5-Minute Craft Tutorial to make St Paddy's Day Garland

If you're like me and you like to decorate for the holidays but don't want to spend a lot of money on store-bought decorations, you might enjoy my 5-minute tutorial, which shows  you how to make a fun Shamrock garland with scraps of fabric you might have around the house (and if not, you could use old (nearly worn out) towels or t-shirts). If you're curious how I did this super simple garland, click on the video below to see it.

Writerly Wednesday - Upcoming Writing Contests

 

Writing contests can encourage you to perfect your craft while giving you the opportunity to earn a little recognition, make some money and hopefully meet some new friends. So get those pages polished, and start cracking those knuckles because it's time to deep dive into the murky waters of writing contests. What do you have to lose? And after reading about these contests, you'll see you might have a lot to win. 

Here is a list of upcoming contests for writers: 

The Writer: Flash Fiction Writing Contest - The Writer (writermag.com)

Essay Contest: Contests - The Writer (writermag.com)

The James Laughlin Poetry contest: James Laughlin Award | Academy of American Poets

PitMad: #PitMad | Pitch Wars

Good luck everyone. Now send those pages, articles and stories out because you might win and even if you don't, you could make some  good friends along the way. 

Flosstube Episode #2 Sisters celebrating St. Paddy's Day with Cross-stitch

Anyone else have a sister they spend time with - especially during the pandemic? Well, I grew up in a family, where Mom and Dad had nine kids and all we ever did was spend time together. So, now that we're older and (hopefully) wiser, we're trying to have fun instead of spending our time cleaning, cooking and  basically helping the family get by. And one of the ways we've been spending our time connecting creatively is by cross-stitching. We have also just started playing tennis together and enjoying the outdoors by running.

If you're interested in any of these things, please click on the short video below and let us know what you think. Plus, if you cross-stitch or run or play tennis, we'd love to connect with you too.

Writerly Wednesday - Tips, Tricks and Helpful Hints to Help You Find Your Path to Publication

 

If you're looking for helpful hints to find a few ways to connect with a literary agent, here are a few tips: On April 17, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators from the Inland NW Region is hosting an Agent Day. 

They will have three agents on faculty (see below): 

1)  KellyDyksterhouse (Raven Quill)

 Kelly is looking for middle grade and young adult manuscripts. 

She wants action-adventure with heart and universal themes such as identity, friendship, family, and an #ownvoices novel in verse or coming of age story. She enjoys magical realism, and books with a sense of wonder and magic. 

She wants contemporary YA, #ownvoices that explore the struggle between personal identity, family identity and culture, a YA fantasy that feels new, has great action and a romantic thread.

 Query her at QueryMe.Online/KellyDyksterhouse

 2)  Paige Terlip (Andrea Brown Literary Agency) is looking for all categories of children’s books from picture books to young adult, as well as select adult fiction and nonfiction. She is also looking for illustrators and author-illustrators and graphic novel illustrators.

She wants high concept novels with captivating hooks, snarky characters with hearts of gold, creative magic systems, complicated relationships, and found families. She likes well-plotted twists, being a little bit scared, and stories that explore the fluidity of gender and bring the queer experience to light.

On the adult side she's open to thrillers/psychological suspense, fantasy/sci-fi, upmarket fiction, cozy mysteries, as well as narrative nonfiction and self-help. She loves stories that make her feel a range of emotions, and a narrative that sticks with her long after she closes the book.

 Query her when she opens to submissions at Query Manager: QueryManager.com/PaigeTerlip 

3) LisaAmstutz – Storm Literary (Lisa is closed to submissions right now) But when she reopens, she is looking for nonfiction of all ages. She loves books with heart; science, agricultural and environmental topics; new insights on history, culture or the arts; strong characters and settings; humor; lyrical texts and multicultural themes. 

But you can query her colleague Michelle Hauck with middle grade,  young adult and some adult genres. She isn't accepting nonfiction, picture books of chapter books at this time. 

Query Michelle here 

 

 

Valentine's Cake Pops and Cake

Valentine's Day Cake Pops to Decorate a Cake

I've been sitting at home for months now and haven't been able to spend time with my friends and from what I can see, I think we could all use a little. . . or  maybe a lot of . . .love so I thought I'd share one of my secret recipes...it's one that I really love, for cake pops. Plus, in this video I use cookies and cake pops to give my Valentine's (Galentine's) (Palentine’s) Day Cake a little extra pizazz! 

