Change to My Last Update

A Change to the Last Update:

My story is still under contract; or rather, under a different contract.

I'm still getting my novel "Hell's Beginning" published. Thing is, due to a bit of incompatibility, I was inclined to cancel the previous contract with Azoth Khem. I will not go into specifics.

I am now contracted with Hellbound Books. As of  February 27, 2018, "Hell's Beginning" is in their slush pile. I am still awaiting the request for edits and once that's done, I expect it will be put in their queue to hit the digital shelves. I hope, anyway.

While I'm at it,  also want to say that I've submitted another couple of stories to some more anthologies. I'll make that announcement, probably on my website, if and when they are accepted/published.

I realize I've mentioned "Hell's Beginning" several times in various places, but have not given any kind of descriptions. So, here's the tag line:

A killer strikes in a small Utah town.

When he is killed, they think it's over; They couldn't be more wrong.

Now for the blurb:

When a stranger arrives in Charity Falls, Utah, he has one intent: get a drink and some rest before hitting the road again. An altercation with a lush brings back dark memories, and the woman's final taunt tips him over the edge. He abducts and drags her off to an abandoned farm.

There, he introduces her to pain and suffering on a journey into her darkest nightmares—and his bloodthirsty fantasy. However, the farm isn't as secluded as he hoped. He is forced to deal with several others who have wandered too close to their location.

When only two innocents remain, only a battle of survival will decide who will walk away.

But the killer strikes again and only one who has been close to the horrors will know what to do.

Someone must put an end to the reign of terror that has begun.

Maybe next time I'll post an excerpt for someones enjoyment. I have to issue a warning, though; this story contains scenes and language of an adult nature. Nudity, abduction, torture, murder, and, worst of all, multiple expletives.

(Okay, so maybe the bad language isn't worse than the other triggers. I just wanted to keep it lighthearted- though the story is anything but.)

So, in conclusion, I guess it hasn't been too poor a year thus far. I am getting a little more exposure than just having my writings on my website and blogs. I do need to get one or both of my big stories done so I can get them out to the world, too. It just takes time and a bit of discipline...

Until next time!

#WriteOn!

John T. M. Herres 

Overdue Update

So, I noticed my last post here is dated December of 2014, and now it's January 2017. I guess I should make a new post, just to let anyone know I'm still alive.
So, what new update will I share?

I have finished a novel that I am under contract to have published!

That's right: I have signed a contract with Azoth Khem Publishing to have one of my stories published. 

I have just put the final words down in the file

Now, I just have to go through and make sure I left no holes and match the happenings from one chapter to the next. Originally, I submitted the story with 18,500 words, plus or minus, and left it with a cliffhanger ending. I had thoughts of writing a series.

As per their guidelines, a novella needed to be at least 30,000 words, so when I found the Editor, Kasey Dawn Hill needed a little time to get to it. I decided to try to get some more words down to get closer to what they wanted.

Now, I have just under 60,000 words and have made what I consider a satisfying (to me, anyway) ending for it.

So, when I get done scanning through it, I'll send the updated file in and we'll see how it goes. If nothing else, I have given them up to 20,000-word leeway to slice and dice the heck out of it.

I'll try to post a followup here when I get a decision, or a final Publish date and links when I have them available.

Until then,

Thanks for reading!

Recipe For Apricot Delight Cake

Well, here is a token post just to say I did publish an update on this blog this year. I almost had a complete calendar year without adding to it, but I have been working on my website and my blog as well as starting a new blog, covering my  Velah character from "Challenge Of The Velah" (c), but it is bare, as I'm still building the content.

For today, though, I wish to share a recipe I might have to make for my Brother this X-Mas  (day after tomorrow). He got a small can of Solo brand apricot cake and pastry filling, a double pack of cream cheese and a graham cracker crust, then told me I could make him a pie.

Joy.

I did a search online for a recipe that takes those ingredients. There are none that I found.
 The closest match is the  Apricot Delight Cake from the manufacturer's website, which I might be able to pour into a pie crust.

So, here's their recipe, if you don't want to go there right now:

 Apricot Delight Cake

Ingredients

Cake

1⁄2 cup               Butter or margarine, softened
1⁄4 teaspoon     Salt
1 package          8 OZ cream cheese, softened
1⁄4 cup               Milk
1 1⁄4 cup            Sugar
1 can                  Solo Apricot Cake and Pastry Filling or 1 jar Baker Apricot Filling
1 teaspoon       Vanilla
2                        Eggs
2 cups               Sifted all-purpose flour
1⁄2 teaspoon     Baking soda
1 teaspoon        Baking powder

Topping

2 cups                Flaked coconut
2⁄3 cup               Brown sugar, firmly packed
1⁄3 cup               Butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon        Cinnamon




Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and lightly  flour 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Cream together softened butter (or margarine), Cream Cheese and Sugar, mix until light and fluffy.

Add vanilla and eggs and beat thoroughly.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add to creamed mixture, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.

Spread half of batter into prepared pan; spoon dollops of apricot filling on top

Cover with remaining batter.

Bake for 40 minutes.

To make topping, combine coconut, brown sugar, cinnamon and melted butter.

Sprinkle over cake.

Place cake under broiler until topping is golden brown.


Enjoy!


-- John
#WriteOn

Trying to Offer Help

I had originally started this blog as a way to try to enhance my online persona. I have to admit, I failed miserably. At least here. I have just recently begun a new one, aimed at trying to post help for anyone who, like me, is having trouble finding ways to get assistance with discovering if their writing actually has merit.

My new blog is on Wordpress and can be accessed here. Now, I do not consider myself a guru or an expert on teaching others how or what to write. My aim is to be available to help someone else if possible, and maybe in so doing, I could stumble upon someone or something to help me. I am still getting it started, so time will tell if it was a good idea or not.

This concludes my update for today. I really hope I am able to keep that post updated more often than I did or do on this one. I also hope I get better response there than I do here. Seems a few people have looked at these posts, but, like my website, I just do not get responses often enough.

Till next time, Gentle Reader...