Just wanted let you know where I’ve been the last couple of weeks. I hope to start posting about books again soon.
We’ve had multiple power outages in April and May, and some in February as well, now that I think about it. No major storm damage or flooding, thank goodness. I’ve seen these guys out and about more often than I’m used to.
I’ve been working as hard as I can to launch my novel, Joann. The Big Day is this Wednesday. That’s day after tomorrow. Eeek!
I had way too much fun playing in Canva making 60s themed graphics.
Between dealing with numerous pesky and un-notable, yet bothersome, illnesses, I’ve been spending a lot of time on the road taking care of unexpected business. Isn’t that how it always happens?
Hopefully life will settle soon. I’m ready to get back to what I love. Reading and writing. I’m working on a new project and hope to update you all on that soon.
In the meantime, I recommend one of my recent reads, The Premonition at Withers Farm.
My upcoming release, Joann, is book five in the Apron Strings book series. The series is connected by one cookbook, Mrs. Canfield’s Cookery Book. As it changes hands, each character’s story is a new novel, one for each decade from 1920 to 2020.
Joann had possession of Mrs. Canfield’s Cookery Book, and tried out a few of the recipes, (you’ll have to read the book to find out how that went!) but she would have used a cake mix now and again. I thought I’d share a recipe using a cake mix and a few other ingredients to make an easy pound cake.
A pound cake recipe using a cake mix, blueberries, eggs, butter, cream cheese.
You will need
1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter, softened at room temperature (May use oil instead.)
8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
a white or yellow cake mix
2 cups blueberries
cooking spray and flour for pans
optional: 1 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 325. Spray two loaf pans with cooking spray and lightly flour. You can use a bundt pan instead, if you like.
Soften butter and cream cheese and room temperature. Once soft, bream together at low speed. Add vanilla and mix well. Add eggs to the mixture and blend well. Mix in dry cake mix and stir until lumps are gone. Fold in blueberries. Batter will be thick.
Spoon batter into pans.
Bake in preheated (325 degrees) oven for 40-45 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool for ten minutes before turning out onto a wire rack an let cool completely.
This blueberry pound cake is a huge hit with my family.
Let me know if you try out this recipe!
One cookbook connects them all… Joann ~ Book Five in a string of heartfelt inspirational stories, featuring different women throughout the decades from 1920 to 2020.
Twenty-four-year-old Joann Kincaid’s life ambition is to one day run the family’s general store in Pecan Grove, Louisiana. It’s 1965 and the times may be a-changing, but Joann’s father is stubbornly hanging on to old-fashioned views about what he wants for his daughter. She’s just as determined to prove she’s a capable businesswoman.
In the past, she entertained romantic dreams alongside her vision for the store but discarded those notions when her high school sweetheart, Nathan, left for college. Now he’s back to reestablish his family’s farm—and a relationship with Joann. She still loves him but isn’t sure she can trust him.
As the conflict in Vietnam escalates, there’s a real possibility Nathan could be drafted. Should Joann pursue her lifelong dream to continue her family’s legacy? Or give Nathan a chance to prove he’ll be her true and committed love before it’s too late for them?
Available May 15th for kindle, in paperback, and on KU at Amazon. Preorder available now.
My book in the Apron Strings Series, Joann, takes place in a small town mercantile similar to the Jonesville General Store, also known as T. C. Lindsey and Co. My story originally took place in Texas, but since some of my key characters spend quite a bit of time in Shreveport and near Barksdale AF Base, I decided to scoot it over the state line. Easier in fiction than real life! However, I used the layout of T. C. Lindsey as a template for my fictional store. Seemed a good reason to go and visit this little bit of history.
The store today is a mix of items to buy and historical items.
Lots of jelly, seasoning mixes, and snacks, along with hoop cheese cut to order.
Lots of books, including, gift, cookbooks, and history books.
Scattered throughout are different gift items, T-shirts, overalls, and handmade items.
Upstairs, even more to look at!
This is the upstairs area. In my story, I had the characters clear it out for a small wedding reception.
The research team sat for a spell, studying on checker moves. (In my story the checker table is downstairs near the front. Here it is upstairs where an inventory of shoes line the shelves.)
From the upstairs, you can look out and see some of the downstairs. There’s more room in here than you would expect!
