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April 3, 2012
Going Home Again

2nd grader

Of all the author events I've done in the past several years, one of my favorites is a recent visit to my own elementary school, where I was a student in grades 1-7. 

I was invited as a special guest during their March is Reading Month celebration, which also included Dress Up Like a Book Character Day, Doughnuts with Dad Day, and Crazy Hat Day. Those all sounded like a lot of fun to me—I couldn't imagine how Visiting Author Day would stack up.

So I drove into the parking lot and headed toward the school office with a box of books, a display board, a folder full of handouts...and a stomach full of butterflies.

The first thing I noticed, walking down the hallway, was the smell. I can't describe it exactly, but it's that unique mixture of floor wax, Elmer's glue and whatever they served in the cafeteria the day before. Instantly I was back in first grade, standing in that same hallway as I waited in line to drop my hot lunch ticket into the battered coffee can. Yes, things were slightly less high-tech in those days. But the smell was exactly the same.

Another thing I noticed was how clean and bright and scrubbed everything looked. This was no run-down, shabby little place with its best years behind it. Every surface was gleaming. Every wall was lined with colorful bulletin boards, bursting with student artwork. I felt both relieved and proud to see it look so well-loved and cared for.

In front of the red curtains

I had another stab of recognition when I entered the gym. There were the wooden bleachers where I had sat during countless pep rallies, cheering for the school teams. There was the stage with the red velvet curtains where I had performed in dozens of school plays. There was the tile floor where I had spent Friday nights roller skating with my friends. I could feel myself starting to relax, even to smile as the memories came flooding back. When the students started to file in for my presentation, I knew I was ready.

In the end it was a wonderful experience. The teachers, principal and staff were all gracious and welcoming. The students were polite and attentive; the joy they felt about their own reading and writing came shining through with every question. Two of my nephews were in the audience, and I couldn't resist giving them a personal shout-out (the younger one loved it; the older one forgave me). 

So maybe it's true that you can't go home again, once you've grown up and left your childhood behind. But here's something else I've learned is true—you sure can have a nice visit.


March 20, 2012
Sharing a Stage

Last month I helped organize a panel of children's authors to do a library presentation called 'The Path to Publication.' We each spoke about our different journeys from aspiring to published. Since we weren't sure how much of a draw this topic would be, it was very gratifying to end up with an enthusiastic, standing room-only crowd.

Left to right: McNally-Barshaw, Grund, Huntley, Diesen

I just wish I had thought to bring a notebook with me to the speakers' table, to jot down some of the great tips shared by Ruth McNally Barshaw, Deborah Diesen and Amy Huntley. Thanks to their wit and generosity, the event was a big success. I would be proud to share a stage with them anytime.

February 12, 2012
Connecting

Although public speaking isn't exactly my favorite thing, I do enjoy connecting with people about writing—a topic dear to my heart.

So I had a great time in January attending the annual Chinese New Year party hosted by Families with Children from China. It was fun signing books and catching up with some of the families I met last year; there were a lot of new faces as well. The most thrilling part was seeing how excited some of the kids were about the two newest Anna Mei titles. Several parents told me it was the first time their daughters had ever seen an adolescent Asian girl featured on a book cover.

The Dragon Dance was just as colorful and festive as I remembered, and the faux fireworks were just as hilarious. Now that I've seen how this group parties, watching the ball drop in Times Square will always seem anti-climatic! 
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January 31, 2012
7 Things You Didn't Know

What do I admire about Belle from Beauty and the Beast? Find out by reading an interview I did about my work and inspirations, currently posted here on my publisher's blogsite. I had fun answering the questions—the only hard part was keeping them short. I justified that by pointing out that I had three books to talk about, not just one!

After reading my answers, think about you might respond to three of the questions they asked, based on the Anna Mei book titles:

1. What cartoon character would you like to be?

2. When you have been like an escape artist?

3. What been a blessing in disguise in your life?

October 28, 2011
Raising the Flag

Thanks to Jaymie Wolfe, the editor for both Escape Artist and Blessing in Disguise, the Anna Mei series is currently featured on the publisher's "Storyline" blog. Here's a bit of what she has to say:

Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl came out in the spring of 2010 accompanied by a lot of excitement, enthusiasm, and a bit of breath-holding. Why? Because for us, releasing this great book by Carol Grund was raising the flag for Pauline’s new venture into the world of the middle grade novel.  There couldn’t have been a better character to take us all there!

