Tag Archives: Awesomeness

Books, CRUSHING IT, LET IT GLOW, News, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS

Looking Forward to a Very Busy Fall 2024

Hello, friends!

It’s been a minute but it’s fair to say I’ve been busy. And when I say busy, I mean really, really busy. I’m bad at blogging at the best of times, but when stuff gets busy around here, well, you see what happens. 

Anyway, there are SO MANY things I need to tell you, so please bear with me.

NEW BOOKS are coming this fall, just in time for your holiday shopping. You’re welcome.

First up in September is an anthology called THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, which is, as you might have guessed, about Hanukkah. This compilation of Hanukkah-themed awesomeness was put together by the very awesome Henry Herz that includes not only a story by me, but contributions by many other author friends, too.

Celebrate Hanukkah with a diverse collection of poems and stories filled with history, humor, and hope. Cheer on a young baker as he tries to make sufganiyot from a family recipe. Learn about code breakers in England during World War II. Imagine hosting a refugee cousin or finding long-lost relatives. In this anthology, characters make discoveries, connect with family and friends, and mourn loved ones. Encompassing a range of genres and experiences, there’s something for readers of all faiths in the illuminating pages of The Festival of Lights.

In my story, called The Greatest Gift, we revisit Evie and Oren from SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. This fun return to a couple of my favorite characters of all time, is told in Oren’s point of view and takes place at the first Hanukkah after SORRY closes. I hope you love it!

Order your copy: Your Canadian indie bookstore, Bookshop.org, Indigo, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Amazon.ca 

Full list of contributors: Henry Herz, Leslea Newman, R.M. Romero, Stacia Deutsch, Bridget Hodder, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Nancy Holder, Alan Katz, Gini Koch Nancy Krulik, Nancy Churnin, Joanne Levy, Erica S. Perl, Alan Silberberg, Terri Libenson, and Richard Michelson.

Speaking of SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, word on the street is that it’s coming out in audio this fall – stay tuned for more info on that.

 

My second Hanukkah/Holiday book this fall is LET IT GLOW, the book I wrote with the amazing Marissa Meyer. This book that will release at the end of October is filled with joy, humor, and tons of holiday food that is definitely going to make you hungry. 

Check out the book’s page for all the purchase links and don’t forget to add it to your Goodreads to be read list (pro tip: if you have it on your TBR, you should get a notification if/when there’s a giveaway. Just sayin’.)

TOUR INFO (yes, I said tour info) is coming soon, so stay tuned for that in the coming weeks. 

Oh, and because I haven’t yet inundated you with enough, CRUSHING IT (my Cyrano de Bergerac retelling for tweens) is coming in December with this cute new cover. If you never did get this book when it came out in 2017, it’s available for preorder now. 

Whew. That’s it for now, but I’d love to see you this fall – stay tuned for that tour info!

 

Books, Cool Stuff, FISH OUT OF WATER, News, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS

Kid Reviews are the BEST Reviews Part II

Currently playing episode

If you’ve been around these parts, you know I love kid reviews and am always so thrilled when a reader takes the time to write/tape a review and share it with me. Well, in this instance, the amazing E Train reviewed THREE of my books in brief but really insightful podcast episodes that are part booktalk part review. Check them out below (the images are links that go to E Train’s podcast page).

THE SUN WILL COME OUT

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS

FISH OUT OF WATER

Thank you so much, E Train!

You can follow E Train’s podcast reviews and social media: Twitter and YouTube.

News, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS

SORRY is a Sydney Taylor Notable Book!

Are you familiar with the word verklempt? It is a Yiddish word that people use to describe being overcome with emotion or feelings. It’s safe to say that I am currently verkempt over the news that SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS has been named as a Sydney Taylor Notable Book.

LOOK at that pretty seal!

From the award website: “The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience.”

