Julie Bowe

I've been booktalked!

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:46:17 GMT

I discovered over the weekend that My Last Best Friend has been booktalked by Nancy Keane at Booktalks. You can read her post about the book here, and listen to her podcast for My Last Best Friend here.

A sneak peek

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:52:11 GMT

My editor sent me two hot-off-the-press copies of My New Best Friend! It's so cool to feel the weight of the book in my hand and to see Jana Christy's excellent art on the end pages:

Here's the story description from the jacket flap:

Ida May and her new best friend, Stacey Merriweather, are two peas in a pod. And when they discover a magical mermaid night-light that seems to grant wishes, they start a secret club -- just the two of them. But before long, Ida suspects that Stacey is using the mermaid to tell some big lies. . . and to cause some big trouble at home. How will Ida set the record straight while still keeping her new best friend?

The mermaid night-light, with her spooky glowing grin, plays a big role in the story, so I've been bringing along the mermaid night-light that served as inspiration for the book to summer events. I put her inside a purple box so kids can see her glowing grin:

Wanna peek?

Seeley book signing & Bayfield

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:36:14 GMT

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the art & music festival in Seeley, WI where I did a short presentation about my books on stage (actually, "on floor") at Mooselips Java Joint and then signed at the Redbery Books booth. It was a beautiful day weatherwise and peoplewise:

A quick pic of Mooselips! I spoke for about 20 minutes to a kind and welcoming group of book lovers inside this rustic coffeehouse. I met one girl who had bought MLBF at Redbery Books the day before and had already finished reading it! I asked her if she liked it and she said, "Yes!" (whew!)

My signing spot at the Redbery booth.

I brought along my stuff for making friendship bracelets and set it up next to my table. I love seeing what the kids create and I'm now an expert at tying bangles on tiny wrists. :)

This awesome banner hung inside the kids' art booth at the fest. It says, "Create reverence. Engage heart and soul with your hands."

I stayed at the fest until mid-afternoon and then drove another hour north to Bayfield, WI for a little writing get-away (during which Julie got very little writing done.)

A view of Bayfield from the ferry that crosses to Madeline Island.

I spent the night at the lovely Wachsmuth House Bed & Breakfast. I highly recommend this B&B to anyone traveling in the Bayfield area. It has a beautifully, sparsely decorated interior (trust me, you won't feel like you're sharing a room with your grandmother's antique knickknack collection), delicious breakfast made from locally grown and purchased foods, gentle hosts, and a lovely view of Lake Superior:

Wachsmuth House B&B, Bayfield, WI

A porch with a view.

All in all, a great weekend of booktalking and relaxing (and even a little writing.)

Family camp

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:43:54 GMT

West Denmark hall

My kids and I spent part of last week at West Denmark's annual family camp. Three days of good food, speakers, folk dancing, singing, crafts and, of course, coffee. West Denmark is such a welcoming community it's always a pleasure to go back for a visit. Here are a few photo highlights:

We were treated to a harpsichord concert given by one of the campers. (That's me in the photo, not the harpsichordist. I'm just pretending to know how to play.) I learned that harpsichords of long ago used bird talons to pluck the strings. Nowadays, the pluckers are plastic.

We each made a stepping stone one day during craft time. I still need to put them in my garden.

Folk dancing -- the ultimate contact sport!

We always look forward to the Nisse hunt. A "nisse" is a Danish elf. Tradition has it that each Danish family has a nisse living in their attic. Nisse can be mischievous, but if they are treated kindly by the family they will bring good fortune to the home. Before each family camp begins, a hand-carved nisse is hidden somewhere on the West Denmark property, which covers a number of beautiful wooded acres along Little Butternut lake. Clues are given each day as to the nisse's whereabouts. Each year my son and I study the clues and search for the little elf, but someone always finds him before we do.... until this year! My son found him after hearing the 5th clue, which went like this:

Last year I hid
In the outer most fringes
And for that you all paid
With insectile scritches and twinges.
This year I'm central
To all of the action.
This tell-tale clue should
Give you some traction.

The word "traction" sent my son to an old tractor tire that had been converted into a sandbox located behind the hall. He dug into the hollow of the tire and wa-la! There hid the Nis!

