Tag Archive for "blog" - Beaufort Books

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Why You Should Intern With Beaufort Books

Thursday, November 30th, 2023

Hi everyone, Beauba Fett back one last time.

A lot has happened between now and my first blog post, but it really does feel like just last week I was typing up my introduction blog. I moved to a new state, my car battery only died twice, the old Fortnite map came back, and oh yeah, I learned a thing or two about publishing.

Wrapping up an internship at a publishing company isn’t where I expected to be at the end of this year, but I truly am grateful for deciding to take this leap. I graduated in May with a Marketing degree and Screenwriting minor, so I’ve always felt like I’ve had one foot in the business world and one in creative storytelling, but I had no idea how to merge the two while in school. I’ve had an amazing past couple of months discovering that publishing is exactly the industry where these two coexist, and I encourage anyone with interest to apply for this internship. You don’t have to be someone who always knew publishing was their passion to benefit from this position, so here’s three types of people that should try this out:

Young Aspiring Writers

Coming up with an idea and expanding into a complete manuscript is only half the battle for the writer. The other, and much more attritious, half involves getting someone interested in your work enough to get it out there for people to read. What better way of getting your work into the right hands than learning how the publishing industry works from the inside? The internship with Beaufort Books provides no shortage of hands-on experience in all aspects of publishing, starting from submitted manuscript to published book.

Denied From the Big 5

It’s human nature to be attracted to the shiny things in life, right? Those big name publishing houses that you see on most of the books on your shelf might seem like the obvious fit at first glance, but in reality, it’s the independent publishers that might be the best fit for those starting out. If you’re someone who’s been trying to get into the big five with no luck, you’ve come to the right place. The smaller size of Beaufort Books will allow interns to have a hand in various different responsibilities and tasks across the publishing process, which can help narrow down which area of specialization interns enjoy the most to pursue in their careers. The smaller size of the company makes everything feel more personal as well, ensuring that you won’t be lost in the shuffle that a larger house might have.

Those Chasing Their Passions

It’s a rare thing in today’s world to chase a career that aligns with your passions. Many people either follow the money or wrongly assume that work is work and passions and hobbies are for their free time, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’ve loved to read your whole life and aren’t excited about the major you chose or a career path you’re secretly dreading, why not take a chance to see if you could turn a lifelong passion into your job? Books don’t just magically appear on shelves, there’s an entire industry dedicated to this process, and this is a perfect place to start to learn that process. If you love reading and are curious about how to turn it into a career, this internship is for you. Life is short, and you owe it to yourself to do things that excite you.

“What I learned in Boating School is…”

Wednesday, November 29th, 2023

My time here is sadly coming to an end, so with that, I leave you with my top three most valuable things I’ve learned over the course of these past few months:

Working/Interning at a small press offers more learning opportunities: There’s a reason they are referred to as “small presses.” Key word here is “small.” There’s not a ton of staff for these indie publishers to work in an assembly line fashion, keeping to their specific task. Most likely, the workers at these companies, though they have an area of expertise, are still doing a little bit of everything–editorial, marketing, publicity, sales, etc. Therefore, when you start your position at an indie publisher, you’re going to be learning way more than you would at a Big 5 publisher, and who knows, you may even find you love a different area of publishing more than you originally thought to pursue.
Publishing is way more than just reading books: This kind of goes hand-in-hand with my last point, but I assume this also translates well to those who work at a Big 5 in, say, editorial. It’s not all reading submissions. There’s a lot more tedious tasks that go into making everything come together. So, while you will spend a lot of time reading, prepare yourself for the administrative tasks that come with the position.
There’s more than just the Big 5 out there: This goes for both, those trying to get published and those trying to get a job in publishing. It’s so easy to be overlooked by these major publishers because so many are flocking to them in pursuit of their dreams. However, your chances of getting your big break will greatly increase if you seek out opportunities elsewhere. Indie publishers are way more likely to pay you mind, so take a chance on them and they just may be willing to take a chance on you.

I hope these points enlighten you as they did me. I had such an amazing time at Beaufort these past few months and I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to intern here. So with that, this is me signing off.

-Beau Swan

You’re My Friend Now

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

Hi everyone!

My name is Beau Swan (iykyk) and I am one of the new interns this Fall at Beaufort!

