Kahula Hot Chocolate

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of nutmeg

1 ounce Kahlúa coffee liqueur

Mini marshmallows, for serving

Salted caramel, for serving

Chocolate syrup, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium saucepan, combine milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon and nutmeg over medium heat until heated through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Kahlúa.

Serve immediately, garnished with mini marshmallows, salted caramel and chocolate syrup, if desired.

This receipe from Eat More Chocolate.

Bring on the holidays...and a cozy, upbeat romance read

 

Bring on the holidays...and a cozy, upbeat romance read. 💋💕

Hit here to read my November newsletter.

The meet cute from Not Home for the Holidays

an upbeat, cozy, holiday romance:

The elevator is straight ahead, flanked by a row of gray and white marble columns. Garlands and potted poinsettias are everywhere. The greens are wrapped around the columns, the pots are beside the elevator doors and placed in exact locations along the walls. Classical music drifts through the air. The soles of my boots hit the tile floor with a smart smack and the echo of my walk follows me as I move closer to the elevator then stop. I push the up button. As I wait, I recognize the song. It’s Deck the Halls, but its barely recognizable in the very formal classical version.

Lights above blink and seconds later, the doors separate, revealing a man, standing squarely in the center of the car. He’s wearing a navy-blue suit, white and blue striped shirt, and coordinating blue tie. That may sound basic, but this guy is anything but average. Everything about him says attention to detail and tailor made. Even his face, with his deep brown eyes and perfectly positioned brown hair, looks custom made. Bespoke and perfect. When our gazes connect, I get the sensation that he’s looking at me. Not a glance. He’s really, really looking at me. A little something in me jumps. Well, maybe not so little. Something simmers through me, making me warm all over. Inside and out. I stand there too long, him looking at me and me staring back at him.

Me smoldering the whole time.

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Scene Structure 101: The Chart

SCENE STRUCTURE BASICS

Typical scene structure:

X wants [scene goal] _______because [motivation] ________ but [conflict] ________.

The end result of scene:

1.      scene goal is not achieved and situation is worse.

2.      scene goal is achieved but new goal is necessary/new problem created.

Want to mix it up? Complicate things?

SCENE STRUCTURE VARIATIONS

X wants [scene goal] _______because [motivation] ________ but [conflict] ________.

Y wants [scene goal] _______because [motivation] ________ but [conflict] ________.

and

X wants/avoids {internal conflict}_________ from Y because ____________ but __________.

Y wants/avoids {internal conflict}_________  from X because ____________ but __________.

^^^ This is the necessary push pull for an effective scene. Use the character’s motivation against her/him. Character must be motivated to move forward.

·         Character perceives no risk but finds one during/after events.

·         Character believes she/he ‘has control’ but discovers not true during or after.

·         Character plans to get the better of other but other turns tables (intentionally or not).

add

Setting and context. How does enveloping action contribute?

^^^ This intensifies conflict and adds dimension and depth the story.

consider

X taking ____________ from Y will cause X to _____________.

Y taking __________ from X will cause Y to _______________.

^^^ This is what happened after. The consequence, the new conflict.

Zombies, fishnets, and a Halloween cocktail

Zombies, fishnets, and a Halloween cocktail

Hit here for the October Newsletter 

Excerpt from Servant of the Undead, erotic horror

Mattie pressed her cold, damp body against Hayden, shoved him to the wall. Behind her, he saw their reflection in the mirror above the sink. Ice and snow clung to her tangled hair, dripping onto the solid curves of her back and shoulders. Between the strips of cloth binding her breasts, he spotted a wide column of black ink staring at the base of her spine and ending about halfway up her back.

 “Well done, researcher.” She grabbed his cock and curved her fingers around his hardening shaft. “You impress me.”

There were no human words for what he was feeling. He grunted in response, but his body betrayed him, and he found himself leaning toward her, seeking her strength and giving in to the power she had over him.

Hayden shook his head, even though his dick was growing still larger in her palm. “No,” he said. “I’ve had enough.”

“You’ve had enough when I say you’ve had enough.” She let go of his shaft and reached around to grab his ass. “Maybe if I join you and your girlfriend in bed, you’ll feel differently.” She caressed his flesh, sliding her hand between his ass cheeks. “I’d be happy to—”

“Take control. I know.” He tried to push her back but she used her strength to hold him.

“That’s right.” She nudged his chin with her nose. “You’re beginning to understand how our relationship works.”

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Hello October