Help An Author - Sandi Rog Is Battling Cancer

All, Christian fiction author Sandi Rog, mother of four, is battling cancer. She has MS, and it appears that her MS medication may have caused the stage 4 cancer from which she is now suffering. She has no money to pay all of her medical bills, so, people are banding together to raffle tons of great prizes! A raffle ticket is only $5.00. Go to this website to see more details - you might even find some things that you'd like try and win through the raffle!

Also, while you're at it, say a prayer for Sandi!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee - Breaking Dawn

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

***Note, this movie is secular and has vampires and werewolves.

I couldn't resist going to see Breaking Dawn - Part One. I went to a ten AM show last Monday. I posted a review of this book here, and was comparing the book to the movie the entire time.

This story was dark, haunting and riveting. The special effects were amazing and it was especially hard to see Bella suffer physically after she gets pregnant with Edward's baby.

Bella and Edward (a vampire) send out invites to friends for their wedding. Jacob (an Indian man who can change into a werewolf) is Bella's best friend and Edward's natural enemy. Jacob gets upset about the nuptials, phazing into a wolf, running into the woods.

After the wedding, Bella and Edward go on their honeymoon to a secluded island. They make love for the first time and the results are terrifying. Bella gets pregnant and Edward didn't realize that a vampire could impregnate a human. They return to the mainland and lots of action-packed adventure happens after that. The wolves (the pack that Jacob belongs to) want to destroy the baby and there's a war between the wolves and the vampires as the vampires try to protect Bella and the unborn child. While pregnant, Bella must drink blood to nourish the baby. I cringed when she did this!

This movie was so intense. It also makes you think that the vampires and werewolves really exist. It's haunting to think of never being able to die (except for some circumstances - the wolves can kill the vampires) for hundreds of years, being trapped in this human life, never growing old?

I thought this movie was the most intense of all of the Twilight movies. I seldom watch movies with science-fiction/fantasy elements. I find movies with regular settings and regular people more appealing. However, watching movies like this gives me a break from the norm.

Have you seen this movie, if so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Love On The Line By Deeanne Gist

Love On The Line by Deeanne Gist

This story was a good read about a phone operator during historical times. Georgie is unlike most women her age. She's young and independent. She works for a phone company and lives alone in her cottage. She also has a fascination with birds. She's determined to make the town see that birds should not be shot down and used solely for their feathers and bird parts. A local milliner uses the bird parts for hats, and this incenses Georgie, making her angry and sad. The birds are like her personal companions. They nest in her back yard and she even sits still as a statue, so still that the birds flutter to her, eating right out of her hand.

Luke, a troubleman for the phone company, is really a Texas Ranger whose real name is Luscious who's working undercover. He's determined to capture Frank Comer, a well-known and respected bandit who robs trains with his gang. Frank has slipped away from Luke one too many times and Luke's boss has stated if Luke doesn't catch him this time, he'll be taking him off the case. Determined to capture Frank, he accepts his undercover job, which puts him into direct contact with Georgie on a regular basis. Georgie works alone in her cottage - the phone equipment is set up in her living room and her cottage belongs to the phone company. Luke arrives, stringing phone wires high on the telephone poles. Attracted to Georgie, he is bothered by her weird personality. Why would she cry because a bird has been killed? He sees her deep connection to the young creatures, not fully understanding why she loves the the birds so much.

The attraction between the two of them literally snaps off the page. As they spend more time together, getting to know one another, Luke is face with a choice..he's a Texas Ranger, he's not in the market to get married. His job would take him too far away from his family. He finds himself falling for Georgie while he gets close to some of the townspeople - people who may be connected to Frank Comer. Frank is rumored to be living in the area, which is why Luke was assigned to this particular town.

I thought this book had an interesting premise, seeing the way the phone was used and operated in historical times. It's also refreshing to see a historical where a woman is independent, living alone, supporting herself. Georgie thinks that she can do anything a man can do, a woman shouldn't be treated as a second-class citizen. There's also a highly-unusual twist that happens near the end, it's a twist that I was NOT expecting!

This was a great, enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books by this author. The characters were so well-developed and believable. Both Luke and Georgie suffered from great loss as children - losses that molded and affected the lives they lead as adults.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Happy Thanksgiving! Pilgrim Facts!

Do you have any Pilgrim facts you'd like to share?

