Thrilled to Be Part of a “Literary Tea Party” Cookbook!

October 19, 2017October 19, 2017 / saraletourneau / 26 Comments

I’ve been near-bursting for weeks to share this news with you. And now I can finally say that (*drum roll*) I’ve written the introduction to a literary-themed cookbook!

A Literary Tea Party: Blends and Treats for Alice, Bilbo, Dorothy, Jo, and Book Lovers Everywhere is written and compiled by Alison Walsh, the “chef” of the literary food blog Alison’s Wonderland Recipes. It will feature over 50 recipes of finger-food savories, breads and scones, desserts, and homemade beverages from tea blends to punches and hot cocoas – all of which can be served for afternoon tea or other festive gatherings. The best part is, all of the recipes are inspired by foods that appear in well-known novels such as J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and (of course) Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
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Time Flies!: January 2016

January 31, 2016January 30, 2016 / saraletourneau / 26 Comments

Welcome to the latest edition of Time Flies! It’s my version of a monthly update, where I recap the past month’s accomplishments and articles, share news and random things from my offline life, and hint at what may be coming in the month ahead.

Ah, January. In some ways, I can’t stand this month. It means winter – which also means cold, snow, ice, and other seasonal yuck. Can you blame me for counting down the days to spring? (49!!) But in other ways, January was a sigh of relief. After one of the most hectic Decembers I can remember, relaxing and returning to a slower, somewhat normal routine has never been more welcome.

I couldn’t resist an Olaf gif here. XD

Before I go much further – a quick word to anyone waiting for the next edition of the Character Evolution Files. It’s coming, I promise. Between three big blogging commitments last month (Chronicling The Craft, a guest post for WriteOnSisters, and my next DIY MFA article), I didn’t have time to start drafting File No. 6 until this past week. And when writing lengthy articles (which often have minds of their own) and juggling deadlines, sometimes you have to reshuffle your priorities.

So, yes. Character Evolution File No. 6 should post in mid-to-late February. Stay tuned for that as well as a call for character interview questions (Tuesday, February 2nd) and the blog’s first guest post (Tuesday, February 9th)! Oh, and the guest post I’m working on for WriteOnSisters? Ohhhhhh I can’t tell you how THRILLED I am about it. 😀

For now, let’s recap January’s happenings.

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Time Flies!: December 2015

December 30, 2015December 29, 2015 / saraletourneau / 44 Comments

Did I ever tell you that Lilo And Stitch is my second-favorite animated Disney movie after The Lion King? ;)

Confession: “Lilo and Stitch” is my second-favorite animated Disney movie after “The Lion King.”

Yes, it’s me popping in! 😉 I’m on hiatus until Monday, January 4th, but I thought I’d still post a Time Flies to “officially” wrap up the month.

How have your winter holidays been so far? Do you have any plans for New Year’s Eve? I’ll most likely stay at home and call it an early night (I’ll explain why shortly). The last two months have been nutty on all fronts, so it’s been nice to breathe deeply and relax the past few days.

If you noticed things were slower here than usual this month – you’re correct. I scaled back on my blogging activities in December because of all the busyness, and also to get a head start on my January posts. So, you probably haven’t missed much if you’ve been away, but here’s your chance to catch up:
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Tea Time at Reverie: Sweet Jane Bennet from Bingley’s Teas

December 15, 2015December 15, 2015 / saraletourneau / 3 Comments

It’s our last Tea Time of 2015! Today’s is also an appropriate choice for the holiday season, a black-and-green tea blend named after the kind yet reserved oldest daughter of the Bennet family from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Read more about Sweet Jane Bennet from Bingley’s Teas at A Bibliophile’s Reverie!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

“Oh! You are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life.”
Elizabeth Bennet to Jane Bennet, in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

No one can deny that Jane Bennet is a sweetheart. The eldest sister of the beloved Bennet family from Pride and Prejudice, she’s kind, soft-spoken, and patient, an optimist who sees the best in people. Maybe it’s no surprise that Jane caught Charles Bingley’s eye – she’s an angel, in both demeanor and physical beauty.

What would an angelic character’s tea taste like, then? If you ask Bingley’s Teas, their answer would most likely be Sweet Jane Bennet from their Jane Austen Tea Series. This blend of black and green tea combines…

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Winners of the Thank-You Giveaways

November 4, 2015November 3, 2015 / saraletourneau / 3 Comments

A big “thank you” to everyone who participated in the recent thank-you giveaways! Here are the names of the four winners, along with their prizes: Continue reading →

Time Flies!: October 2015

November 1, 2015November 1, 2015 / saraletourneau / 15 Comments

As much as I enjoyed parts of October, I’m relieved it’s over. Between a hectic work schedule, my first head cold of the season, and being busy at home, the past month sent me spinning. All the craziness also cut into my blogging time. So if it seems like things have been less active than usual here recently, that’s why.

