4th Annual Author Extravaganza - Emporia, KS

Join us June 26, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Town Crier Bookstore in Emporia, KS for the 4th Annual Author Extravaganza - see the Town Crier website for details.

I look forward to being there with my book, Back to the Homeplace. I hope you will join us!


"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Book Review of Back to the Homeplace by Linda Brandau

Book Review of Back to the Homeplace 

by Linda Brandau @ Bookvisions

Back to the Homeplace is an engaging story of four families brought together because of the unusual stipulations of a will. The cover of the book is beautiful and sets the Midwestern tone.

The characters are nicely developed so that each is unique. You understand who they are and why they returned to the homestead. The families are realistic with normal family dynamics, and it is easy to care about what happens to them. The reader understands how each character’s personality – the temperamental one, the team players, the loner – influences their role on the property. Mr. Smith’s descriptions of the different areas of property are well done and it was easy to visualize the White Oak trees, trails, and buildings.

As soon as you are settled in and comfortable with the story, there are several twists. Secrets are revealed and lives are torn apart. This has quite an emotional impact on the story. I appreciated the way the Mr. Smith handled sensitive subjects tactfully.


This review is posted at: Bookvisions, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, powells.com, librarything and goodreads.

Happy Reading!  ;-)

A Book Review by Jack L. Kennedy, Joplin Independent

Ozarkan author pens tale of family relationship

A Book Review by Jack L. Kennedy, Joplin Independent

An excerpt:

Back to the Homeplace, a first novel by William Leverne Smith of Hollister, MO (Vision to Action Publishing) is in some ways unique, as it updates the cliche of the "return to the humble Ozarks" with a very current plot, modern characters rather than rehashed hillbillies, and chapter introductions that give the reader a taste of what is happening in the world in the 1980s, contemporaneously with the story.

The tale revolves around family members who return, often reluctantly, from various locales and places in their lives to hear the terms of the will of the matriarch of the family. On her video testimonial, she divides the family property up and requires each of the inheritors to live on a tract for two years before benefiting from it, financially or otherwise. The idea of the plot is clever; it's not the often-heard tale of "good ole folks" returning to the home place and living happily or squabbling ever after. Smith claims this as the first of several "Home Place" novels, written as the modern family develops.

One rather early scene shows the tensions created when a generation with certain expectations or lifestyles is thrown into the Missouri Ozarks and is forced to evaluate who they are and where they are going, not just if they want an inheritance. Some family members find old memories, old relationships dredged up again. One generation meets another and learns to live with and, perhaps, to like, or, at least to understand, Mildred McDonald Bevins' and her late husband's insistence that their grown children, spouses and grandchildren prove themselves, even change, as they develop their own distinctive ways to handle their legacies--the land.

This family tree has some branches that do not always seem to come from the same roots. When the limbs are shaken, some surprises fall out. But despite themselves, most members persevere, grow on their new home sites, or return to their former lives to reassess themselves or make peace.

See the full review by Mr. Kennedy at:
http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/jkennedy1274041012

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

A Wednesday Recipe - Grandma Helen Barnes' Custard Pie

 

Grandma Helen Barnes' Custard Pie

Thanks to Lori Parrish Barnes Niemi (on Facebook)
for this recipe and permission to use it here

Lori said: I'm sure I wrote out this recipe card about 1964 or so.

Try this. You'll like it. It's satisfying, but not too sweet. May Grandma Barnes rest in peace. I think of her often with great affection The recipe is hers, the instructions are my addition. This recipe will definitely appear in my cookbook, as it's a classic.

3 eggs
5 Tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 cups milk, scalded
nutmeg to taste
1/4 teaspoon salt (I don't use salt)

Beat eggs slightly. Add sugar and scalded milk. I usually "temper" the eggs slightly by adding a small amount of milk to them slowly until they come up closer in temperature to the milk. That way they won't end up scrambled. Mix thoroughly. Pour into an unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle liberally with nutmeg, or to your taste. I like a lot, so I use a lot.

Bake 5 minutes at 450 degrees, then decrease heat to 350 degrees and continue baking for 30 minutes. Pie is "done" when knife inserted in the custard comes out clean.

