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This
past June (2026) I lost one of my dearest friends. The sad, truthful fact is
that we’ve never met in person. Allow me to explain. We were virtual BFFs from
the get-go when we were introduced through our now defunct publisher, Musa
Publishing back in 2011. Her pen name was Sloane Taylor, and we were as
opposite as you can get. She wrote erotica, and later penned five seasonal
cookbooks. I wrote for a young adult audience, specifically time travel
adventures and teen psychic mysteries. Different? Absolutely. But we connected
in a way that I can’t even articulate. It was just a strong feeling that we
belonged in each other’s lives. We were soul mates, writing in distinct genres,
for the same publisher, and it was like the Universe conspired at the right time,
in the right place so that we would conveniently connect.

The
owners of Musa Publishing asked Sloane to load and schedule the publisher’s
blog when an author submitted a post. She accepted, and was excellent at the
task, yet some authors tagged her the ‘Blog Dragon’ as Sloane was a no-nonsense
kind of gal. But it was her sense of humor that brought us together, and kept
us laughing, up until the day she passed away. Our fifteen-year journey
together saw many changes in our publishing world, seeing publishers, as well
as authors, come and go. We started an amazing group of writers, at first
called The Wenches of Words, then
later, Authors Moving Forward. The group
is still ongoing, though a little smaller in numbers now, and missing its ‘fearless
leader’, as we had nicknamed Sloane. I’ll continue to post her various recipes
that she’d formatted for the group until they run out, with the hopes that her
legacy will live on for years, especially on the global dining tables.

With
Sloane’s passing on, this brings me to an important question for all authors
out there. What should,
no must, authors do for their loved ones while they are
still alive? First, and foremost, you need a legal Will (a no-brainer in my
mind) to direct where the royalties will go after the author has deceased.
Second, draft up a Letter of Final Instructions for your lawyer to provide to
your executor. What’s that you ask? It’s a document to your heirs to pass along
your passwords, contacts, and any information they may need to help them with
your writing business and affairs. The first step should be to contact your
publishers if you went the traditional route.

This
Letter of Final Instructions is basically a list of contacts to help make the
process of seeing to your deceased loved one’s affairs and wishes, as easily
and painlessly as possible. This letter should include the following contacts:
Publishers, Literary Agent (if you have one), Accountant, Lawyer, Life
Insurance Agent, Web Designer (if you have one), Online Banking information,
and a list of passwords for your email, social media accounts, and any utility
accounts you have. Don’t forget your Online information, such as: Website link,
Blog link (if you have one), and Social Media links (Facebook, Amazon Author
Page, etc.) so your executor or heirs can get into them, and if necessary close
them. Hopefully, my friend Sloane made sure that everything was in order after
she passed away.

When
someone who was important as Sloane was to me passes on, it makes you think
about what they’ve taught you throughout the course of the relationship. It
really didn’t take much thinking. Sloane Taylor taught me how to be brave, to
be courageous, and stand up for myself. She didn’t play small, and reminded me
that I shouldn’t either. However, the biggest lesson she relayed was that the
gift of humor shines through, even in gravest of circumstances. God Bless you,
Sloane! May we enjoy our favorite adult beverages on the heavenly veranda when
the Divine timing is right again.

Note to Authors: November is Make
a Will Month in Canada. It’s an annual campaign to encourage adults to draft or
update their legal wills. It is my hope that you find the above information
useful, and will take the appropriate steps to see that your wishes are carried
out.

Cheers, and as
always, thank you for reading my blog! 

This
season, let the magic of fall and these captivating to-do activities and YA
novels remind you that every girl has a witchy power within her.

Host a
Glam Pumpkin Carving Night
Gather friends (your modern coven!) for pumpkin carving with a mystical twist.
Carve glowing stars, crescent moons, or symbols inspired by family curses and
hidden magic found in Disenchanted. Sip spiced cider or herbal potions
while chatting about fate and star-crossed first loves. Then light those carved
pumpkins and feel the Disenchanted magical vibe.

