Category: Stuff

Lest We Forget

Posted on by staceyjaine in Recipes, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff

Anzac Day. It’s a national day of remembrance held every year on April 25th

It stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps And commemorates all the Australian and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peace keeping missions and was originally devised to honour those who had served in the Gallipoli Campaign, the first engagement of World War 1. (1914-1918)

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

As we won’t be partaking in the Dawn Service this year, I have decided to share a recipe for Anzac Biscuits. Yes, I said biscuit not cookie.

ingredients

  • 1 cup plain flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup coconut
  • 125 g butter
  • 2 tbs golden syrup
  • 1 tbs water
  • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

method

  1. Sift the flour into a bowl. Add sugar, rolled oats and coconut.
  2. Melt butter in a saucepan, then add golden syrup and water.
  3. Stir the bicarbonate of soda into the liquid mixture.
  4. Add liquid to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
  5. Place walnut-sized balls of mixture on a greased tray and bake at 170 degrees Celsius for 12 minutes.
  6. Biscuits will harden once cool.

For those of you reading this blog post and thinking: but I don’t have/can’t get my hands on any golden syrup there are substitutes, like honey, corn syrup and molasses.

Click here for more information about those substitutes and others that you can use in place of golden syrup.

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Lest We Forget

Posted on by staceyjaine in Recipes, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff

Today is Anzac Day.

It’s a national day of remembrance held every year on April 25th.

It stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps And commemorates all the Australian and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peace keeping missions and was originally devised to honour those who had served in the Gallipoli Campaign, the first engagement of World War 1. (1914-1918)

But for the first time in over a century, there are no official services. COVID-19 has changed how we celebrate things.

So, today I got up and paid my respects from my driveway at 5:55am.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

As we won’t be participating in an official Dawn Service this year, as like last year, I am sharing a recipe for Anzac Biscuits. Yes, I said biscuit not cookie.

ingredients

 

1 cup plain flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup coconut

125 g butter

2 tbs golden syrup

1 tbs water

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

 

method

 

Sift the flour into a bowl. Add sugar, rolled oats and coconut.

Melt butter in a saucepan, then add golden syrup and water.

Stir the bicarbonate of soda into the liquid mixture.

Add liquid to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Place walnut-sized balls of mixture on a greased tray and bake at 170 degrees Celsius for 12 minutes.

Biscuits will harden once cool.

For those of you reading this blog post and thinking: but I don’t have/can’t get my hands on any golden syrup there are substitutes, like honey, corn syrup and molasses.

Click here for more information about those substitutes and others that you can use in place of golden syrup.

 

Goodbye Autumn

Posted on by staceyjaine in mum of four, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff

It’s Friday… finally. The end of another working week… for some and for others like me it’s the end of the school week which means… for me that my kids will with absolute certainty steal the computer out from under me to play whatever PC orientated game they can find while I concoct devious ways of luring them away from the PC so I can write.

Oh, the life of a mum of four. It’s hell I tell you. Send wine and chocolate. Actually scrap the wine and send Chardonnay, cause I hate wine and beer. Actually most alcohol. Unless it’s Baileys or Writer’s Tears. Yes! Look it up that stuff exists. Cost a small fortune. But it was worth it.

Because… Writer’s Tears… enough said.

I digress.

Winter is coming and truth be told I love Winter. I get to pile on the blankets without apologising. I’m always cold.

And with Winter comes birthdays along with anniversaries of things that I’d sooner forget because no matter how hard I try I’m almost always a wreck by July 24th.

Life is fleeting and I’m trying to not let it pass me by. I’m trying to get my words out into the world.

It’s really all I’ve got tonight.

Oh, and this rose from my garden.

Isn’t it pretty? I’ve been promising myself a red rose for years, partly because I loved the rose garden in my parents backyard and partially because I just love red roses.