My son with the prized Nisse and...

Ed Pedersen, the master carver who created him.

Quite the treasure! This guy won't be going in my garden. :)

A couple little secrets

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:24:24 GMT

I'm home after a week away -- part vacation, part book event. I drove from Bayfield, WI (way, way up north) alone last night and got caught in a terrible storm near Chippewa Falls. The wind was so strong at one point I felt sure it must be attached to a tornado. It was incredibly scary and made me wonder how a person can actually, physically, get out of their vehicle and lay in a ditch during something like that.

But, hey, I'm okay! Tattered, but not torn. And I have pictures to share from my time away, just as soon as I get them put on the computer.

In the meantime, here are a couple little secrets:

1. My New Best Friend is now in stock at Amazon! I haven't received my comp copies yet, so if you want to be able to say, "I read this book before the author" here's your chance.

2. My editor just started her own blog. I'm not sure if she wants that publicized, but, oops... too late. You can see what's going on in her world at http://kathydawson.blogspot.com/

Pictures coming soon, including one of Mooselips! :)

2500 bookmarks on the wall, 2500 bookmarks...

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:10:59 GMT

Wow, that sounds like a lot of bookmarks. And, as it turns out, it is:

With any luck, they will all be gone by this time next year. I hope so anyway. I think I gave away close to that many at school and library visits and a smattering of signings last year, so maybe. I really like to have something tangible to give to kids when I do visits. Usually, for school visits, I autograph them too. I once autographed 300 bookmarks on a flight from Minneapolis to Seattle and not one person asked me if I was somebody famous. Hmm.

I'll be bringing a small stack of bookmarks with me to the Namekagon Art and Music Fest located "behind the Sawmill Saloon" in Seeley, WI on July 5. I'll be doing a kid-friendly presentation/reading at the Mooselips Java Joint at 11:00 followed by a signing at the Redbery Books tent located somewhere behind that saloon. The fest will include lots of art, live music, storytelling, poetry reading, food, a ten-mile run, and more. I don't think I'll be required to run ten miles, however, I will be happy to participate in any java drinking that's going on at Mooselips.

Summer reading celebration in Waukesha

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:20:11 GMT

My daughter and I drove to Waukesha, WI yesterday to be part of the Summer Reading Celebration hosted by Martha Merrell's Books. The event was organized by the fabulous leaders of our SCBWI-WI chapter.

dorichaconas already posted a great recap of the day on her blog, so head over there for more details about the day. Here are just a few photos we took while on the road and at the event:

It begins with cheese. :)

Martha Merrell's Books and Cafe in the heart of beautiful Waukesha.

Making friendship bracelets at my signing table.

Reading from My Last Best Friend.

All the authors and organizers.

The end! :)

Playing along with Wordle

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:31:38 GMT

So many people have been turning text into these Wordle clouds (click on the cloud to see a larger verion), I just had to play along! The first cloud below is for My Last Best Friend and the second cloud is for My New Best Friend. I like how BIG Stacey and Jenna's names are and how Jenna's name intersects the second cloud. Fitting for her personality! Ida, our heroine, is fairly small in both clouds (can you find her?). Fitting again, as the story is told in first person and her personality is on the meek side. "Vulnerable and victorious" as one reviewer put it. I love that description of her.

My first review for My New Best Friend

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:49:54 GMT

It's from Kirkus and it's great!

This delightful sequel to 2007’s My Last Best Friend continues the story of fourth-grader Ida May, her growing friendship with Stacey and her rivalry with bully Jenna. While looking for costumes in her attic, Ida May and Stacey unearth a mermaid nightlight. Turned off, the mermaid has a pleasant smile; turned on, the smile turns into a scary, glowing grin. Stacey believes the lamp will cast evil spells like those in horror movies. They form the “Secret Mermaid Club,” and Ida May directs the first spell at bossy Jenna. The two girls believe their spells actually work, but things become complicated when they need to lie to make Stacey’s spells come true. Can Ida May straighten things out without endangering their friendship? The unexpected twist (at the end) is believable and satisfying. Bowe is spot-on with Ida May’s feelings toward Stacey and her change-of-heart toward Jenna. Issues surrounding divorced households are handled realistically. Fans of Ida May will be overjoyed to read this new installment.
~Kirkus Reviews

And it's even my birthday so this is quite the gift!! Thank you, Kirkus!

