired effect, I retreated to a platform she has placed just outside the cooking room. This afforded me an overview of the room in question. It seemed the perfect place to both observe this new behavior from my hominid-servant while also considering possible methods for inducing her to be generous with the fruits of her labors.

Unfortunately, I was unable to devise any new tactics to prompt my hominid-servant to part with any of her edibles. But I did notice several items that would be particularly beneficial to DPCIL agents, though not terribly attractive to hominids if I understand their preferences for consumables correctly. Which I am confident that I do.

Therefore, I am hopeful that I will be allowed to partake of at least some of what my hominid-servant occupied herself with today. And given the perishable nature of the items in question, I can only assume it will be in the not too distant future. I will be sure to update you with the results of any such experimentation.


Aw, come on! Not torture! ;-) You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!


Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Holiday #Sale Of Taken By The Huntsman! Only #99cents! #LastDay!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

Today is the last day Taken By The Huntsman is on sale for only 99 cents! It's been a couple of years since I dropped the price that low, and I don't know when I'll do it again. So, click on the link below and make sure you don't miss out! :-)

If you already have a copy, but know a friend who might enjoy an adult fairy tale, why not give them a copy? It's the day after Christmas and you just realized you forgot to get a gift for someone? Here you go! And it will be in your inbox in minutes. Did you give someone a new Kindle for Christmas? Well, don't give it to them empty! Here's an inexpensive way to give them their first taste of Kindle reading. Did you get a Kindle for Christmas and you don't know what to read first? Well, why not start out with a romantic love story you can own for only 99 cents? ;-)

Also, the whole series is available through Kindle Unlimited, so if you're a member you can read it for free! Happy Holidays!!


Excerpt from Taken By The Huntsman:
Jumping to his feet, he caused his Anamchara to back up a step. The look in his eyes was dangerous, and she was suddenly unsure of herself. He stalked towards her with all the liquid grace of the predator that he was, and she retreated until she found herself backed against a wall.

She looked up into his face and saw that his green eyes were glowing. Leaning towards her, he put his hands on the wall on both sides of her, caging her within his embrace. Unaccountably, she found herself getting aroused and was horrified. How could she be turned on at such a time?

Cadeyrn scented Cassie’s growing desire and a snarl trickled from between his lips. He opened his mouth to better catch the scent, and Cassie saw that his canines seemed to have lengthened. She gasped.

The Erlking lowered his face to her neck and inhaled deeply. Cassie ducked her head. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, but she felt an answering throb for each pulse from between her legs. Moisture gathered as her arousal grew, and she rubbed her thighs together. Her breath caught as she raised her hands and put them against his chest. She didn’t push him away, but she kept them there as a barrier.

He skimmed his lips up the side of her throat, teasing her with the tips of his fangs. Breathing into her ear, he whispered, “This is what I mean when I say you enjoy being chased. You are excited to be pursued and aroused by being trapped. Do you dare deny this, when the scent of your desire hangs so heavily on you?”

Cassie shuddered as Cadeyrn nipped her earlobe and caressed it with his tongue. Gasping, she felt her knees wobble. When she tried to swallow, her mouth was too dry.




Monday, December 25, 2017

Something Worth Watching?


Hey Everyone!! :-)

Merry Christmas, for all of you who celebrate, and I hope you're all having a lovely holiday weekend. I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. After the last couple of weeks with the disaster of a vote on Net Neutrality and the sick farce of a bill that the Republicans passed to scam the poor and middle class out of our money just so they could turn around and give it to the rich and multinational corporations, today, I thought I'd post something about the remedy for these problems. So, please take a look at the video below and then click on the link and see if this is a group you'd like to support. Peace!






Sunday, December 24, 2017

Quick And Easy #Christmas #Treat That's #Sweet To #Eat! :-)



Hey Everyone!! :-)

I hope you're all having a wonderful and safe holiday season! :-) Whatever your particular holiday celebration is, most of them seem to include lots of rich and delicious special treats. So, I thought I'd share one of my favorite special treat recipes with you, today. :-)

Ingredients:
2 Cups Chocolate Chips
2 Cups Heavy Cream
2 tsp Vanilla (or your favorite liquor)
1 Container Cool Whip
1 Bag Milano Cookies
1 Egg
1 round container lined with plastic wrap

Put chocolate chips, egg, and vanilla in blender. Heat cream until bubbles start to form around edges. Pour hot cream into blender and blend until smooth. Immediately pour chocolate mixture into prepared round container. Put container in freezer over night. Remove container from freezer and use plastic wrap to lift chocolate mousse from container. Turn frozen mousse upside down on plate. Microwave milano cookies for 30 seconds to melt chocolate centers. Separate halves of milano cookies and stick the chocolate sides to the frozen mousse until mousse is completely surrounded by cookies. Fill the top of the mousse in the center of the cookies with cool whip, and garnish with chocolate shavings or chocolate chips. Cut between cookies to serve.

