Fireside Interview With K. T. Egan

Let's start the New Year with a New Author and a New Book!

Join us at the bonfire!

 It's a lazy afternoon and a the backyard bonfire is blazing. Hot dogs and fixings for smores are ready to go. New Adult Romance author, KT Egan stopped by for a cup of tea and a fireside chat about her new book, All You Hold On To, the first book in the Anderson Creek series.

I know you have penned several short stories and poems but I'm so excited for your new book, KT! I understand this is your first published book and the beginning of a four book series. That's awesome! All You Hold On To is a beautifully written book with a sweet romance, second chance love and great characters who will pull at your heartstrings.  Where did you get the idea for this story?

KT: I was sitting in the writing center of my alma matter, trying to make sense of a project I’d started over the summer when it dawned on me that there are so many questions left unanswered at the end of a relationship. And one of the biggest ones, to me anyway, was what would you do if the person you broke up with was the only you had? What if that person was your power of attorney – would you change it or would you leave it the same because you knew that person, you trusted that person at one point with your entire life.

How did you come up with the book title?

KT: I was inspired by a song - and then the wording just fell into place.

I'm always inspired by the music I listen to. I get storyline ideas and character names. Speaking of names, how did you create your characters?

KT: I’ve had a lot of eclectic jobs in my life, and I’ve worked with a lot of zany people, and more often than not I find myself drawing character name inspiration from the people who tend to come in and out of my life on a day-to-day basis.  

Here's a smore for you. 

Instead of using a Hersey bar, I used a Reese peanut butter cup. 

So yummy! While we're nibbling on sweet treats, tell me, how naughty do you get with your writing? 

KT: I mainly write more sweet, lighter romance with just a touch of suggestion. However, it’s mainly very PG.

Where there scenes you found difficult to write?

KT: I have a really hard time with the scenes right in the middle, surrounding the climax of the story.

That, I can relate to. The story in my head moves much faster than my fingers can type and then I'll sit back and think, "Is that what I want to tell? Is that how I want to tell it?" Tell me something trivial about you when you're writing. 

KT: I once Googled about eight different can designs for Folger’s coffee cans – it was a very miniscule detail to the story I was working on but something I was determined to get right. I always have to have noise around me – I know a lot of authors can’t write with external distractions but I need them to be able to focus. It can be anything from TV to the radio, as long as it makes noise. 

I'm right there with ya, sista! I always have music on when I write. We'll our time is coming to an end. There are hot dogs to be roasted and mugs to be refilled with tea. What would you like to share with our readers?

KT: Don’t count yourself down and out, no matter how hard things can seem sometimes. For me, the best inspiration has always come from those moments where I felt that I was at my lowest.

Fun stuff:

Favorite drink: Lime seltzer

Favorite candy: Reese’s cups

Favorite food: Tacos of all kinds

Favorite article of clothing or jewelry: I love jeans

Favorite place to read: The couch, with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket.

Place you want to visit some day: Barcelona, Spain

 

Special Thanks to author, KT Egan. 

Find KT on:

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Check out her new book All You Hold On To

1st book of the Anderson Creek Series
BUY NOW on Amazon

Aspiring author Roxanne Wortham lives a comfortable life in Las Vegas. She spends her days at her nine-to-five job and comes home to her boyfriend, Ethan, and an unfinished novel that she can’t seem to crack. Her life is simple— that is, until she gets a phone call saying that her childhood best friend and ex-boyfriend, Maverick Sterling, has been in a near-fatal car crash.

As Roxanne discovers that she still has power of attorney over his affairs, she places her life on hold and rushes to Maverick’s side in Scranton, Pennsylvania. While helping him to recover, memories of childhood and old relationships resurface, making it difficult for Roxanne to balance her new life with her old one. Roxanne is left to sort through complicated feelings from her past alongside the realization that Maverick may still have feelings for her— and even worse, she may still have feelings for him, too.

Breakfast for Weight Loss

I've been trying to lose weight and it's a struggle. Between stupid hormones, painful fibromyalgia and Fltboy's amazing cooking, my weight has reached a plateau. 

Breakfast is often the topic when Coffee Club meets. Peggy finds fasting from dinner to breakfast really works with her.  Some gals skip breakfast completely.  I created a dish to eat in the morning and found I actually lose a little during weeks I eat it.

I take a small cast iron pan, toss in a tiny bit of cold butter with chopped turnips. Add my favorite New Orleans spice and cover for a few minutes to let butter melt and the seasoning flavor to come alive. I add diced sweet bell pepper and green onions. Sometimes chopped roma tomato, spinach or whatever looks good in the veggie drawer. Flyboy likes chopped Jalapeno in his. I cover while I whisk 2 eggs with a dribble of half & half in a separate bowl.

I pour eggs onto veggies, sprinkle with cheddar cheese and fresh parsley then cover. I like the bottom to brown for that wonderful flavor.

To serve, I cut the omelet into four pieces and place ontop of grits in a bowl. 

Yummy!!!

#Thursday13 - Fun Stay In Ideas

 Covid restrictions, winter weather, restaurants & theaters closed...whatever may have you staying in rather than going out can lead to more romance. 

