Author: Casey Wyatt

I’ve Got a Pirate!

| Casey Wyatt

One of the best things about being a writer is when characters consent to interviews. Today, I’m sharing an interview between debut author Gerri Brousseau and her sexy pirate hero, Captain Edmund Drake.

Read on through to the end to find out how you can enter for a chance to find out how you can claim “the ransom”!

Let’s listen in:

Interview with Pirate Captain, Edmund Drake

Gerri Brousseau: Captain Drake, What motivated you to kidnap Lady Catherine?

Captain Drake: Now, now, Milady, kidnap an overly harsh word. I prefer to think of it as detaining. I merely detained Lady Catherine from arriving in London.

GB: Ah, I see. Then what motivated you to detain Lady Catherine?

Captain Drake: The ransom, of course.  I saw an opportunity and I seized it.

GB: How difficult was it having a woman aboard ship?

Captain Drake: It was a situation that mightily tested my resolve.

GB: How so?

Captain Drake: Keeping my men away from her was a small challenge in comparison to staying away from her myself.

GB: How did you manage to do that?

Captain Drake: By constantly calling to memory the fact that without her virtue intact she would garner no ransom. Still, despite my great efforts, I must confess that many a time I found my resolve to be shaken.

GB: I understand she was stolen away from you by Blackbeard.

Captain Drake: That black-hearted son of a … I beg your pardon, Milady. The answer to your question is yes. Yes, Blackbeard did indeed kidnap Lady Catherine, and had the most vile of plans for her.

GB: Now, now, Captain Drake, we can’t reveal too much about the book.

Captain Drake: Again, I beg your forgiveness, Milady.

GB: Tell me, Captain Drake, how do you feel about the Duke of Devonshire?

Captain Drake: He was merely the means to an end. I would rather not discuss the Duke. Next question, if you please.

GB: You are quite well mannered for a Pirate, Captain Drake. How do you account for this?

Captain Drake: Thank you, Milady but as you have so aptly pointed out, we cannot reveal our secrets now … can we?

GB: No. I suppose not.  Allow me to ask you a different question then. Had you a long acquaintance with Blackbeard? (I watch as his fingers graze the thin scar on his cheek bone.)

Captain Drake: Yes. It was he who graced me with his blade, leaving me this scar as a constant reminder of him.

Q: And how do you feel about your rival?

Captain Drake: My hate for him is part of what has made me the man I am today.

GB: Thank you, Captain Drake, for joining me today and for your candid replies to my questions. It has been a pleasure speaking with you.

Captain Drake: You are quite welcome, and rest assured, Milady, the pleasure was entirely mine.

GB: Would you like to say some parting words to our readers?

Captain Drake: Aye, there are two things I wish to impart. Firstly, they should read my story in “A Pirate’s Ransom” and secondly, they should visit Lady Gerri’s website (www.gerribrousseau.com) and enter her contest for a chance to “Claim the Ransom” for themselves.

Thank you, Captain Drake.

The following links will allow you to purchase “A Pirate’s Ransom” (links go here)

To enter the contest and have a chance to Claim the Ransom, please visit Gerri Brousseau’s website at www.gerribrousseau.com, click on “Claim the Ransom” and follow the instructions. Best of luck to all who dare to take a chance to claim A Pirate’s Ransom.

Thank you Gerri and Captain Drake for being my guests today!

A Pirate’s Ransom is available now from Soul Mate Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

So dear readers, if you have a question for Captain Drake, now is your chance to ask!

Never Give Up, Never Surrender!

| Casey Wyatt

I saw an interesting quote on Facebook by John Rodgers – “You can’t think yourself out of a writing block, you have to write yourself out of a thinking block.”

Once again, I find myself at odds over the story for Mystic Storm. I don’t why Zephyr’s book is such a challenge, but there is no way I’m not delivering this book.

First off, I’m not suffering from writer’s block (honestly, I don’t believe in it), but I’m having what I think of as “organizational” issues. The book is plotted out and I’m proceeding according to my plan, however, I seemed to have strayed off the path.

How does that happen?

Easy.

I often let the story wander in other directions as I delve deeper into my characters. As a result, there are portions of the timeline that have been skewed. Rather than stopping completely to fix it, I’ve decided to re-read what I have, take notes, then keep on trucking.

Why?

Because the end is not changing. It’s only how I’m getting there that might differ. If I stop right now and try to fix the book, I know it’ll stress me out and I might never finish Mystic Storm.

Since I know there are people out there who would like to know what I did to Zephyr at the end of Mystic Ink, I can’t leave them hanging. Not to mention, I have Devlin’s book – Mystic Hero – waiting in the wings.

So, if you’re spinning your wheels on a plot, might I suggest skipping over that part and moving on? I’ve found that it’s much easier to keep writing and deal with it later because as John Rodgers suggests – the issue may solve itself, but only if you keep writing!

How does everyone else cope when the story is off kilter or not quite right? And do you agree with John Rodgers?

And if you have a free moment, visit the Scribes. I’m interviewing Gerri Brousseau about her debut novel – A Pirate’s Ransom.

Zephyr visits this lighthouse on his walks through the streets of Stonington Point, CT.

I’m Dreaming in Ink!!

| Casey Wyatt

Today, I’m being interviewed at Dreaming in Ink! Please stop by and say hello.

Here’s some ink to stare at. Not mine, but my Hubby Scar’s cool dragon tattoo.

Stop by and say hello – I’m at Janna Shay’s Blog!

| Casey Wyatt

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday. I’m over at Janna Shay’s today to answer questions about my latest book. Please stop by and say hello!

