Studio Blog
We are pleased to announce this month’s Enrichment Opportunity winners. Please join us in congratulating them!
Our first Work/Life Award goes to writer Alicia Rudnicki. Alicia has been spending a lot of time lately worrying about her relatives as her eldest brother has been fighting an ongoing battle with cancer. With the help of this award, Alicia plans on heading out to visit with her brother and his family during their time of need. We send our good thoughts out to your family, Alicia.
Our second Work/Life Award goes to writer Lynette Spratley. Summers in Macon, Georgia can be sweltering when you don’t have air conditioning. Last summer, all three of Lynette’s window air conditioners died. Now Lynette will have the money to replace one of the units, keeping her and her senior dog comfortable in the coming summer months while she works at home. Keep cool, Lynette!
Our third Work/Life Award goes to writer and editor, Shala Hainer. Like many in the current economy, Shala and her family have been struggling to make ends meet after her husband was laid off from his job. One of the things they have had to give up is the annual trip to Florida to celebrate her son’s birthday. Now, the Hainer family will be able to celebrate on the beach in Florida. Have fun and don’t forget the sunscreen!
Our fourth Work/Life Award goes to writer, producer and filmmaker Andy Stickel. Andy and his fiancé Chelsie (who also works with Demand Media Studios) have known each other since they were three years old, and now they are expecting their first baby! Unfortunately, they discovered that they had a large amount of black mold in their bathroom, but now they will be able to afford to fix up the bathroom before their baby is born. Congratulations, Andy!
The Laptop Award goes to writer Jessica Lynn. Jessica’s poor old laptop has a screen that no longer works properly and a battery that only stays charged for 20 minutes at a time. With summer coming to Brooklyn, New York, this new laptop will help Jessica escape to a nearby coffee shop with air conditioning. She’s also going to be able to use it to video chat with her 104-year-old great-grandmother. Enjoy!
The newest winner of the All Access Pass is writer Andrea Cespedes. Andrea applied hoping to get help in attending part of a holistic nutrition training certification program offered by the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado. After having written for LIVESTRONG Nutrition, Andrea discovered that nutrition is a true passion for her. This certification program will help Andrea fulfill her dream of helping people find energy and health so that they can live better, longer lives. Good luck, Andrea!
Thanks and congratulations to all of our winners!
What is it? Spark is a tool designed to help people get things done. It helps you collect clever ideas and images that motivate you to start up a new project. All you have to do is install the Spark Clipper. This tool will allow you to gather up all of those things you see online that spark an idea and catalogue them in one place.
But it’s more than just an idea board. Spark helps you turn ideas into action while you share your progress with other Spark users. Here’s a great example of a DIY Wooden Bead Necklace. You can see Christa’s inspiration for her project, as well as the process of making the necklace itself.
There’s also a dedicated community within Spark called Project Help. Here you can get help on a DIY project you’re working on, or help out someone who is stuck on a project of their own. You can also scan through the Ideafeed to see what is sparking for other people.
As so many of you have been involved with creating quality instructional content on eHow, we wanted to encourage you all to jump in and try out Spark. So many of you are working on interesting and unique projects and we thought this would be a great place to showcase them. Trying out something new in your garden? Working on a home improvement project? Spark it and show it off!
The team at eHow is actively looking for Spark boards to feature. The very best boards get featured on eHow’s homepage which is visited by 100 million people every month, in addition to being featured on their Facebook page and on Twitter. This could be a great way to showcase your expertise in a unique, visually-driven format. If you have a board you think should be featured, post a link on this blog post and the Spark team will take a look at it. They also have weekly themed contests, so keep an eye on the eHow blog.
The team over at Spark is always looking for feedback and ways to make it better. If you have ideas, email them at support@ehow.zendesk.com with “Spark” in the subject line. Just remember to contact the Spark team directly, rather than the Studio Help Desk.
Good luck and happy sparking!
Jordan
Hi Chris, Can you tell us a little bit about your professional background?
I've been a freelance copy editor and proofreader for about nine years now and have worked with everything from annual reports and audited financial statements to slicks and peer-reviewed journals. As an eLance vendor a few years ago, I had the opportunity to edit two ebooks on rather interesting topics that I won't get into here. I explained this to my lead, and when she offered me an ebook assignment on eHow, I jumped at the chance.
