Welcome to the Campfire, Annette Miller.

Hi everyone. Happy Saturday. I'm so glad you could join us. Before we get started, I just want to remind you about the Show Australia Some Love anthologies. Australia Burns is a three book set of short stories donated by Wild Rose Press Authors and published by Wild Rose Press. The proceeds from the books go to wildfire relief. The fires may be out but that's when the rebuilding starts. So, if you want to get some great reads and at the same time do something positive in our world, check them out here... www.amazon.com/Australia-Burns-Show-Some-Love-ebook/dp/B0848W2HQT/

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​Now, let's get in the mood. I'm going camping next month and already imaging the first day. It's going to be cool out I think, so I'm in my favorite hoodie and warm boots. The campfire is merrily burning in the fire-pit. Other campers are passing by and saying hey. Kids are riding their bikes and jumping on the bounce-pad. It's like old neighborhoods used to be. Can you picture it with me? Good.

Now, help me welcome today's guest. Hi Annette. As Sheldon Cooper would ask, "Can I offer you a warm beverage?"
What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa?
I’m a tea drinker, my favorite being any type of mint tea.

I think I can accommodate that. Peppermint it is. Now that we're settled in, tell us, have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp?
I’ve never camped out, being a city girl and all. I would like to go to a place with rustic log cabins and lots of trees. I love the woods as long as I can have indoor plumbing.

I'm all about the indoor plumbing. My 5th Wheel has a bath and a half. BIG selling point. Many campgrounds these days offer cabins with all the modern conveniences, and fireplaces to boot. So, what's your latest project?
My fourth book just came out last November. It called Angel in Shadow and it’s a paranormal romance. It’s part of my Angel Haven series. All the books are individual stories, so you don’t have to read them in order. The series is filled with superheroes, wizards, cyborgs, and mythical beings. I like to have unusual characters.

I love paranormal and fantasy. It's so nice to step away from the real world and be immersed in magical adventures. Can you sum the book up in one sentence?
When magic and science work together, sparks fly.

That sounds wonderful. How long did it take you from conception to publication?
This book gave me no end of trouble. It took two years to complete. By the time it was done, the only thing that hadn’t changed was the heroine’s name.

It never ceases to amaze me how books morph and change. Before I became an author I thought How hard could it be? LOL! Now that you have it resolved, is there anything you’re itching to get to?
I just submitted a novella to my editor for their new summer line. I finished the rough draft of my fifth book, also part of the Angel Haven series. I had to plot out several future books because once an idea hits, my fingers need to get it down.

Busy lady. Good luck with the submission. Are there any mentors, authors, or books you would like to give a shout-out to? 
Shirley Hailstock of the New Jersey Romance Writers. She’s an awesome, supportive lady. Carolyn McSparren and Patricia Potter here in Memphis, TN, who always take time to give great advice. (and they are bestselling authors.)

I've met Shirley. She is an amazing woman. The writing community is such a supportive one for the most part. Tell us, what does literary success look like to you?
Well, I’d like to have the monetary success of some of the big name authors. My personal success story is when someone tells me how much they love my books. There’s nothing like a reader who enjoys your work and tells you. I had a lady bring me a copy of my first book to sign and it looked like it had been through several wars. She said she couldn’t stop reading it. That is a real success story.

It truly is. Being able to make money is important, but the recognition and appreciation of the hours and heart authors put into their work is priceless. Now for some fun questions where we get to peek behind the author's mask...

Do you have a special object like a piece of jewelry or keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you? I actually have two. My youngest son gave me a Christmas tree necklace when he was in kindergarten. My oldest gave me a really awesome pillow for Mother’s Day that resembled WWE Hall of Famer Brett Hart’s logo.
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What is your favorite T-shirt with graphic? I bought a T-shirt that says “Keep clam and proofread. Spell check is not enough”

​Favorite childhood book? Or writing that inspired you to become an author. My favorite childhood book is The Oddity by Peggy Bacon. It’s a wonderful fantasy story with beautiful black and white illustrations.

If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be? When Legends Rise by Godsmack

What weird talent do you have? I can find anything people lose.
​Most campers play board games. What games do you like? I love Scrabble and Parcheesi. I’m also pretty good at Risk, Clue, and Sorry.

Thank you, Annette. What great answers. I'm going to keep your talent in mind next time I lose my keys. Before you go, can you leave us some information about your book and where we can find both you and your work?​

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When Kristin Mentor's friend never gets off the plane from England, she knows something is terribly wrong. A stranger confirms her fears Jack McClennan has been kidnapped. Reluctantly agreeing to let the stranger help her, she knows he's dangerous, not only to the bad guys, but to her as well.

Grayson Styles is given the assignment to find Jack, but he doesn't want it. To take the job will bring him face to face with his past and the painful secret he keeps. When he meets Kirstin, he has a feeling this woman will challenge his past and possibly, his heart.
www.amazon.com/Angel-Shadow-Haven-Annette-Miller/dp/1509228616/

https://www.facebook.com/angelhaven619/
https://twitter.com/AngelHavenR
https://www.instagram.com/annettemillerauthor/
https://www.pinterest.com/ami3025/
https://www.annettemillerauthor.com/
amazon.com/author/annettemiller

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Movie recommendations
This week's recommendations are about Angels. These are my favorites.
City of Angels 1998 American starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. 
Heaven Can Wait 1978 starring Warren Beatty. But if your into the classics-- Here Comes Mr. Jordan 1941 starred Robert Montgomery and Claude Rains.

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I mentioned last week that I am following a low carb eating lifestyle. Honestly, it is  easy to co-ordinate with camping for me. Luckily I don't have much of a sweet tooth. I'd much rather have good old fashioned comfort food. Sometimes finding substitutes can be hard but the discovery of riced cauliflower, zoodles and Parmesan cheese as "breading" has made it much easier.

Now let's talk chicken wings. Fair warning these have a tendency to stick so make sure you use lots of non-stick spray whether cooking inside or out. If you've been following the Welcome to the Campfire Blog you may have noticed I'm no much of a follow a recipe girl. Mostly, I wing it. Ha Ha Ha. 
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Give the wings a quick bath in Ranch dressing (My favorite is Ken's).
Let them set a minute or two to let excess drip off before tossing them into a mixture of Parmesan cheese, seasoning of choice (I prefer Montreal Steak on almost anything), and smoked paprika. Here's where you use what you have. I've done these in an air-fryer, on the grill (both preferred) or baked in the oven on a rack over a baking pan. Cook them until done. You want them crispy on the outside. These don't even need sauce. 
Lip smacking good.