The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Friday, March 17, 2017

Support and Celebration, Along With Back-of-the-Book Blurb Friday # 52

A few days ago, Lynn wrote a post about pie. She asked what her followers favorite pie was, and mentioned we'd be having pie (at our critique meeting this past Wednesday) to celebrate me making it into the Listen to Your Mother show.

I didn't reply. I knew that even if I said, "My favorite pie is Norma Rae's raisin and French fig," (a made-up pie) she'd surf the internet and then failing to find it, would improvise. Lynn is like that. She'll find out what our favorite pie/cake/candy/entree is, file it away, and then--voila--she prepares it when it's our birthday or some other special occasion.

Lynn's also a master baker. She makes her melt-in-your-mouth pie crusts from scratch.

On Wednesday, I was hoping for coconut pie. I hate coconut, which meant I could easily resist eating a piece. 

What I found (instead of coconut creme pie) was irresistible. Lynn made my grandmother's chocolate chiffon pie. It was sponge-y. It was decadent and it was spectacular. She had gotten the recipe from me years ago and--of course--had not misplaced it.





(Perhaps you can't see them in this photo, but the sign of a great chocolate chiffon pie are the tiny air pockets, which come from the whipped egg whites that are folded into the chocolate mixture. It makes a light and frothy filling. I was at least glad to hear that Lynn doubts her "folding" ability when it comes to baking because I do, too. I always wonder if I am indeed folding, or if I'm merely stirring in a screwy way, resulting in a heavier pie.)

What my critique partners know is that my story would not have been accepted as a Listen to Your Mother piece in its original form. It's a story about my son, and I worded some details that made the reader think that, well... well, the way I wrote it, it seemed like my son and I had an unnatural (and illegal) relationship. If I hadn't gotten a great deal of much-needed constructive criticism, after I auditioned, the show's producers would have called the DFS child abuse hotline on me.

Thankfully, I got the support and help I needed before the audition happened. And when we met this past Wednesday, we found we had a more important reason to celebrate: Kim has a new grandson. (Kim's daughter has been trying to start a family, she and her husband waded through piles of paperwork and created a video and two-and-a-half weeks after their story went "live" on the site, she got a call... and a baby boy.) Congratulations, Kim!

And now--onto that book blurb stuff... 

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. An informational book on car mini Mariachi bands? A crime story about little boys who form a gang of robbers? You decide.

Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.

Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this writing challenge. However, she's been busy for the last few years. A three-book publishing deal. Another novel (or two) in the works. Building up her editing business...

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

Here's the book cover, along with my blurb:

photo by pixabay


Getting Rich to Get Candy

Juan and Carlos loved candy, and they loved Sour Patch Kids candy the best. When they’d do their chores or make good grades in school, they’d beg for the makes-your-mouth-pucker stuff, but their parents believed in only nature’s candy: fruit. In the Gonzalez house, it was all healthy, nutritious food, all the time.

The boys dreamed of the sugary stuff… so they came up with a plan to make some money so they could buy their own candy.

Picking a spot on the street near their home, Juan and Carlos set up their own miniature musical venue. They borrowed some accordions their uncle had up in his attic, and started playing.

Will they be able to teach themselves how to play the buttonbox? Will they learn to squeeze some pleasant tunes out of the squeezebox? Or will they start making the most money from people who beg them to stop? (150 words)


And for Val, who likes to work ahead, here is the photo for next week.

photo by pixabay







14 comments:

  1. Wow that pie looks so good!!! What a way to celebrate!

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    1. Claudia--Isn't everything chocolate delicious? ;)

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  2. That pie looks delicious!

    We were using the same brain again this week on the blurb. Two young boys, trying to live their dream through music. Though in your story, their dream might become everybody else's nightmare!

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    1. Val--We're sharing one brain? THAT must be why I feel like I'm not firing on all 8 cylinders most of the time. In fact, I think I'm usually only firing on 1 or 2, and you get the benefit of the other 7 or 8...

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  3. First: Big, big congratulations for earning a spot on the Listen to Your Mother show. I wish I could attend.

    Second: That pie looks amazing. Our Lynnie is a special lady, so thoughtful and kind. A wonderful letter writer, too!

    Third: You chose a precious photo for this week's blurbs. I hope the young boys make tastier sounding music than my son's garage band back in he day. At least Juan and Carlos are out in the open air and not inside rattling the walls. :)

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    Replies
    1. Lisa--Thanks. All of the videos will be on youtube sometime this summer, so you can eat least see them digitally.

      Yes, Lynn is something else. She's a master baker, a gifted artist, a phenomenal friend and she writes letters at an amazing rate.

      You survived your son's garage band? I bow down to you. We had to contend with horrible sounds from our son's trumpet... at least until he learned some skills. The sacrifices we make as parents, right?

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  4. Everyone needs a friend like Lynn.

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  5. I can't get past the photo of the pie. Like the other members of your critique group I know, Lynn is so talented. Her pie looks delicious. I made a chocolate pie yesterday, but it looks nothing like Lynn's. And congratulations on LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER. Anyone else from your group going to be on stage?

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    1. Donna--We forgot to take a picture before the pie was torn into. Lynn's filling looked just like that photo, but her crust looked better.

      And thanks.

      Sadly, no.

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  6. Okay, that pie makes me want to call Lynn and put in an order. Yum, yum, yum!

    Congrats again on getting into LTYM. I'll be rooting for you!

    Pat
    www.patwahler.com

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    Replies
    1. Pat--It's really an easy pie to make. But unlike Lynn, when I make pie, I use an already-prepared crust.

      And thank you.

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  7. Thanks for the sweet post.... you didn't inform everyone that the picture of that pie is not mine - LOL. However, not to brag or anything, mine looks kind of close. I forgot to take a picture of the pie I made for you, but I have photos of the other ones I made that day... Pi Day. My daughter calls me the drug pusher since I don't eat any of that stuff, but I'm happily giving it to others. Ack, maybe I better stop doing that. I really want to participate on your Blurb... the next photo is one - well I'll be going there soon, maybe I'll come up with a story after...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn--Yours looked just like the photo, except your crust looked better. ;)

      Thanks again. It was a lovely (and delicious) gesture.

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Thanks for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by...