Yesterday was WEG, tomorrow is Books by the Banks. I’m headed up to Cinci (one of my fav little cities) for the Books by the Banks book festival, sponsored by one of my fav bookstores, Joseph-Beth. This is my second year attending, and I’m really excited. Love getting a chance to spend some time in Cinci. Love getting the chance to hang out with other writers and be surrounded by books, books, books. If you live anywhere near Cinci, come on down to the Duke Energy Center on Saturday from 10-4. Check out their website: www.booksbythebanks.org for a schedule of events and authors.
Yesterday signing books at the TRF booth at WEG was lots of fun. The proceeds of sales from Dream of Night went directly to the horses at TRF’s Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center, to feeding them, keeping them groomed and healthy. It was a GORGEOUS day in Lexington, perfect for strolling around the lovely fair grounds, observing lovely horses. WEG goes for one more week, and I will be back at the TRF booth on Tuesday, October 5 from 11-1 to sign more copies of my book.
Here are a coupla pictures my friend, Fe, snapped at WEG:
I will be signing Dream of Night at the Joseph-Beth booth at the Kentucky Horse Park for the Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games on Monday, October 27th at 6:30 pm. If you are going to the Games, please look for me!
I’ve been asked to be a “guest celebrity” at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation/Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center Booth at the Altech/FEI World Equestrian Games next week. Yippeeee!
While being a celebrity is not really one of my goals in life (writing good books is!), I’m extra excited to have the chance to promote my book Dream of Night at this international horse event. People from all over the world will be there. I’m hoping that signing books at the TRF booth will not only help promote Dream of Night, but will also help raise awareness about Thoroughbred adoption cause.
Each year thousands of Thoroughbreds end up in abusive situations, mainly because it costs so much and takes so much time to care for these gorgeous but sometimes temperamental creatures. The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is a national, non-profit organization that helps rescue ex-racehorses and give them a second chance at a wonderful life. The Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center (see my last post) is the flagship facility of the TRF located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
The people at TRF/MMSC work soooooo hard to give Thoroughbreds a chance at a new life. I’m thrilled to help in whatever way I can — right now, by being a “guest celebrity” and signing books. Thanks to Susanna Thomas, Director of MMSC, for inviting me to WEG.
My book signing schedule at the TRF/MMMSC booth in the Main Pavilion at WEG:
Tuesday, September 28, 11-1
Thursday, September 30, 1-3
Keep checking back for more about WEG, as well as details about my upcoming trip to San Antonio for school visits!
I have been asked to speak on Saturday, July 31 at the Norfolk Public Library’s 16th Annual Literature Festival in Norfolk, Nebraska. I will be giving a writing workshop for kids in the morning and will be speaking to teachers and librarians about books and writing in the afternoon.
I have never been to Nebraska, and am excited to fly into Omaha next week. My picture book That Book Woman is a 2011 Golden Sower Award nominee (which is the state Nebraska award). Other award nominees will be at the festival too, including Deborah Hopkinson and Tony Varrato.
If any of you live in Nebraska, or are interesting in attending the festival, please email Karen Drevo at kdrevo@ci.norfolk.ne.us or call her at 402-844-2108.
The Norfolk Public Library is located at 308 W. Prospect Avenue in Norfolk, Nebraska. Hope to see you there!
The Blue Marble Bookstore in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, is about fifteen minutes south of Cinci, OH. It’s the kind of place, tiny though it may seem at first, where you just might get lost. Lost in books — the very best kind of disorientation. From picture books to novels for young (and not so young) readers, from signed first editions to signed paperbacks, it’s the kind of bookstore that is becoming more and more rare in this day and age of everything-at-the-click-of-a-button.
First of all, it’s in a house, a lovely little old house on a bustling but quiet street in a friendly northern Kentucky neighborhood. The downstairs room is lined with shelves full of books. A door to the backyard leads into a Secret Garden. A staircase hidden behind the counter leads upstairs to the Great Green Room (yes, with everything from Goodnight Moon including the mouse). Upstairs is also where the kitchen is found. Because when you come to an event at the Blue Marble — a booksigning for a local or national author; a discussion of new books among librarians, teachers, children’s lit professors from local universities; a mock Newbery/Caldecott event — you will be fed. The whole staff, so knowledgeable about what’s going on in the world of children’s books, chips in and makes a dish, and everyone sits down together to good food and good talk about books and writers.