Anna Mei, a sixth–grade Chinese-born American family adoptee, is a completely relatable regular girl trying to make sense of the world and her place in it. Moving, making real friendships, and confronting those oh-so-uncomfortable moments that make up the daily existence of most twelve-year-olds, Anna Mei doesn’t so much bring readers into her world, as she does fit right into the world they already live in. It didn’t take us long to realize that Anna Mei Anderson had a lot more to experience than could fit into just one book...(Find the complete post here.)

Although it’s hard to see summer come to an end, I always look forward to the pleasures of fall. This year brings an extra pleasure for me—the arrival of the third book in my Anna Mei series: Blessing in Disguise.  

Once again the cover art was created by the talented  Wayne Alfano. Mary Joseph Peterson, FSP, designed a great collage for the back cover, featuring maps, a compass, and a portrait of Anna Mei with her friends. It's fun to see all of them together for the first time!

I hope you'll enjoy Blessing in Disguise and appreciate the  depth it adds to the series.

I decided to end this post with a quote from Lucy Larcom, a 19^th century poet famous for her detailed account of early American childhood. It's appropriate because the book features a botany project as well as a life lesson that can only come from experience— sometimes, our biggest challenges turn out to be our greatest blessings.

"Like a plant that starts up in showers and sunshine, and does not know which has best helped it to grow, it is difficult to say whether the hard things or the pleasant things did me the most good."

Anna Mei, Escape Artist—the second book in my middle-grade series—has just received two five-star reviews! Here's a short snippet of each:

 "Anna Mei" is a fine read for young readers who are trying to branch into standard novels. Highly recommended. ~The Midwest Book Review

What a delight to have my old friend Anna Mei back! I enjoyed this book just as much as I enjoyed its predecessor...The lesson that’s taught doesn’t feel preachy and the way it’s told makes it worth reading. I enjoyed it, and I'll bet your intermediate reader will, too! Highly recommended. ~ Sarah Reinhard, The Snoring Scholar

I'm thrilled that both of these reviewers, who also liked Cartoon Girl, found this new story just as compelling. I'd love to hear from other readers, too. Send me an email and let me know what you think!

August 1, 2011
A Tried and True "Recipe"

One of the first short stories I ever sold just got a makeover! "A Family Recipe" first appeared in a 2001 issue of My Friend magazine, published by Pauline Books & Media. 

Now it appears in a new anthology for ages 8-12, just published by Pauline Kids. Family Matters:Thirteen Short Stories was edited by Jaymie Wolfe, my editor on Escape Artist. She's done a great job selecting stories that reflect a broad range of families and the issues they deal with. Mine is about a girl named Allison and a unique gift that links several generations in her adoptive family. 

All the stories include discussion questions, making this a wonderful tool for classroom use. It's available at online bookstores like Amazon as well as at Pauline's site.

I wanted to share some pictures from two recent book signings, both held at bookstores in my area. I admit that I'd had a couple of sleepless nights leading up to them, imagining myself sitting alone at a table, with nothing but untouched stacks of books for company.

But as always, my friends and family came through for me. They not only bought books, they stayed to chat and to ask about my upcoming projects. One especially wonderful moment came when I looked up and saw two of my college roommates smiling at me. We all live in different towns, so although we've been in touch, we hadn't seen each other for many years. I was just delighted that they took the time to come to the bookstore and support me (although I could kick myself for not getting a picture of the three of us—next time, ladies!).

Another friend and former co-worker traveled from out of town, bringing her little boy along. I hadn't seen Josh since the family moved away when he was a baby, and this fall he will be starting kindergarten! We had a great time catching up. Other friends and family came to buy books for their kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. I also met a couple of young fans, including Isabelle, a student at the school where I recently made a presentation. She and her mom had seen the signings advertised in the paper and made a special trip to come and get some books.

So in the end I never had to sit at a table all alone, arranging books into artistic piles and counting my bookmarks over and over. Books were sold, laughter was shared, many hugs were exchanged. What a blessing to have so many special people in my life, including the new friends my little Anna Mei has made for me. Many thanks to all of you, and to Whitney at Schuler Books and Jamie at Bestsellers, who hosted and promoted the events. Maybe we'll all touch base again in the fall, to celebrate Book 3!

In schools and libraries across the country, March is celebrated as "Reading Month," a time to focus on reading as a fun activity that helps foster a lifelong love of learning. A few weeks ago I was privileged to be invited to a local elementary school to make a presentation about reading and writing.

