I Went to a Garden Party ....

Author, Mary Hukill, would like to invite you to a garden party.....
Years ago, now deceased musician & 1950's teen heartthrob, Ricky Nelson, sang about a "garden party" at Madison Square Garden, while Evansville, Indiana author Mary Hukill, encourages everyone to get involved with growing gardens for our community.
I knew I was going to like Mary when she told me she "looks good on radio." The enthusiastic, energetic gardener also commented on gardening with "Sometimes I am good at it, and then, well, sometimes I'm not. Just reload."

Just reload..... THAT is some handy advice.
Recently I participated in a local author event at a library in Evansville & I had the privilege to hear Mary speak about her newest book Community Garden Revolution. The statistics about hunger in our country are frighteningly real. Mary's impressive attitude & drive to address this problem with the simple act of gardening is very admirable.
Like Mary, I sometimes am good at gardening & then sometimes the crop just doesn't work out. But being one with the Earth is also satisfying.
Then there's the reward of the actual crop. In Mary's book she sets out information about organizing community gardens which will contribute to local food banks. She received support from celebrities all over the country, including Bette Midler & musician, 50 Cent.  That's pretty impressive.

Tune in to hear Mary on my radio show TOMORROW, April 24, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. CST. We also invite you to call in with your questions! Listen live at this link OR you can listen to the recorded, archived show anytime after 1:30 tomorrow:


http://www.blogtalkradio.com/recipe-records-cookbook/2014/04/24/growing-gardens-for-our-communities


Find Mary Hukill's books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Community-Garden-Revolution-Mary-Hukill-ebook/dp/B00IC6H0BG



My Music Nugget of the Day:

Ricky Nelson's "Garden Party" has always been one of my favorite tunes. There's been a lot of things written about why he penned the song, but this youtube video did a nice job of telling the story (note: the song is covered by another band)
Oh & perhaps you'd like to try my recipe for "Garden Veggie Party" in Recipe Records cookbook - All books are HALF PRICE right now at my website!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLm9KX-LvMM




Peace with the Earth,

Lanea Stagg
Recipe Records Cookbooks
lanea@reciperecordscookbook.com
www.reciperecordscookbook.com
blog:  www.rockblocks3.blogspot.com
radio:  www.blogtalkradio.com  Recipe Records

But I need a break and I want to be a paperback writer....(Lennon/McCartney)

Recently a friend that I've had since grade school nominated me for a special "meme," where I share insider information about my writing work. Katy Wolfe Brandes ~
http://katybrandes.wordpress.com/
 is an outstanding author/mother/friend & I'm honored that she gave me this opportunity. Please check out her wordpress page & sign up to follow her blog. She writes very creative short stories & posts them on her blog each week. Her dedication to writing is very admirable. Katy is very busy working as a college recruiter in Missouri & being a mom, yet she still produces amazing work every week. You can also get a couple of her novellas at Amazon.
  

1. What am I working on?

Authors always have a book they are writing. I am always collecting data, smothering it with descriptive words & then almost always losing my piece of genius in a sloppy pile of paper scraps. You'll see my colorful scribbling written on fast food paper bags, baby wipe containers & bank deposit slips (may as well get some use out of those;) I think this is an illness similar to hoarding.  In order to support my books, I write a blog each week & try to produce a radio show frequently. I also contribute to a local entertainment magazine, when my schedule allows. Unfortunately, my current schedule is stuffed with work (the day job that most authors still have to have,) kids & other obligations, so I'm not afforded much writing time. I wrote a childrens book last fall about how a little dog helped a grieving woman pick herself up. The art for the book is being completed & then it will go to press. The next edition of Recipe Records Cookbooks is Recipe Records-the 70's Edition and I'd hope to get it to press by late year. Working on the clever cookbooks is great fun for me. There are a couple other book projects I am "cooking" up, another Beatles "paperback," & a spicy fiction novel that I'm having fun with. So stay tuned.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

When Recipe Records was created, we knew that people love cookbooks, but they also enjoy stories & themes to go along with them. Our passion for music was a very natural thing to inject into our book of recipes. While the cookbook aspect of my books do not differ from that genre, the musical theme certainly does. The cookbooks appeal to music lovers as much or more than to cooks, which makes them a cool gift for many types of people.

3. Why do I write what I do?

The Recipe Records books were prompted when my bestie, Maggie, & I were trying to find ways to support our somewhat expensive music/concert/show habit. Once we dug deep into the book, we realized our passion for writing & sharing our stories & music knowledge. The pieces I publish on my blog are mainly created to illuminate other literary & musical talent. I think there is a niche of talented artists who need every opportunity they can find to get the word out about their art. I believe in sharing & when I hear from people who enjoy the pieces, it only encourages me to continue. There are random pieces I write about music & it's usually because I woke up with the off-beat idea.

