SEPTEMBER 2022
Ivory-verse M A G A Z I N E
2 years ago, an aspiring writer sat down at her desk and started her journey. In her first story, she chose to tell the world about a young female who became the strong and kind Ivory Queen despite all the pain in her life. A legend that lives and continues to make history. We are lucky enough to join on the ride, as this incredible author continues her writing journey. This month we celebrated them.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
EDITOR'S MESSAGE
3
HOW IT ALL STARTED
4
WHAT'S GOING ON
5
IVORY-VERSE HIGHLIGHTS
6
THE IVORY PHOENIX KINGDOM
12
BOOK HIGHLIGHT
13
BREAKING NEWS
14
MEET THE AUTHOR
18
DID YOU KNOW?
20
CULTURE
22 IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE
CULINARY
26
FAN MAIL
29
PUZZLE
POKEMON BEAN BRAZILIAN BEAN
Message from the Editors Dear readers, It's with much happiness that we bring another issue of the Ivory-verse Magazine to you. This month we celebrate the book that tells us the story of this incredible leader, Queen Aurora. It also marks the beginning of the writing career of the wonderful writer, StephanieLight. As always, on these pages, you'll find articles and interviews carefully drafted by our team for your entertainment. We warn you to proceed with caution. While we always thrive to keep the mystery and pique your interest in learning more about these stories without giving spoilers, it is not 100% guaranteed. Thank you all for joining in this journey. Without further ado, here is the magazine for your entertainment. 1
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" When I first developed my powers, I gifted her the bird as a Christmas present. She’s always been very shy and had trouble making friends in middle school. I wanted her to have a friend when Mia, Javi, or I weren’t around, so Santos, the hummingbird, quickly became her greatest companion. Everywhere she went, you'd see the colorful bird perched on her shoulder or head. It was quite an adorable sight..." Salvador, The Ivory Queen. IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE
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How it all started...
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What's going on DEAF AWARENESS MONTH
In celebration of Deaf Awareness Month, The Ivory Phoenix Kingdom offered a week-long ASL course. The members of the kingdom highly accepted the joined effort, and The Queen is planning on making it mandatory. "It's important for me that every wolf in my kingdom feels welcomed and accepted. No wolf is to be mistreated for being different," Queen Aurora says.
Training sessions and self-defense classes have intensified the last month. All wolves that wish to join training must report to the head warriors of your pack and sign up for classes.
The Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations started on the 15th of September and continues until the 15th of October. Many activities are set up throughout the territory such as concerts, classes, farmer’s markets, and more!
On September 6th, The Queen celebrated her mother, the late Queen Sofia Reyes Altamirano. She’d be 46 and celebrating the 25th anniversary of her coronation. A memorial was set up, and the family paid their respects to the Gold Queen of Sol de Oro Kingdom.
Queen Aurora Altamirano congratulates Alpha Zane Ramos for recently taking over the Ravenstone Pack in Washington. She's happy to announce that after negotiations and integration plans, Alpha Zane has accepted her offer to merge Amethyst Lake and Ravenstone. The new pack is now a part of the Ivory Phoenix Kingdom. IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE
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IVORY-VERSE HIGHLIGHTS By The Questioning Bean
Specialists say it's possible to smell war in the air. As lives settle into a new reality, the shifting in power does not always prove to be something appreciated by all. For some people, it only takes a taste, and they are addicted. New alliances were formed, new packs created, while others were dismembered. A long war was ended, leaving wolves with bruised egos. As history continues its course, we hope the new leaders learn from past experiences and are able to act accordingly in the face of the challenges they will inevitably be presented with. For now, we celebrate life, connections, love, and family, hoping these characters will be strong enough to face what's coming their way. There is still a piece of this puzzle to be uncovered. A personal war between a witch and a dragon to be fought, and a riddle that still waits to be deciphered. As we anxiously wait for the next chapters, let's enjoy the calm. 5
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In the following pages, you'll learn more about the ivory phoenix kingdom established april 2021
Leaders
Her Majesty Queen Aurora Salome Altamirano- Artaud
Royal Beta Carter Dupont 7
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His Majesty Alpha King Olivier Honore Artaud
Royal Gamma Evan Silas Gérard
territory The Ivory Phoenix Kingdom is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, between Petaluma (north) and San Rafael (south).
