As an author I am aware of the research that is required in writing a novel. If details are incorrect the whole premise falls flat. How to weave the facts into an intriguing story and engage your reader is a challenge of upmost importance.
Even though I have lived in Rome and travelled there often I had to research when writing From Rome with Love thoroughly. The same for Stage Fright. I have traveled through Great Britain many times, studied voice, and sang in a church choir, but still I needed to check my facts when it came to writing about England. And copious research was required when writing about the Amish. I enjoyed writing all of these books and can hardly wait to give you more details and share the cover of my upcoming novel!
By the way, From Rome with Love, Stage Fright, and A Lancaster Family Secret e-books have been drastically reduced in price on Amazon.
Beef stroganoff (or beef stroganov) is easy, hearty, flavorful and nothing like the dreaded school lunch dish made with cream of mushroom soup.
Classic Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. butter, divided
8 oz button mushrooms, sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 lb sirloin or flank steak, sliced thinly, against the grain
2 Tbsp flour
1 c. beef broth
1 Tbsp. whole grain mustard
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
½ c. sour cream
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
Directions
- In a large skillet, saute the mushrooms in 1 Tbsp of butter over medium high heat for 2 minutes. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 Tbsp butter to the pan and heat until melted. Add the onions to the butter and saute for 1-2 minutes.
- Toss the beef chunks with the flour and add to the saute pan. Cook until browned, 2-3 minutes.
- Add the beef broth, mustard powder, and tomato paste to the saute pan along with the cooked mushrooms, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits.
- Simmer the mixture over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, until the beef is cooked to your liking.
- Place the sour cream into a small bowl and mix a little of the broth from the skillet with the sour cream to warm it. Pour the warmed sour cream mixture into the saucepan and mix to combine.
- Taste the stroganoff and add the salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve with noodles, potatoes or rice.
I have long wanted to meet historical fiction author Kate Breslin and will finally get my chance at an upcoming writers conference. Her newest novel, In Love’s Time, takes place in Russia during WWI. An intriguing period of history and who isn’t interested in Russia? I have never been there and look forward to reading this book. Kate Breslin’s historical novel is in my TBR pile!
At the height of World War I, two sweethearts face impossible odds in this powerful tale of courage, duty, and heartbreak.
In the summer of 1918, Captain Marcus Weatherford arrives in Russia on a secret mission, with a beautiful ballerina posing as his fiancée. He’s there to find the Romanov tsarina and her son and glean information about a plot to assassinate Lenin.
Military hospital orderly Clare Danner still suffers from Marcus’s betrayal after learning he’s engaged to another woman. Clare also fears losing her daughter, Daisy, to the heartless family who took her away once before. Only Marcus can provide the critical proof needed to save Daisy, but when an injury leaves him powerless to help, Clare’s fate–and the fate of the top-secret mission–hangs in the balance.
I asked Kate Breslin how she managed her research on Russia, a country that has long fascinated me, partly because I owned and bred Russian wolfhounds, also known as Borzoi.
She told me:
“Over the years I’ve been blessed to visit fourteen different countries. While some of these places made it into my stories, for those I’ve have not yet seen, like Russia’s city of Archangel, a setting in my latest novel, In Love’s Time, I normally research extensively. Internet tools like Google Earth and YouTube are always extremely helpful, and I sought out online photos featuring Archangel and the city’s promenade during WWI. My “gold nugget find” was to discover several old short video clips of the city when the Allies landed in August of 1918-—the timeline of my story. Ultimately, it’s important to me to get a “feel of the place” I’m writing about, so I can transport my readers there, too.”
Thanks, Kate Breslin, for sharing this tidbit with me and my readers!
Please enter my Giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card and one of my books. US and Canada only. Winner will be announced Tuesday, March 21, and has three days to respond to my email.
The attention to details make your books interesting to read. I had an extra copy of Starting from Scratch and asked my son to put it in his neighborhood little library. Two days later it was gone, but returned with a copy of A Letter from Lancaster County. Looks like you have a new fan!
Hi Kate, I think I have read all of your books except A Lancaster County Family Secret. I love your books. I can tell you do a lot of research for your books. If I win this giveaway I would buy more books. I am a bookaholic. This recipe sounds delicious, I am going have to make it. I am looking forward to reading new books written by you. Have a blessed week.
Love to read one if your books looks fascinating
I am so glad that the writers I love and follow are dedicated to the research. You can just tell when an author has taken special care with the scenery or history of the area and topic they are writing about.
That beef stroganoff has my mouth watering. I love it but don’t ever make it.
It’s usually fairly easy to tell if a book is well researched. That’s the kind I like to read. This Russian mystery sounds very interesting, I’m going to see if my library has or will get a copy.
I think Marguerite is the only one of your books I don’t already have! Maybe one day as Marguerite is my mother’s name!!
Love this recipe and can’t wait to make it now! Thank you for the chance to win…love your writing style!
Thanks for your sharing your talents!!
Always enjoy your books!
Thanks for the shout out, Kate! I look forward to meeting you and reading your stories as well!
Blessings, Kate
Love your books …. and your posts on FB and emails…. Guess we readers…just figure our authors….are well versed in the cities….backdrops….medical problems and subjects that their stories are about….realizing how much “investigative research” you have to do…makes it all that much more appreciative….Thanks ….
Love to read your books. If I win this giveaway I would buy more books.
In all honesty, I don’t know what I would research, but I know what I would do with the money. My husband & I are Logistics Coordinators with Operation Christmas Child and we pack over 1,000 shoebox gifts each year that go all over the world to children who need to hear about Jesus…so the money would buy gifts for more boxes!
I love your books.. And if I was lucky enough to win, I would buy more books on Amazon…Thank you
Thank You for sharing this amazing recipe and the wonderful giveaway!