Kristin Halbrook's Blog, page 3

Currently (2) . . .

I'd fully intended on putting up my second Currently post last week but got sidetracked. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since a once-every-other-week post feels about right at this point. Maybe that will change in the future, maybe not. Either way, here's what's up:

Loving: Waking up to wet pavement this morning. For the first time in months. It's been dry and warm in Seattle recently, but the weather forecast calls for a turn as cool, damp air hits the PNW--and I love it! I made an astonishingly good tomato soup last week from garden tomatoes and even though it was crazy yummy, it felt a little strange to eat it when it was so warm out. Not so this coming week! I have some carrots just waiting to be pureed into bright orange awesomeness.

Reading: WONDER by RJ Palacio. I hadn't realized before I started reading that it's told in several POVs. This startled me out of the story at first, but now I love getting into each characters' heads. It's a great story overall. Related, I was at one pixie's soccer practice this week and the team was excited to see that I was reading WONDER. Apparently, a bunch of them are reading it in class, too. Score!

Watching: Glee. I caught up through the first episode of season three this week in some serious marathon watching. Klaine are super adorable but . . . is it just me, or is actual storyline getting replaced by more songs per episode? Also, Will creeps me out. I don't think I can quite explain why. After this, it's well time for a TV break.

Thinking About: Cancer. Yeah, that's a heavy one. It's just . . . cancer sucks. And I know I'm not the first or last one to say that and it sounds so trite, but it's hard to pin a word awful enough to cancer. No one is guaranteed a fair life, but cancer is really, really unfair. I started thinking about it when Judy Blume announced her battle with breast cancer. Then Western Washington SCBWI sent this memo out about Stephanie Trimberger's book signing next week and my dear Kodester brought this project to my attention. I'll be at the signing and I'm posting my thumbs up this weekend--if you can join in on either, that would be awesome. Cancer, you're an a-hole.

Working On: Drafting a novel. Revising another novel. Drafting short stories. A long overdue website. Collecting ideas for fashion recycling. In particular, I want to refashion a man's dress shirt into a shapely tunic to wear with leggings and boots this fall. Questions for the Realistic YA panel I'm on this Sunday at Northwest Bookfest. It's called: Northwest YA Genre Profile #2: I Think I Am, I Know I Am Grungy Hipster Boy Next Door. If you're from the PNW, you should get the reference. I hope! (I may have had a lot of input into coming up with that name . . .) Hey, you should come by if you're in the area! I'll be giving away an ARC of NOBODY BUT US. There will be more goodies from other awesome YA authors, too. If you do come, say hello and introduce yourself. I'm not very scary. :)

Happy Friday!
Kristin

Currently . . . (1)

I've been following dearest lovie Amy Lukavics' "Currently" posting for the past few weeks (initially from this blog, one I've been following for a little while now), intending on joining in once life had settled down a bit and now is that time! Structured posting tends to work pretty well for me, at least at first. Hopefully I can keep this one up for a while before falling off the posting train, heh. (eta: Bestie-of-awesome Kate Hart is also in on the Currently action, w00t!). If you need a bit of posting inspiration, consider this meme and let me know in the comments that you're blogging along so I can come and say hi.

Portland farmers' market a few weeks agoLoving: These last days of summer. Summer in the Pacific Northwest is a funny thing. For all that folks think it does nothing but rain in Seattle, our summers are usually "drought" season. We haven't had rain for 46 days, just 5 days away from our all-time dry spell record, and the sky has been sunny and blue for some time. Which isn't to say that it's been HOT. We've definitely had some lovely, mild temps while the rest of the country has been dreaming of heavy duty AC units. Still, today's forecast is for a high of 88, which means I'll be hoping more of my tomatoes will ripen so I can process a batch or two, taking a bike ride during lunch and may be dragging the family to the beach after school. I'm definitely anticipating autumn for many, many reasons, and autumn here is really gorgeous, but for now I'll enjoy these last days of warmth before next week's temps drop 25 degrees.

