Catherine Murdock: Dairy Queen
This is another favorite of 2009. Unique--a contemporary YA novel set in Wisconsin. Fantastic example of voice. I stayed up until 2:00 finishing this one--and it involved a fair amount of football--so you know it had to be good if it kept me reading.
Maggie Stiefvater: Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception
Written by the author of Shiver. An excellent example of great dialogue. I can't wait for the second book to arrive at my doorstep.
Becca Fitzpatrick: Hush, Hush
A YA novel with some serious tension. I stayed up reading until my eyes closed shut. Rachel, Joan and I went to Becca's signing on Saturday. She was gracious, and sweet and friendly.
Justina Chen Headley: Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies)
Another excellent book from Headley. This novel felt different from North of Beautiful--and I liked that. A YA book about being part of two cultures (Chinese and American) and learning to love yourself, your family and understand, appreciate and stand up for your differences. Headley's writing about relationships is also a refreshing take in the YA world.
Justina Chen Headley: North of Beautiful
Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Highly recommended! Beautiful. The author, Justina Chen Headley, is a founder of Readergirlz--an online girls' book group. Readergirlz features YA books with strong heroines. This is exactly what you will get--a real-life heroine who finds her own beautiful; in her life choices, relationships, and in the mirror. Read it and then share it with a teenage girl you know.
Juliet Marillier: Daughter of the Forest
Amazing, again. One of my favorites of all-time.
Gabrielle Zevin: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Simply put--I just really liked this book. I really want to read Elsewhere by the same author.
(YA, contemporary fiction--some language and inappropriate references).
Shannon Hale: The Actor and the Housewife: A Novel
Simply put I loved this book. This goes on my favorites list for 2009. At one point I was crying (real tears) and laughing at the same time. I thought to myself, "Wow, this is powerful stuff."
Janette Rallison: My Fair Godmother
A fun mixed up fairy tale that starts in high school and travels to old England. A clean, fun book that I would easily recommend to my young women.
A. E. Cannon: The Loser's Guide to Life and Love: A Novel
Fun, summer read for young adults. Laugh out loud funny in some parts. Written by local author Ann Cannon.
Carol Lynch Williams: The Chosen One
Excellent, but disturbing book. This book (written by an LDS author) features a 13-year-old girl who lives in a polygamist colony. I couldn't stop thinking about it. It is one thing to read about disturbing things happening in India, but another to read about something so close to home.
Zoë Marriott: Daughter of the Flames
This was so close to what I was looking for. . .Unique heroine, landscape, fantasy, mean guy, and love story.
Carrie Ryan: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
I am not exactly sure why I thought I would love a book about apocalyptic zombies. The zombie part actually didn't bother me (and I thought the suspense could have been much greater). I thought some of the main characters motivations were unclear and some of the events left me saying, "huh?"
Becca Fitzpatrick, author of Hush, Hush featured my angel wing photos on her blog. Becca said, "I have them framed on my desk, and I look at them often. They've been an inspiration to me over the past couple weeks, as I've been editing CRESCENDO."
Thanks Becca, and we can't wait to read Crescendo!
(family party invite)
favorite images from various sources.
9 Stitches.
1 papoose.
1 sharp knife.
30 minutes of stitching.
90 minutes at the doctor's office.
1 brother who waited in the waiting room during the stitching, after watching Skyler scream for the several shots to his thumb.
3 candy treats.
1 new toy car prize.
3 visits total to the doctor for stitches/glue to various fingers belonging to Skyler.
1 mom who is thankful for modern medicine and husband who was home.
20 people who might have needed a warning about the photo shown above.
"the power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."
-louisa may alcott
it was so fun to do a photo shoot with people who were big enough to get in and out of the car by themselves and not run away. so, i took advantage and we drove around to all sorts of little spots around town that i've had my eye on. we only got kicked out of one of the spots (an adorable little green abandoned house). this brings my getting kicked out while wielding a camera to three.
courtney and andrew are getting married in january. we wanted to take advantage of the lack of snow and get their engagements finished. we are taking her bridals on friday.
(her self-proclaimed "model" pose)
this is one of my favorite family pictures--everyone looking forward and smiling and mom happily looking over her little ones. i love it. (click to see it bigger).
feeling the love.
beautiful lady, beautiful family. i love hanging out with some of my favorite people for an hour or so. watching how their families interact. this shoot was really fun. their oldest son was so cute and had so many different ideas for poses and interactions. i might be hiring him soon as my assistant:).
apples from the tree my grandfather planted in my father's yard, housed in my mother's grandfather's bucket.
this week i found two vintage children's books and a gold velvet wingback chair at a thrift shop.
my father hand delivered a first edition children's book to my door. he found it at an antique sale. my first, first edition (1897).
i love fall and old things.
and i love this picture. a canvas print for the kitchen??
