Wicked Good - what the critics are saying...Anne W., Bangor, Maine

      "Amy - I am in awe of you and Joanne. The raw poignancy of the story combined with the style of prose had me eagerly awaiting each new chapter. Cheers!"

                                  Anne W., Bangor, Maine

Wicked Good - Archer and Amy's favorite swordfish recipe (by Victoria Allman, yacht chef and award-winning author)

Swordfish En Papillote

(baked in paper)

This is an easy and tasty way to cook fish. You create a steam oven with the paper that keeps all the flavor and juices in the package while cooking. The vegetables and steam create a sauce for your fish.

2 lemons, juiced

12 sprigs thyme, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ cup olive oil

1 teaspoon sea salt

18 grinds black pepper

6-6 oz swordfish steaks

¼ cup olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

½ red onion, sliced thin

1 orange pepper, sliced thin

1 yellow pepper, sliced thin

1 zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and sliced thin

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

2 tablespoons capers, chopped roughly

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

12 grinds black pepper

6-2 foot pieces parchment paper

In a large bowl, mix the lemon juice, thyme, garlic, olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper. Whisk together and remove 1/3 of a cup. Set aside. Marinate swordfish in remaining mixture for 15 minutes.

            Meanwhile, in a heavy-bottomed frying pan, sauté the olive and garlic for 2 minutes to golden.  Add red onion and sauté 2 more minutes.  Add orange and yellow peppers and sauté for 2 more minutes. Add zucchini and sauté an additional minute. Add cherry tomatoes, capers, red wine vinegar, sea salt and pepper and remove from heat.

            Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

            Lay one swordfish steak in the center of each of the parchment paper pieces. Divide the vegetables evenly on top of the fish. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the reserved lemon/olive oil mix over each bundle.
            Fold the paper up like you are wrapping a present and crimp each end to seal and secure all the juices inside the envelope.

            Place the paper package on a cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes.

             Either, open the packages and slide the contents out onto a plate of rice or, serve them in the packages so that when the guests tear open the paper they get the first waft of aromatic steam that rises from the fish.

Serves 6

TRISH and JO (who are vegetarians) like Victoria's non-fish alternatives: substitute seared tofu, portabella mushroom or a circle of butternut squash for the swordfish. If you use squash, increase cooking time by 20-30 minutes.

Thank you VICTORIA ALLMAN for this delicious recipe. Victoria is a chef on a yacht and the award-winning author of two memoir/cookbooks: Sea Fare: A Chef's Journey Across the Ocean and SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey With Her Captain. You can buy her books at  www.amazon.com or visit her website at www.victoriaallman.com. 

Wicked Good - Life is Good Award

Congratulations! Reads, Reviews, Recommends has chosen your blog for the Life is Good Award: http://kateevangelistarandr.blogspot.com/2011/02/life-is-good-award.html 

         Thanks, Kate. We appreciate your support of Wicked Good. 
                                      -Amy and Jo

Wicked Good - Amy and Jo Interview - Part Four

Amy and Jo Interview – Part Four

Live from Bass Park, Bangor, Maine

     

     This is Paul Bunyan’s fourth interview of us. You can read the previous interviews by scrolling down below The Daily Puppy, go to Blog Archive, then

      Amy and Jo Interviews 1 and 2: go to 2010, December, and scroll down to Amy and Jo Interview – Part One and Part Two.

      Amy and Jo Interview 3: go to 2011, January, and scroll down to Amy and Jo Interview – Part Three.

    If you want to read a real interview of us, go to:

     http://jodiwebb.com/news/wicked-good-co-writing/

PB: I just finished reading Wicked Good. That was awesome.

Amy and Jo: Thanks.

PB: Now that you’ve posted the final chapter of Wicked Good, what are your plans for the novel?

Jo: We’re hoping to get it published traditionally. If not, we’ll have to see what we want to do.

Amy: Getting it published traditionally would be great but we’ve achieved our goal which was to keep working on Wicked Good together and having fun.

Jo: And we’ve started the next book in the series, Wicked Wise.

Amy: We’ll be posting the first chapter soon.

Jo:  What if we don't get it finished?

Amy:  We will.  And we can always change it.  No one will remember.

PB: Will you blog Wicked Wise too?

Jo: Maybe when it’s finished. We’re going to post chapter one as a teaser so fans of Wicked Good will keep Archer and Rory in the backs of their minds. When Wicked Wise is ready to be shared with the world, readers will feel as if they’ve been reunited with old friends.

PB: Any hints as to what is going to happen in Wicked Wise?

Amy: It will continue to follow Rory as he leaves his teens and tries to figure out where he wants to take his life. And while Archer feels helpless - like most parents who have to let their children live and learn on their own - she becomes empowered too.

Jo: Wicked Wise will be different from Wicked Good in that it involves a completely new adventure, new challenges and some new characters.

Amy: And while Wicked Good was about unconditional love…

Jo: Wicked Wise is about acceptance of who we are, imperfections and all.

PB: That sounds great. When can we expect to get a sneak preview of chapter one?

Jo: In the next few days. And while we will not be blogging every day as we’ve been doing, there will be some additional features and updates on the Wicked Good blog.

Amy: And don’t forget, if any readers want us to send Wicked Good to their Kindle or other e-reader, or to their e-mail address, we’d be happy to do so. Just leave a comment for us on the blog or e-mail us at wickedgoodthebook@gmail.com.

Jo: And if you’ve enjoyed reading about Archer and Rory, please tell all your friends.

PB: Thank you, Amy and Jo. I loved reading Wicked Good. This statue wishes you a woodpile of success. Until our next interview, this lumberjack is signing out.

Wicked Good - What the critics are saying...Minda A. from NY

     "Just finished chapter 80. Not just "wicked good".....wicked FABULOUS!!!! When you originally mentioned that there were 80 chapters, I was concerned how long it would take to read and if you would really be able to hold up the intrigue. WOW! The chapters just flew by. It was like an addiction. I couldn't wait until I received the next chapter. I can't thank you enough for sharing. Good luck on the next book. Can't wait to read what's happening in their lives. You've created real people! I feel like I know them and I actually care what happens to them...without having the burden of having to do anything for them, except feel sorry for them, love them and root for them!"

                            -Minda A. New York

Wicked Good - Rory says I know who's going to win the Super Bowl

        

         "I know who's going to win the Super Bowl," Rory says.

         "Who?" Trish asks.

         "The Green Bay Packers."

         Trish playfully smacks him in on the arm. "Since when do you like sports?"

        "I don't. Unless it's lawn mower racing. But I know the Packers are going to beat the Steelers. Look at the colors of their uniforms."

         "Green and yellow. So what?"

        "They're dressed just like the Monster Mowchine!"

What the critics are saying - Anne A. from Fort Lauderdale, Florida

       "Joanne, Wicked Good is terrific. I have moved my computer chair out of the way and instead placed my rocker and my favorite blankie here at my PC at home so I may read what you and your sister have written. Love so much of it; those of us who know the Northeast will appreciate the photos and can relate to so much – both visually and verbally. GREAT JOB. My friends with teens – please read!"

                                      Anne A., Fort Lauderdale, Florida