COTT's Fiction Flash Clash

*guest post by Michelle Massaro and April Gardner
Last week, COTT posted a "Flash Clash" in which readers had just 2 days to cast their votes between two 100-word excerpts. It was a fast one! But not so fast that voters didn't have time for their say.


To add to the tension, the winner took the clash by a margin of one vote. That’s right. ONE vote difference. Both excerpts were so good, readers were split almost exactly down the middle. I love clashes that are this close!

The winner of our Flash Clash First Hundred is…

Rebecca Carey Lyle’s Winds of Wyoming.

 CONGRATULATIONS, BECKY!!

Winds of Wyoming clashed against Tom Blubaugh’s Night of the Cossack. It was a pleasure getting to know both authors during this fun, super-speedy clash. We wish many blessings on their writing paths!

Here's what readers had to say about both books:

*Great excerpts...both caught my interest immediately!
*Wow - two really great flashes that sound like amazing stories! Love it!
*Keep writing and don't give up!
*Both excerpts were great, especially given the short time to convey what was happening in the story. Keep up the good work!

 

COTT is taking a spring break starting immediately. We will begin clashing again on April 2, 2012 when hostess Gail Pallotta brings us a brand new clash--Comparable Covers!

In the meantime, check out these other Splashdown Books…

Eggless Cake? That's Just Wacky!

 Wacky Cake.  Yep, that's the name of it. Some say it's wacky because it's eggless, and some say it's wacky because you can actually mix it in the pan you bake it in. For whatever reason it's wacky, it's just plain good. 

I actually prefer to mix it in a mixing bowl first, then pour it into my baking pan.  Either way, it's still one of the simplest and tastiest cake recipes there is. My family has been making it for years.  It's the favorite birthday cake for the chocolate fans in the family. 

I have no idea where my mom got the recipe initially, but I've seen it around in many places.  It's even out there in cyberspace on the web.

Wacky Cake

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup cold water

In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, soda and salt. Make three wells in the flour mixture. In one put vanilla; in another the vinegar, and in the third the oil. Pour the cold water over the mixture and stir until moistened. Pour into 8 x 8-inch pan. Bake at 350°F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until it springs back when touched lightly. I usually test it with a toothpick in the middle to make sure it's done.  This recipe easily doubles for a 9" x 13"pan. My mom has even used it for specialty cakes in different cake pans.  It's a little denser than some cakes and maybe that's why it works so well for cake decorating.  Anyway.....


You can frost this baby with any kind of frosting you want -- or don't frost it at all.  It's pretty tasty all by itself or with a light shake of powdered sugar.  Leave it plain, cover it with foil, and the next day -- it's a little sticky on top and almost tastes like it has frosting on it.  Yum-o!

So, when your next chocoholic family member or friend has a birthday, consider doing something just plain wacky and make them this cake.   

Happy Baking!
Susan

Join Me and 5 Writer Friends at "Pages From Stages" Blog

Pages From Stages is a new blog that I contribute to with 5 awesome writing friends. We are six writers from different stages who will chat about our lives. My day is Thursday, but please visit daily as new posts go up Monday through Saturday. Today I'm blogging about How I Grew to Love History.

My fellow-bloggers, stage hands, and friends are: 

Julane Hiebert lives with her husband in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas. As the daughter of a cowboy, her love of prairie and anything Western was instilled early. Through the everyday lives of her 1800’s Kansas characters, her passion is to present the hope of a faithful, never-changing, sovereign God. Yesterday’s Stories. Today’s Promises. Find her blog at Inspiration From the Commonplace.

Susan Mires is a newspaper columnist, freelance writer and aspiring novelist. Susan holds a degree in agriculture with a journalism minor from Northwest Missouri State University. After several years as a newspaper reporter and editor at the St. Joseph News-Press, she now works in emergency management. She has been published in Chicken Soup For the Soul. She lives in St. Joseph, Mo., near the banks of the Missouri River and shares her blog at Reflections on the River.

Kathy Gronau is at the stage of life where people often say, “Well, okay, what happens next?”  Married to her high school sweetheart at age 19, she has experienced the joy of marriage, the trials of “and the two shall become one,” the excitement of birthing and raising two children, the challenge of “school again” at the age of 30, the rewards of a 25-year nursing career, the joy of grandchildren and the grief of loosing a husband to cancer after 42 years together.  She is a breast cancer survivor,  and won’t hesitate to ask you if you have had your mamo and colonoscopy.  Her writing carreer is just budding as she dabbles in poetry and children’s Bible stories.  Her blog posts are likely to be like God’s mercies, “new every morning.”   Her heart’s desire is to serve the Lord.  And so her  most frequent prayer is,  ”Okay, God, what happens next?”

Cherie Gagnon lives in Ontario with her husband and two wonderful boys. Cherie keeps busy with freelance writing and with her role as a consultant for a family support network, assisting those affected by disabilities. Since both her children have special needs, she has a heart to walk along side those facing similar challenges. As an aspiring novelist, she enjoys turning the lessons her family has learned and weave them into stories of hope and faith.

