As a reader, do you chose books written by humorous authors? Is it an aspect of a story that you search for? When you have a choice of what to read, and it's obvious by the back blurb that a book has a lighter spirit rather than a gloomy downer tendency, would that be a deciding factor?

Many of these questions have been on my mind since I first started to write. I can't imagine my main characters having to experience all the conflicts of a well-plotted story without a sense of humor. Obviously, not everything is funny and shouldn't be, but it's important to me that I care about the main people in my stories, what happens to them, and how they succeed. And producing a chuckle or two by the time I reach the end, well that just makes it more satisfying.

As an avid reader, I'll admit that humor is the difference between whether I go looking for other work by the same author or move on to someone new. Many times I've struggled through heavy pathos and conflicts that break my heart for the hero or heroine, and right till end there's no relief. Many times the books were brilliant and so well written they deserved 5 stars, but somehow they still don't give me the satisfaction as a story that can make me experience a few smiles as well as the tears.

So, back to my original question, is humor an element you look for in the books you choose?

Hello everyone,

Thank you, Mimi, for having me on your blog. The Water Baby, a short novel, is set in New Zealand, and is a spicy, contemporary love story between self-exiled Californian, Jasmine Davis, and hunky kiwi, Fraser Brook.

Jasmine left the US, intent on putting the past behind and making a new life for herself with no personal complications. Determined to follow the rule of not mixing business with pleasure, her plan goes awry when she meets Fraser Brook – a man who ignores rules that get in the way of what he wants.

Compromised from their very first meeting, Jasmine finds her life getting more tangled by the minute, and the harder she tries to extricate herself from Fraser’s influence, the more he entangles her. Does she eventually succumb to his charms? Buy The Water Baby for only $2.99 at Amazon to find the answer.

An excerpt:

Jasmine floated on her back, and smiled as tension slowly leached from her limbs. With the sun caressing her skin, and the gentle rocking of the deliciously cool water, she closed her eyes and imagined listing the property for sale. The advertisement would read: Charming storybook cottage, in top location, lovingly restored to its former glory. Fairytale garden for kids, cats and dogs. Make your dream come true. Phone Jasmi-

Splash! Her pulse jumped. What was that? Springing her eyelids open, she caught a streak of movement.

Twisting around, she shrieked as a man reared up inches away. Water sprayed like a geyser. He blinked, and shook his mop of dripping cocoa-brown curls in the manner of a large, energetic puppy. She shrank away, covering her lacy bra with both arms and choking open-mouthed on the wave churned in his wake.

A pair of silver-green eyes regarded her beneath the sodden curls as she coughed, spluttered and gasped. Her face flamed as her legs frantically trod water, and she silently held those eyes – desperate to keep his gaze from wandering south.

“Hey little mermaid.” His deep voice complemented his square jaw and broad shoulders.

She assessed the expression on his face. Not concerned or even irritable. More like amused. Annoyed with the thought of him laughing at her, she snapped, “You gave me a heck of a fright. Where did you come from? Who are you?”

He ignored her questions, merely raising one arched eyebrow and indicating in the direction of her chest. “It’s a bit late for modesty, isn’t it?”

Her face burned afresh. “How long have you been here?” How long have you been watching me?

His eyes narrowed. “Uh-uh, I’ll ask the questions. Who are you and what the hell gives you the right to trespass on my property?”

Jasmine’s heart plummeted to the bottom of the pool as panic surged through her. She stared, gulped and whispered, “You’re Fraser Brook?”

“An emotional roller-coaster which had me smiling one minute and in tears the next.”

Read more of this book at Amazon

Would anyone like to write a review of The Water Baby? If so, please post your email address in the Comments section and I’ll send you a free copy.

Visit me at www.cherieleclare.com to read about my other books: French Kiss, Kiwi Kiss, and my new Romantic Intrigue Taming The Bad Boy.

Bio: I’m never quite sure what readers wish to know about authors – feel free to ask me questions! I live in New Zealand with my husband, and our sons both live in Seattle, USA. This pic is of me with my 3 week old gorgeous grandson, Dean, when we visited Seattle last August.

·  My nickname is Mimi because, as a baby, my sister couldn't say Marion.

·  I have a wonderful husband who makes me laugh, a grown son who makes me happy I'm a Mom, and a niece who's so beautiful, she makes me envious.

·   Anything my husband cooks is my favourite food.

·  Okay - I admit I like my homemade perogies and homemade bread the best - naturally, both full of carbs….sigh!! (see below for recipes)

·  I love writing 'funny stuff' and if the words crack me up - I know I'm onta something good!

·  I love people!

·  I hate bigotry.

Mimi’s Homemade Perogies

Filling:

Boil 4 med potatoes with salt. When they’re ready, drain the water and let them sit for a minute to release the steam. (Important or you’ll have a mushy mess.)

