SOLD -- DEATH BY TOILET PAPER

I'm delighted to announce the sale of my new middle grade novel, DEATH BY TOILET PAPER, to Michelle Poploff, Vice President and Executive Editor at Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books.

Michelle Poploff

I'm forever grateful to my agent, Tina Wexler, at ICM Partners for helping me find the story I was trying to tell and selling it to a wonderful editor. 

Tina Wexler

 I've worked on versions of this story for years, and it's going to be a DOOZY!!!

Here's the announcement from PublishersMarketplace:  Donna Gephart's DEATH BY TOILET PAPER, about a contest-crazed seventh-grade boy whose attempts to save his family from eviction result in battling a bully, keeping a difficult promise and creating a wedding gown made entirely from toilet paper for his zany zeyde to wear.

Publication of DEATH BY TOILET PAPER is slated for FALL 2014.

And in other good book news:  OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN comes out in paperback March 2013 -- in time to celebrate Jeopardy's! 50th anniversary and Alex Trebek's 30th anniversary as host.  

***  HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM A VERY HAPPY AUTHOR! ***

Young Artist

Thank you . . .

by Sailor, age 9

SHE'S HERE . . .

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN!

Crystal, rockin' a pair of red sunglasses.

To read Ken Jennings' (Jeopardy! champ) quote about Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen or to get a FREE reader's guide or to challenge yourself with some fun trivia, click HERE, then hit the Olivia Bean tab.

Two years ago, when How to Survive Middle School came out, I was up to my eyeballs in work and dressed like a homeless person when two friends arrived with amazing surprises.  Read about it here.  

This year, I worked like crazy the weeks leading up to today, so I could enjoy the day.  It's not every day your book lands on bookstore shelves across the country!

My talented author friend Maria Padian reminded me yesterday of the brilliant chapter in Anne Lamott's book Bird by Bird, where she talks about publication.  I re-read it last night.  (By the way, Maria's gripping, glorious book JERSEY TOMATOES ARE THE BEST is also celebrating a book birthday today -- the paperback release.  If you haven't read it yet, treat yourself!)

So, what happens when a book is released?

Nothing.

That's right.  Absolutely nothing.  There are no parades, fireworks or marching bands to mark the day.  

Unless . . .

You have the most wonderful friends and family!

Two years ago, this is how I celebrated my book's release.

Today, my dear friend, Sandra, stopped by to deliver these . . .

Sandra owns a local music school, Jupiter Academy of Music.  She's forever doing wonderful things for the community, including creating the Grace Notes Foundation, to provide music education for children who can't afford it.  Love that lady!

Sandra Baran

Later, my friend Holly and I are having a quiet lunch to celebrate my book's birthday and her actual birthday.  Then hubby is taking me and the boys out for a fun dinner.  Can't wait! 

So, I'm going to enjoy my book's birthday for the same reason I enjoy every day -- my wonderful friends and family.  

Thank you!

With love,

Donna (and Olivia)

Update:

And from my wonderful friend, Holly:  Lunch out and these carrot cupcakes with citrus cream cheese frosting and a specially designed Olivia Bean card . . .

When I came home, I found these waiting for me . . .

Thank you, uber-amazing agent, Tina Wexler!  Olivia LOVES her birthday balloons!

I'm having more fun today celebrating Olivia's book birthday than I have celebrating my own birthdays!  Thanks so much for all the cards, gifts, kind words, hugs, emails, etc.  You sure know how to make a girl feel special!

Hubby and sons just took me out to Howley's -- a fun diner in West Palm Beach.

And gave me this Jeopardy! card . . .

What is "Woohoo?"

So, what's the plan for tomorrow? 

Writing.

And our son's winter sports banquet.  Woohoo!

I'M BACK . . . AND GIVING SOMETHING AWAY!

Hello!  My name is Blog.  And it's so good to be back!

Lots of fun things in store, but first . . .

What might YOU have in common with Alex Trebek, Ken Jennings and, um, my dad?

This . . .

I have TWO advanced reader's copies to give away.  And I want to send them (autographed, of course) to YOU!

