Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Want a peek at my diary?


(Thanks, Delmar Schroeder, for this glimpse of Colorado fall)
I cleaned off my desk yesterday––a much needed task––and ran across various notes I'd written during the last few sermons at church.

It was revealing.

Some of the notes I'd forgotten I'd even written. But gracious, did they ever resonate…


"Any system of "dos" or "don'ts" that earns us points or recognition is in opposition to God."

"I cannot do anything to make God love me more. I didn't do anything to draw his attention, so what makes me think I can do something to keep it?"

"You'll never miss a thing by being humble."

"Am I praying for strength to endure a storm in my life? Or am I asking God to remove it?"

"When I come into contact with a "difficult person," am I asking God what I'm supposed to learn by the encounter? Or am I asking him how I can serve?"

"I wonder how I would be changed if I knew the deepest hurt of everyone I came into contact with. Would it make me more patient? loving? grateful? considerate? forgiving? The fact is…we all carry "deepest hurts." Lord, I don't have to know everyone's hurt in order to love them well. You already know every hurt. Let that be enough for me."

It was good to review those scribblings, and to spend a few moments reflecting on what I'd written down then had promptly set aside in the busyness of life.

There are moments when I'm keenly––painfully––aware of how far I have to go to really look like Christ. I mean on the inside. Deep inside. But there are an equal, if not greater, collection of moments when I'm cognizant of wanting with everything in me to bear more of His likeness. To turn and glance at the reflection of my soul and catch a glimpse of my Lord's compassion, his insight, his perspective on this life, his love for others, his burning desire for truth. His ultimate desire to do his Father's will no matter what. This excites me and spurs me on. Because I'm confident that "he who began a good work within [me…and you!] will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (Philippians 1:6)

When you read those statements above from my notes did any of them resonate with you? If yes, then I want to read your diary! Hey, turnabout's fair play! ; )

Looking forward to hearing from you today, friends. And for those of you affected by the storms in the east, know that you have our love and prayers. Please let us know how you're doing.

Tammy

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Scavenger Hunt Stop #4


Christian Fiction Fall Scavenger Hunt

Follow the clues to win a Kindle Fire, free books, and a box of Southern Treats!

Welcome to our Fall 2012 Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! The fun begins Thursday, Oct 25 at 12 noon MT and ends Sunday, Oct 28 at 12 midnight MT.
Take your time visiting 31 different author websites this weekend, getting to know new and familiar Christian novelists, reading about their exciting new releases for Fall 2012, and collecting one clue in red at each stop, beginning at Stop #1. 
When you end at Stop #32, fill out the Rafflecopter form and keep those clues handy. A winner will be randomly drawn and contacted via email on Monday, October 29. No need to submit your completed clue quote, unless you receive that exciting email on Monday. If that happens, be ready to provide the completed clue quote, gathered from all 31 stops, within 24 hours of email notification or another winner (sniff!) will be randomly drawn. Here's hoping you win!
Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire ($199 value), plus 31 novels (that’s a big box of books!)
2nd and 3rd Prizes: $50 Amazon, B&N, CBD or BookDepository.com gift certificate
Good news! This contest is open to international entrants. If our winner lives outside the United States, he/she will win an equivalent prize in gift certificate funds.
Enough already with the details! As part of this scavenger hunt, I'm hosting Tracy Higley. And honey, does she have a great exclusive to share with you!
Tracy L. Higley

Tracy L. Higley started her first novel at the age of eight and has been hooked on writing ever since. She has authored nine novels, including Pompeii: City on Fire and Garden of Madness. Tracy is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Ancient History and has traveled the globe, researching her novels and falling into adventures. See her travel journals and more at www.TracyHigley.com or catch up with her on Facebook.

ISLE OF SHADOWS
Enslaved in a world of money and power, Tessa dares to be free.

Raised as courtesan to wealthy and powerful men, Tessa of Delos serves at the whim of her current patron, the politician Glaucas. After ten years with him, Tessa has abandoned all desire for freedom or love, choosing instead to lock her heart away. But when Glaucus meets a violent death in his own home, Tessa grasps at a fragile hope. Only she knows of his death. If she can keep it a secret for long enough, she can escape.


