Archive for January, 2011
Heading Home from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference
It is Monday morning and I am in New York City getting ready to go to the airport and return to Spokane, Washington. I just attended The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Winter Conference that was held in New York City at the Grand Hyatt Central Hotel. The conference attracted visitors from all over the world. This was my first time at this particular conference, and it was very worthwhile. I had never attended any children’s book writers conferences before, as I had been enrolling in writers conferences for books for adults. They are two totally different markets, and as an author and writer, it is important to keep up with the trends and what is going on in each market.
I met a lot of wonderful writers as well as the teachers and speakers at the seminars. They talked about what is going on in the world of illustration, picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, and of course the ever-popular and growing teenage and young adult market. The expansion of the market of these books was also discussed, with everyone trying to find the next breakthrough topic.
I was inspired by the wonderful keynote speakers that they had scheduled for the conference. Author R. L. Stine, the children’s book writer of the Goosebumps series turned out to be quite a comedian. Everyone had expected him to look like a person who writes horror stories for children (whatever that would look like), but instead everyone was surprised by his refreshing sense of humor and his inspiring thoughts for children’s book writers. His message to all writers was to only think “yes.” By saying “yes” writers are exposed to many different possibilities in the writing industry. For example, he worked as an promotional writer for the bottling industry in the United States, which was something he never set out to do. This job led him to other writing jobs. His goal was to become a comic writer and to have his own magazine, but he had to go through different hoops and jobs to get there. He never thought he’d be an author of horror fiction for children, and yet that is what he ended up doing. R.L. Stine has sold over 450 million children’s books, and they are currently becoming more popular on the international scene. “You never know what life has in store for budding authors” was his message. That will now be my plan … that is to say “yes” to all writing possibilities out there, including contests that I find.
Well, it is time to zip my bags and head downstairs to the taxi. The taxi will take me to LaGuardia Airport. From there I fly to Denver. After a short layover in Denver, I will board a plane to Spokane, returning to the wonderful Northwest, the land I appreciate so much.
It is unfortunate that New York City is going through such difficult times. When I was there they were arguing over budget cuts and were talking about laying off 15,000 teachers! That put people up in arms, as they didn’t think that’s where the cuts should be. The cold snap had caused problems with garbage pickup. They had gotten the streets plowed but the garbage was still stacked up on sidewalks. I heard that people were complaining about garbage on some sidewalks, but I must say I was pretty shocked to see it when I was visiting there. New York City is wonderful for the busy, exciting life, but it’s definitely going through some stressful times now as they try to figure out how to run the city with a small budget. But of course those problems are being dealt with in other cities of the country. It’s just that in New York City budget cuts are on a much larger scale.
I compliment all of the people of New York, but I must admit I’m a Northwest country girl, born and raised in Montana and currently living in Washington State. I enjoyed my time and the education I received at the writers conference in New York City, but I’m very glad to return home. You’ll be seeing more news about my children’s writing and children’s book releases in the near future. Thanks again, and please comment and join in on my blogs. Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you.
Karen Jean Matsko Hood
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference
Good morning. Today is January 18, 2011, and I am busy planning for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference. This conference takes place in New York City later this month, which I will be attending.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) was founded 1971 by a group of Los Angeles-based children’s writers. It is an international organization based in Los Angeles, California, representing professionals in the field of children’s literature. It is the world’s largest children’s writing organization and the only international organization for people who write, illustrate, or have a professional interest in children’s literature. There are currently more than 22,000 members worldwide, in over 70 regional chapters, writing and illustrating in all genres for young readers from board books to young adult (YA) novels. The SCBWI facilitates communication between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers, and others involved in the field.
Membership in this society provides many benefits for writers, including information and support, access to awards and grants, networking, local workshops and get-togethers, inside publications, online resources, manuscript and illustration exchange, member discounts, and more.
The SCBWI sponsors two annual conferences, on the west and east coasts of the United States, usually in Los Angeles and New York City, as well as many regional conferences and events throughout the world. It publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, has an interactive website, and gives out a number of awards and grants. Among these are the annual Golden Kite Award for the best fiction and nonfiction books and the Sid Fleischman Humor Award.
At this year’s winter conference there will be a panel discussion on Creating and Recreating the Picture Book: Three Views. There are also three workshops about What Makes Your Work Publishable: Today’s Market in Children’s Books.
I am looking forward to all the other authors I will meet at this conference, as well as all I will learn from the speakers and workshops.
Valentine’s Day – Make it Extra Special This Year!
More than any other time of the year, St. Valentine’s Day fills our hearts and minds with special feelings of tenderness and appreciation for that special person in our lives. We enjoy doing something out of the ordinary that shows our loved one that we truly value them and are pleased with who they are.
A gift basket full of goodies is one way to let our sweetheart know you care. Send a message of love this Valentine’s Day with our “Love You Much” Gift Basket. It has a charming bear couple stuffed with hugs and good wishes. Embroidered with the saying “I love you this much!” their arms surround a sweet Valentine pail of treats for your someone special. In the pail are 2 Love saying pops, Hershey Kisses, Old Fashioned fudge, toffee & chocolate covered cookies, 1.67-oz. box of jelly belly beans, 2 Ghirardelli squares, and 2 marshmallow cream chocolate hearts.
Cook up a special Valentine meal for your sweetheart this year!
In Valentine Delights Cookbook, author Karen Jean Matsko Hood presents her collection of more than 260 exciting Valentine recipes and some charming ideas on the subject to titillate the romantic and creative imagination in us all. Inside, you will also find fascinating reading regarding this special day’s history, folklore, symbols, and much more. Also included is a collection of Valentine poetry by the author. Find just the right flo
wer to express your sentiments in the Language of Flowers list. With recipes using readily available ingredients, Valentine Delights Cookbook will be a valued addition to any chef’s bookshelf.
