Shameless Saturday

Here's what Booklist says about Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's middle grade historical, WINIFRED OLIVER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT: "Tubb’s inventive heroine comes across as a female version of familiar characters, such as Gary Paulsen's Harris or Robert Newton Peck's Soup. This homespun tale,f ull of folksy humor and based on historical fact, will appeal to young fans of Deborah Wiles' and Ruth White's books."





Book Chic loves Debbie Reed Fischer's Young Adult, BRALESS IN WONDERLAND. Read the interview here.

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS also by Debbie Reed Fischer was given the Gold Star Award for Excellence by TeensReadToo.com. Here is the review.






Guess what independent booksellers for children across the nation are recommending?

THE MAGIC THIEF by Sarah Prineas and THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD by Donna Freitas
Check out the catalog.


GO GANG!

Day 5: Right Next To Heaven

It's been a great week with Kristin. Before we say ta ta she's going to give us an exclusive tour of Cades Cove, TN where Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different takes place.

Autumn is set in Cades Cove, TN, which is now part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In 1934, the year in which Autumn takes place, the Cove was still quite isolated thanks to its geographical location, so the culture within the area was unique. Cades Cove is a broad, swishy meadow set within a ring of cloud-tipped, rolling mountains:

The formation of the National Park drives Autumn’s story. Here are some of the things you’d see if you visited Cades Cove today:

Cable’s Mill, which is powered by Abrams Creek. Cove residents would gather here once a week, usually Saturday, to grind their grain or corn into meal.

Elijah Oliver’s cabin. The Oliver family was the first Caucasian family to settle in Cades Cove, so Autumn naturally took their last name.

The Primitive Baptist Church. There were two churches and one schoolhouse in the Cove in the 1930s, and most social events took place in one of these “hot spots.”

Cades Cove is the most-visited section of the most-visited national park in America, hosting over 2 million visitors each year. If you haven’t yet visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, book your next vacation today! It is, as Autumn would say, right next to heaven!

In the mean time: check out my book trailer and come visit me! I’m online at http://www.kristintubb.com/ and http://www.kristintubb.blogspot.com/.

What gorgeous pics! Thanks for everything, Kristin. We can't wait to read Autumn.

Day 4: Interview of a lifetime

Ask an author what inpired her to become a writer and she's sure to have a story, but few, like Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, can honestly answer it came from a wrinkle in time.



When I was a sixth-grader at City Park Elementary School in Athens, TN, the school librarian – Shelia Rollins – held a school-wide reading contest. I won. The prize was that I got to do a telephone interview with (drum-roll, please)… Madeleine L’Engle! I remember two things from this interview: first, that it was conducted via speakerphone. It was the first time I’d seen this “new” technology, and it was the coolest thing ever. (I’m quite old.) Second, when I told Ms. L’Engle that I wanted to be a writer, she said, “Good for you! Keep reading and you can do it!”

Amazing! True sparks of inspiration last a lifetime. Join us on Friday when Kristin shares a pictorial tour on the setting of her book and unveils her book trailer.

Day 3: Calling Kristin

There's nothing better than a good "call" story and Kristin has one of the best!

Okay, I’ve shared this story here before, but it’s gotta be one of my all-time favorites. So, back by popular demand: the absolutely true story of where I was when I got The Call:

The scene: Early February, 2007. My editor, Wendy Loggia, calls my cell phone. I am nine months pregnant. I am AT THE OB/GYN.

Wendy: "Hello, Kristin? It's Wendy Loggia from Random House."

Me: "Oh my gosh! It's so good to hear from you! I'm at my gynocologist's office right now."

Wendy: silence

Me: "Oh, um - I should say, I'm not in the office right now - I mean, I am, but I'm checking out. I'm done." Shut up Kristin. "I mean - I'm scheduling my induction for my new baby. I was newly pregnant when we met, remember?" Shut UP, Kristin. "Everything's great! Healthy baby! I'm scheduling his arrival right now. That's why I'm at...my...OB's office..."

Wendy: laughing "I think this is a first for me."

Me: unbelievably mortified "Uh, me too?"

Wendy: "So I wanted to talk to you more about this wonderful story you sent me..."

And that was that! There, in my OB/GYN's office, I was offered my first book deal. Two weeks later, my son was born. It was one heckuva month.

Bet your editor has a hard time topping that story! Tune back tomorrow when Kristin tells us what FAMOUS author personally inspired her to become a writer.

Please welcome Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

The class of 2k8 is pleased to introduce another extraordinary MG author this month. Won't you help us welcome Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, author of Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different?

I grew up in East Tennessee, near Cades Cove, where Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different is set. Autumn’s story came to me when I was on a guided tour of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There we were, standing in what was once someone’s home, and I thought: what if my home became a national park? How does something like that even happen? When I did a little research, I discovered the fascinating history of the people of Cades Cove.

No one does things like Autumn Winifred Oliver. Autumn Winifred Oliver prides herself on doing things her way. But she meets her match when she, her mama, and her pin-curled older sis, Katie, move in with her cantankerous Gramps. The Oliver gals were supposed to join Pop in Knoxville for some big-city living (they’d even sold their house!), but Gramps’s recent sick spell convinced Mama to stay put in Cades Cove, a place of swishy meadows and shady hollers that lies on the crest of the Great Smoky Mountains.