+ Ravenstone
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Packs that are part of the kingdom Eight packs reside in the region surrounding the city, 5 of which were previously known as the Allies: the Cerulean Sea Pack, the Jade Crescent Pack, the Blood Moon Pack, the River Moon Pack, and the Lluvia Blanca Pack. A treaty was signed by the five Alphas over 50 years ago when the region fell victim to a witch attack and since then, the five packs have acted together. Two of the remaining three packs joined the alliance and the kingdom in April 2021. Here's a description of each one of them.
Blood Moon Led by Alpha Patrick and Luna Elen, at age 51, he is the eldest of the Alphas in the kingdom. Blood Moon is one of the oldest packs in the state, having settled here during The California Gold Rush (1848-1855).
Cerulean Sea Is mostly African American and is among the most revered Warriors in Northern California. It's led by Alpha Wesley and Luna Khelani.
Lluvia Blanca Predominantly Mexican American, although they have a few Central American members. It boasts over 700 members, two of which are Silver wolves, making it the second largest pack in the region and one of the strongest. Led by Alpha Javier and Luna Celina. 9
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Jade Crescent They are of English descent and are among the wealthiest in the region. It's led by Alpha Jonathan and Luna Scarlett.
River Moon Most of its members are French American (Oliver himself was born in France and holds both French and US citizenship). Its mother Pack, Lune de Minuit, is situated in Paris and is a powerhouse in Europe. Thanks to former Alpha David, Oliver’s father, River Moon is heavily involved with Lune de Minuit in terms of business deals. It's led by Alpha King Olivier and Queen Aurora.
Desert Sky
Maple Moon
Led by Alpha Malik, Desert Sky is mostly Egyptian and is a relatively small space that keeps to itself. Before joining the Ivory Phoenix Kingdom, it was a neutral pack.
Led by Alpha Jared, the Maple Moon pack is mostly Filipino with the main languages spoken being Tagalog and English. One of the smallest packs in the area, it was also a neutral pack before joining the Ivory Phoenix Kingdom.
Amethyst Lake and Ravenstone Amethyst lake joined the Kingdom when Queen Aurora killed their former Alpha during an attack. After months under the Queen's care, the pack is currently merging with the Ravenstone pack. Alpha Zane and Luna Natalia accepted the Queen's offer to join the kingdom. The merging is still undergoing and a new pack name will be announced soon. IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE 10
One of the features that always amazes our team is the Queen's Garden. It's like a jewel hiding in the forest, showcasing how powerful the Ivory Queen really is. Here is a glimpse into her little peace of Heaven.
eated it r c I . n e v a e h ttle piece of li y I came m n is e e h c w la d p e t is a h r "T . I was frust t n e id c c a y accidentally d n a t s e almost b r o f at first, aring in the d le e c k c is o h t h s n s o a up element. I w h t r a to check e y d e m id d c e e t d a I iv d act ook over an t y it s with my e io c r a u c p s n o is o h t s but . So I created o d ry time I ld e u v o e c e I r e e h ls e e t wha Eden. I com le t it L as here I y w m t . I .. . e lp r e u t h a 's wolf el close to n e f t s Queen ju e r h o t k s a in h in t n o r t need nd was swo a e t a m y m e I can have p o h I . m o said I do to d hoenix King P y r ne day." o o v I s p e u h p y of T m h Aurora. lay here wit n p e r e o u s Q ic n ic p
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BOOK HIGHLIGHT
BOOK O I D N AU BLE O A L I A AV AR WEHE
Accused of murdering her father, Aurora Montenegro finds herself locked in the basement, abused, and tortured for her pack's amusement. Aurora's life would change, however, when she meets Oliver Artaud, Alpha of the River Moon Pack, and her fated mate. Weak and afraid, Aurora must cope with the new task of becoming Luna for a pack that does not want her. Things take a turn for the worse when the number of rogue attacks rises in the region and she unearths a shocking discovery... She was no ordinary wolf. Plagued with raising threats against her new pack, Aurora must face her fears and unlock the many secrets her father left in the wake of his death. She must become the Ivory Queen. But will it be enough to defeat the Evil hell bent on killing her? IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE 12
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Meet the author
Hi friends! The one who forgets to add chocolate to brownies.
Luna - The writing partner, also called "the whore"
She's said to have 3 braincells and shares them with her beta.
