tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73176373422852390992024-03-08T00:45:20.307-08:00Dane McCaslin's World of MysteryDane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-70162714185972986202015-03-09T08:48:00.001-07:002015-03-09T08:48:55.559-07:00Must Read Mysteries: Analysis is a Skill Well-Learned by Dane McCaslin<a href="http://www.mustreadmysteries.com/2015/03/analysis-is-skill-well-learned-by-dane.html?showComment=1425916024039&m=1">Must Read Mysteries: Analysis is a Skill Well-Learned by Dane McCaslin</a>Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-80144113872179041342014-12-17T11:06:00.001-08:002014-12-17T11:06:27.311-08:00Amazing Truffles- Just Three Ingredients to HappinessI love truffles. They are elegant to serve, beautiful to look at...and incredibly easy to make! Here is another installment in the virtual cookie exchange with Ellie Ashe:<br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3-Ingredient Candy Cane Truffles</span></span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<em style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Quick, simple, and elegant, these truffles can be prepped in the microwave and made in minutes!</em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-weight: 800;">Makes: </span>~ 12 truffles<span style="font-weight: 800;"><em><br /></em></span><span style="font-weight: 800;">Ingredients:</span><br />1 cup high-quality dark or milk chocolate chips<br />¼ cup heavy cream<br />½ cup crushed candy canes<br /><span style="font-weight: 800;">Directions:</span>1. In a large microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate chips and cream together, cooking in 30-second bursts until the chips melt. Stir until smooth.<br />2. Place in fridge until the mixture firms, about 15-30 minutes.<br />3. Scoop tablespoon-sized mounds of the chocolate using a mini ice cream scoop, then roll into balls.<br />4. Roll balls in crushed candy canes.<br />5. Store in fridge until ready to eat. Best when eaten within 12 hours.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Additional Topping Ideas:<b> </b>Make different varieties of truffles by rolling yours in unique toppings. Here are a few of my favorites: rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, cacao nibs, chopped nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, or pistachios), mini rainbow chips, and holiday sprinkles.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Enjoy, and Happy Holidays to all.</span></div>
Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-3386664494137594802014-12-11T07:28:00.000-08:002014-12-11T07:28:10.971-08:00Put Some Pep (or Peppermint) in Your Holidays!I love peppermint in any form: Flavored coffee, candy, cakes, and cookies. Because of that, I want to share one of all-time favorite recipes for Peppermint Bark Cookies, straight from the Betty Crocker cookbook. Here it is! Make double and share it with a friend:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4f; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span>
<ul class="ingredient-wrap" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;">
<li data-grams="312.5" data-ingredientid="1684" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> 1/2 cups</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">all-purpose flour</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="4.6" data-ingredientid="2359" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol1$ctl02$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 teaspoon</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">baking soda</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="3" data-ingredientid="16421" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol1$ctl03$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 teaspoon</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">salt</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="113.5" data-ingredientid="16157" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol1$ctl04$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">butter, softened</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="102.5" data-ingredientid="6300" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol1$ctl05$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">vegetable shortening</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="165" data-ingredientid="1525" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol1$ctl06$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">3/4 cup</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">packed light brown sugar</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="100" data-ingredientid="1526" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol1$ctl07$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">white sugar</span></div>
</label></li>
</ul>
<ul class="ingredient-wrap secondColumn" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;">
<li data-grams="100" data-ingredientid="16317" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol2$ctl01$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">eggs</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="4.333333" data-ingredientid="16424" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol2$ctl02$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 teaspoon</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">vanilla extract</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="3.15" data-ingredientid="20200" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol2$ctl03$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">3/4 teaspoon</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">peppermint extract</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="2.4" data-ingredientid="20488" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol2$ctl04$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 teaspoon</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">red food coloring</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="359.48" data-ingredientid="20189" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol2$ctl05$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 cups</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">white chocolate chips</span></div>
