QUEEN OF AFTERNOON TEA CELEBRITY AUTHOR INTERVIEW

"QUEEN OF THE WEEK"
CELEBRITY AUTHOR
ELIZABETH TRUIETT 

AUTHOR, ELIZABETH TRUIETT

NANCY JILL THAMES

Welcome! Let me pour you a nice cup of English Breakfast tea and we’ll get started. Please help yourself to some Jo Anne’s Chicken Salad Sandwiches. Your Dark Chocolate Cranberry Scones with Rebecca’s Anniversary Pears and Fast & Easy Clotted Cream can easily be dessert! Readers will find the recipes at the end of the interview.

Where do you live?

     I live in the community of Oatmeal outside Bertram.  Almost 1000 acres of the original property was purchased by my husband’s grandfather in the 1940’s.  Recently many of the younger generation have moved onto the land subdividing it, somewhat.  It is quite beautiful with mountains and a creek, called Cow Creek.  We have inherited his grandparents’ farmhouse and are lovingly restoring it.  We hope to modernize it but keep the historic value and memories.  Grandma’s wood cook stove will have a place of honor beside my modern double oven.

How are you published?

     I am an indie author, published through Create Space.

What are your hobbies?

     I recently taught myself to crochet.  I love to read.  I am also interested in genealogy, cooking & baking, and target shooting.

Tell us about your current book.

     I am working on Murder at the Mountain Creek Festival.  My killer thinks the little town of Mountain Creek is the perfect place to hide.  The idea came to me while fighting crowds and traffic at our annual Oatmeal Festival.  My character Hope runs a new Bed & Breakfast.   There is a wedding taking place there over Labor Day weekend.   

How did you become a writer?

     In the summer of 2011, I was driving to Port Aransas with my husband Boyd and our 3 girls.  I remarked that surely, as much as I like to read,  I could write a book.  Boyd really encouraged me to try.  I was certain that all it would take was a good opening line.  So I wrote one.  Then came the prologue.  By the time we finished our vacation, I had written 20 pages.  By Christmas I had 20 chapters.

How long did it take?

     I finished Carolina Key in about 10 months.  I was so sad when I finished!  The fun was gone. 

Where do you like to write?

     I homeschool the girls and I have a desk tucked into the corner of our library/schoolroom.  It’s not very glamorous but the view of the mountain outside my window overlooks Balcones Wildlife Refuge.  Boyd is converting Grandma’s old wash house into a writing studio for me.  I imagine I will have a porch swing out front for when writer’s block hits.

Favorite authors?

     Too many!! 

Jan Karon, Sue Grafton, Beverly Lewis, Jeanette Oke, P.L. Gaus, Wanda Brunstetter, Judith Miller.

How many books have you written?

     Carolina Key is my first.  I have 3 others started.  I expect to write about 5 more of the Mountain Creek series and then concentrate on some geneology romances.  Boyd’s family has some especially fascinating stories in their history.

We’d love a link to purchase!

     Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble

And a link to your website?

     elizabethtruiett.vpweb.com

Be sure to read my blog A View from Mountain Creek.  I will be posting the cover reveal for book 2 soon.  Thank you for having me to tea!

Elizabeth, it was my pleasure!

Here are the Elizabeth Truiett's recipes for today’s tea fare:

 

Dark Chocolate Cranberry Scones
I use the Pioneer Woman’s scone recipe but I add my own flair to it.
3 c flour                                           
1/3 c sugar                                         
5 t baking powder
1 t salt
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 egg
3/4c heavy cream
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 c dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350.  Stir together all dry ingredients.  Cut in butter.  Add egg and cream.  Mix.  Stir in chocolate chips and cranberries.  Turn onto a floured cutting board.  Knead into a smooth circle and pat down.  Cut into triangle shaped wedges.  Transfer to a greased baking pan or stone.  Bake 25 min.  Bottoms will be brown but light on top.  Cool slightly.  Serve warm with cold clotted cream and a mug of your favorite tea or coffee.

Fast & Easy Clotted Cream

My mother and I discovered clotted cream on a trip to London while I was in high school.  We’ve loved it ever since.  This is a very easy version.

3 o.z. cream cheese

1 c heavy whipping cream

3 T sugar

Let cream cheese soften then mix ingredients in a mason jar.  Shake well.  It is best if you let it sit refrigerated 24 hours.

 

Rebecca’s Anniversary Pears
1 sliced & cored red pear
1 sliced & cored green pear
Mix 1 T of cherry preserves and 1Tof orange marmalade together for dipping sauce.

