Hello everybody and thank you all for being patient while I try to get parts of my life together. The crazy thing is I am very busy but I kind of have nothing to show for it which I think is pretty much typical of any author. And since I also do graphic design for projects that won’t be out for a few months — if not over a year — I really can’t share or talk about what I’m working on. And about the time when I can, I usually have forgotten that I worked on it.

The holiday season is upon us with my most favorite holiday actually already have happened — Halloween — and for the first time in years, I actually have no one in the house but me and the cats so planning a large meal is kind of silly. Once I a get the medical issues under control, I have to do a serious thinking about if I’m going to remain in San Diego because there is no one here anymore or do I have to the cats and go elsewhere to be closer to family and friends.

Thing is, I am very much a Californian and the idea of living someplace with even a hint of red makes my skin crawl. And it’s not necessarily the people in the area but rather the governmental entities that have been voted into power as their representatives. And I know that the residents of the state or location are ultimately responsible for who they put into office but I also know that it is very easy to fall into a dogmatic-fueled mindset if that becomes your only source of information. Religion and politics both operate on information gathering and it is beneficial for either structure to be able to craft their message as the sole focal point that a person uses to make decisions on.

And I’m not going to fall into any long-winded discussion about politics and religion because when it’s all said and done, we pretty much all just need to stand out side and get right with ourselves before going in.

This is obviously going to be a very rambling post because I swear as soon as I started I get interrupted with texts and cats.

I am currently working on Saint and the biggest problem with writing his not throwing in everything. Because I am writing something more suspense oriented I am reading more urban fantasy. I never read in the genre that I am writing in because there is a potential for someone else’s voice and plot points influencing you as you write. Which is not good. I have noticed a tendency for some writers to toss in everything when writing urban fantasy. I mean I get it because there have been times when I was like oh I really want to add this to the story and it’s hard not to power up your characters like a three-year-old telling a joke but I think we all walk a fine line between being descriptive and over seasoning the book.

What I really enjoy about urban fantasy is not just the world building but also the supernatural constructs. How does the magic work? Has it always been there? Are we hiding it from the general populace or is it out in the open? A magic system isn’t something that you can make up on the fly… Well you can but that will come and bite you in the ass later.

There are so many possibilities but you also have to build in restraints and make sure that you have your own set of rules which you may or may not break later on the series. So like if you say nobody can magic up a grapefruit and then the main character pulls a grapefruit out of thin air, you either have fucked up your magic system or are you are using it as a harbinger of how powerful your main character is. It’s kind of the old adage of if you are going to put a gun on the mantelpiece and talk about it then you have to use it in some way later on.

So that’s pretty much what I have been thinking about lately. That and a nap.

On a final note, I am going to share a video by Hawai’i’s Pickle Lady. And it is making one of my favorite foods which we call manapua but other people know as char siu bao. This is one of the things I could eat until I’m sick.

Another dumpling rice dinner tonight. The temperature goes from hi–80° to hi–40° in the span of 12 hours so I usually don’t want to turn on the oven but at the same time I want something warm and comforting to eat as the evening grows cold. I had sliced zucchini and Italian squash to use as well as blocks of fried tofu. I had some shrimp har gow as well as pork gyoza in the freezer to toss in on top. I think what really helps when doing this is making sure that the broth in your rice has sesame seed oil as well as garlic, ginger, and shoyu. That seems to round the taste out the best. I also added some crushed up fried onions on top for crunch but I suppose you could do that with toasted panko as well.

This is definitely a dish where you have to trust the process and be sure to wash the rice cooker very well when you’re done. I probably could have added a fried egg on top of this one but I just really didn’t want to deal with it because I’m trying to get a plot worked out.

These types of rice cooker dishes are very easy to throw together and don’t necessarily have to be Asian either. I imagine you could do something like chicken and dumplings if you have a gravy warming up in a pot on the stove to pour on top. Or perhaps something more Hispanic inspired. I just go for my comfort foods. But I am willing to explore.

Tonight’s Dinner
Dumpling Rice with shrimp, peas, and carrots.

This is one of the easiest things to make when I am lazy. Well, more lazy than usual. Basically rice with a broth (Better Than Bouillon for the win), minced ginger, garlic, shoyu, salt and pepper. Then layer things on top like sliced bok choy or mushroom, some frozen peas/carrots. I always put the veggies on top of the rice then layer the protein and dumplings on top. This time it was sliced crimini mushrooms and frozen peas and carrots. Then some jumbo shrimp I had in the freezer and finally some pork and veggie gyoza (also frozen). Put the lid on and hit play. Let it cook and steam as normal, although I do let it steam for a little bit longer if I have something like mushrooms in it. Sometimes it’s a bit to clean the pot but totally worth it. Very tasty. Makes two meals (a dinner and lunch) and I don’t have to watch a pot or curse an oven.

Please give a warm welcome to Barbara Elsborg! I’ve lending her some space here so she can tell you all about her upcoming book, Hold On.

