A long time I sat in silence upon the bluff, drinking in the beauty of the night and the stars. We had traveled far in an almost empty land and now the mountains lay before us, far greater mountains than any I had seen, and the most distant seemed covered with snow.

The thought brought back the need for buffalo robes and warmer clothing. Autumn would bring cold winds and more rain and we were ill-fitted for it.

Life in this country was a lot different back then. Days were filled with the basics of survival. For other great teasers, be sure to visit MizB at Should Be Reading.

It centers around a group of friends who have decided to take cooking lessons. The book is Chile Con Corpses by J.B. Stanley. Here are a couple of sentence from the book:

“Has everyone lined their bellies with something?” Milla asked.

“Good! Let’s don our aprons and prepare to make some mouth-watering enchiladas. Go on and pick a cooking station, and we’ll get down to business.”

The recipe for the enchiladas is in the book and it looks yummy. I’m going to give it a try this week. Assuming it’s good, I plan to share the recipe with you on Saturday.

You can find more teaser sentences at Should Be Reading.

I’m on the stage singing the blues and jazz as well as acting. I’m also on Broadway and in movies. I’m a part of the great Harlem Renaissance of the 1920′s and ’30s but my career stretched way beyond that period.

I’m reading His Eye Is On The Sparrow by Ethel Waters for this month’s Classics Circuit which is featuring the Harlem Renaissance. Join me on Saturday when the Circuit will stop here and I’ll have a chance to tell you more about Ethel Waters. Here are a few teaser sentences from the book:

Talent can be developed, but no one in show business discovers it. Only the public can do that. It was the public who discovered me every step of the way — from Jack’s Rathskeller, through my season with the Hill Sisters, at Barney Gordon’s and Edmond’s, to Broadway and Hollywood.

For more teasers visit Raider Girl at It’s Tuesday . .Where are you? and MizB Teaser Tuesday.

I’m in Boston hanging out with Charlotte McNally, an award-winning investigative TV journalist. She’s under pressure to come up with a blockbuster story for the upcoming “sweeps” at the TV station. Charlie suspects there is something strange and dangerous behind a series of email spam, she’s been getting. But is there a good story there?

I’m reading Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan. It’s an interesting look at how TV reporters work. It’s also a little dangerous when Charlie uncovers illegal practices in high places. Here are a few sentences from the book:

“We’re all wondering,” she goes on, her voice brittle with power, “about your sweeps story ideas.” She looks down at her clipboard, apparently ticking off some list.

” Healthcare sent in their proposals, so did Sports, Enviro-beat and Dollarwise. But we can’t plan our ratings book schedule until we hear from you, Charlie. I paged you. I called you. Is there — a problem?”

She looks as if she hopes there is.

For more teasers visit It’s Tuesday . .Where are you? and Teaser Tuesday.

The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s old broken-down toolhouse.

Those sentences are from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. It’s a fun book to read at this time of year. Using the same book, I’ll answer this question:

Where am I? I’m in a small town in the U.S. watching as the children of the town are preparing for their Christmas program. Unfortunately, a family of horrible kids have forced their way into the best parts in the pageant. Could the pageant be headed for disaster?

For more of Teaser Tuesday, visit MizB at Should Be Reading.

For more of It’s Tuesday, Where are you?, visit Raider Girl at An Adventure in Reading.

Uncle Fitz’ . . . views on war had not changed since he had taken to the mountains to escape the war with Mexico in the 1840s, and in fact they had deepened: never had the Fenns owned a single slave, and if the Southern states wanted to leave the Union, that was their business; Fitz would take no sides in this pissing contest over the Mason-Dixon Line between ungainly Abe Lincoln and tired old Jeff Davis. But if he stayed in Cass County, he was afraid somebody would choose his sides for him, as they had done for poor Zachary.

Those sentences are from Sons of Fire by Max McCoy. It’s set along an area near where I lived for many years. Historically speaking, I’m learning a lot. Using the same book, I’ll answer this question:

Where am I? I’m on the border of the new states of Kansas and Missouri. I’m with a family, the Fenns, who have three sons. Their reactions to the Civil War are different yet alike. It’s a gripping tale that feels so realistic of the times.

For more of Teaser Tuesday, visit MizB at Should Be Reading.

For more of It’s Tuesday, Where are you?, visit Raider Girl at An Adventure in Reading.

“My age!” said Miss Matty, almost speaking crossly, for her, for she was usually gentle– “My age! Why, how old do you think I am, that you talk about my age?”

Where am I? It’s 1850 and I’m in a very small village in England. I’m visiting with a group of women who run the social life of the town. They are a very proud group of women and, how they handle their daily affairs is interesting, funny and a little sad.

What are you reading this week?

For more teasers, visit Should Be Reading and An Adventure in Reading.

MARLOWE

Look — you and I want to go on being

friends — and you shouldn’t be here.

(holding her wrap for her)

Be a good girl.

During this speech, Carmen seems to take the wrap. But the wrap falls on to the floor, revealing the fact that Carmen is holding Marlowe’s hand.

CARMEN

Do you think I can be a good girl?

Where am I? I’m in Los Angeles and sometimes in Nevada. It’s the 1940′s and Phillip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) has been hired to stop a blackmailer, or pay him off. But quite a few dead bodies show up along the way. Of course, a lot of women are after Marlowe as well, including Lauren Bacall.

What are you reading this week?

For more teasers, visit Should Be Reading and An Adventure in Reading.

The world is full of chocolate lovers and I have come to rely on three recipes to help those who invite them for dinner: flourless chocolate cake, steamed chocolate pudding and chocolate bread pudding, which when it bubbles over fills the house with what Mary McCarthy describes in The Groves of Academe as “a rich smell of burning.” The smell of chocolate bubbling over and slightly burning is one of the most beautiful smells in the world.

I’m reading Home Cooking – A Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin. It’s a lovely book of essays and I plan to tell you more about it this coming Saturday for Beth Fish Reads‘ Weekend Cooking.

Where am I? I’m sitting at a table in the kitchen of a friend. We are talking about one of our favorite topics – food. She has some strong opinions, as do I. We don’t agree on the best way to fry chicken or make potato salad, but we do agree on red peppers and other food issues.

What are you reading this week?

For more teasers, visit Should Be Reading and An Adventure in Reading.

“Nothing, ma’am!” I said. And though she went on glaring at me, I was so shocked I couldn’t say anything further.

“What do you mean, nothing? You’d better answer me, you stupid little girl, or I’ll pour ink in your ear tonight while you’re sleeping!”

Those enticing sentences came from Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. For more Teaser Tuesday sentences, visit MizB at Should Be Reading.

Where am I? I’m in Japan with a young woman who has been sold into slavery. She goes on to become a famous geisha. The story is set in the 1920′s to 1930′s.

For more of It’s Tuesday . . . Where are you? visit Raider Girl at An Adventure in Reading.