In December 2013, I appeared on WFSB’s Better Connecticut program to demo a delicious ham glaze and technique. Check it out! Special thanks to my client Jones Dairy Farm for this great opportunity!
All posts by walk1980
Pirates of the Long Island Sound
Have you seen the latest issue of Connecticut Magazine? Inside, you will find a thrilling article about the pirates who trolled the waters of the Long Island Sound — including some famous ones like Captain Kidd. It was a thrill to bring two of my passions together: writing and pirate history. Pick up your copy of the October issue of Connecticut Magazine on newsstands today.
Now on Momtastic!
These babies? They are Pizza Wontons. These crispy little baked appetizers are a perfect game day food for parties. Come on, you know you want them.
This is the latest recipe that I’ve contributed to a fantastic website for women who are mothers. Over the summer, I joined the fabulous team of writers at Momtastic, sharing recipes for everything from easy dinners to unforgettable treats. I hope you will pop over and check out my stuff there.
Check out my author archives to see all my articles going forward (many aren’t appearing yet due to re-launch glitches, but hopefully they will all be there soon!).
New E-Book: Better Blog Writing
Better Blog Writing: How to Improve Your Writing to Keep Readers Coming Back for More is a guide to improving your writing, finding inspiration for your blog posts and ensuring that your words always shine. It’s filled with tips, advice and reader perspectives, as well as a whole section on writing prompts to get those creative juices flowing.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter One: Why Are You Blogging Anyway?
- Chapter Two: Visualizing Your Blog Goals With A Vision Board
- Reader Perspective: What Makes You Love Certain Blogs?
- Chapter Three: Where Do I Start?
- Chapter Four: Sharing “You”
- Reader Perspective: What Draws You Into A Blog?
- Chapter Five: The Nuts And Bolts Of Good Writing
- Chapter Six: Quality Control And Self-Editing
- Reader Perspective: Inspiring With Your Work
- Chapter Seven: The Importance Of SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- Chapter Eight: Writing Prompts
- Chapter Nine: Refreshing Your Writing
- Chapter Ten: Be Consistent
- About The Author
Better Blog Writing: How to Improve Your Writing to Keep Readers Coming Back for More is available on Amazon for the bargain price of $2.99 (better yet — if you are a member of Amazon Prime, it’s FREE to borrow through the Kindle Lending Library).
Note: This post does NOT contain affiliate links.
Where I’ll Be This Spring: Writer’s Conferences
Springtime is big for writing conferences, and I am so excited to be attending several over the next few months.
Speaking Engagements, Spring 2013
Type-A Advanced, Philadelphia – April 20, 2013
The theme of this conference is Profit — as in how to make it, how to increase it and what to do with it. And I am so excited that I will be speaking and sharing my freelance writing expertise. My session is called Freelance Writing and Problogging (Profit Track) and I will be speaking with the lovely Leticia Barr of Tech Savvy Mama. We’ll be talking about tracking your business, networking with editors, how to be the kind of writer who gets assignments again and again and so much more. Hope to see you there!
Eat Write Retreat, Philadelphia – May 31 – June 2, 2013
This is an intensive, intimate weekend conference dedicated to making you a better food writer and blogger. I will be joining Carolyn Ketchum of All Day I Dream About Food for the Photography & Food Styling session. Carolyn, whose photos are stunning, and I will be providing no-nonsense insight into how to take better photos as an amateur — without spending a lot of money (or rendering the food inedible). We’ll also be on hand for advice and questions all weekend. This is going to be a great experience! I am really excited to be learning from
Attending
Food Blog Forum, Orlando – May 17-19, 2013
This will be my second time attending this amazing conference at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Last year, I took so many notes and came away with so much great, actionable information that really helped me propel my career as a freelance writer, editor and recipe developer forward. I am looking forward to the priceless learning and networking opportunities that come from attending such a great, intimate conference.
Sandy Hook: Writing Through Grief
On December 14, 2012, our quiet community was shattered by horrific violence. My son was among the survivors at Sandy Hook School. Amid my shock and grief, I found great solace in writing about it. These are the articles that appeared following that awful day.
- A Connecticut Mom Shares Her Terror: “It Wasn’t a Shooting Just Anywhere. It Was Our School.” iVillage.com
- Newtown mom: A frantic race to find her son. New Haven Register
- The Blessing of Extraordinary People. Sarah’s Cucina Bella
- Chasing the Dream: Finding the way our of the dark. SheKnows.com
- A Sandy Hook Mom on Sending Her Kids Back to School: “I’m Hoping for a Peaceful Day.” iVillage.com
- Sarah Caron: A Mom’s View on the Return to Sandy Hook. New Haven Register
- One Month Later, A Sandy Hook Mom Reflects: “This must be the start of something better.” iVillage.com
Pumpkin Cheesecake Monkey Bread (and More Monkey Breads)
Ooey gooey pumpkin cheesecake meets sweet break-apart monkey bread in this Pumpkin Cheesecake Monkey Bread recipe that I created for Pillsbury. It’s best served warm.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Monkey Bread on Pillsbury.com
This isn’t my first time working with monkey bread though. I also created a series of sweet and savory monkey bread recipes for Disney’s Amazing Moms .
Whole Wheat Monkey Bread on Disney’s AmazingMoms.com
Chocolate Swirl Monkey Bread on Disney’s AmazingMoms.com
Parmesan Garlic Monkey Bread on Disney’s AmazingMoms.com
Pretzel Monkey Bread on Disney’s AmazingMoms.com
Pizza Monkey Bread on Disney’s AmazingMoms.com
Drunken Quinoa
Betty Crocker is always looking for ways to mash up different recipe ideas — like in this Drunken Quinoa. I took quinoa, a popular grain, and cooked it like drunken pasta for a rich, wine-infused side dish.
Find the Drunken Quinoa recipe on Betty Crocker.
Chasing the Dream’s SheKnows.com Debut
In February, I took a chance and bounced a column idea off my editor at SheKnows.com. She loved the idea and immediately green lighted it. Every Wednesday, Chasing the Dream appears on SheKnows Parenting. The column is an inspirational and aspirational look at mothers who are going after their life dreams — and the essential skills necessary to really go after dreams.
The debut Chasing the Dream column was a closer look at what a dream is — and my own big dreams.
DIY Homework Crate
My kids are both in elementary school, which means they need colored pencils, crayons, scissors and more to do their nightly homework. However, it’s so easy for those things to get lost so I created homework crates for both of them to stay organized all year.
DIY Homework Crate on allParenting.com