THE FORBIDDEN FLATS was released!

Want to know what is a good clue that you might have overbooked events, school visits, and speaking engagements? When you don't even have a moment to blog about your book releasing!

Seriously, though? I've had a ton of presentations to write.

Seriously, though? I've loved every single speaking engagement.

What's a girl to do? I don't know. I keep thinking I'll learn something from this carzy-packed stretch of conferences, literacy events, school visits, launches, events, and library functions. I just haven't figured out what that something is.

Let's recap, shall we?

First off, THE FORBIDDEN FLATS released last Tuesday! And the paperback of SKY JUMPERS released the same day!

Having a double release calls for a double launch party, yes? Okay, in reality, no. But it was pretty fun, and that's what really matters. ;) My first one was at the King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City on Tuesday:

Okay, I've been to dozens and dozens of launch parties at the King's English, but never done my own there. Being the person up at the front: surreal.

And then I had one at my favorite library on Thursday.

I spoke for a few minutes in the auditorium, then gave away a lot of Sky Jumpers swag.

Then we moved into the big open area, where there were tons of games, made uberly awesome by my talented and creative assistant, Kristine (above). Having activities for kids at a book launch for a children's book is a huge plus! It gave all the kids something to do while all the parents waited in line.

These were just a few of the extremely helpful (and so adorable!) kids who ran the activities, all ready and waiting for me to go speak in the other room, so that they could show the hordes of kids a great night. They were awesome!

And of course, we had cookies! Lots and lots and lots of cookies. Over 600 of them.

These are the posters that the lovely librarians made and hung up all over the library.

And the King's English came loaded with boxes of books, and stayed until the end. Have I mentioned how much I love them?

Add in six school visits last week (OHMYGOSH, MY FAVORITE THING TO DO EVER), a reception for the Utah Book Award (woot!) and a library literacy event (so fun!), and it was a rather exhaustingly exciting week.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go prepare some workshop presentations that some schools I'm visiting later this week have requested. And then a joint presentation I'm doing with another author. And then another I'm giving to librarians.

I swear there's a lesson on overscheduling in there somewhere. And I know I'm going to find it soon...

I hope you have the most fantastic of weeks! Mwah!

Utah peeps: Two fabulous events!

Tomorrow, Saturday May 31, Adam Sidwell is having the launch party for his picture book, FETCH. He has invited me and Chad Morris (CRAGBRIDGE HALL series) to come sign books and join in the general mayhem that is.....

BUBBLE BALLS!

Seriously, check this out-- Adam has asked Utah Bubble Balls to provide these fun things for everyone's enjoyment:



Fun, no? If you're in the area, bring the family! Come throwdown with us! It's at the Lindon Community Center (25 North Main Street Lindon, UT) from 10:00 a.m. - noon.

And then, this next Tuesday, June 3, from 3:00-6:00, I'll be at the North Logan Library for their annual summer kickoff party. This party is SO INCREDIBLY AWESOME that something like 4,500 people come each year, and there is more than enough fun stuff for everyone to do. They have a plethora of bounce houses, free snow cones, and prize drawings with really, really good prizes (seriously good-- like a GoPro, a PS4, and a Boat Rental at Bear Lake). They'll also have an author's tent where people could meet their favorite writers and get a book signed.

If you've never gone to this library before, and are wondering if they are really cool enough to make it worth however far you have to travel, here's a video of a different activity (not the summer kickoff one) that'll convince you that this library knows how to have fun.



If you're near either event, I'd love to see you!

2014 Events!

It looks like for the most part (except for some signings and another one or two events I'm still waiting to hear about), my 2014 events are planned! I'm incredibly excited for this coming year, because I'm going to get the opportunity to participate in some events that I've never been to before, and go to some that I've been to and love. Here's the (mostly) complete list (and, of course, all of these are on my Find Me in Person tab at the top):

January-February 
• Lots and lots of school visits. My favorite. :)

January 28
• Book signing at the Orem Public Library in Orem, Utah at 7:00 pm, in the Ship's Cove in the children's area.

