Monday, November 18, 2024

Mug Shot: Wooden Mug

 





How cute is this mug? It's made of wood and was a gift from my daughter. I believe she got it on one of her trips to South America. So...it's maybe Peruvian? 

In any case, it's giving Autumn. And speaking of Autumn, here's something else I learned from my former-barista daughter. Did you know that you can get your PSL or your Gingerbread Latte or Peppermint Mocha made "half sweet"? IOW not immediately diabetes inducing? I'm not a huge sweet drink lover, so this was a revelation to me. Try it out!


Monday, November 11, 2024

Mug Shot: Harvest-Themed Mug

 





This is another mug from the ACCI (Arts & Crafts Cooperative, Inc) gallery in Berkeley. My daughter picked out this one, but somehow or another it ended up here in Texas with me. I find myself not using it much, because in my heart, I still think of it as hers and I guess I don't want to be responsible for anything happening to it. Weird, right? 

It's a nice mug. I should probably use it more often. 

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Dream Under the Hill is back!


DREAM UNDER THE HILL
Oberon Book 8.0
PG Forte

The Spring Equinox falls in the month that nearly all Native Traditions recognize as being one of Big Winds--big changes. And big changes have certainly come to Oberon this spring, along with an ancient evil that must finally be laid to rest.

Cara Matthews is a girl with a troubled past and a very uncertain future. The teenage girlfriend of Oberon's newest guru has always looked for love in all the worst places. And it doesn't get much worse than the Church of Truth, Light and Vision.

Former cop Liam McKnight could have told her that, but he's infiltrated the cult in hopes of discovering some clue to the whereabouts of his own missing family members, and he can't jeopardize his mission--not even for her.

In a month marked by birth, death and marriage, the inhabitants of Oberon must all come to terms with what's really important to each of them--important enough to die for. Only one thing is certain; when the winds of change finally stop blowing nothing, and no one, will be the same.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Mug Shot: Peace Mug

 



This is one of several mugs I bought in Berkeley at the ACCI (Arts & Crafts Cooperative, Inc) gallery. It's just about the hippiest peace of pottery I own--at the moment. And I think it's the perfect mug to post today, one day before the election when emotions are running high and many people are concerned about the possibility of violence--which is just appalling. 

But anyway, here are some pretty glass and ceramics to look at. Enjoy.


https://www.accigallery.com/about-us.html

Monday, October 28, 2024

Mug Shot: Peet's Pumpkin-Colored Mug

 




This is one of several fall-colored mugs I bought from Peet's while I was living in Berkeley and the Bay area. The others are an older version, with a slightly different shape and logo. This is the only one I have like this. But it's a nice mug, and I love the color. 

It's shown here in my dining room, on the table that I bought for $20. at Urban Ore--a Berkeley institution where you can buy furniture, building supplies, housewares, etc, etc, etc. It was always one of my favorite places to shop and browse. You can check it out here: https://urbanore.com/

By the way, there are only a few more weeks to pick up Love and Espresso, check that out here:  https://www.amazon.com/Love-Espresso-Zakrzewski-Anthologies-Ashley-ebook/dp/B0CSKS814M/



Monday, October 21, 2024

Mug Shot: Fish Hopper




This is a mug that I'd thought I'd lost in one of the several moves I've made since I bought it. I think I've had it for twenty years or so, give or take. I definitely had it when I was writing the Oberon series, since I got the idea to name the beachside cafe (that's modeled in part on Berkeley's Seabreeze Cafe) Beach Hopper in part because of this restaurant. As well as, in part, due to having worked as a docent at the Berkeley Marina which is where I was first introduced to the fascinating little crustacean called a Beach Hopper--but that's another story, I suppose. 

Fish Hopper (which, sadly, no longer exists) was also one of the restaurants that provided inspiration for Oberon's Buena Vista Diner. So it definitely left it's mark on the series.

In any case, this is a standard size mug, with a handle that's been repaired--I'm hard on mugs. Actually moving on average every two years over the course of forty-some-odd-years is hard on mugs. And many other things!

I still remember the move where I was at work when things were being loaded on the truck and I got a frantic phone call from my daughter telling me I needed to get back to the house rightthisminute because everything was getting broken. 

I really hate moving. Have I mentioned that?

Anyway, I found this mug when I was unpacking a couple of boxes of dishes that I'd never gotten around to unpacking after my last move. I have a lot of dishes. I think, if I ever run out of mugs to post (which doesn't seem too likely, does it?) I might move on to dish sets. Or cutlery sets...okay, I don't have as many of those, but we'll see. Ooh...or maybe I'll just add a Tuesday Tea post. We shall see...

But, back to this mug. I'm currently working on the annotations for Dream Under the Hill, book eight in the Oberon series--which also has another new cover, btw--but neither Beach Hopper nor the Buena Vista Diner appear in that book. So rather than trying to find another excerpt to post, I'll just post a promo pic with the new cover. I'd love to know what you think about it!



