Welcome!

Sorry I’ve been away so long. Gayle has been doing a blog tour, so she has been concentrating on that and working on Killer Sweet Tooth. She has also been celebrating the successful debut of her other novel, The Quick and The  Thread. The book was the #6 bestselling mass market paperback mystery in Barnes & Noble stores nationwide the week of August 3.

Spotlight:

I know it’s a few days late, but check out the Friday the 13th video from CakeWrecks!

Welcome!

There’s only one more day to pre-order Gayle’s latest book The Quick and The Thread (the embroidery mystery written under the name Amanda Lee)  for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. For full contest information, see the Contest Announcement in an earlier blog post.

Spotlights:

Today, I have two spotlights. The first is Matt’s collection of necktie cakes. As a necktie lover, Matt has amassed an adorable assortment of necktie cakes. (I know, in keeping with the alliteration, I should’ve said “ascots.”)

I’d also like to point you in the direction of Holly Clegg’s burger cake–just the thing for those upcoming summer picnics! The “burger” uses yellow cake for the buns, a fudge brownie for the burger, yellow tinted whipped topping “mustard” and strawberries and kiwis for additional garnishes (pickles and tomatoes, anyone?). How easy and cute is that?! If you try the burger cake, please take a photo and share it with us!

Take care and have a wonderful Independence Day!

Welcome!

I have exciting news.  Gayle’s publisher has decided to move the release date up for the revised Murder Takes the Cake to January 2011! She’s still working on Killer Sweet Tooth, and is looking forward to having that hit the shelves as well. Myra is, too. You guys don’t know how much Myra is looking forward to “being famous.”  She thinks that now if she could just nab her a rich husband… (eye roll).  Tune in to Killer Sweet Tooth to see if she has any luck with any of the Elvis impersonators who come to Brea Ridge! Hopefully, Gayle will get a book trailer together for Killer Sweet Tooth in the next few months.

Site Spotlight: Bake, Decorate, Celebrate

Where can you learn all kinds of decorating techniques step by step, get delicious recipes and even have your questions answered by an expert? Bake, decorate, celebrate! 

Bake, decorate, celebrate is the name of a television show in which the hosts provide information and detailed instructions on baking and decorating cakes. The website is a continuation of the show and helps novice as well as professional cake decorators learn new techniques and stay on top of trends.

The show hosts are Nancy Siler,  Melanie Glasscock and Beth Madland. Nancy  has been baking and decorating for over 25 years and is Director of the Wilton School. Melanie is a former broadcast journalist who brings a homemaker’s point of view to the BAKE DECORATE CELEBRATE! series. Beth is a former reporter who enjoys filling in for Melanie when Melanie takes time off to be with her family.

Check out Bake Decorate Celebrate! You’ll be glad you did.

Welcome!

This past week I heard from Gayle’s editor Danielle that she’s been roped into making a cow cake for her best friend’s birthday. Danielle has never done a sculpted cake, and she asked my advice. I advised Danielle to rent Season 1 of Ace of Cakes. However, I have been able to find some sculpted cake instructional videos to share with you. So, rather than spotlight a particular bakery in this issue, we’re spotlighting sculpting cakes.

Technique Spotlight: Sculpted Cakes

Here is a video instructing viewers in how to make a sculpted dog by Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes. Too cute!

Quickly sculpting a “love bug” car:

And even a baby made for a sculpted cake contest in 2006:

Hope this helps Danielle and everybody else with making sculpted cakes! If you make one, please share photos with us.

Welcome!

I hope all of you had a happy Easter! I enjoyed having my children home with me Friday and today. Unfortunately, that’s all the spring break they got thanks to the snow. But we had fun during the snow days, too.

I’m sorry I neglected the newsletter in March, but it was a busy month. I, of course, was baking; while Gayle was finishing Stitch Me Deadly, book two in the embroidery mystery series. Soon she will be revising Murder Takes the Cake, for its rerelease in 2011 and finishing Killer Sweet Tooth, an account of my most recent escapades.

Be sure to check out Gayle’s latest Fresh Fiction contest: Beautiful and Cozy Springtime Prize Pack.

Site Spotlight: Sweet Sensations…Cakes & More

Today I’m highlighting a cake decorator from Kentucky. Sweet Sensations…Cakes and More was originally called Cakes by Kaye. Kaye has been baking for more than 16 years. Some of the cake flavors offered by Sweet Sensations…Cakes and More are:

Dark Chocolate
Milk Chocolate
German Chocolate
White
Yellow
Marble
Strawberry
French Vanilla
Italian Creme
Spice

In addition to cakes, Kaye makes candies, cupcakes, cookies and such specialty items as pumpkin rolls! (Yum!) If you live in the Kentucky area and have a special occasion coming up, be sure and check out Sweet Sensations…Cakes and More!

Welcome!

I’d like to thank all of you for making Dead Pan so successful! My publisher sent me a “sneak peak” of December and January numbers from Amazon, and they were incredible. Thank you so very much!

Also, please keep in mind, you can enter Gayle’s FreshFiction contest until February 8. The prize is a copy of Dead Pan and a lovely, sterling silver locket.

Site Spotlight: Cakeaters

Since the Winter Olympics are taking place in Canada, I wanted to highlight a bakery in Vancouver. Cakeaters is owned by Wendy Casey.

Says Wendy, ”

With your ideas, we will create a masterpiece for your wedding, anniversary, birthday, graduation and any other celebration. In addition to astounding and unique wedding cakes, we love to create a wonderful and magical world of enchanted cakes for children.”

