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Tuesday, March 31, 2015 According to Holidays-and-Observances.com,  March is Berries and Cherries Month. Those of you who follow this blog or have read any of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries know how much I enjoy combining chocolate with berries and cherries (and how much Anastasia loves eating them!) So today I’m featuring a recipe for Grandma’s Homemade Brownies. Not my grandma, though. The recipe comes from author Susan Lohrer and is featured in in Bake, Love, Write: 105 Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Advice on Love and Writing. In the original recipe you can use chopped nuts, raisins, or cherries. Of course, I’m going with the cherry version. And Susan suggests for a lower-calorie version of this recipe, you can substitute applesauce for half the cooking oil, but I suggest simply cutting the brownies into tiny portions.

Grandma’s Homemade Brownies

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup cool water
1/2 cup (or more) dried cherries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place all ingredients in bowl in order given and beat on low speed until just mixed. Pour batter into prepared 9” x13” pan.

Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in brownies comes out clean. 

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Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Tuesday, March 31, 2015 2 comments: Labels: baking, brownie recipe, cherry brownies, Lois Winston, Susan Lohrer

Monday, March 30, 2015 Let’s think outside the box—or in this case, the picture frame. There are many ways to display family photos. We don’t always have to place them in frames.

The next time you open a jar of applesauce, mushrooms, or even baby food, save the jar and lid. Soak the jar to remove the label. (You might have to use a product such as Goo Gone to remove any glue that remains on the glass.)

Measure the depth and circumference of the jar. You’ll need a photo that’s the height of the jar, minus the screw lid area and the width of the circumference. Scan the photo into your computer if you need to change the dimensions. Don’t worry if the width is too short. It’s the height that matters. You can compensate for the width by centering it on the printing paper or mounting it on a separate piece of paper after printing.

Place the photo upside-down in the jar. Screw on the lid. Using gem glue, glue a scrap of ribbon around the outer edge of the lid.
Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Monday, March 30, 2015 3 comments: Labels: crafts, displaying family photos, family photos, photos, recycled crafts, scrapbooking

Friday, March 27, 2015 Today we have the mystery, science fiction, and fantasy writing team of Robert and Darrin McGraw sitting down for an interview. Read more about them and their books at their website.

When did you realize you wanted to write novels?

Robert: I started freelancing for magazines and writing television scripts back in the 1980s. It was about twelve years ago that each of us independently started to be serious about writing fiction.

Darrin: Yes, I started working on a couple of fantasy novels around then, and at the same time he was writing a historical mystery which is slated to come out this year.

Robert: My first nonfiction book (Learning to Laugh at Work) was published in 1996, but Animal Future is the first novel we’ve published.

Robert: My nonfiction is traditionally published through a business publisher. Right now our fiction is entirely e-published online. I also wrote a traditionally published children's book, but it is currently out of print.

Where do you write?

Darrin: Our projects together tend to begin with brainstorming conversations while we’re sitting around the living room, and that part can take days or weeks until we have a plot ready to go. When it comes to actually generating chapters, I write seated at my desk, but he finds it more comfortable to use a stand-up desk or to type in bed.

Robert: If I don’t need to completely concentrate I might listen to music – usually classical.

Darrin: Upbeat music helps move the writing along. Paul Simon’s Graceland album is one we both happen to like.

Darrin: We tend to write about fantastical events, but characters can come from composites of real people: Huero, Shadow Guy, Susi, and the Himalayan sheep at the Karma Kabab are examples of characters who can be traced to real experiences.

Describe your process for naming your character?

Darrin: I do a lot of tinkering. Should this character be named Megan? Too ordinary. Mason? Too trendy. Mabel? Wrong decade. I let it simmer for a while before deciding. In any case her name will often end up being something else entirely, like Guinevere.

Robert: Usually my weird characters name themselves...although sometimes I'm introduced to one at a party.

Real settings or fictional towns?

Robert: I've done both. There are pros and cons each way.

Darrin: My preference is always to create a fictional place – it sounds like it takes less research. But you have to pay for it later by inventing the details from scratch.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?

Robert: In Animal Future, the cat is a little bit crazy; he speaks almost completely in literary quotations, especially Whitman and William Blake.

What’s your quirkiest quirk?

Robert: Do you mean, what would it be if I weren't so dang-near perfect?

Darrin: We both wear a lot of hats. No, I mean literally. I have a bucket of hats in the closet.

Darrin: Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn. Certain books are unimprovable, and that is one of them.

Robert: The Voynich manuscript, because I'd love to hand it to a publisher and say, “OK, wise guy, let's see you copy edit that!”

Both: We wish we’d started writing even earlier.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Darrin: Drivers who tailgate.

Robert: Drivers who drive too slowly in front of me.

Robert: A Gulfstream G650ER jet, a pilot, a runway.

Darrin: A web server with fiberoptic connection; a camera so I can post images on my website of this absolutely unspoiled paradise, with vacation packages starting at $8,999 for a limited time only; a team of travel agents to help take the reservations.

What was the worst job you’ve ever held?

Darrin: Picking up trash after company parties.

Robert: In graduate school, working all night at a convenience store and having to shovel snow off the parking lot at 3am. (It's slightly worse than being a test dummy for a cat-o-nine-tails factory.)

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

Robert: Not sure. I haven't finished it yet. Maybe it will be one of yours :O)

Ocean or mountains?

Robert: If possible? A humble 7-bedroom cottage in the Santa Barbara Mountains with a view of the Pacific. Rent-free.

City guy or country guy?

Darrin: We’re both in-betweeners; Manhattan is too much, Mojave too little.

What’s on the horizon for you?

Robert: On the horizon to the west, it's the Ortega Pass. To the east, it's my neighbor's trash cans.

Darrin: We are working on the second book in the Animal Future series – look for it this spring.

Robert: Please buy them. I don't want to have to work at that convenience store again.

Animal Future
In a near-future Southern California full of mentally enhanced animals, three unlikely companions— a Vietnamese-American policewoman, a well-dressed chimpanzee, and a fast-talking spy— find they have no choice but to combine their talents in order to stay alive. While being hunted by fanged assassins, corrupt officers, and some chillingly methodical robot snakes, the trio investigates what turns out to be a terrorist plot masterminded by unknown foreign interests.

Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Friday, March 27, 2015 2 comments: Labels: Darrin McGraw, fantasy, mystery, Robert McGraw, science fiction

Thursday, March 26, 2015


You don’t need to spend a fortune at a spa or on high-end beauty products to achieve spa-like results. Here are a few beauty treatments that cost little to nothing but produce exceptional results:

For Your Hair
Boil some jasmine rice in water. Drain the water, and save it. After you shampoo your hair, pour the cool rice water over the strands and massage into your hair. Allow to sit for five minutes, then rinse out. The rice water is rich in Vitamin B and antioxidants and will help add shine to lackluster hair.

For Your Face
Want a youthful glow to your face? Dangle upside down for three minutes a day to send blood to your face. The blood delivers oxygen and other nutrients.

Try a yogurt facial. Once a week add a thin layer of plain Greek yogurt to your face. Yogurt contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory probiotics which will help sooth sensitive skin.

For Your Hands and Feet
To counter rough hands and feet, give them an exfoliating mask. Steep a lemon slice in a cup of boiling water for thirty minutes. Mix four tablespoons of the lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of oats. Allow to sit for five minutes. Add 1/2 tablespoon each of glycerin and almond oil, then add a mashed banana.  Coat hands and/or feet with the mixture. Cover with plastic bags. Allow to sit for ten minutes, then rinse.
Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Thursday, March 26, 2015 2 comments: Labels: beauty, DIY spa treatments, facials, hair care, natural beauty treatments, natural skin care, skin care, spa treatments

Wednesday, March 25, 2015


I’m an addict—a coffee addict. Over the years I’ve been told caffeine is bad for me. At one point years ago “they” were even saying something about a link between coffee and cancer and heart disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, recent studies not only disproved this but have found many benefits to coffee consumption. Here are a few of them:

Coffee is loaded with antioxidants. A University of Scranton study found that Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other source.