Bon appetit!



Saturday, December 23, 2017

Santa's Little #Authors #Christmas #Giveaway! $160 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for the holidays!  Please take a moment to check out the Santa's Little Authors Christmas Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 50 prizes, and the grand prize is $160 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)




Friday, December 22, 2017

Holiday #Sale Of Taken By The Huntsman! Only #99cents For A #LimitedTimeOnly!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got exciting news for you, today!  Taken By The Huntsman is on sale for only 99 cents from December 20th through the 26th! It's been a couple of years since I dropped the price that low, and I don't know when I'll do it again. So, if you don't already have a copy, now's the time to click on the link below and grab one! :-)

If you already have a copy, but know a friend who might enjoy an adult fairy tale, why not give them a copy? After all, ebooks make fantastic stocking-stuffers! Need a last minute gift for someone you forgot to shop for and don't want to brave the crowds in the stores? Here you go! And it will be in your inbox in minutes. Did you get someone a new Kindle as a gift? Well, don't give it to them empty! Here's an inexpensive way to give them their first taste of Kindle reading.

Also, the whole series is available through Kindle Unlimited, so if you're a member you can read it for free! Happy Holidays!!


Excerpt from Taken By The Huntsman:
Jumping to his feet, he caused his Anamchara to back up a step. The look in his eyes was dangerous, and she was suddenly unsure of herself. He stalked towards her with all the liquid grace of the predator that he was, and she retreated until she found herself backed against a wall.

She looked up into his face and saw that his green eyes were glowing. Leaning towards her, he put his hands on the wall on both sides of her, caging her within his embrace. Unaccountably, she found herself getting aroused and was horrified. How could she be turned on at such a time?

Cadeyrn scented Cassie’s growing desire and a snarl trickled from between his lips. He opened his mouth to better catch the scent, and Cassie saw that his canines seemed to have lengthened. She gasped.

The Erlking lowered his face to her neck and inhaled deeply. Cassie ducked her head. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, but she felt an answering throb for each pulse from between her legs. Moisture gathered as her arousal grew, and she rubbed her thighs together. Her breath caught as she raised her hands and put them against his chest. She didn’t push him away, but she kept them there as a barrier.

He skimmed his lips up the side of her throat, teasing her with the tips of his fangs. Breathing into her ear, he whispered, “This is what I mean when I say you enjoy being chased. You are excited to be pursued and aroused by being trapped. Do you dare deny this, when the scent of your desire hangs so heavily on you?”

Cassie shuddered as Cadeyrn nipped her earlobe and caressed it with his tongue. Gasping, she felt her knees wobble. When she tried to swallow, her mouth was too dry.




Thursday, December 21, 2017

#APC #Spotlight: Magi By Rick A Mullins!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Rick Mullins in my APC spotlight, today! Rick is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and his young adult, science fiction fantasy novel, Magi, looks great! Here's the description:
Emigrating from Earth by means of the Worldhole Crystals found on Dragonhome, Blake Michaels travels to the world Magi with his family as registered colonists.
Magi is unique in that evolution has created plants and animals that have properties that seem magical. Plants fight off animals that eat them with real or holographic fire, blinding bursts of light, or painful screams. Animals bend light to hide, or have plates that form kinetic shields or horns that punch from a distance.
The first explorers discovered that some of these artifacts can be controlled with the addition of human technology. If you fired a pulse of electricity through a unicorn horn, the horn would produce a weak version of the same kinetic punch that the animal could when it was alive. Put another electrical charge through the skin of a nauga and it will bend the light around itself to become invisible.
With his new friend Ivy Dakota, Blake discovers that Magi used to have a sentient species and they had a growth in their forehead that allowed them to more easily control other Magian artifacts at their full potential. This discovery causes a gold rush to Magi with prospectors looking for these Wizard’s Stones, so that they can control Magian artifacts at full power without technology.
 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:


Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)



Wednesday, December 20, 2017

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 655


Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal


Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)
Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Six-Hundred-Fifty-Five:
I'm afraid the inevitable has happened with predictable consequences. In fact, I think it's possible that I may not even need to expound on that statement for you to be able to infer what has happened. However, I will anyway.