Reading: Finishing up the last pages of Jodi Meadows' INCARNATE, which I'm very much enjoying, before starting DEATHLESS by Catherynne Valente , as recommended by bestie Sumayyah. I also need to make a trip to the library to pick up my waiting copies of Nigel Slater's THE KITCHEN DIARIES and Claudia Roden's ARABESQUE: A TASTE OF MOROCCO, TURKEY AND LEBANON. I find that as autumn approaches I start taking a renewed interest in cooking, baking and food literature. Case in point: additional recent reads include Julie Powell's JULIE AND JULIA and Paul Richardson's A LATE DINNER: DISCOVERING THE FOOD OF SPAIN. I'm hoping Tamar Adler's AN EVERLASTING MEAL: COOKING WITH GRACE AND ECONOMY shows up on my library hold shelf soon, too. I've heard amazing things about that one.

Me and HS in Black Rock CityWatching: Not much! I've been off the grid for a while and I don't normally watch much TV anyways. Every time the Hottie Scottie starts a sentence with "Remember in that movie . . ." I sort of zone out because my answer, 95% of the time, is that I haven't seen that movie. We did snuggle up the other night to watch the documentary Happiness, which I really loved. Kind of makes me want to travel to Bhutan to check out their Gross Domestic Happiness, in place of Gross Domestic Product. Awesome idea? Heck yeah. I'd recommend a viewing of the documentary; it's on Netflix.

Thinking About: Burning Man. I spent last week on the playa of Nevada with my Black Rock family, giving myself a break from the world, soaking in intense amounts of creativity and replenishing. My thoughts are still rather scattered, but I do know that I want and need to journal about the experience at some point, so putting those strands of memory down is becoming a priority.

Surprised By: How much time I have. This is the first time in almost ten years I've had regular full days to work, now that my youngest has started kindergarten. Seven hours a day to work with no interruptions???? Amazing. I'm like a MACHINE. Well, settling into being like a machine, at least. It's only been two days since school started, but I'm pretty blown over by how much time I feel like I have. I expect my productivity to skyrocket. Or else to start become accustomed to taking naps, ahem.

Anticipating: Monday. It's the Hottie Scottie's green card interview and I'll be glad for it to be over! I'm not nervous at all, just sick of the whole process and ready to move into a phase of our life that isn't haunted by piles and piles of forms and paperwork. Also, the new Band of Horses album. The Sounders-Timbers game. And Halloween.

Old dresser to new bar set-up.Making: After several days of Burning Man sewing, I'm on break mode, but I'm also excited because I found *that* thrift store with the really awesome prices that every other blogger seems to have in their hometown (honestly, Goodwill can be weirdly expensive) and I'm looking forward to doing some refashions. I've been following this blog for some time for inspiration. I'm also gathering from my garden and will be canning pickled swiss chard and beans soon, as well as several jars of tomatoes, if they'll ripen in time. I also recently read with interest this metafilter thread and while I didn't comment there, I find that people's interest in the home arts is awesome. Live and let live and all that. I'm a staunch feminist and I sew, bake, turn dressers into bars, etc. I love the creative outlet and I love good food and I love when my clothes fit right and are an extension of my creativity. Most importantly (which is, what I think, the main concern raised by the blog) I don't judge others for doing or not doing what I like to do. I don't want to be judged for doing or not doing what I like, either. To each his own and that makes the world a better place, etc. Cultivate whatever talents you want and share them with the world. That's it.

Happy Friday!

Kristin

NBU ARC Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway and shared their excitement over my novel. So many nice thoughts that just warmed my insides with happiness. :)

I've loved reading all your comments on the giveaway entry. So many different places to see from the window of a car, so many cities and countrysides! It all really makes me want to go exploring ASAP.

And now, the winner generated by random.org, of the NOBODY BUT US ARC is:

Sarah (The Book Life)
Congrats! Your email is on its way.

Happy Thursday!
K

ARCs Are Here--Time To Win Your Own!

Hello! So, I'm pretty hyped up here and it might have something to do with the lemon cake thing from pinterest I just baked, even though it's too hot to be over a dang stove, but it Just Might also have to do with this OTHER thing, this pile of books I've had on my desk for a few days now that I'm so, So, SOOO excited to share with you:

ARCS ARE HERE!!!!!(eeeeeee!!!!!!)
I knew they were on my their because, well, my lovely editor told me she'd sent them off. She's awesome. I may or may not have spent the next several days prowling my front door, peeking out the window incessantly like your paranoid old lady neighbor. The moment the doorbell rang, I knew what awaited me! I grabbed the package. Hugged it. Held it like a newborn baby. Then I took it to the living room and tore it open, all while my Floppy Dog looked on.

