Sydney Salter's Blog, page 37

Feeding Creativity

I love going to concerts with my husband, even though I can rarely name a band's song titles & I'm often saying, "Oh, I didn't know they sang this."
First, the people watching is tremendous--my imagination could never have conjured up the kid holding a tube of cherry Chapstick in his gage hole. I also enjoy all the outfits--and how differently people dress at concerts in Salt Lake City versus Seattle, LA, or New York (my husband seriously lives for concerts).
When the lights dim and the band...

In My Mailbox (5)

Welcome to the Boise edition of In My Mailbox, dedicated to one of my favorite indie book stores Rediscovered Bookshop. One of my favorite things about attending SCBWI conferences in Boise is making a stop at Rediscovered Bookshop--they have such a fantastic selection of YA titles and an incredibly knowledgeable staff. 

Actually In My Mailbox:

Road to Tater Hill by Edith HemingwayAbout a girl mourning the loss of her baby sister.
Why I'm Excited:Edie is one of my 2k9 classmates & I've been...

You Know Things Are Bad When

You finally clean your desk and find...
A severed arm.
My desk looks much better now...



But the bigger question: where is the one-armed doll lurking?!?

Guest Nose Jennifer Brown

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I'm so excited today to be hosting Jennifer Brown, debut author of Hate List. I read this novel during a family road trip and upon turning the last page, handed it directly to my teenage daughter in the back seat. "You have to read this one, now," I said. Hate List is an important story, but also a completely gripping read. I hope teens, parents, and especially teachers find this book.

Jennifer shares one of her junior high stories (what is with these school administrators?!?):

Way back in...

Guest Nose Jennifer Jabaley

Today it's my pleasure to host Jennifer Jabaley, debut author of Lipstick Apology, a truly delicious read-in-one-sitting kind of book.
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Hi Sydney, thanks for hosting me as a "guest nose"! 

In LIPSTICK APOLOGY, Emily has a major traumatic and embarrasing moment when at a party her long, wavy hair catches fire!! Emily is forced to chop the remaining singed ends into a bob - one she believes she does not have the bone structure to carry!!

This whole incident - being forced into a hair cut that...

In the Pie of the Beholder

I really, really do value inner beauty over outer beauty, but why can't I make a pie that looks as good as it tastes? Another ugly, yet yummy, peach pie.

Blushes, Gushes, and GRRs (August Edition)

Blushes

Watching myself on TV always feels awkward--and makes me blush.

Gushes

I love being part of Utah's talented and generous writing community. The 2nd Annual Writing For Charity conference was held this past weekend.
27 authors + 145 participants
= infinite fun (and $8,000 raised to buy books for children).


Photo taken by Gailon Tucker.

GRR
Will someone please rid my garage of evil spirits?!? This time my car battery died, but it did not die alone. It took a fancy computerized gizmo worth $500 down

In My Mailbox (4)

Much thanks to The Story Siren and Alea The Pop Culture Junkie for the this weekly feature.

In my mailbox:

Bedeviled by Lara Zielin
A thirteen year old girl discovers her absent father is the devil. All kinds of craziness ensues.

Why I'm excited:
Lara is another 2009 Debutante. I loved the quirky attitude in this book--lots of humor, so many unexpected situations, and really great characters. It's so cute you want to pinch it's cheeks! Tweens are going to love this book when it comes out in October.

Cupcakes!

Having spent too much time at the car repair shop today, making my daughter miss her guitar lesson after she'd actually practiced, I figured that a stop at the new cupcakery (isn't that cute?) was a good idea. Okay, cupcakes are always a good idea.
Turns out it was Cutsie Cakes grand opening! A cupcake blogger (why didn't I think of that?) was even in the shop having her first taste. I ordered four of the seven flavors and planned a surprise after school tea party. 
I had a lovely chat with my dau

In My Mailbox (3)

Okay, here's the post-SCBWI Conference version--much abridged--but if you want an idea of how many books I really acquired you can see a photo of me on the SCBWI blog here. (Much thanks to The Story Siren and Alea The Pop Culture Junkie for the this weekly feature.)

In My Mailbox:

Donut Days by Lara Zielin.
Emma's parents are pastors enmeshed in troubles with their church. Emma who naturally questions things suffers through friendship loss, questions about her future, all in the unique setting of