Rounding The Home Stretch

A Hearty Hello To Fellow ROW80 Friends! 

First, A Quick Progress Update...

*  I'm hitting my stride in A Practical Arrangement, marking better than 32K in this historical novella.  Closing in on the home stretch, it's time for a little drama.  Misunderstanding abounds (induced by the deceit of a trouble making vixen) and my heroine takes it to heart.  I've the entire day to conjure words...I'm shooting to wrap this novella up by week's end.  That's an ambitious goal, and I may require another week, but I'll push hard the next two days. 

*  Exercise is going well.  I've only managed one workout, but I've much of the week to gain my goal of four per week.

*  Social goals met. 

*  I cooked yesterday; it was glorious.  Pannini filled with zucchini, red pepper, onion, and tomato - melted with soft ball mozzarella.  Sweet Mercy!  It was delish!

*  I have yet to gather cover images to send off to my cover designer.

*  The Hot Jocks In July Giveaway Hop is going on! It's all about those athletes.  Stop by to enter my giveaway for my first novel, Claiming The Prize!   The blurb is featured, as well as the cover images and links.  Nearly 70 participating blogs are hosting giveaways, so there's plenty to please everyone.  :}

Finds And Features...

Author Lorelei Bell stopped by earlier this week.  I'm happy to feature her books.  Take a look at these interesting titles!
I've not had the chance to read as of yet, but I found Lorelei's blog a treat!  I've added them to my TBR pile and hope to wile away a few hours on the patio lost in a good story. 
Vampire Ascending 

Synopsis: (I've altered this slightly from the publisher's original)

Sabrina is not thrilled about the aspect working for vampires, but she needs the money, and she wants to find the gorgeous and mysterious vampire who has been turning up in her dreams. Is he the one who bit her when she was ten, marked her for his own, and turned her mother so long ago?


Now that she is grown up, a powerful vampire magnate in Chicago hires her to reveal the identity of who is ruthlessly murdering vampires in his ultra-modern stronghold of a hotel.


Little does Sabrina know that her whole life is about to change as her best friend becomes a victim, too and Sabrina is the only one who can find her. Her friend's fate intensifies the desperate need to find the murderer and, consequently, brings her into contact with a rogue vampire, Vasyl—who looks very much like her dream-vampire.


Sabrina is quickly immersed in romantic trysts and dangerous situations involving scheming vampires, shift changers, and werewolves.

  Vampire's Trill

New friends, new adventures... shocking revelations, and harrowing experiences make for riveting reading in this second installment of the Sabrina Strong Series.


Sabrina learns more details – through Vasyl's recounting of his human and vampire life – of what her role as as a sibyl means and how the past and the future will come together. She finally learns what role Vasyl has played in his search for the next sibyl and why she is so tremendously important.


As Sabrina's partner, Dante, puts himself at risk to help all of mankind, Sabrina learns why newcomer Bill Gannon is so interested in her, and she works to protect Bjorn Tremayne from losing it all. Sabrina's past catches up to her, and she discovers that not everyone is, or was, what she thought. New characters, some kind and trustworthy and some not, contribute to a captivating story line, and Sabrina finds herself on a journey she never thought possible.

Well, I'm off to get lost in my current WIP!  Happy Writing.

 ~ Nadja

Hot Jocks In July Giveaway Hop!

Do football or baseball butts drive you nuts? Do you love to see sweaty men chasing after each other? Tackling each other? Does the sight of a pair of sexy calves kicking a ball down field heat you up? Do NASCAR drivers rev your engine?

YES to all of the above for the GP Review Crew and the UTC Maidens. Even though it's summer, nothing's stopping us from HEATING up our days and nights with HOT JOCKS! Join Guilty Pleasures and Under The Covers for locker room talk about some of our favorite JOCK romances.

Do you have a favorite sports themed book or series? Is there a real life athlete who you can see as your favorite hero from a sports themed romance? We would love to know your favorites!

Welcome, fellow admirers of the althletic build!  I certainly appreciate a well-defined-clean-cut-thighs-that-could-crack-a-walnut jock.  Phew!  My heart rate speeds at the delicious thought... Arrgh!  In fact, my first romance novel, Claiming The Prize is about just such a body, er....bodies.  There are a few nicely hewn distractions in addition to my hero, Drago Zadrovec!  Step into the world of MMA for an afternoon of bloodsport and romance...

