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Dahlia DeWinters - Author

Quirky Heroines, Happy Endings

5 Fandom Friday – Goals for 2017

It’s been a while since I posted a 5 Fandom Friday, but this is as good time as any to get back into the swing of things.  Plus, if I type up these goals, I have something to refer back to as the year goes on.  While I love some sticky notes, nothing is more permanent than the Internet.

Here goes

New year, new start concept

My first goal for the year is to buckle down in the writing game.  Due to some bad health news in 2016, I’ve been very spotty with writing and submitting/publishing.  In 2017, I plan to:

  1. Complete and submit at least three short stories
  2. Complete and publish two novels that have been hanging around on my hard drive for at least three years
  3. Complete the third book/story in the Tea and Tomahawks series/universe
  4. Complete a novella that I started last year.

 

The second goal for the year is to keep my writing desk more organized, which means to set aside time once per week to clean and arrange the desk.  Although my dream desk would look like this:

Dream Desk

photo by desirechanteuse

that’s never going to happen. First of all, my desk is dark brown and I have a ton of stuff.

At this point, I will settle for a bucket of pre-sharpened pencils and working pens.

 

The third goal is to be more creative.  I used to really be heavy into trying different crafts.  I have a Silhouette Portrait machine that is sitting in the corner getting dusty.  This year, I plan to create at least five different projects using the Silhoutte and to knit or crochet five scarves or hats by the end of the  year.

This is what I have, only sad and dusty.

 

I used to be really crafty.  Now’s the time to get back to that. So many projects to do!

 

The fourth goal is more health oriented.  No, it’s not to lose weight or run a thirty minute mile.  This is something simple that anyone can do any time.

Drink more water.

 

Me, drinking water, in the dark…sexy!!

Drinking water not only keeps you hydrated – imagine that – but it also keeps those brain cells alert and working.  Also, improves the complexion.  During these dry winter months here in Northeast USA, keeping up water intake is sorely needed.

Last but not least, the fifth and final goal of the year is to drink more alcohol. No, I’m not kidding.  There are so many wines out there that I haven’t tried as well as that dusty bottle of apple-tini mix sitting at the top of the pantry, just begging for vodka and ice.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t plan on being “that mom” that’s slushed out of her mind in the car pool line.  No and nope.  I just don’t want weeks to go by without a sip of the spirits. Sangria, Zinfandel, and once in a while some of the stronger stuff…I plan on imbibing them all.

Go ahead, say it. “Dahlia’s a lush”.  At least “lush” sounds so much better than “drunk”.

 

There you go, my goals for the New Year.  Surprised?

 

1Love
Peace, Love, and Unity.

 

 


Filed Under: 5 Fandom Friday Tagged: 5 fandom friday, black creatives, black geek girl, blerds, dahlia dewinters, new year, new year goal

Blogtoberfest – Vampire Sangria

sangriaHello again!  So glad to see y’all along with me for the ride of 31 days of Halloween blogging, or, as I call it……BLOGTOBERFEST……..

 

Today’s recipe is not a mocktail, but a straight up liquor fest.  It was a choice between this and chocolate martinis.  I chose this because it looks like fruit punch.  (What, me drinking?  Nah, this is fruit punch.)  And I love sangria.

You can find the basic recipe here, but I added my own twists.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 (750 ml bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja reds, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
  • 1 Lemon cut into wedges
  • 1 Orange cut into wedges
  • Strawberry or Kiwi slices
  • 3 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 shots brandy
  • 1 shot gin
  • 2 cups ginger ale or club soda

Preparation:

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and orange into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar and brandy. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

If you’d like to serve right away, use chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice.

 

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Filed Under: Blogtoberfest, Recipes Tagged: alcoholic drink, black girl geeks, black girl nerds, blerds, blogtoberfest, dahlia dewinters, drink, halloween, halooween party, sangria, scary, Vampire cocktail, wine brandy

Music Monday: Favorite Frank Sinatra Song Quotes

Sinatra SongsI’m not sure if I’ve done this before, but I was going through some old playlist and got to remembering.  Yes, I love Fuel, The Police, Imagine Dragons, Hozier and some new/old stuff, but some of the time I switch to the old 1940-1960s song book of The Chairman of the Board, Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Mr. Francis Sinatra.  I am from New Jersey, so, yeah, natch, right?

As a romance writer, it helps me get in the mood to write love scenes and the interaction  of people becoming lovers when I listen to some of the great lyricists of the American Songbook.  Those writers had a way of turning a phrase and of creating metaphors and similies that evoke the feeling of love, falling in love and being in love.  I wanted to share a few of my faves with you and who better to demonstrate than Sinatra himself?