An Australian study found that muscles recovered faster after strenuous workouts when people drank several cups of coffee after exercising.

According to a study of 400,000 older adults conducted by the National Institutes of Health and AARP, people who regularly drink coffee are less likely to die from all causes than non-coffee drinkers.

A study published in The American Journal of Medicine found that women who drank coffee were less likely to suffer from tinnitus.

Research conducted in Florida found that three cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia in older people with mild cognitive impairments.

A Japanese study found that people who drank coffee on a daily basis had a 20% less chance of having a stroke than people who didn’t drink coffee. The study monitored over 83,000 adults between 45 and 74 years old.

A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that consuming coffee may protect against deteriorating eyesight.

Other studies have found coffee may protect against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease (including liver cancer.) Other studies find coffee can improve cognitive function and decrease the risk of depression.

Of course, drinking too much coffee does have its risks, including the jitters and insomnia in some people. The key is moderation. So use common sense, enjoy your java, and reap the benefits.
Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Wednesday, March 25, 2015 4 comments: Labels: caffeine, coffee, coffee health studies, health benefits of coffee

Tuesday, March 24, 2015 If you’ve read any of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, you know that I love to combine chocolate and fruit in baked goods. Two of my favorites are chocolate with cherries and chocolate with raspberries. This recipe for Chocolate Raspberry Pudding Cake was inspired by author Barbara Fass Leavy’s Chocolate-Chambord Bundt Cake recipe, featured in Bake, Love, Write: 105 Authors ShareDessert Recipes and Advice on Love and Writing.

Chocolate Raspberry Pudding Cake

1 box dark chocolate cake mix (without pudding in mix)
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup Chambord
4 eggs at room temperature
1 cup sour cream
1 box instant chocolate pudding (not pudding that must be cooked)
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup raspberry jam at room temperature
confectioner’s sugar


Pour cake mix into large bowl. Beat in oil, Chambord, eggs, sour cream, and chocolate pudding mix in that order. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour 1/3 of the batter into greased bundt or ring cake pan. Add half the raspberry jam in dollops to top of batter. Repeat with another third of batter, remaining jam, then remaining batter.

Run a knife through batter to marble jam into batter. Bake for 1 hour and test with toothpick to see if it comes out clean.

Place on rack to cool before removing. When cool, remove from pan and dust with confectioner’s sugar.
Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Tuesday, March 24, 2015 2 comments: Labels: baking, cake recipes, Chambord, chocolate cake recipes, pudding cake recipes, raspberry cake recipe

Monday, March 23, 2015 In January I featured a Jute and Button Clay Pot Flameless Candle Holder on the blog.  Today I’m repurposing that decorated clay pot to create a winter topiary.

Jute and button decorated clay pot from January 26thblog post; one each 4”, 3”, and 2” Styrofoam balls; two toothpicks; 9” length 1/4” diameter dowel; floral foam; tacky glue; 1/8” diameter jute cord; 2 yds. 2” wide gathered ecru eyelet; 1 yd. 1-1/2” wide ecru grosgrain ribbon; cotton cording; sequin pins; assorted white and ecru buttons; excelsior; low-temp glue gun

1. Decorate the clay pot following the directions from the January 26th blog post.

2. Glue floral foam into clay pot.

3. Glue a toothpick halfway into top of 4” Styrofoam ball. Glue the 3” ball onto the 4” ball. Glue the second toothpick into the top of the 3” ball. Glue the 2” ball to the top of the 3” ball.

