Monday, December 28, 2015

No Bake Cookie Recipe and a Giveaway to End 2015

Hello and welcome to the last week of 2015. I'm sure you are still in the holiday spirit and having get-togethers to usher in the new year 2016. So in the spirit of the season, I have a gift for you and an easy treat to share for your next party. I must admit I offered this recipe when I was a guest at Joselyn Vaughn's blog this month. It received a lot of attention, so I thought I'd let my readers in on the goodies too.

My friend, sweet romance author, and critique partner Joselyn Vaughn invited authors to share their Christmas treats with her readers all month. Hop over to Joselyn's blog when you finish here to pick up more great recipes.

My daughter's easy recipe for No Bake Cookies in her handwriting vintage 1990.
Photo by J.Q. Rose
I pulled out my recipe box to find my favorite cookie recipe to share today. I found plenty of them, but one was a treasure. Folded within the recipe cards was a quick and easy recipe my daughters liked to make. I smiled when I opened the crunched up paper. The recipe was written by my daughter in her distinctive handwriting. Although it is faded and stained by years of lovingly stirring this no-bake cookie mixture together, it brought back wonderful memories of being together. You can bet I tucked this keepsake back in the box because the girls are all grown up now with children of their own.

This is a delicious no-fail chocolate recipe you can make on the stove top. The ingredients include peanut butter and oatmeal, so it’s got to be good for you, right? If you have kids/teens/ guests coming over, this is a cookie everyone will love. I typed out the recipe below for easy reading.

No-Bake Cookies Recipe

½ c. butter
2 c. sugar
¼ c. cocoa
½ c. milk
½ c. peanut butter
3 c. oatmeal
1 tsp. vanilla

Bring the sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk to a boil in a large saucepan.
Boil mixture over medium heat for one and a half minutes. Remove from stove.
Add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir well. Add oatmeal and stir.
Drop mixture by the teaspoonful on waxed paper. Cool until set and firm,
# # #
Since it is the season for gift-giving, I have a gift for you--the e-book copy of my romantic suspense novel, Deadly Undertaking. A lucky commenter will win the e-book copy. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at  11 pm EST.


Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose
A handsome detective, a shadow man, and a murder victim kill Lauren’s plan for a simple life.


Back of the Book: Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose

Lauren Staab knew there would be dead bodies around when she returned home. After all, her family’s in the funeral business, Staab and Blood Funeral Home. Still, finding an extra body on the floor of the garage between the hearse and the flower car shocked her. Lauren’s plan to return to her hometown to help care for her mother and keep the books for the funeral home suddenly turns upside down in a struggle to prove she and her family are not guilty of murdering the man. But will the real killer return for her, her dad, her brother? Her mother’s secrets, a killer, a handsome policeman, and a shadow man muddle up her intention to have a simple life.
Welcome home, Lauren!

Buy Links:
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/1H72tvV
Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/deadly-undertaking

What's your favorite cookie? Do you like to bake cookies? Please leave your comment below. It will also enter you in to win the e-book. Good luck!!

About J.Q. Rose
 After writing feature articles in magazines, newspapers, and online magazines for over fifteen years, J.Q. Rose entered the world of fiction. Her published mysteries are Sunshine Boulevard, Coda to Murder, and Deadly Undertaking. Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. She and her husband, Gardener Ted, spend winters in Florida and summers up north camping and hunting toads, frogs, and salamanders with her four grandsons and granddaughter.

Connect with J.Q. Rose online at

J.Q. Rose blog http://www.jqrose.com/
J. Q.  Rose Amazon Author Page http://tinyurl.com/aeuv4m4







Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas from J.Q. Rose, This is Christmas Performed by Kutless

Merry Christmas from J.Q. Rose
Photo from freedigitalphotos.net by digidreamgrafix
Merry Christmas

Wishing you all the joy, wonder, love, and peace of the Christmas season and beyond.

