Tada: Rough Draft Done!

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Ann Roth

I finished the rough draft of my latest novel! Shazam! And I do mean rough. It took me just shy of 7 weeks to get the thing on paper. That’s fast! Even so, at times it seemed as if I were swimming through quicksand, working so hard, but getting nowhere.

This story isn’t nearly finished. It’s going to need a multiple, thorough revisions, during which I will flesh out the characters and their emotional arcs, and make sure that all the threads in the book are complete. This will take awhile, but at least I have something to work from.

Once the book is in reasonably decent shape, off it goes to an editor for her suggestions. Because as experienced and seasoned a writer as I am, I always, always miss things that need revising. When the book comes back to me, I’ll give it another round of edits, and so on and so on.

But just now, I’m patting myself on the back and taking a few days to play. Because no matter how much work lies ahead, I need to replenish and refill my creative well. That way it is always full.

Until next time, and wishing you the joy of finishing whatever your rough draft happens to be,

Ann

Connect with me on my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Ann Roth

Years ago, I cut this recipe out of our now-defunct, and dearly missed daily morning pager, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (http://www.seattlepi.com/). The paper has since moved online, but I really liked reading the hard copy over breakfast and coffee. Anyway… I finally got around to trying this recipe. Wow. Scrumptious, and rich, with a lovely, fudgy center. The directions are a bit wonky in places (I mean, if the mixing bowl doesn’t feel cool, stop mixing and place in the freezer for 5 minutes? Give me a break!) , so I made a few changes.

Note: the amount of sugar in this thing is staggering. I worried that it would taste too sweet. But it came out just right. I will definitely make this one again.

Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Adapted from a recipe by Shirley O. Corriher

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a Bundt pan.

1 cup softened butter (original recipe called for more, but 1 cup is enough!)

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 c vegetable oil

2 egg yolks

4 whole eggs

2 cups confectioners sugar (I used scant cups)

2 1/4 cup all purpose, unbleached flour (I avoid the bleached stuff–who wants to ingest anything that has been bleached?)

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup cocoa powder

In a bowl, mix together flour, and salt; set aside.

In mixer, cream butter and sugar and beat until airy. Add eggs and yolks and mix for about 20 seconds. Add vanilla and oil. Mix for about 30 seconds; add flour mixture. Mix until incorporated; add confectioners sugar and cocoa powder. When incorporated, pour into prepared Bundt pan. Bake about 38-45 minutes. Note: Because of the gooey center, there is no way to insert a toothpick to see if done. I have a convection oven, and baked for 38 minutes.

Place on a wire rack and let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Then gently press on the top with the palm of your hand to eliminate the air pocket that formed while baking. Cool in the pan for 2-3 hours; then invert pan onto a serving platter to finish cooling. Or serve warm.

Until next time, and droolingly yours,

Ann

Connect with me on my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

Scones: They do the body good.

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Ann Roth

You may recall that about a month ago, I made pumpkin puree from sugar pumpkins. The puree went into the freezer for later. The other day, I thawed some and made pumpkin scones.

Scones, baking in the oven

They smelled great, and I couldn’t wait to taste one.

The finished product

I wasn’t disappointed. These babies are buttery and flavorful.–all around delicious!

Here is the recipe, courtesy of Joy of Baking. com. http://www.joyofbaking.com/

Pumpkin Scones

Makes 8 scones– I doubled the recipe and froze the extras for later.

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1/3 – 1/2 cup buttermilk (in doubling the recipe, I used 2/3 cup)
1/2 cup fresh or canned pure pumpkin (if using canned pumpkin make sure there are no spices or sugar added)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Egg Wash:
No need to double this– it was more than enough for my doubled recipe
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk or cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and place rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Stir in the raisins and pecans, if using. In a separate bowl mix together the buttermilk, pumpkin puree and vanilla and then add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Mix just until the dough comes together. Do not over mix.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead dough gently four or five times and then pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches round and about 1 1/2 inches thick. Using a table knife, cut circle in half, then cut each half into 4 pie-shaped wedges (triangles). If the triangles are too big, feel free to halve them. Place the scones on the baking sheet. Brush the tops with the egg wash.

Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Or give in and have one hot from the oven! I did. 🙂

Until next time, and happy eating,

Ann

Connect with me on my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

Don’t just sit there…

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Ann Roth

Sage advice, no?

There are those rare and magical times when I feel as if I am flying. Those are the best times, when I know I can do ANYTHING.

But sometimes, forging ahead seems impossible. When that happens, it’s tempting to throw up my hands and give up.

I have a confession to make: With nearly every novel I write, I feel this way at some point. There are times when I spend days or even weeks, banging my head against a seemingly immovable barrier, working and reworking a few crucial pages or a scene that just isn’t working. That may never work. And a little voice in my head, a voice I have come to think of as my own mini-demon taunts, “Finishing this book isn’t life or death. Why don’t you throw in the towel? Go ahead, quit.”