Sara Meisinger is a homeschool mom who drives a minivan, lives in a renovated farmhouse and writes great novels.

And then there's me.
In case you're new to my blog here, I live in Kansas with my husband, teenage daughter, and a “too smart for her own good and way too vocal” Pembroke Welsh Corgi.  I love being a wife, homeschool mom, and a writer.  I write historical romance sprinkled with humor and a subtle message of God’s amazing love and grace.  And I am so honored to be a part of the Pages From Stages blog and write alongside Julane, Susan M., Kathy, Cherie, and Sara.   

Please join us as we journey through our lives, all in different stages, but with definite things we have in common.  Stop on over to Pages From Stages and share the journey with us.  We LOVE company!  

Our Blogging Schedule:

Mondays – Kathy Gronau
Tuesdays – Cherie Gagnon
Wednesdays – Susan Mires
Thursdays – Susan Hollaway
Fridays – Sara Miesinger
Saturdays - Julane Hiebert

And other times as the Spirit moves.

Blessings,
Susan Hollaway

Speculative Fiction Unpubbed Clash -- Chawna Schroeder

Guest blogger: Jennifer Slattery

Sometimes Clash of the Titles highlights great talent. Other times we get to "discover it." This is exactly what happened with our speculative fiction unpub'bed clash.

Join me in welcoming Chawna Schroeder to the COTT family!

There's nothing like discovering great talent before it goes to print! And I have a feeling we're going to see our latest COTT champion's books on bookshelves very soon. When we do, we can all say, "We saw her on COTT first!" And this clash--a battle for best speculative fiction unpub'bed--was even more exciting because the winner has been invited to submit a full proposal to Asraea Press for immediate review!

Her winning excerpt was pulled from the pages of Metamorphosis, a gripping tale of a Beast and her master:

Once upon a time there lived a Beast…
Not in a shining castle, but among a pack of dogs.

For as long as Beast can remember she has lived among her master’s dogs. With them she sleeps. With them she eats. With them she fights and struggles to survive. But through hunger and cold, she dreams of one day becoming Master’s favorite, earning bones with meat and a place beside the fire.

Then strangers attack. Her pack scatters. Fire eats the village. And Beast knows: Master is no more.

Alone and unprotected, Beast tries to defend herself against slavers scavenging for any leftovers. But she is only one, and they are strong.

Tracked by men, sold as a monster, is Beast only prey to be hunted…
…or something more?

A few comments from readers:

"I enjoyed both excerpts! I am curious about the world created in A, but B really got me in the gut."

"Great job! Keep writing!"

"God has given you a gift. Your TRUE fans will always be there for you!! Never give up and follow your dreams!!! I am sending up a prayer for you and your family!!!"
Join us March 19-23 for a fun Flash Clash!

COTT Winner!

*Guest post by--COTT Sr. Editor, April W Gardner

*This clash sponsored by WhiteFire Publishing

The first five hundred words of any story are usually enough to clue us is as to the author's style, the tone the book will take, and whether or not the story will hold our interest. It's those five hundred from two different unpublished novels that Clash of the Titles presented to you last week. 

Will Ramirez's Soul Yearning

and

Nancy Kimball's Chasing the Lion


****

We asked our readers which they would be most likely to continue reading and this is how they voted:

CHASING THE LION

by Nancy Kimball

In addition to a hearty welcome to the COTT family, as announced yesterday, Nancy was invited by Astraea Press to submit a complete proposal for immediate review.


Maybe one day very soon, we'll see Chasing the Lion come back to Clash of the Titles to compete as a published novel!

This is what our readers had to say about Chasing the Lion:

*The first excerpt really grabbed my attention- especially since it stirred my emotions... and my love of mystery. 

*What was the answer his mother gave that caused this strong boy to run away? Very well done!

* Who's the dad?!?! I'm hanging off a cliff wondering!

About the novel

Author Nancy Kimball

From the blood-soaked sand of the Roman arena, a divine destiny will rise.
For as long as Jonathan Tarquinius can remember, everyone has wanted something from him. His brothers want him dead. His master’s wife wants his innocence. The gladiator dealers want him to fight, and die, for their greed. The humble slave girl who tends the wounds on his body and the hidden ones on his soul yearns for him to return to his faith in God.
God wants something from Jonathan, too. Something more than anyone could ever imagine.
What Jonathan wants is simple—freedom.
The young warrior’s journey will push him to the very limits of human endurance and teach him the only true freedom is found in Christ. The greatest battle Jonathan ever fights will not come in the arena, but deep within himself, when he is forced to choose between vengeance and forgiveness, knowing the fate of all he holds dear hangs in the balance.

***

Monday, March 5, COTT will see the start of yet another unpublished clash. This one however, carries the theme of speculative fiction, a newer genre that's taken the market by storm. Come on by for another opportunity to vote and win a copy of previous COTT Champ Diane M Graham's new novel, I Am Ocilla!