Book Launch

Yes, the life of an author is incredibly glam. This video is dead-on.

The Children's Choice Book Awards

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind for me, as you can tell from the lack of posts. We had a death in the family just prior to a wedding in the family (which was this weekend), and some stupid and sudden health stuff for me I had to deal with (can you believe you can fracture your hand while gardening? Take it from me, you can!)

My husband and I went to the first Children's Choice Awards show last week and it was SO much fun. Lemmee see...should I talk about the great food served in teeny tiny adorable lime green Chinese food containers, or all the glitterati literati? I think I'll go with the latter. (I know, shocking I'm skipping the food - but not to worry, I will talk about the fab-u desserts.)

The host with the most was children's book author Jon Scieszka (the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature). He was a great choice and was very funny. They had some kids bringing in the envelopes as the winners were announced, and they hammed it up just enough to get a laugh.  

And the winners were...

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year—Frankie Stein by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Kevan Atteberry, published by Marshall Cavendish
Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year—Big Cats by Elaine Landau, published by Enslow Publishers
Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year—Encyclopedia Horrifica by Joshua Gee, published by Scholastic Paperbacks
Illustrator of the Year—Ian Falconer for Olivia Helps with Christmas, written by Ian Falconer and published by Simon & Schuster
Author of the Year—J.K. Rowling for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, published by Scholastic

I met Ian Falconer for the first time and tried very hard not to geek out on him which is difficult since I think Olivia is a perfect picture book. I also spoke with Brian Selznick, who presented Al Roker of the Today Show with the 2008 Impact Award for his middle grade book club. Brian's fabulous book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret was Al's first pick, and since Brian won the Caldecott for it this year, he went on the Today Show for that too, so he and Al are practically biffles now. 

Now for the desserts. KILLER desserts. They had:

• Cotton candy
• Mini metal tins with creme brulee
• Cheesecake "lollipops"
• Shot glass sized servings of milkshakes
• I forget what else

Since my hand is in a brace, it's hard to type, but I will try to post as often as I can. Next week I'm off to California for a school visit in SF, a store visit just outside LA (at Adventures For Kids in Ventura-come see me!) and a pit-stop at BEA. Can't wait!

Rejected Covers

I find this fascinating - though it could be just me, since it is my book. But if you're at all curious about the process of the designing of a book cover, check out the blog of my art director on The Curse of Addy McMahon.

Party Report

The party was fantastic! There were tons of people there and they all bought stacks and stacks of books. The staff at Bank Street was fabulous, helping me set up the Plates of Appeasements I brought. Just like in the book, they were filled with all the major food groups: Oreos, gummy worms, and cookie dough (actually Cookie Dough Bites candy for this purpose!) You can't really tell from this picture, but I hot-glued roses in mini bouquets, and curled sparkly pipe cleaners as "posts" for the sign,

 which read, (in Addy's handwriting, of course!) "Plate of Appeasement". I also had a PoA for cheese and crackers, even though they're not in the major food groups.

Here I am with my brilliant editor, Steve Geck, and my fab-u agent, Elizabeth Harding.

We had a little playlet to lead into the reading, which was really fun! I got three real, live, sixth grade girls, just like in the book (yes, my characters are alive to me!) and they begged "Addy" to see her autobiogra-strip. She taught them how to say it properly. Here they are at the after-party:

Then I read from the giant blow-ups of the first autobiogra-strip in the book, and continued with the rest of the first chapter. It was so exciting! (yes, I was a tad over-dressed, but hey, after nine years of living in pjs and wearing no makeup, I thought, "I'm going to wear a Dress).

Toward the end, we also had a prize drawing...

And lots of guest stars, like...

Alvina Ling, a Little Brown editor, and Betsy Bird, Librarian Extraordinaire (can you believe I didn't get a picture of her? I'm so mad! I forgot all kinds of pictures, so I'm making due). I also didn't get a shot of a few other lovely librarians who came, including the fab-u Judith Rovenger, and the wonderful designer of my cover, Victoria Jamieson and Barbara Trueson, who also works at Greenwillow and a WHOLE BUNCH of other authors and illustrators. I didn't even get a shot of a pile of my books, a sight which always thrills me. Hey, I'm easily thrilled, what can I say?

