Happy Birthday John, RIP

I used to watch this show while I was babysitting. I'd watch the opening montage and dream about living in the city (Chicago for me) when I was older.

I still watch SNL but these old skits have a special place in my heart. Happy Birthday John. RIP.

SNL John Belushi


ps. Yahoo was not letting me embed in the post. Not sure why!!

More about Riley Stone

This is a section from a post over at my group blog, www.pensfatales.com but I thought it was relevant enough to post here on my own blog.

A little bit more about Riley Stone the hero of Heart of Stone.

This story is near and dear to my heart because Riley suffers from dyslexia. I have loved to read since I was a wee one. Dyslexia runs in my family. My sister has it and my oldest son has it. I can't imagine having to slog through switched and backwards letters (a simplification really) to get to a story. And plenty of dyslexic people never get to appreciate the power of story because it's just too difficult. In my family, everyone reads so we just kept looking for books that would appeal to my son until he found a story so compelling that he wouldn't give up just because it was hard. (For him, it was Harry Potter). If you know someone who has dyslexia, keep giving them books to try. Unfortunately for Riley, by the time someone who cared came into his life, it was too late. But that doesn't mean he can't make a difference. 

Also, I just started a Tumblr. I know another social media site!!

lisahugheywriter.tumblr.com -- this will be mostly pictures of random things throughout the week that interest me or have relevance (hopefully!!) in some way.

And check out my Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Hughey-My-Books/133768193335188

Okay that's my pitch for today. :) :) Hope you are having a SPECTACULAR Tuesday.

Lisa

Heart of Stone is here!

The third novella in my Family Stone series is now available!!

Riley's story: Heart of Stone is out. Available at Amazon and BN. Coming to Kobo soon. :)

Amazon | BN | Kobo

Riley Stone is the handsome brother, the charming one. Everyone who meets him compares him to his father, which in his mind is not a compliment. But he's never met a woman he couldn't charm, until he meets Di, an acerbic, smart-mouthed, passionate activist who has no time for him or his charm. On the run, in the midst of danger, the blistering passion they share explodes. Can these two opposites find common ground, or will Di smash Riley's stone heart?

So here's the deal with Riley's story. 

I wrote this story months before Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines. I debated adding in the disaster to the story but ultimately I chose to take literary liberty by pretending it didn't happen. However it did happen and millions of people were affected.

So here is my pledge: Originally I planned to price this story at $1.99 instead I am pricing it at $2.99 and I will donate $1.00 for every copy sold through March 31, 2014 to Save the Children.

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.8856103/

I hope you read and enjoy!! 

Lisa 

happy new year! here's to 2014

Hope 2014 is a STELLAR year!! Enjoy today because tomorrow all those resolutions and goals kick in!!!!

Happy New Year's Eve!

I loved this list from Bree Bridges SO MUCH, that I'm posting it here for everyone else to enjoy. Click on the link to see the whole list.

Goodbye 2013...HELLO 2014!

Writer-y Things I (Re)Learned in 2013 - A List: http://t.co/0XPBLulogD
— Bree Bridges (@mostlybree) December 30, 2013

Happy New Year's Eve!
Lisa

Family Stone Romantic Suspense novellas, #1 and #2 available now!

So I've been working on a new series of novellas about a set of four half-siblings in a blended family. Three brothers and a sister.

The first book is Stone Cold Heart

Stone Cold Heart:

Jess Stone, former FBI sniper, always felt like the kid who looks in the candy store window but could never afford to go in. But on a humanitarian mission to aid an earthquake ravaged country, finally she finds a place where she fits, in Colin Davies' arms, and working for Global Humanitarian Relief, her big brother's company. But can the former SAS thaw Jess's stone cold heart?

Carved in Stone:

Connor Stone has always been odd man out in his family. Not the oldest, not the most charming, he'd had a lock on the youngest until another half-sibling came to live with them, so he raised hell in his youth. Con knows now the only way to redeem himself is with deeds, not words and sets out to prove once and for all he is worthy of the Stone family. When his older brother asks him to take care of business, Con finally will have redemption he craves. Except when Ava Sanchez, his brother's assistant, is threatened, he must choose between saving the girl or protecting his family. Will his choice bring him love or break his heart?

I love everything about this series. It combines my love for romantic suspense, romance, and my interest in philanthropies around the world. The settings vary, Jess's book takes place mostly on a fictional Caribbean island, while Connor's book is set solely in Monterey, California. 

Right now they are just available on Amazon but they will be coming to Kobo, BN, and ARe romance soon.

And Riley's story is due to be released in the next week. With the final story about Jack due out mid-January. Hope you enjoy and Happy New Year!!

Lisa

perfect winter chili

It's been really cold in Nor Cal this week (for here), perfect time of year to make a big pot of chili. The basis of the recipe is from epicurious.com and a restaurant in Hawaii but I changed it so much that I'm calling it mine. :) This is great for a few nights of family dinners or if you are having a crowd for dinner.  

Perfect Winter Chili

1 lb ground beef - browned

1 lb ground pork - browned

1 29 oz can of diced tomatoes

2 cans tomato paste

1 onion chopped

3 cloves garlic crushed

1 1/2 TB cumin

1 1/2 TB chili powder (or more to taste)

1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Dash of Cayenne pepper (or more to taste)

1 1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 cups of beef broth

After browning the meat in a pan, throw all ingredients in a crock pot and let it cook for hours. You can also add 2 cups chopped bell peppers but I do this infrequently. About an hour before you are ready to serve, add to crock pot:

2 cans of beans (drained), black, pinto or kidney 

More broth (if needed)

Serve with grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips. I usually make a salad to go along with the chili.

The best part of this meal is it takes very little time to prepare, about 20 minutes, and then you let it simmer in the crock pot for hours while you get a myriad of holiday tasks accomplished or curl up with a good book. It's even better on day two. Yum!!

Lisa

ps. I have been trying to switch to a Primal diet (similar to Paleo) and finding dinners that do not incorporate bread, pasta, or rice has been an ongoing challenge. This has some dairy which is technically not allowed but not as forbidden as gluten :)