And here’s your Fall Scavenger Hunt Exclusive from Tracy…

When I started writing historical fiction set in ancient times and exotic places around the world, I had no idea that I’d be able to embark on so many adventures around the globe to research my books and see amazing sights. My research has taken me to Egypt, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Israel and Jordan, and this past month I revisited many of those beautiful places via a cruise around the eastern Mediterranean.

The trip was partly research and partly an anniversary trip with my husband, and he gamely let me drag him through Rome, Sicily, Athens, Pompeii, Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, and Ephesus, not to mention all the photos and he videos he took for me!
But one particular day was extra-special…

My upcoming novel, Isle of Shadows, is set on the Greek island of Rhodes. But as the cover design was coming together, with a beautiful photo of Greece in the background and a model the publisher hired superimposed over the photo, I had a suspicion that the original photo had been taken somewhere on the island of Santorini. And so the hunt began!

From our cruise ship, docked in the middle of Santorini’s caldera (the huge sea-water filled crater that resulted from a volcanic eruption over 3500 years ago), we took a small boat to the shoreline of the island. A cable car took us to the clifftop city of Fira, and my husband and I quickly made our way through the picturesque streets to an ATV-rental store. A few minutes later we were speeding up the rocky coastline, toward the city of Oia on the northern tip of the island. Gorgeous views along the way, but absolutely stunning sights to come when we reached Oia. (Google “Oia, Santorini” and click on Images to see what I mean!)

We wandered up and down streets, winding around whitewashed buildings, blue domes gleaming in the island sun, all the while comparing the vista to the cover of Isle of Shadows.

And then suddenly, there it was! 

It took a little positioning to get the angle just right, and some patience while a guy who looked like he had nowhere to go hung around in the picture, smoking his cigarette.  But finally we were able to take some perfect photos. If you look at the background behind me, then at the cover of the book, you’ll see what I mean!

And then, as if the discovery wasn’t perfect enough…  A nearby church started playing some music, and couples began dancing in the courtyard.  I took a 30-second video to capture the moment.




I hope my special memory has given you a taste of this wonderful island! With every story I write, it’s my passion to transport readers to wonderful places.

I hope you’ll come visit me on my website, www.TracyHigley.com, where you can read more about Isle of Shadows and see more photos and travel journals!

~Tracy


The Fall Scavenger Hunt Basics:

Before you go, write down this STOP #4 Clue: teaches
Your next stop is Stop #5: Tracy Higley's blog 

And now, a Bonus Prize from (Bless) My Southern Heart!

I've loaded a box full of yummy Southern treats from the Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of To Whisper Her Name. Everything from pecan honey to a Belle Meade Pony Pattie, to Tennessee Taffy, a copy of To Whisper Her Name and A Lasting Impression, and more! To be eligible to win this special bonus prize you need to leave a comment on this blog (telling me why you love historical fiction).

Then, you can get extra chances to win (one each) by:
1) Signing up to receive my email updates, if you don't receive them already (Sign up box located on the right sidebar under "Join Tamera's Mailing List")
2) LIKING my Facebook Pageif you don't already (LOVE connecting with you over there too)
3) And if you’re on Twitter, please tweet either (or both) of the following: 
#ToWhisperHerName Real history, real people, real historical romance at Belle Meade Plantation http://ow.ly/eEuj7 @TameraAlexander

OR

FROM A DISTANCE, the 2009 Christy Award winner, FREE on Kindle, Nook, iBook: ow.ly/ejpdw

I'll draw a winner for the "Bless My Southern Heart" prize at random at 12 midnight MT on Sunday, October 28 from the comments on this blog, combined with the additional chances for those who LIKED my Facebook Page, signed up for email updates, and tweeted) beginning Thursday, October 25 at 12 noon MT at the start of the Scavenger Hunt. NOTE: Due to mailing costs, only USA addresses are eligible to win in this bonus drawing.
Many thanks, friends! Now scavenge away!  And be Sociable, Share!

****************************************

CONGRATULATIONS TO KATHY WHO IS THE WINNER OF THE BLESS MY SOUTHERN HEART TREATS!

