Move Over Tacos, We’ve Got Books!

Four writer friends and I gathered today at yummy (and healthy!) Seasons 52 in La Jolla, but our attention wasn’t on the awesome blackened mahi tacos the waiter set in front of us—it was on the gaggle of books these writers have just launched into the world.

Amazing nonfiction writer Kathleen Krull has two new ones out: What Was the March on Washington? and What Was the Boston Tea Party? Yet again, Kathy makes sure that little readers will learn a lot and have fun doing it. She signed copies for my sons, who think autographed copies are the bee’s knees. Kathleen’s husband, writer/illustrator Paul Brewer was there celebrating along with us.

The lovely picture book author and former librarian Helen Foster James takes us on a journey from China to America with Paper Son: Lee’s Journey to America, in the Tales of Young Americans Series. It’s stunningly illustrated by Wilson Ong. Not only did Helen autograph a copy for me—she dedicated the book to me and the others in our writers lunch group. How cool is that?!

And my longtime pal Jean Ferris rocked with me a copy of Thrice Upon a Marigold, the third Marigold book. Those of you who’ve read my book Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies know how much I love the first two Marigold books and Jean’s clever sense of humor. My boys have been waiting as anxiously as I for this third volume. Of course, signed copy there!

My nightly bedtime reading session with the boys may be a tough one tonight as we decide which book to start with. What a wonderful problem to have!