Nikole Brooks Bethea, Children's Author
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In Honor of the Release of G is for Grits:  A Southern Alphabet . . .

10/19/2012

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Our lemons are just getting ripe enough to pick.  (We only have a couple lemon trees as we live in North Florida and they are difficult to keep alive during our few cold snaps.)  As I was digging through my recipe box, hunting for my son's favorite lemon pie recipe, it crossed my mind that I had used "Lemons" in the "L" verse of my new children's ABC book - G is for Grits:  A Southern Alphabet.  As I flip back through the book, I realize that I actually used several foods to define the South.  I guess that is because (and let's face it)  much of our Southern culture revolves around  food.  Family gatherings revolve around food.  Church gatherings revolve around food.  Even our Saturday football gatherings revolve around food - as much as the football.  Food is what makes Southern Culture so "Southern."  Fried catfish, hushpuppies, cheese grits, chicken-n-dumplin's, boiled peanuts, fried okra, pecan pralines or divinity, and red velvet cake - these are a few of the foods that make the South proud. 

As Southern Hospitality would have it, we'll all need to prepare a favorite dish to take somewhere soon. In honor of the release of G is for Grits:  A Southern Alphabet, I'd love to hear some of your favorite recipes.  Please comment below.    I'll start it off with our favorite lemon pie recipe:

Lemon Pie
Large graham cracker pie crust
1/2 block cream cheese (softened)
1 cup cool whip (defrosted)
2 cans condensed milk (i.e. Eagle Brand)
Juice from 3 squeezed lemons (about 1/2 cup)
*Cream softened cream cheese.  Blend in cool whip.  Add milk and mix till creamy.
Stir in lemon juice.  Pour into pie crust and chill overnight.  Y'all enjoy!  
(Note:  I also like to pour pie into the miniature, individual-size graham pie crusts for a special treat.)

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Written Inspiration at UF's Harn Museum

8/6/2012

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I'm pleased to announce that G is for Grits: A Southern Alphabet is one of the 23 books selected for The University of Florida Harn Museum of Art's Written Inspiration: A Children's Book Signing Event.  The event will take place Sunday afternoon, November 4, 2012 from 1:00 till 5:00 (Eastern).  The authors will prepare a small craft for children to make related to their books.  If you are coming to Gainesville for Saturday's Gators vs. Missouri game, we'd love to see you at the Harn Museum on Sunday afternoon.    
                                             
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Read Across America 2012

2/25/2012

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Schools across the nation are getting ready for Read Across America.  The week will be filled with various activities:  dress-up days, games, and bulletin board and/or classroom door decorating contests - all aimed at motivating students to read.  The national day to celebrate reading is March 2 - Dr. Seuss's birthday.  I will be dressing three of my kids as Dr. Seuss characters that day.  They are even having green eggs and ham for lunch. 

I helped one of my children's schools prepare for Read Across America by working on the BoxTops for Education bulletin board.  (I am a BoxTops coordinator for our school.) 
Dr. Seuss BoxTops Bulletin Board
As a writer, I feel compelled to support education.  One easy way to do this is by saving BoxTops for Education and Labels for Education (also called Campbell's soup labels) for your local schools.  Schools get $0.10 for each BoxTop turned in, and they really add up.  Our PTO spent about $700 of BoxTops money the past couple years to buy a book for each student at Christmas.   Labels for Education can be redeemed by schools for athletic, academic, or art merchandise.  This is helpful in a time when budgets are tight and costs are rising.  Support your school.  Clip the labels!  Most schools have a collection container in their foyer or  office.  If you don't have a school to support, you can find local participating schools by entering your zip code on the Box Tops or Labels for Education sites. 
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STEM Friday

11/18/2011

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I'm pleased to announce that Anastasia Suen was kind enough to feature The Water Cycle as STEM Friday Chapter Book of the Day.   STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
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The Water Cycle - Author's copies

10/2/2011

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I received my author's copies of The Water Cycle.  I'm very happy with the visual presentation of the materials, layout, photos, and figures. 
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    About Nikki

    Nikki is an engineer, author, wife, and mother of four boys.

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