Ever just want a little romance…with your own spouse? A little alone time to remember you’re more than a parent, cook, carpooler, chef, and bringer home of “the bacon?” If any of that hits home, grab a copy of Madily in Love, the second book in author Lynda Lee Schab’s 3-book series about Madi Lee McCall, who just wants her kids to follow the rules, her mother-n-law to stop stealing, and her husband to sweep her off her feet. Is that too much to ask?

I’m proud to call Lynda my good friend and critique partner, and happy to have her visiting my blog today. She got her writing start in greeting cards and from there moved onto magazine articles and short stories. After winning several awards for her fiction manuscripts, Lynda signed her first fiction contract and the Madi series was born!

After meeting Lynda, leave a comment for a chance to win a Christmas ornament!

Writer’s often say they remember one particular piece of advice that helps them. What’s yours? That’s easy: Apply the Butt Glue and just write. In spite of my battle with discipline, that book won’t get written unless I park my behind in the chair and start typing. Even when I don’t feel like it. Even when I have a million other things to do. One of my favorite quotes on writing is “You can fix bad, but you can’t fix blank.”

Butt Glue—got it. Now that we know your secret, tell us what Madily in Love about. Madi McCall is just coming out of a marital rough patch (you’ll have to read Mind over Madi for that whole story) and she’s trying to get her marriage back on track. But that’s easier said than done, especially because her mother-in-law has moved in, Madi’s recently started working again after years of being a stay-at-home-mom, and her kids seem determined to do everything they can to turn her hair even grayer than it already is. Madi attends a “Revitalize Your Marriage with Romance” class at church and gets some great tips…that fail miserably. All she wants is some peace among the chaos. And some quality time with her husband would be nice, too.

Your publisher tagged this series as “Delightful. Witty. Entertaining. Real. Poignant. Light-hearted Women’s Fiction at its best.” Can you expand on that at all? How does the Madi Series live up to this description? While I certainly hope my stories are delightful, witty, entertaining, and poignant, the word in that description which I feel is most fitting of this series is, “real.” Women can relate to Madi because she battles with the same things we all do. No, not just chocolate, although that’s one of them! Madi has insecurities that affect her relationships – with her husband, her kids, her mother, her best friend, and God. If there’s one thing I know is that we all have “stuff.” Maybe not exactly the same stuff as everyone else, but “stuff,” nonetheless. Madi helps us realize there are others out there who probably deal with their issues just as poorly as we do sometimes. But God’s grace is enough to cover our insecurities, our faults, and weaknesses, even when we mess up and our lives feel insanely out-of-control.

What do you want readers to take away from reading Madily in Love? Although this book has to do with the importance (and fun) of adding romance to marriage, the main thing I hope readers can take away is that even though life seems unmanageable, disorderly, and chaotic, God is always in control. One of the recurring phrases throughout the book—as mentioned by Madi’s counselor—is “Embrace this place.” In other words, no matter what you’re going through, recognize that it won’t last forever. And down the road, you might just look back and see just how that “unbearable” season was essential in moving you to a place of growth and necessary change.

 

So what’s next for Madi Lee McCall? I am currently working on the 3^rd and final book in the Madi series, due out in the fall of 2013. It’s titled Sylvie & Gold. Madi’s best friend Sylvie is preparing for her wedding (and if you’ve read Mind over Madi, you know who she’s marrying). With just a few weeks before the wedding, Sylvie is dealing with a lot: Her meddling and feisty soon-to-be mother-in-law, her son’s sexting issue, planning her mom’s sixtieth birthday party, and her fiance’s ex-wife, who has come back to town after a seven-year absence. Sylvie is normally pretty calm and collected. But her stress card is quickly getting maxed out. The question is whether she’ll completely lose her cool or find the happily-ever-after she longs for.

Since Taste the World readers are interested in travel, please tell us MIL is set and why you choose that location. The Madi series is set in South Haven, Michigan. I chose that location not only because it's a beachtown, set on the shore of Lake Michigan, but because the winters tend to be extreme, as well. In Mind over Madi, the heavy snow plays a big part of the storyline. Madily in Love is set in the summer, during a heatwave. The best of both worlds.

