Cold Weather - Brrr

Okay, it's really cold here in PA!  If it's cold were you are, warm up with my book, CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY.  No, I didn't lose my calendar.  The story may happen at Christmas time, but it's a fun read for any time of year!

Hot men in kilts, steamy romance, sledding!  Who needs more??  And this is Book 1 in my Savage Bay series so you'll want to meet all the characters and try to guess who will be in the next 2 books.

UNBRIDLED - June 2014

and

SWEPT AWAY - November 2014

CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY is on sale for $0.99 until January 10th.

Get it while it's hot . . . or I should say cold . . .  Brrr . . . at least here in PA!

Happy New Year! Resolutions???

Happy New Year!
My family and I wish you and yours a safe and happy New Year!  Did you party last night?  I stayed home and watched old movies, ate chocolate cake and coffee ice cream, and then watched the ball drop in NYC.

In keeping with tradition, I thought I would share my New Year's Resolutions.  They say that if you publicly share your resolutions, you are more likely to stick to them.  I'm not sure who "they" are, but here goes!

1.  Less whining!

2.  Less complaining!

3.  Vegan five days a week!

4.  Each month, finish one craft project that is already started (Believe me there are many of these.)  It's really hard to craft while you are typing!

That's it!  I think having more than five resolutions is setting yourself up for failure.  My first two are big ones and will take most of my energy!  I'm pretty good at the vegan five days a week thing, but sometimes, when I'm in a restaurant, I go along with the menu rather than make a request for something vegan (even though I know many restaurant chefs are very accommodating).  So I'm going to be more assertive with MYSELF.  I also find when I'm tired, I'll just grab whatever is in the fridge.  So I need to stock my fridge so what I'm grabbing is vegan.

Last, but not least, I have lots of little projects that need finishing.  For example, when I went to England in 2011, I bought four small stitchery kits of famous landmarks such as Big Ben.  I intended to make a wall grouping of them.  I did one and started a second.  That's as far as I got.  That's me.  Good intentions and no follow through!  Maybe I should move this up to number 1?!

What are your New Year's Resolutions?

Happy New Year!!

Three New Year Quotes:

• “Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.” — Walt Disney
• “If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. The world needs more of that.” — Unknown
• “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

New Year's Eve

I thought that I would share one of my favorite quotes for this final day of 2013!!

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book.

Write a good one.”

--Brad Paisley

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!!

Twelve Days of Christmas Blog - The Answers and a Thank You!

Dear Readers,
Today is Christmas Eve.  I hope everyone has finished their baking, shopping, and wrapping!  I want to thank those who took part in my Twelve Days of Christmas Blog Giveaway.  Although I couldn't seem to get you all to write comments, I did get tons of entries via my trivia questions as well as email about my recipes and the snippets from CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY.  I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipes and hope you had fun answering the questions!

Don't forget to buy CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY!  The book is on sale until January 10th for $0.99!  Here are the buy links:
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
IBooks
Kobo
Smashwords

Okay...drum roll...the winner of my Twelve Days of Christmas Blog Contest is:

KIM V!
Kim, please email me at annlawrence@pobox.com to claim your prize!

❄   ❄   ❄

CONGRATULATIONS!

Here are the answers to the trivia questions . . .

Trivia Question #1

How many total (cumulative) gifts are given to the true love over the 12 days? 
Answer:  364 gifts!

Trivia Question #2

In which state you can find Savage Bay, the fictitious seaside village in which I've set my holiday book, CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY.

Answer:  Connecticut

Trivia Question #3

This one was more difficult in that you had to read the blog for the question and the answer.

Question:  What are the Savage Bay men wearing under their kilts.

Answer:  Nothing!

Trivia Question #4

Visit my website and tell me the name of my special charity interest.

Answer:  The Leukemia/Lymphoma Society

Trivia Question #5

What was the name of the black labrador in the excerpt from CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY on my website?

Answer:  Max

Trivia Question #6.

