Barbara Samuel's Blog: A Writer Afoot, page 21

Wordless evening

 

Shrinking Violets

I've been on vacation in Michigan and will be headed out to the annual RWA conference in five days, so posts have been sparse.  I do have stories for you, and pics, and love (as ever), but tonight's simple post is a link to a great website I think you'll love, Shrinking Violets:

http://shrinkingvioletpromotions.blogspot.com/

Run by two fantastic women writers I adore, who are both introverted and smart and cheerful.  Check it out.

 

Today's harvest

There's just something so elemental about going outside and picking a handful of strawberries and tomatoes.  I also harvested a couple of raspberries. 

It's not quite the garden I hoped for this summer, but it's a start.

Little happinesses

The Door to Happiness by ToniVC

I've been trying for ages to figure out how to upload photos to the header on this page.  You may not have noticed that the image changes, but I really like it, and it's fun to play with, and as you know, play is very important to the life of a writer  everybody.   I didn't know you had to have an ftp client to upload ftp stuff. 

Anyway, two kindly fellows helped me out and now I'll be adding little slices of photo for your amusement.  (You should have seen me danci

Little trip

Book passed muster (in fact, she said, "I love it even more than Lost Recipe").  I have a cover but can't show you yet.  I'm madly in love with it.

In the early am, I'm off to help my son move from California back to NY.  We're flying the cats coach.  Gotta love a kid who wants to do that.  

Am bringing the baby notebook and will post trip reports.  You know I'm happy when I'm on the road.  I'll try to bring you back something good.

Up to my neck: the revision process

I've spent the past few weeks going through the new book (formerly 100 Breakfasts now officially titled THE SECRET OF EVERYTHING).  Ed and agents came back with suggestions and I had some thing I knew I wanted to smooth and fix, too.  

I wish I could say I had a process I use, over and over again, to rewrite a book, but I don't.  Different books require different fixes–tweaking a character's arc in one book, smoothing a bumpy or unrealistic plot in another; adding or taking away elements, shiftin

A June Morning

[image error]

 

Chive blossoms are such a beautiful color.  My mother used to make chive blossom vinegar and set the jars along the window sill.  A dazzlement.  This morning, to celebrate the sunshine, I made some too.  And put it in my window.

Radio essay online

I taped another radio essay last week.  It went live this morning and you can hear it here:

http://krccnews.org/rccnews/citizen-report-joan-i/2009/06/11/6111

Grilled lemon slices

I'm sure everyone in the world has thought of doing this but me–but you know how it is when you discover something stunningly simple and delicious:   Hey-sanna, Ho-sanna, Sanna-sanna hey!*  I've been grilling lemons with chicken breasts and it is amazingly delcious. And easy. 

Chicken breasts with Grilled Lemons and Sauteed Spinach[image error]

Serves 4

Olive Oil

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 whole lemons, sliced; save the ends

Thyme

Rosemary

Kosher salt

Fresh ground pepper

4 cups fresh baby spinach, p

Pardon the dust

Working on the header images today, so forgive me if things come up too small or weird or distorted or blank.