If you are interested in how I made these cake pops or the cookie pops, just click on the video link below to see how to do it. And, if you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below. 

And, Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you have a super sweet day!

Valentine's Cookies and Homemade Basket

Happy Galentine's Day

Is anyone else baking for Valentine's Day? I love to bake, make and create and I have a neighbor who has been having a rough week, so I thought, "Why not celebrate Galentine's Day too?" 

I pulled out my flour, eggs, butter, baking powder, vanilla, sugar, white chocolate and a little lemon juice and went to work making cookies. But, then I needed to take the cookies over to her house and Portland, Oregon is in the middle of an ice/snow storm so I didn't want to attempt to go to the store to buy a gift bag or some wrapping paper. Instead, I pulled out a sheet of cardstock that was sitting around the house and created my own gift basket. 

DIY Paper Basket

If you'd like to see how I did it, simply click on the link below or go to my YouTube page (Kim Kasch) and search my videos for the latest one. 

Some  Yummy Valentine's Day Cookies

5 Literary Agents Looking for Manuscripts

 

Agents Representing MG and YA Fiction:

  

 

1.      Tasneem Motala of The Rights Factory is currently looking for character-driven MG and YA fiction, with or without a touch of magic, written by BIPOC authors.

 

Query link: https://querymanager.com/query/2005Query Submission (querymanager.com)

 

 

2.      Crystal Orazu of Context Literary is looking for middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction that explores interpersonal relationships amongst traditional/chosen family members and friends using either realistic or fantastical elements (especially from a first or second-gen immigrant perspective). Fun sleight of hand/heist/spy narratives like the Gallagher Girls series and darker stories along the lines of Coraline are also very welcome.

 

Query: short bio, and 5-10 pages inserted into the body of the email to querycrystal @ contextlit.com

 

3.      Margaret Danko of Paper OverBoard is looking for attention-grabbing voices especially #ownvoices narratives, literary fiction with teeth, historical fiction with a dash of magical realism, fresh literary and commercial suspense, spooky contemporary and fantasy YA, quirky and heartwarming family stories, and romcoms full of charm and whimsy. She is also interested in nonfiction in the areas of lifestyle, popular science, health/wellness, true crime, politics and current affairs.

 

Query: Margaret.submissions@ paperoverboard.com

Please list that you are submitting to Margaret in your email

 

4.      Emily Forney of Bookends Literary is looking for Picture Books, Middle Grade and Young Adult manuscripts.

 

See her page here: About Us - BookEnds Literary Agency

 

Query with your query letter, synopsis, and optional page samples to her  QueryManager  https://querymanager.com/emilyforney

 

You can also see her calls for submissions and wish list on Twitter @emilykaitlinnn

 

5.      Analieze Cervantes of Harvey Klinger Literary Agency is looking for sci-fi with a Dystopian feel (e.g. Divergent); contemporary romance); mystery (think Riverdale); paranormal but no zombies!; crime fiction; LGBTQ (love story); and thriller/suspense (cliffhangers, want to be on the edge of my seat).

 

Query: by sending your query letter, synopsis and the first five pages of your manuscript to her query manager at https://querymanager.com/query/AnaliezeCervantes

 

 

Valentine's Day Week Dinners

 

Does anyone else like to prepare special meals for the holidays? Well, I like to prepare fun, fancy meals the entire week. These pork chops were what I prepared tonight. 

See how simple it is to make an ordinary dinner seem special, simply by getting the "right" cut of meat?

I also like to use a little food coloring in my mashed potatoes, and add a fun and festive alcoholic beverage to our nighttime meal to make it all the merrier. 

I added a few spices to these pork chops to heat them up. I used a sprinkling of Turmeric because why not add a little color with some  potent antioxidants at the same time? 

If you've never heard of Turmeric, it's the spice that gives curry its yellow color and has been used  in India for thousands of years as a medicinal herb and spice. 

And as I age, one of the things I really appreciate about Turmeric is its proclaimed ability to improve joint and bone health while reducing inflammation. Plus, it has been tested as a cancer-fighting spice. And most important of all,  it has been shown to be an effective antidepressant (and couldn't we all use that about now?)

