I came home to a fun surprise on Tuesday: paperback author copies. The first thing I did with them? Build a White House.
As of today, When Audrey Met Alice paperbacks are now in stores! I stopped by Barnes & Noble to sign a few. It’s fun to see both editions together on the shelf.
On my way home from a morning bookstore trip, I stopped for a couple of celebratory breakfast, of course!
Because happy publishing days pair well with doughnuts. Specifically, Nutella-banana and blueberry-lime. Yum.
So you might have seen this in Publishers Marketplace (click to make big!):
That’s right! The Summer of Lost and Found has a new home. And it will still be in bookstores in the first half of 2016 (right now, it looks like a May publication date). I am so excited to be working with editor extraordinaire Alyson Heller and the team at Aladdin/Simon & Schuster. Aladdin is one of the imprints that made a huge impact on me as a young reader–I have fond memories of looking for the colophon on the spines of some favorite books.
(Yes, even as a kid I was into learning about different publishing imprints. It would’ve been tween me’s dream come true to publish an Aladdin book!)
More information to come, but for now I’ll just say how grateful and excited I am that Summer will be on shelves next year.
*And by “I,”of course I mean my fantastic agent, Suzie Townsend. I’m incredibly thankful to her (and everyone at New Leaf Literary) for their support and enthusiasm, and skill at finding perfect homes for their clients’ books.
A lot went on in publishing this week,* but this post isn’t about that. Because the week before, I did something that middle-grade me would’ve been over the moon about:
I met a manatee.
I first read about manatees in a random Sleepover Friends super special (Super Beach Mystery) when I was in elementary school. I couldn’t believe that I’d never heard about this “sea cow” creature before, considering how much I loved marine mammals. The more I read about manatees, the more curious I became. They are vegetarians who eat 10% of their body weight daily! They are related to elephants! The communicate with a language of clicks and chirps! I ended up fundraising for the Save the Manatee club (through which I adopted my first manatee, Boomer), and I even wrote my first “book” about them as a school project, MANATEES: PROBLEMS HELPS.
My first book
I am unsure whether I did not know the word “solutions” or whether I didn’t have the right sticker letters for it.
My early nonfiction writing
I even wrote manatee poetry.
But being a kid in Wisconsin, there were no manatees near me. Years went by, I never stopped finding them delightful–but I never had a chance to see one.
Last week, my husband and I were in Florida to escape the cold. We took an hour to drive inland from Sanibel Island and found the Manatee Park. I ran down the path (dodging a very realistic statue of an alligator–you would’ve shrieked, too!) and up to a river, and then I saw my first ever manatee.
Later on in the trip, we took a special tour at the Miami Seaquarium, which is one of three facilities that can rehabilitate injured manatees. (Sadly, part of the reason why manatees are an endangered species is because they are frequently harmed or killed by speeding boats.) That was where I got to meet Julia and Phoenix and feed them some of their favorite treats (sweet potatoes and grapes).
It was so cool to get to interact with them–manatees are friendly, curious, and smart. They are also HUGE. Somehow, all the photos I’ve seen over the years did not do justice to their size.
As a thirtysomething it was a great way to spend an afternoon, but I kept thinking about how ridiculously excited middle-grade Rebecca would’ve been about talking to people who care for manatees–and getting to feel manatees’ whiskers as they gobble up lunch. It reminded me how awesomely curious and passionate kids are–one of the many reasons I love writing books for young readers.
Every grown-up should remember something that they loved fiercely or studied enthusiastically as a kid, and reconnect with it. It’s good for the soul.
*A brief note about the sad news from Egmont USA. Yes, Summer of Lost and Found was affected by the decision to close the US operations. Hopefully, I will be able to share more information on what’s next for my book soon. Until then, I’d like to acknowledge how wonderful it was to be an Egmont author, and what a privilege it was to work with Jordan Hamessley and the rest of the team. Published and Spring 2015 Egmont books will still be distributed by Penguin Random House–go and check them out!
