I’m honored that Yale Alumni Magazine features my essay about reading and writing…
SPEED OF LIFE IN PAPERBACK!!
I'm so proud of this book and I've loved getting so many great emails from readers -- and librarians. If you want to order, please do! It’s also on Spotify!
SPEED is a Chicago Public Library Best of the Best!!
Speed of Life is in amazing company!! The Hate U Give, Little Fires Everywhere, Manhattan Beach, Far From the Tree, Vincent and Theo... Yes! I'm honored! And grateful!
New York Times Book Review!!
They Say: "Write What You Know"
I was raised in Armonk and yes, that's why Armonk is a setting in my new novel. Here's more about the Westchester connection. Fun, right?
Five Things I've Learned From Being an Advice Columnist
Here's my guest post today from School Library Journal. I love libraries and hate that people talk about cutting their budgets. Every school and community should have a wonderful library! And smart kind librarians!
YAY! WOW! AVA!
Ava just won the Young Reader Award in Nevada. Go AVA!!!
XOX
Carol
Newsday article -- Join me Long Island 4/28
If you live near Rockville Center, join me at Turn of the Screw on Thursday at 4.
And check out the article in today's Newsday: nwsdy.li/1NFehZD YAY!
Fifty Middle Grade Heroines
Book Riot did a round-up of 50 literary heroines for middle grade readers and I'm mighty honored that Miss Ava Wren made the cut! Here's the list. Woohoo! Happy Reading! And here's to author Karina Glaser, a grown-up who loves kids' books!
Almost Spring! (And KidLitTV!)
KidLitTV just put up a youtube interview with me. Fun, right?
Happy Valentine's Day!
I hope you have a wonderful day! Did you watch SNL last night? Very fun that Ava and Pip was the book that a girl on set was reading! (2.45 into "The Day Beyoncé Turned White.") And in today's New York Times, I have a Letter. It's been fun doing so many signings for the new book too. Busy times. I just wish it weren't so darn cold outside. Brrrrrrrr!
XOX (get it?)
Ava XOX comes out tomorrow!!
I'm getting ready for this big week. If you are in NYC, come to Barnes & Noble this Wednesday at seven. I'd love to meet you! Tomorrow, I'll look over my power point, practice reading a few pages aloud, and I might get my nails done. Today I figured out which dress to wear. All part of Being a Writer. Oh. Wait. Is this TMI? And do male writers think like this? And is anyone reading these words?
Wow! Holidays!
Okay, so clearly I'm no good at regular blogging. Please know that I wish you a wonderful holiday and hope you find time to read for pleasure. Remember too that sharing presence (note spelling!) is the best gift of all. This week, I enjoyed speaking at a school in Harlem, and last month, I went to the Twin Cities to meet teachers at the National Council of Teachers of English. (I'm still pinching myself that AVA AND PIP is a Notable of the Children's Literature Assembly.) Oh, and guess what Book Riot's Karina Glaser said yesterday about AVA AND PIP? "This book will make you say W-O-W!" and "This delightful series is filled with wordplay." (Y-A-Y!)
Dividing Mom's Ashes
The Chicago Tribune just published this essay about dividing my mother's ashes. Bittersweet, though some say it's funny too. Maybe essays should always have heart and humor.
KidLitCom, Here I Come!
Writers spend a lot of time all by their lonesomes, so I'm really looking forward to going to Baltimore this weekend to meet people who blog about children's and young adult literature. I love hanging out with readers, writers, and book people. I'll be getting on the train Friday morning, a manuscript of SPEED OF LIFE in hand… and on Friday afternoon, from three to five, please come say hi at the lobby of the Hyatt Place Hotel. Lots of other authors too!!
Chappaqua! Somerset! Rain or Shine… and it's Rain...
Tomorrow, Saturday, Oct 3 from ten until four, I'll be at the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival. There will be 85 authors! How fun will that be? I tend to sign piles of books -- and buy piles of books. It all kind of works out.
On Sunday, Oct 4, I'm giving a talk first thing in the morning about my new novel AVA XOX which comes out in February. I'll be talking to New Atlantic Independent Booksellers in Somerset, New Jersey. Which is cool because I love book people! I just hope there's lots of coffee...
If you're at either venue, by all means, come say hi!
OCT 3 Book Festival
I'd love to meet you! If you live in Westchester or even New York City, come to the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival. It's from 10 until 4 on Saturday October 3 and it's free and fun. There will be piles of authors, from Peter Sis to Gail Carson Levine, Ed Young, Mark Teague, Vicki Cobb, Sally Cook, Peter Lerangis -- and li'l ol' me. Signed books make great gifts. (Did I tell you that I collect signed books? I have personally signed books from Dr. Spock, Shel Silverstein, Raffi, E.L. Doctorow, Kate Atkinson, Sue Grafton, and so many others…)
This New Website
My biggest news is that I have this brand new website. Back in 2000, I was way way ahead of the curve back but whoa, suddenly it was high time to overhaul my old site. Now, thanks to Suits & Sandals, I'm ready for prime time. We keep tweaking and adding and we're almost ready….
AVA XOX
The third AVA book is coming out on February 1, 2016. Preorder here. On page one, Ava finds out that a new girl has asked out Chuck, her best guy friend. And he said "Okay." What??? This is so NOT okay! How will Ava fix things? And can she help Tanya who has been getting bullied because of her weight?
Stay tuned to see what stores and schools I'll be visiting for the book tour. Sometimes I visit a school or city simply because a family invites me and gets the ball rolling. I'm always looking for an excuse to see family in Denver, Columbus, Atlanta, Sarasota...