The American South from a Tour Van
Baltimore, Maryland
Unless you plan on staying for the cheap rent, I would keep driving. Even getting off the highway for gas or a quick bite to eat could cost you a few hours trying to find your way back to the I-95.
Blacksburg, Virginia
Luckily you don’t have to drive through this town, as it’s about 10 miles off the highway. Unless you’re curious to see the home of the Virginia Tech massacre, I would keep heading south to Asheville.
10 Ways to Save Big on Holiday Shopping
Looking for simple and savvy ways to save money on a tight budget? In 397 Ways to Save Money, author Kerry K. Taylor shows that by looking in every corner of every room in your house, from the kitchen to the closet, and by considering the needs of every member of your family, from your toddler to your dog, you can find ways to save thousands of dollars in unexpected places without feeling pinched -- and even have fun. Here are 10 simple ways to save big when shopping for the holidays.
1. Shop online. Skip the stores and save yourself some grief by sticking to the online shops to save a bundle. Many retailers offer online holiday sales and specials that aren't available in stores. So get clicking online before stepping foot in the mall to save 10% to 50% on everything from books to electronic gadgets. Just be sure to get free or cheap shipping before hitting the checkout -- there's no sense killing your deal with crazy delivery fees.
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Just kidding, our author Rebecca Gowers' heart isn't in a twist. Instead, she's written a book called The Twisted Heart, and provided us with this lovely, engaging piece for The Savvy Reader about making the complex and diverse parts of the novel work.
Putting the Pieces Together
The Twisted Heart was a real challenge to construct. Right from the start I knew I wanted to combine elements that would usually be found in separate books. It would be based around the unfolding of an imaginary 21st-century romance, but it would also explore the genuine puzzle of a horrendous murder from the 1830s. It would be fiction, but my fictional characters were going to be pursuing a non-fiction crime thread. Charles Dickens would be the focus of the real-life crime puzzle, but I would covertly lean on Jane Austen for my romantic plot. On top of all this, The Twisted Heart was going to be a sort of university novel -- worse still, one set in Oxford.
These ingredients were potentially defeatingly at odds, but my wish was to make them play off each other, and speak to each other, in interesting ways. I intended nineteenth-century concerns about fact, fiction, and truth (whatever that is) to be integral to the novel, and planned to question the entertainment value of extreme violence, partly through dishing it up myself. Meanwhile, I was hoping to create a book that readers could find sheerly enjoyable. Although a lot of thought would go into the book, I didn’t want this to trouble the person who wasn’t inclined to stop and wonder about it.
First time novelist Lynn Crymble writes this sweet post about whether or not a parent can ever, truly, impress their kid. Her first novel, It Can Happen To You, was published this August.
Proud Parents, Talented Kids, and The Gift of Perspective
I’m a proud parent, I’ll admit that. From the day my daughter was born and scored above average on the Apgar score, my husband, Rob, and I knew we had a winner. Cute. Smart. Athletic. Artistic. All-round renaissance babe. Throughout each developmental stage, from potty training to cursive writing, we have cheered her on. At soccer games and piano recitals and dance performances, we have hollered and supported and encouraged her. And it’s been good fun, too.
Then three years ago, I decided to dedicate myself to writing a novel.
“What’s Mommy doing?”
The inspiration behind Cathy Marie Buchanan's first novel, The Day the Falls Stood Still, was found both in history and in geography. Here the author has put together a post that combines some of the historical photos she uncovered while researching the novel matched with apt quotes from the book. This post alternatively appears on Peeking Between the Pages.
1. Niagara Falls
(photo credit: Library of Congress, 3b15325r)
“As always, our procession paused at the falls and I looked into the water of the upper river, at the round stones of the riverbed, each large enough to resist being torn from its resting-place and flung over the brink. Clear water hurtled past the stones, then shattered to white as it plunged to the river below. Standing there at the brink of the falls, I asked for a young man to be spared, a young man for me.”
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Author and creator of Squawkfox.com Kerry K. Taylor lists the top 12 ways to travel far on a small budget, even during a recession.