Why were you interested in editing an eBook on eHow?
I've worked with eHow articles as a CE for more than three years, and eHow is where I turn when I want to find out how to do all sorts of things. Editing an ebook on eHow seemed like a logical next step. I also viewed it as a great opportunity to learn about the process of ebook making from the pros at DMS.
Can you give a quick synopsis of the eBook?
Solo Living 101 celebrates the joys of living alone and covers the basics of living safely when you run your own show. In it, you'll find suggestions for commonsense behavioral tweaks, hip interpretations of advice your mother may have given you way back when, and information on high-tech devices and equipment that can help you live your life fully and without paranoia. Young urban and suburban women—35 and under—will especially appreciate this ebook, but anyone can benefit from reading it. After all, everyone lives somewhere, and there's some degree of risk wherever that is.
Fun Fact:
Since I edited Solo Living 101, I've become much more aware of safety at home. With four dogs, I feel reasonably secure when I'm the only human in the house, but thanks to A. Pearl, I decided that it wouldn't hurt to have a tactical flashlight and a safety whistle to go with the Louisville Slugger at my bedside.
Remember to visit our Facebook & Twitter pages for your chance to win a free copy! Just ‘Like’ today’s facebook post or retweet us on Twitter. You can also check out all of our eBooks here.
Hi Robert, tell us a little bit about your professional background
I'd like to say that I'm a professional eater but, the truth is, food is more of a passion of mine than a career. Fortunately, over the past dozen-plus years as a journalist working for places like The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Elle, New York, Fortune, Gourmet, Spin, InStyle, Real Simple, Blueprint, Blender, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Parade, Men's Health and GQ -- where I was West Coast Editor -- I've had the opportunity to sample the fare and write about everything from Alabama bbq joints to grilled fish stands in the Dominican Republic to Persian ice cream shops in Los Angeles.
Why were you interested in creating an eBook on eHow?
When my wife and I moved from New York to Los Angeles several years back, I made two vows: The first was to never share a wall, floor or ceiling with a stranger ever again. The second was to buy a barbecue and grill outside at least once every single week of the year. When I realized that I could also do "hearth cooking" in our backyard's brick fireplace, I pretty much turned my back on our tiny kitchen in favor of grilling it up whenever possible in the great outdoors. When the opportunity came-up to write a book for other people interested in learning how to cook with fire, I jumped at the chance.
Are you working on any side projects?
People can learn more about me at my website: http://mrmoritz.com.
They can also visit my alter-ego, "The Flowerbomber", and learn about the world of Guerrilla Gardening at http://www.flowerbomber.com
Can you give a quick synopsis of the eBook?
Grilling 101 is a book for anyone who wants to get started cooking with a barbecue. Simple as that. It's a step-by-step introduction to the tools and techniques of grilling covering everything from buying a grill to lighting a fire to cooking all the different types of foods that just taste so much better cooked over an open flame than under a broiler.
Fun Fact:
I'm a founding member of the Los Angeles-based Ukulele Orchestra of the Western Hemisphere.
Remember to visit our Facebook & Twitter pages for your chance to win a free copy! Just ‘Like’ today’s facebook post or retweet us on Twitter. You can also check out all of our eBooks here.
Written by C.J. Peterson and edited by studio editor Jim Gerard.
We caught up with CJ to learn a little more about the project.
Hi CJ, Can you tell us about your professional background?
I'm an accomplished writer and editor with over 30 years of experience developing high-quality publications on a broad range of topics. I've written 12 books and edited more than 50. Much of my background is focused on home improvement, home design and home reference, including eradicating pests in the home and garden. I've also written extensively on general life skills and the kind of "quick tip" Information embodied in my stains book.
Why were you interested in creating an eBook on eHow?
The digital process is quickly supplanting the physical printing process, and I was intrigued to learn more about how the process works. I've produced books, loose-leaf continuity publications, magazines, mixed-format publications, and websites. So this was one more step in growing my digital knowledge and presenting information in a new and exciting way.
Are you working on any side projects?
At the moment, I am ghostwriting two cookbooks, which are giving me the chance to let my foodie flag fly. I also write the blog "The Ecowise Remodeler," covering green home design and home improvement strategies. Other samples of my work can be found at www.petersonink.com.
Can you give a quick synopsis of the eBook?