And it’s not like there’s nothing going on in the Cove. Folks are all aflutter about turning their land into a national park, and Autumn’s not sure what to think. Loggers like Pop need jobs, but if things keep going at the current rate, the forests will soon be chopped to bits. And Gramps seems to think there’s some serious tourist money to be made. Looks like something different is definitely in order…

"Kristin O'Donnell Tubb has written a wonderful debut novel, full of history, excitement and sensitivity....Tubb takes no easy shortcuts - but she finds a satisfying and very real resolution." Alice Cary for BookPage

“Tubb skillfully weaves Autumn’s internal coming of age struggles with the very real struggles faced by the people living in the hollows and hills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, before the park existed….What makes Tubb’s story so unique and rich is her knowledge of the people, the geography, the history, and their culture. Tubb masterfully brings these folks to life….Under the exquisite language and personalities lies a true story—one that should spark classroom debate. I hope teachers everywhere add Tubb’s book to their reading lists.” BookPleasures.com

“Peppered…with Appalachian superstitions and homey, colorful phrases.” Kirkus Reviews

Kristin, we're so happy to celebrate your debut this week! And we can't wait until tomorrow when you share your "call" story with us.

Realizing Dreams

They say April showers bring May flowers. This month we're hoping to plant the seeds of inspiration. THREE of our authors will be debuting in the coming weeks, but for now we're going to talk about realizing dreams.

To be considered a writer it only one takes thing...writing! To be considered a published writer it takes that first sale. This week we'll be sharing our first sale stories. Some are funny, some will make you verklempt and some will remind you why you should always remain persistent. May those of you reading these stories have exciting sales tales of your own blooming as we speak!

First up is Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's rather, ahem, embarassing story....

The scene: Early February, 2007. My editor, Wendy Loggia, calls my cell phone. I am nine months pregnant. I am AT THE OB/GYN.

Wendy: "Hello, Kristin? It's Wendy Loggia from Random House."

Me: "Oh my gosh! It's so good to hear from you! I'm at my gynocologist's office right now."

Wendy: silence

Me: "Oh, um - I should say, I'm not in the office right now - I mean, I am, but I'm checking out. I'm done." Shut up Kristin. "I mean - I'm scheduling my induction for my new baby. I was newly pregnant when we met, remember?" Shut UP, Kristin. "Everything's great! Healthy baby! I'm scheduling his arrival right now. That's why I'm at...my...OB's office..."

Wendy: laughing "I think this is a first for me."

Me: unbelievably mortified "Uh, me too?"

Wendy: "So I wanted to talk to you more about this wonderful story you sent me..."

And that was that! There, in my OB/GYN's office, I was offered my first book deal. Two weeks later, my son was born. It was one heckuva month.

You gotta love two new babies! Join us tomorrow when Lisa Schroeder talks about her baby...BABY CAN'T SLEEP

And in class notes....

Now ... for some Totally Important Posts from the Class of 2k8:

Jody Feldman's The Gollywhopper Games has already gone into its second printing!(Not that we're surprised!)

Kristin O'Donnell Tubb got her first review for Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different from Susan Sales Harkins at BookPleasures.com. And it's fantastic!

Teri Brown, author of Read My Lips, got a great review from Little Willow!

Congratulations Classmates!

Fabulous February

Don’t fret because the groundhog saw his shadow, and we’re in for 6 more weeks of winter.

Don’t stress over the fact that Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and you’re clueless about what to get a loved one.

And … don’t be sad that not a single Class of 2k8 member launches her book this month. (OK, you can be a little sad.)

There will still be a ton of bloggin’ fun going on right here!

First up, the Class of 2k8 has a few T.I.Ps. for you. What’s a T.I.P., you ask? A T.I.P. is a Totally Important Post.

Jody Feldman and Marissa Doyle have been interviewed by Cynthia Leitich Smith. Read this fantastic interview on her Cynsations blog.

You can find Liz Gallagher on Authorlink.

And our class has been mentioned on Joshilyn Jackson’s blog.

Word is getting out!

Next up for this first week in February, we have some random facts:

February is National Library Lovers Month. If you haven’t gotten a peek at Liz Gallagher’s book, The Opposite of Invisible, and Lisa Schroeder’s book, I Heart You, You Haunt Me, head on over to the library and check it out.

And February is the month that students and teachers everywhere dig out the party hats to celebrate the 100th day of school. Join the excitement!

There’s more …

This first week in February is Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week. And that’s where we fit in. The Class of 2k8 will be chatting about heroes and those people, young and old, who have been an inspiration.

Let’s jump right in:

Kristin Tubb, author of Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different, has a couple of heroes right in her own home. We can’t help but wonder if they have moustaches…

My everyday heroes are my two young kids. There are many reasons why, but one of the reasons is they remind me why I adore kid lit. My daughter (age 3) loves to play with “mommy’s books” (the activity books I’ve written). She sometimes asks me if I wrote those books just for her. “Yes,” I always say. “I did.” It’s a wonderful reminder of where those books eventually wind up – in the hands of kids who are thrilled to crack open a new story.

More about 2k8’s heroes tomorrow.

Meanwhile, who's your hero?