book « Robin Writes

Yes, I said “doings.”

Anyway, coming up this Saturday we have the amazing Laura Ray – I won’t try to list all her names because it gets a little confusing – with her new book, “Brain Dead and Still Cooking.” Awesome recipes, and an hilarious style make this a great gift! Pair it with her first book, “Brain Dead in the ‘Burbs,” for twice the awesomeness!

SUNDAY-SUNDAY-SUNDAY!

Yes, we’ll be open this Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. for a special event – and you ALL SHOULD COME! Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, I’m going to add the press release for this FANTASTIC, ONCE A YEAR EXTRAVAGANZA!

St. Louis Literary Group Rings in the Holidays with an Area-Wide Book Fair

Checking your list? Checking it twice? Books make great gifts, and there’ll be plenty of chances to shop ’til you drop at the St. Louis Literary Consortium’s Second Annual Holiday Book Fair. Set for Sunday, December 8, 2013, from 12 noon to 5 p.m., the Book Fair will feature the work of local writers at five locations around the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

“We’re always happy when we can partner with independent booksellers to support local authors, and the Holiday Book Fair is a great opportunity for us to do that,” said Winnie Sullivan, who heads PenUltimate Press, a Consortium member organization. The St. Louis Literary Consortium, formed in 2012, is an alliance of literary organizations whose purpose is to promote the literary arts in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Its members include Blank Slate Press, the St. Louis Writers Guild, the St. Louis Poetry Center, and Walrus Publishing.

Holiday Book Fair displays will showcase the work of St. Louis writers at the following stores:

Subterranean Books – 6275 Delmar Boulevard, University City
All on the Same Page Bookstore – 10052 Olive Boulevard, Creve Coeur
STLBooks – 100 W. Jefferson Avenue, Kirkwood
The Book House – 7352 Manchester Road, Maplewood
Main Street Books – 307 S. Main Street, St. Charles

And writers will be on hand to sign their books at the Creve Coeur, Maplewood, and Kirkwood locations.

So come out and join in the holiday fun. Shop at your neighborhood bookstore, browse at one of the newer bookstores in the area, or visit all five! For more information about the Holiday Book Fair, contact Kristina Blank Makansi at kbmakansi@blankslatepress.com or any of the participating organizations, whose website addresses are: www.blankslatepress.com, www.stlwritersguild.org, www.penultimatepress.blogspot.com, www.stlouispoetrycenter.org, and www.walruspublishing.com.

So, there you have it! Saturday AND Sunday this week! Plus, we have book bundles, and new items, and NEW coffee, tea, and hot chocolate! Come on down!

Okay, not really, and not now. Now. Maybe later this week. Definitely later this week!

A few days ago, I tweeted that I sure hoped SHTF would hold off until spring. Real spring, not like last year when February lasted approximately 97 days.

But just in case it doesn’t hold off, are you ready for the cold?

Physically, it seems pretty obvious – have plenty of firewood, propane, insert-fuel-of-choice. Don’t forget matches and tinder, like saved dryer lint or firestarters made from old candle ends wrapped in waxed paper.

Be prepared to layer your clothing, including thermal pieces, and have lots of warm and/or wool socks. Don’t forget to change those before you go to sleep – your feet sweat during the day and those socks will chill your feet before they dry out overnight. Use mink oil to condition, clean, and make your boots water-resistant.

Mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves, but are a pain if you have to use your fingers. Consider wearing mittens over your gloves, or buy a fancy pair or three that incorporate both designs. Have extras too, as well as waterproof gloves.

Those hand and foot warmers are nice for now, but keep in mind that they usually require a microwave to initially heat them, so, yeah . . .

Hats and scarves will help keep the heat inside your body, and the chill off your head and neck. Make sure to tuck in the scarves, though, inside your coat, so they stay out of the way. And out of the fire.

Forty-below-rated sleeping bags are a must-have, as well as blankets to pile on top. And I’m sure someone will mention body heat, so there ya go! The thing about sleeping, on a serious note, is that if you’re shivering all night long, you won’t get the rest you need to survive.

I’m sure all of you can think of a few things I didn’t cover . . .