The Balanced Writer Sent THE SUNSHINE AWARD

The Balanced Writer has been awarded the Sunshine Award by Anne Patrick from over at
Suspense By Anne.


I humbly accept this award and will now share the love by following the rules of acceptance.

Put the logo on your blog in your post.
Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blogs.
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

The Balanced Writer would like to nominate the following blogs:

The Lovestruck Novice
Pure Southern Genteel
Prairie Chicks Write Romance
Monya Clayton
Marissa's Issues
Gail Palotta
Linda Swift
Romance Write-Up with Judah Raine
E.A. West
Heather Justensen
Lorean's Lore
Tracy Ann Marr

Chocolate Bread

As a true choc-o-holic, I must believe that CHOCOLATE BREAD is balancing your life...because it doesn't have all of the calories that chocolate cake does. The best part is, European chocolate breads are just as rich and decadent as cake. This recipe is featured in this month's THE PRIVATEER NEWSLETTER. You can join my growing list of subscribers HERE. Don't miss out on news, reviews, and my most popular recipes.

Try this delicious chocolate bread and relish the smell of your kitchen as it bakes. Chocolate Bread rocks with cream cheese and raspberry jam.

*EUROPEAN CHOCOLATE BREAD

1 ¼ teaspoons of bread machine yeast
2 ¼ cups of bread flour
¼ cup of sugar
3 tablespoons of Dutch cocoa
¾ teaspoon of salt
¾ cup plus one tablespoon of water
1 large egg yolk
1 ½ teaspoons of unsalted butter
½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Combine all ingredients in bread machine and process on regular bake or light crust cycle for one pound.

*Original recipe from "Rustic European Breads from your Bread Machine" by Linda West Eckhardt and Diana Collingwood Butts

Where Your Heart Is...

If you can tell a lot about a person by the way they speak, can you tell a lot about someone by what they read? Or for a writer, by what they write?

One of the most wonderful things about reading and writing online is getting to know the authors who put their blood, sweat, and FEARS out in the open for everyone to see. It never ceases to amaze me how sweet the authors of sweet romance are, as I come to find out more about them through blogs and interviews. And those sensual writers, WOW! are they passionate about living. Like pulling a favorite sweater out of the closet, readers and authors seem to be drawn to books that reflect who they are, what they wish to conquer, or who they some day hope to be.

This idea often leads me to self-introspection about myself. For example, when I stumble into my own chaotic clothes closet with three feet of dirty laundry on the floor (Hey, it helps me reach the top shelves!), I usually go for the chocolate-colored brown knit that zips up the front. If I’m feeling dressy, I have the black embroidered cardigan with the mother-of-pearl buttons. Simple, but laid-back. I want to be comfortable. I don’t rock boats.

In contrast, send me to my e-reader library and what do I pull up? Soft romances with feminine plots and settings. (That must be my dressy black sweater). And those adventures with the heroine who must face her fears and tame the brusque, sarcastic hero…that’s my brown zippy sweater all the way!

I can only hope as readers dive into my books, they finish them with a sign of pleasure--satisfied, and warm and cozy. A story crosses an unseen bridge between reader and writer. Somewhere, somehow, the heart makes this connection, and for a moment, both are in the same place, with the same hopes and fears.

You can’t share your favorite sweater with everyone you meet, but as long as you can find a good book to write, read, or recommend, I believe people somehow get where your heart is.

Like a Bad Toothache!

I guess going to the dentist makes its mark, since we use so many expressions from the experience. This week means the six-month deadline for my kids and I’ve already dragged Son #4 in for his checkup. The kid’s the best brusher I have, but he carries the record for most cavities.

Now I’m the first to admit I overuse the saying “Like pulling teeth”--most frequently when I’m staring at a blank computer screen trying to finish a first draft. Sometimes when the words aren’t flowing, and I have a deadline, I wish I was at the dentist.

Then there’s “like a bad toothache.” Okay, I’ve actually had a toothache so bad I literally thought I’d died and gone to Hell. For some reason, there seems to be a waiting list for people who need root canals. I don’t get this. Isn’t that like an emergency situation? Everyone seems to think a couple painkillers will tide you over until you can get the work done, but for anyone who’s ever endured this…Nuh-uh.

So now, my youngest child will be returning to the dentist next week to have a tooth with a cavity in it pulled. It’s wedged in by a big mean permanent tooth. When I got the news I was immediately concerned, because let’s face it, with all of the idioms and horror stories, it could be a traumatic experience that might scar him for life.

I talked to him about it on the way home, hoping in some small way I could ease his fears. In true “Never Say Die, I’m An Eight Year Old” fashion, he shrugged it off with, “I’ll need that tooth back so I can put it on under my pillow.”

Cha-ching.

I pray that he never needs a root canal. Or has to pay for one!