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It’s a cold, SNOWY morning here. Right now, we have basically a footprint of snow—nothing obnoxious. Fingers crossed, the weather reports are right, and we won’t get much more than what we currently have.
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This is the view out the front door of TH2, looking up the trail.
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Last week I was in Portland all week. While on the one hand, I didn’t do all the things that I’d planned for myself.
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On the other hand, I did write every day while I was there. I’ve never been able to do that before. In addition, during the month of January, I wrote 50K words.
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I’m still kind of stunned at that, quite frankly. I was sick for five days. I went to Portland. I still managed what is for me a decent word count. (Remember, I live with someone whose goal is 84K per month, and who frequently is over 100K.)
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Will I do it again this month? Kind of planning on it, quite frankly. As long as I don’t have a bad life roll, it should be possible.
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This weekend was also the annual wine and chocolate tasting party. I’ve had some version of this party since 2012, I believe. I didn’t have it for a few years due to the plague. This year I counted 21 people in attendance, which is a nice-sized crowd.
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I made chocolates and I bought chocolates. Here was that spread:
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And yes, I made the molded chocolates. The blue ones have banana that’s been caramelized with brown sugar, butter, and rum, with candied almonds. The gold ones have an Amaretto ganache in the center. Then I did my usual cranberry-orange white-chocolate truffles, rolled in pistachios. People loved these—this batch did turn out exceptionally well. I also did a raspberry chocolate truffle, that I rolled in cocoa powder. I needed to roll those in something that had a touch more sugar.
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As I don’t believe in pot-luck, but rather, pot-tell, I had other people bring desserts as well.
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The two cakes were TO DIE FOR. The chocolate crumble was yummy. Those little parfaits are made out of Irish cream. Yum.
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People also brought wine and other booze, including the most incredible tawny port.
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It was lots of fun, with good friends, and very, VERY delicious treats.
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As we spent the night at our friend’s house, I didn’t have a chance to write this newsletter until Monday morning. And now, I get to go write more on the novel. YAY!
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This month's sale is...
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This month, I made a box set of one of my series, The Long Run. This is available only on the Knotted Road Press store.
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Think Star Trek meets Leverage, as this crew of oddball aliens go out to con the universe out of everything they can grab. Plus, you know, free all people, everywhere, from the overarching corporate greed.
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Chocolates and Truffles and Bon Bons, O My!
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Shar Opalbender hates her life.
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Okay, maybe that’s a bit strong. Emo, even.
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Despite her Dwarven heritage, and her family’s expectations, Shar finds no joy in faceting, setting, or polishing gemstones.
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What better way to prove herself to her family (and herself) than to enter, and win, the Realms’ renowned contest, Chocolates Galore!
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And maybe, just maybe, with some magic, luck, and a little help from her friends, Shar also can discover the true meaning of life.
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If there is one beyond chocolate.
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Come enjoy this lovely cozy fantasy with low stakes, delicious chocolates, lots of breaking of the fourth wall, and utter silliness.
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AJ's latest vision starts with a dozen people being yanked out of sight by a noose around their neck. It ends with just a single body, hanging from a beam in an open loft.
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What the heck? Did she just witness the work of a serial killer? Or a cult?
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The victim turns out to be more nefarious: a Catfisher, that is, someone who impersonates other people on the internet for attention and possibly money.
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The reality TV show that exposes catfish turns their attention to AJ. As a successful psychic, she must be a fraud. Right?
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Between being pushed for information by one of the show’s host, the machinations of her mother on the Milltown chamber of commerce, and trying to keep her relationship with Roland moving along, AJ has her hands full.
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Particularly when a second, only somewhat reformed catfish comes to her for help after being threatened...
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Witch Mirror?— a cozy paranormal woman’s mystery—continues the adventures of AJ, the quirky characters of the charming Pacific Northwest burg of Milltown, and leaves AJ with questions about magical powers and her path forward, with her family, friends, and lover.
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Let the water—and the magic—flow.
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