Cross your fingers for me!

I mentioned this on my Facebook page but wanted to post it here, too--especially as I am trying to revitalize this blog (as an aside, I just saw somewhere that that blogging is the "Blockbuster video" of social media! Oh well, I guess I am just committed to dying forms of communication!). I have some super cool news!!

When the Sea Turned to Silver is a finalist for the EB White Read Aloud Award! I'm very honored, not only because this sticker is maybe the most awesome-looking of any of the awards but because it is chosen and given by independent booksellers. I love independent bookstores, my local ones  kind of become my second home. I was so devoted to my old indie bookstore that I had my launch party there even though I moved two hours away--and it was so completely worth it.

Unfortunately for me (but not the world), the competition is pretty stiff so I'm not going to get my hopes too high. Like they say at the Oscars, it's just an honor to be nominated!

my dumpling days

A couple of weeks ago, I ended my school visit year with a whirlwind. First, I rushed into NYC for for Book Expo America, where they were going to announce the winner of the EB White Award. We came early just so I could eat my favorite soup dumplings (now that I am writing "Dumpling Days," dumplings are on my mind quite a bit) at Joe Shanghai's:

Yum! Just as good as in China!

But it was in the middle of eating, that I realized that I forgot my lucky jade bracelet. Darn. I would have to go to the EB White event without.

Which was quite an event! My publisher, Little Brown, did me proud with big banners and signs:

What I thought was hilarious was that the publisher tried to encourage booksellers to meet the authors by printing their photos, to help recognition. However, they used my glamour shot author photo, which looks nothing like me! I imagine booksellers were confused.

After passing on the electric blue martinis, the festivities began with music and singing and ending with the announcement of the winner of the EB White Award which was...
not me.

The winner was The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z by the lovely Kate Messner(Congrats, Kate!). Oh well. I knew I was doomed when I forgot the jade bracelet.

But to drown my sorrows, afterwards for dinner we went for soup dumplings AGAIN! There is no disappointment that dumplings cannot comfort.


Then I was off to my last school visits of the year. The first one was in Ct, where there was a lovely welcome banner:

and a wonderful longtime fan, who brought me this photo of the first time we met:

which we retook: Isn't that neat? I can't tell you how much I love when readers grow up with my books. I'm going to start giving prizes away to kids that do this.

From there, we went to Upstate NY, just a couple hours away from where I grew up. I felt extremely welcome there, as well, because the first thing I saw was this craft activity the students had done with Dim Sum For Everyone!Isn't it neat? The students made their own dim sum cart and filled it with drawings of their favorite foods. And what was right on top? My favorite food!

A great way to end my school visit year and a good omen as I begin writing "Dumpling Days," don't you think?

wowee!

Hey look, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is on the shortlist of the EB White Read Aloud Awards! I'm especially excited about this because I think the sticker is especially awesome. Inspired by perhaps the #1 children's novel of all time, Charlotte's Web it is a thrill to think this sticker could decorate my book...though I won't get my hopes up too high. The other authors promise pretty stiff competition, including the the lovely and talented Kate Messner who coincidentally just blogged about my book today!