</label></li>
<li data-grams="168" data-ingredientid="20803" data-role="recipe-ingredient" id="liIngredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 200px;"><label style="border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="checkbox-formatted" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 23px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 25px;"><input id="cbxIngredient" name="ctl00$CenterColumnPlaceHolder$recipeTest$recipe$ingredients$rptIngredientsCol2$ctl06$cbxIngredient" type="checkbox" /></span><div class="fl-ing" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 175px;">
<span class="ingredient-amount" id="lblIngAmount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">6</span> <span class="ingredient-name" id="lblIngName" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">peppermint candy canes, crushed - or more to taste</span></div>
</label></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4f; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4f; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4f; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4f; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span>
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<div class="directions" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; color: #666666; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 10px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 400px;">
<div class="directLeft" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<ol style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px -5px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 35px 0px 25px;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break" style="border: 0px; color: #4e4e4f; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break" style="border: 0px; color: #4e4e4f; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Beat butter, vegetable shortening, light brown sugar, and white sugar in a separate large bowl until creamy. Beat eggs, vanilla and peppermint extracts, and red food coloring into butter mixture until smooth. Gradually beat dry ingredients into wet ingredients until dough is smooth. Fold white chocolate chips and crushed candy canes into dough.</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break" style="border: 0px; color: #4e4e4f; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Pinch off 1-tablespoon-sized pieces of dough, roll into balls, and place on ungreased baking sheets. Lightly flatten cookies with the bottom of a drinking glass.</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break" style="border: 0px; color: #4e4e4f; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are set but not browned, 9 to 10 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes before removing to finish cooling on wire racks.</span></li>
</ol>
<a class="linkPrefersSupportingMembership rp-btn crnrs3px grayBrdr clr-gray gray fl-left" href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/peppermint-bark-cookies/kitchenview.aspx" id="lnkKitchenView" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(224, 224, 224) 0px 0px 5px 0px inset; background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgb(250, 250, 250) 0px, rgb(220, 221, 222) 100%); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(224, 224, 224); box-shadow: rgb(224, 224, 224) 0px 0px 5px 0px inset; clear: left; color: #454545; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; height: 19px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 15px 6px; text-decoration: none;">Kitchen-Friendly View</a></div>
</div>
<div id="pnlFootnotes" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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Footnotes</h4>
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Cook's Note:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="lnkNote" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #0091ce; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></a><span id="lblEndNote" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></div>
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For the more-adventurous baker, when cookies are cooled, melt 1 1/2 to 2 cups white chocolate morsels by placing in a bowl over a small pot of simmering water and stirring until all the morsels are melted. Add 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract, mixing well, before dipping half of each cookie in the melted chocolate. Place on waxed paper and sprinkle with more crushed candy cane. Let white chocolate harden. This gives them the more festive look.</div>
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<span style="color: #4e4e4f;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Merry Christmas!</span></span></div>
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Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-29251590283701460772014-12-09T06:43:00.000-08:002014-12-09T06:43:02.270-08:00The BEST Recipe for Busy Folks!I love to bake - really - but I never seem to have the time to do a proper job. Baking is an activity that requires me to slow down, wait for timers, and wait for cookies to cool so that they can be packed into those cute little baggies so that I can impress my friends with my domesticity. I simply do not have that much time right now: It's finals week at my high school, it's the week of my youngest son's trip back home, and I'm tired from all of the rushing about. My solution? A 'no-bake- cookie recipe, of course! Here's one of the best, contributed by Helen Ostrosky:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">Ingredients</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">2 cups sugar</span><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">4 tablespoons cocoa</span><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">1 stick butter</span><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">1/2 cup milk</span><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">1 cup peanut butter</span><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">1 tablespoon vanilla</span><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">3 cups oatmeal</span><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">Waxed paper</span><br />