Now, I don’t want you to think that SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS is a book that only Jewish people can enjoy. I wrote this book for everyone. It has very universal themes: grief, loss, friendship, bullying, and what happens when we die. It’s told through a Jewish lens, due to the setting (a Jewish funeral home) but I hope that everyone can find something to enjoy (and maybe learn) in its pages.

But being honored this way means I got it right. People who aren’t even related to me, through this award, call the book outstanding and say that it authentically portrays the Jewish experience. This is such an incredible validation. I worked harder on this book than anything. I engaged so many beta readers and did SO MANY DRAFTS (Oy vey, so many drafts). All worth it. I’m so very proud of this book.

I share this honor with my dad who helped me with the details and who inspired so much of it with the important work he does.

Mazel tov to us.

Books, Cool Stuff, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS

Kid reviews are the BEST reviews!

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS has been out in the world for a couple of weeks and I have been amazed and humbled by the wonderful feedback it’s gotten. So many reviewers have loved the book and while that’s so gratifying, I have to say that reviews from young people provides the kind of validation that authors really appreciate. To that end, I’m so excited to share this awesome video review by Ric of Ric’s Book Reviews.

Thank you so much to Ric for reading and talking about SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS (and totally getting the book!). “A beautiful book that’s masterfully written.” No higher praise!

But Ric isn’t just a great reviewer but an excellent interviewer! His questions are so thoughtful and smart – it’s a true pleasure to be interviewed by him. Watch the interview he did with Lisa McMann and I about our connections, working together, our books, and more:

AND check out Ric’s great review for Lisa’s latest, CLARICE THE BRAVE:

Follow Ric’s review channel on YouTube or check him out on Facebook, and Instagram.

Thanks again, Ric!

Books, Contest!, Cool Stuff, Events, Launch Party, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS

Launch Week Awesomeness!

Well, friends, it’s been a week already. Whew! I’ve been so incredibly overwhelmed with the book love (and author love!) that I’ve received already and as I’m writing this, it’s only Wednesday. I’ve been so consumed with this book and getting the word out, that I actually forgot to do a release day post.

Here it is, just a day late. Still counts and now I can include some of the assorted media and posts.

In case you’re new to these parts, my book, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS came out yesterday (October 12). *throws confetti*

Here are a few of the celebrations – first with the upcoming things so you can hurry to register/get your ticket.

October 14 – Triple Author Launch Extravaganza!

Click for ticketing! https://www.changinghands.com/event/october2021/lisa-mcmann-joanne-levy-dusti-bowling

October 14 at 7pm PST/10pm EST is the triple-author launch extravaganza in partnership with Changing Hands Bookstore.

Event details are here. If you purchase one of my books as part of your ticket, you’ll get a signed bookplate and one of these cool wood and paper bookmarks.

NOTE: Changing Hands Bookstore is in the US but they will ship anywhere. Ticket price includes US shipping.

If you are in Canada and would like to purchase a book and bookmark directly from me, please head on over to my Etsy shop.

http://http//www.joannelevy.com/reading

October 20, 11:30am – I’ll be doing a virtual public reading from SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS and will then be discussing the book and doing Q&A with award-winning author and psychiatrist, Tziporah Cohen. Free but registration is required. Sign up here.

And here’s some media/posts about me and the book:

The Nerdy Book Club – The story behind SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – includes a giveaway open until October 19.

A spot on CHCH Morning Live – my hometown station’s morning show that I watch every day.

A Q&A I did over at the Orca blog.

Another Q&A I did with Deborah Kalb.

A post I wrote about how Jewish funerals are inherently green funerals over at L. E. Carmichael’s Cantastic Authorpalooza.

More to come but until then, I hope you’ll join me at one of my events. If you enjoyed reading SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, please support the book by giving it a review at Goodreads and/or the place you bought it. More importantly, please pass it along to someone else who may enjoy it.

If you’ve read this far, you are the best. Thank you.

Books, Cool Stuff, News, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS

A Giveaway and a STAR!

