Author: Katie L. Carroll (Page 122 of 142)

BSC All Grown Up

February 10, 2011 / Katie L. Carroll

My older sisters started reading the Baby-sitter’s Club back in the ’80s, and because I wanted to do everything my older sisters did, I was in second or third grade when I picked up book #1 Kristy’s Great Idea.

At the beginning of every book, there was a portrait of each character. Now I would usually skip over this part, but there was one bit of information you had to stop and read: What outfit was artsy Claudia Kishi wearing? For example in BSC #2 Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls, Claudia (each book is told from the title-character’s POV) describes her philosophy on fashion:”I think clothes make a statement about about the person inside of them. Also, since you have to get dressed every day, why not at least make it fun? Traditional clothes look boring and are boring to put on. So I never wear them. I like bright clothes and big patterns and funny touches, such as earrings made from feathers. Maybe this is because I’m an artist. I don’t know. Today, for instance, I’m wearing purple pants that stop just below my knees and are held up with suspenders, white tights with clocks on them, a purple-plaid shirt with a matching hat, my high-top sneakers, and lobster earrings. Clothes like these are my trademarks.”

I wonder what statement Claudia was trying to make with white tights with clocks on them and lobster earrings, but it sure was fun to read about her clothes.

(Yup, I’ve got a whole shelf of BSC books!)

My favorite BSC member was probably Dawn Schafer (who didn’t join the BSC until book #5). I’m not sure why. She was a laid-back, tofu-eating vegetarian from California who wasn’t particularly athletic and was often described as an “individual.” Growing up, I was a picky eater who would never dream of eating tofu, I loved to play sports, and I had a pretty fierce competitive edge. The only thing we really had in common was our blond hair and blue eyes. Maybe our lack of commonality was what I liked about her.

Needless to say I was tickled pink to read this article about where the BSC members would be now. I was not surprised at all to read that Kristy is a lesbian, that Stacey doesn’t talk to any of the BSC members anymore, or that Dawn went off the deep end. I found it interesting that Mary Anne attended my alma mater Sacred Heart University and that Mallory and Jessi wrote a children’s book. I was quite disappointed to learn of Logan’s crime-ridden fate. He was the only boy BSC member…what is that supposed to say for boys who baby-sit?

Okay, now I totally have to go read one of the BSC books this weekend. I think I’ll go for one of the Super Specials (which are told in multiple POVs), so I can get a glimpse into more than one of the BSC members’ minds.

Falling Into a Black Hole of Research

January 31, 2011 / Katie L. Carroll

As some of you may know, I’ve been following the process of the Large Hadron Collider and scientists quest to find the so-called God Particle. This giant particle smasher is currently on hiatus, but is scheduled to be up and running very soon. One hazard of this project is that it has the potential to open up a black hole that swallows up Earth (clearly, this did not happen in its first run!).

I haven’t been able to get black holes our of my mind since then. I happened to see a billboard for a special exhibit called Black Holes: Space Warps & Time Twists at the Peabody Museum of Natural History. Perfect for an in-depth exploration, right? Well, not exactly. The exhibit was fun, which makes sense because it was geared towards kids and teens, but it wasn’t super informative.

Making my Explorer’s card was fun. I picked the name “Mini Seeker” because I liked the Harry Potter reference and added a picture of a pizza onto the card. (I could’ve taken a picture of my face, but no one wants to see that!) The exhibits were interactive and interesting. Still, there wasn’t that ah-ha factor that really made me feel like the visit was worthwhile.

That was until I wandered into one of those video areas with those really uncomfortable wooden benches (seriously, the inventor of those should be swallowed up by a black hole). But this video informed me that not everything that gets close to a black hole gets sucked in. I know, you’re saying, “Wait a minute. I thought a black hole was like a vacuum and once stuff went in, it never came back out.”

That’s what I thought, and it is basically true. Once you’re in black hole, there’s no coming out (and no one knows what happens on the other end of the hole…alternate universe perhaps?). However, matter that is in the process of being sucked into a black hole doesn’t immediately fall in (especially because as you get closer to a black hole, time actually slows down…very heady stuff here).

Before the matter is sucked in past the event horizon, it circles around the hole in a disk, and the pieces of matter are all bumping into each other. Some of that matter and lots of gas (okay, no flatulence jokes please) shoot out as a jet that moves at close to the speed of sound. The video below actually does a really nice job of describing this phenomenon.

