Thankful

What happens when a group of middle grade authors get together in a snowbound wonderland for the weekend?

Fun. That’s what. Also discovery, bonding, and laughing. So, so much laughing.

In mid-November, I traveled to a magical place to meet seven fellow authors with middle grade debuts in 2019. We had no agenda beyond enjoying time together, sharing our books and our publishing journeys, and eating. A lot.

The magical place was the Highlights Foundation, and the wonderful authors I met were: Chris Baron, Jessica Kramer, Cory Leonardo, Josh Levy, Gillian McDunn, Naomi Milliner, and Nicole Panteleakos.

Along the way, we had to deal with some challenging weather.

But we took planes and trains and cars and made it to Milanville, PA.

Before the retreat, we had exchanged emails and messages and Facebook posts and Tweets, but it was the first time any of us had met in person.

And it was better than I could have imagined, because these authors were generous, honest, vulnerable, hilarious, and open-hearted.

We read from our forthcoming books, and told each other why we wrote them. We discussed the many Easter eggs in our stories. We conducted “mini-lessons” for each other on other interesting topics such as screenwriting, school visits, and picture books. We even took a hike in the beautiful snow-covered woods.

We stayed up late into the night, talking and laughing and playing games like “Empire” and “Telestrations.” And we managed to compile a very long list of inside jokes for such a short time together!

It was a wonderful weekend, a deep breath before our roller coaster debut year begins. I’m in awe of the the brilliance of these writers, and how unique and wonderful every single one of their books is. I’ve been lucky enough to read some of them already, and I can’t wait to read the rest. The middle grade readers of 2019 are in for such a treat!

                  

Giveaway Time!

I am giving away PREORDERS of all my fellow MG 2019 retreat attendees’ books! Enter below for copies of these SEVEN marvelous books delivered to your home when they are published!

Cory Leonardo’s lovely book, THE SIMPLE ART OF FLYING, is about Alastair, an African grey parrot who dreams of escape from a dingy pet store to bluer skies with his beloved sister, Aggie. But when Aggie is purchased by twelve-year-old Fritz, and Alastair is adopted by elderly dance-enthusiast and pie-baker Albertina Plopky, the future looks ready to crash-land. In-between anxiously plucking his feathers, eating a few books, and finding his own poetic voice, Alastair plots his way to a family reunion. But soon he’s forced to choose between the life he’s always dreamed of and admitting the truth: that sometimes, the bravest adventure is in letting go.

This book is full of poetry and the truth about family and friends.

Pub date: February 12, 2019

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Josh Levy’s SEVENTH GRADE VS. THE GALAXY is a hilarious sci-fi adventure about a middle school that’s on a spaceship orbiting Jupiter. When the school is mysteriously attacked, thirteen-year-old Jack discovers humanity’s first light-speed engine. To save the ship, Jack catapults it hundreds of light-years away and right into the clutches of the first aliens humans have ever seen. School hasn’t just gotten out: it’s gone clear across the galaxy. And now it’s up to Jack and his friends to get everyone home.

This book is laugh out loud, and not to be missed!

Pub date: March 5, 2019

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Gillian McDunn’s CATERPILLAR SUMMER is a gorgeous, heartfelt story about Cat, a big sister devoted to taking care of her little brother, Chicken, especially after their father has died and their mother is working extremely hard to provide for them. But then Cat and Chicken need to spend three weeks with grandparents they never knew, and for the first time in years, Cat can be a kid again. The journey she takes shows that even the most broken or strained relationships can be healed if people take the time to walk in one another’s shoes.

This book is smart and heartwarming, and I adore it.

Pub date: April 2, 2019

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SUPER JAKE & THE KING OF CHAOS by Naomi Milliner is about eleven-year-old Ethan, who escapes to a world of top hats, trick decks, and magic wands when family life with his special needs little brother Jake gets too intense. But just when Ethan makes it to the top five finalists of a junior magic competition, Jake falls dangerously ill and Ethan’s hopes and plans are in jeopardy. As he searches for any sort of magic that might save Jake, Ethan learns what is truly important . . . and what real magic is.

Naomi weaves in humor with big emotions in this beautiful story. I can’t wait to read the whole thing.

Pub date: May 7, 2019

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PLANET EARTH IS BLUE by Nicole Panteleakos is an out-of-this-world beautiful story about Nova, a twelve-year-old autistic girl who is adjusting to life in a new foster family while awaiting the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Nova loves astronomy, but she loves her big sister Bridget even more. Bridget has disappeared, but she promised she’d return home to watch the launch with Nova. So Nova counts down as she writes letters to her missing sister.

This book is absolutely gorgeous and heartbreaking.

Pub date: May 14, 2019

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ALL OF ME by Chris Baron is a novel in verse about a 13-year-old who is sick of being teased and bullied about his weight and decides to do something about it before his (already late) Bar Mitzvah. Except, with his parents’ marriage on the rocks, learning how to be a man is harder than he thought.

I was stunned and moved by the lyricism and honesty of this story, and I can’t wait to read it all.

Pub date: June 11, 2019

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Jessica Kramer’s book, THE STORY THAT CANNOT BE TOLD, weaves together folklore and history to tell the story of a young girl finding her voice and the strength to use it during the violent final months of Communist reign in Romania.

This book features a mesmerizing interplay of folktales and the realities of life in a communist regime.

Pub date: October 8, 2019

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