Sydney Salter's Blog, page 14
November 29, 2011
NaNoWriMo Day #29
I've discovered that I don't really need my thumb to type, begging the question: could a monkey write a better NaNo novel than I've written?
Maybe.
The Infinite Monkey Theorem postulates that a monkey, given an infinite amount of time, could eventually type the complete works of Shakespeare, randomly.
Well, I don't have an infinite amount of time, even though I do lack an opposable left thumb. I've got two days to make it from 45,172 words to 50,000. Will some of my writing be a tad random?
Yes.
Maybe.
The Infinite Monkey Theorem postulates that a monkey, given an infinite amount of time, could eventually type the complete works of Shakespeare, randomly.
Well, I don't have an infinite amount of time, even though I do lack an opposable left thumb. I've got two days to make it from 45,172 words to 50,000. Will some of my writing be a tad random?
Yes.
November 25, 2011
NaNoWriMo Day #24
I accidentally added the tip of my thumb to my Thanksgiving stuffing, so I spent my writing time getting stitches.
November 23, 2011
NaNoWriMo Day #23
I love writing away from my desk, sipping hot coffee at a crowded cafe, overlooking the mountains from a desk on the 4th floor of the Salt Lake City library, or surrounded by books at a bookstore... But yesterday I found myself typing away in the Toyota service waiting area. Next to a guy slurping strawberry yogurt.
No wonder I added a few extra explosions to the scene I was working on!
38,665 words written--and now I'm off to bake Thanksgiving pies. Tomorrow I'll type away while my turkey roasts, but at least that smells a whole lot better than bright pink strawberry yogurt.
Happy Thanksgiving!
No wonder I added a few extra explosions to the scene I was working on!
38,665 words written--and now I'm off to bake Thanksgiving pies. Tomorrow I'll type away while my turkey roasts, but at least that smells a whole lot better than bright pink strawberry yogurt.
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 17, 2011
NaNoWriMo Day #17
I've been behind all week. Lost in the middle. Fretting about my whole idea. Not only am I wandering nomad with a laptop--I visited three coffee places before finding an empty table at the bagel shop last Sunday--but I'm lost in the middle of my novel.
28,454 words. But are any of them the right ones?!?!?!
28,454 words. But are any of them the right ones?!?!?!
November 9, 2011
NaNoWriMo Day #9
Many times during my first week of NaNo writing, people said to me, "I'd love to try it, but I don't have the time to write in November." I don't have the time either. That's what I love about NaNoWriMo.
As I head into Week #2, I'm hosting an SCBWI conference & dealing with all those last minute details. Coordinating my daughters' after school activities requires military-level planning--cloning would be even more helpful. I've had fun events, too, like last night's dinner with Two Rivers High Students (amazing kids who are passionate about reading & many who will become authors in time).
I even went to the dentist this week.
And I still have to exercise, sleep, and feed everyone. I wouldn't have started this novel in November. Or maybe I'd still be dinking around with my first chapter--getting it just right while doubting my whole idea. But NaNo has forced me to squeeze writing into my hectic days. We've had homework/writing field trips to the bookstore cafe late in the afternoon. I've woken up early on the weekend. And today I'll probably add to my word count while waiting for soccer practice to end.
NaNoWriMo reminds me that I can always make writing a priority--no matter what is happening in my life. I've written 13,583 words so far & I've added two official patches to my book bag. I plan to hit 15,500 today. I'll get to add another patch & I'm sure there will celebratory chocolates too!
As I head into Week #2, I'm hosting an SCBWI conference & dealing with all those last minute details. Coordinating my daughters' after school activities requires military-level planning--cloning would be even more helpful. I've had fun events, too, like last night's dinner with Two Rivers High Students (amazing kids who are passionate about reading & many who will become authors in time).
I even went to the dentist this week.
And I still have to exercise, sleep, and feed everyone. I wouldn't have started this novel in November. Or maybe I'd still be dinking around with my first chapter--getting it just right while doubting my whole idea. But NaNo has forced me to squeeze writing into my hectic days. We've had homework/writing field trips to the bookstore cafe late in the afternoon. I've woken up early on the weekend. And today I'll probably add to my word count while waiting for soccer practice to end.
NaNoWriMo reminds me that I can always make writing a priority--no matter what is happening in my life. I've written 13,583 words so far & I've added two official patches to my book bag. I plan to hit 15,500 today. I'll get to add another patch & I'm sure there will celebratory chocolates too!
November 1, 2011
NaNoWriMo Day #1
Today I transform months of...
research, planning & character development--into a novel. 50,000 words in the next thirty days!!!
Find out more about National Novel Writing Month at www.nanowrimo.org
research, planning & character development--into a novel. 50,000 words in the next thirty days!!!
Find out more about National Novel Writing Month at www.nanowrimo.org
October 31, 2011
Contest Winner!
Congratulations!!!
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Sierra is the winner of Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer!!!
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Sierra is the winner of Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer!!!
October 13, 2011
On The Go With Kristina Springer
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Please welcome Kristina Springer. Her new novel Just Your Average Princess is on the shelves now! Please leave a comment to win your own copy.
