There’s been a lot going on here at Casa D’Alessandro the past few weeks so I figured I’d use today’s blog to play catch-up. First, I’ve been busy writing! My current project is the first book in a new contemporary series with a light paranormal twist. The paranormal element revolves around a wanna-be angel who is trying to perform good deeds so he can get out of the prison-like limbo wherehe’s stuck and make his way to heaven. Only problem is all his do-good assignments concern helping couples on Earth find True Love, and our angel is NOT a romantic guy. After a bunch of failures, he has one last chance to earn his wings– or it’s off to Hell for him. Not good. And even worse? His couple on Earth are reallly not cooperating! The book will be coming out later this fall and is the first in my Heaven Can Wait series for the CRAVE paranormal line. Here’s a peek at the cover:
Lots of non-work related stuff going on here as well. Two weekends ago we visited friends who have a cabin in the North Georgia mountains. The location is gorgeous and is the inspiration for the setting of He’s No Angel. We visited fun shops in the little town, ate a fabulous meal, and took a rigorous hike that worked off that fabulous meal.
We had so much fun in the mountains!
During the week the DH and I participated in our neighborhood’s annual fall pickleball tournament. Partners were assigned based on skill levels and while my partner and I were eliminated in the third round, I’m delighted and proud to announce that my husband and his partner won the Championship! So yay to the boys–great job!
The Champion in action!
We’ve also been taking advantage of the gorgeous weather. Nothing like a sunset boat ride on the lake!
Sunset boat on the lake
And last but not least, we’ve been dining with friends. We’ve had outrageous BBQ shrimp–New Orleans style, some fabulous spinach lasagna, and last Sunday friends taught us how to make eggplant parmigiana using their family recipe. It was the BEST eggplant I’ve ever had. Slimming these meals were not–but delicious? Oh, yeah!
Ready for the eggplant parmigiana lesson! Mangia Italiano!
I’d love to know what you’ve been up to! Tell, tell!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Have you decided not to ever publish “Paradise Found”?? Please let me know so that I don’t ever read any of your books again to get hooked and then let go. Every date has come and gone and still no book…I am really miffed!
I really want to read Paradise Found…whatever happened to that book? We are all left just dangling…I’ve been waiting a long time to read the sequel to “Summer at Seaside Cove”. Thank you. Bon
Sounds like you guys have been having so much fun!!!! I’ve been trying to get myself out from under an avalanche of work related stuff after the trip to England. Just learning that I like eggplant. So how about that? A whole new culinary world to explore!
I’m sorry, I can’t recall anything I read after seeing the book cover.
I’m having a serious Homer Simpson Doughnut Drool moment.
PickleBall?? What’s that?
Hi Cate! Pickleball is sort of a cross between tennis and ping pong. You play on a court that’s about half the size of a tennis court. Instead of a racquet you use a graphite paddle and instead of a tennis ball you use a plastic whiffle ball. It’s lots of fun, great exercise, and very easy to learn–no previous experience necessary.
I actually had to put the heat on because my house felt cold and damp. Plus with all the animals I have, many of them cannot get cold or they will die.
The sad thing about moving a quarter of the way across the world is you leave so much behind. My daughter is taking ‘textiles’ at school and her project this week is make fabric flowers which fair enough is easy…but we need funky buttons and things to decorate the centers. And I have nothing. All my sewing things I left behind. We have the necessities like needles and thread but all my buttons and things are still in the US. So I have been trying to come up with things to go in the middle of a fabric flower and wow…I can scrounge the weird stuff up! I found a silver snake that was part of a brooch, fancy schmancy beads, hair bobbles we no longer use since she has outgrown them, and ribbons.
So that sums up my crazy week so far…oh and reading books (of course) and applying for jobs that 200 other people are also applying for.
And through all this time at home I really should be back to my book but I just cannot write. It is in my head and I cannot get it out.
Maybe I should start another book?
Love the cover btw.
I love cooking. Especially when I invent things. Like tonight will be pan fried potatoes with chorizo and red peppers then covered in egg and baked. Kind of like a Spanish Omelette type thing.
Jacquie, love the new series. Sounds like fun! Congrats! Eggplant Parm, oh yum. And shrimp! And spinach lasagna! Wow. Sometimes you have to have a nice big feast without worrying about the fat and calories. I’m sure you worked it off with Pickleball. The mountain excursion sounds like fun, too. I keep hearing about everyone else’s fabulous life while I am home writing!
Thanks, Sherri! I’ve been writing, too–but have also been allowing myself to be social in the evenings once or twice a week and have some fun. I don’t get as many pages written, but I’m more relaxed. Of course, as deadlines approach I’ll be a panicky mess, LOL!
That Spanish Omelette type thing sounds really good, Ti! And congrats on the inventive flower making! I give you tons of credit for creativity–and hugs for having to leave behind so many of your things xox.