 

Writerly Wednesday - Agent Info

 

If you've spent the last year in lockdown writing that perfect story and you're ready to start submitting your work to literary agents, you might want to take a  look at this boutique literary agency. She's been  around since 2004, so she has the experience you're looking for: Kathryn Green's agency

On her website, you'll see she says, "... I have purposely kept my list small. I am happy to consider all types of fiction but particularly like historical fiction, cozy mysteries, young adult and middle grade. For non-fiction I am interested in memoir, parenting, humor with a pop culture bent, and history. Quirky non- fiction is also a particular favorite."

She represents: Upmarket fiction, cozy mysteries, young adult and middle grade fiction, non-fiction (the quirkier, the better), and true crime. But she doesn't accept Science fiction/fantasy, children’s picture books, screenplays or poetry.

3 Agents Looking for Manuscripts - Monday Manuscript Motivation

If you’re an author looking for an agent, I thought I’d offer a little help on this Moan…day 

Monday is the start of a new week and I'm hoping to help get this Valentine week off to a creative start. Let me know if this short list inspires you all to start submitting your “darlings” to these wonderful women. What better way to share a little love this Valentine’s week, than by sharing your babies with the world?

And good luck to all of you entering the submission trenches.  

3 Agents looking for manuscripts:

1)

ERIN NIUMATA is open for queries.

She’s looking for commercial nonfiction, including memoir, as well as fiction: mysteries, rom-coms, and commercial women’s fiction.

To submit to her: send your query letter, synopsis and first three chapters of your manuscript (or simply your query letter if you’re submitting non-fiction). Submit everything in the body of the email to erin [@] foliolit.com. Put QUERY in the subject line. Response time can take up to six weeks.

But before you submit, check her out here on Twitter: @ecniumata and her website here: ErinNiumata — Folio Literary Management

2)

LAUREN SPIELLER

Lauren just reopened for submissions on Saturday, February 6^th, so now is the perfect time to get that query sent on its way.

She’s seeking Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction, plus some Adult fiction and non-fiction. But she’s always looking for diverse and underrepresented voices.

But before you submit, check her out here on Twitter: @laurenspieller and her literary listing here: Agents- TRIADA US LITERARY AGENCY and her website here: Literary Agent | LaurenSpieller | Young Adult Author and don’t forget to read over her Manuscript Wish List here: LaurenSpieller - The Official Manuscript Wish List Website – submissions should be sent to lauren @ triadaus . com (of course leave out the spaces).  

3)

Heather Cashman

Heather has reopened to queries for Picture Books (PB), Middle Grade stories (MG) and Young Adult (YA) too. She also does some adult fiction.

But before you submit, check her out here on Twitter: @HeatherCashman plus you can see her literary listing with Storm Literary Agency here: About Us — Storm LiteraryAgency and don’t forget to read her submission guidelines and manuscript wish list on that same site.

  

Valentine's Day Sewing Tutorial

Valentine's Day is next weekend and if you're like me, you might be thinking of adding a little color and creativity to your home to help put you in the holiday mood.

Here's an easy way to make some "magical" pillowcases with seemingly seamless seams.

And, if I can do this, you can do it too.

If you'd like to see how  to do it, just click the video below. And, if you do make them, please drop a comment in the  comment section because I'd love to hear about your experience.

Writerly Wednesday

 

With the new year underway, I thought what better time than to set a few goals? And, I thought it would be more fun if I connected with other like-minded folk who enjoy fiction, fantasy and maybe even a little fun too.

So, I thought I’d start a Writerly Wednesday blog where I could list upcoming competitions for writers and illustrators and perhaps some mentoring opportunities.

And I wanted to begin with Brenda Drake’s competition. If you’ve never heard of Pitch Wars or PitMad, check it out here: Pitch Wars and if you’ve never heard of Brenda Drake you can read more about her here:  Pitch Wars » Brenda Drake

Years ago, I competed in Pitch Wars and was lucky enough to win a mentorship. It was a fantastic opportunity and an even better journey on my path to publication. Now, I’m not saying that I sold that particular book…yet…but it definitely helped me take my manuscript to the next level.

So, if you’re looking for a little help with your creativity, Pitch Wars might just be perfect for you. And, if you’re simply looking for some like-minded friends or building your network in the writing community, this is a great place to begin.

And if you have any questions about my experience through the Pitch Wars process, please list them in the comment section below.

Let’s all work together to make this a better, more creative, year for everyone.