Dear Friends,

YES!! SHOOTS TO KILL is out right now and I know you'll enjoy it. If you've ever had your wallet stolen, you know the horrors of identity theft. Poor Abby, my feisty, redhaired florist, loses way more than her ID, though. Trust me, this is not your usual case of identity theft.

I've had lots of fan mail about this book, the seventh in the Flower Shop Mystery series, so I know many of you are waiting to find out what happened to hot hunk Marco, the love of Abby's life. Just wait. You won't be disappointed.

IT'S CONTEST TIME! Click on the contest button to the left to put your name in for the prize. And check out my photo page for the cutest pic ever of my newest fan, Catastrophe, or Taz, as she's called by her owners. And I just learned Taz is expecting her first baby. Do I have your curiosity aroused? You'll never guess what kind of pet Taz is. You'll have to read SHOOTS TO KILL to find out why Taz is a new fan of the series. A big thanks to my friends Pam and Emaly Leak for providing the photo and very helpful info.

If you're on my e-mail list, you'll be receiving a newsletter in a few weeks. If you're not on the list, send an email to katecollinsbooks@yahoo.com and I'll put you on. Also, I still have some coverflats left. If you want a free autographed cover of SHOOTS TO KILL, email me and I'll contact you with info on how to send for it.

Abby and I have another new friend in the flower shop business: Diane Nielsen, the owner of A.S.K. For Flowers in Plymouth, Indiana. I'm told she and I resemble each other. Hmm. Maybe Abby isn't the only one with an "evil" twin. (Don't tell Diane I said that.) And right across the street is the Bookworm Bookstore, owned by sisters Shannon and Jennifer. I'll be dropping by both Plymouth stores on August 14th , so if you're in the area, come in and say hi. Also, a shout out to Jamie Kniffen, from McNamara Florists (www.mcnamaraflorist.com) .

BOOKSIGNING INFO! Barnes & Noble, Valparaiso, Indiana, August 9th from 2-4 p.m.

FYI:  For anyone interested in British customs and historical information, check out author Joanna Waugh's research at  www.joannawaugh.com or www.myspace.com/joannawaugh. Joanna has a new e-book out now, BLIND FORTUNE. Visit her website to read more.

In the mood for a new mystery blog? Drop by Poes Deadly Daughters.(www.poesdeadlydaughters.blogspot.com I just did an interview for the blogsite, thanks to author/blogger Sandra Parshall. And don't forget to check out my own group, the cozy chicks, (www.cozychicks.com). My blog is new every Sunday.

And last, I want to thank my SPARK team, from Valparaiso University's marketing department, Jesse Gerhardt from Carmel, Indiana, and Lindsey Opsahl, from Philadelphia, PA, for all their help in promoting the book.


Happy reading!





ITALIAN-STYLE SHREDDED BEEF SANDWICHES
(For the slow-cooker, but can be modified for the oven)

2 ½ - 4 ½ lbs beef roast (the leaner the better)
½ lg onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 6 oz. can tomato paste, plain or Italian style
1 cup water
½ cup ketchup
2 beef bouillon cubes or 2 tsps beef flavored granules
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp Italian seasoning
salt and pepper (optional)
½ cup pepperoncini peppers - mild to spicy depending on your preference
1 tbls juice from canned peppers (see above)
kaiser rolls

Place onion and garlic in bottom of slow-cooker. Salt and pepper beef to taste and put in cooker. Mix tomato paste, ketchup, water and bouillon in glass container and heat in microwave 1 ½ minutes to soften cubes.

Stir well. Add spices and peppers and pour mix over beef. Cook on low 8 hrs or high 5 hours or until meat is tender and cooked through. Cut beef into slices and shred in batches in food processor or using two forks.

Return to slow cooker and simmer for one hour on low. Spoon over split buns and enjoy.   Serves 4-12 depending on size of roast.

Freezes well. (If pre-cooked beef is used, shred first, reduce cooking time to 5 hours and heat on low.)

KRISPY ICE CREAM PIE

½ stick butter
½ cup chocolate chips
1 cup Rice Krispies
1 ½ pints ice cream or frozen yogurt

Melt 1/2 stick of butter with 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, remove from heat, and stir in 1 cup Rice Krispies. Press into pie pan and chill. When firm, add ice cream or frozen yogurt (coffee, pistachio, mint chocolate chip flavors are great) Store in freezer. Take it out a few minutes before serving.
Serves 6-8

 

7. For baskets, glue wheat-colored stalks to the sides for a natural effect.

8. For a fall look, hollow out a gourd, wash, dry, and fill with cut flowers.

If you have ideas for unique containers, send them to me and I’ll post the best. Your name will be used unless you specify otherwise.