My Book Available in the ibookstore

For those of you who have an ipad (or itouch) or are giving someone special an ipad for Christmas, my book Princess Kim and the Lie That Grew was just released in the ibookstore. Google the title (not my name) as they have my last name spelled wrong. (That should be corrected soon.)  My book is one of several Albert Whitman & Co. titles that were chosen by Open Road Media (the developer) & Apple to appear in the ebook format. (Open Road Media has recently struck a deal with Albert Whitman to develop titles for the ebook format including their popular Boxcar kids series.)

The ebook and App industry is moving fast and I am working on getting more titles available in those formats.
Happy Holidays All!
Here's the link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/princess-k-i-m-lie-that-grew/id403155219?mt=11

Let's go sledding!

 
As winter approaches and snow is in the air, I was thinking about how I spent hours sledding with my brothers and sister and neighborhood friends. The above photo is of me and my big brother Carmen on our brand new sled. I tried to capture those childhood memories in my 1992 book "Ice Cold Birthday" only the "kids" in the illustration are myself, my husband and daughters. 
Going back to sledding as a kid... I come from Everett, Massachusetts outside of Boston, where we had no backyard to speak of...so being the creative (and crazy) kids we were, we sledded down a narrow "alley" between our house and the house next door. The alley ended on the street...(which by the way, was a bus route.) Before we began our sledding adventures we'd shovel a big mound of snow at the botton of the alley to stop the sleds before they went onto the street. (Sometimes nothing could stop those sleds!) It's amazing to think we survived those winter days being kids in the city. (I can't even believe our parents let us do that!) So to my brothers; Carmen, Ted and Stephen and sister Diane...and neighborhood friends including Karen & Rosanne ( who are still my best friends today!)...Let's go sledding! I'll meet you in the alley!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

A Play in the Works!

I just received the proofs in the mail for "PRINCESS KIM And Too Much Truth". Looks great!!
The book is being printed now and will be published March 1, 2011. This book is the sequel to "Princess K.I. M and the Lie that Grew." Now-- here's the NEWS- I am working with a Producer and Music talent to transform these books into a Musical. We had our first "creative" brainstorming meeting yesterday and we are all very excited to see these books come to life on stage. I am hoping to give you a glimpse, through this blog,  into the creative process through script, music, lyrics and the production.
Stay tuned. 

NOW AN APP!

It's OUT! "Wednesday is Spaghetti Day" was just released as an iphone/itouch App . (Ipad to follow soon!) I would love to hear what you think! Please spread the word to your book lover friends (Or cat lovers!)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wednesdayisspaghetti/id400661727?mt=8







itunes.apple.com
Learn more, read reviews, and download WednesdayIsSpaghetti by PicPocket Books on the iTunes App Store.
Do you remember my book "Wednesday is Spaghetti Day"? Maybe you do- maybe you don't...but either way I'm happy to announce that readers will soon be able to download it in several formats. The  APP (for iphone/ ipad) is in production by picpocketbooks.com. Above is a screen shot of the upcoming APP. It will have wonderful audio as well as some interactive elements.  Also in production is the ebook format (.epub) which will be available through my website as well as ebookstores including, ibookstore, and B&N (for color Nook.)

Now, some background- "Wednesday is Spaghetti Day" was the very first book I authored and illustrated. It was published by Scholastic as a hardcover in 1990. It stayed in print as a paperback until 2008 when the rights were reverted back to me. Over the course of 18 years in print, "Wednesday is Spaghetti Day" sold over 250,000 copies. Everytime I do a talk or a school visit someone always inquires as to how they can get a copy. I am delighted to be able to soon offer it once again.
So - Please keep checking my blog where I will announced the RE-publishing of one of my favorite books! (at that time- I'll tell you about the book itself, inspired by my Italian upbringing!)

Princess KIM in Indiana?

I just found out that my book, "Princess K.I.M and the Lie That Grew" is on the list of 20 titles for the Young Hoosier Book Award (Indiana) for the 2011-2012 school year. This is Indiana's child selected awards program. Participating kids must read 12 of the 20 books on the list and there are over 1000 schools participating. 62,000 kids voted last year. My Book, "Mr. Tanen's Ties" won the Hoosier Award in 2003- Hopefully I'll be going back to Indiana.  
And speaking of Princess Kim, the sequel, 'Princess Kim and Too Much Truth' will be released in March 2011. In this book, Kim learned her lesson and now ONLY tells the truth...sometimes she is a bit TOO honest. It's funny and I hope the kids like it. This book is also is about kindness...and in the world of bullying, we can all use a little of that.

Happy Fall!

Fall is here...and so is my new book, LET IT FALL. This book is in stores now and on the Scholastic bookclub. (And keep an eye out for it's companion book- LET IT SNOW...more to come on that.)
I look out my studio window and see the inspiration for this book...LEAVES everywhere.  I've had a very busy year and have five books to be published between now and Sept 2011. I hope to be blogging more...so spread the word. AND Happy Raking!