Time is running out so order your gift basket or cookbook now by using our cart below! Or visit the Valentine’s Day Shop on Karen’s Collectors Cottage Store to find more gift baskets, games, and gifts. Make this Valentine’s Day extra special!
National Hot Tea Month
by Beth Johnston
Source: Teas Etc.
January is National Hot Tea Month and most of us have already made resolutions of one sort or another. Those that are simple to incorporate into our lives are the ones we are most likely to stick with past January. The potential benefits of adding tea to our diets, an easy and inexpensive addition to our daily lives, may aid in the ongoing battle of the bulge and increase the body’s immunity to colds and flu.
Weight Loss
One recent study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that substances in tea may even promote weight loss by increasing the amount of energy spent by the body. The theory is that green tea, because of the catechin (pronounced “cat E kins”) content, has thermogenic properties that promote fat oxidation, may work together with other chemicals to increase weight loss. With more than half of all Americans suffering from excess weight or obesity this is welcome news.
The study was conducted on healthy young men who ate a typical Western diet for six weeks. The study participants also consumed one of the following with each of their 3 daily meals;
A. ) The equivalent of one cup of green tea plus 50 milligrams of caffeine.
B. ) 50 milligrams of caffeine only.
C. ) A placebo.
The men in group A, who consumed the equivalent of 3 cups of green tea per day, showed a significant increase in the number of calories they used in a 24 hour period over either of the other groups B or C. This increase calorie burn resulted in more fats being metabolized by the body for energy.
The men in group A, who consumed the equivalent of 3 cups of green tea per day, showed a significant increase in the number of calories they used in a 24 hour period over either of the other groups B or C. This increase calorie burn resulted in more fats being metabolized by the body for energy.
Another study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, suggests that tea catechins may help resist the onset of obesity. Conducted by Japanese researchers the study compared the body weight and fat mass of mice who had eaten either a low fat or high fat diet, had exercised or had no exercise; had consumed tea catechins or had not consumed tea catechins, resulting in;
A. ) Those mice consuming a high fat diet and tea catechins but not exercising showed a reduced fat accumulation of 18%
B. ) Those mice consuming a high fat diet that exercised but did not consume tea catechins had only a reduced fat accumulation of 14%
C. ) Those mice consuming a high fat diet and tea catechins that exercised showed a reduced fat accumulation of 33%
Fighting Viral Infections
While looking so much better from drinking tea we also have the opportunity to feel better than our coffee drinking counterparts. Research reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people who drank 3 cups of black tea per day produced 5 times the amount of germ-fighting cells than those who drank coffee, suggesting that tea drinkers have more ability to fight viral infections such as colds and flu than non tea drinkers.
“January’s National Hot Tea Month can serve as a reminder to do something healthy for ourselves, like brew a hot cup of tea, which may provide a variety of health benefits, serve as a weight loss aid and help to ward off persistent cold and flu germs” said Joe Simrany, president of the Tea Council of the USA. “What more could you ask for in a beverage.”
We wish you all a Happy New Year filled with Tea and Good Health!
© 2007 Teas Etc., Inc
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beth Johnston, a tea importer and noted tea expert, publishes an informative monthly newsletter on tea, tea history, health and lifestyle enhancements. To learn more about the world of tea, join her free newsletter at http://www.TeasEtc.com/Newsletter.asp or visit http://www.TeasEtc.com.
Make this Valentine’s Day Homemade!
Handmade paper Valentines were being exchanged in various parts of Europe in the early to mid-15th century, and were generally hand delivered. By the mid-1800s, because of advances in printing, mechanization, and a reduction in postal rates, more and more people began sending cards.
Why not make this Valentine’s Day more meaningful by making the card and gift yourself that you give to your sweetheart. Here are two simple recipes you could easily make.
Chocolate Covered Cherries
Try these simple, yet elegant chocolate covered cherries.
Ingredients:
20 oz. maraschino cherries with stems
12 oz. semi-sweet brown or white chocolate chips
Directions:
- Drain cherries well; place on paper towels to finish absorbing liquid.
- Melt chocolate according to package directions; keep warm.
- Holding each cherry by the stem, dip one by one into melted chocolate, swirling to coat completely.
- Place each cherry on wax paper-lined baking sheet.
- Let stand at room temperature (or refrigerate), 30 minutes to set.
- Store in refrigerator up to 2 days.
Yields: Approximately 4 dozen cherries.
Chocolate Kiss
This is a fun treat to make for Valentine’s Day, and you can personalize it by what you write on the white paper strip sealed inside the foil wrapper.
Ingredients:
chocolate
round funnel
coffee mug
double boiler or microwave and microwave-safe bowl
nonstick cooking spray
white paper strip to write a message on
foil
Directions:
- In double boiler or microwave, melt chocolate, watching carefully and stirring occasionally.
- Put some tinfoil over the small end of the funnel, closing it off.
- Spray a little nonstick spray into the funnel.
- Place the funnel into the coffee mug to hold it upright.
- Pour the melted chocolate in, and put into the freezer for 45 minutes to harden.
- Take a strip of white paper and write your Valentine message on it.
- Remove the “kiss” from the funnel, and wrap it in tinfoil, tucking the message in it near the point.
- Leave some of the white paper strip sticking out.
These and many other Valentine recipes are found in Valentine Delights Cookbook, A Collection of Valentine Recipes by Karen Jean Matsko Hood. To order your copy today, Click Here!
Recent Comments