Life is funny that way, don't you think? Sometimes it throws you lemons, but other times it gifts you miracles! I'm going for the miracles. You may have noticed I haven't posted in a while, well, that's because I've been busy. Busy falling in love with Mexico all over again...
It was NanoWriMo 2023, and I was madly cranking out the rough draft of my latest WIP (work in progress) to "win" the 50,000-words-in-November contest (I won). The book, Kickback, wasn't coming easily; I had a lot of research to do on Mexican politics, Mexico City, and Mexican culture on the cusp of COVID. I hadn't visited in years, and after publishing Saints and Skeletons in June, I'd started letting go of memories. The memoir had helped me forgive all the difficult events and relive the wonderful adventure; I'd let the skeletons out of my closet. But I'd come across a good story, and I needed to write it, even if I was forgetting the smell of the air, the taste of street tacos, or the love I'd held for this magical country in all its virtues and errors.
And that's when the miracle manifested. Mexico wasn't letting ME go! First, I received an email from my old boyfriend, Fernando (read all about him in Saints and Skeletons). Thirty years later! And he wanted to make amends for everything that happened. How often does that happen?
We started talking: hashing out the memories, the joy—and the pain—catching up on a lifetime. (Still all in Spanish—another miracle, I'm learning it.) He'd googled me, discovered Saints and Skeletons, and reached out because he has written a book and wants to write more—supenso, thrillers. But he isn't a novelist by his own admission. Three months later, we're working on outlines for three thrillers, with a new idea brewing. Over WhatsApp we talk and brainstorm—just what we did so well through all those hours of traveling the back roads of Mexico in the 90s. We'll outline together. He'll research; I'll write. Suddenly I'm re-emmersed in Mexico—and it feels like coming home.
We don't know exactly how this will turn out, but I'm excited to have a new writing partner. If you like Mexico and crime, look for the first book sometime next year. In the meantime, don't miss the latest JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventure Book 5, Backlash Venom and Vengeance from 'Nam. It was short-listed for the Chanticleer CIBA 2023 Clue Award and won Gold Book from Literary Titan.
Your past will always find you. And it’s going to take everything you love away. Including your life.
Jackman Quint spent years in prison for his crimes during his tour in Vietnam. He’s made a new life: reunited with his daughter JadeAnne, expanded his investigations, and dipped his toe into the dating pool. Life is going his way until Nader shows up in Mexico City. Now, when he has someone to lose, his past finds him. And Nader is out for blood.
You can learn more on March 9th. Join us at Barns and Noble, El Cerrito Plaza from 2:00-4:00. It'll be a crime if you miss it!
"Ana Manwaring does an outstanding job of crafting a story that both stands alone on its psychological and thriller components. Prior readers will appreciate the plot while newcomers won't need an introduction to past relationships to appreciate the characters and actions that represent international relationships and survival efforts.
The tension is nicely built, premises are logical and embedded into the story's action-packed scenarios, and readers receive a high-octane action work well steeped in Mexican affairs.
Libraries and readers seeking thrillers that center around attacks that challenge individual and national interests will find Backlash: Venom and Vengeance from 'Nam seamless in its action and characters and hard to put down." Diane Donovan, Editor, California Bookwatch; Donovan's Literary Recommended Reading
Don't miss Smashwords Read an eBook Week, March 3-9. All my books are Free!
And if you want to get started now the Kindle version of Book 1, Set Up, is currently on discount at Amazon.
Backlash Book 5 Published on November 15th, 2023
Here's a little something to sip while you catch up with JadeAnne and Pepper
XOCOLATL
1 cup milk, soy milk, almond milk, or water
1 package/disc Taza Chocolate Discs (any flavor)
Salt to taste
TO PREPARE:
1. Roughly chop or grate one disc of any flavor and set aside.
2. Heat one cup of milk or water in a small saucepan over medium heat to just below a simmer.
3. Remove the milk from heat and add a pinch of salt.
4. Slowly mix in the chocolate, stirring frequently until dissolved.
5. When the chocolate is dissolved, return the mixture to the stove and re-warm over low heat.
6. While the chocolate is warming, use a whisk or molinillo to froth the chocolate.
7. When the chocolate is hot and frothy, remove from heat and serve.
Thanks for reading! Find me and my books through https://linktr.ee/anamanwaring and my website, www.anamanwaring.com
Celebrate the season with my latest award winning books, Backlash, a JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventure #5 and my memoir of living in Mexico, Saints and Skeletons, available for a promotional price at @Smashwords as part of their 2023 End of Year Sale! Find my books, and many more, at https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/ through January 1! #SmashwordsEoYSale #Smashwords. You can easily find the books through the search function under my name.
