My Go-To-Frozen-Fruit-Salad Recipe People Love & a Corn Beef Salad Friends Won't Eat

This yummy frosty, fruit mold is my go-to salad when temps reach 100+ degrees, which is quite common where I live (Hemet, CA). It’s a breeze to make and so refreshing, especially on a blistering hot day. I’ve yet to find anyone who doesn’t like it and often get requests for the recipe.

Not only does it taste good, but this frozen salad can be made several days ahead. That’s a big plus factor if you need adequate time to focus on preparing other dishes on the menu. Or, if you like to have options in the freezer for those days you are rushed, don’t want to make a run to the grocery store, or simply too tired to cook.

The other reason I like this recipe is its adaptability. It can be made as individual cupcake-size servings that's ideal for a meal for two, or even one! Or made into a loaf size that is perfect for a small gathering.

Want to know what’s in this tasty salad? I thought you might, so here’s the recipe:

                                                          * * * * *  

Frosty Fruit Salad

1 package (8 ounces) of cream cheese, softened

¼ cup of mayonnaise

¼ cup of sugar

½ tablespoon of lemon juice

½ teaspoon of vanilla

1 can (8 ¾ ounces) pineapple tidbits or crushed (drain well)

1 package (10 ounces) frozen blueberries (rinse/drain very well or salad will turn blue)

1 can (16 ounces) of sliced peaches, cup up small (drain well)

1+ cups of whipped cream (substitute with Cool Whip if you like)

You’ll also need: 12 foil cupcake liners and a cupcake pan

DIRECTIONS: In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Fold in fruits and then whipped cream. For the loaf size simply add mixture to dish, cover and put in freezer. For the cupcake version: Place a foil cupcake liner in your cupcake pan and add a scoop of mixture into each cupcake liner. Fill to slightly above the top of each liner. Cover cupcakes with a lid or foil and place in freezer for several hours or until solid.

TO SERVE: Remove loaf size salad from freezer 20-30 minutes before you plan to serve salad. As it begins to thaw, slice into individual portions and place on a bed of lettuce. Best to serve it partially frozen so it will retain its shape. Same goes for cupcake size portions, though they take less time to thaw.

Option: You can use different fruits, or a can of fruit cocktail to substitute if you don’t have exact ingredients in list above. I’ve even used bananas at times.

                                                       * * * * * * * 

MY WORST SALAD

And now, for my Corn Beef Salad that never gets a compliment!

I made the mistake one time of taking it to a potluck for a group of female friends. I didn’t expect them to love it, but knew some had culinary skills and might enjoy sampling something different.  

Well, my salad wasn’t the hit of the party but it did give us a good laugh thanks to Tori, a connoisseur-of-junk-food. While surveying the spread of dishes she pointed to the mint-green salad and asked . . .

“What is this?

With a smile on my face I let her know: “Oh, that’s a salad. I brought it. It’s different, but I like it.”

“What’s in it?”

“Well, there’s lime Jell-O, mayonnaise, mustard, eggs, a little onion, bell pepper, and corn beef.” When the last ingredient got mentioned she gave me her “you’ve got to be kidding me” look.

It was obvious she wanted to bypass my salad so I quickly added: “I won’t be offended if you don’t try it.”

Relieved she wasn’t obligated to taste it she set down the serving spoon and then, in true Tori fashion, said: “Good, ‘cuz it looks like ca-ca!”

I burst out in laughter at that point. Only Tori could get away with being so blunt and funny at the same time. Then she began to laugh, and everyone wanted to know what was so funny. 

The salad again got made this week as I needed a photo of it. Since it makes plenty, I asked my friend, Debby Alten, to sample and give me an honest critique of it. Here’s what she had to say: “As I studied its appearance I took a tiny taste of the creamy part. Ummmm . . . that’s kinda good. Then I took a bite. I could tell it was loaded with a variety of other ingredients. Immediately I detected something crunchy, and then the corn beef. Then I took another bite, and another, and another. Ummmm . . . I think I like this. It’s actually quite refreshing!”

Debby also offered the salad to her 23 year-old son but he took one look at it and said “No thanks.”

So there you have it. A few people like it, some people hate it, and some people refuse to try it. I understand completely, as you’ll never see me eating sushi.

Who is to credit for this chilled corn beef salad? I have no idea. I came upon it some 40 years ago when a former roommate set it on the dinner table one night, along with homemade "green" bagels, in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Lucky for her I find pale green beautiful which is about the only good thing this salad has going for it. But I gave it a try and came to like it, though not on a frequent basis—about once every ten years.

