Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Guest Author -- Vicki Lewis Thompson

An eight-time RITA nominee, the 2008 recipient of RWA's Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award , and author of more than ninety books, New York Times bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompson is one busy lady. She is the author of the very popular Nerd series--who knew geeky could be sexy?--, the witty paranormal Hex series, and she also writes for Harlequin. Whew! How does she do it? In addition to all that, she's one of the loveliest, friendliest people I've ever met! Now, Vicki has a fun new series, Babes on Brooms, involving two witch sisters. The first book, Blonde With A Wand was released yesterday and centers on Anica and her magical mishap. Check out my review here. Next month, we'll find out what Anica's sister, Lily, is up to in Chick With A Charm. Please join me in welcoming, Vicki to The Romance Dish.


Yay! I’m blogging on the Romance Dish! Ever since Gannon invited me to be here I’ve been looking forward to this. Let the party begin!

I want to talk about drinks. See, both BLONDE WITH A WAND and CHICK WITH A CHARM are really about drinks, which happens to be because I’m fascinated by both kinds – coffee and cocktails. That’s why Anica, the blonde sister, owns a coffee shop, and Lily, the brunette sister, is a bartender.

I spend a fair amount of time at Starbucks, which is where I got my inspiration for Anica’s shop. I can’t claim to hang out at bars, but I do have this great book with fabulous pictures of unusual cocktails. I also have a digital toy called a Barmaster, which will give me the recipe for a gazillion alcoholic drinks, plus it tells bar jokes.

Between Starbucks and my Barmaster, I’m covered in the research department. But why the fascination? It’s the creativity that goes into the making of these drinks that has me hooked. The barista or bartender has to make sure the froth is just so and the syrup drips in exactly the right way, so that when the customer is presented with the final result, it’s a work of art. Well, and it tastes good. Then there are the names, things like Caramel Macchiato and Java Chip Frappuccino (coffee) or Sex on the Beach and Freddy Fudpucker (cocktails). How can a person resist?

Both of my heroines are witches who can work magic, but to me, the mixing of coffee and bar drinks is its own kind of magic. It made sense that they would be drawn to these professions where they deal with exotic potions. In both cases, they can have drinks with steam coming from the cup or glass. Very spooky and paranormal.

I should probably tell you a quick bit about each book. In BLONDE WITH A WAND, out now, Anica gets angry with her boyfriend and turns him into a cat. In CHICK WITH A CHARM, out in March, Anica’s sister Lily puts a love potion in a drink she serves to a handsome customer. For those of you who followed the Hex books, matchmaking witch and wizard Dorcas and Ambrose Lowell make key appearances in both of these books. I had such fun writing them. Oh, and I’ll be happy to give away an autographed copy of BLONDE WITH A WAND today!

But back to the drinks. Am I the only one fascinated by them? If confronted with a chance to sample a fabulous coffee drink or an unusual cocktail, I’d be hard-pressed to choose. How about you? Are you into coffee drinks? Or maybe there’s a cocktail recipe that you’d like to share with me. What’s your favorite thing in the world to sip on?

25 comments:

  1. Well I like latte's and cappucino's. I tend to drink more of those. I'm also partial to a drink I used to get at Books A Million, hopefully they still have it. An Italian cream soda made with Irish cream. YUM !! It probably has a million fat grams in it since it's made with half and half, but it is yummy. I've enjoyed your Hex books and I can't wait to start these.

    seriousreader at live dot com

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  2. i love coffee drinks especially those frappacinos from starbucks and i don't what flavor, i love them all. i love sipping on those. i equally like sipping on jamba juice smoothies (so yummy!). i haven't read any of your hex books, ms. thompson but i read your nerd books and loved those. please count me in for the giveaway i'd love to give blonde with a wand a try.

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  3. i can take a cup of iced cappucino. well i prefer iced than a hot coffee :)

    or Chocolate milk with whipped cream on top..yummmm...my all time favorite to sip on :)

    uniquas at ymail dot com

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  4. I am not so much into the coffee drinks, if it has vanilla in there somewhere I am happy.