4. Wrap the middle 3” of dowel with jute cord, glueing in place. Allow to dry.

5. Poke a hole in the bottom of the 4” ball. Glue one end of the dowel into the hole and the other end into the center of the floral foam. Allow to dry.

6. Glue gathered eyelet spiraling around 3” ball, beginning at bottom and working up to top of ball. Use sequin pins dipped in glue to hold in place.

7. Cut the 1-1/2” wide grosgrain ribbon into 3” lengths. Fold each in half. Pin ribbon, overlapping sides slightly, around the center of the 2” ball.

8. Cut the 1” wide grosgrain ribbon into 3” lengths. Fold pieces in half and continue attaching in same manner as above in two overlapping rows around first row of ribbon.

9. Glue cotton cording around 2” ball.

10. Glue excelsior into pot.

11. Using the glue gun, randomly glue assorted buttons to topiary.
Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Monday, March 23, 2015 2 comments: Labels: crafts, diy, fabric crafts, fabric topiary, no-sew crafts, topiary craft

Friday, March 20, 2015 Today Adite Banerjie sits down for an interview. Adite, who lives in New Delhi, India, is both a screenwriter and an author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. Learn more about her and her books at her website.


I started exploring the idea of writing fiction about ten years ago. Back then, though, I was more interested in writing screenplays and did a bunch of online courses to learn the craft. It was a fascinating and rewarding experience and I ended up writing several spec screenplays. I was also commissioned to write a drama feature based on a true life story. Writing novels happened quite by accident when I came across an ad for a romance writing contest organized by Harlequin India for aspiring authors.

Much faster than I expected! After winning the Harlequin India contest, I was mentored by one of their editors to turn my short story entry into a 50,000 word book. Soon after I was contracted to write four books for Harlequin. Two of these have been published.  My debut book, The Indian Tycoon’s Marriage Deal, came out in 2013 and the second book, Trouble Has a New Name,  will be out as a Harlequin Special Release e-book in N. America in April 2015.

So far I’ve been traditionally published but I do have plans to go hybrid.


At the dining table amongst all the chaos of everyday life.

I don’t need music to write or silence. Thankfully, I can turn on whatever I’m in the mood for in my head. ;)

All my characters are inspired from real life in some way. For instance, I had been on a trip to Kashmir where I met a lady who had the annoying habits of the interfering, advice-spewing Agra Aunty who features in my book Trouble Has A New Name. Apart from that particular aspect to the character, everything else about her is fictionalized.


My characters so far have mostly been Indians and therefore their names, too, are Indian. Sometimes I tend to name my characters depending on their personalities. For instance, in Trouble Has A New Name, the heroine is called Rayna (which means Night) because of her dusky complexion and the hero’s name is Neel (which means blue). Since the story is set in the beautiful Andaman Islands, the name Neel also has a resonance with the setting.


I prefer real settings but sometimes it could be a fictional place within a real setting. The ‘Emerald Isle’ in Trouble Has A New Name is a fictional island, which is set in the real archipelago in the Indian Ocean.


Rayna has foot-in-mouth disease.


Reading the last ten-twenty pages of a book first!

I would have loved to write Gone with the Wind. I love the canvas, characters, dialogues, description, historical setting…everything!  You can never forget the book or its characters. If I were to write GWTW, though, I would set it in South Asia.

I don’t like do-overs. If things have gone really badly, I don’t want anything to do with it anymore!


I wish I had more hours in the day to write more books and all the books on my humungous TBR pile. Sigh!

My Kindle. My hubby. My dogs. (In no particular order)


I have been a journalist, a content writer, a screenplay writer and now novel writer and have enjoyed every one of my jobs.


Too many best books on my list. My top favorites are: GWTW as already mentioned, Amitava Ghosh’s Sea of Poppies, Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, William Dalrymple’s The White Mughals and many, many more.



City girl/guy or country girl/guy?

City girl


Am currently finishing up a romantic suspense for Harlequin. After that I will be writing another romantic comedy.

