The Perils of Punch: For Writers Who Don’t Cook
Tomorrow the East Coast launch of novel Cobalt Blue and of The Crazy Ladies Book Tour with sister novelist Carrie Knowles. My assignment is to bring to the bookstore (Quail Ridge in Raleigh, NC) a vat of cobalt blue punch.
Probably a vat will not be needed, since it's going to look like Windex.
Yesterday I spent more than an hour in the juice and beverage and water aisles of Target trying to figure out something that would look dark blue and taste okay. I posted a question on Facebook asking for recipes. I made phone calls from the store. I obsessed!
There was a drink called Mountain Dew Voltage that punches up the energy levels to seemingly frightening intensity. But having grown up in a retailing family, I know it's not ethical to drug the customers.
It took two stores and many consults and finally I have settled on something that no one recommended. A blend of blue Gatorade, Fresca, white grape juice, and blue food coloring. In nearly equal amounts. Will likely patent it.
I know it's going to be a hit. Wish me well. And come if you can. It's at 3 pm Sunday, April 28, Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh. With Carrie Knowles, author of the newly released Lillian's Garden. She's bringing home-made oatmeal cookies. Her main character bakes.
Categories: 2013
Tags: Carrie Knowles, Cobalt Blue, crazy Ladies book tour, Lillian's Garden, Peggy Payne, Quail Ridge Books
Comments
Cobalt Blue main character rocks!
And so she shall have white grape juice “rocks” in the celebratory punch. Thanks, Bob.
Somehow I knew you would come up with something fun! Wish I could join you:) Have a lovely day.
We had fun, Debbie. Thanks!
We'll be out sailing on Sunday, but will try to remember to toast you from the beautiful Cobalt Blue water of Pamlico Sound!! Punch sounds awesome!!
The punch was actually surprisingly good. Not that I ever mean to make it again. Looked like toilet bowl cleaner.
Oops, well, we already missed it. Well, we enjoyed sailing, anyway! I heard it was a wonderful time from a friend!!
I hope it wasn’t rainy there like it was here, Beth.
And we’re reading again at the Cary Barnes & Noble this Thursday night, 7 p.m.
I hate that I missed the debut of the CLBT! I was coming down the mountain (and coming down from a mountain high) through the rain and fog from Wildacres. I heard it was a screaming success, the first of many I hope.
Thanks, Mamie. I hope Wildacres was good.
Carrie and I will be reading at the Cary Barnes & Noble this Thursday night at 7, if you’re around and looking for entertainment.
I was thinking you could serve a perhaps more conventionally hued punch in a big blue bowl, or in blue glasses, or with blue napkins?
That’s a great idea. Much more tasteful. Thanks. I have a lot of blue Gatorade left over. I could offer an autographed bottle of blue Gatorade to anyone buying more than a dozen copies of Cobalt Blue.