USA Today bestselling
military romance author, Catherine Mann, is my guest today. This time we are
introduced to another sizzling hero, Hugh Franco, from the Air Force's celebrated
Pararescue Jumpers–"The PJs"– an ultra-elite force who put themselves
at extreme risk in the most dangerous emergencies so that others may live.
I
haven’t had the chance to read HOT ZONE yet, but we were introduced to Hugh in
Cover Me. I’ve been looking forward to reading his story.
Aside from creating hot military heroes, Catherine also uses her
creativity in other ways, decorating candles. She tells us how to go about
decorating. I’m certainly going to give it a try. I love candles!
Some
have a theory that creativity needs to be channeled. Certainly I can see that there has to be focus within a creative
career. However, I’m a firm believer
that creativity is like bread. Feed the
yeasty starter, knead the dough, and watch it grow.
Along
the same lines, I believe my creativity needs to be massaged and fed. Luckily, I love to do creative, artsy things
beyond my writing.
Over
the years I’ve tried my hand at a number of artsy crafts. Cross stitching. Sewing. Singing. Guitar.
Crocheting. Gardening. Calligraphy. Baking. Am I a master at them?
Not hardly. (Especially not gardening!)
But I thoroughly enjoy myself.
While writing is obviously my primary creative outlet, I indulge my muse by trying new creative endeavors. This month? My daughter and I decorated candles for holiday gifts.
This
was one of our easier to tackle undertakings, with only a few supplies needed
and simple to follow directions…
CANDLE DECORATING:
Supplies:
Candle
Tissue Paper
Pattern Stamp
Ink
Scissors
Wax Paper
Handheld Hair Dryer
Directions:
Stamp the pattern of your choice on a piece of
tissue paper. Cut out the pattern. Trim fairly close to the edges. Place the inked tissue paper on the
candle. Press wax paper over the tissue
paper to hold it in place. Direct the
handheld hair dryer over the pattern.
Lightly move the dryer around until the candle wax begins to absorb the
tissue paper – without changing the shape of the candle. Be careful to avoid drips. Gently peel away the wax paper. Aim the hair dryer at the candle again and
heat until the tissue paper can’t be seen and only the pattern shows. Let dry.
Variations: Can place more than one pattern on
the candle. Or place the pattern all
the way around the candle. Also, while
wax is still soft, rhinestones or tiny rhinestones can be pressed into the
pattern. We even used the leftover ink
to stamp white paper lunch sacks, making our own gift bags!
As
you can see from the photo, my daughter and I made a slew of candles for gifts
this year. Most have a holiday theme,
but there are also some patriotic candles.
Those are for our family and friends with a military member
serving. We’ll be keeping one of these
candles in our home as a reminder and tribute to those who can’t be with their
families this holiday season. Real life
heroes and heroines like the characters featured in my air force novels.
And
so, that wraps up my creative outlet of the moment. Next up? Chocolate fondue
and dipped treats.
Thank
you to Sia for sharing her blog spot with me today and thank you to each of you
for stopping by to visit!
·
What are some of your old and/or new holiday
traditions?
HOT ZONE BY CATHERINE MANN
He'll take any mission, the riskier the better...
The haunted eyes of pararescuemen, Hugh Franco, should have been her first clue that deep pain roiled beneath the surface. But if Amelia couldn't see the damage, how could she be expected to know he'd break her heart?
She'll prove to be his biggest risk yet...
Amelia Bailey's not the kind of girl who usually need rescuing...but these are anything but usual circumstances. EXCERPT
BUY: IN STORES DECEMBER 2011
Online: AMAZON, BARNES and NOBLE,
USA Today bestseller Catherine
Mann writes military romantic suspense for Sourcebooks and Berkley, as well as
steamy romances for Harlequin Desire. A RITA Award winner, she has over two
million books in print in more than twenty countries. Catherine resides in the
Florida panhandle with her flyboy husband, their four children and an ever growing
menagerie of pets. And yes, in a moment
of creative inspiration, she once raided the pantry for the ingredients to bake
homemade dog cookies for her local animal shelter!
For
more information on Hot Zone and her
other works, Catherine can be found online at:
