My blog posts here have been sporadic, I know. But, I assure you I have definitely not been slacking off! Would you like to see what I’ve been busy working on lately?

Take a look at these two recipe books. They are the first two books in the new Farmstand Favorites series. They’re also two of the writing projects I recently completed for Hatherleigh Press. I’m a contributing writer, so I wrote the opening content for both books. I also had the privilege of dealing with some of the local and regional associations and groups to collect the apple and pumpkin recipes included in the books. Each book contains over 75 delicious recipes!

Aren’t they pretty? (Click on the image for a better view.)

Farmstand Favorites: Pumpkins and Farmstand Favorites: Apples

Here’s what Hatherleigh Press has to say about this new series:

“The Farmstand Favorites series was created to encourage buying local and buying fresh. More than ever, we strive for a better understanding of where our food comes from, and for many of us this means shopping at a farmers market or farmstand. By supporting your local farmers and producers, you are also supporting a livelihood which is vital for a healthy, sustainable future.”

The exciting news is that as of yesterday (November 16, 2010) they are both available for sale, just in time for the holidays. You can learn more about Farmstand Favorites: Apples and Farmstand Favorites: Pumpkins and how to purchase them on the publisher’s website. The books are also available through Random House, Amazon, Borders, eBay and various other companies.

Also, if you are a health or food writer/reviewer and are interested in reviewing either book, please contact Jo Brielyn (that’s me) at jo[at]jobrielyn[dot]com to learn how to obtain a review copy.

Living with a Type 1 Kid

According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, almost 24 million Americans live with Diabetes. Almost 3 million of those people have Type 1 Diabetes, which generally strikes children, teenagers, and young adults (it can also be diagnosed in adults). More than 15,000 kids are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes each year in America alone. That’s about 40 kids every day! Yet, despite these numbers, Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes still receives far less media attention than necessary to inform our nation’s parents and families and facilitate a change.

Emily and Sue, Photo courtesy: Sue Ayers

Sue Ayers is a mother who knows all too well what it’s like to have a child affected by Type 1 Diabetes. Her 11-year old daughter, Emily, was diagnosed with Type 1 on January 22, 2010. Tomorrow, on my blog talk radio show, Will Blog for Kids, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sue and chatting with her about Emily, life since the diagnosis, what she’s now doing to raise awareness for Type 1 Diabetes, important facts about Juvenile Diabetes, and much more.

My co-host, Michelle Devenport, will also be talking with Lisa-Jo Baker from The Gypsy Mama about her recent trip to Guatemala as a Compassion International blogger.

You won’t want to miss this show! I hope to see you in the chatroom tomorrow.

Here are the details:

Link to the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/11/05/robin-falls-kids–will-blog-for-kids

Date: Friday, November 5, 2010

Time: 11:00 AM Central/Noon Eastern

Show length: 1 to 1-1/2 hours

Call-in number: (646) 595-4478

*Online chat is also available during the show, so be sure to log into Blog Talk Radio before the show begins.

Edited to add: The link above also works for listening to the archive version of the show.