As more research is done about black holes, scientists are finding that black holes are probably important in the creation of galaxies and the case maybe that every galaxy contains one at its center. Forget the Seven Wonder of the World. That’s small beans compared to the awesome mystery and power of black holes.

Wintry Reading Update

January 12, 2011 / Katie L. Carroll

As New England got buried in snow once again (seriously, when am I ever going to benefit from global warming) and I got the rare snow day off from work, I was happy to have plenty of indoor activities to keep me busy, i.e. writing and reading. I have a big ol’ stack of books in my to-be-read pile (some of which have been lent out even before I’ve read them) and an order of books on its way to my house, but really, one can never have too many books.

One of the books that is on its way is the YA dystopian XVI by Julia Karr. Julia and I roomed together at the SCBWI Summer Conference in L.A. last summer and had a blast. Aside from her talents as a writer, Julia is a kick-ass dancer! I am so excited for her debut novel.

Another debut I’m looking forward to is in the middle grade category: Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide To Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald, who is an esteemed member of my critique group.

A couple of books that are part of a series have also made my most-anticipated-books list. There’s The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon, and Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. With these books, there will be lots of fantastic things: magical powers, zombies, handsome fellows, and strong females.

What are you looking forward to reading?

The Pages I’ve Read in 2010

January 6, 2011 / Katie L. Carroll

As we turn the page on 2010 to a new one on 2011 (yeah, yeah, pretty corny!), I’ve been thinking about the pages and pages I’ve read this year, which just happens to be enough fill 65 books (not to mention all the magazines, newspapers, blogs, and cereal boxes I’ve read). Interestingly that was the same exact number of book I read in 2009. I had hoped to read more books in 2010, but I put reading somewhat aside in the second half of the year in order to give myself more writing time, or as was often the case, more revising time.

Throughout the year, I featured the book trailers of some of my favorite books, including my absolute most favoritest book of the year: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (which my twin-not-twin sister gave to me for my b-day). I also picked up a bunch of signed books (some of which are still on my to-read list): Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko (which came highly recommended by my 11-year-old nephew), Dead Girl Walking by Linda Joy Singleton, and Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock to name a few.

In honor of Banned Books Week, I draped myself in only banned/challenged books. After reading that post, a certain book buddy of mine gave me The Giver by Lois Lowry when she found out I didn’t have my own copy.

As for 2011 in addition to print books, I’ve now had my Nook for over a year and hope to add to my Nook book collection. At Girls’ Christmas a new book bag was started. Basically, a group of us girls pass around the bag of books and when it’s out turn to have the bag, we can read none/any/all of the books in it and write in the enclosed journal if we choose to. Then you take out any books you had previously put in and add more books if you want to.

Up next, I’ve got some 2011 releases I’m really, really looking forward to reading! Enter a great contest on Anna Staniszewski’s blog to maybe win some of those books. What were your favorite books of the year?

The Sweet Tradition of Christmas Cookies

December 27, 2010 / Katie L. Carroll

It just wouldn’t have been a complete Christmas without making cookies with the nephews and niece. I love to see the creativity come out of each of them in different ways.

(This is just a sampling of the cookies we made. I don’t think any of them are mine. I played around with different combinations of black and white frosting this year.)

My 11-year-old nephew is my writing buddy. We pack up our laptops and head out to the local cafe or Barnes & Noble and work on our projects (and eat too). He has a fast mind that’s always churning away, so he works feverishly on projects (and sometimes has trouble finishing them). He has always liked to draw figures, from baseball players to super-heroes, so it was no surprise that he turned some of the cookies into his favorite music artists.

My 5-year-old niece is a girl’s girl. She loves princesses, her favorite colors are pink and purple, and she often compliments me on a cute shirt or accessory. She is also very creative and passionate in her pursuits, especially drawing and coloring. She was the last kid standing when it came to decorating.

My 4-year-old nephew is what I like to call mechanically creative. He’s a very literal little boy, who watches and explores how things move and work. He is also super sweet and indulges his auntie when she asks for a little “sugar” (hug and kisses) or to eat his cheeks, which have the cutest dimples. He tends to be very methodical with his creations.

(From left to right: we have Squidword as made by my little nephew, a trendy snow lady complete with rosy cheeks courtesy of my niece, and Michael Jackson as envisioned by my older nephew.)

Naturally I forgot to bring my camera this year, so thanks to my mom (and here is where my brother would say, “Thanks to your mom!”) for the pictures. What are your favorite traditions?