A book event, a mysterious box, and a Where's Kristin? update

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:36:45 GMT

It's been a busy start to the summer in Julie Bowe land with my daughter graduating high school followed by a trip to Iowa to register for her fall classes. The midwest has been hit with some wicked weather as of late and we drove to Iowa on one of the wickeder days. I stopped at a gas station in Harmony, MN and wondered to myself if perhaps this would be a good place to hunker down for a few hours. I mean "Harmony" sounds pretty appealing and there was coffee at the station. But we plowed on through the rain. By the time we got to Decorah the rain had let up and we had a nice day. My daughter is pretty dang excited that her very first college class will be Russian 101.

This week I've been writing a bit and getting ready for the Summer Reading Celebration in Waukesha, WI on Saturday. It's a four hour drive for me, but I'll be picking up Stephanie Bodeen along the way so it will be nice to have company for the trip down and back. There will be 15 SCBWI Wisconsin authors/illustrators at the event doing readings, signing books, playing games, and making summertime crafts. I've been trying to come up with a couple fun items to have at my table for any kids who stop by. Bookmarks and candy, of course, and friendship bracelets too. But there will be one brand new item on my table (if all goes as planned). It's a little promotional propaganda for my second book (My New Best Friend) which will be released on August 1. Here's what the promo item looks like so far:

Any guesses what it will be when I'm finished putting it together? :)

And, finally, it's been forever since I posted about my niece, Kristin, and her ongoing work for the Obama '08 campaign. She traveled from Iowa to North Dakota to Texas to North Carolina supporting her candidate of choice throughout the primary season. Now her journey continues in the form of a presidential campaign. After a short break back home in Tacoma she is on her way to North Carolina where she will be a regional field organizer. I'm pretty sure that's just one step away from VP, so go Kristin!!! Still proud as a peacock of you and the work you are doing.

Time for a walk on this beautiful, cool Wisconsin evening. I hope to see some of you writing neighbors at the Waukesha event on Saturday!

Upcoming WI SCBWI event

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:04:00 GMT

I'm looking forward to being part of this fun summer event in Waukesha, WI on June 21st. If you're in the area, please stop by and say hi.

Here's a list of links for most of the authors/illustrators who will be reading & signing at the event:

Sharon Hart Addy

Ann Angel

S.A. Bodeen

Julie Bowe

Dori Chaconas

Kathleen Ernst

Janet Halfmann

Kathryn Heling

Deborah Hembrook

Marcia Hoehne

Deborah Lynn Jacobs

Annie Jacobsen

JoAnn Early Macken

Kashmira Sheth

I hope to see you there!

Thank you, SRS book reviews!

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:04:59 GMT

5th and 6th graders post reviews of their favorite books at the SRS Book Review Blog and I want to thank 5th grader, Carolyn M., for her review of My Last Best Friend:

My Last Best Friend is a great book if you want to just keep turning pages. This book is about a girl named Ida whose best friend moves away. It’s the first day of 4th grade and she doesn’t have anyone to play with. One day she goes to a birthday party and she has a brilliant idea and that’s when her whole life changes.

This book is an interesting book because it is written in letters that Ida, the main character, writes to a secret friend. I also like this book because it is exciting seeing what the other person is going to say in the next letter. I recommend this book because it is fun to read. I also like this book a lot because every chapter is new and exiting, it is a real page-turner. Start turning the pages to find out what happens for yourself.

– Carolyn M.

Princess Penelope

Fri, 30 May 2008 15:04:15 GMT

One of my very favorite things about writing for children is getting mail from young readers. I value the time they take to put their thoughts together and then type them (a tricky skill to learn) and I'm honored to be entrusted with the friendship stories they tell me.

Sometimes I receive pictures and drawings, too. My new friend, Kylie, gave me permission to post this great drawing of a character from My Last Best Friend. The character's name is Rachel Drews. She is the younger sister of our antagonist, Jenna. In this drawing, Rachel is dressed up like her alter-ego, Princess Penelope, which is from one of my very favorite scenes in the book -- a scene in which Ida (our heroine) makes an all-important choice. I love the way Kylie drew Rachel and the coat rack, which is an important object in the scene.