4. How does your writing process work?

As I mentioned, my time is very limited these days, so I would not call anything I do "a process."  It's more random. A lot of times I get writing ideas early in the morning & if I quickly go to the computer & jot the ideas down, it will develop into something concrete. When I am in "cookbook" mode, I generally come home from work, feed the people & go to my computer for several hours. It is critical that I play music & surround myself with cooking/food publications which spur my creativity. I do a lot of book reading/research, also online to gain inspiration.

Tag You’re It!

I am nominating the following outstanding authors to share their answers to these four questions! Stayed tuned for their responses!

Jude Southerland Kessler - Author of 9-part series: "The John Lennon Series" www.johnlennonseries.com  ~  Jude is the hardest working author I've ever met. I'm pretty sure she never sleeps (she IS from Louisiana....and there's lots of vampires there...) She is the definition of accuracy in reporting the facts about John Lennon. Her support for fellow authors is pure & gracious which is because she's a true Southern Belle.


Jennifer Vanderslice -- Author of Journey Along the Abbey Road, is the owner of a publicity company where she works tirelessly for her clients. Her first book was published last summer on Amazon. She is currently poring through research for her Jim Croce biography.  www.moonglowpr.com


Rick Reed - Author of the Jack Murphy crime detective novel series:  The Cruelest Cut, The Coldest Fear, and Final Justice; also penning Blood Trail, a true crime novel about a serial killer that Reed was instrumental in putting behind bars (during his detective days.)  www.rickreedbooks.com




Peace, Love & Reading,

Lanea Stagg
www.reciperecordscookbook.com
email:  lanea@reciperecordscookbook.com
Facebook: Send Friend Request:   RecipeRecords Cookbook
Twitter:   @Recipe Records
Blog:  www.rockblocks3.blogspot.com
Radio Show:  www.blogtalkradio.com   Recipe Records

A Reading Rainbow

Last week my 7 year-old niece told me she wanted to be a librarian when she grew up. My heart swelled with pride for this incredibly smart beauty, and then I wondered about the future of libraries. Will there be any libraries left for her to govern?
At nearly every speaking gig I lecture about the importance of books. Electronic devices are great for containing reading materials, but guess what? Sometimes electronic devices don't operate properly (trust me) & you can't read your e-book while soaking up the sun on vacation. Or you may have to consult a REAL, paper map, you know those archaic lines printed on ancient tablet. There is something charming about having a book to actually hold in your hands so you can flip through & compare items, or look at the pictures at an easy glance. Or proudly display your coffee table books full of knowledge & images in full color.
Or....pat the bunny.....
I hope our society doesn't lose track of the value of books.

This Sunday, Evansville's Central Library kicks off National Library Week with a local author event.  I am very excited to be one of the authors at the event who will be speaking about their book(s), chatting with guests and also selling copies to the public - with portions of book proceeds going to the library.  ($5 from ea set of Recipe Records will be contributed to the library)


Please share this event with all of your friends & I hope to see you there!

Sunday, April 13, 2014
1:30pm - 4:00pm
Central Library - Browning Event Rooms A and B
National Library Week kickoff
Here is the line-up as I received from the Library:

Mary Hukill Community Garden Revolution

Jackie Egan (pen name Jackie Coleman) A Summer in Ocracokeand Boomerang

Lanea Stagg Recipe Records, Recipe Records: The 60’s Edition and Recipe Records: A Culinary Tribute to the Beatles

Sandy Morris (pen name Sandy Andrews) Best Friends series

Terry Seaton Across the Channel

David Hayden Muhammad and the Birth of Islamic Supremacism: The War with the Jews, 622-628 A.D.

Robert R. Railey Detective Morris, Homicide andDerek Christian, Antichrist

More Info:  Contact Lesa Holstine, 428-8200 ext. 1461


My Music Nugget of the Day:

Late Night's Jimmy Fallon does a screamin' good impression of Jim Morrison in this video clip of "Reading Rainbow" by The Doors...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noseMJc2Pm0

Order Your Books Today!

www.reciperecordscookbook.com

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THIS SATURDAY NIGHT - MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, EVANSVILLE, INDIANA --- Don't miss this AWESOME fundraiser for the MHS School Band
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the night of music begins at 7 p.m.!
Free Will Donation at the door
Please support your local high school bands Folks....I remember wearing those stinky wool uniforms in August & can't imagine how many years of use they endured....please help those kids that just wanna play music....
Check out The Unusual Suspects & their performance video on their Facebook page, The Unusual Suspects

 

PEACE, LOVE & ROCK & ROLL,

Lanea Stagg
Recipe Records Cookbooks
www.reciperecordscookbook.com
blog:  www.rockblocks3.blogspot.com
radio show:  www.blogtalkradio.com /  Recipe Records
Facebook: Send Friend Request:  RecipeRecords Cookbook
Twitter:   @Recipe Records