Curate
a Witchy Playlist
Build the ultimate fall soundtrack with moody indie tracks, ethereal vocals,
and empowering anthems. Think songs about breaking curses, slow-burn romance,
and standing in your power under the moonlight. Play the music while enjoying
the dark magic and high stakes drama in Bewitching Hannah.

DIY
Spell Jar
Create a beautiful, personalized spell jar with herbs, crystals, glitter, dried
flowers, and written good intentions. Focus on protection, confidence, or
attracting positive energy (and maybe a touch of romance). This hands-on magic
echoes the ancestral power and deeper mysteries in Koush Hollow.

Which
activity are you trying first? Drop a comment below and tell us which book
you’re most excited to pair it with! ✨

AMAZON BUY LINK 

Leigh
Goff is a
published YA author. She is a graduate from the University of Maryland and a
member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
(SCBWI). 

Born and
raised on the East Coast, she now lives in Florida with her husband, enjoying
the sun, sea, and a little puppy dog.

I
often joke with my hubby when something goes wrong, saying “It must be Mercury Retrograde”. But, there’s something to this
period of three and a half weeks, which happens three times a year, that asks
us to literally slow down or crap is gonna hit the fan sooner than later. When
Mercury is in retrograde motion, the planet appears to travel backwards (goes retrograde),
and asks us busy humans to pause and do some heavy-duty reviewing. Fat chance,
right? Wrong.

Mercury
possesses a trickster energy, and in retrograde motion this sly fella can be
the unseen force that trips us up. For example, we can experience any of the
following: being on ‘slow mo’, bad reception, slip-ups, disorganization, stops
and starts, lost and found, U-turns, revisions and changes, connections with
the past, trick or treat, mixed messages, messages not getting across, things
getting lost, or lost in translation, travel being delayed, plans collapsing,
communications breaking down, equipment and technology failing. Yeah. I’ve
blamed Mercury retrograde on a few of those things.

If
you feel as if your writing life has been stuck in Mercury retrograde for a
long time, you’re not alone. This go-slow or best-laid plans changing up is
irritating and frustrating to say the least. But if you look at the BIG
picture, you’ll come to understand that the process of Mercury retrograde is
divinely inspired to get a message to you. The interruption is geared in such a
way as to disrupt your daily life so you can hear that message. Call it a
wake-up call or Divine intervention if you like, it happened to throw you off
kilter so that you can receive it. Whatever ‘it’ happens to be for you. Even
your computer crashing will give you some space and time to look into what’s
really going on. And sometimes you find that the truth does hurt, but it always
sets you free.

If
you’ve been stuck in your writing life—especially when it comes to marketing
your books—adjust the narrative and start to take baby steps. Become the
observer, instead of the one in the driver’s seat. Ask, what has worked in the
past, and what hasn’t? Mercury retrograde is actually a catalyst for awareness.
Out of the unknown void, the space, comes new insight. Knowing you must move
away from an old activity or pattern of behavior is your ‘AHA’ point of
understanding why you’ve been so stuck. Then, if you examine where you’re going
and what’s happened, you get to the gold: a moment of truth, realization, and
recognition. You finally receive the missing piece of the jigsaw to help you
move forward.

So many positives can
come out of Mercury retrograde (in your personal and writing life) if you view
it as a natural cycle of punctuation, a necessary break in the proceedings in
order to retrieve vital information. We must all learn to be patient in these
times, and use it for planning, reviewing, fixing, pivoting, thinking, and
strategizing about what we want to do when we can step forward again. Then,
once Mercury is back on track and moving forward again, you will be too. Do you
pay attention to when Mercury retrograde shows up in your life? If so, did you
receive its message or ignore it? Would love to read your comment. Cheers, and
as always, thank you for reading my blog! 