    I don't go out a lot but when I do I get a Roasted Toasted Almond. It is one of those drinks that can be made into a slushy type drink or just put over ice. It can and will put you on your backside if you aren't paying attention though. 1 oz Kahlua, 1 oz Vodkam, 1 oz Amaretto, and 1 oz Bailey's Irish Creme, yummy!
    I limit myself to two and those are spaced way out so my boyfriend doesn't have to carry me to the car. LOL

    I have got to get your backlist before I start on the new ones, I love to follow an author from start to current. I have to tell you that the name Dorcas caught my attention real fast, I used to work with a lady named Dorcas, and in certain situations she could have been termed as a witch. *EG*

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  5. Hi Vicki! Thanks for being with us today. Congrats on the release of Blonde With A Wand. What a fun book! I can't wait to see what happens in Lily's story!

    When it comes to drinks, I'm of the "dull and boring" variety. It's plain decaf coffee for me. Adding Coffee-mate Italian Sweet Crème is about as decadent as I get. *g*

    Same goes for cocktails. I'll make an exception for Brandy Alexanders and White Russians. Other than that, I'm just a gin and tonic kind of girl.

    Looking forward to seeing you again in Nashville!

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  6. Hi, Vicki!

    I have to have a cup of coffee in the a.m., but then I open a Pepsi about 8! I like cappuccino, but don't have it very often. Pumpkin ccino is popular around here in the fall and it's good.

    My family likes chocolate milk and we tend to buy the huge container of Nestle Quik powder.

    I look forward to reading BWAW.

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  9. Hi Vicki,

    I like coffee just as it is. I drink it to wake up & can't afford using anything to soften the blow :)

    As for a drink I love a G&T with lemon, no ice.

    Take care, Kirsten

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  10. Hi Vicki!
    Can't believe that I missed your previous releases, but intend to rectify that mistake asap! Looking forward to picking up Blonde!
    I am a tea drinker and really love a well made Chai Tea Latte. I love them spicy! Had an Indian friend who made me true chai once and it was so hot and spicy--love cloves!
    When it comes to mixed drinks nothing beats a mint mojito and a hot day. It is light and refreshing. That said I am usually a red wine girl. It is good for the heart! ;-p! That is what I telll myself everytime I have a glass!

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  11. Good morning, all! Gannon, what a blush-worthy introduction! Thank you, and I'm very honored to be here.

    Linda, I'm partial to a good latte myself. In fact, I had one yesterday at Starbucks. :-)

    Chelley, I haven't met a frap I didn't love, either. A mocha frap on a hot summer day is a little piece of heaven.

    Hi, mariska! Oh, yeah, chocolate milk. Love it. And I also love hot chocolate with whipped cream, but I'm betting you're more of a cold drink kind of girl. :-)

    A roasted toasted almond! Yum, Dianna! I LOVE Bailey's, so I'll bet I would love this drink. I'll have to order it next time I get a chance!

    Hey, PJ! It's so good to see you here! Ooooo, White Russians. I have had some experience with those, and like the roasted toasted almond, they can sneak up on you. Also, I mostly drink decaf coffee these days. Makes the typing fingers steadier, LOL.

    Pumpkin ccinos sound REALLY good, Deb. Pumpkin pie is my favorite kind of pie, so I would probably like pumpkin ccinos a lot. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  12. LOL, Kirsten, about not taking anything in your cup of java to soften the blow. :-) As for the G&T, you need to get together with PJ!

    Oh, yeah, Cyndi, I've had the real chai at a restaurant and it's excellent. I'm a red wine girl, myself, and it's absolutely true that it's good for your heart. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

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  13. I don't drink coffee at all, and except for a glass of wine occasionally, I don't drink alcohol. I'm a tea drinker, preferably iced and sweet. What can I say? I'm belong to a long line of Southern tea drinkers. :)

    Blonde with a Wand is on my TBB list. I can't wait to read it, and I'm delighted Dorcas and Ambrose will make an appearance.

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  14. Hi, Janga! I have many friends from the South, so I get that whole tea thing. I brew hot tea for myself, actually. Thanks for putting Blonde with a Wand on your TBB list!

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  15. Hi Vicki!
    I've been wanting to read your book ever since Gannon did a review on it. Sadly i haven't been able to find it yet.

    I adore all coffee drinks, but there shall always be a special place in my heart for iced coffee mocha's. There is something about them that gives me a "ah!" feeling. My favorite is the ones from Burger King surprisingly. I've had some from almost everywhere, but none seems to top those. ^^

    As for cocktails is it bad that i'm nearly 24 but have never had an alcoholic drink. My parents hate alcoholic drinks with a passion and i'm not a clubber nor partier soo...

