Cold rain in Burnt Hills

So I spoke in the Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa High School today. Kept thinking about the name “Burnt Hills” which some people told me had a connection to local Indian tribes. The weather here has turned November – cold rain, blustery winds. The inside of the school was warm and the students and teachers all really sweet. I apologize to the girls who wanted me to sign their arms. It just didn’t seem like the right thing to do. Most of the groups I spoke to were small (which makes for a more effective presentation). The big group I spoke to in the auditorium was made much easier by one of the highest quality wireless microphones it has ever been my pleasure to wear.

I was feeling so much better today I did not eat chicken soup. I picked something off a Chinese menu. Not sure what it was. I suspect the translation was “Noodles, Meat & Veggies cooked with volcanic hot sauces and spices that cause burps of flames.” When I wasn’t crying from the heat, it tasted good. And it did not take much to fill me up.

If you like reading about writers’ spaces, this article is for you.

31 Replies to “Cold rain in Burnt Hills”

  1. wow

    Luckies! I wish you’d come to my school*sigh* On the soup thing I was sick yesterday and my dad brought me some type of soup and I was like whatever soup’s soup! It would be cool if you signed my arm!! 🙂

  2. wow

    Luckies! I wish you’d come to my school*sigh* On the soup thing I was sick yesterday and my dad brought me some type of soup and I was like whatever soup’s soup! It would be cool if you signed my arm!! 🙂

  3. wow

    Luckies! I wish you’d come to my school*sigh* On the soup thing I was sick yesterday and my dad brought me some type of soup and I was like whatever soup’s soup! It would be cool if you signed my arm!! 🙂

  4. blah

    i just wanted to say that Speak and Fever 1793 are my FAVORITE books. I love them so much. Thank you for writing them. PeAcE

  5. blah

    i just wanted to say that Speak and Fever 1793 are my FAVORITE books. I love them so much. Thank you for writing them. PeAcE

  6. blah

    i just wanted to say that Speak and Fever 1793 are my FAVORITE books. I love them so much. Thank you for writing them. PeAcE

  7. chinese & writing

    mmm chinese:-). that thing you had with the noodles and meat and veggies and the hot sauce actually sounds good:-). i read that article you posted the link to. it’s good. i hope you’re feeling better too! by the way: that’s cool where the girls asked you to sign their arms, but i also think it was a bit extreme. but then again at least they didn’t ask you to sign another weird body part;-)! well i g2g. ttyl. -ash 🙂

  8. chinese & writing

    mmm chinese:-). that thing you had with the noodles and meat and veggies and the hot sauce actually sounds good:-). i read that article you posted the link to. it’s good. i hope you’re feeling better too! by the way: that’s cool where the girls asked you to sign their arms, but i also think it was a bit extreme. but then again at least they didn’t ask you to sign another weird body part;-)! well i g2g. ttyl. -ash 🙂

  9. chinese & writing

    mmm chinese:-). that thing you had with the noodles and meat and veggies and the hot sauce actually sounds good:-). i read that article you posted the link to. it’s good. i hope you’re feeling better too! by the way: that’s cool where the girls asked you to sign their arms, but i also think it was a bit extreme. but then again at least they didn’t ask you to sign another weird body part;-)! well i g2g. ttyl. -ash 🙂

  10. Thank You!

    I want to thank you for recommending Holly Black’s books! Because of your recommendation, I read “Tithe” and “Valiant” and thought they were wonderful.

    Thank You again.

  11. Thank You!

    I want to thank you for recommending Holly Black’s books! Because of your recommendation, I read “Tithe” and “Valiant” and thought they were wonderful.

    Thank You again.

  12. Thank You!

    I want to thank you for recommending Holly Black’s books! Because of your recommendation, I read “Tithe” and “Valiant” and thought they were wonderful.

    Thank You again.

  13. I’m glad i got to see you at Burnt Hills it is a nice school. I loved your book speak and i want to read your book that you are writing now Twisted. I know it will be a good book and i hope it sells alot for your benifet.

  14. I’m glad i got to see you at Burnt Hills it is a nice school. I loved your book speak and i want to read your book that you are writing now Twisted. I know it will be a good book and i hope it sells alot for your benifet.

  15. I’m glad i got to see you at Burnt Hills it is a nice school. I loved your book speak and i want to read your book that you are writing now Twisted. I know it will be a good book and i hope it sells alot for your benifet.