Consisting of gremlin/ chaotic energy.
Fueled by tacos and Oreos; sometimes she sleeps.
Has no self-control when shopping for stationeries. She can be both very chill and very extra at the same time.
The only tea she likes is the kind with boba in it.
Coco - The asshole.
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Giving gifts is one of her love-languages.
WHAT MAKES STEPHANIELIGHT'S WORK SO UNIQUE? By The Questioning Bean
I'd say her way .... her words. While reading the pages of her books, it's easy to see how much work Stephanie put into them. The way she carefully handles the information gathered in her research is beautiful to see, I mean... to read. She chose to recount these stories, showing the people as they are and helping us understand each one of them better. She didn't hide their experiences, their choices, their burdens, their fears, their traits, or their misdeeds. She wrote the story as it happened, leading us to discuss new topics and share experiences. That's how we joined Queen Aurora in her journey to become the strong and loved leader she is today. While fighting her demons and dealing with PTSD, our Queen learned to trust others again, and most importantly, she gained confidence in herself. So much so that she took upon herself the responsibility to work on helping the she-wolves from Amethyst Lake. Her gentle soul always working tirelessly to give them back their dignity. We also met Gamma Evan and Luna Kehlani and saw how they have to deal with racism on a daily basis, no matter how influential they are. Once again, proving that poor judgment and bad character are a reality in the supernatural world as well. We also met Diego, the Queen's cousin, a strong and respected warrior whose sexual orientation may turn a few heads and earn him a few dirty looks. And we cannot forget Alpha Zane and his adoptive mother, Agnes. She's deaf, he stutters, both tossed aside and deemed weak. From PTSD, depression, alcoholism, abuse, rape, domestic violence, classicism, racism... nothing was glossed over or forgotten. She chose (and still chooses) to shine a light on every subject and show the reality of the individuals. I can't wait to see what we'll learn next. IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE 16
10ish Questions with Grayson Nice to meet you! Are you ready for this? Sure! Great! *smirks* If you could be one supernatural creature, which would you be? A witch or dragon. I would love to cast spells and be more connected spiritually to earth but I’d also love to fly as a badass dragon. *eye roll and sigh*
If you had a chance to spend an afternoon with any Ivory-verse character, who’d he/she be? Why?
Which werewolf gift do you think is the best? I am a huge Avatar fan so all the elemental gifts are among my favorites. *gasp!*
What’s the word you say the most? Fuck. Because I’m always fucking up. Why am I your favorite character to write about? *smirks* Just kidding, who’s your favorite character to write about? I have a soft spot for Salvador. He’s the character that I’ve had to develop across all the books in the series and my favorite.
I would spend the afternoon with Celina. We’d mess with Evan all day and terrorize the Kingdom.
*gasp!*
Are you a coffee or tea person?
*stares at you with those piercing golden eyes- very intimidating*
Between your dog Luna and me, who’s more annoying?
Coffee. I despise tea unless it's boba.
You. Luna doesn’t speak
Define yourself in one word. Sarcastic
*gasp! Shock! *
What sport is your favorite? Softball. I was the first baseman and catcher for my varsity softball team in high school. 3 things you can’t live without
If you could punch someone in the Ivory Universe, who would he/she be? it’s ok if you have a long list, we won’t judge you. Karina, Ana Lucia, Julian, Roman, Sebastian, Christian, there're so many. But Karina and Roman top the list.
Music, pens, tamales I’m told that you know all the secrets of this universe, so… who’s the seeker? *stares at you innocently* Very funny but in all honesty, your guess is as good as mine. The seeker has yet to reveal themselves even to me. Well... I tried! thank you Stephanie for joining me today. 17
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Illustration by Country Bean
Did you Know? Gamma Bond
This non-sexual bond exists only between the Luna of the pack and the Gamma. The Luna feels inexplicably safe when near the Gamma while the Gamma feels the urge to protect her. This bond manifests when the Luna is identified/accepted by the Alpha and the Gamma takes his title at the Alpha ceremony. It becomes unbreakable after the Luna completes her Luna ceremony, at which time the Gamma swears to protect her with his life. It can only be broken when one of them dies.
Night of Melodies
Night of Melodies is the ceremony to introduce freshly shifted wolves into the pack so they can get their mind links. It’s like a werewolf baptism, so to speak.
