Category: Blog Post

Apple Facts and Fiction

No food acknowledges the conflict between a man and a woman better than the iconic apple. The fruit signifies the temptation of being drawn to the opposite sex when you know it’s only going to cause trouble in your life. How many of us have been attracted to someone and thought, “I shouldn’t go there, but?”

I love apples and there are many varieties from around the world. By the way, the Red Delicious is currently the most popular apple in North America.

1. The Adam’s apple was named that because when, in the bible, Adam was tempted by Eve and took a bite from her apple, he choked and couldn’t swallow it. According to the myths, that’s why a man’s larynx is larger than women.
2. Johnny Apple born John Chapman (September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845), was an American pioneer nursery man who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio Indiana, and Illinois as well as the northern counties of present-day West Virginia (Citation Wikipedia).
3. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. According to research on the internet the saying came from a Pembrokeshire proverb c1866. “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” Other variations can be found from 1913 onward.
4. Apples varieties, there are over 7,000 varieties from as far away as New Zealand, Australia and Japan. BTW, the Crab Apple in from the US and the Macintosh Apple is from Canada.
5. Vitamins in the apple, there are many including A, C, K and several of the Bs. One apple can supply much of the needed vitamins, so saying to eat one every day is close to the mark.

Her Country Heart Sierra Creek Series Book 1 Downsized, Amy Long loses her apartment in the city and long returns to her small town in the California foothills to run her grandmother’s apple farm. Will sparks fly when she meets her old crush?

As a reader as well as a writer, I like the mix of danger and romance. Statistics show I’m not alone. Romantic suspense books are popular sellers.

I’ve often wondered why we love a dash, or should I say a slash of suspense with our romance. I guess a psychologist could answer that. But for me, a well plotted romance and an equally well plotted suspense, woven seamlessly together works. Each storyline moves the plot forward and holds my attention. Perhaps the need to solve a mystery helps keep my pages turning.

A romantic suspense must have a compelling love story often with the hero and heroine striving toward different goals. They share a strong attraction for each other that might get in the way of solving the mystery, perhaps even put them in danger. Still, they must be sympathetic as each of them struggle with internal problems and personal baggage while maintaining a determination to catch the bad guy(s). Right is on their side, though the villain might take issue that statement.

A believable villain is important too. Not just a crazy man or woman wanting to hurt people, but a villain with a credible goal. The average person would think the objective is completely wrong. However, the villain knows he’s righteous. The idea keeps him motivated and the reader turning the pages to find out what happens next. The anti-hero should be intelligent, a person to be reckoned with, fear imparting and perhaps a bit mad.

Mysteries are often written in the first person. However, the romantic suspense has multiple points of view allowing the reader to understand the motivation of many characters.

In suspense, it just gets worse and worse until the reader can’t see how the hero and heroine will solve the suspense and survive. There is often a possibility the villain may win and all will be lost.

You can check out romantic suspense books on Amazon.

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Whether it involves business or family, everyone has a secret in their life, even if they aren’t aware of it. That’s the premise in Dangerous Money.

When my heroine realizes her dream job, she’s thrown into the world of the superrich and ruthless and finds herself surrounded by a web of lies.

A caterer, she’s given the job to plan the birthday party for a billionaire software developer. Money is no object and only the best is acceptable. But before the evening is over the man is poisoned and she is the prime suspect.

She’s stunned when the police believe she’d kill a man she only met once. A reporter, looking for an exclusive story to revive his career, is her only possible ally. But can she trust a man who’s only interested in his job? Not only that, why is someone trying to kill her?

For one of the protagonists, I needed a strong male who wouldn’t be put off by threats or danger, a person who wouldn’t stop even in the face of his own fears. A character other than the usual cop or law enforcement officer was required. In order to bring us TV’s nightly news reports from all over the world, foreign correspondents are often in life threatening situations without the benefit of a weapon. According to ABC News, more than seventy journalists were killed on the job just in 2013. At least fifty were killed in Afghanistan. Forty-nine journalists were killed in 2019 and many more were held hostage.

I admire these brave men and women for their dedication to protect the people’s right to know. An investigative journalist, back home after being wounded overseas, was the right person to be my protagonist. He would not be easily deterred and would continue to fight for the truth even against the odds.

The mystery/ romantic suspense, take place in the California beach community of Carmel by the Sea. The book concerns a software developer so, it seemed obvious to set the book in the Silicon Valley with its many big-name companies and even more startups. However, I’ve spent many summer vacations in Carmel-by-the-Sea / Monterey, California. With my family, I kayaked, swam and went sightseeing. We enjoyed Point Lobos State Reserve, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Seventeen Mile Drive, just to mention a few of our favorites.

Watching the waves on the beach during one of the visits, I realized the tranquil beauty and perfect beach weather of the area could be a counterpoint to a dark mystery punctuated by imminent danger.
If you are interested in Carmel: https://www.carmelcalifornia.com/

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We have all been waiting to be out in the sun. Are you finally able to hit the beach or shore?

When you do go, remember to bring a book with you. Here are five great classic romance novels available in print or eBooks. Let them take you away from the world of responsibly and transport you to a place far away from today’s life.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon published 1991 and published in the U.K. under the title “Cross Stitch. Plot? This book is too long for a synopsis. I’ll just say it’s a great read, 20th century, 18th century, Scotland, historical romance, science fiction; it’s one of the best.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen published 1813. This tells the story of the Bennet family, the father, a country gentleman, his wife and five daughters. Each daughter needs a suitable husband. The main character is Elizabeth Bennet. As the book opens an appropriate gentleman moves nearby and the excitement begins. Read this book and understand why readers love Mr. Darcy. Temperature: Sweet.

Jane Ayre by Charlotte Brontë published 1847. This book follows Jane from childhood to her life as a governess at Thornfield Hall with its dark secrets and her relationship with the mysterious Mr. Rochester. I first read this in high school and still love it. Temperature: Sweet.

Little Women Louisa May Alcott published 1868. Family life and love in the 1860s. Meg is the eldest daughter is and on the brink of love and Jo is a tomboy who longs to be a writer. This is different than the movie and gives a truer version of life rather than the 21st idea of what it should have been. Temperature: Sweet.

Tell me No Lies by Elizabeth Lowell published 1986. Priceless artifacts are smuggled from China into the U.S. An international crisis is brewing and a thief must be caught. One woman is the key to understanding the events. If you like this book try Lowell’s series Amber Beach, Jade Island and Pearl Cove. Temperature: Hot.

5 Summer Safety Tips

1. Stay out of the sun during the hottest time of the day 10 am to 4 pm.
2. Wear sun block and reapply every few hours or when you go into the water.
3. Do not use sun block on babies under six months of age, instead keep babies in the shade.
4. Remember to protect your eyes from the sun. If you use sun glasses be sure they are UV protected and if you can wear a hat. Good for babies too.
5. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.