Links of the Week

Posted by on Sep 26, 2014 in anthology:story, Blog, clockwork dagger, online publication, public speaking, publication process | Comments Off on Links of the Week

First of all, the ZOMG link of the week: an amazing review of The Clockwork Dagger over on NPR.org. Yes, THE NPR.

This means I’ve now had features in Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, NPR.org, and the Arizona Republic in the past week and a half, and I wasn’t even arrested!

I am still blog touring and popping up here and there and everywhere.

– My story “Post-Apocalyptic Conversations with a Sidewalk” was just published in Nature! This is one of my favorite works for the whole year.

– I’m interviewed at The Nameless Zine.

– At Write 1 Sub 1 I tell all about “The Horror of Revision Letters.”

Rhonda Parrish interviewed me at her blog.

The second half of my podcast is up at Kingdoms of Evil!

 

The blog tour for the book and parasol ENDS TODAY. Check it out and spread the word, please!


[9/16: Me signing my first books in public at the Goodyear, Arizona, Barnes & Noble]

[9/16: Me signing my first books in public at the Goodyear, Arizona, Barnes & Noble]

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Bready or Not: Chocolate Oreo Cake

Posted by on Sep 24, 2014 in Blog, Bready or Not, cake, chocolate, oreo | 2 comments

Let’s finish off Cake Month with a cake of chocolate wonder, shall we?

Chocolate Oreo Cake

I made this while visiting my parents’ house for the 4th of July. My brother’s birthday was in June and I let him pick the recipe for me to try. I prepared all of the dry ingredients beforehand and toted them to California.

I think he chose pretty well. This actually reminded me of how our local Savemart bakery used to make their Oreo Cake back in the late ’80s. This is heavy duty chocolate with the frosting and all, though the cake layers had a light crumb. It may not be as dense as some cakes, but it’s still a chocolate fist to the face.

Chocolate Oreo Cake

I was a little disappointed in the filling layer, though–it wasn’t even visible in the cut cake! Therefore, I modified the ingredients to double the cream and sugar there.

Chocolate Oreo Cake

Since I was in my hometown, it was only right that I use local ingredients. I used Rosa Brothers milk–it comes in a glass bottle and everything! Then I had to serve the cake with Superior Dairy chocolate chip ice cream, the best ice cream anywhere. I’ve lived all over the country. I know.

Chocolate Oreo Cake

Like most chocolate cakes, this one improved after a day in the fridge.

Yet another reason why chocolate cake is awesome.

Modified from version here.

Chocolate Oreo Cake

Chocolate Oreo Cake

A delicious chocolate-laden layer cake.
Course: Dessert
Keyword: cake, chocolate, layer cake, oreo
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

For cake:

  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup baking cocoa sifted
  • 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1-1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 10-15 Oreos twisted to separate cookies and reveal cream center
  • 15 Oreos chopped directly in half through cookie [for final garnish]

For filling:

  • 2/3 cup whipping cream
  • 4 tsp confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • black Oreo sides crushed

For icing:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 2/3 cup baking cocoa sifted
  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Make the cakes:

  • Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Prepare two 9-inch round baking pans by applying nonstick spray, lining with parchment, and then spraying again.
  • Set 5-8 Oreo halves down in each pan. These will be the cream sides, with the cream facing up. Set the black halves aside to be used in the filling.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the boiling water. The batter will be very thin. Pour it very carefully into the prepared pans. Don't be surprised if the Oreos float around.
  • Bake the pans for 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Cool them for 10 minutes; run a knife around the sides to make sure they are loose, then carefully remove the cakes from pans. Set them on wire racks and remove the parchment from the tops. Let the cakes completely cool.

To make the filling:

  • Beat together the cream, sugar and vanilla until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold in the cookie crumbs.
  • Set up the bottom layer of the cake on the serving dish. Depending on consistency, pipe the filling onto the cake or spread it on with a spatula.
  • Set the top layer in place. If need be, trim the sides of the cake to make them more even.

Make the frosting:

  • Melt the butter. Mix in the cocoa. Alternately beat in the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Add small amounts of milk until it reaches spreading consistency.
  • Frost the cake around the top and sides. Apply the remaining halved Oreos around the bottom and the top; add any sliced-off cake crumbs as well.

Store the cake in the fridge, covered by a dome, foil, or wrap. Like most chocolate cakes, it actually tastes better after the first day. It can also be frozen in slices.

    OM NOM NOM!

      Chocolate Oreo Cake

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      Booksignings and Other Mind-Boggling Things

      Posted by on Sep 22, 2014 in Blog, clockwork dagger, public speaking | 1 comment

      This has been one weird, crazy week. Things have started to calm down, which is good. I’ve been working on a lot of promo guest blogs and interviews over the past while, and it’s nice to return to some short stories.

      I did have one big surprise this weekend. Last week I had a guest post over on Bookish. Well, through some shares on Twitter, I found this post was also published on USA Today. Like, whoa.

      Another piece of good news: I survived my first booksigning! Mind you, I’ve signed lots of books before, but always at home and most of them for family and friends back in California. Never in front of a crowd, for strangers, in a store.

      Changing Hands had a whole table set up with stacks of my books. I had to do the Vanna White thing.

      Table at Changing Hands

      I ended up with a fabulous number of people there–fifteen or so. Pretty awesome for a debut author like me! In speaking with people afterward, some found me through the Arizona Republic article, my guest blog at Chuck Wendig’s Terrible Minds, by simply stopping to hear me speak in the store, plus several are good friends and friends of friends.

      I spoke about the dream of becoming an author, then took questions, and capped things off with an excerpt.

      Speaking

      It was so strange to see a full line of people waiting to have their book signed. I’ve stood in lines like that sooooooo many times; this time it was for me!

      signing

      When everything was done, we cleaned up and I was heading out of the store. A man stopped me to compliment me on my steampunk outfit, and a minute later he returned with his wife. I ended up walking with them back to my table, where I signed a book for them! BEHOLD THE POWER OF THE CORSET.

      Changing Hands had a big poster of my book cover up at the front of the store. I asked what they were going to do with it, and they happily handed it over to me. This is destined for a wall somewhere in my house.

      Poster

      I want to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone at Changing Hands Tempe for being so kind and welcoming. There’s no getting away from the cliche, because it’s the truth: this was a dream come true.

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      Sunday Quote wonders if she’ll feel this way

      Posted by on Sep 21, 2014 in Blog, Quote | Comments Off on Sunday Quote wonders if she’ll feel this way

      “It turns out that the perfect state of mind to edit your novel is two years after it’s published, ten minutes before you go onstage at a literary festival.” ~Zadie Smith

      Clockwork Dagger

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