Listen to my new favorite Christmas song by Kutless, This is Christmas. The words remind us that Christmas is truly about God's gift to the world, his son, Jesus. 
Happy Birthday, Jesus!

You Tube Video
This is Christmas by Kutless

Monday, December 21, 2015

Sweet Treat: Puppy Chow for People, Reviews for Deadly Undertaking

Christmas candle ring
Photo by J.Q. Rose
Hello and Welcome! Today, besides writing my blog for you, I am in the midst of planning a Christmas gift for our neighbors. Not any huge gift like a TV or cookware. No. We just exchange cookies or handmade gifts. I'm having fun putting together some treats. In fact, I had so much fun making up Puppy Chow, I decided to share the recipe with you. 

First of all, Puppy Chow is NOT for puppies. No. It's actually Puppy Chow for People. Er, no wait, that's not quite right either. It's a treat for people,but named Puppy Chow because...Hm, you know I don't really know why they call it puppy chow.
My daughters, granddaughter, and me!
My daughters and I made it when they were kids and now they make it with their kids. (I should probably throw in that sometimes Puppy Chow is also called Baby Poop, and I don't know why that name is used either.)

Heck, let me just give you the recipe, so you can make it. When you taste the sweetness and creamy flavor of peanut butter-chocolate,you won't care what the name is either.


Ingredients to make puppy chow for people
Puppy Chow for People

1 12 oz. box Crispix Cereal, Rice Chex, or Corn Chex
2 ½ - 3 cups of powdered sugar
12 oz. chocolate chips
1 cup creamy peanut butter
¼ c. margarine

 Melt peanut butter, margarine, and chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave on high for one minute. Stir. Heat for 30 seconds more.

Pour mixture over cereal in a large bowl. (This is the most difficult part of the recipe. Covering all the cereal with the thick chocolate is difficult. I gave up stirring it with a spoon. Instead I buttered my fingers and tossed it together. Be careful. It is hot. Later, a friend suggested wearing gloves and spray them with oil. Either way, I think the kids would have fun trying to mix it with their hands. Of course, watch out they don’t lick the sweet chocolate off their hands while stirring!! It is tempting.)

Put powdered sugar in a paper grocery bag and add cereal mix. Shake till well coated.

You may store in a tight container or plastic bag. 

I hope this treat will make your holiday get-togethers tastier. 

# # # #
Good News: Deadly Undertaking is receiving 4 and 5 star reviews. I do appreciate so much those who are reading the book,and I am thrilled when someone takes the time to leave a review. Reviews garner more attention from Amazon who will in turn, let readers know about the book. Check out what readers are saying:
Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose
A handsome detective, a shadow man, and a murder victim kill Lauren’s plan for a simple life.

AMAZON REVIEWS
***** Deadly Undertaking: http://amzn.to/1Lu6GxIJ.Q. Rose's Deadly Undertaking. What an exciting mystery with a thrilling ending!There is so much going on in this book: drugs, gambling, adultery, a mother with Alzheimer's, and a ghost... a mystery inside of a mystery. Susan B.

*****Up All Night Reading Needless to say, Deadly Undertaking was a major page-burner. I really did read all night and miss an appointment the next day. Well-drawn characters, suspense, humor (fortunately, my neighbors are either night owls or hard of hearing because I laugh loudly) combined with good editing—I was in heaven! Rochelle Weber, Roses and Thorns Reviews

**** What a fun read filled with tension and sexy pizazz. I just finished Deadly Undertaking. What a fun read, filled with tension and sexy pizazz. I enjoyed the interaction between the supernatural and love. They provide a lighter note to the darker themes of murder and a drug ring. The small town setting contributes a twist to the action and characters, as each one's dilemma evolves to a resolution. Amazon Customer

Click on the book cover below to get a sample of the book or purchase at amazon.


Monday, December 14, 2015

Holiday Season: Find Balance and Overcome Disappointment, This Week, Giveaway

Pink poinsettia
Photo by J.Q. Rose
I hope you've had a great kick-off to the holiday season. 
Madness and merriment abound this time of year. 
Just a Reminder: Balance the pressures and problems with love and joy.
Take time to breathe and experience each moment.

