My book, THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN ILLINOIS, is bursting with gifts. They are all from the Prairie State. From her cousin Sam, Mia gets five golden deer, eleven boats a-sparkling, and even a chirpy red cardinal named Ruby. Not exactly what you'd find Christmas morning, are they? The gifts are unusual, but they make Mia smile big. It's the same size smile I wore when I was picked to write the book. It was my chance to talk up my home state, so I filled the pages with mighty rivers, noble presidents, spooky ghosts, and brave explorers. I also found room for some sock monkeys. (I go wild for those plush primates. Oo-oo-oo-ah-ah!) Not only did I write about my state's treasures, I got to meet a few too while promoting the book. Here I am with one from Rockford, Illinois--Rick Nielsen of the band, Cheap Trick. He was honored for creating a one-of-a-kind guitar exhibit at the Midway Village Museum: Writing the book was a gift, one I'm glad to share with you. Join Mia and Sam as they swing by the state capital. Say hi to roadside giants on Route 66. And if you're hungry, stop to feast on a horseshoe sandwich. (It's not made of horseshoes, I promise!) It'll put a smile on your face. Like all gifts, cardinals in white oak trees can do that.
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Like many families, ours is a creative bunch. I create stories. My girls create music, art, and much love for sports. And, when the hubby is not creating lesson plans, he's banging on his drum set and making enough sound to shake the display shelves. (Don't worry. The breakables are taped down.) Oh, and our dog creates adorableness. Check out Wyatt in action: If anyone's short on adorableness, let me know. I'll send Wyatt right over.
A creative home is a writer's paradise. It makes ideas pop and tickles our imagination and beckons (well, nags) us to write. It's wild and wonderful and what every writer needs to turn our words into a brand-new world. That way, we can share our stories, and best of all, create a reader too. Today, the sun is out in Chicago. I see blue skies, feel a barely-there breeze. Spring has arrived! It means sandal weather is ahead. Ah, my toes can't wait to see the sun again!
It also means we're one day closer to the release of my FIRST ORIGINAL chapter book series: Ellie Ultra ...coming Fall 2016 from Capstone Young Readers! Ellie is just...WOW. She is illustrated by the extraordinarily talented Jessika von Innerebner. Check out Jess' awesomeness here: http://www.jessvoni.com/. I will show you Ellie ASAP, but I have to wait for the publisher's signal since there's a time and place for everything, including sneak peeks. Here's what I can reveal about Ellie: She is your ordinary, average third-grade superhero who fights bad guys and saves the day while dealing with the ins and outs of being a kid. Sure, it's tough busting super villains, but fitting in and making friends is equally hard. Can Ellie do it? I think so. She's a kid, and kids are SUPER! Now to dig out those sandals... |
AuthorHi, I'm Gina! I'm a children's book author who loves living in my imagination. Check back to see what's happening inside! Archives
March 2024
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