Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – Jazz, Winter Soups, Chocolate, New books, reviews and funnies

Welcome to the weekly round up of posts the you might have missed during the week on Smorgasbord blog Magazine.

You might have noticed that the round up has a new header. Apart from looking to give the post a bit of a freshen up, I also wanted to emphasise the theme that I have developed over the last seven years, of a magazine style blog with a wide range of subjects. You will see from this round up that there are a number of regular contributors and guest writers.

Currently on a fortnightly or monthly basis I am lucky enough to have William Price King (music column), Carol Taylor (Food and Cookery Column), D.G. Kaye (Travel Column), Annette Rochelle Aben (Numerology) and Silvia Todesco (Italian Cookery) and I write the (Health Column). Jessica Norrie wrote a wonderful (Literary Column) last year which I am currently repeating.

Do you have an area of expertise that you would like to share and promote your blog or books at the same time?

If  you have an area of expertise that you would like to share here on Smorgasbord and can write a column of between 1000 to 1500 word every two weeks or once a month, then please get in touch. It could be care of elderly parents, Cooking by nationality – French, Indian, Chinese etc, Writing or Editing guidance, History of where you live etc.. contact me on sally.cronin@moyhill.com so we can chat about it..

If you do not have the time to commit to a monthly column, perhaps like baking, chocolate expert and author Robbie Cheadle, you might like to do a short series of guest posts.. Check Robbie’s latest post on The York Chocolate Story later on in the round up and get in touch if you would be interested in doing something similar @sally.cronin@moyhill.com

From sun tan to wellies

We have had a wonderful week weather wise and we were lulled into a false sense of security. I checked the ten day forecast which predicted rain for until after October 5th and beyond so exchanging my bikini (thank goodness there are no drones in the area) I legged it to the garden centre and bought all my wintering flowering plants, some new potting compost and dashed back to spend the afternoon changing out all the pots.

This may be the last recorded sunshine of the year!  So this week I am just going to share this special moment, and the new mini cyclamens and winter flowering pansies.

Now on to the posts from the week, and as always a huge thank you to the contributors, this week William Price King, Carol Taylor and Robbie Cheadle with some special mentions.  And also for your support every week and generosity.

And a special thank you to D.G. Kaye who devoted her regular Writers Tips post to all the three Cafe and Bookstore book marketing posts so far…What an amazing thing to do. Debby has been part of the support team for the blog for five years and every night, even when she is on her winter break in Mexico she comments shares all my posts from the day across her social media. Thanks Debby and sorry they are not real…

You can find Debby’s Writing Tips: https://dgkayewriter.com/writers-tips-special-edition-author-tips-for-promoting-your-books-by-sally-cronin/

This week William Price King celebrates the life and music of Mary Lou Williams – American Jazz Pianist, Arranger and Composer

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/17/smorgasbord-blog-magazine-the-music-column-with-william-price-king-mary-lou-williams-american-jazz-pianist-arranger-and-composer/

Carol Taylor shares the joys of soup which can be eaten whatever the weather as a starter or as a snack even as a main meal if it is a substantial one served with lots of fresh crusty bread or with the addition of rice or noodles as it is served here

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/18/smorgasbord-blog-magazine-the-food-and-cookery-column-with-carol-taylor-soups-in-25-minutes-smoked-mackerel-and-tomato-and-cannellini-bean-with-cavolo-nero/

Carol Taylor is another friend that I owe a bouquet of flowers to. Not just for the wonderful posts that she brings us throughout the year but also the support she offers every week by sharing my posts on her eclectic and fascinating blog. Healthy eating, conservation, Thai foods and cookery and down to earth commonsense.  Next month it will be the second anniversary of the food column and I am very grateful for her generous contribution. Thank you Carol.

Here is the link to Carol’s own roundup this week and please follow if you are not already doing so: https://carolcooks2.com/2019/09/22/carolcooks2-weekly-roundup-health-recipes-and-more-so-much-more/

Part two of The York Chocolate Story from Robbie Cheadle.. not sure how much more temptation I can take lol.. find out more about The Terrys and the Cravens.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/16/smorgasbord-blog-magazine-guest-writer-robbie-cheadle-the-york-chocolate-story-part-two-terrys-of-york-and-cravens/

My guest this week is regular guest to the blog, author Darlene Foster who has recently released another book in her successful Amanda Travel Series. Later in the post she shares an excerpt from Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/22/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-sunday-author-interview-darlene-foster-and-an-excerpt-from-amanda-in-holland-missing-in-action/

Delighted to share my review of the third book in the Braxton Campus Mysteries:  Flower Power Trip.. by James J. Cudney

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/21/smorgasbord-book-reviews-braxton-campus-mysteries-book-3-flower-power-trip-by-james-j-cudney/

Twitter – New look and and step by step guide to Book Marketing useful functions.

As an author with books to market, getting as storefront on Twitter is important. It is a networking site and whilst you may not want to use for social media, it is great for connecting with other authors, reviewers, bloggers, all of whom are likely to be readers too. Here is a step by step guide to getting your books front and centre.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/21/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-book-marketing-online-watering-holes-for-authors-twitter-step-by-step-set-up-for-authors-sally-cronin/

Chapter Eleven – Imogen spends the week before Christmas working in a funeral home, with a very dishy funeral director....

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/21/just-an-odd-job-serialisation-chapter-eleven-the-funeral-home-by-sally-cronin/

Chapter Twelve sees Imogen join an advertising sales team for a local newspaper and responsibility for one of the more cash only columns!