Jo Anne’s Chicken Salad
Start with 2 cans of chicken or 1lb. of cooked, shredded chicken.
Add your favorite ingredients.  We like: chopped onion, sliced boiled eggs
(about 4), sliced black olives, dill relish, and black pepper.  Top and stir with your favorite mayo, miracle whip or try a dash (1T) of horseradish.


Luscious Latte Punch
10 c hot brewed coffee
1 c sugar
Dissolve sugar in hot coffee and refrigerate overnight.
3 c nonfat milk
½ c chocolate syrup
tub of coffee ice cream
Scoop ice cream into punch bowl.  Add milk, coffee, and syrup.  Stir.  This recipe will be served at the bridal brunch in Mountain Creek Mystery Book 2

 

"Queen of Afternoon Tea" Celebrity Author Interview

"QUEEN OF AFTERNOON TEA"

CELEBRITY AUTHOR DEBORAH MALONE

DEBORAH MALONE is my guest today on "Queen of Afternoon Tea" - Deborah is from Georgia and one "peach" of a friend. Thanks for joining us today. 

Blessings,
~Nancy Jill   

"QUEEN OF THE WEEK"

CELEBRITY AUTHOR                        
ROBIN JOHNSON 

Welcome! Let me pour you a cup of tea and we'll get started. Please have a chicken salad sandwich and a blueberry scone. We have Macadamia Feast Cake for dessert. I've been making this recipe for over 40 years now. 

       

Where do you live? 

RJ I reside in Castro Valley, CA that’s in the San Francisco bay area.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.  

RJ I am a wife and proud mother of two daughters. I work as a senior property manager. I serve on two boards and work endless hours of Community Service.

Are you a traditionally published or Indie author?  

RJ My book was published by Tate Publishing Co.

What are your hobbies? 

RJ I love to travel, the theater, spending time with family, party planning and scrap booking.

Tell us about your current book. What was your inspiration? 

 RJ "Say it Proud"…provides families with a short ritual to start their day with a positive outlook and the reminder that children have limitless potential. The power of transforming negative thoughts into a positive daily affirmation is beneficial habit that children can apply throughout their lives. Affirmations such as ‘I am a winner’ and ‘I have special talents’ will help children to stay positive even during their tough days. Other affirmations like ‘I am an amazing child of God’ and ‘God loves me’ will remind children that God cherishes them. I began reciting daily with my daughters when my youngest was five years old. These affirmations gave my daughters faith, self-esteem, confidence, self-worth, and amazing strength. I saw them blossom from this practice before my very eyes.   I looked for a children’s book of 365 daily affirmations to give to my niece and I was not able to find one so, that and my daughters testimonial was my inspiration to write.

How did you become a writer? When did you start?  

RJ Well, I had a message that I wanted to get out in the form of a book. I started writing only a few years ago for this book. I have always kept a journal. 

How long did it take you to finish your first book? 

RJ It took 8 months to finish "Say it Proud…Daily Affirmations for Children".

Where do you like to write? 

RJ I generally write at night…in my bed propped up with pillows.

Favorite author(s)? 

RJ Toni Morrison is my favorite author.

How many books have you written, so far? Do you plan to write more? 

RJ  "Say it Proud" is the only book I have written so far. I am working on my second book for teens.

Would you like to share a link where we can purchase your books?

RJ Sure. https://www.wepay.com/shop/view/941551

http://www.amazon.com/Say-Proud-Daily-Affirmations-Children/dp/1613461437/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1325824386&sr=8-5

What about a link to your website?  

RJ www.sayitproud.org

Robin, it has been such a pleasure to have you over for tea. I wish you great success with your book and those you plan to write in the future.

            

Queen of Afternoon Tea Celebrity Author Interviews

"KING OF THE WEEK"

CELEBRITY AUTHOR

STANLEY POPOVICH

                  

Welcome! Thank you for stopping by today. It's lovely to have you join me for a cup of tea. Please have a tomato and ham sandwich and a scone. We'll be having a flour-less chocolate cake for dessert.

Where do you live? Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am from Pittsburgh, PA and I struggled with fear and anxiety for over 15 years. I published a book at www.managingfear.com  on how to deal with fear and stress based on my experiences and interviews with various professionals.

Are you a traditionally published or Indie author?

 I am  a regular published author. My publisher is Treble Heart Books.

What are your hobbies?

 I like sports, watching movies and hanging out with my family and friends.

Tell us about your current book. What was your inspiration?

-Well since 1990, I struggled with fear and anxiety. I talked to counselors and kept notes on my experiences. One day I realized I could get my notes published so I started to write my book and I found my publisher. Eventually I got my book published  and now I write articles to help promote my book.

