Featured Author Spotlight on: Diane Bator By Connie Vines #Author Interview, #author interview, #Diane Bator

 Today's Spotlight Interview is with the author  Diane Bator.

 Welcome to Dishin' It Out! 

Connie:  Diane, Please tell me about your current release.

Diane Bator, author

Diane: Eccentric romance novelist Mimsy Lexington has a secret. 🙍

When she approaches Katie Mullins to help find details about her late husband’s death, Katie and her boyfriend Danny Walker are drawn into a web of lies and deceit. The deeper they dig, the more they realize the biggest dangers may lurk close to home and need to suspect everyone—including Mimsy.

My most recent book, The Conned Lady, is the fifth book and conclusion of my Wild Blue Mystery series. Where the first book, The Bookstore Lady, tells readers how Katie Mullins and Danny Walker first arrived in Packham, The Conned Lady wraps up their story and puts an end to Katie’s struggles with the bosses she’s been evading.

Connie: What was the inspiration for this story?

Diane: The Bookstore Lady was the first in the series and was actually inspired by my move across Canada to a small town where no one knew me. I kept thinking “What if I had a huge secret like I was on the run from someone?” and wrote my book from there. The entire series features some great local things from where I currently live but is set in a small, fictional town in New York State.

 Connie: Do you have a favorite paragraph/line of dialogue in this novel?

Diane:  Mimsy Lexington:  “I’ve committed a murder and can’t seem to remember how.”

Connie:  "Great line of dialogue.  I'm hooked!"

Diane's complete interview was posted on May 10, 2022--click on the date to read more!

Links for website/buy links, etc.

Website:  https://dianebator.ca/ 

BWL Publishing (book links): http://bookswelove.net/bator-diane/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dianebatorauthor 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianebatorauthor/?hl=en 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeBator 

Linked In:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-bator-35b63418/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7179945.Diane_Bator 

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Diane-Bator/e/B009CGCPRE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Happy Reading, Everyone!

Connie

XOXO

 

Connie's Tuesday Kitchen: Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup By Connie Vines #Keto Friendly, #WW points, #Yummy Soup,

 Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This broccoli cheddar soup is one of my favorite soups and the best easy recipe soup for all of us counting calories or points! 😋

INGREDIENTS

  2 cups Broccoli diced (small)

8 tbsp Butter

16 oz Cheddar Cheese shredded or grated

½ cup Onion diced

½ cup Celery diced

3 cup Chicken Broth optional

1 cup Cream (heavy whipped cream)

1 tbsp Salt

1 tbsp Black Pepper powder

3-4 cloves Garlic minced or finely chopped

½ tbsp Paprika Powder optional

1 tbsp Cornflour 

INSTRUCTIONS

 1..Wash the broccoli under water and cut it into small pieces, separating the florets from the stalks. You can be chopped roughly the stalks if you want.

2  Heat the pan or put the saucepan with butter on a medium flame. If you put the flame on high, your butter will burn.

3.  Add chopped onion and fry this well. When you see the onion turns light brown, then add salt, pepper, and garlic, and saute them a little until you get a nice flavor from it.

4.  Then add the chopped broccoli and stir gently until this broccoli is soft and light green. Sprinkle cornflour on top of butter and onion.

5. Add chicken broth or water. Mix well and cook for 5 minutes with the lid on the pot.

Optional: sprinkle with paprika, combine well and cook for another minute. 

6. Let the mixture come to a boil and then simmer for a few minutes. Combine well and add more pepper and salt if necessary. If the soup is too thick, you can add some water or broth.

7.  Set the temperature to medium. Add the cream and cheese,  whisking gently. Cook until the cheese is melted perfectly. 

8. Serve hot and garnished with shredded cheddar cheese or green broccoli.

                                                                    😋🥣🥦🧀

We all love leftovers! 

After the soup has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container or jar.

Keep the soup in the fridge and you can store it for about 3-4 days.

Q and A:

Q. Can Broccoli Cheese Soup be frozen? 

A. Yes. Cooled soup can be ladled into plastic containers or resealable plastic bags and frozen for up to 6 months. 

Q. What do you serve with broccoli soup?

A. Broccoli soup cheese is so delicious and heavy. So light, salad, vinegar-based side dish great to serve well, like salad or coleslaw-based side dish.

 " Soup is the song of the hearth and the home."

Connie

XOXO

Spotlight: Diane Bator, Author Interview By Connie Vines #Author Interview, #Spotlight on author Diane Bator, #Diane Bator, #BWLPublishing

Today's Spotlight Interview is with the author  Diane Bator.

Diane Bator, author

 Welcome to Dishin' It Out! 

