Smashwords Forum - Founder, Ted Summerfield,Profile

Ted Summerfield is a former member of the Radio Television News Directors Association. He started writing as a teenager and over the years has written poetry, news stories, sports stories, stories for children, puzzles, plays for puppets, fiction and non-fiction works.

As Ted tells his story, "my parents and grandfather were great role models and inspired me in many of my lifelong interests. My grandfather was wonderful. He always ended our conversations with a problem to solve or an opinion requiring some thought. My brother and I would have a week to think about it and tell him our answers the following Saturday. My answers were simple as a 6 year old, but I was providing more reasoned answers when I was 15. It was grandfather who got me thinking about law, business, relationships, and the mathematics involved in those areas.

My mother got me hooked on games when I was 4 years old, by showing me how to play Chinese Checkers and telling me if I studied the logic of the game well enough I could soon beat my older brother at the game.

My family was middle-class, business people who raised me with the concept of social capitalism. They contributed much of their income anonymously to various charities and non-profit organizations as well as no-interest loans to a few low-income families who had an idea for a business and just needed a start or in some cases a place to live. My father insisted we help others not out of religious beliefs or image-improvement but because it was the right thing to do. "That could be you" was an early instruction from my father on the importance of helping others.

He and my grandfather were businessmen and made a good living for their families, but looking out for the other person was paramount because 'it could happen to you'. My grandfather and father instilled in me the notion of  'favourable agreement', where both parties are happy with the result.

I’ve enjoyed a business life comprised of property management, property development, real estate sales, puppetry, and broadcast journalism.

As a property manager, one of the dumbest moment I ever had while I was leasing properties was when I offered a generous time-frame for repayment to a tenant who was behind in payments, ensuring they wouldn't be financially strapped, but they refused and left me no choice but to go to court. When the smoke had cleared they'd been forced to pay far more than the originally sought amount. That was truly dumb on their part. The lesson, I hope they learned, was don't try to cheat people.

After writing and performing several puppet plays, and traveling to storytelling conventions in the United States, I discovered there is not a lot of money in the arts business. But, the most wonderful aspect of puppetry was seeing children react to the story, get involved with the story, be really excited and laughing. Those moments were worth millions.

My first puzzle eBook was published in 2010, and I have published over 40 eBooks, comprised of picture eBooks for children, a variety of puzzle eBooks, fiction and non-fiction works.

As a new Smashwords author, I was unable to find an online community for Smashwords authors, so I created Smashwords Forum (SWF) in 2011.

SWF has become a place where new and seasoned authors can find a variety of information about self-publishing and traditional publishing.

With over 900 members, SWF members ask/answer questions regarding publishing, formatting, marketing, promoting their eBooks, and meet other authors from around the world.

I also do a lot of research and provide the results to SWF members about the ins and outs of self-publishing and help other authors and forum members by providing guidance and details about self-publishing policies, royalties, various eTailers, formatting, making book covers, and more.

In addition, I encourage SWF members to try new ideas.

The Smashwords Forum Writers Anthology is one of those ideas.

The forum has proven itself popular and valuable to new and experienced authors."

Author Information

Blog: http://punzhupuzzles.wordpress.com/

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/puzzles

Twitter: punzhu_puzzles

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ted-summerfield/13/327/4b8

Street Vendors in Mexico - Five postres for 13 pesos

One of the experiences I enjoy in Merida are the street vendors. From various wheeled-vehicles, human-powered or motor-powered, the vendors sell furniture, fruit, garden soil, pastries, tamales, ice cream, and more.

On my calle, vendors wheel down the street, clanging their bell, tooting their horn, or shouting out their product for sale. They are selling tamales, corn desserts, fruit, pastries, or ice cream.

The hardest thing about the process is trying to get out the door in time with my keys, shoes, and dinero before the vendor is two blocks away.

Until yesterday, I had succeeded once and got a tamale.

Finally, I got out the door in time and bought five postres for 13 pesos. They were fresh, warm and delicious. I only ate one and saved the rest.

