Friday, February 16, 2024

BOOK: Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life by Carol Ann Kauffman

 


 
Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life is a short story written in the form of a letter from a very ill mother to her unborn daughter, telling her the incidents surrounding her birth, giving her advice on life, and leaving her the best of her family recipes.





Dear Gentle Readers,
This is one of my favorite short stories, though it was not necessarily fun to write because my mother was very ill and tended to be growly. 
The recipes included in Echo are my mother's secret recipes. My mother was an old Italian lady who prided herself on her cooking and baking. Everybody loved her food and our dinner table was always filled. 
My mother never wrote a recipe down. She never gave her recipes to any one - correctly. No one! That included me and my sister. 
Fast forward many years, my mother is in a rehabilitation facility because she fell and broke her hip and could not get back up on her feet. Feeling mortal for the first time in her life, she finally agreed to give me her recipes. It was still trial and error, but at least we were on the right path. 
She'd give me a recipe from memory. I would go home and make it. I would bring some back to the nursing home for her to taste. And she would critique it.
    
    "Too much salt."
    "Not enough basil."
    "Too much flour."  
    "You rushed it, didn't you?" 

Oh, it was an experience. Good. Bad. Sometimes ugly. She did come home from that stint in rehab and lived another three years comfortably in her own home with help. She made me promise to give her recipes to NO ONE until after she died.
If you try some of these recipes, think of Mama.

Hugs,
Carol

 

Amazon Buy Link:

Thursday, February 15, 2024

TV TIME: Blue Beetle (Max)


 

This is not exactly the typical DC comic book superhero movie. It is heavy on family.

Poor Latino boy meets rich white girl. They momentarily bond over her terrible family’s terrible corporation. She steals “something.” And the wacky comedy begins. 

I liked it. 














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Wednesday, February 14, 2024

INTERVIEW: Fantasy Author Madilynn Dale


Madilynn Dale
Oklahoma City, OK
USA



Good morning, Madilynn, and welcome to Vision and Verse. What have you written?
 
I have written six total novels and published several short stories which can be found widely. They span several genres including fantasy, romance, young adult, dark fantasy, steamy romance, erotica, paranormal, and adventure. 


What is your favorite genre to write? 


I love to write fantasy. I enjoy incorporating magic and adventure into my story with fascinating characters. 



Favorite food.


My favorite food is French Fries.


Tea or coffee? Wine or beer or soda or what? 


I love coffee but will drink tea on occasion.



Pizza or ice cream?


Pizza.



Wine or beer or soda or what???


Wine and pop, as we call it in my area.



Where would you like to visit? 


One of my bucket list places is Scotland and Ireland. A big part of my family is originally from there and it would be fun to explore. 




Favorite musical artist

. 

This changes for me regularly and even more so when I write. Lately I’ve been drawn to a lot of music by Imagine Dragons.




Do you listen to music when you write? What? 


Yes and no. Some days I can and others I can’t. I typically will listen to a playlist I’ve put together for my books or listen to pop via serious XM.




What makes you laugh? 


That’s hard to pin down but a lot of silly humor with book characters, my son acting silly, and funny incidents in books. 






How old were you when you started writing?

 

The first story I remember creating for fun was when I was in either 4th or 5th grade. It was about my dog and how he went on different adventures. I even drew pictures to go along with the story. 



Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write? 

I start by making a rough outline and then let it go from there. My characters tend to takeover and carry the story and sometimes things happen I wasn’t expecting. 





Describe your perfect evening. 


An evening where I don’t have 

to do anything and can just read and relax. As a parent those rarely happen. 




Where do you get your inspiration?


 I get my inspiration from all over the place. Music, people, books, colors, and movies are just a few. 




What do you do when you get a writer's block?

 

When I get writers block I step away from the computer and do something different that still creative. I draw or even hand write on my story. Going for a walk and getting outside helps as well. 




Who is your favorite author?

 

My most recent is Sarah J Maas. 




Best book you ever read.

 

Throne of Glass series Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas



Last book you read. 


Amongst the Killing by Joe Compton




What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 


I’m also a licensed Physical Therapy Assistant so I would continue doing that. 




Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 


My mother. She is strong, independent and can handle anything that is thrown at her. 


         




If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or 


fictional, who would it be and why? 


I would have to pick Andrzej Sapkowski, creator of the Witcher Series. I would love to know more of where he got his inspiration, feel out his world building, characters, and more. 

                                                       


What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a 


writer? 


Start writing. Put any judgement you have on yourself away and write. Don’t worry about perfection and editing. Finish your story. 



Do you have some links for us to follow you?


Website: www.thechaptergoddess.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Madi_Dale_Write

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madilynndalewrites/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadilynnDaleAuthor

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mratdegraff91/_created/

TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mdwriter?lang=en

Bookbubhttps://www.bookbub.com/profile/madilynn-dale

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20150515.Madilynn_Dale

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Madilynn-Dale/e/B0868CGSLC?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1616000125&sr=8-2

Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG8uZRvQC4o_dqwkqJy9Wgg

Linkedinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/madilynn-dale-5a810a223/

Ember Series

1. Black Flames:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KNYZ4DC

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/black-flames-ember-1/id1593125530

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/black-flames-ember-1

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-flames-ember-1-madilynn-dale/1140455371;jsessionid=4E8E1725A802262550DB37F3306AA9AC.prodny_store01-atgap07?ean=2940165069796


The Fae Shifters Series

Book 1, Releasing Her Power Within: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08682JFSP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

Book 2, Unleashed: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KGLWR1Z/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4

Book 3, Revealed: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LQNTKCD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

Book 4, The Blood King: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YKL5Q42/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Apple:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1564761460

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940164887674

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9781005284848

 

Standalone:

Breaking Traditions: The Shifter and The Mage: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087TJJ5HF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

 

Short Stories:          


Once Upon A Time ...: A Fairy Tale Anthology (The Red Penguin Collection):  https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Anthology-Collection/dp/1637770669/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Once+Upon+A+Time...+JK+Larkin&qid=1624559709&sr=8-1

Creative Intent: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DG9C5PV/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i6

Dog Park Epiphany: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CNML3V7/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i5

New Path: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CL57JZ5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i7

https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Anthology-Collection/dp/1637770669/ref=sr_1_1?

dchild=1&keywords=Once+Upon+A+Time...+JK+Larkin&qid=1624559709&sr=8-1









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Tuesday, February 13, 2024

BOOK REVIEW; Dead Before Dinner by Kat Bellemore




 Dead Before Dinner, A Maddie Swallows Mystery, by Kat Bellemore was more than a cozy mystery set in beautiful New Mexico. It was also a story about family relationships, and mothers and daughters, and about moving back to your small hometown. Add in opening your own therapy office. Mix well and add a few dead bodies. Believable, likable characters drive this mystery home. 







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Monday, February 12, 2024

ART: British Painter John Atkinson Grimshaw



 













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Sunday, February 11, 2024

SCHEDULE: February 12-16, 2024


Mon., February 12 - ART:
British Painter 
John Atkinson Grimshaw
Tues., February 13 - BOOK  REVIEW:
Dead Before Dinner
By Kat Bellemore
Wed., February 14 - INTERVIEW:
Fantasy Author
Marilynn Dale
Thurs., February 15 - TV TIME:
Blue Beetle
(Max)
Fri., February 16 - BOOK:
Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life
By Carol Ann Kauffman










VISION AND VERSE DISCLAIMER

Note:

Vision and Verse does not store any personal information like email addresses, home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.