We are delighted to have Ane Mulligan visiting us today. Not only one of the nicest people you’ll meet, she also has a great sense of humor.
In honor of your coming today Ane, I tried to find your favorite coffee, Millstone’s Chocolate Velvet coffee, but they don’t have k-cups. So instead I will welcome you with Homemade Cinnamon Mocha Coffee.
The ingredients and directions are below so our readers can brew a cup and join us.
1/2 cup ground dark roast coffee, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 5 cups water, 1 cup 2% milk, 1/3 cup chocolate syrup, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, whipped cream, (optional). Directions: In a small bowl, combine the coffee grounds, cinnamon and nutmeg; pour into a coffee filter of a drip coffeemaker. Add water; brew according to manufacturer’s directions. In a large saucepan, combine the milk, chocolate syrup and brown sugar. Cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla and brewed coffee. Ladle into mugs; garnish with whipped cream if desired. Yield: 6 servings. (http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/homemade-cinnamon-mocha-coffee)
Thank you Susan.
Ane, we are so excited about your new book, Chapel Springs Survival. Tell us about it.
A mail-order bride, a town overrun with tourists, and illegal art ~ How on earth will Chapel Springs and Claire Bennett survive?
Well, it has my attention. What brought about the writing of this story?
I received a phone call from our eldest son, who said, “Mom, I emailed you some pictures. Look at them, then call me back.” Click.
He’d hung up. I quickly opened email and there was a photo of a lovely—very Latin young woman. The next photo she was in a wedding dress. I hit speed dial. It seemed our son got himself a 21st Century mail-order bride. And didn’t tell his mother about it until a year had passed.
I told him, “For not telling me, it’s going in a book.” And it did. That’s where the similarities end. In real life, our daughter-in-law is the best thing that ever happened to our Michael. We love her and did from day one. But that wouldn’t make a good novel. So I took that idea, of a modern-day son who gets a mail-order bride and how it wreaks havoc in his family.
Is there a purpose behind the story that you want your readers to know?
That love can conquer the steeliest of hearts. Then we can win over someone without words.
What was the most challenging part in writing this story?
It didn’t quite go the way I thought it should, so when the characters hijacked it, I hung on, hoping it would end right and I wasn’t facing a 90K word rewrite. Fortunately, my characters were right. The ending was perfect.
Did it require a lot of research and if so what kind?
Not as much as some of my stories. Since it’s the second in the Chapel Springs series, I’d done a lot for that one. This did require a little medical research, though. My main character fell and hurt her knee. At first I thought she had a broken kneecap, but after some research, I nixed that. It’s a whole lot worse than I thought!
What’s next for Ane Mulligan?
The third book in the series will be out in May. It’s called Home to Chapel Springs. I have a hard time deciding which I like best, the second or third books. Right now, I’m writing the fourth and last book in that series, Life in Chapel Springs.
Well, I will be sad for the characters to go…thanks for entertaining us and thank you for stopping by today. Good luck with your new book.
Be sure and drop by Ane Mulligan’s website:
Just click on her book above and it will take you to Amazon.com to her page.
Stop by her Facebook page and like her. https://www.facebook.com/ane.mulligan?fref=ts
Thanks so much for letting me share with the readers, Susan! And I’m going to try out that recipe. 🙂
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Such a great story!! Not sure what I would have done if my son sprang that surprise on me. LOL! And thank you for the recipe! Sounds delicious.
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Thanks for stopping by, Lisa! I made a pot earlier and it really is yummy!
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Love it when story ideas come from real life. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for popping by to cheer me on!
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Oh, my! I don’t know what I’d do if my son surprised me like that!!!!
I am going to have to try the coffee recipe out, I love all things cinnamon.
Thanks for giving us a chance to win your second book, I loved the first one! (I emailed you!)
Good luck and God’s Blessings to everyone!!
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Thanks for stopping by. And I did what any self-respecting author did. I put it in a book! It’s not nice to fool mother!!! Muwahaha. ;o) And I got your entry.
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LOL. No, It is NOT nice to fool mother!
Thanks for letting me know you got the entry!
God’s Blessings!
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Can’t wait for Ane’s newest–and can’t wait to try that coffee! Sounds like a little bit of heaven!
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It was, Linda. I tried it right away! Yum! Of course, whenever you start with dark roast coffee, you know you’re going to have a winner!
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My Sister, my friend. Can’t wait to read it, lovin the Chapel Springs Cookbook. Love you
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Thanks, Sis!! I can’t wait until book 3 comes out since it kind of tells our story. 🙂 Love you!!
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Loved the first book. I cannot wait to read this one. Thank you for the recipe.
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Thank you, Melissa! I hope you love the second book as much as I do!
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I’m leaving this open for people to enter the drawing until morning, since I’m on the east coast and the “Westies” are just coming out of work. 🙂 I’ll check int he morning and then announce the winner in a comment here and on my website and social media. Thanks again, Susan, for letting me visit!
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That was a doozy of a surprise! 🙂 I can’t wait to read Chapel Springs Survival!
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Thanks and you’re entered in the drawing. 🙂
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And the winner, by rafflecopter, is …. Becky Lewis! Becky, send me your address, please.
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Thanks Ane, for coming to visit us. we enjoyed it very much.
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