Rajani LaRocca's Blog, page 35
September 6, 2019
My Next Middle Grade Novel!!
I’m absolutely delighted to announce that Yellow Jacket/Little Bee Books will publish my next middle grade novel, MUCH ADO ABOUT BATTING!
A companion novel to MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, the story is also set in the town of Comity, Massachusetts and follows Trish and Ben, 12-year-old math competition rivals who find themselves on the same summer baseball team, and have to set aside their dislike of each other, eat unusual savory snacks, and solve mysterious math puzzles to help their team win. Unfortunately, they also seem to cause a great deal of confusion and calamity. I can’t wait for everyone to read this book in summer 2021!
September 2, 2019
Teachers and Classmates
Even though I’ve been out of school for quite some time, the start of a new school year still inspires anticipation and excitement. My own kids are eager to start new classes, connect with teachers, and see their classmates again. We’re a little sad that summer is over, but we’re also kind of glad to get back to our routines.
This past year, I’ve met some new classmates myself. We weren’t in school together, though; we’ve been navigating the roller coaster of debut year, and I couldn’t have done it without my fellow 2019 middle grade debut authors.
I’ve already written about meeting a group of friends at a retreat at the Highlights Foundation last November, before any of our books had published. These authors are still among my closest writing friends! This summer, I was also lucky enough to travel to the west coast, North Carolina, Cape Cod, and Chicago to do book events with more MG debut authors, and these have been some of the best experiences I’ve ever had—as an author, and as a person. We had such fun sharing book love, meals, and lots of laughter. I’m wowed by my fellow authors’ brilliance and generosity, and I’ve learned so much from them.
In honor of the start of school, and the educators who put so much of themselves into teaching kids, I am thrilled to announce a HUGE giveaway!
I am giving away THREE copies of MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM and THREE copies of the audiobook CD (which, I will tell you, is FANTASTIC!) to SIX lucky teachers!!
Even more exciting…TWENTY of my fellow MG debut authors are generously giving away copies of their books! Just look at this incredible collection of books by Rebecca Balcarcel, Chris Baron, Gabrielle K. Byrne, Jennifer Camiccia, Meg Cannistra, Malayna Evans, Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo, Josh Levy, Jody Little, Kim Long, Gillian McDunn, Nicole Melleby, Nicole Panteleakos, Sofiya Pasternack, Jess Redman, Gail Shepherd, Sandy Stark-McGinnis, Karen Strong, Wendy Swore, and Nicole Valentine!! I am honored to be debuting with this fantastic group of authors and their magnificent books!
There will be a whopping TWENTY-SIX winners, so educators, please enter and tell your friends!!
August 12, 2019
Fun in the Windy City!!
I visited Chicago for two fantastic MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM events! First, a panel at beautiful Anderson’s Bookshop Downers Grove with awesome fellow MG authors, Karla Manternach, Malayna Evans, and Niki Lenz and moderated by Kim Long! I got to catch up with high school and college friends as well as Pitch Wars classmate Reese Eschmann, whose MG debut is coming in 2021! The next day, I headed over to 57th Street Books, where I got to hang out with Reese and fellow Pitch Wars authors Layne Fargo and Mia Manansala!!
August 8, 2019
Mayhem on Cape Cod!
I went to Cape Cod for TWO fantastic MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM events in the same evening! First, I visited the picture-perfect Eight Cousins Books with fellow MG authors Susan Tan and Jennifer Blecher, where we had a lively discussion and played my new favorite game, “That’s My Book!” where the lovely bookseller read quotes from our books and others. Next, I headed to the Marstons Mills Public Library with Susan, Kate Conway, MarcyKate Connolly, and Jim Hill, where we talked about writing with some awesome teen writers. There really is nothing better than Cape Cod in the summer!
August 4, 2019
SECRETS AND MAYHEM at An Unlikely Story!!
I was thrilled to visit the absolutely spectacular An Unlikely Story bookstore with my friend and incredible author, Erin Dionne!! We ate yummy food (including some double-chocolate malted milk cookies I brought), talked about our books and the writing life, and answered questions from the fantastic crowd! I also got to see fellow Soaring20sPB debut author Abi Cushman!!
July 29, 2019
nErDCamp NC 2019!!
I had an absolutely fantastic time in Charlotte, NC at nErDCamp NC!! I loved connecting with educators and other authors alike, and learning from and participating in some fantastic discussions!
July 28, 2019
Park Road Books Panel!
I had a marvelous time at Park Road Books with fellow authors Amalie Jahn, Jodie Zdrock, Nicole Panteleakos, Gillian McDunn, Malayna Evans, Mariama Lockington, and Gail Shepherd!!
July 27, 2019
Heck YA Book Fest at Main Street Books!
I was so fortunate to attend the Heck YA Book Fest at Main Street Books in Davidson, NC! In this celebration of book joy, authors participated in fascinating discussions on panels. The event culminated with a massive book signing!! I had such an amazing time with fellow authors Gillian McDunn, Nicole Panteleakos, Karen Strong, Mariama Lockington, Malayna Evans, Gail Shepherd, Alicia Wiliams, Amalie Jahn, Jodie Zdrock, Mason Deaver, Carrie Ryan, Megan Miranda, and Amber Smith!
July 21, 2019
MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM Event at Tatnuck Bookseller!
I had a fantastic time at beautiful Tatnuck Bookseller, which is an beautiful and enormous store, complete with a cafe! We had baked goods and air conditioning on a hot summer’s day. I caught up with some friends, and met a twin pair of new MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM fans!
July 19, 2019
nErDCamp SoCal!!
In the final leg of my summer west coast tour, I met up with incredible kids, educators and authors in Torrance, CA at the inaugural nErDCamp SoCal! On the first day, July 18, many authors did workshops with kids at Camp Nerdling! The second day was the nErDCamp, where authors and educators shared ideas and books honestly and openly. Both days were extremely well-organized, and I learned so much!! It didn’t hurt that I was surrounded by old friends and new, including Chris Baron, Hayley Barrett, Jennifer Camiccia, Danielle Davis, e. E. Charlton-Trujillo, Andrea Loney, Marcie Colleen, and fellow Soaring20sPB debuts Kirsten Larson and Colleen Paeff! It also helped that we were on the campus of breathtaking Torrance High School, where Buffy and 90210 were filmed!! It really felt like California dreaming!!