All you have to do is tell me IN TWELVE WORDS OR FEWER why you want a copy of OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN.

Most creative comments will be selected on Thursday, September 22nd.  (Please check back to see if your comment was selected.)

The celebrity judges are as follows:

Jazzy Jaz

Tennis Ball Teddy

Benji, aka Butthead

Enter your brief creative comment and maybe you'll have something in common with Alex, Ken and Jack (my dad), who all have copies of OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN!

This contest is not open to residents of the State of Confusion or any of its territories.  Decision of judges is final.  Bribes in the form of kibble will be happily accepted.  Void where fun and silliness are prohibited. 

Good News and a Contest!

My editor just shared the wonderful news that How to Survive Middle School went into its SECOND printing, after being in the world less than a week! Go, Hammy!

Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen, my third book, is finally finished (for now) and on my agent's desk. I had so much fun learning quirky trivia and about the show Jeopardy!. (Yes, it's supposed to have an exclamation point after it. I mean . . .!!!!!)

A big thank you to Cindy Hudson for her review at The Mother Daughter Book Club. Check out Cindy's book!

Now, onto that contest: The LOVELY LADIES, Mary Hershey and Robin LaFevers, at Shrinking Violet Promotions have launched my novel with a giveaway. Answer a question on their blog, and you'll be in the running to win a nifty autographed copy of How to Survive Middle School. (Rumor has it Hammy will sign it as well.)

Spread the hamster love!

Five Days?

Really?

Gene Hull, book reviewer for Florida Scripps Newspapers, wrote a lovely review of my new book.

After reading his review, I realized MY BOOK COMES OUT IN FIVE DAYS!



I've been so absorbed in the world of Olivia Bean, young trivia whiz who will do anything to get on Kids Week on Jeopardy!, that I forgot about the new book release . . . until my friend Deb sent me an e-mail: "Hey, what are you doing to celebrate your book's release on Tuesday?"

"Um . . . "

"We're going out for sushi, then to look for your book in Barnes and Noble."

"Okay. Thanks, Deb!"

Olivia Bean hasn't been the only think occupying what little brain space I have left after dealing with two teenage boys.

These guys have been wearing me out . . . in a good way.

Benji, in a rare non-chewing moment

Teddy, getting some attention from hubby.


What we get to come home to each day.

Life is good. And hey, I have a new book coming out in five days. Wahoo!

SOLD!

This past November, needing something to kick-start a new book, I decided to write a novel in a month.

So . . .

After 29 days of intense writing, I typed the last words of OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN. It's about a trivia-obsessed girl who will do anything to get on Jeopardy! . . . and to get her father back home. Throw in a goofy little "bother" who spouts gross trivia, a mom who loses her job at the local newspaper, her mom's (Ugh!) live-in boyfriend and an annoying boy next door, whom Olivia absolutely, positively does not like (except when she does) and you've got OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN.

If you'd like to read about the experience of writing a novel in a month, click here. If you want to read about each day of NaNoWriMo, start here. (There's a fun trivia question at the end of each day.)

I sent a five-page synopsis of OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN and the first fifty pages to my uber-agent, Tina Dubois Wexler. She sent them to my wonderful editor at Delacorte Press, Stephanie Lane Elliott.

Tina called with the delightful news that Stephanie has acquired rights to publish OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN.

WAHOO! It will be my third novel with Stephanie and Delacorte Press.

For some reason, with the sale of a third novel, it feels like this is more than a lucky break . . . or two. This feels like a career. My career -- a career I've long dreamed of and worked toward.

As if that weren't enough good news, HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL comes out April 13th, and I'm busy preparing to speak at schools, bookstores and conferences. My schedule is filling fast, so if you'd like to arrange an author visit, please get in touch soon.

After that, AS IF BEING 12 3/4 ISN'T BAD ENOUGH, MY MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT! comes out in paperback in time for summer reading -- May 25th.

Who knew that this nerdy kid, who used to ride her purple, banana-seat bike to the local library in Philadelphia would end up creating books that have landed on the shelves in that very library?

Although I'm a person of many words (Really. Ask my husband and kids.), I have only one to describe how I'm feeling: GRATEFUL!