5 WAYS TO FAKE IT ON VALENTINE'S DAY!

By Rekaya Gibson

Your entire life you heard the adage, "A way to a man's heart is through his stomach," however, you cannot cook. That is not a problem. Here are five tips to help you fake preparing a meal for that special person, just in time for Valentine's Day.

1) Buy prepared foods from the grocery store's deli. They taste homemade without all the fuss. The roasted chicken is awesome! I know you smell when you go into the store.

2) Presentation is everything! Invest in a tablecloth, candleholders, and candles from a discount store. Break out the matching dishes or purchase some from the dollar store. Use the nice wineglasses no matter if you are serving wine or sparkling apple cider. It still adds a nice touch to the table.

 3) Warm the food on the stove or in the oven. The aromas will circulate throughout the house, giving the illusion that you have been cooking. Depending on the meal, heat up 15-20 minutes prior to guest(s) arriving.

4) Add your favorite herbs or spices to the dish. For example, if you use a spaghetti sauce from a jar, sprinkle a little basil in it. I like to add red peppers flakes for an extra kick.

 5) Serve food on platters and in serving bowls. Scoop prepared pudding into a martini glass and garnish with a pirouette cookie.

It still takes some effort on your part to fake it, but you can handle it. You probably did it in the past or at least thought about it. If so, share what you did. Thank you!

2010 Winter Virtual Book Tour Stop - About the Author: Rekaya Gibson’s love for food is evident throughout her fiction work, “The Food Temptress,” and her children’s book, “Are There French Fries in Heaven?” Some of her nonfiction articles have appeared in the Cabo Living Magazine, Desert Saints Magazine, and Lake of the Ozarks Second Home Living Magazine. In 2006, she self-published an e-Book, “Wow Them With Your Grant Proposal” under her own e-publishing company, Gibson Girl Publishing Company. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of New Orleans. Rekaya resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. For additional information, go to http://www.foodtemptress.com/.

Hurricane Katrina Transplant Turns Her Love for Food into a Novel

Upper Marlboro, Maryland, January 14, 2009 – For Rekaya Gibson, hurricane Katrina transplant, her love of food is evident throughout her new fiction release, THE FOOD TEMPTRESS (Xpress Yourself Publishing; January 15, 2008). Who knows how to convert a gay man into a straight lover using a pineapple upside-down cake? Only Ambrosia Bourgeois, THE FOOD TEMPTRESS, can accomplish such a task. The New Orleans Goddess of Gastronomy uses food to seduce men in hopes of creating Mister Right. Paralleling southern cuisine, each short story captures the hearts and minds of different men.

In the “Power of the Pudding” chapter, Ambrosia realizes that her bread pudding cannot withstand the demands of an associate minister’s plans to make her a dutiful wife. When she decides to forget about him and travels to Atlanta to visit her friend, she ends up in the bathroom with Black Thunder, a local stripper. It is not her fault; the peach cobbler was intended for the birthday girl.

Ambrosia perfects her craft by using traditional recipes from her deceased grandmother and occasionally consulting her mysterious aunt. When she discovers that her meals fall short of converting the man to her specifications, she moves on to the next one—a total of 16 ranging from the local police chief to a Bourbon Street musician. Will she reach her goal before the monstrous hurricane hits her city? THE FOOD TEMPTRESS serves a delectable treat connected by Ambrosia’s continuing quest for both romantic and culinary perfection.

Praise for The Food Temptress

"Jammed pack with unforgettable characters, The Food Temptress is filled with delicious crafty twists and delectable turns that left me completely filled and satisfied. A novel with best-seller written all over it."
— Erotic Expressions

“A tempting read that is sure to satisfy any palette.”

— Black Men In America

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

REKAYA GIBSON is a consultant and freelance writer. As a writer, she is not limited to writing about only one genre. Her love for food is evident throughout her fiction work, The Food Temptress, and her children's book, Are There French Fries in Heaven? Her nonfiction articles have appeared in the “Lake of the Ozarks Second Home Living Magazine,” “Relocating in Saint Louis Magazine,” and the “Times Picayune” newspaper. In 2006, she self-published an e-Book, Wow Them With Your Grant Proposal, and other grant-related e-Special Reports under her own e-publishing company, Gibson Girl Publishing Company.

