March News and Notes!

So many books, so little time!  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­   View in browser  Mary's March News and Notes Hello fellow readers! How has your March been? I've been waiting for Spring and it's being super stubborn. We have snow on the ground, how unspring like is that? Are you a basketball fan? I love the NCAA more than NBA. March Madness is... Just madness. I join a NCAA Men's Bracket with the Dept. of Workforce Services Appeals Unit every year. I have since I worked there, and though I retired I still hang on in March! On to new things. I will be participating in not one but three signings this spring! What was I thinking???? What does your spring look like? Have a wonderful rest of your month! If you're on my weekly newsletter, you'll see me next week. Sara and I hope to see you at Marissa's in April! More Details! Mother's Day Boutique Need something for every mom. There are five authors, multiple genres, crafts and sweet goodies! Hope to see you there in May More Details! Do you need a trip to Vegas? It begins with registration and check in on Thursday May 15th with something planned for every minute of the day and evening until Saturday May 17th. Readers you'll go home with dozens of books. My bet is, you'll have to ship them.  I'll be hosting at the Book Lovers' Vegas Rendezvous! - Friday, May 16, 2025, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Prepare to be thrilled at the Book Lovers' Vegas Rendezvous! Join authors and readers as we celebrate our shared passion for books in true Vegas style. This lively and interactive event promises plenty of opportunities to mingle and snap photos! With exciting raffles happening throughout the event, you could walk away with fabulous swag bags filled with surprises. It's a book lover's dream come true, set against the dazzling backdrop of Vegas! I am signing on Saturday, May 17th, from 10 am to 1 pm. I'll have bling, gift baskets and other goodies. It's not too late to register for this fun adventure! I hope to see you!  Register here Monthly Recipe Beef in Stout with Herb Dumplings and Soda Bread The Holiday Cooking Club (book 2 of the Wintergreen Village Series) Stefani prepares this with her club in March for a cozy dinner. It's a favorite of hers from an Irish Pub cookbook she found tucked away in her favorite bookstore.  Beef in Stout with Herb Dumplings - serves about 6 Stew 2 tbsp.     Sunflower oil (I substituted with olive oil)  2 large     Onions thinly sliced.  8               Carrots, sliced. 4 tbsp.     Plain flour. 12 oz.       Stew meat, cubed (Steak if you can afford it) 15 oz.       Stout (Guiness is what I used) 2 tsp.       Sugar  2               Bay leaves. 1 Tbsp.     Chopped fresh thyme Salt and Pepper to taste. Herb Dumplings 4 oz.      Self-rising flour  Pinch of salt 2 oz.      Shredded Suet (I substituted butter) 2 tbsp.   Fresh parsley chopped, plus extra for garnish  about 4 tbsp water. Irish Soda Bread Soda bread has long been a staple in Ireland. It is a bread made without yeast; the raising agent being baking soda mixed with buttermilk. A cross is cut into the top of the bread to help it rise and, according to Irish folklore, to either ward off evil or to let the fairies out. I like to think we're letting the fairies out.  Makes 1 loaf Olive oil for oiling 1 lb.     Plain flour, plus extra for dusting.  1 tsp.   Salt 1 tsp.   Baking soda 14 oz.  Buttermilk  2 tsp.  Sugar (optional) 1/2 cp. Craizins or raisons (optional) Blend the sugar into the soda and flour. The Craizins can be added as you're kneaded the bread.  **I apologize for the instructions in pictures. The After Work Cook Amazon Follow me on Amazon Get an email every time I have a new release. Amazon Page Follow Mary on social media Covers by LDM Graphics. 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