The celebrations start with the young shifting into their wolves, followed by a pack run and finally, there is the pack gathering with food and music for their enjoyment. IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE 18
Ivory Twins Given the immense power possessed by the Children of the Moon and of the Sun, it came as no surprise when many creatures tried to harness all of it. Not long after their creation, witches, vampires, and demons hunted Silver and Gold wolves for their powers. Seeing her creations being slaughtered by the thousands, the Moon Goddess mated a Silver and a Gold wolf to create a hybrid: the Ivory Twins. The Ivory Twins are a set of wolves who act as the protectors of the Silver and Gold wolves, sharing multiple abilities to fend off malicious creatures. Every 150 years, The Moon Goddess mates a Silver and Gold wolf to conceive a pair of Ivory Twins to protect her creations. Each twin controls two of the four elements; the eldest controls Earth and Fire while the youngest controls Water and Air. They also possess healing and telekinetic abilities, among other gifts. Unlike other wolves, the Ivory Twins must have their first shift in the presence of each other. Failing to do so will result in death. Many conditions must be met before the twins can shift completely. The shift can only take place during a full moon, a solstice, or an equinox. Both twins must come together wearing the medallions given to them by the Moon Goddess and activate their elements to enter the realm of Moon Goddess. There, they will meet with Moon Goddess herself. While in the realm, the Ivory Twins are in a vulnerable catatonic state in the physical world. They will not be able to use their powers, nor defend themselves physically from outside threats until they awaken from their meeting with Moon Goddess. The shift will take place shortly after, revealing the characteristic white fur and heterochromatic eyes distinctive to the pair. The twins will also reveal their true selves and possess a unique set of powers they'll need to defend Silver and Gold wolves. 19
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CULTURE By Natalia Ramos
MEXICAN TRADITIONAL MUSIC CUMBIA AND BANDA Banda This horn-heavy genre of Mexican music usually features, at least, a dozen guys in matching neon-colored suits who play polkainfluenced, military marching band-based tunes. Clarinets, trumpets, trombones, tubas, French horns, more trumpets, powerful virtuosic singers, bass, and snare drums all make up the instruments in a banda. There are no stringed instruments here, like the violin or gut-stringed guitar found in mariachi. A typical banda has at least 12-15 musicians, but the largest groups can have 20 members who play a combination of cumbias, corridos (narrative story-songs), rancheras, and ballads. It’s a catalog of songs that’s not always unique to the genre itself, but which sometimes stretches back a century and a half to preRevolution Mexico. People in Mexico either love banda or they hate it. It’s kind of like how country music in the United States is perceived by city folk. But banda is much, much more popular in Mexico than country music is in the U.S., its long-term appeal having long outlived the flash-inthe-pan Nashville sound of the late 50s. The popular banda songs heard constantly on the radio today are modern compositions, written and marketed like pop tunes. They usually tell melodramatic tales of spurned love, and found love and, well, anything to do with love. This makes it an easy target for critics of pop music in any genre. But the highly syncopated music with complex changes and rhythms is made for dancing (and dancing close), drawing big crowds to weddings, holidays, parties, rodeos, parades, baptisms, quinceañeras, and even indoor church services. IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE 20
Cumbia While cumbia had been big business in its Colombian birthplace since the end of the 19th century, it was only in the mid-20th century that Mexican cumbia really took off, in tandem with other Latin American countries such as Peru and Argentina. While cumbia sonidera is arguably the most well-known cumbia subgenre hailing from Mexico, there are many other prevalent takes on this style – take, for example, cumbia norteña (a slower, accordionheavy rhythm) or cumbia andina (a fusion subgenre, featuring Latin American folklore music), to name but a few. The cumbia with the most fascinating backstory is almost certainly cumbia sonidera, a subgenre that was bubbling away throughout the 80s, coming to fruition in Mexico City during the 1990s. It ultimately peaked in popularity at the turn of the century, spurred along in no small part by the phenomenon of pirated musical recordings. It was the brainchild of DJs (sonideros) from across the city and is notable for its particular emphasis on the guacharaca (a percussive instrument) and organ elements, as well as electronic voice and pitch alterations. In fact, cumbia sonidera did not exactly develop from new musical advances within established cumbia groups, but rather from the additions made by the sonideros playing the music. In many ways, cumbia sonidera harked back to the cumbia forefather rhythms of the 70s, which included many tropical elements of cumbia colombiana. Either way, when groups cottoned on to the popularity of these shout-out additions from the sonideros, they actually began to implement them into their recordings, formalizing the genre of cumbia sonidera as we know it today. While the origins of cumbia sonidera are somewhat murky, developing as it did from a more or less underground DJ scene, many trace the beginnings back to two Mexico City neighbourhoods – Peñón de los Baños and the notorious Tepito, although San Juan de Aragón and the State of Mexico’s Nezahualcóyotl were also locations where early exponents of the genre could be found. It’s these urban, lower working-class roots with which cumbia sonidera continues to be associated. Nowadays, cumbia sonidera is actually most frequently produced in the state of Puebla, where they also have their own sub-subgenre called cumbia poblana. Cumbia sonidera has also spread back down to South America, where countries such as Ecuador and Argentina (who developed cumbia villera from this Mexico City sound) have embraced it. 21
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Sopes
Tortilla de Harina
Coq au vin
Royal table WHAT ARE THE ROYALS EATING?