Now that you’ve heard Tori’s take on this salad I’m sure I’ve ruined all chances that you’ll ever make this dish. Still, I’m going to give you the recipe. Who knows, you might have some leftover corn beef in the house, or collect out-of-the-ordinary salad recipes, or you’ve a potluck to go to and in need of a good laugh.

And now for that recipe you can hardly wait to try:

                                                         * * * * * 

Corned Beef Salad

1 large package Jell-O (lime or lemon)

2 2/3 cups boiling water

2 cups mayonnaise

1 tablespoon horseradish

2 tablespoons mustard

1 ½ cups celery, chopped

½ cup green pepper, chopped

4 teaspoons onion, minced

6 eggs, hard boiled

1 ½ pounds of corned beef (2 cans)

In a 9” x 13” dish, add packet of Jell-O, followed by boiling water. Stir until Jell-O is dissolved. Add mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish and stir until ingredients are blended. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Chill in refrigerator until firm and set. Cut for individual servings and place each section on top of a bed of lettuce on a salad plate.

                                                        * * * * *  

Well, those are my best and worst salads from my recipe box. Another day I’ll tell you about other favorites of mine: my sister’s eggnog salad she makes at Christmas, a friend’s taco salad, and Linda's Oriental Chicken salad. No more “worst” recipes though. Most of them have been trashed which is probably what I ought to do with the Corn Beef Salad recipe above.

Julie

P.S.  What’s your favorite salad recipe?

3 Things That Make Me Happy: Ice Cream, Flowers and Books!

It doesn’t take much to make me happy. Ice cream always works. So does gardening. Lovin’ the oriental poppies proudly showing off their colors in my tiny garden spot out front of my house. The bold orange ones next to a patch of white and purple African daisies are striking.

In my back yard between a blooming tall boganvillia and Jasmine vine are a few “sunflower” seedlings. They have sprouted and getting taller each day. They were planted after reading Mortimer’s First Garden for Story Time with the pre-schoolers. Wanting the boys and girls to grasp how a tiny seed becomes a flower I asked their teachers to plant a couple seeds in some soil then took them home to tend to, taking photographs of their progress. 

A month later the kids were wowed when they saw a photo of their sprouted seeds and the growth that took took place in a matter of days. Will be interesting to hear what they have to say in a couple months when they see and touch a huge sunflower loaded down by seeds.

Here are two other books the pre-schoolers thoroughly enjoyed at Story Time: The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle and Hi!, Fly Guy, the first title in a series by Tedd Arnold. Both of these authors are gifted illustrators and storytellers. These definitely merit being on a young child's summer reading list.

WHAT I'M READING . . . 

My reading list is pages long and on my computer for two reasons: I have a lousy memory and like having a reference list handy. Whenever I spot a title that intrigues me or obtains positive reviews it gets entered on the list. Often a mini note about content or who recommended it gets added too. Now you know how I came to select the nine books below which I read this past month.  

Several had good potential but for various reasons none deserved a 5-star rating. I debated whether to include two I deemed unworthy of recommending, but opted to let them stay since reading tastes vary and what I dislike just might be something you’d enjoy. First up . . . 

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester. 

This is a fascinating, true story involving a man with a mental illness who, while housed in a lunatic asylum for almost 40 years, spent his time doing research for the Oxford Dictionary project. Unfortunately, the author’s repeated references of the man's delusions, often sexual in nature, soiled this compelling story for me. Had I known this prior to purchasing the title I never would have considered listening to it. The book does have one redeeming bit of value: you leave with a great appreciation for this massive dictionary which took decades to compile and publish which is now recognized as a monumental piece of history. 242 pages or 17 audio hours; narrator is quite good.

Take This Cup: The Jerusalem Chronicles, Book 2 by Bodie Thoene. 

As a fan of Book 1 in this series I fully expected to like this sequel. In some ways I do, but definitely not as much as the initial title. Here’s why: the biblical characters seem forced into the story line. Why this experienced author took this approach baffles me. Her creative story is strong enough to stand on its own without all the manipulated scenes to incorporate many of the personalities found in the Gospels. Even so, the book gets my approval as the overall intent of the story is admirable and caused me to think beyond what is so familiar. 400 pages or 11 audio hours.

The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King. 

This was a jolly good read thanks to two British narrators and one solid mystery. Though a typical Sherlock Holmes' who-done-it, the story kept my interest from start to finish. Warning: contains a few spots of offensive language. 384 pages or 13+ audio hours

Some Wildflower in the Heart by Jamie Langston Turner. 

