GENEVA WOMEN'S BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

It has been a fun week but I am ready to just hang out and write for a while! On Wednesday, May 14th I was invited to speak at Wine Country Bookstore at the Geneva Women's Business Association. The ladies were all excited about the book and how it came about. Unfortunately my picture of them didn't turn out, but here is a peek at the interior of Wine Country Books. (PSST. It's for sale - a turn-key operation opportunity any book lover would be crazy not to check out.)

HARRISON ELEMENTARY VISIT

What fun I have had! I have to say that this bunch of kids (and their teachers) was very welcoming. There were signs all over the school welcoming me and dragonflies flying all over the walls! I met so many wonderful readers and budding writers. I loved all the cards that you made for me.

Thank you to Genni and Darlene for getting this event together. And thank you to the art teacher, Lyndsay Kaufman, for the most delicious and inspiring cookies I have eaten on my entire DragonFly Keeper tour. (check out the bottom right in the collage above. Yes! That is a cookie! I ate two but I had to take its picture before I devoured it.)

BARNES & NOBLE - CROCKERPARK

The next ten days should be a whirlwind. On Thursday I appeared at the Barnes & Noble in Westlake. Monday coming I will be at Harrison Elementary in Lakewood, Ohio. Tuesday I will address the Geneva Women's Business League at Wine Country Books. Thursday I will speak with the Writing Seminar students at Madison High School, and friday I will be visiting Spencer Elementary for Career Day. Then Wednesday the 21st, I will be signing books at Crooked River Bookstore in the Galleria downtown Cleveland. Quite a romp.

As for my website, I will be updating it soon, never fear. For now, however, you can follow along with the blog.

Another great piece of news: The DragonFly Keeper has been chosen as an alternate read for KENT STATE UNIVERSITY'S ENGLISH FESTIVAL 2009!

For all of you out there browsing the internet and reading this, I hope you return to some great reading when you are through. Presently I am reading a few books. The Emperor's children by Claire Messud is about a group of thirty-somethings floundering amid 2001 New York society. While it took me a little to get used to Messud's style of constantly breaking up her thoughts in the middle with asides, the very Henry Jamesiness of the characters and their exchanges is building up nicely.

Until next time (soon!)

BUDDING READERS AT WALDENBOOKS

This past Saturday, April 26th, I met many new readers from ages 3 to 83. I am glad that The DragonFly Keeper has found a home in the hearts of such a wide range. Writing it felt like an adventure, and I'm happy to share that with others. There are other books coming, but these next few months are filled with visits and signings. If you are reading this, and I haven't met you yet, I hope to get a chance to soon.

Thursday from 6-8pm, May 8th I will be at Barnes and Noble in Westlake. Then Monday the 12th I will be at Lakewood Elementary, Tuesday the 13th at noon at Wine Country Books in Geneva again for a meeting of the Geneva Business Women, and then Friday, May 16th at Spencer School in Geneva.

Have a great week!

ON THE CIRCUIT

At Madison Public Library's "Books and Cooks" April 16th

My pal Annette Sheldon with her book at "Books and Cooks"

Ninth Grade college bound students at Geneva High April 14th

The past ten days have been filled with more bookings and visits. I was at Madison Public Library April 16th for "Books and Cooks." I sold my book and sauce from the restaurant and met the family of a long lost friend (Hi Nina!). On April 14th I visited the new Geneva High School and was able to speak with the creative writing class and college bound ninth graders.



Coming up, I will be at Waldenbooks in the Ashtabula Mall this Saturday, April 26th from 2-4. On May 8th, I will be at the Barnes and Noble in Westlake for the book fair of St. Mary of the Falls school. Then on the 12th, I will head out to an elementary school in Lakewood for another book fair. Then, I will be at Spencer May 16th for Career day. On May 21st, Wednesday, I will be at Crooked River Bookstore in the Galleria, downtown Cleveland from 11:30 until 1:30. I hope to see some new faces!

CREATIVE READING BELOW

I am doing all of this myself and obviously I am learning. I can't for the life of me figure out how to fix the crazy layout below. Believe me, I'm going for simple is best for the next entry!

I'M BACK ON-LINE!!

I am an author. But just so you realize that I don't just sit around all day and sip tea (I do like tea) and put my feet up, I included a picture of what my three kids, Giuseppe, Violetta and Dionisio were up to on that one nice day we had last week. Now try to imagine being the one who has to put all three in the shower at the same time to try to make tee-ball practice in time.

Here is the first grade at Assumption. Giuseppe, my son, is the budding Elvis on the drums. (I'm not kidding about the Elvis thing. Elvis is his hero.)

On Friday I went to Assumption School's bookfair. Here I am lounging with my book. What you don't see is Dionisio, my son, running around loose creating havoc.

Ok, so I don't know how to rotate these pictures. Just tilt your head a bit to the left and then the right and you will be O.K. Here is the winning picture at Red Bird Elementary's book cover contest. Thank you Gabrielle for choosing mine!

Here are some other artists who (with excellent taste) decided to use my book as the subject of their latest creations at Red Bird.

Here I am at Red Bird Elementary in Madison, Ohio turning middle schoolers into a band with African instruments. They were a great crowd.
I couldn't believe their enthusiasm for my book and reading in general!

Here I am with my groupie niece Anna at the Border's signing April 4th. She has been to 100% of my bookstore signings so far!

Hello everyone! Sorry it's been a while since my last blog. It turns out I came home and crashed after my signing at Wine Country Books with strep throat and a sinus infection. I had to lay low for a while. But here are some more pictures from Wine Country above.