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Monday Question – Healthy Snacks for 2019

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Hey GOB writers, snacks can really help a writer keep it going. What are some healthy snacks that you like to carry you to the next meal?

Cathi:  My go-to snack is a little plate of cheese, Triscuits, and a  sliced apple or pear.  Quite often, I’ll refill the plate and the snack turns into my next meal.  But that’s ok, right?

Christie:  I must admit that I am a big snacker and salty and crunchy is my favorite. If there are chips in the house, they don’t last long. There are some chips that are made with coconut oil and sea salt but I wouldn’t exactly call them healthy. So when I want to be good I munch on some nuts or hummus and veggies. Both are great for energy and to take the edge off my hunger.

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Monday Question – Healthy Breakfast Recipes for 2019

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Hey GOB writers … we know you have some favorite healthy recipes to inspire a healthy New Year! What is your favorite healthy breakfast recipe?

Christie:  I love taking leftover vegetables and scrambling them with some eggs. But even healthier is a breakfast smoothie, yum! There are endless possibilities but this is my favorite go to recipe that I make right in my Nutribullet:  

First I soak a couple tablespoons of flax seeds and 3 or 4 walnuts in some cold water for about a half hour (or while I’m showering after my walk). Then I add a tablespoon of almond butter, 1 teaspoon of cacao powder, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and stir it up a little. Then about 1/3 cup of mixed berries like strawberries and blueberries, either fresh or frozen. If I have on hand I throw in some spinach leaves and a little fresh ginger then I add liquid (water, almond milk or coconut milk depending on my mood) to the fill line.  Blend until smooth and sip and go!

Cathi:  I like something substantial for breakfast, usually later morning.  This recipe for Bacon, Egg, and Leek Breakfast Risotto from Smitten Kitchen hits the spot!  I love Smitten Kitchen’s recipes in general – she reminds me of Ina Garten, and EVERY one of her recipes I’ve ever made has been a hit.  How often can you say that?  On my TBR pile is Deb Perelman’s newest cookbook ( Deb is the woman-power behind Smitten Kitchen!)

My daughter’s new breakfast favorite is Kodiak Cakes Minute Muffins – in the Double Dark Chocolate (who can blame her?). Just minutes in the microwave and 10 grams of protein!  Anytime I can get my high schoolers to take a second and eat before they leave, I’m thrilled.  We’re going to try the Mountain Blueberry version, and the Cinnamon and Maple Pancakes on the Go, too.

 

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Monday Question – How will you celebrate New Year’s Eve?

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Hey GOB writers … it’s New Year’s Eve! How will you celebrate?

Cathi:  We have had some wonderful parties with friends in past years, but lately, I like to go to bed early, as usual, and wake up early on the New Year’s Day, feeling rested and ready to go into the New Year.  I sound as boring as my kids think I am!

Christie:  Some years I’ve been lucky to make it until midnight! Last year we walked to a great celebration in a square on the beach. This year, I’ve moved downtown and there is a huge street festival where they drop a 20′ lighted anchor. So if I can make it up, that’s where I’ll be. And I always make sure I have black-eyed peas and greens on January 1st for luck and money. I think it be a southern tradition … and judging from my bank account, in the past I must have been skimpy on the greens!

 

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Monday Question: Gift Ideas for Friends

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Hey GOB writers, it’s Christmas Eve and still time for some last minute shopping, what are some favorite gift ideas for friends?

Cathi:

Diffuser.  This “might” be under the  tree for me this year…

Ina Garten’s new cookbook.  I have all of Ina’s cookbooks and am excited to delve into this one.

Body scrub.  Seriously, my favorite gift to give.

Overnight mask.  A close second to the scrub.  Life changing stuff.

Christie:  I really don’t have any go to gifts. They change every year and depend on the friends and they usually start out to be something I want myself!  My cooking friends all got the ‘ove glove one year and I still use mine. Fun face masks might be featured this year. A bottle of wine can be handy as hostess gifts and turns out this year I have lots of under $20 bottles that have been pre-tasted and described on our Game of Books Podcast!

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Monday Question: Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Teenagers, College Students

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Hey GOB writers, with the Holidays around the corner …What are your favorite stocking stuffer ideas for teenagers or college students?

