UNFORGETTABLE FIRSTS by Catherine Lanigan & Rula Sinara

It’s hard to believe that yesterday was August 1st! It’s quite fitting that August begins with the letter ‘A’, since it’s a month of many firsts. Sure, it’s technically still summer, but it doesn’t always feel like it. It’s a transition. With school beginning either the end of this month or very beginning of September (depending on location), August 1st is like the trough on a wave and we spend the month climbing to the crest…that peak from which kids tumble off to school and fall settles in quietly.

In fact, August 1st even marks the ‘first harvest’ in many traditions and faiths (including both Christian and Pagan). Referred to as Lammas or Lughnasadh, it’s celebrated as the first wheat or fruit harvest, hence the name meaning ‘loaf-mass’ and the traditional breaking and sharing of bread. And for those who like to read and/or analyze Shakespeare plays, he made Juliet’s birthday (Romeo & Juliet) on “Lammas Eve”…the eve of August 1st. Analyze that!

Oh, and there’s more. On August 1st, 1968 The Beatles recorded their first record (Hey, Jude)! Going back even further to Aug 1, 1774, oxygen was first discovered by Joseph Priestly! And this month in 1955, the first edition of the Guinness Book of World Records was published.

Rula and Catherine met in person for the first time at this year's RWA Nationals in San Diego!

On a more personal note, August ‘firsts’ also include life’s little turning points like first day of preschool or first grade, or high school or college. So, in the spirit of August, we thought it would be fun to celebrate some of our personal firsts :). And we thought it’d be even more fun if we made you match ‘firsts’ to both of us ;).

Catherine's first book cover!

Rula's first book cover!

So here it goes... From this list of firsts (just firsts…not necessarily in August), guess whether you think they were Rula or Catherine’s:

1. First child was born in August.
2. Began daydreaming/plotting my first book in August. 
3. First historical fiction written was for an 8th grade assignment and was set in ancient Rome. And, yes, a bit of romance was squeezed in.
4. First wasp sting occurred on her wedding finger and was so bad it almost resulted in having to cut off her wedding band.
5. First movie contract. 
6. First celebrities met in person were Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip

Ooooh and here's a trick question. Let's see who has been following us on social media! Are these lilies Rula's or Catherine's?

First lilies of the season

How’d you all do? We can’t wait to see your guesses in the comments! And just to reward your efforts, we have one of Catherine’s ‘first’ recipes to share:

When I was very young, probably about six, (I’d actually been cooking for awhile by then, mostly tomato soup and peanut butter sandwiches) my Mother gave me my first cookbook. It was beautifully illustrated and each recipe also contained a fairy tale. There were Little Red Riding Hood muffins. A bacon and lettuce sandwich based on the Three Little Pigs. But my favorite was “Brownies by The Lake.” Here’s my handwriting when I was probably about ten by then, because the cookbook had been destroyed. If you can’t read my ancient scribble, here’s the recipe I’ve altered to use today.

10 year old Catherine's 'Brownies by the Lake' recipe rescue from her first cookbook

Catherine's grown up version of her 'fairy tale' brownies

2 Eggs
1 cup sugar
1 stick real butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream these till very smooth. I cheat and put the butter in the microwave for 15 seconds only.

ADD: 

3 Squares melted unsweetened Baking Chocolate

3 T. Cocoa
I melt the chocolate in the microwave and then stir in the Cocoa after the chocolate is melted.

ADD to the creamed mixture

ADD:
2/3 Cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup of pecans or walnuts

Grease an 8x8 pan
BAKE: 35 minutes

We’d love to hear about your fun firsts or about what makes August feel like a month of firsts to you! And we’ll post the correct answers to our Rula/Catherine firsts in the comments after we see how you all fare with guesses ;). Let the fun begin!

www.catherinelanigan.com
www.rulasinara.com

Also: Catherine is still on tour with www.Prismbooktours.blogspot.com until August 18. She and the other Heartwarming Authors, Kate James, Karen Rock and Amy Vastine are still touring with TLC book tours. Come join the fun!