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A Labor Free Day

Tori is a very driven woman, if you haven’t figured that out already.

Having to live through the pain and devastation of her sister’s disappearance when she was only fifteen years old was a lot for a young girl to experience.  There were no family vacations or church camps afterwards, she pretty much stayed in her room and searched the internet for her sister’s killer.

Then immediately out of college, she and Ben started their private investigation business.  That didn’t give Tori much time for recreation either.

We did, however, discover in ‘First Sight,’ that Tori fell in love with the sport of kayaking one weekend, which prompted her to go out and buy a beautiful lime green kayak of her own.  She didn’t get to use it much, but every time she saw it hanging on the wall of their stairwell, it would make her look forward to the next opportunity to go out on the water.

Fortunately, this past weekend, Agent Hunter gave the team a break so they could all have some much needed R&R.   Guess what Tori and Ben did?

Tori's Kayak

 

 

 

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Angels All Around Us

Have you ever been late for an important meeting or appointment, driving in your car towards an intersection and thought, ‘Yes!’ to yourself when the light stayed green long enough for your car to get through?

What about a time when you were about to step off a curb to cross the street and something felt like it was holding you back, right as a car sped by in front of you, mere inches from where you were just about to go?

Depending on the type of person you are, your answer might be different than mine.  If perhaps, you believe in random events, you would say those moments are just pure, simple luck, go buy a lottery ticket.

If on the other hand, you are a believer like I am, you would say those moments are divine intervention and God has one of His angels watching out for you.

One of my favorite movies in the late 90’s was ‘City of Angels,’ starring Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan. The thought of angels being around us, guiding us in our moments of need, was comforting to think about.  After all, if darkness is said to be able to freely walk the earth, why can’t angels as well?

The inspiration for my first book entitled, ‘First Sight,’ was revealed to me in a dream, which became the opening warehouse scene between Tori and Ben.   As the story evolved and I introduced Tori’s parents and the spirit of her sister, Aubrey, I kept seeing fleeting images of an angel watching over Tori, gently guiding her when she needed direction.  At the time, it felt like that angel wasn’t someone new in her life, he or she was someone who had been with her, her entire life.

Then, as I began writing ‘The Enlightenment,’ I had another one of those vividly dream-filled nights. This wasn’t one of those, white fluffy cloud dreams, where angels in long white gowns played harps and sang choir music all the time, it was a dream where the earth was stripped naked of all the veiled promises and lies that Satan uses to trick the non-believers, and the half-truths and the ‘does the Bible really say that?’ questions he uses to tempt believers in moments of weakness and doubt, kind of dream.  It was a dream where there was a formidable contender for the master of darkness who would show Tori who and what she was capable of as long as she believed.

It was a dream about an Archangel named Ramiel, who prefers to be called Remy.  An angel with grey, comforting eyes; long grey hair, most often worn in a ponytail; leather biker jacket; graphic t-shirt; denim jeans and riding boots, kind of angel, who would look perfectly comfortable on the back of a Harley.  The kind of angel where if you saw that back of his jacket, it could possibly say, ‘Biker’s for Jesus.’  He’s a slow to anger, long on patience kind of angel, with a southern drawl who still talks to and remains obedient to the Father, even in his fallen state.  I woke up feeling comforted and at peace from that dream so I knew he would be perfect for Tori.

What I enjoyed most of all towards the end of ‘The Enlightenment,’ was the relationship between Tori and Remy.  They have a special bond that no two have ever shared before, and it will be Tori’s love for both Ben and Remy that will become the biggest challenge for her in book three.  Both men will continue to play a pivotal role in her life, one of which may force her to choose between them.

Personally, I don’t know if I would be able to choose.  Would you?

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Bacon LOVES Bourbon (Yes, it really does)

Hang out with me in my kitchen during one of my ‘cooking therapy’ afternoons, and you will quickly discover that I have a deep love for spicy, hot food.  I never pass up an opportunity to sneak a little heat into just about anything I make.  In fact, this summer, I decided to try an experiment and dedicated a portion of my herb garden to a few scorpion and golden habanero pepper plants.

I began germinating the seeds in little biodegradable paper containers back in February, and much to my gleeful surprise, I soon had several small pepper plants growing on the bakers rack in my office.  Once the weather warmed up enough outside, I moved them to the garden.

Now, I am patiently waiting with hopeful anticipation, for the first signs of my tiny little infernos!  Oh, the recipes I’ll come up with then! (Okay, maybe I’m not as patient as I thought!)  In the meantime, I’ll rely upon my local farmers and their provision of the ole’ reliable, Jalapeño.

This is the last recipe from ‘The Enlightenment,’ however last is certainly not least.  This is one of my favorites!

The Enlightenment, Chapter 14 “….“Now what have you made?” Meda marveled, pleased that she hadn’t overdone the appetizer round.