Do you guys know that TikTok trend where they use the “you’re my friend now, we’re having soft tacos later” audio? If not, click here for a link to my personal favorite example. Anyways, my point is you guys are my friends now, and while I can’t have soft tacos with you guys, I can (and will) share my most interesting facts, thoughts, and opinions (as unprovoked as they might be) with you for the next few months. My very fragile feelings will appreciate if you will put up with me for the short amount of time we have together.

I just realized we don’t know anything about each other. In order to initiate this newfound friendship, I will tell you guys a little bit about myself…

It all started when my mom met my dad, and they fell in love, and they had me! Hi, I’m Beau Swan, and my life is kind of crazy. I’m just kidding, and for my friends that didn’t get it, that’s just another TikTok reference…I have a little bit of an addiction.

Back to me though, I live in Western New York where I was born and raised. While I may not have moved anywhere different in my lifetime, I do love to travel! I feel like that last sentence makes me sound old. I’m not…at least I hope not. I’m still in my early 20s, so you tell me if I’m old or not. In my defense however, I know how to work both my phone and computer, and I can put my credit card into a pin pad the correct way without a tutorial from the cashier. I just beg that you not ask me what rizz means or if I know a particular trendy dance. The only dance I know is the Cha Cha slide and that’s only because the song tells me exactly what to do.

Ugh, I keep getting off topic. Some boring facts about myself are that I have my Bachelor’s in English and Creative Writing. I was a double major during my undergrad, but I still [by some miracle] found the time to minor in Business. Right now, I’m working on getting my MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing at Emerson College. I love to write just as much as I enjoy reading what others write so it’s the perfect program for me!

I’m so excited to be at Beaufort this Fall! I’m gonna be reading manuscripts, maybe sitting in on some meetings, working on social media stuff, all that good stuff that comes with working in the publishing industry. And occasionally, I will come to rant to you guys about anything that’s on my mind in relation to books. Hope none of my new friends mind!

Your friend,

Beau Swan

Dreaming of a Return to NYC

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

Hello readers! How have you been? It’s been a while since we’ve talked.

Since finishing my internship at Beaufort in May, I’ve been busy. I completed my last round of undergraduate exams and (virtually) graduated from college. I repainted and redecorated my room, finding a permanent home for some of my favorite dorm-room photos. I applied for what felt like millions of jobs, heard back from few, and interviewed with even fewer. To my delight, I eventually received an offer, and before I knew it I had a company-issued laptop and was training and working from home.

But above all of these things—aside from the little joys and the frustrations and the change—I have been busy dreaming of going back to New York City. As a born-and-raised New Jerseyan (Jerseyite? Jerseyer?), NYC has always been on the horizon. And I mean that literally: there is even a spot in town where you can even see the upper quarter of the city skyline. But since being sent home from college and with the potential of a second lock-down looming overhead, the idea of actually being back in New York feels more like a far-off dream than a reality.

I recently finished Ling Ma’s novel Severance, which follows a young woman as she flees New York to escape a deadly pandemic that is ravaging the world. Timely, right? While the book’s greater focus is on identity and loneliness, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the scenes where Candace, the main character, walks around the city. Ma’s depiction is one of desolation and complete destruction: store windows have been smashed, sidewalk carts abandoned and overturned, taxis crushed into one another. Candace is alone on the streets aside from a handful of armed guards outside of banks, museums, and other wealthy institutions, but even they disappear eventually.

While I know that our real-life pandemic situation looks vastly different from the one Ma offers, it’s sometimes tempting to think of New York in this way. With all the statistics, warnings, and safety precautions, the city can feel like some far-off, dystopian danger zone that you would have to be crazy to visit at the moment. But at the same time, I’m wishing I could be back every second of the day. I want to spend sunny afternoons reading in Central Park, wander around and inevitably get on the wrong subway train, and stare at the skyline as it changes from block to block. I can’t wait to find a coffee shop close to my new office and stop in every morning, even though it will probably make me late more often than not. The reality is that walking around NYC has always made me feel like the main character in an upbeat YA novel, either about to bump into my soulmate or land my dream job. As corny as it is, that’s the feeling that New York gives me: a feeling of excitement, opportunity, and joy.