February 13-15
• Life the Universe and Everything in Provo, Utah. I'll be on panels (TBA) and part of the group book signing. Have you ever been before? It's a three day symposium attended by around 1300 people, (so of course there are tons of workshops and panels on a huge variety of subjects), and is only $45 for all three days. Even though that seems like an insanely low price, no-- that wasn't a typo.

March 8
• Teen Author Boot Camp at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. I will be teaching a class titled “When ideas are stuck in your head and they can’t find their way out” at 10:10, I'll be on a panel for junior high writers at 2:40, then signing books at 5:20.

March 22
• Writing for Charity: Provo City Library, Utah. This is a one day conference at a great price, the proceeds benefit charity, and will be many kinds of awesome. I'll be doing critiques, be on a handful of panels throughout the day, and participate in a mass book signing at 4:00. I'll post more about this as everything gets finalized. It will definitely be worth looking into!

March 24
• Davis County School District’s Family Literacy Night: Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah. I will be doing workshops, then signing books. This is a family event.

April 8-11
• Texas Library Association's annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. More details to come. I'm kind of sort of insanely excited about this one. I'll also be doing some school visits and a signing in Texas with the ever awesome Polly Holyoke while I'm down there. 

April 17-19
• Salt Lake Comic Con FanXperience: Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. More info TBA. (Side note: Last year's SLCC was the first, and it blew records out of the water. This year, they're expecting attendance to top an unbelievable 100,000. It sounds like it's going to be a blast!)

April 25-26
• LDStorymakers Writing Conference: Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah. I'm kind of in love with this conference. I'll be doing two presentations on writing middle grade– “The Parent Problem in Middle Grade” at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, and “Getting Inside the Head of a Middle Grade Kid” at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. I will also be a boot camp instructor on Thursday, and will be part of the mass book signing on Saturday.

April 30-May 2
• Utah Library Association's Annual Conference at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy, Utah. More details to come.

May 6
• I'll be attending the book launch for Jessie Humphries' KILLING RUBY ROSE in Las Vegas, Nevada. Woot!

June 26- July 1
• American Library Association's annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. More details to come.

August 21
• Professional Writers Series: The Pleasant Grove Public Library in Pleasant Grove, UT. I'll be moderating and participating on a panel about writing for the middle grade audience. I'm thrilled to be doing the panel with Jennifer A. Neilsen (The False Prince trilogy), and an unconfirmed but amazing third panelist.

September 25
• The Forbidden Flats Launch Party! More details to come.

October 16-18
• And I think I may be going to the Vegas Valley Book Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. Details to come.

Do you have any fun writerly events planned this year? Will I get to see you at any of these?

Two Awesome Things

I am absolutely thrilled about two things today.

First, I got an email yesterday from my editor saying that SKY JUMPERS was chosen as one of the New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing! It may have made me cry. Possibly more than once. Guys... People like Neil Gaiman are on the list. And I-- I-- Okay, do you know what? We need to change the subject, or I just might cry again.

How about let's change it to free stuff, just in time for Christmas?

At the League of Extraordinary Writers, we are having a HUGE year end celebration, where we are giving away some amazing books and swag from incredibly talented writers. People like Beth Revis, Lissa Price, Elana Johnson, Genn Albin, Mindy McGinnis, Lydia Kang, Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner, Lenore Appelhans, Bethany Hagen, Angie Smibert, Susanne Winnacker, E.C. Myers, Elizabeth Richards and me. FOUR PACKAGES of prizes total!

Come over to the League to see all the awesome and to enter. Best of luck to you all!

Infographic that will help you find your next kids book

Noodle teamed up with the New York Public Library’s Youth Materials Collections Specialist, Betsy Bird, to create this infographic on the best children's books of 2013. Pretty incredible, no?

Brought to you by: Noodle.org