See you soon,

Katie

Tonight's The Night!!

My launch party is tonight and I'm so excited! We have all kinds of fun things planned - this isn't your grandmother's book party! LOL

My aspiring filmmaker son is going to make a little movie of it for me, so if you can't be there, you can be there virtually in a week or two. Okay, gotta go get the goodies...see you tonight, I hope!

Remember:

Bank Street Bookstore
May 1, 5-7pm

See you soon,
Katie

Last Night's Chat Transcript

If you couldn't make it, but have a desire to weed through this transcript, be my guest. There were some very cool kids on this chat! I am the one they refer to as Fab Female, aka FF!


eFAB FEMALE said: I’m ff for April - but April ends tomorrow! I plan on staying fab after that, well into May.
ZOEY said: o haha, good idea
ZOEY said: so FF why dont tell everyone about yourself?
FAB FEMALE said: Okay. My name is Katie Davis (as you know, and since I’m a grownup, I get to say my name!)
N.A.N.I_973{ItS aMaZiNg} said: iight
FAB FEMALE said: I have two kids, one is a middle sch girl, in fact, and a son, a budding filmmaker. My daughter is a great writer too.
puppypal said: cool
m1chii said: oh thatsz kool
FAB FEMALE said: I’ve written a lot of books, not all of them good (14 1/2)
N.A.N.I_973{ItS aMaZiNg} said: OoOoOoOoO
FAB FEMALE said: but the one that just came out is great and I love it to death!
ZOEY said: what were your books about?
m1chii said: waht books have you written
FAB FEMALE said: The first 7 are picture books: Who Hops?, I Hate To Go to Bed...Kindergarten Rocks! The novel is The Curse of Addy McMahon.
cOoCiE MoNsTeReT said: fab feamale i write scary stories
FAB FEMALE said: Its about a girl who basically blames a curse for all her problems.
FAB FEMALE said: Cool! Scary stories! love that.
puppypal said: do you only write chapter books?
FAB FEMALE said: Nope.
Asianlala_tigger said: those book seem cool
cOoCiE MoNsTeReT said: i like to write to exress myself
FAB FEMALE said: Also picture books, a YA (unpubbed) and Im working on a graphic novel easy reader.
FAB FEMALE said: that is a great way to express yourself. check this out: the girl in my book writes and illustrates her diary – its a comic book - and she calls it her autobiogra-strip
N.A.N.I_973{ItS aMaZiNg} said: lol
FAB FEMALE said: im going to start a site where kids can go (link?) to make their own.
puppypal said: cool
FAB FEMALE said: You can get a signed copy this week ifyou want - I;m having a big launch party in NYC at Bank Street Bookstore (everyone is invited!) and if you order one from them, theyll hold it for me to sign! I think that's so cool
N.A.N.I_973{ItS aMaZiNg} said: do u only write books 4 kids
Chelia13 said: did you always want 2 be a writer?
FAB FEMALE said: I never knew it was a job! I thought authors were some lofty species I would never be a part of
Chelia13 said: haha
m1chii said: lol
Chelia13 said: i want 2 be a writer!!
FAB FEMALE said: but I always wrote and drew. and I stunk by the way.
m1chii said: how long dose it take you to write a book
Chelia13 said: lol
Asianlala_tigger said: Fab female do u write any teen book
FAB FEMALE said: you can see how bad I was on my site - go to the info page, and click on sketchbook!
*FabuLus** =P said: has any of your books ever been a best seller?
FAB FEMALE said: Yes! Who Hops? and Kindergarten Rocks!
FAB FEMALE said: In fact, the state of Georgia just bought 80,000 copies of KR to give to every kid going into kindergarten in the state!
Lookie13 said: cool
cOoCiE MoNsTeReT said: i alwaays wanted to be a author
puppypal said: wow
ZOEY said: thats soo aewsome!
FAB FEMALE said: keep writing coocie and you will be.
Asianlala_tigger said: FAb female how long have you been a author?
FAB FEMALE said: since kindergarten.
*kittylover* said: wow!!
FAB FEMALE said: published? for 10 years
Chelia13 said: i rly want to be a writer. i even am starting a book
FAB FEMALE said: good! thats how you do it.
puppypal said: i like writing stories
*kittylover* said: wut would ur advice be if i wanted to write a book
FAB FEMALE said: You just write. and write and write.
ZOEY said: so do you girls have any like specific questions for the FF?
FAB FEMALE said: We call it B.I.C. Butt in chair. You don't sit and write you won’t get a story!
cheska11 said: did a publisher ever reject any of your stories?
m1chii said: lol
FAB FEMALE said: journals are fantastic to practice your writing – it’s just for YOU
03:11 PM regId: 3674 SaborLatina said: plz
03:11 PM regId: 2180 *kittylover* said: ya did u get a lot of rejections for your story at first FF?
FAB FEMALE said: YES! The book that’s out now - a YA - has gotten 13 rejections SO FAR!!!!
SaborLatina said: lol
FAB FEMALE said: You need a thick skin to be a writer.
FAB FEMALE said: I think Harry P. got rejected 27 times. I bet they feel like stupidheads!
FAB FEMALE said: you guys go here: http://www.katiedavis.com/movies and watch the book trailer.
cheska11 said: is there a spanish copy available?
FAB FEMALE said: not yet, cheska! sorry!
N.A.N.I_973{ItS aMaZiNg} said: ooooo dats cool
greendayrocks101 said: oooooo awesome!
FAB FEMALE said: I know, right?!
candy women said: well im going to see your book and read one it seems they are interested
ZOEY said: whats the podcast about?
FAB FEMALE said: brain burps about books its called - you can search it on iTunes
FAB FEMALE said: Im doing videos about books.
m1chii said: the tralor waz good and funny
Chelia13 said: funny!!!
Lookie13 said: i love it
FAB FEMALE said: does it make you want to read the book?
Chelia13 said: yeah!
N.A.N.I_973{ItS aMaZiNg} said: yea
FAB FEMALE said: it took me NINE years to write, so I'm hoping so!
candy women said: i loved it its funny
Bubbles123 said: wow!
puppypal said: totally!!!!!
ZOEY said: but haha sadly i do have to wrap up this huge chat... sorrrrry
FAB FEMALE said: okay, Zoey, thank you so much! this was so much fun!
*FabuLus** =P said: thanks for talking to us
*kittylover* said: thanks FF that was awesome
FAB FEMALE said: It was my ppleasure!
Chelia13 said: u r awesome!!!
blue lover said: bye
FAB FEMALE said: bye everyone! you guys rock!