And there they were! And it was AMAZEBALLS to hold them for the first time!

I admit, I stacked them several different ways on the ottoman. Fanned them out. Made them talk to each other. The usual. Ahhhhh so pretty! It was a bit surreal to flip one open and SEE the pages, the chapter headings, the text on the page. (The yummy kind of surreal, of course.)

And now that I have one, well, I want you to have one, too! So there's one copy up on Goodreads to win--check the widget on the right--and another one RIGHT HERE! One little comment is all it takes for you to be entered to win a signed ARC of NOBODY BUT US. One of the very first to head out into the wild!
Official rules: Be a follower of this blog. Leave a comment below that tells me where YOU would go if you could take a road trip anywhere in the world (don't forget your email address or twitter handle so I can contact you later if you win). Show me where you tweeted or linked to this contest on your blog and I'll add +1 more entries for you for each extra shout-out to this contest. Contest only open to residents of Canada and the US (sorry). I'll announce the winner ONE WEEK from today, on Thursday, July 26th. That's it! Oh, I hope you love it . . .
Cheers from Scomerica! <3

RTW: Movie > Book

I'm a pretty staunch believer in books being a better experience than movies. I'm not much of a movie watcher in general and tend to only see two or three new ones a year. I do, however, rewatch my very favorites on occasion and, when YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday asks which movie I thought was better than the book, I have an easy answer.

Book or Ralph Fiennes?
Or Ralph Fiennes writing a book?
Yes.The English Patient
Don't get me wrong: I loved the movie and book, both. They're different though, and I think one of the best examples of how two people can apply separate visions to the same story, with uniquely great outcomes. This movie/book combo is a shining illustration of applying the individual to the art they respectively excel at.

Having said that, I prefer the movie because it gets at the characters better, opens them up, rips their (and my!) hearts out, really analyzes who they are, where they came from and where they're going. Usually, that's the book's domain--the amazing characterization--but I felt this movie did it more beautifully than the book. Most notably, the movie brought the simmering undercurrent of romance that was in the novel to full bloom on the screen. It's my favorite movie of all time, and I think it told the story better than the book.

Do you have a movie you love better than the book?
Happy Wednesday!

First Pass Pages

I returned from a short holiday last week to a large (LARGE), padded envelope on my porch. Knowing what was inside, my insides lit up like Christmas lights and I went all perma-grin on the family.

FIRST PASS PAGES!!!!!

This was the last time I got to review and revise my novel (small, line-level edits only, please) but just as exciting (okay, totally MORE exciting) was that this was the first time I got to see what my book will ACTUALLY look like inside! What type/font, the page set-up, dedication and acknowledgement pages, etc.

I tore the package open and just stared. Oh, it's so beautiful. It's so close to being real! I thought I'd share a picture or two with you.

SQUEEEE!!!!!







In the mailbox, my German contract for NOBODY BUT US was waiting, as well. That's it to the left. It still floors me to know my book will be translated into several languages! Woohoo!!

Happy Tuesday!

NOBODY BUT US COVER!!!!!

HAS BEEN REVEALED!!!!

France! And Germany! And Cover Reveal, Oh My!

Bonjour! Guten Tag!

I've been stalking Publisher's Marketplace for the past several months, eagerly awaiting particular news related to NOBODY BUT US. Several times a day, I'd click through the deals, hoping to see my name. I might be a bit obsessive . . . but at least I also came across some great-sounding books to add to my future to-read list. *grin*

Anyway, those deals haven't exactly appeared, but when I totally stalked my uberagent's PM page, I saw she's listed them. Which, as far as I'm concerned, means I get to announce them here!

So, I'm BEYOND thrilled to announce that NOBODY BUT US has sold to Albin Michel in France and that it pre-empted to Heyne Fliegt in Germany!!!
DANCING AT THIS NEWS! In Worms, Germany. :DSQUEEE! That's three foreign languages my book will be translated into and I am SO not understating when I say that my mind is freaking BLOWN every time I think about it. I mean, just take a look at some of the amazing authors those houses publish! *swoons*

To celebrate, HS and I went out this past weekend to a romantic little French crepe place/bistro.
The meal--zomg--the meal. Bone marrow and duck breast and prune sauce and chocolate and coffee crepe . . .
Okay, that's a total lie.

