Flights of Fantasy

Rereading a favorite series…

Posted on October 9, 2021 by Debbie

J.D. Robb’s In Death series is a favorite of mine. After finishing the most recent book, Forgotten In Death (#53 in the series!), I decided to go back to the beginning and read all of them again.

Since I’ve read them before and already know who the murderer is, I’m paying special attention to the characters. How does Nora introduce them? (Oh! Didn’t you know J.D. Robb is Nora Roberts?) How do they grow as each novel progresses? What about the relationships between the characters? Are they static or do they evolve as the characters grow and change?

Knowing the characters as well as I do (53 books!!), it’s fascinating to see them again in the beginning… when Nora herself didn’t know them as well as she does now.

If you’re a fan of police detective mysteries, and enjoy strong romantic elements along with a hint of just-around-the-corner science fiction, I heartily recommend this series! Great writing (well duh… NORA ROBERTS!). Great characters. And mysteries that are to die for… literally for the victims of the well-developed bad guys. All with a healthy dose of romance; not to mention sex scenes worthy of a hot and steamy romance. (Again… DUH! Nora is the Queen of Romance.)

You can’t go wrong with an In Death novel!

Posted in bog streak, Writing | Tagged In Death series, J.D. Robb, Nora Roberts | Comments Off

It’s Friday…

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Debbie

…and the weekend begins! Hope yours is relaxing… or productive… or whatever you’re hoping for!

See you tomorrow.

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Halloween is coming!

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Debbie

Halloween has always been a favorite of mine. Not so much for the scary stuff, but for the sheer imagination! Always wanted to be a fairy princess? Well, pull a costume together and for this one night, your wish has come true! Want to be a prima ballerina but you’re too clutzy for words? Who cares! Grab a tutu, tights, and ballet flats and dance your way from house to house.

But what if you’re too old to be a socially acceptable trick-or-treater? Even better. You can bring your imagined self to life without leaving the comfort of your home! Dress up in the costume of your dreams and answer the door for the neighborhood kids. Who knows? You might just provide one of them with inspiration for next year.

Whatever Halloween brings, be sure to have fun… that’s the real secret of the season. And with that in mind, I have a special treat for you… and no, that’s not a trick!

Just click on the picture to download your FREE copy of this collection of ten Halloween tales from some of today’s best children’s authors… including Deb Logan. Enjoy!

Posted in bog streak, Deb Logan | Tagged Free Fiction, Halloween, Prentiss Twins | Comments Off

Thoughts of Rain… and the Rainforest

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Debbie

Today has been a blessedly rainy day. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I expect rainy days, but this has been an unusually dry year. Today, I’ve been sitting here with my computer in my lap listening to the rain fall gently–and sometimes not so gently–outside my window.

The sound of rain leads to thoughts of the rainforest, which lead to memories of wonderful writing retreats on the shores of Lake Quinault in Washington’s Olympic National Forest. Lots of good words were written during those retreats… and lots of life-long friendships were forged.

It’s wonderful when you can find that perfect balance: nature and solitude to soothe your introverted soul and gregarious camaraderie to feed the extrovert who is also part of your being. I’m lucky to have been part of those retreats!

Posted in bog streak, Writing | Tagged Lake Quinault, rainforest | Comments Off

It’s Fall… time to think about SOUP!

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Debbie

Hooray! It’s the time of year when soup appears on the menu again. To my mind, there’s nothing better than a hearty bowl of soup served with sliced cheese and toast or cornbread. Yum!

One of the things we’ve enjoyed doing is creating our own dried bean mixture, storing it in quart canning jars, and then making soup with our electric pressure cooker. I’ve got to say, the pressure cooker makes all the difference! Working with dried beans is quick and easy with one of those appliances as opposed to the looong soaking period required without one!

You can find all kinds of information online for making and storing these mixes, but here’s one to get you started. And if you need guidance on what to do with the mixture once you’ve put it together, this is a great recipe to use as a jumping off point!

Happy soup making!