I think about that. But I’m no quitter. Never have been. So I give myself a mental kick in the butt, banish that mini-demon to a place where the sun don’t shine, and rework the darned thing again. And again. And again, until I have it right and can at last move forward.

You want to know the funny part? When I finish the draft and reread it, I can’t believe that those few pages or that scene almost beat me. And I’m relieved and proud that I moved forward, even when I wondered if I ever would.

Until next time, and wishing you continued movement forward,

Ann

Connect with me on my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

Go to sleep, darling brain

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Ann Roth

I can’t tell you how often this happens to me. Of course, sleep is forgotten while I lie in the dark and sift through the “what ifs” and “that could work” possibilities.

A couple times, I promised myself that I would remember my brilliant stroke of creativity in the morning, and went on to dreamland. But when morning came, I’d forgotten everything. Let me tell you, that’s the worst!

Having learned my painful lesson, I now write it all down–legibly. (Not being able to decipher my own handwriting is just about as bad than forgetting the idea.)

Knowing the idea will be spelled out in its full glory when I wake up is huge relief, and both my muse and I rest much easier.

Until next time, and wishing you brilliant ideas and a pen and paper or device to jot them down,

Ann

Connect with me on my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

It’s Raining Books!

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Ann Roth

This is an exiting month for me, with FOUR books for your reading pleasure.

Now available in bookstores everywhere and as an ebook:

Mr. Right-There-All-Along

Since she was a teen, there’s been one guy that restaurateur Dani Pettit can always count on—her best friend, Nick. Their relationship is purely platonic…that is until a single kiss changes everything. Now Dani is falling hard for the one man she shouldn’t fall for—the one who can truly break her heart.

Although rancher Nick Kelly knows he’s to blame for his string of failed relationships, Dani is the only woman he ever trusted. Nick doesn’t want to be just another guy who lets her down, but his new feelings for Dani are too strong to resist. Do they dare risk their lifelong friendship for a once-in-a-lifetime love?

Also available as e-book exclusives:

You knew about those two, but not this one, which I just self published. It was my second book, a Special Edition, and came out in 2001.

Entrepreneur Will Stoner was a competent executive, but when he became guardian to the son he’d never known about, Will did the only thing he could—he hired help. Dena Foster did a great job with his son. Her gentle ways took the trepidation out of parenting, and despite a bad marriage that made Will mistrust women, he warmed to Dena. Now he wanted more from this nurturing beauty—for himself.

First he had to erase the doubt he saw in Dena’s eyes about his feelings for her. Was being a successful businessman, caring father and loving husband too much to ask for?

For more information about these three ebook exclusives, visit https://annroth.net/ebooks.html

Until Wednesday, and wishing you happy reading,

Ann

Visit me at my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

Come and Get It!!!!

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Ann Roth

Available now!! Remastered and available from Kindle, Nook and iBooks.

Another Life

Learning of her husband Stephen’s fatal heart attack is the worst thing Mary Beth Mason can imagine… Until she learns about the other family he left behind. Another wife, another daughter, another home…

For more information, click here: https://annroth.net/ebooks.html

My Sisters

In some families, there is pain and loss, but there is also the unbreakable bond of love. Sisters Margaret, Rose and Quincy Lansing were never a close or loving family. When receive the tragic news that a car accident has claimed the life of their mother, they must return to their childhood home. In unraveling their mother’s secrets, they find not only revelation, but also strength, hope, sisterhood, and a chance for love…

First he had to erase the doubt he saw in Dena’s eyes about his feelings for her. Was being a successful businessman, caring father and loving husband too much to ask for?

For more information, click here: https://annroth.net/ebooks.html

Until Wednesday, and do check out that link,

Ann

Visit me at my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

Cue the confetti and bring out the band!

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Ann Roth

I have exciting news!

I have just self-published two of my older books. These are my first self-published books ever–actually they are remastered from books first published in 2007 and 2008. I am over the moon that I am able to share them with you now.

Another Life, first published in 2007

For more information, click here: https://annroth.net/ebooks.html

My Sisters, first published in 2008

For more information, click here: https://annroth.net/ebooks.html

Until Monday, and thanks for your enthusiasm and excitement,

Ann

Visit me at my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

You Know This…

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Ann Roth

It’s Thursday! You know what that means: I’m blogging at Storybroads. http://storybroads.com/ .

Come on over and take a look!! You never know what you’ll learn about me and some of your favorite authors.

Bonus: if you leave a comment, your name is automatically entered in a drawing to win a Kindle Fire!

Until Friday and wishing you a chance at winning that Kindle Fire,

Ann
Visit me at my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

And on Thursday…

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Ann Roth

It’s Thursday! You know what that means. Today and every Thursday, I’m blogging at Storybroads. http://storybroads.com/ .

Stop by and read posts by some of your favorite authors!!!!!!

You’ll like it, and you might even learn something new.

Bonus: if you leave a comment, your name is automatically entered in a drawing to win a Kindle Fire!

Until Friday and wishing you a chance at winning that Kindle Fire,

Ann
Visit me at my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net