It’s OK, though. Sometimes life happens, and blogging (both writing and visiting other blogs) has to go on the backburner temporarily. But now things are slowing down and deadlines have been met, so I can *hopefully* start catching up. My biggest priorities right now are a) finishing the fourth Character Evolution File so it can go live during the first or second week of November, and b) taking care of myself by relaxing, reading, and remembering to “smell the roses.” Or, in this case, the orchids.

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Tea Time at Reverie: Sanctuary T’s Geisha Beauty

April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 / saraletourneau / 2 Comments

Sanctuary T’s Geisha Beauty promises a burst of peach against a backdrop of black and green teas. Do the aroma and the flavor profile live up to this promise? Find out at my newest tea review at A Bibliophile’s Reverie.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

After falling in love with fruity black/green tea blends last year, I’ve been on the lookout for similar teas that combine different types of leaves with a floral or fruity pizzazz. Our previous Sanctuary T sample, Spring Harvest, was a lovely example of green and white teas married with tropical flavors. Now it’s time for another choice from Sanctuary T: Geisha Beauty, a best-selling blend of black and green teas with a dash of peach flavoring. Just how peachy is this infusion? Keep reading to find out.

The Basics

Photo courtesy of Sanctuary T

Sanctuary T’s Description:“Geishas have traditionally been associated with beauty, subtlety, and sophistication, and those three ingredients are the inspiration behind this refined blend. We’ve combined black tea, green tea, sunflower leaves, rose petals, and other natural flavors to create a rich tea with strong undertones of peach. Try it iced or paired with…

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Time Flies!: March 2015

March 31, 2015May 31, 2015 / saraletourneau / 9 Comments

Happy Spring, everyone! 😀 Even though it’s been an abnormally cold March here in Massachusetts, I feel lighter in heart knowing that my favorite season has finally arrived. Pretty soon, leaves will bud on the trees, flowers will bloom, and temperatures will be just warm enough so I can resume my outdoor walks. Lush, green, colorful, fresh… *sighs with contentment*

Spring means more to me than nature’s re-awakening after its winter slumber, though. It also marks an anniversary for me, one of a spiritual and emotional turnaround after a bout of situational depression. My poem “Eve of Spring” talks about this a little bit. If you’re interested, you can read the poem here or here.

What else have I been up to this past month? Check out the recaps below:

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Time Flies!: February 2015

February 28, 2015November 11, 2015 / saraletourneau / 16 Comments

First of all, thanks to all the new visitors who came by this month for the Maria V. Snyder and #1000Speak articles! I hope you enjoyed what you read and will continue to visit as time goes on. And if you haven’t yet, make sure you enter the Shadow Study giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of Maria’s new book. The giveaway ends on Wednesday, March 4th at midnight EST, and is international (i.e., open to everyone).

February was much less stressful than the past couple months had been. (*whew*) It was also a super-busy month writing-wise, which is never a bad thing – especially given one of the milestones I reached recently. 😀 Some of you may already know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, no worries. That’s part of this month’s recap.

I’ve tweaked the format for Time Flies this month. If you’ve seen the past monthly updates, let me know you think this one’s an improvement over the last one.

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Tea Time at Reverie: Sanctuary T’s Spring Harvest Green Tea

February 6, 2015February 6, 2015 / saraletourneau / Leave a comment

Are you as weary of winter as I am? Then here’s a fruity green/white tea blend that will remind you of spring! Aptly called Spring Harvest, this bouquet from Sanctuary T combines Japanese sencha with delicate white tea and tropical fruits for a crisp, sweet cup that blooms like the first flowers of April. Read my complete review of Sanctuary T’s Spring Harvest – and find out which books I paired with it – at A Bibliophile’s Reverie!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

I’ve had enough of winter. It’s only the first week of February, but after a January full of bitter cold and slushy roads – and then being buried under 3+ feet of snow within the past 2 weeks – I’m already counting down to spring. If I just close my eyes, I can already feel warmer temperatures, see new leaves on the trees, and smell the fresh flowers and the sweet dampness of earth after a rainstorm. Of course, that’s all in my imagination.

Chasing away the winter blues was my priority for this Tea Time. Luckily, Sanctuary T has a remedy in the form of tea: Spring Harvest, a blend of green and white teas with passionfruit flavoring. Turns out it was a rather delectable choice!