Would Following Yonder Star be more popular if the wise men were zombies or vampires?

Gasp!

I’m sorry that I even went there, but as I took a walk this morning, I started thinking about what really appeals to the general public. We have:

·         Romance: twisted, sick, degenerate stuff like 50 Shades. Not the heart-warming tales of Nicholas Sparks; that stuff is fine.

·         Vampires: I never understood how one could romanticize creatures that never die, live off of human blood, and are basically the spawn of Satan. Read Brian Lumley some time if you want a clear line between Good vs. Evil when it comes to vampires. Lumley’s creations are most definitely evil and there is not a shred of anything redeemable in them.

·         Zombies: Again, why do slow-moving, crumbling, decaying entities grab us so? Is it because of Night of the Living Dead? That un-escapable nightmare where the monster catches you, no matter how fast your run, or how slow it moves?

And these types of books and movies top the charts!

“Hey, writer-man, I thought you just wrote for fun. You said this story wrote itself, so why do you care what sells!?”

That voice--a blend of family, friends, and my own conscience--has a valid point. And it’s true. After Epiphany Mass in 2012, I began drafting the journey of the wise men, and started my research. Their snippet in Matthew always left me hungry for more; so when I discovered that there wasn’t a whole lot of other information about these men, I crafted my own adventure. Of course I was careful to stick to the research that had been done, and to Matthew, but the rest was my own extended prayer for mankind. So, in a sense, this was just a story in my head that I wanted to tell.

But... the reaction I have received when I do signings (at stores, churches, etc.) is a humbling one. People actually enjoyed the story. They found it unique that these men were described as real human beings, that the reader could join in on the journey. I realize that I only touched a hundredth of a percent of potential readers, but it gives me hope that others will like this.

What if I made these guys into zombies or vampires? Hey, now there’s shock value, there’s appeal. I smell talk shows and lawsuits and a slew of negative press, followed by massive sales. There ya go, that’s the ticket! If only I sell my soul, I can make millions!

I believe the question is thus answered. It is a sad time in our society when we put more value into football, entertainment, and the Kardashians, than we do in working for the greater good. Instead of digesting books and media that uplift people, call us to reflection and prayer, or inspire us to help those less fortunate, we read about zombies, vampires, and deviant behavior. The media moguls have appealed to our animal instincts: And it works.

So this stuff sells, and people buy it. I’m not really here to pass moral judgment, just observe the phenomenon. Heck, I’m a guy who likes to watch a shoot-‘em-up movie over a tear-jerker any day. But I’m also one of those strange men who has the entire Golden Girls collection on DVD, I’d rather read old literature than anything modern, and I don’t like zombies.

“What are you talking about?!”

I don't know... I'm sorry, but this is turning into very long, late-April rant. We still have snow on the ground in MN. I shouldn’t be terribly upset that Following Yonder Star hasn’t overtaken 50 shades; besides, I don’t want that kind of publicity anyway. I just feel a little bit sad that society has gone the way it has. Zombies, vampires, and gross sex are the top-sellers. And, if I wanted to appeal to my own animal nature, I can be pretty sure that, were the three kings vampires, it would be at #1 by Christmas.

Instead, however, readers will have to take comfort in the story that it is: A spiritual journey, a story of friendship, dedication, faith, and love. It’s a reminder of what Christmas truly means, and that the Christmas spirit is not limited to the Macy’s/Target/Wal-Mart-designated holiday time frame.

Cover Reveal!

The Legacy of the Fourth King will come out later this year. It is a short book, more like a novella, that supplements the story Following Yonder Star. Most everyone is aware of the Three Kings, so reading Legacy has no prerequisites... it's just a fun story about a possible fourth wise man.

I am loving the new cover, developed by Karri Klawiter (artbykarri.com).

Madsgos - The Fourth Wise Man

The name will be Madsgos. So far about 20,000 words into the story. It won't be much longer than that--just a nice supplement to the whole story.

Cover art coming soon by Kari Klawitter.

And he and the three kings don't get back to Jerusalem until 33 AD....

Back to reading Proust and some writing here and there.

The Fourth Wise Man...

Yes, there are legends about a fourth Wise Man/King. Whatever the legend, the guy was always a day late and a dollar short; having three jewels he gives them away to help those less fortunate and doesn't arrive in Jerusalem until about 0 AD.

My next project will be called "The Legacy of the Fourth King." However, I need a name. I want to stick with one of the legends that claims he came from Gaul, so the name should end in -os.

Please take a moment to complete the poll. I really would like this to be a community effort!

Book signing this weekend!

 

*** Book signing this weekend! ***

This weekend we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, and as such close the book on Christmas 2012. It's been a fun season, but like most of you I'm tired, and ready to start 2013.

One last hurrah before Following Yonder Star takes a little nap: There will be a signing this Saturday, January 5, 2012 at Gifts of Faith bookstore in Rochester, MN

http://www.giftsoffaithshop.com/

Many thanks to the store for allowing me to be there. While your there, pick up a nice espresso from the St. James coffee house next door.

Even if you don't want/care about a book, please check out the store. It is a wonderful place run by really great folks.

Post-Bulletin Article

http://postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1517995

Thanks so much to Jeff Pieters for the great interview and the opportunity to share my work! I really apprecaite it :)

A Few More Christmas Things

All right, now that there is snow (not much, but some white aroud here), the mood is starting to set in. So here are a few of my favorite things to make, do, or listen to:

1) Make an igloo:
http://www.wikihow.com/Build-an-Igloo


2) Listen to A Christmas Carol (Lionel Barrymore and Orson Welles): FREE here: http://archive.org/details/CampbellPlayhouseAChristmasCarol12241939

3) Cookies, bars, and fattening treats, oh my!

