Have you ever noticed how when you make a plan, the Universe will go out of its way to say “Nope, not happening”… Just me? Okay, cool.
You may have seen me post on social media over the last couple of weeks that I had a new book cover designed for my short story Awakening which I published in July. There were a few reasons for this, but ultimately, the main reason was that I just never completely loved the original cover.
When I published Awakening, I was still very new to the industry (I say that as if I’m not still new), and I really didn’t know anything about getting a cover designed, so I used my years of photography experience and my limited knowledge of graphic design, and I put one together myself using a stock photo that I liked.
The new cover essentially took that original cover and enhanced everything about it. The best part is, I intentionally did not show them the original cover. I wanted to see what they would come up with from my description alone, and I could not have been happier.
My big plan had been to celebrate the reveal of the new cover design by doing something special!
In Awakening, the main character, Jocelyn, cooks a specific meal for her date Blake the night they meet. This meal is significant because, like the story itself, it is inspired by real life.
Awakening, the story, began as me attempting to write a short story about the weekend my husband and I met, nearly 17 years ago. Once it began to evolve, I changed the character names and started to fictionalize things to make them more interesting. The meal that Jocelyn cooks, however, is based on reality. It is the same thing I cooked for Mike the night we first met.
Recently, I came across the exact recipe that I had used, and my plan had been to make this meal on Friday, film it, and share it online. Unfortunately, though, I have been sick this week, so I am not feeling up to cooking anything special.
I still want to share the recipe with you though, because it is quite delicious, even if you aren’t typically a mustard fan!
Zesty Roasted Chicken & Potatoes
Back in the early 2000s, this recipe had been included in one of those mini magazines that you would find at the grocery store checkout line, and I wanted to make something nice for our first meal together. Mike loved it, but I don’t believe I have cooked it for him since (I need to do that soon!)
Try this recipe out and let me know what you think!
Now, the reason we both know you are ACTUALLY here…
The new book cover reveal!
I am SO in love with this new cover. It just takes everything to a whole new level!
Don’t forget, if you sign up for my newsletter, you will be the first to receive the Prequel to Awakening, Jocelyn’s Journal, as soon as it is finished! This will be sent to all subscribers as a Free gift for your support!
You can read Chapter One of Jocelyn’s Journal here.