How To Make Popcorn

For some fun: watch Chef make popcorn. This is pretty much me in the kitchen, so let's hope I survive this Thursday... Happy Thanksgiving, all!!

Get Your NBA On!

I've been so busy plotting my next novel, I missed yesterday's webcast: Scholastic's David Levithan interviews the NBA finalists in Young People's Literature. Very cool, so check it out when you have a few moments. It made me want to read all of these books...

Monday Music: Summer

This is such a pretty fall song... Enjoy, and happy Monday.

Books For Military Kids

If you're like me, you're looking forward to an extra day off this weekend, since it's Veterans Day and all. But hopefully you're also thinking of the veterans, and those troops that are away from their families, and probably don't even get the day off. I know I do.

Since this blog is all about kidlit, I thought I would point you faithful YA Sleutheri over to United Through Reading. It's a non-profit program that allows deployed soldiers to read a book to their kids (on camera) and then sends that book plus the DVD of the reading to the military kiddo. As a military family that's been through a deployment, I can honestly say: THIS IS HUGE.

So do something nice, and consider donating a buck for a book. You'll make a big difference.

Books, Books, Books

Some of my best memories as a kid are of libraries, bookstores, and reading. Books were a big deal (and still are) in my house, and for the longest time I assumed every kid had that same environment. Weekly library visits, books for your birthday--that's normal for everyone, right?

Then in fourth grade or so, our teacher asked if anyone did not have a library card--and I was amazed as a couple of kids raised their hand. No library card? That seemed impossible!

I'm all grown up now, and people tell me every day that they don't read. How sad, I think. But it's even sadder when kids aren't exposed to books because parents don't read.

So I thought this was cool: this library in Ohio decided to bring the library to the local high school and gave kids a chance to sign up for a card during English class. Awesome idea, no?

Monday Music: Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall

Some Coldplay love, to fuel your week.

A Morgue Named After Your Favorite Writer

Yes, that's totally possible!

I know, it's a bit creepy, but the truth is that morgues and forensic science in particular are hugely helpful to us crime writers. I once had the opportunity to listen to a day-long seminar on forensic science a few years ago, and I still draw from the information the professionals shared.

I also use it to creep out my friends and random strangers, so extra points to the forensic science community for that.

But seriously. University of Dundee in Scotland needs money to get a new morgue and research facility, and to raise the poundage, your favorite crime writers (Tess Gerritsen, Jefferey Deaver, Harlan Coben, to name just a few) are competing for votes to have the morgue named after them.

So vote and donate, all.

 More information over at LitReactor, where I found this deliciously creepy bit of news.

For My NaNo Pals

Some belated music for my brave friends attempting the NaNoWriMo challenge. Happy writing, guys!