ingredients 2 cups masa harina 2/3 teaspoon table salt 1 1/4 cups hot water 1 teaspoon olive oil 1-2 cups vegetable oil, (only if frying)
instructions Add masa harina and salt to a large bowl. Mix together with a spoon. Pour hot water and olive oil into the bowl and knead until you have a uniform texture. Make sure the dough has enough moisture to avoid any cracking on the sope's surfaces. Now, cover the dough with a wet kitchen towel; this will help to keep the dough moist. Always keep a small bowl of water next to your working area to keep your hands and the dough moist. Divide the dough into 10 pieces of the same size, and cover with the kitchen towel. To form the sopes, place one piece of plastic on the Tortilla press, then put down one of the small balls of dough and cover with the other piece of
Sopes 14 servings
30 minutes
plastic, close the tortillera and press down gently until you form a medium size thick tortilla of about 4-½ inches.
TO SERVE THE SOPES:
Pick up the tortilla, holding it with the plastic at
Heat the oil or lard in a skillet or griddle at medium heat.
the bottom, and gently flip the tortilla into the
Place the sopes on the skillet and lightly fry them on both
palm of your hand.
sides (about 30 seconds each side will be enough time to fry
If you don’t have a Tortilla Press, use a glass pie
them and give them a little golden color). Remove from the
dish to press down the dough; Place the tortilla on the already hot griddle/comal. Turn the tortilla after a minute, don’t let it cook longer or the dough will dry and crack. Turn again after a minute; the last cooking will take about 20-30 seconds. Remove from the
heat and place on a plate that has already being covered with paper towels to absorb any excess fat. Serve the sopes with desired toppings like beans, cheese, ground beef, shredded chicken, shredded lettuce, salsa and enjoy!
griddle with the help of a spatula. Cover the tortillas with a dry kitchen towel and allow them to cool for about 30-45 seconds, and start forming the border by pinching the edges with your fingers. Now, the tortillas had become sopes, cover again with the kitchen towel and keep cooking the rest of the sopes.
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Notes Masa harina can be found in the grocery stores. Some of the most famous brands are: Bob's Red Mill, Pan, Maseca
ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour (or whole wheat flour) 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons oil (olive oil, avocado oil, or canola oil) 3/4 cup warm water
instructions 1. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir with a fork to combine. Add oil and water and stir to combine until a dough forms. 2. Transfer the dough onto a well-floured work surface and knead for about 5 minutes (or 15 minutes if using whole wheat flour), until the dough is smooth and elastic. If the dough becomes too sticky to work with during the kneading process, add in a little more flour.
Tortillas de Harina 8 servings
55 minutes
The final dough should be tacky, but not so much that it completely sticks to your fingers and hands. 3. Roll the dough into a ball, cover it with a clean
Tortillas can be stored in the fridge in a gallon-sized plastic zip-top bag for 7-10 days.
kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes (or
Tortillas can be frozen for 3-4 months for longer
up to 2 hours).
storage. To freeze, place a sheet of parchment paper in
4. Divide the dough into 8 separate pieces and roll each piece into a ball. 5. On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough ball into an 8 to 10-inch circle.
between each stacked tortilla. Place the stack in a gallon-sized plastic zip-top bag and freeze. No air bubbles?If your tortillas don’t form any air
6. Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over
pockets or bubbles after 45 seconds to 1 minute, try
medium-high heat. Place a tortilla on the
turning up the heat a little a little bit and see if that
skillet and cook for 30-45 seconds, or until small bubbles start to form. Flip it over with your hands or a spatula and cook for another 30-45 seconds. 7. Remove from the skillet and place it in a tortilla warmer. If you don't have a tortilla warmer, I recommend wrapping the tortillas in a kitchen towel and then placing them inside a large zip-top plastic bag. Serve immediately.
helps.