My six-year-old son was assigned a Thanksgiving project recently. Of course, I had to help him. His topic? The religion of the Pilgrims. We scoured the internet and came up with this list from various sources. Feel free to add anything you think was missed. He's only six, so he couldn't understand the concept of everything. I tried to focus on stuff that he'd understand. Also, I added a few things that I thought were interesting that he did not include in his project. He had to do a poster with pictures and facts. Here are some of the facts that he covered - as well as others that I found interesting. REMEMBER, THESE ARE BASIC FACTS, UNDERSTANDABLE FOR A SIX-YEAR-OLD - IT'S NOT DETAILED ADULT MATERIAL. IF YOU'RE A HISTORY BUFF AND FEEL THIS IS TOO INCOMPLETE, THEN FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR FACTS! :-):

The Pilgrims used the Geneva edition of the Bible. In response, King James had his own edition of the Bible translated and published in 1611 for use by the Church of England.

The Pilgrims observed the Sabbath – they did not work on Sundays.

The Pilgrims were also called Puritans.

Queen Mary did not let the Pilgrims worship the Lord – she persecuted and killed many Pilgrims. After Mary died, her sister, Elizabeth, became queen.

Queen Elizabeth (Mary’s sister) let the Pilgrims worship the Lord.

King James became king in 1604.

King James did not let the Pilgrims worship as they pleased.

Many Pilgrims were arrested and put in jail because of their beliefs. Some Pilgrims were killed because of their beliefs.

To worship as they pleased, the Pilgrims moved from England to Holland. The Pilgrims then moved from Holland to America.

The Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas or Easter.

The Pilgrims believed the Bible was the Word of God.

The Pilgrims believed in infant baptism and communion (The Lord’s Supper).

The Pilgrims called their church building a meeting house.

Do you have any Pilgrim facts you'd like to share?

Happy Thanksgiving!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Lakeside Reunion Blog Tour

I'm hosting my friend, author Lisa Jordan, today on my blog!
Share Your Thoughts: Do you listen to music while you write? Why? What type of music?


Writing to Music



My sons have a musical ability that does not come from their parents. My oldest son sings, plays trumpet, tuba, and plans to learn the piano. My younger son sings in the a cappella choir and an elite choir at school where students are chosen based on their auditions. Hubby has a pleasant voice, but he’s tone deaf due to pneumonia as a teenager. I, on the other hand, make a joyful noise. No kidding. I love to sing. I just don’t do it well.

I love music. Different styles--everything from children's songs (some of my favorite) to classical. Well, rap and twangy country aren’t high on my list. I grew up listening to twangy country such as Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash.

When my friend Keli Gwyn interviewed me for her Romance Writers for the Journey blog last year, she asked what five items I had at my fingertips when I'm writing. One of the five items was my earbuds. I need music to write. My iTunes writing music playlist showcases such artists as Norah Jones, Rod Stewart, Jeremy Camp, Todd Agnew, Secondhand Serenade, Emmy Rossum, and even a little Lady Gaga tossed into the mix.

Sitting in the living room while the rest of my family watches TV or plays on the Xbox, I can put in my earbuds and drown out the rest of the world to focus on my writing.

Music creates a mood—not only for me, but also for my characters. Different types of scenes need different styles of music. While writing a break-up scene in my last novel, I listened to a lot of Secondhand Seranade. The mellow, heart-yearning sound helped me to capture the emotions of my characters. Also, listening to the same music my characters enjoy helps me to dig deeper into their POVs.

Music stimulates my creativity and provides inspiration when I’m struggling with a plot point or a scene. Lyrics can trigger ideas and take my story in an unexpected direction.

Music draws me closer to God and reminds me to keep my focus on Him as I write each scene.

Even if you need solitude to write, consider listening to different styles of music to stimulate your creativity. You may be surprised where the notes lead you.

"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul." ~Author Unknown

Share Your Thoughts: Do you listen to music while you write? Why? What type of music?

~*~

I’m holding a scavenger hunt to promote my Lakeside Reunion release. Plus, blog commenters on my blog hop will be put in a drawing for fun prizes—breakfast basket, Love Inspired Authors basket, autographed copies of Lakeside Reunion. Visit my Lakeside Reunion Contest page for more information.

The token for this blog is a letter of resignation.

Bio: Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories that feature both comes naturally to her. She has been writing contemporary Christian romance for more than a decade. Her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, will be released in November by Love Inspired, followed by her second novel, Lakeside Family, in August 2012 by Love Inspired. Happily married for twenty-two years, Lisa and her husband have two young adult sons. When she isn’t writing or caring for children in her in-home childcare business, Lisa enjoys family time, romantic comedies, good books, crafting with friends and feeding her NCIS addiction. Visit her at www.lisajordanbooks.com to learn more about her writing.



