Jean Alicia Elster was invited by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, in Ann Arbor, to give a presentation in honor National Book Month and the 250th birthday of the United States. Her presentation was titled “Use Your Voice” and focused on learning and sharing family history through oral histories. She also shared portions of some of the oral histories she obtained from her family and showed how she used them in the narratives of her books Who’s Jim Hines?, The Colored Car and How It Happens.
Jean is also very pleased to share that her nonfiction essay “Oral Histories and Gifts of Place” was published in the online magazine Women Writers Women’s Books on September 3, 2026.
Way to go, Jean!
Mary Zychowicz would like to share the good news her debut picture book, Little Buddy was published on August 4, 2026 and is available to order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers.
Little Buddy is delighted when Farmer Art chooses him from all the tractors on the lot. Together they work hard to take care of the farm throughout the seasons. But one winter morning after a long, cold, snowy night, Farmer Art doesn’t come to start Little Buddy’s engine. Time passes, and Little Buddy begins to deteriorate and feels forgotten until a familiar visitor from the past shows up, giving him new hope.
Illustrated by Aline Cardoso Macedo E Silva and published by Lawley Publishing.
Congratulations, Mary!
American Christian Fiction Writers has been an invaluable resource, and she is looking forward to gleaning helpful advice from the judges’ comments, weeding out words, tending her text, and cultivating her craft. You can follow her adventures, or perhaps misadventures, on her Barnyard Blog at lovefromthefarm.com. Well done, Kathleen!
Rhonda Gowler Greene’s The Not-So-Silent Night: The Joyful Noise of the First Christmas was released October 6 with Scholastic/Little Shepherd. It’s gotten strong reviews from PW and Kirkus. It was selected for the prestigious Society of Illustrators Original Art Show in NYC (10/31/26 - 1/30/27). Wazza Pink is the illustrator.
Rhonda’s If You Want to See a Narwhal (coming January 12, 2027 with Little, Brown; illustrator - Xin Li) has received a *starred* review from SLJ and a positive one from Kirkus.
And Rhonda recently sold two picture book manuscripts - one to Sleeping Bear Press (Way Up at the North Pole: A Christmas Counting Rhyme; illustrator - Petra Brown; release Fall 2028) and the other to Doubleday (When the Animals Heard About You: Collective Nouns on the Move; illustrator - TBA; release Spring 2029).
We're so happy for you, Rhonda!
Ann Dallman received a five-star review from Reader Views for Cady and the Birchbark Box. This is the second book in her award-winning Cady Whirlwind Thunder mystery series. Awards for this book include: State History Award/Michigan Historical Society, UP (Upper Peninsula) Notable Book and New Mexico/Arizona Book Award finalist.
From Reader Views--At a Glance: This middle-grade historical mystery follows a fourteen-year-old Potawatomi girl investigating an antique box and journal that reveal secrets involving Great Lakes maritime history and a misunderstood family legacy. Set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the gentle, character-driven story explores Indigenous traditions, identity, friendship, and the importance of uncovering the truth.
Best for Readers Who Enjoy: Middle-grade mysteries, Indigenous cultural fiction, young amateur detectives, historical family secrets, Great Lakes history, Native American traditions, intergenerational family relationships, coming-of-age stories, gentle mysteries, books about truth and reputation.
That's wonderful, Ann!
Please join me in congratulating our talented and prolific colleagues!
Next quarter's Hugs and Hurrahs will be in the new year. Please feel free to send your good news any time to aewhodgson@gmail.com.
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