What’s in Mrs. Hale’s Receipts for the Million?

4093. The Author. – If you would write to any purpose, you must be perfectly free from without, in the first place, and yet more free from within

The Brisling Code is out and about

It’s been been over two weeks since I launched my latest historical thriller, The Brisling Code. I started writing it just before COVID. It has been a long haul, but I am particular about historic details. Though my first draft (or 4th?) was done before I left for Shetland and Norway, it was the trip itself that finished it. There were some major changes in my antagonist’s story after visiting the Gestapo Museum in Bergen.

Launch night was wonderful. I wasn’t too nervous, but I did go in the morning of the event to check the set up for doing slides. Everyone said the presentation was excellent, that the historic photos were perfect for the readings and explained so much. I was thrilled to sell nearly all of my books. On-line sales have been great, too. Just what a writer wants to here. Thanks again for everyone who came out.

The very next day, I got up early to catch a ferry over to Port Townsend for a talk at the Thea Foss Daughters of Norway lodge. I talked about the research for all my novels and what led me to write them in the first place. I also shared some of my photos from my June trip. Bergen, Televaag, and Bomlo were all wonderful places to visit, full of WWII stories. In two weeks, I’ll be talking on Zoom with a group in Lancaster, PA. This time members of the Deaf Association there are going too attend the meeting at the Sons of Norway Hall with an interpreter. How cool is that? In The Jøssing Affair, my hero is pretending to be a deaf fisherman. I have learned a lot about deaf culture in Norway and during the war.

My Kickstarter campaign

I’ve been so fortunate to have UK Chris Humphreys narrated both my Norway in WWII thrillers and he is excited to do it again for the prequel. I’m in the process of raising some of the funds through Kickstarter. If you haven’t participated in one of these, people pledging at a certain levels get a reward or not ask for one and just pledge. It’s all or nothing. I’m excited to see what Chris will do with my hero, Tore Haugland and his best friend, Tommy Renvik along with a whole new cast in this prequel. You can learn my Brisling Code campaign here.

Hope you have a great week. Fall is definitely here. How about you? Heat still hanging? We have cool nights, but the last few days sunny. Here is a Norwegian cookie just right for the season.

Norwegian Ginger Cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2 cups of flour

2 tablespoons molasses

1 teaspoon each: ginger, cloves, cinnamon and baking soda

Preheat the oven to 375

Mix the butter and sugar together.

Add the molasses and mix until smooth

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and spices.

Add to the batter mix.

Make rounded balls of dough and place them on a parchment covered baking sheet.

Flatten and bake in the oven for 9-10 minutes.

Enjoy.