Scones and Sensibility signed copy contest

Polly Madassa is convinced she was born for a more romantic time. A time when Elizabeth Bennet and Anne of Green Gables walked along the moors and beaches of the beautiful, wild land. A time when a distinguished gentleman called upon a lady of quality, and true love was born in the locked eyes of two young lovers.

But alas, she was not.

This however does not stop our young heroine from finding romance wherever she can conjure it up. So while Polly is burdened with the summer job of delivering baked goods from her parents bakery (how delightfully quaint!) to the people in her small beach town, she finds a way to force…um…encourage romance to blossom. She is determined to bring lovers, young and old, together…whether they want to be or not.

(Isn't the cover amazing?!)

And now for a new contest to celebrate another week closer to the release of Scones and Sensibility (EgmontUSA) which is just 21 days away!!

Go to www.lindsayeland.com/blog

1. Follow author Lindsay Eland's blog by clicking the “follow” button at the bottom of the page: this gives you 1 entry

2. And because Scones and Sensibility has to do with matchmaking gone wrong, comment at the bottom with one or more movie, or literary couples that just would not go together at all! 2 entries

3. Announce the contest on facebook, your blog, twitter or all three! 3 entries

Everyone who wants to enter must comment and let Lindsay know what they’ve done to support Scones so that she can give you that many more entries!

So the more of these you do, the better chance you have of winning!

This weeks prize is a signed copy of Scones and Sensibility, a copy of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, AND The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Kate Macdonald (this is an old book that I bought from a used bookstore, so there is a name in the front cover)!

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NaNoWriMo Take 2

Anyone? Anyone?

I've thought of throwing in the towel on this sweet middle grade story. I didn't get but halfway during National Novel Writing Month. I'm not talking throwing it in altogether mind you, just back to my normal plucking along, 500 words here or there.

But I truly want the first draft done by Christmas. I think I'd be over the moon ecstatic. Print it all out, slap on a silly red bow. Who says I can't add on another week or two if that's what it takes? That's better than quitting.

This is where you come in.

I'm going to need a cheering section. Some peeps to hold me accountable. Mom always told me I stopped learning to water ski when the family stopped their clapping. I mean, what was the point?

Stick around, even though my posts may be less frequent. Perhaps on the 24th (one of my boy's birthdays), I'll have a picture of this WIP next to a piece of red velvet cake.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to tackle some pages while the babes are snoozing.

Shoeboxes of Love

Every year our kids participate in Operation Christmas Child. Each child helps pack a little shoebox full of trinkets for children in underdeveloped countries. The basics go in - soap, toothbrushes, a clean T shirt picked up on clearance for a dollar or two, a packet of pencils, paper, crayons. Then we go a little nuts. Play-doh, matchbox cars, slinkys, stickers, gum, hand puppets this year. My local store had those plastic shoeboxes for one dollar, so these sweet kids will be able to safe keep their treasure much longer.

My kids truly do this with joy. Sure, they ask if they can have that Spiderman pencil or what not, but you know what? It's good for them to give up something they want. We've even saved our Happy Meal toys throughout the year, and toss them in unopened. We talk about how these kids have nothing and this is the only Christmas they'll have. The only way they might know Someone out there cares.

It only takes a few minutes to do. And it's not too late. It'll warm your heart and your soul. I promise.

In Wonderland

An original Alice in Wonderland book will be for sale, for a mere 150 thousand. The book belonged to the real Alice, Alice Liddell. Read all about it, and the sale of Beatrix Potter's "Tale of Peter Rabbit", here. Which reminds me I haven't seen Miss Potter.

My husband took me to Oxford last summer for our anniversary. We walked through Christ Church College, where the famed dining hall of Hogwarts was modeled. (I believe our guide said scenes from the first film were shot here, but not the latter. Don't quote me on that.) Regardless, it was mind blowing to know the likes of Robert Hooke (inventor of the microscope), John Locke, John Wesley, and Lewis Carroll dined there.

I was giddy. (And half expected those portraits to argue.)

I might have over done it a wee bit. Maxed out my phone camera. There was the quaint Alice's Shop across the street. Next to a bookstore. Sigh. Look, you can even see a cardboard cutout of Alice.

Now I already had a hardcover Alice's Adventures in Wonderland from my childhood, but I had to purchase another for my daughter. I mean, I was IN Oxford. It was my motherly duty. And its red and black checkered spine sold me. Here it is, still shrink-wrapped.

I, uh, even bought her this wooden clock for her room. I didn't think the porcelain tea set would have survived the flight back (or her and her brothers).

"Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!"