Lest We Forget

Posted on by staceyjaine in Recipes, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff

Anzac Day. It’s a national day of remembrance held every year on April 25th

It stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps And commemorates all the Australian and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peace keeping missions and was originally devised to honour those who had served in the Gallipoli Campaign, the first engagement of World War 1. (1914-1918)

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

As we won’t be partaking in the Dawn Service this year, I have decided to share a recipe for Anzac Biscuits. Yes, I said biscuit not cookie.

ingredients

  • 1 cup plain flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup coconut
  • 125 g butter
  • 2 tbs golden syrup
  • 1 tbs water
  • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

method

  1. Sift the flour into a bowl. Add sugar, rolled oats and coconut.
  2. Melt butter in a saucepan, then add golden syrup and water.
  3. Stir the bicarbonate of soda into the liquid mixture.
  4. Add liquid to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
  5. Place walnut-sized balls of mixture on a greased tray and bake at 170 degrees Celsius for 12 minutes.
  6. Biscuits will harden once cool.

For those of you reading this blog post and thinking: but I don’t have/can’t get my hands on any golden syrup there are substitutes, like honey, corn syrup and molasses.

Click here for more information about those substitutes and others that you can use in place of golden syrup.

It’s Good Friday

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff, Writing

Which in this house means hot cross buns and the odd bit of chocolate for us and the kids.

Hubby fired up the BBQ despite the chilly Perth day which narrowly missed getting rained out.

Sadly, not a lot of writing was done but fun was had with friends which more than made up for it.

And now that they’ve left I’m curling up with my writing project trying to get some words down.

Wish me luck!

Confessions From an Indie Author Trying to Make it as a Blogger

Posted on by staceyjaine in blogging, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff

44148_20150318_232444_FIGHTAlright, I confess. I tried something new today with my blog. I posted two blogs when I normally only post one.

Surprisingly, it got results. Bigger and better than I ever would have hoped for. So, THANK YOU!

The blog itself was inspired in part by all the poetry blogs I have subscribed to, and… the fact (which I didn’t know until today) that’s it’s National Poetry Month! Finally, it was written because I didn’t want to just write another post about the Arthurian Myths (which I adore) lest I bore you all to death. So, I shared Tennyson’s rather epic poem instead.

The second was my obligatory weekly recap for the 365 Writing Challenge post. Long overdue, as I try to write them weekly, but last week was met with a flurry of blogging updates, and little room or time to actually write that second post last Monday.

I can’t promise to write every day. That’s just… impossible for me between trying to split myself between family and writing. I’m not quite organized enough to successfully schedule my time the way I know I should. I try but I inevitably wind up dropping balls or something unexpected happens that wipes out everything I had planned for that day, and attempting to catch up the next day never works the way you think it will.

But, I do promise I’ll try. Assuming you’re all willing to stick with me as I navigate the blogosphere.

So, on that final note, I’d like to say a huge THANK YOU again to all of you who’ve stopped by recently and liked or followed my blog, I really do appreciate it from the bottom of my heart and I hope you’ll keep coming by so that you can stay up to date with my writing progress. Whatever the achievement.

Until next time,

Stacey

10 Songs That Are On My Writing Playlist

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff

As my last post along this same vein, I thought I’d share something most writers have at least one of.

A writing playlist.

It’s no secret that writers often find music to be inspirational to the creative process of writing, and I’m surprisingly no different.

It’s a shock, I know.

Mine is however very eclectic.

So, before I get caught rambling on any further, I’ll see to the list.

(In no particular order)

1. Speeding Cars by Walking Cars

2. Roses by Against the Current

3. Red by Taylor Swift

4. Hold Back the River by Nicole Cross

5. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

6. Tear in Your Hand by Tori Amos

7. Head Above Water by Avril Lavigne

8. Way Down We Go by Kaleo

9. Saturn by Sleeping at Last

10. September by Daughtry

That’s a small portion of my playlist. I’d love to hear what some of the songs are that feature on your playlist. Unless of course you prefer to write in complete silence.

Hello, Autumn

Posted on by staceyjaine in Anthologies, Indie Author, published, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff, Updates, Writing

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Yes… it’s March 21st, which means Autumn can officially start… in the Southern Hemisphere, that is. The previous twenty-one days were just a warm up… seeings as in Oz the weather can never make up its mind. I’m really over Summer, if you can’t tell.