The HS trying not to laugh.I knew about these deals ages ago, and we had this weekend's French night planned as nothing more than a standard date night, but it WORKS, amirite?

Moving on.
Berlin, last summerI've been to both countries a couple of times and they are enchanting, delicious places. And now I have reason to go again, hehe! Not that I really needed one.
My first trip to Paris as an undergrad Paris last summerThis past weekend's revelry included an evening at the Fierce Reads event at Third Place books, with social time after with several of the authors and fellow PNW author and mate-in-snark, Danny Marks. A fabulous time was had meeting the authors, as well as meeting So Awesome bloggers Sarah, Benji and Kristina.
l-r: Pal Marissa Meyer, Lish McBride, Emmy Laybourne, Anna Banks, Jennifer Bosworth and Leigh BardugoFinally (whew, long post!), I'm excited to announce that I'll be revealing the cover for NOBODY BUT US this Thursday, the 14th, on YA Highway. I can't wait for you all to see it!

On Music Festivals

me and hsMy poor HS* probably got entirely sick of me mentioning that this song or that song was on one of my book's playlists this weekend. We were at the Sasquatch music festival in middle-of-nowhere George, Washington. The venue is situated on the banks of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, where the views rival the great music on offer.

gorge views gorge sunsetAnd great it was! Some of my all-time favorite bands played, with several, as I mentioned before, being featured on book playlists that I'll be sure to share with you at some future, closer-to-book-release point. Highlights of the festival for me included The Shins, Bon Iver, Tenacious D, The Civil Wars, Silversun Pickups, Hey Marseilles, Beirut, STRFKR, Walk the Moon and the Head and the Heart. I heartily recommend both seeing those bands live and listening to their albums. Good stuff.

day two of the unwashed massesThe cows down the hill that woke us up the first morning were also a highlight, but after that it was earplugs at night all the way. Especially since our camping neighbors were . . . enthusiastic . . . teens.

our moo-cow overlord alarm clocksI love matching songs to my books. Even more, I love hearing bands play songs that encourage an emotional response from me. This is usually amplified when I see that band live, hear the voices in the raw, revel in instrumental musicianship on stage. Compounded over the course of a four day festival weekend, I felt fulfilled and inspired, as well as entertained. Who are your favorite bands to see live? And how was your holiday weekend?


Cheers and Love from Scomerica
*that would be the Hottie Scottie, for new readers. :)

Peach Ice Cream

We're big fans of ice cream of sweets OF FOOD here in Scomerica, as well as fans of getting into the kitchen and trying new recipes (and revisiting old). When the temperatures in Seattle rose unseasonably high (we're talking the upper 70's here, folks woohoo!), we pulled out the ice cream maker, whipped up a batch, and took off to the beach for the day.
 When we got back from our sun-soaked-sandy day, this creamy, bright confection awaited us.

The recipe we used is from Allrecipes, but I've increased the amount of peach puree slightly for a stronger peach flavor and used a vanilla bean in place of the extract. Also, this recipe uses raw egg, so if you're concerned about that, look for pasteurized eggs. I admit, I did use frozen peaches since fresh aren't in season yet in the PNW, but these frozen peaces are high quality and, to be honest, have better flavor than many fresh peaches I've had in the past.
 Peach Ice Cream (adapted from allrecipes.com)

3 eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 1/2 cups of peach puree
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
seeds from 1 vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt**

To make peach puree, peel 5-6 large peaches and puree in a blender or food processor. To use frozen peaches, thaw the peaches in a bowl, first, and puree with the juice. Measure 2 1/2 cups of puree and set aside.

In the blender, combine the eggs and sugar until the eggs are slightly foamy, approximately 30 seconds. Stir together the cream, milk, vanilla and salt in a large bowl. Add the egg mixture and the peach puree.

Freeze the mixture in your ice cream freezer according to manufacturer's directions. Enjoy!

** I hear grumbles at times from folks who don't like non-quantifiable measurements. A pinch, however, is a time-honored tradition. Literally, take a pinch of salt between your fingers and toss it in the bowl. You can toss another pinch over your left shoulder for luck (or to keep bad things away or something), if you wish.