  16. Chinese, yum (:

    I love Chinese. Except it is kind of filling. ^^ I prefer Japanese better – you should try shumai! They’re these really amazing dumplings that taste absolutely wonderful. 😛 Thanks for the article – I enjoyed reading about the different authors and about why I love writing in my closet so much. 🙂 It is filled with pictures and nice little homey things that make it look nice. It’s a big closet, but my writing space is small. ^_^

    I’m in Computer class now and report cards come out in like – uh, 20 minutes. can’t wait. xD

  17. Chinese, yum (:

    I love Chinese. Except it is kind of filling. ^^ I prefer Japanese better – you should try shumai! They’re these really amazing dumplings that taste absolutely wonderful. 😛 Thanks for the article – I enjoyed reading about the different authors and about why I love writing in my closet so much. 🙂 It is filled with pictures and nice little homey things that make it look nice. It’s a big closet, but my writing space is small. ^_^

    I’m in Computer class now and report cards come out in like – uh, 20 minutes. can’t wait. xD

  18. Chinese, yum (:

    I love Chinese. Except it is kind of filling. ^^ I prefer Japanese better – you should try shumai! They’re these really amazing dumplings that taste absolutely wonderful. 😛 Thanks for the article – I enjoyed reading about the different authors and about why I love writing in my closet so much. 🙂 It is filled with pictures and nice little homey things that make it look nice. It’s a big closet, but my writing space is small. ^_^

    I’m in Computer class now and report cards come out in like – uh, 20 minutes. can’t wait. xD

  19. NCTE in Pittsburgh

    Hey,

    This comment is of-topic, but I’ve been looking for your name on the NCTE schedule and I can’t find you; however, I’ve seen on your online schedule that you plan to attend the conference.

    I’m an English teacher (of 20 years) and a writer (in my “free” time), and I just started reading your novels this summer. I love your work. I was hoping to run into you at the NCTE conference/convention.

    So, my questions is — are your speaking there or attending a specific lecture? I’d shake your hand, tell you how much I appreciate you, but I wouldn’t take you over (I’m an introvert, anyway). I just wanted to meet you. My mentee teacher (who’s a wonderful beginning teacher) introduced your work to me, and now I’m catching up. She’ll be there, too, and we wanted to say “hello” in person.

    Thanks, Laurie! I’ll check back here to see if you have a chance to respond.

    Jan

  20. NCTE in Pittsburgh

    Hey,

    This comment is of-topic, but I’ve been looking for your name on the NCTE schedule and I can’t find you; however, I’ve seen on your online schedule that you plan to attend the conference.

    I’m an English teacher (of 20 years) and a writer (in my “free” time), and I just started reading your novels this summer. I love your work. I was hoping to run into you at the NCTE conference/convention.

    So, my questions is — are your speaking there or attending a specific lecture? I’d shake your hand, tell you how much I appreciate you, but I wouldn’t take you over (I’m an introvert, anyway). I just wanted to meet you. My mentee teacher (who’s a wonderful beginning teacher) introduced your work to me, and now I’m catching up. She’ll be there, too, and we wanted to say “hello” in person.

    Thanks, Laurie! I’ll check back here to see if you have a chance to respond.

    Jan

  21. NCTE in Pittsburgh

    Hey,

    This comment is of-topic, but I’ve been looking for your name on the NCTE schedule and I can’t find you; however, I’ve seen on your online schedule that you plan to attend the conference.

    I’m an English teacher (of 20 years) and a writer (in my “free” time), and I just started reading your novels this summer. I love your work. I was hoping to run into you at the NCTE conference/convention.

    So, my questions is — are your speaking there or attending a specific lecture? I’d shake your hand, tell you how much I appreciate you, but I wouldn’t take you over (I’m an introvert, anyway). I just wanted to meet you. My mentee teacher (who’s a wonderful beginning teacher) introduced your work to me, and now I’m catching up. She’ll be there, too, and we wanted to say “hello” in person.

    Thanks, Laurie! I’ll check back here to see if you have a chance to respond.

    Jan

  22. Re: NCTE in Pittsburgh

    I would love to see you at the conference. I posted my schedule today (Sunday). Please be sure to tell me who you are!!!

    (I am an introvert, too. The way I deal with social anxiety is to become a loud-mouthed ham in public settings. Then I go home and yell at myself for talking too much. Sigh.)

  23. Re: NCTE in Pittsburgh

    I would love to see you at the conference. I posted my schedule today (Sunday). Please be sure to tell me who you are!!!

    (I am an introvert, too. The way I deal with social anxiety is to become a loud-mouthed ham in public settings. Then I go home and yell at myself for talking too much. Sigh.)

  24. Re: NCTE in Pittsburgh

    I would love to see you at the conference. I posted my schedule today (Sunday). Please be sure to tell me who you are!!!

    (I am an introvert, too. The way I deal with social anxiety is to become a loud-mouthed ham in public settings. Then I go home and yell at myself for talking too much. Sigh.)

  25. Your Don’t EvenKnow What School You Were In!

    There are two schools with two different names. One is called Burnt Hills/Ballston LAKE School and the other is Ballston Spa High School. I can’t believe you don’t ever know which building you were in! They are separate school districts, with separate philosophies, administrators, etc.

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