Kathy, thanks for sharing this:




AnonymousKathy said...
I love historical fiction because of all I learn that either I don't remember from history class or they didn't teach. I so enjoy learning how people lived. Life was so different than what we know now.

Thank you for the opportunity to win your gift basket too.
Kathy, if you'll send me your snail mail address, I'll get your gift to you!

Thanks, everyone, for taking part. We'll do this again soon.



Update on the GRAND PRIZE WINNER, and congrats to all:

The GRAND PRIZE went to: Jennifer Friedley
The $50 gift certificates went to: Laura McEwen and Gretchen Michels Garrison

Beaten Biscuits, a Southern Tradition

Available Now in print and ebook
When I began my research for To Whisper Her Name nearly three years ago, I ran across the reference for Beaten Biscuits, and thought hmmm... I'd heard of them as I was growing up in the South, but I'd never tasted them. I'd only had leavened (baking powder) biscuits. You know, the fluffy ones that rise.

Well, once I found out that Beaten Biscuits were a staple not only in the Confederate Soldier's daily rations, but that they were made liberally at Belle Meade Plantation and served just as often, the deed was done, as they say. I set out to learn about Beaten Biscuits, and of course, had to put them in the Belle Meade novels too. Gotta get as much real history in there as you can!

So what are Beaten Biscuits? And what do they tell us about the Old South?

Beaten Biscuits are, like grits, a mystery to the uninitiated. And while they may be the precursor to the modern day Southern "Rise" Biscuit made with baking soda, they more closely resemble the hard tack of bygone days. But without the "hard." And they're delicious! 

They honestly sound harder to make than they are, and when you do make them, there's something about the mixing and the beating that just takes you back. It's always good to stay in touch with where you came from, and baking is no different. I love knowing and making the foods of my heritage. And the era in which I write. 

These biscuits became so popular in their day that a machine––a Biscuit Brake––was invented to manipulate the dough and trap air inside.

Here's an old ad for a Biscuit Brake

It works something like an old time clothes wringer, and you feed the dough through. More on that in a minute… But you can imagine the cost of one of these brakes. So therefore…the beating. It was cheaper to beat the dough than buy a brake. But that also meant more time. So the Beaten Biscuit gradually became something of a status symbol. The lighter and flakier your Beaten Biscuit (meaning the longer it had been beaten or run through a brake), the more affluent you were. Because you could either afford kitchen help (or before the war, had slaves) or you could afford a biscuit brake.

So, let's get to it. Let's make Beaten Biscuits!

Recipes you find today vary with ingredients but here are the ingredients I use that most closely resemble the ones from the nineteenth century. And yes, my recipe calls for lard. That's what Susanna Carter at Belle Meade Plantation (and in To Whisper Her Name) would have used.



Ingredients for Beaten Biscuits

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (with 1/2 cup held back for kneading)
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
3 T cold butter
3 T cold lard or vegetable shortening
½ cup cold milk
½ cup cold water (that was chilled with ice, not just cold from your faucet)


Lard was originally used in biscuit dough. But today either vegetable shortening (Crisco), margarine or butter is often substituted. Several of the recipes I found from the 1800s called for half lard and half butter, so that's what I chose to use. Along with lard (heaven help me!).

Let the mixing begin! I've blended the flour, salt, and sugar. Now add your lard and butter.

Cut it in with either a pastry cutter or fork.

Add the milk and "iced" water, and keep going…

Until you have achieved dough-dom!

I love dough. Doesn't matter what kind. I just love the feel of it. The taste of it. My mother used to say (as I was sneaking bits of buttermilk biscuit dough as a little girl) that "worms will grow in your tummy from eating too much dough." She was sweet, my precious Mom, but she couldn't lie worth a lick. 

Now comes the fun part. You knead the dough. For 15 minutes. No, that's not a typo. 15 minutes. Get crackin'!

After 15 minutes of kneading (you know how to knead… fold over, punch down, turn a quarter, fold over, punch down, turn a quarter) this is what you have. A smooth dough, pliable and nice. Okay, I can already tell I'm going to have to make these again soon.