This post is kind of two-fold today, as there’s been quite a lot going on in the niche I carved out for myself in the writing world, as small as it is now, I’m hopeful it’s going to grow into something huge. A girl can dream, right?

organic-inkTwo days ago, I received an acceptance for my poem, Petals, that I submitted two weeks prior and kept it completely under wraps. I truly believed I sucked at poetry, because I don’t really get how to write it. Like, I’ve always felt there’s a right way and a wrong way to write poetry and its instilled in me this immense fear of getting it wrong. So, I’ve totally just steered clear of it. Yeah, so I totally jumped out of my comfort zone for this submission and its surprisingly paid off. So, that of course lead to me submitting another poem, because I hate odd numbers… suffice to say, my second poem, Darkness, will also be appearing in the Dragon Soul Press anthology, Organic Ink, Volume One. Which will be published later this year. I can’t wait!

In other news, I’ve also submitted a drabble to another online only publication. This time it’s for Black Hare Press. I’m crossing my fingers (and toes) that I hear back soon.

Finally, I’ve also done a soft launch of my Patreon, which I’ve been debating for a long while whether to launch and I decided last night to just go ahead and do it… so, if there’s any interest at all, I’d be eternally grateful. There’s three tiers at the moment but I’m hoping to find news ways to give back to anyone who champions my cause, no matter how small, when time permits. If you would like to chip in, the link is HERE.

I truly hope that the Equinox finds you well. I really do love this time of year.

 

 

 

 

10 Things You Don’t Know About Me

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff

So, in light of today’s events I thought I would post something more lighthearted and have some fun along the way. Maybe even manage to lift people’s spirits as well.

My heart is with New Zealand at this tragic time. May those who lost their lives find peace and those who are injured, recover.

And now without further ado, here’s my list:

1. I can play the piano.

2. There’s a replica of Excalibur sitting in my living room.

3. I don’t like beer.

4. I’ve visited Heath Ledger’s Memorial Monument at Heathcote Reserve.

5. I love Hawaiian Pizza. Pineapple is gold!

6. I’ve met Juliet Marillier, Claudia Gray and James Masters and have each of their signatures.

7. I have two tattoos. A Pegasus and a Leo sign

8. I think sloths are creepy.

9. I wrote my first novel, Charity, at eighteen and I’ve got no plans to publish it… ever!

10. I’ve never read Stephen King. I did watch the movie version of The Mist with my husband and handled it relatively okay, until the final scene.

When I’m Not Writing

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff

It’s been quite an eventful few days around here and when I’m not writing, I dabble in a few other hobbies. On the odd occasion, I run around in period appropriate costumes and LARP. This past weekend saw me corralling eight children, four of them my own into a makeshift 1890s classroom and attempting to have them learn something.

Suffice to say it mostly backfired and what they really did was get handed a balloon and make they’re own fun, running around in a room that was actually fitted out as a church, while trying to keep their balloons from hitting the floor.

And when they weren’t playing with balloons they were making posters or running off with bandits. Yep, actual bandits! Did I mention it was a western LARP. My accent was non existent, and my teaching skills are a little rusty.

Besides LARP I do occasional get the odd moment spare to put my graphic art skills to use and work on a few book covers. I’m immensely proud of my latest two…

Time  KeeperA6A8B45E-476B-48A7-B924-6CB3C0FD728B.jpeg

and

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They turned out surprisingly well and I’m happy to say both are still available for purchase. I’d love to see them both sold in the not too distant future.

Opening Lines

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff, Writing

1259E9FF-1114-4BAD-A415-096D07032B7E.jpegIn trying to decide what to write about today (and coming up empty) I decided to go easy on myself and switch things up, in the hopes that maybe, just maybe I might inspire some of you to leave a comment.

So, today’s post, while containing no words of wisdom, tips or personal anecdotes does contain a story starter.

Maybe it’ll inspire you to write and maybe it won’t, but if it does, then please feel free to share, the first few lines with me.

