Florida Library Association

http://flalib.blogspot.com/
Here's the announcement of the awards posted on the Florida Library Association's blog. We're also excited that "Captain Calliope and the Great Goateenies" is off press.

Florida Publishers Association awards

What a thrill! "The Mysterious Jamestown Suitcase" was the gold medal winner in the FPA's President's Book Awards in the Best Children's Fiction category, and "Ghost of the Chicken Coop Theater" earned a silver medal in the same contest. Florida librarians were the judges. We were able to attend the banquet in Sarasota and saw many friends, including Betsy Lampe, executive director of FPA, and Frank Gromling, past president. The Jamestown book is also a bronze medalist in the 2007 Moonbeam awards contest and ForeWord magazine finalist.

Bailey Fish awards

Exciting news. "The Mysterious Jamestown Suitcase" and "Ghost of the Chicken Coop Theater" are both finalists in the Florida Publishers Association President's Book Awards, with results to be announced Saturday night at a banquet in Sarasota. Bailey and Sugar can't be there because of a band concert (Bailey has a solo), but Jim and I will attend.

Chik-fil-A family night

I had lots of fun last night as the author asked to read with the cow at the Massaponnax Chik-fil-A family night. Met many nice families and read one of my favorite books, "Cappuccina Goes to Town," by Mary Ann Smith and Katie Smith Milway, and Eugenie Fernandes, to the little kids. It is a favorite of my granddaughter, Iris. And the cow colored a picture for me and signed his name so I can put it on the refrigerator.

Walker Brothers Circus

Sugar, Bailey, and my friend Julie went to the Walker Brothers Circus in Mineral yesterday, and it was incredibly wonderful. I think the acts would easily win on America's Got talent. It is one of those one-ring shows in the finest of American circus traditions, with ponies, a fabulous dog act, kids who were excellent at jugglin and acrobatics, and hilarious clown routines. If you can see the show, do so.

Fox

Bailey called last night after she and Sugar came home from an afterschool boat ride. They had putted into a little cove and thought they saw a yellow cat sunning itself on a grassy spot near the water. When they got closer, they realized it was a fox. The fox jumped up and bounded away, and then Bailey thought she saw a second fox chasing after it. It was the first time she had seen any so close.

Bailey's also very excited that book 7, "Captain Calliope and the Great Goateenies" has gone to press. She really likes the Goateenies. This weekend she, Sugar, and all the Keswicks are going to a little circus in Mineral. It's not the one that Captain Calliope joined, at least that's what he told. You never know what could happen, I told her.

NAIWE interview

Jim and I had a lovely interview yesterday with Janice Campbell, director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors and recommend checking out this organization for membership and free information. Our interview about publishing will also be posted there.

Networking is an essential part of success. Tabby House is also members of IBPA and FPA and other groups. Even with seven children's books doing very well, we always are able to learn something from the experiences of others in the field.

http://naiwe.com/

Sugar saw red-headed woodpeckers on a dogwood tree in her backyard today. One was a male parent feeding a youngster. That was a new nature treat, she told us.