Grab either a mallet or a rolling pin because this is where the beating comes in. You ready?
You're going to beat the dough for 15 minutes. At least 300 whacks. 500 if you're having company (so they're be all the lighter)! Why do we beat the dough, you ask? To trap air inside the dough so that the biscuits will rise a little. Remember, there's no leavening agent.

This is what the dough looks like halfway through beating. Get ready, you're about to hear the dough "blister and pop!"

We're done! Can you see the tiny air bubbles? And the dark spots where some of them have popped? Our dough is ready!

I used a biscuit cutter of Mom's. It's about the size of a silver dollar, maybe a tad smaller. Start cutting those biscuits!

Okay, so I didn't make the most efficient use of my dough. All's fair in love and biscuit making.

Prick the tops of the biscuits with a fork before baking. 

History shares that women used to prick their initials into the tops of the biscuits before sending their men off to war. These tasty little Beaten Biscuits stay good for 3 to 4 weeks in a container. Of course, the soldiers carried them in their packs and in burlap bags.

This is what the biscuits look like before they're baked.

And this is after. They're sooo good when they come out of the oven. One recipe I ran across said to serve them cold, but I threw that one away.

These biscuits baked on a light cookie sheet didn't get as brown as those baked on the darker pan. I prefer the darker. Make note to self…

I took a bite to show you the yummy insides. I know, it's hard work but someone had to do it. I cut my dough thinner this time to be more like a cracker than a biscuit. I've done them thicker and thinner. Whatever suits your taste. But you don't want to go too thick.

A few of the delicious little morsels. 

Some folks from the early 1900s called this "Sunday Bread" because it resembles homemade communion bread. I used to love it when our family helped with the communion on Sundays. A woman in our church made the communion bread from scratch and we'd eat the leftovers after service. But we prayed over it first!

Southerns love their thin sliced country ham, and this biscuit was created by God to go with country ham, I just know it!

And now for a real treat! Here's a video I found on The Rise of the Southern Biscuit with Maryann Byrd where she and some other wonderful women are using a biscuit brake to make Beaten Biscuits. When you read To Whisper Her Name, just imagine Susanna in the kitchen at Belle Meade literally "cranking out" these biscuits with her brake.



Belle Meade Plantation Beaten Biscuits

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (with 1/2 cup held back)
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
3 T cold butter
3 T cold lard or vegetable shortening
½ cup cold milk
½ cup cold water (that was chilled with ice)

Mix 3 cups of flour, sugar, and salt together in a bowl. Add butter and lard, cutting them in with a pastry cutter or fork until mixture resembles course corn meal. Add milk and "iced" water, then lightly blend until moistened. Knead 15 minutes, then beat the dough for 15 minutes with a rolling pin until the dough begins to “blister and pop.” (You’ll hear the sound.) Cut with small floured biscuit cutter, then prick tops of biscuits three times with a fork.

Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes at 325 degrees. Biscuits will be done when they’re a light golden brown. They will not rise up tall and pretty. These are biscuits without leaven. Eat them right from the oven or store at room temp. Makes about 35-40 small biscuits that will keep for up to three weeks stored in an airtight container or plastic bag.  These are especially good served with thin sliced Southern country ham. Delicious!

These really are fun to make. Don't let the beating involved put you off. Surely there's some  kind of frustration you need to work out of your system. This little biscuit will do just the trick! 

Let me know when you make them!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Simmering Spice and everything's nice

The comforting scents of simmering spices just make life better somehow. I love the way they make my house smell. Mmmmm... Here's what currently simmering on my stove. 


Fall Simmering Spices
3 (4-inch) cinnamon sticks
3 bay leaves
1/4 cup whole cloves
1/2 lemon, halved
1/2 orange, halved
1 qt water

Combine all ingredients in a tea kettle or 1 or 2 quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer as long as desired. Check often and add water as needed. Mixture may be stored in refrigerator for several days. 

Do you have a favorite simmering spice recipe? Please share!

If you're on my newsletter list, you should have received a quick email update I mailed this morning. If you didn't, you can view it here for a free ebook, recipes, video vignettes and more.

Happy Sunday afternoon, friends.

Tammy

Saturday, October 20, 2012

If milk cans could talk…

I love photos like these. They seem to tell stories just by looking at them…


Thanks, Delmar Schroeder of Greeley, Colorado, for sharing your artistic eye!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Two Book Festivals, One Busy Weekend!