Fully expected to enjoy this story as it started out strong with a plot that was intriguing. Unfortunately the two primary characters derailed it from being a success. I tried to like the women and get beyond their personalities which were extreme opposites—one gushing with sweetness and the other oozing with bitterness—but could never embrace them. Another detriment was the author's excessive and manipulative mention of book titles. 372 pages or 14+ audio hours; narration good.

A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea by Eunsun Kim. 

The mediocre writing in this memoir did a disservice to the remarkable story covering the 8-year journey of a young woman intent on escaping North Korea. There were so many repetitious phrases and clichés! Makes me wonder if anyone edited the manuscript. I don’t regret reading this inspirational story as the facts presented expanded my understanding about the culture and political landscape in North Korea, but her writing keeps me from recommending it. 240 pages or 5+ audio hours; narration acceptable.

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin. 

When this Oscar nominated film, based on the book with the same title, came to my attention my curiosity took over and I had to know more. After checking customer reviews on Amazon and noticing the movie’s Pg-13 rating, I opted to give the audio book a try. Sorry I did. It started out strong, with a decent storyline developing at a nice clip, but then lost its momentum, dragging on and on. And, of course, the author had to drop in some savory language and sex scenes which, thankfully, I could quickly mute or dismiss content while fast forwarding to the next chapter. Could not help but wonder by the books end, How did this book ever become a film? Definitely not recommending this title. 288 pages or 7+ audio hours; narration good.

The Memory Weaver by Jane Kirkpatrick. 

I’m a fan of historical fiction largely because of this skilled author. Like most of Kirkpatrick titles, this one too stems from a true account. The protagonist in this mid-1800’s saga is a young woman who, as a child, was taken hostage by the Indian tribe her missionary parents were serving. As she works hard to pioneer a new territory, marry, raise children, work through family conflicts, plus deal with memories and more, she is forced to face her past. In doing so, she discovers we do not always see correctly and adjustments in our thinking, along with a new view of others, are required if we are to move on. Now this book I highly recommend! 352 pages or 11 audio hours; narration good.

The Source by James A. Michener. 

Took me months to listen to all 54 hours of this novel about Israel’s history. At hour 40, when the story got bogged down with all the minutia of details, I took a long break (a good 4 months) before returning to complete the book. When I resumed listening the remaining chapters were much better, particularly when the focus went back to the characters at the archaeological dig which brought the story full circle. Doubt I’ll tackle another Michener tomb soon, nor do I recommend this book to anyone unless you are a history fanatic or heading off to Israel in the near future. 1104 pages or 54 audio hours; narration good.

Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen. 

This author may sound familiar as the TV show Rizzoli and Isles is based on her mystery novels. But Playing with Fire is a stand-alone mystery and one that gets my recommendation! If you have a bit of interest in music or Italy or the Holocaust then this novel might suit you perfectly. The author’s ability to intertwine two mysteries in one storyline was impressive as was the surprise towards the end. I don’t dare say anything more. 272 pages, 7 audio hours; narration fine and instrumental music between chapters a nice touch.

CURRENTLY READING:

Praying with the Grain—How Your Personality Affects the Way You Pray by Pablo Martinez, M.D. 

This non-fiction title, by a psychiatrist and seminary professor who resides in Italy, surfaced while searching online about the topic of prayer. After evaluating the book’s table of contents, author's qualifications, and trying a sample chapter I was impressed so purchased the title. On my Kindle are numerous books on prayer, but none so far have answered my nagging questions or provided new information. Hopeful this author will address my inquiries. I’m only half way through his work but so far it's one of the better ones I’ve read on the subject. 176 pages on Kindle; no audio available.

BOOKS IN THE WINGS

What's next on my reading agenda? Not sure. If When Breath Becomes Air were available at my library that would be my pick. Instead, might go with a Holly Gerth or Brene Brown title, both about "perfectionism," but more than likely I'll choose something from Audible.com as it has a two-for-one sale today! 

Plus book sales make me happy! 

Julie

P.S. Do you have a book you think I ought to read? Do let me know. 

My Three Favorite Memories I Have of My Mom

As in infant, some 90 years ago, my Mom wore these shoes and sipped milk from this cup. 

These button-up baby shoes and engraved cup are cherished keepsakes from my Mom's childhood. As Mother’s Day approaches it’s only natural to reminisce a bit and recall memories of her. I’ve many good ones, but these are the three which stand out from all the rest.

