Shhh...Cyber Surprise Party for Barrie Summy

Class of 2k8: Shhh....Everybody, come on in. Quickly. Keep the lights dimmed. We're throwing a cyber surprise party for Barrie Summy.

Why?

BECAUSE IT'S THE ACTUAL RELEASE DATE OF HER HUMOROUS TEEN MYSTERY I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES AND SHE HAS HER VERY FIRST SIGNING THIS EVENING!** (Classmate slaps hands to mouth and starts whispering) The actual date. And we have gifts to help her through the day. (points to pile of wrapped presents in classroom corner) Now, find somewhere to hide.

(Twenty-six creative classmates scurry to crouch under desks and behind chairs. The door opens.)

Barrie: Hello! (turns on lights)

Class of 2k8: SURPRISE!!

Barrie: (hanging onto desk for support) Wow, you guys. Just wow. (She looks super shocked.)

And here are the gifts...

a variety of utensils to sign your book

a really cute rhino stamp for next to your signature


adorable teal and purple ink pads

licorice because we know how much you love it

And...your very own book trailer for I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES!

Barrie: You guys are THE best! A million thank-yous!




**p.s. Barrie really is signing tonight. So, if you're anywhere near San Diego, go see her at Warwick's, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037, 6:00-8:00PM, Dec. 9, 2008

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.

An Interview With Nancy Viau!

Today we learn more about Nancy Viau, author of Samantha Hanson Has Rocks In Her Head. Trust me, she gives new meaning to the term "Rockhound!"


2k8: You call yourself a reluctant novelist? Why?

My book started out as a short and sweet, 10,000-word, early chapter book. My inspiration came from a family trip to the Grand Canyon, and my daughter’s curiosity and love of rocks and fossils. I have to admit to being a bit of a rockhound myself. Perhaps it was the years I lived in Colorado that gave me such an appreciation for Earth science and geology? Now, wherever I go, I seem to pick up a rock, or two, or twenty. In fact, I have little groups of rocks all over my house.

Some people like to read in all kinds of things about why I have these: Do I have feel spiritually connected to crystals? Does a certain rock hold some significance or remind me of a special time? Is a small rock part of something large and important in my life? Nah, nope, and NO. I just like finding and collecting cool ones, and I’ve been able to see how special they are through the eyes of my daughter.

Anyway, my agent thought there could be so much more to my story, and he encouraged me to expand it.. (“Can you add 20,000 words?”) I never thought of myself as a novelist, but it didn’t take long before I was hooked! A few months—and several revisions—later, it sold to Amulet Books.

****
FUN FACT:
100 years ago President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon to be a national monument. He said:

"The Grand Canyon fills me with awe. .... Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is. Do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity and loveliness... keep it for your children, your children's children, and all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American should see."

Join Nancy in helping to protect ALL our nation’s national parks. Nancy will donate one dollar to the National Park Foundation for every different person that comments on her launch this week—Monday through Friday. And if you have any doubt of just how beautiful that Grand Canyon is, look at Nancy’s book trailer below.

Thanks Teri!

We've really enjoyed having her this week, but it's time for us to say goodbye to the wonderful Teri Brown! Be sure to check out her debut book Read My Lips!

Lit Vids

We're unreeling three new book videos for your viewing pleasure....

A Difficult Boy by M.P. Barker



Alive and Well in Prague, New York by Daphne Grab



Shift by Jennifer Bradbury

And Jennifer is our first debut author of the month, so return tomorrow for a proper introduction!

Book Trailer for The Lucky Place!

The book trailer for Zu Vincent's The Lucky Place is, in a word, FANTASTIC!





The Lucky Place is, in a word, FANTASTIC!

We heart you Zu Vincent! We heart The Lucky Place!