Archive for January, 2011
Heading Home from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference
It is Monday morning and I am in New York City getting ready to go to the airport and return to Spokane, Washington. I just attended The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Winter Conference that was held in New York City at the Grand Hyatt Central Hotel. The conference attracted visitors from all over the world. This was my first time at this particular conference, and it was very worthwhile. I had never attended any children’s book writers conferences before, as I had been enrolling in writers conferences for books for adults. They are two totally different markets, and as an author and writer, it is important to keep up with the trends and what is going on in each market.
I met a lot of wonderful writers as well as the teachers and speakers at the seminars. They talked about what is going on in the world of illustration, picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, and of course the ever-popular and growing teenage and young adult market. The expansion of the market of these books was also discussed, with everyone trying to find the next breakthrough topic.
I was inspired by the wonderful keynote speakers that they had scheduled for the conference. Author R. L. Stine, the children’s book writer of the Goosebumps series turned out to be quite a comedian. Everyone had expected him to look like a person who writes horror stories for children (whatever that would look like), but instead everyone was surprised by his refreshing sense of humor and his inspiring thoughts for children’s book writers. His message to all writers was to only think “yes.” By saying “yes” writers are exposed to many different possibilities in the writing industry. For example, he worked as an promotional writer for the bottling industry in the United States, which was something he never set out to do. This job led him to other writing jobs. His goal was to become a comic writer and to have his own magazine, but he had to go through different hoops and jobs to get there. He never thought he’d be an author of horror fiction for children, and yet that is what he ended up doing. R.L. Stine has sold over 450 million children’s books, and they are currently becoming more popular on the international scene. “You never know what life has in store for budding authors” was his message. That will now be my plan … that is to say “yes” to all writing possibilities out there, including contests that I find.
Well, it is time to zip my bags and head downstairs to the taxi. The taxi will take me to LaGuardia Airport. From there I fly to Denver. After a short layover in Denver, I will board a plane to Spokane, returning to the wonderful Northwest, the land I appreciate so much.
It is unfortunate that New York City is going through such difficult times. When I was there they were arguing over budget cuts and were talking about laying off 15,000 teachers! That put people up in arms, as they didn’t think that’s where the cuts should be. The cold snap had caused problems with garbage pickup. They had gotten the streets plowed but the garbage was still stacked up on sidewalks. I heard that people were complaining about garbage on some sidewalks, but I must say I was pretty shocked to see it when I was visiting there. New York City is wonderful for the busy, exciting life, but it’s definitely going through some stressful times now as they try to figure out how to run the city with a small budget. But of course those problems are being dealt with in other cities of the country. It’s just that in New York City budget cuts are on a much larger scale.
I compliment all of the people of New York, but I must admit I’m a Northwest country girl, born and raised in Montana and currently living in Washington State. I enjoyed my time and the education I received at the writers conference in New York City, but I’m very glad to return home. You’ll be seeing more news about my children’s writing and children’s book releases in the near future. Thanks again, and please comment and join in on my blogs. Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you.
Karen Jean Matsko Hood
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference
Good morning. Today is January 18, 2011, and I am busy planning for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference. This conference takes place in New York City later this month, which I will be attending.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) was founded 1971 by a group of Los Angeles-based children’s writers. It is an international organization based in Los Angeles, California, representing professionals in the field of children’s literature. It is the world’s largest children’s writing organization and the only international organization for people who write, illustrate, or have a professional interest in children’s literature. There are currently more than 22,000 members worldwide, in over 70 regional chapters, writing and illustrating in all genres for young readers from board books to young adult (YA) novels. The SCBWI facilitates communication between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers, and others involved in the field.
Membership in this society provides many benefits for writers, including information and support, access to awards and grants, networking, local workshops and get-togethers, inside publications, online resources, manuscript and illustration exchange, member discounts, and more.
The SCBWI sponsors two annual conferences, on the west and east coasts of the United States, usually in Los Angeles and New York City, as well as many regional conferences and events throughout the world. It publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, has an interactive website, and gives out a number of awards and grants. Among these are the annual Golden Kite Award for the best fiction and nonfiction books and the Sid Fleischman Humor Award.
At this year’s winter conference there will be a panel discussion on Creating and Recreating the Picture Book: Three Views. There are also three workshops about What Makes Your Work Publishable: Today’s Market in Children’s Books.