Hopefully I will be getting back to the city soon, but in the meantime, wear your masks, wash your hands, and read some well-written books!

Until next time,

Charlotte Beaurontё

Take a Chance On Me

Thursday, December 12th, 2019

As I’ve started to reflect on my time here at Beaufort and Spencer Hill, I’ve been remembering just how quickly the opportunity came to fruition. It had been less than a week since I moved from the middle of Oklahoma to a new apartment in Brooklyn in the hopes of securing my first internship in publishing. My entire family thought I was crazy, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they had taken bets on when I would return home. In fact, the thought of working in publishing hadn’t even occurred to me until I was already six months out of college, and it felt like I was racing the metaphorical clock to get entry-level publishing experience before it was “too late.” Though I have since learned that publishing is a very accepting industry that welcomes newcomers of all ages with open arms, I still spent every day scouring BookJobs for any opportunities I may have missed.

I was tending to my battered ego after a string of rejection letters came in (all in one day, to make matters worse) when I noticed a brand new posting for a fall internship at Beaufort Books. I applied, and within a week I was sitting on the phone with Karen, discussing Beaufort’s catalogue and the various opportunities I could take advantage of as a potential intern for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press. Karen and Megan took a chance on me, and by the next Tuesday I was sitting in Beaufort’s Flatiron District office as their newest intern.

It all still feels like a blur, but I couldn’t imagine a better way to be introduced to the publishing industry. Though I’m incredibly sad to be leaving Beaufort and its talented team of editors, I take solace in the fact that I gained an invaluable, first-hand look at what it takes to transform a rough manuscript into a polished final book, that I am never more than a quick train ride away, and that there are dozens of Beaufort and Spencer Hill titles that are still to be read.

I hate to say goodbye, but all good things must eventually come to an end. It feels fitting to wrap up with one of the most popular quotes from the character that inspired my pseudonym:

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all. From now on you’ll be traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be. The key is to allow yourself to make the journey.”
-Meg Cabot, The Princess Diaries

I am forever grateful to you, readers, for joining me on my journey at Beaufort Books!

Cheers,

Mia ThermoBEAUlis

This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.

Beaufort Titles on the Big Screen

Thursday, October 17th, 2019

Hi readers! Mia ThermoBEAUlis here. We’ve had a busy fall here at Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press as we prepare to go to press for five separate titles.

Out of these titles, two have been making some major headlines as of late. The first title, School Choice: A Legacy to Keep, is the new memoir from Virginia Walden Ford, a courageous trailblazer who paved the way for a complete overhaul of the education system in her local community. What began as a grassroots movement has since turned into a national organization. The Opportunity Scholarship Program now provides “scholarships for low-income children to attend private schools, while boosting federal funding for traditional public schools and public charter schools.”

Virginia didn’t always have the influence she maintains now, however. Her movement began as an act of desperation, as she worked three jobs so she could afford a private education for her son who was failing out of a deteriorating public school in the suburbs of Washington D.C. School Choice: A Legacy to Keep is Virginia’s retelling of the years she spent fighting corrupt politicians in Congress and how she and other dedicated parents changed the face of the American education system forever.

We were thrilled when we found out the Moving Picture Institute was planning to produce a film based on Virginia’s story. “Miss Virginia,” starring Uzo Aduba and Matthew Modine, is an inspiring drama that retells the true story of Virginia’s fight for educational rights. The film hits theaters this Friday, October 18th, but we were honored to be invited to attend the world premiere for the movie here in New York City.

*Director R.J. Daniel Hanna, Virginia Walden Ford, and actor Matthew Modine before the premiere.*

Several members of our team were present at the premiere and had the opportunity to hear from Virginia herself, as well as Modine, director R.J. Daniel Hanna, and other panelists related to the school choice cause. Nick Reid, executive producer and senior vice president of the Moving Picture Institute, moderated the panel and lead the discussion about the making of the film and the impact the school choice movement has had on families around the country.

*Virginia Walden Ford, Matthew Modine, and other panelists join Nick Reid for a Q&A after the premiere.*

Also present at the premiere was another Beaufort author, Andrew Campanella. As the president of National School Choice Week, Andrew has worked closely with Virginia through the years to empower parents and educate them about the different types of education available. Andrew’s new book, The School Choice Roadmap, is another upcoming Beaufort title. It serves as a guide for parents looking to find the best learning environment for their children.

