Kirby Larson's Blog, page 82
February 2, 2011
It's a Rough Life, But Someone Has to Do It!
What am I, crazy? Miss a chance to spend a rainy, cold weekend in Seattle by going to sunny warm Arizona? It's hard to believe, but it's true. Michelle Parker-Rock, the awesome Regional Advisor of the Arizona SCBWI twisted my arm to get me to slip off my rainboots and slip on some of these:
If you are crazy enough to want a break from the rain and gloom or need a boost to your writing life, why don't you join us Friday, May 20- Sunday, May 22 at the romantic and historic COD Ranch. Here's the official stuff from SCBWI AZ:
SCBWI AZ PRESENTS
Rediscover, Replenish, Re-Vision
A Writers' Retreat with a Holistic Approach
~ to help you thrive in your writing endeavors through a blending of craft and life coaching techniques that
merge left brain with right brain, combine practical information with intuitive insight and mesh creativity with analytical elements.
Friday, May 20, 2011 - Sunday, May 22, 2011
at the Historic COD Ranch
Retreat Leaders
Kendra Levin
Editor Viking Children's Books,
imprint of Penguin Group USA
Certified Writers' Life Coach
Kirby Larson
Award-winning Children's Book Author
Recipient of the 2007 Newbery Honor
and the 2009 Christopher Award
Go read the rest here. And, if you are writing middle grade or YA novels and have 20 decent pages to share, come join us!
If you are crazy enough to want a break from the rain and gloom or need a boost to your writing life, why don't you join us Friday, May 20- Sunday, May 22 at the romantic and historic COD Ranch. Here's the official stuff from SCBWI AZ:
SCBWI AZ PRESENTS
Rediscover, Replenish, Re-Vision
A Writers' Retreat with a Holistic Approach
~ to help you thrive in your writing endeavors through a blending of craft and life coaching techniques that
merge left brain with right brain, combine practical information with intuitive insight and mesh creativity with analytical elements.
Friday, May 20, 2011 - Sunday, May 22, 2011
at the Historic COD Ranch
Retreat Leaders
Kendra Levin
Editor Viking Children's Books,
imprint of Penguin Group USA
Certified Writers' Life Coach
Kirby Larson
Award-winning Children's Book Author
Recipient of the 2007 Newbery Honor
and the 2009 Christopher Award
Go read the rest here. And, if you are writing middle grade or YA novels and have 20 decent pages to share, come join us!
February 1, 2011
Happy Birthday, Annie!
My wonderful friend and poet supreme, Ann Whitford Paul, celebrates a special day today.
Happy Birthday, Ann!
Happy Birthday, Ann!
January 31, 2011
Happy Birthday, Grandma!
My darling grandmother, Lois Thomas Wright Brown, would've been 96 today. It seems hard to believe she left us to go garden in heaven six years ago. Important lessons I learned from her: warm the breakfast plates, be ready to make a pot of tea whenever someone drops by and always wear earrings.
The adorable Queen of the May
Note the earrings; matching necklace, too!
Miss you, Grandma!
The adorable Queen of the May
Note the earrings; matching necklace, too!Miss you, Grandma!
January 30, 2011
Don't Miss This!
Only 250 lucky folks will be able to participate in this unique, supportive and stimulating writers conference! April 1-3, 2011 on charming Whidbey Island. Sign up now!
January 29, 2011
Recipe Day!
I recently served this cake and it was not only delicious but oh-so-easy to whip up! And all the ingredients are things I usually have on hand (except the egg substitute). I highly recommend it for your next dinner party! (from Cooking Light, Annual Recipes, 2007).
Olive Oil Cake
Cooking spray2 T flour2-1/2 cups granulated sugar1-1/2 cups fat-free milk3/4 cup egg substitute1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil2 T lemon rind3 T fresh lemon juice2-1/4 cups flour1 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. salt1/2 tsp. baking soda1/4 cup orange marmalade2 T powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray; dust with 2 T flour.Combine sugar, milk, egg sub., oil, rind and juice in a large bowl; stir with a whisk until combined.Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; stir well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to oil mixture, stirring with whisk until smooth.Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes or until golden borwn and cake begins to pull aways from sides of pan. Cool cake completely in pan on wire rack. Loosen edges of cake with a spatula. Place a plate upside down on top of cake and invert.Place marmalade in a microwave safe bowl and nuke at high for 1 minute. Stir and spoon hot marmalade over cake. Cook completely and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Olive Oil Cake
Cooking spray2 T flour2-1/2 cups granulated sugar1-1/2 cups fat-free milk3/4 cup egg substitute1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil2 T lemon rind3 T fresh lemon juice2-1/4 cups flour1 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. salt1/2 tsp. baking soda1/4 cup orange marmalade2 T powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray; dust with 2 T flour.Combine sugar, milk, egg sub., oil, rind and juice in a large bowl; stir with a whisk until combined.Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; stir well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to oil mixture, stirring with whisk until smooth.Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes or until golden borwn and cake begins to pull aways from sides of pan. Cool cake completely in pan on wire rack. Loosen edges of cake with a spatula. Place a plate upside down on top of cake and invert.Place marmalade in a microwave safe bowl and nuke at high for 1 minute. Stir and spoon hot marmalade over cake. Cook completely and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
January 28, 2011
Good News!
Nutmeg Media did a wonderful adaptation of Two Bobbies (and even allowed Mary and I to narrate it!) and . . .it's been recognized by the ALA as a 2011 Notable Children's Video! Huzzah!
January 27, 2011
Apt Thought for First Drafts
"I have a perverse attraction to not knowing what's going to happen next."
― Holly Morris
― Holly Morris
January 26, 2011
One More Thing to Do Instead of Writing Your Novel
Enter James Kennedy's 90-Second-Newbery Film Festival (co-sponsored by the New York Public Library). Find the onerous rules here.
Enjoy the first entry below.
Enjoy the first entry below.
January 25, 2011
For the Love of Reading. . and Chocolate
In case you can't read the fine print, get yourself to Tumwater on February 4th to help raise money for the South Sound Reading Foundation. A good cause, complete with chocolate buffet!More information here.
