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Dana Mentink | Ice Skating on the Beach...and a Luscious Holiday Treat!
November 6, 2015
Writing is tough job, of course, but someone has to do it, right? Reviews that
make
you
want to stick to your day job? A Quasimodo posture from endless hours bent over
the
keyboard? And don't get me started on the endless stream of social media on
which I
should maintain a presence. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and what's
up
with
this Periscope thing? Do I need water wings for that? But one of the wonderful
things
about the writing life is research, especially if it includes a holiday
getaway. What
better way to research for my Pacific Coast Private Eyes series than to visit the
Southern
California Island resort town of Coronado, home to the historic Hotel del
Coronado (Hotel Del).
Here
are a couple of coolio facts about Coronado which may or may not have made
their way
into Dangerous Tidings.
1. Coronado Island isn't really an island. It's a peninsula. Back (way
back) in
the day, it was used as a manly destination for jackrabbit hunting, and was
home to an
ostrich farm. Go figure.
2. Spreckels (yes, that Spreckles) started Tent City, a luxurious self-
operating
village of several hundred tents and thatched roof cottages south of the Hotel
del
Coronado. Tent City flourished for nearly four decades, until it was closed in
1939 to
make room for the highway.
3. The SS Monte Carlo, San Diego’s “floating pleasure palace", a 300
foot
refurbished freighter, was launched in 1936 offering fine dining, dancing, and
gambling.
Anchored off the coast of Coronado, it was a sensation until it ran aground due
to a
heavy storm. Hundreds of vacationers watched the ship break up, even wading in
for
souvenir roulette wheels and other gambling flotsam. Go figure. The ruins are
still
visible at low tide.
4. Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis filmed Some Like it
Hot
at
the famed Hotel Del Coronado.
5. Today, during the Christmas season, you can enjoy the festivities on the
Hotel
Del
Grounds, including the ice skating rink which sits immediately next to the
beach.
No
joke!
Sadly, we did not actually stay at the Hotel Del (caviar dreams, bologna and
cheese
budget), but we did get to sample their famed buffet while we watched the ice
skaters
and the waves. I cannot say I was able to steal any recipes, but maybe this
festive
cake
from my kitchen will brighten up your holiday table.
Gingerbread Pear Cake
- 2 tbsp. melted butter
- 1/4 c. corn syrup
- 1/4 c. brown sugar
- 1 package gingerbread cake mix
- 1 16 oz can pear slices, drained
1. Mix butter, corn syrup and brown sugar. Pour into a greased 9 inch
cake pan.
2. Arrange pears on top.
3. Prepare cake mix as directed on box. Pour over pears.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
5. Cool slightly before turning out onto a dish.
Giveaway
What are some of your favorite places to visit during the Holidays? Leave a
comment below for a
chance to win a copy of DANGEROUS TIDINGS and a $10 Starbucks gift card.
Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol
Award
winner.
She is the author of over thirty titles in the suspense and lighthearted
romance
genres.
Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times
Reviewer’s
Choice
Award and she has also been honored with a Holt Medallion Award of Merit. She
is
pleased
to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Harlequin Heartwarming.
She's also
newly signed with Harvest House Publishers. Besides writing, she busies herself
teaching
third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, Yogi, Boo Boo, a dog
with
social anxiety problems, a chubby box turtle and a feisty parakeet. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog
SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH
Coast Guard rescue swimmer Brent Mitchell wants only one gift for Christmas: to
find
his
sister. When he discovers that her disappearance is tangled with the death of
private
eye Bruce Gallagher, he joins forces with Bruce's daughter Donna to
investigate.
Grieving Donna is as tough as the determined military man …and both will stop
at
nothing
to find the truth. But the duo soon discovers that a murdered father and a
missing
sister merely top a looming pyramid of secrets on Coronado Island. Deadly
secrets.
These
unlikely partners have vowed to stick together until their most important case
is
closed-but they may pay with their lives.
Comments
38 comments posted.
Re: Dana Mentink | Ice Skating on the Beach...and a Luscious Holiday Treat!
For me? Visiting my family is number one! My grandchildren are always number one to us! As a child though it was the pond down the block so we could go ice skating with my sister.
(Bonnie Capuano 8:50am November 6, 2015)
Home
(Marissa Yip-Young 9:54am November 6, 2015)
The Christmas shops. With all the lights.
(Emily Stemp 10:12am November 6, 2015)
Home. But we also go to the Opryland Hotel which is completely over the top with decorations and is beautiful.
(Pam Howell 11:04am November 6, 2015)
I love the Christmas lights... I decorate my house inside and out every year . I wish I could leave the lights up and on all year . I love to go to the Malls and stores and even drive by other houses that are all decked out in lights . Love the lights and Christmas .
(Joan Thrasher 11:27am November 6, 2015)
This would depend on the Holiday, but there is a town a couple of
hours from where I live that celebrates Christmas year-round.