Lakeside Reunion: Bed-and-breakfast owner Lindsey Porter prays she won’t run into Stephen Chase when she returns to Shelby Lake. Five years ago, the cop jilted her to marry another woman, and Lindsey fled town. But no sooner does she hit city limits than Stephen pulls her over for a broken taillight. Despite the past, he’s still able to stir up Lindsey’s old feelings for him. Now a widower and single dad, Stephen recognizes a second chance when he sees one. And he’ll do anything to make Lindsey trust in God and take a risk for love—again. Read an excerpt of Lakeside Reunion.

Saturday Matinee - Good Will Hunting!

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

Good Will Hunting starring Robin Williams and Matt Damon

***Note, this movie has a lot of profanity, but it's a good, well-developed story.

Have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it?

I really enjoyed this movie. I'd seen it a long time ago but didn't remember a whole lot about it. I watched it again recently because it was recommended for the Michael Hauge Workshop I recently attended.

Will Hunter is a mathematical genius, yet he works a blue-collar job as a college janitor. His life takes an interesting turn when he's arrested and jailed. A math professor at the college where Will works offers to bail him out. The professor knows that Will is a genius because he accidentally found out when he saw Will solve an impossible mathematical problem on the blackboard. Will solved it during his janitorial shift, not knowing he was being watched. The professor agrees to mentor Will after he's released from jail and Will must also go through therapy as part of his release agreement. Robin Williams plays the role of Will's therapist.

I think I liked this movie so much because Will was afraid to open up and be himself. He's an orphan who's been hurt in the past. When Michael Hauge gave his workshop, he talked about how a person's essence is hidden and you might see it revealed in bits and pieces throughout the film - the character must be living in his/her essence by the end of the movie. Well, Will's mathematical ability is a huge part of his hidden essence. There's also a romance in this movie. Will meets Skylar at a bar when he's out with his friends. The relationship between Will, Skylar and Will's therapist is complicated and realistic.

My one pet-peeve about this movie was the profanity. The language grates on your nerves, but, after awhile, you get used to it. Overall, a good, emotional movie that you'll enjoy.

So, have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Diet And Exercise

Do you have a diet/exercise routine that works for you? If so, share it with a comment.

I'm going to go off the beaten path and talk about a subject that I rarely mention on this blog - diet and exercise. A blog reader emailed me about an idea for her own blog. When I emailed my response back to her, it turned out the post outlined my struggle with high blood pressure over the last two years, which prompted me to post my experience here.

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure about 2 years ago, it's hereditary. Since I've been in my thirties and forties I've been on the heavier side, but people wouldn't necessarily categorize me as "fat" - I was skinny while in my twenties, seriously.

Anyway, I was on different meds for the HBP off and on for a year. Every med gave me a negative side effect. Soon I got tired of that crap and went to a holistic doctor. She gave me a list of a bunch of vitamins and herbs to take. I take them all. The main one that keeps my HBP down is the Hawthorn. Also, exercise helps.

Exercising at home was not working for me. My job was stressful, and when I got home, all I wanted to do was sit back and relax. So, I decided to exercise during my lunch time while at work. I bring work-out clothes and go for a brisk walk/run for about a half hour or 45 minutes. Plus, they have a gym at my job so if it's cold or rainy, I get on that treadmill! Exercising is nothing "new" to me. I used to run 10K races while I was in my twenties/early thirties. Also, I exercised regularly at the gym.

My routine lagged when I got pregnant. The pregnancy was difficult and after our child was born, I didn't really feel like exercising. Well, our "baby" is six now, so, I guess I can't use the child as an excuse for not exercising!

I've been exercising during my lunch break for about eight months now. I cut out fast food (except on weekends - I was eating fast food almost every day when I was diagnosed with HBP) and I watch my sodium intake but, for the most part, I eat whatever I want whenever I want. I love carbs, so I don't really watch my carbs. I eat oatmeal (the oatmeal that's JUST OATS, the holistic doctor told me to stop eating the flavored oatmeal packets, too much salt in them) or some low-sodium cold cereal every morning for breakfast. I eat my breakfast at work. I also eat a low-sodium lunch and dinner. Sometimes I snack, sometimes I don't. Depends on if I feel hungry or not.