Finish this sentence from the movie Highlander using one of my Pinterest Boards:

"There can be only ONE."

Answer:  ONE

Trivia Question #7
Where was I born?
Answer:  Gillingham, Kent, England

Trivia Question #8
In which year did I set LORD OF SWORDS my new historical romance?
Answer:  1143

Trivia Question #9
According to my Pinterets Board, FOODS I SHOULD EAT...name a food I should eat.
Answer:  Any one of the following would be correct:

Quinoa and White Bean Burger

Kale and pumpkin seed pesto

Vegan Tahitian Coffee

Lentil & Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Vegan White Chocolate Mocha

Almond-Roasted Cauliflower

Applesauce Ginger Cake with Maple Glaze

The Great Pumpkin Pie!

Brussels sprouts recipes.

Kale Walnut Pesto

Kale and Quinoa Patties 

Wheatgrass
Vegan Miracle Fudge
Mushroom, tomato, and white bean stew
35 Holiday Drinks (but not all on one day!)

Trivia Question #10

According to the lyrics of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" what is the new 10th gift?

Answer:  Ten Lords a Leaping

Trivia Question #11

According to my Pinterest Board KISSES FROM MY BOOKS, what is the man looking for in the kiss from DO YOU BELIEVE?

Answer:  a teapot

Trivia Question #12

What is the next book in my Savage Bay Series and when will it be released?

Answer:  UNBRIDLED - June 1, 2014

Thank you to all of you who entered myTWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BLOG GIVEAWAY.

I hope you had fun with the questions and that the recipes will become favorites of your family as they are of mine.

I wish you all a HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON

AND

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Here's how I intend to spend New Year's Eve!

Winner of the contest was chosen using http://www.random.org

Twelve Days of Christmas Blog - Day 12 - Last Day to Enter Giveaway!

This is the FINAL day of my 12 Days of Christmas Blog Giveaway.  I will announce the answers tomorrow, December 24th.

If you answer today's trivia question or leave a comment on today's blog, you are entered to win a $25.00 gift card to your choice of either Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

That's 2 ways to enter to win the gift card:

1.  Send a trivia question answer to me at: annlawrencetrivia@gmail.com

**DO NOT ANSWER IN THE COMMENT SECTION!**

2.  Make a comment on my blog.

(It is also okay to go back to previous blog entries and answer those questions or leave a comment, but at midnight tonight, time is up!  Giveaway is ended.)

Trivia Question #12.

This is a two part question and you must have both parts correct.  For this question you need to go to the excerpt of CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY.  Scroll to the end.  What is the name of the next book in the series and when is it going to be released?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recipe #12

ALL-AMERICAN SUGAR COOKIES

My mother-in-law makes these cookies every year, and it wouldn't be Christmas without them!!  This year, she put a little glaze on them and a few sprinkles, but they are good just warm, straight from the oven!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1-1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

4-1/2 cups sifted flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup sour cream (no low fat - use the real stuff)

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Sift dry ingredients together.  Set aside.  Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with sour cream, mixing after each addition until smooth.  Blend in vanilla.  Wrap cookie dough and chill until firm enough to roll.  Roll out on a lightly floured board to about 1/4-inch thickness.  Use a 3 inch cookie cutter (or a glass approximately that diameter) to cut out the cookies.  If dough softens as you are cutting them, put back in fridge.  Place cookies on an ungreased or parchment lined cookie sheet.  Sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Makes about 5 dozen cookies.  These are best as a simple round cookie as they puff up while baking and intricate cookie cutters lose their detail.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER TO EMAIL THE ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA QUESTION:  annlawrencetrivia@gmail.com

CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY is a fun and hot holiday read . . . think men in kilts, sledding, mistletoe, and a touch of arson!

Start reading NOW!  Click here.

Book 1 in my new Savage Bay Series

Savage Bay  . . . Where all the men need taming and the women are up to the task!

Twelve Days of Christmas Blog - Day 11

What's going on here??