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<br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">Directions</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;">In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened.</span><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" />Easy, tasty, and ready for giving before you know it! Be sure to visit my blog again tomorrow for a few links to more fabulous cookie recipes.<br />
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Happy Holidays!<br style="background-color: #efece3;" /><br style="background-color: #efece3; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16.25px;" /><br />
<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-90049377027736809432014-12-08T07:03:00.003-08:002014-12-08T07:03:44.698-08:00She's Baaack!After a hiatus of nearly four months, I'm back and blogging! Of course, the impetus was a chance to be a part of a virtual cookie blog with fellow writers, so I decided to put pen to paper - or fingers to keyboard - and reintroduce myself.<br />
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Since I last blogged, I've acquired a lovely American agent/publisher: The great Gemma Halliday! (Check out her website at www.gemmahalliday.com.) She is a best-selling author in her own right and a lovely person as well. Give her some love!<br />
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Back to cookies: I've been thinking about different recipes that I relate to this wonderful time of the year. I've come up with a few, including the infallible Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies, peppermint sugar cookies, and almond biscotti. I'll need to do some thinking before I'm 'tagged' tomorrow. Check back and see who I'll tag next: It might just be one of your favorite authors!<br />
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Keep writing.<br />
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<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-10477086891547064252014-08-14T12:33:00.001-07:002014-08-14T12:33:18.928-07:00Delibrio AnimosusLatin is a wonderful language - dead, to be sure - so rich in nuance that I wish it were more accessible. Take, for instance, this phrase: Delibrio Animosus. "Live with purpose" is one loose translation. Be deliberate. Have purpose. Make choices that are well-thought out and that allow for growth in life. <br />
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Because I am a writer - and a teacher - I tend to do things deliberately because my time is at a premium. Lately, deadlines and first drafts and workshops and life have been piling up and I've had to choose to let some things go. This blog will be the among first; I love sharing my thoughts but I seriously am lacking the time to do it justice. Therefore, this is farewell, at least for the time being.<br />
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Remember: Keep reading, keep writing, and 'delibrio animosus'.<br />
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<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-83871704885500796272014-08-01T19:19:00.003-07:002014-08-01T19:19:53.514-07:00Sometimes Life Imitates ArtAfter my most recent foray into Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451', I've decided the man was a prophet, pure and simple. Even the densest reader can make the connection between Guy Montag's futuristic society and our own: With ear buds (Bradbury called them 'sea shells' for the ears) and flat screened televisions (he called them 'parlor walls'), the man knew a dangerous trend when he saw one. His message? Don't abandon personal relationships for technology.<br />
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We took some of the grands to the local zoo not too long ago and witnessed a very disturbing sight: Two little boys, unhappily trailing their parents, both of whom were glued to the screens of cell phones. I felt so badly for those boys. Who will model interpersonal conversational skills for them? Not their parents, that's for certain!<br />
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Before you shake your head and tell me that's just the way of today's society, I invite you to get comfy and read. May I suggest 'Fahrenheit 451'? Let's talk when you've finished it.<br />
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<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-50122983311057413162014-07-28T11:49:00.001-07:002014-07-28T11:49:20.791-07:00History - and Literature - Repeats ItselfAs I delve a bit deeper in to the research aspect of my newest book, 'Lucifer's Lamp', I am appalled by what I'm finding. How in the world could one person decree it was alright to take a person's possessions based upon their religion, orientation, culture, or political views? And yet it happened, and right under the noses of the Free World.<br />
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If you've kept up with the news lately - and by that I mean the last few years - you know that attention has been directed to the recovery of treasure taken by the Nazis during the years preceding and during World War Two. This travesty has been dramatized in film, covered in a myriad museum magazines, and romanticized in novels. And yes, I'm continuing the trend. I'm taking it a bit further, however, inserting small towns where most focus on the Vatican, and allowing the regular Joes (in my case, Louis Greywolf Bahe, a Navajo state mining inspector from Arizona) to play a part in the recovery.<br />