Someone once asked me what is your “brand of romance”? My answer: heartwarming romance with a dash of Bollywood. These two-hour-plus movies, with their blend of traditional family values, changing mindsets and romance, make for a unique mix, which unfold through a combination of song, dance and plenty of action. A typical Bollywood flick is a mix of romance, comedy and full-on drama. And of course, a hot hero and dreamy heroine. I try to bring in these much loved elements of Bollywood films into my books.

Trouble Has a New Name
Will you pretend to be my fiancé for the next few days?

Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Friday, March 20, 2015 2 comments: Labels: Adite Banerjie, Bollywood, contemporary romance, India, India set romance, romantic suspense

Thursday, March 19, 2015


Nichole Christoff is a writer, broadcaster, and military spouse who has worked on-air and behind the scenes producing and promoting content for radio, television news, and the public relations industry across the United States and Canada. Nichole’s first year in RWA, her first manuscript won the Golden Heart® for Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements. Her second manuscript won the Helen McCloy-Mystery Writers of America Scholarship. Her second novel in the Jamie Sinclair series is The Kill Shot. Learn more about Nichole and her books at her website.

Running on London Time
My protagonist, Jamie Sinclair, is a gal who gets around. In my latest release, The Kill Shot, my PI-turned-security-specialist gets roped into helping her tough-as-nails senator father on a matter, he says, is of national importance. At his insistence, Jamie hops aboard a plane to escort a diplomatic courier to that ancient city along the Thames, London. And the trouble starts as soon as she touches down at Heathrow.

When it came time to craft a setting for Jamie’s international exploits, I knew I had to look to London. For centuries, London has been a city of mystery and romance. The famous Tower of London, where King Henry VIII sent so many of his wives, was already four hundred years old by the time he commanded, “Off with her head!” But distant history isn’t the only kind that makes London great. Seventy short years ago, Londoners withstood the Blitz and the tyranny of a cruel regime by relying on their own British brand of pluck and courage. There’s something wonderful in that.

And whether you choose to tour the Tower or buy a pint in a pub for an elderly gent who looked out for others as a boy during the bombings, reminders of London’s rich past are everywhere. But here’s the best part about it: these reminders aren’t sealed up behind glass. They aren’t artifacts to be observed and forgotten. They’re part of today’s living, breathing London.

In this day and age, the old isn’t torn down to make way for the new. Londoners believe their fantastic past can make for a functional present. I wholeheartedly agree—and I love it! You can find evidence of this attitude everywhere you look in London, indoors and out, and in both private and public locations. Among my favorite public old-places-and-today’s-spaces are Wellington Arch, the Serpentine, and Ye Olde Chesire Cheese.

Wellington Arch was built nearly two hundred years ago to commemorate Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon. Today, it boasts the stylish Quadriga Gallery which features ever-changing exhibitions. And what about that beautiful water feature, the Serpentine? Part lake and all river, it was built in 1730 in the middle of Hyde Park because a queen requested it. Instead of filling it in or plowing it under, Londoners of every stripe and situation can now be seen enjoying it on sunny afternoons.

Even the rather touristy Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a prime example of appreciating the old and embracing the new. Rebuilt after the Fire of London in 1666, this place has literally stood the test of time. Its foundation is even believed to date back to the 1200s. But if you want the sip the latest craft beers from Belgium or munch Kobe beef in your burger after a busy afternoon along Fleet Street—which can still boast of being home to many of London’s cutting-edge newspaper and book publishers—then the Cheese, with its pedigree and present, is for you!

All in all, I couldn’t resist sending Jamie to London in The Kill Shot. As she tracks the bad guys through Marylebone, Belgravia, Seven Sisters, Hampstead Heath, Covent Garden, and other sites that near and dear to me, she’s running on London time and I hope you’ll come along for the ride. Take a look at London’s history, mystery, and modernity through Jamie’s eyes—and through mine.