Removing stains: stains are one of the most common everyday frustrations in life, but they are easy to beat if you understand stain chemistry and simple solutions to break up the staining substance. This book offers simple solutions to all of the most common stains, and provides a basic introduction to strategies and rules that apply to all stains. It's a handy household reference for anyone with kids, pets, clumsy friends or family, or just anyone who wants to avoid marring the beauty of nice clothes and upholstery.
Fun Fact:
I wrote a tongue-in-cheek book entitled "A Man's Whirled: Every Guys Guide to Cooking With the Blender" based on my experience whipping up speedy meals for my son, in the short amount of time between baseball practice and homework. I can still make a killer creme brulee in the blender!
Remember to visit our Facebook & Twitter pages for your chance to win a free copy! Just ‘Like’ today’s Facebook post or retweet us on Twitter. You can also check out all of our eBooks here.
Hi Crystal, Can you tell us a little bit about your professional background?
I have been a professional journalist for the past 18 years, covering government, politics and breaking news. This project allowed me to delve into an area that has been a focus of my home life: Returning to a simpler life, finding natural, earth-friendly and healthy ways to go about my day to day tasks. I find this is a constant learning process, as many of the ways we go about things today can be done in simpler, healthier, less toxic ways. I drew on my own experience from experimenting with different recipes. But I also applied my reporter skills to this project, consulting with green experts and looking at the research. I talked to neighbors, friends and family who make their own cleaners for other tips.
Why were you interested in creating an eBook on eHow?
It was a chance to dig even deeper into a subject that is an interest of mine.
Can you give a quick synopsis of the eBook?
Over the past 50 years, we’ve been led away from simple cleaners – from the baking soda, vinegar and lemon used by earlier generations – to believe we need dozens of individual chemical cleaners to make our house “clean.” But is a house really clean if it is layered in chemicals, some of which we don’t know much about? This book provides recipes for making your own cleaners and personal care products with simple natural ingredients. Switching to more eco-friendly cleaners will also save money. With just a few dollars, you can set yourself to make everything from window cleaner to shampoo.
Remember to visit our Facebook & Twitter pages for your chance to win a free copy! Just ‘Like’ today’s facebook post or retweet us on Twitter. You can also check out all of our eBooks here.
Hi Sara, can you tell us a little bit about your professional background
I have been on the beverage side of the restaurant industry for 23 years. I am a Certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators, I am a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and I am an Advanced Mixologist certified by the BarSmarts program. I have studied extensively in the US working harvest and crush with winemakers and have travelled to Spain, Portugal and Greece visiting wineries and vineyards to enhance my education. More importantly…I just love wine. I love its sense of place, I love the passion that drives it and I love the history behind it. To me there is nothing more romantic than wine.
Why were you interested in creating an eBook on eHow?
Any wine or beverage professional will tell you that they love to teach about the topic. For me it is important to help people understand that they don’t need to be afraid of it – it’s a complicated thing and that is part of what makes it so romantic and mysterious – it should be embraced, not feared. Unfortunately there are some wine professionals who can be a bit…intimidating. I wanted to write something that would make it simple to understand and empower the average consumer to understand and branch out a little – and not be afraid to do so.
Can you give a quick synopsis of the eBook?
The book is the basics of chardonnay and is for the beginner oenophile (wine geek). It basically reviews the differences in the way it can taste and gives tips on what to look for on the bottle to see what it will taste like before you open it.
Fun Fact
Hmmm……well….the reason I chose the beverage industry is because one day when I was in college I was having dinner with some friends and we had a bottle of red wine – Parducci Cabernet to be exact. We finished our meal, ordered dessert (chocolate cream pie) and I had a little wine left in my glass. I took a bite of pie and reached for my glass and one of my friends said to me “oh- don’t do that- it’s going to taste awful” but it was too late- I had already taken a sip and when the two came together in my mouth my head just about exploded. It was amazing. Unbeknownst to me I had found one of life’s greatest pleasures – Cabernet and chocolate. Fortunately my friend was wrong. I wouldn’t feel my head explode like that again until 9/24/2010 which was the first time my fiancé kissed me.
Remember to visit our Facebook & Twitter pages for your chance to win a free copy! Just ‘Like’ today’s facebook post or retweet us on Twitter. You can also check out all of our eBooks here.