Both School Choice: A Legacy to Keep and The School Choice Roadmap are available for pre-order now. School Choice: A Legacy to Keep will hit shelves on November 21st of this year, while The School Choice Roadmap will be available on January 21st, 2020.

We’re so excited to be publishing both titles. If you’d like to support these incredible authors and changemakers, you can pre-order a copy of both books from Indiebound or Barnes & Noble.

Until next time,

Mia ThermoBEAUlis

A Book-Filled Weekend

Tuesday, October 1st, 2019

Cheers, readers! I’m Beaufort and Spencer Hill’s second intern for Fall 2019. For the remainder of the semester, I will be going by the alias Mia ThermoBEAUlis in honor of my all-time favorite author, Meg Cabot, and her most popular character to date. Growing up, Meg Cabot’s colorful, creative, and always slightly disheveled protagonists strongly resonated with me, and the fact that every Meg Cabot book I own has been read to the point of near destruction serves as proof.

It’s crazy to think I’m already approaching my 2-month mark since starting my internship with Beaufort and Spencer Hill. Fortunately, there have been plenty of exciting projects to keep me busy, which is why I’m just now getting to my introductory blog post.

While I’ve been an avid reader my entire life, I’m considerably new to the publishing world. With the exceptions of the Harry Potter series and a few classics by Roald Dahl, it always felt like I was the only book lover among my friends growing up. It wasn’t until I stepped into my first screenwriting class my freshman year of college that I knew what it was like to be among other eager storytellers.

Moving to New York feels like freshman year all over again. It’s been equally thrilling and terrifying to be surrounded by people who live and breathe books. I finally feel at home, but every day I’m in the Beaufort office brings new challenges and reminds me just how little I knew about the publishing industry before starting the internship.

I love that each day in the Beaufort office brings opportunities to learn something new about the publishing industry, and that indoctrination continued with a few book-related occurrences two weekends ago. On Friday, while in Philadelphia, I got lost on my way to dinner and wound up at an inconspicuous used bookstore. The storefront was unmarked and from the front room, it appeared to consist of just five bookshelves stuffed with old CD’s and dusty self-help titles. I was about to ask the store owner if he had any fiction books when I saw a small entryway that opened up to another tiny room that was packed with books. Each secret room led to another, with each room getting progressively bigger and home to more obscure titles, stacked wherever the owner could find space.

At the very back of the store was one bookshelf filled with antique books. For just $10, I grabbed three different antique books, each published in the 1920s. While any bookstore is great in my book (yes, pun intended), the challenge of searching through piles of pre-loved stories makes bookstores like the one in Philadelphia a rarity that should be preserved.

On that Sunday, I stopped by the Brooklyn Book Festival. If you’ve been before, you know how palpable the energy is among the authors, publishers, and festival attendees. Whether it was a Big 5 publisher, an indie from a small town in Minnesota, or a local bookstore from Brooklyn, each table was swarming with authors, publishers, booksellers, and devoted readers, all looking to discuss the transformations the publishing industry is undergoing and the new books about to hit the market. I even had the opportunity to stop by and say hello to some of the publishing professionals I’ve heard about while working at Beaufort. Going into the festival I had no idea what to expect, so to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement.

If anything, this weekend reinforced my love for books and my desire to work in publishing. I can’t wait to see what the next few months with Beaufort and Spencer Hill bring!

Until next time,

Amelia Mignonette ThermoBEAUlis Renaldi, ~~Princess of Genovia~~ Intern at Beaufort Books.

This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.

Welcome to New York!

Friday, September 6th, 2019

Hello fellow book lovers!

I am the newest intern here at Beaufort Books & Spencer Hill Press! Over the next four months, you’ll be seeing periodic updates on the blog about my latest bookish adventures and NYC experiences. For this brief time as a blogger, I’ll be going full James Bond and using the alias of Captain Beaumerica (I am a Marvel fiend and cannot be stopped). I am so thrilled to share my thoughts, musings, and lessons learned with you all!

I think it is only appropriate that this first post serves as an introduction to myself. Below you’ll find a list of a few of my favorite things.

