Hello Readers,

How are you all doing?  I hope you're enjoying cooler temps and more time to read.  There's a GIVEAWAY in the next block of this newsletter.  Don't miss it.  It could be you! 

So this fall, I'm setting aside time to do a lot of soul searching about what to write next.  Don't get me wrong.  I have deadlines, so I know what I'm writing NOW, but what to write NEXT is always on my mind.  Will the story resonate with readers?  Will I find an audience?  It's a journey and one I gladly travel, but it does plague me at times about what the NEXT project will be.  Luckily, I have a great group of fellow authors with whom I brainstorm.  It really helps having a supportive group of likeminded people who understand the business — the frustrations as well as the joys.  

One of my frustrations is "getting it right."  I'm a quasi-perfectionist (quasi because I have really worked on NOT being too tough on myself if I mess up . . .) How's that working, you ask?  Ha!  Sometimes, I succeed. Sometimes, well, I don't.  Even a quasi-perfectionist gets upset when something isn't going as planned.  This is when I find it very helpful to have a dog.  Yep, Sparky is my sounding board.  We walk and I talk.  He is a great listener.  While walking, I often find the answer to a question that is plaguing me. Do you do that?  Walk or do some kind of project to stimulate the gray cells?  

Wish me luck as I embark on something new.  I really do love this journey.

                                                              *

In the meantime, I still have to promote the books that I have written. Did I mention that I'm so lucky to be doing something I love?  Ahem.  Write.  I love to write.  I do not love PR.  I don't like selling stuff.  But doing promotion comes with the territory.  So I figured out a way to have FUN while doing it.  I'm putting books in a lot of little free libraries around Los Angeles.  It's a way of giving back while promoting.  Sparky goes with me on some of these adventures.  Here's a little library in my neighborhood. See A DEADLY ECLAIR peeking out from behind the notice? 

Winner's choice of any of Cookbook Nook Mystery 

Scroll down for winner's name.

THE MAILING LIST WINNER FOR
A CHOICE OF COOKBOOK NOOK MYSTERIES IS:
Mary Sue R. email:  booklady**9@gmail.com

(the asterisks are to protect your email)

You have until October 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!

Back to promotion because, you know, I "gotta."  LOL  I write books.  I hope you will buy and read them or at least tell a friend or librarian about them.  You can find all my books on my website.  Two came out this year.  The 2nd Fairy Garden Mystery and  the 10th Cookbook Nook Mystery.  

Reviews have been terrific.  

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.

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.

I just finished A SPELL FOR TROUBLE, an Enchanted Bay Mystery, by Esme Addison.  It was a bunch of fun, featuring mermaids, otherwise known as water witches, and a fabulous apothecary. 

Next up, I'm reading a suspense that is trending, THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME, by Laura Dave, about a woman who thinks she's found the love of her life, until he disappears.  

After that, MURDER OUTSIDE THE LINES, a Pen & Ink mystery by Krista Davis, about a coloring book designer who works in a bookstore.  Fun tip?  If you buy the paperback, you can color the cover! 

I've been on a cheesecake kick. I absolutely adore it, and compared to other sweets, it's low in sugar and high in protein, so it's good for me, right?  That's  my rationale, and I'm sticking to it.  This is a recipe that my grandmother handed down.  She used regular flour, but I have made it gluten-free by using gluten-free flour and gluten-free graham crackers (for the crust).

If you don't need to eat gluten-free, you can use regular flour and regular graham crackers.  Simply substitute regular flour for the sweet rice flour in the recipe and omit the xanthan gum.  This is delicious served with fruit and/or whipped cream!  If you want to really dress it up, fold in a half cup of chocolate chips when you fold in the egg whites, or, after baking and refrigerating, paint the top with a half-inch of sour cream, add chocolate chips, and/or drizzle it with caramel sauce! 

FYI - this is most likely not READY on the day you bake it.  You have to show a modicum of restraint.  It needs to be refrigerated.  If you bake it first thing in the morning . . . maybe. 

GRANDMOTHER'S CHEESECAKE

• 1 pound Ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
• 1/4 cup sweet rice flour (or other gluten-free flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sour cream  (* may substitute w/plain Greek yogurt)
• 4 egg whites (no yolks!)
• 3/4 cup crushed graham crackers (4-5 crackers) *I use Pamela's Gluten-free graham crackers - they are divine!
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Mix ricotta cheese, sweet rice flour, xanthan gum, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, salt until well blended.

Add cream cheese and sour cream and mix well.

Mix separately: egg whites (with no egg yolks in them) and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and beat until egg whites form a soft peak (about 6-8 minutes).

Fold the egg white mixture gently into the cheese mixture. Do not “stir.”

In a springform pan, sprinkle the crushed graham crackers.  Drizzle with melted butter and press with your fingertips to create a “crust.”

Pour cheese mixture onto crust and smooth with spatula.

Bake at 300 degrees for 60 - 70 minutes.  The top should be lightly browned. Let STAND IN OVEN, turned off, for 2 hours so the cheesecake will set.  This is a very important step! 

Let cool to room temperature. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. 

Sparky has been in "fetch mode" for forever.  He loves to play fetch, but in particular, he likes to play fetch after dinner.  I guess it's the way he keeps so slim and trim.  Exercise after dinner.  Makes sense.  He sure does make me smile.

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,