You’re welcome! #KidLitChat

This strawberry cream pie is so incredibly simple to make that you could definitely have one for yourself! Make 2 and share one with the family. ;) #KidLitChat

Lately, I've written a lot of my first drafts in bed, in the dark, with a flashlight after everyone else in the house is asleep and I should totally be asleep too. #KidLitChat

Thanks again for a wonderful #KidLitChat everyone! I'll see you all here next week with plenty of #KidLitConfections treats to share!

I love that! #KidLitChat

I loved the Lois & Clark (TV show from the '90s) episodes where they talked about this. Clark complaining to his parents that Lois was obsessed with Superman ("Superman is what I can do. It's not who I am.") Or a time traveler telling Lois she's "galactically stupid" for not noticing. #KidLitChat

Lime Cream Pie, garnished with green toasted coconut to make a little "nest" in the center for jellybean "eggs"

I give you my solemn vow that I will never put "no pie" energy out into the world! And here's a bonus pie to show I'm serious! Lime and Coconut Cream Pie i-am-so-grateful.blogspot.com/2016/03/lime... #KidLitChat

To be fair, when he takes off his glasses, he also changes into his Superman suit... and I bet a lot of people aren't actually looking at his face. #KidLitChat

It's also delicious stirred into a cup of plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt. It adds just the right amount of sweetness. (I'm not a fan of sugary yogurt.) #KidLitChat

Hmmm... the finest point I can find on Amazon is the .8mm tip If you have seen any of the ultra fine tip Cristal pens, please do send me a link! I stocked up a few years ago, not realizing that it would be the last time I ever saw them in stores, and now I'm down to my last pen! #KidLitChat

I love cranberry sauce in oatmeal! <3 #KidLitChat

Exactly! #KidLitChat

I used to use the ultra fine tip Bic Cristal pens. They made such smooth lines, and they had such a fine point that I could write tiny notes on my to-do lists or in the margins of the books I was reading without worrying about legibility... But I think they stopped making them. #KidLitChat

So much fun!! I usually have an idea of my main character in my brain when I start. I wish my fingers worked for doodling in that way. (Yes, I know it's a skill I could probably learn if I took the time to work on it--but then when would I bake gourmet #KidLitConfections treats?) #KidLitChat

I do one pencil at a time, resharpening as needed to keep a nice point. (I have a battery-powered electric pencil sharpener that I carry with me basically everywhere.) Stopping periodically to sharpen my pencil keeps my hand from cramping too much. #KidLitChat

LOL! I almost NEVER use black, because so many fun colors exist, why not use the whole rainbow? :) #KidLitChat

That's awesome!! I may need to show them to my family... My birthday is coming up soon... #KidLitChat

My daughter always tells me that's why I write #KidLit. Because I will never grow up. (I think she was complimenting me. Either way, I choose to take it as a compliment!) #KidLitChat

I have certain pens I prefer for writing in my journal or making lists (I love making lists!!!), but for stories? It has to be the dedicated story pencils, or there's no hope of finding publication for that story. I don't make the rules. #KidLitChat

But also, with my li'l OCD brain... A pencil actually helps me to write something more "permanent" than writing with a pen. Just knowing I can erase and fix mistakes allows me to be more free in my expression. With a pen, I end up with a scribbled-up mess that may end up in the trash. #KidLitChat

Yeah, I totally get that. It's pencils for me because I started the pencil collection specifically for writing my "books that will get published" when I was in 2nd grade. So there's some deep significance there. When I sharpen the story pencils, I tap into the confidence of 2nd grade Me #KidLitChat

I'm so curious! Are they scented in the same way as those scented markers from the 80s? #KidLitChat

Yep! I used to invent new pie recipes every Thanksgiving and Pi Day (March 14). Now, I have so many go-to recipes that I don't always invent new recipes for the occasion... but sometimes I invent new recipes in between just because! #KidLitChat #KidLitConfections

Sometimes, I think, what looks like stalling is really just that process of clearing a space in your brain for the words to flow. Just like you might need to tidy up your desk to have a clean writing surface, sometimes you need to tidy up all the busywork cluttering your brain. #KidLitChat

I make really good pie crust, but you can totally eat just the filling and still have a delicious dessert! I recommend the Strawberry Cream Pie. And bonus: it's really easy to make! ;) #KidLitChat

Nice! I do love a good pen <3

I've been collecting my story pencils since I was in 2nd grade, and they are NOT for use in any mundane tasks (like ordering groceries for pickup). Only writing stories #KidLitChat

You'd be surprised how much that sensory input can help in the creation process! #KidLitChat

slice of 3.1414926 Ultimate Pie - a 6-layer confection with a chocolate crust, cheesecake base, and layers of caramel, salted caramel mousse, chocolate mousse, and whipped cream - on a white plate with a blue and green floral border, on a granite countertop in front of a full pie, with a single slice removed

Close-up photo of a slice of Apple Walnut pie on a white plate with a pink and green floral border. The crust is flaky and golden brown, with sprinkles of cinnamon sugar, and there are multiple layers of apple slices and walnuts in the pie. There is a single scoop of slightly-melted caramel ice cream on top of the pie and a fork sitting next to it on the plate. In the background, slightly blurry on a wooden table top behind the pie slice, there is a pie dish with the rest of the pie, sitting in the middle of a green table runner.

Full Chocolate Walnut Pie on a wooden tabletop

strawberry cream pie, garnished with a circle of sliced strawberries

Pie is always the 1st step! Enjoy!
3.14 Pie i-am-so-grateful.blogspot.com/2025/10/ulti...
Apple Walnut i-am-so-grateful.blogspot.com/2025/11/appl...
Chocolate Walnut i-am-so-grateful.blogspot.com/2024/02/easy...
Super-Simple Strawberry Cream i-am-so-grateful.blogspot.com/2016/03/supe... #KidLitChat

I have special story pencils that I use to write my first drafts with. I start each writing session by sharpening my current pencil to a very sharp point. So my ideas will be sharp and on-point, of course! #KidLitChat

Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted this Very Real email, so I couldn't respond to let her know how she could find my books... that she had already read and loved so much that she had to reach out to tell me what a promising author I am... Sad moment of an opportunity missed.