Galloping Goulash!

| Casey Wyatt

I’m coming off a week of answering loads of  interview questions for an upcoming blog tour, so I’m taking a break from talking about writing. Instead, I want to talk food.

Okay, I know it’s still summer, but this is a great, easy recipe for a rainy day. Especially if you have loads of tomatoes sitting around. And fall weather will be here soon enough so you can save it until then.

It’s around this time of year that I start getting sick of eating “summer” food because we don’t want to heat up the house. This is one of my older son’s favorite recipes. I don’t mind making it for him since it’s pretty easy and cooks up fast without me hovering over the stove too long.

I improvised this recipe for goulash. I know there are numerous versions of this, but it’s the basic American version with ground beef, sauce, and pasta.

Here’s what you need:

1 – 1.5 lbs of ground beef

1 box of shaped pasta (choose any shape that floats your boat)

1 onion sliced  or chopped

1 can of diced tomatoes with basil & oregano (or if you have fresh tomatoes use those instead)

2 can of tomato sauce (the 14 oz size)

Grated Parmesan cheese

If have them, I also add in fresh oregano, basil and parsely. If not, dried is okay too.

Cook as follows:

1. Brown the ground beef with the onions in a large skillet until onions are soft or meat is no longer pink

2. Add tomatoes and tomato sauce, bring to a low bubble (not boil!), lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 -25 minutes.

3. Boil water and cook pasta  (use the al dente directions so it doesn’t get mushy). Drain pasta. I usually take out about a bowl full because and leave it plain. Older son snaps it up. I find that a whole box is too much and absorbs all the sauce. So use less and add more later if you want.

4. Add the pasta to the sauce/meat and blend. If you have fresh herbs, add them now. I let that simmer for about 10 minutes (or the time it takes for the pasta to soak up some sauce).

Right before serving, I add in the grated cheese to taste. Enjoy.

If you have a moment, please stop by the Scribes where I talk about using the 5 senses – Scents and Sensibility.

Who has a favorite go-to recipe?  And anyone else ready for a change in season?

Sisterhood Of the World Blogger’s Award

| Casey Wyatt

I am thrilled to receive the Sisterhood of the World Blogger’s Award. Thank you Meggan Connors!

Without further ado, here are my seven tips (since I’ve run out of new things to say about me).

1. Balled up newspaper works great for drying out the inside of drenched sneakers. Next time you get your sneaks soaking wet, try it. You will need to pull out the wet paper and replace it with dry, but it will get the wetness out faster than air drying and using the dryer. Credit fo this tip goes to the Boy Scouts!

2. If you want to read a well written book like 50 Shades of Gray (without actually wasting the time and money and reading the words inner goddess 82 times in one book), then I’d like to recommend Sylvia Day’s Bared to You. Steamy, thrilling and downright dirty, this is the book that should be selling a zillion copies a day.

3. When smelling scented candles, sniff the lid, not the actual candle. By doing this you will get a better idea of what the candle will smell like and how strong the scent will be when it’s lit. Yes, I have a loads of practice candle sniffing at the Yankee Candle Flagship Store (in Deerfield, MA) and at various malls. And speaking of Yankee Candle, my new favorite scent is Whoopie Pie!

4. According to my bestest buddy Lisa – food has no calories when you are standing up. Or if you are at a party. Or if it’s your birthday. Did I miss any? I’m pretty sure that is a load of crap, but it’s fun to believe while snacking. Tee hee!

5. I have never left the continent of North America. I tell my hubby that I must travel to places, like Australia, to prove to myself that other parts of the world are real. I know that they are there, I’m just hoping he will buy my excuse.  Some day. Some day soon, I will explore other places.

6. Movie theater chains make their money from the concession stand and not the actual films. This is why a bottle of water costs $4.00 and popcorn $7.00 (although our local chain give free re-fills on large size, probably because popcorn is dirt cheap to make). I only know this because I worked in a movie theater, where I met hubby.

7. When making grilled cheese, instead of buttering the bread, melt the butter in the pan. This will give it that crunchy, buttery sheen like you get when you eat grilled cheese in a restaurant. What? You never order grilled cheese . . . I told you about my lobster grilled cheese sandwich, remember?

I will now dutifully dispatch the award to:

Recipients, please tell everyone 7 things about yourself, then pass the award to 7 blogger sisters!

And I’m blogging over at the 7 Scribes today – With Rebel Yell – where I share pictures of my latest adventure. And I’m blogging with the Soul Mate authors – Step Back in Time.

I’m Over at Nights of Passion!

| Casey Wyatt

Stop by if you have a moment. I’m being interviewed by the Nights of Passion Blog where I discuss how The Undead Space Initiative was born.

Hope to see you there!

Vampires on Mars! Do you need to know anything else?

| Casey Wyatt

Thanks for being patient everyone. The Undead Space Initiative is now available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Enjoy!

Renaissance Fair Fun!

| Casey Wyatt

Another week has gone by already. Where is the summer going?

This past Saturday my family attended a Renaissance Fair. It was the first time my town’s ever hosted one and there was no way I was missing out.

I’ve been to several fairs over the years. My very first one was while I was in college in Washington, DC. My sorority sisters and I attended the Maryland Renaissance Festival. It’s still one of my favorite college memories.

First stop, King Henry VIII’s court pre-Ann Boleyn.

One of the best part of a Renaissance fair is the cheeky humor.

These are roses made from feathers. I had them scented with chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Mmmm.

A tall and imposing Templar Knight. Impressive!

Where else can you find zombie gnomes being gunned down by “gnomeland security”?

Overall, a good time was had by all. Anyone else ever been to a Renaissance fair? If not, what other fun places have you visited? And please visit me at the Scribes – Don’t Fear the Reaper!