Kirby Larson's Blog, page 98

A Literary Feast

How cool is this? I not only get to spend all day today talking about writing and about books on beautiful Whidbey Island, but I get to have dinner tonight with
Elizabeth George and Jamie Ford!

If you haven't read any of Elizabeth's Inspector Lynley books, you are missing out big time. And my copy of her book on writing, Write Away, is dog-eared and underlined. In addition to being a nice guy, Jamie Ford has written a terrific historical novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

You weren...

Mary Nethery!

Back in the dark ages, I went to a writing workshop led by Jane Yolen. EVERYONE there knew more than me. EVERYONE had been published. EVERYONE was confident and cool.

Or so I thought until I bumped into Mary Nethery, leaving the dining room after yet another horrible kids' camp meal. I don't know what got us talking but once we started, we never stopped. We've been each other's best cheerleaders and best critics ever since and, a few years ago, we became collaborators, writing two nonfiction p...

Ten in 2010

Today was my last school visit for the year -- take a look at the great sign guarding a parking spot just for me!
Thank you, Mr. Cissna at Maltby Elementary!

While the kids were terrific and energetic and appreciative, the scent of summer vacation hung heavy over the campus. So that's today's theme!

Summer Vacation

One library card, one girl:
three months of summer bliss.

Your turn!




Tune in tomorrow for an exclusive interview with the Charlotte to my Wilbur, Mary Nethery, in honor...

Wordy Wednesday

In carrying forward yesterday's cooking theme, today's post explores food words. Certain foods instantly evoke a sense of history -- I was quite thankful not to have lived in Elizabethan England, as did Karen Cushman's Meggy Swann (Alchemy and Meggy Swann), where eel pies were de rigeur!

Mention

and I'm back in pedal pushers and saddle shoes, walking up to Lee's Grocery from my grandparents' house for the tasty treat. Skybars -- my mom's favorite childhood treat -- played a role in my forthcomi...

Channeling My Inner Julia

It's been awhile since I've posted recipes so here are two we recently enjoyed. Daughter Quinn made the Sole Meuniere (from the Barefoot Contessa) and I made the Carrot and Fresh Fennel Colesaw with Nantes carrots and spring onions from my twice-a-month box of organic goodies from Full Circle Farms.

Easy Sole Meuniere
(serves 2)

1/2 c flour
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 fresh sole fillets, 3-4 oz. each
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (yes, 6! and worth every calorie)
1 teaspoon grated lemon ...

Presents!

My new buddies at Botkins Elementary, in Botkins, Ohio are such Hattie Big Sky fans that they sent me a whole passel o'presents.
I wonder what's inside?

I love presents. I love giving them. And I really, really like getting them.
A buckeye necklace

V8 and Wrigley's gum

tomato soup and Peppermint Hatties!

A swig of sarsparilla hits the spot!


And my favorite present of all: some letters, whic...

Librarians Go GaGa!

During my two years at the University of Washington, I spent many hours sleeping, I mean, studying in Suzzallo Library and I never had this kind of fun. (Thanks to Holly Cupala for the post!)

My new toy

It hasn't arrived yet, but I am so excited about this:

my new Lortone 45C rock tumbler. Ever since my good friend, Helen Ketteman, opened my eyes to the amazing treasures under my feet on the beach at Shangri-Lar, I have been fascinated with rocks.

I've found rocks that look like my grandma's old linoleum floor, rocks that I can see the layers of mud from which they were formed (would that be a palimpsest?), and rocks that are just plain cool. Now, I've never been as lucky as my little sis who ...

My writing's going to the dogs!

Thinking about his next book project

Winston and his buddy, Dash Nethery, intercepted an interview request from Cynthia Leitich-Smith for Mary and I!

You can find their answers here.

Bonny and Bear and Mouse

Great news! Bear and Mouse, of the beloved books by my friend, Bonny Becker, are now plush toys!!
Bonny Becker and her new best buds

The only catch is that you'll have to wait until the fall to buy them, but won't these make the perfect baby shower or holiday gift for that favorite kid of yours, along with a copy of one of the Bear and Mouse books?

Who am I kidding? I'm going to get a set for myself!