No One Noticed -- another update

I've been getting daily requests for updates on my book, so I thought I'd post another update to appease the masses. Okay, so they're weeeee masses.  But still.

No One Noticed is coming along swimmingly!
As of this afternoon I have just finished editing 20 chapters!!! Yay!!!

But then I made the wretched mistake of looking at the whole manuscript and realizing, well, rats. That's only 1/3 of the way through.

Sigh.

The nice thing about the process, however, is that my writing improves greatly from the beginning to the end, (according to my editor, and well, to be honest, I just happen to agree,) so the editing should move through a lot more smoothly as I go along.

The sad thing is that I still have 2/3 of the way to make it through before handing off the entire manuscript to editor #2.

So. Alas.

Patience!!

I have already resigned to the fact that I will need to edit the major dates in the book to accommodate 2019 rather than 2018. And that's a big bummer. Not too much of a pain, though, but I dearly hoped the book would be out before the end of the summer last year, and that obviously didn't happen.

One cannot rush a genius at work here, folks!!

(pause for guffawed laughter)

Anywhooooo... that's it for the updates. I'll send up another flare when I reach the half way through mark.

Until then, may you learn the art of patience! And distraction! And amusement!

Can I interest you in a digression?

Go listen to Ologies, a FANTASTIC podcast by Alie Ward. She is currently my most fav podcast I've ever listened to. Absolutely fascinating, insightful, amusing, and just wow.

Go to this link here:  Ologies on Itunes

Or perhaps you can go and look up large African snails that have bunny faces?

(picture has a link)

Just get out there, learn something interesting, and get up your giddyup in excitement and anticipation for book number two in the Jack Diamond Murder Mysteries!


* * * * *

I wrote a murder mystery!  Here is the link so you can buy it:

You can buy my book in both e-book and paperback on Amazon here:  

Diamonds for Diamond by Kay Nimitz Smith

* * * * *

Granini's Valentine's Day Cookies

Granini's Valentine's Day Cookies

As I was packaging up all my Valentine's Day Care Boxes to send to my loved ones far far away, I was inspired by these little cuties from my childhood to try something a wee bit out-of-the ordinary for Valentine's Day. Something non-chocolate. 

They bring back such happy memories for me!

There was plenty of chocolate in their boxes, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it's nice to have a wee bit of something else in their boxes too.

So here's my recipe for shortbread sugar cookies (which, is frankly THE best), 

and I just frosted using tub-o-frosting that I colored accordingly. Yes, I use tub-o-frosting. Yes, sometimes on occasion I will also make buttercream frosting from scratch. But frankly, most of the folks I know and love adore and love tub-o-frosting, and it's easy peasy. Scoff if you must. But I have yet to have someone tell me my cookies weren't darned tootin' tasty. So there. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ingredients

3/4 cup margarine

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

• Sift together the dry ingredients.
• Mix the margarine and sugar together until creamy.
• Add a large spoon full of the dry ingredients to the margarine/sugar mixture.
• Add in the eggs, one at a time, until fully blended together.  Add in the vanilla.
•  Then slowly add into the wet ingredients a little at a time until fully incorporated.
• Put plastic wrap over your dough and chill for at least an hour.
• Using 1/3 of the dough at a time, roll dough out about 1/4 inch thick onto a heavily floured surface. Don't roll the dough out too thinly. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Place on parchment paper - lined cookie sheets and bake for 7-8 minutes.

Cool on a rack until completely cooled. Then frost!

Enjoy!

* * * * *

For those of you who like updates on my books, editing for book number 2 is well under way.

No news is, erm, well, no news. hahaha. Hopefully the Florida sun has recharged my batteries sufficiently so that I can get right back to work!!!

* * * * *

I wrote a murder mystery!  Here is the link so you can buy it:

You can buy my book in both e-book and paperback on Amazon here:  

Diamonds for Diamond by Kay Nimitz Smith

* * * * *

Jack Diamond and Harry Potter

For those of you who are waiting anxiously for me to finish No One Noticed, the Jack Diamond sequel, I have some bummer news for you. Don't worry, it's happy news for me. And it will eventually result in happy news for you too.

So here's the deal.

I took December off to scamper about and frolic amongst the flours (and sugars), making all sorts of tasty treats for the hubs and his coworkers, and family, and well, let's face it, me too. 

So January came around and I thought for sure I'd get to my editing.

But alas, no.

So here it is, February, and it's time to go on vacation.

So, the editing continues to wait for me.

And that means Jack Diamond and all his friends are waiting too.

But here comes the good news:

Harry Potter, Mickey Mouse and I are going to play together in Florida next week, and for this I am super duper ally ooper excited. Even more excited that I didn't have to pay for the trip! Because, well, let's be honest. Who has money for an expensive vacation when they haven't been paid for their second book which they haven't finished?!? Hmmmm.

Yes, this is a work trip too.

So, even though I am not finished (um, well, haven't really gotten past chapter two) with the editing, I can tell you that I shall be working on the edits on the plane rides. And if the weather back east is any prediction, I'm guessing I'm going to get stuck somewhere during a layover for enormous lengths of time, and will have nothing to do but write, write, write and edit, edit, edit. So yay for you!!

AND, after this lovely time in sunny 76º weather, whilst all the rest of the world is shivering in -30º something or other, I shall come home rested and relaxed and filled to the brim with chocolate.

As one should.

When one returns from vacation.

So, to answer your questions, no, I don't have an estimated time of arrival on the book. And yes, I know that I am now officially so far behind I'm going to have to change the dates in the book (note to self, don't forget to change the dates in the book).

But hey, when a (mostly) free trip to visit Harry Potter and Mickey Mouse arises,
you just don't say no.

Even if you have to work a wee bit.

While at the pool.

Eating chocolate.




* * * * *

* * * * *

I wrote a murder mystery!  Here is the link so you can buy it:

You can buy my book in both e-book and paperback on Amazon here:  

Diamonds for Diamond by Kay Nimitz Smith

* * * * *