I am looking forward to all the other authors I will meet at this conference, as well as all I will learn from the speakers and workshops.
Valentine’s Day – Make it Extra Special This Year!
More than any other time of the year, St. Valentine’s Day fills our hearts and minds with special feelings of tenderness and appreciation for that special person in our lives. We enjoy doing something out of the ordinary that shows our loved one that we truly value them and are pleased with who they are.
A gift basket full of goodies is one way to let our sweetheart know you care. Send a message of love this Valentine’s Day with our “Love You Much” Gift Basket. It has a charming bear couple stuffed with hugs and good wishes. Embroidered with the saying “I love you this much!” their arms surround a sweet Valentine pail of treats for your someone special. In the pail are 2 Love saying pops, Hershey Kisses, Old Fashioned fudge, toffee & chocolate covered cookies, 1.67-oz. box of jelly belly beans, 2 Ghirardelli squares, and 2 marshmallow cream chocolate hearts.
Cook up a special Valentine meal for your sweetheart this year!
In Valentine Delights Cookbook, author Karen Jean Matsko Hood presents her collection of more than 260 exciting Valentine recipes and some charming ideas on the subject to titillate the romantic and creative imagination in us all. Inside, you will also find fascinating reading regarding this special day’s history, folklore, symbols, and much more. Also included is a collection of Valentine poetry by the author. Find just the right flower to express your sentiments in the Language of Flowers list. With recipes using readily available ingredients, Valentine Delights Cookbook will be a valued addition to any chef’s bookshelf.
Time is running out so order your gift basket or cookbook now by using our cart below! Or visit the Valentine’s Day Shop on Karen’s Collectors Cottage Store to find more gift baskets, games, and gifts. Make this Valentine’s Day extra special!
Benefits of Sheep’s Milk
By Kristie Leong MD
Source: HealthMad
In times past when it was time to add milk to cereal, you would automatically reach for the glass of cow’s milk that the milkman had delivered the day before. Now that the milkman doesn’t come to your house anymore, you have a myriad of milk choices available at your supermarket ranging from milk derived from animals to nondairy alternatives such as soy milk and almond milk. One sweet tasting and healthy milk that’s received less publicity than the other types is sheep’s milk. Once tasted, sheep’s milk is often preferred over both cow’s milk and goat milk due to its sweet creaminess. By comparison, cow’s milk is described as tasteless. What are the advantages of sheep’s milk over milk from a cow or goat?
Taste
As already mentioned, sheep’s milk is described as tasting richer and creamier than cow’s milk without the faint tanginess of goat’s milk. If you’ve only drank cow’s milk, switching over to sheep’s milk may take an initial adjustment period but many people prefer its rich taste once they make the change.
Digestibility
Up to seventy-five percent of the world’s population has some degree of lactose intolerance, making it difficult for them to drink milk without symptoms of gassiness and diarrhea. Many people who suffer from lactose intolerance are able to enjoy sheep’s milk without symptoms even though they’re unable to drink goat’s milk or cow’s milk. Sheep’s milk as well as yogurt and cheese made from milk from the sheep may give the lactose intolerant individual the chance to enjoy milk again.
Nutrition
Sheep’s milk is more nutritious than cow’s milk and goat’s milk. Although it contains higher levels of butterfat, it’s actually lower in saturated fat than other types of milk. The primary fats in sheep’s milk are the heart healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated variety. It’s also a source of medium chain triglycerides which may play a role in reducing cholesterol levels. Sheep’s milk is higher in calcium than milk from the cow or goat and is a rich source of other important minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus. Milk from sheep is also vitamin rich containing health amounts of vitamins A, D, and E. It’s a particularly good source of the B vitamins including folic acid. Sheep’s milk is also slightly higher in protein than other forms of milk.
Although sheep’s milk is tasty when drunk by the glass, you can also enjoy in its other forms such as yogurt and cheese products. It makes a healthy and delicious ice cream. Although sheep’s milk can be difficult to find in some areas, health food stores and natural food markets may sell it. If not, you may be able to buy it from your local farmer’s market or online. Why not give this healthy milk a try?
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Mountain Valley View Farm is now taking
pre-orders for fresh, raw sheep’s milk!
Our small herd produces rich, creamy milk that is easy to digest, low in cholestorol, and high in nutrients. Research shows that sheep’s milk is more nutritious than either cow or goat milk, with 48% more protein and twice as much calcium, not to mention all the vitamins it contains. Don’t forget to sign up for our waiting list to ensure that you get some of this amazingly nutritious and tasty milk! Sheep’s milk is $7.50/ half gallon and will be available starting in July.
Milk is available for pickup at Mountain Valley View Farm:
4227 S Chapman Rd
Greenacres, WA 99016
Call 509-928-1800 for more information, or to schedule a time to pick up your delicious farm fresh sheep’s milk!
Benefits of Organic Goat’s Milk
By Angela Harris
Source: Yahoo
Although Americans are accustomed to cow’s milk, goat’s milk is much more common in most other parts of the world. Goats are hardier than cows, are inexpensive, and take up less space.
Goat’s milk is closest to mother’s milk than any other food. Goat’s milk is a complete protein and contains every essential amino acid. Yet it contains significantly less fat than cow’s milk.
Goat milk is easy to digest, even for babies. Goat milk has more medium chain fatty acids than cow milk, which aids in easier digestion. Goat milk fat consists of 35 percent medium chain fatty acids, compared with 17 percent found in cow milk. Almost half of people who are lactose intolerant are able to drink goat’s milk.
Three different medium chain fatty acids found in goat milk are thought to have health benefits for people with certain types of diseases, especially diseases involving metabolism. Some of these conditions include cystic fibrosis, gallstones, heart disease, and various digestive problems. Goat milk has three times more of these types of medium chain fatty acids than cow milk.
Goat’s milk contains less of the enzyme xanthine oxidase than cow’s milk. When this enzyme enters the bloodstream, it can create scar tissue on the heart. This, in turn, causes the body to produce cholesterol for protection. This can be a precursor to arteriosclerosis.
Goat milk contains more vitamin A than cow milk. Cow milk’s vitamin A content is partially consistent of carotenoids, which must be turned into vitamin A by the body. All of the vitamin A found in goat milk is pre-formed. This is an advantage to people with health conditions which prevent their bodies from being able to form vitamin A from carotenoids. Goat’s milk also contains more riboflavin than cow’s milk.
A cup of goat’s milk has almost 33 percent of the recommended daily allowance for calcium, compared to almost 30 percent of the recommended daily allowance for calcium in a cup of cow’s milk.
A cup of goat milk also supplies more protein than a cup of cow milk, almost nine grams of protein compared to about eight grams of protein in cow milk.
An important component present in goat’s milk is called biorganic sodium. One of the highest sources of biorganic sodium is goat’s milk. Arthritis is thought to be caused by lack of this mineral. The human stomach stores more sodium than any other organ. Therefore, at least some digestive disturbances are thought to be caused by lack of biorganic sodium. The lack of this mineral inhibits the stomach’s production of needed enzymes. This in turn causes bloating, even ulcers. The typical American diet of processed foods, sodas, sugar, and alcohol greatly depletes the body of biorganic sodium.
Dr. Bernard Jensen wrote a book titled Goat Milk Magic in which he discusses his findings on goat’s milk. He studied people in mountainous regions of Russia. An important element in their diets was goat’s milk. Many people in the area were some of the oldest in the world, as well as the healthiest.
Dr. Jensen has concluded that goat’s milk has extraordinary healing powers for a variety of conditions. Some health conditions that goat’s milk seems to help include allergies, tuberculosis, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcers. Dr. Jensen’s opinion is that goat’s milk prevents many degenerative diseases and increases chances of living a long, healthy life.
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Mountain Valley View Farm is now taking pre-orders for fresh, raw goat’s milk!
Our small herd of Nubian goats produces delicious, easily digestible milk that is rich in nutrients. Nubian goats are known as excellent dairy goats, producing a large quantity of creamy milk that is higher in butter content than any other breed. Sign up now for our waiting list to ensure that you get some of this amazingly nutritious and tasty milk! Milk is $7.50/gallon and will be available starting in July.
Mountain Valley View Farm is a small family farm serving the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area with healthy, farm fresh produce and more. We are located in beautiful Spokane Valley.
Milk is available for pickup at Mountain Valley View Farm:
4227 S Chapman Rd
Greenacres, WA 99016
Call 509-928-1800 for more information, or to schedule a time to pick up your delicious farm fresh goat’s milk!
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