You can also bake this custard in custard cups. Spray them first with Pam. Set them into a pan and fill them about half-way up with custard mixture. Carry the pan to the oven and set it on the rack (to avoid spilling). Fill the cups to within about 1 inch of the top and remember to sprinkle on the nutmeg. Then fill the pan with water until the custard cups are immersed about half-way up. This is known as a bain marie....a fancy cooking term for cooking custard and other foods in a water bath. Bake as for pie above. When custard tests done, carefully remove from oven and let custard cool in the bain marie.


"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

OWL May Meeting at Box Car Willie Inn

I enjoyed attending the Friday night May meeting of the Ozark Writers League held in Branson this year. I met some fine people and shared stories of being a writer. After the fine catered meal, a number of members read from their works - a wide variety of readings that were mostly entertaining and always interesting. I took this photo of the first speaker; there were about 50 members in attandance.

Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Book Signing at Words, Hardy, AR, yesterday

Enjoyed my visit to Words and Afterwords in Hardy, AR, yesterday for a Book Signing for Back to the Homeplace. Had visitors from Highland, Cherokee Village, and Illinois, among others.

Here I am at the signing table. Note that each author signs the top of the table. Nice touch.

Even Flash Gordon and friends stopped by:

Beth, on the left, Vicki, behind the counter, and Greg were great hosts. Thanks for a good time. They invited me back when The Homeplace Revisited comes out.

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Surname Saturday - MCDONALD 3

Surname Saturday - MCDONALD 3

This is a guest post by Karen BEVINS WINSLOW (a fictitious character in Back to the Homeplace). Karen is the oldest daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS, one of their four children. These four siblings and their families are the major characters of the novel: Back to the Homeplace. [This blogging exercise is a part of the research for the upcoming novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" by William Leverne Smith]

The Daniel and Jane (TRUESDALE) MCDONALD Family

Daniel was the son of Henry and Laura (STONE) MCDONALD.
Jane was the daughter of Hugh and Tamar (BARTON) TRUESDALE.
Daniel and Jane were married 1 Jan 1863 in the TRUESDALE farm home.

Daniel and Jane had children, possibly others:

1. William MCDONALD, b. 1864


Families are Forever!  ;-)

OWL May Meeting

I am attending the Ozarks Writer's League (OWL) Meeting at the Box Car Willie Inn conference center this evening. Have to miss the Saturday main meetings to be at my Book Signing in Hardy, AR on Saturday - see Monday's post for details. Looking forward to meeting some new fellow writer's tonight. I'll report back on Sunday, most likely. Wish me well!  ;-)

A Wednesday Recipe - Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese

My wife says I shouldn't eat so much Macaroni and Cheese, so I'm pulling this one out of The Complete Step-by-Step Diabetic Cookbook, today, p. 198.
It has Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Medium-Fat Meat

Ingredients:
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups skim milk, divided
1 1/2 tablespoons reduced-calorie margarine
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded low-fat process American cheese
2 cups cooked macaroni (cooked without salt or fat)
Vegetable cooking spray
1/4 cup soft breadcrumps

Steps in Preparation:
1. Combine flour and 1/4 cup milk in a saucepan; stir until smooth. Add remaining 1 1/4 cups milk and margarine; stir well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat, and add salt.
2. Add cheese, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until cheese melts. Remove from heat.
3. Alternate layers of macaroni and cheese sauce in a 1-quart cassarole coated with cooking spray; top with breadcrumps. Bake at 375 degrees until mixture is bubbly and lightly browned.

Yield: 6 servings

Enjoy!  ;-)


"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Book Signing at Words, Hardy, AR, Saturday, May 15

Please consider coming to the Book Signing for Back to the Homeplace by William Leverne Smith at the fine bookstore WORDS and AFTER WORDS, in Hardy, AR, at 2 - 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2010.

