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I’m looking forward to sharing 3 of my picture books, answering questions about writing books and playing games with kids at the Northshore Mall in Peabody, MA on March 15th from 11AM-1 PM!

Book Blast should be a blast!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1422042648042108/

The amazing Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China would be such a great setting for a children’s book! Please, someone, think of a plot before it all melts!

Check out these photos!!

Projecting the book let children in the back of the classroom see, too.

To be alliterative about it, Brown Elementary School in Somerville, MA had a lovely Literacy Night on January 24th–guest readers (including the mayor of Somerville), authors and illustrators, excited children, obviously dedicated teachers, enthusiastic parents…I had a great time reading my story about Mortimer the koala–who thinks eating cauliflower brings him bad luck the next day–explaining my writing process, and answering lots of questions! Holding the event in the evening was brilliant…it meant whole families could get involved and experience the joy of reading.

Literacy Night had a book sale that included my picture books and chapter books.

I had a whole bunch of appearances for my promotional blitz for ESTHER’S HANUKKAH DISASTER. Most of the time I traveled in a Toyota Corolla. But for my reading at at the Virginia Beach Jewish Community Center, I was picked up at the Norfolk Airport by a Cadillac stretch limo! It was so big I could have used a megaphone to chat with the driver. And yes, I was the sole passenger.

I was kinda thrilled (can you tell?)

Riding in Style

I thought I posted this a month ago but apparently forgot to hit “publish.” So…here’s my delayed reaction to getting the chance to share my words of wisdom on Cynthia Leitch Smith’s blog…
Working on my guest post, “Writing With Stealth,” for the aptly named Cynsations blog really made me think: it inspired me to consider and then explain how I approach getting a message across in my writing for children: http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2013/11/guest-post-jane-sutton-on-writing-with.html

Thank you, Cynthia!

Author and Blogger Cynthia Leitch Smith of Cynsations

A large turkey balloon, which I name and claim friendship with, has become a fun and ludicrous part of our Thanksgiving tradition. (Hey, I never claimed to be mature.) This year, when my daughter, Becky, went to buy me said balloon, she found this PURPLE GORILLA that looks remarkably like the protagonist in my Hanukkah book, Esther’s Hanukkah Disaster!!!
Totally bashert, if you know what I’m sayin’.

With the once-in-a-lifetime co-occurrence of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving, I’ve been spinning around like a dreidel getting the word out about Esther’s Hanukkah Disaster. Things are winding down along with the Hanukkah candles, but I thought I’d mention, with a bittersweet sigh, 3 of the last few appearances. Maybe I’ll see you at one of them!

   • On Thursday, December 5th, at 6 PM, I’ll get to see dear relatives, enjoy a klezmer band, and share my Hanukkah book at the Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge, CT! http://jccnh.org/

                                          ————–Family Chanukah Event!———————-“And it Burns”

   • Friday, December 6th, from 5-8 PM, I’ll be part of the Local Author Fair at Cary Memorial Library, Lexington. There will be music, refreshments and Lexington authors, as part of the annual Holiday Festival Night.
http://www.carylibrary.org/reservation/846

• …and Sunday, December 8th, from 8:45 AM-7PM, I’ll be at Limmud Boston, Congregation Mishkan Tefila, 300 Hammond Park Pkwy, Chestnut Hill, MA.
It’s a whole day of Jewish learning with presenters, performers and speakers.https://www.facebook.com/events/658919860794391/

Next 2 Stops for me and Esther the purple gorilla, as we continue our Thanksgivukkah Blitz in the Boston area: HARVARD COOP November 30th, 11 AM, Story Hour and Crafts

http://www.hbook.com/calendar/jane-sutton-harvard-coop/#_

                                                               …Then at 2-4 PM, Esther and I will be with author of Arturo and the Navidad Birds ANNE BROYLES (see https://jane-sutton.com/andover-bookstore-november-9th/),

at Discover Your Local Authors Day – BESTSELLERS BOOKSTORE AND CAFE in Medford Square, Medford: http://www.bestsellers-cafe.com/event/discover-your-local-authors

Barbara Krasner interviewed both me and the illustrator of Esther’s Hanukkah Disaster on her blog, The Whole Megillah. As a result, I got the chance to learn a lot more about Andy Rowland, the wonderful British illustrator who brought my story to life!

http://thewholemegillah.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/two-in-one-notebook-special-esthers-hanukkah-disaster/

Sunday, November 24th, from 12-2 PM, I’ll be at the Temple Shalom HANUKKAH HOOTENANY in Medford, MA watching the unicyclist & other entertainers, eating some latkes, and signing my new Hanukkah picture book.

hootenanyhttp://www.templeshalommedford.org/joomla/index.php