Announcements

UTAH CHILDREN'S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Announcement List—December 1, 2006

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CONGRATULATIONS!

To Randall Wright, who signed a contract for a picture book, GEEZER IN THE FREEZER, due out in Fall 2008, and to be illustrated by Thor Wickstrom.

To Jessica Day George, whose book DRAGON SLIPPERS has sold translation rights to Germany and France. The book will be out in May, 2006. 

To Mark and Cara Buehner, whose picture book SNOWMEN AT CHRISTMAS has returned to the NY Times Bestseller List.

To Sara Zarr, whose debut YA novel, STORY OF A GIRL (Little, Brown), will hit the shelves around the first week of January. Chris Crutcher calls it "...a hell of a good book" while Lael Littke says it's "rare and wonderful." Read more about what people are saying here: http://www.sarazarr.com/index.php?page_id=6. For some guidance on whether the book might be appropriate for your kids or your class, you can email Sara at sara@sarazarr.com. 

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NEW BOOKS

from Jeff Carney, THE ADVENTURES OF MICHAEL MACINNES (FSG), on October 13, 2006.

from Chris Crowe, The Center for Christian Values in Literature is publishing "How I Came to Write:" LDS Authors for Young Adults in December 2006.

from Gloria Skurzynski,VIRTUAL WAR CHRONOLOGS BOOK FOUR, THE CHOICE.

from Greg Swearingen, illustrator, FAIRY QUITE CONTRARY, a picture book by Mem Fox.

from Rick Walton, MERRY MAPS AND CHRISTMAS CLUES: 25 TREASURE HUNTS FOR THE SEASON, from Leatherworks.

From Sara Zarr, STORY OF A GIRL, Little, Brown, January 2007.

COMING SOON 

Spring 2007

from Jessica Day George, DRAGONSKIN SLIPPERS, from Bloomsbury. May, 2007.

from Mark and Cara Buehner, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS.

from Sherry Meidell, THE CENTAUR, written by May Swenson, from Utah State University Press.

from Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson, Night of the Black Bear, from National Geographic.

from Chris Crowe, Two Roads with Deseret Book.

from Chris Crowe, Teaching the Selected Works of Mildred D Taylor by Heinemann.

from Carol Williams, OH THE GAMES YOU CAN PLAY ON A CHECKERBOARD, from Gibbs Smith.

from Mike Tunnell, the sequel to WISHING MOON, MOON WITHOUT MAGIC, with Dutton.

Summer 2007

from Ann Dee Knight Ellis, THIS IS WHAT I DID, July.

from Nathan Hale, author/illustrator, THIEVES LIKE US, and YELLOWBELLY AND PLUM, from Putnam.

from Becky Hall, 1-2-3 COUNT WITH ME: A UTAH COUNTING BOOK, a pb, to Sleeping Bear Press.

from Becky Hall, THE BIOGRAPHY OF MORRIS FRANK, to Albert Whitman.

from Mette Harrison, THE PRINCESS AND THE HOUND, a fantasy YA, from Harper Eos.

from Carla Morris, THE BOY WHO WAS RAISED BY LIBRARIANS, a picture book, illustrated by Brad Sneed, from Peachtree.

from Danna Kessimakis Smith, WHAT BEST FRIENDS DO, a picture book, published by Hyperion books for Children

from Kim Williams-Justesen, sequel to MY BROTHER, THE DOG, 2008

2008

from Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE, illustrated by Nathan Hale, January 2008.

from Gloria Skurzynski, SWEAT AND BLOOD: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN LABOR UNIONS.

from Sharlee Glenn, JUST WHAT MAMA NEEDS, by Harcourt.

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APPEARANCES AND EVENTS

December 1, 2006 —Rick Walton will be reading at the BYU English Department Reading Series.

December 1, 2006—Kim Williams-Justesen will be signing at the Standard Examiner event.

December 1, 2006—Mark Buehner will be displaying artwork at Ken Sander's book store. Mark and Cara will be signing books there from 6-8 in the evening as part of the Gallery Stroll.

December 2, 2006—Shannon Hale will be signing at Borders in Murray, 2 pm.

December 2, 2006—Randall will be storytelling at Sundance at 5:00 p.m.

December 2, 2006—Mark and Cara Buehner will be presenting and signing at Barnes and Noble (West Jordan).

December 4-22, 2006—Sherry Meidell will have a show of illustrations at Highland High School Gallery. They will be shown by appointment only. It will contain several illustrations from six different picture books and a few watercolors of people. The opening will be at Highland High at 6 p.m.on December 4 only. The artist will be signing books and answering questions. There will also be a limited number of Giclee prints of the train from "Full Steam Ahead" available for purchase that night. 