Favorite Book:

One thing to know about me? I will never lie to you. I have so many favorite books. I’m not a parent, but I imagine that choosing your favorite book is not unlike trying to choose your favorite child. For the sake of time and your sanity, I won’t list all my favorites, but here is my default:

Divergent by Veronica Roth – This book isn’t a groundbreaking novel with an ultra-diverse cast, nor is it an underrated gem that everyone will love, but as a lost middle schooler this book was exactly what I needed to read. It brought me comfort and guidance during that complicated time of adolescence. It was an influential book that shaped the rest of my school experience. I could talk for hours about the first book in this series and the injustice of the film adaptation, but instead I will just encourage you to read it for yourself. Come share in the heartache.

Favorite Movie:

This probably won’t come as a surprise, but I have several favorite movies… Here’s a few:

The Way Way Back – A coming-of-age story starring Steve Carrell and Toni Collette. This film is so heartwarming and emotional. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

The Truman Show – I love Jim Carey. He did a phenomenal job in this movie, but honestly, when does he not?

The Entire Marvel Cinematic Universe – Captain Marvel. Black Panther. Iron Man. Too many to name. I love them all with the passion of a thousand Suns.

Favorite Place:
In May of 2019, I spent two weeks in Southern Oregon and Northern California. They are easily my favorite places in the World. If I could hole up in the California Redwoods to write for the rest of my life, I absolutely would. These massive trees brought tears to my eyes and made me emotional in a way that I never thought trees could. I consider it a travesty that the Redwoods are not on the official Wonders of the World list.

Favorite Thing About NYC (so far):

The subway. I consider myself I great driver, but I highly dislike it. Not having to drive everyday is a blessing that I never want to lose. Also, the bookstores. So. Many. Bookstores.

That’s it for now! I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about me! I am so excited to be a part of the Beaufort team and interact with you via Beaufort social media. Check back soon for more updates!

Your Favorite Hero,

Captain Beaumerica

This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.

Garth Williams: The Unsung Hero of my Childhood

Monday, June 20th, 2016

On June 3^rd, The New Yorker published an article on Beaufort’s new biography of Garth Williams, the largely unknown hand behind the illustrations of many children’s classics. You might not know Williams’ name (I didn’t) but you undoubtedly know the stories he helped give us, including Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and Little House on the Prairie. In Garth Williams, American Illustrator: A Life, Elizabeth K Wallace and James D. Wallace tackle what Williams himself struggled to do: to write the story of a life that spanned seven countries, four marriages, and several professions, but has remained undiscovered by the public.

gw 1

The New Yorker article highlights the depth of Williams’ commitment to the integrity and nuance of the stories he illustrated, and his desire to convey a sense of truth. In his rendering of Stuart Little, the article remarks, “Stuart was both mouselike and dapper, anthropomorphized in a way that expressed the dignity and absurdity of the human condition and the animal condition alike”. What more can we ask for from a glimpse of truth than dignity and absurdity? gw2

With animal characters serving as human analogues, Williams gave them life in a way that was never reductive; these characters felt real sorrow, real joy, and allowed us as readers to do the same. Even as children, we have keen eyes for cheap shots, and no young reader is going to be moved by some dopey, grinning caricature. “No way José,” they would think, “that mouse is nothing like me! He’s not real, he’s a dumb rodent meant to teach me to behave.” But in Williams’ subtle hands, the likes of Wilbur, Stuart, Charlotte, and countless others are transformed into complicated, achingly real characters that seem more like friends. gw3

Williams’ drawings elicit a nostalgia that spans generations—his art passed down from its original young audience to their eventual children, preserved in that special medium of the bedtime story. I found myself shockingly moved by the drawings presented in Garth Williams, American Illustrator: A Life; they catapulted me back to memories I hadn’t touched in years. “Oh man, he really was terrific,” I thought, wiping my eyes discreetly as I poured over the book’s images of Wilbur. I watched as my past sprung up to meet me, I saw history wink and skip, and found myself grateful to a man I had never known I cared for, grateful to a talent to whom I never knew I owed so much.

–Some Intern

Adventure is out there!