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'Legend', the first part of this story, is available online or in stores, from Amazon to Barnes and Noble, iTunes to Kobo. Take a moment and check out Louis Bahe's part in this reverse plundering. I think you'll like it.<br />
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<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-33369450685078947962014-07-23T11:42:00.002-07:002014-07-23T11:42:49.655-07:00Hangin' Out with the Younger SetMonday through Friday, 180 days a year, from 7:10 to 2:20, I hang out with kids who are almost four decades younger than I. And I do it voluntarily. Yes, there is the paycheck, but I could do other things with my degrees. Instead, I choose to teach.<br />
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Before you begin oohing and aahing and telling me that I'm a hero (although I suppose I am, academic-wise), know that I learn as much - if not more - from my students. Their perspectives range from naive to informed to jaded, and I'm always amazed at the ferocity they display in defending their points of view. It's my challenge to help them learn how to channel this intellectual energy into something productive and useful for society. After all, they will be voting and defending this country in just two short years, and I want them to know WHY they do what they do and make an informed choice <br />
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Analysis is not something we're born with. It's a skill we need to learn, much as sharing our toys and respecting those around us needs to be learned. So, as another school year begins, I take up my challenge with new vigor. Just check back with me in May. <br />
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And keep reading. Books, as Guy Montag in 'Fahrenheit 451' knew, are a conduit to knowledge, and knowledge is the ultimate in power,Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-73838824131845716002014-07-16T16:33:00.004-07:002014-07-16T16:33:54.821-07:00Just Say Thanks...We've all heard it before: When someone compliments you, just say 'thank you'. And I know this. Why is it so difficult, then, for me to accept positive feedback? (I'm talking to everyone, not just to writers.)<br />
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The other day I ran into someone who I know marginally: We've met before but aren't buddies. Imagine my reaction - remember I have issues with compliments- when she whips out her smart phone bad points to one of my books that she downloaded via her Kindle ap. I found myself looking over her shoulder for a savior which, by the way, appeared in the form of someone take who I know only slightly. I made my excuses and hot the heck out of Dodge.<br />
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I thought about it later and was ashamed of my reaction. After all, she said wonderful things about the book, the characters, the plot. I should've been doing a happy dance right there! Instead, I lost an opportunity to put into practice what I tried to drill into my childrens' heads.<br />
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I've decided that if the chance ever comes my way again, I shall smile, nod my head graciously, and say 'thank you'. And then I'll hightail it out of there.<br />
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Keep reading, friend.Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-88723646857858741872014-07-08T10:02:00.001-07:002014-07-08T10:02:34.722-07:00A Sneak PeekI've wanted to share a bit about my books and decided that the time is now: Enjoy this synopsis of 'Murder at the Miranar'!<br />
<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If murder and mayhem were not supposed to be part of the employment package, then AJ certainly got the raw end of the deal.<br /><br />Augusta Jerusha Burnette, eager to escape the dreaded Burnette Family Reunion – and a broken heart – takes a position at the Miramar Resort, a glamorous hotel located along the Southern California coast. She’s confident that the change of scenery will do her good, but when Ellie Saddler shows up, her tarot cards spelling out a warning, things quickly go from bad to worse.<br /><br />The Miramar, famous for its freshly baked cookies and elegant rooms, is hiding several secrets within its stylish walls. Located not too far from Baja California, a location infamous for smuggling illegal immigrants into the states, the resort plays host to folks wanting to get away from the pressures of life…and those wanting to escape from a life too miserable to comprehend. Although there have been rumors that the local immigration officials have their eye on the Miramar and other hotels along the coast, there are still those who are willing to chance being caught in exchange for the possibility of a better life.<br /><br />AJ, it seems, has entered the picture just as things are beginning to heat up. When a body is discovered during a search for a lost child, the web of lies and deceit becomes more tangled, and AJ and Ellie find themselves on the run from a killer. Thankfully, the local police department has assigned one Detective Baird to the case, and sparks of the romantic kind soon begin to fly. Has AJ finally found the one man who will keep both body and soul – not to mention her heart – safe?<br /><br />From glamorous beaches of Southern California to the border of Mexico, AJ has to find a way to stay one step ahead of the bad guy – and to keep herself and Ellie in the land of the living. With a few surprises along the way (no one is ever who or what they seem to be), she decides that perhaps a family reunion might be the safer choice after all.</strong><br />
