The Hook

 

One of the things writers are taught is that it's essential to catch a reader's interest very quickly. 

In the "old days," we were told that if you didn't do that within the first three pages, a reader wouldn't continue. Now that we're in what I call the "Twitter Era," I believe an author has no more than a page to pique a reader's interest. That's why first lines are so important. 

I have two questions for you. 

1. How quickly do you decide whether or not to continue reading a book? Do you give an author more than a page? (Yes, I know those are two questions, but they're related.)

2. Were you hooked by the first line of The Spark of Love that you see in the meme?

Please let me know. Your answers are important!

Prize-Winning Cinnamon Rolls

 

If you've read The Spark of Love, you know that the heroine enjoys and even attempts to make cinnamon rolls. 

Since the recipe for Evelyn's oatmeal pecan pie from Out of the Embers was such a hit with readers, I'd been thinking about sharing a cinnamon roll recipe with you. The problem was, I didn't have a special one. Then, almost as if she'd read my mind, a friend sent me her recipe, telling me the rolls were a favorite with everyone who'd tasted them and that the recipe had won the blue ribbon at her county fair. 

To my delight, when I asked her, Kathy graciously agreed that I could share her recipe with you. 

I hope you enjoy the rolls as much as Kathy and her friends have!

Kathy Flinchum’s Blue Ribbon Cinnamon Rolls

 

2 1/2 cups warm water

2 packets quick rise yeast

1 box yellow or white cake mix

1 cup all purpose flour

2 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1 teaspoon salt

5 1/2 cups all purpose flour

soft butter

1 cup sugar

2 tbsp cinnamon

raisins (optional)

 

Mix sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

 

Using large bowl of electric mixer, dissolve yeast in warm water for 3 minutes.

Add cake mix, 1 cup flour, eggs, oil and salt.

Beat with mixer until bubbles appear.

Slowly add in 5 1/2 cups flour.

Stir with a spoon making a soft dough. (Kathy uses the dough hook on her stand mixer.)

Knead on floured board for about 5 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled (approximately an hour).

Divide dough into 4 pieces.

Roll each section out on a floured pastry cloth into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.

Spread with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Add raisins if using.

Roll up as a jelly roll, starting with the long edge.

Cut into pieces between ½ and ¾ inches thick.

Place each roll on a greased pan.

Cover and allow to rise until double (approximately half an hour).

Bake in a 350° F oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until done.

Ice with a powdered sugar icing while hot.

Enjoy!

 

Kathy’s Note: If you prefer, you can substitute cinnamon flavored applesauce for the butter and cinnamon sugar.

 

Amanda’s Note: I plan to use the dough setting on my breadmaker to simplify the process.

 

Cover Reveal

 It's cover reveal time! For me, this is one of the most exciting parts of the book publishing process, second only to the actual release date. I love being able to share the cover with you because, even though we're told we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, we do.

So, without further ado, here it is.

What do you think? I'm delighted with it and am thrilled with the picture of the spring at the bottom, because it looks almost identical to the photo of a Hill Country spring that helped inspire the whole town of Mesquite Springs.

Now that you know the title and the cover, perhaps you're wondering what the story's about. Here's the official description.

When a spurned suitor threatens her, heiress Alexandra Tarkington flees New York for Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country, where her father is building a hotel. But the happy reunion she envisions is not to be as her father insists she return to New York. Instead, Alexandra attempts to carve out a niche for herself in town, teaching schoolchildren to paint and enjoying the company of Gabe Seymour, a delightful man she met on the stagecoach.

But all is not as it seems. Two men, each with his own agenda, have followed her to Mesquite Springs. And Gabe is an investigator, searching for proof that her father is a swindler. When a series of apparent accidents threaten her life, Alexandra and Gabe will have to work together to discover the truth. And perhaps along the way they will discover that the sparks of attraction they’ve felt from the beginning are more than sparks—they’re love.

Bestselling author Amanda Cabot invites you back to 1850s Texas for this exciting and heartwarming tale of treachery, love, and learning to trust.

Are you intrigued? I hope so.