It’s hard to believe that the year is coming to a close. It really does feel like yesterday that I was welcoming 2014–and eagerly anticipating my February 4 book birthday.
It has really been a delightful experience sharing Audrey’s and Alice’s stories.
Author copies arrive!
Author copies on a shelf [they’re all gone now–in libraries, where they belong :)]
Signing at my launch party
A great panel at Books of Wonder, my indie home
Class of 2K14 celebrating after ALA in Vegas
Barnes & Noble panel with Tara Dairman, Polly Holyoke, and KA Holt in Fort Worth, TX
Awesome panel at The Book Spot in Round Rock, TX
Working on an Amelia Earhart story with young writers at the NYSL
WAMA projects by the great students at St. Francis Academy
I’m so grateful to all the people who have supported me along the way, to all those who work tirelessly to get books produced and shelved and sold and checked out and taught, and most of all to readers. Because of all the wonderful moments along the way, the best have always been about them.
First up in 2015 is finishing revisions for my second book, Summer of Lost and Found (which might be undergoing a slight title change–more on that in the new year). Then I’ll be back to work on a brand new story.
Have a safe and happy new year!
No, not the kind made from pine branches that you put on your front door–the book kind! If you’re looking for something to stuff in a stocking or to help you wrap a present for a reader, I’d love to send you some When Audrey Met Alice swag!
I have:
Sticker #1
Sticker #2
Just email me before December 10th at:
write.rebeccabehrens @ gmail.com (without spaces)
and let me know what you’d like, and where I should send it.* I’m happy to personalize a message on the postcards, too. I can only mail items within the U.S. for this giveaway, I’m afraid.
Happy holiday season!
*I have limited amounts, so I will only be able to send a few items to each person for this giveaway. If you are a teacher or librarian interested in a class set, though, feel free to email me about that.
So you might have seen this in Publishers Weekly this afternoon (click to make big!):
That’s right! I* sold my second book! The Summer of Lost and Found will be in bookstores in 2016. It’s full of everything I loved to read about as a middle-grader: history, mystery, beach towns, and ghost stories.
I’m so excited to be working with the uber talented Jordan Hamessley and everyone at Egmont to tell this story. The way it feels when Jordan shares her editorial vision for your book can only be expressed with a Liz Lemon GIF:
I’ll leave you with a picture of the beach at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, on Roanoke Island. I was there doing research while this deal was coming together, and while a trip to see such a beautiful and historic place would always be special, this serendipitous timing made it even more so.
*And by “I,” I do mean my fantastic agent, Suzie Townsend. I’m incredibly thankful to her for being such a great advocate for my writing, and to everyone at New Leaf Literary for their amazing support.
ETA: The announcement also ran in the June 13th Publishers Marketplace deal report (you can click to make big). Hooray!
I had so much fun at the launch party for When Audrey Met Alice last Thursday at Books of Wonder in NYC! Here are some of the highlights:
(I freaked out a little when I got there and saw the sign–but in a good way.)
(Pretty books!)
(Drinks and snacks, featuring “WH Chef Debra’s” chocolate-chip cookies, petits fours, fake champagne [Alice would not approve] and gift bags–each with an Emily Spinach inside.)
(Mingling before the reading. Books of Wonder has the most amazing children’s literature art collection!)
(Fellow debut authors Michelle Schusterman, Lauren Magaziner, Emery Lord, and Kim Liggett helping me share a Top Ten list of First Kid hijinks)
(Getting used to signing)
(Chatting with Write Nite friends Kathryn, Kristi, Bess, and Gina! And thanks to Jodi for taking this picture)
There are a lot more photos on my Facebook page here.
Thanks to everyone who came out to hear about First Kids, eat some cookies and petits fours, and make my launch party such a memorable–and fun!–experience!
I had so much fun watching When Audrey Met Alice head off to “eat up the world” this week! Thanks to everyone who congratulated, shared, tweeted, and cheered me, Audrey, and Alice on.