Notes: Stand-up mixer instructions Add all dry ingredients to the mixer bowl. Turn the mixer on medium speed and while it's running, add the oil and water. Mix for 1 to 2 minutes until a dough forms. Lower the speed to low speed and mix for 2 to 3 minutes (or 6-8 minutes if using whole wheat flour), until the dough is smooth and elastic. IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE 24
ingredients 3 lb skin-on, bone-in chicken legs Kosher salt, to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 3 cups red wine 1 bay leaf 2-4 fresh thyme sprigs 4 ounces bacon, diced 1 onion, diced 1 carrot, peeled and diced 8 oz button mushrooms, trimmed and quartered 2 minced garlic cloves 1½ teaspoons tomato paste 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 8 oz pearl onions, peeled ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
instructions
Coq au vin 10 servings
2h 30 min
1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the chicken with the wine, bay leaf, and thyme. Cover and marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to one day. 2. In a Dutch oven or large pot set over medium heat, cook the bacon until browned and crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towels, reserving the fat in the Dutch oven. 3. Remove the chicken from the wine marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Reserve the marinade. Return the Dutch oven to the stovetop and heat the bacon fat over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the chicken, skin side down, in a single layer, and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook until brown on the other side, about 4 more minutes. (Don’t overcrowd the chicken— work in batches if necessary, adding a little olive oil if you run out of rendered bacon fat.) Transfer the seared chicken to a plate.
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4. Remove the chicken from the wine marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Reserve the marinade. Return the Dutch oven to the stovetop and heat the bacon fat over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the chicken, skin side down, in a single layer, and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook until brown on the other side, about 4 more minutes. (Don’t overcrowd the chicken—work in batches if necessary, adding a little olive oil if you run out of rendered bacon fat.) Transfer the seared chicken to a plate. 5. Add the diced onion, carrot, and mushrooms to the Dutch oven and season with salt. Cook until the vegetables are lightly browned, about 8 minutes. 6. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute, until it’s fragrant. Add the reserved marinade. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and reduce the liquid to about half. Skim off foam as it appears. 7. Add the chicken, pearl onions, and half of the bacon. There should be enough liquid to just cover the chicken—if not, add a little water or chicken stock. Cover and simmer over low heat until the chicken is tender, about 1 hour. Uncover, transfer the chicken to a plate, and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes. 8. Meanwhile, whisk the flour and butter together into a smooth paste. Whisk the beurre manié into the stew to thicken. Continue to simmer until the sauce is thick enough to lightly coat the back of a spoon, about 2 more minutes. 9. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Return the chicken to the Dutch oven and simmer until warmed through no more than 5 minutes. Remove from heat and garnish with remaining bacon and parsley.
Fan Mail What do readers have to say to StephanieLight?
