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Hello everyone, welcome to my blog. Today I have Toni V. Sweeney visiting with her book, The Man from Cymene. Before we delve into the book, let's hear her story of visiting someone in another country and finding out what pancake on a stick is..... Recently, a friend of mine asked me if I’d like some pancakes on a stick. I thought she was joking but decided I’d play along and see what happened. She brought me a baggie with these weird little things in it, popsicle sticks with what looked like a frozenT ater Tot on the end. I took one out and put it in the microwave, nuked it for a minute, then sampled it. Darned if it wasn’t a little ball of sausage dipped in batter and fried and frozen…a pancake on a stick. Slathered in maple syrup, it was dee-lish, and no utensils to wash and no sticky fingers. When I wrote The Man from Cymene and got to the part where Trygare finds himself and his son in a strange country with dinnertime coming on, I decided to use that episode as my way to find my hungry travelers. Hmm, interesting. It's amazing about different foods in different cultures isn't it? So let's find out about The Man from Cymene!  Trygare kan Ingan was a boy of sixteen when the Drune priest told his parents he was to be the father of kings. Sent into the world on a short-legged hill pony, his father’s sword at his side, the young glyndweller sets out to fulfill the prophesy. Along the way, he’ll slay dragons and men, find love and lose it, and feel the horror of the Bloodsong coursing through his veins before the moment he becomes the ancestor of the dynasty foretold to rule his planet for three thousand years. Excerpt: There was dust in the air and the smell of animals and cooking food, intermingled with the sweet scent of flowers and ripe fruit. Looking down the street, Trygare saw a stall where bouquets of blossoms rested in pottery urns, a riot of color on long and short stems, some full-blown, others barely budding. Next to it, someone was selling herbs and spices, little bunches tied by string to the supports of his stall. Nearby, a man rolled dough bits between his hands, skewering them with little sticks, and dropping the balls into a vat of hot oil resting on a brazier in which a small fire blazed. The frying dough made a loud sizzle and sent a greasy but mouth-watering smell into the air. Trygare stopped Mist and slid off the pony’s back. The man looked up. He nodded and Trygare returned the gesture. “What’s that you’re cooking?” Speaking in caravansi, he peered into the pot, being careful not to get too close to the fire. The balls of dough were becoming crispy, little brown boats floating upright, the sticks like miniature masts. “Battercakes on a stick,” the man replied. “You interested?” He nodded at Riven. “They’re easy for little ones to handle and you can eat while you ride.” They certainly looked good. Trygare glanced at Riven, saw the child’s tongue lick across his lower lip as he took a deep breath. “How much?” “You’re travelers?” The man studied Riven a moment, smiling. The child stared back before hesitantly returning the smile. “That’s not a Francovian accent you have.” “On our way to Aljansur,” Trygare admitted. “In that case, I’ll give you a discount,” the vendor decided. “Two cakes for one copper. You’ll need money for lodgings,” As Trygare frowned, he went on, “Aljansur’s at last a day’s ride from here. Your horse, or whatever you call that creature…” He glanced at Mist who snorted. “…carrying two will probably make it in a day and a half.” Trygare fished the required coin out of his purse and handed it over. The man dropped it into his cashpot, then asked, “Now then, do you want sausage in your cake or do you wish it plain?” There was a pause while Trygare thought about that. “Is meat extra?” The man shook his head. “Then yes, please.” “It’ll take a few minutes.” Seizing the wooden sticks, the man lifted out the cooking cakes onto a platter, then reached into the bowl for more dough and into a second bowl for a sausage mixture. When the cakes were done, he placed them beside the others on the platter. Reaching for a small crockery pot, he seized one of the little sticks and dipped the cake inside. It came out dripping with honey. The vendor held it upside-down a moment, letting the excess honey drip back into the pot, then offered it. As Trygare took it, handing it to Riven, he did the same with the other. Trygare took that one, also. “Careful,” the vendor warned, looking at Riven. “It’s hot. Best let it cool a moment.” Nodding, Trygare caught Mist’s reins and turned away. He bit into the cake, looking back to see Riven cautiously doing the same. The little boy chewed, swallowed and announced, “It’s good, Da.” “Aye,” Trygare agreed. It was good. Just like the battercakes Cormac’s cooks made. The extra surprise taste of sausage in the center, all of it surrounded by a coating of honey, made it delicious. He made short work of his, startled by how quickly he’d eaten it. Guess I was hungrier than I thought. Buy Links: Paperback from the publisher’s website: http://www.classactbooks.com/component/virtuemart/fantasy/the-man-from-cymene-8222017-07-13-18-52-58-detail?Itemid=0 e-Book/Kindle from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Cymene-Arcanian-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B073YFFPVP/ A very interesting excerpt, Toni, thanks for sharing. Let's see what we can find out about Toni!  Toni V. Sweeney has lived 30 years in the South, a score in the Middle West, and a decade on the Pacific Coast and now she’s trying for her second 30 on the Great Plains. Since the publication of her first novel in 1989, Toni divides her time between writing SF/Fantasy under her own name and romances under her pseudonym Icy Snow Blackstone. In March, 2013, she became publicity manager for Class Act Books (US). She is also on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books and the Paranormal Romance Guild. In 2016, she was named a Professional Reader by netgalley.com. She is an amazon reviewer, and is in the 1% of reviewers for Goodreads. As of 2017, Toni currently has 61 novels in print, including 3 series, and 3 trilogies. Find out more about Toni: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvsweeney Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLQBB8 Twitter: @ToniVSweeney
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