My Fall Speaking Schedule

1) I've been invited to do a presentation and sign books at the Children's bookstore tent at the Baltimore Book Festival on Sunday, September 30. I hope they'll get copies of Halloween book of facts and fun in time. Its publication date is that same day.

2) I've been invited to the Children’s Author/Illustrator – Bookseller Networking event at lunchtime on Monday, October 15, 2007 during the NAIBA Fall Conference here in Baltimore, Maryland.

3 I've been invited to speak at the Maryland School Librarian's Association ( MASL ) fall conference in Ocean City, Maryland on Friday, October 19.

4) I haven't decided whether or not to accept the invitation to the Southern KY Book Fest in April.
I spoke at this event a few years ago and sold out my Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun that day. (which they tell me is a GOOD THING.) I wonder, do you think it helped the sales of the Groundhog Day book to do this? It has sold like hotcakes for several years now. And would it help the sales of the Halloween Day book if I went this year? Decisions. Decisions.

wendieO

Middle School is worse than Meatloaf

There's something about Jennifer Holm. No, I don't mean her two Newbery Honors. Nor her two beautiful children. Nor the fact that she lives in Maryland. Just that special something that makes you know, the minute you pick up one of her books, that you are in for a good read.

You could say -- Take Babymouse and cross it with Penny from Heaven -- and you just might end up with this book.

The first thing you notice is the cover. You want to pick up that pencil and get it out of the dinner plate. Hey, the peas are all over -- pick up those peas young lady. What the heck does this all mean?

The second thing you notice is that someone has written notes all over this book. Read a little further: Hey, wait a minute -- that's part of the book. it's told in notes and drawings and Refrigerator magnets. (does she ever eat enough pizza to earn that free pizza?)

What can a girl do with two brothers? One a Juvenile delinquent and the other simply young. And with a new, mostly great, step dad who forgot to pick her up to take her to Nutcracker ballet tryouts -- making her lose the part of the Sugarplum fairy?

Will she eve get that yummy yellow sweater?

And so the school year progresses -- told through all the notes and calendars and bank statements and even computer instant messages. Wanna know what happens next? yes!

It's a real page turner. Read it and enjoy. (I already have made a note to order more copies for my library branch because this is one I am going to be handing out right and left.)

-w

Elizabeth Moon I hate you (just kidding)

Elizabeth Moon, one of my favorite writers of adult books, has done it again. She's written another book that kept me up late last night -- reading, that kept me from doing anything useful this weekend -- but to read her book.

Her latest book, Command Decision, continues the saga of the Vatta family. It follows Stella, the once airhead who becomes CEO of the company, and Ky Vatta, who was kicked out of space academy several books ago and is now commanding a fleet of space privateers. With side trips to chapters about Rafe and his adventures rescuing his family from kidnappers.

Talk about exciting! Making the reader want to know what happens next. And when she throws a clash between the space pirates, a mercenary group, her own fleet, and then adds in the ISC fleet who charge in thinking KY is the enemy and the pirates are the victims, well.... No time for sleep this weekend.

I'm going to try to post blog messages at least once a week from now on. And I'll be aiming for the beginning of the week -- Sunday or Monday. Crossing fingers and toes that I'll be able to do it.

(and now back to studying Flicker -- the next assignment in my 23 things class.)
-w

23 things and Library 2.0

There will be a bit of jumping around and experimenting as I take the "23 Things" "Library 2.0" course, which most all librarians in Maryland are taking, for the next few months. With any luck, what I learn will only improve my ability to post neat things here. I can't wait to learn how to upload pictures and link to things.

For one thing, I'd like to learn how to find where the statistics are hidden as to how many people actually read this blog. People say there's a place to find this information, but so far I haven't found it.

-w