January 4th
This is the year that two of my books, Miss L’eau and Pythagoras will see the light of day. After sitting for quite some time in my computer, then in the hands of the publisher, longer still in the proofing stage and ultimately in layout … they are set to premiere soon! It has been a long process and I am trying my best to be patient, but I have been a poor student of the
February 3rd
It’s only the beginning of 2008 and this year’s motto is apparently turning out to be “Wait, Hesitate and Procrastinate in ’08!” No, wait! That’s not MY mantra – but it seems to be the slogan of the Powers-That-Be surrounding my beloved book babies, Miss L’eau and Pythagoras. Sigh. The gestational period for my own children only took approximately 280 days, where the Asian elephant takes an average of 22 months to birth their mondo babies. My books might beat that yet and they are only 5.25” x 7.5”! Pardon me while I sigh some more.
February 10th
Good news! Miss L’eau has a shipping date at the end of February, according to my publisher! Woohoo, I say! Woohoo!! Pythagoras is going to marinate a wee bit longer and may be looking at shipment in mid-March. Both books are part of the Autumn 2008 Season launch for Children’s Fiction.
Pre-street copies of both books will go on to be reviewed by some pretty incredible gentlemen:
Pythagoras will be in the hands of Scott Houston, ‘The Piano Guy” [www.scottthepianoguy.com - You may have seen him on his Emmy Award winning television show, The Piano Guy, now available in HD Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 4:00pm EST.] and vibrant children’s entertainer Dan Crow [www.dancrow.com]
Miss L’eau will be sitting pretty with Mr. Leonard Sonnenschein, the President of the World Aquarium and Conservation for the Oceans Foundation (www.cfto.org); Mr. Neal Pargman of Save the Earth Foundation (www.savetheearth.org); Dr. Serge Dedina of WiLDCOAST International conservation team (www.wildcoast.net); the Save Our Seas organization in
Looking forward to seeing what they have to say about both titles.
March 21st
Wait, wait, wait for it … and continue to wait some more. How do you keep an idiot in suspense? That’s an old joke that I’m starting to believe was created just for me. The promotional push on everything has been delayed and we’re now looking at the 2008 Autumn Season as the official release date.
April 18th
Tax Day has come and gone and the stress of THAT doesn’t compare to the interminable waiting for the arrival of Miss L’eau and Pythagoras. I’ve lived with the characters of these books for so long, that it now seems like they’re children who’ve gone off to a Summer Camp from a horror novel or the Roach Motel, “They check in, but they never check out. Mwaah-ha-ha!” Cruel.
April 25th
Miss L’eau arrived today. [Cue the choir of angels here.] 50 Advance Review Copies (ARC) of her. She is heading out into the world on Monday to test the waters, so to speak. I can tell you right now, that opening the cardboard box labeled: Windstorm Creative was agony mingled with relief. A very strange sensation, to say the least. After all this time, it was a bit bittersweet to see one of my “babies” come home, only to be shipped out again shortly. However, like a good mother hen, I’m hoping she’ll go out on her own and return occasionally to make me proud of her accomplishments.
May 2nd
The first review of Miss L’eau is in:
“
Serge Dedina, PhD, Executive Director
WiLDCOAST
I am speechless and humbled.
May 13th
Another review has arrived, from Mr. Neal Pargman of the Save the Earth Foundation. He is who I imagine the character of James grew up to be.
“A contemporary fairy tale that will capture readers of all ages.
Neal Pargman, Founder
Save the Earth Foundation
It moves me to tears that the message of Miss L’eau is being received and appreciated.
May 26th
It was my hope that Pythagoras would join his “sister” and possibly be delivered at the end of the month, but no UPS tracking number has been sent to me by my publisher. Waaah! My office is filled with the sound of a crying baby: me.
June 1st
The third book is now with the Library of Congress and will be sent to the publisher shortly. No Family Tree for Me is the story of a young girl trying to come to terms with her family’s unorthodox genealogy – since both of her parents are adopted. In our house, it’s a theme that runs through our daily lives, as my husband and I are both adopted and it has had an interesting effect on how we view our own family tree.
June 10th
The Advance Review Copy of Miss L'eau is now in the hands of some 8 to 11 year olds and I've just received a review from one, Miss Taylor Mansfield a 5th grader in Santa Clarita, who writes that it is "a great story for kids of any age. An amazing story that teaches us to save the earth and pass on the same influence to other people. This book shows a great message. I would recommend it to anybody who is interested in fantasy and loves the ocean. Thank you T(ea) for writing this book to show us an important message."
June 16th
I've just returned from a fact-filled research trip to Columbia, CA for the next book Fallon Hotel for teenagers. It is a ghost story steeped in California Gold Rush history. I'm not certain, but I do believe I heard the voice of Ezra Dane (the author of Ghost Town) cheering me on while I was there!