What are some of your favorite spots in Michigan? Despite Michigan's economic challenges, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Every season is beautiful and vivid. Traverse City is my favorite place to visit in the fall, when the changing leaves are at their peak. Mackinaw Island is wonderful in the summer, Holland is fun to visit in the spring, especially during Tulip Time, when the city is blooming with thousands of tulips. Being surrounded by water, there are plenty of beaches to choose from. And nothing quite tops a Lake Michigan sunset.

Do you have a recipe to share--something from the book, or just a family favorite? Well, Madi is not much of a cook. Takeout is her meal of choice, whether pizza or Chinese. But she does make a mean Mostaccioli, which you posted on your blog last year. This time, because of Madi's chocolate addiction, and because Christmas is right around the corner, I'll share a recipe that’s quick, easy and delicious. My family and friends beg for these every year. And because they're so easy to make -- and so good! -- I have no problem complying.

White Chocolate Clusters

(a.k.a. "Albino Reindeer Droppings")

Melt in microwave:
1 package White Chocolate CandyQuik
2 T. peanut butter

Stir in:
1 C. Rice Krispies
1 C. mini marshmallows
1 C. (or 6 oz) redskin or salted peanuts

Drop by teaspoonful on wax paper. Refrigerate until firm.

Falling in Love

How did you meet your spouse? The answer to that question is often stranger than fiction! Check out Falling in Love with You, a love story anthology compiled by Jennifer Wessner and Ramona Tucker, and read the story of how I met my husband. You'll also find many other crazy tales of how marriages came to be...sometimes against all odds. Here's the opening line to mine:

A cop once told me to listen to your instincts. The prickle crawling up your spine is sending you a message, and you better listen. As I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex, the prickle was shouting loud and clear. Danger. Evil. Drive away. But when I looked at the stranger walking aimlessly around the lot at 10:30 on an autumn night, I ignored the warning.

Don't worry -- the creep in the parking lot did not go on to become my husband. The guy who got my hand and heart comes along later in the story.

If Falling in Love with You sounds like a book worth reading, you can get it from amazon.com, oaktara.com, barnesandnoble.com, and many other booksellers. It was just released a couple of weeks ago by Christian publisher OakTara.

Since this blog is mostly dedicated to travel and recipes, I'll tell you that my story is set in a suburb of Chicago. Here in Illinois, we're famous for our corn, so I'm sharing one of my family's favorite recipes: corn casserole. You may have seen this before, but we add a secret ingredient to sweeten things up a bit.

Corn Casserole

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 can whole kernel corn (16 oz.)
1 can creamed corn (16 oz.)
1 pkg. corn muffin mix (I use Jiffy, 8.5 oz.)
2 Tbs. sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix butter, sour cream, sugar and egg. Stir in both corns. Blend in dry muffin mix. Pour batter into a well-greased casserole dish (I use a shallow one). Bake for 1 hour until puffed up and golden brown so it's crispy on top. Don't underbake. This is meant to be soft and very moist inside. Great side dish!

BOOK CONTRACT!

It finally happened! When I returned Sept. 23^rd from the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference in Dallas, I had a BOOK CONTRACT waiting in my email for Show Me a Sign, my young adult novel! Woo-hoo! For years I have ached for this moment, and you know what? It was just as good as I imagined! Now I can’t wait to hold that book in my hands…but wait I must. There is more work to be done…once I stop dancing.

 

Many thanks to Ramona Tucker of Oak Tara for taking my story and making a dream come true. I met Ramona last February at an ACFW chapter meeting, where she was the guest speaker. I seized the day by talking with her before and after the meeting, and she asked me to send her my manuscript.

Many thanks also to Patti Lacy, who entered my life as a friend and became a mentor and inspiration. And to Lynda Schab, who began as a critique partner and became a friend. To my family, who believed in me even when I didn’t, and mostly…

To my Savior, who loves me…despite everything.