You have been givenyour Dream Vacation. Where are you going and what are you doing?
Travelingthroughout Europe for the summer with my hubby and kids. And the kids are allway well behaved: no one is fighting, they are feeding and dressing themselvesand wiping their own butts. Bliss!
What if you couldtravel to a different time period?
Ooh, shoot me off to the future please.I'd like to see what's up 100 years out.
What's the worst thing that's everhappened to you on vacation?
On the last day of our big Disney trip,Hubby lost our car keys on the Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios and wecouldn't get into our car to get to my 8-year-old's big birthday celebrationdinner back at the Crystal Palace in Disney World. Solution? We piled the sixof us into a friend's minivan with the four of them (yep, ten of us), and allof their luggage, and made it to the dinner only a little bit late. Hubby wentback to Hollywood Studios later that night and found the keys in the lost andfound. Yay! We drove back to Chicago that night.
About The Book:
Jamie Edwards has loved everything about growing up on a pumpkin patch, but ever since her cousin MilanWoods arrived, things have really stunk. Jamie can't imagine it was easy forMilan to leave her life back in Los Angeles and move to Average, Illinois, popul
"This cheerful and heartwarming novel set in a small town will appeal to teens whoenjoy YA chick lit." --VOYA
About The Author:
Kristina Springer is also the author of The Espressologist, a A Society of School Librarians International Book Award Honor Book, My Fake Boyfriend is Better ThanYours, which Meg Cabot calls, "Irresistibleas a fluffy kitten. I laughed out loud and so will you!" You can visit her online at www.kristinaSpringer.com or follow her on Twitter @TinaSpringer, or friend her on Facebook atfacebook.com/KristinaSpringer.
Please leave a comment to win your own copy!
You have been givenyour Dream Vacation. Where are you going and what are you doing?
Travelingthroughout Europe for the summer with my hubby and kids. And the kids are allway well behaved: no one is fighting, they are feeding and dressing themselvesand wiping their own butts. Bliss!
What if you couldtravel to a different time period?
Ooh, shoot me off to the future please.I'd like to see what's up 100 years out.
What's the worst thing that's everhappened to you on vacation?
On the last day of our big Disney trip,Hubby lost our car keys on the Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios and wecouldn't get into our car to get to my 8-year-old's big birthday celebrationdinner back at the Crystal Palace in Disney World. Solution? We piled the sixof us into a friend's minivan with the four of them (yep, ten of us), and allof their luggage, and made it to the dinner only a little bit late. Hubby wentback to Hollywood Studios later that night and found the keys in the lost andfound. Yay! We drove back to Chicago that night.
About The Book:
Jamie Edwards has loved everything about growing up on a pumpkin patch, but ever since her cousin MilanWoods arrived, things have really stunk. Jamie can't imagine it was easy forMilan to leave her life back in Los Angeles and move to Average, Illinois, popul
"This cheerful and heartwarming novel set in a small town will appeal to teens whoenjoy YA chick lit." --VOYA
About The Author:
Kristina Springer is also the author of The Espressologist, a A Society of School Librarians International Book Award Honor Book, My Fake Boyfriend is Better ThanYours, which Meg Cabot calls, "Irresistibleas a fluffy kitten. I laughed out loud and so will you!" You can visit her online at www.kristinaSpringer.com or follow her on Twitter @TinaSpringer, or friend her on Facebook atfacebook.com/KristinaSpringer.
Please leave a comment to win your own copy!
October 8, 2011
Creepy Cake N Bake: Witch Cupcakes
To me Halloween has always meant witches. As a kid, I dressed up like a witch almost every year, and now that I'm advancing in age, I invite my fellow crones to a special Witches Luncheon on Halloween. Naturally my creepy baking traditions are witchy too!
I begin with black bottom cupcakes, a college dorm favorite, and since I trick-or-treated into my mid-twenties (young for a witch, I assure you), they fit nicely into our family traditions. Here's our fifteenth batch of witch cupcakes:
Black Bottom Cupcakes
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake tins! The recipe says it will make 24, but I usually only net 18 or so after a bit of "potion testing," if you know what I mean...
Step #1 In a small mixing bowl beat the following ingredients to create the filling:
8 ounces of cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 cup of sugar
1/8 teaspoon of salt
Next stir in:
6 ounces (about 2/3 cup or so) of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Now set this mixture aside.
Step #2 Sift together the following:
1 1/2 cups of flour
1/4 cup of cocoa powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 cup of sugar
Set this mixture aside too.
Step #3 In a mixing bowl combine:
1 cup of water
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon of vinegar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Step #4 Now combine the sifted dry ingredients with the water/oil/vinegar mixture. Beat on high until smooth. Note: the batter will be a tad thin & won't taste as rich as many chocolate cake batters. That's okay, I promise!
Step #5 Cupcake Time!
Fill your cupcake liners about 1/3 full with the chocolate batter. Top each with a heaping spoonful of the cream cheese mixture. Bake for up to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean, or the cream cheese on top turns a golden brown.
Frost with cream cheese frosting, tinted your best witchy green. To create the witches, you'll need: peanuts in the shell, candy eyes, red gummy candy (cut to make mouths), mini chocolate chips, and black shoe-string licorice.