Christie: I like to do a personalized ornament each year that I either find in a Christmas store, on our travels or online.  Candy is always a hit.  Then I usually put in a toothbrush … I’m one of those practical moms. And because teens and young adults still like to play, a flash back toy like a yo-yo or brain teaser from brilliantpuzzles.com.

Cathi:

Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm.  I love this product and I’m sure my teenage daughters will, too.

Tweezers.  Seriously, who can’t use a great pair of tweezers!

Stainless Steel Straws.  For the environmentally minded students, and thankfully, many of them are!

Battery power!  Who can’t always use more of that??

 

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GOB A.I. with Jonathan Rosen – part 2

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Welcome to Part 2 of our interview with the Jonathan Rosen, author of the funny/scary  middle grade series that debuted in August 2017 with the Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies.

 

Congratulations on the publication of Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies and the sequel, From Sunset till Sunrise!  And Welcome to Game of Books!

Thanks so much for having me!

We love your books and had as much fun reading them as the younger readers in our lives (perfect gifts for those hard to pick 8-12 year olds).

Your website, http://www.houseofrosen.com is perfectly geared to middle grade reader and full of humor.  When did you launch your website and what are your thoughts about an online presence?

My website was launched just prior to the release of Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies. I do think it’s important to have an online presence, but with moderation. You can’t come on all the time and basically say, “But my book!” or tout how great you’re doing. People get tired of it. I know I do when I see writers doing that, and to an extent, I dread doing it for myself. You have to mix things up. Tout others. Talk about anything other than my books. Just interact and be involved. Talk about writing, without talking about yourself.

Can you tell us a little about the marketing process after publication? Is there anything about it that surprised you?

How much I hate doing it? This is a little like the previous question, but I know it’s a necessary evil. I cringe whenever I have to push myself or my books. I try to do it as quick and painless as possible, and even in a funny way, but I hate doing it. Still, it is necessary, since most authors don’t get much support from their publishing houses, so it’s left up to them to promote themselves. That is the primary answer to your question, just how much is left up to the author to promote themselves.

I noticed that you had a little foreshadowing at the end of the first book to what Devin’s next adventure might be. Did you always plan a series and have a plot for the next book planned?

You can’t plan on a series, since you never know how things will go, or if your publisher even wants a sequel. Still, I had loved the story and characters and left it open for the possibility of a sequel. If it didn’t happen, the ending would be good for a standalone, but still be there in case a sequel was wanted. I didn’t think that far ahead for what a sequel would be, but thought it funny to hint at vampires. That was the original ending. So, when Sky Pony said they wanted a sequel, we discussed many ways the sequel could go, but ultimately, they decided on vampires as well, so we left the original alone. Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies was barely out, when we discussed the From Sunset Till Sunrise and how soon they would need it.

How can readers connect with you and buy your book?

I’m pretty much all over social media. Twitter and Instagram I’m @Houseofrosen and Facebook, I’m at https://www.facebook.com/JRosen18

If a newbie writer were to ask you the best and worst aspects about the writing process, draft to publication, what would you want to share?

The best is losing yourself in your story. That’s why I write. To escape and immerse myself in my creativity. And the ultimate best, is to see your name on a cover in a bookstore or library.

The worst is the self-doubt. That’ll always be there. Whether you can do it, or if you get a bad review. You just need to get over that hurdle and believe in yourself.

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Monday Question – Gift Ideas for Writers/Readers

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Hey GOB writers, we were wondering …What are some of your favorite gift ideas for the readers/writers in your life?

Cathi:

Hands free flexible reading lamp.  I have to admit that this might show up in my stocking this year.  I think it would be great to not have to keep re-clipping my light on my book in the middle of the night.  Looks promising!

Ember ceramic mug.  This is a little extravagant, but the concept of a temperature controlled mug is so cool! (or hot….)

Anne Lamont’s new book.  Ever since I read Bird by Bird (the first time), I’ve been hooked on anything she writes.

Christie:  A gift card to Amazon  or a local bookstore is good for those who read a lot since it might be hard to get something they haven’t already gotten or read.  When my kids were little we painted strips of paper and glued a recent picture on the strip. After laminating the strips and cutting them out (rounded corners) we had cute bookmarks to give as presents to all the relatives … we come from a long line of readers!