These are all from a little book I put together for the fam:

The CAKE ~ Triple-Chocolate Cake with Chocolate-Peppermint Filling

This is referred to simply as “THE CAKE!” by my family. It is overly rich, delicious, fattening, and phenomenal. It’s a hell of a lot of work, but it’s worth it.

FILLING

8 oz Lindt chocolate, finely chopped

½ cup whipping cream

1 T light corn syrup

½ tsp peppermint extract

CAKE

1 cup sifted all purpose flour

⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

½  teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

⅓ cup (packed) dark brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 large eggs

½ cup buttermilk

1 ½ cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Chopped up candy canes for garnish

GLAZE

8 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

¾ teaspoon peppermint extract

For filling:

Place chocolate in medium bowl. Bring cream and corn syrup to simmer in small saucepan. Pour hot mixture over chocolate; add extract and let stand 1 minute. Whisk until mixture is smooth. Let filling stand at room temperature while cake is baking and cooling.

For cake:

Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment paper. Butter parchment. Dust pan with flour. Whisk first 5 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in both sugars, then vanilla. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions each. Mix in chocolate chips.

Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 5 minutes. Turn out cake onto rack. Peel off parchment. Cool completely.

Using electric mixer, beat filling until fluffy and lightened in color, about 30 seconds. Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally in half. Place 1 layer, cut side up, on rack set over baking sheet. Spread filling over. Top with second layer, cut side down. Chill filled cake 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare glaze:

Stir chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in heavy small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Mix in extract. Cool glaze until just lukewarm but still pour able, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.

Pour 1/2 cup glaze over center of cake. Spread over top and sides of cake. Chill until glaze sets, about 15 minutes. Pour remaining glaze over center of cake, then spread quickly over top and sides. Chill until glaze sets, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; chill. Before continuing, let stand at room temperature until softened, about 4 hours.)

Sprinkle candies around top edge of cake. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Pfeffernüsse

“Pepper nuts” or “spiced nut”. These little cookies are a favorite during the holidays. Not too sweet, not too spicy, and rolled in copious amounts of powdered sugar, they go well with strong black coffee.

Sift together:

2 cups plus 2 T sifted all-purpose flour

¾ tsp double-acting baking powder

⅛ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Add:

¼ tsp nutmeg (use ½ tsp if using freshly grated nutmeg)

¼ tsp ground cloves

2 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp anise seeds

1 tsp cardamom

Cream together:

½ cup butter

⅓ cup sugar

Add and bet well until light:

1 egg

Add:

¼ cup finely chopped almonds

1 T finely chopped citron

¼ cup finely chopped candied orange peel

Add the flour mixture to the above ingredients in thirds, alternately with:

⅓ cup molasses

1 T corn syrup

¼ tsp brandy extract

1 tsp grated lemon rind

1 T lemon juice

Beat well, then set aside overnight. Preheat oven to 350. Shape into 1-inch balls and bake on a greased cookie sheet 10 to 15 minutes. Roll while warm in a vat of powdered sugar.

Non’s Sugar Cookies

Nellie (“Non”) Finnane was my great-aunt and I didn’t know her long as she died when I was a child. But we still have her recipe for sugar cookies. She would not use a butter cream frosting, but instead sprinkle sugar over the still-warm cookies out of the oven. I’ve added the frosting recipe because it’s pretty damn good, too.

Oven to 375°

3 cups flour

1 cup butter

1 tsp salt

⅛ tsp cream of tartar

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

½ tsp vanilla

1 tsp nutmeg (double if using freshly grated)

4 T. milk

½ tsp baking soda

Cream together butter, flour, salt, and tartar. The mixture should like the beginnings of a pie crust. Add nutmeg, milk, and baking soda and mix well. Then add eggs, sugar, and vanilla.  This mixture keeps one week to one month.

Bake on greased cookie sheets 10 to 15 minutes.

Optional: Butter Frosting

Cream together 2 cups powdered sugar, ⅓ cup butter, 2 T milk, and ½ tsp vanilla. Add more milk if mixture is too thick.

Peanut Blossoms

A holiday favorite!

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp baking soda

4 T. milk

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 cups plus ⅔ cup flour

1 tsp salt

1 bag chocolate kisses

Mix peanut butter and butter and add in the sugars. Beat eggs, milk, and vanilla into mixture. Add dry ingredients. Form spoonfuls of dough into a ball and roll in sugar. Bake 8 minutes at 375° and press chocolate candy into each one. Cook another 2 to 5 minutes.

Nut Bars

Now this is a holiday bar! It beats any other bar, hands down. Something special happens with the butterscotch and corn syrup that transforms them into one of my favorite naughty treats. Of course, they are loaded with nuts and butter, but these marvelous nuggets are a special occasion dessert, anyway.

1 ½ cups flour

¾ cup brown sugar

¼ tsp salt

½ plus 2 T. cold butter

1 can (11 ½ oz) mixed nuts

1 cup butterscotch chips

½ cup light corn syrup

Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Cut in ½ cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with nuts. Melt chips in a small saucepan and add remaining butter. Mix well. Pour over nuts. Bake another 10 minutes. Cool and cut.