Thursday Thirteen -- 298 -- 13 Cadence Creek Christmas Menu Items With Donna Alward

This week I'm hosting fellow Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada author Donna Alward here at A Piece of My Mind.

Let's see what she's got cooking for her Thursday Thirteen. Over to you, Donna!

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I thought I’d do a Cadence Creek Christmas themed Thursday Thirteen!  Since food almost always plays a big part in my books, I figured coming up with thirteen different foods would be easy – especially since this is a Christmas book! Ready?

13: Pot Roast – page 20.  The food at The Wagon Wheel Diner is pretty good – and we’ve heard about it before in the other Cadence Creek books. Martha Bullock makes the best pie in Cadence Creek and her recipes are a trade secret.

12: Nacho Dip – page 41. What’s a wedding shower without some snacks? I love nacho dip and it’s so easy. Equal amounts of Miracle Whip and Cream cheese blended together makes the bottom. Spread on taco sauce and salsa, top with tomatoes, grated cheddar and some green onion and you’re good to go.

11: Chocolate Fudge Cake – page 64. Pressed into alternate arrangements for the rehearsal dinner, it’s off to the Wagon Wheel for lasagna and garlic bread. But the bakery sent over a cake to help with dessert. Isn’t it nice how the community just chips in when it’s needed?

10: Hot Cider – page 97. It’s winter. There’s more than just fruit punch at the wedding cocktail hour. I love hot spiced cider – yum!

9: Beef Wellington – page 105. Main course at the reception. After all, they’re feeding a room full of ranchers. What else would they have but beef? I love Beef Wellington, but it’s a special dish I don’t eat very often!

8: Pastry baskets filled with chocolate mousse and topped with berries and cream – page 107. Wedding dessert. Pastry. Chocolate. Whipped Cream. Berries. Did I miss anything?

7: Lavender Chocolate Cake – page 112. Come on, you didn’t expect an ordinary wedding cake, did you? The bride is a baker and her best friend and ex-boss made the cake as a gift. I knew it had to be something original and very special!

6: Coffee and Eggnog – page 132. One thing I love to do at Christmas? Add egg nog to my coffee instead of my usual light cream. The only thing better is Bailey’s…

5: Cannelloni – page 147. Enough with the meat and potatoes. Bring on the pasta. Tomato, basil, cheese… Cannelloni and Manicotti are 2 of my kids’ favourite meals.

4. Stollen, Christmas Pudding, Strudel, and Carrot Cake! Page 167. A trip to the bakery yields food for now and food for later. Taylor and Angela have strudel and cake, and Taylor buys the pud and stollen for a great traditional family Christmas she’s planning.

3: Romaine Salad - page 198. I got this recipe from my “adopted” family in Calgary. Grandma Tena makes it and it’s delicious. Romaine, mandarin orange, red pepper strips and poppyseed dressing. It’s so yummy.

2: Prime Rib and Yorkshire pudding - page 198. You knew it had to be something tasty for Christmas Eve dinner, right? My Yorkshire pudding never turns out, but I love eating someone else’s.

1: Cranberry Bread Pudding with Custard Sauce – page 199 I LOVE Bread Pudding. Almost any kind. But I had this particular one at the Banff Springs Hotel during one of our Christmas brunches and it was marvelous. Just beautiful.

A CADENCE CREEK CHRISTMAS is out now anywhere Harlequin Books are sold!








You can catch up with me at my website too – www.donnaalward.com


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Thanks for such a delicious list of thirteen things, Donna! The cranberry bread pudding does sound like I want some...like, now...

For readers wondering about the Hal-Con costume Thursday Thirteen I mentioned last week, please check back next week. Let's see which one is your favorite.

Thursday Thirteen - 243 - 13 Ways My First-Ever Book Signing Was an Amazing Night to Remember

1 - CLICK HERE to watch a news feature--my writers' group's Hearts on Fire event

Local CTV cameras were at The Halifax Club last Thursday night to interview members of Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada in time for their Valentine's Day broadcast.

L to R: Tara MacDonald, Heidi Hamburg, Renee Field, Jennie Marsland, Donna Alward and me









2 - This is our second group networking event. Last year's was held at Argyle Fine Art.

This year we met up with cross-industry media guests, film & television production professionals and business community members, as well as celebrating with family and friends at the elegant Halifax Club.














3 - Almost immediately I found myself introduced to Karen Wentzell and Lara Cassidy, both on the Board of Directors for Women in Film and Television Atlantic.

Since I'll be attending their conference next month, Women Making Waves, it was a real pleasure to meet them beforehand. It's less than a month before the conference opens on Mar. 9th - can't wait.














4 - Also following nearly two decades in the film and television industry doing wardrobe and costume design, Jeanie Kimber now runs her own wardrobe consulting service.

I also once looked after her wee Kimbers when Jeanie worked as the layout and design guru for a local magazine she produced with her husband. So, we're family, really.















