Friday, May 15, 2020

Blooming Sweet by @BonnieEdwards #RomanceGems

Romance in Bloom is our theme this month, but we've been hearing about our lives in isolation as well. And why shouldn't we? The world is different from a couple of months ago. We're different. Some of us are coping better than others.

I think writers are coping well. Some of us are more productive because the day job is gone or happening remotely from home. Some of us are not writing at all because of the stress surrounding the changes we've seen and worry over the changes still to come. That does not mean they aren't thinking about their works-in-progress in the back corners of their minds. When their personal stress eases, the stories will flow again and they'll be fired up by all the pent-up ideas and creative energy.

I wondered until yesterday what I had to share here about my writing life and how I cope on a daily basis. I bake!

This is Chocolate Meringue Pie and my husband requested it. On other days I've baked butterscotch pie. But I won't show a photo because it looked a lot like this one. I've had a lot of comments on my meringue. The secret? Whip it longer than you think. Meringue should be pretty firm to peak like this. I've also been baking biscuits to go with some meals like chili or homemade soup. Muffins are another favourite in our home. Baking relaxes me, so I'm using it to help me cope.

Another way I'm coping is reading romances I've read and loved before. They take me away from the headlines of the day. But every night I find myself marveling that the entire world is suffering through this pandemic. I think of the people we interacted with in Portugal: the waitstaff, the bartenders, the cashiers, the cleaning lady, other tourists and realize they, too, are dealing with fear, worry, loss of jobs, and the health of their families. So, too, are the airline personnel who got us home.

When I think of that wide scope, it makes me feel blessed to live where I do. We're allowed to walk park trails, and stroll the beaches because of our relatively small population. We're not crowded and social distancing is easier. We've seen and waved and chatted to more strangers in the past weeks than we ever have because everyone is out walking.

The book I'm working on now is titled Rayder's Appeal and it is connected loosely to my novella series, The Brantons. This one has a quest, or a mystery (but no one dies) and lost of romance. More than once, I was told that Rayder's Appeal had a heroine that wouldn't work. But then, that's my specialty and now I'm ready to unleash Ellie Macklin on the world. I'm in the midst of revisions now and don't have a cover to share, but I should next month so please stay tuned because Rayder's Appeal is coming soon!



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Until next time, keep reading and enjoying the health you have.

Bonnie Edwards

22 comments:

  1. Hi Bonnie! I love any kind of meringue pie. ANY. KIND. I've been baking a bit too -- mostly bread. Like you, I always take up that challenge with people say "that won't work"--like you're heroine. Oh, it won't? Watch me. :)

    Good luck with Rayder's Appeal!

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    1. Geez. Please ignore typos/wrong words in the above. I'm not fully caffeinated yet.... (where is an edit button when you need it?)

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    2. Baking bread is my husband's contribution! I don't like waiting for it to rise. I like to get it all done at once, so I'm not patient enough for bread. LOL

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  2. Your meringue looks great! Even better fully caffeinated, Maddie! :-) The story sounds great, too.

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    1. Thanks Liz! I'm have more info and a cover next month! Lots of revisions to get through.

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  3. Wow, everyone's baking! I don't have the ingredients to bake anything. Hub has been doing all the shopping since I have asthma. Probably just as well or I'd be a few thousand pounds right now. Good luck with your new book!

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  4. I had my baking down to only when we had company so we wouldn't have to eat it all. But now? I need those moments in the kitchen alone with my thoughts.

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  5. I have baked more in the last 2 months than the last 5 years! I'm afraid to try on my jeans.

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  6. Agh! Now you've made me want to make a meringue pie! Another secret is to use a metal mixing bowl to beat the meringue, never plastic. Bonnie's right. You have to beat the egg whites for much longer than you think. Looking forward to the new book.

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  7. Thanks Joan. My meringue improved tremendously when I got a powerful stand mixer. I hope this book works out...I never know until I start seeing reviews.

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  8. I'm very much looking forward to your next book! And your pie looks perfect. I've never tried to make meringue. I sure like to eat it though. Yum!

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    1. Meringue is easy for me now. Used to be intimidating. Like writing...meringue takes practice!

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  9. I never get involved with egg whites!
    I haven't been baking but I've been experimenting with new recipes I come across in various places. I usually don't use recipes. So far the new recipes have taken a lot of time and more steps than I'm used to, with no so great results.
    Now I'm really curious about this heroine who "wouldn't work!"

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    1. This book has lots of twists! But it was traditional publishing that told me "she won't work".

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  10. I never bake... Partly because I'd eat nothing but desserts, ever, and partly because I'm too yippy skippy to take time to measure and be precise 🤦🏼 too bad, because not I NEED chocolate merengue 😭

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    1. I call this Corona rules...where we can skate on some stuff. Like baking too often. LOL

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  11. Like you, I love to bake, but for the past several years--which have seen lots of pounds creep up on me--I've refrained. I have to work too darned hard to NOT put on weight. Exercise daily and rigorously watch the diet. And, man, I miss my home-made cookies the most. I'm sure your new book will be wonderfu.

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  12. I baked pumpkin bread and brought it on an 8 hour drive to Boston. My grandsons devoured it and I've been caring for them since March 22nd, so my daughter and son-in-law can work from home. We've been baking cakes, cookies and pizza dough. It all smells delicious and tends to not last longer than a day.

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    1. It’s great to have the scent of home baking waft through the air. It feels so normal in these abnormal times.

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  13. I've baked banana bread and lemon bars but nothing that looked as pretty as your pie!

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