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Oct

I ♥ Monday

♥ Wineries. I’m not hugely knowledgeable about wine, but I like to drink it. I’d rather have a glass of peppery pinot noir than a beer or a cocktail. For our anniversary last week, Steve and I stayed at a B&B in the Shenandoah Valley. Our package included free tastings at several vineyards, and it was really fun to hear the proprietors talk about their grapes and blends and taste different varieties. The innkeepers packed us a picnic lunch of bread, cheese, apples, and pound cake (which we ate inside because it was pouring all day, but it was still nice). And we came home with four bottles of wine: a blueberry dessert wine, an awesome Riesling, a fruity Joy White, and a red blend called Fossil Hill Reserve. Our favorite stop was Cave Ridge Vineyard. ♥ Fall. I am wearing a sweater today. And boots! Later, I’m going to...

Sep

I ♥ Monday

Jessica

♥ Plain Kate by Erin Bow: One of my favorite books this year. It’s a lovely, ominous book with a ghost-story feel. After her father’s death, Plain Kate is feared a witch by the superstitious townsfolk because of her marvelous skill as a wood carver. She bargains with a witch-white: her shadow for her heart’s desire. Her journey as she searches for a new home is magical and sweet and sad. And the prose is just gorgeous; I stopped several times to read bits out loud to my patient husband. Erin Bow is a fantastic wordsmith. ♥ Debut authors. Of the 60 books I’ve read so far this year, 20 have been debuts, and I have at least 10 more waiting on my TBR pile. I love supporting new authors. They are so worth taking a chance on. Five of my very favorite reads this year have been from incredible...

Sep

Fashion Friday: Boots

Jessica

First: thanks for all of the comments on Monday’s post against banning awesome books! The winner of SPEAK is Renee Paquin Newberry and the winner of 20 BOY SUMMER is Melissa Maenner Walters! Both of them are teachers, so I hope they’ll share the awesomeness with their students. If you would still like to win a copy of 20 BOY SUMMER, the 2009 Debs and Little Brown are giving away ONE HUNDRED copies over here! Second: It is currently 96 degrees here in DC. DISLIKE. I am ready for boots and cardigans and tights! And speaking of, boots are today’s topic! I already have two pairs of furry Bear Trap boots, which are the most comfortable things ever, and both brown and black tall boots. My friend & awesome crit partner Kathleen pointed out some cool, quirky boots that I’m currently lusting after: Blue Button Beauties from ModCloth Libby Smith from Fluevog In a more traditional vein, I’m also fond of both of these grey...

Sep

Work Habits & Tools

Jessica

My boss is retiring next week after 30+ years running our department. There are lots of little odds & ends we’re dealing with. Lots of emails about minute things, things I need to remind him to do in the next week, procedures that need to be clarified. And I have realized something about myself: I don’t like odds & ends. I don’t like being interrupted by the phone or another three emails. I like working from one big task to the next, calmly crossing things off my to-do list in the order I’ve anticipated. I’m not a fantastic multi-tasker. I’m the same way as a writer. I finished Thrice and sent it off to my agent; now I’m working on the Theatre Ghost Book. When Thrice comes back from Agent Jim, I’ll revise and put the TGB on hold until the revisions are finished. I’m amazed at the way my...

Sep

I ♥ Monday

Jessica

I ♥ Books! And the right to read them! This dipshit is arguing to remove Sarah Ockler’s Twenty Boy Summer and Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak from Missouri classrooms. He calls them filthy and soft-core porn and wonders how Christian men and women can expose children to such immorality! This is completely ridiculous. And, no, I can’t be nicer about it. He’s not deeply misguided, he’s dangerously ignorant. He wants to remove Slaughterhouse Five, too. In fact, that one’s already been removed. I–unlike, I suspect, Mr. Scroggins–have actually read these books. They’re awesome. Twenty Boy Summer is about a girl who’s dealing with secret grief after the death of her best friend’s brother–who was also her secret boyfriend. Speak is about a girl who’s raped and rather than speak up about it, goes completely silent. Until she doesn’t. Both books are about healing and hope and the strength of these girls...

I ♥ Monday

I ♥ Monday

Fashion Friday: Boots

Work Habits & Tools

I ♥ Monday

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