Thank you, Kylie, for letting me share your drawing with everyone! :)

Prom -- 1980 style

Thu, 29 May 2008 20:57:16 GMT

slayground is looking for prom pictures, so here's my contribution:

That's me, in the center, as senior prom queen 1980 at Luck High School in Luck, WI. On my right is King George, our school's foreign exchange student from Mexico that year. On my left, Bruce Rowe (nice sideburns, Bruce!) who is now Luck's local mortician. :)

Spring

Wed, 28 May 2008 15:15:19 GMT

Mom's flowers

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

~A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost

CLN event

Fri, 23 May 2008 19:10:21 GMT

I attended the Children's Literature Network event last night -- "A Conversation with Allyn Johnston." The event was held at Debra Frasier's beautiful home in Minneapolis. It was my first such event, so I felt a bit shy, but also warmly welcomed into this group of authors, illustrators, librarians, teachers, and other folks associated with children's literature. Here's my one and only photo:

Debra Frasier and Allyn Johnston

Allyn spoke candidly about her transition from Harcourt to her new (and as yet unnamed) imprint with Simon & Schuster. She was funny, engaging, articulate, and welcoming. She called my editor on her cell phone while we were setting up for the evening and joked, "I just signed a three book deal with Julie... do you mind?" :)

I was so pleased to meet Lauren Stringer. It was a bit of an Oops moment for me when I suddenly realized who I was chatting with. The realization came after I asked, "So, are you an illustrator?"

I also had an especially nice chat with my dinner-mate, Lynn, a second career librarian. It was so fun to discover several "small world" connections we share.

All in all a great night.

Rev Rolf and the Guides

Thu, 22 May 2008 18:51:26 GMT

Sorry I missed all the fun last night!

Lookin' good, Stevie Wonder! :)

I've been tagged!

Wed, 21 May 2008 17:30:35 GMT

Wow, it's my first time! :) Thanks, pamberes !

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Raising two little kids (not so little anymore), writing curricula, dreaming of publishing a children's book...

What are 5 things you need to do today?
1. Take a walk.
2. Try to duplicate the hair style hair salon lady did yesterday (when I got my hair cut... um... really short.) It involved ratting and hairspray (cringe).
3. Plan my route to the Children's Literature Network dinner event in Mpls tomorrow. (Not to mention what to wear.)
4. Attend my daughter's senior awards ceremony at her high school tonight. (She's in the top ten! whoop whoop!) :)
5. Fold (sigh) laundry.

What are some snacks you enjoy?
Chocolate ice cream with peanut butter, strawberry Twizzlers, homemade cookies right out of the oven and, of course, really good coffee!

What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Call my mother.

What are 3 bad habits?
Doubting myself pretty much constantly. :)
Um... checking my Amazon sales rank.
Making excuses for why I don't have time to take a walk today.

Name 5 places you have lived.
1. Luck, WI
2. Decorah, IA
3. Hudson, WI
4. St. Paul, MN
5. Spring Valley, MN

What are 5 jobs you've had?
1. Ward service aide at a hospital (All through high school. An amazing life experience for a young girl.)
2. Seasonal bean cannery worker (I'm not a big fan of canned beans to this day.)
3. Food service worker (Luther College! Line C!)
4. Church youth director (Bethel Lutheran, Hudson, WI and Faith Lutheran, Grantsburg, WI. Another amazing life experience for a slightly older young girl.)
5. Camp program director (Several WI and MN camps including Luther Point, Good Earth Village, Imago Dei, and Pine Lake)
6. Freelance curriculum writer for Augsburg Fortress Publishers (Sorry, I can't count.)

Who do you want to tag?
Gosh, how about...

skutir

lisachellman

moyer_girl

Great Stone Face Book Award

Mon, 19 May 2008 16:46:51 GMT

I am so pleased to share that My Last Best Friend is on the final list for the 2008-2009 Great Stone Face Book Award!