 

The K-4 students had been doing special activities and tracking their reading time all month long, earning one "mile" for each minute of reading. I was impressed to learn that they had collectively logged 79,000 miles in only four weeks. As the reading specialist explained, that's more than three times around the equator!

I was prepared but nervous as the kids started to file in. What if I couldn't hold their interest with my story about being a "writer" ever since I was their age? That thought was still in my head when a group of third graders marched in, proudly carrying a large plastic jar which they plunked down on the table in front of me. It was filled with pieces of food in various stages of decay, from just a little green around the edges to being completely covered in white fuzz. 

"Do you know what this is?" the teacher asked me as the students gathered around, grinning in anticipation. Know it? I'd imagined it about a hundred times--I would have recognized that jar anywhere.

"It's the mold terrarium from the book!" I said, just as excited as they were. Not only had they done the science experiment described in Cartoon Girl, they had brought it to show me. I told them I'd never seen such beautiful mold.

After that, talking about my journey from grade school student to published author was easy. The kids, many of whom had read Cartoon Girl or one of my short stories, listened attentively and asked great questions. They especially seemed to enjoy seeing some of my original drafts, with words, paragraphs, even whole pages crossed out as I worked to revise and sharpen my stories, trying to make them sparkle. In the end I explained that if they loved to read and write the way I did, they could find ways to keep doing that their whole lives. 

Later I received an envelope filled with thank you notes from some of the students. A boy named Evan wrote, "I learned to never give up on your goal no matter it is." Chloe's note said, "My birthday is coming up soon and the Anna Mei stories are now at the top of my wish list!" And a girl named Tanya shared this: "I learned that you can have dreams and they can come true."

Reading those notes, I realized that my visit had been as inspiring for me as I hoped it would be for them. So thank you, students and teachers at Donley, for the warm welcome and all your enthusiasm. Whenever I think about dreams coming true, I'll think of the lovely notes you sent, and all your smiling faces, and a jar full of beautiful green mold.



March 15, 2011
Time to "Escape"

I'm happy to announce that Escape Artist, the second title in the "Anna Mei" series for middle grade readers, is now officially available! 

The continuing story of Anna Mei Anderson takes place during the summer between sixth and seventh grades. It's about the deepening of her new friendships, but also about how friendships are tested. What do you do when someone you care about is in trouble, and you suddenly feel like you're in over your head? Find out what Anna Mei does when she unexpectedly finds herself in this situation.

You can read the first chapter at the Pauline Books & Media website. I can't wait to hear what you think of Anna Mei's latest adventures. If you'd like to write a review, I will bless you forever and also post it here. How can you pass up a deal like that?

Many thanks for all the encouragement you've sent my way over the past year as I worked to bring Anna Mei's story to life. To have people actually waiting for one of my books to come out is an unexpected and amazing delight!

February 26, 2011
Happy New Year, Chinese-style

This month I was invited to sign copies of Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl at a Chinese New Year Party. The annual event is hosted by the local branch of an organization called Families with Children from China. 

What a wonderful group of parents and children! Most of the kids were girls adopted from China, ranging in age from 18 months up to about fourteen. They seemed excited to see a book cover featuring a character that looked like them--according to some of the parents I talked to, that is a rare experience. Many of the girls wore traditional Chinese clothing. They looked just beautiful in their brightly colored and embroidered silk outfits.

After sharing a potluck dinner, we were treated to live music from a young Chinese opera singer. The girls enjoyed making crafts and playing with the live rabbits who were honored guests, since this is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese calendar. Then they joined together to don a dragon costume and parade around the room with noisemakers. 

Finally the girls were invited to participate in what the organizers called "faux fireworks." Since we were inside a church hall, I couldn't imagine what this could be, short of all of us gathering around a TV to watch a fireworks DVD. The actual event turned out to be so much more fun than that! First the adults laid out long strips of bubble wrap on the floor. The girls, holding fiber-optic flashlights, lined up on both sides. Then someone turned off the lights, someone else yelled "Go!," and suddenly the hall was filled with the pop and crackle of hundreds of tiny "fireworks." The girls laughed and jumped and waved their flashlights until the very last bubble had burst. It was the cutest thing I ever saw, and that includes the bunnies!


I had a great time and am so delighted to have been invited to the party. Many thanks to Janelle and Jo Marie from the FCC, to all the parents who stopped to chat with me about their cherished daughters, and especially to the girls themselves, whose bright eyes and happy smiles reminded me why I wrote a story about a girl named Anna Mei in the first place.

And here is the cover art, created once again by illustrator Wayne Alfano. Since the story takes place during Anna Mei’s first summer in Michigan, the setting is the nature center near her house. I love how bright and sunny and colorful it appears. Don't take that at face value, though. Even though the sun is shining on this particular day, there are definitely clouds on the horizon for Anna Mei. Before the summer is over, everything she thinks she knows about friendship will be put to the test.

Intrigued? Find out what happens on March 15!



Oct. 15, 2010
Brand New Look

David at work

I just realized that this month marks the 10th anniversary of my professional writing life. In October of 2000, I got the news that a story I had written about the art of quilting in colonial America would be published by Cobblestone, a history magazine for ages 9-14. That first sale led to others, and eventually I built up a list of credits that basically served as a resume.

Since so much of the business of freelance writing takes place online—market research, interviews, submissions, collaboration with editors and other writers—I knew that eventually my resume would need to go online, too. Having a professional site allows you not only to list credits, but to show editors and other potential employers your level of commitment..

I decided to hire a fledgling designer to create a website for me—my son, David. He actually built the whole thing from scratch, using HTML and a lot of other hocus pocus I know nothing about. The result was a unique site completely customized to my specifications. In February of 2009, CarolAGrund.com was officially launched, just in time for my first public appearance at a women’s expo. 

Not long afterward, I was contacted by an editor about writing a full-length middle grade novel. I was glad I could refer her to my website, where she could see my credits, learn a little about me, and get a sense of my writing style from the blog entries linked to the site. I can’t say that having a website got me the job, but I do know it was an important step in my transition from hobbyist to professional.

After a year and a half, we decided to freshen up the site. Conisder this your official invitation to check out the fresh paint and newly planted flowers at CarolAGrund.com. I hope you'll something that catches your eye, and maybe even something that sparks a story idea of your own. 
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October 10, 2010
15 Minutes of Fame

Recently, I was interviewed by a reporter from the local paper. She did a great job summarizing all the information I gave her about my work, and organizing it in a way that makes sense. You can read the full article here.

As a result of that article, I received an invitation to a Chinese New Year party! The local chapter of Families with Children from China has asked me to come and talk about the books and sign copies of Cartoon Girl. I’m looking forward to sharing in their celebration, which includes food, tea, a dragon dance and even some rabbits, in honor of the Year of the Rabbit. I'll post pictures here because really, who doesn't want want to see a bunch of cute, fluffy bunnies?



September 28, 2010 

On a Positive Note

I'm happy to announce that a new Chicken Soup for the Soul book titled Think Positive has just been released, with my story called “Sudden Clearing” appearing on page 271. It’s an account of an experience I had shortly after buying a new house, one that had all the earmarks of a disaster but turned out to be, as they say, a blessing in disguise. The book is available at most bookstores right now, as well as online.

September 18, 2010
Drumroll, Please!

I’m excited to announce that the sequel to Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl is on track for publication in Februrary or March, and the official title is (drumroll, please) Anna Mei, Escape Artist.

The word “artist” relates the new book to Cartoon Girl, and pairing it with “escape” is a clue to an important theme. I hesitate to say more than that, at least without posting a big “spoiler” warning first. Writing a synopsis that’s enticing but doesn’t give away too much of the plot is challenging enough. But writing one for a sequel is even harder—you can’t give away what happened in the first book, either!

Here’s what I’ve come up with that I hope will whet your appetite without spoiling it:

With sixth-grade graduation behind her, it's time for Anna Mei Anderson to spend her first summer in Michigan. Her plans include visits to the science museum and nature center, a week at volleyball camp, and plenty of time to just hang out. Not in the plan? All the hurdles that threaten to ruin her summer, including the ones that challenge her relationship with both family and friends. In this follow-up to Cartoon Girl, Anna Mei will need to re-examine everything she thinks she knows about friendship.

Completing a full-length middle-grade novel was challenging and fulfilling. Having it published was a dream come true. But knowing that actual kids are reading and enjoying the book brings the experience to a whole different level.

This picture was sent to me by Sr. Donna, the moderator of a brand new book club in California. After reading Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl herself, she was inspired to start a discussion group for girls in her community. Six girls came together for a “getting acquainted” meeting, where they all agreed to read Anna Mei and then come back the next week to talk about it. At Sr. Donna’s suggestion, I created and posted a list of suggested topics to use as a springboard for the discussion.

