Okay, so unfortunately they don't provide childcare, but check out the Highlights Foundation for writing workshops and/or retreats. They're in PA, kind of near Scranton, and they offer great workshops on writing for kids - so if you want to run with that pop-up book idea, there you go! But you can also book a cabin or a room just for your own personal writing retreat. You have no responsibility for anyone else, they feed you delicious meals and snacks, and there's nature if you like nature. Highly recommended!
1. I loved this interview; I've started reading Fat Talk but am now looking forward to it even more.
2. Beatrix! Pop-up books! Adorable.
3. The discussion on team sports--I keep on meaning to mention this. The thing that I do that is not team sports because it's not competitive, it's not sports, and it can be done by adults and non-sporty people is folk dance. Really, more specifically, it's ritual dance (which sounds weird, but it's like morris dance or longsword or rapper, so it's performing dance rather than social dance). It's a team, so you have people counting on you; you can't do it by yourself; it's music and geometry and spatial awareness. And particularly with an age-diverse team like mine (my 11-year-old is the youngest; we have members in their 60s), it's also very body-size diverse. Height is more relevant than width (as in "get the sword over the tallest person's head, b/c we don't want to bash people in the head"), and weight is only ever mentioned in the context of a spinny figure where the people who are smaller have to lean back more. But I really like that my non-athletic, bookworm self and my non-athletic, bookworm kid get to do this together, too.
Just came on here to say that I just finished reading the book yesterday- it was AMAZING!!! Could not put it down! I loved the personal interviews and hearing the family stories. You weaved their experiences in so well with the narrative. I agree the Oreos/lockbox story was probably one of the more heart-breaking ones. I will definitely be recommending Fat Talk to all of my dietitian colleagues and friends who are parents. Honestly, I think anyone would benefit from reading your book. The themes are universal and so relevant to our culture right now.
Also a Peggy Orenstein fan, and I totally agree that you are both queens of nonfiction that is full of life and human stories, woven in beautifully with the research.
Okay, so unfortunately they don't provide childcare, but check out the Highlights Foundation for writing workshops and/or retreats. They're in PA, kind of near Scranton, and they offer great workshops on writing for kids - so if you want to run with that pop-up book idea, there you go! But you can also book a cabin or a room just for your own personal writing retreat. You have no responsibility for anyone else, they feed you delicious meals and snacks, and there's nature if you like nature. Highly recommended!
This was FANTASTIC!!! I'm sure this is my favorite interview so far, and I sure do love being a Burnt Toastie! :D
1. I loved this interview; I've started reading Fat Talk but am now looking forward to it even more.
2. Beatrix! Pop-up books! Adorable.
3. The discussion on team sports--I keep on meaning to mention this. The thing that I do that is not team sports because it's not competitive, it's not sports, and it can be done by adults and non-sporty people is folk dance. Really, more specifically, it's ritual dance (which sounds weird, but it's like morris dance or longsword or rapper, so it's performing dance rather than social dance). It's a team, so you have people counting on you; you can't do it by yourself; it's music and geometry and spatial awareness. And particularly with an age-diverse team like mine (my 11-year-old is the youngest; we have members in their 60s), it's also very body-size diverse. Height is more relevant than width (as in "get the sword over the tallest person's head, b/c we don't want to bash people in the head"), and weight is only ever mentioned in the context of a spinny figure where the people who are smaller have to lean back more. But I really like that my non-athletic, bookworm self and my non-athletic, bookworm kid get to do this together, too.
Just came on here to say that I just finished reading the book yesterday- it was AMAZING!!! Could not put it down! I loved the personal interviews and hearing the family stories. You weaved their experiences in so well with the narrative. I agree the Oreos/lockbox story was probably one of the more heart-breaking ones. I will definitely be recommending Fat Talk to all of my dietitian colleagues and friends who are parents. Honestly, I think anyone would benefit from reading your book. The themes are universal and so relevant to our culture right now.
Another writing retreat with childcare, this one in the UK, focusing on single moms and other disadvantaged parents: https://oldknittingfactory.com/
Loved this conversation!
Also a Peggy Orenstein fan, and I totally agree that you are both queens of nonfiction that is full of life and human stories, woven in beautifully with the research.