Confession: I have not read The Funeral Dress by Susan Gregg Gilmore, the From Left to Write October book club selection. I fully intended to when I signed up to read it and write a post inspired by it. But, between writing assignments, book reviews and motherhood, I haven't had a chance to even crack the spine. The Funeral Dress is about a young mother who takes it upon herself to sew a dress for her mentor when that woman suddenly dies. There was something about the plot and the small town setting that stirred a story in me. So, I've decided to participate in my second National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) this November. For years, I have been talking about writing a novel. Just talking about it. For. Years. I've started several, and by started I mean I've written a page or two here and there. The most fiction I ever wrote was 75 pages for a grad school class seven years ago. That novel is still languishing unfinished. This November, I am going to write 50,000 … [Read more...]
Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine Opens in DC
Sophie's Cuban Cuisine, a New York City Cuban restaurant, opened its first location in Washington, DC, this week. And I had the pleasure of dining there with Liza of (a)Musing Foodie. Liza and I braved the streets of Northwest Washington in a Chevy Traverse on the day the federal government shutdown. Not so easy but we lucked out and found valet parking two doors down from the restaurant. Inside, we were greeted by Sophie herself and her incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff. We sampled plantains, three kinds of rice, three different meat dishes, and a cubano (Cuban sandwich also available as a wrap.) When you go, make sure to order a side of Sophie's special green sauce to accompany your meat dishes (its dairy free). And save room for a Batido, a fruity tropical shake. It's so good. Sophie's Cuban Cuisine is located at 1134 19th Street NW in Washington, DC. Lunch was provided for free. Transportation was provided by the GM Northeast Team. Thank you. … [Read more...]
Q&A With Thin Reads Founder Howard Polskin
Have you discovered Thin Reads? It’s a web site created by digital media pro Howard Polskin. The site is devoted to e-book singles – short fiction or non-fiction that’s longer than a magazine article but shorter than a book. Here’s what he had to say about his latest venture and the growing e-book industry. What inspired you to create Thin Reads? I met with John Tayman, one of the co-founders of the wonderful e-book single company Byliner.com. He told me about this new form of content he was publishing. Before I boarded my flight back to New York, I downloaded two e-book singles from Amazon. By the time I landed, I was hooked on the form. But I wanted someone to guide me on what to buy and give me a heads-up on what was good. There was nothing in the market. That’s when the light bulb went off to create Thin Reads. What does Thin Reads offer readers? For readers coming to my site, there are four simple things we offer: reviews, author interviews, news and analysis of the … [Read more...]
Dine Out For No Kid Hungry At La Madeleine Cafe #Giveaway
Stepping inside the Annapolis mall, I'm drawn to the pastry counter at the entrance of la Madeleine Country French Cafe. But I can only look; there are no gluten-free treats here. That's okay, though, because I'm here to meet with Stephanie Miller, director of marketing for la Madeleine. Inside, I forget I'm at a mall; the decor is cozy with an inviting fireplace as the centerpiece of the restaurant. The dark woods and faux brick create a rustic and quaint look. I could easily sit here with an espresso and write for hours. Stephanie and I sit at a table and sip raspberry ice tea while she shares the la Madeleine story with me. She tells me about Chef Patrick and his passion for the French countryside and his mission to bring the flavors of that region to America. And then she tells me about No Kid Hungry, the Share Our Strength national campaign to end childhood hunger. September is No Kid Hungry Month and, this year, la Madeleine has pledged $200,000 to the campaign. With … [Read more...]
Jauntaroo The Best Job Around the World
I applied to be Jauntaroo's Chief World Explorer, which means traveling the world in 2014 and getting paid to write about it. Sign. Me. Up. Its a dream job, for sure, but its also a contest; the top 50 videos, determined by number of likes, will advance to the next phase of the competition. Voting is simple. Just click like on my video once every 24 hours from every device that you own with internet access. No registration is required. My goal is 1000 likes. I'm at 80 this morning. Please LIKE my video and share it with your friends. Thank you so very much! What's your dream job? Let me know in the comments below. … [Read more...]