I wish the Blue Marble was just around the corner from me (instead of 3 hours away), because I would pop in all the time if I could. I would buy all my books from the Blue Marble. Because when you go to the Blue Marble to purchase a book, you’re not just getting that one book. You’re getting information about other books you might want for yourself or for your young reader or for your classroom or for your book club. You’re supporting the kind of community bookstore that is sadly slipping away. Because, yes, it’s easier to go on line and click a button, and often times it’s cheaper too. But you simply don’t get the kind of personal attention and knowledge and expertise that comes with stopping into a store like the Blue Marble, talking to teachers, librarians, writers — people who work part-time selling children’s books because children’s books isn’t just a job, it’s their passion.
Many, many thanks to Tina, Peter, Dave, and Tish for your hospitality, for your time and dedication and support! I appreciate all that you do!
Here are some pix from the Blue Marble signing and feast and from my school visit earlier in the day at St. Pius X….
I started my day with kids at St. Pius X in Northern KY.Welcome to the Blue Marble!Signing my books in the Great Green RoomI feel so at home at the Blue Marble!Blue Marble founder & owner, Tina, makes a mean steak!Tish & Dave are pretty handy in the kitchen too!Linda Sanders, new friend and author of Maggie's Monkeys, came out for the event.Tish was one of the first to email me to say she loved Dream of Night after she'd read the ARC.Buy your books at the Blue Marble Bookstore!
Thanks to all the folks who showed up at Joseph-Beth Booksellers last night! And thanks to Brooke Raby, who always makes my visit there so special. It was a terrific event. I was so happy to see Keye’lle there. I’d met her earlier that day at Sandersville Elementary School in Lexington, where I talked to the 4th and 5th graders about Dream of Night and about what inspires me as a writer. Keye’lle brought her mom to the event at JB, and she had some really great questions to ask after my reading, like “How many books do you want to write before you die?” My answer: a hundred! Thanks for coming Keye’lle, and keep reading and asking questions!
Some of my good friends were there at the reading to support me. Here’s a picture of some of my crazy crew of gals…one of which is my oldest friend, Fe. We’ve known each other since second grade when I walked up to her at the playground and asked her to play. We’ve never lost touch through many moves and many different phases of life, and now we’re back in the same state, nearly the same town we grew up in.
My crazy gals come out to support meWow! A stack of my books!
Joseph-Beth has always been so supportive, and like I said, Brooke Raby is just the best. Thanks, Brooke for coming to the schools in Lex to sell books, and for making sure everything was just right at the reading!
Brooke Raby is always working!Brooke is the best!
Again, many many thanks to all of you who came to the reading, especially my friends, Keye’lle, and the woman who loves horses (I’m sorry I didn’t get a photo of you!) and who said that she demanded that they sell my book to her the day before it came out! I hope you enjoy reading about Night, Shiloh, and Jess! And please keep in touch with me via my blog!
Trying to tell jokes at the mike like my stand up comedian sister...I'm not that funny.
I come from a very artistic family. My oldest brother is an artist/graphic design artist; my other brother is a filmmaker, and my sister is a stand-up comedian. In our home town, people are always getting me and my sister confused. So we’re always trying to explain that I write books and she writes jokes. (Actually it’s pretty easy to tell the difference — I’m not the funny one! 🙂
Here’s what the Blue Marble has to say on their events calendar…..
One of our favorite Kentucky authors of books for children and young adults will be returning to our store! Heather Henson will be talking about and signing her newest novel entitled Dream of Night [Atheneum, $15.99], a deeply moving story for middle-school students. We’ll also have her previously-published novel and picture books on hand for her visit.
Please contact us for line numbers and book reservations. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear Ms. Henson discuss what we believe is one of the best novels of the year!
I will be at Joseph-Beth in Lexington tonight (May 4) at 7:00 p.m.. Love the folks at JB! They have always been so supportive.
And then I will be heading on to Northern Kentucky to do some school visits and to go to one of my favorite bookstores, The Blue Marble.
For those of you who have never been to the Blue Marble in Fort Thomas: GO!!!! It is a wonderful place, full of good books and good people who care passionately about good books. My event is on Thursday, May 6, from 4-6pm. It’s a ritual that after a book discussion and signing, the folks at the store actually prepare a feast for those who want to stay and continue to talk about books! It’s amazing. The Blue Marble makes me wish I lived in Northern KY so I could just pop over there all the time!
Here’s a link to their calendar, in which they have some pretty nice things to say about Dream of Night. Thanks, guys! Can’t wait to see ya’ll!
