"Consider gain and loss, but never be greedy and everything will be all right." It's been an amazing journey self-publishing my Winston Wong cozy mystery. A truism of self-publishing is that e-books sell better than print copies. With that being said, let's delve into digital sales... KDP Select: Yes or No? Being a part of KDP Select means that you will sell your e-books only through them for a select period of time (90 days at a time, with an option for renewal after). The pros are: 1) … [Read more...]
Classes on How to Age
June 1, 2015 5 Comments
"At 20 years of age the will reigns, at 30 the wit, at 40 the judgments." Here a few major milestones of life: marriage, parenthood, empty nest, retirement. Early on, we get courses on these transitions. For example, in high school, we had a home ec class which taught us things like cooking, sewing, and balancing a checkbook. The teacher would even pair students to have them care for a "newborn" baby doll to hone their future parenting skills. (By the way, dolls are nothing like real … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Noodles in Egg Gravy
May 29, 2015 2 Comments
Noodles in egg gravy: a wet noodle dish The dish called wat dan hor can be literally translated as “smooth egg noodles.” What makes them go down so well? Gravy. A creamy egg (don’t overcook them!) mixture coats all the noodles. The noodles are also not the typical long strands, but the thick and flat kind used for ha cheong in dim sum establishments. With a vibrant green hue coming from the vegetables, this dish creates a pleasing display of color. Fun fact: Wat dan hor is quite popular … [Read more...]
A Dragon Boat Memory
May 25, 2015 Leave a Comment
"There is a prospect of a thrilling time ahead of you." Let me share a memory about dragon boats... I could hear my heart pounding as the race started—no, wait a minute, that was the drumming coming from the boats. Sleek dragon boats filled up the waterway. Their elongated bodies cut through the river, each movement forward a result of concentrated effort from the paddlers. The rhythmic rowing swept the winning boat into first place. Excited applause erupted all around me. People … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday First: Beignet
May 22, 2015 2 Comments
Ooh la la! I finally ate my first... Beignet: a French doughnut (French-American writer, Evelyne Holingue: This post is for you!) This deep-fried doughnut isn't like the typical American version. It's not spherical and doesn't have a hole in the middle. Instead, it's square-shaped and has a dusting of powdered sugar on top. People often eat it for breakfast, but I ate mine as a dessert. It's very sweet and hits the spot after a meal, especially when it's piping hot from the fryer! I've … [Read more...]
Getting the Word Out
May 18, 2015 4 Comments
"Someone is speaking well of you." It really does take a community to launch a book. Here are my partners in crime for my cozy mystery, Seniors Sleuth (which recently won Runner-Up at the 2015 Beach Book Festival): Team Jen. These devoted folks were beta readers and cover voters. A huge thanks to them for polishing my work, posting up reviews, and spreading the word! Also, special shout-outs go to Joy Weese Moll, Julia Tomiak, and Carol Early Cooney for blogging about my … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Bean Curd Skin
May 15, 2015 3 Comments
Bean curd skin: wrapper made from soybean After boiling soybean milk, you can lift the surface skin and turn it into a wrapper. These are also sold in dried sheets in Asian supermarkets. The store versions need to be reconstituted in water. Bean curd skin can be used to wrap up vegetarian goodies, like black mushrooms, carrots, and onions. The skin can also serve as a vegetarian meat substitute because of its chewy texture. Fun fact: Bean curd wrappers are gluten-free. … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Fan Tuan
May 8, 2015 2 Comments
Fan tuan: sticky rice roll It's a Chinese breakfast burrito! Glutinous rice is wrapped around different fillings. Common insides include you zha gui, shredded pork, and pickled vegetables. These rice rolls are great for breakfast on the go because they usually end up pre-wrapped from the preparation process (think: sushi). I love the way the gooeyness of the outside rice pairs with the crunch of vegetables and the Chinese doughnut. What a great way to start the day! Any breakfast treat … [Read more...]
My Writing Community is like a Japanese Puzzle Box
May 4, 2015 8 Comments
"You will discover an unexpected treasure." Japanese puzzle boxes are elegant wooden creations. They can be solved by a simple squeeze or through a dizzying array of pulls and pushes. The puzzle box originated in 19th century Japan and held a good luck charm on the inside (once you finally opened it). My online writing community, Wordsmith Studio, is like a puzzle box. Each pull and twist of a member's writing journey adds and enhances my own. For example: Twist one Khara House's … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday First: Loganberry Pie
April 10, 2015 6 Comments
Over the summer, I visited Whidbey Island near Seattle and tried out... Loganberry pie: a delicious pie filled with dark-colored berries I ate at Whidbey Pies & Cafe, which has a farm attached to it. Fresh organic produce is grown on the spot and served to customers (their quinoa salad is amazing). For dessert, I debated on getting the more literary huckleberry pie, but then opted for their specialty, loganberry pie. Here's a recipe for it from Bobby Flay. I loved the tart taste of … [Read more...]
