Shelley Workinger's Blog, page 38
February 27, 2014
FOODFIC Look at Enclave
It seems like every other book on the shelves these days tries to hook you with the line: For fans of the Hunger Games. Being a HG fan myself, I have had disappointingly huge success at proving that claim wrong.
Until Enclave.
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/02/...
Until Enclave.
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/02/...
February 14, 2014
Please Welcome Mohana Rajakumar, Author of Love Comes Later
Cooking, Curry, and Curves
By Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
When I was growing up, much like Sita, the protagonist of An Unlikely Goddess, being Indian was not cool. People didn’t have the knowledge about Indian food or culture that they do now. This was long before Madonna started wearing bindis or Deepka Chopra on Oprah. My favorite foods were often deemed too smelly to eat in front of my American friends.
Thankfully those times have changed – now everyone wants to know the secret to my curries!
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/02/...
By Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
When I was growing up, much like Sita, the protagonist of An Unlikely Goddess, being Indian was not cool. People didn’t have the knowledge about Indian food or culture that they do now. This was long before Madonna started wearing bindis or Deepka Chopra on Oprah. My favorite foods were often deemed too smelly to eat in front of my American friends.
Thankfully those times have changed – now everyone wants to know the secret to my curries!
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/02/...
February 7, 2014
FOODFIC Look at Vampire Academy
Yes, it hits theaters today!
Here's my food for thought on Vampire Academy:
Really, why is she NOT eating? Was my actual question with this one.
Because in the opening scene, Lissa the Moroi (vampire royal) feeds from Rose the dhampir (guardian), leaving Rose so dizzy that she had to lie down.
Now, Lissa does recognize the toll the blood loss has taken on her friend, and she does leave to go find her something to eat.
But while she’s gone, it’s Rose that notices the stranger watching from across the street, realizes that they’ve been located by the people they’re on the run from, and even in her weakened state rushes to Lissa, who’s taking her sweet old time finding a snack for her friend!
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/02/...
Here's my food for thought on Vampire Academy:
Really, why is she NOT eating? Was my actual question with this one.
Because in the opening scene, Lissa the Moroi (vampire royal) feeds from Rose the dhampir (guardian), leaving Rose so dizzy that she had to lie down.
Now, Lissa does recognize the toll the blood loss has taken on her friend, and she does leave to go find her something to eat.
But while she’s gone, it’s Rose that notices the stranger watching from across the street, realizes that they’ve been located by the people they’re on the run from, and even in her weakened state rushes to Lissa, who’s taking her sweet old time finding a snack for her friend!
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/02/...
January 31, 2014
Please Welcome Stephanie Greenhalgh, Author of The Twistedly True Tale of Ruby Hood
They’ve Got to Eat!
I’m a little embarrassed to admit, that until recently, I’ve never intentionally sat down and added food to my stories. Don’t get me wrong, my characters are always well fed. I shove food in my face constantly, so it’s completely logical that my characters do, too. However, meals have never been purposefully planned in my stories. It’s always been more like a natural progression; after all, they’ve got to eat!
Then I was asked ‘But What Are They Eating?’ and I had to give some serious thought to the food in my first published novel, The Twistedly True Tale of Ruby Hood. I laughed out loud, once I realized I usually feed them my FAVORITE foods...
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/01/...
I’m a little embarrassed to admit, that until recently, I’ve never intentionally sat down and added food to my stories. Don’t get me wrong, my characters are always well fed. I shove food in my face constantly, so it’s completely logical that my characters do, too. However, meals have never been purposefully planned in my stories. It’s always been more like a natural progression; after all, they’ve got to eat!
Then I was asked ‘But What Are They Eating?’ and I had to give some serious thought to the food in my first published novel, The Twistedly True Tale of Ruby Hood. I laughed out loud, once I realized I usually feed them my FAVORITE foods...
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/01/...
January 24, 2014
FOODFIC Look at The Danger Box
A boy in a small town who has a different way of seeing.
A curious girl who doesn’t belong.
A mysterious notebook.
A missing father.
A fire.
A stranger.
A death.
That’s what the book jacket says this story is about.
I think it’s actually a love letter to grandmothers, especially those as magical as Zoomy’s. Here, let me introduce you:
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/01/...
A curious girl who doesn’t belong.
A mysterious notebook.
A missing father.
A fire.
A stranger.
A death.
That’s what the book jacket says this story is about.
I think it’s actually a love letter to grandmothers, especially those as magical as Zoomy’s. Here, let me introduce you:
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/01/...
January 17, 2014
FOODFIC Look at The School for Good and Evil
When its jacket compares a book to Harry Potter, it’s almost a guarantee that the story within won’t measure up. In fact, I’ve only read one novel that I’d put in the HP category, and that’s Skin Hunger.
Until now.
As with HP and SH, the glory of this book lies in the details: the good vs. evil students split between a crystal palace and a dungeony tower, separated by a lake that is itself divided down the center – clear water meeting swamp sludge.
And surely the “Evers” and the “Nevers” themselves must also be readily divisible, right?
Of course not; like in real life, people are never so easily categorized! (And if Chainani’s characters were, this would be a terribly boring book.)