Earlier today, the juvenile felid finally succumbed to temptation and overcame his fear of the water trap. The sparkly danglers proved too enticing of a lure, and it seemed he could not contain himself. I must give him some credit, however, because in spite of his fascination, he was able to remain enough in possession of his wits to take measures to evade the spray of water.

Instead of simply climbing the dead tree, he launched himself from one of the horizontal platforms my hominid-servant had nearby and landed among its top branches. Unfortunately, the tree was not adequately anchored, and his weight overbalanced it and sent it toppling to the floor. Glittery ornaments, along with water and tree detritus, went flying everywhere, and a loud crash heralded my young companion's downfall.

Naturally, the noise drew the attention of my hominid-servant, who once again flew into hysterics when she saw the damage that had been done to her dead tree and its decorations. She chased the small beast from one end of my domicile to the other, finally cornering him when he attempted to hide from her under her sleeping platform. I could see from the tension in his body that he considered doing battle with her, but he, wisely in my estimation, analyzed the temper of my hominid-servant and decided to submit.

As irrationally as my hominid-servant acts at times, I don't believe it is in her nature to ever actually harm either the adolescent pest or myself. But she can be a bit vindictive at times. She forced the irritating creature into the box she reserves for punishment, and then began to clean up the mess. The entire time she worked, she muttered to herself about replacing us with stuffed toys; however, I am reasonably certain she was not serious, as she has made such a threat at various times in the past and nothing has ever come of it.

When she had finished restoring the tree, as much as was possible, to its previous state, and removing the broken bits and bobs from its limbs and the floor, she retreated to her sleeping platform. I could tell that her mood had not been improved by the exercise, so I followed her and attempted to explain how unreasonable it was for her to expect us to resist the amount of temptation presented by a climbable tower littered with shiny, dancing do-dads. She just glared at me and said it was "impossible to have cats and nice things at the same time." As if I hadn't just explained the problem to her, in detail.

Since her statement clearly demonstrated her inability to be rational at that moment, I simply deployed the P.U.R.R. and laid down next to her until she showed signs of calming. Once she was no longer muttering to herself about the evils of cats, I nudged and entreated her until she rose and freed the youthful hooligan from his incarceration. For his part, the little idiot seemed somewhat cowed from the experience, so perhaps peace shall reign in my domicile for a time, in spite of the unreasonable expectations of hominids.


Oh, those crazy hominids! ;-) You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Something Worth Watching?


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This video is about the tax scam bill that Republicans are determined to ram down Americans' throats. It cuts taxes for the ultra wealthy and multinational corporations and raises taxes for the rest of us. Frankly, it's an utter disaster and they'll probably be voting on it this week. In fact, they may have already passed it by the time you see this. But, if not, please call your Republican Senators and Congresspeople (202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121). Remind them of the recent elections in Alabama and Virginia and point out that these elections are a harbinger of how things will go in the 2018 midterms. Ask them how much they like their jobs. Yeah, I know, rude. But we're past the point of worrying about the snowflake feelings of the people who are trying to bleed us dry. Peace!




Monday, December 18, 2017

#December2017 #IndieBooksBeSeen #Indie #Author #Books #Monthly #BookReview!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

It's the 18th again, so time for my #IndieBooksBeSeen monthly indie author book review!! Enjoy! :-)

Elements by Nia Markos:

What would you do if you suddenly found out that nothing about life was as you thought it was and all your choices seem to have been made for you centuries before you were born? That's the reality young Alexa faces, and how well she copes will determine the fate of humanity. Now, if someone would only explain what's going on! ;-)

I enjoyed this book. It moved quickly and the characters were well-developed and entertaining. My one criticism is in all the unanswered questions at the end; I like a tidy ending for my stories. Still, four stars and I think I'll be reading the rest of the series.





Sunday, December 17, 2017

Brown Rice Risotto In A #Crockpot #Recipe!


