Tagged! "I Dig Your Blog"

So, my fellow writer and all-around cool person, Lazidaisical tagged me in one of her recent blog posts. I was given the:

That's right! She digs...my blog. I sense a trend coming...

Once one receives such a precious award you are to provide 3 random details about yourself and pass on to at least five other people. Who's blog. You dig.

Three facts that are at least somewhat interesting are hard, but here goes:

1) My mother and I have similar laughs. Very high and infectious I've been told. Seriously, at my last job 99% of the people wrote on my 'good luck' card that my laugh would be one of the main things they missed about me. I bet it can solve world problems too.

2) Though I am a native New Yorker I did live in Newark, NJ for a couple of years. It really wasn't that bad. I'm sure I'd have liked it even more if Corey Booker was mayor at the time.

3) I get REALLY gushy in front of authors I like. More so than any other celebrity on Earth. Not celebrity chefs or actors or models or singers or politicians or someone who's won the Nobel Peace Prize. But authors who's prose I enjoyed thoroughly make me giggly and smiley like a schoolgirl and I cannot get my words together.  (This happened both times I met Tom Perotta and I tend to wonder how I could've been more cool in front of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.)

And who do I dub to tag next? (Folks I really do dig your blogs so here's props to you! Don't feel you have to tag anyone. You may revel in the glory of being dug.)

1) WriterGirl - A fellow writer, Megan and I are Twitter buds. She details her aspirations and goals in writing in which I'm sure many emerging writers can relate. I appreciate that she's honest and the brevity and punch of her posts.

2) Lori M. Lee - I follow Lori on Twitter and she's an aspiring YA writer. I like the topics she picks to talk about and her lovely illustrations! She's also part of the current Write Campaign.

3) Nightclicker - Yes, another writer! Melissa and I met during the NYCMidnight challenge, virtually that is, and she is dedicated. We both deal with the challenge of working and writing and really trying to maintain that fire when sometimes you are just blocked.

4) Tori Scott - Tori is a lovely writer and person. And I have enjoyed reading her prose thoroughly. She writes and also does vlogs steadily on her blog about her challenges with writing as well as providing contests to win books and some cool interviews with agents and writers in the YA field. She's such a joy to converse with on Twitter and an avid reader.

5) Racquel Writes - Racquel is one of the most supportive writers I have met via Twitter and she is always cheering others on and providing inspirational messages. We also share the same surname. :-) She's an editor (for Black Fox Lit) and a writer and just got her grad school degree! (*High five* on that!) I urge you to visit her newly designed & classy website, listen to her songs of the day, and check out her updates on story submissions and contests!

6) Handle the Heat - Tessa's blog on baking and cooking are about her main interest and what she's learning as a culinary student. She takes fab pictures, makes good food, and is such a lovely personality on the social media scope that I just had to let her know I dig her blog.

I'd also have nominated my buddy Lazidaisical but I don't know if this is allowed. Plus she already did the leg work. But I dig her blog, and many others!

Thanks again to Lazidaisical for thinking of me! And I look forward to seeing who gets awarded next. :-)

2011 Project: Cookies Inspired by Books!

I know, I know. I already have a 2011 project. And that project is a character blog for my literary fiction collection. Of course going to the 'Family Album Blog' tab on my new website design you'll be taken to a 'coming soon' page. And it is coming! I swear! But this new project is something that can be done much quicker and is tastier in nature. Yes, it involves dessert, but also my next favorite thing books! And this may not be just a 2011 project but an on-going one.

A few weeks ago I was tweeting with author Amy Garvey. Her new YA book Cold Kiss released on September 20th and I had a chance to read it since she was at Book Expo. Cold Kiss is a beautifully textured book about a girl with powers who brought her dead boyfriend back to life and must deal with the repurcussions. (Amy is currently doing a virtual blog tour so check out her Twitter and Facebook page to find out more details.)

Amy is a baking enthusiast just as I am. And I mentioned I would like to create a cookie based on her book. She said "YES!" (just as enthusiastically as I typed it too.)