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/22/just-and-odd-job-girl-serialisation-chapter-twelve-advertising-sales-by-sally-cronin/

For this week’s Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 145 Colleen Chesebro has provided us with a photo prompt.. in a new twist the previous month’s poet of the week for the photo prompt gets to choose the image..This month that honour falls to Jane Dougherty. I have selected a #Tanka for this week’s challenge…Adrift

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/smorgasbord-poetry-colleen-chesebros-tuesday-tanka-challenge-tanka-adrift-by-sally-cronin/

This week the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills prompts us to write in 99 words, no more, no less… a story about ‘an interlude’ – mine is A Musical Interlude

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/21/smorgasbord-short-stories-carrot-ranch-flash-fiction-a-musical-interlude-by-sally-cronin/

This is the final post from the archives of author and poet, Patricia Furstenberg who as you can tell from some of her books is a dog lover. Children and pets can be magical and bonds are formed that ensure a child never feels unsafe or alone throughout their early years. In this post Patricia explores this in more details. Pets — Understanding Your Child’s Affinity Towards Animals (2018) by Patricia Furstenberg

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/16/smorgasbord-posts-from-your-archives-potluck-pets-understanding-your-childs-affinity-towards-animals-2018-by-patricia-furstenberg/

This is the final post from the archives of author, fitness advocate and photographer Terri Webster Schrandt. In her post Terri offers four reasons to attend the next one you are invited to. Four Reasons to Attend a Blogging Conference (2017) by Terri Webster Schrandt

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/16/smorgasbord-posts-from-your-archives-potluck-four-reasons-to-attend-a-blogging-conference-2017-by-terri-webster-schrandt/

This is the final post from the archives of Jim Borden who blogs on ‘Borden’s Blather’ across a variety of topics. I know that my computer can be funny weird… frequently but have not so far seen it be funny ha ha!  So I decided to end Jim’s short series for this season with this post. Can Computers be Funny? (2018) by Jim Borden

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/17/smorgasbord-posts-from-your-archives-potluck-can-computers-be-funny-2018-by-jim-borden/

This is the third post from educator and author Pete Springer who began blogging in April this year. I am sure you will agree that he has made a fantastic start to his new project.  Pete shares some incidents that could have been a lot worse if laughter had not been the outcome.. and there there is the mystery of the knocking in the pipes! The Importance of a Good Sense of Humor by Pete Springer

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/17/smorgasbord-posts-from-your-archives-newbloggers-the-importance-of-a-good-sense-of-humor-by-pete-springer/

Delighted to welcome Melanie Stewart to the series.. In Melanie’s first post she shares some of the wisdom she picked up from author Judith Viorst who is almost 90 years old and the joy that her mother who is in her 80s, has found in following Tiger Woods…. Finding Joy in your 80s and 90s (2018)

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/18/smorgasbord-blogs-from-your-archives-new-bloggers-on-the-scene-melanie-m-stewart-finding-joy-in-your-80s-and-90s-2019/

This is the first post from Peter Mohan who blogs at Cheers, Govanhill as his alter ego .. Boy David…I thought in this first post I would let Peter introduce Govanhill to you to set the scene for the other posts Thou shalt buy thy round

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/20/smorgasbord-posts-from-your-archives-new-thou-shalt-buy-thy-round-cheers-govanhill/

New Book on the Shelves

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/18/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-new-book-on-the-shelves-memoir-mennonite-daughter-the-story-of-a-plain-girl-by-marian-longenecker-beaman/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-new-book-on-the-shelves-a-bit-about-britains-history-by-mike-biles/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/20/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-new-book-on-the-shelves-love-on-track-rivals-in-love-book-three-p-c-zick/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/21/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-new-book-on-the-shelves-childrens-a-tractor-named-wilbur-by-deanie-humphrys-dunne/

Author updates – Reviews

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/16/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-author-update-reviews-c-s-boyack-lizzie-chantree-and-mae-clair/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/20/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-author-updates-reviews-amy-m-reade-tony-riches-and-barbara-silkstone/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/18/smorgasbord-blogger-daily-wednesday-18th-september-2019-sue-vincent-ellen-hawley-and-stevie-turner/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/smorgasbord-blogger-daily-thursday-19th-september-2019-bette-a-stevens-d-wallace-peach-and-gloria-smud/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/20/smorgasbord-blogger-daily-friday-20th-september-2019-brigid-p-gallagher-john-rieber-and-carol-taylor/

I repeat this series in particular every year, in the hopes that those who are new to the blog will find it interesting and useful. I worked with couples who were planning on getting pregnant and it was important that both understood how each other’s reproductive systems worked. Also if you know your body well, if something is even slightly different from the norm, it encourages you to have it checked out. The Female Reproductive System.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/17/smorgasbord-health-column-major-organs-and-systems-of-the-body-the-female-reproductive-system-part-one-sally-cronin/

After 45 years of working in the food industry and then in the last twenty as a nutritional therapist, I explore where in the life cycle we can intervene to prevent the current obesity crisis.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/smorgasbord-health-column-creating-tthe-obesity-epidemic-part-one-finding-a-point-in-the-life-cycle-to-intervene-by-sally-cronin/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/17/smorgasbord-laughter-lines-comedian-in-residenced-g-kaye-and-a-joke-from-sallys-archives-11/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/smorgasbord-laughter-lines-comedian-in-residence-d-g-kaye-and-a-joke-from-sallys-archives-5/

Thank you very much for dropping in today and for your support.. it is much appreciated.. Thanks Sally.