Warmest Welcome to Pamela Dean!

[pegkerr]

I checked my user page today and did a little happy dance, when I saw a new addition to my "Friends Of" list and thereby discovered that pameladean now has a LiveJournal account. Pamela writes wonderful books, including some of my very favorite fantasy novels of all time. I had the great pleasure of being in a Shakespeare reading group with her for a number of years, and she has been a very kind writing mentor to me. (And I should also not fail to mention that she gave me the best recipe for molasses gingerbread that I have ever tasted.)

I suspect she might not want a fuss made to welcome her. Tough cookies, Pamela. This is my journal, and I'm going to do it anyway. I'm glad to be able to be the first to say, welcome to LiveJournal, pameladean. So glad to have you with us.

Cheers,
Peg

Comments

[flourish.livejournal.com]

w00t!

Looks like my "making friends in the professional author arena" plan to take over the world shall go on schedule then. ;) It's great to see people getting LJ accounts and so forth; it makes you feel so much less like they're just a random Odd Writing Goddess and more like they're just another person like you.

I don't know how much that makes sense - but I can tell you that I sort of had a vague image of a brain hooked up to a rapidly-typing computer when I tried to envision any professional author until I met you and realized that Pamela Dean, Neil Gaiman and Diana Wynne Jones all have internet presences. o_o

Hoots with laughter

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

A brain hooked up to a rapidly-typing computer? Man, don't I wish! Unfortunately, there's the little matter of the body that's also involved . . . a body that birthed two babies, and has to do the dishes, go into work at the day job to pay the mortgage, workout to fight middle-age spread, and most annoyingly of all, requires sleep every night. Otherwise the brain is useless.

Still (she says wistfully) what a nice fantasy . . .

Re: Hoots with laughter

[flourish.livejournal.com]

Well, I do wish I could do without the sleep bit. Having all authors disembodied would be great in terms of productivity, but it does make me wonder how they'd get inspiration. H'm... I sense a plot ;)

Re: Hoots with laughter

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

There's your NaNovel! Run with it!

I just love it that favorite authors are keeping journals/blogs/diaries online, because it's so interesting to see what goes on behind the creative process. Even if that is the dishes and the laundry. :)

[corinnethewise.livejournal.com]

::grin:: This is very exciting. First the amazing Peg Kerr gets a livejournal, and now Pamela Dean. All of my favorite authors!
-Corinne

Gosh, it's bright in here

[pameladean]

Thank you, Peg, and hello, everybody. It's very
kind and gracious of you. I haven't got time to learn this stuff at the moment, but it seemed very rude to still keep silent under the circumstances. So hello.

Thanks!

[diony.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for pointing out Pamela Dean's livejournal! It's really exciting to see so many authors whose work I love starting online journals of some sort.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I have to agree; that is the world's absolutely *best* gingerbread recipe. It has magical and life-changing properties I can't hardly begin to describe.

K. [had an inkling that Pam might be turning up in these parts]

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

I actually found your LJ through Pamela Dean's, and have been busily reading it from the beginning in odd moments out of my day. I've been struggling not to overwhelm you with commentary on hopelessly outdated events, but this I cannot remain silent on...

molasses gingerbread?

Can this wonder be shared? 00 <--big pleading anime eyes

Molasses Gingerbread

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Adapted from a recipe published in American Cookery by Amelia Simmons in 1796:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup dark molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 TB ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda, dissolved in 2 TB hot water
3/4 cup cold water
1/4 cup granulated sugar to sprinkle on top of batter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease and lightly flour an 8- by 8-inch baking pan.

Combine the butter and molasses in large mixing bowl, beat until well mixed. In a small bowl, mix together flour, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, salt, stirring with fork to blend. Stir into the butter mixture. Beat well. Add the baking soda dissolved in water, stir and blend. Beat in the cold water and mix well. Spoon into the pan and sprinkle sugar on top. Bake for about 20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Cheers,
Peg

Re: Molasses Gingerbread

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

Oh, good heavens, that sounds wonderful!!

Thank you. I know what I'm making this weekend.