Shred (old style) cheddar cheese and have it ready to add to the potatoes - while the potatoes are still hot, mash in the cheese with a bit of butter and salt and pepper. Use lots of cheese and do the old taste test. If it’s flavourful - it’s ready.

Let the cheese mixture cool! (I put mine in the fridge) If you don’t, you’ll be sorry when you go to fill the perogies. (Trust me they’ll stick)

Dough:

In a medium size bowl and put a couple of heaping cups of flour. Add salt.

Run the hot water and have a quart of milk nearby.

Run some water over the flour and then add again as much milk. Stir - just a little - to see how the consistency is. Preferably, the dough should be sticky. Keep adding more liquids (as much milk as water) so that when you stir the mixture, it’s quite wet.  (this is the secret to a good dough…you should have it sticky when you put it on a floured counter and little by little you’ll add more flour until it feels like you know the dough should feel.

Cut the dough into quarters and roll each part out separately. Use lots of flour. I will emphasize…USE LOTS OF FLOUR and your dough will roll out really thin, (you want nice thin dough so don’t be afraid to roll it as much as necessary as it tends to shrink back.  

I use a tin can (small size) to cut out rounds and I fill them quite full. Fold one side to the other and pinch, making sure they’re sealed. Then place the perogies on a floured cookie sheet and make layers using wax paper.

Freeze now, or boil.

When they’re fresh, they only take a minute to get to the top of a pot of boiling, salted water. Only cook them another minute.  2 minutes total. Don’t overcook! (When they’re frozen, they do take a bit longer.

Strain out water and put them in a buttered bowl

Topping:

In a small dish, microwave butter until it melts. Roll out salted soda crackers and add the crumbs to the butter and stir. Use this to coat the boiled perogies.

Then get a glass of DIET coke and enjoy the treat!

Mimi's Homemade Bread 

In a large bowl add:

4 cups of warm (not quite hot) water

1 tablespoon salt

4 tablespoons sugar

Stir to dissolve.

Melt 5 tablespoon shortening in Microwave and add only 4 tablespoons to the water, keeping one for later.

Add 2 cups of flour and stir into the water.

In next cup of flour, add 11/2 packages (1 full tablespoon) instant yeast ( I buy the 3 packet type of Quick-rise yeast) and stir it into the flour. Add to mixture.

From now on add 1 cup of flour at a time until the mixture is hard to stir. Spoon it onto a floured counter and keep adding flour and kneading it in until the dough forms a ball and the stickiness is pretty well gone. It should be smooth and well kneaded. Takes anywhere from 7-10 minutes.

Turn oven to a very low temp for a few minutes to warm it and then warm the large bowl (with hot water) where the bread will rise. Grease the bowl with some of the left-over shortening and also grease the top of the bread so no hard crusts form on the outside of the dough.

Cover and let rise in the warm oven for 11/2 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.

Then punch the dough down, put it on a floured surface and cut it into 4 parts. Cover and let sit for 15 minutes.

Now, using a small amount of flour, shape the dough into bread or buns and put into the greased waiting pans. Cover and put in warm oven again to let rise for another hour.

Cook at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes. Spread butter over top to soften crust. Let sit on rack to cool and then enjoy!

Despite a story inciting the news lately, about a man who acted more like a villain than a hero - and has everyone questioning their own likely behaviour if in his position - I believe true heroes still exist.

As a romance author who dedicates a good portion of each book to a woman’s dream man, I don’t have to go back in time to look for the real thing. I find examples all around me. In husbands and boyfriends who take loving care of their women (and vice versa) because they want them to be happy. What about the father who hasn’t had a decent coat for years because he figures the kids need new clothes more than he does.  I know of a younger man who lives next door to an eighty-seven-year-old widow and drives her to church most Sundays, to the grocery store every week and to her doctor’s appointments - no relative, just a good neighbour - in my book - a hero.

As often as we see a story that might have us questioning the kindness or bravery of men and women today, there are as many untold stories that prove heroism still lives. Because I wanted to confirm this theory, I glanced through some of the other news items and found a recent story about a regular working man who risked his life to help a police office trying to arrest a vicious felon. Another of a homeless man who’d jumped into a freezing river to rescue a drowning victim. And yet another, of ordinary folks running into a burning building with the sole intention of helping those still inside.

Hero status doesn’t just belong to the male of the species either. There are some pretty cool females willing to put themselves in danger to help others.

So, look around you and see if there is someone in your world who you would consider as a hero. Share your story. It would be uplifting for all of us to hear them, help rebuild our confidence in our fellow man…ahhh person.

Novellas  from The Vicarage bench Series

Light-hearted, fun romance with a paranormal twist.