Hope you all stay safe during this holiday season. We’ll be back after the New Year. To those working hard to get ready for Pitch Wars, keep trekking and get those manuscripts nice and shiny like Rudolph’s nose. And here’s something from your Pitch Wars team … Rae Chang, Marieke Nijkamp, and me!
Ah, the holidays. It’s the only time of the year where we pull out all the stops and suit up for our family traditions passed on through the generations. Whether it’s decorating your house, baking some delicious treats, or shopping online for the hard to find gift since the lines at the mall are absurd, everyone has their own tradition. Don’t get me wrong, those are all well and good, but my family follows a Read more…
HAPPY SOLSTICE! Today is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere! Winter solstice on this side of the Earth means the longest night and the shortest day. It means every day from now until the summer solstice will be slightly longer than the one before it. It means the start of the waxing year. But for some, winter solstice is more than an astronomical event. It’s a holiday that some practitioners of nature faiths consider Read more…
Hi Brenda! Happy holidays and thanks for having me! Today I wanted to share one of my all time favorite recipes. I love this cake so much that I even included it in my debut novel, THE ART OF FALLING. It’s super easy, always comes out perfect, can be scaled up or down, and because there’s no raw eggs, kids (and adults) can eat the batter without worrying about food poisoning. Always a plus for Read more…
Christmas in South Africa by Suzanne van Rooyen As a kid, Christmas was a strange and somewhat disappointing time of the year. All the Christmas songs we sang at school were about reindeer and sleighs, cold and darkness, chestnuts roasting on open fires and this mysterious white stuff called snow. Despite asking Father Christmas (never Santa Claus) for snow several years in a row and waiting anxiously for it to arrive, it never did. Read more…
A Holiday Giveaway, a Recipe for Sweeties, and Why December Matters By Heather Webb December is a time for cheer, for giving and gratitude. Especially for me this year. Here’s why: December 2nd Kirkus Reviews released a fantabulous review of my novel. (SQUEEE) December 30th is my birthday! Fondue, massive amounts of chocolate ganache, and champagne will be consumed this year, because the very next day on… December 31, 2013 my women’s historical BECOMING JOSEPHINE Read more…
Christmas Books and Christmas Drink Pairings By Jolene Haley Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. For me it’s not about the presents (but they are great). It’s not about the food (but the food is fantastic). It’s not about the cheesy Christmas movies (though they get me every time). No matter who you are or what you believe, I think everyone can appreciate the feeling of joy and love in December and Read more…
Twelve Steps by Veronica Bartles Release Date: 03/25/14 Book Summary: Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. The only thing Andi’s sure she has going for her is her awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina’s perfect everything else. When Andi’s crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough, and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina and get the guy. Read more…
Jen Halligan offers literary publicity and a wide range of author services. Formerly known as A Book and a Latte PR (as part of Jen’s YA book blog), the company was rebranded as JHPR in December 2013. Jen specializes in YA and NA fiction, as that’s where her heart is, and building author platforms. She loves working one-on-one with authors and helping them achieve their dreams. Whether you’re looking for full time publicity, or would Read more…
As a child raised on Mammy’s cooking in Gone with the Wind, Fannie Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatoes, and my grandmother’s pralines, it’s really no wonder once I started writing what came out was flavored with okra, squash casserole, and buttercream frosting. My debut novel, NO PLACE TO FALL, is set in the North Carolina mountains and is about Amber Vaughn’s dreams of singing on bigger stages. But it’s also about family, and Amber’s mama is Read more…