Emily Wing Smith's Blog, page 9

Adventures in Yurting

Perhaps because I was feeling all outdoorsy and nature-girl from my stint with camping,  I was gung-ho when my sister and brother-in-law suggested we go on a yurt adventure to Manti, Utah.   Julie and Reo went to Snow College, mere minutes from the yurt,  and I was more than pumped to visit their old stomping grounds– plus hang out with their son Holden, the most adorable baby ever.   Besides, we needed a break from our tired Rock Band routine.

I should have taken it as a bad sign that Holden cri

My Other BFFs

Some of you already know that kids and I are tight.  In fact, it's gotten so that I'm actually surprised when some random kid I've never met DOESN'T run up and give me a high-five.  I think kids don't view me as a threat because I both look and act like one of them.  And I love it  (being tight with kids, not being childish.  The childish thing is probably something I should work on…).

Daniel and I were discussing our summer plans, and my part of the conversation went something like this:  "So, A

Some Of My Best Friends Are Teens…

So, this marks the end of the Week of Girls Camp and the beginning of a new, possibly less crazy week.  Possibly.

Girls Camp reaffirmed my beliefs that:

1) I am, indeed, allergic to nature.  Mainly in the physical sense of sniffing, sneezing and general itchiness.  But I also just don't enjoy the outdoors that much.  This has not changed since I was a teen.  It probably never will.

2) I am, indeed, the most accident-prone person known to man.  Our campsite had quite uneven terrain, and with my high

Random Friday Round-Up

While I multi-task and work on my novel/catch up on email, I will use my newfound skillz to pay the billz and upload all the great photos from last week that I’ve been too lazy to load so far.  Check it out, yo:

My home-dawg James Dashner at the banquet with his editor, Krista.  Check out how Krista has totally mastered the art of looking good for a picture without plastering a cheesy smile on her face.   I have not learned this.

True story:  When I was getting a “head shot” taken for the release

One Great Post (Part 4 of 5)

Ah, Girls Camp.  The closer it approaches, the more dread I feel.  It is a good thing I really, REALLY love these girls.  Otherwise the meetings on top of meetings I attend prior to actual camp would be unbearable.  But before I leave to so people can tell me random bits o’ info aboutthe menu for Dutch-oven night and the camp craft rotation schedule, I am posting yet again.

The news I was too tired to post last night has to do with my friend and fellow writer Holly Cupala and the Summer Revision

Third Time’s A Charm

I accidentally bad-clicked on this picture because in the thumbnails I couldn’t see what it was a picture of.  In case you were wondering, it is a picture of delicious sushi Kim ordered at Shoga’s, a sushi bar in Orem where we ate lunch last Wednesday.  Have I mentioned I love to photograph food?  I love to photograph food!

I tried putting text above this picture.  With all I’ve learned about technology this week it should work, right?  As you can see, it did not.  So the picture’s random.  This

And They Said It Couldn’t Be Done…

My posting every day this week, that is.  And who are “they”?

Oh, you know who you are.

Since yesterday’s post covered last Monday, this post will cover last Tuesday, which was extra super fun because of the “mingle” held that evening.  Apparently this mingle is a conference tradition, held for faculty of the BYU conference and other published “kids” writers from across the Wasatch Front.  I feel like I am over-using quotation marks.  Anyway, the day was NOT just about the mingle!  It was about le

The Clique

So, last week was the BYU Writing and Illustating for Young Readers Conference.  And I am not alone in saying it was sah-weet!  Seriously, I had one heck of a good time.  I know a bunch of other, better people have already blogged about this event, even DURING the event (perish the thought).  I had no time for this.  For one thing, I was writing.  And when I wasn’t writing, I was hanging out with My Clique, aka My Peeps.

Does anyone else feel a negative chill when they hear the word “clique?”  I

Desserts I Have Known

I am back with my sister/scribe Juliana to help me!  That is why this post has pictures galore! Remember my last post when I mentioned my trip to Las Vegas?  Remember my 25 Things list when I mentioned my hobby of eating/photographing chocolate desserts?  Well here, in no particular order, is a sampling of the chocolate riches that are Las Vegas buffets.

At the Monte Carlo:

At Paris (technically this is breakfast, not dessert–but I’m sure this pastry had enough calories to qualify):

More Monte Carl

Where I Went Instead of BEA

This week, while my colleagues and friends were attending Book Expo America (BEA) in New York City, I was in Las Vegas.  No, this was not a consolation trip to cheer me up for missing BEA…or maybe it was.  But it was unintentional.  I promised my husband we’d go to Vegas to see Cirque du Soleil’s LOVE (a tribute to the Beatles) for his birthday.  His birthday was six weeks ago and we finally had time to get away for a few days.  And let me tell you, it made me forget all my cares!

For those who’v