Guest Author SoCal MWA Reading Event - Plus Recipe Bonus
Next week, Thursday, July 31st, 7 pm PDT (8 pm MDT), please join me for a *free* author reading event hosted by the Southern California chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. I’ll be one of four guest Procedural & Private Eye Authors on the panel. Rachel Howzell Hall and Matt Coyle will serve as moderators. The event is open to the public.
To register, click the link or direct your browser to: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/proceduralpi
In Other News...
In case you missed my virtual book tour back in May, my guest post involving a recipe—YES, you read that right—on Christy’s Cozy Corners got a lot of traction. Here’s the full story behind the first and only recipe I’ve ever, ever created:
A Recipe for a Crunchy Toddler-Friendly Trail Mix
Check out this pull quote from a review of my latest mystery, OCEANO BEACH BEDLAM.
“A crunchy detective novel set in the world of California surfers. Jones delivers a proper beach read, both in form and content.” — Kirkus Reviews
Did you spot the adjective “crunchy” modifying the noun phrase “detective novel”? Unusual, right? I can think of a lot of adjectives to describe a detective novel—adjectives like “engaging,” “cerebral,” or even “gripping.” Crunchy as a modifier mystified me. Did the reviewer mean crusty, crispy, or crackly? The sound one makes while chewing through the prose?
I don’t think so. “Crunchy” has to be a modern qualifier, a literary term twenty-somethings fresh from their MFA in Creative Writing might use. So what did I do? I looked it up.
Here’s what the Urban Dictionary had to say:
crunchy
“Adjective. Used to describe persons who have adjusted or altered their lifestyle for environmental reasons. Crunchy persons tend to be politically strongly left-leaning and may be additionally but not exclusively categorized as vegetarians, vegans, eco-tarians, conservationists, environmentalists, neo-hippies, tree huggers, nature enthusiasts, etc. Also used to describe establishments where alternative foods and products are sold, i.e., natural food stores. Modified derivative of granola.” (Definition by EBC June 14, 2007)
Well, yes, it is true my protagonist, Thad Hanlon, does favor healthy foods for his three-year-old son. And yes, Thad does appreciate nature, especially the beach, and is concerned about the environment in a conservation-minded way. So, I guess “crunchy” may be a perfect adjective to describe him. Then, I thought, what the heck? If Thad Hanlon and his detecting partner, Bri de la Guerra, are perceived as granola-retros, why not post a recipe to celebrate crunchiness? Here’s the scene in the book where a recipe would make an ideal sidebar:
“Zael fussed and kept reaching for the daddy bag. He needed a snack. I pulled out a baggie of carob trail mix with his favorite—sunflower seeds and dried figs.” (p. 232)
And here’s the recipe suggested by the scene:
Toddler-Friendly Carob Trail Mix with Sunflower Seeds & Figs
Ingredients:
* 1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds (unsalted, hulled)
* 1/4 cup dried figs, chopped into small pieces
* 1/4 cup raisins or golden raisins (optional)
* 1/4 cup carob chips (unsweetened or lightly sweetened)
* 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
* Dash of vanilla powder (optional)
Instructions:
1. Chop dried figs into small, toddler-friendly pieces.
2. In a large bowl, combine:
* Sunflower seeds
* Chopped figs
* Raisins (if using)
* Carob chips
* Shredded coconut (if using)
3. Sprinkle vanilla powder (optional) and mix gently.
4. Apportion trail mix into small snack bags.
5. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
J Hope you enjoy the wholesome crunch!
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