Friday Foodie Affair: Author Judith Post Spotlight, Interview, Recipe, & Giveaway

Author Judith Post has stopped by for this week’s Friday Foodie Affair. In this post you will find summaries of Judith’s Emerald Hills novellas, an interview, a recipe that Judith was kind enough to share with us, and a giveaway for an ecopy set of her four Emerald Hills novellas.

Emerald Hills Novella Series

More Than Bonbons

Emerald Hills is a tourist town, with a secret. It has magic tucked here and there in its nooks and crannies. Tana has put all of her time and energy into making her Emerald Hills’ candy shoppe a success. Nate has traveled the world, building his career as a photographer. When he visits Emerald Hills to see his aunt, he stops at Tana’s shop to buy candy and shows her a photo he took of the woman who runs a vegetable stand near town. But Midu’s image has faded from the photo until only her farm stand remains – Emerald Hills’ magic at work. Tana and Nate are forced to work together to save Midu, so that she doesn’t fade for real.

Mallory’s Magical Gourds

Emerald Hills attracts tourists with its quaint shops, national park, and dashes of magic.  Mallory and Leigh co-own Nature’s Bounty, a shop that sells Leigh’s flower arrangements and Mallory’s painted gourds. Mallory’s working on a new batch of gourds to replenish their depleted supply when she looks out her cottage’s window at the park across the stream from her property. The new ranger has discovered illegal traps there, and someone is resetting them. Mallory calls Neil to tell him and finds herself involved with a trapper who has a temper and a ranger who has more charm than she expected. Add in Emerald Hills’ magic, and things get complicated.

Sheri Hits the Right Notes

Sheri Hudson’s in her late 40s and single. She’s come to terms with that fact and is happy with her life as a high school music teacher. But Emerald Hills has quirky touches of magic, and when Morgan Nash, a widower, comes to town, Sheri’s in for quite the surprise.

Sole Responsibilities

Whenever Gino puts new soles on a person’s shoes, his Emerald Hills’ magic seeps into his work, and the person finds a new way to make life more stable. When Evelyn walks into Gino’s Shoe Gallery, Gino’s immediately attracted to her, but his father taught him to never mix flirting with business, and even though the owns and runs the shoe shop now, he knows that’s a good rule. Then he notices how haggard Evelyn’s sandals are, and he realizes that she must be struggling with money. But when he throws in a pair of free flipflops, his magic doesn’t work. Did he lose his gift when he took in his dead brother’s little girl, using up all his good karma? Or does Fate have a surprise for Gino that he doesn’t see coming.

Links

Emerald Hills Novellas on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Judith Post’s Website

My Quickie Review of More Than Bonbons & Mallory's Magical Gourds 

INTERVIEW

Welcome to At Random Judith! I’m going to jump right in with the inquisition ;)

Can you tell us a little about your foodie stories?

Adding food to the stories was sort of accidental. I was really focusing on adding a touch of magic to each short romance. I picture Emerald Hills as a tourist town where magic lurks in one shop after another. The idea of singing magic into bonbons really appealed to me. Candy as a cure was a fun idea. I love to cook, so the idea crept into Midu’s produce too. It’s risky eating a carrot cake in a town like that.

Do you have plans to write more stories based in Emerald Hills? Will they have a foodie twist?

I have quite a few ideas for more Emerald Hills stories. They’re all short (about 40 pages), so they’re fun to write between novels. And there are lots of magicks to choose from. In my latest, when Gino resoles a pair of shoes for someone, he actually gives them stronger financial foundations for their lives. He’s Italian, so he also grew up on pasta and sauces. They creep into the fabric of the story.

You’ve written novellas in various genres, do you have a certain genre that you enjoy writing more?

I used to write mysteries, and a mystery plotline still creeps into my stories. But I love adding a supernatural twist – a witch or werewolf, or a bit of magic. Stir legends or myths into the pot, and I’m happy.

What do you like most about writing novellas?

I’ve always liked reading and writing short. I like reading about ideas as much as I enjoy connecting with characters. Short stories can deliver a real punch. Every word counts, and there’s no room for dilly-dallying. Their message can be powerful. I like that.

Sweet or salty?

Does savory count? I have a real fondness for layers of flavors – great sauces with garlic and herbs. But if I had to choose between sweet or salty, I’d have to go sweet. I still haven’t outgrown Twinkies.

Cake or Pie?

Cakes, but it’s really close.

What food could you eat every day?

I love sausage. I love links and bulk. I love it in sauces and for breakfast patties.

What is your favorite foodie movie or tv show?

I rewatch the movie Julie and Julia every once in a while. The idea of cooking your way through an entire cookbook fascinated me. And the food scenes – mmm, they made me hungry.

I also enjoy watching Julie & Julia when I catch it on TV. Thanks so much for joining us and answering some questions!

A RECIPE FROM JUDITH

Pumpkin Rolls

Beat 3 eggs for 2 minutes. Don’t cheat. They have to become thick.

Add:

1 c sugar

1 t lemon juice

2/3 c canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)

Mix:

¾ c flour

1 t soda

1 t cinnamon

½ t nutmeg

½ t ginger

1 pinch salt

Mix together. Grease jelly roll pan. Put wax paper in it and grease wax paper.

Do NOT overcook sponge cake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes in PREHEATED oven.

While baking, lay big dish towel flat and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Immediately turn out cake on towel.

Roll up cake with towel & cool.

While cake cools, make filling:

8 oz. room temperature cream cheese

4 T soft butter

1 c powdered sugar

1 t vanilla

Beat with mixer, then fold in 1 c Cool Whip.

Roll out pumpkin roll & spread on filling.

Optional: can sprinkle about 1 c chopped nuts on top of the filling.

Roll back up. Keep cool & let set for a few hours. Before serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

GIVEAWAY

Judith was kind enough to offer a set of her Emerald Hills novellas, for Kindle or Nook, to one lucky winner.

-Fill out the below form to enter

-The giveaway is open internationally.

-Entries must be received by 11:59 pm on November 14^th

-Winner will be announced November 15^th