THIS OLD BAND Goes On Tour!

Now that we've celebrated Memorial Day 2014, summer is approaching quickly, and so is the release of THIS OLD BAND with Sky Pony Press. It officially arrives next Tuesday, June 3! Several author and teacher friends are helping me celebrate online with a series of interviews and features over the next several weeks, starting today!

I'm imagining that by next week bookstores all over the country may look like this:

 Idea courtesy of Vero Beach Book Center

I'm feeling like this:

Closeup of Matt Loveridge's THIS OLD BAND Cover Image

Yes, I feel like singing and dancing with the band! But I'll hold on for a moment to tell you where you can find me rolling out THIS OLD BAND. 

THIS OLD BAND TOUR SCHEDULE:

05/27/14  Mindy McGinnis helps me kick off the tour with a Successful Author Talk at Writer. Writer. Pants on Fire. 

6/02/14 Hamline MFAC faculty extraordinaire Marsha Qualey interviews me at The Storyteller’s Inkpot. 

06/03/14 Meet me back here at The Writer's Whimsy on release day where I'll be celebrating THIS OLD BAND all week long!

06/03/14 Lydia Kang is planning a release day interview at her blog The Word is my Oyster.  

6/06/14 Publishing house and release date mate Kate Louise, AKA Kate Ormand is featuring a top ten list across the pond at Kate Louise Author.

(Kate’s YA DARK DAYS releases with Sky Pony Press the same day as THIS OLD BAND, and she has three forthcoming picture books with SPP.)

06/09/14 Peggy Eddleman and I are chatting at Will Write for Cookies.  

06/09/14 Kate Hannigan featured me in an Author Of interview.

06/25/14 One of my first children's writing instructors, Ester Hershenhorn, invited me to participate in a Wednesday Writing Workout at Teaching Authors.  

07/01/14 Michigan teacher Colby Sharp asked me his 5-4-3-2-1 interview questions.

07/04/14 Poet friend Michelle H Barnes is hosting me for her July “Spotlight ON” at Today’s Little Ditty. 

That's what I know for now...back to my singing and dancing! I hope you'll jump on the THIS OLD BAND tour with me!

Clang! Clang! Boodle-Bang! THIS OLD BAND Has A Cover!

Hello, and thanks for stopping by!

I've been looking forward to sharing the cover art that Matt Loveredge has been working on for my new picture book, This Old Band. Here is the Sky Pony Press description from Goodreads:

What kinds of instruments would you imagine a band of cowboys playing? Surely nothing fancy, but they can still make do with what they have, like jugs, combs, boots, and whatever else they can find. Out on the open range, with no one to tell them to quit their hollerin’, a cowboy band counts from ten to one in a tune children are familiar with. Silly phrases, toe-tapping rhythms, and the occasional twist make these cowpokes a great addition to any story-time or bedtime lineup.

Featuring a ragtag group of cowboys from author Tamera Will Wissinger, and colorful, offbeat illustrations by Matt Loveridge, This Old Band is sure to delight children and adults alike (and teach kids a few things about counting and noises) with a fun take on a popular nursery rhyme.

And here is the beautiful cover artwork: 

I love that the old band looks so playful, bright, and entertaining. What do you think?

Here's a link to GOODREADS if you'd like to add it to your to-be-read list: This Old Band on GR

THIS OLD BAND will arrive on June 3, 2014 from Sky Pony Press.

10.22.2013