Cheers to Author Natalie Bovis-Nelsen and PREGGATINIS(tm)!

We are so proud to announce that Natalie Bovis-Nelsen's Preggatinis: Mixology from the Mom-to-Be is nominated for the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards at the Paris Cookbook Fair.

As you start your holiday shopping, make sure to take a peek at this fun gift for the pregnant ladies or new moms on your list!

To learn more about Preggatinis or submit your baby's photo for Poster Baby of the Month, visit http://www.preggatinis.com/

And for the rest of you drinkers out there, grab fun recipes, tips, and drink news from her comprehensive site The Liquid Muse.

Report from the Latino Book & Family Festival

A good time was had by all! Our very own Adriana Dominguez had the pleasure of hosting three panels at the recent Latino Book & Family Festival Los Angeles, held at Cal State University Los Angeles on October 10-11, 2009. One of our celebrated authors, librarian and Latino Children's Literature Consultant Oralia Garza de Cortes, shared some notes from the floor about the amazing lineup of talented authors at this festive occasion for book lovers of all ages.

http://labloga.blogspot.com/2009/10/latino-childrens-literature-at-2009-los.html

Can't wait for next year's Festival!

Writers from Other Cultures

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a Writer's Salon at San Diego Writers Ink.

Sometimes we take it for granted that those writing around us are writing in English, and doing so easily.
However, at the event, the group had invited a panel of authors to discuss their experiences writing in a second (or third) language.

The conversation hit upon a variety of topics including:

*why authors who are not native English speakers might feel compelled to write in it

*how to avoid an "accent" in your writing- which quickly evolved into a conversation over whether that was a strength or a weakness

*how to strengthen your English

*how to translate foreign idioms

It was a delightful and energetic discussion.

If you're local to San Diego and not already attending the group's wonderful events, you should know about this wonderful resource. And if you're a bookworm like the rest of us, you'd want to know that their annual Great Book Exchange takes place on Saturday, November 7.

-Lilly

Skeleton Softies with Diana Schoenbrun

Join Etsy Labs Craft Night for a spooky treat---Skeleton Softies with Diana Schoenbrun.
Happy Halloween!

http://www.etsy.com/storque/events/come-craft-with-the-etsy-labs-skeleton-softies-with-diana-sc-5559

Nancy Drew Lives On!

Author Penny Warner of The Official Nancy Drew Handbook is coming to a town near you!

Penny will be speaking at the Bouchercon World Mystery Conference which takes place in Indianapolis over October 15-18, 2009. Bouchercon is an opportunity for 1500+ mystery lovers to come together. For more information check out the Bouchercon website.

Penny was also featured recently in this KPBS story about Nancy Drew and radio.

At Bouchercon, she'll be hosting a Nancy Drew workshop: Make Your Own Nancy Drew Sleuth Kit.

La Bloga Interviews Author Diana Lopez

La Bloga interviews Diana Lopez this week about her middle grade novel, CONFETTI GIRL, published by Little Brown.

Here is a short excerpt--read the complete interview at http://labloga.blogspot.com

Q: You are dealing with two serious issues: the divorce of parents and the loss of a mother. There are many students in middle schools dealing with similar situations. What is your message for these children?

A: I wanted to explore how people grieve. Some, like Lina’s father, withdraw, while others, like Vanessa’s mom, blame the whole world. So how do you get past your sorrow or anger? And how do these emotions affect those you love, those you haven’t lost?

For me, stories start with questions, questions I don’t know the answers to. If I were wise, I wouldn’t need to write. If I were wise, I’d be a priest or counselor. But I’m a writer, one who believes Robert Frost when he says, “Poems should delight first, teach later.” So I hesitate to give a message because that’s something the reader needs to conclude for himself. But if I have to, the message would be something like this . . . look around. Who’s in your house? Who’s in your neighborhood? Who’s at your school, your church, or your job? When someone has gone, don’t forget that someone else has stayed.

Go to Sewing School with Author Cal Patch

Author Cal Patch is a sewing goddess. So for anyone who has ever tried on clothes and sighed at the thought of getting it hemmed/taken in/taken out/dyed, her debut book Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified is the cure! Make a wardrobe just right for you (or the people you love), like an expert.

And now Cal is spreading her teaching through double knot studio, her latest endeavor. If you'd like to get hands-on experience learning fiber skillz from the best of the best, check it out!

From Cal:

Greetings from double knot studio! We couldn’t be happier that you found us! What is double knot studio, you ask? We are a roving school for fiber and textile arts, including sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery, dyeing, patternmaking and spinning, based in the Catskills/Hudson Valley area of New York state, about 2 hours north of NYC.

Who is double knot? We are Jill Draper and Cal Patch, and we are both experienced artisans and teachers of our respective crafts. You can read more about our backgrounds on the about us page. Where is this ‘roving’ studio? We will be starting off teaching at two locations, both in the lovely town of Rosendale, New York. You can find out more on the locations page. What classes do you offer? To kick off our first season in September 2009, we will commence with beginner knitting, sewing, and crochet classes. Look out for intermediate project-based knitting and crochet classes, embroidery, patternmaking and more sewing classes later this fall. Check out the classes page for all the details. And if you have a request, please contact us at classes@doubleknotstudio.com.

See you in class!


Full Circle Literary loves craft books, and we're thrilled to announce that Cal's book will be widely available in just a week and half, on September 22, 2009. Whatever your craft, we hope the fall brings you much inspiration.

-Lilly