Connie:  Diane, Please tell me about your current release.

Diane: Eccentric romance novelist Mimsy Lexington has a secret.

When she approaches Katie Mullins to help find details about her late husband’s death, Katie and her boyfriend Danny Walker are drawn into a web of lies and deceit. The deeper they dig, the more they realize the biggest dangers may lurk close to home and need to suspect everyone—including Mimsy.

My most recent book, The Conned Lady, is the fifth book and conclusion of my Wild Blue Mystery series. Where the first book, The Bookstore Lady, tells readers how Katie Mullins and Danny Walker first arrived in Packham, The Conned Lady wraps up their story and puts an end to Katie’s struggles with the bosses she’s been evading.

Connie: What was the inspiration for this story?

Diane: The Bookstore Lady was the first in the series and was actually inspired by my move across Canada to a small town where no one knew me. I kept thinking “What if I had a huge secret like I was on the run from someone?” and wrote my book from there. The entire series features some great local things from where I currently live but is set in a small, fictional town in New York State.

 Connie: What would you like to see more/less of in the mystery genre?

Diane: As much as I enjoy cozies, I like to see a bit of variety and adventure in my mysteries. Smart sleuths who can be a bit quirky.

 Connie: What, in your opinion, makes a good mystery writer?

Diane:  I love puzzles and enjoy being kept guessing! I’m not a fan of stories that tell me the killer upfront and then go back to fill in the gaps. Or of books that start off with a bang and then fizzle out for about 6 chapters before the mystery returns.

 Connie: Do you have a favorite paragraph/line of dialogue in this novel?

Diane:  Mimsy Lexington:  “I’ve committed a murder and can’t seem to remember how.”

That was the launching point for me to write The Conned Lady!

:Connie: Why did you choose this location for your mystery novel?

Diane:  As a Canadian author, I was advised to choose a US setting if I wanted to be published in the US. Since I’m in Southern Ontario, I kept my location close to the border, just on the other side of the Great Lakes! I also modeled the fictional town of Packham after the lovely little town where I currently reside.

 Connie: Who would it be if you were forced to live the rest of your life as one of your characters?

Diane: I think Lucy Stephens and I both live a similar life already. She’s a mystery writer with three kids. If I was forced to live an alternate life, however, I’d choose Katie who runs a bookstore and constantly gets in over her head. Life would never be dull! 

 Connie: What are your hobbies? Do any of your characters share your hobbies/interests? Do any of your hobbies play a part in your novels?

Diane:: Lucy, Katie’s sidekick, loves reading and writing. Mimsy Lexington is a prolific romance novelist.

I also have another series, Sugarwood Mysteries, that takes place in Canada. Audra and her best friend Merilee run a craft shop and host a sewing circle for the locals. This stems from my love for needlepoint, diamond art, and crafting in general.

 

 Connie: Diane please share your Buy Links and Social Media Links with our readers.

* Diane forgot to mention that her novels have received numerous awards, too!  🥇🥈🥉

I hope you’ll check out some of my fun mysteries and join me on more great adventures! 

Please sign up for my newsletter!

 Diane Bator Newsletter

Links for website/buy links, etc.

Website:  https://dianebator.ca/ 

BWL Publishing (book links): http://bookswelove.net/bator-diane/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dianebatorauthor 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianebatorauthor/?hl=en 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeBator 

Linked In:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-bator-35b63418/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7179945.Diane_Bator 

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Diane-Bator/e/B009CGCPRE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Diane, thank you for visiting us today! 

Happy Reading, Everyone!

Connie

XOXO

Featured Author: Helen B. Henderson--Spotlight on #Fire and Amulet-- #dragon Shifter Romance By Connie Vines

 Today's Spotlight Interview is with author Helen B. Henderson.

Welcome to Dishin' It Out!

Helen:  Fire and Amulet is a twist of a dragon shifter romance. Trelleir is an actual dragon whose magic allows him to take on human form. The last of his kind, he longs for companionship. However, his only friend is not only a human female but a slayer. Sworn to kill all dragons, including him.

Summoned by the village council, Deneas is sent on a quest to kill any and all dragons and cannot return without proof of her success. Finding the mythical creature and avoiding its deadly talons and fire are not her only problems. Another slayer follows with orders to kill her. As she retraces her slain mother's footsteps, Deneas learns the world is not what it seems.

Connie: What was the inspiration for this story?

