Sunday 27 May 2012

Six Sentence Sunday...

Here's this week's Six Sentence Sunday...again with my lovely Luca and Daniella :-) 

Daniella is currently in labour, Luca is by her side and truths have just been told! I can't tell you any more, otherwise you won't buy it when it's released :-)



The hard lump had returned at the back of his throat and however hard he coughed attempting to clear it, it would not budge. Was this the physical manifestation of how guilt felt he wondered? Looking down at the young girl in the hospital bed his heart ached, constricting and tightening within his chest like a snake around it’s prey. He owed it to her to stay. Firmly by her side. Swallowing his pride he took hold of Daniella’s hand and squeezed it gently, “I’m not going anywhere.” 

Heres the link for SSS if you want to check it out or participate! http://www.sixsunday.com/

Thanks for looking :-)

Sam x

Monday 21 May 2012

Sam's Shepherd's Pie!

A few weeks ago my critique partner (who has become a really cool friend) and I were talking about food. We got chatting about our favourite meals, what we like to cook, who taught us how to cook and so on.

So, Faith (CP) said she loved fried chicken, which sounded deeeelish!

Mine, well it was a tough decision as I love food fullstop! To decide on one sole food its a toughy, but certainly one of my favourite is Shepherd's Pie. Except my Shepherd's Pie is made with beef mince instead of lamb (yuck!)

Here's a little run down on how I make my version:

Ingredients

* 500g of beef mince
* 3 tomatoes
* 2 onions
* 1 teaspoon of bovril (or any beef stock)
* a cup of water (doesn't really have to be measured, as much or as little as you like)
* a spoonful of gravy granules
* a sprig of rosemary
* half a tin of baked beans (optional but well nice!)
* few gloves of garlic
* a handful of potatoes
* some cheese
* a few glugs of milk
* a little spoonful of butter

Really simple, chuck the mince in a pan and cook until all brown. Add the onions (finely chopped) and the spoonful of bovril and cook for a few more minutes. Add the chunkily chopped tomatoes, the water, the gravy granules, garlic (finely chopped or crushed) and the rosemary. Cook for about 15 minutes on a medium heat. Add the baked beans (sounds really strange but trust me, its really nice), cook for a further 5 minutes until a fair amount of the juice has reduced.

Pour into a oven dish and set aside to cool. I find letting it cool a bit helps the mash potatoes stay firmly on top and not sink through the meat mixture.

For the topping, peel and cut the potatoes, bring to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes until they are soft. Drain and mash them, adding the milk, butter and cheese. Spoon the potatoes on top the meat and spread evenly, covering the whole dish.

Pop in the oven for about 20 minutes, and then just before serving stick under the grill to crisp the top! 



And voila! There you have it! I admit, my version does look a little messy but tastes sooooo yummy!

Give it a try :-)

'Til next time! x


Saturday 19 May 2012

Six Sentence Sunday...

...Heres another Six Sentence Sunday with my wonderful hero and heroine, Daniella and Luca :-)  Hope you guys enjoy...



“I certainly didn’t want children with her.”
“I asked if you ever wanted children.”
“Yes, of course,” he paused, his eyes fixed firmly on hers, “but only with one person.”
Daniella swallowed and heard the loud gulp sound her throat made.
“Only ever with you.” Luca looked down at his hands and then back to her, “If that wasn’t possible, then no, I never wanted children.”


Heres the link if any of you want to participate in SSS or just want to check it out :-) 






Sunday 13 May 2012

Six Sentence Sunday with Luca and Daniella...

This is my first Six Sentence Sunday...Whoop Whoop! It's taken from my current WIP, no name as of yet! Hope you enjoy :-)



He needed her out of the bath and in his bed, right now.
“What are…” Daniella cried out as she was plucked from the tub and carried down the dimly lit hallway.
Luca kicked open the master bedroom door and placed Daniella on to the foot of his bed, with urgency yet grace.
“I told you I would have you tonight.”  He smirked, leaning down to kiss her, arms either side, trapping her. She was as still as a rock between his forearms, naked as the last of the bubbles burst against her skin.


Heres the link for Six Sentence Sunday if you want to participate or just check it out! 

http://www.sixsunday.com/





Wednesday 9 May 2012

Catching Those Lucid Dream State Thoughts...

Where's my pen and paper? A fantastic idea springs to mind and you NEED to get it down on paper (or computer) 

but 

1) you're not near to your desktop or laptop. 
2) your phone has some how disappeared, most likely mine is down the back of the settee or one of the twins is trying to chew on it. 
3) Your pen runs out of ink. 
4) By the time you locate a pen, phone, computer, the idea has fizzled away and the few words you do manage to get down don't seem to have the WOW factor that was singing and dancing in your head two minutes ago. See where I'm going with this?

Any of that sound familiar??

I read a blog the other day by Ruchita and she was talking about writer's muse, how she would be preparing lunch and then BAM! Perfect sentences appeared one after the after. 

It got me thinking and agreeing with her, which I'm sure everyone can also. The time I tend to have such clear, amazing, lucid, thoughts and words come to me, is just as I'm drifting off to sleep. Literally, I'll be in that state of not awake but not quite asleep and I can hear my character's talking, the dialogue and story is so well structured and making perfect and beautiful sense....but...but...but...I'm nearly asleep! Where's my phone...my pen...I start to reach out to try and find either (or at least something!) but no...then I'm gone. ZZZZZ Fast asleep. I wake in the morning and I know I had great ideas but for the life of me I cannot remember the content and details of them. 

So, this leads me to solutions....

1) To have a pen and paper under my pillow and
2) To have my mobile phone cello taped to my hand...
3) Invest in a dream catcher!



What solutions do you guys have when it comes to capturing those golden, precious thoughts/ideas before they slip through the dream net....

'Til next time! 

Sweet dreams!

Sam :-) x


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