In the meantime, tell me about your travels. What’s your favorite city to visit? Why do you love it so? The Kill Shot: A Jamie Sinclair Novel
In an explosive thriller for readers of Lee Child, Alex Berenson, and Brad Taylor, P.I. and security specialist Jamie Sinclair finds herself in a dangerous game of international cat-and-mouse.

Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Thursday, March 19, 2015 6 comments: Labels: Britain, European vacation, Great Britain, London, romantic suspense, suspense, Tower of London, travel, United Kingdom, vacations, Wellington Arch, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

Wednesday, March 18, 2015


Dentists tell us we should floss daily. But did you know that dental floss has uses beyond maintaining dental hygiene? How about when it comes to decorating? You’re laughing? Keep reading.

Years ago we all kept our family photos in those photo albums with the sticky pages and clear plastic covers. We eventually learned that the materials used in those albums were discoloring and destroying our photos. If you’re like me, you began replacing all those photo albums with ones that contained archival quality papers and adhesive tapes that didn’t contain acids.

If you haven’t transferred your photos yet or are in the process of doing so, you may have found that sometimes the photos are extremely hard to remove from those albums. Pull too hard, and you risk tearing the photo. Solution: dental floss! To separate stuck-on photos from the pages of old albums, gently saw a piece of dental floss back and forth between the photo and the page. This also works well for photos that have become stuck to the glass of a picture frame.

A good quality dental floss is also the perfect go-to for hanging lightweight frames on the wall. Wire can scratch your walls; dental floss won’t. Tip: use a double or triple strand of floss for added strength.
Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Wednesday, March 18, 2015 2 comments: Labels: decorating, dental floss uses, DIY decorating, protecting photographs, scrapbooking

Tuesday, March 17, 2015 In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here’s a recipe for Irish Soda Bread. And here’s a fun fact: Do you know why traditionally a cross is scored on the top of the bread before baking? It’s to ward off evil spirits.

Irish Soda Bread

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
3 tablespoons softened butter
1/2 cup raisins
3/4-1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

Soak raisins in warm water.

Mix together all dry ingredients. Cut butter into dry ingredients until mixture forms fine crumbs. Drain raisins and add.

Slowly add buttermilk, stirring until dough leaves sides of bowl.

Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Shape into round loaf, approximately 6-7” in diameter. Place on cookie sheet. Using floured knife, cut an X 1/2” deep into loaf.

Allow loaf to sit for about 20 minutes, then bake 35-45 minutes or until crust turns golden brown.
Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Tuesday, March 17, 2015 1 comment: Labels: baking, Irish soda bread recipe, soda bread recipe, St. Patrick's Day

Monday, March 16, 2015 Did you know that crafting can reduce stress, build self-esteem and increase physical dexterity? In fact, recent studies from NYU and Harvard have shown that activities ranging from scrapbooking to knitting can actually improve concentration, while enhancing health and mental wellness.

There is nothing more satisfying than creating something on your own. The activity is not only engaging, it’s fulfilling on so many different levels. Plus, there are so many ways to approach crafting. There is literally something for everyone.

Crafting can:

Bring Families Together – Spend quality family time on a vast number of enjoyable activities that can save money, while producing handmade gifts, jewelry and home decorative items.

Relax and De-Stress – Crafting sharpens your senses and focuses your attention.

Create Lasting Memories – Create a special moment for a loved one, while highlighting achievements or performances in a scrapbook or display.

Make Family Connections – Frame-it-yourself photo montages can proudly display family trees and accomplishments for everyone to see.

Salvage and Reuse Old Items – Recycle and add beauty to any room by crafting discarded mirrors, windows or other household items into works of art.

Revive Clothing and Jewelry– Create beaded fashion necklaces and bracelets that match favorite clothing or school colors.

Entertain Kids and Pets – Develop matching outfits and accessories for kids and favorite pets.
Posted by ANASTASIA POLLACK at Monday, March 16, 2015 2 comments: Labels: crafting, crafts, National Craft Month