Book Heaven

I ran into our local used bookstore the other night and left with a few gems.I get as excited about book stores, especially old/used book stores, books with cryptic names and addresses scrawled in the front, as much as my husband loves walking into an shiny new Apple store.Below is Johnny Tremain, Treasure Island, a few Nancy Drews, and a 1927 school edition of Captains Courageous. Oh, I just saw Ida B sitting on the shelf in one of the pictures. That's a great book, too.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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"My Husband Doesn't Eat Banana Bread" Banana Bread

Because it's cold, and I'll look for any excuse to warm our home and bellies.

My husband dislikes banana bread. Or he did, until I kept tweaking the following recipe. In fact, it's become quite the joke at our house. If there is one solitary overripe banana hanging around, I will make use of it. Either

1) It will be stripped and forced into the freezer to meet it's frozen smoothie fate. Or

2) It will be mashed to smithereens. I don't know about you, but I don't like lumps in my bread. I'm all weird about texture.

I've made banana bread so many times and have pulled from so many recipes, it's nearly impossible for me to mess it up. (Unless my baking powder is expired, ahem.)

So, tickle your Honey's tastebuds with this chocolatey treat. My buckaroos love it warm and slathered with Jif. Yes, I'm a Choosy Mom, and I'm not being paid to admit it either.

Herewith the recipe.

"My Husband Doesn't Eat Banana Bread" Banana Bread
1 cup butter softened
2 cups sugar (I use half brown)
4 eggs
3+ bananas, mashed
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup cocoa
1 cup sour cream
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two 9x5 loaf pans.
In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and eggs. Stir in bananas and vanilla. Obviously, the more bananas you use, the more banana-y flavor. We like it mild, so I stick with 3-4. If you're feeling especially daring, go for six. Your grocer will love you for it.

Sift flour, soda, and cocoa (I never sift. Shhh.) Add dry ingredients to wet and mix well. Blend in sour cream and chocolate chips. Try not to eat half the batter. Of course, I don't have this problem, but you do want two loaves, not one. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake about 60 minutes. Enjoy with a tall glass of milk. At least that's what my husband does who never eats the stuff.

I might regret this.

Feeding my offspring leftover pie for breakfast. It's either awesome or terrible depending on whom you ask.

Sent from my iPhone

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SCBWI Missouri Confluence Conference

Last weekend my critique buddy Mandy and I drove the five and some change hour drive to St. Louis to attend the SCBWI Confluence conference. Guest Speakers included Floyd Cooper, 2009 winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for The Blacker the Berry. He demonstrated his subtraction method of erasing burnt sienna paint away from a board. It was astonishing. His presentation was full of humor and he gave away the demo to a lucky winner. What a nice guy! He autographed Willie and the All-Stars for my boys.

Jennifer Mattson, associate agent at Andrea Brown Literary, spoke. Prior to agenting, she was a an associate editor at Dutton Children's and a reviewer of children's books. She had many helpful tips for writers including the importance of having some sort of web presence whether it be via a blog or FaceBook or twitter. For example, she mentioned her client Edith Cohn's webpage. Also for picture book authors, she stressed having three to four strong picture book manuscripts "in the hopper". If an agent reads one picture book and likes it, he/she will ask to see others. Her most exciting news was she has moved to Chicago to open a midwestern branch of ABLA!

Here Jennifer is getting ready to speak with her cup of hot tea. Even though she was under the weather, her voice somehow stayed strong after all those one on one critiques.

Greg Ferguson, editor of Egmont USA, did a splendid job giving us a sneak peek at how his house operates and kept us in stitches with his story of designing Bree Despain's cover The Dark Divine. And it is a breathtaking cover. I was aware of some background due to lurking on Bree's blog, but it was eye-opening to hear her editor's version. The hours he and the his team poured into making that cover absolutely perfect were phenomenal. And he brought ARCs!

Greg also mentioned that Egmont still gives a portion of its profits to children's charities in Europe, where it was founded in 1878. You gotta love a company with heart.

Left to right: Greg Ferguson, Mary Albi, Elizabeth Law, Doug Pocock, Alison Weiss, Nico Medina, Rob Guzman. Missing from photo, Regina Griffin, who had gone to vote when this photo was taken. Thanks to Cynsations for the photo.

Old Friends

Went to visit my parents over the weekend and brought this back home. A wee disappointed my name wasn't scrawled in bubble letters on the inside. Mom had given away my collection of Nancy paperbacks, so I was glad the hardcovers survived the empty-nester de-clutter frenzy of 1995. Due to NaNoWriMo, Nancy, Bess, and Ned, you three will have to wait til December. Sigh.

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Another Gray Day