Hi, welcome back to Mixed Messages! This week I’m speaking to author Nicola Dinan, who is of mixed Malaysian-Chinese and white British heritage. Nicola’s debut novel, Bellies, is out on Thursday and follows the relationship between Ming and Tom. At first your typical boy meets boy love story, Ming announces her intention to transition and suddenly their mapped-out futures take different turns. You won’t want to put this book down, but I urge you to for the next few minutes to read Nicola’s own story.

This column is “Re-release this,” which will focus on games that aren’t easily available, or even available at all, but should be once again. Previous entries in this series can be found through this link. Relating to Phoenix Wright isn’t tough, unless you’re some kind of monster. The man takes on seemingly impossible cases to defend those who have no one else to turn to — often at the expense of his own wallet — and he refuses to give up until the truth has been brought to light, his client’s name cleared.

If you enjoy a traditional, spanking-good short(ish) story, then you have come to the right place! I’m often asked: “Jacqui, why are your stories so long?” I always answer the same way: “These are REAL episodes from my life; what happens in my stories actually happened in the real world, so I’m not really in control of the length of the accounts because I am writing - quite literally - what took place!

If you like the crisp edges of lasagne, the soaked croutons, the whipped cream that gets icy around the chocolate scoop - you’re in the right place. Hi everyone. Thank god it’s spring. Officially, irrevocably spring! This week I’m sharing my favorite way to cook asparagus right now—I’ll call it steam-roasting. The method is quick, ovenless, and manages to preserve the succulence of the stems while crisping the tips.  Asparagus isn’t a vegetable that recipes well.

I saw “Friend Green Tomatoes” when it came out and liked it, as did a healthy population of mostly female ticket-buyers who made it a decent hit in 1991. Recently I came across Fannie Flagg’s best-selling novel upon which it was based at the library and devoured it with relish — even trying out some of the down-South recipes in the back of the book, supposedly straight from the kitchen at the fictional Whistle Stop Cafe.