Today I’m welcoming author and literary agent Linda Glaz, whose Kindle edition of Polar Bear Plunge is available starting today from White Rose Publishing. Linda’s fascinating background could be a novel in itself! She is an Air Force veteran, soccer nut, karate instructor and theatre buff, in addition to being an agent with Hartline Literary. Read on to learn a little bit more about Linda and her novel, and as always, LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF POLAR BEAR PLUNGE.Congratulations to Lynda Schab, who won a copy of Thyme for Love by leaving a comment on the previous post.
Synopsis of Polar Bear Plunge:Brice Taylor might not be on Aleni Callan's Christmas list, but she finds him under her tree anyway.
Nurse Aleni Callan's anger toward God is fueled when Brice Taylor enters her life. Not only does Brice have no regard for his own life—as evidenced by the concussion and hypothermia he suffers after participating in the Polar Bear Plunge—he escaped the war in Afghanistan and lived to tell his story in a bestselling book, while her precious husband was killed.
But little does Aleni know that God’s will can be orchestrated in all kinds of ways…sometimes through a meddling but loveable mother-in-law who conspires with Brice and Aleni’s son, Tyler, to force her from a lonely, bitter life.
Q. Linda, what inspired you to write this story?
A. I have to laugh, because this was a love offering. My oldest daughter, who is a nurse, always wanted me to write about an nurse named Aleni. When White Rose sent out the word that they wanted Christmas novellas, the story just fell into place (with a nurse named Aleni)!
Q. Did you have any particular challenges along the way?
A. Honestly, this was the easiest book to write of any I’ve done. And with the wonderful crit partners I have, that made it even easier.
Q. What message do you hope will resonate in reader’s hearts after reading it?
A. That life does go on if we give it a chance. No matter HOW difficult the future looks.
Q. Will we be seeing these characters in future books?
A. I’m hoping to do a Valentine’s Day or another holiday themed book with some of the characters here.
Q. Where can readers purchase Polar Bear Plunge?
A. White Rose Publishing and Amazon. And during the month of the December, it’s only one dollar.
Q. Tell us about the apple pie recipe that follows.
A. We just had it again for Thanksgiving and it was yummy! I always eat too much of it. My mom always taught me that good apple pie has different kinds of apples and that gives it the tart/sweet combination that makes the pie taste so good.
REALLY SCRUMPTIOUS APPLE PIE
Crust:
2 cups flour
3/4 cup Swiftning (this includes animal fat, but you can substitute 2 Tbs. of
butter for 2 Tbs. of the vegetable shortening instead.)
2 Tbs. sugar
Approx. 1/4 cup ice cold water (you might need a bit more)
Cut flour and fat with two knives until coarse. Add water, a couple teaspoons at a time, until the dough pulls away from the edges. Roll into a ball. Allow to sit for a few minutes.
Roll into very thin crust and line a pie plate. Reserve the rest for the top.
Filling:
Good apple pie needs different varieties of apples for full flavor.
8-10 medium-sized apples of different varieties. Try:
Macintosh, Spies, Empire, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Jonathans, and Ida Reds.
These are all good for pie, use at least 3 kinds.
Slice very thin and mix with:
1-1/2 cups white sugar (depending on how sweet you like it. I like 1 ½)
1 scant tsp. of cinnamon—no nutmeg!!!
3 rounded Tbs. flour
In the bottom of the pie pan, sprinkle a couple tablespoons of the sugar over the bottom crust. This helps keep the bottom crust from getting soggy. Pour in the apples until they form a mound in the middle. You should have a 2-3” peak of apples when you are done. Dot with 2 tablespoons butter in pieces. Roll and place top crust. Pinch edges or add a decorative edge if you like. Cut lots of slits in the crust and bake 15 min. at 425 degrees on a lower rack. Then switch to 375 degrees for 35-40 min. Will be golden brown. You can spray water over and sprinkle lightly with sugar the last 15 minutes if you want a glaze. Allow to cool to lukewarm before serving.
Optional: You can also spoon some slightly diluted caramel (I use Kraft caramels melted with
a bit of milk) over the top about 10 min. before it's done and then sprinkle with all kinds of
chopped nuts. Finish baking. That is to die for!