June 17th
Ocean Conservancy in Washington, DC has just sent a very nice review:
Miss L'eau combines a fun mystery plot with an important message regarding care of the ocean. I especially appreciated the steps that the boys took to help Miss L'eau's home, as it resembles our own International Coastal Cleanup. Thank you for writing a book that will hopefully lead young people towards a love and stewardship of our world's marine life.
Best,
Francesca N. Veitch
www.oceanconservancy.org June 19th -- Rob Moir, Ph.D., Director, Ocean River Institute
Today I received an incredibly positive and supportive review about Miss L’eau. It is a note like this, that makes me wish more than ever that the message of Miss L’eau reaches the hands and hearts of many and inspires them to follow in the footsteps of the Ocean River Institute:
Students discover how to turn ocean science to advocacy and stewardship for healthy seas when Miss L’eau floods her classroom with the wonder and awe of ocean life. Miss L’eau is ocean literacy at its finest; it shines with bioluminescent light.
Former President, National Marine Educators Assoc.
July 20th
A very encouraging email review arrived from Mr. Leonard Sonnenschein who is the President of the World Aquarium and Conservation for the Oceans Foundation. In it he writes --
"Ms. Katz,
As I am watching 'Horton Hears a Who' on my way to China to help avert a marine disease epidemic, I had the opportunity to read your book "Miss L'eau" and it brought a tear to my eye. Mermaids and wonders of the sea are close to my heart and your book could very well be made into a movie. We have several mermaids at the World Aquarium for the same type of inspiration your book provides. Moreover, we will be having a gala on July 23, 2008 entitled "Feeding Children's Minds" with a mermaid theme and attire preference.
I strongly recommend this fun and imagination-building children's bok and can't wiat to see it on the screen!
Sincerely yours in conservation and education."
Leonard Sonnenschein, President
World Aquarium and Conservation for the Oceans Foundation
Wow! Wouldn't that be something! To have Miss L'eau, James and David brought to life for everyone to see and be inspired by! All of you out there, think good things and make a wish that it comes to pass!
July 25th
Both books, Miss L'eau AND Pythagoras are available on Amazon.com and I could not be more proud (and relieved). The next step is getting reviews back from Pythagoras and to begin the publicity push for both books. I have always been a big believer in that "Wella Balsam Theory" where you tell two people and they'll tell two people ... so there's your task! “Pythagoras is a charming book that I had fun reading with my own daughter. It will, hopefully, be the impetus for many a young “musician to be” that will get them over the hump and to a point of experiencing the pure joy of recreational music making!”
Looking forward to receiving emails with thoughts and opinons from those of you who will get your copies of the books in the mail shortly!
xo - t.
August 5th
Holy smokes! August 1-4, 2008 was the SCBWI 37th Annual Summer Conference and what an incredible event it was. SCBWI stands for: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and if anyone out there has a hankering to become one of those things, this is the place for you. Speakers, Workshops, Presentations, Awards -- it was a jam-packed four days of more information than your head, heart and writing tools can hold! I came away feeling inspired and TIRED, but happy.
August 18th
Tomorrow Elite Magazine is sending a photographer and reporter over to possibly include me in their Oct./Nov. Kids Issue. I say, "possibly" because I know nothing is written in stone - except hieroglypics and I'm not THAT old! Yet.
Lots of great press being generated in the surf, scuba diving and eco blog communities for Miss L'eau.
Next week, both books will make their introduction to school and public librarians. Keep your fingers crossed that Miss L'eau and Pythagoras come to your schools soon!
August 23rd
A letter arrived from Dan Crow today about Pythagoras:
"I always listen to Classical Music when I read. How appropriate that I read your book to Beethoven's Piano Concerto #5 and Chopin's Piano Concerto #1 (with a little spill over into the First Brahms Piano Concerto). Pythagoras is a magical piece of art. I appreciate it so much when I'm exposed to something that is truly "heartwarming". I repeatedly felt this flow of warm joy run thru me while reading this book. When Mrs. Brasshear cried with pleasure my eyes welled up, as they did several times as I was savoring your masterpiece.
I consider myself an avid reader and cannot recall the last time I was so emotionally invested in a book. It, literally, struck all the right notes. Such a beautiful and meaningful story...Heres to living life in the Key Of A!"
Oh. My. Goodness. I cried the way I do after my daughter has won a race or when my son wins an award for a job well done at school -- Pythagoras went out into the world and touched a heart and I feel blessed. Truly blessed that the story came to live in my heart and that I could share it with others.
September 2nd
This past weekend I was fortunate enough to be the hostess of a Dreyers Slow-Churned Neighborhood Salute Ice Cream Social for 100+ neighbors, family and friends. A short little essay (150 words) that I sent off to the company won ice cream for over 100 people!! A dear composer friend, Gregory Hinde, brought a band (literally) of merry men and women to make music for everyone and I believe that a grand time was had by all. Pictures will be sent to the Dreyers website soon.
Today I received a sweet review from Scott Houston (The Piano Guy) about Pythagoras. So, the past few days have been filled with sweetness. I feel very blessed, indeed.
For more information on Scott Houston and his super methods for teaching piano go to www.scottthepianoguy.com
