Tag Archives: Food

Happy 4th of July!

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It’s another year of celebrating the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted 245 years ago on July 4, 1776. Typically, it’s a time of celebration with our families and friends, watching fireworks, and eating lots of food.  And with more people vaccinated, many will be able to have these mingling celebrations. While the pandemic might seem like it is winding down, it simply isn’t over. So be safe while having fun. And no matter how you celebrate, here are a few facts you may not know:

  • Although adopted on July 4, it wasn’t officially signed on this day.
  • More than one copy exists.
  • A riot broke out in New York upon the news and a statue of George III was melted to shape more than 42,000 musket balls.
  • Eight of the 56 signers were born in Britain and not America.
  • Richard Stockton became the only signer to later recant his support of the revolution.
  • One of the copies sold for $8.1 million.

For expanded explanations and additional things you may not know, go to History.com. As always, be safe and have a great day!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

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Merry Christmas!

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Santa

This year has been rough for many. Most never thought they’d live to experience a pandemic, yet here they are still clenched in it’s jaws with relief just out of reach. Many won’t be gathering with family members to keep themselves and those they love safe. That’s perfectly okay. Christmas looks different this year. It will come and go like any other crazy 2020 day, and we will still love each other when it’s over.

Safe travels to anyone braving the gathering experience. I hope everyone has plenty of food to stuff their bellies and joy to fill their hearts. And if it’s within your power, remember those less fortunate. Christmas should be about giving and less about taking. Also, remember to call those you know are alone to check on them and remind them how much you care, and to see if they need anything.

I send prayers out to those whom are ill this Christmas and fighting diseases. May God touch you with his grace, heal you, and bless this day and every day for your future.

Christmas my not be super merry this year, but it’s still Christmas. Have a blessed day!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Happy Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is a designated time to remember what we are thankful for in life. For many, it’s having our health to spend time with family and friends while gorging on amazing meals until our stomach feels like it will explode. But there are others who might be joyful they survived a fatal illness to be here celebrating with people they love. Or maybe, there are those thrilled to still have a job, maybe paid a mortgage off, or even happy because they got that iPhone they’ve always wanted.

All of this still holds true amongst this horrible pandemic. We all want to get back to the way life was before this virus, but it sometimes feels like a fantasy with cases starting to soar this season. So, for those that are still having family gatherings, small or large, I pray you stay safe. Wear a mask when required, keep your distance, and taken cautioun before kissing on loved one. (I vote for elbow bumps to be the new kiss!)

As for me, I’d like to thank:

  • My family and friends who’ve supported me with my writing.
  • My readers. (Because without y’all, I’d have no reason to have a blog!)
  • All my critique partners, beta readers, and anyone who has ever glanced at a few pitches/pages/chapters and offered feedback (The list is SUPER long and I LOVE you guys!).
  • Contest hosts for supplying fabulous opportunities with agents and mentoring, and for selecting me at some point in the past for one thing or another. (For example: Brenda Drake, Authoress, Micelle Hauck, and Jessa Russo.)
  • Slush readers. (I know your eyes cross and we don’t send enough chocolate!)
  • The creator’s of Preditors & Editors, Writer’s Beware  and Absolute Write Forums. (Trust me when I say they’ll save you from agent and publishing scams.)
  • And finally (but not last), to God for giving me the strength to get through each day, especially for 2020! (For numerous reasons, but especially my health.)

I’m sure there are many things and other people I may have forgotten, and ask forgiveness if I have. Everyone in my physical and virtual life are very important to me. Y’all give me strength to become the best me. And yes, you complete me! (Go ahead, grab a tissue.)

Whatever your reason for being thankful today, I wish you the Happiest of Thanksgivings!

XOXO

P.D. Pabst
Writer and blogger of MG/YA Fiction

Happy 4th of July!

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Image result for happy july 4 gifs

It’s another year of celebrating the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted 244 years ago on July 4, 1776. Typically, it’s a time of celebration with our families and friends, watching fireworks, and eating lots of food.  This year with the pandemic, all might be done a bit differently. But no matter how you celebrate, here are a few facts you may not know:

  • Although adopted on July 4, it wasn’t officially signed on this day.
  • More than one copy exists.
  • A riot broke out in New York upon the news and a statue of George III was melted to shape more than 42,000 musket balls.
  • Eight of the 56 signers were born in Britain and not America.
  • Richard Stockton became the only signer to later recant his support of the revolution.
  • One of the copies sold for $8.1 million.