201 North Spring Street - phone 870-856-5579, if you need it. See you there!!  ;-)

Happy Reading!
Dr. Bill  ;-)

Surname Saturday - MCDONALD 2

Surname Saturday - MCDONALD 2

This is a guest post by Karen BEVINS WINSLOW (a fictitious character in Back to the Homeplace). Karen is the oldest daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS, one of their four children. These four siblings and their families are the major characters of the novel: Back to the Homeplace. [This blogging exercise is a part of the research for the upcoming novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" by William Leverne Smith]

The William and Charlotte (CRANE) MCDONALD Family

William was the son of Daniel and Jane (TRUESDALE) MCDONALD

Charlotte CRANE was the daughter of Thomas and Grace (FOX) CRANE

William MCDONALD and Charlotte CRANE were married at the MCDONALD Homeplace farmhouse on 1 Jun 1887, near Oak Springs, MO.

William and Charlotte MCDONALD had the following children, perhaps others:


1. Joseph (Joe) Palmer MCDONALD was born 26 Jun 1888, near Oak Springs, MO.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Book Signing at Body Works Spa and Salon

I was pleased to do a Book Signing at the Spring Open House of the Body Works Spa and Salon, at 3005 Green Mountain Drive, in Branson on Thursday afternoon. I met many great people and sold some books. Cannot ask for more than that. Thank you to all the good folks at the Body Works for making me welcome. Here I am with Sharon and my book.

Here is their brochure. They offer a wide variety of services and I encourage you to check them out if you are in the area.

My next scheduled Book Signing is in Hardy, AR, on Saturday, May 15, 2010. See you there!  ;-)

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Back to the Homeplace on Springfield TV

I was honored to appear on Springfield, MO, television station, ABC Affiliate KSPR, on their Community Closeup segment, to talk about Back to the Homeplace. Here is the clip:

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

A Wednesday Recipe - Meatloaf

A Wednesday Recipe - Meatloaf

Another great recipe from Deborah Vogts at Country at Heart - it looked too much like a "Homeplace" recipe to pass it up - Thanks Deborah! Be sure to see her new Book out shortly, Seeds of Summer, as well as Snow Melts in Spring... a favorite of mine!

Here's a good old-fashioned recipe for Sunday Meatloaf.

2 eggs
3/4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups crushed saltine crackers
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/4 cup catsup
1 tablespoon mustard
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon liquid smoke

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine eggs and milk. Stir into egg mixture crackers, onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Add ground beef, catsup, mustard, brown sugar and liquid smoke. Mix well. Spoon mixture into greased loaf pan. Bake covered for 45 minutes. Pour 1/2 cup catsup over meatloaf and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes. Serve warm. Good with scalloped potatoes and green beans. YES, it is great that way!


"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Surname Saturday - MCDONALD 1

Surname Saturday - MCDONALD 1

This is another guest post by Karen BEVINS WINSLOW (a fictitious character in Back to the Homeplace). Karen is the oldest daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS, one of their four children. These four siblings and their families are the major characters of the novel: Back to the Homeplace. [This blogging exercise is a part of the research for the upcoming novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" by William Leverne Smith]

The Joe and Beth (YOUNG) MCDONALD Family

Joseph (Joe) Palmer MCDONALD was born 26 Jun 1888, near Oak Springs, MO. He was the son of William MCDONALD (b. 1864)

Mary Elizabeth (Beth) (YOUNG)

Joseph (Joe) Palmer and Mary Elizabeth (Beth) (YOUNG) MCDONALD were married in 1908 at the MCDONALD farm home.

Joe and Beth MCDONALD had the following children, and perhaps others:

1. Mildred (Mildred) Arlene MCDONALD was born 26 Jun 1917 in Oak Springs, MO . She died 12 Nov 1986 in Oak Springs, MO. Mildred lived her entire life on the Homeplace farm east of Oak Springs, MO. Frank and MIldred (MCDONALD) BEVINS were married in the First Methodist Church parsonage in Oak Springs, MO, by Rev. Alexander Forbes on 15 April 1934. They had four children.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Latest Book Review and Giveaway - Allison's Attic

For the very latest Book Review and Book Giveaway of Back to the Homeplace, go to Allison's Attic.

Notice you can order the book in the sidebars, right now, as well.

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)