Hello friends! I cannot believe it, but in less than one month, my debut picture book DANCING WITH DADDY will be available everywhere…
December 1st!
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported my story. Pre-ordering a book is one of the most amazing things that you can do for an author. (It demonstrates interest in your title and impacts marketing efforts.) And I’m beyond grateful for your generosity and extraordinary kindness!
A few weeks ago, I received my author copies of DANCING WITH DADDY, which I got to open with my girls. That was so surreal! Somehow, illustrator Ziyue Chen’s art is even more beautiful and vibrant in the final format - simply stunning. I’m so grateful that she said YES to illustrating Elsie and her story!
The past few weeks have brought some super fun developments! I got the chance to share DANCING WITH DADDY at an event with the Rising Lights Project at Geneva Commons…
At the AISLE conference in Champaign, IL, I presented DANCING WITH DADDY to Illinois librarians and educators and got to spend time with fellow Illinois author friends! And - to my shock and complete delight - DANCING WITH DADDY was included in a TODAY Show gift round up of 40 presents that every 6-year-old wants to unwrap this year! (What?!)
WILD, right? I can hardly believe any of it is real and am so excited for the fun that’s in store!
Now, there are three in-person events on the books for this winter - and one of them might be happening at a bookstore or shop near you!
Side note: If DANCING WITH DADDY would have come out in 2020 (as originally planned), none of these events would have been possible. God’s timing is the BEST timing, always. Here are the book events that are, well, on the books!
December 4 — Geneva IL
December 23 — Sullivan IL
March 27 — Omaha NE
The details on this one are TBD, but save the date for a book reading and signing event at The Bookworm bookstore in Omaha, NE, on March 27. Omaha friends, if you have already purchased DANCING WITH DADDY, thank you SO much! If you haven’t, but plan to, it would be awesome if you waited (weird, I know!) and purchased at this March 27 event. I would love for The Bookworm to feel the love!
In the midst of planning book launch fun, we are also full steam ahead on Holiday Book Drive Chi, Year 5! On Dec. 14, Pastor Michael Neal of Leading with Literacy and I will be visiting schools on Chicago’s South Side to deliver book joy!
We have collected 500 books so far and would love to reach last year’s 700 book total. If you are able to give new books, or make a financial donation toward the purchase of new books, please reach out and let me know! To see all of the books donated so far - which would make for great gifts this holiday season! - visit the official 2021 Holiday Book Drive Chi page HERE!
Book friends on Twitter: You can follow along with the Drive via my account (@anitraschulte) and by following the Twitter hashtag #HolidayBookDriveChi!
Donations will be accepted through Dec. 1, 2021. On Delivery Day, we will bring books to schools all over Bronzeville and in other nearby Chicago neighborhoods to share the gift of literacy.
Thank you for your friendship and partnership. Let’s make this a holiday full of JOY again in 2021!