Cate: Cassandra Dean is here to spread some holiday cheer! Cassandra, please tell us a
little bit about yourself.
Cassandra: Sure thing, Cate! I predominantly write historical erotic
romance, with stories set in Ancient Rome, Victorian London and the American
West, but I also have plans to write in other time periods and genres. Bit of a
hodgepodge author, that’s me.
I’m Australian, love Joss Whedon, have an inappropriate obsession for
film cameras and tend to get stuck on this question right about now…So I will
leave it there ;)
Cate: Ha, I can relate. :) What do you love most
about Christmas?
Cassandra: Ohhh, so many things, it super hard to choose just one! I
think the thing I love most about Christmas is getting together with my family
and opening presents. The joy and laughter that abounds is the loveliest
experience, and I look forward to it every year.
Cate: Me too. Do you have a favorite
memory of a Christmas past?
Cassandra: Again, so many but the first one that popped into my head
was the year my parents gave me a digital SLR camera. We’d had a horrendous
year as a family, with lots of crap and terrible things occurring. I’d wanted a
digital SLR for ages, and had a vague thought of purchasing one at some
undefined point in the future. When I unwrapped my present that year and saw
the expense my parents had gone to and the beautiful thought behind it, I burst
into tears. It was so overwhelmingly generous of them.
Cate: So sweet. :) If Santa could grant one
wish, what would you ask for?
Cassandra: Oh man, a toughie! Um…happiness and health for my family and
friends, I reckon. But, if I were to be selfish, I would ask for an all
expenses paid trip around the world! That would be rather awesome :D
Cate: Any favorite Christmas
recipes you’d care to share?
Cassandra: Mince pies! They are so yummily delicious, and so simple to
make!
MINCE PIE RECIPE
Fruit mince recipe:
470g can crushed pineapple
¼ cup brown sugar
1 cup sultanas
½
tspn cinnamon
1 cup raisins
½
tspn nutmeg
¼ cup currants
1
tbsn cornflour
¼ cup apricots
¼
cup brandy
1 apple
Peel and grate apple. Combine all ingredients in saucepan except
cornflour and brandy. Stir over medium heat until mixture boils, reduce heat,
simmer 3 minutes or until fruit is plump. Blend cornflour with brandy, mix into
hot fruit mixture. Stir until mixture boils and thickens. Cool before filling
into pie shell.
Pastry recipe:
1 cup plain flour
1
egg, seperated
1 tbsn icing sugar
1
tbsn iced water (approx)
1 tbsn custard powder
1
tspn finely grated lemon rind
90g cold butter, chopped coarsely
1 tbsn white sugar
Grease 12 round based patty pan (or metal pie shells). Process flour,
icing sugar, custard powder and butter until crumbly. Add egg yolk and enough
of the water to make the ingredients come together. Knead dough on lightly
floured surface until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30
minutes.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius. Roll two-thirds of pastry until
3mm thick. Cut rounds to fit patty pan or shells. Repeat until all 12 are
filled. Spoon fruit mix into pastry cases.
Roll reserved pastry until 3mm thick. Fashion pie lids in whatever
shape you desire. Place over fruit mixture, brush with egg white and sprinkle
with sugar.
Bake pies 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Stand for 5 minutes
before transferring to wire rack to cool.
Enjoy the deliciousness!
Cate: Yum! Thanks for sharing. Tell us about your latest
release, and where readers can find it online.
Cassandra: Book 1 of the Diamond Series and
part of Decadent Publishing’s Western Escape,
ROUGH DIAMOND is the
tale of a lady saloon owner and the empty-headed Englishman who wants to
purchase it from her.
ROUGH DIAMOND
is available from the following ebook retailers:
Cate: Care to share a blurb or
excerpt?
Cassandra: Of course! How about both?
Owner of the Diamond Saloon and Theater, Alice Reynolds is astounded when
a fancy Englishman offers to buy her saloon. She won’t be selling her saloon
to anyone, let alone a man with a
pretty, empty-headed grin…but then, she reckons that grin just might be a lie,
and a man of intelligence and cunning resides beneath.
Rupert Llewellyn has another purpose for offering to buy the pretty
widow’s saloon—the coal buried deep in land she owns. However, he never banked
on her knowing eyes making him weak at the knees, or how his deception would
burn upon his soul.
Each determined to outwit the other, they tantalize and tease until
passion explodes. But can their desire bridge the lies told and trust broken?
Rating: 3 Hot
~ Excerpt ~
Lifting the glass, Alice studied its contents. “There is nothing quite
like the enjoyment you get from a good whiskey. There’s the look and color of
it, and the way it burns in the light.”
“It’s the same color as your eyes,” Llewellyn breathed, his own wide
and empty of thought.
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. That’s right. Fool me into
thinking there’s not an ounce of calculation to your words. “Is it? Mighty kind
of you to notice.”
A happy grin was her response.
Well now, she was surely going to enjoy this. Setting her own
half-smile, she tilted her glass, watching as the whiskey caught the light of
the candle. “Have you ever noticed the feel of glass? It’s smooth against your
fingers, and though the whiskey burns you, the glass is cool. It seems strange,
doesn’t it? That such fire could come from something so cool.”
Intensely aware of his gaze upon her, she brought the glass to rest on
her bottom lip. “You lift the glass to your lips, and all that coolness rests
upon your flesh. The scent of the whiskey hits you, sweet and fiery. Your mouth
waters, and you can’t wait to have it inside you. Slowly, so slowly, you tip
the glass, teasing yourself as long moments in want of its taste stretch
unbearably.”
He no longer wore a smile. Dark eyes watched her as strong fingers dug
into the glass before him.
A prickle washed over her skin, her heart a steady beat in her chest.
With hushed voice, she continued. “Liquid slides down your throat. The flavor
explodes inside you, a glorious rush of sensation that overwhelms and consumes.
You curl your tongue, enjoying the lingering sensation in every part of your
mouth. Then, you look at the bottle.” Finally, she met his gaze direct. No
subterfuge. No tease. “And you know you can do it again.”
Cate: Oo, love it. What inspired you to write
about the theme?
Cassandra: My editor, actually. We were finalizing edits on my previous
book, TEACH ME, and she
suggested I submit a story to Decadent
Publishing’s Western Escape
line, with which she was involved. I had a bit of a think, came up with lady
saloon owners, coal mines and empty-headed Englishmen who aren’t what they seem
and the rest is history.
I must admit, I had never even contemplated writing a historical
Western, but I’m really glad I did. It was so interesting to research all the
bits and pieces that made up ROUGH DIAMOND, to learn
about coal mining in Wyoming and how long it takes to get from Cheyenne to San
Francisco by train in 1876!
Cate: What’s coming up next for
you?
Cassandra: A Christmas-themed book! The second in the Diamond Series, FOOL’S GOLD is the tale of
Pearl la Monte and Ethan Garrett, two people who dislike each other and are
trapped alone in the Diamond Saloon by a blizzard on Christmas Eve…Here’s the
blurb:
Christmas in Freewill
Christmas Eve, the Diamond Saloon is empty of its people, and Pearl la
Monte has a hankering to retire early. A pounding at the Diamond’s door rids
her of such a fool notion. Her irritation rises when she sees the prissy,
polite-like Garrett standing outside.
Ethan Garrett has a powerful need to gain succor. When the saloon’s
voluptuous redheaded singer scowls at him from the threshold of the Diamond, he
doesn’t stop to think on how his ire at her has disappeared. Or how he just
wants to spend some time in her company.
When a blizzard storms in, trapping them, will they spend their time
arguing or find their irritation for each other disguises something more?
Cate: Anything else you’d like
to share?
Cassandra: I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas,
however you choose to celebrate, and a safe and prosperous New Year. Now, bring
on the mince pies! :D
Cate: Peeps, Cassandra has her Santa hat on...
Cassandra: I’d like to offer a giveaway#! Comment below, leave your
email address and you’ll go in the running to win ROUGH DIAMOND swag – a
signed postcard, a magnet and a keyring! But that’s not all - seeing as it’s
Christmas, some special Christmas-spangled Haigh’s Chocolates* will be
included! Haigh’s is the BEST
CHOCOLATE EVA, and I’m sure the lucky person who wins will enjoy immensely.
Cate: Thanks so much for being
part of the 12 Days of Christmas! Hope you have a jolly holly holiday!
Cassandra: Thanks so much for having me, I’ve had a blast!
=====================================================================
# The small print
Comment before
midnight on 12 December 2012 (Australian Central Standard Time) to be entered
to win one (1) signed ROUGH DIAMOND postcard, one (1) ROUGH DIAMOND magnet and
one (1) ROUGH DIAMOND keyring, as well as Haigh’s Chocolates to the value of
AUD$5.00. Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner’s name posted on
this blog by 15 December 2012. Cassandra will also contact the winner by
e-mail; the winner will be required to reply with their postal address so
Cassandra can send the prize to them.
Only one entry per ISP address. Entrants
must be over 18 years of age. By entering, you agree Cassandra can use your
name when announcing the winner if you should win. If potential prize winner
forfeits or does not claim the prize, prize will be re-awarded, in Sponsor’s
sole discretion. All prizes will be awarded. International entries are
welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number
of entries received. Void where prohibited by law.
*Haigh’s Chocolates will be sent via mail
from Adelaide, South Australia, to wherever in the world the winner resides.
This could take some weeks. If this is something that concerns you, please
consider carefully before entering the competition.