Tori pointed to each container and replied, “That is a chopped salad with a sweet chipotle dressing, that is home-made rustic multi-grain bread, and in the stock-pot I have prepared my own special recipe of steamed mussels with bacon, bourbon and jalapeños.”

“Oh…It’s been ages since you’ve made that!  Yum, more bacon,” Ben breathed in contentment.

Tori laughed and replied, “I think that’s what I’ve missed most since we joined the academy.  Not having a kitchen.  This is nice and it was exactly what I needed after today.  Thank you, everyone, for indulging me and giving me time to do all this.”

“Are you kidding?” Piper exclaimed.  “We’re the ones getting the better end of the deal here, Tor.  This all looks absolutely amazing!  Your aura has the happiest, healthiest green glow right now.  It’s beautiful!”

Tori smiled at Piper and replied, “Thanks, Piper!”

“Yum, I had forgotten how much I enjoy your cooking, honey,” Sarah remarked. “The smokiness in the salad dressing pairs with the spiciness of the mussels perfectly!  And this bread is just the right vehicle for soaking up the broth!  This is divine!”

“I second that!” Meda chimed in.  “Once again, you’ve allowed me to experience something I’ve never had before and it is wonderful!”

Tori smiled in contentment and replied, “Thank you!  Okay!  Less talking and more eating!”

Pan-Roasted BB&J Mussels (Bacon, Bourbon and Jalapeños)

Ingredients:

  • 4 Dozen Mussels
  • 2 Jalapeños, seeded and chopped
  • 2 Cloves Garlic, chopped
  • ½ Cup Shallots, finely diced
  • ½ Cup Bacon, diced
  • ¼ Cup Bourbon
  • ¼ Cup Clam juice
  • ¼ Cup Half and Half
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 Tablespoons parsley, chopped

Directions:

1) Scrub and de-beard the mussels and then place them in cold water for at least 15 minutes.

2) In a large, deep pan, cook the bacon over moderate heat until the bacon is crisp, about ten to twelve minutes.  Remove bacon from pan with slotted spoon and transfer it to a bowl.

3)  Add the shallots and garlic to the pan and cook until they are softened and the garlic is just beginning to look ‘toasted.’

4)  Add the mussels and bourbon to the pan, and simmer until the bourbon is almost evaporated.

5)  Add the clam juice and cover the pan, cooking the mussels until they open, about five to eight minutes.

6) Transfer the mussels to a serving bowl, discarding any that have not opened.

7) Add the half and half, jalapeños, parsley and bacon to the pan and simmer until the sauce has slightly thickened, about two minutes.  Add the butter, stirring the sauce until it is incorporated and then pour the sauce over the mussels.

Serve the dish warm with crusty bread to soak up the broth.

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Clean Mountain Air

Say the word ‘vacation’ in your mind and then sit back and enjoy the myriad of memories, sounds and images that come forth.

For some, vacation means languishing on a beach while the sounds of the ocean waves and seagulls; lull them into a dream-like state of semi-consciousness.  For others, a trip to a foreign land, walking through cold, stone castle corridors, envisioning themselves in the company of ancient kings and queens, is their idea of relaxation.

For me, hands down, it would be clean mountain air, specifically, the clean mountain air of the Sunlight Basin in Wyoming.

Growing up, I had always heard the term ‘big sky’ used synonymously with Montana and Wyoming.  I recall thinking to myself at the time, “How can the sky there, be any bigger than it is right here?”  It wasn’t until I first visited Montana and Wyoming three years ago, that I understood. The sky really is bigger! And I have to admit that I’ve found that I absolutely cannot help but hear the sweet voices of Dan Seals and Marie Osmond singing, ‘Meet Me in Montana,’ each time we’re ascending the crazy switchback drive into the Beartooth Mountains.  It’s truly amazing and takes my breath away!

So here I am, back in St. Louis after another amazing, spiritually enriching week in ‘big sky’ country.  Thank you, 7D Ranch, for everything.  You are my paradise.

Time to start writing!

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Congratulations Graduates!

The end of May is the time for graduating students and limitless opportunities for new directions in life.

In ‘The Enlightenment, Book Two in the Tori Cooper Novels’, Tori and Ben attended and graduated from the FBI training academy, and are now ready to embark upon their new journey as field agents with Agents Hunter, Nichols and Hughes.

I have some ideas in mind where book three will take us, however I’m curious what some of my readers envision for our favorite couple and think it would be fun to involve you in the story!

For those of you who have already said, “Turn up the heat between Tori and Ben,” keep in mind, I have a young teenage daughter reading my books! (Wink)

Besides, there are plenty of other authors out there selling sex.  It’s much more fun to chill your blood, than to boil it!

I look forward to hearing from you!