Taryn's Snippit Sundays~ Sure you don't want to stay? #excerpt #SnippitSundays

She still intended to go with him to Indiana, but she gave serious thought to taking a day off. Truth was, weekends were hers and she intended to spend the entire weekend sorting out the confusion that engulfed her.

After gathering her paperwork and purse, Derrek walked with her out to the car.

She tossed her things across the driver’s side to the passenger seat. When she turned back, Derrek was upon her, his arms encircling her waist as he pulled her close and kissed her in the darkness.

Her body came to life beneath his touch, the tender caresses sparkling over her flesh and along every nerve ending. Jasmine melted into him, forgetting herself for the moment.

As Derrek pulled back, he whispered near her ear.

“Sure you don’t want to stay?”

The Way to a Man's Heart~ Taco Layer Bean Dip with Tortilla Chips #recipe

The Way to a Man's ♥

Taco Layer Bean Dip with Tortilla Chips

Ingredients-

Re-fried Beans

8 oz. Sour Cream

1 Cup of Miracle Whip or Mayonaisse

1 Package Taco Seasoning

Green Onions

Cherry Tomatoes (sliced)

Shredded Cheddar

Black Olives (optional)

Lettuce (optional)

Tortilla Chips

Directions-

1. Spread out the re-fried beans on large serving plate
2. Mix together Sour Cream, cup of dressing/mayo and taco seasoning
3. Spread that over the beans
4. Layer green onions and sliced cherry tomatoes over that
5. Top with cheese (and black olives if desired)
6. Refrigerate until cold, several hours and serve with Tortilla chips

Tuesdays with Taryn~ Spring Fever Like Molasses #writing #edits #distraction #life

Spring Fever is rolling through my veins like slow warm molasses as we stumble back and forth between cool weather that chills to the bone and humid days that are perfect for sitting on the bank fishing or sunbathing in the backyard.

It's loading my senses with inspiration and distraction and each force is vying for my attention which has made it hard for me to concentrate on one sole thing at a time. I don't feel like I'm multitasking as well as I used to- I originally started writing this blog a week ago and every day I'd come back and pull it up, alter the title to fit the day of the week and then get sidetracked before I could write another word. I'm really struggling to stay on track. I was also reading through Love By Change, the 2nd story in the Love By Series, but I've put it aside momentarily because I need to work on my craft.

Most recently I've been trying to improve it, by taking a fellow author's advice. I invested in The Anatomy of Story by John Truby.

I'll admit right now...I feel that I fail in this area where a lot of my fellow authors have taken time to study the craft of writing. My writing does not come from years of schooling, research or education. My need to write is simply drilled so deep into my heart that I do just that—write the stories that come to mind. I don't really know a lot about the craft of writing or how to build worlds because I'm such a pantser and I have never attended conferences or craft lectures. That leaves me with some disadvantages, like not having strong story arches and I tend to internalize a lot and I'm sure there are a lot of other things, but now it's time for me to build onto what foundation I already have.
 
I am only a few pages into Truby's book and have taken time to pause so I can work through my "wish list" and my "premise list." I'm not sure WHAT all to put on the wish list. I don't really want for a lot of material things and I'm not sure that's part of the list making or not, but I'm giving it my best shot.

It's also been a LOT harder to come up with that single sentence for each story than I thought, so I've spent the last several days chewing over how to write my premise for each and every story idea I've ever had or written or would like to write.

No small task, so I'm not very far into the exercise, but already I sense a shift in my way of thinking and awoke the other morning realizing that there might be a better way for Love By Design to start than what I have already. In fact, it could mean some major rewrites or rearranging of the current manuscript even though I thought I was nearly to the finish line and ready to self-pub it.

Now that I'm looking at it from this new angle, I'm not so sure. I want to be certain I put out the best possible book for you, the reader, so that it's worth your time and money and that means that I'm taking the time to sort things out and make sure I give you my best. Even it if means putting off the release a bit longer than I hoped to.

Sometimes you just got to know when to take a step back and do what you have to do, rather than what you WANT to do. You'll almost always end up with better results.

Have a fantastic Tuesday!

Taryn's Snippit Sundays~ You aren't going to stick around?

Jasmine crossed the room and leaned against the doorjamb, waiting for Derrek to finish hanging one of the shelves, arms crossed over her chest, prepared to shoot down any request that she stick around a little longer.

“I’ve got to get home and get some rest.”

“You aren’t going to stick around?” Derrek’s eyes pleaded.

“I would, but I need to check on Twinkle and I have a few things around the apartment that need doing. Laundry, dishes, et cetera.”

She waved her hand as if to say blah, blah, blah.

“All right, I’ll see you out.” Derrek’s words deflated and she felt bad about it, but after the last few days, she needed a break from his constant companionship.

Too many things had gone on between them in the past couple of days and she needed time alone, time to think. She certainly couldn’t do that if she continued to hang out with him after hours, knowing the time spent together in their down time was like water and sunlight on a precious little flower. It was growing affection and attachments she wasn’t sure they needed.

The Way to a Man's Heart~ Swiss Steak #recipe

The Way to a Man's ♥

 

Swiss Steak

This recipe is so simple, it might as well not even be a recipe, but it tastes so good that I just have to include it. 

Ingredients-

2 cans tomatoes

Onion

Green Pepper

Round Steak (or cube steak, whichever you prefer)

Salt & Pepper

Flour or Breading

Directions-

1. Brown Breaded Steak
2. Drain Grease
3. Add veggies and simmer on low for an hour or so with lid on.

Taryn's Snippit Sundays~ We can't keep doing this. #excerpt

Jasmine sat down on the edge of the futon to put her tennis shoes on.

“I don’t want you to go yet.”

Derrek’s breath felt hot on her neck just before his lips came down to kiss her in the same spot where her skin had absorbed his warmth. Jasmine shivered when his hand reached around and paused over her breast. Her nipples stiffened and grew firm beneath his touch. He drew her down to lay beside him on the bed, his lips finding hers and taking them without hesitation.

“Derrek, stop please. We can’t keep doing this.”

The Way to a Man's Heart~ My Momma's Mustard Potato Salad #recipe

The Way to a Man's ♥

Mustard Potato Salad

This is not technically one of my husband's favorites, but it's a great companion to grilled out burgers, hot dogs, chicken or steak and can generally be found on the table at many a cookout. Some would even say that it's a backyard necessity if you're going to be cooking out. This is my mom's recipe for Mustard Potato Salad, one of my favorites, which I recently discovered is actually called Amish Potato Salad.

Ingredients-

4-5 medium to large potatoes
1 small onion
1-2 stalks of celery
2-4 sweet pickles
Miracle Whip
Yellow Mustard
2 Tablespoons of Sugar
Dash of Paprika


Directions-

1. Peel and cube potatoes into bite size. Steam until tender (about 35-40 minutes in a steamer)
2. Meanwhile, dice onions, celery and pickles
3. Mix Miracle Whip, Mustard and Sugar together until well blended
4. Stir in diced raw veggies
5. Let potatoes cool for a bit and then stir in the rest of ingredients
6. Place in dish with lid and lightly dash with paprika. Refrigerate until cold and ready to serve.