<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-45832320801209254642014-06-29T18:44:00.000-07:002014-06-29T18:44:36.868-07:00OstrichesYesterday, from approximately 9 AM to 1PM, I facilitated a writing workshop. The attendees were writers- some published- and I was intimidated.<br />
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Until I saw the ostrich. Then it was on.<br />
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Really. <br />
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At the Vision Gallery, in Chandler, AZ's revitalized downtown, I led a group of women writers through a series of exercises guaranteed to awaken the short story author within. At least that was my goal. We were given use of a workroom adjacent to the main gallery and the magic rubbed off: We wrote stories that will one day soon be part of an anthology. I was impressed, humbled, thrilled - and cognizant of that ostrich's glare. I mean really. Have you ever had to perform in front of an ostrich?<br />
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All in all it was a fabulous experience, one that I intend to repeat in the bear future. I love teaching, I'm enthralled by writing, and I'm intent on sharing the talents of others with the world.<br />
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Except with an ostrich. That, my friend, was above and beyond the call of duty.Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-84588788042960685992014-06-25T20:35:00.002-07:002014-06-25T20:35:59.739-07:00Another Man's VoiceMr. James Whitcomb Riley, a poet from the last century, has long been my fave when it comes to verse. 'Little Orphant Annie' was one of the first poems that I loved hearing; Nana Johns would read this ad nauseum to us grandkids: we looooved being scared! (If you've never read it for yourself, you need to.) Another poem I enjoyed was 'Knee-deep in June'. I could easily picture what Riley was describing: His word choice - his 'voice' - was fabulous! When you read one of his poems, there was no doubt that he wrote it.<br />
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Voice is something that is unique to each writer. Mine took some time to develop. I wanted to write like all of my favorite authors, from Maud Hart Lovelace to PD James. I was convinced that I could not be a good writer unless I patterned myself - copied, really - after an author whose work was a success. As you might imagine, I wrote some awful pieces until my own voice began to emerge from under the layers of stylistic plagiarism. <br />
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Discovering what's uniquely yours is wonderful. It's also a gift to your readers. After all, if they wanted to read a Steinbeck-styled book, they'd probably read something actually penned by Steinbeck. So keep writing...and don't be afraid to be yourself. Your readers are waiting for you.<br />
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<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-70444025072249010032014-06-23T09:39:00.001-07:002014-06-23T09:41:48.376-07:00Playing Tag...First off, it's been a buuuuusy few weeks. "Legend", the first of a suspense trilogy, debuted, and I recently had a good signing with a lovely pair of authors, Donis Casey and Betty Webb. (Those gals are hilarious!) I've been tagged in a 'blog hop', so I'll use this posting to play along. Here goes:<br />
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<strong>1. What am I working on now? </strong>I am in the revising stage of the next 'Jo Anderson' book entitled 'Sweet Death' which hopefully will be out in the early fall. I love writing - and reading - 'cozy mysteries' and this series is definitely cozy...if you like your books with a serving of death on the side. <br />
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<strong>2. How does my work differ from other books in its genre? </strong>My protagonists (I am currently writing two series as well as the suspense trilogy) are drawn from life (chiefly me - LOL) so they tend to exhibit some of my characteristics: dry humor, curiosity, foot-in-mouth issues, and a habit of jumping headlong into situations without considering the outcomes. (Reader, pause and chuckle at this point - you're not sure you should believe me or not...) In the 'Jo Anderson' series, she doesn't have a career established, unless you count running from the confines of her nutty family, so she tends to meander form one job to another. Of course, each new workplace involves a murder of one sort or another, and voila! Miss Jo in once more in the thick of things, much to the chagrin of her proper Southern Belle mama.<br />
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<strong>3. Why do I write what I do? </strong>The answer to this is easy: I am a life-long Dame Agatha Christie fan and I always wanted to write as she did. Of course, I will never be in her league, but I keep trying to edge as close as I can!<br />
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There is certainly something to be said for the amateur sleuth - particularly Jo Anderson and her counterpart in my other series, AJ Burnette. In 'Murder at the Miramar', AJ's first appearance, she is confronted with a string of murders that tie back to a current 'hot button' issue...and I'll leave it at that. (Read the book to find out!) I like to include contemporary issues when I can, and these are things that have caught my attention as well.<br />
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<strong>4. How does my writing process work? </strong>Hmmm. I'm not an author who creates in one particular method. I tend to bring a character to life in my mind and then imagine what she - or he - would do with a certain scenario. It grows form there, and I'll be honest: I never know the end of the story when I begin writing! I might have an idea, but the characters drive the plot. I usually end up as amazed as my readers are!<br />
