Month: July 2011

Visiting the Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, Vermont is always a joy, whether it’s as a customer picking out books for the family or as an author visiting for an event, and this weekend reminded me of that all over again.

On Saturday, the Flying Pig hosted author Eric Luper and me to share our newest books, Eric’s middle grade novel JEREMY BENDER VS. THE CUPCAKE CADETS,  my chapter book MARTY MCGUIRE and my picture book SEA MONSTER’S FIRST DAY.  There were cupcakes, stories about dueling cupcake trucks and sea monster sightings, and of course, readings. All three of our new books are funny and goofy, which is why I laughed when I saw this photo my daughter took of us signing…

Don’t we look awfully serious to be signing books about talking sea monsters and boys who dress up as girls to sell cupcakes?

My daughter and I arrived way early for the event, so we walked around the Shelburne Farmers Market a bit and ran into author friend Linda Urban, who had the same idea to do a little shopping before she headed over to Flying Pig.

Linda’s next middle grade novel, HOUND DOG TRUE, comes out in September, and it’s a funny, wonderful, heartfelt book that’s going to absolutely delight fans of her first one,  A CROOKED KIND OF PERFECT.  We had a chance to talk a little about our works-in-progress, too, which is always fun.

Many thanks to Elizabeth and Josie and the staff of Flying Pig… to these brave book lovers who were game to pose with our silly summer shades for a photo…

…and to everyone who came out to make the event so much fun.  It was a great way to celebrate Jeremy Bender, Marty McGuire, and Ernest the Sea Monster… and a great reminder that summer is for reading!

I always feel a little giddy when I’m going to visit the Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, VT.  It’s one of those indie bookstores that’s just so special. You know it the minute you walk in the door and see how the store is arranged. Tons of books are face-out for browsing, and there are places to sit and look through them while you decide which one needs to go home with you.  Kids clearly come first here, though there’s a great variety of grown-up books, too. On top of that, owners Josie and Elizabeth and their staff always know what book to recommend, whether it’s for my teenaged son, my mom’s book club, or my daughter, who’s read almost everything. They always find the perfect book.

So I’d recommend you visit Flying Pig pretty much any day you can.  But I’d especially love it if you could visit for this:

A Family Celebration of Cupcakes, Frogs, Sea Monsters, Secret Plots, and Good Friends!

Flying Pig Bookstore – Saturday, July 9th at 11 am

Eric Luper and I will read at a joint author event, celebrating our latest books, Eric’s JEREMY BENDER VS. THE CUPCAKE CADETS, and my new chapter book, MARTY MCGUIRE, and picture book, SEA MONSTER’S FIRST DAY.  There will be a story time for the littlest book lovers, short readings and Q and A for slightly older kids, and cupcakes for all.

If you can’t make it but would like to order personalized, signed copies of any of our books, just call Flying Pig at 802-985-3999 by Friday to place your order. (Shameless self-promotion note: SEA MONSTER’S FIRST DAY would be a great first-day-of-school gift for your favorite student or teacher!)

And here’s a link to the Facebook Event page – if you know Vermont families who might enjoy a morning of books & treats, please share the link!

Hope to see some of you this weekend!

My blog has been quiet this past week or so because we were traveling – enjoying a week at the beach in Gloucester, MA in a giant rental house with my extended family. It was a totally work-free week for me, with the exception of answering an email or two.  My usual blogging and tweeting gave way to sea glass and sand dollars, huge family dinners and frisbee, long walks in the morning fog and afternoon sun, and  a whale watch.

This humpback whale is a familiar one to the crew on our boat. They know him as “Sedge” and recognize him by an old fin injury they can see when he surfaces while feeding.  Seeing the whales so close to the boat was absolutely awe-inspiring.

I’m home now, well-rested, well-fed, ready to finish up a revision on my 2012 Scholastic mystery…and also so very thankful for the time I had with my family this week.

Happy Fourth of July Weekend to you, whatever your plans!