www.marilynbrant.com

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

RELEASE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Release Day for ACCORDING TO JANE is finally here! (Yes, I'm having an O.M.G. moment. ;)

I'm celebrating by attempting to be everywhere in the Blogosphere at once. In a "Where's Waldo?" kind of way, you'll find me bopping all over the place today...and tomorrow...and Thursday. And well into October, too. Here are some links to get you started. (And I'll probably update these throughout the day, if only so I can help myself remember all the tour stops...)

First, I'm the 007 Bond Sister on call today at "Nobody Writes It Better" with a post up about perseverance. It's mostly not about me but about someone I dearly love... And there's a 2 book + 2 VIA™ packet giveaway in progress there, too, so if you have a chance to stop by, please do!

I'm also visiting my lovely friend Eliza at Eliza Writes, who's hosting a giveaway, too; I have an interview up with Margay Leah Justice at Pop Syndicate's Book Addict (and she did a delightful review, as well); and I'm again the subject of the hilarious Pamela Cayne in Day 7 of her "Marilyn Brant Week"!

And thanks to the thoughtful reviews of both Lainey and Robin, I've made a new online friend! Edie from Magical Musings kindly gave me a shout out today on her blog. My darling friend Pamala added her good wishes, too. And the always wonderful Bunco Babe, Maria Geraci, mentioned my debut on her blog also. You ladies ROCK!!

Finally, because Starbucks VIA™ and I are both launching something we love throughout the U.S. and Canada today, I made the coffee cake I was threatening you all with yesterday--LOL! In truth, this turned out to be my absolute favorite of my VIA™ recipes so far. Even more than the chocolate stuff, and you know how I love chocolate. (Although I have this chocolate-cake/chocolate-pudding idea I still haven't tried...give me time.)

"VIA™ Streusel *COFFEE* Cake"
1 package cinnamon quick bread mix (I used Betty Crocker Cinnamon Streusel and LOVED it--it included both a batter packet and a streusel packet in the box)
2 eggs
2/3 cup water
1/2 packet of VIA™ (I chose the Colombia)
2 Tbsp. cinnamon applesauce (which I used in place of vegetable oil)
a handful of chopped pecans (or walnuts...or nothing)
cooking spray
For the glaze:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. milk
1/2 packet of VIA™ (the rest of the packet from above)
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray bottom of a 9x5-inch loaf pan. In a bowl, combine quick bread mix (batter), applesauce, eggs and water. Mix until blended. Pour half of the batter into the pan. Sprinkle half the streusel packet on top. Sprinkle the 1/2 packet of VIA™ on top of that. Add half of your handful of pecans. Then pour the remaining batter over the top of this. Spread carefully. Sprinkle with remaining streusel and press gently. Top with rest of pecans and bake for approximately 40 minutes. (If you use a different brand of quick bread mix, check the cooking times suggested on the box.)
Let the cake cool completely before making the glaze. When you're ready, mix the powdered sugar, the 1/2 packet of VIA™ and the milk together, stirring until the mixture is smooth and thin enough to drizzle over the cake. After that, have a piece with me!

ETA: The GCC tour continues to with stops at the blogs of Judy Larsen, Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, Karin Gillespie, Megan Crane and Brenda Janowitz (contest there!). And my agent, the wonderful Nephele Tempest, has a post up about my release of Jane and Shannon Butcher's new one!!

22 comments:

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

Congratulations Marilyn! I'm sure "According to Jane" will fly onto the best seller lists. Wishing you some great sales figures and wonderful reviews!

But that coffee cake recipe did nothing for my will power. :(

Edie Ramer said...

OMG! How exciting to have your release day! I wish I'd known that. I would've mentioned it on my blog. I'm eager to read your book!

Anonymous said...

Marilyn!!! I am so excited for you!!! And that coffee cake looks so yummy. I am trilled you left the recipe!! I picked my winner over at my blog. Just waiting for her addy! Congrats again !!
Brande

Robin said...

Happy, Happy Release Day!!!

Huge congratulations!

Marilyn Brant said...

Ann, thank you!!! (And thanks for popping in to see me at an interview, too. :)

Edie~you couldn't have chosen a more perfect day for a shout out :). Thanks!!

Brande, welcome back from Hawaii! You'll like the coffee cake--trust me on this!

Robin~thanks so, so much! *mwah*

Maria Geraci said...

Yummy, that looks absolutely delicious, Marilyn:) Congratulations on your big day!!!

Pamela Cayne said...

WOOT!!! *Snoopy dancing*

(And no wonder I've been so hungry this week!)

Many, many congratulations, my friend!

Gail Fuller said...

Congratulations, Marilyn!!! Yay, According to Jane is finally here! Woo hoo! :)

Eliza Evans said...

I keep refreshing my ups page, hoping it will change and say that my package is here now. BUT IT HASN'T.

That means I get to be excited until tomorrow.

Marilyn Brant said...

Maria, Pamela, Gail and Eliza~thank you all!!! I'm tossing confetti in the air and opening up a chocolate cigar in honor of the occasion ;). Thanks, ladies, for being such a smile-making part of my day.

Brett said...

Congratulations, Marilyn! I bought a copy of your book last night!! I fully expected Borders to have a mound of them on display at the front of the store....well, no big momentous display...they had some copies on the shelf instead. Maybe I'll go back in there tonight and just slyly set up my own display for you! :)

I'm so proud of you!!

Marilyn Brant said...

LOL, Brett!! I love the mental image of you sneaking copies from the shelf to the front table...and then artfully arranging them out of view of the watchful staff :-)

Thanks for hunting down a copy yesterday and for the years of cheers and encouragement before then!! xo

Anonymous said...

I hope Kensington has a sales meeting on Thursday like we do here and they all RAVE about having discovered you and your potential and the sales of JANE overtaking Dan Brown (ok, maybe not realistic but you get the gist).

I am sooo excited for you, you published author you! I'm visiting a bookstore ASAP to see JANE on shelf!

Wilma Frana said...

Sounds like a great book!

Marilyn Brant said...

NovelWhore~LOL, Lydia!! Yes, that Dan dude better watch his step. (I'm sure he's worried now that Jane is released... ;)

Wilma~Welcome! Thank you--both for your comment and for taking time to visit my blog. Hope to see you again!

Barrie said...

Enjoy this very very special day!!! CONGRATULATIONS, you're PUBLISHED!

Unknown said...

Marilyn, gotta tell you I'm so excited about your book being out AND the Starbucks instant coffees have been an afternoon delight since I'm home bound for a few months. Coffee cake, yummy. You know by the time Spring Fling rolls around a couple of slices would make my recovery complete. I'm just saying...

Nancy J. Parra said...

Congrats, Marilyn! I'm jumping up and down for you... and antsy because I'm still waiting for my copy in the mail!

Can't wait!!

Heather G. said...

Congrats on your debut novel! This book looks great and now that it's out I'm out to buy it! I've also heard great things too!

Marilyn Brant said...

Barrie~thanks for the good wishes and for visiting me on FB, too! I hope your tea earlier today was good :).

Dorothy~for *you,* my VIA-loving pal, I may just have to make you some coffee cake! But, please, recover fully so you can come to meetings again. We miss you!

Nancy~thank you for the support and the enthusiasm! We'll have to swap novels-to-be-signed when we see each other next...I've been waiting and waiting for you to autograph my copy of Mr. Charming!

hmsgofita~thanks so much, Heather!! I hope you'll like it. :)

Vesper said...

Marilyn, I can't say how happy I am for you. This is such a fantastic moment! Enjoy every minute part of it for it happens only once... for your following books you'll be already used to this. :-)
Congratulations from the bottom of my heart!

(Mmmm, yummy cake...)

Marilyn Brant said...

Vesper, thank you!! I really appreciate you good wishes and am trying to remember your excellent advice to step back and take in the excitement every once in a while, too. :)