Hey Everyone! :-)

With winter almost here, I'm always on the lookout for easy stick-to-your-ribs recipes that don't need to be babysat. This one is one of my favorites. :-)

Ingredients:
6 cups vegetable stock
1 cup white wine (your favorite kind)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tbsp butter
2 cups brown rice
1 14oz package of sliced button mushrooms
1 14oz package of sliced shiitake mushrooms
1 cup frozen peas
2 onions chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
4 tbsp oregano
2 tbsp sage
1 bay leaf
1 cup Pecorino Romano grated
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your crock pot by turning it on high and allowing it to warm up.

In a sauce pot, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of butter. Heat until butter melts and oil begins to sizzle. Add the onions and cook until they start to caramelize. Add the shiitake mushrooms and cook until they soften. Add the garlic, oregano, sage, bay leaf, and salt and pepper and stir to combine. Add 5 cups of the vegetable stock and use it to deglaze the pan. Cover the pot and continue heating until it boils.

Put the rice in the pre-warmed crock pot and pour the boiling stock and vegetables over it. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Put the cover on the crock pot and leave it to cook on high until the rice is tender, approximately 3-4 hours.

Once the rice is cooked, in the same sauce pot you used before, put the remaining olive oil and butter and allow the butter to melt and the oil to heat. Add the button mushrooms and salt and pepper (go heavy on the pepper here) and allow the mushrooms to soften. Add the wine and use it to deglaze the pan. Add a little more pepper and the remaining stock to the pot and bring to a boil.

Transfer the boiling liquid to the crock pot and add the cheese and frozen peas. Stir vigorously until all the ingredients combine and the rice becomes creamy. Serve hot with a side of crusty bread.

Buon appetito!






Saturday, December 16, 2017

Santa's Little #Authors #Christmas #Giveaway! $160 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for the holidays!  Please take a moment to check out the Santa's Little Authors Christmas Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 50 prizes, and the grand prize is $160 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)




Friday, December 15, 2017

The Usual Suspects





Hey Everyone!! :-)

I thought about doing another political rant, today. There's certainly enough going on in the country right now that's rant-worthy. But, I decided I needed a laugh and thought maybe all of you could use one as well. Ergo, here's a little bit of inside baseball about my furry brigade. ;-)


A Bouquet of Furry Personalities:


My oldest cat, aka The Squeak, is a charmer. When I yell at him for doing something he knows he's not supposed to do, he'll purr and give me "I love you eyes" and roll onto his back and wave his paws in the air until I forget what I'm scolding him for.



My second oldest cat, aka The Original Sin, is a Diva with a capital D. She does things she knows she's not supposed to do right in front of me, daring me to object. When I yell at her, she yells back at me for yelling at her.



My second youngest cat, aka The Small, has a perpetually guilty conscience. He flees from the mom-monster at the slightest provocation, bleating in terror. Even when he's not doing anything wrong and I'm yelling at someone else.




My youngest cat, aka The Homicidal Muffin With Legs or The Muffin for short, just squints at me suspiciously when I yell at him and asks, "What are these 'rules' of which you speak?"




Thursday, December 14, 2017

#APC #Spotlight: The 11th Percent By TH Morris!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Terrick Heckstall in my APC spotlight, today! Terrick is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and his paranormal fantasy novel, The 11th Percent, looks great! Here's the description:
Jonah Rowe, a bored accountant and aspiring novelist, is sick and tired of his job as an accountant. He is burnt out from all the office gossip, politics, and double talk, and he longs for his life to matter. Truth be told, Jonah wants anything besides the lame routine of coasting through his workday....only to psych himself up enough to do it all over again the next day. He only wishes that his life had some meaning.
Amidst the combination of writer's block and society's expectations to have a "real" 9-5 job, Jonah gets his wish.
His world is turned completely upside down one evening when his vision inexplicably turns blue for several moments. He then receives a warning from a spectral visitor that not only is he in danger, but everything in his life is about to change.
Overnight, Jonah transforms from an overworked, underpaid accountant to the centerpiece of a spectral battle. Will he rise to the occasion? Can he accept that everything he knows about life and death is completely wrong? And, most importantly, will he be able to comprehend and harness the power of the mysterious 11th Percent?
Follow Jonah's journey in this new breed of ghost story!
If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:


Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)



Wednesday, December 13, 2017

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 652


Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal


Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)
Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Six-Hundred-Fifty-Two:
They twinkle. They sparkle. Oh, those damnable, dancing danglers are calling my name! A siren's song of temptation and danger. I had forgotten how enticing my hominid-servant's tree decorations are.