Find fun ways to make staying in more fun than going out. 

Here are a few ideas.

1. Throwback Date. Pull out old photo albums from when you were first together. Enjoy pix from when you were dating or first married. (If you still have kids at home, they love looking at the old photos and laughing at your stylish hair and clothes.)

2. Make homemade ice-cream. We received an ice cream maker as a wedding gift and have replaced it a few times. Ice cream makers don't create much, but it's a perfect amount for two. Enjoy the sweet treat and maybe save some whipped topping for later.

3. Take a virtual tour. Many museums offer virtual tours.  Travel & Leisure put together a list of 12 museums around the world offering amazing tours. CLICK HERE

4. Get a little silly and play a childhood favorite card game. How long has it been since you played Go Fish, Crazy Eights, or Uno? Reminisce and share stories from when you were kids.

5. Watch The Princess Bride. I heard your eyeroll. Trust me, it'll be fun.

6. Create a fantasy music festival. Imagine if you could pick and choose who would perform and what song they'd sing. Sit down and create a playlist together. 

7. Pretend the electricity goes out. Turn everything off for the evening (except for heat if you're in the north) Build a fire in the fireplace, make smores. (FYI you can make smores on your gas stove). Build a fort with pillows and blankets. Savor the candlelight.

8. Continuing the them of "No electricity", shower or take a bath together with the lights out. Have plenty of candles handy. (Battery operated flicking candles are great too!)

9. Build a bonfire. This might be outside, but it's still in your yard. Even in snow covered north, we'll snuggle next to a fire - under blankets with coats, mittens and hat of course. 

10. Have a spa night. Give each other massages. A simple massage can relieve headaches, minor pain as well as help you connect intimately with each other. Do facials. (My sons do them with their ladies.) Put on your robes and relax to soothing sounds with cucumber slices on your eyes.

11. Spend time together in the kitchen. Try something new or prepare your favorite comfort food. Try a home delivery meal kit.

12. Make a "To-Done" list. Think of all the things you have done together since you met. 

13. Last but not least...have some "sexy time". Shop online together for something sexy. Play a sexy game. Do something different or have sex in an unusual spot in your house.

Check out more amazing Thursday 13 lists HERE

Meet Our New "Baby"

 We adopted a rescue last week.

Her name is Reyka (yes, like the vodka).

She's a lab and pit bull mix.

A friend's mom witnessed a truck stop at the edge of their farm, dump the dog and drive off. Poor pup ran after the truck for a 1/4 mile. After 3 days, the mom managed to gain the pup's trust and take care of her for a while until we brought her home.

We will be working with a professional trainer to help her overcome whatever ghosts of her past that haunt her. She has a slight aggression problem from her fear. It appears she was kenneled most of her life. Everything is so new to her... she is fascinated with my kitchen cupboards, the TV, the shower, the fireplace, etc.

The outdoors also seems new to her. She's curios yet fearful. I walk her (5-15 minutes at a time) several times a day for leash training and get her used to her new surroundings. We live on a dead-end road in the woods and take one property at time as we walk. She shakes with fear if we get too far from home into new area. I make her sit when she's afraid; to give her time to process sounds, sights and smells. She's great in the yard and plays fetch.

Our first trip to the vet was a nightmare.
Vet guesses her age to be around 3 but wasn't able to do a thorough exam & gave me Trazadone for her visit in 3 weeks. She will be spayed and chipped Feb 1.

She's smart and has learned alot in the week we've had her. At home she is a real love bug, super affectionate with everyone in the family. She even gets along with the cat and Maggie (our senior girl). Tries to eat the guinea pig tho. With patience, training and lotsa love, Reyka is going to be an amazing addition to our family.

We look forward to our new life with Reyka.

The Labrabull skill set involves cuddling, food, bingeing Netflix, balls, toys, and “How can I please you today, master?”

Winter Wonderland

One thing I love about living in Michigan is the seasons. 

The dogs and I enjoyed a morning adventure in the woods. 

It's a winter, wonderland out there. 

I thought of the old phrase "Water Wonderland" that was used as a slogan for the state of Michigan. "Water Wonderland" appeared on Michigan license plates beginning in 1954. It was modified to "Water-Winter Wonderland" in 1965. It continued to appear on license plates through 1967. The maize and blue color scheme honors the University of Michigan in its sesquicentennial year.

The deck furniture is covered for the winter. 

 The firepit may still see some action.

New Year Seafood Boil

It's a Quast tradition to say goodbye to one year and hello to the next with a seafood boil. 

We visit a local fish market for our seafood. The selection may vary depending on what's available and what everybody is in the mood for.

Flyboy is in charge of the meal but the boys assist in the prep work and food section. He always takes pix of the food to share with those who cant join us. (We know he just wants to make them envious.)

Mom & Dad always enjoy themselves. 

Humpday Help - Journals

Ugh...Wednesday almost slipped past without me noticing. This year I'm constantly asking, "What day is it?"

I am wondering tho... how many of you have started a journal this year. Are you documenting your thoughts as you make your way through this crazy time?