    If i can't have my iced coffee then i prefer ice cold water, ginger ale, or pepsi. Drinking coke now brings up a feeling of remembrance since it was my late aunts favorite drink and she was a big coke collector.

    Melissa

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  16. Hi, Vicki! Thanks for hanging out with us today.

    I love my coffee in the morning with cream and sugar. I usually have hot tea in the afternoon--green, black, or herbal. Now when I go to Starbuck's I have to have a skinny caramel macchiato(gotta cut calories somewhere) or in the summer, a caramel frap. Yummy.

    When it comes to cocktails, I usually go for red wine--yes, it is good for the heart. *g* That being said, when it's hot a mojito is tasty or the occasional dirty martini. Or when I'm watching football, a beer seems to fit the bill.

    PJ, it's been awhile since I've had a White Russian. They are yummy.

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  17. Melissa, so sorry you haven't found the book yet! And if you never drink alcohol, you'll probably outlive all of us, LOL. I think it depends on what you're used to. My dad used to pride himself on mixing a mean martini, so I grew up thinking that was very cool, but if my parents had hated the idea, I'd probably feel the way you do -- just not motivated to try it! I'll share an iced coffee mocha with you anytime. :-) Hugs on the sweet memories of your aunt.

    Hey, Gannon! Thanks for that wonderful review, which I meant to comment on first thing, because I came over here at the beginning of the week and saw it up there. You rock!

    All this talk of great drinks is making me thirsty. Think I'll go brew me up some apricot tea!

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  18. Hello and welcome, Vicki! We're excited you're with us today! Congrats on the new and upcoming releases! Gannon has raved about them. :)

    I like regular coffee with either Splenda and half & half or Coffee Mate's Peppermint Mocha creamer. Yum!! Like Janga, I'm a sweet iced tea drinker (love it!), though occasionally I will drink a cup of hot sweet tea. Other than that, I drink water or Diet Coke. Oh, and no alcoholic beverages for me.

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  19. Andrea, after visiting my buddies in the South, I know about sweet tea, which I was flabbergasted to discover you can buy in convenience stores straight from a dispenser just like soft drinks. Amazing.

    Hi, Drew! You're like my daughter. She loves it when I make coffee because she gets to smell it, but all she wants is tea.
    That Irish Car Bomb sounds potent! Oh, and if you've liked my Blaze books, I have three new ones coming out this summer. Yep, I've been busy!

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  20. Starbuck's frappacinos...MMMMMM. And yes, I love to taste the different and exotic, both in coffee and the harder stuff. But my all-time favorite drink to sip on remains water. Your books sound great; thanks for visiting.

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  21. I love white chocolate mochas, and there is a sugar free "sauce" version of white chocolate which I adore.

    I love Margaritas and White Russians... But something with pineapple, champagne, and something else will do too!

    Cute books, I look forward to buying them in the future!

    Jessica C

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  22. I don't really like coffee. If I have to sip something I prefer juice, if it's fresh, better. Appart of that, when I'm out dancing I like mojitos.

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  23. LSU -- water is the elixir of the gods, isn't it? There's nothing like a cold glass of water on a hot day.

    Hi, Jessica! Ah, mocha. What did we ever do without mocha? Although I agree with LSU that good old water is the ultimate best choice, I'm weak enough to enjoy a mocha drink.

    Oh, Spav, I'm picturing you salsa dancing and sipping on mojitos! I don't know if that's right, but mojitos seem to go with salsa. I think that's because I have a writer friend, Julie Leto, who loves mojitos, and I think she's a salsa fan, too.

    I'm about to sign off and go have a little dinner, but I've LOVED hanging out here at The Romance Dish today! Thank you for such a warm welcome.

    And somebody will get an autographed copy of Blonde with a Wand! I'll check with Gannon and see how we should work that. If you posted, though, you're entered! In fact, I think anyone who posts through the evening should also get a chance. Goodnight, and thank you for inviting me!

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  24. Thanks again, Vicki, for being with us today!

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  25. I am a coffee addict, I drink a Venti every morning. I love Starbucks iced caramel macchiato, too but I limit myself on those...all that whipped cream adds up =)

    jenma76(at)hotmail(dot)com

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