 

How Little We Know

Quote:

“Who cares with your lips on mine…..How ignorant bliss is…
So long as you kiss me ……and the world around us shatters….”

Video:

All the Things You Are

Quote:

“You are the angel glow that lights the star
The dearest things that I know are what you are…”

Video:

 

Fly Me to the Moon

Quote:

“Fill my heart with song…..
And let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore…”

 

Video

 

Come Fly with Me

Quote:

“Once I get you up there
I’ll be holding you so near
You may hear
Angels cheer, ’cause we’re together…”

Video

 

The Best is Yet to Come

Quote

“Come the day you’re mine
I’m gonna teach you to fly
We’ve only tasted the wine
We’re gonna drain the cup dry…”

Video:

 

So there you go, my blasts from the romantic past for Music Monday. I hope you enjoyed!

 

D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: American songbook, author, black geek girls, black girl geeks, blerds, dahlia dewinters, erotic romance, female geek bloggers, frank sinatra, quirky romance, romantic songs, sinatra, songs from the 40s, writer

Gotham Recap – Viper

Drug Sign
Truth in Advertising

Hello!  Back again for the next episode of Gotham:  Viper.

The episode opens with Alfred asking young Bruce to go for a walk.  As always, Bruce is concentrating on solving the murders of his parents and cares not for fresh air and sunshine.  (I’m wondering, when does this little dude do his lessons?  He seems to have an awful lot of free time.) Alfred then asks him what if he never solves the murder of his parents and thus never gets to seek revenge? Bruce has the answer right there and tells him that he doesn’t want revenge, but wants to understand how Gotham works.  He wants to know why the mobsters are getting big shares of Arkham and why Wayne enterprises didn’t stop the corruption.  Alfred doesn’t think it’s particularly healthy, but Bruce blows him off.

Maroni is teed off at the news that he can’t mess with Falcone by robbing his casino.  He wants to take over.  Frankie, the dude he’s talking to,  is reluctant to do so.  And Oswald is right there taking it all in.

Fade in on a man strumming a guitar on a stoop.  His sign says, “Why lie, I need money for drugs.”  Gotta love that.  AcrossPenguin2 the street, a thin, unshaven man focuses on the musician and crossed the street, getting beeped at in the process. One of his ears looks damaged – I don’t know if that’s the actor or the character, but I take note anyway.  He drops a vial with some green liquid and a strange symbol  into the guitarist’s case and walks away.  It says “Breathe me.”   Ah, must be a gas.  We all know what he’s gonna do, right?

Guitarist breathes in the stuff and his veins start darkening.  Next scene we see him entering a store and grabbing a bottle of milk and gulping it down.  Storekeep doesn’t like that, grabs his bat and confronts him.  Guitarist says “Don’t vex me mortal.”  What?  The baseball bat doesn’t have an effect on this guy and he starts turning into …something.

Cut to Jim and Harvey getting burgers from a lunch truck.  Hey!  Cat-Tween is back.  She snatched someone’s wallet and Jim gives half hearted chase.  Harvey is like, it’s lunchtime.  Luckily, they are right by that store where the milk-stealing guy stole the storekeep’s ATM machine.

We see guitar guy running down the street with the ATM on his back, looking nuts.

AND…opening credits.

I must say, I kinda like this criminal of the week thing they’ve got going.

After credits, Fish is back, humming and gesticulating along with “O Mio Babbino Caro” from “Gianni Schicchi”  by Puccini.  (How do I know this?  Because I LOVED the movie Room with a View.)   But I digress.  New recruit Liza is bored and wants to go out.  Fish smacks her face and gives her a talking-to.  Man, I love Jada as Fish Mooney, I can’t say enough about it.  She makes me smile while I watch her be so bad-ass.  She schools Liza on what she’s there for and that Liza better “learn the damn song.”.  Liza backs down, saying “I’m sorry Mama,” to which Fish replies.  “I’m not your Mama.  Now you are my baby girl, but I’m not your mama….not yet.”   Fierce and fab. Back to Puccini.

We see film of the Guitar Guy pulling out the ATM.  They’ve found the little vial of green gas and are waiting on Nygma to give them the low down. You know he has all the…answers.

Falcone and Mooney meet.  Nicoli, one of the associates (who looks like a cut- rate Antonio Banderas, which isn’t a bad thing.).   Fish tells Nico to pipe down, and makes a derisive comment about his country not having indoor plumbing and the like.  Nico bites back, saying the only difference between the two countries are that the women are in the kitchen or in bed, depending on their talents.  And what does my girl Fish say?  “I bet your mother was a lousy cook.”

