I don’t cook.

Well, I did cook once. It was actually one of the things I looked forward to most when I first got married: cooking my man his dinner. Unfortunately, he wasn’t particularly enthralled by the two meals I knew how to make:

1. Chicken Rice Casserole: chicken breasts/ cream of mushroom soup/frozen broccoli/ Minute Rice

 

2. Tuna Noodle Casserole: can of tuna/ cream of mushroom soup/ frozen peas/pasta

 

The look of hungry dissatisfaction on Mr. Mia’s newlywed face remains branded on my mind almost twenty-five years later.

Sigh.

Things got a little bit better when Mr. Mia grew a garden. I figured out how to make a fresh zucchini/onion/tomato stir fry, which I served over rice or pasta (and, for the record, it wasn’t a casserole) that my husband actually liked. I made it every day for three weeks.

And then he didn’t like it anymore.

Longer sigh.

 

This cooking dilemma compounded with the birth of my extremely finicky first daughter, Ali. She nursed for a long time—I couldn’t go wrong with that. But when the time came for her to eat solid food—well, it didn’t go well. I tried all of the typical “kid foods”: chicken nuggets, grilled cheese sandwiches, french fries, buttered noodles, and pizza. NOPE, NOT HAPPENING. So, I shifted into “chocolate milk shakes for all three meals mode”, into which I would sometimes slip some fruit or yogurt.

“No banana, Mommy! No yogie! Just milk and ice cream!” (And way too much chocolate syrup.)

About a year later, I asked the pediatrician, “Can a child survive on milk shakes, Wheat Thins, and Kudos bars?” The doctor looked at me strangely. And for the record, at this point I wasn’t too worried about what Mr. Mia ate for dinner.

 

Child number two… less picky. Yay.

Child number three… WAY MORE PICKY. Ugh.

Child number four eats anything… and everything, for the most part. Cool.

And then dinnertime got CRAZY. Swim team, dance class, art lessons, baseball, after school enrichment program, soccer, soccer for someone else… you name it, my kids did it. Sitting down at the dinner table became a thing of the past.

I was not overly disappointed, as dinnertime was nothing like the picture above. It had become rather stressful, thanks to the fact I had to make four separate meals each night.

We got out of the “sitting down to dinner” habit. For the next few years, I put together one meal for two kids at five, and Mr. Mia put together a semblance of dinner for another kid at seven, and I picked up fast food for more family members at ten, on the way home from dance. What Mr. Mia ate each night… I have no clue.

Yeah, that was another sigh.

All I can say is I’m reasonably confident that nobody was starving.

I called myself “The Lone Arranger” when it came to coming up with dinner for the kids. (I actually thought everybody called me this catchy nickname, but I have recently been informed—rather rudely, I must say—that this is not the case.) In any event, I didn’t cook dinner—I simply arranged for each family member to have access to something edible each night.

The situation has become even more challenging lately, although it’s not often that the entire family is home to eat dinner seeing as one child is in law school, two are in college, and my only child who is living at home is heavily involved in sports.

Ali is a vegetarian—and a super “foodie” vegetarian at that.

Demi is gluten and dairy free by necessity.

Sisi eats about five foods in the entire world, but this number is slowly growing. I think she is up to seven foods now.

Chris isn’t so much into vegetables.

Mr. Mia refuses to eat fast food and those easy heat-up frozen meals.

I tried to be a “hunter-gatherer” for a period of time for health reasons, but finally gave up and I just eat what I can arrange.

 

We cook a Green Chef meal a few times a week and hire the lady across the street to occasionally cook us comfort food. Mr. Mia grills every now and then. Momma Mia makes that chicken/mushroom soup/broccoli casserole once in a while. Sometimes we eat big bowls of cereal.

Sometime we just drink wine (excluding my son who eats leftovers from the above list).

I don’t cook—never really have, and probably I never will.

But we’re getting by.

Sigh.

By the way, did you hear that Omaha Steaks is offering new crockpot meals?

This is Beef Bourguignon.

 

Here is how they are marketing this delicious meal…

“The only difficult part about this French family favorite is saying the name. Also known as Beef Burgundy, it’s a flavorful savory dish that’s been difficult to make for centuries. Now, there’s no mess, no stress, and no shopping or chopping multiple ingredients. It’s all included – just add it to your Crock-Pot® slow cooker before you leave for the day and it’s ready when you get home.”

