Hugs and Hurrahs

 Summer is here! As kids (and teachers and parents) across Michigan celebrate the end of a very unusual school year, I’m happy to be able to celebrate some good news from some of our members.

 

Tracy Bilen’s YA romantic thriller, WHISPER (Mirette), came out on May 8, 2021. You can see the book trailer here.

How thrilling, Tracy!

Neal Levin’s poem “When Midas Met Medusa” was included in THE BEST EVER BOOK OF FUNNY POEMS, a children’s poetry anthology edited by Brian Moses (Macmillan Children’s Books). His rhyming story “Billy McBeal and the Best Part of Art” was published in the May/June issue of Spider, his poem “Rain Music” was published in the April 2021 issue of Babybug, and his short story/tall tale “Breakfast in Fastbreak” was published in the April 2021 issue of Spider. Two of his poems, “Cats across the Internet” and “Family Reunion,” were published in the May 2021 issue of the literary journal Better than Starbucks.

Wow, Neal!

Leah Rose Kessler’s debut picture book, RAT FAIR, illustrated by Cleonique Hilsaca and published by POW! Kids Books, is coming out Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

That’s exciting, Leah!

Diane Telgen, a former MichKid now living in Tennessee, wrote a book about Michigan that debuted in May: THE GHOSTLY TALES OF MICHIGAN’S HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSES. Signed copies are available to order on her website.

Yay, Diane!

Kinyel Friday’s book SWIM LIKE THE FISHES, illustrated by Robert Roberson, Jr., comes out on June 15.

That’s fabulous, Kinyel!

Baxter Bramatti’s second self-published picture book, SHADOW SONGS (illustrated by Taylor J. Graham), will be released on June 15. It's a rhyming fantasy tale about a girl who awakes to a mysterious melody coming from a nearby forest. Guided by fireflies, she searches for the source of the sound, but what she sees in the forest might not be what they seem.

How fantastic, Baxter!

Kristin Bartley Lenz (the editor of THE MITTEN) received an honorable mention for her work-in-progress, NEXUS: A NOVEL, in the Springfed Arts 2021 Writing Contest judged by Jacquelyn Mitchard. The New York Times published one of her poems for a special April Poetry Month feature on the theme of renewal. Poems could only be a maximum of 15 words! 

That’s amazing, Kristin! 

Lisa Wheeler’s newest books, SOMEONE BUILDS THE DREAM, illustrated by Loren Long (Dial/Penguin) has received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Horn Book, and Publisher’s Weekly. The book honors the hard work and dedication of folks in the skilled trades as well as laborers, the working class, and the blue collar people who keep our world running. Named an Amazon Best of the Month as well as a Kids Indie Next Pick, it was on the Indie Bestseller List for over a month. What a DREAM come true!

Yes, that sounds like a dream come true, Lisa!

Kat Harrison's sophomore picture book MIGRAINE AND MIA will be released this fall by Warren Publishing Inc.. Illustrated by Lisbon-based artist Marusha Belle, the story explores a migraine attack through the five senses.

I’m so happy for you, Kat!

Cindy Williams Schrauben is now represented by Hannah Mann of Writer's House Literary. Her debut picture book THIS COULD BE YOU will be published in April 2022 by Cardinal Rule Press.

That’s great news, Cindy!

 

That’s it for this time! Have a great summer, everyone! Please send your good news for the next Hugs and Hurrahs post to sarah.prusoff.locascio@gmail.com.