Happy Thanksgiving from my virtual writing
abode to all my Canadian family and friends! If you’re looking for something
different to serve on your harvest table this Thanksgiving, I’ve got just the
thing that will add a little zing to your celebration, and is a healthy,
low-fat version of a family favorite with an Italian flair. With a prep time of
ten minutes and cook time of fifty minutes, this tasty Italian-Style turkey
meatloaf will be ready in one hour, five minutes to serve at a small family
gathering. Expecting a crowd? No worries. Just double or even triple the
ingredients. If there’s any leftovers to be had, then this makes for easy meal
planning for the upcoming week. Cheers, everyone!

What
You Need:

Cooking spray

1 pound ground turkey

1 egg

¼ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

½ clove garlic, minced

½ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to
taste

¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste

2 cups tomato sauce, divided

What
You Do:

PREHEAT oven to 400° F (200° C). Prepare a
baking dish with cooking spray.

MIX turkey, egg, bread crumbs, Italian
seasoning, garlic, black pepper, and salt in a large bowl; shape into a loaf
and put into prepared baking dish.

BAKE in preheated oven for 40 minutes.
Spoon about half the tomato sauce over the loaf and continue baking until the
meatloaf is no longer pink in the center, 10 to 15 minutes more. An
instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160° F
(70° C). Rest meatloaf 5 to 10 minutes before slicing to serve.

WHILE the meatloaf rests, warm remaining
tomato sauce in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; serve with the sliced
meatloaf.

SUGGESTED sides include your choice of
pasta (penne is perfect) and tomato sauce, garlic bread, and your preferred
salad (Caesar would be a great addition). Don’t forget to serve your favorite
wine to add to the party!

Once you’ve digested your Italian-Style
Thanksgiving feast, and your guests have retired for the evening, why not bring
the rest of the wine to a cozy spot in your home or cottage, and settle in with
a good book? May I suggest a visit to mysterious
Fairy
Falls, or if you’re feeling really adventurous, a trip back in
time with The
Last Timekeepers? Whichever you choose, either series will immerse you into other
cultures, and different worlds. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Here’s a glimpse
of the premises of both my young adult series:

The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventures…

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be
Timekeepers—legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil
Belial—five classmates are sent into the past to restore balance, and bring
order back into the world, one mission at a time.

Children are the key to our future. And now, they
are the only hope for our past.

Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic
Mysteries…

In the small, quiet tourist town of Fairy Falls, a
new-to-town teen, an unlikely hero who possesses an unusual psychic ability, is
drawn into a mystery and is tasked with uncovering corrupt truths that threaten
the town’s future.

Welcome to Fairy Falls. Expect the unexpected.

Buy Links:

The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventure Series:

The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave, Book 3

UNIVERSAL BUY LINK ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, Book 2 Buy Links:

UNIVERSAL BUY LINK ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book 1 Buy Links:

UNIVERSAL BUY LINK ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

Legend
of the Timekeepers, Prequel Buy
Links:

UNIVERSAL
BUY LINK
׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES
& NOBLE
׀

Mysterious
Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mystery Series:

Lost & Found, Book One Buy
Links:

PANDAMONIUM
PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES
& NOBLE
׀

Blackflies
& Blueberries, Book Two Buy
Links:

PANDAMONIUM
PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES
& NOBLE
׀

Oktoberfest is the festival to end
all festivals that is celebrated around the world but started in Munich, Germany
for a royal wedding in 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to all the
festivities held in fields just outside the city gates. And from there the
world adopted this grand event. It runs from late September to the 1^st
Sunday in October. Be sure to include plenty of German music when you celebrate.

MENU

5
black peppercorns

Use
a mortar and pestle or a baggie and hammer to crush black peppercorns and
juniper berries together.

In
a medium-sized saucepan combine peppercorn mix, sliced onion, wine, vinegar,
water, and bay leaves. Bring marinade to a boil over high heat. Remove pan from
stove and let cool to room temperature.