She later emailed to tell me that the group enjoyed a lively and interesting meeting: “They all found Anna Mei's story realistic and relatable, especially when it came to the awkwardness she experiences at school and her reluctance to have her parents meet her friends..." For their third meeting, the girls decided they wanted to do their own heritage projects, inspired by the assignment Ms. Wagner gives the kids in the book!

For as long as I can remember, reading has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life. So I truly appreciate Sr. Donna’s efforts to encourage kids not only to read but to enrich their reading by sharing it. 

And to the members of the best book club ever—Sarah, Brittany, Ashley, Marina, Kelsey, Brooke and Beatriz—I’m just thrilled that you all found something in Anna Mei that had meaning for you at this particular time in your lives. Believe me, that picture of you holding my book will be a treasured memento of a very special time in mine!

June 30, 2010
Bright Shining Faces

This spring I got an invitation any writer would envy—I was asked to make a presentation at my nieces' school in upstate New York. It seems that once their teachers learned that Mel (age 12) and Ana (age 8) had helped inspire a book, they started reading it aloud in their classrooms. Then they asked if I would come and talk to the kids about writing.

It was my first time doing a school presentation, so I was pretty nervous. And because I was still busy working on the manuscript for the sequel, I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to prepare. Even more nerve-wracking—the school had invited a reporter and photographer from the local paper to cover the event!

I’d just set up my display board and answered a few of the reporter’s questions when the students started filing into the room. The butterflies that had been flitting idly around in my stomach started beating their wings in a wild dance. I felt exactly the way Anna Mei did when she had to present her heritage report to the kids in room 117!

But like my young character, I found that the anticipation was much worse than the experience. The staff was warm and welcoming. The reporter stayed unobtrusively in the background, and the kids…well, the kids were amazing. They had a lot of great questions about writing in general and about Anna Mei in particular.

One of the best moments came when I mentioned the two short stories I’d written in a collection called Friend 2 Friend. Hands shot up all over the room. It turns out that the teachers had read those stories to them, so I was able to ask questions like “What happened next?” and “What would you have done?” Talking about my stories with a group of kids who have already read and enjoyed them is like the sweetest frosting on top of an already delicious cake.

Later I had a chance to talk with some of the students at a reception at my nieces’ house.

Some were outgoing, others were shy; some wanted to have their pictures taken with me, just like I do whenever a visiting author comes to a bookstore or library near me. Some confided that they hoped to be writers themselves. I told them I looked forward to getting their signatures in their books someday.

As a wonderful souvenier, I brought home thank-you cards from the kids. Baylor wrote, "You inspired me to be a poet. I like your poem Sandcastle!" "Thank you for coming to our school," Stephen's note says. "Now I want to write a book too! I even have the title—Fish and Cookie Picnic Day." Then there's this comment from Sé: "Thank you for being so nice and telling us how to make a book, and making my mind bigger." To which I can only say, "Thank all of you for being so nice, and making my heart bigger."

Although the book made its official debut in April, the real celebration took place on Saturday, May 22. That’s when family, friends and coworkers gathered at a book launch party to celebrate the publication of Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl.

The two-hour event was held in the community room at a local library. We decorated the room in bright blue to match the book cover, adding punches of Chinese red. A highlight was a beautiful, full-color poster of the cover, generously provided by the marketing department at Pauline Books (thanks, Sally!).

The book cover also found its way onto the dessert table, where it was featured on a cake with this message: Congratulations—It’s a book! Along with a variety of fruit and sweets, guests sampled a recipe straight out of the pages of Anna Mei—her grandmother Anna’s Danish spice cookies (Krydderikager).

A tabletop display traced my writing journey from 'Notebook Scribbler' to 'Published Author,' while the Anna Mei book trailer and interview played on a nearby TV.


Kids of all ages enjoyed a craft table that featured Chinese dragons and masks, and guests were encouraged to enter a raffle for a P.F. Chang's gift certificate. The winners were Andrew and Linda from Lansing, which seemed like good karma since they came to my party even though it was Andrew's birthday!

It was a thrill to talk with so many friends, all gathered in one place. I even met friends of friends who had stopped by to "meet the author." I signed a lot of books and one napkin, which my five-year-old nephew thinks will be pretty valuable some day.

After listening to a short reading

and a few heartfelt remarks, guests left the party with their signed books and party favors—colorful Chinese money bags stuffed with candy and fortune cookies.

A celebration like this would not have been possible if I’d had to do it alone. Luckily I'm blessed with generous family and friends, and I hope readers will indulge me for a moment while I acknowledge them. Both of my sisters contributed desserts and helped serve them.