# # # #
Last week we had a great time with my DH's brother. He visited us here in Florida all the way from Illinois.  It was unfortunate that Illinois was having a delightful weather pattern that week! LOL. What fun is flying all the way to FL and not have the opportunity to rub it in to your neighbors up north at how gorgeous it is here and how awful the weather is up there? No, he didn't have that chance, but hey, the weather was nice here too, thank goodness.

How many times in your writing career have you had "dreams" of how well  your project will go, but it doesn't? How many times are you disappointed with your book sales? Face it. Disappointment happens to all of us. But, have you found that usually something good will come out of the experience, that you learn something about yourself and your plans? 

The holiday season can sometimes disappoint us too when that turkey is under-cooked, the family can't come home, the gifts you thought would be loved receive mediocre thanks or no thanks at all. I hope you won't be disappointed this season, but if you are discouraged, know that you can move on, and put the disillusionment behind you.

How do you deal with disappointment? Leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you.
# # # #
This Week:

Wednesday, December 16--I'll be sharing a favorite cookie recipe at sweet romance author Joselyn Vaughn's Christmas Treats event. Stop by and find lots of delicious ideas at Joselyn's.
The Good Neighbors by J.Q. Rose
A holiday short story to make you giggle.

If you need an escape from the holiday madness, enjoy this short story. 
Jim and Gloria Hart, snowbirds from Michigan, always help out the neighbors in their Florida retirement community when asked. 
Who knew being good could turn out to be so bad?
And to put a smile on your face, I'l send you the PDF copy FREE this week!! Just leave your email in the comment section or contact me directly at 
jqrose02 AT gmail DOT com
If you prefer a digital copy, the ebook is available at amazon. 
Click the book cover below for instant access.


Thursday, December 10, 2015

New Release: Anna Simpson's White Light

       
The excitement is building toward the release date of my author friend's new cozy mystery. Find out all about Anna Simpson's White Light
Congratulations, Anna!!


White Light by Anna Simpson
Publisher: Three Worlds Press
Genre: Cozy
Release Date: December 22/2015
     

About The Book:

Emma never dreamed of being a super-sleuth. In her mind, she’s more Scooby Doo than Nancy Drew and when her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Perkins, drags her to an anniversary party to solve a mystery, she rolls her eyes, buys a box of chocolates and hops in the car.
What’s a party without an attack on its host—or more accurately on the host’s grandson, sparking an allergic reaction and moving the party to the hospital waiting room. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect. Emma and Mrs. Perkins, along with Great Aunt Alice (a spirit with boundary issues who keeps stepping into Emma’s body like a new dress and playing matchmaker), dive into an investigation that almost gets Emma killed along with the man they are trying to protect. With so many reasons to kill him and so much to be gained if he died, Emma and Mrs. Perkins must unravel the tenuous ties that point to every member of his family as potential killers.
Even if it means going back to the psych ward, Emma will protect her friend and this innocent man. What good is freedom if it's haunted with guilt?

Author Links:Facebook | Twitter | Blog

About the Author:

Anna Simpson lives near the Canadian-US border with her family. Even though she's lived in several places in British Columbia, her free spirit wasn't able to settle down until she moved back to her hometown.
She is easy to find though, if you know the magic word -- emaginette. Do an internet search using it and you'll see what I mean. :-)

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Reading E-Books on Mobile Phones: Is That in Your Present or Future?



Reading an e-book on a digital tablet
Photo by nenetus courtesy of freedigitaldownloads.net
E-books and e-reading devices, including phones, are sure to be under Christmas trees this year. Things are changing in our reading habits. 

The amazing news for the book world is the number of people reading books on their phones. The Wall Street Journal reports-- "In a Nielsen survey of 2,000 people this past December, about 54% of e-book buyers said they used smartphones to read their books at least some of the time. That’s up from 24% in 2012, according to a separate study commissioned by Nielsen."