Helen:  I’ve always wanted to fly in the bright blue sky or the star-filled universe. The daughter of an airline flight engineer, I learned my numbers and letters, helping update manuals and reading the instrument panel of an old Constellation. As a child lying in the grass of our New Jersey farm, I would identify airplanes from their silhouette or tail logo and watch clouds drift across the sky. At one time, I studied aviation and considered a career as a pilot, so it is not surprising that I’ve written several works that feature creatures who play tag with the clouds. The latest tale to take to the skies is Fire and Amulet.

Connie: Do you have a favorite paragraph/line of dialogue in this novel?

Helen: One of the lighter moments involves Deneas’ summons before the village council. She is exercising in the garden when the town bully struts up and demands she accompany him. He threatens to forcibly carry her, to which Deneas offers the equivalent of “make me.” Karst’s response follows.

Connie: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

Helen:  A few thoughts about me and my writing. 

My writing crosses genres and reflects the contrasts between my heritage and that of my Gemini sign. I describe myself as a tour guide to the stars, the Old West, and worlds of imagination. Yes, I travel in time, at least via research, re-enactments, and archaeological digs.

I love to hang out with mages, ride magical equines, and fly with dragons.

A final thought. I love to hear from readers. If you choose to write to me at helenhenderson.author@gmail.com, please put the title of one of my books in the subject line, so I’ll know you’re not sending spam.

I hope readers will consider Fire and Amulet. More of my works, including the Windmaster Novels, can be found on my website below.

Thank you for having me.

It was my pleasure.  

Helen, Thank you for sharing your newest release with us!

Find Sales Sites for Fire and Amulet at Books2Read https://books2read.com/fire-and-amulet/ 

Find Helen online at:

Website:  https://helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/HelenHenderson.author

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/history2write

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/777491.Helen_Henderson

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Helen-Henderson/e/B001HPM2XK

Happy Reading, Everyone!

Connie

XOXO

Connie's Tuesday Kitchen---Soup is ALWAYS Comfort Food By Connie Vines #Connie'sKitchen, #Easy and Fast Lentil Soup, #Connie'sKitchen, #BWLAuthor, #portable meals

 Lentil Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large yellow onion, finely diced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 clove of garlic, finely diced

3 stalks of celery, finely diced

3 carrots, peeled and finely diced

2 cups (12 ounces) of small green lentils

8 cups of water or vegetable stock

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste

1/8 teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste

3 tablespoons lemon juice, plus more to taste

1/2 bunch collard greens/kale/or baby spinach  (depending on personal preference)

 stemmed and thinly sliced crosswise.

Personal Copyright via Canva

Method

Caramelize the onions:

In a soup pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Once the oil shimmers, add the onions and cook, occasionally stirring, for 10 minutes, or until deep, golden brown.

Onions in the bottom of a soup pot for lentil soup.

Caramelized onions and tomato paste in the bottom of a soup pot.

Cook the tomato paste and vegetables:

Push the onions to the side of the pot. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the tomato paste darkens to a ruddy brown. Add the thyme, garlic, celery, and carrots. Cook and stir for 2 minutes And in the space you made, add the tomato paste.es.

Add the lentils and liquid, and simmer the soup:

Add the lentils, 8 cups of water, soy sauce, salt, and pepper to the pot. Adjust the heat to medium so the soup is just at a gentle simmer. Simmer for 55 to 60 minutes, or until the lentils are soft.

Pot of diced vegetables in water.

Finish the soup and serve:

Scoop out 2 cups of the soup and purée it in a blender until smooth, or use an immersion blender and purée until the soup takes on a petite body and thickens, but you still have texture. Return the blended soup to the pot and stir in the lemon juice. Add the sliced kale and simmer until the kale softens about 1 to 2 minutes.

Taste, and add more salt, pepper, and lemon juice, if you like. Serve with a nice slice of crusty bread or a side salad.

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING)

240 CALORIES

4gFAT

39gCARBS

13gPROTEIN

 

Substitutions and Additions

• Use Worcestershire sauce instead of soy sauce (make sure the Worcestershire is vegan if you want to keep the lentil soup vegan).
• Substitute chicken stock for the water or vegetable stock if you're not worried about it being vegetarian.
• Add a little bit of finely diced potatoes or sweet potatoes with the vegetableYouyou can add some finely chopped jalapeño or serrano pep for a bit of heat.
• Meat lovers may want to put some chopped sausage or crumble some bacon on top.
• Top the soup with chopped fresh herbs, like cilantro, basil, or parsley.

What to Do With Leftovers

Consider freezing the soup in small one-portion containers so you can pull it out at will and use it for mid-week lunches. This lentil soup recipe will keep in the freezer for up to six months.

Remember, all of my novels and novellas have my fave recipes included!

Wishing you a week of warm wishes and tasty dishes,

Connie

XOXO