We’re getting close to the release of SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS in October, but I’m hearing that it’s already shipping out to stores. Thank you if you’ve already pre-ordered – hopefully that means you’ll get your copy soon!

In the AMAZING news category, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS just got a starred review from Kirkus Reviews:

⭐️ “A heartfelt and expertly written tale of loss, family, and friendship that will have readers blinking back their tears…Beautiful and sincere.”

If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet and are feeling lucky, you can enter this Goodreads giveaway for a paperback copy:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Sorry for Your Loss by Joanne Levy

Sorry for Your Loss

by Joanne Levy

Giveaway ends September 18, 2021.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

I have a few more things in the works to celebrate the release – some fun online events and giveaways. Stay tuned for more details to come.

Cool Stuff, CRUSHING IT, Launch Party, Uncategorized

CRUSHING IT Launch Party!

Even if you’ve already bought (and hopefully loved) CRUSHING IT, if you’re in the Hamilton, Ontario area, why don’t you come out to help me celebrate the book? I’ll be reading from the book and answering questions AND will be signing while you mingle and consume snacks.

There will be giveaways, too! Bring the book you’ve already purchased for me to sign or there will be copies there to buy.

Please join the official Facebook event so I know you’re coming.

Hope to see you!

 

Cool Stuff, CRUSHING IT, Launch Party, News

I’m CRUSHING IT Today!

See what I did there? I made a corny pun with my book title! Well, you know what? It’s my blog, so it’s my prerogative to make corny puns!

Back to the business at hand – it’s they day we’ve all been waiting for – CRUSHING IT release day!

***Throws confetti***

To celebrate, I’m chatting with my excellent friend, Debbie Ohi, over on her site today and I’m also talking about writing funny at the Nerdy Book Club.

If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy, you can get yours from Bryan Prince Bookseller, or at one of these fine retailers:

Chapters/Indigo

IndieBound

Barnes & Noble

Amazon.com

Amazon.ca

If you’re local, I’d love to see you at the LAUNCH PARTY on January 28 at the Westdale Libary (2pm).

Don’t forget to please review CRUSHING IT (unless you hated it) at review sites like Goodreads and at retailers. That is the kindest, and cheapest way you can help authors get the word out about their books.

Cool Stuff, CRUSHING IT

So this happened!

“As always, Levy’s refreshing tween voice is spot on in CRUSHING IT. It’s the perfect laugh-out-loud read for middle graders.”

Lisa McMann
NYT bestselling author of the Unwanteds series

 

!!!!!! How cool, right? Here’s me doing my happy dance. You know, if I wore skirts. Which is almost…no, not almost, it’s never.gdance_e0

Thank you, Lisa!

Don’t forget, you can read the first three chapters of CRUSHING IT here.

 

Cool Stuff, News

Book News!

6 Comments

Apparently it’s been months since my last blog (September? How did that much time slide by?) but I guess that goes along with the theme that I’m not a very good blogger and really only crawl out of the woodwork when I have something to tell you. Well guess what? I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU!

While Small Medium at Large is out in the world and people still seem to be reading it (thank you!) I’ve been working on some other things and one of those things will be published by Simon and Schuster’s Aladdin M!X imprint in 2017  December 2016! If you’re not familiar with the M!X books, check out the website (see, those exclamation points were intentional).

The book is called Crushing It and is a tween version of Cyrano de Bergerac – see the official deal notice at Publishers Weekly. I can’t tell you too much about the story yet, but it will be fun and funny and will likely include some awkward moments and maybe a cat. You’ll just have to wait and see.

And if you believe it, some kind soul has already put it up on Goodreads (which means you can add it to your TBR list, you know, because you’re already worried about what you’re going to need to read two years from now).

This isn’t the Oscars, so I’ll keep this short, but I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to my agent, Caryn Wiseman for facilitating this. She has been tirelessly working toward getting my books out there and I so appreciate having her on my team.

And now, just because this is how I feel today:

dancing_bird