Fall has come to The Grimoire Cafe

The rain has finally come, and The Grimoire Cafe feels even better in the gloomy grey. Tini is wearing jeans and a tee behind the espresso machine, but you have a feeling that has more to do with the billows of hissing steam than the weather because it’s deeply sweatshirt weather out there. Not quite real sweater weather, but you can feel it’s not far away. For the first time in a long time, it’s brighter inside the coffee shop than it is outside on a Sunday morning, the lights warm and comfortably bright. Other than that, it’s a typical Sunday at The Grimoire. Empty chairs are few, most filled with people reading or chatting with companions. There’s a group at the long table who look like they’re college students, working on a group project or maybe studying for a test.
The A-board by the counter simply readers “Chaider” in curling, decorative cursive.
“What’s chaider?” you ask when Tini smiles at you.
She finishes wiping off the steam spiggot and starts pouring steamed milk into a mug, gently swirling the milk while she does it. You know from experience there will be a design swirled into the foam. The woman’s gotta be some sort of magician.
“Chai-der,” she says, correcting the way you said it. “It’s a chai tea latte but instead of milk, I use steamed, freshly made apple cider.”
Oooooh. That makes so much more sense. “Gotcha. I was worried it was a cheese thing.”
Tini laughs. “Now there’s a special I’ve never tried–a cheddar cheese latte.”
“Please don’t.” If anybody was going to pull it off, though, it’d be Tini.
She laughs again. “Special, as always?”
“Of course,” you reply. “I have a book to finish reading, and I stayed up too late last night reading it already. Chai fuel sounds perfect.”
“Chai-powered caffeine high for the win,” Tini agrees. “What are you reading?”
The book makes a gentle thud when you prop it onto the counter so she can see it, and her green glitter painted lids flare wider when she sees it.
“I love that book.”
You thought she might! It’s so good so far. “No spoilers! I’m almost finished.”
Tini theatrically zips her lips and throws away the key. “But you have to come tell me what you think when you finish. I’m dying to talk to somebody about it!”
“Deal.” You are too, and you aren’t even finished with it yet!
As you settle into a chair, you glance down at the top of your chaider. There’s a jackolantern drawn into the coffee foam. A jack-o-lantern. You glance up at Tini and she gives you a wink.
Maybe she really is magical.

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Rachel Harrison is the author of one of my very favorite books, Cackle. I loved Cackle because of its wit, and deeply thematic story telling. It’s one of those books that has a plot and tells a surface story—and underneath that, speaks commentary on something much bigger. She does it so seamlessly, though. It’s never heavy handed, never clunky in its delivery. I finished Cackle and just sat for a second, thinking.

That was important. That’s what went though my head.

Well, Such Sharp Teeth was no different. Deftly woven story, characters I really cared about, and unflinching depictions of real life, plus past traumas, alongside depiction of some truly (and oddly satisfyingly) gory werewolf stuff I’m still processing. And, AND this story includes a romance subplot that the author weaves in so believably! I loved it as a reader. And, as a writer, this book is a masterclass in deep storytelling and compelling narrative.

I think Rachel Harrison is now an auto-buy author for me. And the good news is she has a backlist so I’m gonna be reading for a while before I have to wait for a new release!

I highly recommend Such Sharp Teeth (or Cackle!) for your fall reading list.

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Tini’s Chai Apple Cider (“Chaider”)

The Chaider is an annual special at The Grimoire Cafe. Regulars know exactly what it is and look forward to it every year. 😉 Pro-tip, you can order this at any coffee stand that has chai lattes and hot apple cider on the menu. Just ask for a chai latte made with cider instead of milk. Sometimes they’ll look at you weird, just go with it. BUT, make sure they understand the cider replaces the milk. (It’s truly gross when they make the cider replace the water in the chai, and then add milk. Don’t do it.)

To make one at home, you’ll need…

• Your favorite Chai concentrate (I detailed some favorites in this post), or chai tea brewed strong (and sweetened to taste, or not!)
• A good quality apple cider. The better the cider, the better the drink. In a pinch, you can use the powdered hot apple cider mix, though. It does the job.
• (Optional) A pinch of cinnamon

1. Steam your apple cider (or make it hot however you prefer)
2. Into a mug, pour the desired amount of chai concentrate (or strong-brewed chai tea)
3. Add the hot apple cider, stirring to combine, until the desired ratios are met. When using concentrate, use the instructions on the packaging as a guide.
4. Top with a dash of cinnamon. This is optional; skip it if cinnamon isn’t your thing. You can also use nutmeg, or ginger. The best option might depend on the chai you prefer.

Note: Using steeped tea can make a less-sweet chai cider, which can be nice, since the concentrate is pre-sweetened.

As always, tell me if you try this! Find me on Bluesky, or tag me on Instagram

Quick reminder…

The Cloaked Series, and the Bloodline Saga are on sale for fall!

Ebooks are $2.99 at all major online bookstores.

Paperbacks are always the cheapest on Elle Beauregard Books, my online bookstore. And right now, they’re even less expensive when you buy a complete series. Plus I sign them, and throw in a sticker for fun. Click the pics!