It's lovely to go there and go shopping and see the sights, then
stop in for their famous chicken dinners. Around Thanksgiving,
if you go to Canada, and go to one of their casinos, I know in
years past, they used to have great spreads in the restaurants to
celebrate the holiday, which was worth the drive. I used to go
there with my Husband and Parents many years ago, so can't swear
to it now, since time marches on. Congratulations on your latest
book, and am looking forward to reading it!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:27am November 6, 2015)
A mountain setting which is historic.
(Sharon Berger 11:58am November 6, 2015)
The best place for me is home with my children and grandchildren.
(Anna Speed 12:00pm November 6, 2015)
MY grandmother's house used to be my fav... now I just enjoy being around the rest of my family.
(Colleen Conklin 12:02pm November 6, 2015)
During the holidays, we always go home to my parents house. The whole family, and then some, meet up there! Also, I take my six children to see the Christmas lights in a nearby town every year. It's becoming a tradition! AND this will be the second year we go to Panama City Beach, FL between Christmas and New Years. Nothing like relaxing after the Christmas festivities on the beach!
(Amy Morgan 4:11pm November 6, 2015)
I like to walk around my town and see the Christmas lights.
(Deb Pelletier 9:37pm November 6, 2015)
I like to be at home with my family and driving around our
small town to enjoy the decorations...
(Betty Woodrum 9:50am November 9, 2015)
Oklahoma to be with our family!
(Bonnie Capuano 10:40am November 9, 2015)
We like to go to Vegas during the holidays or drive to Eureka Springs, Ark. to stay at a lovely little B&B. We share family time at Thanksgiving but Christmas is for fun away from home.
(Carole Abel 3:34pm November 9, 2015)
Driving around looking at lights, botanical gardens decorated
with lights, the mall, and beaches with lights on the palm
tree. Lights make the holiday.
(Leann Griffiths 3:54pm November 9, 2015)
The Oregon Coast.
(Renee Rousseau 6:02pm November 9, 2015)
I love to visit the tree and go ice-skating in NYC.
(Lily Shah 9:00pm November 9, 2015)
Driving downtown to experience all the Christmas
decorations. Our retiree's Christmas party.
(Deb Philippon 9:53am November 10, 2015)
Daddy always took us ice skating. When his back got bad
he's go ice fishing while us kids skated. I don't skate
any more but love watching others.
(Mary Hay 11:12am November 10, 2015)
My favorite place to visit during the holidays is Telluride, Colorado. We always
go skiing there during the holidays.
(Joy Isley 1:24pm November 10, 2015)
My favorite place is where ever the family is!
(Bonnie Capuano 10:41am November 11, 2015)
I usually try to visit light displays. there seems to be getting fewer where I live in Arkansas
(Angela Parrish 2:51pm November 11, 2015)
There is a spectacular holiday light display in Duluth that
I really want to see this year.
(Sue Farrell 4:02pm November 11, 2015)
Anywhere with close family/friends.
(Elaine Seymour 7:12pm November 11, 2015)
Out of state or abroad because you can see the different ways other people celebrate the same holidays.
(Lisa L. 10:46pm November 11, 2015)
Thank you for the contest.
(Micielle Carter 4:54am November 12, 2015)
Visiting and staying at the Grand Ole Opry Hotel during
Christmas Holidays . The hotel is awesome and the decorations
are out of this world.
Mary Pitre. November 12,2015.
(Mary Pitre 9:42pm November 12, 2015)
Always with family and thanks for the recipe...it looks great. I'm going to try it!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 8:55am November 13, 2015)
I love to drive around and look at all the lights and of course
take my grand children to visit Santa.
(Denise Austin 1:29pm November 13, 2015)
I don't really go anywhere, but I could go to the zoo and the Lights Before Christmas.
(Michelle Fidler 4:35pm November 13, 2015)
Back home to visit my family. Thanks.
(Jana B 6:50pm November 13, 2015)
sometimes there is a local holiday house tour - that is always
fun!
(Diane Sallans 8:37pm November 13, 2015)
Stay home and watch the Christmas shows.
(Deb Pelletier 8:55pm November 13, 2015)
Gatlinburg TN
(Dianne McVetty 7:00am November 14, 2015)
NYC!
(Nancy Marcho 3:54pm November 14, 2015)
My favorite place is anywhere my family is. One of my
favorites was Galveston Island when my son was in school in
there. Maybe we will get to visit again for a holiday.
(Mary Beth Elderton 5:35pm November 14, 2015)
Definitely, visiting family is the favorite thing to do for
the holiday.
(G. Bisbjerg 2:24pm November 26, 2015)
Family... but I was on a cruise once... very nice except for the island we visited Christmas day was shut down...
(Colleen Conklin 12:33pm December 14, 2015)
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