Read Books!

When we took the Virginia Railway Express to Washington, D.C., I smiled when I read graffiti spray-painted on the wall of one of the Northern Virginia train stations. Mind you, I don't like vandalism of any sort, and graffiti is a form of vandalism and usually it is vulgar and has gang messages. But, this had a positive message, which made me wonder about who would do it. It read: Read Books.

So, the message was good, even if it was wrong to paint it on a wall.
It reminded me that is a good time to think of giving books for the holidays. My mother always purchased books for everyone in the family early in the year, read them carefully, then wrapped them up as gifts. I like to read the books I'm giving away, too. Lot's of people are giving the Bailey Fish Adventures for Christmas gifts and I've still have autographed orders to fill and book signings to do before Dec. 25. My oldest grandchildren, Ally and David, went with me to a booksigning at Jabberwocky bookstore in Fredericksburg last Saturday. As part of their Christmas presents from Grampa and me, they each picked out books.

Booksignings and more

What a busy season! I'm looking forward to my visit at Barrett Elementary in Stafford on Wednesday to talk with fourth and fifth-graders. Meanwhile, sixth-grade students at St. Timothy's are selling the Bailey Fish series as a fund-raiser. I'm going to be at Marshall Farm Corners in Unionville next Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; at a homeschool night at Jabberwocky in Fredericksburg f rom 6 to 8:30 p.m. on the 19th, and back at Jabberwocky on Friday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Everybody is filling out their sets and buying the new book!

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.