She is torturing us; both myself and my young companion. Her water trap remains active, but now she has increased the attraction of the tree by hanging flashing, glittering lures from its branches. Even my memories of her previous violent reaction to having her decorations disturbed barely curb my desire to pounce and scatter the delectable, shiny things.

The juvenile felid seems to be having even more trouble controlling himself than I am. On several occasions, he has run afoul of the vile water contraption. And to add insult to injury, whenever my hominid-servant discovers the evidence that her torture device has been activated, she scolds both of us!

I'm not sure if her goal is to drive us both mad or if there's another, possibly more sinister, endgame she is playing. I will continue to report on her actions and make note of any further twisted measures she might put into place. But, in the meantime, sigh… They twinkle and sparkle…



Poor Thoth! Hominids are so unreasonable! ;-) You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Legacy Chains And Subtle Barriers


Hey Everyone! :-)

I've got a little more from Alyce's adventures to share with you, today. Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from sci-fi satire novel:
"First you have to register to vote, which is one place that those in power can put up obstacles. In the past they've had 'poll taxes,' which were fees you had to pay in order to register to vote. Now, that's illegal, but they have other tricks. Part of the Jim Crow laws I was telling you about earlier were things like 'reading tests' and 'civics tests' that people had to pass in order to vote. People would have to either read a passage or answer some basic questions about our government. It sounds good in theory, but the people who ran the registration offices would cheat to allow only the people they wanted to vote to register."

"People with lighter skin would be given simple, basic sentences to read or asked questions that were common knowledge, like who was the first President of our country. But people with darker colored skin would be given long, complicated things to read that were often in languages other than English. Or they'd be asked much harder, esoteric questions, like what do articles III and V of the Constitution of the United States establish? There's an answer, but unless someone is a Constitutional scholar, they probably won't know what that answer is. It was a sneaky way to prevent people with darker skin from being able to vote."

"Is this still going on?" asked Yax.

I wagged my hand back and forth. "Yes and no. It's not going on in that form, anymore, because those kinds of things have been made illegal. But there are other things that are happening that are done for the same reason and have the same effect. They're a bit more subtle, though."

"What things?" asked Squid-boy.

"Well, for one thing, there're voter ID laws. It varies from place to place, but some of the laws are just blatant attempts to keep people who are poor, who are often also people with darker skin, from voting."

"These laws require one to have identification in order to vote?" asked Squid-boy.

I nodded. "Yep. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it?"

He blinked at me. "It does. But I have the feeling that something about these laws is not what it seems at first glance."

"Yep, you got that right, Squid-boy. First, the laws generally specify only certain IDs that will be accepted. Usually, they are things like a driver's license that most upper and middle-income people have. But people who are poor, especially if they live in an urban area with mass transportation systems, might not have that type of ID. Add to that the fact that the IDs are often expensive and can only be obtained at certain designated facilities, which are often not located in or near neighborhoods where poor people live, and you have a real barrier for people who don't have a lot of money. Also, the facilities where these IDs can be obtained are only open during the hours that most people work, so if someone needs one they generally have to take time away from their job to get it."

"Which means if a poor person from one of these neighborhoods wants to vote, they have to take time off work ̶ which might get them fired, travel on mass transit ̶ possibly for hours, stand in line ̶ possibly for hours, pay more money than they likely have, and then travel all the way back to their home. So, it's not really surprising that many of these people decide it's just easier not to vote, is it?"

Yax shook his head. "No, that's not surprising, at all. Inevitable, really."


Monday, December 11, 2017

Something Worth Watching?


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. I just wanted to remind everyone about the Net Neutrality vote that's coming up at the end of this week. It really is vital that you contact your elected representatives now and voice your opposition to this creeping fascism. In the meantime, here's a video that uses humor help us cope with this brave new world we find ourselves in. Plus, it gives some useful information about other steps we can take to try to prevent this travesty. Peace!





Sunday, December 10, 2017

Warm-You-Up #Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie #Recipe!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I don't know about you, but for me this is the time of year I love to make those stick-to-your-ribs, warm you up no matter what the thermometer outside says, delicious like mom used to make recipes. But, as always, my version has a little twist. In this case, a scrumptious shepherd's pie with no meat. I hope you like it as much as I do. :-)

Ingredients:
3 cups vegetable stock
1.5 cups uncooked lentils rinsed and drained
4 lbs potatoes peeled and chunked
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded (optional)
1 12 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 onion diced
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen carrots
1/2 cup frozen corn
4 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
3 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 stick butter (or more if you like)
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil the potatoes in salted water until they're fork-tender. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot to allow remaining moisture to evaporate. Set them aside.