Here's a little info about the award:

The Great Stone Face Book Award is sponsored by the Children's Librarians of New Hampshire (CHILIS) and is given each year to an author whose book receives the most votes from fourth through sixth graders throughout the state. Each year a committee chooses 25 recently published titles, which children then use as a guide for voting. The vote takes place every April during National Library Week, and the winner is announced in May. The purpose of the award is to promote reading enjoyment, to increase awareness of contemporary writing, and to allow children to honor their favorite author.

The complete list can be seen here or behind the cut:

New Hampshire State 2008-2009 Great Stone Face Book Award List

Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac (HarperCollins, 2007)

The Big One-Oh by Dean Ptichford (Putnam, 2007)

Billy Creekmore by Tracey Porter (HarperCollins, 2007)

The Black Book of Secrets by F.E. Higgins (Feiwel & Friends, 2007)

Book of Lies by James Moloney (HarperCollins, 2007)

Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban (Harcourt, 2007)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Abrams, 2007)

Draon's Egg by Sarah Thomson (Greenwillow, 2007)

Elephant Run by Roland Smith (Hyperion, 2007)

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell (Henry Holt, 2007)

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke (Innovanna, 2007)

The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Margaret K. Mcelderry, 2007)

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen (Wendy Lamb Books, 2007)

Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson (Random House, 2007)

The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer (Random House, 2006)

My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe (Harcourt, 2007)

No Talking by Andrew Clements (Simon and Schuster, 2007)

Nightmare Academy by Dean Lorey (HarperCollins, 2007)

On the Wings of Heroes by Richard Peck (Dial, 2007)

Paint the Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan (Helwig Industries, 2007)

Schooled by Gordon Korman (Hyperion, 2007)

The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu (Atheneum, 2006)

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (HarperCollins, 2007)

Virus on Orbis 1 by PJ Haarsma (Candlewick, 2006)

White Giraffe by Lauren St. John (Dial, 2007)

Weekend update

Sat, 17 May 2008 19:45:50 GMT

I got some really nice book news a few days ago and have been waiting until it's officially "out there" to post about it. I'm still waiting so, in the meantime, here's some other really nice news:

I found out my proposal for a break-out session at the Wisconsin SCBWI Fall Retreat (October 17-19, 2008) has been accepted. This will be my first time presenting a workshop-type session to adult writers (gulp!) So I'm a little nervous, but also excited to have an opportunity to, hopefully, open up a little avenue for conversation about writing for middle grade readers.

I also received word that my proposal for a presentation at the Northwestern Wisconsin Teachers' Convention (October 9-10, 2008 ) has been accepted. I'll be presenting my school visit program, designed for 3rd-5th grade students, both days. It's shaping up to be a busy October!

Next Thursday (May 22) I head over to Minneapolis for a conversation/dinner event with Allyn Johnston. The event is sponsored by the Children's Literature Network. I'll be the one doing more listening than conversing. :)

Are you feeling like a winner?

Fri, 09 May 2008 14:49:52 GMT

It's time to announce the winner of my book giveaway! But first, here's a little recap of how the lucky winner's name was chosen at my school visit yesterday in Osceola, WI:

I had decided to have the students help me choose the winner of the giveaway by finding "secret notes" (a tie-in to the book) hidden around their classroom. Each note included the name of a person who had entered the drawing (and candy because there is nothing like Smarties to sweeten the hunt! :))

Whose name will be chosen??? The suspense is killing me! :)

Since there were 17 people entered in the drawing, and 19 kids in the class, I had to enter two people's names twice so each kid could find a note. I decided to give Amber and Amanda a double-shot of luck since they were the first two people to enter the contest. (See? The early bird DOES get the worm! But does she also get the book??)

I pulled into the parking lot at Osceola Elementary right on time yesterday afternoon. As I parked, I saw two little girls sitting on the front steps (but they hadn't seen me). As I got my stuff out of my car, I could hear them chanting, "Julie! Bowe! Where! Are! You?! " over and over again. As I walked around my car and came into the girls' view I heard, "Julie! Bowe! Wher--" Then there was a moment of silence, a gasp, and... "Are you Julie Bowe?" I nodded and the girls gave me the biggest smiles. There's nothing like a couple of second graders to make you feel like a star.

