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12 Books of Xmas

November 30, 2015 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

You’ve heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas. With twelve+ books now under my belt, I’m excited to offer my readers my biggest giveaway ever…12 Books of Xmas.

It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to gatherings, gift giving, and being thankful for our blessings. I’m appreciative of living this writing life and the fact that for the first time, I can offer my readers a promotion that has been brewing in my mind for some time.

For the first 12 days in December I will tell you a little bit about each one such as how the inspiration developed in my mind, where I went to research the topics, what I was thinking when I got stuck and my hopes for the future of each series.

The best part is that with each book promo there will also be multiple ebook giveaways. It’s my way of celebrating the holidays with my readers.

Follow and visit my Facebook page and Twitter account for details each day about the giveaway.

Just to get you in the mood, here’s a list of the 12+ Books of Xmas:

Sleeping with the Sandman

Ready for the Yeti

Going Steady with the Yeti

Ethel and the Merman

Scent of the Centaur

Morgan Wylie’s Latest Novel

November 6, 2015 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

I’m so pleased to be able to showcase the cover reveal for Morgan Wylie’s latest novel…”Rylen.”

This NA paranormal romance is set in Seattle. Described as a “badass warlock,” Rylen works with a pseudo swat team of unorthodox villains. Find out what happens when he is stalked by a girl…a human girl, no less.

Coming soon from Morgan Wylie.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram @MWylieBooks.

Goodbye Daylight Savings

November 2, 2015 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

As a writer, this is my favorite time of year. Not because of the abundance of chocolate lurking and ripe for the taking thanks to my kids’ trick or treating efforts. Not because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. But because I say goodbye daylight savings and cheer that it coincides with #NaNoWriMo — national novel writing month.

The house is dark and my internal clock hasn’t yet adjusted to the new time change. So, rather than force the issue, I’m up at 5:30 — an hour before the rest of the house — and this time is mine to write! Halloween may be over, but I’m still Mistress of the Darkness.

For one hour, I won’t be making school lunches, feeding the dogs, catching up on laundry, locating homework, or any of the other what seems like 250 million chores that occur between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. when the mad dash to three different schools takes place.

Writing. That’s all I’m doing. NaNoWriMo kicking off is a bonus. Sure, it would be nice to have 50,000 words under my belt in a month, but my real goal is to just keep with the schedule of devoting this extra hour a day to my novel.

So, if it you haven’t adjusted to the time difference, embrace the darkness! Get your write on.

An Excuse to Eavesdrop

October 26, 2015 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

Writer’s block happens to the best of us. You shouldn’t berate yourself that it happens, unless your response to it is to wallow in self-pity. Let’s get to the bottom of this with a snappy quiz.

When writer’s block occurs do you?

Drown in sadness, perhaps with a bag of marshmallows by your side?
Retreat under the covers. Maybe the answer will come to you in a dream.
Eavesdrop!

If you answered “C,” you already know that listening and more importantly, observing those around you can be great inspiration for your writing. But if you’re not convinced that eavesdropping is an acceptable social habit, allow me to present you with your excuse to eavesdrop. Here are the benefits of eavesdropping on your writing:

Read reactions. Can you guess in advance what a person will say/do?
Authentic dialogue. Listen and you’ll be more aware of how people naturally speak.
Become a keen observer. Pay attention to body language and expressions.
Social behavior. Become an authority on how people engage with each other.

So where do you go for prime eavesdropping? Here are my favorite spots:

– grocery store check out

– coffee shops

– schools

Now go test it out. Here’s your homework assignment:

Watch a couple and decide how well they know each other. Is this a date? Is it a first date? Was it a set up or a blind date? Or, is it something completely different? Is the man trying to pick up the woman and she hasn’t yet figured out how to get rid of him?

You might not get it right the first time, but if you watch enough people, you get a feel for social behavior. Furthermore, these telltale signs will work their way into your writing to make your scenes more realistic and authentic.

Brownies with Coffee and Almond Extract

September 30, 2015 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

These Brownies with Coffee and Almond Extracts are the best brownies ever — I promise! So moist, delicate and easy to make, these aren’t your every day brownies. So, without further ado, let’s get to the recipe.

Ingredients:

5 oz. unsweetened chocolate

10 1/2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon instant coffee

4 large eggs

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

Start off by pre-heating the oven to 450 degrees. Then, use a spray oil to lather up your 9 x 13 pan. Place a sheet of wax paper on top of the oil so it stays in place and give that a little spray as well.

Place the butter and chocolate in the top of a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler (like moi!) don’t fret. Just stick a bowl on top of a pot filled about 1/3 of the way with water. Boil the heck out of that water and cover the bowl. Occasionally stir the chocolate and butter to melt, but use a hot pad because that bowl isn’t the same as using a double boiler and it will toast your little fingers right off.

While it’s boiling away, add the eggs to a mix master. (Do you think of cool rap music when I say “mix master”? Anyway, I digress…) Whip those eggs until light then slowly add the sugar and continue to beat on a medium speed for 15 minutes. Yes, 15. It changes the consistency and this is important. At the end of the 15 minutes, add the vanilla and almond extracts.

Add the salt and coffee to the melted chocolate while it’s still fairly hot so the coffee melts. When the chocolate is completely cooled, add it to the eggs. If it’s not cooled, you’ll end up with scrambled chocolate eggs and that’s an entirely different recipe!

Finally, add the flour to the chocolate mixture and blend until just combined. Pour into your prepared pan and immediately turn the oven down to 400 degrees. This is super important or your brownies won’t be little fudgy nuggets of amazingness. Bake for 21 minutes.

Invert your pan onto a cookie sheet and peel away the wax paper. Then invert again and allow to cool before eating…if you can!

5 Worst Date Foods

August 24, 2015 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

Going out to eat is one of the most common ways to spend a date. It can be a wonderful entry into a relationship as you linger over witty conversation or it can result in a never again attitude as manners are tested. Avoid these 5 worst date foods to ensure your dinner date results are strictly romantic.

Spaghetti

It might have been cute for Lady and the Tramp, but spaghetti (or any long noodle) oozing with sauce that dares to drip down your chin, onto the white linen tablecloth or even worse, across your shirt, should be avoided on a first date. It’s unlikely that your date will grab the opposite end of the noodle in order to gain a kiss and let’s face it, wouldn’t that be kind of creepy?

Peanut butter

True, a restaurant probably won’t have peanut butter sandwiches on the menu, but there’s always a chance that your first date might be a picnic outing. If so, avoid these. Unless you’re both partaking, the smell is offensive and today, peanut allergies run rampant. Wouldn’t want to put your date into anaphylactic shock before you get a second chance.

Garlic

Do I have to even mention it? Yes, I know garlic is delicious and enhances so many dishes. Giada de Laurentis uses it all the time and let’s face it, she’s adorable. But garlic is not the food of choice for a first date. It’s not just that it causes bad breath, ordering food laden in garlic basically tells your date, “Don’t even think of trying to kiss me goodnight.”

Raw onions

The best friend to garlic, raw onions is also a warning to your date that you want to stay in the friend zone. If you order a burger and tell them to hold the onions, your date will know that you’re thinking of that possible kiss that will come at the end of the evening. Keep the onions and you’re sending a definite message that he’s not worthy of a tasty sacrifice.

Cereal

Take a hint from “Silver Linings Playbook” and never order cereal on a first date. If you’re a guy and you do this your date is forced to order on par with you, which leaves her with such imaginative choices as jello or a cup of soup. If you’re a girl and you do this, your guy is likely to think you enjoy spending endless hours in your pajamas.

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