12 Easy Ways to Travel Far on a Tight Budget
It’s that time of year when families plan for a fun vacation and friends travel to new destinations. In 397 Ways to Save Money, author Kerry K. Taylor shows you how to save thousands of dollars on everything from big adventures to short getaways without feeling pinched. You'll also find easy ways to save money closer to home by looking in every corner of every room in your house, from the kitchen to the closet, and by considering the needs of every member of your family, from your toddler to your dog, you can find ways to save thousands of dollars in unexpected places -- and even have fun. Here are 12 easy ways to travel far and save big on a small budget.
Get a good exchange on your loonies
If you’re travelling to the
U.S. or overseas, currency exchanges can cost you a bundle. Plan ahead
and exchange cash at a your home bank rather than the airport or hotel:
counters that cater to tourists offer unfavourable rates. While the
Interac system is widely available in the U.S., both the local bank and
your home bank usually charge a hefty service fee for withdrawals, and
an additional fee (typically about 2% or 3%) for the currency exchange.
Ask your bank how you can reduce these charges.
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Cathy Marie Buchanan's first novel, The Day the Falls Stood Still, will be released this coming September. There's a great deal of buzz building for the novel, both here at home and in the US, where Hyperion will be publishing at the same time. This week her wonderful Tuesday Essay appeared on the Globe and Mail's website, and she kindly sent over a delightful guest blog post uncovering the truth behind her title. Are you hooked yet?
Pondering the Title
I’m guessing that at least some readers looking at the cover of The Day the Falls Stood Still would assume the title is a metaphor for the cataclysmic power of young love. We all know the language -- heart-stopping, earth-shattering, dizzying. “Falls-stilling” just might pop into reader’s minds as they think back to their own first thrilling kiss. The assumption would be right; there is in fact a love story between the covers of the book.
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The star of MTV’s #1 rated show, The Hills, Lauren Conrad has plenty of firsthand knowledge about growing up in the limelight. In L.A. Candy, the first of a deliciously scandalous three-part series, nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts moves to L.A. and unexpectedly becomes the star of a reality T.V. show. With fame comes wealth, hot clothes and even hotter love interests -- but soon, Jane realizes everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be. A fast-paced, honest and entertaining fictional account of what it’s like to come of age in Hollywood while starring in a hot reality series, L.A. Candy is the perfect treat to kick off your summer.
Always Look on the Closet Floor First
Jane Roberts leaned against her dresser, studying the way her white silk nightie looked against her sun-kissed skin. Her loose blond curls cascaded softly over her shoulders as she pretended not to be interested in the guy in her bed.
“Come over here -- or am I going to have to come get you?”
Jane smiled mischievously at the ground, then raised her face to him, staring into his chocolate brown eyes. She slinked back to the bed, slid onto the white silk sheets, and nestled next to him.
“Janie, you’re the most amazing girl I’ve ever met. I’m so in love with you, it’s crazy,” he said, gazing into her eyes.
“Really, Caleb?” Jane smiled, and reached for him . . . . . . and woke up to find herself lying next to some strange, sweaty guy. Some strange, sweaty, half-naked guy. He smelled like bad cologne and armpits and pot.
He rolled over sleepily in her direction. “Cassandra?” Jane yanked the sheet (not silk) around herself as she sat up -- which was not entirely necessary, since she was wearing her favorite faded baby blue Gap jammies that covered . . . well, everything.
“Who the hell are you?” she yelled.
The temperatures are rising and most of us are getting our barbecue groove on. But do our steaks taste as good as they could? Should we be going for the convenience of gas or the smokiness of charcoal? What is a non-professional barbecuer to do? Star chef and Emeril at the Grill author Emeril Lagasse weighs in.
Gas vs. Charcoal: Some Thoughts
When you are choosing a grill, think about your needs and desires. Do you plan on cooking for a crowd? How often will you grill? How much space do you have in your backyard? What is your lifestyle like? Do you have the time necessary to wait for embers to grow hot? How much do you want to spend? Do you want to transport your grill? These are all questions one needs to contemplate before making the final decision.
Many Americans today opt for a gas grill, mainly for the convenience. Gas grills are easier to clean, stay hot for much longer periods of time without your having to worry about adding more coals or wood, and can inspire people to get out and grill at all times of the year. They may also offer more versatility and accessory options: for example, some come with side burners, infrared burners, and/or a rotisserie.
Also, with gas grills all you have to do is ignite the flame and there you go, you are on your way to a backyard barbecue. Just let the grill heat up to the desired temperature, and then start cooking. It’s also easier to control the grilling temperature.
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