Gosh, you guys.
It is so touching to hear from so many of you.
Turns out I’m not all alone here with my dog, my cats and my racing mind.
But in case you’re just popping in now, I want to let you know that I’m doing a drawing for a signed copy of All the World — mailed to the winner the very day I get my box of books. All you need to do is leave me a comment here or on facebook, or send me an email. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Or, as they say in the hilarious trailer for the new movie In the Loop: difficult difficult lemon difficult.
Sorry. I digress.
Really, it is easy.
Wave a flag and I’ll put your name in the hat — you have until this Friday, August 14th.
In the meantime, a little more news to share in anticipation of the book release.
On today’s menu: reviews, in which we’ve been exceedingly lucky so far.
Or blessed.
Or something.
All the World received a starred review in the most recent issue of School Library Journal .
The reviewer said some lovely stuff about it, too.
I was especially blown away by the last line which just called it "Perfection."
Sigh…
We also were given a starred review in Kirkus, where the book is called "At once a lullaby and an invigorating love song to nature, families and interconnectedness."
And then, to round things out, Roger Sutton announced on his blog that we’ll be getting a starred review in the September/October issue of The Horn Book! The text of that review makes me all swoony, too. It says my words have "a child-friendly simplicity reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown", that Marla’s art brings a "‘family-of-humankind’ vibe" to the page (it also compares her to Virginia Lee Burton!) and it wraps things up with by describing "a sensibility both timeless and thoroughly modern."
Lordamercy.
You remember what I said yesterday about fainting?
The thing about reviews is they’re supposed to help sell books, right? Lots of people argue about whether they do or not, but what I’ve realized, receiving these, is that at least as important to me — as a writer — is the idea that a few folk really kinda get what we were trying to do. Which feels pretty swell…
Now don’t forget to enter your name in the drawing ’cause I’d love to send one of these puppies to you, personally, the very day the box lands on my doorstep. Truly, I would…
Lordamercy is right. I just tweeted this post, because I want ALL THE WORLD to know and get in on the drawing.
And I agree: a reader *getting* your intentions and vision (not to mention your blood, sweat, love and tears) is the best gift ever.
Honey – I’d tweet all about you, too, if I knew how to tweet. Muchos gracias, and your name is in the hat (even though we’ve got a sweet trade arranged!)
Congratulations on the starred reviews!!!
I’d like to be entered in the contest please! I’d love a copy of your book!
(For some reason WordPress won’t let me log in, so I guess I have to be Anonymous. I’m Katie, from pixiepalace.com)
Hi Katie — thank you so much for the congrats and heck, yes, your name is in the drawing!!!
Congrats on all the stars! Wow!!!! 🙂
I’d love to be entered in the drawing. Thanks!
Congrats right back at you, Jo — on star and BOOK RELEASE!!!!
And your name is in the pot — good luck!
I’m so pleased to hear you have an entire firmament of stars coming your way.
Also, I’m now looking forward to seeing In the Loop, about which I hadn’t heard until now. “Difficult difficult lemon difficult”.
OK, so we went to see 500 Days of Summer (which both Kirk and I really liked) and this was one of the trailers and OMG did it look funny. We have both said, “Difficult difficult lemon difficult” like five times since then!!!
(And PS, you’re entered in the drawing!)
Sweet! M and I really liked 500 Days of Summer. S was “meh” about it, but mostly because she’d just broken up with her boyfriend (who heads to college in about 10 days), so it was a timing issue for her.
I would also like to be entered in the drawing (not that I don’t already have multiple copies on order for the library, but you know).
Adrienne — Your name is in the drawing and really, technically, I should just give it to you because I just realized I’ve had your name spelled wrong in my links list for like two years. Which is pathetic. Real suggestions from the children’s room: Spell our names right….
Oh, gosh, you could call me just about any name that started with an “A” and I would answer to it. One of my coworkers called me “Audrey” for years, and after correcting her a few times didn’t make a change, I just went with it.
Audrey. It’s got a nice ring to it. But the thing is, it ISN’T YOUR NAME!!! Which just shows to go what an incredibly easy-going person you are!!!
Congratulations on all those STARS!! Wow and Yowza!! I can see I need to down an entire CASE of champagne each day to keep up with your news :D. Not that I’m complaining or anything . . .
Jama. I cannot be responsible if you choose to do that. Alphabet soup, maybe. Champagne. I don’t recommend it…
Marla shared this book in a breakout session this weekend at SCBWI-LA. It is beautiful. Many congratulations!
Ooooo, I wish I could have time-traveled myself to LA!!! Thanks for the congratulations, Jacqui, and I’ve entered your name in my drawing!
Oh, I’m so happy for you!
Congratulations and we would LOVE a signed copy over here at this house! –Barb Cooper
Re: Oh, I’m so happy for you!
Barb — I would love for you to HAVE a signed copy over there at that house! You’re in the pot!
You’re a star!
Multiple starred reviews, that is awesome! Congrats, Liz, can’t wait to read it! — Kat
Re: You’re a star!
Oh, thanks, Kat. It is nice to get the nods, for sure…
I’m putting your name in the drawing, my friend!
Congratulations to you on your stars. I’d love to have your new book on the boys’ bedroom floor, the dinner table, the bath tub, in the burley.
karl (charley)
I would love that, too, Karl!! I really would. So your name’s in the pot. (And I owe you a major email, too. I haven’t forgotten…)
Tanita Says 🙂
I’m still tickled to death that The Great Horned Book man likes your book. That rocks.
Re: Tanita Says 🙂
Me, too, Tanita. Tickled to death.
(And, plus, now I have an image of Roger Sutton in an owl costume because of the The Great Horned phrasology…)
Congrats on the WONDERFUL reviews! I would love to be entered in your drawing.
Thank you for stopping by, Pam — and yes, your name has been entered!!!
So exciting, Liz! Congrats!
Thank you, HWM!!!!