I read another Book Expo find with the much hyped and well-deserved lauded Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. (DSB came out just this past Tuesday and Laini is currently on tour.) I loved Laini's National Book Award nominated book Lips Touch: Three Times and had a chance to meet and eat dinner with her and her super-talented artist husband Jim after the awards ceremony with my friend who was their publicist and Laini's agent. I still remember the lovely world of Prague that she created and suddenly had an inspiration for a cookie inspired by her book.

So, my project is to create cookies based on books I really enjoyed! I've already created one for Cold Kiss and will be doing one for Daughter of Smoke and Bone next week. I may have another idea for a book to do soon, but may not. Either way I am going to post results on these two as my next 'baking' post. And if I have any more inspiration I'll make sure to let you and the authors know.

Feel free to let me know of any suggestions you have whether for books and/or for cookies!

Spread the word, people! I am getting inspired!

My NYC Midnight Submission, 2nd challenge (Flash Fiction)

This past weekend all of NYCMidnight registrants were either excited or solemn about the second challenge in the first round of this year's Flash Fiction contest. Rankings were posted late last week and many of us in the Twitterverse were not happy, though some were. Rankings encompassed people receiving points (or not). You could get from 1-25 points. The higher the points the higher your ranking. I was in the top 15, but rated pretty low with 2 points. Those not in the top 15 received a score of 0.

That being said a low score on the first challenge doesn't necessarily remove you from the entire challenge. You can score pretty high on the second challenge and the combined score, if high enough for your group, could carry you to the next round.

Feedback I received from members was generally very complimentary and helpful. Comments from the judges noted that my science fiction piece was sci-fi all the way (score!) but a bit too political and not subtle enough (nuts!). I do like the story and as mentioned in my previous NYCMidnight post I got inspired pretty quickly and wrote it within a few hours. I'll more than likely edit it down and rework it a bit and see if I can submit to a lit mag that specializes in science fiction. We'll see. First I have to get through my growing literary and YA projects.

This challenge I received the following: genre, horror; location, aquarium; item, mouthwash. Pretty random huh?

I have to say I didn't like it at all. I've read and seen a lot of horror in my day but have yet to write any successfully.

Since the flash fiction challenge takes place from 11:59pm on Friday to 11:59pm on Sunday you can imagine being blocked may hinder your creation. While I was gung ho about my story last challenge I was completely (read: completely) blocked for this one. I wrote several drafts that I hated and the damn aquarium was getting in my way! I didn't want to utilize any animals in the aquarium as that seemed too easy. In many moments of being blocked I thought "What would Stephen King do in this situation?"

One of the contest members sent me this freaky post about a giant worm that ran rampant at an aquarium in the UK for inspiration. Did you check it out? Way creepy, no?!

In the end I wrote a piece I semi-liked. And when I was done I realized that the location prompted was not a predominant locale in the piece. I tried to rework it in the remaining time I had but it just wasn't working. So, there is an aquarium but the judges may disqualify me for not having a majority of the action inside it. Eh. I wrote and submitted and cheered my fellow writers on. Doubt I'll make it to the next round, but there's always next year.

So, here goes nothing...here's my 2nd challenge entry, First Date:

I noticed him working at the café in the Pacific Aquatic Center. I was there for a school assignment. I saw him staring at me before quickly turning away as I sketched the stingrays. He's one of those lonely, quiet boys. Keeps his head down, barely speaks, but is polite, has a nice smile even.

Our date is at the aquarium. He can get us in for free. A perk he says. When he picks me up in his beat up car he seems happy to not be wearing the prerequisite sea green shirt and hat with a copyrighted mermaid on it.

As soon as he steps out the car to get our tickets I check the glove compartment. Soap, mouthwash, toilet paper, hair gel, and deodorant spill out onto my lap. I grin when I see the bulging garbage bags in the backseat, shoes scattered on the car floor.

He isn't quiet when we have sex in the aquarium. He pushes me up against the shark tank. As marine life swims around us he presses against me, whispers in my ear that I am beautiful and lovely and all those nice words he thinks girls like to hear during.