 

Claiming The Prize

Walking a solitary, disciplined path in his pursuit to become the light heavyweight champion of the American-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Organization, Drago Zadrovec leaves the security of his homeland to train in the United States. But once within the exclusive MMA organization, Drago finds himself increasingly drawn to his mentor's daughter, Grace Antolini. Quiet and gentle, yet thoroughly immersed in the world in which he exists, Grace captures his heart as firmly as his quest for the title, igniting a long buried passion inside the fighter. Subjecting his body to the brutality of the cage and opening his heart to the woman he desires to share his life with, Drago comes to understand that his journey is comprised of more than want of victory in the ultimate goal of Claiming The Prize......

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 ~ Nadja

Researching For Romance ~ Whiskey Making

Whiskey production occurs around the globe, but in Jolly-Old-England, the tradition is being resurrected after more than a hundred years!





Whiskey Or Whisky?    Whiskey or whisky (the spelling varies regionally) is simply the generic term for spirits that are barrel aged and distilled from grain. This is different from brandy (which is distilled from fruit) or rum (which is distilled from sugar/molasses) or vodka (which can be distilled from grain, but is not barrel aged).
Usually "whisky" (without the 'e') is used by the Scots and "whiskey" (with the 'e') is used by everybody else.


History

England, like Scotland, has a history of producing single malt whisky. However, the production of English single malt whisky ceased around 1905 with the closure of Lea Valley Distillery by the Distillers Company Limited (D.C.L.) now known as Diageo.
In the 1887 book The Whisky Distilleries of The United Kingdom by Alfred Barnard, the following English distilleries were listed:

• Lea Valley Distillery, Straford, London (founded in the late 19th century) - produced both grain and malt whisky.
• Bank Hall Distillery (Liverpool) - produced grain and malt whisky
• Bristol Distillery (founded in the 17th century) - produced grain whisky which was "sent to Scotland and Ireland to make a Blended Scotch and Irish whisky, for whisky purpose it is specially adapted, and stands in high favour".
• Vauxhall Distillery in Liverpool (founded in 1781) - produced grain whisky

But!  Whiskey production is making a comeback


In 2003 St Austell Brewery & Healey Cyder Farm announced the first production of a "Cornish" single malt whisky in 300 years. Although no substantial evidence exists that whisky was ever produced in Cornwall it was the first commercial whisky to be produced in England in almost a century. The partnership released a 7 year old "whiskey" in September 2011.


The English Whisky Company founded by farmer James Nelstrop in 2006, started production and released a three-year-old product in 2009.



The Adnams Brewery in October 2010 began production of vodka and gin, but in 2011 started to lay down stock of new spirit to be aged into single malt whisky.

The London Distillery Company (TLDC) is a boutique artisanal aged spirits manufacturer, based in Battersea, London. (Wiki)



Quite interesting, if I do say so myself!  Ha!  So, why did whiskey makers fold up shop in the first place?  Good question.  A Man's Manual asked the same question back in 2010!  I was able to find a great deal about heavy taxes imposed on whiskey distillers from the mid 1700's through the late 1800's (Cranntara.org), but most of these laws affected Scottish whiskey makers.


There are four countries which produce distinct whiskies, although whiskey is made all over the globe.  About Dot Com Coctails explains each type and the history for anyone wanting to learn more.

* Ireland - Irish Whiskey

* Scotland - Scotch

* USA - Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, and Blended American Whiskey.

* Canada - Canadian Whiskey

In writing my latest historical, my hero may delve into whiskey making.  What a blast I've had researching this topic!  My lack of knowledge on the process of distilling is one thing - I imagine I'm not alone there.  But I lacked even a basic understanding of the types of whiskey and where they came from.  I've shortened this post to the basics.  Barley farming and the malting process came earlier in the series, and I hope to feature another on distilling.  There is simply too much information to feature all at once. 

 ~ Nadja

A Tagging Faux-Pas?

What's a great way to begin your day?  How about finding out your book is up on a discussion board for a reading group??  It was rather surreal.  Even better is what I read.  BTS Book Club (On Goodreads) posted a thread for June/July on The Third Fate ! Exciting...for more than the obvious reason.

You see, I've had slower sales with this title despite positive reviews posted through my book tour and a handful of generous readers.  I've been scratching my head!  Marketing produced a few bursts of sales, but not what I'd hoped. 

Well, I may have discovered the reason - or one possible reason anyway.  More appropriate to confess, I stumbled across it.  Ha!  I quickly searched my title on Google with the keywords Amazon Kindle added to pull up a quick link to throw in this post.  Sure enough, my baby popped right up...WITH THE TAGS LITERATURE/FICTION!  lol.  Er...wrong tags for a paranormal romance!  Of course I went immediately to my author dashboard and clicked on the title.  Re-selecting my categories, I updated.  I've no idea how this happened, but happen it did!  Could be that The Third Fate was simply invisible to those searching titles for a new PR to devour.  Fingers crossed.  LOL.

Goals And Updates...

