Upcoming B&N Event and NYPL Trip Report

Worcester Barnes & Noble

On Saturday, I will have my first Massachusetts bookstore event. I will be reading from and signing copies of INTO THE WILD at the Barnes & Noble in Worcester, Massachusetts. Here are the details:

SATURDAY JULY 14 at 3:30pm
Barnes & Noble - Worcester
Lincoln Plaza, 541 D Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA

I am really, really excited about this event because of the following bits of coolness:

Coolness factor #1: It's a solo reading, which means that if I want to sing an aria, no one can stop me (except for the fact that I don't know any arias and can't sing on-pitch anyway and will most likely set all the dogs in Worcester howling if I try... okay, no arias).

Coolness factor #2: It's in my hometown (or really close to it). I'm from a town called Northboro (just outside of Worcester), which just happens to be the setting for INTO THE WILD, which brings us to coolness factor #3...

Coolness factor #3: It's in Julie's hometown (or really close to it). In INTO THE WILD, real places are transformed into fairy-tale settings: Bancroft Tower, Higgins Armory Museum, the Northboro Public Library, the large rooster sign outside of Agway... I love the idea that I'm going to be reading from Julie's story less than a mile from where Julie rides a griffin.

And an extra special new coolness factor #4 that I just learned about today: I'm going to be on TV!!! WCCA Channel 13, a local cable station, will be coming to Barnes & Noble to interview me at the event. Me, TV, hee-hee! Perhaps they would like me to sing an aria...

If you're in central Massachusetts this Saturday, hope to see you there!

Teen Author Reading Night (NYPL) Trip Report

Last night, I read from INTO THE WILD as part of the Teen Author Reading Night (orchestrated by author/editor-extraordinaire David Levithan and uber-librarians Ann and Jack) at the Tompkins Square Branch of the New York Public Library. Also reading were P.E. Ryan, Robyn Schneider, Hobsen Brown, and Kieran Scott. Very, very fun. I really enjoyed hearing everyone's readings.

Plus I got to talk into a microphone. I think I'm developing a thing for microphones. They're cool. You feel kind of powerful using one. I'm not very good with them, though. I either forget the mic's there and move away from it, or I'm so intent on talking into it that I donk my teeth against it. And every time I use one, I have to fight the urge to sing. (See above comment about arias and dogs for why that's a bad idea.)

Anyway, here are some pictures from the reading:

All Eyes on Me and my Microphone

Robyn and Me

Special thanks to Coe, Sean, Alyssa, Julie, Cathie, and everyone else who braved the rain to come!