I’ve already tried selling the idea to Mr. Mia. He’s a tough customer. And then there’s the fact that children #1-3 won’t be able to eat it, for various reasons (see above) and child #4 will pick out the vegetables.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

I want to know HOW YOU DO IT… How do you feed yourselves and your families on those crazy busy or I-don’t-feel-like-cooking nights? Please!! I need the help!!

 

❤ YA  Mia

 

Check out my badge!!

 

 

I just wanted to pass on the rainbow joy on yet another day where TRANSGENDER EQUALITY has suffered a setback.

Mia ❤

 

Today is a big day for me: It is the release day of my first novel with a crossdressing and frequently feminine-presenting character who falls under the trans* umbrella.

As I struggle to deal with our new White House administration, I have grown increasingly concerned about the emotional and physical safety of transgender individuals in our society. As an author, one of my goals is to provide readers with characters like themselves in literature–everyone deserves a chance to read about a character with whom they can identify. But in writing about transgender characters, which is what I have endeavored to do in Scarred and three of my upcoming releases, I also hope to allow cisgendered individuals to “get to know” trans* people through my characters and stories. Scarred features a passionate romance between Vedie Wilson, a gay man whose gender expression shifts from feminine-presenting to masculine-presenting, and Matt North, a pansexual, cisgender man.

I conducted a great deal of research to create the character of Vedie Wilson. What I found particularly challenging to convey was that, where he consistently identifies as male, he often expresses his gender in ways that many would consider feminine. In fact, his feminine gender expression–and his family and friends’ lack of acceptance of it–is the main reason he decides to leave home and make a new life on a remote island off the coast of Florida. Vedie was unsafe in his life up North, having been bullied and beaten in his family’s frequent attempts to change his gender identity and sexual orientation. He hopes that Placida Island will offer him a chance to start his life over and live in anonymous safety.

At times, Vedie expresses what he calls his “soft side” by wearing skirts and dresses, makeup, and perfume. He finds himself drawn to express his soft side when he is relaxing, feeling romantic, or creative. However, when he is working or feeling in some way threatened, which happens a lot in his life, Vedie generally presents as male. His transgender characteristics lie mainly in his gender expression, not in his actual gender identity.

In Matt North, Vedie finds a similarly divided soul. Where Vedie possesses characteristics of male and female that he doesn’t always understand, Matt is both a man and a boy. He is mature and calm at one moment, and then distant and panicked the next. And they relate to one another as complicated human beings, rather than in terms of gender.

I have written several other stories with transgender characters. My Crunchy Life, a YA story of a transgender girl during her transition, has been signed by Harmony Ink Press. My Middle Grade The Princess of Baker Street, the devastating story of a young boy and his neighbor, Joey–neither of whom understand how it can be true that Joey IS a girl–is being considered by several mainstream publishers. And a story which I am still working on, All Boy, is of a young trans man who hides his birth gender and is ultimately discovered and brutally exposed.

I hope you check out Scarred, as it is a deeply moving and at times painful examination of what it is to feel different and isolated, but to want more out of life than solitary confinement.

One more time, here’s the blurb:

Matthew North waited ten years to heal from the devastating wounds inflicted by the man who abducted and abused him as a child. Living reclusively on a tropical island—with no company but his four cats—he merely avoids the lingering pain.

Wearing twisted ropes of mutilated skin on his back, Matt struggles with a profound hindrance—the scars that deaden his soul. However, on the night he meets lively Vedie Wilson, a local restaurant busboy who expresses his gender by wearing lipgloss and eyeliner along with his three-day beard, things change.

Gradually, Vedie and Matt unite in friendship. Through a series of awkward encounters, the pair learns each other’s secrets. Vedie learns that an angelic face can front for a scarred soul. Matthew learns that the line between one’s masculine and feminine sides is blurred. Can they embrace the painful stories behind each other’s scars so they can find everlasting love? Or will surrendered love come to be yet another blemish on their souls?

Make a comment below regarding transgender people in your country or make a comment about Scarred, my new release–it’s cover, blurb, story–and I will enter you into a hand drawn raffle for a $10.00 Amazon gift card that will be conducted sometime today or maybe early tomorrow and provide me with an email.

LOOKING FOR LOTS OF THOUGHTS… Please let me know what you are thinking.