Nurse Aleni Callan's anger toward God is fueled when Brice Taylor enters her life. Not only does Brice have no regard for his own life—as evidenced by the concussion and hypothermia he suffers after participating in the Polar Bear Plunge—he escaped the war in Afghanistan and lived to tell his story in a bestselling book, while her precious husband was killed.
But little does Aleni know that God’s will can be orchestrated in all kinds of ways…sometimes through a meddling but loveable mother-in-law who conspires with Brice and Aleni’s son, Tyler, to force her from a lonely, bitter life.
Q. Linda, what inspired you to write this story?
A. I have to laugh, because this was a love offering. My oldest daughter, who is a nurse, always wanted me to write about an nurse named Aleni. When White Rose sent out the word that they wanted Christmas novellas, the story just fell into place (with a nurse named Aleni)!
Q. Did you have any particular challenges along the way?
A. Honestly, this was the easiest book to write of any I’ve done. And with the wonderful crit partners I have, that made it even easier.
Q. What message do you hope will resonate in reader’s hearts after reading it?
A. That life does go on if we give it a chance. No matter HOW difficult the future looks.
Q. Will we be seeing these characters in future books?
A. I’m hoping to do a Valentine’s Day or another holiday themed book with some of the characters here.
Q. Where can readers purchase Polar Bear Plunge?
A. White Rose Publishing and Amazon. And during the month of the December, it’s only one dollar.
Q. Tell us about the apple pie recipe that follows.
A. We just had it again for Thanksgiving and it was yummy! I always eat too much of it. My mom always taught me that good apple pie has different kinds of apples and that gives it the tart/sweet combination that makes the pie taste so good.
REALLY SCRUMPTIOUS APPLE PIE
Crust:
2 cups flour
3/4 cup Swiftning (this includes animal fat, but you can substitute 2 Tbs. of
butter for 2 Tbs. of the vegetable shortening instead.)
2 Tbs. sugar
Approx. 1/4 cup ice cold water (you might need a bit more)
Cut flour and fat with two knives until coarse. Add water, a couple teaspoons at a time, until the dough pulls away from the edges. Roll into a ball. Allow to sit for a few minutes.
Roll into very thin crust and line a pie plate. Reserve the rest for the top.
Filling:
Good apple pie needs different varieties of apples for full flavor.
8-10 medium-sized apples of different varieties. Try:
Macintosh, Spies, Empire, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Jonathans, and Ida Reds.
These are all good for pie, use at least 3 kinds.
Slice very thin and mix with:
1-1/2 cups white sugar (depending on how sweet you like it. I like 1 ½)
1 scant tsp. of cinnamon—no nutmeg!!!
3 rounded Tbs. flour
In the bottom of the pie pan, sprinkle a couple tablespoons of the sugar over the bottom crust. This helps keep the bottom crust from getting soggy. Pour in the apples until they form a mound in the middle. You should have a 2-3” peak of apples when you are done. Dot with 2 tablespoons butter in pieces. Roll and place top crust. Pinch edges or add a decorative edge if you like. Cut lots of slits in the crust and bake 15 min. at 425 degrees on a lower rack. Then switch to 375 degrees for 35-40 min. Will be golden brown. You can spray water over and sprinkle lightly with sugar the last 15 minutes if you want a glaze. Allow to cool to lukewarm before serving.
Optional: You can also spoon some slightly diluted caramel (I use Kraft caramels melted with
a bit of milk) over the top about 10 min. before it's done and then sprinkle with all kinds of
chopped nuts. Finish baking. That is to die for!
Your apple pie recipe sounds delicioso, Linda! I'm going to try it sometime. Some of those apples I've never even heard of! Maybe we don't grow them out here on the west coast??!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your book, Linda! It's such a great story--and who doesn't like a little romance at Christmas?? :-)
You don't need to have a certain variety, just make sure you have lots of diff kinds. That's what gives it the flavor...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book. I like books where the characters find love when they aren't expecting it. The pie recipe sound delicious I can't wait to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteLeave it to the mother-in-laws to get the job done :) Can't wait to try out the pie recipe! We have a granny smith tree in the back yard. I am always looking for new dishes to try them out in.
ReplyDelete