This is my 12 Days of Christmas Blog Giveaway:

In addition to posting a recipe, I'll be asking a trivia question each day.  At the end of the 12 Days, if you answered one of my trivia questions or if you left a comment here, you will be entered to win a $25.00 gift card to your choice of either Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

That's 2 ways to enter to win the gift card:

1.  Send a trivia question answer to me at: annlawrencetrivia@gmail.com

**DO NOT ANSWER IN THE COMMENT SECTION!**

2.  Make a comment on my blog.

(It is also okay to go back to previous blog entries and answer those questions or leave a comment.)

Trivia Question #11.

Go to my Pinterest Page and look at my board:  Kisses From My Books

What is the man looking for in the first kiss from my paranormal romance, DO YOU BELIEVE?

My Pinterest Board:  Kisses From My Books

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recipe #11

In keeping with the devilish nature of the book, DO YOU BELIEVE? I'm giving you my favorite chocolate cake recipe.  I don't know the origin of the recipe, but I've been making it at least 30 years!

DEVILISHLY GOOD CAKE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

------

2-1/2 cups flour

1-1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Tablespoon vanilla

2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2/3 cup oil

2 cups cold coffee

Directions:

Stir together the 1/4 cup sugar and the 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside. Dump the rest of the dry ingredients into an ungreased 13 X 9 X 2 inch pan.  Mix well with a wire whisk or fork.  Make three wells in the dry ingredients.  Pour the vanilla in one well, the oil in the second well, and the vinegar into the third well.  Pour the cold coffee over everything.  Gently use the whisk or a fork to combine the mixture, but do not beat!  Be sure to check for dry ingredients in the corners of the pan.  Sprinkle top with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.  Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.  Cool in pan.  Serve with your favorite ice cream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Come back tomorrow for the LAST recipe and trivia question!

REMEMBER TO EMAIL THE ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA QUESTION:  annlawrencetrivia@gmail.com

CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY is a fun and hot holiday read . . . think men in kilts, sledding, mistletoe, and a touch of arson!

Start reading NOW!  Click here.

Book 1 in my new Savage Bay Series

Savage Bay  . . . Where all the men need taming and the women are up to the task!

Twelve Days of Christmas Blog - Day 10

What's going on here??

This is my 12 Days of Christmas Blog Giveaway:

In addition to posting a recipe, I'll be asking a trivia question each day.  At the end of the 12 Days, if you answered one of my trivia questions or if you left a comment here, you will be entered to win a $25.00 gift card to your choice of either Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

That's 2 ways to enter to win the gift card:

1.  Send a trivia question answer to me at: annlawrencetrivia@gmail.com

**DO NOT ANSWER IN THE COMMENT SECTION!**

2.  Make a comment on my blog.

(It is also okay to go back to previous blog entries and answer those questions or leave a comment.)

Trivia Question #10.

What is the new gift for the 10th day according to "The Twelve Days of Christmas" lyrics.

Hint:  I like to write about these guys :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recipe #10

Best Ever Dill Dip

Ingredients:
1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream

1 Tablespoon dried minced onion

1 Tablespoon dried parsley

1 Tablespoon dried dill

1/8 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon celery seed

Directions:

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a small bowl.  Mix the mayonnaise and sour cream together in a medium bowl.  Stir in the dry ingredient mixture and blend well.  Refrigerate at least one hour or overnight.  This is also great on baked potatoes!

**I sometimes mix the dry ingredients up in large quantities, scoop the mixture into little jars as holiday gifts with the following directions:  Stir together 1 cup each of mayonnaise and sour cream.  Add 3 Tablespoons of this dill mix, blend well and refrigerate at least an hour or overnight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Come back tomorrow for another recipe and trivia question!

REMEMBER TO EMAIL THE ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA QUESTION:  annlawrencetrivia@gmail.com

CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY is a fun and hot holiday read . . . think men in kilts, sledding, mistletoe, and a touch of arson!

Start reading NOW!  Click here.

Book 1 in my new Savage Bay Series

Savage Bay  . . . Where all the men need taming and the women are up to the task!