Hey Babes!

One of our favorite authors, Stacey Lynn, is spilling the tea on how her newest release, ALL THE UGLY THINGS came to fruition. Redemption and Apple pie… check it out! 

Redemption.

The act of being redeemed. The act of being treated as if you’ve never done something wrong.

Have you ever felt the need for this?

I have. I’ve made a lot of dumb choices in my life where I’ve not only needed forgiveness, but I’ve need to make amends.

But what happens when you’re accused, convicted…and you’ve never done anything wrong in the first place? How do you find your redemption then?

Sounds tough, right? Almost impossible?

The day this story came to me, I was sitting on my couch, watching football, curled up with a warm and fuzzy blanket. While this story unfolded in my mind, I grabbed a notebook and scribbled down fifteen pages of notes. In forty books, the intensity in which I felt this entire story of love and redemption and courage and growth has never happened previously.

And yet through all of these notes, my heart raced, goose bumps flooded my arms, and at one point I was crying so hard my husband turned to ask if I was okay. “Yes. I’m incredibly great. I’m amazing,” I replied to him. He gave me wide eyes, looked at me like I was crazy (I kind of am) and went back to the game (because he’s used to my crazy). Such is the life of living with an author, I suppose.

Regardless, when we meet Lilly in All The Ugly Things, she is at the bottom. Recently paroled from prison, all her life dreams vanished with a snap of fingers and the bang of a gavel. She’s spent six years in prison and is now trying to make the most of what life she can. She is alone. No friends. No family. Until the Valentines entire her life and hand her all her hopes and dreams on a platter.

Her road is rocky. Her path uncertain. And yet what I love most about Lilly is regardless of how many times she’s been knocked down, she gets up… and she tries again. This story is about so much more than two people finding love. It’s a twisting, emotional journey of two broken people who, in deciding to help others, find themselves along the way. I hope you’ll come along with me for this ride. I’ll hold your hand the entire time.

If you’ve ever been knocked down, hit rock bottom, don’t know how to make amends for choices you’ve made…get up. Take a step. And keep trying. Because there’s something great waiting for you on the other side.

My twelve-year-old daughter is our family’s baker. She’s been baking since she was nine and is a whiz in the kitchen. The day I thought of this story, she was in the kitchen, making individual, handheld apple pies. The smell of which made it’s way into All The Ugly Things when David and Hudson Valentine go to meet Lilly at the diner where she works. It might be spring, and not the time of year for apple pie, but I hope you enjoy this recipe my daughter loves to whip up.

XOXO, 
Stacey

Pie Crust: Cream Cheese Dough

Instructions

1.  In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, and cream cheese and process until combined and a dough forms.

2. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and shape into a disk.

3. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes before rolling out.

(Note: The dough can be frozen for up to 1 month; defrost in the refrigerator for 12 hours before using)

Apple Pie Filling

Instructions

1. Make the dough. While the dough is chilling, gather a saucepan and filling ingredients.
2. In a saucepan, stir together the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally until the apples are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring occasionally, until the flour is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
3. Remove the dough from the plastic wrap. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough about 1/8 inch thick, into a 12-by-18 inch rectangle. Using a 4-inch round cutter, cut out 16 rounds, gathering up the scraps of dough and rerolling as needed.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. Brush the edges of the dough rounds with some of the egg mixture. Place about 2 tablespoons of the apple filling in the center of each round, then fold over to form a half-moon. Seal the edges and crimp them with the tines of a fork. Cut a small slit in the top of each pie. Brush the tops of the pies with the egg mixture and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake until the pies are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer the pies to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature before serving.

Recipe from Williams Sonoma, The Junior Baker Cookbook.

Connect with Stacey

Check out this Chocolate Cake Martini inspired by All the Ugly Things…

Let us know if you try this desliscious Apple Pie Hands recipe or the Chocolate Cake Martini and love it as much as we do!

Just comment below!

Have recipe or book suggestions email us – contact@bibliobabes.net and tell us all about it!