In another pot, add the olive oil and onion and saute until the onion caramelizes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and hot sauce (optional), and stir to combine. Add the tomatoes and lentils and stir to combine. Add the vegetable stock and salt and pepper to taste and stir to mix together. Reduce to medium heat and cover, stirring occasionally, until lentils are soft.

Add the butter, milk, and a good amount of black pepper to the potatoes and mash them until they're smooth. Taste them and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Set them aside.

When the lentils are soft, add the remaining vegetables to the pot, stir to mix, and continue to cook for about 10-15 minutes. Make a slurry of the water and cornstarch and add it to the pot. Stir and taste the mixture and adjust salt and pepper as needed.

Put the lentil mix in a buttered baking dish and then spread the mashed potatoes over the top of it. Use a spoon to swirl the potatoes and pull them into small peaks throughout the dish. Sprinkle small pieces of butter and/or shredded cheddar cheese between the peaks for additional richness. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden brown. Serve hot with a side of crusty bread.

Bon appetit!



Saturday, December 9, 2017

Santa's Little #Authors #Christmas #Giveaway! $160 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for the holidays!  Please take a moment to check out the Santa's Little Authors Christmas Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 50 prizes, and the grand prize is $160 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)




Friday, December 8, 2017

#Animal #Rescuer's #Guide To #Staying ( #Relatively ) #Sane! #Free! :-)



Hey Everyone!! :-)

Just a reminder, for those who haven't checked it out yet, I've collected all my animal rescue/care posts together and published them as a small book.  If you'd like, you can download the book for free from Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, and iTunes.



Thanks for stopping in today, and don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)


Thursday, December 7, 2017

#APC #Spotlight: Valkyrie On Planet Fury by Lynne Murray!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Lynne Murray in my APC spotlight, today! Lynne is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her science fiction fantasy novel, Valkyrie on Planet Fury, looks great! Here's the description:
At the mercy of the Furies on a planet where assassination is a popular pastime, Sybil must complete an impossible mission or die trying.
An impossible mission. A planet where death lurks at every turn.
Sybil of Planet Valkyrie can’t go home until she confronts the rulers of Planet Fury, where assassination is a popular pastime. The Furies demand that Sybil tap the powers of her familiar demons to find an answer that may not exist—or die trying.
 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:


Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)



Wednesday, December 6, 2017

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 647


Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal


Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)
Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Six-Hundred-Forty-Seven:
My hominid-servant has still not begun to decorate her dead tree; however, she has begun an intensive aversion conditioning campaign when it comes to anyone approaching the tree. Anytime the juvenile felid or I walk anywhere in the immediate vicinity of the tree, an explosion of water results, soaking us and everything around us. Which is most disconcerting.

At first, I was puzzled as to how she achieved it because she didn't appear to be present during many of these attacks. But I soon located the automated water dispersal system she set up, which seems to be motion activated. It's most distressing because the only way to evade a soaking is to either refrain from approaching the tree or to disable the entire water delivery mechanism, which my hominid-servant could not fail to notice.

My only consolation is that every time a water attack is triggered, my hominid-servant is forced to then clean up the excess water from where it spatters on the walls and floor. Unfortunately, this inconvenience doesn't show any signs of affecting her resolve in this matter. It seems I may have to resign myself to keeping a certain distance from the tree, which means I will lose out on any opportunities it may present to study the local flora. A true pity considering how limited my chances for such examinations are.

But, considering the violence of her reaction to having her dead tree decorations disturbed, and how irresistible both my young companion and I would be likely to find such investigations, perhaps my hominid-servant's precautions are for the best. Still, I will be sure to spend several planetary rotations giving her reproachful looks and withholding from her the pleasure of my company so that she won't begin assuming that denying me access to any part of my domicile is acceptable.


Poor Thoth! Sneaky hominids with their water attacks. ;-) You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!


Tuesday, December 5, 2017

#Interview With Vanessa Ravel!



Hey Everyone!! :-)

Vanessa Ravel is with us, today. Vanessa, can you please tell us about yourself and how many books you have written?

