We have four great books to celebrate today! Three are by my friends on the SCBWI Blueboard, and one is from a local author. Congratulations to all!

Happy Book Birthday!

CALL ME SUNFLOWER

By Miriam Spitzer Franklin

Published by Skypony Press

From the publisher: Sunny Beringer hates her first name—her real first name—Sunflower. And she hates that her mom has suddenly left behind her dad, Scott, and uprooted their family miles away from New Jersey to North Carolina just so she can pursue some fancy degree. Sunny has to live with a grandmother she barely knows, and she’s had to leave her beloved cat and all her friends behind. And no one else seems to think anything is wrong.

So she creates “Sunny Beringer’s Totally Awesome Plan for Romance”—a list of sure-fire ways to make her mom and Scott fall madly in love again, including: Send Mom flowers from a “Secret Admirer” to make Scott jealous and make him regret letting them move so far away. Make a playlist of Scott’s favorite love songs—the mushier the better—and make sure it’s always playing in the car. Ask them about the good old days when they first fell in love.

But while working on a photo album guaranteed to make Mom change her mind and rush them right back home, Sunny discovers a photo—one that changes everything. Sunny’s family, the people she thought she could trust most in the world, have been keeping an enormous secret from her. And she’ll have to reconcile her family’s past and present, or she’ll lose everything about their future.

Buy the book!  INDIEBOUND  BARNES & NOBLE  AMAZON

MACY McMILLAN AND THE RAINBOW GODDESS

By Shari Green

Published by Pajama Press

From the publisher: Sixth grade is coming to an end, and so is life as Macy McMillan knows it. Already a “For Sale” sign mars the front lawn of her beloved house. Soon her mother will upend their perfect little family, adding a stepfather and six-year-old twin stepsisters. To add insult to injury, what is Macy’s final sixth grade assignment? A genealogy project. Well, she’ll put it off—just like those wedding centerpieces she’s supposed to be making.

Just when Macy’s mother ought to be understanding, she sends Macy next door to help eighty six-year-old Iris Gillan, who is also getting ready to move—in her case into an assisted living facility. Iris can’t pack a single box on her own and, worse, she doesn’t know sign language. How is Macy supposed to understand her? But Iris has stories to tell, and she isn’t going to let Macy’s deafness stop her. Soon, through notes and books and cookies, a friendship grows. And this friendship, odd and unexpected, may be just what Macy needs to face the changes in her life.

Buy the book! INDIEBOUND  BARNES & NOBLE  AMAZON

ROYALLY ENTITLED

By Melody Delgado

Published by Clean Reads

From the publisher: When her family’s cider business is ruined and other local businesses are vandalized, Ani-ka Penning wonders if the recent bout of unrest is merely a result of rivalry between local merchants and noblemen or if something more sinister is at the root of the recent crimes. Along her journey Anika befriends Prince Valdemar, future king of Brevalia but their rela-tionship hits many twists and turns along the way. Lady Winifred Paxel Flemming pursues the prince relentlessly. His grandmother, Queen Marguerite, expects him to wed whoever she thinks is suitable, even if it means marrying a foreign princess he’s never met. Anika’s mother, Lady Sarah, wants Anika to help ease the family’s financial burdens by marrying Erland Riccats, National Chairman of the Merchants’ Guild. Lady Sarah also harbors se-crets regarding Prince Valdemar’s mother, Princess Karin, who met an untimely death years before. In the end, will both Anika and Prince Valdemar be forced into loveless mar-riages, or will they be able to outwit their enemies?

AMULET OF MORGANA

By Jennifer Yen

From the publisher: In book four of the Avalon Relics series, Sophia and her friends are summoned back to Avalon by the Elders only days after being dealt a crushing blow by the Dark Ones. They are asked to continue the search for Laila’s crown, but a surprise attack shatters the bond between the five friends, leaving one imprisoned and the rest wondering just who might be next.

Realizing that the enemy has infiltrated their ranks, the Council locks down the realm while Sophia is whisked away under the protection of master guardian Remiel. With pressure mounting from all sides, Sophia is pushed to her limits and makes a decision that nearly ends in disaster.  Now, she must face the consequences of her actions and attempt to redeem herself. With help from unexpected allies and her own growing power, Sophia must stay one step ahead as she completes the quest for the missing relic.

​Can Sophia overcome her fears and embrace her destiny, or will the Dark Ones finally succeed in tearing the Fearless Five apart forever?

Buy the book! AMAZON

Local Events

Here’s what’s going on around the Greater Houston Area this week. If you’d like to be notified of these weekly updates, please use the Subscribe to Updates form on the sidebar!

For Writers

To see future events, head over to Houston Area Writer & Illustrator Events.

MAY 18, THURSDAY, 6:00 PM: NONFICTION AUTHORS ASSOCIATION: MIKE KOWIS WORKSHOP

La Madeleine Town & Country
COST: MEMBERS: FREE; NONMEMBERS: $10.00

First Time Nonfiction Author Tips for Success: Mike Kowis is a tax attorney by day and award-winning author by night. As a recent first-time author, he brings a special perspective into what it takes to succeed.

Our NFAA local chapters focus on the business side of writing, publishing and promoting nonfiction books. Meeting agendas typically include a guest speaker focused on a topic related to the publishing industry, introductions by all attendees, and a signature mastermind session where three to five attendees are selected to share a publishing-related challenge or question and receive feedback from the group. We meet on the third Thursday of each month to discuss the business side of writing, publishing, and promoting nonfiction books. We welcome experienced and aspiring writers of nonfiction.

MAY 20, SATURDAY, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM: ACFW WRITERS ON THE STORM: LINDA BROOKS DAVIS: THE CHARACTER BEHIND THE CHARACTERS

The Woodlands/Shenandoah Lupe Tortilla
COST: ? For membership information, contact chapter president Kathrese McKee at wots.acfw@gmail.com

Conference Updates

For more conference information and links, visit the main conference pages. If you’d like to be notified of these weekly updates, please use the Subscribe to Updates form on the sidebar!

Agent & Editors @ Conferences

AUGUST 25-27: RED HOT CAROLINAS CONFERENCE, CHARLOTTE, NC

AGENTS: Jennifer Mattson/Andrea Brown Agency; John Cusick/Folio Agency; Jennifer Wills/The Seymour Agency
EDITORS: Carter Hasagawa/Candlewick Press; Aubrey Poole/Jimmy Patterson Books/Hachette Book Group; Alison Weiss/Sky Pony Press
ART DIRECTOR: Laurent Linn/Simon & Schuster BFYR

OCTOBER 25–28: THE RHYME REVOLUTION WEEKEND, NEW HARMONY, IN

EDITOR: Emma Ledbetter/Antheneum/Simon and Schuster
AGENT: Adria Goetz/Martin Literary Management

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