I had the fun (and honor) of speaking at both the Southern Festival of Books (Nashville) and the West Virginia Book Festival (Charleston, WV) this past weekend. It was a whirlwind, but a fun one!

In Charleston, I shared a panel with Lynn Austin and Julie Klassen, and I have to say… I love these women! I really enjoyed the time with them as well as the chance to meet readers. I only wish I were taller... Maybe I can get my hair to go bigger somehow. Hmmmm....
Here are some glimpses from the weekend…

Having fun with new friends Mary Jane Henry and Donna Tuma at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville. Oh my gracious, these ladies are a hoot! I could get into some serious trouble with these gals! ; )

Loved meeting Susan McGuire at the West Virginia Book Festival. She picked me up from the airport Saturday night. Doesn't she look so official with her headset? 

Julie, Toni Blessing (our contact for the WV Book Festival), Lynn, and me at the booksigning that followed our panel presentation

Apparently SOMEONE forgot to tell me to wear a dress. Sheesh! Felt like I needed to repent or something... 

Oh! This was hysterical! First, this is Dwight Baker, CEO of Baker Books. He and Dave Lewis (who was off doing something very important when I snapped this photo) were manning the booth at the Southern Festival of Books here in Nashville. Anyway… I grabbed a Diet Pepsi before I left the house for the festival and tried all the way downtown to get it open. To no avail! So when I got to the booth, I asked Dwight if he would open it for me. And…ROFLOL… he couldn't open it either. After he muttered some comment like, "Thanks for making me question my manhood," I just laughed and set the bottle by the trash can. Then a few minutes later, I look over and see him with a set of pliers prying that Pepsi bottle open. Oh so funny… But he did it! Thanks, Dwight! Loved the Pepsi, and being at the festival with you and Dave.


At the booksigning following the presentation in Nashville. Love her jacket, and wanted to trade. And I totally forgot that I wore the same sweater to both festivals. LOL! Oh well…I told you the weekend was a blurrrr. Next time I'm wearing a dress! : }

One week from today To Whisper Her Name releases! I'm so excited to share this story with y'all. If ebooks are your edition of choice then be sure and grab this one for the special PRE-order price of $4.99. But on PRE-orders only. Which means you need to order it from KindleNook, and iBook before next Tuesday. Hope you enjoy!
Have you ever been to a book festival? These were my firsts this weekend, but definitely not my last. I loved every minute!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Charleston, West Virginia Bound!



I'll be speaking with Lynn and Julie this Sunday at the West Virginia Book Festival. What fun! Hope to see you there, friends. We'll be holding a book signing directly following. I'll have copies of all my books there including fresh "hot off the press" copies of To Whisper Her Name.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Read an excerpt from To Whisper Her Name



Click here to read the first three chapters of 


Winner for Week 6 of To Whisper Her Name Giveaway

Releases October 23
Thanks to everyone who shared last week's video about the thoroughbred history of Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of To Whisper Her Name. I appreciate both your generosity in sharing all six videos in recent weeks, and also your enthusiasm about the novel's launch. I'm so excited to share this story with you.

The last (and sixth) winner of a free copy of To Whisper Her Name is:

Michelle Tuller

Michelle, if you'll contact me here and provide your snail mail address, we'll get your copy of the novel in the mail!



To recap, the six winners of the giveaway are:

Week 1  Pam Kellogg
Week 2  Liz Riggs
Week 3  Melina Mason*
Week 4  Veronica Sternberg
Week 5  Stacey Daniel
Week 6  Michelle Tuller*

If there's an asterick (*) by your name that means I still need your mailing address so we can get your copy of To Whisper Her Name in the mail to you. So please send that ASAP.

If To Whisper Her Name is on your "to be read" list and you haven't purchased it yet, you might want to grab it at the special ebook PRE-order price of $4.99. But hurry, that price ends the day before the book releases.

And if you'd like to take To Whisper Her Name for a test drive, so to speak, I invite you to read an excerpt. The first three chapters! I hope you enjoy.

Click the link above to read the first THREE CHAPTERS of To Whisper Her Name

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