Two weeks of touring down--one week to go! And since I'm currently in TX--and have to be up at the crack of dawn in order to make it to my morning school visit--I'm putting the links together much earlier than normal. Which may mean some of you who send your links late get missed this week. Sorry--things will hopefully be back to normal soon.
In the meantime, thank you for your patience, and for supporting me on tour (still several events to go--check my events page HERE to see if one of them is near you), and--more than anything else--thank you for this:
In case you don't recognize what you're looking at, that is the New York Times Bestselling SERIES list (!!!! a.k.a. "the uncrackable list.") And that is KEEPER sitting pretty at #6, with all the cool kids.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
And as if that weren't amazing enough, you also made LODESTAR debut at #92 on the USA Today Bestseller's list (top 100, baby!).
I don't know if you realize how incredible those things are, but they are HUGE. I'm still in shock. And YOU GUYS made it happen. Thank you for buying LODESTAR and spreading the word about the KEEPER series. You have officially made me look *much* cooler than I probably deserve.
*tacklehugs you all*
Also--final reminder--if you missed the pre-order giveaway, there's still a few days left to get the swaggish goodies. The special arrangement I made with Changing Hands for you to get a slightly cooler swag pack along with a signed (and personalized if you want it) copy of LODESTAR doesn't end until 11/16. Go
HERE to take advantage.
Okay, onto
MMGM!
- My Comfy Chair is spreading some love for FOXHEART. Click HERE to see why.
- Mark Baker is reviewing ... oh wow, it's LODESTAR! (!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!). Click HERE to see what he thought.
- Justin Talks Books is talking up THE KID WHO BECAME PRESIDENT. Click HERE to read his feature.
- Faith Hough is raving about THE INQUISITOR'S TALE. Click HERE to see what she thought.
- Bookish Ambition is spotlighting THE HUMAN BODY. Click HERE to see what they thought.
- Got my Book has an audiobook review of CIRCLE OF MAGIC. Click HERE to see what they thought.
- Greg Pattridge is giving a shoutout to THE BOY WITH 17 SENSES. Click HERE to read his review.
- Children's Books Heal is championing THE POET'S DOG. Click HERE to see why.
- Completely Full Bookshelf is recommending THE SECRET GARDEN. Click HERE for their review.
- The Mundie Moms are always huge supporters of middle grade. Click HERE for their Mundie Kids site.
- Shannon O'Donnell is back--and planning a weekly MMGM again. Click HERE to see what she's talking about this week.
- Karen Yingling also always has some awesome MMGM recommendations for you. Click HERE to which ones she picked this time.
- Joanne Fritz always has an MMGM for you. Click HERE to see what she's talking about this week
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count--but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you're featuring and a link to your blog at SWMessenger (at) hotmail (dot) com. (Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately--and please don't forget to say what book you're featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday. (usually before 11pm PST is safe--but if I'm traveling it can vary. When in doubt, send early!) (Also make sure the post you send me is a new post, not one from earlier in the week. I try to keep the content fresh)
If you miss the cutoff, you are welcome to add your link in the comments on this post so people can find you, but I will not have time to update the post. Same goes for typos/errors on my part. I do my best to build the links correctly, but sometimes deadline-brain gets the best of me, and I'm sorry if it does. For those wondering why I don't use a Linky-widget instead, it's a simple matter of internet safety. The only way I can ensure that all the links lead to safe, appropriate places for someone of any age is if I build them myself. It's not a perfect system, but it allows me to keep better control.
Thank you so much for being a part of this awesome meme, and spreading the middle grade love!
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
I've had more than a year to plan this post and find some meaningful, articulate way to express how it feels to watch my very first book launch into the world. But... I'm not sure the words exist. Either that or my brain is just far too loopy from all the craziness surrounding release.
Seriously though, it's a bizarre mix of emotions.
There's THE HAPPY that comes with seeing my book on store shelves, surrounded by so many other amazing books that I love and admire. There's THE HOPE that it will find its way into readers hands and hearts. And of course there's THE FEAR, which I am trying not to focus on.
But I think more than anything, there's THE GRATITUDE.
Not only does this book exist because of the help and guidance of MANY people (the KEEPER acknowledgements section is epic length!). But it also wouldn't exist without all of you. This blog was where the whole "trying to get published" thing became real. In fact, you guys were some of the first people who knew I'd gone back to writing. I met my Crit Partners here. And all of you have cheered me on through all the crazy ups and downs of this journey and kept me going.
I will never be able to thank you enough for all that you've done (and will do) to support me and my writing. So I will give you the only thing I can. KEEPER isn't *mine* anymore. From today on it's yours. And I really, REALLY hope you enjoy!
(and uh.... feel free to NOT tell me if you don't) :)
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE!!!!
Since I can't hug all of you, I will hug the only thing I can!
Oh, and if you would like to read the first three chapters of KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, you can do so
HERE. There's also still time to pre-order the signed copies with the special swag and help support Kids Need to read by going
HERE. And if you live in SoCal I hope I will be at the Oceanside B&N at 6:30 tonight for the Launch Party. There will be prizes and cupcakes and rambling--and I will probably get a bit emotional. Hope to see you there!
So... yesterday THIS happened:
And a day later I still have no words. Because really--THERE ARE NO WORDS!!!!
None.
Zero.
I mean... how do you... ?
I can't even...
Yeah.