Memory #1

Picture a modest, three-bedroom house in Vista, California, circa 1952, with a six-year- old me standing on the cement porch. I've got a lunch box in one hand, dressed in appropriate attire for first grade, and eager to walk to school with my best friend. But just as I am about to head down the steps my Mom opens the front door and calls out my name. In her hands is a red wool coat. Though we live in sunny Southern California it's a cold day and a warm jacket is warranted. Her message is clear though she doesn't say a word. 

Begrudgingly I slip my arms into the sleeves and while my Mom bends over to button up the coat I begin to cry.

Puzzled by my tears my Mom immediately stops working the buttons into their holes and asks, “What’s the matter, Julie? Why are you crying?”

Tears continue to fall and my quivering lips remain closed.

“Are you sick?”

I shake my head no.

Still not sure what is the cause of the tears, she asks, “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

With my head hanging down and tears trickling down my cheeks I mumble, “I don’t want to wear this coat.”

“You don’t?”

“No. I don’t like it.”

Thankfully I had a discerning Mother who knew to kneel in front of me, look into my eyes and softly say, “Oh, I see. And is that because the coat used to be your sisters and now you have to wear it?”

My head bobbed up and down.

Then to my surprise I saw tears in her eyes and heard these words: “I wish I could buy you a nice new coat, but Daddy and I don’t have enough money right now for one. But I promise you, one day you and I will go to the store and buy you a new one, okay?”

My tears began to subside when I heard that promise making it possible to tell her, “Okay." When she finished buttoning my coat and gave me a hug I quickly cut across the yard and met up with my friends for our daily trek to school.

I have no recollection of any shopping trip for a new coat but I’m sure my Mom kept her word once funds were available. Why that childhood memory stands apart from all the others no doubt is due to the tears and expression I saw in my Mother’s eyes that day. Though only a child I somehow grasped she hurt too, though I'm sure I did not fully comprehend the reason behind her tears. Ironically, today a bright red coat hangs in my closet, one of my favorite cover ups whenever the weather turns chilly.

Memory #2

Another special memory with my Mom happened a few years later, one December morning back in the early 1950’s.

Typical of most girls my age playtime centered on dolls. Though I never had a Barbie, it was still fun to imagine a world where my doll could attend parties, go to the beach, pretend she was famous, play house, and more.

Good ol' black/white TV with 13 channels!

My doll’s wardrobe was rather sparse, so my Mom, who was quite adept at sewing, created a batch of doll clothes as a Christmas gift. Once the various garments were complete she folded and placed them in a small suitcase, added some holiday wrap and tucked the present under the tree. It was the best surprise! I don’t remember anything else I received that Christmas as I was so enthralled with this one gift.

In time I outgrew my love for dolls, and at one point must have given them and their wardrobe away as we had miniscule closets in those days and no garage to store our prize possessions. But I do have a photo from that morning which always stirs up memories and reminds me of my gifted and thoughtful Mom.

Memory #3

Not too long ago I went through a container marked “Mom’s old photos, etc.” Among the pictures were porcelain dolls she played with as a child and a few doll clothes her tiny hands had sewn. As I marveled at what I had come across I felt like an archaeologist who had unearthed a remarkable find. What a treasure to hold in my hands her handiwork and the tiny, delicate dolls which undoubtedly were special to her.  

Seeing what was probably her first attempt at sewing made me aware of my Mother’s early interest in sewing and caused me to wonder if anyone recognized this about her or encouraged her, later in life, to be a fashion designer. Whether or not they did, she found a way to express her talent via an old Singer sewing machine. She eventually became a skillful seamstress and made numerous dresses for me and my sister, Ginny, or an occasional one for herself.

Lucky for her she had a nearby fabric outlet to fuel her interest in sewing. Often, she and her best friend would go there to scour through hundreds of bolts of material which sold for a mere $.35 a yard! Such a deal. So was the $.50 price of a pattern. Rarely did she return home without an armload of fabric.

Such Good Memories

I realize I’m fortunate to have such good memories of my Mom. She was not perfect, nor I an angelic child, and we had our moments of conflict, but what relationship doesn’t? Yet what I remember mostly are those poignant moments, like the morning on the porch with the red coat, or discovering the lengths my Mom would go to make my Christmas special, and her unconditional love which is so easy to see given the passage of time. She was indeed a wonderful Mom. 

I hope you have a favorite memory of your Mom to reflect upon this Mother’s Day, or better yet, get to spend time with her on this national holiday. And for those who find this day painful, for whatever reason, I ask God to comfort you and somehow make up for the Mom you never had, or the pain she inflicted on you, or the love she was incapable of giving. And when that happens, may that become a treasured memory.


