Author Lucinda Moebius Guest Blogs Today!

Everyone, please welcome my guest blogger today, Lucinda Moebius. Above is the cover for her new release, the second in her series. I had the great pleasure of reading the first in her series and am looking forward to reading Raven's Song. But let's have Lucinda speak for herself:

Conda, thank you for hosting me on your site today.  I am thrilled with the chance I have to talk a little bit about myself and what it is to be an author.

My name is Lucinda Moebius and I am a Science Fiction and Fantasy author.  Currently, I reside in Boise ID.  I grew up in Idaho and Eastern Oregon and although I have lived or visited many other places, I consider Boise my home.  I love the city; it has everything I need to be happy.  My family, except my father and one brother, all live in the same twenty-mile radius.  We are all exceedingly close, some may even say slightly co-dependent, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  We have been there for each other for life’s major events: marriages, births, baptisms, illness.  Boise is big enough to offer big city options like nightlife hotspots, fine dining, fast food and shopping yet small enough to safely raise a family and have neighborhood block parties.  It’s the place I will always call home.

My first book Echoes of Savanna is a Science Fiction novel set in the year 2036.  Savanna Taylor is a medical doctor who is dealing with genetically altered diseases released by terrorists.  More importantly, the novel’s concept is based on Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.  The story covers a generation, twenty years, of the main character’s life.  There are many events that happen to a person in the course of a lifetime.  Savanna is living in a time of fear and terror and her goal is to make a safe Haven for her family.

The second book in the series, Raven’s Song, was released in January 2012.  Raven is Savanna’s daughter.  She is genetically altered and actually has some very unique character traits.  I love this beautiful child of Haven.  Raven is everything her mother is not: impulsive, impetuous, emotionally charged and impatient.  Her calling in life is to be a soldier, but the unique struggles this woman faces are not always fought on the battlefield.  

The concept for these books actually grew from a lesson in a creative writing class.  My students and I were discussing literature and writing together.  I had the idea for a genetically altered doctor who was fighting genetically altered diseases and the story started to flow.  I have always been a fan of Greek Mythology and the concept of the Hero’s Journey developing from these stories felt very organic.  The story just seemed to flow out of me and it just grew into this amazing life.  Haven is my child. 

I would love it if your readers took the time to head over to my website and find out a little bit more about Haven and my writing.  I might even have a few challenges for them. 

Thank you

Lucinda Moebius

About the author:

Lucinda Moebius grew up in the mountains of Idaho and Eastern Oregon. Her mother taught her to read when she was four years old and since that time books have been her constant companions. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English Teaching, a Master’s in Educational Leadership and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education. Lucinda supports her writing habit by teaching High School and College. She currently lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, stepson and their dog and cat.

Find me on facebook: Lucinda Hawks Moebius

Website: www.lucindamoebius.com

About Lucinda's novels:
Echoes of Savanna:
Every generation has its defining moments, events that change history and turn the course of lives. Forever will the children of that generation be defined by those moments.
Savanna Taylor is a medical doctor in 2036, the same year terrorists release a series of plagues and viruses into the world. She is a nineteen year old Brain Trust whose task it is to find a cure for the diseases and develop vaccines to prevent their further spread. The world is thrown in turmoil and Savanna needs to find a way to survive with her sanity and family intact. She needs to find a safe Haven for herself and for those she loves.
Can Savanna cope in a world in constant flux brought on by war and disease? Can she save the world and protect her loved ones or will she make the ultimate sacrifice? How will she be defined?
Raven’s Song:
The next generation has come into its own.  Raven, Savanna’s impulsive, impetuous daughter has begun her own epic journey.
Raven was born in a time of turmoil and war.  She decides her calling in life is to be a soldier.  Sacrificing the shelter and security of Haven, Raven puts herself at risk to save others.  She finds herself in perilous situations and thrust into the role of leadership despite her own misgivings.  The Siren’s Song of Haven is continuously singing to her.  She could be safe, protected, sheltered and warm if she returned to Haven and its stone walls.  But, is it her destiny to live in the walls of Haven, or is there another destiny in store for this child of Haven?

Buy on Amazon:   Echoes of Savanna: http://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Savanna-Parent-Generation-ebook/dp/B006RM66QM/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_2

Raven’s Song: http://www.amazon.com/Ravens-Haven-Generation-Novels-ebook/dp/B006YJ92GO/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_2

Happy St. Paddy's Day

Yes, it makes it green, but Puck wishes it wasn't raining!

Yes, Puck is a fair weather doggy, but all this rain will bring lots of green soon. And in the spirit of the holiday, here's a simple and easy soda bread that makes lots of variations!

SODA BREAD

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour or any combo of white flour, whole wheat pastry flour, and whole wheat flour. Myself, I prefer the all whole wheat bread flour only, which makes the soda bread very dense, chewy and nutty flavored.

1 generous teaspoon baking-soda (but only one otherwise you taste the baking soda)

3/4 teaspoon salt 

1 1/2 cups (about) buttermilk or I prefer to pour a couple of tablespoons of lime juice or vinegar into soy milk for a rich buttermilk flavor.

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter and flour a large baking sheet, knocking off excess flour.
  Sift together 4 cups flour, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl and stir in sugar, caraway, and raisins. Add buttermilk and stir just until dough is evenly moistened but still lumpy.
  Transfer dough to a well-floured surface and gently knead with floured hands about 8 times to form a soft but slightly less sticky dough. Halve dough and form into 2 balls. Pat out each ball into a domed 6-inch round on baking sheet. Cut a 1/2-inch-deep X on top of each loaf with a sharp knife, then brush loaves with butter or olive oil.
  Bake in middle of oven until golden brown and bottoms sound hollow when tapped, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer loaves to racks to cool completely.
  
  Variations
  Adds: 
  Nuts of all sorts, I especially love walnuts, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds
  Dried fruits, I hate raisins but cranberries and walnuts, oh yum
  Herbs, rosemary, sage, garlic and onion, the list goes on and depends on what you are having with the bread
  Cheese, Parmesan or a sharp cheddar work best
   
  Any of my readers want to add? And I have turned off word verification so it will be easier to comment!
   
  HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!