Recently, the federal government selected her to review and score grant applications on underage drinking. Rekaya has spent ten years working in the violence/drug prevention fields and several semesters teaching a communication course at a community college. In addition, she has taught employees at a local casino how to write in English. This encouraged her to start her own nonprofit agency that focuses on language skills and literacy.

In the near future, Rekaya plans to dabble in politics - or at least write about it - as she completes her doctoral degree in political science. She holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Indiana University. Although a transplant to Nevada because of Hurricane Katrina, she now calls Las Vegas her home. She was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. You can reach Rekaya by going to her websites at www.rekayagibson.com, www.gibsongirlpublishing.com, www.foodtemptress.com, and www.grantsgaloreandmore.com.

Title Specifications:

The Food Temptress
By Rekaya Gibson

ISBN: 978-0-9779398-3-1
Publication Date: January 15, 2009
Trade Paperback; 244 pages
Qty/Case: 32
Retail: $14.95
Distributed by: Ingram Books and Baker & Taylor

This title is available wherever books are sold, as well as all online retailers.

For more information on this title, and other Xpress Yourself Publishing titles, visit http://www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org/.


We look forward to speaking with you regarding Rekaya Gibson's The Food Temptress! Please contact Erica Hart at the contact information below.

Xpress Yourself Publishing, LLC
Contact: Erica Hart, Public Relations
P.O. Box 1615
Upper Marlboro, MD 20773
Phone: 301.390.3645 Fax: 202.478.3447
Email: erica.hart@xpressyourselfpublishing.org Web site: http://www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org/

Rejections or Blessings?

I just read a thought provoking blog by Wanda Campbell titled, “Bridges”. It made me think about my own journey and the bridges that I have crossed to get my book, "The Food Temptress," published. On August 29, 2005, I lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. When I made it to Las Vegas Nevada via train, I went into a severe depression for approximately three months. After the brief mental breakdown, I decided that I was not going to curl-up in a ball and die, not like this. I thanked God for the storm, sparing my life, and diverting my journey. I purchased a used laptop and continued my hobby, writing.

It took 10 months to write "The Food Temptress" and one year to find a publisher. I spent most of the time searching for an agent. I remember having an agent ask me if my main character in "The Food Temptress" was African American. I wondered if she asked the Caucasian authors if their characters were white. Then, I had the privilege of talking to a major publisher one-on-one. She told me that everyone was tired of hearing about Hurricane Katrina. I found it funny because the book is not about Katrina.

The reject letters kept coming, but it encouraged me to continue my quest. This time, I researched publishing companies. I found only one that I felt was a perfect match, so I sent the manuscript. Occasionally, I would revisit its website to daydream about the day my book will be on the roster. Shortly thereafter, I became frustrated, so I decided I wanted to self-publish under a print-on-demand company. They rejected me too. I was so upset that I took the day off.

The following day, I was back to the grind. I sent a follow-up email to the publisher that I submitted my work to, Xpress Yourself Publishing Company (XYP). The owner, Jessica Tilles, wanted to know how I plan to promote my book. It was then I knew my fate because I was prepared to give the answers. A few days later, Jessica agreed to give me a chance. I rejoiced, cried, and thanked God for this blessing. Before, I could not foresee that a blessing was in store for me because I wanted to be mad about the rejections. It reminded me of the lesson that I was suppose to have learned three years ago, and apparently had forgotten. When things do not happen the way you want them to, say “Thank you Jesus; I know you have something better for me.”

"The Food Temptress" debuts in 30-days. I would not change the bridges that I crossed to get here. What lesson have you learned on your life’s journey?

Rekaya Gibson, Author
The Food Temptress
http://www.foodtemptress.com