8.21.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Hello, my darlings!

As you may have noticed, I’ve been slightly more active on the socials this week. Part of that was a three-day family road trip to the Black Hills. Mount Rushmore was incredible, y’all, so inspiring, and I loved Deadwood, and simply driving through what looked like the Colorado of my youth. I had to post some pictures and share it with you.

Also, I’m within a few weeks of finishing a draft of the new book, and I will admit, it’s been nice to poke my nose out of my cave and say hello to folks. I had no phone service during the trip, which sounds like a blessing, but being forced away without choosing to do so annoyed me greatly. Contrarian that I am, I don’t like dictums.

So. As of yesterday afternoon, I’m at 88,000 words, or about 380 pages, and things are popping. There is a book in here somewhere. I’m not seeing light at the end of the tunnel, but there is a sense of momentum, of the train hurtling forward, that gives me great hope. I’d love to finish by the end of the month, at the latest by Bouchercon. Wish me luck.

Now, on to the links! 

Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

Every weekend while I was growing up, without fail, my parents and I watched The McLaughlin Group. I've always been a current events/political junkie, and this show truly was the core of my interests. I'm so sorry it's over, but John did it will style and class to the very end. RIP, John McLaughlin. Bye-bye.

For something a bit more lighthearted, you need these 10 Amelia Bedelia-isms. 😂 How many people do you know like this in real life?

The Guardian has collected their top 10 books that all writers need to read. How many have you found your way through? Because I'll tell you the truth, there's a lot on this list I haven't read.

And closer to home:

I'm always looking for ways to be more productive. Automating my life with workflows has been revolutionary for my business and personal lives. I wrote this post for RT Book Reviews' Author Portal explaining how I did it. 

This week, The Wine Vixen discovered The Wine Show. And my, oh my. Come for the wine, stay for the accents—you'll notice the show stars the incomparable Matthew Rhys of The Americans and Matthew Goode, which will excite Downton Abbey fans. If you have a Hulu account, we highly suggest you go watch it—fun and informative!

That's it for us. Take some time to appreciate what an amazing country we live in by setting off into the wilderness sometimes soon. See some of our treasures. Admire the ingenuity and dedication and forbearance it took to tame this gorgeous land. And congratulations to all our incredible Olympians! I am so humbled by their dedication and passion. Go USA!

xoxo,
J.T.

8.14.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Hello, chickens!

It's me, JT! How's your neck of the woods? I've been in Colorado this week, visiting my family and enjoying the big, blue sky out here (not to mention winning some golf money off of my dad's group—mwahaha!). Thanks to everyone who came to Tattered Cover for the signing this week—I always enjoy catching up with familiar faces and meeting new ones. You guys are the best.

Oh, and we're taking a family road trip this week. Yep, you read that right. Me, parents, and siblings are loading up to visit Mt. Rushmore.

Wish us luck.

And be on the lookout for photos on Facebook and Instagram!

Anyway...

Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

I am a book nerd, and I love tea. Therefore, I love adorable book & tea accessories. BookBub compiled a list of 17 kitschy items that'd be great stocking stuffers for anyone on your list who loves to lose themselves in a great story while sipping a warm beverage.

I know y'all like finding new recipes as much as I do. This week Amy discovered (and loved!) this apple cider vinegar coleslaw recipe. Light and refreshing, this is the slaw to serve to your mayo-averse friends and goes great with bbq chicken.

It's no secret that I adore the brilliant Margaret Atwood—I even got to interview her for my TV show, A Word on Words! I was delighted to connect with her over our shared childhoods growing up in the wild—she in Eastern Canada, and me in the Colorado. The Wall Street Journal went a bit deeper into Atwood's childhood, and I grew even more fascinated. *Note: a WSJ login is needed to access the full article.

"This is why you shouldn't check email outside of work"—YES. I loved from The Daily Mail. Seriously, let's all agree to shut off our email at 6 p.m., shall we?

"To a writer, a body of work is a taunt." An interesting assertion in the New York Times Book Review. Fellow writers, do you agree?

And closer to home:

Darlings. The NO ONE KNOWS paperback is available for pre-order (!!!), and I've got to tell you, I love this gorgeous cover. Take note, paperback lovers: this will be in stores November 1. 

That's it from me! Y'all have a good week, hug your kitties, wear your sunscreen, and we'll talk again soon!

xo,
JT

8.7.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Hi, Guys!
 

Amy here. How was your week? Mine was a wee bit crazy, but you know what I discovered? There are such things as cookie delivery services. 

Let that sink in.

If you're running short on time or don't have all the ingredients in your pantry, yet want to show the love to someone you care about, you can order straight-from-the-oven cookies to be delivered to that someone. As someone who was a recipient of said cookies (I'm looking at you, Jake's Bakes in Nashville), they're a small little something that made my day. 

Just a thought the next time you want to feed your friend's soul with warm, gooey goodness.

Anyway!

Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

For something a little different to beat the heat, I'm eying this sweet ginger lemonade. Sounds intriguing, no?

Wanna increase your productivity? Try the Pomodoro Technique.

Can you teach your brain to ignore things? 🤔

This week, Netflix accidentally placed the closed captioning of an Aziz Ansari comedy special on a National Geographic animal documentary, and the results were absolutely perfect.

And closer to home:

Do you like Romantic Suspense? Then you're going to LOVE this giveaway! Spoiler alert: a Kindle Fire is up for grabs!