From Barbara:

Hi everyone! For those who have never heard of me – and there are probably around 7.888 billion of you – I write gay romance in different genres and with many tropes – contemporary, romantic suspense, paranormal with vampires, wolves, faeries, angels, demons and everything in between, and the tropes are too numerous to mention. My books tend to feature damaged guys with broken hearts (I am a cruel author) but no matter how dark their back story, there is always a happy ever after (because I am also kind) and no matter how difficult a journey I put them through, there is always a space for banter and humour. (Well, I try to be funny)

My newest book is second in the Fate We Make series but it is a standalone.  Release date 15^th October.

Find more information about my novel, Hold On pge.me/holdon

Hold On

Sixteen long years behind bars. Almost half his life. But finally, freedom and a future Dominic can see. Yet as he steps into the world, a whispered threat shatters his hopes of a fresh start. He’ll never be able to stop looking over his shoulder.

Ren narrowly survives the most dangerous situation of his life, but at least his attackers think he’s dead. Spending the summer stuck on his brother’s archaeological dig isn’t his idea of fun, but it beats being fussed over by his mother. It’s as good a place as any to heal physical and mental scars, and he has plenty of those.

The roar of Ren’s motorbike is his lifeline, the one thing that makes him feel truly alive. But a moment’s lapse in concentration and he knocks Dominic off his feet. The accident brings together two damaged souls whose pasts won’t stay buried. With danger on their tail, hanging on to hope—and to each other—won’t be easy.

Join Dominic and Ren as they fight to keep the shadows of the past at bay and their future bright. In a world where love is fragile, two hearts learning to heal may just discover love is worth the risk.

Warning
Please note that one of the main characters in the story is in prison for murder. Sexual, physical and psychological abuse of a child is mentioned but no on-page detail is given. Sexual abuse of an adult is also mentioned but not shown on-page. Suicide is also mentioned in passing but not part of the story. There is some graphic violence.

The details of all my books can be found on my website https://www.barbaraelsborg.com/

Signing up for my mailing list gives access to secret content on my website with lots of further stories about characters in my stories.

I have a Facebook group too that you are welcome to join Barbara’s Besties

The Dirt & Sin shop has been updated! Some designs have been retired and new ones added. And a different version of the Kirin is now out.

There are TWO Coffee, Cats, & Murder Shenanigate designs now.

More designs to follow… once I figure out how I want to do them 😀

** As a reminder, everything in the shop is only 25¢ more than the cost price. That 25¢ goes to cover licenses and any shipping fees for prizes given away from the shop. Every effort is made to keep the shop non-profit.

https://www.cafepress.com/rhysford/

WOOOOOOOT! Book is finished and off to be hacked by the red pens! But… it is DONE! WOOOT!

It has been a busy couple of weeks. Yet another procedure under my belt.

And that was a very unintentional pun. Mostly I have been heads down writing and then I will be getting everything ready for GRL. I had hoped this situation would have been taken care of before I had to leave but I am pretty much going to be in the same physical state as I was last year. Maybe less tired. So there is going to be a lot of pacing and energy expenditure in Portsmouth.

There is really not much going on other than writing. I’ve been reading a lot of books but nothing that I feel is so fantastic that I need to share. Except TA Moore’s Footwork which I really enjoyed because it was a fun read. Everything else has been urban fantasy and not all of it is good. There have been some that I have really enjoyed and am following for the next book.

Purchase Footwork on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCJVYLRT/

I did read the last JD Robb book as well. And while I enjoy the characters, I didn’t feel like the story was super engaging but it was okay. One thing I do notice about my reading habits is that sometimes I’m just not in the mood for the, that I’ve got if I recognize something is good writing but it’s not grabbing me I usually put it aside to read later. I had that experience with Karin Lowachee’s Warchild which is a fantastic book and the rest of the series is as stellar but I wasn’t in that mindset when I first picked it up. Under the writing was incredible but I wasn’t in the mood for that drama so I put it aside until I could come back to it and really enjoyed it and I have no regrets with that.

Purchase Warchild on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Warchild-Karin-Lowachee-ebook/dp/B0C6VG67PF/

I noticed that the Hawai’i Pickle Lady did a segment on one of my favorite dishes which is a Asian garlic eggplant. I love eggplant in nearly all of its forms but I do not care for baba ghanoush. No idea why. It’s like my hatred of split pea soup when I absolutely adore peas.

I hope today finds you all well and that you are headed into the next season in good health and surrounded by your favorite cookies.

Grab yourself a copy!

Bode Harlan has never claimed to be a good guy, but he’s trying to keep his nose clean and his head down these days.

After a year in prison for assault–and to be fair, he did it–he isn’t looking to go back. Admittedly, his pretty face being the star attraction in an illegal underground fighting ring seems to run counter to that goal, but he’s gotta pay the bills and there ain’t much else he’s good at.

And it keeps his parole officer off his back…since she runs the place.

Then his mom skips town and her boyfriend kicks Bode’s 14 year old brother out on the street. Bode grew up in and out of foster care, he doesn’t want that for Danny. It’s not like he can take the kid in, though. He’s an ex-con who gets beat up twice a month for money. That’s how he ends up on his good-natured ex-boyfriend’s doorstep. Sonny is a soft touch. At least he always was for Bode. All he wants is somewhere to crash for a couple of nights, nothing more. Sonny’s got his life together now–a home, a boyfriend, even a dog–and it would take a real asshole to want to blow that up.

…of course, Bode’s never said he wasn’t an asshole.

Purchase Footwork on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCJVYLRT/