| Member News is a monthly feature on the EasternPennPoints blog. We want to celebrate our members’ good news and help spread the word far and wide. Send us your children’s-book-related news—book deals, releases, awards, author or illustrator events (signings, launch parties, appearances), etc. If you’d like your news to be included in next month’s column, please e-mail Laura Parnum at epa-ara@scbwi.org before June 20. |
Here’s some exciting news from members in our region this month:
Every girl is a wonder! Author Frank Murphy’s newest picture book, A Girl Like You, is scheduled to be released from Sleeping Bear Press on July 15. Frank cowrote the the book with his wife, Carla, and the book is illustrated by Kayla Harren. A Girl Like You encourages girls to embrace what makes them unique, to choose kindness, and to be their own advocates. In an age when girls can be whatever they want, this books reminds them of all the ways to be beautiful, brilliant, and uniquely themselves. A Girl Like You is now available for preorder at all major book sellers.
In March, award-winning children’s songwriter Annie Lynn co-wrote a song with author Michele McAvoy, for the teacher’s guide with lesson plans to accompany McAvoy’s book Cookie & Milk, illustrated by Jessica Gibson (Cardinal Press Rules, 2019). The song can be found here: http://www.michelemcavoy.com/schoolkit. In late April, she also co-wrote a song with author Megan Lacera and illustrator Jorge Lacera of Studio Lacera for their teacher’s guide with lesson plans to accompany their book Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies (in both English and Spanish), published by Lee and Low Books (2019). You can find the song here: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/zombies-don-t-eat-veggies. Both projects began in January as a Storystorm: The Musical Edition project, encouraged by author Tara Lazar. Annie continues to work on KidLit commissions as well as new songs for the start of the Fall 2020 school year. You can find out more on her website at www.annielynn.net.
Author Susan Russell, cofounder of Archimedes’ Printing Shoppe, is launching her new children’s book series, Gata Unbound, on June 1 (coauthored by Lucy Noland and illustrated by Kaity Lacy). The first volume in the series includes two books: Klein’s Weird Evening and Archimedes’ Ear. The authors and illustrator will be holding a virtual book launch on June 1, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. EST on Facebook (@Archimedesprintingshoppe or @LucyNoland), Twitter (@ArchimedesPrint), and Instagram (@ArchimedesPrint). To find out more about Gata Unbound and Philadelphia-based Archimedes’ Printing Shoppe, visit www.archimedesprintingshoppe.com.
Author Hallee Adelman’s publisher has released a video of Hallee reading and talking about her latest picture book Way Past Mad (Albert Whitman & Company, 2020). This video is available for all to share freely, especially for teachers and educators to share with their students. You can find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3qJhttMaZ8. Hallee was also interviewed by Matthew Winner on The Children’s Book Podcast this month, which can be found here or on your favorite podcast network.
Earlier this month, Lindsay Bandy held a virtual cover reveal with indie the bookstore Second Star to the Right Books on Instagram. Lindsay discussed the novel, her writing process, and revealed the gorgeous cover for Nemesis and the Swan, which was designed by Zena Kanes. The novel is due out in October and is currently available for preorder at Bookshop and all major booksellers.
Earlier this month we posted about Andree Santini’s timely children’s book Together at Heart While We’re Apart. The book is now available in print in both paperback and hardcover. The print editions are available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble and the ebook is available at Kobo and Apple, and as a kindle book at Amazon. Prices were set to be just a bit over cost, and any profits will be donated to help support a refugee family. Andree also has free downloadable mindfulness activities for children at her website, www.andreesantini.com.
If you have good news to share, please send it to epa-ara@scbwi.org to be included in next month’s Member News column.
EasternPennPoints 
Congratulations to all these authors! Wishing you much success!
So exciting. We really need more good news in times like these. THank-you and congratulations to all!