Authors are often asked “Where do you get your story ideas?” “How do you think of that stuff?” or “Where do you get your characters?” When I worked at a university, I used to reply, “I open my office door and look out into the hallway.” Some of us (ahem) also look at our families for characters.

My mother-in-law, Gertrude, may she rest in peace, was a short (four feet eight inches), feisty New Yorker who often rode the bipolar express. To say she was a challenge at times is an understatement. Between her ups and downs, she taught me some critical life-long skills. Included among these lessons were: how to stand up for myself at a hotel when they gave me the wrong room and refused to give me the right one (wait until a crowd forms, then start yelling), how not to dress (large orange polka dotted blouse and gold lamé pants) and how to make outstanding pot roast.

Today, in honor of the holiday season, I am gifting you with her pot roast recipe (Shhhh! It’s a family secret!) and an excerpt from Desire and Deception, starring Gert. I hope you enjoy both. I am also giving away a free ecopy of Desire and Deception to one lucky commenter!

To read more and to get that Pot Roast Recipe, go to http://bit.ly/ulnFTD