How did you become a writer? When did you start? 

I was always a good writer and I took a lot of writing classes in school. So I was always a writer in a sense.

How long did it take you to finish your first book? 

I did the research since 1990 and started to get my notes published which took a year and a half.

Where do you like to write? 

I write using my computer at home.

Favorite author? 

I like Donald Trump and his books.

How many books have you written, so far? Do you plan to write more? 

I have written only one book and for now I just promote my current book. Maybe down the road I will write another book.

Would you like to share a link where we can purchase your books? 

My link is www.managingfear.com

What about a link to your website? 

It’s the same at www.managingfear.com

It's been a pleasure to have you today, Stanley. Thank you again for doing the interview. I wish you the best with your book. 

QUEEN OF AFTERNOON TEA CELEBRITY AUTHOR INTERVIEW

"KING OF THE WEEK"
CELEBRITY AUTHOR
 
 JERRY GUARINO     

Welcome! Let me pour you a cup of tea and we'll get started. Help yourself to a sandwich and a scone. We'll also be having a lovely persimmon cake for dessert today.

Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in northern New Jersey, outside New York City and then went to college at Rutgers, majoring in English and American Literature.

What inspired you to become a writer?

All my life I’ve wanted to write, forming the ideas for my stories in my head.  I wrote in college, but didn’t submit anything for publication.  Then I started writing again last year.  My stories came rushing out, like a dam with a hole in it, publishing thirty-five stories in one year.  Although I wish I had started sooner, the benefit of waiting was that I had lots of life experience to base my writing on, including settings and characters I have known.  Once I have an idea, it only takes me an hour or two to write a story.

How did you decide on your book's genre?

My book is an eclectic collection of short stories so there are many genres included.  There are love stories, humorous tales and mysteries.  Most of them have unusual plots, twists and surprise endings, much like O. Henry stories. Perhaps some day I’ll settle into one genre, but for now, I get an idea and explore it into a story. Maybe that’s why I have avoided the novel so far, because I’m still finding my writing voice.

What is/are your favorite genre(s)?

I like well-written fiction, nothing too complex, with humorous or satirical themes.  For example, I like the Yes, Minister stories by Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay, very funny political satires about the British bureaucracy.  But I also love the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain and Anton Chekhov and great American writers like Hemingway and Steinbeck.

Are you currently reading anything?

I continue to read the many short stories of Mikhail Zoshchenko, a Russian author.  His work is very funny, while making a statement about the frustrations of the people in communist Russia.  If you haven’t read The Bath House, you need to; it’s only a few pages long, but is a classic story that I’m sure you will like.

Who or what is the driving force that keeps you going?

Once I realized that I had a gift as a writer, I was compelled to see how far it would take me.  I’ll keep writing until no one wants to publish my stories, which thankfully hasn’t happened yet.  I only wish I started earlier.  It’s great when a magazine accepts my story for publication and even better when people tell me they enjoyed reading it.

How do you balance your personal life with your writing career?

Good question.  During the day, I’m a teacher, leaving me some time to write in the late afternoon, weekends and the summer.  While I write, my wife does crafts, like scrapbooking, making jewelry and quilting.  But we always get together at dinner; we have a good balance of work and play.

Tell us about your book.

Café Stories is a collection of 26 stories, previously published in magazines around the world.  Because I have so many different types of stories, the book appeals to a wide audience.  Although there are certain stories that stand out, most people have their own favorites.  I selected the name because my stories appeal to so many different people, like you would see in your local coffee house.  Students, retired people and everyone in between can find stories they like in my book.  Since many of the stories are short, you can read one in the time it takes you to have your coffee and pastry.  I wanted my book to be an oasis from the stress of daily life, even if you only have five minutes to spare.

How do you create your characters?

The advantage to beginning to write later in life is that I have had so much experience.  Many of my stories have a biographical element to them or are based on people I have known and places I have been.  I may exaggerate the qualities of a character for effect, particularly when I am contrasting their motives and behavior with others.  More than anything else, I want my characters to be memorable, but not necessarily likable.  Characters, along with setting and plot, combine to make a story.  You need all three.  Myra McIlvain, the author of Legacy, described my characters this way.

“Jerry Guarino's Cafe Stories sends his readers on a merry chase through a wild array of micro/flash fiction--humor, satire, and pathos. He artfully captures gentle souls and slick cons, the high brows and their unsuspecting victims in characters that step from the page to engage the reader. Guarino finds the tiniest trait that creates zany folks the reader wants to protect or strangle. Often at the same time. Prepare for the surprise twist at the end. He gets you every time.”

