A Wok to the Kitchen ~ Thriller Author Creston Mapes (Giveaway)

** Weds. 12:15 PM Congratulations to our giveaway winner: Andrea S!**

Today it's my great pleasure to host another gentleman on Authors' Galley. We haven't yet met personally but we share the same literary agent, and that's almost like family. Please join me in welcoming thriller author Creston Mapes. 

 Greetings friends,

Well, at Candace’s advise, I scoured my new thriller, Fear Has a Name, for a food scene, and the following is what I’ve come up with. This scene occurs when our antagonist, Granger Meade, has kidnapped the only person who was ever nice to him as a child, Pamela Crittendon. They are at a convenience store in the middle of the night. Here goes:

• • •

Out in the store he said softly, “Get whatever you want. Get enough to last awhile.”

How long? she wondered. What does he have planned?

She really believed he didn’t know, that all he knew was that he wanted to be with her. She must become the world’s best actress. In her mind she must revert back to the Pamela Wagner he knew in high school, who reached out, showed compassion, wanted him to be one of the gang.

Her stomach ached. She wasn’t hungry, but she knew she must eat to stay strong and alert. She walked down the aisle nearest them. Although Granger wasn’t holding her arm, he was right there in her shadow, looking himself for food.

She picked up a good-sized bag of cashews and several crunchy peanut butter bars while he grabbed a package of teriyaki beef jerky and a can of potato sticks. At the refrigerated section, Pamela got several yogurts, a package of string cheese, and a bottled water. Granger got a tall can of Red Bull.

“Ready?” He eyed her.

She nodded.

He took several items out of her full arms and they walked back up to the man in the turban. They set all the things on the sliver of available counter space.

“And two packs of Newports—soft,” Granger said. “Not the box.” He turned his head to the side and muttered, “If you can understand English.”

                                                                            

It was more than a break-in. More than a stalking. It was personal. When a stalker targets his family, journalist Jack Crittendon must uncover who the person is and what his motives are--if he is to protect the ones he loves. It will lead Crittendon into a world of behind-closed-door secrets and faith gone awry, as does his investigation of a missing pastor, whose apparent suicide is more than it appears.
"Fans of Ted Dekker, Davis Bunn, Jerry Jenkins and Frank Peretti will love Creston's novels!"

  • • •

Okay, that excerpt is from book one in my new series, The Crittendon Files. I hope you’ll enjoy it over a bag of potato sticks and some beef jerky. Now on to my the recipe I want to share with you.

Cooking relaxes me and I love to cook Chinese with the wok. I made up today’s recipe long ago and it has proven to be a real hit with my wife and our four kids. I didn’t have a formal name for it until now, but let’s call it Creston’s Ginger Garlic Chicken. This recipe will serve 4-6.

• Mix the following ingredients in a bowl and set this aside--it’s your ‘sauce’: 3/4 cup teriyaki sauce, ¼ cup worchestire sauce, a shot of water, a shot of Italian dressing (if you have it), 1 tablespoon of ginger (spice), 1 heaping tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 heaping tablespoon of cornstarch. Mix this all together really well. Taste (good, isn’t it?).

• Cut up 3-4 boneless chicken breasts into small pieces, preferably diced. Cook that with Extra Virgin Olive Oil on high heat in the wok until done and set aside.

• Chop up the following items, smaller the better: 2 onions, 2-4 carrots, 2-4 stalks of celery, and 1 cup of shredded cabbage. Cook these on high with Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the wok. Put the lid on so they cook faster. You want the veggies almost crunchy, but not quite.

• Pour the chicken and sauce in with the veggies and cook on high until the sauce thickens. Mix well. Serve over rice.

Here’s where you can find out more about my thrillers and me. Thanks for having me!

www.CrestonMapes.com

www.Twitter.com/CrestonMapes

www.Facebook.com/Creston.Mapes

***

Mmm, great recipe, Creston, intiguing glimpse into your new novel, and I love your kitchen! We so appreciate your "tying on the apron" with Authors' Galley.

And now friends, to celebrate Creston's exciting new release, Wynn-Wynn Media has generously offered a giveaway. It includes a copy of Fear Has a Name, plus a

 Twenty-dollar Pier 1 gift card, AND a cute potholder.  What a great prize package!

To be entered, please leave a comment below. Be sure to include an e-mail address.
 US entries only, please. The winning name will be drawn (via Random.Org) on Weds. June 12 and the lucky winner notified by e-mail. 

Until then . . .

Bon appetit and happy reading!