Why I *Heart* Kids Heart Authors Day

What started with an idea Tweet from author Mitali Perkins turned into quite a party this morning, when authors and kids and parents gathered at independent bookstores all over the country.  I spent an amazing morning at Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, Vermont.

Flying Pig co-owner Elizabeth Bluemle had the kids laughing out loud as she shared her two picture books MY FATHER THE DOG and DOGS ON THE BED.

Tanya Lee Stone was there with her upcoming release ALMOST ASTRONAUTS. (I’ll be curled up with my copy in front of the fireplace shortly!)

I also met Ann Cardinal, a contributor to the anthology SISTER CHICAS, but Flying Pig was such a bustling place today that Ann had disappeared by the time I went to find her to snap her photo after the signing.    I did manage to catch Ray Montgomery and Shannon Gilligan, though.  That was a special treat, since I grew up on Ray’s CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE series, which has just been released again. 

Meeting kids at an event like this is always a joy, but every once in a while, something happens to make the day extra special.  Today, that "something" was courtesy of my new friend Madison, a fifth grader who came by to meet me and show me HER first published work — a review of my Lake Champlain historical novel CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE that she wrote and had accepted for publication in the KidsVT family newspaper!

Madison and I made a deal….  I signed a copy of my other historical novel, SPITFIRE, for her, and she signed a copy of KidsVT for me!  She’s a talented young woman writes her own stories as well as book reviews, and I have no doubt she’ll have a book on these shelves some day, too.

Thanks to Elizabeth and Josie at Flying Pig, along with Mitali and Deborah Sloan for making this awesome event happen.  It was a great morning, absolutely full of book-magic.  I hope your Valentine’s Day was wonderful, too!

Kids Heart Authors Day in Vermont!

Who loves books?

Who loves independent booksellers?

If you’re waving your hand wildly now, I’m right there with you, and here’s one of many reasons why.  When my husband and I walked into Flying Pig  Bookstore a few weeks before Christmas, we were, as usual, trying to fit too many errands into a couple hours.  Josie, one of the fabulous owners, quickly plucked book suggestions off the shelves for everyone on our list.  Really, really perfect suggestions.  Like this one…

…which had my usually very serious 12-year-old son laughing hysterically and reading passages aloud nonstop for two days.  After we bought our books,  she reminded us what time our favorite computer store closed and told us where she thought we should eat dinner after we finished shopping.  (She sent us here, and it was amazing.)

That’s a pretty unique retail experience in this 21st century world of ours, and it’s one for which I’m thankful.  That’s why I’m spending this Valentine’s Day participating in Kids Heart Authors Day at Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne from 10:00-noon.  I’ll be signing copies of my two Lake Champlain historical novels, SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE and sharing some related food and artifacts (hardtack and powder horns, anyone?). 

Fantastic authors like Elizabeth Bluemle, Tanya Lee StoneAnn Cardinal, Shannon Gilligan, and Ray Montgomery  are signing books as well.  And I hope you’ll be there, too – if  not at  Flying Pig, then at your local indie.  Click here for a full list of participating bookstores!