Tuesday, May 20, 2008

BLOG TOUR - Rachel Hauck - SWEET CAROLINE - Special Prize


About Rachel:
I'm a forty-something, a child of the '60's, '70's, '80's, '90's and '00's.


I roller skated through the '70's into the '80's with Farrah Fawcet hair and a three-speed orange Camero.


Born in Ohio, I lived several years in Oklahoma and Kentucky before my parents moved the family to Florida.


I graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism. As a member of Phi Mu sorority, I partied my way though the last few years of college.


But, the truth is, and always will be, I belong to Jesus. At the age of six, I knelt at the altar of a Tulsa Methodist church and gave my life to the One who loves me.


After graduation, hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, determined to see the world. And I did it without a laptop, a cell phone, an IPod or portable DVD player. Those were hard times.


But, I traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine. But, life on the road is difficult. Working twelve to fourteen hour days, one doesn't get to see many of the sites. In Ireland, our company's distributor drove me around at night so I could see something of Dublin.


I met Tony, my husband, in '87, at church, of all places. We got married in '92. Tony has been a pastor for twenty years. I've worked with him in eighteen of those twenty. Our heart is to see teens and adults passionate, radical and whole hearted for Jesus.


Tony and I don't have any children of our own, lots of kids-in-the-Lord and we love them all. However, we do have a very spoiled dog, and an even more spoiled cat.


I've always wanted to be a writer. My dad used to tell me, "You're a writer." I have letters he wrote me post college, exhorting me to write. In this, I believe he had the heart of God.


In '93, I started an epic WW2 novel with two plots. It was well rejected. After that ordeal, I took a break and put efforts into my job as a software project manager. But, I missed writing and in late ' 99, I took up the craft again.


With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in ' 04, Lambert's Pride, a romance novel. I love writing chick lit and romance. I love writing. What an honor.


About the book:
Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing--the responsible, dependable thing--unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says "yes" to destiny.


Then, without warning, ownership of the run-down cafe where she's been waitressing falls right into Caroline's lap. While she's trying to determine the cafe's future, handsome Deputy Sherriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline's heart.


But when her first love, Mitch O'Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life.


Contest:

The Sweet Life contest! Enter to win a Scrumptious Baking Basket from Rachel. The basket contains a Super Cool Apron, a Low country cook book signed by PAT CONROY, rolling pin, and a pie plate! All you have to do to enter is sign up for Rachel's newsletter here: http://rachelhauck.com/newsletter.htm
Picture of apron: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41pm2sSmf7L._SL160_AA160_.jpg


And BONUS here's a recipe for Bubba's Buttery Biscuits!
3 cups self-rising flour

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled, plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted for brushing the tops

1 1/4 cups buttermilk


Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.


Place the flour and chilled butter in a medium mixing bowl. Work the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingertips until the butter pieces are a little larger than an English pea, but not larger than a lima bean. If you are using your fingers, work quickly so that the heat of your hands won't melt the butter.


Pour in all of the buttermilk and, using light pressure, fold the mixture a few times with a plastic spatula until it holds together. Do not over mix. In order to make light biscuits, it is important to work the dough as little as possible.


Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead it quickly and gently 6 to 10 times or until it begins to be almost homogenized. There will be large pieces of butter throughout. Sprinkle a little flour under the dough so that it won't stick to the board and lightly dust the top of the dough so that it won't stick to the board and lightly dust the top of the dough so that it won't stick to the rolling pin. Roll the dough out to about 1/2-inch thickness.


Cut the dough into 2-inch rounds, place on an ungreased baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. I like the biscuits to be crispy and brown on the top and bottom, but not dry in the middle. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter. Serve right away. (recipe from Louis Osteen)

Links:
Rachel's website: www.rachelhauck.com

Buy the book here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595543376?&camp=212361&creative=383841&linkCode=wss&tag=sprightly-20

Rachel's My Book Therapy ( a writing craft blog for writers): www.mybooktherapy.com

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Leave a comment for a chance to win the prize from Rachel.

15 comments:

Ronel said...

This book sounds awesome. I can't wait to get my hands on it, thanks for the great interview.

apple blossom said...

This sounds like a fun book. Count me in.

luv2read said...

Enter me in the drawing. spowell01(at)bellsouth(dot)com

Stacey said...

Count me in, too. I love Rachel's work. Thanks.

stacey_dale[at]yahoo[dot]com

Maureen said...

I liked your interview and the book looks like a good one.

mce1011[at]aol[dot]com

Carolynn said...

The book sounds great! Cool contest!

Unknown said...

I was part of the tour as well and loved this book

Anonymous said...

I subscribed to your newsletter. I live in Oklahoma :)

KeepItSimple said...

Count me in! I signed up for the newsletter, and am looking forward to getting to know Rachel a bit better!

Please enter into this most yummy give-away! We LOVE aprons - and since I have some buttermilk freshly made, thought we'd give the recipe a try this week! Biscuits are still a struggle for me!

Thanks so much!
Camille
There is a season...

Mrs. C said...

Wow, "the sweet life" is a chase we all join in. I love the premise of the book and would love to read it.

I cracked up at the addition of the recipe. It made me want to bake. I really think I'll try it. I am so impressed at how hard authors work to attract the audience.

Thank y'all for this interview, and count me in.

Mary Ellen

Carole said...

Rachel is a new author for me. I've heard great things about her books and would love to read Sweet Caroline. Thank you for the opportunity.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

windycindy said...

Hi, What a terrible dilemma. Your old
flame and a handsome sheriff are both interested in you! I wish. It would be fun to read this book and see what decisions Caroline makes with her
establishment and the men! The cover of the book is wonderful. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Here's my comment to win a copy of "Sweet Caroline" as posted on Rachel Hauck's site.

email: writeagain04 (at) yahoo (dot) com

ChristyJan said...

What an interesting interview!
SWEET CAROLINE sounds like a wonderful read and the recipe sounds delicious!

Anonymous said...

Nice basket

dolls123[at]gmail[dot]com