I don't cook or bake much. But sometimes I do. And when I do, prepare to salivate.

I don't cook or bake much. In fact, if I do, I surprise myself so much that I look at my hands in awe and say "wow, you're kidding, right? You're making this?" Yup.

But while I was in Australia I made a gingerbread house for the family Christmas dinner, and it was so much fun! In all fairness, my sister made the dough this time, but I've made it myself before so I know that I can do it. Yeah right, you say? Seriously! I can make this. Aw, why don't you believe me???

Want pics? You got it ...

the dough

rolling the dough

cutting out the templates

using the templates to cut the dough

windows ...

enough pieces for two houses

the attics

starting to build using icing as cement

getting there ... (that's my sister :-)

Tada!

Have you ever made a gingerbread house? How long did it take you? This baby took me around NINE hours. Yup. And it was worth it. But no one at dinner wanted to be the one to break it apart! Guess who did it? My uncle, Jim. The cop :-)

Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year! It's great to be back.

The Artist Unleashed: WHERE TO LINKIN PARK? by Angela Brown

The Artist Unleashed posts have moved to a new domain. Please click HERE to read the rest of this post and for the opportunity to comment. Just search for the title of the post in the search bar on the new site.

The Artist Unleashed: MAGGIE'S CHILD by Glynis Smy

Author of Ripper, My Love, Glynis Smy, is celebrating the launch of her second novel today. Maggie’s Child has been born into the world of ebook and paperback.

When farmer’s wife Maggie Sawbury gives birth to her fifth child, the only one that has lived and the result of an extra-marital affair, she is heartbroken and desperate. Maggie knows her joyless life with a bully of a husband is not one a child should endure, and she leaves the baby at the roadside to be found by passers-by.

Her money-driven husband announces he has found her another job in the village of Redgrave, aside from the many tasks she has on Windtop farm. He is totally unaware the position comes a secret. One that frightens and yet brings joy to Maggie. She is to become wet-nurse to her abandoned child.

Love and the possibility of incest threaten to open old wounds, and Maggie has several decisions to make. However, will they be the right ones? If she tells all she knows, it will bring about the destruction of three families. Equally, her silence could be just as destructive. She shares her secret with another, the result changes her life, and a death brings with it more secrets. Will Maggie stay or will she walk away and find the love she craves?

 The ebook will be available at a Christmas -- New Year price of 99c via Amazon, (and other Amazon outlets around the world).

Want to win a paperback copy?

If you can tell Glynis the name of the prostitute friend in her novel, Ripper, My Love, you will be put into a draw for a prize copy of Maggie’s Child in paperback format. The email address you need to send the answer to can be found in the sidebar of, NEW BOOK BLOGGER.

PURCHASE LINK

Glynis Smy, (nee Honeycombe), was born and raised in the coastal town of Dovercourt, near Harwich, in the county of Essex, England.

She married her school sweetheart, Peter, in 1979 and they produced three amazing children, Darren, Nicola, and Emma. The long hours of a nursing career, and running two pharmacies ended in 2005, when she and her husband moved from the UK to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Glynis spends her time writing historical novels, poetry and various other projects. When she is not tapping at the keyboard she makes greeting cards to sell for charity, or enjoys a spot of cross-stitch on the back porch. Failing that, she and friends sit chewing the fat over a glass of village wine.

To purchase Ripper, My Love in various formats: Books by Glynis Smy

Meet and Tweet with Glynis ... Ghunibee
Facebook Page: Glynis Smy
Author Blog: Glynis Smy

Thanks go out to Talli Roland, Len Lambert, Jen Moon and Dieter Moitzi for their support with this novel. Also to all those who are hosting the launch event.

The Artist Unleashed: BUY "CHASTE" AND HELP HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS by Angela Felsted

The Artist Unleashed posts have moved to a new domain. Please click HERE to read the rest of this post and for the opportunity to comment. Just search for the title of the post in the search bar on the new site.

Today is a VERY BIG day ...

A little over a year ago, Dawn Ius and I started Vine Leaves Literary Journal. Why? To give the vignette a piece of the limelight. We started it because, not only do we love to push literary boundaries, but as writers ourselves, we were sick of being rejected by literary magazines due to our work not conforming to preconceived structures. We are good writers. We know what we're doing, and if we want to defy structure it's not because we can't follow rules, it's because WE KNOW HOW TO BREAK THEM.

So why does the vignette push boundaries, you ask? Because a vignette isn't a story as such, it's a snapshot of written time. It differs from flash fiction or a short story in that its aim doesn’t lie within the traditional realms of structure or plot. Instead, the vignette focuses on one element, mood, character, setting or object. It's descriptive, excellent for character or theme exploration and wordplay. Through a vignette, you create an atmosphere.

In one year, we have read approximately 1000 submissions. (Yep, that's a lot.) And out of those 1000 submissions, we published around 160 online in our quarterly issues. And out of those 160 that were published online, we chose 'the best' pieces for our annual print anthology. In our very first anthology, The Best of Vine Leaves Literary Journal 2012, we showcase 108 different authors and artists.

This anthology launches today in partnership with eMergent Publishing. And Dawn and I couldn't be more proud and thrilled to have come so far. It is proof that you can do anything you put your mind to. If you really want something, just jump in the deep end and swim for your life.

But do you know what I'm proud of the most? That we have given a bunch of writers, photographers and artists the opportunity to get more recognition for their work. Work that may not have found a home simply because it did not fit in a box. This is the be all and end all.

Ultimately, Dawn and I don't do this for us. We do it for YOU. And this is the way it will always be.

Thank you to all who were involved in putting this anthology together, especially Jodi Cleghorn at eMergent Publishing, for agreeing to partner with us for our annual anthologies, and Nick Panagiotopoulos for his amazing design skills. We couldn't have done this without you.

If you would like to support the vignette, please help spread the word about this anthology today. Here are some quick ways you can help:

Share on Twitter:

@VineLeavesLJ Best of #Anthology, #NewRelease out today! Awesome vignettes, incredible talent. Great 4 #xmasstocking! http://bit.ly/VdvIKj

Share on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/473682022674900/

Tell me, what's one thing in your life that you have done for others, that you are super proud of?

The Artist Unleashed: THE EVOLUTION OF AN ALBUM, by Derek Flynn

The Artist Unleashed posts have moved to a new domain. Please click HERE to read the rest of this post and for the opportunity to comment. Just search for the title of the post in the search bar on the new site.

Aussie Craziness and Self-Editing Tips

Today, Leigh T. Moore is interviewing me on her blog. But it isn't any ordinary interview. Trust me, her questions are more entertaining than my answers! I hope you drop by!

I'm also over at Laura Howard's blog today talking about A QUICK & EASY STEP TO MAKING YOUR MANUSCRIPT SHINE. Hope to see you there too!

Have a great week everyone!