Author of award-winning, adventurous realistic and historical fiction

Part II of the WAMA blog tour

Mar 20, 2014 | , , , , , , , ,

The When Audrey Met Alice blog tour is wrapping up. It’s been so great to hop around the Internet with guest posts and interviews! Here’s the second batch of posts, including an ongoing giveaway!

Middle Grade March: Guest Post about one of my middle-grade memories

March MG Madness: Interview, review, and a giveaway (running through 4/6!)

Spirit of Children’s Literature: Interview and Review

Teen Reads: Guest post about my favorite scene to write

Leisure Reads: Character profile for Audrey

The Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia: Guest post on historical women I find fascinating, and a giveaway (running through 3/31!)

Diamond & Coal Book Review: Guest post on my interest in First Daughters

Tressa’s Wishful Endings: Guest post on ten things Audrey found out about Alice

Zee Monodee – Author’s Corner: Guest post on First Daughters as celebrities

The Chicago Moms blog: Guest post on more historical women I find fascinating

Literature & Laura: Interview

Caroline Starr Rose’s Classroom Connections

A huge thank-you to the bloggers who have hosted and interviewed me!

WI Whirlwind

Mar 7, 2014 | , , , , , , , , ,

I had the best time in Wisconsin last week, talking to friends and family, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and readers about WHEN AUDREY MET ALICE. Some highlights of my whirlwind trip:

–Meeting the great readers at EAGLE School in Fitchburg. My very first school visit was a success! I really enjoyed talking books with Ellen Bunn, the library/media specialist and a fellow historical-fiction fan. Thanks to Ellen and Mr. Gallo for hosting me, and thanks to the students at EAGLE for being such an enthusiastic and smart audience!

–And speaking with the great readers at Elm Lawn Elementary in Middleton. I spoke to about 200 fourth- and fifth-graders, and I was blown away by their great questions. My favorite part? When I told them a little bit about my book-in-progress, which tells about what might’ve really happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. It turns out the kids at Elm Lawn are writing fiction right now about . . . the Lost Colony of Roanoke! What a cool coincidence, and it was so memorable to have that connection with young writers. Thanks to Joan Anderson and the fourth- and fifth-grade teachers for hosting me!

–Seeing so many friends and family at the Barnes & Noble in Madison, including my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Gerlach. Yes, I did tear up when I saw her smiling face–I have so many wonderful memories of Mrs. G’s class, and I credit her with sparking and encouraging my love of historical fiction. I also got to see my high-school art teacher, Mr. McConnell–it was his class that actually inspired the first manuscript I wrote. Books connect people in many ways, but I’m especially grateful that my book event led to some happy reunions.

–Meeting author friends in person for the first time. Wendy McClure, Gayle Rosengren, and I spoke on a historical MG panel at Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee on Sunday. It was fun to share about our books and have a discussion about writing and reading MG. And two of Gayle and my Class of 2K14 classmates came to see us: Amy Zhang and Liz Czukas!

Hopefully I’ll get some pictures of the visit on my Facebook page soon. In the meantime, I’m already making plans for the next one. 🙂

Hello, Wisconsin!

Feb 27, 2014 | , , , , ,

I’m so excited to head back to my hometown tonight for a few book events.

If everything goes according to plan, I’ll be doing my first two school visits tomorrow. I’ve got my powerpoint and my stickers ready. 🙂

Then, on Saturday at 1:00 pm, I’ll be signing books at the Barnes and Noble at West Towne in Madison. Event details here: B&N Author Events: When Audrey Met Alice

On Sunday at 3:00 pm, I’ll be part of a fun historical MG panel with fellow Class of 2K14 author Gayle Rosengren and Wendy McClure at Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee. More info about that is here: Boswell Book Company: Upcoming Events

Hope to see you there!

Launch Party!

Feb 25, 2014 | , , , , , , , ,

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:

 

IMG_4423(I freaked out a little when I got there and saw the sign–but in a good way.)

IMG_4428(Pretty books!)

IMG_4433(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.)

AUDREYParty1(Mingling before the reading. Books of Wonder has the most amazing children’s literature art collection!)

IMG_4471(Fellow debut authors Michelle Schusterman, Lauren Magaziner, Emery Lord, and Kim Liggett helping me share a Top Ten list of First Kid hijinks)

photo-6(Getting used to signing)

AUDREYParty3

(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!

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