Julie

    

Hope . . . From a Broken Plate, a Book, Patsy Clairmont, and Psalm 34:18

Can you find the cracks in my antique plate? 

Out of all the things on display at my bungalow this small plate, with its Chintz pattern, is one of my favorite treasures. It used to be my Grandma’s and during one of my many moves got broken. It was headed for the trash can when, right before being tossed away, I decided to try and fix it. I knew it could never be used to eat off again, but I could still enjoy its beauty, even with its imperfections. And I do. 

I'm pretty sure Elisa Morgan, author of The Beauty of Broken, would be in agreement with my salvaging my plate. Not because of the use of a piece of china on her book's cover, but because of her message about brokenness. 

The title has been on my "wish list" ever since I first gazed at the simple, striking cover and intriguing title. It wasn't until last week, though, that I took the time to look at the book's summary, author bio and read a few customer comments which convinced me I needed to read this title. So, in a matter of minutes I made the decision to buy the audio version, downloaded it, and soon thereafter began listening to Elisa narrate her own work. Now that I’ve finished it I can report: It was better than I expected!

It might surprise you, as it did me, that the author is the former CEO of Mothers of Preschoolers International, a Christian ministry better known as MOPS. She’s a very capable leader and radio host while being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and, like all of us, part of a broken family.

I applaud her for writing an honest memoir. In it she reveals her inner battles and those of her original and current family, starting with her parent’s divorce and mother’s alcoholism. From there she lets us see her own brokenness and failed efforts at trying to fix the problems, both in herself and the two children she and her husband adopted. Undoubtedly, to write of her son’s drug addiction and her daughter’s teen pregnancies, one ending in a stillborn birth, or of her brother’s homosexuality, had to be difficult. Yet, it is evident her intent is not to harm but to address a truth which is the crux of her entire work: we are all broken . . . and only Jesus can fix us.

Repeatedly, as I listened to the book’s audio version, my thoughts turned to parents I know who have a similar story. Unfortunately, the broken family is common place these days, as is spotting a parent who tries to fix their kids problems. Or worse yet, one who enables a child and allowing the problem to persist. Anyone you know like that? If so, this book might encourage and help them. It contains good, solid, biblical, and practical advice written from a compassionate heart.

Though never married, nor have children, I found Elisa's remarks, especially about trying to fix others, a reminder I need to hear again and again . . . along with "Fixing others is God's job, not yours." So, don’t rule out suggesting this book to any adult, regardless of age, gender or status. 

While engrossed in Elisa’s book another title, somewhat similar in content but loaded with humor, came to mind: God Uses Cracked Pots by Patsy Clairmont. This author could be a stand up comic as her storytelling often leaves audiences laughing, but also thinking. Hard to believe Patsy was once an agoraphobic, fearful of being out in public and remained at home for some six years, but now a featured speaker at the Women of Faith conferences.

Here’s a snippet from one of her talks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7duoNj6HxI

Years ago I owned a cassette tape of her message, also titled God Uses Cracked Pots, until it became entangled in a device. Unlike the antique plate above, this item did end up in the trash! Out of curiosity I checked Amazon and found it is available thanks to Focus on the Family in MP3 format ($1.99), so bought, downloaded and listened to it this week. It’s still the gem I remember. Made me laugh to the point of tears. I assure you, you will not regret listening to this woman. Also by Patsy is All Cracked Up: Experiencing God in the Broken Places, 2009, 140 pages, $6.99 paperback. I’ve not read it, but given that she’s penned 24 other titles it’s probably safe it say this one is a good read too.

Child-like writing and imperfections -- trademarks of home-spun decor! 

As I final thought, I leave you with a photo since it ties in with today's topic: brokenness. 

Embroidery isn’t something I often do, but last December the ol’ needle and thread were brought out to create this bit of home-spun art, based on a verse in Psalms: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18 NLT. 

It was for a friend who had spotted a similar piece in my home and commented how much she liked it. As she left I tucked away the idea to create one for her as a Christmas gift. It now hangs on a wall in her office and she’s remarked more than once how much it means to her. It's nothing special, but I include it here as a reminder that though we are all broken, we've a loving God who knows how to fix us.

It wasn’t my plan to write about “brokenness” this week, but I felt compelled by God to set aside my agenda and follow His lead. Hope it is exactly what you needed to read or hear.