Trim
excess fat from roast. Set beef in a deep flat bowl or pot just large enough to
hold it comfortably. Pour marinade over the top. Add more wine if marinade is
not halfway up the sides of the meat. Turn meat to moisten all sides. Cover pan
tightly with foil or cling wrap. Refrigerate for 2 – 3 days. Be sure to turn
the meat over at least twice a day.

Preheat
oven to 350° F (180°C).

Remove
meat from marinade. Pat dry with paper towels. Strain marinade through a fine
sieve set over a bowl. Discard spices and onion, but reserve marinade.

Melt
lard in a Dutch oven over high heat until it sputters. Add roast and brown well
on all sides. Adjust heat so as not to burn the meat. Transfer meat to a platter.
Pour off and discard all but 2 tbs. (30ml) of fat. Add onions, carrots, and
celery to pot. Cook over moderate heat until they are soft and light brown, 5 –
8 minutes. Sprinkle flour over veggies. Cook, stirring constantly 2 – 3 minutes
or until flour begins to color. 

Pour
in 2 cups (450ml) of reserved marinade and ½ cup (120ml) water. Bring to a boil
over high heat. Return meat to pot. Cover tightly. Cook in the oven for 2 hours
or until meat shows no resistance when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife.
Transfer meat to a heated platter. Cover with foil to keep warm. 

Discard
veggies. Pour liquid from pot into a measuring cup. Skim off fat. You need 2½
cups (570ml) liquid for the sauce. If you have more, boil briskly to reduce the
amount. If you have less, add beef stock. Combine liquid and gingersnaps in a
small saucepan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring often, for 10 minutes. The
crumbs will dissolve and thicken the sauce. Strain sauce through a fine sieve.
Keep warm on very low heat until ready to serve. 

To
serve, carve meat into ¼ inch (.64cm) slices. Arrange on individual dinner
plates or a large platter. In either case moisten the meat with a little sauce.
Pass the remaining sauce in a gravy boat. 

*Rosemary
is a good substitute for juniper berries. Use one fresh sprig. 

Add potatoes to a saucepan that holds them comfortably. Pour stock
halfway up the potatoes. Top off with water, covering potatoes by an inch
(1.25cm) or so. Add bay leaf. Set a lid on top.

You can do up to this point earlier in the day. Leave on the counter or
stovetop until you are ready to cook.

Bring pan to a boil over medium heat. Adjust the lid and heat so the water
continues a soft/light boil, but does not spill over. Cook 15 – 20 minutes,
then test for doneness. A fork will insert easily. 

Drain potatoes and discard bay leaf. Sprinkle pepper over potatoes.
Add butter. Stir carefully so as not to smash potatoes. 

Don’t have bay leaf? Add 1 tablespoon (20ml) or so of dried basil to
the pot. When you drain the potatoes most of the leaves will be gone, but the
good taste remains. 

Wash
cabbage under cool water and then remove tough outer leaves. Cut cabbage into 4
pieces. Remove core. Shred easily by slicing each section into thin strips. 

Place
cabbage in a large mixing bowl. sprinkle with vinegar and sugar. Toss with a
spoon to cover the shreds evenly. 

Slice
apple into thin wedges. Melt lard or bacon fat in a large pot. Add apples and
onions. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until apples are lightly
browned. 

Add
cabbage, onion with cloves, and bay leaf. Stir well while pouring in boiling
water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat so cabbage does a slow
simmer. Cover and cook 1½ – 2 hours, or until cabbage is tender. Check
occasionally to be sure cabbage is moist. If it seems dry, add 1 tbsp. (15ml)
or so of boiling water. When cabbage is tender there should be almost no liquid
in the pan. 

To
serve remove whole onion and bay leaf. Stir in wine and jelly. This recipe
freezes nicely.

May you enjoy all the days of your life filled with good friends, laughter, and seated around a well-laden table!

Sloane

Taylor’s cookbooks, Hot Mean Wear Aprons, Date Night Dinners, Date Night Dinners Italian Style, Sizzling Summer, and Recipes to Create Holidays Extraordinaire are released by Toque & Dagger Publishing and available at all book vendors.