Gentle Readers:

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Cool days, long nights, warm fires and hearty food, plus Thanksgiving right around the corner, and National Novel Writing Month underway — there is nothing I don’t like about November. With the release of THE LOST KEY behind us (it did very well, thank you very much, hitting #3 on the NYT) I can turn my gaze forward, to the deadlines rushing toward me.

With so much writing to do, things are kind of quiet around here. Except for this exciting news: I’ve been selected for a very special promotion from Apple — First in Series for Mystery and Thrillers. For the next two weeks, November 4-19, A DEEPER DARKNESS is FREE to download from the iBooks store. Now’s your chance to experience Samantha Owens story for the first time.

I’ve just finished edits on WHAT LIES BEHIND, Sam Owens #4, which will be out May 27, 2015. And I’m deep into the writing of Nicholas Drummond and Mike Caine #3. There’s a very, very bad villain in this book, who is fascinating and fun to write. We’re having a good time with him.

My darling husband and I also celebrated the first anniversary of bringing Jameson and Jordan home November 1. The minions have grown so much, and have become such a huge part of our lives. I thank Thrillercat every day for finding them for us.

Many of you are new to the newsletter this month. Welcome to the show — I hope you enjoy our monthly chats. Feel free to email me to say hello, I love meeting new readers.

One last quick note: we now have a full listing of past newsletters and recipes on the website. Just click here to catch up!

Tours

I’m off to San Diego this week for the Veterans Benefit Books Fair aboard the USS Midway. The main event is scheduled for Saturday Nov 8, 2014 and will feature top authors and celebrities including Lee Child, James Rollins, Michael Connelly, Catherine Coulter, the CEO of the USO, a NATO Command Flag Admiral and many others. For every book you buy, our troops receive a free book. I will be on a panel talking about Writing Veteran Characters from 10-10:45 a.m., and will be signing books from 11:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m. If you’re in southern California, I hope to see you there!

Get Thee to a Bookstore

So many great books to mention this month!

First up, debut author Paige Crutcher, whose brand-new book THE ODYSSEY OF FALLING will sweep you back to your most bittersweet teenage years. Paige has a wonderful voice, and the story is top notch.

I also had a chance to read BLACKBIRD, by Averil Dean, which can be pre-ordered now for a release December 31. It was simply stunning, a story told backwards and done perfectly.

I’m completely hooked on Deborah Harkness, too. A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES was great, and I’m on to SHADOW OF NIGHT now.

The brilliant Allison Brennan is about to release the 2nd book in her Seven Dead Sins series, MORTAL SIN. Snap this one up!

And Brenda Novak has just released a lovely Christmas book — HEART OF CHRISTMAS. Just in time for these longer, cooler days, right?

And I read THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT, the very first Spenser book by Robert Parker. Great stuff.

November Contest

The November contest is live now, enter to win a hardcover of BLISS HOUSE, by Laura Benedict, one of my all-time favorite haunted house gothic tales, and a $10 online book store gift card to Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million OR iBooks (winner’s choice).

Enter here to win.

November Recipe — Chicken Lasagna Florentine
(Click here for printable PDF)

This unique take on lasagna is incredibly easy and delicious. And since it comes from Southern Living originally, you know it has a southern twist — pecans. When I saw the recipe for the first time I was skeptical, but the pecans absolutely make this dish. I hope you enjoy it — do email me and let me know!

Ingredients:

• 6 Lasagna Noodles — dried
• 10 ounces Frozen Spinach — thawed
• 2 cups cooked chicken — chopped
• 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup onion — finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 4 1/2 ounces canned mushrooms — drained (I prefer fresh, just sauté lightly before adding in)
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 4 ounces Parmesan cheese — freshly grated

Topping:

• 1 tablespoon Butter
• 2/3 cup of pecans — chopped

• Melt butter in small skillet over medium heat, add pecans and cook 3 minutes. Directions:
• Preheat oven to 350° degrees
• Cook noodles according to package directions, drain and set aside. (I tried using no cook noodles, and that was a mistake. They soak up all the juice. So do boil your noodles)
• Drain spinach well
• Combine spinach, chicken and next 11 ingredients in a large bowl, stir well.
• Arrange 3 noodles in a greased 11" x 7" baking dish.
• Spread half of chicken mixture over noodles.
• Repeat with remaining noodles and chicken mixture.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and topping.
• Cover and bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Have a beautiful, gratitude filled Thanksgiving, lots of turkey or faux turkey or ham or whatever your tradition calls for, and may all the blessings find you this month. Keep reading!

xoxo,

P.S. You can see all of my previous recipes and download them here.