Okay, now that you have your book, let's get down to celebrating the season. Tonight I'm going to trim my tree to a good eggnog (with spiced rum), homemade cookies, and a sappy holiday romcom. Then I'll start my round of entertaining. Here's what I'm serving. JadeAnne's grandmother served one at table every Christmas Eve, but it's dramatic with any holiday feast!
Gaga's Persimmon Pudding
Ingredients
Preparation
To flame: fill a small pitcher with brandy or rum , pour a good amount over the pudding and into the. plate. Light a match and watch the blue flames! With a spoon, keep the flames going by dipping alcohol from the plate over the pudding. Don’t worry if the spoonfuls are flaming. It burns at a low temp and burns out fast, but while it lasts, it makes an impressive display. Be sure to dim the dining room lights and flame with fanfare!
Rum Butter
Cream together ½ c. brown sugar, ½ stick butter, 1 tsp nutmeg. Slowly add 2 Tbls. dark rum, 1 tsp cream sherry and whip until fluffy.
@anamanwaring
Okay, I don't usually toot my own horn, but I'm thrilled to share my
for Saints and Skeletons A Memoir of Living in Mexico.
Not convinced? Read the review! Five stars from Literary Titan
"Saints and Skeletons by Ann Manwaring offers a poignant and introspective narrative that delves into a life shaped by personal triumphs, struggles, and the unwavering quest for self-discovery. With eloquent prose and candid storytelling, Manwaring invites readers to immerse themselves in the depths of her experiences, bearing witness to the transformative power of vulnerability and resilience. "
Pages: 298 | ASIN: B0C4QLYLC8 Available on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords
Please join me and memoirist, Aletheia Morden, author of The Last Indentured Servant A Hollywood Memoir at Sonoma's Vintage House on Friday, July 21st at one o'clock for a reading from our recent books and discuss the lure of travel, relocation and the personal growth that accompanies living abroad. Moderated by Susan Savage.
HALF PRICE!
The JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventures
Monday, July 24th at 9:40 a.m. Marcia Macomber will interview me for her program, Mondays on the Morning Show at KSVY 91.3 FM and streaming at www.KSVY.org.
I Look forward to seeing you!
Find me at: www.anamanwaring.com and https://linktr.ee/anamanwaring
Thank you so much Jan, at JanMFlynnAuthor, for thinking of Building a Better Story and nominating me for the Blogger Recognition Award. Jan passed on a quote from another blogger I can't top so here's the quote from Reasons2Stay:
“The award is a way that we recognize and support each other as bloggers, and especially to show that we appreciate how much time, work, energy, and effort goes into producing and maintaining a high-quality blog. It is a humbling experience to be recognized from my fellow blogger.”
I agree with Jan when she says, "It’s lovely when those who share your zeal for a particular form of expression — be it writing, visual arts, dance, or whatever medium — take note of your efforts and extend their regard and support. I gotta say, it feels darn good." Yes it does! I'm luxuriating in the warm fuzzies right now.
And because this nomination and award supports other bloggers and promotes their efforts, it has some rules to follow if you want to participate:
Thank the blogger that nominated you.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select other bloggers to give this award to.
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.
I teach creative writing at a local community college. My students, retirees, demanded I stop lecturing on craft and deliver the conventions of writing craft (all genre, mind you) in context of the work brought in to class to "workshop." Yikes! I still had to bone up on craft and decided to write blog posts on craft commonly misused. Nobody read it, and I stopped lecturing anyway. My first post was on September 14, 2011 on tension in your writing. My readership picked up when I branched out and opened Building a Better Story to student work. Later I added reviews of books I've enjoyed. It's a wonderful platform for writings, reviews and yes, craft.
Do as I say, not as I do. I'm slothful at keeping to a posting schedule. I get a bright idea, run a little series of posts on a topic and run out of steam or get busy with something else (like revising the 3rd JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventure about to be late to the editor) and forget the blog for weeks. If you want people to read your blog, you need to give it time to build a following and offer regular posts. You can blog about most anything that interests you, but if you don't post on a schedule, you won't keep the people who FOLLOW. An expert in WordPress, Linda Lee, and I sat on a panel together recently and the good news is, really we only need to post once a month—AS LONG AS WE DO IT EVERY MONTH ON TIME!
Invite guest bloggers to participate in your blogosphere. It's fun to share and it promotes others' blogs AND your own. Anyway, you won't have to blog as often if someone else does it for you!
Congratulations to tow of my most inspiring bloggers! And a million thanks to Jan M Flynn for nominating me!!