For expanded explanations and additional things you may not know, go to History.com. As always, be safe and have a great day!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

SAN FRANCISCO WRITERS CONFERENCE

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San Francisco Writers Conference

The 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference will be held on February 13-16 at the historical Hyatt Regency Embarcadero. Meet keynoters:  

But the SFWC presenters list also includes many more bestselling authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers from major publishing houses.  There are experts on self-publishing, book promotion, platform building, social media, and author websites.

2020 SFWC PRESENTERS:
Nina Amir, author and writing coach
Kathleen Antrim, author, copresident of International Thriller Writers
Jim Azevedo, marketing director at Smashwords
Armand Baltazar, author/illustrator ***KID’S EVENT PRESENTER***
Jordan Bernal, author and past president of CWC Tri-Valley Branch
Cara Black, bestselling mystery novelist
Carole Bumpus, travel/food writer
Stephen E. Browne, online editor and marketing pro
Stephanie Chandler, author and CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association
Paula Chinick, author and past president of California Writers Club Tri-Valley Branch
Amanda Clay, novelist
Mark Coker, author and founder of major ebook distributor Smashwords
Christine Conradt, screenwriter, author, director and producer
E.J. DeBrun, animator and storyteller
Aya de Leon, author, activist, teacher
Laurie Ann Doyle, author, essayist, writing teacher
Taryn Edwards, Strategic Partnerships Manager and Historian, Mechanics’ Institute of San Francisco
Kate Farrell, author, librarian, storyteller
Grant Faulkner, author, Executive Director of NaNoWriMo, Co-founder of 100 Word Story
Joey Garcia, author, journalist, love expert
Joan Gelfand, poet, author, book coach
Cali Gilbert, author, screenwriter, filmmaker
Sarah Granger, author, playwright and screenwriter
Seth Greenwald, author, speaker, creativity coach
Connie Hale, author, journalist
Barbara Hall, TV producer, screenwriter and author
Dorothy Hearst, author
Rebecca Hunter, author
Meredith Jaeger, author
Dr. Andy Jones, poet & Pub Quiz Host
Elizabeth Kauffman, indie editor and social media guru
Carla King, author and self-publishing expert, founder of Self-Publishing Boot Camp
Mary E. Knippel, independent editor, writing mentor, and author
C. S. Lakin, author, copy-editor, and writing coach
Rocky Lang, author, producer, director, screenwriter
Heather Lazare, editorial & publishing consultant
Linda Lee, website designer and WordPress expert, SFWC Volunteer Director
Christopher Locke, IBPA and author
Richard Loranger, poet, performance artist,
Jill Lublin, marketing guru
Louise Marley, novelist
Claire McKinney, PR professional
Brian D. Meeks, nonfiction author, fantasy novelist
Kira Ming, author, indie editor
Louise Nayer, memoirist, poet, and writing instructor
Anne Perry, NYT bestselling novelist
Adam Plantinga, police sergeant, author
Lissa Provost, poet, author and SFWC Operations Manager
Jordan Rosenfeld, author, editor, and coach
Bob Saenz, screenwriter
Barbara Santos, author of Practice Aloha and two cookbooks, and Marketing Director for SFWC
Kate Schatz, feminist writer, activist, educator
Maw Shein Win, poet
Kevin Smokler, author, performer, and public speaker
Miriam Klein Stahl, artist, activist, educator
Suzette Standring, author, TV host, syndicated columnist, national speaker
Ransom Stephens, novelist, scientist, international speaker
Alex Tillson, novelist, attorney
Kevin Tumlinson, Director of Marketing for Draft2Digital and host of Wordslinger Podcast
Eleanor Vincent, author
Lyzette Wanzer, novelist, essayist, writing instructor
Monica Wesolowska, author, independent editor, teacher
Victoria Zackheim, author
Paul Zeidman, screenwriter and actor