After, I smooth my skirt and he checks the fly on his jeans. The air is musky and damp, water under our feet. He takes my hand as we wander through the makeshift sea around us. He tells me this was one of his favorite places to come as a kid. I nod as he talks about his life now that his parents are gone. Losing mine is something I'm trying to prevent. 

  He tells me he had a nice night. Kids holding balloons shaped like sea turtles and dolphins bump into us while we're in queue to exit.

“It doesn't have to end,” I say. “I live right across from here.”

He starts to shake his head but I hold his face still with my hands.

“I'll take care of you,” I assure him like I do all the others.

He whispers it seems like everything creaks once we're in the house. He holds back but I take his hand, urge him to follow me.

  He asks if I hear something, a buzzing underneath us. I almost curse under my breath at my mom working when she's supposed to be resting. I shake it off, force a grin.

“I'm on the first floor,” I whisper. Pointing upstairs I tell him, “My mom's room is up there.”

I see his shoulders lower and him relax.

I close the door behind me. Move to sit on the edge of my bed and lift my skirt a little higher, mid-thigh. The edge of his lips curl. I know he'll do whatever I want.

He clears his throat, asks if I have anything to drink. “Maybe a beer?” I tell him I have something stronger. I open the drawer beside my bed, pull out the round yellow pills, offer him one on the tip of my finger. He hesitates before taking it and swallowing. He watches me as I pretend to do the same.

I push him down on the bed, lay atop him. He's about to start in on his litany of beautiful words when I place a finger on his mouth and tell him to “shh,” just “shh.” Within minutes he's out, his limbs limp when I pick one up to make sure.

I change into my work clothes. Remove the skirt, pull on my overalls and boots. The clear poncho goes over everything. I grab my goggles and consider how heavy he'll be.

I pad down to the basement. See Mom's back hunched over as she starts the table saw. The lower torso of my previous date in front of her drained and chilled, ready for slicing.

Our packs are dwindling. Only a few crimson ones hang on the walls.

Mom coughs into her elbow. “We may have to find a bigger town,” she says without looking up.

“Yeah. Maybe a big city? No one would miss anyone then.”

“Maybe. So expensive though.” She turns to me. Her face is paler now. Her plastic apron is pristine and I remember her when she was a healthy homemaker. Before she got sick. Before Dad left. Before she stopped being a nurse. Such a shame to bloody it.

“How's this one?” she asks, motioning upstairs.

“He's nice. Homeless.”

Her lips go wide, curl up at the sides. “That's my girl.”

“He's an okay lay too.”

Her smile turns to a frown. “You know I don't like to hear that.”

“I used to hear you and yours you know.”

Mom's cheeks turn as red as the contents of our packs. She mumbles, “I hope you're at least being safe.”

I roll my eyes, put my hands on my hips. “Duh. I'm always careful,” I say.

Mom approaches me, takes off her thick gloves. Her hand shakes as she reaches to pat my cheek.

“I know you are, sweetie. I love you.”

Now my face blushes and I look away.

“You've handled this really well,” she adds.

“I had to. Dad was so chicken shit--”

She holds up a hand to silence me as she sighs.

“The cancer is spreading, sweetheart.”

I try to push her hand away but she closes in, hugs me.

“Yeah and I found someone. I'll keep finding someone until you're well. We'll hoard as many organs and blood and marrow as possible.”

I look around the basement. At the tubes, sharp metal, and machines meant to help us transfer blood. At the freeze locker emitting white smoke. At the severed head of the last guy I met, his eyes closed thankfully.

“I know,” she says into my hair. “You're so proactive. A go-getter.”

I tell her she'll be fine. I'll take care of us.

“Speaking of which, I'll go get him now.”

[© copyright 2011 Jennifer Baker-Henry]

Baking Bloggers Unite! Some fave baking blogs

When first starting a blog sometimes the focus isn't always clear.  When I started my first blog five years ago it was a place for me to ramble, but in the past couple of years I have narrowed it down to my two loves: writing & baking. Many may start a blog as a personal outlet for self-publication, an e-journal, or just a kind of album of images and such. For many there is a focus and once we find it there's a niche. Many writers have their blogs dedicated to their struggles and successes in the craft. And then there are the bakers and chefs who dedicate their time/space to informing the public of hits and misses in regards to baked goodies. Now that my new website design is up and I have a designated baking page as well as a writing page I figured I'd spend this post giving props to fellow bakers out there with some amazing blogs/websites.

