An all-new excerpt for HEAT OF THE NIGHT has been posted.

www.dreamguardians.com/novels/heat/connor-bruce

HEAT OF THE NIGHT hits stores January 8th!

Do you hang up stockings for Christmas? What’s the best thing you got in your stocking (or equivalent) this year?

What’s your favorite gift you received for the 2007 holiday?

Mine’s easy — my sister came home for the first time in a few years. I’ve missed her terribly.

I wish you all the safest, most festive of holidays.

With much love,
Sylvia

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy vanilla ready-to-spread frosting
3 tablespoons red sugar
18 miniature marshmallows
36 currants or semisweet chocolate chips
18 red cinnamon candies
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oven to 400°F. Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Beat butter, granulated sugar and lemon peel in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Break legg and add to the bowl and milk. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Turn off the mixerer thingy. At this point it’s best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK, try another cup just in case.

2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 3 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. If they start smooshing together, it’s okay. Just sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity. Press bottom of drinking glass on each until about 1/4 inch and 3 inches in diameter. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. (Put the oven mitt on first…) Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Check the Cuervo again while waiting. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.

3. Smear frosting on cookie (throw stuff on each cookie before starting another. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.). Check the Jose Cuervo. Sprinkle red sugar over top third of cookie for hat. Press on miniature marshmallow for tassel. Press 2 currants for eyes and 1 cinnamon candy for nose into center third of cookie. (if you knock over the fruit, just dust it off. 5 second rule…) Toss coconut over bottom third for beard. (Or all over, who giveshz a sheet, it can be a snowman. They’re lucky you even made them cookies.)

Greash the oven.

Don’t forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

CHERRY MISTMAS

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What’s your favorite cookie? (I’ll pick two winners from the comments to make up for missing Wed.)

What are the upcoming books in 2008 that you’re looking forward to reading?

That’s an easy one, right?