 

Mia ❤

I’m not even slightly technically inclined, BUT, necessity IS the mother of invention, right? Not that I invented canva.com’s meme-making system, but the necessity to promote my books drove me to a frenzied trial-by-error approach to figuring out (aka inventing) how to make memes to use on social media.

I credit Julia Ember with the big heads-up. THANK YOU BIG TIME, JULIA!!!! She pointed me in the direction of canvas.com, where, to be honest, I’ve allowed my creative juices to flow.

My first attempts at making memes for Facebook promotion were rather rudimentary. 

 

Never fear, I’ve improved.

 

I went WILD with my Valentine’s Day wishes for Facebook friends and a personal friend…

 

 

Yes, these examples may just define “OVERKILL.” So sue me.

OK Sneak Peek- ONLY YOU GET TO SEE ONE OF NEXT WEEK’s PROMO MEMES for Scarred , my March 1st release!!!

 

 

No overkill here. Hmmm…. simplicity.

I must admit, I’m getting addicted to this whole meme-making thing.

 

COVER LOVIN’  COVER LOVIN’ COVER LOVIN’

But I’m nowhere NEAR the image artist that Louis C Harris of CoolDudes Publishing is.

Isn’t this FANTASTIC?

 

IN LOVE…. Yes, I am in love with this cover that shows Matt’s physically scarred back and in the background, Vedie’s emotionally scarred soul.

 

Do YOU make memes? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

***I will draw one name of a random commenter who will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card. Please leave an email address so I can send it to you!!

Comment on Memes… Comment on GIFs… Tell me how to pronounce these words… LOL.

 

LOVE and KISSES… (I should make a meme for this.)

 

MIA

 

BIG BOOK COVER NEWS #1

MONDAY, February 13 is the COVER REVEAL for SCARRED by Mia Kerick. It is an amazing cover created by the talented Louis C Harris of CoolDudes Publishing. ❤

Matt and Vedie are scarred, inside and out. ~You won’t want to miss their story~

Matt suffered abduction and abuse as a child leaving him socially and emotionally unavailable; Vedie has long struggled with gender expression, leaving him with no choice but to hide.

Their story, called Scarred, will lift you up and tear you down, only to lift you up again!

 

BIG BOOK COVER NEWS #2

INCLINATION by Mia Kerick has a New Look!!

CHECK OUT THE NEW COVER and IMPROVED TEXT on February 15th on Amazon.com.

 

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!

(Is it snowing where you are?)

 

❤ Mia

 

“Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” G.K. Chesterton

 

Hello everybody!

Many Fairy Tales that we love bring to mind music– largely thanks to Walt Disney! Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White-too many fairy tales to name- make you think of the songs that accompany them. In A Gilded Cage is an adult fairy tale that brings to mind some great song. So I made a playlist to go with my m/m Rapunzel story.

Because In A Gilded Cage is an adult fairy tale, the musical playlist focuses on fairy tale songs and the themes that make fairy tales so addictive–songs that put you in the right mood for reading my M/M Contemporary Dark version of Rapunzel.

1. “A Place Called You” Emma Stevens

This song directly references the Rapunzel story. And like Rapunzel, Lucci has been cooped up in tower since he was twelve-years-old.

Long ago and far away

You took me to a place I can’t forget

If you’re my knight in shining armor

Guess you just don’t realize it yet

 

Been cooped up in a tower

For hours and hours

But the wrong guys all try to rescue me

Why kiss another frog

You’re the only one I want

It’s obvious, Why can’t you see?

Wontcha Take me to the place we used to meet

 

It’s sunny and funny

And quirky and oh oh oh

A little piece of heaven

And I so wanna go

I know my happy ending

But you don’t have a clue

Cos where I wanna be is a place

A place called you

 

2. “Love Story” Taylor Swift

This is a fairytale tune that refers to the guardian (the father) keeping the lovers apart. Star-crossed lovers…

We were both young when I first saw you.

I close my eyes and the flashback starts,

I’m standing there on a balcony in summer air.

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.

See you make your way through the crowd

And say hello

Little did I know

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles,

And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet.”

And I was crying on the staircase,

Begging you, Please, don’t go.

And I said,

“Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.

I’ll be waiting, all there’s left to do is run.

You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess

It’s a love story, baby just say yes.

So I sneak out to the garden to see you.

We keep quiet ’cause we’re dead if they knew.

So close your eyes; escape this town for a little while.

