Kate Messner's Blog, page 51

GIANNA Z. Launch Chapter 1: In which I hug friends, sign books, and eat too much candy corn

Yesterday's launch party for THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. at Flying Pig Books was...well...it was the stuff launch party dreams are made of.  So many kids, teachers, readers, and friends, along with a great place for a party -- the beautiful, light-filled Flying Pig Loft.  We got there early to set up...





We had a drawing for a free school/library presentation.  (Mrs. Althoff, congratulations!  My son drew your name out of the bag.  I'll email you today so we can start figuring out the detai...

Morning Radio Interviews for THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.

I left the house before the sun came up this morning...



...saw it peeking over the horizon halfway through my ferry ride...



...and then arrived here for a series of morning radio interviews on my new middle grade novel, THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.  



WOKO-FM is the number one radio station in the Burlington market, but more than that,  WOKO and sister stations KOOL-105 and WJOY are  made up of a bunch of the nicest people you'll ever meet.  These stations do so much for our Champlain Valley ...

So what did you do on your book's release day?

First things first this morning...and that's a HUGE thank you for all the good wishes on THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.'s official launch yesterday.  I am so, so grateful for my family and friends, including this amazing community of writers I know mostly online.

Next, a few updates and bits of news on GIANNA Z.
For Boston-area folks, I'll be at Newtonville Books at 2pm on Saturday, September 19th for a reading, Q and A, tree identification activities for kids, and book signing. I've heard...

Twas the Night Before Book Launch...

Tomorrow is release day for THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.   One of the bloggers who interviewed me this week asked about my plans for the big day...September first.  My mind raced...

I'm supposed to have plans for the release date?  Well...I guess I'll probably get up and have coffee.  Wait...are we out of creamer? I think we're out of creamer. Need creamer. Let's see...what else...? I did get my new sneakers, finally, so I'll probably go running.  And hey...September first is a Tuesday, right?

Heading off Book Challenges

There have been some excellent discussions online lately about student choice in school reading programs and how schools and parents should work together to provide those choices.  I keep a huge variety of books -- both MG and YA titles -- in my 7th grade classroom library.  I give book talks, and every day, I make the teachers' version of hand sales to my student customers, recommending new titles based on the last thing a student read and loved.  Our school library, which has seen a huge incre

Smells Like Fall in the Mountains

With just a week left before the kids and I head back to school, we've been getting in our "one lasts" this week.  One last bike ride to get Italian ice at the stand downtown. One last walk to the beach with friends visiting their grandparents across the street.  And one last trip to Copperas Pond, one of our favorite short hikes in the Adirondacks, ending with a gorgeous, clear mountain swimming hole.  But it turns out, the mountain started autumn already, while nobody was looking...



Quick-movin

How They Got Here: 2009 Debut Author Jackson Pearce

Celebrating another book birthday today! 

Today, AS YOU WISH, a novel for teens written by Jackson Pearce and published by Harper Collins makes it way into the world. Here's what it's about, courtesy of Jackson, who is also the founder of the 2009 Debutantes, a group of debut writers for kids and young adults.

Seven months ago, Viola's boyfriend shared a secret that ended their relationship. Heartbroken, Viola has resigned herself to near invisibility, until she inadvertently summons a young jinn

Where I'll be this fall (and how to get a signed book even if you're not there!)

First things first...a "virtual book signing" for anyone who wants a personalized, signed copy of THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z but can't make it to an event...

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Josie and Elizabeth and the other awesome booksellers at Flying Pig Bookstore are making it possible for everybody to attend our launch party in spirit, if not in person.  If you can't make it to one of my events listed below but would like a personalized, signed book for yourself or for holiday gifts, we're having a "virtual book signin

Meet Ernest McSeamonster (coming from Chronicle Books in 2011!)

Okay...so this isn't really Ernest. 

This is one of the many local tributes to Lake Champlain's resident monster, Champ. And the reason I am looking so happy and grateful is because my agent sold my new picture book to Chronicle Books.  ERNEST McSEAMONSTER WANTS TO GO HOME, the story of an unhappy seamonster's first day in a new school (of fish), is tentatively scheduled for publication in spring/early summer of 2011. 

For those of you who write and like long stories with happy endings, the vers

Book trailer for THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z

THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z will be out two weeks from today! If you're a Vermonter, please mark Saturday, September 5th on your calendar if you can make it to the launch party at the fabulous Flying Pig Bookstore at 11am. We'll have the usual reading & book signing, along with Nonna's wedding cookies, the Great Tree Identification Challenge for Kids. Teachers & librarians present can enter a drawing to win a drawing for a free school or library presentation, so spread the word to your teac