Via Twitter and through recommendations and searches I have found some cool baking focused blogs, as well as cooking blogs in general. And there are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of them on the web. I have to say Twitter has been a great resource to connect with other food enthusiasts. But bloggers themselves are often united in trying to spread the word about those they admire, influences, and things they just like.

So, here's a list (and summary) of some of these awesome baking sites (please note some sites do sweet and savory posts) that I've had the privilege to view, in no particular order.

• Gigi Cakes - Gigi Cakes was one of the first baking blogs I stumbled upon when I entered the Blogger realm. I had corresponded a bit with Gigi when I started my blog--and was directionless in terms of content--and she was very complimentary about my posts. Her blog is one of the ones that inspired my own and she introduced me to one of my favorite cookies: lemon poppy seed sugar cookies. She also has had giveaways of lovely treats and books for fans/followers. Gigi hasn't posted in a few months but her past posts are delicious and *currently drooling* lovely to look at. The best thing about blog posts for recipes is that they never get old!

• Let Her Bake Cake - I found this site through a friend's suggestion years ago. Hilary is a food blogger based in the UK and she redesigned her website to make it look nice & cohesive. Particularly I love her header a take on "Let them eat cake," a supposed quote from Marie Antoinette. Love, love it. Hilary's personality comes through in every post and her dedication to baking and baked goods is inspiring. The quality of her pictures and constant search to bring new information to readers is what makes her blog a must. She's on Twitter but doesn't post too regularly. Her blog is updated weekly or sometimes more often so definitely check it  out.

• Katrina's Kitchen - Another Twitter person I follow.  Katrina is a reader's choice mom food blogger so you know she knows her stuff. She makes some kick ass recipes. I love that she has a visual recipe index so you can see much of what she's made. It's not just reserved for baking but she has a lot of great baked goodies on there. My fave and something my husband now wants me to try is the chocolate chip Oreo cookie sandwich. As my husband said, that recipe is "gangsta"!

• Dessert Landscape - My friend created this site because she is all about dessert. We bonded over this and stuff. And she is picky, lemme tell you. So she is quite right in calling herself a dessertatarian. Dessert Landscape mainly focuses on desserts/sweets she's had around the world, not just in NYC. But believe me I have tried her baking and it is amazing! She's a pro and dedicated and focused and all that good stuff bakers should be. So I think you should definitely hit up her website and also ask for more posts.

• Cake Duchess - I just found Lora's site pre-Labor Day weekend via Twitter sidebar recommendations and man am I so glad I did. She's a pumpkin fanatic just as I am and had some tasty pumpkin recipes that I am currently salivating over (wiping keyboard now). She blogs pretty regularly, weekly if not twice a week, and has a variety of recipes to show. One I am pretty excited to try is nutella skillet brownies. Did you read that?! Let me repeat: NUTELLA. SKILLET. BROWNIES. The latest post I saw from Lora is from the International Food Bloggers Conference. Man, did I wish I could've gone to that!

• Flour on my Face - Another Twitter follower! I like the cleanness and ease of use of Arlene's site. A tab for recipes and another for older posts. Cute pics in the header and I enjoy participating in her regular foodie questions (this week's: What is your favorite Food Network show?). Her blog is not restricted to baking alone, so feel free to check out some of the savory items too. There's a lot of info on the sides, but if you take time to pick out the archives and popular recipes feed from FoodBuzz you'll see some key finds  in terms of food bloggers. A Parents magazine nominee for best food blog is a nice add-on too!

• Kitchen Karate - Jordan is one of the nicest bloggers you'll ever communicate with. He's currently seeking new baking challenges for his site so hit him up on his site or via Twitter! He's posted some classy, lovely stuff and in vibrant hues. (Rainbows!) I like the simplicity of his site's design, the color scheme, and also how he divvies up his recipes for easy search in his menu. All hail recipe indexes! Definitely check out his recipes for cookies and cream cupcakes because we've both made those. Like minds!