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Kris Tualla, a dynamic award-winning and internationally published author of historical romance and suspense started in 2006 with nothing but a nugget of a character in mind, and has created a dynasty with The Hansen Series and its spin-off, The Discreet Gentleman Series. </span><i><span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Norway</span></i><i><span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> is the new Scotland!</span></i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Kris is an active PAN member </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">of Romance Writers of America, the Historical Novel Society, and Sisters in Crime, and was invited to be a guest instructor at the Piper Writing Center at Arizona State University. An enthusiastic speaker and teacher, she created <em><b>Arizona Dreamin'</b></em> - Arizona's only romance-reader event: <a href="http://arizonadreamin.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: navy;">ArizonaDreaminEvent.com</span></a>.</span></div>
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<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-83832803354071601882014-06-09T12:33:00.002-07:002014-06-09T12:33:45.981-07:00There's Nothing Like a NapOne of my earliest memories is nap time, lying on my mom and dad's big bed and declaring myself wide awake. My mom's response went something like this: whatever you do, don't close your eyes. I thought that awesome, of course, until suddenly she was shaking my shoulder and telling me that it was almost time for dinner. Apparently all I needed was to sleep on things (LOL) to realize that yes indeed, I needed a nap. Reverse psychology had always been a mom's best friend, hasn't it?<br />
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Lest you misunderstand me, this is not a plug for NOT encouraging that young artist or athlete or writer in whom talent is apparent. Quite the opposite, in fact (pun clearly intended here). In fact, your kindness and belief in them and their product might be the encouragement in their lives while the others around them voice negativity. So buy that drawing at your local school's art show and applaud like crazy at the next track and field event in your town. Your support might be the boost needed to get over the wall of disbelief and straight into a life of fulfillment.<br />
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And yes, I did what I promised I would do in my last blog. I thought about it and decided that I write for me and no one else. That if my books are read is not the point but the fact that I held into a dream that eventually grew skin and became real. So don't give up. Don't let yourself down.<br />
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And keep reading.Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-57257739329655392762014-06-06T21:37:00.003-07:002014-06-09T12:34:12.533-07:00Random Thoughts...I am in the middle of an odd time: Almost finished with one manuscript, beginning the next, and collecting pertinent information for a series of workshops. Nothing is solid, nothing is defined, and I find myself looking for the perfect ending/beginning/explanation. I need a clone. At the very least, I need some inspiration. And this leads me to my thought for today: What would happen if I decided that today is the grand finale, the ending to my current dream, the stopping point for all things creative? Would it really be so bad? Or would I be letting down those who believe in me?<br />
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I think I will let this stew for a bit before I make a decision. And if you find yourself in the midst of a life- changing decision, I recommend taking a step back. I am. And I will let you know how it turns out.<br />
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In the meantime, keep reading.Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-45095393216418658582014-05-31T10:31:00.000-07:002014-05-31T10:31:01.201-07:00Something for EveryoneIt's no secret that I adore kitschy writers: Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer, and M. C. Beaton, just to name a few. My taste in books- when I actually have time to read for pleasure- are the sort that carry me away quickly and plunge me straight into intrigue. Granted, that's not everyone's fave, and that's okay. In fact, I was discussing this very thing just this morning with someone whose taste in literature (and in life) is classic. Take a look at part of our conversation:<br />
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I'm partial to naturalistic writing and dialogue. Like Hemingway, who sometimes was meta. Most writers' styles are based on situational fanaticism where they feel each scene has to be played with sharp words, head tilts and secrets. Very cinematic stuff. I say keep the characters as real people with real words. Granted, the adventure genre is based on exaggerated characters in exaggerated situations all coming together. But even Dos Passos and Cormac McCarthy found ways to humanize stories. I say read "Blood Meridian" or "No Country For Old Men" as examples. I do like what's at stake but don't get ahead too early with big big ideas. Readers will want a huge payoff. EL Doctorow is another good one. And for nonfiction try Chuck Klosterman, especially "Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs." Or David Sedaris, especially "Me Talk Pretty One Day." Both are easy reads and very fluid. Language is observational.<br />
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And this, dear readers, has me intrigued. And I'd love to hear from you! What are your thoughts on literature styles? Feel free to tweet me! @mccaslin_dane or post your thoughts here.<br />
Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-50656194573562055332014-05-28T14:36:00.003-07:002014-05-28T14:36:48.790-07:00Playing FavoritesAs a writer and an English teacher, I'm sure that some folks assume that my favorite authors hail from antiquity: according to them, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Cather, and Poe should be my go-to reads. I'm hesitant to break the bubble of assumption, but here it goes.<br />
