Nice News and Lemon Squares to Celebrate!

My editor made my day when she sent an e-mail telling me that As If Being 12 3/4 Isn't Bad Enough, My Mother is Running for President! made the The Children’s Book Council / International Reading Association Children's Choices list for 2008. This is particularly gratifying as the books were chosen by children.

THANK YOU!!!

Then the lovely Natasha from MawBooks sent an e-mail letting me know that she made the lemon square recipe at the back of my book with her sons. And blogged about it here.

Natasha's sons are too cute not to show you their pictures, so here they are . . .




And, if you're wondering how those lemon squares turned out . . .




Thank you, Natasha, for sharing your baking adventures with your adorable sons and hubby. And thank you for suggesting that creating the lemon squares might make a nice activity for mother/daughter book clubs.

If you liked the lemon squares, just wait till you see the recipe at the end of my next book!

Cheers,
Donna

Happy Surprises!

Since the publication of AS IF BEING 12 3/4 ISN'T BAD ENOUGH, MY MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!, I've gotten many happy surprises.

I was happily surprised when Children’s Book World in Haverford, PA picked my novel as their staff pick and wrote: "Fabulous middle-grade novel about an awkward spelling-bee champ whose governor mother is running for the Democratic nomination. Timely, funny and written in a great voice."

Jean Westmoore’s review in the Buffalo News made my day. “This entertaining novel offers believable middle school situations, a riproaring finale and a funny, memorable heroine.”

And twice this week, neighbors stopped by to tell me they read and enjoyed my book, and one was a retired police officer!

Janeen Mason created this fabulous, scrabbulous greeting card in honor of my Scrabble-loving character, Vanessa:

Janeen’s artwork is full of bright color, like her personality.

And my long-time friend, Jeanne --

whose name is mentioned in my book, disguised as the name of as Vanessa’s favorite restaurant: Hurricane Jeanne’s – sent me this yesterday . . .

Mrs. Perez’s Lemon Squares! And a card full of sweet, funny references to my book. Thank you, Jeanne!

And thank you to those who have given me so many happy surprises since my book’s release!

May your days be full of happy surprises, too!

Hugs,
Donna