Our Slangman’s World page at gpbkids.org has just launched! You can:

• Play our awesome new game, Gizma’s Robot Builder, in which you build a robot while learning the names of body parts in various languages!
• Watch all ten of our fun, music-filled Slangman’s World episodes!

And yes, this gives you an opportunity to see my entire voice acting oeuvre. Don’t forget to watch Wordy, the little blue dictionary, and think of me!

Originally published at jennreese.com. You can comment here or there.

I made chocolate chip cookies. Plain ol’ chocolate chippers. And I made them FROM SCRATCH.

Now, to understand how amazing this is, please understand that I had to go out and buy flour, eggs, and chocolate chips to make this happen. I already had sugar (Hello, coffee!) and baking soda (Hello, drain unclogger!). But did you catch that? I didn’t already have flour, because I never use it. So making something from scratch, even just a chocolate chip cookie, is like a Great Life Adventure for me.

And let me tell you, a chocolate chip cookie made from scratch looks about a million times better than a chocolate chip cookie made from dough you buy pre-made at the grocery store. Look at these luscious little objects of beauty:

From Food and Drink

Seriously. They were so beautiful I almost didn’t want to eat them. (Also, I had already eaten my own body weight in raw dough.) But I did eat them, and…

Eh.

They’re okay. Perhaps my palette has been corrupted by so many years of icky pre-made dough consumption? Or did I bake them just a little too long, assuming they’d stay gooey like the ones packed with chemicals do?

Regardless, I was largely successful at my meager attempt to bake. And for that? I get a cookie.

Originally published at jennreese.com. You can comment here or there.

Hi folks! I am once again out of my depth in the great ocean of fashion.

I will be a bridesmaid in February, and this is my dress:



I need help finding shoes, as my wishlist is rather ridiculous:

- Flats or low heel
- Not too expensive
- Good arch support, or a way to stick in my Superfeet insert, or a way to tape my arch and have it not show (plantar fasciitis still rules my life)

Ultra wishlist:
- Would prefer vegan or vegetarian shoe, although I realize this is probably impossible

The woman at the store recommended gold, silver, or ivory for colors. It's a morning wedding.

All suggestions greatly appreciated!!!

ADDENDUM: I'm willing to pay more if I can get one of the items that will help with the plantar fasciitis. Also, I'm willing to go without the foot inserts/taping -- I'll pay for it later, but a wedding is important!

The talented Stephanie Burgis is holding her first-ever ARC (Advance Reader Copy) Contest. Yes, that’s right! Now’s your chance to win an ARC of her forthcoming book The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson: A Most Improper Magick!

I was lucky enough to read this wonderful book — the first in a trilogy — last year, and I instantly fell in love with impetuous young Kat Stephenson and her whole family. What’s not to love about danger, romance, magic, witty banter, and the occasional highwayman… all set on a backdrop of (a very magical) Jane Austen’s England?

But hey! Don’t take my word for it. Enter Steph’s ARC Contest and you might get a chance to read the book for yourself!

Just remember: Everything’s better with Highwaymen!

Originally published at jennreese.com. You can comment here or there.

Joe Monti of Barry Goldblatt Literary (@joemts on Twitter) has been my agent for just over two months now.

FUN FACTS ABOUT JOE

• He found me via Twitter. (Yes, really!)
• He seems to know everyone. (Yes, everyone!)
• He seems to know about every book ever written. (It’s like talking to a very opinionated encyclopedia of publishing.)
• He talks about my book in D&D terms sometimes, to help me understand. (”He’s like an air elemental, right?”)
• He finds all the places where I have unintentionally referenced Star Wars in my book. (”This is the end of The Empire Strikes Back, yes?”)
• His wife and I went to the same college at the same time. (So Joe and I probably met back in 1990!)
• He loves martial arts movies. (And suggested I rewatch HERO for inspiration on a particular fight scene!)
• He wanted me to add more fight scenes to my book. (More fight scenes! Maybe this should have been the only item on the list…)
• His revision notes and suggestions made my book better. (And I love that we can talk theme and worldbuilding and heroic journeys!)

There’s so much more I could say, but let me end with this:

• He’s a super nice, smart, funny guy, and I trust him with my book and my career.

Thanks, Joe!

Originally published at jennreese.com. You can comment here or there.

I read fewer young adult novels than middle grade this year, but really loved several of them. I have Steph to thank — she recommended three of these, and I spent almost a week raiding her bookshelves when I visited her in May. Again, these are in no particular order.

2009: GREAT YOUNG ADULT READS

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
This book contains one of my favorite things — an already-empowered female main character. Katsa is not only an amazing fighter, she’s a Graceling, a human gifted with a super-human affinity for a particular skill. That doesn’t mean that Katsa doesn’t have a journey to travel, though, and oh, how I enjoyed making that trek with her! I also read Cashore’s Fire which I enjoyed, just not quite as much as Graceling.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
I love the premise of this book — that Aunt Peg, recently deceased, sends her niece on a scavenger hunt of sorts using a series of prewritten clues. It was especially fun to read this while I was on my own adventure in England. After devouring this book, I read Girl At Sea which I also loved. I’ll definitely be reading more of Johnson’s books next year.

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
I usually shy away from more serious YA reads, but this book was brilliant. I don’t think I’ve ever read more authentic YA voices before. I read this in one sitting (through a lot of tears).

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Another book I stole from Stephanie’s shelves. Dessen mixes quirkiness and great writing with interesting characters and a lot of heart. Owen is one of my favorite male characters in this genre, and I eagerly read and enjoyed Dessen’s This Lullaby afterwards. 2010 will definitely bring a few more of this author’s books to my shelves.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Yeah, okay, I’m coming really late to this party, but I loved this book. Here’s what I said in February when I read it.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks
Thirteen-year-old Cadel has been raised as an evil genius. I love the premise, and I really enjoyed Cadel’s refreshingly different voice. The plot takes lots of twists and turns, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The sequel, Genius Squad, is currently taunting me from my to-read pile. (I put this is in my middle grade reads, but for some reason Amazon lists it as young adult. I’m not sure why, but I’m going with it.)

That’s my list for 2009. Hit me with your favorites, please!

Originally published at jennreese.com. You can comment here or there.