Julie

P.S. Just a reminder: if you want to be notified whenever I put out a new post all you have to do is submit your email up top. I promise you I won't share your information. 

The April Fools' Joke on Julie Cave

I wish I could take credit for writing this book; Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave. But I’m not the author. An Australian also named Julie Cave is. Small world, as they say. 

But can you imagine how stunned I was the day I thumbed through a mail catalog from Christian Book Distributors and saw this cover? 

Well, this is interesting, I thought. Apparently I wrote a book!

Once the shock wore off I found myself laughing as my mind announced, "Oh good, I don’t have to write that novel. Someone else did it for me. Scratch that one off the ol’ bucket list."

Then curiosity kicked in which led to a search on Amazon for the book’s title. Seconds later this photo appeared on the screen and confirmed it was legit. Bypassing the summary, I quickly scrolled down to the short bio about the author. Sure enough, another Julie Cave does exist, but unlike me, she resides in Brisbane, Australia. Furthermore, she’s married, has two daughters, and is studying law! And quite a bit younger, I might add.

“I want to contact her,” I told myself, “but first I’ll read the book.”

Finally, this past week I wrote Julie. Felt very strange to send a message to my own name. She probably had a similar response and possibly wondered if this was an early April Fools’ joke. I assured her it was not, explained how I found her book, and that I was interested in writing a post about it. She was thankful for my interest and elated for the free publicity.

She also answered a few questions I had about the book. Especially if you are a writer of Christian fiction I think you’ll find her answers fascinating. First, here’s this snippet from Amazon summarizing Deadly Disclosures.

                                                   +++++

“FBI agent Dinah Harris now has a missing person's file to go along with a bad case of alcohol abuse and the depression she cannot seem to shake. Fighting to keep her focus, she struggles to find answers for why Thomas Whitfield, the prominent Secretary of the Smithsonian has vanished from his office with foul play almost guaranteed. Whitfield's body is eventually found, and Dinah is drawn into a frightening conspiracy, as more people begin to die, and Whitfield's faith is revealed as part of the motive behind his murder.”

                                                   +++++

Now, for that Q&A with the book’s author.

Julie Cave at her desk in Australia!

Julie Cave/USA: I read a few reviews of your book on Amazon and wondered if the criticism about the book being a bit "preachy" made you adjust your content for the other books in the series?

Julie Cave/Australia: “Hmmmm.....that's a hard question. I think I certainly tried to streamline the message more subtly in subsequent books, but I also make no apology that my books are about important and relevant topics. It is important to me that the books are not just for fun, but might be challenging too.”

Julie Cave/USA: I was surprised to see you are studying law. Are you still in school?

Julie Cave/Australia: “I am not still studying law unfortunately. Although I enjoyed it, I couldn't fit it in with having two small children and writing so something had to give!”

Julie Cave/USA: Are you currently writing another book?

Julie Cave/Australia: “Disclosures is the first of three novels, with a fourth completed and currently awaiting the final verdict from my publisher.”

Julie Cave/USA: Just for fun, what’s your favorite food, a hobby you have, and a children's book your daughters love?

Julie Cave/Australia: “Being Australian, my favourite food is lamb chops, I enjoy reading interior decorating magazines for fun, and I am introducing my daughters to the silly world of Roald Dahl. So far they've enjoyed Matilda very much.”

If you want to get better acquainted with Julie and go to https://www.facebook.com/julieacave/. I enjoyed learning who introduced her to reading, how in her teen years she was already writing novels, who influenced her spiritual commitment to God, and more.

Now, for my take about Deadly Disclosures.

As I read through this book two things stood out: Julie's writing abilities, and her extensive knowledge on a subject we usually leave to the scientists--evolution vs creationism. The way she respectfully and creatively presented both views via two of the characters in the story impressed me. 

Several times I stopped my reading to appreciate her nicely paced mystery and admire what Julie did to make the characters seem real. So real in fact that I wanted to take the FBI agent aside and reprimand her. 

I learned Julie's been studying great authors for years while honing her own skills, and it shows. Once upon a time I wanted to write a novel, but I'm well aware today that it is not a simple task. It requires a lot of research, many hours of writing and rewrites, plus editing. So for me, Julie Cave/USA I plan to stick to non-fiction and this blog and let Julie Cave/Australia continue her endeavors as a novelist. 

But it is fun to fool others by asking them if they have seen my novel.

Julie Cave/USA
P.S. Who has been to Australia, and what’s a happy memory from your trip?

This is one site I'd like to see if I ever got to Australia: The beautiful Sydney Opera House