*  Chapter 10 is underway in my current WIP.  I broke the 30K mark last night.  Smiles are abundant.  Writing was slow this past week.  We returned earlier this week from Ocean City, Maryland - where the beach was absolutely wonderful - and a visit to Annapolis, where DD#2 is stationed currently. Honestly, I cannot think of driving for a few weeks. 

*  I will resume the typing today if it kills me.  Sigh.  (It just may...ha!  If you see a post titled 'Closed Up Shop:  Expired From Typing', you'll be in the know)

*  Exercise goals are met for the week.  Yesterday I completed the entire core strength/abdominal workout in my Yoga class, holding the poses without breaking.  Shaking arms were still present during a few poses, but I'm hanging with the big dogs!  Okay...maybe it wasn't as pretty as Teigh and Gillian's.  Pretty Shmitty.  ;}  One aspect of yoga that I've particularly enjoyed is Ugai breathing.  Fire Breath is another favorite. 



*  Social goals met.  (5 blogs/sites per day Mon-Thurs)

*  Even with the busy schedule, I managed to cook up a new recipe!  I'd forgotten how much satisfaction I gain from preparing and presenting food.  Adding this goal was one of my better ideas...ha!

I sure hope you all had a knock up week.  Happy Writing. 

 ~ Nadja

IWSG: Is 'Rest' A Four Letter Word?

  Happy Independence Day!  Fireworks, anyone?

Have a safe, fun-filled holiday :}


Welcome back!  Today is the first Wednesday in July, so it's time for our latest installments of Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by Alex Cavanaugh. 


I've heard my share of four letter words, I mean, really!  I was raised by sailors.  Ha.  But I'll bet there's one dirty little word lurking in your vocabulary that you find abhorrent!  A word so vile, so gruesome it leaves a lasting, bitter taste in your mouth just to utter the single wretched syllable.  What ever can it be? 

R.E.S.T.

That's right!  REST.  As an American - a type-A personalitied American who is extremely driven and task oriented - I tend to allow the challenge of the next hill to immediately replace the one I 've just scaled.  I'm excited to keep going, to conquer, to win, to achieve.  I love the sense of accomplishment completing a project ushers in. 

Then why don't I sit back and enjoy it? 





Good question.  I've been wondering on this myself.  And then it hit me!  I look at rest like a dirty, four-lettered, vile thing that will sap my ambition and steal my gumption.  I have allowed my Americanized thought patterns to confuse rest with laziness. 

The truth is we all need rest to recharge our imaginations.  I need that quiet time to let new ideas brew and ferment.  I found myself giving this advice a few times over the last week to others - but failing to take it myself.  So when I formulated my goals for the new ROW80, I kept this in mind.  I need to rest.  This summer is going to be my 'resting round'.  I'll write nearly every day.  I'll begin edits, revisions, typing...all those things that are on my 'exciting summits to scale' goals list.  But I'll do it at a slower pace.  No huge deadline looming over my head this round.  No pressure.  Just enjoyment.

Summertime is so fleeting.  I want to wring every last drop of glorious sandy-covered-goodness out of these weeks before the busy-ness of life intrudes on this 12 week haven.  All are welcome to climb aboard!   I want to look at the trees, feel the breeze against my skin, catch fireflies, and float in the pool as my boys beg me to watch 'the Navy Seal Swim'  or the 'Back-Flip-Into-The-Pool' (just one more time, Mom!)...to savor the lazy days of summer with my boys.  R.E.S.T.  Hmmm.  It does have a certain little ring to it...


Have A Great July, Insecure Writers -

 ~ Nadja

Setting Goals For A Summer Round

A New Round Of Words, A New Adventure

ROW80 kicks off a new round today.  Have you stated your intent?  I'm just posting.  My round will be a bit sketchy as we'll be doing a fair bit of traveling this summer.  My posts can be handled in advance, but writing time will be limited.  Enjoying my family is summer goal #1.  Everything else is icing on the cake.  Ha!

  This is for Angela Brown...  Three Deuces is our wine label!  We've now made two batches of wine.  We're about to make another one soon, I think we'll make Gerwertztraminer again.  It was amazing!

  
Here's my list....

*  Complete first draft of A Practical Arrangement.  (I've got between 10K - 20K to finish up)

*  Search images for cover and send all to Elaina Lee at For The Muse Design.

*  Complete revisions as needed once WIP completed.

*  Type.  (Yes, I know...I promised I would type each chapter as I wrote.  I lied.)

*  Editing.

*  Send to beta readers.  More editing based on feedback.  (Oh!  The Editing!)