And happy release week to our friend, the brilliant Catherine Coulter! Catherine's new Savich & Sherlock novel, INSIDIOUS, hits shelves this week, and she's celebrating with this contest.

FYI, Denver peeps: JT's going to be signing books at Tattered Cover–Aspen Grove this Thursday night at 7. Go! Have fun! Get all the books!

And in the newly released August News, we shared this recipe for super-easy Cajun Roasted Chicken (this is perfect for those busy school nights coming up). Wanna get awesome recipes like this in your inbox every month? Sign up for JT's email list. There's a free ebook for you, too!

That's it from me, friends. Give someone some cookies, stay cool, and I'll talk to you soon!

Cordially yours,
Assistant Amy

7.31.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Hi, guys!

Amy here. How was your week? I can't believe we're already at the end of July. The. end. of. July. You know what this means? Christmas decorations are going to start crawling into the corners of craft stores, and as soon as Back-to-School is underway, then it'll be a full Holiday Décor onslaught. 

Madness. 

By the way, our local schools are starting this week. 

I know. I know. Let that sink in.

Anyway.

Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

Full disclosure: I'm on a Rambo-charged organizing kick. I'm not sure why: perhaps my inner neat freak has been inspired by too many Instagram posts of beautiful closets with everything meticulously in place and labeled. Regardless, I'm going to share my obsessions with you.

You're welcome in advance. 

This plastic file box has become home to all of my important documents. I'm telling you, there's no peace of mind like knowing you don't have to sift through piles of envelopes and minutiae to find your birth certificate or a rogue instruction manual—it's all there.

I really like these storage boxes from The Container Store. They're a lovely way to store printer paper or corral craft supplies. They come in all kinds of colors, so you can mix and match to your heart's content.

My closets have become much more manageable with these cloth storage totes. I can divide and conquer my smaller cabinet fare, like First Aid items, pill bottles, toiletries, cosmetics, and more. Gone are the days of the Great Travel Shampoo Bottle Avalanche, thank goodness! (it happened more often than you'd think, trust me—I like free shampoo, ok?)

Book nerd alert! It's a card catalog! I have not purchased this, because I have no idea what I would put in it (so. many. drawers.). Thoughts?

For holding overflow produce or berries on the counter, there's nothing cuter than this little ceramic basket. I mean, come on.

So these napkins don't fall into the "organization" category, but someday I hope I have my life together enough where I entertain with cloth napkins on the table...and have the ability to get the stains out afterward. 😂 Don't you get a Girl Scout badge for entertaining with cloth napkins? Regardless, these are adorable. They remind me of a beautiful flower table cloth my grandmother would use for her spectacular Sunday dinners.

This Pressure Cooker Mexican Beef is my current recipe obsession. I've made it for two weeks in a row and, thanks to a recent Chuck Roast sale at my local Kroger, I might be making it for Week #3, and I don't even care. And thanks to my Instant Pot, I can dig into my roast in 1/3 of the time it normally takes to braise in the oven—and I don't have to turn on my oven, which means my house and I stay cool. Plus I have an excuse to eat avocados with something else. Win!  

This week, I read about the worst book signing of all time. Truly. It was horrible. By the time I was done reading, I wanted to give this author a huge hug and a bag of chocolate.

Lucky us: the brilliant Catherine Coulter's newest Savich & Sherlock thriller is coming out next week! And she's giving away a. ton. of. prizes. Including an iPad mini! Go check out her epic giveaway!

 

And closer to home:

This week's Wine Vixen post brought a delicious Pinot Grigio you white wine-lovers shouldn't pass up!

Are you on JT's monthly newsletter list? Sign up for book news, contests, and so many delicious recipes. Also, you are automatically entered into any contest she runs for life. For reals. We've got a newsletter coming out this week—it's the perfect time to join the fun!

That's it from me, y'all. Have a great week, eat some tomatoes 🍅, and I'll talk to you soon!

Cordially yours,
Assistant Amy

7.24.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Hi, guys!

Amy here. How was your week? I played Bingo last night. Yup: BINGO. The fast-paced kind where you have a million squares and a marker to pound out tiny dots. I was the youngest by a couple scores, but I didn't care. It was magical.

It doesn't take much, folks.

Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

Have you read anything by the most successful Australian author you've never heard of?

This was fabulous: "What Historical Fiction Can Do That History Textbooks Cannot" (bonus quote i.e. why I loved this: 

“It’s up to fiction to tell the smaller stories, to remind us everyday courage matters too.”

Yes. Yes. Yes. 👏👏👏

Take a gander at the midnight paintings of Dr. Seuss.

Writers: this is why it's crucial to write ugly.

And closer to home:

Miss the Boss Lady yet? I know, me too. You can catch her blogging every other Friday on The Wine Vixen! This week, she dished on a yummy Barolo she had in San Diego. (Barolo is legit, you guys—just sayin')

P.S. To celebrate the re-release of ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS, we're giving away 5 books to folks on J.T.'s email list. That's right: all you have to do is sign up for the list, and you could get a free book.

AND being an email subscriber = you're automatically entered into all of J.T.'s contests for life. 

WHAT. 😮

Interested? Sign up here! (spoiler alert: there's even a thank-you gift for signing up!)

Alright, folks, that's it from me. Stay in the shade, wear sunscreen (do it!), and I'll talk to you soon!

Cordially yours,
Assistant Amy