guerrilla reading

Guerrilla Reading 

Turn off the TV
Turn off the computer/iPad/iPhone

~ Read ~

• Before going to sleep 
• Before getting up 
• In the bathtub 
• While baby is napping 
• After kids are in bed 
• With kids To kids 
• While waiting for your ride 
• While on the bus/train/plane 
• While dinner is cooking 
• While exercising (audiobooks!) 
• While driving (ditto) 
• While doing work around the house (audiobooks again!)
• While waiting for an appointment
• and...

Mmmm...tasty

Slow Cooker Chicken with Artichoke and Olives

Ingredients

4 skinless chicken breasts
One 14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained
One 14 oz can pitted olives (any kind will do. I used a mix of kalamata and black)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup low sodium chicken stock
1 tsp dried thyme
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbs capers

 *For gravy: 2 tablespoons brown rice flour (or other flour of choice)

Brown the chicken breasts in small amount of olive or canola oil. After browning the chicken, remove it and add onions and garlic to pan. Saute until onions are translucent. Place all ingredients in the slow cooker/crockpot. Cook on Low for 7-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours.

Optional: You can make a gravy from the sauce in the slow cooker when you're about ready to serve. Put the sauce into saucepan on medium heat. Whisk in flour for about 5 minutes or until sauce thickens. After it reaches desired thickness, pour over chicken & veggies -- serve.

mysterious ways

The Indie Mystery & Thriller Bestseller List


Based on sales at hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending January 8, 2012.


1. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

2. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

3. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

4. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

5. V Is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

6. The Drop by Michael Connell

7. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

8. Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson

9. The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

10. Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell

The list goes to 25 - for the rest of the list click here.

There must be 14 ways ...

to kill your book club

1. Think Outside The Book 
Liven up the discussion by reading plays or literary magazines that feature essays, art and short stories. 

2. Share The Busywork 
Leaving one person in charge for too long will lead to her burning out. Instead, every few months, rotate the responsibility of hosting and setting the date for the meeting. 

3. Seduce With Food 
A juicy three-cheese lasagna can help the discussion of the driest novel. 

4. And Yet: Never Serve Vegetarian Pâté 

Read more: 14 Ways Not to Kill Your Book Club

winter reading

Do you read different types of books during the winter months?