3-Book Contract!

I'm very happy to announce that I signed a 3-book contract with Abingdon Press earlier this month. All 3 books are women's fiction set in the South. I decided on a fictional town near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, so I could include a healthy dose of made-up places close to a real setting.

The "Class Reunion" series titles:
• All Prettied Up at the Cut 'n Curl
• Fancy Is as Fancy Does
• Stylin' with Ms. Prissy Big Hair

The first book is coming out in Fall 2013, so y'all will have to wait a while to buy it. But don't worry. I'll post a reminder here when they're available.



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Sweet Baklava Coming Soon!

If you'd like to be on my mailing list to get reminders of Sweet Baklava and all my other upcoming book releases, please send your snail mail address to Debby [at] DebbyMayne [dot] com (remove spaces and replace words "at" and "dot" with symbols).


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Vintage Clothing and Accessories

I've enjoyed seeing some of my favorite old styles coming back lately. My daughters talked my husband and me into going to Little Five Points in Atlanta, where we visited one vintage shop after another.

Here are some articles I wrote on vintage fashion:

Update Your Wardrobe With Vintage Clothing

How to Dress in Retro Vintage Clothing for a Glamour Girl Look







One of the employees at the Clothing Warehouse was kind enough to pose for pictures in her head-to-toe vintage outfit after helping my daughter select a dress that looked good on her. We'll definitely return to that store in the future!

Happy National Buttercrunch Day!

Although there’s no evidence that Congress has any intention of making this an official holiday, people who love the flavor of buttercrunch can still rejoice and eat their favorite sweet treat to their hearts’ content! Enjoy making buttercrunch cookies and have a happy day!

Ingredients:
• 1 cup of softened butter
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1-1/2 cup of flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cream of tartar
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups of crushed cereal (Cornflakes are best!)
• 1/2 cup of chopped nuts

Directions:
1. Mix butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
2. Mix flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Add dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture.
4. Fold in the crushed cereal and nuts.
5. Roll the dough into balls and place on cookie sheets. Lightly press the centers of each cookie ball.
6. Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes.
7. Cool before eating.


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Eat a Healthy Breakfast!

We’re still in the middle of the cold, flu, and virus season, so make a concerted effort to stay healthy. One of the best things you can do for your family is make sure everyone starts out with a healthy breakfast.

Since your days are probably as hectic as mine, I came up with some suggestions for healthy but quick-and-easy breakfasts. Here they are:
• Oatmeal with raisins and milk
• Fruit and yogurt wrap – Slather Greek yogurt on a whole wheat tortilla and fill with slices of your favorite fruit.
• Leftover veggie pizza
• Apple slices with peanut butter
• Fruit smoothie – Mix apple juice, frozen strawberries, plain Greek yogurt, a tablespoon of honey, and a small banana in a blender.


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Happy Make Your Dreams Come True Day!

Today is Make Your Dreams Come True Day! January 13 is the day to go after what you want in life and try to achieve your dreams. Actually, any day is a good one to work toward goals, but since it’s an official holiday, there’s no excuse not to put the effort forth to make your dreams come true.


Do you dream of taking a beach vacation?






Falling in love?






Or improving your golf game?





Well, today is the day to make that dream come true!

Sweet Baklava coming soon!

March 1, the release date for Sweet Baklava is getting closer, and I’m getting more excited by the day. This book is set in Tarpon Springs, Florida, a town with the largest per capita Greek-American population in the U.S.

Check out this video book trailer to get a sneak preview of the story:





Pre-order Sweet Baklava at Amazon or ChristianBook.com.


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Happy Cuddle Up Day!

Another obscure day to celebrate is Cuddle Up Day, always celebrated on January 6. Since January days are typically cold, I think this is an excellent thing to do. Find your favorite person, pet, or stuffed animal, grab a blanket, and cuddle up.













Reminder: The release date for Sweet Baklava is March 1. You can pre-order it at Amazon or CBD.


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Happy Festival of Sleep Day!

Although I haven’t been able to find the origin of Festival of Sleep Day, I think it’s an excellent day to celebrate. After all, if you’re anything like me, you’re exhausted from the holidays, and you need some rest. So take advantage of this special day and catch a few extra Zs.

If you have trouble falling asleep, here are some tried-and-true relaxation techniques:
• Immerse yourself in prayer.
• Take a series of deep cleansing breaths.
• Alternately stretch and relax your muscles.

Ways to induce sleep through diet:
• Eliminate caffeine
• Eliminate processed sugar
• Eat whole grains and dairy.
• Eat foods with magnesium – fish, grains, nuts, and seeds.


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