Wedesday Pop-Ups

Short tales about pets, shared recipes, poetry and miscellaneous thoughts and memories.

Fall News

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

It’s a little early to start announcing events that are coming up in November, but I have a few things I want to share as a preview:

Serena’s New Year’s Wish, a sequel novella to my 2019 Christmas Wish, is due to be released in November. I will be cohosting a launch party with another author who has a novella releasing the same day. Look for an invitation in the next few weeks. There will be guest authors and prizes.

I have a couple of local author events scheduled in November also. Hopefully there will be no cancellations due to Covid, but I will keep you posted as the events get closer.

I’ve had Substitute Family formatted for print and Kindle publishing. I published this contemporary novel one chapter at a time here on my blog for several weeks. It will become available in its entirety this fall.

The sweet romance, May I have this Dance, will continue to be made available one chapter per week until the book is completed. I’m not going to tell you how many weeks it will take, because I want there to be an element of surprise.

If there is enough interest in the Dance book, then I will consider publishing the book in print form and on Kindle at the close of the chapter-per-week event.

The Reluctant Billionaire continues to be available on Kindle and in print from Amazon. If you have a teen on your Christmas wish, this clean Christian romance will make a great gift. If you are local and wish to have a signed copy, contact me on Facebook or attend one of the local events in November.

Speaking of The Reluctant Billionaire, it could use some attention on Amazon. I have a few reviews that readers have posted, but if you want to add yours to the list, that would be great.

I have plans to move forward with my writing, but more than that, I know God has a plan for my life. I desire to be in the center of His will, to promote the work that He is doing in my life, above all else. I continue to pray that He will use my writing to inspire believers to a greater faith, and to introduce the gift of salvation to people who otherwise might not receive it.

As the seasons shift, I pray that you will stay healthy, work on your own happiness, and keep believing that God will work everything out for good–Even if.

Cats and puzzles: What’s up with that?

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

My kids like to do jigsaw puzzles on the dining room table. For some reason, that attracts the cats. We keep a bottle of water nearby to spray them when they jump up there, but sometimes they are too cute and I take pictures first. Here are some of the latest:

Stormy

Ash

Of course, Ash, also known as the Tiny Terror, had to lay down and roll around, messing up the puzzle. Isn’t she cute, though?

Since all of our cats are rescues, I didn’t pick any of them, they just showed up. However, if I have to pick a favorite, it would be Elsa, below. She is a cuddler. She sleeps on my bed at night and likes to be beside me otherwise. I picked her up after I took this picture and held her for a few minutes. Having a warm, snuggly cat to hold and bury my face in its fur made my bad day seem a lot better.

Elsa

Cats can be characters, but what would I do without them now? They bring joy to us.

Wednesday Pop-Up: Recipe

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

I’m not a chef and I don’t have any claim to authentic Mexican recipes. However, I found a vegetarian tortilla soup recipe and modified it to make it with chicken. I added a few things, changed some other ingredients, and came up with the following recipe. It has good flavor and freezes well.

Tortilla Soup

1 (10 oz). can enchilada sauce

3 ½ cups chicken broth

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon chili powder

¼ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon cilantro

1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes

8 oz. corn (frozen or canned)

1 can black beans, drained

1 cup diced cooked chicken

4 (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut into strips

Combine all ingredients except tortillas. Bring to a boil, then simmer ½ hour.

Add tortillas, bring to boil.

Serves 6-8.

Freezes well.

Wednesday Pop-Up: Poem

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

A memory in my mind

Fading with the sands of time

Far outside my reach

And going out with the tide

I want to grasp you and pull you back

But I know I have to let you go

So I draw back my hand

And smile

And wave goodbye

I watch as you fade off into the horizon

Until you disappear into the evening sun

For me, tomorrow will be

A journey all alone

Destination—unknown

Christ will lift my burden

He will make a new day rise

And carry my dreams

On eagle’s wings.