Mama Diaries

Friday, September 26, 2014

Follow Fest and Making the Meat Less Dead


First of all, I'd just like to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who blitzed me yesterday!  What an awesome surprise.  I never thought I'd be the one getting blitzed!  You guys rock!









Second, I'm squeezing this in on the last possible day, but here is my entry for Melissa Maygrove's Follow Fest: 

Name: Sherry Ellis, aka, The Mama

Fiction or nonfiction? Fiction

What genres do you write? Children's picture books and chapter books. 

Are you published? Yes, two, but soon-to-be three books: 
That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN!
That Mama is a Grouch – Pinnacle Book Award Winner, Silver Award in Mom's Choice Awards
Ten Zany Birds - should be available in December 

Do you do anything in addition to writing? I am a professional musician who plays and teaches violin, viola and piano. 

Tell us a little about yourself.  I'm a mom (obviously), I love music (I guess that's kind of obvious, too), and I enjoy travelling and doing adventurous things (Next on my list is sky diving.  I think I've convinced my 65-year-old mom to do it with me!)

What are you reading right now? Notes on Music, Idea and History by Kurt Oppens.  Totally intellectual, I know, but as a musician, I try to learn as much about music as I can.

Which authors influenced you the most? Jane Yolen, Mary Pope Osborne, Rick Riordan:  All childrens/MG authors.

Where can we find you? 
Website:  www.sherryellis.org
Facebook
Twitter



Now for the (very short) story:

Last night, we had steak for dinner.  They were cooked on the barbecue, and came out medium rare, which is how most of us like them.  My daughter, however, has a real problem with blood in her meat.

I watched as she poked her steak numerous times with her fork. It looked like she was killing it.  "What are you doing?" I asked.

She smashed the steak and let the blood ooze out.  "I'm making it less dead!"




106 comments:

  1. I feel like she meant to say "I'm making it more dead" because saying she's making it less dead would be bringing it back to life.

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    1. You're right. I think she thought getting the blood out would make it seem like it was never alive.

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  2. eww on the bloody... or any kind.... of steak

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    1. You are an unusual guy. Most men I know like meat - with blood! ;0)

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  3. Ten Zany Birds rocks! I can't wait to see the illustrations.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. I'm so excited about it. I've seen the illustrations as they are being done. They are looking good.

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  4. New book in December - awesome!
    Today is the Blitz so you'll probably get more. Enjoy!

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    1. I can't believe how many people have visited me. It's awesome!

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  5. Thanks for joining the fest, Sherry. Congrats on your upcoming release. :)

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    1. Thank you! I can't believe how many people have visited in the last couple of days!

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  7. Happy Blitz day, Sherry. As to that steak issue, I get what your daughter's saying.

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    1. I'm not a huge fan of blood, either, but if you close your eyes and don't look at it, it tastes pretty good.

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  8. Aww, less dead....not sure of her logic in that but it's super adorable.

    Happy Blitz Day! It was nice to get to know you in summary form. Congrats on the upcoming book!

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  9. Congrats on the new book coming out. Love the story about your daughter and the blood in her steak. Years ago I couldn't eat steak if it was the least bit bloody. I interviewed a blind man who enjoyed cooking. During the interview he mentioned he liked his steak medium rare and without thinking I asked how he could eat it with the blood running out. He laughed and said, 'I don't see it.' He told me next time I ate steak to order it medium. When it arrived, close my eyes and have someone cut a piece for me and I would never eat it any other way. He was right.

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    1. If you can't see the blood, it doesn't gross you out.

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  10. Hey Sherry, nice to meet you and you're welcome - cause I'm here to 'Blitz' you today.

    Making the meat less dead. OK.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! Yeah. Interesting choice of words from my daughter!

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  11. Hey Sherry! You sound like a lot of fun! HAPPY BLITZ DAY to you!! :D

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  12. Congrats on your upcoming releases! They sound hilarious, something my son would've loved at that age. :)
    Happy Blitz Day!

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  13. lol eww to the blood, I agree with her. Another new book too, awesome indeed at your feed.

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  14. Nice to meet you and congratulations on your up coming release!
    By the way, I really admire PB writers. They are such tricky things to create. I know I could never do it.

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    1. I think they're fun, but you really have to have a visual picture in your mind to do it, and choose your words carefully!

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  15. Happy Blitz day, Sherry. So exciting for you I didn't know about it or I'd have joined in. I can just imagine the trauma of "making the meat less dead!"
    Happy weekend.

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  16. Ha, I had the opposite experience growing up. My dad overcooked our steaks on the grill every time. I've got great stories about my little brother brushing his teeth and going to bed with half-chewed steak tucked into a cheek and waking with it still there.

    You were supposed to be blitzed today, so lucky you. Two days of blitzing for two posts!

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    1. Very lucky me! I can't believe how many people have visited!

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  17. MP Osbourne & RR...LUV them both. Happy Blitz Day

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    1. Thank you! Yes, they are both such talented writers!

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  18. Happy Blitz day, Sherry! I must say, I like my meat very dead. Very dead indeed. I also wish I was a vegetarian, but I tried it and I just can't do it physically. Have a great blitz day! :D

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    1. I could never be a vegetarian. I need my meat! Thanks for stopping by!

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  19. Love your daughter's come back line!!!!

    HAPPY BLITZ, SHERRY!

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    1. Isn't she funny? Thank you so much for stopping by! You've all made my day!

