Tuesday, September 22, 2009

MBA Trade Show


This upcoming weekend is the Midwest Booksellers Association (MBA) Trade Show in St. Paul. I'll be attending as a bookseller with Micawber's. Last year was my first year at MBA as a bookseller. Tom and I walked around together and met the sales reps from many, many publishers. It was a lot of fun because Tom has been in the business for over 30 years and basically knows everyone!

This year, I will also be attending two author meals - The Moveable Feast Lunch on Friday and the Children's Author's Breakfast on Saturday. The Moveable Feast Lunch works like this. You sit at a table and the authors rotate tables every 15 minutes. I won't meet all the authors, but I will receive signed copies of books by the authors that do visit my table.

Some of the Moveable Feast children's authors include Marion Dane Bauer, Janet Graber, Maggie Stiefvater, Patricia C. Wrede, and Kathy-jo Wargin. I'm especially interested in reading SHIVER, the new YA book by Maggie Stiefvater.

Then early Saturday morning, I return to MBA for the Children's breakfast and hear keynote authors M.T. Anderson, Neil Gaiman, Loren Long and Catherine Gilbert Murdock! I seriously can't wait to meet these folks. I absolutely loved THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman!

MBA, for me, is all about meeting authors and getting free books! (It's certainly not about the quality of the food, sad to say.) MBA is also about making connections. Since I'm now buying the children's books for Micawber's, I look forward to meeting with the children's sales reps, some of whom I've only met "over the phone."

The only bad thing about MBA is the rule against rolling carts, strollers (without babies inside), and suitcases on the Trade Show floor. Without rolling assistance, how will I possibly lug all my free books home:)?!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Lynne Jonell at Micawber's


Fall is here and that means the beginning of a new year of Children's Author Events at Micawber's. This Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 1:00 pm is our first event.

Lynne Jonell, author of EMMY AND THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING RAT and EMMY AND THE HOME FOR TROUBLED GIRLS will be our featured children's author. Lynne will read from her new middle-grade novel, THE SECRET OF ZOOM!

Come to Micawber's to meet Lynne, hear her read from her new book, enjoy some treats, and best of all, it's all free!

I hope to see you there - 1:00 pm this Saturday!

Micawber's Books
2238 Carter Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
(651) 646-5506

Monday, September 7, 2009

Art at Rice Creek


This Sunday there is a fun event taking place at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts in Fridley, Minnesota. It's called ART AT RICE CREEK. This family festival takes place Sunday, September 13 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. It will include art workshops, fine art, book readings, Henna painting, a quilt raffle, food, and performances by Chicks on Sticks, Heart of the Beast, Mother Banjo and more.

Plus, I will be there! Between 1:00 - 2:00 pm, Marie Olofsdotter and I will read from our children's books. There will be an ASL interpreter there to interpret our readings. Marie Olofsdotter is a fine artist, illustrator, author and more. Her children's books include SOFIA AND THE HEARTMENDER. I will be reading MURIEL'S RED SWEATER. Muriel, the duck, will also make an appearance. (I wonder how the ASL interpreter does with "duck-speak"?)

This is the 30th year of Banfill-Locke, which is a community arts center offering classes in writing, drawing, painting, and textiles for adults and youth. They also host a Friday Night Reading Series. They are located at:

Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts
6666 East Rive Road
Fridley, MN 55432

Stop by if you have time this Sunday! The event is free and good for the entire family. Say "Hi" if you're there. I'd love to meet you!