Tag: Writer’s World

Author's World, Bookshelf, Excerpts from my Novels, Favorite Reads, Gardening, Seasonal Delights, Writer's Journey

Fall and Falling Behind

Veronica Mahara

Hello Everyone!

Hope you are all doing as well as you can out there.

I feel the Fall around me now in the Pacific Northwest. We had such a long beautiful stretch of sun and warm weather. I was spoiled in its light. My roses and flowers still think it’s summer and then yesterday a wild, dark storm came through. I will be doing clean up in the gardens as soon as the rain lets up. It’s satisfying to get everything tucked away for winter. Bulbs will be going in the ground and and my cat Tommy is beginning to spend more time by the fire. It’s quite cozy.

~Beyond Diamonds~ my fourth book was on hold this summer for various reasons, one of which was Covid. I never thought I’d get it, but after a trip back East, I came home with the nasty thing! Vaxed and boosted I thought I could handle the travel without a mask…. no… It’s taken me two months to get back to myself again.

Having rescheduled my editing services, I have been tackling the rewrites. It’s pretty fun to go over my developmental editor’s comments and suggestions. Jane, my protagonist is in up to her elbows with her husband Martin’s dream- a sheep farm near the San Francisco Bay area. What can a wealthy city girl from Cincinnati in 1879 learn on a farm ? And why does she suspect there might be more to his mere devotion to it? His handsome cousin Harry poses a problem… she likes him and in way she shouldn’t. Then there’s her brother back East holding tightly to her inheritance. What if he decides he needs it for the jewelry business their father started? Will his gambling debts in Cincinnati find their way to Jane and Martin?

Lots to do still and I’m looking at a January 2024 debut. I hope you will all like it. Until then check out my ~Traveled Hearts, Sacred Terrain and Unending Trails Trilogy~ at Amazon. The love and adventures of Jessica, Jacob and Caleb are waiting for you!

Take care,

Peace and Love!

Veronica

Artist's World, Author's World, Bookshelf, Excerpts from my Novels, Gardening, Seasonal Delights, Watercolor Life

Editing Mode:Spring Clean-up

Veronica Mahara

Hello Everyone,

Spring is here! In my yard and beyond all the buds are fat and ready to burst. My yard needs some cleaning from the last wind storm, but it’s wonderful to see the plants and trees and shrubs come back to life. At this time in the world I needed to see renewal and hope for the future even if it’s only in my little patch of earth.

Beyond Diamonds, my fourth historical novel set in the late 19th century is in rewrite and editing and rewrite and … I have a deadline and it’s really got me going. So much fun to get to the end of the my book then go back and start the clean-up. My protagonist, Jane Cabot desires the things that only money can buy. What about the thing money can’t buy? The missing piece is for her to find.

My interest in gardening has spilled over into this novel as Jane becomes interested in horticulture when her parents want her to become interested in culture, society and the proper place for a woman. When she falls in love with Martin, against her parent’s wishes she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for.

I’ve found time to do a watercolor. It helps to rest my mind and spirit. I hope you enjoy. It’s my rendition of one of the botanical arts from -The Book of Flowers, Pierre Joseph Redoute.

Thanks for visiting,

Peace and Love,

Veronica

Artist's World, Author's World, Seasonal Delights

Winter Wonderland

Veronica Mahara

Hello Everyone!

A few months ago we took our last camping trip of the season.

We had a beautiful site near a river. The trees were turning color and there was that incredibly delicious smell of Fall in the Pacific Northwest. We were only about an hour away from Mr. Rainier so we went up there and took a spectacle hike at the base of the mountain. There was plenty of snow but still light for the area. We were walking in a Winter’s Wonderland! So fresh and … cold. Luckily I packed my warm clothes 🙂

We don’t get much snow here. We are both originally from the East coast so our wintertime childhoods were spent in snow, snow and more snow. I loved it! Sledding, skating, snowball fights, and thawing out by the radiator with my sister. (We always stayed out too long!)

My husband and I agree, we could not live as adults in areas with winter snows, but as long as we can get to it now and then, it remains a lovely memory.

Stay warm and have a safe and happy winter to all those who get plenty of the white stuff. And fingers crossed we’ll get our 3-5 inches around Christmas time 🙂 Which, by the way shuts down the entire area! LOL.

Until next time, Peace and Love! V.

Mt. Rainier, Washington State
Bake and Cook

Salmon Salad Recipe

Veronica Mahara

Good Monday Morning to You!

blur bokeh candle christmas decoration
Photo by picjumbo.com on Pexels.com

Here’s the salmon salad recipe I promised in an earlier post.

I usually don’t like canned fish in any way, but I was surprise how good this tasted.

So, get a can of deboned, de-skinned salmon.

1 glove of garlic – chopped fine

1 teaspoon grated ginger

1/2 stick of celery -chopped fine

1 tablespoon red onion – chopped fine

1/2 teaspoon of  spicy brown mustard

2 tablespoons of mayonnaise or slightly more or less depending on your taste for a wetter or dryer mix/ start with less and see how you like it.

Pinch of salt and pepper

Splash of Old Bay … that’s my added touch.

Mix well. This makes about two -three good sandwiches so double or triple recipe as needed.

You can fill any thing with this savory mix.

I think it will be one of my appetizers on Christmas Eve stacked on rounds of store bought puff pastry! Yum!

Wishing you all a great day and Happy December!

Peace and Love,

Veronica

 

 

Watercolor Life

Christmas Card #2

Veronica Mahara

Good Monday Morning!

Finished the second Christmas card! I like this one and could fiddle with it a lot longer but I promised myself I would keep it simple! Walk away!

I love the holiday season and I’m happy to say that my Christmas shopping is nearly done 🙂 I start as early as I can without it feeling weird. I love those last minute purchases though. Christmas Eve with the family at my house is a tradition and with five grandkids I need to have my act together! It’s such a special time for us and goes way pass the gifts. It’s the Food!! Well, it’s all that, but mostly the family gathering together. So grateful to have my daughters and their families close by!

Have a great day my friends,

Love and Peace,

Veronica

vIMG_3209