Oh hello. Yes, it’s been a minute. I’m bad at updating my blog but here I am, excited to squawk about my new book, BIRD BRAIN. More about it on the dedicated page here. Plus, check out this page where you can learn more about parrots, including my bird, Gabby, who was the inspiration for the book. Hint: her poop had a lot to do with it. Want more about that? Check out this post over on L.E. Carmichael’s blog for the inside poop. I mean, scoop.
If you’re in the Burlington, Ontario area on Saturday March 23rd, I hope you’ll join me for my book launch at A Different Drummer Books. It’s a joint launch with Jeff Szpirglas and Danielle Saint-Onge, who are celebrating their new book, SUPER SWITCH. There will be cake!
Welcome to 2023, friends! I’m so pleased to announce that I actually have a few in-person events coming up in the next few months. I hope to add more, but, as always, if you’d like me to come visit with your students/patrons/book club, please check out my visits page and get in touch.
Ontario Library Association Super Conference – Friday, February 3, 10:00am – signing at the Orca Book Publishers booth #410/412. I will be signing books and giving out tons of bookmarks.
Sharp Words Book Fair – Saturday, February 25, 10 – 6pm Bridgeworks in Hamilton (200 Caroline Street North).
I will be signing books with several other kidlit authors. There’s also a full day of programming. See here for details and follow for up-to-date information.
FREE to attend.
OLA Forest of Reading Festival of Trees – May in Toronto. More details to come. Stay tuned!
Note: the event already happened but you can view the replay here.
Hate and antisemitism are on the rise – this unfortunate fact likely isn’t a surprise to anyone. But how do we combat it? Start early and with books.
Please join me and fellow author Tziporah Cohen as we share some startling statistics and strategies for fighting hate. We will also be reading from our books – including a sneak peek of my upcoming THE BOOK OF ELSIE. Q&A to follow.
This seminar is free but registration is required. Please reserve your spot here.
Note: *This event will be recorded so if you can’t attend, please register anyway and you’ll receive the recording link once it goes live.*
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!
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 Etsyshop.
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 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.
To celebrate the release of THE SUN WILL COME OUT, I will be holding a fun webinar in partnership with fellow author, Jennifer A. Nielsen. There will be discussion, Q&A, and lots of giveaways! For details, registration, and to ask questions in advance, click here. The event will be recorded and posted at a later date. Hope to see you!
I hope you can make it out to one of the DOUBLE TROUBLE launch parties this fall with Bev Katz Rosenbaum (WHO IS TANKSY?) and Angela Misri (PICKLES vs. THE ZOMBIES).
I know, I know, it’s been forever since I posted. I’ve been busy with some writing things (news to come!) and some personal things, like an upcoming move, and an otherwise busy summer, but I wanted to personally invite you to come see me and many other amazing authors at this year’s Telling Tales Festival on September 17, 2017!
This is one of my very favourite book events where tons of authors and book lovers come together for a day of stories and fun at one of Southern Ontario’s best-kept secrets – Westfield Heritage Village.
I am SUPER excited to announce that SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE has been named as a nominee in the Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Awards for 2014. I’ve never been to Manitoba, but am thinking I should consider some westerly travel.
Next up is some day job news. In that I no longer have one. As often happens in the corporate world these days, big companies restructure and move people and offices around, so I was given an opportunity to, um, not work there anymore. This has been one of those blessings in disguise that people talk about, as it has given me the opportunity to bring together two of my favorite things–authors and organizing–and start a business. That’s right, I am the JL in JL Author Services, providing administrative support to busy authors. For more info, check out the website: JLauthorservices.com.
I have other stuff on the go, too. You know, the writing thing and all the fun stuff that goes along with that writing. Now that my days are freed up some, I’m excited to be able to do virtual Skype visits and in the Hamilton, Niagara, GTA areas in Ontario, I am looking to book in-person school visits to start in the fall. These are handled by Authors’ Booking Service, so please get in touch with them to book me or for more information.
And if you are in the Southern Ontario area, I’ll be at the Telling Tales Festival on September 15th with a bunch of other cool authors, so mark your calendars as I’d love to see you up in Rockton!
I have some other stuff in the works for this summer, but you’ll have to stay tuned as I don’t have all the details just yet.
Also, as of the time of writing this post, the SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE e-book is still on sale at all online retailers: