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Monday Food: T. Jefferson Parker’s Choice? Steak!

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Christie and I had the absolute pleasure of talking with T. Jefferson Parker for Episode 7 of Corks and Conversation, just released last Friday.  If you’ve listened to our C&C series, we always ask this question:  If you could share a meal with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you have to eat?

T. Jefferson Parker had a GREAT answer.  He’d dine with Mike Finnegan (a particularly evil character who first makes an appearance in Iron River – Book 3 in the Charlie Hood series). And to eat?  A rare steak and Bombay Gin Martinis, straight up with a twist.  Great, right?

I’m lucky to say I have a great steak chef in my house – he enjoys a Bombay martini, as well.  Hey T. Jefferson! Next time you’re in the midwest, you might want to stop in!

If, however, you don’t have the benefit of a steak chef waiting to grill for you at home, might I suggest my other favorite chef?  Ina Garten!  Don’t we all have a crush on her?

She’s got several great steak recipes, but  might I suggest trying her Grilled New York Strip Steak from Make It Ahead:  A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook?  And maybe while enjoying your steak and martini, perhaps read T.  Jefferson Parker’s Swift Vengeance, or you could pre-order The Last Good Guy, his new book coming out this August.

Other great steak recipes?  Please share!

 

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Monday Food – Po-Boys!

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On Episode 19 of Game of Books podcast, which first aired last Friday, Christie and I talked about James Patterson’s The Chef.  The story takes place in New Orleans and the protagonist is a cop/food truck chef.  And his specialty is the New Orleans fav – Po-Boy sandwiches.

If Christie and I would have been together, instead of in South Florida and South Dakota, I would have tried making a Po-Boy to enjoy with the wine we shared on the podcast – Starborough Sauvignon Blanc.

I did a little research, as a SD cook would need to for a New Orleans specialty, and came across a charming food blog that’s one of my new favorites – How to Feed a Loon!  If you don’t know it already, check it out.  I’m guessing you’ll love Kris and Welsley and their great recipe for Po’ Boys!

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Wednesday Update: Vulnerability via Brene Brown

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I love Brene Brown. It’s not hard. She’s brilliant, hilarious in a dry, witty way that makes you want to hear more about her research into shame and vulnerability. She went viral for this Ted talk a few years ago.  Some of her books are Dare to Lead and Daring Greatly.
Her latest project is a Netflix special – The Call to Courage. Watch it now. There’s so much there. And, you know, maybe have some tissues and a notebook ready.
Brown says vulnerability is a prerequisite to courage – and while I really wish this wasn’t the case, I believe her.  Do I like it? Ugh. But she has ALL the science to back it up and she talks about it with a contagious Texas smile.
She starts the show with the gob smack to the face – Time is the biggest, most precious, and so unfortunately, unrenewable resource.
I’m fussy about my time. I spend it with my family, on my family-business, and my writing. But starting last January, I added a new family. They’re a bit crazy and all things fantastic and we’re all doing a 200 hour Yoga teacher training together.
I’m not ready to share too much, especially since my graduation test is this weekend. But, I will say, being vulnerable with this group of yogis has been a privilege. And vulnerable we have been. Brene would be proud of our little group.
So, watch Brene on Netflix. And I’ll let you know how my vulnerability test goes this weekend, i.e my graduation yoga class. And, to push my vulnerability buttons  this morning, I’m sharing my playlist here.  The courage part can kick in anytime now.

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Monday Food: Pizza Crust

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Have you listened to our latest Game of Books podcast featuring the great Tom Straw?  You may be familiar with his writing under the name Richard Castle.  In an earlier podcast, Episode 16, we discussed one of his Richard Castle books  – Frozen Heat.  In that book, his protagonist and Nikki Heat share some NYC pizza.

In case you’re not in NYC for a slice, what’s your go-to for homemade crust?  I love Alton Brown’s recipe.  I’ve  heard he had a pizza recipe in his latest cookbook, but I’m not sure if the recipes are the same.

We would love to hear your pizza making tips!  And check out the podcast!

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Wednesday Update

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Spring is toying with us. It was 70 and quite lovely yesterday (husband mowed the lawn – unnecessarily, but it made him excited for Spring lawncare), and now we’re bracing for a multi-day blizzard. Thankfully, I have lots of great books and spring planning to do to get me through the storm.

Books:

Wolfpack by Abby Wambach. If you haven’t seen the speech that inspired this book, watch it now. Shivers!

Daniel Palmer’s Saving Meghan. Christie and I just choose it for an upcoming GOB podcast. Brad Parks, who we recently had on the podcast, recommended it.

I’m spending a lot of time of my yoga mat this spring, working on my 200-hour teacher training. I’ve purchased quite a few new yoga books and am enjoying these right now:

The Yoga Bible by Christina Brown.  A compact guide to ALL the Yoga postures.

The Yoga Mind by Rina Jakubowicz.  An easy read on the principles of yoga.

