Emily Wing Smith's Blog, page 6

Missing Vegas, Chocolate, and Barry

I haven't even been back a week yet, and already I miss Vegas.

This picture, taken outside the lovely Mandalay Bay, was one of the last ones I managed to squeeze out of my camera before the battery died.  I have nary a photo of the chocolate desserts I ate on this trip.  And believe me:  I ate MANY  a chocolate dessert.

For anyone who wants to read a great synopsis of the trip from the POVs of three pretty darn funny writers, check out these entries by  Brodi, Sara B., and Valynne .

I'd offer a ...

Why You Should Never Lease Your Pants

I'm so excited to announce that yesterday I guest posted on Throwing Up Words, the excellent new blog by by writer BFFs Ann Dee Ellis and Carol Lynch Williams.  This week they're discussing my alma mater Vermont College, home of the Fighting Pens (Just kidding.  I don't even think we have a mascot.  But it's nonetheless a fine, fine school).   There are lots of great, informative posts.  Mine is about how much I love exchanging pants.  And also about VC.

I'm not gonna lie to you, it's been a t...

Love To Write? Who Doesn't?

In case you haven't heard yet (because you're one of my rare followers who doesn't also follow my much more entertaining and blogosphere-savvy friends)  brace yourselves:

The Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Workshop is now open for registration!  For those not familiar with this workshop, click the link, of course, but here's the shorthand:  This is a week-long conference, June 14-June 18. It will  be held at a great new venue, the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah.  You will meet...

Things That Start With The Letter A

First off, a big wahoo to the award winners in yesterday's announcement by the American Library Association.  For those who don't know, the ALA choose the Newbery Award winners as well as the Printz Award winners (like a Newbery–but for young adult books) and a bunch of other award winners.

I am delighted that Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me got the Newbery.  I mean, the award came to the surprise of no one (the book is THAT GOOD), but as we all know, upsets happen.  In addition to my...

Things That Please Me Today

Now, for the post that I planned to post last week, wherein I discuss the debut of my friend and fellow Sixer Bree Despain's YA paranormal romance THE DARK DIVINE. The book is doing so well it's already in its second printing! Check out the book, and check out Bree's blog. If you need a reason besides me randomly saying you should, listen to this: today is Bree's birthday! AND she's giving out gifts instead of getting them! Okay, she's getting them, too. But still. Check it out.

Here a...

Introducing The SIX

There was a post I was planning to post that I realized I could not post until I had posted this post.

For awhile now, my BFF writers group has needed to come up with a name.  Back in 2005, when we first formed the group, didn't need a name.  We were smaller then–it was just me, Kim and Bree.  The three of us had met a few years earlier as BYU students, when we took  Louise Plummer's class Writing the Young Adult Novel.

Then Sara  joined on, then Valynne, then Brodi.   Time marched on.  Books w...

Spokomedy

December is busy for everyone.  It's a lame excuse for not posting, so I'm not even gonna try it.  I mention the insanity of December only to highlight the most insane part of it: My Trip to Spokane,Washington For the Marriage of This Guy:

Just so you know, I went to a lot of trouble to rotate and re-save that photo, and it still didn't work.  Small wonder that blogging makes me  so defeated. Anyway, This Guy is my brother Ethan, in a picture taken just hours before his wedding to the...

A Mouse In The House; Or, Why I'm Leaving Soon

Last night I was reading, trying to fall asleep. Daniel had long since entered Snoozeville, and it was only ten o'clock. I keep a stack of crossword puzzles between my bed and my nightstand as my go-to insomnia cure, but I try to save them for "special" occasions and I'm not that desperate for sleep–yet. So I'm reading along, and I hear paper rustling. I am not turning pages, nor is Bad Hand causing the book to shake. But I try to convince it's not big deal and continue reading.

Then...

The Long-Awaited Jean Reagan Interview!

Those who are just joining us may not know that I've been excited all week for this blog tour stop by author buddy Jean Reagan.  Actually, I've been excited for it much longer than that, but you know how blogging regularly isn't my strong suit.  Or, if you're just joining us, maybe you don't know that.  But that has nothing to do with the point, which is this:

Today Jean Reagan, author of the recently released picture book ALWAYS MY BROTHER, is stopping at my blog on her virtual tour. ...

Vanity Card

I've only recently (through my growing obsession with TV's The Big Bang Theory) learned the definition of a "vanity card."

A vanity card are a few lines that blip onto the screen directly following theend of a television show, written by the show's creator.  The only vanity cards I've ever read, or even seen, are by Chuck Lorre (of TBBT).  These "cards" range from jokes to Chuck's random musings to…well, whatever he wants.  Some of them are pretty hilarious (generally not the jokes).

I can see ...