5 - While CTV's Kelland Sundahl set up her interview with Bev Pettersen...














6 - ...Giacomo Bruno took shots for SNAP Halifax.


















7 - Celebrating this life milestone alongside me - my husband Brad...


















8 - ...and my best friend forever, the one, the only...Connie.














9 - With my family - husband Brad and mom Paulette.














10 - The evening was put together by Shawna Romkey who runs Dogwood Consulting, and Tara MacDonald who runs Charlie Mac Productions.














11 - Shawna gave me my dream-come-true moment. This was the moment I signed a copy of my book for the first time ever.

Thank you, Shawna.















12 - The evening also included absolutely delicious hors d'oeuvres and wine. Brad enjoys some chicken skewers while Tara catches up with aesthetician Shelley LeBlonc and photographer Caroline Ruyle.














13 - Stepping inside the doors of the Halifax Club was a personal joy for me, as the mid-Victorian mansion had long been admired by me from afar.

Here's to more dreams coming true. Is there something you've been longing to do? So much has changed for me in the space of only one year. If you have a dream that burns inside, maybe it's time to let it out to play.

Thursday Thirteen - 228 - 13 Things About Hosting A Harlequin Executive Editor at My Writers' Group

1 - A few weeks ago, my chapter of Romance Writers of America hosted a special event - Birgit Davis-Todd, Executive Editor at Harlequin Enterprises, gave an informative workshop and took story pitches from 20 of our members.

That's Birgit at right, next to YA author Renee Pace.













2 - Handling the hosting duties on behalf of our chapter, Annette MacPhee-Gallant, shown here at center, made a hectic schedule seem effortless.












3 - Also on the executive and a co-planner of the event, my good friend Kelly Boyce, shown at left.












4 - And rounding out the exec who pulled the weekend together, Michelle Helliwell in the green sweater, and -










5 - Donna Alward, in the foreground, wearing a blue printed blouse.












6 - First part of the event: a fabulous dinner at a Greek restaurant, Ela! in Halifax.












7 - I really enjoyed my scrumptious spanakopita with rice and salad, as well as a few glasses of pinot grigio. I'm sitting beside YA angel writer Shawna Romkey, who also happens to be one of the critique readers for my upcoming vampire novel.












8 - The next morning, we gathered bright and early to begin the writing all-day workshops and story pitches. Birgit gave a workshop with as much insider experience as one would encounter at the large, national RWA conference, like the one I attended this summer in New York.












9 - For some reason, on a beautiful, sunny September morning - no wind, no rain - the power went out. After a moment of blackness, the hotel's generator kicked in. Must have been a car running into a power pole, or some such thing.

Annette quickly made alternate lunch arrangements for 26 people without batting an eye. As it turned out, the power returned and we were able to keep our lunch reservations at the hotel restaurant, the Redwood Grill.










10 - This is a restaurant near the library where we hold our monthly meetings, so it's a familiar spot for our group. We don't normally descend in such numbers, however!













11 - For the afternoon session, Birgit set up in a meeting room and listened to timed story pitches from 20 members of our group. I realize Birgit's used to doing this by now - but still. My brain would implode after all of that.











12 - While the pitches were given in a separate meeting room, returning president Nikki Figueiredo, at right, led other activities - sharing our own 2-minute pitches of current projects, add-a-sentence stories and word-prompt writing.












13 - And guys - just in case you thought this chapter was a ladies' only outfit, meet Mark.

We've had several male writers join our group over the eight years I've belonged to RWAC.

Most stories have to be written from both the male and female characters' points of view, so it's a good idea to get a sense of what makes the opposite gender tick. I would love to see more men join groups like RWA, and likewise, it's a great idea for female writers to spend some quality guy time before returning to that male character they're writing.

Thursday Thirteen - 219 - 13 Things About My First Writer's Conference

1 - My trip to New York a few weeks ago was a conference trip - not only my first visit to NYC, but my first-ever conference.

My writers' association - Romance Writers of America - holds an annual conference at a different location each summer. These are booked several years in advance, and when I saw a few years ago that the 2011 conference would take place in Manhattan, I promised myself I would make things happen so that I would be in a position to attend, pitch my books and see one of cities I've longed to visit since I was a kid.











2 - The conference hotel was the New York Marriott Marquis, which meant my address for five glorious days was on Broadway and 7th Avenue.

Pictured here is the Atrium Lounge where writers gathered informally to meet up and chat. Out of camera range but at the top beneath the row of lights is the Encore Restaurant, where I enjoyed several breakfasts and one yummy lunch.












3 - One of the more amusing aspects of a conference for writers is the reality of introspective people pushing themselves out of their comfort zones in order to network, which is one of the main reasons to go to a conference in the first place.

Prior to the conference, I encountered quite a few how-to-survive-the-conference guides for attendees who find socializing a bit of an ordeal.