December 7, 2006—Shannon Hale will be signing at the King's English Holiday Party, 5:30 pm. 

December 7, 2006—Mark Buehner will be presenting 4 assemblies at Discovery Elementary in Brigham City.

December 7, 2006—Mark and Cara Buehner will be at the King's English Christmas book party.

December 15, 2006—Ken Baker will be visiting East Elementary in Tooele.

January 23, 2007—Ken Baker will be doing a writing workshop at Dixon Middle School in Provo.

March 14, 2007—Ken Baker will be visiting Northlake Elementary in Tooele.

January through April 2007—Rick Walton be teaching a picture book writing class at BYU, Tuesday evenings.


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SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES


BRING AN AUTHOR OR ILLUSTRATOR TO YOUR SCHOOL

When kids get to meet and learn from real authors they get excited about reading and writing. It's a great way to bring books to life. For information on presentations, fees, and contacts, go to www.ucwi.org/visit.htm, or check out the author/illustrator websites below. If you've never held an author visit and don't know what to do, go to www.rickwalton.com/utahauth/bringing.htm for information, guidelines, and advice.


A DEAL FOR SPECIAL CAUSES

If you want to get books into the hands of kids who need them--e.g., kids in shelters, kids in hospitals, kids in foreign countries, kids in summer reading programs--we can get you select novels, picture books and joke books at rock bottom prices. You can get hardcover books at prices lower than a cheap paperback. Contact Rick at rick@rickwalton.com or Carol at carolthewriter@yahoo.com for more information.


GET BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF YOUR STUDENTS

Rick Walton has a supply of deeply discounted books. If you buy one copy for each of the students in your school, Rick will do a day long visit at your school for free.

For more information see www.rickwalton.com/aboutric/deal.htm.

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UTAH AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR WEBSITES

Matthew Armstrong -- www.matthewart.com  
Ken Baker -- www.bravemonster.com 
Anne Bowen -- www.annebowenbooks.com 
Ann Edwards Cannon -- www.aecannon.com 
Chris Crowe -- www.chriscrowe.com 
Alane Ferguson -- www.alaneferguson.com 
Guy Francis -- www.guyfrancis.com 
Sharlee Glenn -- www.sharleeglenn.com 
Shannon Hale -- www.shannonhale.com 
Mette Ivie Harrison -- www.metteivieharrison.com 
Kim Williams Justesen -- http://hometown.aol.com/kimorchid/myhomepage/profile.html 
Sherry Meidell -- www.sherrymeidell.com 
Robert Neubecker -- www.neubecker.com 
Michael Nordenstrom -- www.riversoffire.com 
Julie Olson -- www.jujubeeillustrations.com 
Gloria Skurzynski -- http://gloriabooks.com 
Dana Kessimakis Smith -- www.danasmithbooks.com 
Will Terry -- www.willterry.com 
Laura Torres-- www.lauratorres.com   
Michael O. Tunnell-- www.michaelotunnell.com  
Rick Walton -- www.rickwalton.com 
Kevin Wasden -- www.kevinwasden.com 
Hala Wittwer-- www.artbyhala.com  
Carol Lynch Williams -- www.carolinutah.com 
Randall Wright -- www.booksbywright.com 

Sara Zarr and Ann Dee Knight Ellis are both a part of the Class of 2K7--a group of about 40 debut novelists across the country who are all publishing in 2007. They have an ezine for the group that will come out quarterly for anyone who is interested. There will also be a pamphlet, a movie (a short short movie), and some other pub stuff. The official website has more details. www.classof2k7.com. It's turning into a very cool project! Check it out!


UTAH WRITER AND LITERATURE ORGANIZATIONS WEBSITES

BYU Children's Book Review -- http://cbpr.lib.byu.edu  
Children's Lit. Assoc. of Utah (Beehive Book Awards)-- www.clau.org  
League of Utah Writers -- www.luwrite.com 
UCTE/LA -- http://community.weber.edu/uctela 
UT Council/International Reading Assoc. -- www.utahreading.org 
Utah Children's Writers and Illustrators -- www.ucwi.org 

If you have a Utah organization related to children's literature, please send it to us and we'll add it to the list.


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Are you, or do you know an author or illustrator of books for young readers? Are you sponsoring a children's literature related event? Is there something else related to this list that we should announce? Send announcements to rick@rickwalton.com.

Are you interested in writing for kids? If so, you should join the Utah Children's Writers listserv. Get involved with other writers in discussions about writing, reading, and marketing literature for kids. To join, send a blank e-mail to utahchildrenswriters- subscribe@yahoogroups.com.