Monthly Archives: June 2015

The joys and disappointments of research #amwriting #LosAngeles #1920s

film-set-intolerance-1916-grangerLate last night the kid was actually asleep, so I decided to be good and do some research. I have lots of research to do so I’ve been picking up all my new books at odd hours. This time, I was looking at 1920s Los Angeles for a research tidbit.

The scene above is from the 1916 movie set of Intolerance. It’s scenery for an Ancient Babylon scene, and the set was enormous, towering over local houses in LA. Apparently the film company went bankrupt and the set stayed up for a few years, falling into ruin. I couldn’t find pictures of what it looked like ruined, which would have been fantastic.

The set has moved into Hollywood lore, and it was partially rebuilt a few years ago in a mall, a bit of history for locals and tourists alike.

The first place I found this information and photo said the ruins were torn down in 1921. I eagerly started searching the Internet, trying to figure out exactly when. I have characters who might go and see it in early 1921! But every source I found after the first said the ruins had been torn down in 1919, much too early for my storyline. Argh!

What do you do when research sources contradict each other? Do you err on the side of complete accuracy, even when you don’t quite know what that is, or do you go with what works best with your storyline?

Wedding Matilda is available on #Netgalley for #review

Wedding Matilda-highresAttention, reviewers! My Victorian romance, out August 18th, is available on Netgalley and also for preorder. Thank you in advance for your honest review.

Netgalley link:  https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book/67013

Prefer to preorder? See your favorite etailer, including Amazon at:  http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Matilda-Redcakes-Book-5-ebook/dp/B00Q1I2SD2

Please add on Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23637847-wedding-matilda

Blurb:

Sugared violets, buttercream…but he craves her kiss most of all…

Orphaned as a boy, Ewan Hales is proud to make his living as secretary to the manager at Redcake’s Tea Shop. But the startling news that he’s heir to the Earl of Fitzwalter changes everything. While tendering his resignation to lovely Matilda Redcake, however, Ewan is struck by her spirit, the luscious bow of her lips—and a realization. Matilda might not marry a working man—but will she wed a future nobleman?

Ewan’s unruly hair and roguish kisses are tempting, but Matilda has far too many problems to consider romance. With sabotage at a cake factory threatening the family empire, she must focus her considerable willpower on keeping Redcake’s from ruin—until she learns that her young son has been kidnapped. Together, she and Ewan must uncover the truth before they can savor the sweet freedom of love…


One Taste of Scandal is a delicious, multi-layered Victorian treat.”
–Gina Robinson, author of The Last Honest Seamstress and the Agent Ex series

 

 

My #Smoothie Journey – Figuring out the Fruit #Recipe

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I’ve gotten kind of repetitive in my smoothie making. Once I figured out the “perfect” smoothies for watermelon and cantaloupe, I kept on making those with side tests on a cookbook I’m reviewing. Another thing I’m trying to figure out is the balance between sweet and sour. It’s an individual thing. Yesterday I made a mango/pineapple smoothie from a recipe that I didn’t like. It was too sour for me. Of course I had played with the recipe to lower the calories and when you start substituting you can ruin an otherwise good recipe. If you have patience, it’s always a good idea to make a recipe as shown first.

This is my take on a mango/pineapple smoothie. Not too sweet and much less sour!

  • 1/2 cup frozen mango
  • 1/2 cup pineapple
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/4 tsp almond flavoring
  • 4 ice cubes

Blend together! Makes one serving.