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I love Maud Hart Lovelace. Laura Ingalls Wilder. Lois Lenski. Sydney Taylor. And the list goes on. Give me a 'feel good' book over a classic any day! It's what makes me happy, keeps me steady, gives me purpose. <br />
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Before you 'poo-poo' the idea of books creating the ultimate in happiness, consider this: What book- quickly - reminds you of childhood? Find a copy and read it. Read it aloud. To yourself. To your children. <br />
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And relive the magic of becoming one with the story.<br />
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<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-87027429562218209092014-05-25T17:38:00.000-07:002014-05-25T17:40:19.935-07:00What's in a Title?My friend, the amazing Donis Casey, will be celebrating the release of another Alafair Tucker book next month. Just the cover art alone is enough to pull even the most reluctant reader into it, but the title is something else: 'Hell With the Lid Blown Off'. I don't know about you, but I'm intrigued!<br />
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Have you ever wondered how your favorite novels got their names? I do, and as I've got a fairly decent imagination, I'll give it the ol' college try.<br />
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<li>'Old Man and the Sea': Since Hemingway filled this slim volume with almost nothing except an old man - he with the sea-hardened hands- and a feisty fish, I'd say this was a good title. In fact, given the vast amount of description, the only thing he should have added were a few adjectives- 'turbulent', 'tenacious', and 'tedious' come to mind.</li>
<li>'Something Wicked This Way Comes': Sometimes a writer gets stumped when it comes time to name a book so they look to the classics for help. Thank goodness for Will Shakespeare! 'Macbeth' lent the title to Ray Bradbury's quirky book, first published in 1962. Luckily he didn't depend on Ernest Hemingway for inspiration or it might have been called 'Two Boys and Lots of Eerie Stuff'. Just doesn't quite have the same ring to it.</li>
<li>'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone': Let's face it. Sometimes the Olde Worlde is the best, but not when it comes to naming books. Thank goodness we Americans insisted on something more dramatic when it came time to introduce The Boy Who Lived to this side of the pond. Yeah- a sorcerer is definitely more exciting than a philosopher.</li>
<li>Finally, 'Legend': Yes, this blog is a shameless advert for my newest book, available early June. Why did I choose this title? You'll have to visit www.danemccaslin.co and read the synopsis to find out.</li>
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Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-52970943982191687332014-05-19T13:02:00.002-07:002014-05-19T13:03:47.963-07:00Hooked on a FeelingDorothea Lange, photographer extraordinaire, once said, "Photography for me is not looking, it's feeling. If you can't feel what you're looking at, then you're never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures." Well said, Ms. Lange. The same sentiment should apply to our writing: If we truly want our readers to experience the drama and conflict and love that our characters do, we also need to feel and not just write.<br />
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I know several authors who assign themselves a certain amount of words per day, regardless of inspiration. I've tried that as well and while it does get me through the dry times - and there are more of those then I'd care to admit - it becomes an exercise in futility. On those days I'd be better off making lists or writing lesson plans.<br />
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As a voracious reader, I've come across books that moved me to tears, to anger, to happiness, and to sadness. In fact, I have one title that I will never read again because of the extreme reaction I had to the plight of the character; the story was so real and the character was recognizable that I truly connected. (I did, however, purchase a copy for myself, and it has rested on my bookshelf ever since, unopened and as pristine as the day it came home with me.) I don't expect my readers to be as extreme in their reactions when they read my books, but I do want with them to connect with the story. After all, isn't that why we write?<br />
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Keep writing!<br />
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<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-61823116346853269732014-05-14T18:58:00.001-07:002014-05-14T18:58:12.554-07:00Just an Observation...I have no idea what makes us ( that's the 'collective' us) want to watch others' lives spiral out of control. Ok- maybe not in real life, but there are those of us who crave a good whodunit like a chocoholic needs a sugar fix. <br />
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I discovered my own need for this somewhat unsavory past time while still very young; Agatha Christie opened my eyes to the just-below-the-surface evil tendencies that some folks can't ignore. What amazed me was how Dame Agatha could dress up the villain (or villainess) in the clothes of normalacy. That alone would send shivers down my spine; according to the typical Christie plot, these baddies were the least likely folks to be suspected of wrong doing. It's really remarkable that I trusted anyone at all. After all, if the vicar's wife could kill off the local snoop and still host a parish tea, anybody was capable of murder, right?<br />
