Nov
5
2012
My deepest thanks to everyone at the Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie and Oblong Books and Music in Rhinebeck. Both events were amazing and I will remember them for the rest of my life. And much love to all those who attended or who purchased a book in support. It meant the world to me. <3
Oct
19
2012
Okay….here it is…my first time seeing my book in a bookstore. Take your Dramamine because between the fact that I was trying to walk, talk and video, in addition to being pretty darn nervous/excited–motion sickness is a reasonable outcome LOL!
Don’t you love how I’m “trying to be incognito?” Like there might be swarms of people ready to pounce on me. ROTFL!!! It’s just that I didn’t really know what to say–it’s pretty darn overwhelming. I can tell you that I stopped the video where I did so I could pick up one of my books and hold it. *heart squish*
Don’t forget I’m still looking for at least one person for every state to become a Hot Spot!!!! Sign up and get a TOUCHING THE SURFACE T-shirt!!!! And possibly an annotated copy of my book. Click HERE to find out how to be a Team Tipping the Surface Hot Spot. And yes, I did get a map to hang in my office like I worked at NASA or something and it might look something like this…
Bigger map picture to come when I’ve got all my Hot Spots up! Right now I’ve got the first eight out and in the mail!!!
So…does anyone else have any strange visual strategies that help them to motivate and organize? If I ever get that last pile of stuff off of the office floor, you’ll see a couple more LOL! Soon. (I’m totally lying.)
Oct
17
2012
It’s Wordless Wednesday and I thought this was appropriate because I was speechless yesterday when I found out that my local B&N had a Preemie. TOUCHING THE SURFACE hit the bookshelves early and people were buying my book!!!! I have photographic proof. Then, to top off that amazing news, Team Tipping the Surface (all the folks working extra hard to tip TOUCHING THE SURFACE into going viral, was in action at dance class last night. Everyone has their T-shirts ready to go!!!! I’ll shut up now. I’m totally wordless–for now. *grin*
Sep
24
2012
Okey dokey–let’s catch up.
Sorry there was no post on Friday. The server for my web host was down Thursday into Friday. But I’m back now and I’ll try to get you updated on everything. Soup to nuts.
First off, it’s *gasp* THIRTY FIVE days until TOUCHING THE SURFACE hits the shelves. Back in February 2011 the birth of TOUCHING THE SURFACE seemed like it was light years away. And now that it’s almost here…
…it seems as if I’m going to run out of time long before I run out of things to do to get ready for this amazing new chapter of my life.
Since I know I will never be “ready” the least I can do is invite you to share in the chaos with me.
On October 30th, TOUCHING THE SURFACE’s official book birthday, I’m going to have a launch day challenge. Tweet, Facebook or email me a picture of TOUCHING THE SURFACE out in the wild and you’ll get a chance to win this…
Which is really this…
A silver origami crane necklace. I have one of my own and I’ve given one to my agent Michelle Wolfson and my editor Anica Rissi. I’ve been holding on to this one for the big day.
Of course I’ll be reminding you about the contest again right before the launch.
My very first author event will be taking place in ELEVEN DAYS! I’ll be doing a reading of TOUCHING THE SURFACE at COTA (Celebration of the Arts) in Hasbrouck Park–New Paltz, NY.
The event takes place from 11am-5pm but I’ll be reading at 1:30pm. Afterwards I’ll have swag to sign for anyone who is interested. And OMG! I’m reading right before one of my larger than life writing mentors, KL Going. I don’t know how I’m going to keep from bursting into a million pieces from a combination of pride and nerves.
I also have several wonderful book launch events planned and I’m hoping that if you’re nearby, you’ll be able to attend one.
*The first event is a NYC Cocktail party on Thursday, November 1st at 7:00pm, thrown by my very wonderful husband–yes, I am the luckiest girl in the world. The information is HERE. Feel free to add yourself to the evite or if you’re having trouble, just contact me with your name and email and I’ll add you to the group.