• Food to Heart - A lovely blog and fellow Twitter follower. Marynika has some amazing pictures. I am in awe of these bloggers and the intense pics capturing the great colors and stages in the cooking process. Her site is also easy to navigate and simple in design but definitely illustrates her message and captures what she loves: food! She even has hearts as icons! So cool and theme-y (yes, I made that word up, just now).

• Gingerbread Bagels - Again, a great design for the site, simple, nice use of pastel colors, easy to navigate, and a nice tagline. Awesome. She makes some nice recipes. One I am eying is the Twix Gooey Butter Cake. Butter and Cake and Gooey are all great words to have in the same sentence. Lindsey just had a bunch of giveaways for her one year blog-iversary! So nice and generous. People won cookbooks and doughnut pans (I lost that one dangit), and Peanut Butter Company's peanut butter. All great things for baking. Thanks for the generosity, Lindsey!

• Sweetapolita - Marynika suggested this blog to me as one of her faves. And I can see why. Rosie is an avid lover of food and beauty. She's a mom and an entrepreneur and is pursuing not only her love of cakes but of photography. And she has a penchant for pink it seems. She has a recipe index (must have!) and also offers a list of baking supplies she loves (uber helpful). After looking at some of her fancy cakes and confections you'll want one. And you're in luck! She takes orders. She's located outside of Toronto, CA but definitely email her for some of those decadent looking cakes. I'm currently craving the very-vanilla butter sponge cake.

So, that's just a taste of the wonderful baking/cooking blogs out there. I know I love viewing the luscious designs, pristine pics, and organization of their sites and it's definitely something I can learn from for the next web re-design (years in the making).  I'm up for more suggestions as to good baking bloggers and feel free to check out my baking page and suggested links. I'm already compiling notes for my annual year-end baking posts and look forward to more posts this and next year. Here's to great baking!

My NYC Midnight Submission (Flash Fiction)

Yes, I have entered another NYCMidnight writing competition. This one is the flash fiction contest that I didn't have time to enter last year. But I made time this year! I also entered the flash fiction micro contest but didn't make it past the first round. I got the word 'stand' and you had to create a 100 character story, poem line, or what-have-you in twelve hours. I read through the posts and voted for a bunch and wish the best for those who made it to the next round. Something I realized when reading them was that many were light-hearted/poetic whereas mine were not. So, perhaps that's something to consider for the future.

Anywho, as is the way with NYCMidnight you can post your story for feedback until results come in for those who've made it to the next round.  You may remember this from my post earlier this year of my entry for the short story competition (top 5!). For this first round I was in group 1 and the mission was:

Genre: Science Fiction, Location: Fitness Center, Object: Knife Sharpener.

Pretty random huh? I know some others who got Sci-fi had a locale on a fish farm and heroin as an object. So I'm amped to see what comes out of that. 

While I don't generally write sci-fi, but do read it and fantasy and dystopian from time-to-time I found this a challenge. But luckily, the first idea I had after seeing my prompt was one I liked and stuck with. I do think it's kind of dark and that this may be a trend with me. I just don't write light-hearted I guess. Not in my creative DNA.

Well, without further ado here's "Friend or Foe":

 Friend or Foe

The stagnant smell of Patriot’s Gym invaded Celestra’s nostrils as she made her way to her father’s office. The fitness center went as far back as ten generations in her family. It seemed odd she was seeing glistening skin, energy capsules, weight balls hovering for the last time.

Unlike the bubble-shaped, iridescent buildings lining the streets of New Terra, Patriot’s was a sickly orange color, a relic brick building. It stood out for people like her father who preferred the world before humans and Soldarians co-existed.  The layout of the planet—balanced, ecological, relying on solar power—was the first strike her father had against them. No Soldarian was allowed to set foot on Patriot’s premises.

And it was unfortunate for Celestra that she fell in love with one. Devon’s smile revealed the sharp teeth of his people, but it hadn’t instilled the fear her father had when she was younger. As she and Devon made love the scales on his chest and arms rubbing against her skin became an aphrodisiac.

