2010 in review

Wow, guess I rocked the blog this year, that’s good! …

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

The average container ship can carry about 4,500 containers. This blog was viewed about 14,000 times in 2010. If each view were a shipping container, your blog would have filled about 3 fully loaded ships.

In 2010, there were 91 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 250 posts. There were 110 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 13mb. That’s about 2 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was January 4th with 93 views. The most popular post that day was A Tiny, Yet Electric Taste of the Upcoming Final Book, ‘Raven’.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were featherbookseries.com, en.wordpress.com, largeheartedboy.com, facebook.com, and digg.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for abra ebner, dogs in costumes, fallen book, johannes vermeer, and sister for sale.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

A Tiny, Yet Electric Taste of the Upcoming Final Book, ‘Raven’ January 2010
6 comments

2

Parade Of Funny Dog Costumes! October 2009

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Sister for sale! Sister for sale! One crying and spying young sister for sale! April 2010
1 comment

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Books March 2010
1 comment

5

What I’m Reading Now… ‘Fallen’. And my thoughts on ‘Hush, hush.’ February 2010
6 comments

New Website for the Coming Release…

Today we launched our new website for Knight Angels pending the coming release of Book Two: Book of Revenge. We made the website more interactive and simple, clearing out the clutter while keeping it exciting. You’ll need Flash to view it on your computer, but most computers have that these days, just not those pesky iPhones.

So roll on over and check out the new Knight Angels website!

www.knightangels.com

A New Week!

Sciatica contained, I can now start a new week! Let me tell you, lately I have been majorly slacking! I got addicted to this Facebook game called City of Wonders and I can’t seem to focus anymore. And I thought Farmville was bad…

But now I’ve nearly conquered the game and I can focus back on what’s important cause the holiday weekend is over and I have to, or is it want to?

The weather sure sucks lately, huh?

Then again I was growing tired of the hot weather. My husband and I were discussing candles last night and how wonderful they are when it gets cold because muggy + candles doesn’t mix. I’m just happy to have a reason to mask the smell of his dirty clothes again, but that’s just me…

Book tour for Knight Angles: Book of Revenge starts October first. We will be visiting a whole ton of blogs in October. I will post the schedule as we get closer.

I love my bloggers 🙂

The sequel toy Book of Love is shaping up well. Looks beautiful so far. I love the actual page elements and layout, not to mention the ending! Gets me all excited for the third book and I think it will get you excited too.

What else????????

I made some cookies. It’s my famous Choc. Chip cookie recipe which isn’t much different from Toll House except the egg part:

Two sticks of salted Butter, room temp

One Two Tablespoons Vanilla

3/4 C. Brown Sugar

3/4 C. Sugar

1 tsp. Baking Soda

pinch of Salt

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Whip furiously. And I mean furiously…

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ADD:

One egg and one egg yolk.

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Whip furiously some more. Think submission.

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ADD:

2 C. Flour

One bag choc. chips (not the huge bag unless you’re nuts)

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Bake 350 for 12-15 min.

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Swear they keep you full for hours. Keeps my pregnant bestie pretty happy too.

Flat On My Back…

I feel old today…

http://tinylittlesandra.blogspot.com/2008/12/so-i-guess-its-about-time.html

I feel old because I hurt my back doing something, who knows what, maybe golf, gardening, sitting and editing too much. Either way now I’m on my back in bed with a cat that kicks me in his sleep and a back brace. I guess it’s called Sciatica and with this kind of pain, giving birth without an epidural is starting to sound good in comparison.

Anyhow, this really BITES.

More International Interest – Turkey

On Friday I was made an offer to bring the Feather Book Series and Knight Angels Series to Turkey! I was very excited, and find the opportunity another unique advance in reaching the world with my stories! I haven’t yet signed any contracts, but plan to. The publisher is Artemis:

http://www.artemisyayinlari.com/

They have a lot of great titles, a beautiful site, and the chief editor is very nice!

Just another exciting opportunity!!