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/01/...
Until now.
As with HP and SH, the glory of this book lies in the details: the good vs. evil students split between a crystal palace and a dungeony tower, separated by a lake that is itself divided down the center – clear water meeting swamp sludge.
And surely the “Evers” and the “Nevers” themselves must also be readily divisible, right?
Of course not; like in real life, people are never so easily categorized! (And if Chainani’s characters were, this would be a terribly boring book.)
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/01/...
January 3, 2014
Please Welcome Jesse Kimmel-Freeman, Author of Bella Notte
Hey everyone! Food is such an essential thing when writing. I mean our characters have to live off of something, right? There are certain things in each of my stories that if you know me, then you know why they’re there- like Barqs Root Beer and Galaxy milk chocolate bars!
But one of those things that’s really important to me is finding a way to connect my characters to each other. In the scene below, Emma and Dominic (two of the main characters from the Bella Vampires Series) are finally connecting to each other. This meal that Dominic makes for Emma is so vital because there was such a HUGE disconnect between the characters in the beginning- he was a total jerk!
“So, what are we making?” I asked as I looked over the ingredients- artichokes, eggs, a lemon, some parsley, olive oil, dry white wine, and salt and pepper.
“We are not cooking. I am cooking for you. I am going to make you artichoke frittata. It is delicious. It is like an omelette but different. You will enjoy it.”
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/01/...
But one of those things that’s really important to me is finding a way to connect my characters to each other. In the scene below, Emma and Dominic (two of the main characters from the Bella Vampires Series) are finally connecting to each other. This meal that Dominic makes for Emma is so vital because there was such a HUGE disconnect between the characters in the beginning- he was a total jerk!
“So, what are we making?” I asked as I looked over the ingredients- artichokes, eggs, a lemon, some parsley, olive oil, dry white wine, and salt and pepper.
“We are not cooking. I am cooking for you. I am going to make you artichoke frittata. It is delicious. It is like an omelette but different. You will enjoy it.”
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/01/...
December 31, 2013
Words of the Year!
Every December as the year winds down, we look back over all the things that’ve come and gone with the flip of calendar pages – everything from music to fashion, movies to technology, books to cuisine. Maybe 2013 didn’t see lots of monumental events like the election of a new president or the demotion of a planet, but lots of changes did occur in one of my favorite areas: Words!
Read the full story here:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2013/12/...
Read the full story here:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2013/12/...
December 20, 2013
Please Welcome Candy Ann Little, Author of Unforgiving Ghosts
With Christmas approaching the little ones are wondering if they are on Santa’s naughty or nice list. As adults we are also doing our own naughty and nice lists, but with food. This time of year brings out all the bakers and foodies. There is so much to taste and share. We have work parties, school parties, family tradition recipes, big dinners and family gatherings. Let’s face it all these activities would be pretty boring without food and sweet treats. (Okay and alcohol but that is another post. LOL!!)
Food makes us feel happy, comforted, warm and sometimes even naughty – like when I eat a whole box of chocolates, or you eat that last piece of pie or cake at midnight. And how many times have we crammed those last few bites into our mouth when our stomach was already stretched so full it felt like it might explode.
But the holidays are not the only times we think about food. Every event in our lives, happy or sad, big or small, revolves around food. We eat at birthday parties, date nights, and even funerals. So is it any wonder that as authors our stories revolve around food?
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2013/12/...
Food makes us feel happy, comforted, warm and sometimes even naughty – like when I eat a whole box of chocolates, or you eat that last piece of pie or cake at midnight. And how many times have we crammed those last few bites into our mouth when our stomach was already stretched so full it felt like it might explode.
But the holidays are not the only times we think about food. Every event in our lives, happy or sad, big or small, revolves around food. We eat at birthday parties, date nights, and even funerals. So is it any wonder that as authors our stories revolve around food?
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2013/12/...
Toastworthy Teens! Samantha Manns
Samantha Manns had perhaps the most poignant and productive response to the loss of a loved one that I’ve ever heard.
When the 18-year-old’s grandmother passed away, Samantha thought, “Maybe I can’t be happy right now, but I can do things to make other people happy.”
Specifically, 89 other people; Samantha pledged to perform one act of random kindness for each year of her beloved grandmother’s life.
So far she’s done everything from giving blood to baking a cake for a lonely senior, and to both share her progress as well as “inspire people to commit their OWN acts of kindness,” she’s started a Facebook page.
To check in with Samantha, offer her suggestions for future kind acts, or get ideas to follow in her footsteps, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/89Acts
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2013/12/...
When the 18-year-old’s grandmother passed away, Samantha thought, “Maybe I can’t be happy right now, but I can do things to make other people happy.”
Specifically, 89 other people; Samantha pledged to perform one act of random kindness for each year of her beloved grandmother’s life.
So far she’s done everything from giving blood to baking a cake for a lonely senior, and to both share her progress as well as “inspire people to commit their OWN acts of kindness,” she’s started a Facebook page.
To check in with Samantha, offer her suggestions for future kind acts, or get ideas to follow in her footsteps, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/89Acts
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2013/12/...