THE BOOK: In Show Me a Sign, seventeen-year-old Nathan Boliva is under investigation by the FBI for a kidnapping he didn’t commit, but is desperate to solve. The victim, deaf and beautiful Haylie Summers, had just agreed to go on a date with him days before her disappearance. When the FBI finds evidence in Nathan’s backpack, they consider him a prime suspect. Determined to rescue Haylie, Nathan follows clues that soon have him staring down the barrel of the kidnapper’s gun. Plenty of drama mixed with bits of humor fill this action-packed story, which is told from Nathan’s and Haylie’s points of view.

I don’t have a release date yet, though I believe it will be sometime next year. I’ll keep you all posted. In the meantime, this announcement serves as the restart of my blog, which took a summer hiatus.

Now, for some unfinished business...

Congratulations to Karen Robbins who won The Four Ingredient Cookbook by commenting on my last post.

Nashville, Baby!

This post marks my return to blogging, after a long hiatus spent writing, working, giving travel presentations and doing the soccer mom thing. On Memorial Day, I traveled with my husband and daughter to Nashville to visit our new grandson, little Jackson. Naturally he is beautiful and sweet…and I’m pretty sure he’s a genius. Here’s a photo of him with his mommy and daddy (my stepdaughter Dani and her husband, Cameron).

Despite the 95 degree temps, we enjoyed a few sights in and around “Music City.” Here’s a few you should check out if you go.

The Opryland Hotel: So much more than a hotel, this one has rooms built around an indoor jungle the size of a football field. You don’t have to stay overnight to enjoy the beauty, but be aware, parking is about $15 per car. Once inside, you’ll find pathways that wind through waterfalls and exotic flora and fauna, including gorgeous orchids hanging from trees. When you get tired of walking, stop for some gelato and rest on a bench beside a bubbling brook, or take a quiet boat ride along the indoor river. Plenty of shops and cafes, and restaurants complete the package.

Downtown Nashville: Now this you gotta see! Several blocks of bars, shops and restaurants, but all of it done up in that unique Nashville style. Live country music pours from the doorways of each bar, and fun sculptures and statues provide plenty of touristy photo opportunities. As for me…I met Elvis! I knew those rumors of his death weren’t true. See photo for proof.

Pancake Pantry: I’d read on the Internet that it was one of the best eateries in Nashville, if you’re willing to wait in line. Waiting isn’t my thing, but it didn’t take more than 15 minutes before we were seated with a menu boasting 23 varieties of pancakes, among other things. And yes, it lived up to its reputation. I thoroughly enjoyed the Pecan Pancakes, which came with maple-pecan syrup, while my daughter loved her Apricot-Lemon Delight.

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Palaces of Ice

Heading north in winter is not something I’d normally recommend, but the islands off the coast of Bayfield, Wisconsin offer breathtaking beauty worth the wearing of a few extra layers. If you're very, very lucky, you might experience the ultimate beauty: the Northern Lights (at left).

The Apostle Islands are a cluster of islands reachable by ferryboat most of the year, until the bay between Bayfield and Madeline Island becomes frozen. At that point, island bound visitors can actually drive across the bay via the ice road. While this in itself is a fun and unique experience, it doesn’t compare to the splendor of the island’s ice caves.

Imagine walking or snowshoeing across the ice and into a one of these incredible ice
palaces! Keep in mind that visiting the ice caves requires a 2-mile hike (round trip) and it’s important to call the Ice Line at (715) 779-3397 - extension 3 for the most current ice conditions. For more information, check out this website: http://www.nps.gov/apis/mainland-caves-winter.htm.

Winter spelunking is not the only outdoorsy thing to do on these frosty islands. Try cross country skiing, ice fishing, and winter camping (brrr…no thanks). Or for something really different: dog sledding. You can go for the annual dog sled race in February to watch the fun, or, for a fee,
actually ride a dog sled!

Thanks for stopping by. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT for a chance to win a copy of Lynda Lee Schab’s Mind Over Madi, a delightful book about a woman trying to reconnect with her
husband, her faith, and her kids while trying to ignore the Edy’s Dibbs calling to her from the freezer.