Here it is!

I knew that sound. Dragons.

 

 

Withholding Nothing Cover Reveal

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Stuff

⭐️⭐️⭐️COVER REVEAL⭐️⭐️⭐️
Woot woot! Today’s Victoria Bright’s 27th birthday and her cover reveal!
Title: Withholding Nothing
Genre: Erotic romance
Release date: March 29, 2018
Photographer: Eric Battershell Photography
Models: Xavisus Gayden Ifbb Pro and Sarah Arevalo Gayden
Cover designer: Laura Hidalgo with Beyond DEF
Blurb: The girl code “Chicks before d*cks” should include that no friend can steal another friend’s boyfriend—or marry them.
When Ashton Carter’s “good idea at the time” revenge plan lands her in hot water, she never expected to see her ex again—especially in court. A few thousand dollars in damages later, she snags a job as a phone sex operator and seeks out a roommate to help fund her “stay out of jail” expenses. Having a roommate should’ve been helpful—except when they turn out to be the hot, yet douchebag mechanic working on her car.
When Ashton learns that her new roommate has been the sexy phone sex caller, lines begin to blur between real life and fantasy. It was supposed to be a no-strings-attached situation; neither of them were ready for love again. When a surprise visit from an ex shakes their forming foundation with an ultimatum, Ashton is forced to face the truth of her feelings and make a choice. With her budding relationship and livelihood at stake, Ashton has to untangle the lines of reality and fantasy in a last ditch effort to protect her heart.
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2BcYEJa
Sign up for a release day alert: http://bit.ly/2E3L24Q
Excerpt sign up: https://goo.gl/forms/KnaiFinjbzQiECSo1
Blog tour sign up: https://goo.gl/forms/p7EX3y86ydOXANp62

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All Things Valentine’s

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stuff

January ended on a positive note and netted me an impressive 15,500 words. I had thought that February would be just as impressive, but sadly by Day #2 I was having to rethink my own personal goals and expectations.

I’ve set myself a small one this month. Just 8,000 words. Sounds easy enough right? Wrong. I started off strong on Day #1 but from there things have been slow going. I’m currently 644 words behind target. And it sucks, big time. But life and the weather (surprisingly) have gotten in the way. Perth sweltered through it’s longest heatwave since 1930 last week. Reaching temperatures of over 40 degrees Celcius.

As for yesterday, being Valentine’s Day, the husband and I didn’t celebrate. After almost sixteen years together it’s become just another excuse for presents and when you’ve been together as long as we have present shopping can be tricky.

I did however decide on a whim I wanted to dye my hair copper. It’s currently lightened to a not so appealing caramel colour, but once I’ve dyed over the top of it, it shouldn’t be so bad.

 

New Years Resolutions

Posted on by staceyjaine in Dandelions, Stuff

So, it’s January, and one of my New Years Resolutions was to get back into blogging, so I figure now that my writing commitments are out of the way, I can kill two birds with one stone and get this first post out of the way as well.

A lot has happened since I was last active on here. Four months ago, and then again, one year before that. It’s really crazy how time flies, right?

Books four, five and six of the Eldritch Series are almost complete and I’ve pulled down Books one and two, ready to rewrite and edit and I will finish Book three.

Hopefully I can (re) release them before the end of the year, finances pending, along with Even Angels Fall.

It’s a lot and I’ve fallen prey to over commiting before, so I’m going to take it slow and do it in manageable chucks, so we’ll just have to see.

Writing is happening and that’s what counts.

 

Apologies

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stuff

Ugh! I don’t know what’s up with the first quarter of 2014. I’ve been neglecting this blog something awful. So I apologize. I’m still writing, but getting nowhere, at least that’s what it feels like. Got to love it when a story will run in your head but you just can’t seem to get it down without it wanting to take on some new direction. That’s Dandelions right now. Sovereign just has me stumped, again, at the moment. And, Even Angels Fallis just nightmarish. Needless to say I do hope to have all three completed by the end of the year. We’ll see how that goes.