Sunday, December 28, 2014

Holiday Party - Missouri Dalton

Today, a new favorite author of mine is stopping by. I was first introduced to her stories in the Masks Off Too! anthology, and when I heard she had a new release coming out, I just had to have her stop by. And so, I proudly present Ms. Missouri Dalton!


The Holidays
When I think of Christmas, my first thoughts drift to baking with my mother. Something I got to do this year for the first time in ages. There’s always the list of things that are absolutes. Russian tea cakes, gingerbread, ting-a-lings and thumbprints. New additions like rum balls and then ever so often we make an attempt at fudge or peanut brittle.

Christmas for us was always a time for special food. We would put the tree after Thanksgiving and me and my brother would help Mom decorate it—and then Dad would put the angel up. Usually, Dad wasn’t home in time to decorate, so we saved the angel for him.

These days, my brother and I are grown, he’s engaged and things are different. Except I still make Chex mix once the weather gets cold and I put up my own tree—which has lemons in it because citrus is a winter fruit you know. I’ve made my own traditions. Tweaked family recipes and rearranged things to fit my life. There’s no angel on the top of my tree, just a bird, but the lights are the same sort my mother got for our tree when I was a kid.

Things are different now, but they’re also the same in the really important ways. We find a way to be together on Christmas every year. Our traditions are still changing, still evolving as our family grows. It’s the time together that really matters.


A Curse on the Mountain Blurb:

In the cursed city of Var Eldore, perched on a mountaintop surrounded by a frigid swamp, the rain never stops. Former pleasure slave Myr lives in hiding, trying to stay a step ahead of his captor. But there’s more to Myr than he realizes, and destiny has other plans for him. Soon, he counts soldiers, spies, nobles, and wizards among his allies. Their goal is to oppose the king and those who perpetuate slavery, and fight for the freedom of their land. As they uncover secrets and conspiracies, each more tangled than the last, Myr also discovers he has unique abilities to aid their cause—the Redeemers.

As the strength of the Redeemers grows, so does the number of enemies they must face. Each member of their alliance has his or her own demons to battle, and Myr must confront the truth about himself and become the leader they need. Alongside his lover Ryall and the people who have become his family—as well as some unlikely friends—Myr and the Redeemers must prepare for war. If they fall, the city in the rain will follow.

Order now from Dreamspinner Press 


It's day one of my A Curse on the Mountain release blog tour! Every day at each stop I'll be recording commentors and giving away fabulous prizes! Today, if you comment on this blog post you'll enter to win an e-version (your choice of the type) of The Blight, a book about elves, goblin kings and strange ways of defeating dragons. 

See more from Missouri Dalton at missouridalton.blogspot.com or on Twitter.

Tour Schedule:
December 28 - Emily Wells
December 29 Erin and Racheline
December 30 - Sean Michael
December 31 - Charley Descateaox
January 1 - Charlie Cochet
January 2 Chris Kat
January 3 Vicktor Alexander


Author Bio:
Missouri Dalton is a writer of horror/paranormal contemporary fantasy and alternate historical novels.

Missouri was raised mainly in transit, slowed down to finish school in one place and was then determined to be as nomadic as possible, if only because that's how things just worked out. She uses writing as an escape from her own neurosi and currently lives with her dear friend Sophia.

14 comments:

  1. When I was growing up, a neighbor would give home-made Chex Mix to the family as a Holiday gift. So when I think of Chex Mix, it brings back fond memories. Thanks for sharing your holiday memories & traditions.

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  2. My family and I have this tradition called 'Christmas Pickle', all the kids look for the pickle and the first one to find it gets an extra present :)

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    1. We did that too! It's a German tradition.

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    2. We do as well, and this year, I was the one who found the pickle :)

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  3. What in the world are ting-a-lings and thumbprints first of all?! But yes, baking is one of my favorite holiday traditions, not just for Christmas. I loved that very last paragraph, and it sums up my feelings exactly. Things and circumstances change, people change, and traditions are thrown out or recreated, but finding our way to our families side at least on Christmas every year is what makes Christmas as amazing as it is.

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    1. Some folks call them haystacks, it's a no-bake. Chow mien noodles, peanuts held together with melted chocolate and butterscotch chips and dropped in little nest shapes to harden.

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    2. Could I get an email address for you? Or would you mind shooting me an email at: missouridalton @ gmail . com

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    3. I am sending it to you right now!

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  4. Not sure what a ting-a-ling is but my dad's favorite cookies are thumbprints. Every year for the past 19 years the girls of the family have gotten together to bake Christmas cookies.

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  5. I don't really bake cookies but I love baking other goodies. I'm not really sure what ting-a-lings are so I'll have to look them up. I love eating thumbprint cookies (and I've made it once with homemade lemon curd =) )

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  6. I did the Christmas Pickle. My youngest got married and came over and took the pickle. Well, I let her. She really liked it the most.

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    1. Hey there! Could I get your email address? Or could you shoot me an email at missouridalton @ gmail . com

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  7. I love the tamales friends bring every Christmas Eve (I practically polished 'em off myself this year)! I bake a lot of cookies, banana bread, and cupcakes to give...

    --Trix, vitajex(At)Aol(dot)com

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  8. I completely agree with you, in the sense that my family's traditions have changed a lot and are still changing but what matters most is being together in hard times :)

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