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  20. The blitzing may never end. Enjoy reading all of the comments this weekend. Your blog looks very interesting. I'll stop by again later to have a look around.

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    1. Thanks, Greg! My life is somewhat amusing. Hope you enjoy the posts!

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  21. Happy Blog Blitz Day! So adorable! I remember the things my daughter used to say when she was young...Priceless! Have a great night. Eva

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  22. Happy Blitz Day and best of luck with Ten Zany Birds. I put up my Follow Fest Post today too.

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    1. Thanks, Jeff! I'll have to check out your Follow Fest Post.

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  23. I know how your daughter feels about the meat; I usually have to microwave mine for a couple minutes after everyone says its done.

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    1. I used to do that, too. But then I got brave and tried it, and it's actually pretty good with the blood. I try not to look at it, though. ;0)

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  24. Well, I was going to say kudos on the sky diving plans, but you get double kudos for convincing your mom to do it too. I'm sure that would be a marvelous experience. Hang-gliding would have to be another one.

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    1. Hang gliding would be awesome. Maybe after I sky dive!

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  25. Happy Blitz Day! I like my steak pink but not bloody. That's what I tell the chef too, otherwise it comes out all wrong.

    shahwharton.com

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    1. Glad you got it figured out, so it comes out perfect for you!

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  26. Happy blitz day! I can confirm that skydiving is AWESOME. :)

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    1. That is awesome that you've done it! I can't wait to try it!

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  27. I don't quite understand less dead, but it does sound like kid logic to me. Happy Blitz Day!

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  28. Damn it, I missed your Blitz day post, the one that most commented on anyway ;) But I'm here now, and it's better late than never, right?? Congrats on being Blitzed.

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    1. Hey, you're still on the same post! Thank you for stopping by. You've made my day!

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  29. LOL, too bad there wasn't a vampire around to suck all the blood out of it for her... XD

    And congrats on being blitzed! That happened to me once. All those comments are definitely a happy surprise!

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    1. Haha. Oh. Wait a minute. I am the vampire! Okay. Next time I'll fix her little problem.

      This blitzing thing is a ton of fun! I never thought I'd be blitzed!

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  30. You have a very distinctive blog and I'm so glad we connected and have stayed connected. I enjoy reading the Mama Diaries and seeing it on my daily feed. I've linked to you on twitter. I guess that's the only place I had missed making contact. Keep doing what you're doing!

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    1. Thanks, Stephanie. It's been fun, and I'm glad so many people like you have enjoyed my stories!

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  31. Happy Blitz day! Your short story was so cute. I can see you are a great children's writer just from that short bit.

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    1. Thanks, Michelle! Your visit and comment made my day!

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  32. HaHaHA!!!! Sounds like something my Sweetman does.

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    1. It's quite interesting to see them make meat less dead!

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  33. I 'played' the viola when I was a kid. Truth is, I was terrible at it and pretty sure my viola tried to commit suicide more than once. I wish you could have been my teacher, I'm pretty sure I'd have a better appreciation for music if you had. Happy Blitz day! :)

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    1. Awww. Well, if you still want to learn, it's not too late. But I'm afraid I'm a little far from you. Next time I'm in France...

      Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  34. I look forward to Ten Zany Birds. Happy blitz day!

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  35. CONGRATS on your upcoming book release!

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    1. Thanks, Susanne! I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished product!

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  36. Sorry I missed your Blitz Day. I hope it rocked.

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    1. Hey, you're still on the same post. So thank you for stopping by! It was awesome!

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  37. Congrats on Ten Zany Birds! And Happy Blitz!

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  38. Your blitz day sounds like fun!

    Your daughter's comment made me laugh. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. The blitz day was awesome! My daughter comes up with some funny things!

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  39. Hi Sherry! Nice to meet you. I'm technically on a Blog Break, but since DL is my buddy, I'm trying to join in on the Blog Blitzs. I'll be back to read more of your writing as soon as I can. Have a beautiful, blissful weekend!

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    1. Thanks, Becky! I really appreciate that you took time off your break to stop by! Hope you have a great weekend, too. (Mine is a little less than blissful - my daughter is having a birthday party with 30 girls right now. It's a little noisy at my pad!)

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  40. Woot! Sky diving! Way to go Mama's mama for daring to go too!! Great Follow Fest post!

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  41. hey Sherry, you have some really amusing stuff here about your children! Good job and happy blitz!

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  42. Skydiving with the mom? Can't wait to read that post... =]

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  43. I'm running late for Blitz Day, but I'm so glad to meet yet another children's author (AND musician!)--good luck with your books!

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  44. I loved reading more about you Sherry! Thanks for sharing!

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  45. This was an ideal post for a Blitz Day.

    Hope you're enjoying the attention!

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote

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    1. This has been so awesome! And the timing couldn't be better for Melissa's blog hop!

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  46. Whoa, I'm very late to the party, I see! But I love the name Ten Zany Birds. Also, your daughter sounds like my parents. They'd rather eat a steak that's black than risk the chance of finding even a touch of blood.

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    1. haha! I used to be like that, too, because blood used to gross me out. Not any more!

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  47. I love the get-to-know-you. It's always fun to read more about writers.
    BTW...happy belated blitz day.

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  48. (Playing catch-up on Follow Fest) We've crossed paths before, but it was great learning more about you! Your book titles crack me up. It was nice re-meeting you.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I remember "meeting" you, too. It's hard to keep up with everybody, but I'm glad you're here, again!

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