 







Monday, October 14, 2024

Mug Shot: Tattoo Mug


 


I got this mug several years ago, shortly after I started writing a tattoo-themed series. I originally had a couple and I think I was planning on using them as promotional giveaways. Unfortunately, I didn't get around to finishing the series...yet. But I have characters, plots, and (because of course I do) covers! You can see them all here: https://www.pgforte.com/inked-in-oaktown

To be honest, since I move so much, I have periodic mug purges and this probably would have gone in one of the last two divestments since, like I said, I'm not currently working on this series.  But it had been packed away with my other promotional material and I only found it recently. So I'm going to keep it. At least for a while. Maybe it'll motivate me to work on that series...if I ever get the time. Right now I have books scheduled through 2027. Yikes. 

Anyway, it's a cute mug. It's big and bright and cheerful. And it hits all the Trad Tattoo markers, with swallows on either side and a heart with MOM written across it in the middle. 

My first fictional tattoo appears in the Oberon series. Ryan suggests Siobhan get one in Touch of a Vanished Hand and then we get to actually "see" the results in the next book, The Spirit of the Place--both of which are included in the second Oberon Omnibus, Return to Oberon

Here's the scene from Touch (I should point out, for those of you who don't know, that Siobhan and her sister Sinead are identical twins; and that Sinead, when she first met Ryan, fooled him into thinking she was Siobhan. As a result, he doesn't trust himself not to get them mixed up. Much to everyone else's amusement and/or irritation) : 

Siobhan had stopped at the winery’s office to get directions out to the farmhouse.  She was crossing the parking lot on her way back to her car when she saw Ryan lope down the stairs from the terrace, and head for his bike.  She paused to admire the athletic grace with which he moved, and to smile at the distracted frown he wore, the unaccustomed air of seriousness on his face.  No doubt about it, the man definitely takes my breath away.  

            “Well, fancy meeting you here,” she called, as she sauntered toward him.

         He turned to look at her, leaned back against the motorcycle, crossed one ankle over the other, crossed his arms.  Said nothing.  She felt her smile falter.  Her footsteps slowed.  An indefinable expression flickered in his eyes.  Part annoyance, and part...something else.  Something dark and inscrutable.  Something she couldn’t put a name to. 

          “Is there something I can do for you?” he asked at last, entirely too politely.

          “What’s wrong?” she asked, and in the same instant, understanding dawned.  Anger flashed through her.  “Oh, honestly!  Ryan, are you ever gonna learn to tell us apart?”

         Alarm widened his eyes for an instant, and then he frowned.  He straightened up again, uncrossed his arms, but still he scanned her face suspiciously as he asked, “Siobhan?  What are you doing here?”

      “I stopped by to see how Sinead was doing,” she said as she closed the distance between them.  “I thought I’d spend some time with her, maybe take her to lunch.  I have the day off, remember?”

        He nodded, brushed a quick kiss across her cheek.  “Yeah, I remember.”  He pulled back a little, his gaze still curious, doubtful, far too uncertain.  

  Siobhan sighed.  He’s still not sure, is he?  Even now?  It couldn’t be a good sign, his continuing inability to differentiate between her and her sister.  He was usually a lot more observant than this.  She shook her head.  “What’s it gonna take, huh?  Do I have to tattoo my name across my chest before you get it?”

        A spark of interest lit his eyes.  “I’ve got a better idea.”  He leaned back against the bike once more, half sitting on it as he took hold of her arm and drew her close.  “How about my name?” 

            What?  She gaped at him horrified by the eager smile stealing across his face.  “Ryan— Oh, come on, you’re notserious?”  

            “Sure, I am.  Why not?”  His fingers tugged at the neck of her blouse.  “It doesn’t have to be big, or anything.  Just…oh, I don’t know, maybe a cute little red heart?  With a yellow ribbon scrolling across it and my name in blue capped letters, right...about...here.”  He lowered his head, pressed the softest of kisses against the top of her breast.  

            Dear Lord.  A tattoo?  She felt her breathing stall and made a half-hearted effort to push him away.  I need help,she thought, nearly fainting from the shock when she realized the idea was actually beginning to appeal to her.  Are we both crazy?  Never in a million years. Desperate, she summoned up the anger she’d been feeling a moment earlier.  “Now, tell me, Ryan, why ever would I brand myself with the name of a man who doesn’t even know who I am?” 

            He raised his head, smiling wider, obviously amused at the absurdity of the statement.  Oh, God.  Bad move.  Definitely the wrong thing to say.  What had possessed her?  She had to know he’d choose to view such a remark as a challenge.

      His eyes turned dark, hot, intense.  “Oh, I know you, Siobhan,” he answered.  There was laughter in his voice and love and a certainty that made her blush to the roots of her hair.  

            Yes.  He did.  And very well, too.



Return to Oberon

Omnibus Two: Books 4 - 6

Return-to-Oberon

A Taste of Honey

Touch of a Vanished Hand

The Spirit of the Place 

 

Second Chances, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, First Love, Holiday Magic, Suspense, Angels.