 

 

3. “Let It Go” Demi Lovato

This fairy tale song references the isolation that Lucci feels in his life where he has to always be secluded from the world and his father’s perfect son.

Let it go, let it go

Can’t hold it back anymore

Let it go, let it go

Turn my back and slam the door

The snow blows white on the mountain tonight

Not a footprint to be seen

A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I’m the queen

The wind is howling like the swirling storm inside

Couldn’t keep it in

Heaven knows I try

Don’t let them in, don’t let them see

Be the good girl you always had to be

Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know

Well now they know

Let it go, let it go

Can’t hold you back anymore

Let it go, let it go

Turn my back and slam the door

And here I stand

And here I’ll stay

Let it go, let it go

The cold never bothered me anyway

It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small

And the fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all

Up here…

 

4. “Somewhere” West Side Story

Somewhere is another star-crossed lovers song; Lucci and Prin can only dream of a place where they can be someday together.

There’s a place for us,

Somewhere a place for us.

Peace and quiet and open air

Wait for us

Somewhere.

 

There’s a time for us,

Some day a time for us,

Time together with time to spare,

Time to learn, time to care,

Some day!

 

Somewhere.

We’ll find a new way of living,

We’ll find a way of forgiving

Somewhere . . .

 

There’s a place for us,

A time and place for us.

Hold my hand and we’re halfway there.

Hold my hand and I’ll take you there

Somehow,

Some day,

Somewhere!

 

 

5. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Judy Garland

This song reminds me of Lucci, sitting in his tower room and dreaming of the freedom and happiness he could find over the rainbow.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high

And the dreams that you dreamed of

Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow

Blue birds fly

And the dreams that you dreamed of

Dreams really do come true ooh oh

Someday I’ll wish upon a star

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where trouble melts like lemon drops

High above the chimney top

That’s where you’ll find me

Oh, somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly

And the dream that you dare to,

Oh why, oh why can’t I?

 

 

IN AN ENCHANTED MOOD SONG

 

6. “Tonight’s The Night” Rod Stewart

This song is the ultimate love song and it makes me think of every night when Lucci and Prin show their love.

Stay away from my window

Stay away from my back door too

Disconnect the telephone line

Relax baby and draw that blind

Kick off your shoes and sit right down

Loosen off that pretty French gown

Let me pour you a good long drink

Ooh baby don’t you hesitate ’cause

Tonight’s the night

It’s gonna be alright

‘Cause I love you girl

Ain’t nobody gonna stop us now

Come on angel my heart’s on fire

Don’t deny your man’s desire

You’d be a fool to stop this tide

Spread your wings and let me come inside ’cause

Tonight’s the night

It’s gonna be alright

‘Cause I love you girl

Ain’t nobody…

 

CONFLICT SONGS- ALL fairy tales have seemingly insurmountable problems…

 

7. “Say Something” A Great Big World

When Lucci disappears from Prin’s life, Prin nearly loses hope.

Say something, I’m giving up on you

I’ll be the one, if you want me to

Anywhere, I would’ve followed you

Say something, I’m giving up on you

And I am feeling so small

It was over my head

I know nothing at all

And I will stumble and fall

I’m still learning to love

Just starting to crawl

Say something, I’m giving up on you

I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to you

Anywhere, I would’ve followed you

Say something, I’m giving up on you

And I will swallow my pride

You’re the one that I love

 

8. “Greensleeves” Loreena McKennitt

You’ve got to listen to the Loreena McKennitt version! It is as magical as a fairy tale and shows the pain of having loved and lost.

Alas, my love, you do me wrong

To cast me off discourteously

And I have loved you oh so long

Delighting in your company

Greensleeves was all my joy

Greensleeves was my delight

Greensleeves was my heart of gold

And who but my lady greensleeves

If you intend to be this way

It does the more enrapture me

And even so I still remain

A lover in captivity

Greensleeves was all my joy

Greensleeves was my delight

Greensleeves was my heart of gold

And who but my lady greensleeves

Greensleeves, now…

 

 

Happily Ever After- It’s not a fairy tale without a HEA

 

9. “What a Wonderful World” Louis Armstrong

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself what a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces of people going by

I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do

They’re really saying I love you

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow

They’ll learn much more than I’ll never know

And I think to myself what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world

 

 

I hope you enjoyed my playlist for In A Gilded Cage and I hope you are tempted to read my grown up fairy tale.