People just started randomly commenting about my weight loss about a month or so ago. At first, I didn't really notice it. I don't weigh myself (too depressing) and I don't really watch my figure - I started this new plan to keep my HBP down not for vanity reasons. The weight loss was secondary since I didn’t really have a goal of losing X amount of pounds – I just wanted a normal blood pressure reading so that I could stop taking that terrible medicine the doctor gave me.

However, lately, people have been saying, "Hey, you've lost weight,” or “Hey, you're slimming down.” At first I thought they were just being nice, but, too many people were randomly commenting about my weight loss, plus, my jeans are very loose, they barely stay on my hips, so, I'm starting to pay attention now.

I love sweets! The weekend before last, I made vanilla bean panna cotta for the very first time! Yum! Last weekend, I made an apple pie and it was GOOD!! I don't eat sweets every day, but I eat them when I want them. If I want to bake something, I do it! I don't count calories or pounds.
OH, BTW, my blood pressure is BELOW normal/NORMAL now. I usually do a reading whenever I go to the grocery store at the BP machine and I also have a small BP contraption at home. It's just a small square contraption with a cuff and a rectangular box - like the picture on this blog post.

This routine is working for me, so I was curious about others who read this blog. So, do you have a diet/exercise routine that works for you? If so, share it with a comment! Also, I'd be interested in knowing if something happened to make you change/start your diet/exercise routine.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Fireman Dad By Betsy St. Amant

Fireman Dad by Betsy St. Amant

Marissa is stunned when her son, Owen, suddenly wants to be a firefighter. He admires Jacob, a local firefighter, who's befriended Marissa. Marissa, a party planner, is hired to plan the birthday party for Jacob's niece. While doing so, she's befriended by Liz, Jacob's sister-in-law. Marissa's husband died while in the line of duty of firefighting, plus, she's never had a close relationship with her dad who's also spent his life firefighting. Can she overcome her fears and learn to love Jacob, even though he's a firefighter?

This was a cute story that shows that we need to let go of our fears and learn to lean on God during our trials. Marissa is widowed and she hasn't been to church since her husband passed five years ago. I thought this story was a light, breezy read that was enjoyable. They also showed Liz, a secondary character, struggle with firefighting in her family too since her husband was laid off from his firefighting job. Liz's family is finding it hard to make ends meet since her husband is unemployed. I feel like the author painted a realistic view about the world of firefighting and I also learned a little bit about what it's like being a firefighter.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Book Giveaway - Win A Box Of 23 Books! Follow The Rules To Enter! :-)

I'm hosting another book giveaway! ONE winner will receive the 23 titles listed below. IF YOU WANT TO ENTER THE DRAWING YOU MUST DO TWO THINGS:

#1. You must join my mailing list! You can join my mailing list here:

Join My E-mail List!

If you're already on my email list, then you can skip step one.

#2. You must comment on this blog post to enter and LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT - IF YOU DON'T LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT, THEN YOU WON'T BE ENTERED INTO THE CONTEST! I need an email address so that I can contact you if you win!

I'll be drawing the winner within the next few weeks or so! :-) Remember, I have the right to announce your first and last name, city and state on my blog if you win! Void where prohibited.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Incredibles! :-)

Do you have any favorite books that you've read in 2011? If so, what are they?

The Incredibles - no, I'm not talking about the Disney animated movie! I've decided to use that term to describe the four books mentioned in this blog post. I did a similiar blog post here.

These three novels are the best I've read in 2011, so far. What makes them incredible? Various reasons. Keep in mind that I didn't scroll through my blog, making a decision about the top three books. For the MOST PART, these are books that keep coming to my mind, long after I've read them, over and over. I've read a TON of great books over this year, however, all books won't stick in my mind as frequently as these. Also keep in mind that these are books that I've READ in 2011 - it doesn't necessarily mean that the books were PUBLISHED in 2011! So here's Cecelia Dowdy's list of The Incredibles!:

1.

Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist
This book made the list because it was compelling, spicy, Christian romance and I found myself going back, reading pages over again. I NEVER do that! This is the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to reading more!

2.

A Whisper Of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer This book made the list because the heroine was strong, independent and likeable. Also, I think Kim did a great job dealing with the issues of race and reconciliation in this book. The setting was spectacular and I know I'll be thinking about this book for a long time!

3.