Vanessa: I’m an epidemiologist by trade and training but a fiction writer at heart. Recently I’ve chosen to focus more on my writing, which I have unfortunately up to now neglected in favor of more traditional career choices. Truth be told, I’ve been a storyteller as long as I can remember (scientist, not so much). Before I could hold a pencil straight, I used to write and draw story “books” bound with staples and scotch tape. While I don’t write about about Disneyland and dog picnics anymore (my subject material is a bit heavier nowadays), I do still enjoy the odd trip to Disneyland as I live in Los Angeles, and dog picnics are always on the to-do list with my veritable zoo of domestic (albeit hardly domesticated!) animals. I have only written one novel but I am in the process of writing my second.

Me: Wow! Sounds like you've been busy. :-) What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

Vanessa: I wrote Four o’Clock Alice as a reaction to a personal tragedy, and that gave me the perspective to ‘write what I know,’ not in a sense of ever having been in any of the characters’ situations per se, but nonetheless being newly able to empathize with those situations. My writing tends to plumb the depths of the human condition, sometimes only scraping up black sludge but other times hooking the occasional abyss-dwelling leviathan and casting it to the surface. I make sure to leave a light on for the reader somewhere, though, because even the darkest dark fantasy fan scrambles for the night light when the nightmare is too real.

Me: Sometimes banishing the nightmares to the page is the only way to get them to give us peace. What are you working on now?

Vanessa: For the last few months I’ve been in short story mode, submitting to anthologies and competitions. In December, I’ll be able to focus more on fleshing out my second novel, a dark fantasy about little girl struggling to fit in at new school, in a new town and biting off more than she can chew when she decides to run away. YA it's decidedly not, but a coming of age will definitely ensue (think more Carrie than To Kill a Mockingbird).

Me: Sounds interesting! What authors, or books, have influenced you?

Vanessa: People are going to want to shoot me, but I’m not a big reader. There, I said it. It’s not that I’d rather watch a movie than read a book (I watch very little television), but I just was never that much into reading. When they had “turn off the TV week” at school, I turned off the TV and wrote stories. I guess I didn’t get the fact that I was supposed to read instead. I am a big Stephen King fan, however (who isn’t?), not just for his storytelling talent, but for his unbelievable characters. King is the only author who has ever gotten me to want to read.

Me: I think a lot of people feel that way about Stephen King. :-)  What are you reading now?

Vanessa: The Spring 2012, Issue 82 Glimmer Train literary journal. A bit outside my preferred genre, but I’m learning to try new things.

Me: It's always good to expand our horizons. ;-) For those who might consider reading your book, what would you tell them to expect?

Vanessa: It’s a unique story that’s quite dark at times and takes some pretty unexpected turns.

Me: Cool! What is your favorite part of being an author?

Vanessa: Working at home! ;-) I love that I get to put my soul on paper. As scary as that is, baring everything to everyone, it’s cathartic, too. It’s the best therapy.

Me: I agree, writing can often be the very best therapy. Do you have a day job as well?

Vanessa: I’m currently a medical writer/epidemiologist and that takes quite a bit of time from my creative goals. Such is life!

Me: Ah, well, earning a living is important, too. ;-) What are the hardest and easiest parts about being a writer?

Vanessa: We don’t write because we enjoy the crushing self-doubt (well, some of use might). And I don’t believe it gets much easier. I haven’t met any writers that are not at least somewhat introverted, so I think that self-deprecation is an occupational hazard. So for me, the easiest part is the ability to come up with the story. The hardest part is convincing myself it’s good enough for anyone’s eyes but my own.

Me: Yeah, I think most writers get attacks of perfectionism that need to be overcome before we can share our "babies." What genre do you place your book in?

Vanessa: Four o’Clock Alice is a gothic dark fantasy.

Me: Wonderful! Is there anything else you'd like to tell your readers?

Vanessa: I may be an introvert, but I love to keep in touch with my readers! If you’ve read my book, let me know if you liked it so I can write another one you’ll like too!
Me: Amen! And so these fine folks can find you, are there any links you'd like me to post?

Vanessa:
Individual Book Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Four-oClock-Alice-Vanessa-Ravel-ebook/dp/B01HECBF8W
http://vanessaravel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/plumbthedepths/
https://www.amazon.com/author/vanessaravel
Twitter handle: @vanessaravel
Instagram handle: @vanessaravel

Me: Perfect! Thank you so much for joining me here today, Vanessa. And thank you everyone else who stopped by, as well. Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the latest in Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)