Shifting over to My Author Website (possibly permanently)

Hi, folks, Just wanted to let y'all know that I'm shifting content from here over to my author website: www.katherinescottcrawford.com. This is temporary, but may be a permanent move. Blogger has been giving me headaches and I can't seem to fix the format. To see all my recent posts, including today's newspaper column--which is about a childhood, Southern summers, and regaining some of that summer magic, go www.katherinescottcrawford.com">here. I've been blogging solely at my author site since April, so please feel free to catch up!

Newest Column: "Got spring fever? Head out to the woods"

My newest newspaper column is up. Find it here. This one’s about spring fever, hiking, family life, and Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. Hope you enjoy!

Column for Thursday, Mar. 28th - Spring Cleaning & Book Sharing

For a peak at today’s newspaper column, “Spring cleaning means sharing books,” go here. Anybody else have a book problem? Or dreams of a fantasy library? Or, for that matter, a spouse who makes you give away your books? * Photo by Paula Player Photography.

"Well done, Sister Suffragette!"

d23.com

My newest newspaper column is up at The Greenville News!

I'm particularly proud of this one, which celebrates Women's History Month, Mary Poppins, and the suffragettes.

I hope you enjoy it. And if you do, I hope you'll share!

Have a wonderful weekend, all.

Thursday Newspaper Column - Feb. 27, 2014

Hi, all!

Here's the link to my newest column at The Greenville News. Hope you enjoy!

Also: The Greenville News is asking folks to tag them on Twitter (@GreenvilleNews) and Facebook and Instagram with your own memories and photos of The Big Snow of 1988.

Newest Newspaper Column

Hi, all. Here’s the link to the online version of my newest column at The Greenville News:

“Olympic TV ads hit home with moms and dads”

It’s got Winter Olympics, parenting, commercials and dogs. Hope you enjoy!

I've Been Whupped

Folks, I’ve been whupped: by two wonderful but needy children, by a week of no preschool due to snow–during which my 4 year-old and I both had the flu–by a job I love but is a lot of work (yes, husband: I hear you. I know I shouldn’t assign so many papers, ’cause then I wouldn’t have to grade them).

Whupped by my final semester of graduate school (where I want and hope and try to stay engaged and productive), by this wonderful new weekly writing deadline (i.e. my new newspaper column), by a house in which the mess multiples like Hydra’s heads, by writing the next novel in any spare (ha!) moment I have, and by always–always–wanting to be in every single place at once, so my family won’t miss anything.

But I am missing things. So I’m not signing off here, but just stepping back a little until the summer. My posting will be sporadic, but I’ll be sure to link to my weekly newspaper columns when and if they’re available online, and I’ll keep y’all posted with any other writing updates. As always, I’ll drop in if I see something too great not to share. I will also try to update my author Facebook page with news and maybe share a little on my Pinterest boards (I’ve recently posted new stuff there).  

I hope you’ll forgive me and stick with me! And please don’t be a stranger: I want to know what you’re reading and doing outside in the great big world!

First Newspaper Column is Out!

Headshot for The Greenville News
by Paula Player Photography

Hi, all!

I'm thrilled to announce that my new parenting/outdoor/general life column is now up and running in The Greenville News! Makes me very happy to have a byline in my hometown newspaper again.

To check it out, go here.

And be prepared to read about Shakespeare and refrigerator magnets.

Writing a Newspaper Column & in Need of Advice

Nielsen.com

I’m happy to announce that soon I’ll be writing a weekly column for The Greenville News in Greenville, South Carolina. Greenville is where I grew up, and The Greenville News is the place where I earned my first paycheck as a writer.

The column will focus on parenting, the outdoor life, empowering girls (especially) and anything in-between, all with a personal and regional touch. It’ll appear every Thursday starting in late February.

If y’all have any ideas for what to call the column itself, I’d love to hear them! (I’ve never been any good at titles.)

Oskar Blues, Keowee Valley in the News, Readers’ Awards, and I’m Off to Puerto Rico!

I hope you all have a had a wonderful holiday season so far, and are relaxing (I hope) today by watching football and lounging by a warm fire!

New Year's again ...

In my town, friends are gearing up for the big Oskar Blues New Year's Eve Grand Opening Hootenanny. Oskar Blues is a Colorado brewery that moved into our little, N.C. mountain town just recently. The owner loves mountain biking in our forests, and decided to branch out here. This year, Oskar Blues paid for all the Christmas lights in town! And tonight, they're throwing a huge bash--complete with beer and local bands--out at the warehouse.

Sadly, my husband and I are not attending. This is for two reasons: 1) I am 21 weeks pregnant, and while normally this is an event I'd be totally into, being around loud music--even good music--and folks imbibing when I can't just doesn't sound fun. It also has nothing to do with the fact that, these days, I'm asleep by 9:30 p.m. And: 2) Our team, the Clemson Tigers, plays LSU tonight in the Peach Bowl. And we've got to watch our Tigers.

Keowee Valley in the news ...

Other than this, some fun stuff has happened lately for Keowee Valley. On Dec. 22, this article was posted in The Greenville News, citing Keowee Valley as a great local read. This is my hometown newspaper--the place where, actually, I earned my first dime writing as a freelance reporter--and I'm thrilled.

Check it out: "Buying local: Upstate authors have the write stuff" by staff writer Wanda Owings

Next, two different book reviewers/bloggers have listed Keowee Valley as one of their Top Reads for 2012:

Goodreads Librarian, blogger and book reviewer Jill listed Keowee Valley in "My Best/Favorite Romance Novels of 2012." It won in two categories: Best Romantic Historical Fiction and Best Debut!

Blogger/reviewer Michelle Griep also lauded Keowee Valley as her 2012's Best Books Silver Winner, over at her blog "Writer Off the Leash."

I'm just thrilled! A huge thanks to Wanda, Jill and Michelle for taking so much time and consideration with my novel.

South to Puerto Rico ...

As some of you know, I'm currently a student in the MFA in Writing program at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. We begin each semester with a residency on-campus. Tomorrow, in lieu of the traditional Vermont residency, I am headed--big pregnant belly and all--down to sunny Puerto Rico, with 17 students, faculty, and coordinators. I'd signed on for the study abroad residency before I ever knew I'd be pregnant, and with my doctor's approval, here I go!

I'm getting more excited by the hour about this trip: We're starting out in Old San Juan, where we'll stay in apartments, go on walking tours of the city's historic and cultural sites, and commune with fellow writers and friends. Most importantly, we get to meet, talk with, and learn from some of Puerto Rico's most lauded modern writers. Next, we head to the El Yunque National Forest, a gorgeously biodiverse rainforest, where we stay in an ecolodge.

I am a travel junkie, and so all this is right (or should I say, "write") up my alley! I promise to report back.

May the New Year bring us all blessings, peace and prosperity!

See you in 2013!