This summer has delivered some super fun author experiences, which I’d love to share with you! In June, I had the opportunity to share DANCING WITH DADDY, illustrated by Ziyue Chen, with the patrons of Batavia Public Library in a cool hybrid event.
After I chatted a bit about story inspiration and read DANCING WITH DADDY, the families present and I talked about recognizing and honoring all forms of communication. Then Fox Valley Therapy Dog Club took the stage, shaking paws and winning hearts, followed by a representative from Project Mobility, who shared about their mission, which is to make sure that everyone who wants to ride a bike has the equipment to do so.
It was awesome and serendipitous to see and hear from Project Mobility because our family had JUST participated in their annual fundraiser Everybody Rides in St. Charles, Ill. We are big fans of the org, as they built a trike for our oldest daughter, which she uses all the time. (Here we are, after our rainy ride!)
After the hybrid community event, I lingered to have some fun with the fabulous librarians of Batavia Public Library. They have a must-follow TikTok account and let me sneak into a few videos! In one TikTok, I went into the stacks to find DANCING WITH DADDY and sign the library’s copy. And in another, the librarians interviewed me about DANCING WITH DADDY, as well as my next picture book WILLOW AND BUNNY, illustrated by Christopher Denise. It pubs Oct. 10 of this year and is available for pre-order… yay!
Speaking of WILLOW AND BUNNY!
June also brought a trip into Chicago for a signing of WILLOW AND BUNNY at the 2023 ALA (American Library Association) Conference. Imagine thousands of books, hundreds of librarians, and dozens of authors and illustrators. As an author who has watched ALA through social media posts over the years, it was an absolute dream come true to be invited to be in the room and host a signing.
Thank you, Two Lions!
ALA was at McCormick Place this year - just a train ride away - and filled with lots of firsts, including a delicious family dinner with editors and authors of Two Lions (the publisher of DANCING WITH DADDY and WILLOW AND BUNNY). At dinner, I got to chat with one of my absolute favorite illustrators, Raissa Figueroa - an incredible storyteller, who burst onto the publishing scene a few years ago and is 100 percent as delightful as her luminous, vibrant work!
Then the very next day, I had my first ALA book signing! I got a lil bit fancy (Thank you, Hyatt Regency, for the curling iron!!), then headed down to the floor - such an exciting feeling!
Our midday signing was attended by libraries from around the country - Texas, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, to name a few. Alhough I urged Christopher to please sign first and take up as much room as possible (his art in WILLOW AND BUNNY is deserving of every inch of signing space!), he encouraged a 50/50 split, and I’m still not sure that feels quite right!
I am so deeply honored to have shared this gorgeous book, signing table and ALA moment with such a singular artist and human. Huge congratulations to Christopher, who just a few hours after our signing accepted his Caldecott Honor for KNIGHT OWL in the kidlit version of the Oscars!
Here are a few more signing pics, to convince myself I didn’t dream this moment - there are photos to prove it was real. Yellow nail polish was required :o)
At ALA, I also got to hang with my longtime critique partner Clothilde Ewing, who was there for her signing of STELLA AND THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING TOOTH at the Simon & Schuster booth, and give a hug to my dear friend Chaz Baechler, who was there to attend breakout sessions on behalf of Geneva Public Library.
And, while on the floor - and right before my signing - I had to sneak away to enter the orbit of picture book legend Marla Frazee, if but for just a few moments! Absolutely every book she makes is magic and her latest, IN EVERY LIFE, is no exception.
Thanks for reading!! It was a surreal weekend, and this scrapbook of moments truly helps me process it - I'm so grateful for every second spent in the company of these friends - brand new and beloved, both. I think 2023 is going to be a very special year and can’t wait to share more soon!