A Philadelphia kidlit event

Hello, Scuttlebutt readers,

I hope you’re doing well! I’m sorry I haven’t written lately. I’ve been hunkered down with a slow-moving first draft of a writing project, growing moss between the toes and cobwebs behind the ears and generally transforming into a neglected garden gnome as I try to pull words together into a shape that looks something like a story. (I occasionally have to leave the house to take my kids to school or events, so if you have seen a neglected garden gnome wandering the sidewalks of western Pennsylvania in a daze, that’s why.)

Anyway, I’m writing to you quickly today because if you live in or near the Philadelphia area, I wanted to be sure you knew about an upcoming kidlit event where I’ll be speaking with two middle grade author friends of mine, Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison, at Celia Bookshop in Swarthmore! We’ll be in conversation on June 13th at 7 pm, and you can RSVP at the shop’s website here. Readers of all ages are welcome! (I promise to clear away some of the ear cobwebs for the occasion.)

If you aren’t yet familiar with Laurie and Cordelia’s writing for young people, I highly recommend their books! Laurie writes novels for upper middle grade readers (think ages 10+), often about girls who are passionate about sports. Cordelia is a fantastic poet who writes novels in verse for middle grade and YA readers. They have even written a middle grade novel together, half in prose and half in verse! Even if you can’t join us next month, please take a look at Cordelia’s Lilac and the Switchback and Laurie’s Where Ella Went for the kids in your life.

I have loved hearing from many of you who’ve read The Tinkerers over the past six months, by the way. Thank you for picking up the book and for sharing it with your young readers! (If you haven’t gotten a chance to read it yet, I hope you’ll check it out for your kids’ summer reading lists—or your own.)

Okay, back to gnome form for me. Have a wonderful summer!

Caroline