I’m also loving this book: The Art of Stopping Time by Pedram Shojai.

I’m also enjoying my new planner – the Panda Planner Pro.  I have a bit of a planner addiction, I’ll admit.  But, I’m also either a planner snob or a planner commitment-phobe.  I haven’t decided which. I order planners – a lot of planners – and then decide I don’t like them for one reason or another. I often create one for myself and take it to the UPS store for binding. So far, the Panda Planner is looking promising. But, I also have the Savor Life Planner (both undated) waiting in the wings, if (and when) it might be needed.

What are you enjoying and looking forward to this Spring?

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Wednesday Update: Inspired!

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It’s spring!  And, I just heard geese flying overhead – it’s one of my favorite sounds indicating the change in seasons.

And, here’s two inspiring stories I just heard, both from my part of the world.

This 71-year-old Minnesota man just broke a record for…wait for it…holding a plank!  FOR 38 MINUTES!!!!!  And, he’s just finished radiation treatment for prostate cancer.  I mean, come on!

And, here’s why I love South Dakota and South Dakotans:  A story about flooding that has hit a town only 38 miles away, and despite how awful it must be, this South Dakotan is choosing to remain positive.

Here’s hoping spring has you inspired, too!

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Wednesday Update: Sleuthfest Bound, part 2!

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A year ago, I took a leap of faith and attended Sleuthfest, my first writing conference.  With the first session, I knew I was where I was supposed to be. And now, a year later, I’m attending again.  My novel is much, much further along and in a better place than it was last year at this time.  Christie and I did more than talk at Sleuthfest, where we met.  We followed through, started a blog and a podcast!  And now, I have the opportunity to introduce one of the highlighted authors and Christie and I are interviewing some amazing authors for GOB podcast!  I’m very excited to see what this year’s Sleuthfest will bring.

Here’s the link to my super bright and happy new suitcase.  I won’t have a hard time spotting this on the luggage carousel!

When it comes to packing, I have become a fan of packing cubes.  Makes my heart happy.

And in those cubes?

I’m doing something different for this trip. I’m using a capsule wardrobe.  No specific outfits planned, just a lot of mix and match.  We’ll see how it goes.

Pack something warm!  conference rooms are notoriously cold and this pashima will keep me warm this year.  I ordered this a few weeks ago.  Perfect for this crazy SD winter and for a Florida hotel.

Don’t forget your business cards!  I just bought this cute business card  holder.  This cord organizer is coming with me.  I’m hoping it helps prevent a mess in my carry-on.  And, of course, bring a notebook!  Sine I’ve started attending writer’s conferences, I’ve started a new notebook for each one.  there’s something special about starting a new notebook, just like attending a conference.  Both are full of possibilities!

And don’t forget a little self care while you’re there.  I love packing face masks and always bring my yoga mat.

What are your packing tips?  Please share!

 

 

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Corks and Conversation #2: Traci Hall

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In this week’s Corks and Conversation, we had the pleasure of talking with Traci Hall.

She’s the prolific author of over 40 books, including the By the Seas series.  Her latest book, In the Dog House, is the first in the Apple Tree Cove Romance series.

We shared a bottle of SEAGLASS Sauvignon Blanc, one of Traci’s favorites.

Check out the podcast and subscribe to future episodes here.  And join GOB the discussion on Facebook or Twitter!

 

 

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Wednesday Update: Overwhelm

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I’m feeling overwhelmed, which is not a great feeling.  It’s similar to how my favorite flower pot must feeling right now, under several feet of snow. (Can you see her terra cotta self peeking out from the snow?)

The next 20 days are full and closing in.   I’m guilty of taking on too much and underestimating the time it will take to get it all accomplished. These two things don’t go well together, by the way.  That said, I need to be as productive as I can and feelings of overwhelm stink and aren’t helpful.  So, here’s what I’m doing:

First, we all have the same 1440 minutes in every day. It’s good to remember this. Second, I’m so thankful (ok, this may be forced, but I’m faking it until I make it) to have so many opportunities going on.

Third, I’m doing a brain dump on a new level. Brain dumps are always helpful.  Just getting everything down on paper (or whatever suits you) really helps. But the usual brain dump didn’t help in the way it usually does.  So I had to create an advanced brain dump exercise.

 

  1. I made a list of the areas of my life with tasks needing attention.  I had 8 areas.
  2. I made lists of everything that needs attention in each area.  I used 8 different pieces of paper for this.
  3. I divided each list into what needs to get done before I leave for Sleuthfest in 20 days and what can be done after  I return.
  4. I created a calendar just for the next 20 days and plugged each task into the calendar.
  5. I realized what didnt and couldn’t fit. I had to move those tasks from the before list to the after.  This happened to several tasks.

I’m feeling better, and more realistic about how many pockets of time I have available.

Does anyone else have ideas of how to defeat overwhelm?

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