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!

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.

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.

As you may already know, Mondays are Daphne’s designated blog days.  I’ve decided, however, to give her blogs a makeover. Rather than have her post whatever comes to mind on Mondays, I’m going to have her do a bi-weekly newsletter called Killer Cakes. In Killer Cakes, Daphne will provide information about “her” series, cake decorating techniques, famous cake decorators and fabulous cakes. She’ll also preview bakeries, promote cake decorators and share recipes. If anyone has anything to share, please e-mail Gayle at gayle@gayletrent.com.

Dead Pan

Dead Pan is almost here. The book releases next month, and I’m really excited about it. Author Gayle Trent will be heading to Marion, VA to a crafts fair the weekend of the 20-22nd. If you’re in the area, please drop by to say hello. Gayle will have copies of both Dead Pan and Murder Takes the Cake on hand, and the set will be sold at a discounted price.

Other News

Murder Takes the Cake was released in a large-print hardcover edition by Thorndike on October 16, 2009. If you haven’t read this book yet, and the paperback edition isn’t in your library, this is a perfect opportunity to request your library to order a large-print copy. Some libraries have standing orders for Thorndike books, so check with your librarian to see if the library has it already.

If you’d like Gayle to speak with your group (either in person or by teleconference), please let her know by e-mailing her at gayle@gayle.trent.com.

Spotlight: Nati’s Cakes

Nati’s Cakes is located in Located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Although Nati’s Cakes is not currently taking orders, you can check out their gallery of wonderful, scratch-made cakes at Nati’s Cakes Gallery.  All the cakes made by Nati’s Cakes are baked using in house developed cake bases. They are also only baked from scratch using the best fresh ingredients possible. This means that if Nati’s Cakes doesn’t have a cake flavour that takes your fancy, one can be created to meet your requirements.

Flavours include Tahitian Vanilla Butter Cake, Ivory (a Swiss white chocolate mud cake with white chocolate ganache), Caramello (caramel-infused mud cake), Ebony (dark chocolate mud cake), Espresso (coffee-scented dark chocolate mud cake), Jaffa (rich chocolate mud cake which has been baked using fresh oranges, and joined together with dark chocolate ganache), Light Fruit Cake (soft butter cake, lightly enhanced with sultanas, walnuts and glace cherries) and Rich Fruit Cake (a traditional fruit cake, full of sultanas, raisins, currants, dates, glace cherries, orange peel and slivered almonds).

Nati’s Cakes’ luxury collection includes Coco, Coco Caramel Bliss, Tropical Coco, Raspberry Coco, Hazelnut Kiss, Peanut Butter Lover’s Delight and Ebony & Ivory.

Visit the Oklahoma Sugar Art Show site if you’re interested in participating in the show and to see additional photos of beautiful cakes.