Hugs and Hurrahs!

Happy Fall Y’all! I’ve harvested a bushel full of happy publishing news from around our marvelous Mitten. Rest assured this edition of Hugs and Hurrahs is full of treats (no tricks) that will leaf you feeling warm, toasty and proud of your fellow Michkids! Now put that donut and cider down for a couple of minutes and celebrate with all your SCBWI Michigan friends! Here we go. . .

Congratulations to Amy Nielander! Her nearly wordless picture book, I AM NOT LEAVING WITHOUT A HUG, was recently acquired by Page Street Kids! Way to go, Amy!

Hats off to Kathryn Allen! Her board book, THIS BOOK, was recently awarded a silver medal in the 2018 Moonbeam Awards. Happy dancing with you, Kathryn!

Three cheers for Joseph Kimble whose picture book, MR. MOUTHFUL LEARNS A LESSON, also won a Moonbeam Award. The book received a silver medal in the category "reading skills/literacy." The awards are presented by The Jenkins Group and IndependentPublisher.com. Way to go, Joseph!  

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Congratulations to Kristin Nitz! Her short story, “Nothing Drops,” about volleyball and the importance of perseverance was recently featured in the October edition of Highlights! Way to go, Kristin!

Happy to announce that Heather Dean Brewer’s debut picture book, LOVE IS POWERFUL, was recently acquired by Candlewick Press and is scheduled for a 2020 release. The book was inspired by a girl holding a "Love is Powerful" sign during the January 2017 Women's March in New York City. Publication is set for 2020. We’re giving you a standing ovation, Heather!

Deb Gonzales recently launched “The Debcast,” a podcast celebrating the tenacious spirit of female athletes of all walks of life - any sport, any age, as well authors who have written about them. Members can subscribe to The Debcast on iTunes or Stitcher. You’re amazing, Deb!  

Shout out to Lauren Muskovitz Ranalli, who recently published "The Great Latke Cook Off", a Chanuakah story about family tradition, friendly competition, and delicious recipes. You can find out more and get your copy at www.laurenranalli.com. Three cheers, Lauren!

Hats off to Lisa Rose! Lisa recently sold two picture books to Rourke Educational Media for the series: Ready Readers- Playing and Learning Together. Lisa also sold her picture book, SENOR SAGUARO, KING OF THE DESERT, to The Little Fig Publishing Co, and has recently signed with agent Leslie Zampetti of Dunham Literary! Happy dancing with you, Lisa!

We’re celebrating with Andrea Contos! KCP Loft has bought her #PitchWars debut YA novel, THROWAWAY GIRLS. Told from two points of view, the story is about a girl whose life is upended by the disappearances of her lover and her best friend, two girls from opposite sides of the tracks, and the discovery that she is the only link between them. Publication is planned for spring 2020.

Buffy Silverman is proud as punch to have a poem in J. Patrick Lewis' gorgeous new anthology, The Poetry of Us published by National Geographic. The anthology takes readers on a journey across the United States, sharing the beauty, diversity, and challenges of our country with stunning photography and poetry. Buffy's stop is Holland, Michigan, with her poem "Tulip Time Festival." So happy for you, Buffy!

Carrie Pearson’s new nonfiction picture book, STRETCH TO THE SUN: FROM A TINY SPROUT TO THE TALLEST TREE ON EARTH, illustrated by the talented Susan Swan and published by Charlesbridge sprouted on October 9. Carrie will be sharing it at various lower Mitten bookstores, libraries and schools in early November.

Carrie’s also celebrating the sale of her picture book biography, A Girl Who Leaped, A Woman Who Soared, about Dr. Virginia Apgar to W.W. Norton's new children's division, Norton Children's. Dr. Virginia Apgar was a trailblazing doctor who invented a lifesaving method of evaluating newborn health used worldwide every day. Nancy Carpenter (BALDERDASH; JOHN NEWBERY AND THE BOISTEROUS BIRTH OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS) will illustrate. The book launches in fall 2020. Happy dancing with you, Carrie!

Congratulations to Rebecca Grabill! Rebecca’s new book, VIOLET AND THE WOLF, published by HarperCollins/Katherine Tegan Books, and illustrated by Dasha Tolstikova, released on October 9. Rebecca has a variety of events sceduled to celebrate including the release party. Rebecca writes: “I’m extending an invitation to all of you to the release event, an open-house-style fun-filled afternoon at Hopscotch Children’s Store in Grand Rapids. The date for the open house is November 10th, 2-4pm. https://www.rebeccagrabill.com/events/violetwoof-release.”

Three cheers to Neal Levin! His poem, "Annie, Get Your Gum" appeared in the July 2018 issue of Spider, his poem "Rumble-Grumble Storm" was in the July 2018 issue of Highlights For Children, and his poem "Good Morning" appeared in the July/August 2018 issue of Humpty Dumpty magazine. Way to go, Neal!

And although it’s not an SCBWI-sponsored event or publication, I’d like to say a heartfelt congratulations to Michigan members Dave Stricklen, Lori McElrath-Eslick and Kevin Kammeraad for their entries in this year’s Art Prize in Grand Rapids! That’s a huge undertaking and we’re proud of all of you!

And last but not least, I’m happy to announce that my picture book manuscript, SCRATCH AND SNIFF, won an Honorable Mention in the 87th Annual Writer’s Digest Contest in the Children’s/YA Category. Doing a little happy dancing myself!

I’ve had so much fun reading, celebrating and posting all of your amazing accomplishments this year. And as always, I’m proud to be part of such a supportive and talented group! Our next Hugs and Hurrahs is scheduled for January 2019. Please send all of your happy publishing news to me, Patti Richards, at pgwrites5@gmail.com.