Here's a short video about how to decorate your cupcakes (I apologize for the shakiness--my videographer was on a bit of a sugar high!)
The Creepy Cake N Bake-a-Thon is ON! Vote for your favorite entry by commenting below. You can comment on EVERY Cake N Bake post, one entry per post, for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate from Barnes and Noble or an official Creepy Cake N Bake doll! Please include your email in order to be entered to win.Trophies will be awarded on Halloween for the top creeptastic creations. Winners will be chosen by our special Celebrity Judge, Adam Rex, author of such deliciously creepy creations such as FAT VAMPIRE, FRANKENSTEIN TAKES THE CAKE, FRANKENSTEIN MAKES A SANDWICH, and PSSST!
Check the list of contestants and their post dates so you don't miss any of the fun:Mon Oct. 3 - Saundra MitchellWed Oct 5 - Stacey JayFriday Oct 7 - Erin DionneSaturday Oct 8 - Sydney SalterMon Oct 10 - Brenna YovanoffWed Oct 12 - Tara HudsonFriday Oct 14 - Karen HealeySaturday Oct 15 - Robin BridgesMon Oct 17 - Michelle ZinkWed Oct 19 - Julia KarrFriday Oct 21 - Victoria SchwabSaturday Oct 22 - C.Lee McKenzieSunday Oct 23 - E. Kristin AndersonMon Oct 24 - Natalie ZamanWed Oct 26 - Stephanie BurgisFriday Oct 28 - Dawn Metcalf
Thanks for joining me for our Creepy Cake N Bake!
I begin with black bottom cupcakes, a college dorm favorite, and since I trick-or-treated into my mid-twenties (young for a witch, I assure you), they fit nicely into our family traditions. Here's our fifteenth batch of witch cupcakes:
Black Bottom Cupcakes
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake tins! The recipe says it will make 24, but I usually only net 18 or so after a bit of "potion testing," if you know what I mean...
Step #1 In a small mixing bowl beat the following ingredients to create the filling:
8 ounces of cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 cup of sugar
1/8 teaspoon of salt
Next stir in:
6 ounces (about 2/3 cup or so) of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Now set this mixture aside.
Step #2 Sift together the following:
1 1/2 cups of flour
1/4 cup of cocoa powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 cup of sugar
Set this mixture aside too.
Step #3 In a mixing bowl combine:
1 cup of water
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon of vinegar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Step #4 Now combine the sifted dry ingredients with the water/oil/vinegar mixture. Beat on high until smooth. Note: the batter will be a tad thin & won't taste as rich as many chocolate cake batters. That's okay, I promise!
Step #5 Cupcake Time!
Fill your cupcake liners about 1/3 full with the chocolate batter. Top each with a heaping spoonful of the cream cheese mixture. Bake for up to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean, or the cream cheese on top turns a golden brown.
Frost with cream cheese frosting, tinted your best witchy green. To create the witches, you'll need: peanuts in the shell, candy eyes, red gummy candy (cut to make mouths), mini chocolate chips, and black shoe-string licorice.
Here's a short video about how to decorate your cupcakes (I apologize for the shakiness--my videographer was on a bit of a sugar high!)
The Creepy Cake N Bake-a-Thon is ON! Vote for your favorite entry by commenting below. You can comment on EVERY Cake N Bake post, one entry per post, for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate from Barnes and Noble or an official Creepy Cake N Bake doll! Please include your email in order to be entered to win.Trophies will be awarded on Halloween for the top creeptastic creations. Winners will be chosen by our special Celebrity Judge, Adam Rex, author of such deliciously creepy creations such as FAT VAMPIRE, FRANKENSTEIN TAKES THE CAKE, FRANKENSTEIN MAKES A SANDWICH, and PSSST!
Check the list of contestants and their post dates so you don't miss any of the fun:Mon Oct. 3 - Saundra MitchellWed Oct 5 - Stacey JayFriday Oct 7 - Erin DionneSaturday Oct 8 - Sydney SalterMon Oct 10 - Brenna YovanoffWed Oct 12 - Tara HudsonFriday Oct 14 - Karen HealeySaturday Oct 15 - Robin BridgesMon Oct 17 - Michelle ZinkWed Oct 19 - Julia KarrFriday Oct 21 - Victoria SchwabSaturday Oct 22 - C.Lee McKenzieSunday Oct 23 - E. Kristin AndersonMon Oct 24 - Natalie ZamanWed Oct 26 - Stephanie BurgisFriday Oct 28 - Dawn Metcalf
Thanks for joining me for our Creepy Cake N Bake!
September 30, 2011
Contest Winner
Congratulations!!!!
Debi Murray won a copy of the Enthralled anthology!
(Please email me your address & send the book ASAP)
Debi Murray won a copy of the Enthralled anthology!
(Please email me your address & send the book ASAP)
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![[image error]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_vjME-LoTeo/TpcKakct0aI/AAAAAAAAA8k/hrw0nMIFot0/s1600/average+princess_jkt_HI.JPG){kind=link}