And a huge thanks to the bloggers who’ve generously hosted me on their sites as part of the blog tour. Here are the places you can find me talking about When Audrey Met Alice so far:
Mundie Moms: Interview
A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust: Guest post on where Alice Roosevelt would hang out in DC today
Smack Dab in the Middle: “Middleview” Interview
Musings of a YA Reader: Guest post on who inspired me as a tween
The Compulsive Reader: Guest post on fascinating First Daughters
Books for Kids: Guest post on what Alice would do if she were a First Daughter in the 21st century
Bookshelf Fantasies: Guest post on what Alice would find confusing about the 21st century
Sharp Read: 5,4,3,2,1 Interview
Nerdy Book Club: Guest post “From Reader to Writer”
The Class of 2k14 blog: Book Birthday Interview
Fearless Fifteeners: All Four Kids Interview
Jessica Spotswood’s blog: Thrice Interview (enter the giveaway!)
Heidi Schulz’s blog: In the Middle Interview
Readerly Musings: Guest post on historical women I find fascinating
This is a really hard post to write and a really easy one, too. It’s hard because I’ve thought about this day for so long–in terms of when I started writing for publication, five years; and in terms of how long I’ve secretly dreamed of being an author, probably my whole life. It’s easy because the only thing I really want to say is this: Thank You.
Writing isn’t easy, and neither is publishing. There are ups and downs and of course I’ve had plenty of both along the way. But one thing I’ve never lacked is enthusiastic support: from my friends and family, from my agency and publisher, from my delightful and inspiring coworkers, from the other writers and bloggers I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know in the kid-lit community. The only thing that doesn’t feel surreal today is a deep sense of gratitude–that I get to share my words with the world, and that I get to have so many wonderful people cheering me on as I do.
Last night, I got home to a big box on my doorstep. Sent from Sourcebooks c/o RR Donnelly, so I had an inkling what was inside.
(Photo taken after I’d gone inside and grabbed a camera, and almost locked myself out in my excitement.)
(Please ignore the other boxes in the background. What? You seem to remember that I moved almost a year ago? Uh . . . let’s move on, shall we?)
What was inside was pretty freaking exciting.
And it made for a pretty awesome night.
In the December 15th issue, Kirkus reviewed When Audrey Met Alice–and they liked it!
“This charming debut brings Alice Roosevelt to life when 13-year-old ‘first daughter’ Audrey finds Alice’s century-old diary and turns to it for advice . . . Behrens invents a fictional Alice, as she reveals in her author’s note, and writes the diary entries in credible period prose that’s still accessible to modern readers. Audrey knows that she’s just a normal girl for all that she lives in the White House, making Audrey and the story nicely accessible.
An appealing journey and a fascinating life.”
The full Kirkus review is here: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rebecca-behrens/when-audrey-met-alice/
And Publishers Weekly called When Audrey Met Alice an “entertaining debut” and said, “Alice’s (invented) journal entries appear throughout and offer a window into the life of this fearless historical figure though, as Behrens notes, ‘when it came to good fiction versus factual accuracy, fiction won.’ Details of life in the White House, combined with Audrey’s more ordinary struggles (including the potential for a first boyfriend), will keep readers hooked.” The full PW review is here: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4022-8642-1.
It’s pretty surreal to see my book in Kirkus and PW, and I couldn’t be happier with what the reviewers have said. 🙂
That’s right, When Audrey Met Alice has a cover!
You can head over to Mundie Kids and check it out. We’re also sharing the ARC cover and details about the process behind creating the perfect cover for Audrey and Alice’s story.
Here’s the link: http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2013/10/when-audrey-met-alice-by-rebecca.html
Elizabeth Connor, the incredibly talented designer, and the whole Sourcebooks team created what I think is the perfect image for this story. It’s an understatement to say that I’m thrilled with it.
Thanks to Katie at Mundie Kids for her help and enthusiasm with my reveal! It’s so fun to get to share this.