Do you have any upcoming events or book promotions?

Besides this wonderful opportunity on your site, I have been asked to guest blog on other writer sites, done some book signings, in coffee houses (of course J) and have participated in programs with the Women’s Literary Café.  I will be doing a reading in Sacramento later this year for a magazine that has published my work.

Where can people find you and your work on the web?

As I write stories for the next book, Café Stories Deux, those will be on the website of the magazines that publish them.  You can check my website for links, http://cafestories.net.  I’m also glad to send a story to anyone who requests one, whether they want to read a love story, funny tale or mystery.  Of course my book is available as a kindle title to read on their computer or tablet, for less than a cup of coffee I might add.  

It was lovely to get to know you today, Jerry, and I wish you all the best success with your writing. Thanks again for stopping by!

***

Contact information and bio:

Jerry Guarino

email: jguarino.author@gmail.com

http://cafestories.net

twitter: @cafestories

facebook: http://on.fb.me/uFShnw

amazon book link = amzn.to/uZ3ylb

A Modern Day O. Henry

Cafe Stories is an anthology of 26 critically acclaimed stories by Jerry Guarino, previously published in magazines in the United States, Canada, Australia and Great Britain in 2011.

Like mysteries, these stories have twists and turns, unexpected consequences and surprise endings, much in the style of the great William Sydney Porter (aka O. Henry). But instead of 19th century New York, the stories take place in contemporary New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The collection includes love stories, humorous accounts and even a few science fiction tales. Like O. Henry, Mr. Guarino's style appeals to a wide audience, men and women of all ages. Editors, publishers and authors around the world have high praise for his writing.

"His style is simple and consistently powerful, his storytelling a triumph of art over artifice."

Ben Price (Zouch Magazine and Miscellany)

"His writing is consistently fresh and inventive. His stories grab from the beginning, then hurl the reader into surprising and powerful endings. Definitely a must-read."

Earl Wynn (Thunderune Publishing)

"Each story is well crafted with the natural elegance of a natural writer...a real treat for the reader.

Scott Wilson (The Fringe Magazine)

"Jerry Guarino's Cafe Stories sends his readers on a merry chase through a wild array of micro/flash fiction--humor, satire, and pathos. He artfully captures gentle souls and slick cons, the high brows and their unsuspecting victims in characters that step from the page to engage the reader. Guarino finds the tiniest trait that creates zany folks the reader wants to protect or strangle. Often at the same time. Prepare for the surprise twist at the end. He gets you every time."

Myra McIlvain (Author of Legacy)

We think you'll find Cafe Stories a wonderful addition to your library, on a bookshelf or as an e-book on your computer or tablet. Relax in your favorite coffee house with this book. You'll be glad you did.

Love Stories

- The Devil's Orchestra

- Double Sting

- The Duke of Yelp

- First Love

- In the Mood

- The Love Beads

- Pie or Die

- Practical Goldberg (A Love Story in 3 Parts)

- The Tightrope

- Trick or Treat

- Unfaithful

Humor

- Coq a Doodle Do

- I am the writer; I speak for the programmers (with apologies to Dr. Seuss)

- Preheat the Microwave.Com

- The Rich are Going to Hell

- Traffic Stop with Annie Kim

- You Don’t Have to be High to Crave White Castles: A Rant

- The Waiting Room

Science Fiction

- Operation ICU

- UFO

- Under the Apple Tree

More O’ Henry style

- 30 Minutes of Hell

- 30 Seconds of Hell

- The Black Hole

- The Grand Poobah

- In and Out

- The Thief

Cafe Stories paperback ISBN = 978-1467962940

Cafe Stories kindle ISBN = 978-1-61914-4476-7

About the Author

Jerry Guarino is an author and teacher living in the SF Bay Area. His upcoming book, Cafe Stories, is an eclectic collection of 26 critically acclaimed short stories previously published by dozens of literary magazines in the United States, Canada, Australia and Great Britain. He is the author of Cafe Stories, The Devil's Orchestra and The Chess Table. Here are a few reviews of his work: "Guarino's style is simple and consistently powerful, his storytelling a triumph of art over artifice." Ben Price (Zouch Magazine) "Jerry's writing is consistently fresh and inventive. His stories grab from the beginning, then hurl the reader into surprising and powerful endings. A must read!" Earl Wynn (Daily Love) "Each story is well crafted with the natural elegance of a natural writer." Scott Wilson (The Fringe Magazine) He is currently working on a murder mystery for the stage. Follow him on twitter @cafestories and his website http://cafestories.net