Hello Readers,

It's out. Simmering with Resentment, the 11th Cookbook Nook Mystery came out Tuesday.  Did you get your copy?  I'm breathing but just barely.  There's always so much to do when a book comes out.  And if it's also the week that I'm supposed to turn in my next mystery?  Whoa!  Deep breaths. 

Mini update:  I did put the finishing touches on my latest suspense novel . . . until its next reading, mid May.  I'm pretty happy with the progress.  A friend suggested that I distance myself from the project by acting as a "script doctor" for Daryl (me).  Okay, I'm a Gemini.  I can break my personality into two parts. So I did just that.  I acted as if I wasn't Daryl while making all the changes the independent editor suggested.  It was a great exercise.  I really didn't judge anything Daryl had written.  I just knew it needed to be fixed.  By simply trying to make the manuscript better for Daryl, it was less emotional and easier to "kill the babies."  That's an expression authors use when they know they have to cut out lots of stuff in a book that isn't necessary.  Was it crazy to be my alter ego?  Sure. But it helped me get through the slicing and dicing, and I still like the book. That's a plus, right?  

If you read the subject line for this newsletter, 

you saw that there is a 

GIVEAWAY BELOW . . . is the winner you?  

Remember, there is a giveaway in every monthly 

newsletter!  Tell a friend.

Before you scroll down, I just wanted to let you know that  reviews are starting to come in for SIMMERING WITH RESENTMENT, and they're positive, which makes me happy.  I hope it makes you want to read it.  

“This is the eleventh book in this series and I would recommend you read them all!”  ~ Pirate Patty on Amazon, “Top 1000 Reviewer Vine Voice”

“Gerber's series has been a highlight in the last few months, and I really appreciate how easy she's made the books to read, enjoy, and root for.”            ~ James on Goodreads

You can read more about it on my website, and get into the world of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, watch the book trailer, and more below.

And let's not forget that the next Fairy Garden Mystery is coming out June 28. It's also up for pre-order.  I'm very excited about this third book.  You will learn a lot more about Courtney and Fiona and what a fairy sleuth can and cannot do. I'll be doing a BLOG TOUR during June.  Don't miss out on that.  There will be lots of giveaways. I'll post the tour on my website this coming week so you can simply click a link.  I'll also be posting in widely on Facebook.  Stay tuned.

You can read more about it on my website, and get into the world of the Fairy Garden Mysteries, watch the book trailer, and more below.

Winner's choice of 

Cookbook Nook Mystery including Simmering with Resentment.

Scroll down for winner's name.

THE MAILING LIST WINNER FOR
BOOK IS:
Joyce at  j*imada@gmail.com

Joyce, please note, the asterisk is for privacy issues.

You have until May 21st to contact me to claim your book.
Email me using your above address
at daryl@darylwoodgerber.com and receive the book of your choice.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Congratulations!

I'm trying to clean off my desk . . . so I can clear out my head  . . . so I can create with clarity.  Spring cleaning for the mind, as it were.  It's going to be a challenge. My desk isn't a mess, but I've been accumulating ideas and paper and junk, and it needs to be sorted.  Wish me luck.  Do you have areas of your life or house that need, um, sprucing up?  If so, I wish you luck, too! 

I'm reading Cate Conte's latest, WITCH TRIAL, and it's so much fun.  Violet Moon has just learned she's a witch. Between learning spells, Violet is being investigated by the Magickal Council.  

I was in the mood to do a mash-up of one of my favorite cookie bars. I had macadamia nuts and coconut left over from two recipes I made for the next Fairy Garden Mystery, and I had a lot of blueberries in the fridge.   Don't you love to mix things up?  These turned out great!  And they're so easy.  Pretty much dump, blend, and bake.  Enjoy.

BLUEBERRY COCONUT MACADAMIA NUT BARS

(Gluten-free Version) 

(Yield: 9 or 16 depending how you cut your squares)

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup gluten-free flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon whey powder
• 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• dash of salt
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1/4 cup crushed macadamia nuts
• 1 pint blueberries – 2 cups rinsed

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Line a 9" by 9" pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix together the butter, sugar, eggs, gluten-free flour, baking powder, whey powder, xanthan gum, vanilla, and salt.  Add in coconut and crushed macadamia nuts.  * I usually put them in a baggie and hammer them with a mallet.  Very satisfying!

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and add the blueberries on top.  Spread evenly.

Bake 38-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

*If you want to make these using regular flour, simply swap out the gluten-free flour with regular and omit the whey powder and xanthan gum.  

Sparky had a great time having a sleepover with his two "cousins."  My son's dogs.  They are little frisky girls. Talyiha, the Scottie, loves to play with Sparky and he loves to play with her . . . until he's exhausted and she still wants to play!  Oof! Kaylee (in the background) is the fun police.  When Sparky and Taliyah go at it, Kaylee barks and barks, trying to make them stop.  But she won't join in the fun. 

That's it. That's all that is fit to print.
May your joy come from reading.
May your lives be filled with love.

Until next time…all my best,