 

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GOB A.I. with Jonathan Rosen

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We at Game of Books are excited to present a new author interview (GOB A.I.).
Welcome to Part 1 of our interview with the Jonathan Rosen, author of the funny/scary  middle grade series that debuted in August 2017 with the Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies.

Congratulations on the publication of Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies and the sequel, From Sunset till Sunrise!  We love your books and had as much fun reading them as the younger readers in our lives (perfect gifts for those hard to pick 8-12 year olds). Welcome to Game of Books!

Thanks so much for having me!

It was a pleasure to meet you at the SCBWI Regional Conference when you were on the panel of newly published authors. We can only dream of how great that must have felt! Had you attended any conferences before that? Have you gone to other conferences?

It was great meeting you as well! I’ve been to almost every Florida SCBWI conference since I first started going in 2009. Through the years I’ve been to other conferences as well. In the Carolinas, New York, Niagara. Still hoping to go to more.

When did you start writing and was Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies your first book?

I started writing Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies around 2014. I’d had other books published before then, by an educational company, but Cuddle Bunnies was really my first fiction book. And, even though it was my first book published, it was the fourth book I had written. Hopefully, I can get the others through one day.  

Can you tell us a little about your writing process?

I’m not sure that anyone should emulate my writing process. I do try to write every day, and if not, then it’s mostly every day. I write every night until late, since it’s quieter and less distractions for me. The next day, I’m looking over what I wrote the night before and usually researching what I intend to write about next. I’m part of a weekly critique group, and I read a chapter each time and tinker with it based on how the feedback goes. Sometimes, I make changes, sometimes, I don’t. Many writers say to go ahead and write through and go back and make changes later, and that’s what I should do, but I can’t stop thinking about it, if I don’t at least revise partly along the way.

You have a unique ability of combining humor with scary that is perfect for the middle grade readers! How did you come up with the idea of demonic cuddle bunnies?  

I’d had the idea to write a story about evil stuffed animals for a while. I’d always wanted it to be dark humor, like Gremlins. They want to kill you, but the way it’s done is almost comedic. That thought had been on the backburner for a while, until right beforehand, I almost sold another story. Ultimately, it wasn’t sold, but in the feedback they gave me, they mentioned that they loved the humor, so I took that and set out to write the funniest book that I could. That brought me back to the evil stuffed animal story, which became Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies.

Tell us about your road to publication. Could you share any lessons you learned along the way?

Well, in the last question, I answered about the breakthrough, but I’d been working at it for years beforehand. Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies was the fourth book that I wrote. Each book I felt I was getting closer. I read books on writing. Went to conferences. Joined critique groups. The biggest debt of gratitude I have is for Joyce Sweeney, whose class I took, and she helped make some fixes and suggestions which got me to the next level.

How can readers connect with you and buy your book?

I’m pretty much all over social media. Twitter and Instagram I’m @Houseofrosen and Facebook, I’m at https://www.facebook.com/JRosen18

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Monday Question – Holiday Decorations

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Hey GOB writers, it’s December and we were wondering … When do you like to put up and take down your Christmas/Holiday decorations?

Christie: My goal is to put them up over Thanksgiving weekend and to take them down January 1st. But I am always late and this year is no exception. I’m happy to say that I did get the tree up by December 1st!

Cathi:  We traditionally decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We do a  lot of decorating, and it’s so nice to enjoy it as long as possible.  That said, I often take it all down on the 26th!  By then, I’m ready for a clean slate to welcome the New Year!

 

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Monday Question – Quick Prep Meals

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Hey GOB writers, Thanksgiving with all the preparation is over, so we want to know … What is your favorite quick prep meal?

Cathi:  Appetizers, snacks, charcuterie board, cheese board…whatever you want to call it!  I’ll cut up some cheeses, prosciutto, olives, crackers, toast, fruit and we’re eating, and usually straight off the big cutting board.  Easy peasy!

Christie:  After Thanksgiving and all the prep, I fall back into my quick prep mode. I prefer to eat fresh food so quick prep means grilling or baking a protein and vegetables. Grilled chicken thighs and asparagus or baked fish with roasted asparagus are quick and yummy. I save the dishes with a lot of chopping and mixing for Sundays. Now if I can have a quick clean up, I’m even happier.

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