While watching, out loud I say “Oh, shit.”

They get face to face  and Fish doesn’t back down.  Then Falcone steps in to stop it and Fish apologizes. “We’re all family here.”

Jim is hitting the bricks, looking for guitar guy.  With a tip from a lady of the…afternoon, (I mean the sun is high in the sky and these gals are out on the stroll.)  they follow the trail of milk gallon jugs  and the guy says he needs “more”.  More of the green stuff. He says he needs the “Man with the mangled ear”. Score for me for noticing the mangled ear!!

Guitar guy picks up ATM, but his strength suddenly leaves him and he is crushed under its’ weight.  Cool Wile E. Coyote shot of him under the ATM.

Jim:  “God help us if this drug gets out.”

Next Scene:  Mangled ear guy is passing the stuff out!

Cut to back from commercial we cut to a sleeping Bruce Wayne stretched out on a leather couch with piles of papers and folders around him.  He has apparently fallen asleep studying the files of Wayne Enterprises in an effort to get to the bottom of his parents’ murder and the corruption surrounding Arkham Asylum.  Alfred comes along and whips open the shades.  Alfred tells Bruce that there will be a luncheon about Wayne Enterprises that day and that he has taken the liberty of accepting. Bruce says good because he has questions to ask Wayne Enterprises Board of Directors . Apparently some mobsters in the city were given shares in Wayne Enterprises.  Alfred seems skeptical at this theory, but leaves to make Bruce an egg.  One egg?? 🙂  At that very moment,  a breaking news report about the drug Viper comes on the television set to provide some for the exposition. The drug provides the users hours of strength and euphoria before they die a horrible death .

Cut to the police station where we see Viper users tearing ish up. Hey!  It’s Edward Nygma!  Love his glasses.  Ed Nygma observes the mayhem with interest, then tells Jim and the cops what it’s all about.  The users take the drug which accesses untapped DNA resulting in super strength.  On the other hand, the drug leaches calcium from the bones, which is why Guitar Guy was drinking all that milk. Eventually, the bones’ calcium is depleted and the users’ bones crumble on them.  Nygma thinks this is pretty remarkable.

Fish Mooney 4
The outfits alone….

Turns out the lab who can make this is a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises. Must investigate!

Moroni still is discussing the takeover of Falcone’s casino.  Oswald offers his expertise.  I love how obsequious he is, but his mind is still ticking with evil plans.  Frankie is skeptical of Oswald, but Moroni tells him to stand down.  Oswald tells Maroni this isn’t his “first rodeo”.  He reveals his real name and says he used to work for Fish Mooney.  “Funny story…”  Maroni grabs Oswald’s head and bangs it on the table.  Maroni doesn’t think his story is funny.

Ooo!  Is that Stockard Channing as an attorney for Wellzun Labs? Anyway,  seems that mangled ear guy, Stan, is a disgruntled biochemist.  Stan was frustrated and tried to cut off his own ear during a disagreement with his supervisor.  He was fired….“disappeared off the grid.”

I wish Jim would keep his hands off his narrow hips.

Frankie grabs Jim from the police station.  He threatens Jim with sending Oswald’s head to Falcone, which would result in a huge mess.

Lights come up and Jim and Oswald are at Maroni’s table. Jim is offered a drink.  Maroni wants him to tell him the same story that Oswald told him or they both are killed.  Oswald breaks in by say “Yes, just tell the truth.”  Oswald is taken away to be put “on the slicer” until Jim tells the story. Turns out the truth saves Oswald.

“We just got a brand new weapon against the Falcones.”

Back to Fish and Liza.  Fish is making Liza practice how to talk to Falcone, grooming her for the seduction.

At the station, Jim looks a little shell shocked from his meeting with Maroni but they go through Stan’s stuff from WellZun and get a clue about Stan’s old professor.  Turns out WellZun was lying.  Stan designed combat chemical weapons for the lab, not shampoo and beauty care products.  Stan wanted his bosses to end the program, goes to Thomas and Barbara Wayne. The Waynes shut down the program, but then when they died, the board reinstated it.

The professor and Stan got together to expose the program.  But then professor sniffs the stuff and starts to fight Jim and Bullock.  Jim shoots super strength professor and as he is dying, they shout questions about what happens next.  The funniest thing is that Jim is asking questions about who will be attacked and when while Bullock shouts “What’s altruism!!” Ha!  Jim says “Charity’ which gives him the clue that Stan is headed to the Wayne Enterprises CHARITY luncheon where Bruce is going to be.