Last Day (A Kind-of Acrostic Poem)

Pleeeeeze forgive me!
Oh! How I wish I could’ve kept up with a poem a day.
Even though I failed at that, I learned
That I like writing poems – who knew?!
Really!
You should try it. It’s fun.

Maybe I’ll try again next year.
On the other hand it may be better just to do it without that pressure!
Now I know, though, that I can write poetry if I want to.
That’s all I have to say.
Hello just 30 days ago, and now, goodbye to poetry month.

Zoey's Room Chat right now!

If you are a middle school girl - and ONLY middle school girls are allowed, come join me in a chat on zoeysroom.com - you'll have to log in. I'll be in the Fab Female room - where else?!

Today, April 29, 2008 at 4pm!

My First Chat Is Tonight!

Want to join in the fun? Email thepageflipper@yahoo.com and you'll get an invitation sent to you!

It's at 8:30 pm EDT! And don't forget my chat tomorrow at 4pm EDT at zoeysroom.com!

See you soon!

Katie

Tag...You're It!

Lizann Flatt has tagged me for the book meme. Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences, so if my math is correct that’d be sentences six, seven and eight.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the blogger who tagged you (so in my case it’s Fiona and if I tagged you then you post here to my blog).

My five:

The Page Flipper
LookBooks
Dianne de Las Casas
E. Lockhart
C.L. Freire