*The second event is going to be held on Saturday, November 3rd at 2:00pm at the Poughkeepsie, NY Barnes & Noble. You can find out more about this event HERE. The Poughkeepsie Barnes & Noble is a fabulous bookstore and I am so excited to be launching my book there. This B&N is the site of my local SCBWI Shop Talk, the place where I began learning how to be a writer. It has so many wonderful writerly memories for me. It is also the closest bookstore to my home, so you know I’ve spent a lot of quality time there. This is my community bookstore and I can’t believe I’m going to get to share this day, surrounded by people who have known and loved me since I was just a little kid. Signing my books here will be a mind blowing experience.
*The third event is going to be held on Sunday, November 4th at 4:00pm at Oblong Books & Music in Rhinebeck, NY.
This is one of two very special indie bookstores in my area and I can’t freaking believe that I’m going to be the author at a Hudson Valley YA Society event!!! I love going to these events to eat cookies and drool on my favorite authors. I can’t tell you how many times my husband and my boys and I have attended these events and then talked the whole ride home in the car about how someday they might ask me to do a book signing. Surreal.
Oblong books is asking for an RSVP to the event and if you can make it, you can respond on Facebook or RSVP at Oblong.
If you can’t make any of the formal book launch events–I’m completely bummed–but Oblong is taking orders for SIGNED COPIES OF TOUCHING THE SURFACE. I’ll be signing them that very afternoon, so there is a really good chance that the book will have residual festiveness tucked between the pages. How awesome is that?
Oh, and before I forget–I’ll be activating my newsletter function really soon, so don’t forget to sign up at the bottom of any page of this website.
Wow! I think I finally have all the up dated info properly laid out for you, so Wednesday we can get back to chatting about regular stuff LOL! But before you leave, my friend Linda Hanlon has recently been clarifying her bucket list. And this post absolutely is going to give me a few things to check off on my own list. So, I’m wondering what’s on your bucket list? Since not everything in life revolves around books (really?) I’ll also tell you another one of the things on my bucket list…I’d love to learn to play the piano. My list is L-O-N-G so I’ll add in more in the comments. Feel free to leave more than one.
Dec
14
2011
I popped into my local Barnes and Noble yesterday to buy some Christmas presents and pet the books. It always gives me a little thrill to hop in the escalator and ascend directly into the YA section. Yeah, it’s kinda cheesy, but it almost feels like one of those movies where you’ve died and gone to heaven. LOL! So, I’m about half way up when I realize that my beloved YA section is now the school curriculum area.
Huh?
My eyes immediately shoot to where all the curriculum supplies used to be and low and behold…no YA. I scan the children’s PB/MG section–thinking this can’t be good. How did they squeeze all those books in an already crowded area. My palms are starting to sweat. No YA books in sight. I double check under a table display.
Dashing back to the escalator, I begin to search the rest of the store for any sign of a new area–glittering with YA books. I can’t see anything. This is the point where I start to talk to myself…
They still have a YA section. Relax. It’s not likely that Barnes and Noble removed all of it’s teen reading, less then a year before your book hits the shelf. OMG! There’s a reason that people call our family the Griswalds. Take a deep breath. You’re being silly. Do what you have to do here and then go look for it. Find it you must. Stop talking like Origami Yoda. Damn-it! Where is Dwight and Origami Yoda when I really need help?
I quickly grabbed handfuls of the books I needed from the kids section, then I stalk down the store, reading every sign on every bookcase until I find them. It was the weirdest thing–the YA books were now shelved with the adult books.
I’ll be honest with you, my first thought was–this was no cozy, heavenly, balcony-like corner. This is plain and boring. But then I started to peruse the shelved. There were several and a couple tables. And I started to feel move comfortable. Then I looked around…
There were adults, weaving in and out of the aisles. A lot more adults than I’d normally see in the YA section. And then I got all tingly with excitement because this idea was brilliant. Teen readers are die-hard, loyal fans. Like me. I’m going to find those books no matter where they put them in the store. But there is an untapped, crossover audience out there that has no plans to wander into the YA section. It’s time to bring the Mountain to Mohammed–so to speak.
Of course I didn’t have to fake enthusiasm, to encourage the other grown-ups in my vicinity to rush over and see what I was all excited about. I seriously squeal when I get around all of those books. I petted quite a few and even adopted some. Hey–they looked lonely. And I won’t lie to you. I left pretty darn happy–feeling like there has been a shift in the universe and excited that I’m here to watch it happen.
So what do you think the YA books should be shelved?
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