Wendy’s clients have plenty to say, too: “…We just want to thank you again for the most beautiful cake ever – not to mention best tasting! The first thing I said as we entered the reception was “Oh my gosh, the cake looks phenomenal!” People will not stop raving about it. We are the first of our friends to tie the knot, so we will recommend you to everyone. Thank you for making our wedding day perfect.”
Christy & David L.

“We want to let you know that the cake was fabulous!!!!!!!!!! It was so beautiful and incredibly delicious. I nearly cried when I saw it. Everyone loved it and we even have the top layer saved and frozen for a special occasion.
Thanks again, Amanda & Doug.”

So, if you’re in Vancouver and in need of a special occasion cake, send Wendy an e-mail at wendy@cakeaters.com or visit Cakeaters online for additional information.

Welcome!

I’d like to start things off by introducing the book trailer for Dead Pan. I hope you like it!

I’d also like to remind you of Gayle’s FreshFiction contest going on through the month of February. Enter at FreshFiction for a chance to win an autographed copy of Dead Pan and a beautiful sterling silver locket.

Roger Elmore graciously offered to share an article from his Hospitality Management Schools blog with us titled “Cake Decorating Tips to Remember.”  Check it out. It’s full of great information.

Site Spotlight: Kathy’s Kakes

Kathy’s Kakes of Independence, Iowa, is owned by Kathy Finholt. The company won KCRG-TV9  A-List: 2008 Best Cakes in Eastern Iowa .  Kathy does have gluten-free cakes available; and while she does not ship cakes, cakes can be delivered within a 100-mile radius of Independence, Iowa.

If you’re interested in having Kathy’s Kakes make a cake for your wedding, graduation, birthday or other special occasion, you can contact her by phone, e-mail or snail mail: 319-334-6256; kathyskakesllc@gmail.com; or 1805 218th St Independence IA 50644.

Welcome!

Happy New Year, everbody. I hope it has started well for you. For those of us in Southwest Virginia, we’ve been off to a snowy start. The children were supposed to go back to school on January 4, but they haven’t been back yet. And we’re supposed to get more snow this week!

Gayle got a mention in GalleyCat! You can read the piece by clicking the link. Gayle is really thrilled about it. I, of course, am happy about the good reviews both Murder Takes the Cake and Dead Pan have been getting.

Reader Spotlight: Denise Turocy

This is a Killer Cakes first…but I hope it will be the first of many. After enjoying Murder Takes the Cake, Denise wrote Gayle and sent links to some of her own work. Gayle asked her to participate in this newsletter.

Denise’s adventures in cake decorating began in the early ’80′s when she took her first class through her local parks and recreation department in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. She went on to decorate cakes for family and friends.

Later, her interest waned and she gave up her hobby until Christmas of 2008.  She sold a few Valentine’s cakes and then worked at a famous Pittsburgh bake shop during the 2009 holiday season. In her spare time, she taught cake decorating, knitting and crocheting classes.

Denise has taken three or four Wilton cake decorating classes and attended an “Enthusiast” class at the Pittsburgh Culinary Institute in Sept. ’09  where the topic was Sheet Cake Decorating. “Says Denise, “We got to torte, fill, frost and decorate our very own sheet cake and take it home.  It was a fantastic learning opportunity and fun experience to say the least.”

E-mail Denise at adairdet@gmail.com.

Welcome!

I have some terrific news: Murder Takes the Cake is currently No. 3 on the Amazon Kindle overall bestseller list and No. 1 in Mystery – Women’s Sleuths! Deborah Smith sent Gayle the news yesterday.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and are gearing up for a happy New’s Year’s Day and new year. I went looking for a beautiful New Year’s cake, and I found one (and a lot more!) at Freed’s Bakery of Las Vegas.

Site Spotlight: Freed’s Bakery of Las Vegas

This New Year’s Celebration cake is lovely and whimsical.

Freed’s Bakery was founded in 1959 by Milton and Esther Fried and is still family owned and operated.  Freed’s Bakery has third-generation family members ensuring the continued success of the bakery, and they continue to offer the same delicious products along with the excellent customer service that their customers have come to know and love.

Quality, attention to detail, and friendly, personalized service are only a few of the reasons why Freed’s Bakery of Las Vegas is famous worldwide.  From simple and elegant to elaborate creations, the team at Freed’s will design the cake of your dreams.

Freed’s Bakery boasts an impressive list of celebrity clients, including Wayne Brady, Cher, Vanessa Williams, Thomas Kincade and Chuck Norris. The bakery has been featured on such television programs as Roker on the Road, $40 a Day with Rachael Ray, Sugar Rush and TopThis Party. Freed’s Bakery has also been mentioned in magazines, such as, Bon Appetit, Martha Stewart Weddings and Conde Nast Traveler.

In addition to wedding, anniversary and special occasion cakes, Freed’s Bakery of Las Vegas offers mini pastries, cookies, cupcakes and other baked goods. The bakery offers to ship its rugulach anywhere in the Continental United States. The rugulach is available in chocolate chip and raspberry, cinnamon and walnut, apricot and raisin, and raspberry and raisin.

Visit Freed’s Bakery of Las Vegas’ website for additional photographs and information.

I found myself in good company in the Plum Borough Community Library’s November 2009 newsletter (http://www.einetwork.net/ein/plumboro/leaf%20NOV%2009.pdf). Scroll down to page two’s “Fall Into Some Great Reads” section, and you’ll see what I mean. Murder Takes the Cake is mentioned there with books by Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell and David Baldacci. So thank you so much, PBCL!