Here are several bits of news from Wisconsin writers:
Becky Wojahn reports that hermiddle-grade novel, Malcolm at Midnight, comes out next month and has received a couple nice reviews. Publishers Weekly called the book a “first-rate debut,” and Kirkus says it’s “a rip-roaring tale; even rodent haters will have to like Malcolm.”
Janet Halfmann says that when Sylvan Dell Publishing asked its readers to choose a “classic” from its 70 titles, they chose her Little Skink’s Tail! For winning, her book will be featured as a free e-book for a future month on the publisher’s website. Janet also was chosen to be a featured author on the Girl Scouts Studio: http://studio.girlscouts.org/authors/janet-halfmann/
Emily Kokie reports that her first YA novel, Personal Effects, comes out on Sept. 11. Pictures are on her author Facbook page at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.481524391859552.114483.172848542727140&type=1#!/EMKokie. Here’s what Kirkus said of Personal Effects in its review:
“Kokie grounds readers so thoroughly in Matt’s misery that they will be as itchy to escape the brutal emptiness of life with his father as he is. Realistically, though the inevitable revelation and resolution bring peace to Matt, they do not heal his father; readers will just have to hope he can make it through. A fine addition to the literature of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Kokie is celebrating with a book launch party at A Room of One’s Own Bookstore, 315 W. Gorham in Madison, on Sunday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m.
Kate Heling and Debbie Hembrook have the following two items of news:
1) Our latest book, Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do, is now out, and activity guides are posted on our website. We’ll be doing an author visit at Martha Merrell bookstore in Waukesha on August 10th, beginning at 6:00, during downtown Waukesha’s Friday Night Alive weekly festivities.
2) We just received the following message from our Random House editor: “I wanted to share the good news that Mouse Makes Words and Mouse’s Hide & Seek were part of a 28-book deal for Simplified Chinese/English bilingual translation by China Translation and Publishing. Hurray! It’s nice to know that these books are chugging along, helping kids of many nations learn to read!! The term is for 6 years and will certainly keep the books in print. Congratulations.” (These were our first published books, beginning way back in 2001.)
Their website is at www.helinghembrook.com
Viking has made an offer for the ninth book in Dori Chaconas‘s “Cork and Fuzz” series, which will be published in 2014. “It still amazes me that a single EZ reader title has stretched into a series of nine!” Dori said.
The Wisconsin Academy of Arts & Sciences says it is pleased o t host the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission and work with Wisconsin poets laureate both past and present in keeping Wisconsin poetry alive and well. Check out Poet Laureate Bruce Dethlefsen‘s August appearances in Wisconsin by visiting their poet laureate’s page here on their website or make a donation to help ensure the continuation of the Poet Laureate program. The open call for 2013–2014 Wisconsin Poet Laureate applications begins late this month.
While you’re online, drop by the Council for Wisconsin Writers website at www.wiswriters.org.