Furniture Makeover: A Story of Old Clothes and Quick Fixes

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Why was he staring at me like that? I didn’t like it…

I shifted my seat on the deflated couch, trying to turn my gaze away. Frowning, I began typing once more. I didn’t get very far before I felt his gaze dig holes in the side of my head. I glanced once again in his direction, his stance solid, determined.

I grumbled. “What do you want?”

He said nothing, just stood there in his stupid green outfit that did him little justice. It was an outfit he’d gotten in the ninties, and it showed.

“I’m aware that you hate what you’re wearing! What do you want me to do about it?”

He sat silently, showing me what he wanted by the decor that surrounded him.

“You want to wear black? What, are you goth now?”

Another stoney stare.

I sighed long and hard, shutting the computer on my lap and placing it on the bookstand beside me. With him staring at me like this, I was never going to get any writing done. I stood and marched up to him, his four friends surrounding him with their stubburn, spindly legs. His friends came from all over – Pottery Barn, and of course garage sales. They glared at me the same way, all except the Pottery Barn group – they were confident in their clothes.

“And I suppose you want new clothes too, huh?” I addressed two of his friends that were wearing a horrid pumpin pattern.

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They gave me the same lip, and it drove me to give in.

“Fine! I’ll do it, but beware that I cannot guarantee a good outcome, but I’ll try my best.”

I marched to the door where I grabbed my keys and purse. When I came back, I had new fabric, and of course a quart of black paint. He was still staring at me. With a clenched jaw, I removed all his jewelry – the vases, candles, bobbles he wore excessively in his attempt to look more modern. It looked trashy instead. I then flipped him over on his back…

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…and I removed his friends pumpkin clothes.

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He giggled with happiness and I brushed him with a new coat – first a layer to cover the green, then another to cover streaks, then a third to make his new clothes shine like a leather jacket.

His friends watched anxiously, the pumpkin duo patiently awaiting their turn. While he was drying, I took the pumpkins and rehabed their October look. I drove staples into their flesh, but they didn’t seem to mind – they were seasoned plastic surgery patients – I could see the two previous scars of old changes on their undersides.

when I was done I sighed, seeing it was almost time for dinner. My day was a waste as far as writing went, but I was glad to see that He and his friends were happy.

“How’s that?”

they all stood with pride and thanks.

it felt good to help out…

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Re-Living My Childhood ♥ Part 5

 

Copa Cabana!

 

My parents have finally made a blog for their Cabana (well, I made it, but still…) I think it’s so CUTE! You should go be friends with them now, so that they have followers. I’m trying to walk my mother through the blogging process, hopefully she learns quick!

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Visit Their Blog Here

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The Story

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This is where I grew up: Fishing, swimming, wakeboarding, and of course writing! I was a lucky girl – blessed!

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I wouldn’t trade anything for the memories I have from this place. I still remember it before it was ever remodeled: Horrid blue glass. Blue. Blue. Blue!!!

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My favorite part is the port holes in the floor where you can see through the glass to the fish under the house. The waves at night lull you to sleep, and I love the kitchen!!

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This is just the guest house, but to me it was my play house!

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Whiskey Demi Glace` and a diet…

Well, fishing weekend was great! The first day was rather windy, and the motor in our bass boat stopped working while we were out on the lake, but hanging out in the cabin drinking wine and watching movies was not bad at all! Not to mention the whiskey demi glace` on steak and the cream clams with a salad…

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needless to say this week is all about salad and rice cakes… maybe some edimame to splurge.

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to celebrate diet week, I’m going to give you a favorite diet dinner recipe!