*  Format and publish to Amazon for Kindle.  (I've tried some little formatting tricks in this piece and I'm anxious to see if they'll be successful!)  This will mark my second historical novella.  I will write another one and then publish the trilogy in one paperback book.  Hmmm.  Now I need to pull another historical story idea from my brain.  :}

*  Social goals:  Visit 5 sites daily (Mon-Thurs), continue to explore WanaTribe and RNCenter.  That's it!  I've no major plans otherwise.  I want to concentrate on the writing for awhile after the whirlwind of my last release and book tour.  Phew!







*  Continue to exercise four times per week.  Lucky me - I have an exercise partner with the gift of motivation!

*   Cook some fabulous food!  I love, love, love to cook.  But lately I've struggled to get into the kitchen - it's making me sad.  So, I'm adding in a goal to remedy this situation.  I want to cook one large meal a week where I try something new!

 ~ Nadja

Researching For Romance ~ Barley Farming

Research takes me to the 'field'...


Barley is classified as a grass.  It is green in appearance, and as it ripens the tops, called Awns, turn a beautiful golden hue.  These tall grassy stalks topped with the bent over awns produce the waves upon the fields.  A lovely thing to watch.  There are two main types of barley, Six-Row-Barley and Two-Row-Barley.  It is typically the Two-Row-Barley that we find in English ale style beers.


*  Interesting fact:  The Bavarian Purity Law, set on 23 April, 1516 set standards for beer production, namely limiting ingredients to water, barley, and hops.


UK Agriculture introduced this romance writer to the world of barley farming and production. The first stop along the research trail, I discovered a great deal of factual statistics along with growing seasons, crop rotation techniques, and systems of farming.  Barley is a hardy crop suitable for the often poor growing conditions of north and west sections of Britain, but the crop is popular in many locations around the globe.  All vaguely interesting but not necessarily my 'cup-of-tea' shall we say.  Still, the information gleaned is valuable when one hopes to incorperate barley farms into a novel. 

There are two growing seasons for barley crops in the UK and elsewhere.  The winter crop produces greater quantity, but lesser quality, and is used primarily for animal feeds.  The spring crop is of finer quality, but lesser quantity.  This spring crop is malted and then used in ale and whiskey production provided it is of the highest quality.  This is where research began to get interesting!      

Barley storage,  an article posted by the University of Minnesota, describes ideal storage conditions, storage life-span, and offered disease prevention tactics.  Clean storage facilities with adequate air flow are imperative for barley storage, which can be stored for a maximum of nine months.  I was not surprised to learn that moisture is a main contributing factor to bacterial and viral infection.  Sifting out broken particles is also necessary, as the casing protects the grain.  This topic required little time, as I don't go into this aspect in the novel.  I did, however, read and catalogue my finds.  Once I get going, I become 'hungry' to know as much as I can discover on a subject.  Ha!  (This is a fine example of me following rabbit trails in cyber-space, subsequently losing a chunk of time I can never reclaim.  Alas!  I cannot help myself.  lol)

* Interesting fact:  The word barn originally meant: barley house. 


The Fascinating Portion of Today's Research Feature, Finally!


The Home Distiller provided valuable information on the malting and drying process.  This site also includes specific instructions on making scotch, bourbon, and other whiskeys!  I never knew...  I've gone through the fermenting process before - we make wine every year - but whiskey is a whole new adventure!  And...a great venture for a romantic hero to dabble in.  Voila!  Whiskey production!  I'd found a way to connect barley farming to a personal passion for my hero; one that I've not encountered in a romance novel thus far. (* Note:  I'm certain there is such a romantic hero, but I'm feeling creative and 'cutting-edge' here...please excuse my ramblings)

Malting barley is a fairly simple process.  Malting is the process of wetting the barley to ecourage partial germination before drying, which can be accomplished slowly by spreading the grains and turning often or by drying in kilns.  The malted barley is cleaned and de-sprouted, put in sacks and banged against hard surfaces to knock off the rootlets, then shaken and tossed to sift out any broken pieces.  Malted barley is known for its rich flavor. To determine if the barley is dry, malters weigh the barley before wetting, and then continue to dry until the weight returns to pre-wetted-status.  Simple yet innovative, I thought.  Drying is not necessary if the malted product is to be used right away.




My mind came alive as I read, surprisingly, for I expected this topic to be rather boorish.  Not at all.  I will feature a post about whiskey in the near future.  I suppose I'm interested mainly because this skill isn't widely possessed.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll brew some ale - or malt some whiskey (I don't think I like Scotch...Fire down the gullet?  Sounds like a bad time...lol).  But I'd sure like to try it.  Hmm.  Another research-topic-rabbit-trail...I'm sure there are laws about whiskey production.  Ha.

 ~ Nadja