The lists for attending agents and editors looks topnotch! Some of the agents will even be accepting pitches during the Speed Dating For Agents. You can see a list of those participating here. But for an idea of the many agents and editors that will be in attendance, here is a list:

AGENTS:
Alicia Brooks, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
Karly Caserza, Fuse Literary
Michele Crim, Miller, Bowers, Griffin Literary
Karyn Fischer, Bookstop Literary
Rachelle Gardner, Books & Such Literary
Nicole Geiger, Full Circle Literary
Jennie Kendrick, Red Fox Literary
Liz Kracht, Kimberley Cameron & Assoc.
Rachel Letofsky, Cooke Literary
Paul S. Levine, Paul S. Levine Literary Agency (also entertainment lawyer)
Em Lysaght, Ladderbird Literary
Dorian Maffei, Kimberley Cameron & Assoc.
Jill Marr, Sandra Dijkstra Literary
Laurie McLean, Fuse Literary and Director of SFWC
Mary C. Moore, Kimberley Cameron & Assoc.
Andy Ross, Andy Ross Agency
Katharine Sands, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
Emma Sector, Prospect Agency
Alec Shane, Writers House
Eric Smith, P.S. Literary
Jennifer March Soloway, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Saba Sulaiman, Talcott Notch Literary Agency
Gordon Warnock, Fuse Literary

EDITORS/INDEPENDENT EDITORS:
Sylvan Creekmore, Wednesday Books/Macmillan
Rachel Diebel, St. Martins/Macmillan
Diane Frank, poet and publisher of Blue Light Press
Georgia Hughes, New World Library
Joyce Jenkins, poet and publisher of Poetry Flash
Jennifer Joseph, Manic D Press
Brenda Knight, Mango Press
Danielle Marshall, Amazon Publishing (Lake Union)
Laura Mazer, Seal Press/Hachette
Michelle Millet, Indie editor
Taylor Norman, Chronicle Books
Amber Oliver, Perennial/HarperCollins
Jill Roberts, Tachyon Publications
Jodi Warshaw, Amazon Publishing (Lake Union)
Jacob Weisman, Tachyon Publications
 

For those attending, this sounds like a great four days of learning and marketing yourself. Good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Santa

Wishing all my family, friends, wonderful critique partners, virtual friends, and readers of this blog a Merry Christmas! Safe travels to everyone going out of town. I hope everyone has plenty of food to stuff their bellies and joy to fill their hearts. And if it’s within your power, remember those less fortunate. Christmas should be about giving and less about taking.

Also, I send prayers out to those whom are ill this Christmas and fighting diseases. May God touch you with his grace, heal you, and bless this day and every day for your future.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

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Image result for happy july 4 gifs

Hooray! It’s another year of celebrating the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted 243 years ago on July 4, 1776. It’s a time of celebration with our families and friends, watching fireworks, and eating lots of food.  As you prepare for your day of fun, here are a few facts you may not know:

  • Although adopted on July 4, it wasn’t officially signed on this day.
  • More than one copy exists.
  • A riot broke out in New York upon the news and a statue of George III was melted to shape more than 42,000 musket balls.
  • Eight of the 56 signers were born in Britain and not America.
  • Richard Stockton became the only signer to later recant his support of the revolution.
  • One of the copies sold for $8.1 million.

For expanded explanations and additional things you may not know, go to History.com. As always, be safe and have a great day!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Santa

Wishing all my family, friends, wonderful critique partners, virtual friends, and readers of this blog a Merry Christmas! Safe travels to everyone going out of town. I hope everyone has plenty of food to stuff their bellies and joy to fill their hearts. And if it’s within your power, remember those less fortunate. Christmas should be about giving and less about taking.

Also, I send prayers out to those whom are ill this Christmas and fighting diseases. May God touch you with his grace, heal you, and bless this day and every day for your future.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving is a designated time to remember what we are thankful for in life. For many, it’s having our health to spend time with family and friends while gorging on amazing meals until our stomach feels like it will explode. But there are others who might be joyful they survived a fatal illness to be here celebrating with people they love. Or maybe, there are those thrilled to still have a job, maybe paid off a mortgage, or even happy because they got that iPhone they’ve always wanted.

