Rajani LaRocca's Blog, page 24

MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL ARCs Arrive!

I’m at my goofiest here opening a package full of ARCs of my forthcoming MG novel, MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL, coming June 15, 2021 from Little Bee Books! This companion novel to MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM involves math, baseball, magic, and salty snacks. You can learn more and find preorder links here.

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE on the KidLit These Days Podcast’s Most Anticipated of 2021 List!

I was thrilled to hear Matthew Winner and Nicole Young mention RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE as one of their most anticipated books of 2021 on Book Riot’s KidLit These Days Podcast! Click on this link, or listen below!

Goodbye, 2020!

Last year, I chose a theme word for 2020 using this word generator and got “infinite.” Here’s what I said looking ahead to 2020:

We are infinite as creators, and as humans. There’s no telling what we can do through courage, hard work, and perseverance.

So that’s what I’d like to do in 2020: embrace the infinite. Set lofty goals and push myself to be the best writer, doctor, mother, wife, and person I can be. My family has a lot of life milestones to celebrate next year, and I’d love to celebrate more publishing milestones as well.

How did I do?

Well, as we all know, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into everything for everyone. As a doctor, it changed my job in ways I couldn’t have imagined. And as an author, things changed as well: after traveling a lot in January through early March, all book events were either canceled or changed to virtual. Book releases were delayed.

But you know what? Despite fear, division, and loneliness, we have persevered, worked together and survived this terrible year. This year proved to me that people are infinitely resilient. My family celebrated our milestones, and I still got to engage in lots of bookish activities.

My debut picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, published on October 27, 2020!

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I had a fantastic virtual book launch with family and friends from across the country.

This year, I once again got to collaborate with fellow authors, made new friends, and reconnected with old ones. I attended (virtual) workshops and conferences and filled my creative well. I Zoomed, Flip-gridded, and did virtual school visits. Best of all, I got to spend time with my family . . . way more time than I ever expected!

Oh, and I wrote a LOT and sold six books this year!

Here are some photos from this strange yet often strangely wonderful year:

So this year, when I tried the word generator, this is what I got:

And I think that’s fitting. Despite all we’ve been through this year, our stories go on.

So that’s my writing goal for 2021. To keep writing stories—for my readers, of course, but also for myself.

2020 has taught me to be grateful for every moment. And I’m really looking forward to 2021, because I have five books releasing! Here are the first three:

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a book of my heart, a middle grade novel in verse set in 1983 about 13-year-old Reha, the daughter of Indian immigrants who feels torn between the worlds of her parents and her friends. But then her mother falls ill, and she’s torn in a different way. It involves heritage and fitting in, science and poetry, 80s pop music and Hindu mythology, holding on and letting go. It will release from Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins on February 2, 2021.

BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS is a picture book about a girl who wants to make bracelets using patterns using beads for each of her three older brothers for the Indian holiday Raksha Bandhan. Part of Charlesbridge’s Storytelling Math series, it will release on April 20, 2021.

MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL will release from Yellow Jacket/Little Bee Books on June 15, 2021. A companion novel to my debut, MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, it’s about Trish and Ben, 12-year-old math competition rivals who end up on the same summer baseball team and need to work together  to help their team win.

What’s your word for 2021? Maybe give the word generator a try, and let me know! Whatever your word is, I wish you a safe, healthy year full of happiness and love . . . and, if we’re all fortunate, some travel.

In honor of the new year, I’m giving away preorders of RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE, BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS, AND MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL! There will be THREE lucky winners—one for each book! Enter below to win, and Happy New Year!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS Unboxing!

I got a special delivery from Charlesbridge Publishing, and it is so sweet! Check out the first finished copy of my forthcoming picture book, BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS, coming April 20, 2021!

A STAR from Booklist for RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE!!

I’m thrilled and honored that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has gotten a STARRED review from ALA Booklist! I’m so delighted that this book of my heart resonates in this way! The full review will be posted in January.

SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS on Betsy Bird’s List of 2020 Math Books for Kids!

I was thrilled to see SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS on this math-tacular list of 2020 Math Books for Kids on Betsy Bird’s School Library Journal Blog! The list also includes books from fellow Soaring20s members Christina Soontornvat and Carrie Finison! Read the whole post here.

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

I’m honored and thrilled to announce that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

It’s so wonderful that this book of my heart will be in libraries and classrooms across the country!

A Book Riot List of 20 Must-Read Picture Books from 2020!

I was thrilled to see SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS on this Book Riot List of 20 Must-Read Picture Books from 2020! There are so many beautiful books mentioned here, including ones from Nikki Grimes, Minh Le, Carole Lindstrom, Jamila Thompkins-Bigelow, and fellow Soaring20s PB authors Carrie Finison and Vicky Fang! Check out this list to find some perfect presents for little ones!

SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS in the Providence Journal!

I was thrilled to see this lovely review of SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS in the Providence Journal!

SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS at the Concord Museum’s Family Trees Exhibit!

Each year during the holiday season, the Concord Museum holds a Family Trees exhibit, where community members decorate trees and wreaths inspired by books from children’s literature.

And this year, for the 25th Annual Family Trees celebration, I was thrilled and honored that SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS was chosen as the inspiration for one of the trees! Take a look at the stunning decorations crafted by a local mom and daughter—they really capture the heart of the story! The exhibit is up until January 3 with timed entry and social distancing, so if you are local please consider visiting!