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Citrus-Herb Game Hen

Courtesy Giada DeLaurentis

Ingredients

• 2 (1 1/2 to 2-pound) Cornish game hens
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 shallots, minced
• 2 tablespoons orange zest, from 2 medium oranges
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest, from about 3 lemons
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons Marsala wine or dry sherry
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries or currants
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

Directions

Place an oven rack in the lower 1/3 of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Rinse the game hens and pat dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, shallots, orange zest, lemon zest, thyme, mint, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Rub 2 tablespoons of the zest mixture over the skins of the game hens. Place the remainder of the zest mixture under the skin and into the cavities of the hens. Using kitchen twine, truss the legs together. Place the hens in a shallow 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Add the chicken stock, Marsala wine, lemon juice, orange juice, and cranberries. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the leg juices run clear. Remove the game hens and set aside. Place the flour in a small saucepan. Whisk in the pan juices. Bring the juices to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Whisk in the butter and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

To serve, remove the kitchen twine and place the hens on 2 serving plates. Drizzle with the citrus-herb sauce.

Cook’s Note: Reserve 1/4 cup of the citrus-herb sauce for the Crouton Salad.

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Crouton Salad

Ingredients

• 1/2 (8-ounces) loaf rosemary bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes* see Cook’s Note
• Olive oil, for drizzling
• 3 cups packed arugula
• 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
• 1/4 cup Citrus-Herb Sauce, see Roasted Citrus-Herb Game Hen recipe
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the bread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until toasted. Set aside to cool.

In a medium salad bowl, mix together the cooled croutons, arugula, and pine nuts. Add the Citrus-Herb Sauce. Toss well until all ingredients are coated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.

*Cook’s Note: You can also use olive bread or any plain rustic loaf in place of the rosemary bread.

Re-Living My Childhood ♥ Part 4

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Hook, Line, and Sinker…

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You may be thinking: What does this have to do with your childhood?

The truth is: Nothing, I just thought it was funny.

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But I suppose I can’t say nothing, because clearly there’s something. This weekend is Opening of Fishing weekend, and as lame as that sounds…. it’s not.

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The Background

When I was little, my family and I had friends that lived down the street. Every Opening of Fishing weekend they went to Alta Lake in Eastern Washington State. That year we were invited to go along, I think I was 7. This other family has two daughters and a son. The youngest daughter was Hillary, my best friend growing up:

We’re still friends 🙂

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And then there was her older brother, who I always thought was cute!

He’s my husband 🙂

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So, the moral of the story is that those little things you do as a kid can actually be your future! My husband and I didn’t actually start dating until after we were 21 (I had lots of boyfriends first, too!), but having that history is amazing! I have a picture on my desk of Hillary, Hubby, my brother, and I playing on the swingset together in the old neighborhood 🙂

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So, here’s to the Ghetto Fabulousness that will be another camping weekend! ‘Course now-a-days the campground has a five-star restaurant and cabins with showers, but it’s still the tradition that counts, and the fact that I LOVE fishing…

At least cell phones don’t work out there, that’s rugged enough, right?

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I guess I know a thing or two about romance!

Tedious Tuesday: Cat Surgery, New Books, and Final Edits…

Yes, today is the day I get to pick up my now toothless cat from the vet.

I tried to find a pick of a toothless cat to get an idea of what this little guy is going to look like. This above pic was the best I could find, and I’ll admit, I did chuckle.

I used to call Chandler ‘Count Catula’ because his front teeth were so BIG.

Now I will be calling him ‘Gum Ball.’

He’ll have to eat the pate canned food from now on, not like that’s such a bummer for him. He loves that stuff! But boy, does it make him gassy, ha ha.

 

New Books

I’m very excited to finally own a copy of Shiver. I’ve ben looking for this book in a store nearby for a while. I know I could have just ordered it, but I’m weird like that.

I still haven’t finished Beautiful Creatures (it’s been over a month now) but I swear I will. I got hung up doing the final edits of Knight Angels and then reading my friends Annette and Brenda’s books.

I know it’s probably old news at this point, but I’m still so excited!!

Final Edits

My final edits are taking longer than I originally antisipated, luckily the deadline is later than I thought! I’m reviewing my copy at the moment, adding and subtracting to be sure there’s enough suspense. I love suspense!

I think you are all going to pleasantly surprised by this book. If you were a big fan of Feather, just you wait. This is Feather times four…

Ahhhh!!! I can’t hardly wait for the Review Copies to get to the reviewers. I just have to know what others think!