Five postres for 13 pesos

Think about it. Five wonderful fresh-baked pastries for 13 pesos ($2.6MX each). At the current exchange rate, $1US is worth 16.62 pesos.

Many Mexicans run businesses out of their homes. Some make lunches for neighbors and nearby workers. Some make postres or other food items. There are often economica cocinas, open late at night, offering tortas, hamburgers, hot dogs and other food items.

National Write a Novel Month -- November

It's National Write a Novel Month (November)

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. 

On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.

from: http://nanowrimo.org

P.S. I tried this once and did not last long. I am slow writer, but the whole concept is inspiring.

Turn Your Frig into a Salad Bar with Crazy Salads

Crazy Salads (Use What You Have)

With stackable storage containers, you can have a Salad Bar in your frig.

This all started because I didn't have any lettuce and I wanted to make a salad. So, I just decided to make a salad without lettuce and things took off from there. I rummaged around in the frig and found some leftover salmon salad, 1/2 a tomato, a green pepper, an onion, some olives, parmesan cheese, and a bag of toasted bread cubes. I continued rummaging in the pantry and pulled out a can of mushroom bits and a jar of imitation bacon bits and made a Crazy Salad.

From there on, almost anything was game for a Crazy Salad. For me, the main ingredients are a bit of protein, heaps of diced vegetables and a crunchy topping. I usually don´t even use a dressing because the salad is already tasty.

Ingredients:

Base (Choose One)
1-3 Tablespoons per serving

Chicken, cooked and diced or canned, or as chicken salad
Salmon, canned, plain or as salmon salad
Rice, cooked, or Spanish rice
Cabbage, sliced

Other Ingredients (Use What You Have)
1-2 Tablespoons per serving

Green or red pepper, sliced or diced
Tomatoes, regular or cherry tomatoes, sliced or diced
Onion, red or white, sliced or diced
Carrots, sliced or grated
Cucumbers, sliced or diced
Radishes, sliced or diced
Mushrooms, sliced
Olives, black or green, sliced
Celery, sliced or diced
Beans, canned, black, red, or Chick peas
Artichoke hearts, 1-3
Cheese, white, cubed
Chayote, sliced

Apples, slices
Raisins
Pineapple, fresh or canned, chunks

Toppings (Use What You Have)
Parmesan cheese
Croutons or toasted bread cubes
Imitation Bacon bits

Seasonings (to taste)
Ground black pepper
Paprika

Dressings/Sauces (Choose One)
Mustard vinaigrette
Yogurt/Mayo dressing  (See below)
Oil and vinegar
or plain, no dressing

Process:
(For one serving)
Basically, start with 1-3 tablespoons of a base in a small salad bowl. I like canned chicken or salmon salad. Then add 1-2 tablespoons each of whatever other ingredients you like or have on hand. I love green peppers, onions, carrots, olives, beans, and artichoke hearts. The rest are extras depending on what I have on hand. But, I like a crunchy topping so it's either imitation bacon bits or toasted bread cubes.

Use your imagination and add other ingredients you like and think will work.

Yogurt/Mayo Sauce with Paprika

Ingredients:
1/3 cup plain yogurt*
2 tablespoons mayo
A dollop of vinegar
A dash of salt
1/8 tspn sugar
A dash of paprika

Process:
Mix ingredients in a bowl or container with a lid.
Stir well to blend all ingredients.

*Note: Yogurt in Mexico is more liquid than solid, add a little milk to thin the sauce.

White Bean Fritters with a Yogurt Dip

White Bean Fritters with a Yogurt Dip
Adapted from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-pollan-family-table/white-bean-fritters-with_b_7942556.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000045

I thought I could follow this recipe but I was using cooked dry beans, so they were not easily mashable, so I had to improvise.

Then with the dip, I did not have all the ingredients, so I had to make substitutions.

The recipe will come in three steps. Bean Mixture, Fitter Batter, and Yogurt Dip

White Bean Mixture
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked white beans, coarsely mashed
1/4 white onion, diced
1 tbspn dry parsley
2 tbspns Parmesan cheese
Salt/pepper to taste

Process:
In a bowl, add ingredients. Stir well.