My friend Donna spent many hours prepping the crafts. My friend Mark helped plan the whole event and was there from set-up to tear-down, as accomplished, creative and cheerful a support system as anyone could hope for.

My parents arranged for a special toast in my honor. My son David traveled from Chicago to be there for the party, then stayed up late to help stuff dozens of goodie bags. His friends MaryAnn and Peter stayed all day, doing whatever needed to be done..

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True to form, my husband Jim provided unwavering enthusiasm and support—not only for this party, not only for this project, but for always. Despite being paid to be a writer, I simply have no words when it comes to thanking him.

Finally, many thanks to everyone who took the time to come and celebrate with me—you helped made this a day I'll never forget. 

Here's a short clip of the signing and closing remarks:

2 comments

  

May 18, 2010
Five Stars for "Cartoon Girl"

It's been about six weeks since Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl was released, and the response has been wonderful. Traffic to my website is way up, with people checking in from New York to California (sounds like a folk song, doesn't it?)

The story seems to be striking a chord with adults and kids alike. A twelve year-old girl wrote to say "I loved your book!", and the mother of an adopted daughter expressed her appreciation for a story that "may open up conversations that are often difficult to begin. As the population of young girls adopted from China matures, it's nice to have a book out that deals with some of the issues they face having dark hair, dark eyes in a sea of blond girls with blue eyes."

And how about this for a compliment: "I am impressed with the author's ability to get some very good, basic, value concepts across without being 'preachy.' I was toward the end of the book at breakfast and ended up being late for work"!

It's so gratifying to know that people are embracing my little character and her story of identity lost and found. A high point has been a review from the Midwest Book Review, a group that has been rating children's books since 1976. They recently gave Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl their highest rating, and called it "A top pick for middle school fiction readers."

Another highlight has been seeing a series of pictures my son took in Chicago, where a PBM bookstore is featuring Anna Mei in its window and on its shelves. It's so much fun to see the characters come to life right there on Michigan Avenue!

Many, many thanks to all of you who have let me know that you enjoyed the book or are looking forward to reading it. I've gotten so many notes and phone calls offering congratulations and good wishes. Special thanks to those who have passed the book on to people in their lives who can share it with a wider audience. It doesn't help to be a writer when your feelings of gratitude are so completely, overwhelmingly...inexpressable!

Meanwhile, work on the sequel continues under the guidance of a new editor at PBM. I'm excited to see what she will bring to the project and hope people will be interested in the continuing story of Anna Mei. So if all goes well, I'll get to do this all over again next year!

May 1, 2010
Anna Mei Online

As promised, I've created a special Anna Mei website, so that readers can easily find reviews, booksellers, resources and some book-related projects and information for kids.

One of the first reviews comes from a site called ReadItAgainMom, created by a children's librarian. Here's a snippet from it: 

"Grund nimbly weaves the threads of Anna Mei’s life into a story that is smoothly paced, quietly comforting, and pleasing to the soul. There are no heavy handed life lessons here... She manages to break down the chaos that is the tween years and gently instill little life lessons in manageable bits, just right for a satisfying read." 

Read the full review—and lots more—at Anna Mei's new home!

April 1, 2010
The Debut of Miss Anna Mei

It may be April 1st but this is no April Fool's joke—starting today, my novel for ages 8-12 goes on sale! It's just been published by Pauline Kids, an imprint of Pauline Books & Media.

Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl is a story for anyone who has ever worried about fitting in. Sixth-grader Anna Mei Anderson is not only the new kid at school—she's the new kid with a weird name, an adoptive family she doesn’t remotely resemble, and an unknown birth mother somewhere back in China. She figures she'd better get busy changing into someone a little less…unusual. It may not be honest but it seems a lot safer. Then a school project comes along that makes Anna Mei think about herself, her friends, her family—and that weird name of hers—in a whole new way.

I’m delighted that this story found a home at PBM, a publisher whose name is synonymous with wholesome, quality literature. It's part of their new line of middle grade novels featuring kids who face real world challenges as they struggle to stay true to their faith and values. I'm also delighted that two sequels have already been scheduled for 2011!

You can read the first chapter on PBM's website. It's for sale at their online bookstore in a variety of formats, as well as Amazon and Barnes&Noble. It's also on the shelves at all PBM bookstores in the U.S. and Canada.

Coming soon, an Anna Mei website, complete with reviews, teacher guides and fun stuff for kids!