Friday, April 11th, 2014

As an English major, I’m required to read a lot of books in a very short period of time. As someone who’staking a lot of medieval literature classes, a lot of what I read is either in a language I don’t understand or long-winded histories of saints. Sometimes, it’s both. A lot of the time, I read them because I have to, although I don’t particularly enjoy them.

I am, however, in the process of reading something that I genuinely love for one of my classes. Most people know about Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales; that poem, however, is certainly not the only thing he ever wrote. He composed the five volume poem Troilus and Criseyde in Middle English, and many scholars consider it to be his finest work. The poem is set during the Trojan War, and tells the love story between Troilus, the second son of the Trojan king, and Criseyde, the high-born daughter of a traitor. Their story ends tragically, with Criseyde returning to Greece alone and Troilus being left in Troy.

When I first started Troilus and Criseyde, I had low expectations. Middle English is a difficult language to read, because it looks just off enough from English that one has to go very slowly; I also have never been a huge fan of romances, and reading an entire poem centered around one seemed daunting. But as I became more and more immersed in the story, I started to fall in love with the setting, the constant mythological references and asides, and with the characters: the pragmatic yet still romantic Criseyde, the manipulative yet well-intentioned uncle Pandarus, and the warlike Troilus who is timid in love. I had found something I didn’t expect to love at all, and now I’m devouring the poem every free second I have.

I feel like this happens a lot–we find a book that we’re not particularly excited about, and find that it’s everything we never knew we wanted. It makes me excited to hit the library this summer–there are so many things to discover! Adventure is out there!

-Beausenberry Pie

Recipe: This is a 14th century recipe for a pork pie. I’ve never tried it, but I figure it’s appropriate given the subject matter for today. Source: http://medievalcookery.com/recipes/mylates.html

2 – 3 lbs. cooked pork
4 eggs
1 cup mozzarella, grated
1 1/2 tsp. powder fort
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 tsp. salt
pinch saffron

pastry for a double-crust pie

Cut pork into approximately 1 inch pieces. Combine with eggs, cheese, pine nuts and spices in a large bowl. Mix well and place into bottom crust. Cover with top crust and bake at 350° until golden brown – about 30 minutes. Serve either hot or cold.

Source [Forme of Cury, S. Pegge (ed.)]: MYLATES OF PORK. XX.VII. XV. Hewe Pork al to pecys and medle it with ayrenn & chese igrated. do þerto powdour fort safroun & pyneres with salt, make a crust in a trape, bake it wel þerinne, and serue it forth.

Where is Spring???

Thursday, March 6th, 2014

As Spring limps its way closer, I am continually drawn to the outdoors. Although I live, study and work in the city, I love the woods and outdoor activities, such as hiking and camping. I love the feeling of freedom I get in the woods, from electronics, responsibilities, and the bustle of New York. My favorite place to go is the woods by my house. I can go and walk up to the top of a small mountain that is one of the state parks and just sit there for hours, looking out over the landscape. I always bring a book with me, too, to read while I eat a lunch or relax.

At Beaufort there are all sorts of books about hiking. Jennifer Pharr Davis has written two books on hiking in the Appalachian Mountains; she once hiked it in 46 days, an almost impossible number to imagine for someone who takes a day to hike up and down a small mountain. There is a new book by author and hiker Kev Reynolds entitled A Walk in the Clouds, a story of hiking, meeting people, and exploring the world.

When the leaves come back on the trees, I’m going to start going to upstate New York and doing day hikes. I’ll definitely be bringing some books with me–some old classics and some new ones. And I will definitely be picking up A Walk in the Clouds, coming out on April 21st.

Desperate for spring,

Beausenberry Pie

Today’s Recipe: Organic Fruit Roll-Ups. From An Organic Wife:
http://www.anorganicwife.com/2013/05/recipe-homemade-fruit-roll-ups.html

Take strawberries, or any other fruit, and cook them down in a saucepan. Make sure to mash them, and try and boil some of the water Move them to a blender and puree them, to make sure there are no chunks in the mixture. Take a cookie tray and cut out a piece of parchment paper to put on the bottom. Pour the mixture evenly over the parchment paper, making sure it is not too thin.

Set your oven to the lowest possible setting, and put the trays in. Make sure to check them often so they don’t burn. Once they are out, you can cut them into all different shapes and sizes.