I started, but it lasted for a whole five days. Over the years, I've kept many journals. This year is a perfect year to document, but my mind is more focused on work and muddling through daily life.

Hmm.... maybe I should start a journal as my New Year's Resolution. Now, that's a thought!

*************************

If you are thinking of starting a journal, here's a few ideas to get the mind kick started. 

*Remember something that made you so scared you thought you were going to faint dead away. 

*Remember something that made you laugh uncontrollably. 

*Think about your most embarrassing moment.. come on, I know you have one. 

 Just sit down, close your eyes. Think back to the days of childhood and sift through memories and you'll find a treasure chest of things to write about. Think about what you were wearing, how you felt, what you thought or said. Your words will reflect emotion and you will find yourself writing with freedom and fluidity. It's really not hard. Give it a try. I'm sure you'll have a story to tell.

Chase Away Winter Blues

Life during covid is moving in slow motion. 

Being stuck inside on gray days can be depressing. But there is a bright side

Lack of sun affects several of us by placing an emotional grey cloud over us.  Now with the separation from family and friends, the grey clouds gather. For the single person, loneliness and fatigue may set in; for couples, the romance may become stagnant.   

It's time to turn the season around, make your own fun, add some romance into your life. The beauty of winter and the long nights may offer many opportunities for romance.

Instead of avoiding the cold, get outside.  Grab whoever you can and drag them with you. Act like a teenager again.  Go skiing, sledding, ice skating, or simply have a snowball fight. Build a snowman. Afterwards, slip indoors for cup of hot cocoa (add a shot of Peppermint or my favorite Michigan Cherry Schnapps) and watch a movie.

On a sunny weekend afternoon if the weather is too cold for your taste, select an audio book and hop in the car for a scenic drive.  Plot your destination to be a quaint little town where you can visit a couple local businesses or simply enjoy the drive.

For a bit of fun after a busy day, pull that special someone into the kitchen and heat things up.  Pick out a recipe together and spend the evening preparing dinner.  When the meal is ready, enjoy it next to a warm fire or by candlelight.  Spread a blanket on the floor and  have a picnic. Turn the evening in to a weekly or monthly tradition and maybe even build your own "couple's cookbook" to share with friends.

Another way to spend an week day evening is playing a board game.  If Monopoly isn't your thing and you want to steam things up a bit, pick up a fun sexy board game.  Check out Lover's Lane, Amazon or Adam & Eve for several fun ideas. Visit their websites together and anxiously await your delivery.

Warm up on a chilly night in an extravagant array of bubbles. If you're a single person, treat yourself to a bit of romance in the tub.  If you're not one for bubbles, try bath salts, bath bombs or a bath soak.  Bath soaks are usually a blend of ingredients you add to your bath water to create a desired effect, such as a sore muscle soak, stress-easing soak or relaxation soak. Most bath and body and drug stores carry bath soak products. Check out online as well. Pour yourself a glass of wine, light some candles, grab a steamy romance novel to read or your favorite BOB. 

For couples, a languishing dip in a steamy tub for two is enough to inspire romance for even the stodgiest of lovers. If you're worried about interruptions, arrange your water play encounter at a time when you can be together alone. A great way to do this and create the perfect memorable night is staying at hotel with a spa or Jacuzzi tub in your room.  Give each other the ultimate bath and spa experience with a little basket filled with spa items from you local bath and body shop.  Don't let the romance stop after the bath. Give each other a light, lotion-laden massage.

Eat Away Monday Blues

 During my last trip to Traverse City, I picked up a jar of Blueberry Lavender Jam. 

I put some on my toast and YUMMMMM!!!!

The jam is wonderfully thick and spreads like warm butter. Pieces of blueberry add to the thickness. The flavor of berries is sweet with a hint of fresh northern air. Close your eyes and the taste will carry you away. The final flavor is the lavender. Smooth, gentle and relaxing. You will finish each bit with a sigh, a hum of satisfaction and a smile of contentment.

Make a slice of toast for your sweetie and share the enjoyment. It is great with a cup of joe or tea.

Visit Harbor View Lavender Farm if you are ever in the Traverse City area. Check out their website for all their amazing products. I love their lotions and the jam. I look forward to trying more products.

During Covid, I've taken to doing most of my shopping online. It's been great fun finding small businesses online and purchasing their products. Many small businesses are part of Amazon. Join the movement to keep small businesses alive.

Support small business. Support you local shops.

Visit Harbor View Lavender Farms on Facebook.

Warm Up With a Bailey's Winter Bliss

The first night of Winter  was dark; a light rain combined with snow fell.

Being a good dog mom, I took the girls for a stroll. 

Once inside, we all dried off.

The girls curled up for naps; I felt the cold to my bones.

 Hubby made a hot drink for me to warm up with.

Ingredients
2 oz. Baileys® Hazelnut Irish Cream Liqueur
4 oz. hot chocolate
...

Directions
Pour Baileys and hot chocolate into a coffee mug

This recipe contains no more than 0.6 fl. oz. of alcohol per serving.

Best consumed in front of a fireplace with a special friend.