Dressed as a waiter, Stan is going to unleash a barrel of the gas at the luncheon. Maybe he should take that marker off the side??

At the luncheon, Bruce has a conversation with a woman with awesome looking natural hair.  He tells her about the irregularities in the Wayne Enterprises papers/books.  The woman tries to reassure Bruce that that would never happen, and tells him she’s going to try to get him a meeting with the board.

Stan comes on the display at the luncheon and gives his manifesto.  Then he flips the switch to send the gas into the ball room.

“Bad things only truly happen when they happen to important people.  Like you! “ And the gas comes through the vents.

Jim’s get to him on the roof and shoots the canister open.  Stan gets a noseful of the stuff. And tells them to look in Warehouse 39 just before he jumps off the roof.

“You really can have too much of a good thing.”  Thanks, Harvey.

Jim is at Warehouse 39.  Looks like it’s the setup of Stan’s lab.  They find nothing.

Bruce and Alfred are going through the papers.  Alfred is a new convert to Bruce’s quest to find the conspiracy.

The robbery of Falcone’s casino goes off smoothly,

Fish and Nico in bed.  She’s got him tied up.  They are working together, but pretending to be at odds in front of Falcone.

Cut to old man Falcone feeding the pigeons.  Liza walks by with a new look, and attracts the attention of Falcone.  Fish has really made her over and Falcone is shaking in his shoes.  They sit and listen to the aria together.

End

Before I end this week’s post, let me just say that I do enjoy this show.  Now, let me qualify by also saying that being a woman of a certain age, I’ve seen it all and then some.  Yes, Gotham has its cliches.  Yes, the storylines aren’t all that original.  But you know what I like about the show?  It’s not pretending to be anything other than a comic book/graphic novel/soap opera come to life.  Simple.

 

And sometimes, it’s the simple things that work.

 

Until next week!!

 


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: black geek girls, black girl geeks, black girl nerds, blerds, dahliadewinters, geek girls, gotham, gotham city, gotham recap

June is National Candy Month

June is National Candy Month.  This is a mouth-watering topic if I’ve ever seen one.  Yes, I am a grown adult, but there’s something about indulging in childhood candy that sends you back in time.  So, grab your Walkman and if you want to go further back, get that Aqua Net hairspray to make those Farrah Fawcett angel wings.  Here’s some candy to take you back.

When I say candy, I don’t mean the chocolate grown-up chocolate stuff.  I’m talking about the brightly-colored, artificially-flavored, red dye #20398 colored candies that left your tongue coated with color and your head buzzing with all the high fructose corn syrup.

lemonheadLemonheads:  Sweet, sour and oh so crunchy.  Take these sweet, yellow balls into your mouth and roll them around on your tongue until they dissolve, or if you’re in a hurry, scrape the sour coating off to get to the sweet, hard center.  Either

NowLaterway, you’ll get a citrusy sugar rush that’ll perk you up.

Now or Laters:  Remember that commercial, “Eat some now, save some for later?”  Now and Laters came a prism shaped pack that contained a soldier’s row of square, flavorful taffy-like candies.  They would pull out your fillings, so you had to be careful.  Green Apple was the way to go, however grape would also do in a pinch. Depending on the mood, watermelon was pretty good, but you needed to stay away from the bubble gum flavor.  It was bitter and had an obvious artificial taste.

Jolly RancherJolly Ranchers:  I still love these to these day.  You cannot bite through these candies.  No, you have to hold them in your cheek, occasionally rolling them around on your tongue until they finally melt in your mouth.  If you foolishly try to bite through them, they will stick on your teeth in an uncomfortable fashion.  What flavors?  Green apple, watermelon (a far far second) and that’s it.  They can keep all those other flavors.  Remember when they also came in flat sticks too? They are also very good for flavoring vodka.

Sweet Tarts:  When I buy the huge bags of Halloween candy to “hand out” to trick or treaters, I siphon off the sweettartsSweet Tarts mini-packs.  Tart, tangy and crunchy, you can let them melt in your mouth or grind them to crumbs between your back teeth.  Good for giving your water  a little flavor and kick.

So what’s your favorite non-chocolate candy?  What is the sweet candy treat that you pick up to give you a brief glimpse of childhood?


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: author, black geeks, black nerds, bleeks, blerds, dahlia dewinters, erotic romance, geek girl, interracial romance, multicultural romance, quirky girls, romance

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