Celestra twisted the ring on her finger as she passed through the weight room glimpsing women struggling to finish another squat as a simulated trainer stood over them with arms akimbo. Reaching her destination she took a deep breath before going through the sliding door.

Her father was hunched over his desk. Holograms with line graphs dipping towards the floor were projected around him. Behind him was a shelf with awards he’d won for fitness, for helping fight obesity once the epidemic became pandemic. There were also medals from the war between humans and Soldarians, prior to the peace accord.

“What’s doing today, sweetheart?” he asked without taking his eyes off the projections.

“I’m okay, Daddy. How are you?“

“Fine. Just wondering about things is all.” His skin sagged under his eyes.

“I wonder too. How are you and Mom going to survive after…” she let it hang in the air.

Devon offered to help. He was financially stable, all Soldarians were. They were socialists in nature. This was the second strike against Soldarians, especially for people like Celestra’s father who had been wealthy and now suffered from his own prejudice.

As she took a seat across from her father a large butcher knife with an ivory handle on the shelf behind him caught her eye.

“Where’d you get that?” she asked.

Her father craned his neck and looked around before spotting the knife. “Friend gave it to me.”

“Why?”

Her father met her eyes. There was a coldness in them she hadn’t seen since he showed her the tip of his finger cut off from an unfortunate encounter with a Soldarian.

“My friend Ralph and I were in South Asia, where they first landed. We were alone for a bit then someone came through. Seeing as how they look like us straight off we couldn’t tell. First clue was the thing wouldn’t talk. Second was it was buttoned up tight in it’s fatigues, even though it was hot as a sauna.

“Me and Ralph hatched a plan to see if it was friend or foe. I ended up butting it with my laser rifle. When it stumbled it opened it’s mouth and we saw those nasty fangs.”

Celestra froze, recalling Devon’s teeth, how she thought they’d devour her, but were actually gentle, nibbling her skin.

“We tried to shoot it but they had those damn gun disablers. Ralph was a grade-A cook. He maneuvered to his rucksack and threw the knife right at it.

“After that it was friend or foe. And if they were foe, we always took a prize.”

His fingers massaged his temple. “Ralph died and left me this. And a sharpener for it.” He scanned the shelf before finding the sharpener. The cogs inside looked rusted and chipped. Celestra squirmed in her seat.

As the projections faded her father stared at her, his eyes unwavering causing Celestra to look away.

“Where’d you get that ring?”

She glanced up.

“You’re holding your hand trying to cover it like I wouldn’t notice.”

“I. Um. I met someone. And he’s wonderful, Daddy.”

Her father got up from the chair with force letting it swivel in mid-air.

“What’s he look like?” he asked looking out the window displaying the center.

“He has light eyes, dark hair, and a cleft in his chin. He’s tall and striking. We met at that event for people recovering from supercancer—“

“You leaving something out, sweetheart?”

She gulped at that. “I’ve never felt this way before. About anyone.”

“He’s one of them?” He turned around and she felt the shame wash over her. Celestra nodded.

“You’d marry one of them?” his voice rose with each word.

“It just happened. He spoke so eloquently, so passionately—”

“You’d let one of them touch you!”

He stormed back behind his desk. His face was a sickly red. His pallor went back to normal as he sat down. His hands drummed against his armrest before pushing a button.

Celestra heard humming before she felt the measured vibrations of her chair.

“Do you know what the prizes were?”

Eyes cast to the floor Celestra shook her head.

She heard a creaking sound then a thump. Celestra looked up to see a bulging satchel.

He lifted the bag letting the contents fall to the desk, some rolled off the sides. A fetid smell wafted to her nose. She tried to cover it with her hand but felt her body going numb.

They were rotting. But some were newer. She could tell by the color of them. Some had scales, but some were human.

“Daddy, please.”

He got up and waved his hand signaling the lights to dim.

His voice was tender as he asked for her hand.

“Soldarians aren’t bad—“ she began.

“Shhh.”

He forced her hand onto the desk.

She tried to pull away but found herself fixed, the chair holding her back, tricking her muscles.

“Friend or foe, sweetheart. Answer the question.”

[© 2011 Jennifer Baker-Henry 2011]