The number of people who read primarily on phones has risen to 14% in the first quarter of 2015 from 9% in 2012.
Teenage girl reading on smart phone
Photo by Ambro courtesy of freedigitaldownloads.net

Why are people turning to their phones to read books? The use of Kindle and Nooks are down as well as tablet reading due to the convenience provided by books on the mobile phone. Mobile is the key word. Folks have the phone with them when waiting at the dentist's office, picking up the kids, lunch hour, and so many more situations.

How does this affect sales of books? E-book sales will increase especially since the sales of phones are increasing. In fact, sixty-four percent of American adults now own a smartphone, up from 35% in the spring of 2011, according to the Pew Research Center. More research suggests by 2019 over 80% of the U.S. population will be using smartphones.

The impact of this amazing technology is changing the publishing industry with apps for reading,  different ways of distributing books, and creating a book easily read on the device. To read this thought-provoking WSJ article by Jennifer Maloney, find it here.

Do you read books on your phone? Do you order your e-books from your phone? Or maybe I should be asking, "Do you read e-books??? I'm curious about the impact this will have on how we publish and market books. What do you think? Thanks!
# # # #
Need a gift suggestion? Order a reading device for your friend and include a gift card to buy books or load it up with some authors, new and famous, for her reading pleasure. 

Do you know if you order directly from the book publisher, 
  • you can get special promotions available only on the publisher's site
  • pre-order upcoming books at  reduced prices
  • the author earns more royalty?




Get in on the Holiday BOGO sale at Books We Love. Buy one, Get one free.




Wednesday, December 2, 2015

IWSG Blog Hop: Write What You Love by J.Q. Rose, The Good Neighbors

Welcome to  the Internet Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog hop.  .


What is IWSG? Founder of the  Insecure Writer’s Support Group and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's purpose is "to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!" You're invited to become a member of this supportive group.

The group blogs the first Wednesday of every month.  The list of bloggers is always available so you can hop around to the author blogs filled with humor, advice, and thought-provoking topics on writing and publishing. You can find the list of participants at Alex's IWSG page

# # # #
Write What You Love by J.Q. Rose
When I read this statement by top-selling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch, it was like  new insight hit me between the eyes. She wrote--"What my professor knew, what most writers learn, what readers know in their gut, is that what makes a book unique and different isn’t the plot or the subgenre. It’s not the romance or the harmonica.
It’s the writer himself. His perspective. His voice. His take on something that the writer—the writer—loves." --Blog post by Kristine Katheryn Rusch 

After finishing my third novel and getting it on its way into the readers' world, I floundered for a story I should write.  What was hot? What was selling? But Ms. Rusch makes the point to forget all that. Don't worry about what amazon is selling. Even they, with their huge book sales and algorithms, haven't cracked what readers really want.

The market used to be determined by the big publishers who told readers what was not hot and what you should be reading. Self-publishing has crushed that idea with quirky, zany, intellectual, boring-to-some books available for everyone. And isn't that opportunity delicious? 

So with this vast market open to write OUR stories we want to write, then we should. Write what we love. I understand that now and I'm fired up to re-visit characters who I loved telling their story.

Have you noticed a story is especially difficult for you to begin or finish? Could it be because you don't even like the story you're writing and you're just pushing through to completion? Have you noticed a book flows on the page when you really love the premise of your story? Please leave a comment below and let us hear from you.
# # # #
The Good Neighbors available at Amazon
Jim and Gloria Hart, snowbirds from Michigan,
always help out the neighbors
 in their Florida retirement community when asked.
Who knew being good could turn out to be so bad?
I wrote a holiday story based on characters from my novella, Sunshine Boulevard. Jim and Gloria Hart are characters I enjoyed writing and placing them in quirky situations.

I hope you giggle. >>>>>>




Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) Blog Post: Now About That AI! #IWSGbloghop

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