The girls helped me sign in at the office and then led me to their classroom where I met the other students and Miss Jorgensen. We sat together on the reading rug and the kids had fun taking turns dipping into my "show and tell" bag and pulling out objects that have to do with the characters, setting and plot for My Last Best Friend. Since Miss Jorgensen had been reading the book to them, they were quick to figure out how each object fit the story. Usually when I visit schools I read aloud the first chapter from the book. But this fun bunch had decided to save the last chapter for me to read to them. It was really quite special for me to read the final chapter of the book to a group of kids who were hearing it for the first time. It was also quite special to receive a very cool T-shirt from the class!

Miss Jorgensen and the very cool T-shirt!
It says, "Plant Trees. They give us two of the most important elements for survival: Oxygen and Books"

All the kids had decorated the back of the shirt with their handprints! :)

After wrapping up my presentation, I told the kids about my book giveaway and asked if they would like to help me choose the winner. (Would they!) So, while the kids covered their eyes, Miss Jorgensen and I quickly hid the secret notes around the room:

No peeking!

And then (Ready, set, go!) the hunt was on:

Yes, even Brett Favre was on hand to help with the hunt. ;)

Finally, every note had been found and all the kids were back at their desks. Then I asked, "Whose birthday is closest to today?" One boy's hand shot up because his birthday is just days away. He showed me the name on the note he had found and we had our winner!

KERRY DWYER.... YOU WIN! :)

Kerry, just send me an email with your mailing address and I'll send out your prize. THANK YOU, everyone, for entering the giveaway. And an extra-special thank you to Miss Jorgensen's class for helping me do the drawing! (Btw, I gave the class a copy of the book, too, for being such great helpers.) :)

Tomorrow is my lucky day!

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:27:19 GMT

That's because I get to head north to visit my folks in lovely Luck, WI, where I was manufactured, along with the original Duncan Yo-yo.

But, even better, on my way I'm stopping in Osceola, WI to visit with the students in Miss Jorgensen's 2nd grade class! (Yea!) This morning while I was getting ready for the visit I had this super fun idea. You know that book giveaway I'm doing this week? Well, I've been trying to think of a creative way to choose the winner. Draw a name out of some old, boring hat? Pin the names to a board and shoot darts at them?? Design an elaborate machine from pulleys and levers and string and let it select the winning name???

All fun ideas. But then I thought, "Hey! Why not ask the kids in Miss Jorgensen's 2nd grade class to choose the winning name for me?!" Doesn't that sound like a whole lot more fun than getting shot with a dart? (Oooo... unless Miss Jorgensen has darts and we....) So, that's my plan! I'm bringing all you lucky people with me to Osceola!

If you have not yet entered the drawing, there's still time! Just reply to this post or send me an email before tomorrow (Thursday) morning and you'll be heading north with me too! I will announce the winner (and hopefully provide pictures of the drawing) Friday morning right here.

Good luck! (and I say that with some authority) :)

A friendly reminder!

Sun, 04 May 2008 22:47:52 GMT

I'm celebrating the release of My Last Best Friend in paperback with a book giveaway! If you haven't already entered the drawing and would like a chance to win a copy of MLBF, just let me know by replying to this post or by sending me an email. I'll announce the winner on Friday, May 9!

Happy (Ida) May Day!

Thu, 01 May 2008 16:57:41 GMT

Today is the official release day of My Last Best Friend in paperback!

To celebrate, I'm hosting an Ida May Give Away!

The winner will receive:

A copy of My Last Best Friend!

A bookmark!

An autograph! ;)

And best of all....

A sneak peek of the sequel, My New Best Friend!

In order to be entered in the drawing, just reply to me here, or send me an email. I'll announce the winner at the end of next week.

The more the merrier so I hope you'll play along! :)

Thankful me

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:24:58 GMT

Two particular things I'm thankful for today:

1. My Last Best Friend received a lovely review from TeensReadToo. Thank you!

2. The Children's Literature Network is hosting a "Conversation with Allyn Johnston" dinner party in Minneapolis on May 22. The event is limited to 30 CLN members. Just a few hours after announcing the event it sold out, but I made it in (whew!) I'm very much looking forward to meeting Allyn Johnston and having the opportunity to thank her for the role she played in bringing my books (and little ol' me) to Harcourt.

:)