The Ivory Queen (TIQ) was my first introduction to Stephanie's unique universe of supernatural characters. Her works introduced me to new novel themes, unique lore design, and mirroring of real-world culture. I appreciate the dedication to her craft in the research taken to giving life to her characters and enriching the lore of the world they reside in. While also having considerable care and sensitivity to real-world issues such as racial tones and mental health. I appreciate the extra layer of realism added to TIQ, as it makes the characters and the situations they experience more realistic and relatable. TIQ is a story rich with lore and characters that generate a cathartic emotional response. Reading TIQ was a worthwhile experience, one I can see myself revisiting. I wish Stephanie all the best and hope to see more spectacular work in the future. Happy anniversary to TIQ, and long live the Ivory Twins. Omar the Psychedelic Bean
Lovely Mama Bean Stephanie, We are so happy that you chose to follow your dreams and thank you greatly for the amazing books you have written! I hope you always choose to do what brings you joy. Know that you have so many people around the world that love you and want to see you succeed. Congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished so far and your Beans are excited to follow your journey with you! The Sally Bean
Hey Steph, I love your books, they make me laugh squeal with delight and cry... all at the same time. Congratulations and keep them coming! Mary.A
Happy wordsmithing anniversary to an amazing writer and human being! Thank you for the episodic torture that we all signed up for and the community that was born from your writing. I am so excited about what the future holds for you and where your stories will take us. -Lt. Ivayne Vibin’ Bean
Steph, We both know I suck with words. I will forever be grateful for the stories you've written and the brain cells we share. I remember being a nervous wreck messaging you that first time but I am so glad I did. Beyond your skills as a writer you've become one of my favorite people and good friends. One day you'll be free of the evil unicorn and I can't wait to see what you come up with when no longer restrained by them. Thank you for giving us all an escape. For ripping out our hearts, slashing them with teacups, and putting us all through the wringer. Pamela The Pokemon Bean PS: Here, take back the brain cells now, they're itchy.
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Dear Stephanie I'm so glad I stumble on your work on dreame before I lost my trust in the app ..found out your first works on the wait for free but of course, I couldn't wait 🤣 little I knew you had another masterpiece that's keeping us on our toes and a riddle that keeps us sleepless at night😬 I love the emotions you convey in your stories and the characters whether they're bad or good, you just have a way to make your readers attached to them. Never stop writing Lara the Croissant Bean
♥️
Steph! I can't say loud enough how much I love and appreciate this incredible world you've created for us. Thank you for introducing us to Aurora and her kindness. I think it was time to show kindness and the ability to forgive as true strength. Thank you for taking the risks and publishing this story, and all the other ones that came afterward. Thank you for this beautiful community you created giving your readers a chance to connect and not only discuss your books, but also create bonds. Thank you for giving me the pleasure to call you a friend and for being so patient with this crazy bean here. And most importantly, thank you for creating Emiliano. I wish the world had more Emi's... it would be a better place for sure. I wish you nothing but greatness. May your star shine bright and guide you to success always. Happy Authorversary! love you Mama bean. Alice, The Brazilian Bean
¡Hola, Stephanie! Feliz aniversario! Thank you for sharing your skills in writing and in doing crafts. I am so happy I got to meet you and call you my friend💖 I wish you more success. Cheers to The Ivory Queen and to you, my dear friend!🍻 Mariarosa
Steph, I know a lot of sleepless nights, blood, sweat, cursing, frustrations and love went into the making of this beautiful story and the start of your journey. Congratulations on 2 years of laughs, love, torture, and most importantly, TEARS. You are a force to be reckoned with. May you continue to grow and flourish. Go create more cliffhangers and break our hearts bit by bit. Throw in some fire. Just leave my little witch hybrid out of it. Paige The Birdie Bean
Congrats Steph on creating the Ivory Universe and thank you for bringing all of the Beans together to enjoy your creation! The Ivory Queen will always be a favorite of mine because of Aurora, Oliver, and Evan…but mainly because of Evan. I can’t wait to see where the Ivory Universe goes next. 💜 Jen the Freezing Bean
I gotta start by saying thank you. Thank you for creating a universe so captivating that it rekindled my love for reading. Your stories are so intricate and the way you make us hate and love you in the same week is something I've never seen before. You tackle deep issues and complex situations with tact and respect, and you create these characters that we either love or hate, and sometimes both! But it doesn't stop there....on top of being this gifted ass bad bitch author with these AMAZING ideas, you're also a good ass person! You care so much about us beans and you put so much into making sure we're Ivory Freaks Forever! From interacting with us in the group to your lives where you LITERALLY share your real life with us! And don't get me started on Discord, you entertain our BS (whether we're discussing booze, babies, or body jewelry) at all times of the day and night!! You just love us down and we love you right back! I'm so happy that you're being recognized and PAID for that twisted mind of yours, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you...all I know is I need tickets to the first movie premiere. Congratulations Stephanie! Jazz the Baked Bean
IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE 28
PUZZLE
Ivory Phoenix Amethyst Lake Blood Moon Cerulean Sea Desert Sky
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IVORY-VERSE MAGAZINE
Jade Crescent Lluvia Blanca Maple Moon Ravenstone River Moon
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VOL.4 SEPTEMBER 2022