Je suis arrivee!

Thursday, January 30th, 2014

Well, hello!

My name is Rio, and I am one of the new interns at Beaufort Books this spring! My nom de plume this year will be Beausenberry Pie, because I love pie: I love making it, eating it, and learning new recipes for it. (My personal new favorite, which I made for the holidays, is a winter fruit fig-cranberry-apple-pear pie; it’s perfect for cold weather!)

As someone who is, clearly, obsessed with food, I have a special place in my heart for cookbooks and food books. During the holidays, I received and gave myself two books having to do with food: the first, a yellow tome entitled The Gourmet Cookbook, and the second a collection of food essays collected by the New Yorker, called Secret Ingredients. I’ve always found cookbooks to be far more than receptacles for ingredient lists and food stains, and the one I received was no exception. Before each section, the author wrote stories about her family and their traditions, how she used the recipes, and different tips on how to prepare difficult meat or pastry dishes. I’ve already started adding notes of my own, adding to the emotional weight of the book and making it just as important to me as my battered copies of the Harry Potter series and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Secret Ingredients captures the often strange world of food writing. It contains words from everyone who’s anyone, from Woody Allen to Dorothy Parker to A.J. Liebling. Together, they tap into the heart of what makes food so special: it relates us to other humans, keeps us sane, happy, and connected, and, in my opinion, can bring understanding of foreign culture and history closer than a textbook alone. The people writing in this book clearly love food, and want to show their passion to the world. Food and food writing is, at heart, a cultural exchange; by explaining food and our reactions to it, we explain ourselves.

I’m really looking forward to working at Beaufort Books this spring and getting to know everyone, through face-to-face interaction or through the blog. I can already tell it’s going to be a fantastic spring!

With much gustatory love,

Beausenberry Pie

N.B.: As a way to make my mark on the blog this season, I’ve decided to include a relevant pie or dessert recipe for every post I make. Since this is an introduction, I will give you the pie recipe I mentioned above. If you’re gluten-free or don’t want to make your own pie crust, you can easily make a gluten-free one or use a store-bought crust and it will still taste delicious.

Winter Fruit Pie, from Epicurious: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Deep-Dish-Winter-Fruit-Pie-with-Walnut-Crumb-354977

Pastry

1 3/4 cups (8 3/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
12 tablespoons (6 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 tablespoons ice water
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Walnut Crumb Topping (optional)

3/4 cup (3 3/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup packed (5 3/4 ounces) brown sugar
3/4 cup (3 ounces) raw walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter, melted

Fruit Filling

1 cup (5 1/2 ounces) dried figs
4 small apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/2 inch thick (12 ounces prepped)
4 pears, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/2 inch thick (1 1/4 pounds prepped)
1 cup (4 ounces) cranberries, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch

preparation

To make the pie pastry, put the flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl, stir to combine, then put the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Add the butter to the flour mixture and toss to evenly coat. Cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender, a food processor, an electric mixer, or your hands, just until the mixture becomes coarse and crumbly and the butter is the size of peas. Stir the water and lemon juice together, then pour over the dry ingredients and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured work surface and press it into a 6-inch disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Roll the chilled dough into a 14-inch disk, then line a 9 or 10 by 3-inch springform pan with the rolled-out dough. Patch any holes and trim off any dough that hangs over the edges of the pan. Chill for an additional 30 minutes while you prepare the crumb topping and the fruit filling.

To make the walnut crumb topping, mix the flour, brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl. Stir in the butter, then work it in with your hands until the texture of crumbs. Put the topping in the refrigerator while you make the fruit filling.

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F.

To make the fruit filling, remove the stem from each fig, then boil the figs in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside until cool enough to handle.

Slice each fig into 4 to 5 pieces, put them in a large bowl, and add the apples, pears, and cranberries. Separately, rub the sugar and cornstarch together, then add to the fruit and gently toss until evenly coated.

Transfer the filling to the pie shell and top with the walnut crumb. Bake in the lower third of the oven for 60 to 75 minutes, or until the crumb is golden, the fruit juices are bubbling thickly around the edges, and the fruit is tender when pierced with a wooden skewer. If the crumb is getting too dark, cover it with foil.