April
1, 2017
April
showers bring May flowers. Here in
Oklahoma it is the start of tornado season, so please be weather aware wherever
you live. Plus, look out for those April
Fool’s Day tricks! Who has seen Beauty
and the Beast? I loved it and well, I
have a confession. Although I know the
story and what it is about I had never watched the animated version, nor read
the book. Maybe that comes from having
one child who happens to be a boy.
In
this Issue:
© Quote of the Month
© Check This Out
© Featured Author
© New Releases
© Author Recipe of
the Month
© Upcoming Book
Signings/Appearances
© Coming Next Month
Quote
of the Month: “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ~~ Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961, American Novelist)
Check
This Out:
Is
there a young author or poet in your family? There is! 😊 Did
you know there's a 
writing competition for kids between 11 and 18 years of age?
You didn't? 😲 Have
your little Fitzgerald or Poe enter his/her works for next year’s New Voices Young Writers Competition for 2018 starting in November. FMI on how
to enter click here
writing competition for kids between 11 and 18 years of age?
You didn't? 😲 Have
your little Fitzgerald or Poe enter his/her works for next year’s New Voices Young Writers Competition for 2018 starting in November. FMI on how
to enter click here
Graduation
Night from the Chickasha Citizen’s Police Academy was on the 30th.
It was one of the most special 11 weeks with a group of people I’d never
imagined would become part of my extended family in my heart. I even shot an
AR-15 and I’d never picked up a gun
before, but the officer who helped me was very supportive and made it easy. Did
it change my mind about owning a gun? No. Bottom line is I would take this
academy again. I highly recommend that if your city has a Citizen’s Police
Academy take it—it’ll open your eyes to a world you may not fully understand. So call your local police department and ask if
they have a Citizen’s Police Academy. I promise, you won’t regret it.
Your gateway to Maxine's books:
Love’s Redemption is the seventh
book in the Pikes Run Series. It features Willa Kramer and Lonnie Davis who
appeared in book two, The Sheriff’s Gift. The inspiration for my stories always
comes from my characters. I imagine their personality, then put them into
situations that reveal who they are.
Willa has a painful past, and she
confronts it with a steady will and bravery I envy. One of my dearest friends
in the world – I’ve known her since birth – was my inspiration for Willa. She
is strong, true, has a very strict sense of right and wrong, and is fiercely
loyal. She also hates crowds and prefers lounging at home. I love her dearly.
(Can you tell?)
Lonnie is the perfect match for Willa. He
is patient, calm, steady and brave. He loves Willa, and it’s this love that
leads him to be everything he can for her. Lonnie is based off my husband. He
is the kind of person who will sacrifice his own needs and wants for another’s
safety and happiness. And this is the hero I needed for Willa. After what she
has to overcome, she deserves someone who’ll walk through fire for her, and
that is Lonnie.
I draw from the people around me. I am
humbled by my family and friends and seek to show them what I’ve learned from
them. So, I write characters that reflect their personalities.
My favorite part of publishing a book is
writing the dedication. Sometimes I don’t know who the story relates to until I
finish, but eventually the characters speak to me. I wouldn’t be an author
without the people I love, and I thank them for blessing me with their
beautiful imperfections and honest hearts.
He
paused. His chest tightened. He’d waited a long time to see her, had wondered
if he ever would. Years ago, she’d wrapped him around her little finger, and
he’d grown so attached to her, he’d thought about moving to Tennessee to be
with her. But then she had stopped writing. To say it had hurt would be an
understatement. But he hadn’t been angry. He could never be angry with her.
Never. And now she was back and near. It was too tempting.
After taking a deep breath, he moved
forward then went through the screen door. Even though it gave a loud creak,
she didn’t turn. Did she know it was he who stood behind her?
The light breeze ruffled her skirt. Her
long, velvety hair grazed the small of her back. An ache centered in the pit of
his stomach. He’d missed her. And now she was here. “Hello, Willa.”
New
Releases This Month:
April 1
Dead Drop
Book 4 Incognito Series
Roan Emory,
Network operative, was inducted against his will. 25 years later, Roan is the
most dangerous man in the world with the face of a fallen angel and the heart
of a machine. Only legitimate death can free him.
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April 1
Angel Unleashed
Rhys de Troyes,
Blood Knight, knows all about quests. But will grounded angel Avery Arcadia
Quinn, who has vowed revenge against the Knights, accept his help when their
burning attraction threatens their missions in London?
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April 6
The Chocolate Comeback
When a failed
fashion model discovers joy as a caregiver, an unexpected chance forces her
to choose between a lifelong dream and the man who thinks she’s perfect, just
as she is.