A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman This book made the list because it's hot and spicy romance that I'll remember for a long time. This story was about two hurt, broken people falling in love while overcoming great obstacles. Also, it was nice visiting the O'Connors again - I honestly think this is one of my favorite fictional families! I also liked how she wrote about a woman who is scarred/disfigured. You feel sympathetic to the heroine and you're drawn into the story from the first page.

So, there's my list! What are your favorite reads for 2011?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - The Disappearance Of The Saints!

Awhile back, I had a Sunday Brunch blog post about the disappearance of Philip. Well, I'd heard that there were other scriptures in the Bible where the Lord made the Saints disappear. Ironically, I read and reviewed a Chris Well book recently, and in that novel, he listed some other scriptures that had disappearing saints.

What do you think about God making the Saints disappear? I think it's oh, so amazing and awesome! Do you think something like that could happen today? I think it's possible, but not probable. Depending upon who it was, I'm sure that person would be missed by friends and loved ones, people would be wondering what had happened to him/her. There may be those who would know that the missing person was lifted up by God, but, it's highly unlikely that all would believe.

Also, to be lifted up by God, disappearing, with no dead body behind...well, I'd think the one being swept up by God would have a unique, highly-personal, very deep, relationship with God. It'd be a relationship that most of us wouldn't even begin to understand.

Here are the scriptures:

ENOCH
Genesis 5:24
24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

ELIJAH
2 Kings 2:11-12
11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

JESUS - This instance is in a different vein than the rest on this list. However, I felt compelled to include this one since it's familiar to most Christians and it helps to illustrate what I'm talking about.
Luke 24:3-7
3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

PHILIP
Acts 8:39-40
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

What do you think about God making the Saints disappear? Do you think something like that could happen today? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee - The King's Speech

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

This story is about King George VI. Since he's destined to take over the throne after his brother abdicates (his brother has an affair with a divorced woman), George (nicknamed Bertie) has to make public speeches. The only problem is, George has a terrible stutter - he's had this stutter since he was a youngster. He's been to several specialists and doctors and none of them can help him with his stutter. His wife finds Lionel, a speech therapist and "doctor". Lionel gets to the heart of Bertie's problem - using psychological means - stuttering seems to be an emotional problem for Bertie. The working relationship between Bertie and Lionel buds into a true friendship with a few pitfalls along the way.

I thought this movie was good, but not great. This film received lots of acclaim, so, I thought I'd like it more than I did. It held my interest, but, it's not a film that I see myself watching again. The characters were somewhat engaging and you'll find yourself sympathizing with Bertie. If you have the time, I'd recommend watching this film, but, I figure there are probably lots of others out there that I'd enjoy more than this one.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Michael Hauge Workshop

Last Saturday and Sunday, I participated in a workshop given by Michael Hauge. He’s a script consultant for Hollywood movies. He’s also endorsed by actor Will Smith. The workshop was AWESOME! Michael went over different aspects that needed to be present in movies in order for them to be engaging and successful. These same elements can also be applied to novels. I felt the heart of the workshop was when he was talking about characters. In order for your story to be engaging, your character has to have a wound. A wound is a terrible emotional experience that affects the character. In movies, SOMETIMES, the wound is symbolized by something physical, like, you might have scars from being abused as a child. But this wound, well, it makes the characters suffer emotionally.

Characters don’t want the world to see them as they really are, their essence. Every character has to have an identity, the identity is the way they appear to others – their essence is their hidden side, the side that REALLY shows who they are. The world seldom sees the essence of the character, except, perhaps, in bits and pieces. The whole point is to have the character living in their essence, their true self, by the end of the story.

I’m paraphrasing and leaving a lot of stuff out, but, for me, the essence/identity was the most important point made during the workshop. He also used movies as examples of good story telling. We watched clips of different movies and we were told to watch the following movies before the workshop: Titanic, Shrek, Good Will Hunting, Sleepless In Seattle and The King’s Speech. I’ll be posting reviews for some of these for my Saturday Matinees in the near future.

So, if you need a guest speaker for your writers’ group, I highly recommend Michael Hauge. Oh, I also purchased his book, Writing Screenplays That Sell. I think some of his advice may help me with my writing.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Burying The Hatchet By Chris Well

Burying The Hatchet by Chris Well

Earl Walker is an elderly, wheel-chair-bound, amateur sleuth who is determined to prove the innocence of his new pastor. When Earl's new pastor meets with a psychic for a public meeting, the pastor leaves the room and the psychic is found dead - the pastor is arrested for the crime.