As for me, I’d like to thank:

  • My family and friends who’ve supported me with my writing. I LOVE you guys!
  • My daughter and grandson for bringing me joy in my life with their adventurous spirit.
  • My readers. (Because without y’all, I’d have no reason to have a blog!)
  • All my past and current critique partners (especially Diana DeBolt Johnson, Kathleen S. Allen. and G.Z Schmidt!). This includes anyone who has ever glanced at a few pitches/pages/chapters and offered feedback (the list is long).
  • Contest hosts for supplying fabulous opportunities with agents and mentoring, and for those who selected me at some point in the past, for one thing or another. (For example: Brenda Drake, Authoress (Jillian Boehme), and Michelle Hauck.)
  • The mentors that participated in contests. Your feedback was completely awesome!
  • All slush readers (agents, editors, mentors, etc.) are the bomb. We don’t send enough chocolate, and I apologize!
  • The creator’s of Preditors & Editors (linky still down), Writer’s Beware , Absolute Write Forums, Publishers Marketplace, QueryTracker and Manuscript Wish List. (I use them often.)
  • All the authors that allowed me to participate in their book releases or cover reveals!
  • For all the ARCs I received, because FREE BOOKS before they’re published is AWESOME!
  • I have a job and I adore working with all my coworkers!
  • And finally (but not last), to God for giving me the strength to get through each day.

I’m sure there are many things and other people I may have forgotten, and ask forgiveness if I have. Everyone in my physical and virtual life are very important to me. Y’all give me strength to become the best me. Thank you for being a part of my life!

Whatever your reason for being thankful today, I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings!

XOXO

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

 

Happy Easter and, um, Happy April Fools’ Day!

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Image result for free easter clip art

Yay, it’s Easter! Time for religious celebrations, eggs, chocolate, and family gatherings! Some folks celebrate for different reasons, and this is okay. Whether you’re a church goer, or not, I hope everyone has time for some egg hunting, eating, or just plain foolery! Yep, I aid foolery! Because…it is also April Fools Day!

So while you’re scheming your next trick, here are some fun facts I found about Easter and April Fool’s Day on Bing and other searches today:

  • Did you realize that Easter’s date often changes? Easter Sunday can fall anywhere between March 22 to April 25. Easter is based on the lunar calendar (moon) rather than our more well-known solar one, thus the variation in the date.
  • Why the name Easter? The most popular answer is that the name Easter comes from a pagan figure called Eastre (or Eostre) who was celebrated as the goddess of spring by the Saxons of Northern Europe.
  • How does Easter translate in religion? The Greek word translated “Easter” in Acts 12:4 is pascha, and refers to Passover, which was always kept on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan (Abib). It was Passover, not Easter, that God commanded His people to observe, and they did so throughout early New Testament time.
  • Christian’s Celebrate: The resurrection of Jesus Christ which occurred on the third day after he was crucified on the cross. Back in the day, decorating Easter eggs was traditionally a symbol of the empty tomb. This tradition is called Pysanka. Christians believe that Easter eggs symbolize new life and resurrection.
  • The week before Easter has a couple names: Holy Week and Passion Week. This week contains Palm Sunday, Maudy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Passover (Wednesday).
  • How much money is spent on Easter? According to Statistic Brain in 2017, the total monies spent on Easter candies was $2.1 billion and total amount on Easter related goods $14.6 billion!
  • How did April Fool’s Day Begin? The true origins of April Fools’ Day are uncertain, but one theory is that it began in 1582, when France adopted the Gregorian calendar. Before then, New Year’s Day fell on March 25, not January 1. And those who continued to celebrate the old New Year (at the beginning of April) were called “fools” by their early adopting peers.
  • Be careful what you read! Some newspapers, magazines and other published media report fake stories on April Fool’s Day, which are usually explained the next day or below the news section in smaller letters. Sometimes they involve elaborate pranks, such as this one in Copenhagan Metro in 2001.

Hope everyone has a fantastic day! And as you’re eating, watch out for all the tricksters!

P.D. Pabst

Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.