Here's a way around that - make close friendships in Blog World and then finally meet In Real Life. It's SO exciting! This is my first real-world chance to sit and have coffee with Christina Brooke, who once blogged at The Popculturedivas with me.















4 - But when you do make new connections, it shines a light on your conference experience. I bumped into Georgia Romance Writers president Nicki Salcedo in the goody room (where you can pick up promotional items like bookmarks, pens, etc.) thinking she was my cousin Julianne until I looked up.

"I can't wait to meet my twin," she said, so when Julianne came by we took this shot.

We continued to meet up all through the conference - it was great fun.












5 - The conference ran workshops from 8:30 - 4:30, and this one was my favorite by far.

Any guesses as to why...?








































6 - We had a great turn-out from the Maritimes, and the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick writers gathered to share breakfast together. There were about 15 of us altogether.











7 - The huge booksigning fundraiser was open to the public as well as to conference goers, with proceeds going to adult literacy programs. The authors were arranged alphabetically, so big names were sitting next to debut authors, which gave a sense that we're all in this together - a wonderfully empowering sight.











8 - It was such a joy to see so many authors from my local chapter, Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, signing at the literacy event.

Here I'm pictured with Harlequin and Samhain author Donna Alward.




Also from Down East - Tor author Taylor Keating.




















My cousin, St. Martin's Press and indie author Julianne MacLean



New Brunswick author Stella MacLean, who writes for Harlequin























9 - My greatest challenge for this conference was to score requests during my agent / editor pitches.















Thankfully, my dear friend Kelly Boyce was pitching at the same time as me for the afternoon session, so she sat next to me and calmed me down when she noticed a telling shaky breath as I tried to become Zen-like.

Thank you, Kelly! Not sure what I did for you in return, other than provide a distraction, perhaps.












RWA thankfully scheduled this pitching workshop the day before, presented by Carina Press author Carrie Lofty. It really helped me to reshape my pitch presentation.

It also REALLY, REALLY helped to have two wonderful roomies who listened to my practise pitches the night before.



























These workshops stood out amongst many wonderful sessions I attended.




















































10 - There were several keynote speakers, including the opening session featuring historical thriller writer Steve Berry, historical time travel writer Diana Gabaldon and medical thriller writer Tess Gerritsen.













Paranormal and urban fantasy writer Sherrilyn Kenyon gave an inspirational speech unlike most any I've ever heard (but very similar to the students-introducing-ourselves-to-our-film-school-professor thing where one of my fellow students told us how his family had been attacked by pirates as they escaped Cambodia.)














Among the service awards given out by RWA was the Librarian of the Year Award, for supporting the romance genre.

Wendy Crutcher from Orange County, California received this year's award. Go, librarians! I found myself thinking of my own childhood spent at the downtown Dartmouth library as she honored a librarian who was influential in her decision to pursue that career.











The Princess Diaries author Meg Cabot was the glamorous host of the awards night ceremonies.











Receiving the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement award was Sharon Sala, who told a very cool story about seeing a wolf totem as a girl - I tend to get animal totem messages in my life, so her story was completely awesome.

I also cherished the moment when she mentioned that her late husband leaves her pennies to find here in this world. As soon as she'd said it, Annette sitting on my left and Kelly sitting on my right both silently tapped me in unison, neither one knowing the other was echoing her gesture.

The reason they tapped me is because I also get spirit world messages in similar fashion. Just wanted to say how wonderful it is to have friends who know me that well - you guys are awesome.












11 - All glammed up for the Ritas - that's Carina Press author Kelly Boyce and yours truly.














My elegant cousin, Julianne MacLean.












My local chapter president Annette MacPhee-Gallant and new chapter member Carol, with Anne MacFarlane snapping pix.











Some of my local chapter who managed to snag a table together:

Back row L to R - Dawn, Annette, moi, Kelly, Carol

Seated L to R - Julianne, Daisy Piper, Anne
















12 - This conference was full of little moments that reinforced the It's a Small World After All theory.

As I wandered through the leviathan-sized literacy signing with my sister, I heard someone call my name. It was Toronto Romance Writer Leah Braemel, a blog friend I'd met In Real Life on a trip to Toronto. On my first day in a city I'd never visited before, someone recognized me in a gigantic crowd. Huge world shrinking to comfy-cozy size - commencing.












In one of the many snaking line-ups to get into the various publisher book signings - where, for example, St. Martin's Press authors signed free books for their rabid fans - I found one of my chapter mates, Heidi.











Stumbling in the too-early-for-it-be-considered-vacation hours, I found my other chapter mate, Deborah Hale, who received her 25th book pin from Harlequin during the conference.











Snagging snacks and gifts for people at home, we bumped into our chapter prez Annette, who accepted our invitation to come up to our room and chill. With ice cream.














13 - My first writers' conference couldn't have been sweeter. A city I've always longed to visit, a room with a rockin view, a dream-come-true ballet performance and requests for partials of my work.

Time to live my life.

Join me next week when I share more memories from New York City.