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Flash forward a few decades and you'll find me on the other end of the pen, so to speak. I want to continue the time-honored tradtion of vicariously stepping into the lives of others, watching a mystery unfold, and helping to solve the crime of the century. I like to think Agatha would be proud.Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-46326941198238493292014-05-10T00:55:00.000-07:002014-05-10T00:55:25.140-07:00Don't be so Cliche'!Sometimes overly-used comments lean toward the hilarious...especially if you've channelled these words before. Just wait til your dad gets home. Beds are for sleeping, not for jumping. Eat your vegetables. Don't sit so close to the tv. Your face is going to freeze that way.<br />
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In a book, though, a cliche' can be downright irritating. While imitation may be a symptom of admiration, it can also be a sign of an under- developed plot or character. Here's a tip: If you can recognize your story in another's book or dialogue, take a step back and consider why this might be. Sometimes it's a case of admiration for another's work, and that's not a bad thing. But if it's because there is no inspiration on tap, lay down the pen and take a break.<br />
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Yes, I said it: take a break from writing. Get outdoors and enjoy nature. Gather with friends and get a game of charades going. Watch your children at play. Listen to whatever music inspires you. Soon the inspiration will come again and you'll find that the words will begin to flow. And they'll be your own words, from your own imagination..<br />
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And isn't that why we write?<br />
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<br />Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-40423434454965306512014-05-07T14:05:00.000-07:002014-05-07T14:05:43.491-07:00When Words Fail...Books are more than a collection of dialogue between characters; if they consisted of one long-running conversation, it would be called a 'play'. Just ask Willie Shakespeare if you don't believe me.<br />
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I enjoy dialogue, certainly. I want to be privy to the loves and trials and friendships of the characters as much as the next reader, but I don't need constant talking, you know? Sometimes I need quiet. Thank goodness other writers need it as well, and this is where the descriptive word shines. Through cleverly constructed descriptions, I have walked along the hills of Wales, eaten sumptuous meals with close friends in a Canadian village, and lived on a farm in Oklahoma. Thanks to writers such as Rhys Bowen (author of the Constable Evans series), Louise Penny (her Inspector Gamache books are beyond amazing), and Donis Casey (you really need to meet her protagonist, Alafair Tucker), I've been all over this wonderful planet of ours.<br />
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Balancing dialogue and description can be a trifle tricky. Although I have always liked Ernest Hemingway, I still would have liked more conversation in "Old Man and the Sea". And overhearing a conversation or two - or even three - isn't bad, but I'd prefer a tad more in the 'visual' department. (Sorry, Ray Bradbury.)<br />
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So keep writing. Eventually it will all come together for you. Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-75565708332143455892014-05-03T09:40:00.000-07:002014-05-03T09:40:08.889-07:00Keepin' it RealThere is a series of books that I've enjoyed reading since the first one debuted almost a decade ago. And like most fans, I've noticed a few differences in character descriptions over the ensuing installments. Unless a writer stays on top of things- and has an ace editor- that's to be expected. I did have to chuckle, though, the first time I noticed that one character in particular had managed to grow almost 10 inches in height, all over the course of three books. As a woman of, shall we say, small stature, I was certainly jealous!<br />
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I love organization, and I've put this to good use in my own writing. Since I currently have two series being published and a trilogy on the way, I created a matrix to keep names, ages, physical descriptions, and relationships straight. This is a great idea for those of you whose writings are peopled with more than one character: after all, no one - not even fictional folks- like to be forgotten.Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7317637342285239099.post-19650267705729572362014-04-29T08:40:00.004-07:002014-04-29T08:40:50.673-07:00Why Can't You Be More Like...We've all done it. We've read about a character or watched an actor and thought, "Now why can't so-and-so act like that?" Or - and this is even more telling, "Why doesn't s/he treat ME that way?" Here's a hint - they are not real. They were created from the mind of the author or the script writer and were given the characteristics that they'd like to see in others. In other words, they really don't know folks like that at all.<br />
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On the other hand, we've all had a reality check of sorts when reading a book or watching a film. We've recognized others and ourselves with amusement, guilt, distaste, and sadness. Why? The characters have been given 'real life' attitudes. Whether we like it or not, these are the characters that we bond with. Bummer.<br />
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Take a quick peek at what you like more: Fantasy or reality. And let that answer be the starting point for your character creation in your own writing. With that you'll have figured out what it is you do best.<br />
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And keep writing.Dane McCaslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459833641989295285noreply@blogger.com0