Set aside.


Fritter Batter
Ingredients:
2/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
Dash of salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
A dash of paprika

Process:
Add fritter batter ingredients into a separate bowl. Stir well.
Add fitter batter to bean mixture.
Stir thoroughly.
Add olive oil to skillet. Heat medium-high.
Add a tablespoon of mixture at a time.
Generally, a small skillet can hold 4 fitters with room to turn fritters over.
Cook fritters for about 2-3 minutes on each side.


Yogurt Dip

Ingredients:
8oz plain greek yogurt
1 tbspn cucumber juice from cucumber cooler*
1/2 capful lime juice concentrate
1/4 tspn garlic powder
Ground black pepper to taste

*more on the cucumber cooler later. Essentially, I put lots of cucumber slices in a small pitcher of water and put it in the frig for a few hours.

Process:

Mix the above ingredients in a bowl or container with a lid.

Stir well.

Note: I do not add salt to most recipes.

I liked the Yogurt Dip.

I am enjoying making sauces, dressings, and dips. It's giving me an idea for another small cookbook :-)

Serving: 15 fritters

Mini Canned Chicken Salad with Vegetables

Mini Canned Chicken Salad with Vegetables

Ingredients:
1/2 can of chicken, drained
2 tbspns mayo
1/4 onion, diced
ground black pepper to taste

Process:
Mix the above in a container with a lid to save what is not used.
While mixing, shred chicken chunks.
Add half of mixture in a bowl.
Add toppings.

Toppings:
Imitation bacon bits
1/8 green pepper, diced
1/4 tomato, diced
A few slices of avocado
A dash of paprika

I found this salad fresh, tasty and crunchy.

Summer Shopping Challenge - My Costco Adventure

Hmmm, I had followed the news that Costco (Merida, Mexico) was building a new store in the north.

But, I failed to pickup on the actual location.

So, when I took the bus to go grocery shopping at Chedraui North is when I found out exactly where the new Costco store was. It had taken the Chedraui North grocery store location. So, now, no grocery shopping.

But, I decided to see if I could check out the Costco store. I thought they might have a day pass but they didn't. Then I decided to see how much a membership cost. It was $450 pesos for two people. So, I joined and put my friend on the account as the second person.

So, now I could browse the store.

Going to Costco is like going grocery shopping for a restaurant because the size and quantity of the items are enormous. I don't need six bottles of mayo.

But, after going up and down every aisle. I did find three things that I thought would suit my "budget", rather laughable since I already spent $450 pesos.

Anyway, I got a six-pack of canned chicken. To me, each can held about what I would have gleaned from a whole grilled chicken from a local take-out (after one meal). Take out chicken $80 pesos, one can of chicken $193.35/$32.00 each. I thought having another source of chicken would be useful.

Then, I got a six-pack of 210g (8oz) mushrooms, which I thought was a good deal because I use a lot of mushrooms. I saved a few pesos.

Then, I got a large bag of dried blueberries. Something I have never tried but I liked the idea, just like having frozen fruit, dried fruit seemed like a good pantry item. So far, I have used them as part of a yogurt topping. They are tasty. I need to try to rehydrate them, too.

I also got something else. A credenza with portable cloth file drawers.

I live in a one-bedroom apartment with little storage, so, the credenza is useful to store all my notebooks, writing, correspondence and jewelry-making supplies that were previously stored in cardboard boxes that sat on the sofa.

But, the credenza was a DIY affair. I had to put it together using over 30+ dowels and various nuts and bolts to secure 11 pieces of "heavy" particle board.

If I move, I will have to have it packed and crated so it doesn't fall apart.

On the bright side, I had recently gotten a price from one furniture maker for something similar for $6000 pesos. Too rich for me, so when I saw this for about $2,000.00 pesos, I thought it was a good idea.

While the credenza may not have been the best decision, it does make the living room look so much neater and I am more organized. Got to look on the bright side.