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April 7
Her General in Gray
Autumn Hartley
purchases Allen Hall at a steal, but the northern lass gets far more than a
beautiful plantation in the South Carolina Low Country. The house comes
complete with its own ghost, a handsome and charming Civil War General—for
the Confederacy. The stage is set for another civil conflict.
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April 15
SInbad’s War
Book 6 of The Adventures of Sinbad
The United
Terran Federation wants his ships for their war and geta a refusal. It's only
when the battle is brought to his planet that the eighth richest man in the
galaxy enters the conflict, Sinbad lost his wife and child in the attack and
there's nothing in the universe more dangerous than a Felidan who's lost his
mate.
|
April 15
Essence of Absinthe
The Marquis
Etienne has a secret involving his deceased eldest son. When he takes his
family from France to Nouvelle Orleans to avoid the coming Revolution, he
doesn't know he's taking his younger son into danger for in that city lurks a
woman seeking vengeance and the spirit of a man who wants to live again.
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April 17
Marrying the Wrong Earl
Lords & Ladies in Love series
Lady Arabella
likes life exactly the way it is. She cherishes her freedom and the animals
she rescues. Nash, the Earl of Clarendon has decided to take a bride.
However, the one he chose is now beyond reach because Lady Arabella stumbled
into his life…at the wrong time and in the wrong place.
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April 23
A Sheriff’s Passion
Sheriff Shane
McCall has always fought his attraction to saloon owner Silver Adams. Wanting a reputation above reproach, Silver
is the last thing he needs. Even if
she is everything he desires.
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April 25
Missing: The Lady Said No
Chandler County Book
The Race is on
to find a Killer in the heart of Kentucky horse country. Detective Augustus
Grant faces his most baffling case to date.
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The
adventures of my codebreaking heroine and spymaster hero in A Raven’s Heart inspired me to try this
delicious almond cake. Made in cities across Northern Spain, it’s called Tarta
de Santiago. Pilgrims who visit the great Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
in Galicia see it in the windows of every pastry shop and restaurant. It comes
in many sizes, often marked on top with the shape of the cross of the Order of
Santiago. It’s very easy to make and gluten-free! With the wonderful Spanish
combination of oranges, lemons, and almonds, this should put you in the mood
for a fiesta! Enjoy!
Tarta de Santiago
1/2
pound (1 3/4 cups) blanched whole almonds
6
large eggs, separated
1-1/4
cups superfine sugar
Grated
zest of 1 orange
Grated
zest of 1 lemon
4
drops almond extract
Confectioners’
sugar for dusting.
·
Finely grind the almonds in a food processor.
·
With an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks with the
sugar to a smooth pale cream.
·
Beat in the zests and almond extract.
·
Add the ground almonds and mix very well.
·
With clean beaters, beat the egg whites in a large
bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold them into the egg and almond mixture (the
mixture is thick, so that you will need to turn it over quite a bit into the
egg whites).
·
Grease an 11-inch springform pan, preferably
nonstick, with butter and dust it with flour.
·
Pour in the cake batter, and bake into a preheated
350°F for 40 minutes, or until it feels firm to the touch.
·
Let cool before turning out.
·
Just before serving, dust the top of the cake with
confectioners' sugar.
·
If you like, cut a St. James cross out of paper,
place it in the middle of the cake, and dust with confectioners' sugar, then
remove the paper.
Optional: serve with a
scoop of cream or ice cream and top with toasted slivered almonds. Yum!
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K. C. Bateman is known for her witty, intelligent, and sexy
Regency / Napoleonic historical romances. The first two books in her Secrets
& Spies series, To Steal a Heart
and A Raven’s Heart are available
to buy now.
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Upcoming
Book Signings / Appearances:
Ø Third Saturday of
the Month: OKRWAMeeting, Oklahoma City, OK
Ø June 14-18: EPICon, San Antonio, TX
Ø July 14-17: A Weekend With The Authors,
Nashville, TN
Ø October 6-8: Rock Island Arts Festival 2017,
Chickasha, OK
With
much gratitude, until next time…keep reading.
Maxine
Spark
your imagination and entice your mind
Be
adventurous in your own mind
Take
a journey into a new world and be inspired
Enjoy
the pleasures of reading ~~
It
does the mind and body good.
Above photo from
Pinterest
“Disney's Bambi
-Little April Shower-” from WaltDisney4Life Channel
YouTube
Thank you for having me! Your newsletter is lovely, and I was glad to share my book with your fans!
ReplyDeleteIt is my pleasure Kara!
DeleteAnother great newsletter!
ReplyDeleteGood luck and God's blessings to ALL
PamT
Thank you Pam!
Delete