Earl is feeling his way through Christianity and detective work in this novel. He's a Christian, but still new to the scriptures. In his heart, he feels his pastor is innocent of this crime, and he's determined to prove this fact. In the midst of his detective work, Earl is falling in love with Gloria, a dear elderly friend. He also consorts with a young woman named Jenny whom he nicknames "College". As the threesome attempt to solve the murder, they keep running into the town's deputy who accuses them of interfering with a federal investigation.

A lot of other things happen in this story - some church members want to oust the pastor since he's been arrested for killing a psychic. There's an author (Page) in town who's trying to get the lead for his next book and Earl joins forces with Page since Page has already done a lot of research about the serial killings of elderly people in the area.

This book was a light, slightly humorous, enjoyable read. It also was interesting to read a novel from the viewpoint of an elderly person. I don't see a whole lot of novels being published with older protagonists.

Ironically, this book touched upon some subjects that I've been blogging about lately. The disappearance of Philip was mentioned as well as the dangers of psychics.

Overall a good read that I'd highly recommend.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta! :-)

The first time I'd ever heard of panna cotta was last Saturday (November 5, 2011). I attended a Michael Hauge workshop hosted by my local writers' group. After the Italian luncheon, there was dessert - Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta. When I tasted it, the texture reminded me of the Mexican Flan. However, I thought the flavor was much better than flan. I could tell right away that the dessert contained gelatin because of the unique texture. The vanilla bean really gives this dessert an excellent flavor. If you try this recipe, let me know if you liked it.

Ingredients

1/3 cup whole milk
1 (.25 ounce) envelope unflavored gelatin
2 1/2 cups half and half
1/2 cup white sugar
One whole vanilla bean (if you don't have a vanilla bean, then you can substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract for the vanilla bean)

Directions

Pour milk into a small bowl, and stir in the gelatin powder. Set aside.
In a saucepan, stir together the half and half and sugar, and set over medium heat. Split vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the half and half and sugar mixture. Place the vanilla bean halves into the mixture. Bring to a full boil, watching carefully. Pour the gelatin and milk into the half and half mixture, stirring until completely dissolved. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, if you're NOT using the vanilla bean, then stir in the vanilla extract now. Pour into six individual ramekin dishes.
Cool the ramekins uncovered at room temperature. When cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight before serving. Serve with fresh berries, if desired.

You're supposed to invert the ramekin onto a serving plate, releasing the panna cotta from the container before serving. I didn't do this. I just simply ate it out of the bowl!

When I made this, I didn't have to let it cool in refrigerator for four hours. I was able to eat it in about an hour or so. So GOOD. I recommend using the vanilla bean. I prefer the texture of vanilla pudding over the texture of this dessert, however, the wonderful taste makes this a close second, in my book, to homemade vanilla pudding! This dessert is extremely easy to make and you can make it MUCH FASTER than vanilla pudding. Why? Because you don't have to cook it as long to get it to thicken. The gelatin solidifies much faster than the cornstarch or flour that's used to thicken vanilla pudding. I know when I make vanilla pudding, I'm standing at the hot stove for awhile, stirring, waiting for the pudding to thicken. This recipe doesn't take much cooking or stirring and the taste is great!

Have you ever tried panna cotta? If so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Christmas Shoppe By Melody Carlson

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson

When Matilda Honeycutt moves to town, she purchases an old building that was up for sale. One a townsman (one of the town's politicians) catches wind of the sale, he's mortified. He'd wanted to purchase the building for his own gain.

However, Matilda has other plans. She wants to open a Christmas shop. The town's people believe that her shop will have Christmas lights, ornaments, etc. for sale, however, they're in for a big surprise when they actually open the doors to this new establishment.

Is Matilda a witch, a sorcerer, or just somebody who seems to know all the townspeople's needs. People come into her shop out of curiosity, but leave with changed/upbeat personalities.

I found this book a little hard to get into. I didn't really start to enjoy this novella until about halfway through the book. I thought the beginning was kind of slow and I initially had a hard time connecting with some of the characters.

However, the connection finally happened, and, overall, this is a joyous story. There's also a romance thread within this novel. The town manager finds herself smitten with the town's newspaper owner. Both of these people have inner conflicts to resolve before they're free to fall in love again.

This is a nice, short, joyous read to enjoy over the holidays!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Royalties!

I received my first royalties for my novel, First Mates, re-released on Kindle today. If you haven't read First Mates, you might want to give it a try! I've been receiving some nice reader mail lately about this book!

~Cecelia Dowdy~