Just... whoa.
WHOA.
*stares*
*stares more*
*still staring*
I wasn't going to mention it or talk about it or draw any attention to it because...
a) That's rather hard to do without words
b) It feels sort of... ookie.
Like hey guys--LOOK AT THIS. Like I'm complimenting myself somehow, even though I'm not the one who wrote the ad or knew it was coming or had anything to do with it. It's just weird posting such an indescribable thing being said about me. Well... said about my books. But I mean, I did write them so it's indirectly about me--but it's more about my books I guess. Gah--I'm rambling, aren't I?
*goes back to staring*
But apparently a bunch of you guys saw it in Shelf Awareness and noticed it and contacted me about it to make sure I'd seen it (HUGE thanks to all of you who tweeted or emailed me links) and I started to worry that I'd seem a little... ungrateful if I didn't mention it. Which I would never want.
So I'm posting it.
And rambling awkwardly about it.
And you can't see it but there's been a whole lot of twitching and fidgeting and deleting things as I've tried to put enough words together to make this awkward post.
And I'm still having second thoughts about posting it (especially since I also feel like I probably haven't said anything coherent). But I'm posting it.
*clicks schedule before she can change her mind*
And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to staring.
Happy Book Birthday, Sophie (and Shannon)!
Happy Debut Day! Enjoy your special day!
Happy Book Birthday, Shannon! Congratulations and have an awesome debut week!!!
I HEART U. That is all.
Woo-hoo! CONGRATS!!
Congratulations, Shannon! =o)
Big Congrats to you, Shannon! I hope you enjoy every second of this memorable day. I wish you and Keeper much success!
Yay! Congrats!!!
Dang it...wished I lived in SoCal!! Enjoy your day, Shannon and I am so so so looking forward to reading this!
Happy day!! :)
YIPEEEEE! Yay, Shannon!
My first email of the day was from Amazon informing me my pre-ordered KEEPER has been shipped. Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend. ;)
Happy, happy Book Birthday, Shannon! I'm SO VERY happy for you and PROUD of you!!! xoxo
Happy Book Birthday lovely Shannon - and Baby Book is looking as shiny and sparkly as mum!! :-) Take care
x
Congrats and Happy Book Birthday!!!
- Jessica @ Book Sake
Congratulations again!
I can HAVE Keefe? ALL TO MYSELF? (You just said it was "mine" now...right? *sees a million people in their Team Keefe gear* *sighs*)
Happy release day!!!!
yay! Happy release day! I can't imagine the emotions! Enjoy!
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY SOPHIE!!!!!!!!!!! and of course Shannon! It has been incredible to watch your journey. I've been following your blog since you got Agent Laura and now we have your book in stores. Amazing!!
Happy Launch Day, Shannon! Congrats!
I'm so ridiculously excited for you, Shannon. You deserve this.
Happy Book Birthday Shannon!! So happy for you, and I hope you have your shades on, because your future is BRIGHT!! I know you worked hard to get to this point, and you deserve all the good things! Enjoy your special day. I plan on picking up your book at Powell's sometime this week.
WHOOO HOO!!!!!!!! Happy dancing!!!! Can't believe it is finally here!! Here's wishing you much success and lots of happiness!
Woo-hoo!!! Can't wait to read Keeper of the Lost Cities.
Enjoy every second of this, Shannon. You've earned it. You deserve it. Wishing you happy, happy days.
Yeah! Happy launch day! CONGRATS!!! Have fun at the launch party. : )
Shannon, this book looks and sounds fantasmic, and you'll be getting another sale right after I publish this comment. :) Looks like you were up a lil' late posting this – can't say I'd be able to sleep, either. You must be beside yourself. Btw, I heard about the release through Elana's blog. I LOVE THE WRITING COMMUNITY – don't you?
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Oh! I meant to tell you – Keeper of the Lost Cities appeared *right in the middle* of the row of Children's new releases in my Goodreads email this morning. Pretty friggin' cool!
Congratulations, Shannon! Yay!!
I'm so glad there is a photo of you hugging it. But really, ALL THE CONGRATSSSSSS!!
Congrats!!! So excited for you! :-D
Happy Book Birthday - must be very exciting and satisfying after such a long journey! Hope the school visit went well today!
Found your book and devoured it! Loved every bit of it! You are a wonderful author. Congrats on being published and winning a new friend/fan!
Congratulations!
Woohoo!!!! Congrats!! So excited for you :)
Congratulations on your Book Release Day!!! I'm making a trip to the bookstore definitely. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
You made me cry. :') Happy Book Birthday, Shannon! Here's to many MANY more!
Congrats, Shannon! What an amazing day for you!
Congratulations, Shannon! Happy Book Birthday! I got my copy today! Yipeee!
P.S. After school today, I was telling some of my mom-buddies at the park about the latest MG book they HAD to get for their kiddos, when we were interrupted. A ten-year old girl was listening in. She asked what happened in the book. I told her what I had read on the blurb and the first couple chapters I read yesterday on-line (thank-you). She got out her little school notebook and wrote down the title very carefully.
"THAT sounds like a GOOD Book!" she said. Tickled me pink!
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, #1!!!! I couldn't be happier for you--truly. :)
Congratulations! How exciting to be living your dream!
Congrats, been excited to read this!
Congratulations! What a thrill to see your book on the shelves!
Cindy
That's super awesome! Congratulations!!!