A telephone like the one my character would have used. The store has many unique items. Tucked away in a corner is the old post office.
My story doesn’t have the post office in the store, although I thought about it. In my story, the fictional town I described would have likely had it’s own post office by 1965.
I’m so glad I had help from my “research team” taking photos and video. There was so much packed into this store! You could get lost for days exploring here.
I brought home a T-shirt and some jelly. I hope to visit again soon, this time more for shopping than research. (The research team agreed the jelly is good. It tastes like nonspecific berries and is great on toast, bagels, and biscuits.)
Watch a video from Texas Country Reporter to learn more about the store.
Tell me about the last time you visited an old time store or an out-of-the-way store in the comments!
Today’s the day! My short romance, A Wedding to Remember, is live on Amazon here.
For those who pre-ordered, it is winding its way into their kindles or has already arrived.
It’s been an adventure learning how to use Amazon KDP. This was one of the main reasons I published this short read first as a kind of dry run, and it’s a good thing. Some early readers found a couple of typos, so I had to re-format my book after correcting my manuscript and re-upload it. That wasn’t difficult at all once I get the hang of it.
The strangest thing that happened was my book ended up in Health, Diet, and Exercise (or something like that). I think this happened because my book description mentions characters dealing with Alzheimer’s. From my new understanding, Amazon’s bots search your description for information and then choose category based on what they determine fits, no matter what the author chose on the form when they upload the book.
This is how I broke the top 100! It made me laugh to think I got a top ranking by being in the wrong place. Or maybe it’s the right place, depending on how you look at it. I corrected my category to romance, sacrificing my top 100 ranking so that readers who wanted a romantic wedding story could find my novelette.
I’m sure I’ll have many more adventures with Amazon.
There was another slight wrinkle with the JOANN book, but it self-corrected itself after a couple of days. I’m learning that many times when things aren’t exactly as I expect, instead of assuming I’ve made a mistake and jumping in to fix it, I should just wait. It’s not always me.
“Have patience with all things but first of all with yourself.” —Francis de Sales.
This is the short story that grew and grew until it became a novelette. And it will be out before Valentine’s Day! This is a quick read, sweet, with a bit of humor along with the serious.
Kaitlyn is competent, smart, and capable—except when a series of disasters threaten to derail the perfect intimate summer wedding she’s arranged for herself and her fiancé, Emerson, at a picturesque Victorian Bed and Breakfast.
As events unfold, one thing becomes clear. Emerson has neglected to arrange some pretty important details, leaving Kaitlyn second guessing her laid-back, forgetful groom. From appearances, he may not be ready to make a lifelong pledge.
In the midst of the chaos and doubts, Kaitlyn encounters her groom’s elderly Aunt Sophie and her husband, Weaver. Sophie assures her Emerson’s love is real, and she should know true love when she sees it. Sophie and her husband are a walking testament to commitment, even though Alzheimer’s daily chips away at Weaver’s memories. Kaitlyn wants to let go of fear, but it’s hard to trust her heart.
Is Emerson simply forgetful, or is the wedding a failure before it gets underway?
If you’re interested in being part of my launch team, or to request an arc of A Wedding to Remember, go here to fill out a short form.
A Wedding to Remember is available for pre-order on Amazon! Click here.
Things are getting real, y’all! Joann will be available for pre-order soon. I enjoyed writing this story set in the 1960s. Stay tuned for more about how the book came about, research, and other book related announcements!
Twenty-four-year-old Joann Kincaid’s life ambition is to one day run the family’s general store in Pecan Grove, Louisiana. It’s 1965 and the times may be a-changing, but Joann’s father is stubbornly hanging on to old-fashioned views about what he wants for his daughter. She’s just as determined to prove she’s a capable businesswoman.
In the past, she entertained romantic dreams alongside her vision for the store but discarded those notions when her high school sweetheart, Nathan, left for college. Now he’s back to reestablish his family’s farm—and a relationship with Joann. She still loves him but isn’t sure she can trust him.
As the conflict in Vietnam escalates, there’s a real possibility Nathan could be drafted. Should Joann pursue her lifelong dream to continue her family’s legacy? Or give Nathan a chance to prove he’ll be her true and committed love before it’s too late for them?
Donna Jo Stone 