All the Fun Stuff Going On . . .

The past 5 months, I've had some late nights and long weekends writing and revising and re-revising DEATH BY TOILET PAPER.

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of hitting "SEND."  My agent, Tina Wexler, responded with an e-mail that every writer dreams of -- praise so generous it made me tear up.  Twice.

Now, I'll work with my editor, Michelle Poploff, and the awesome team at Random House to make this the best book possible.  I can't wait for its release next year!

I've been doing lots more than writing and revising these past five months.

There have been oodles of school visits, including the week I spent in Fort Worth, TX with incredible hosts, extraordinary students and . . . Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Eager Briscoe Elementary students

I've traveled the country virtually doing tons of Skype visits, like this one with 6th grade students in VA . . .

Thanks, Ms. Buchanan, for sharing your FUNderful students with me.

I've received lovely notes from students, including these thank you letters from Mr. Schu's students in IL and Ms. Luchie's students in ME from World Read Aloud Day. 

Thank You Notes from Mr. Schu's students.  (Dogs not included.)

Teddy guarding the thank you notes from Ms. Luchie's students.  (Thanks, Teddy!)

I created a fun OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN quiz for Random Buzzers that includes trivia and a chance for kids to earn Buzz Bucks and "buy" books with them.  Check it out!

Recently, I spoke at a luncheon with Jim Cummings.  He spent a year in Africa with no running water or electricity and counts it as the best of his life.  Jim has created an amazing project -- KIJANA EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE -- which connects children across cultures, provides educational spaces, puts books into kids' hands in Kenya and more.

Kijana Educational Empowerment Initiative

There are only 4 days left to contribute to his Kijana Lwanda Maktaba Campaign.

There are great "thank you" gifts for even the smallest donation.  Won't you take a moment to donate?  I just did.  Kijana Lwanda Maktaba Campaign.

HERE'S WHAT I'LL BE DOING THROUGH THE END OF APRIL . . .

1.  APRIL IS FOR AUTHORS -- Saturday, April 27th at Palm Beach Gardens High School, 25 authors from around the country will give presentations, participate in panel discussions and sign books at this FREE event from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.   This is a wonderful annual event.  If you live in or near Palm Beach County, FL, be sure to stop by this Saturday.

2.  I'll be attending the 26th annual CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN'S LITERATURE in Ft. Lauderdale Friday.  I had spoken there a few years ago.  This time, I'm going to enjoy a great lineup of speakers, including the Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Walter Dean Myers.  Can't wait!

3.  And I'll be doing THREE days of local school visits. 

I'm excited about each of these visits, but especially about the last one because . . . Thanks to the generosity of Kids in Need, Books in Deed, a nonprofit organization, every one of the students I'll be speaking to at this Title I school has been given a copy of one of my books.  A brand new book to keep.  (Something I never had growing up.)

I can't tell you what it feels like to present to a group of low-income students who ask how they can get a copy of a book, only to be told there are no copies for them.  Kids in Need, Books in Deed is a great organization, and I've already made a donation to thank them for the important work they do here in Florida, getting books into kids' hands in conjunction with author visits.

After the whirlwind of activity the past 5 months and what's on the horizon for the remainder of April, I'm pretty sure on May 1st, you'll find me here . . .

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! ***

NERDS (and Elvis) IN NEW YORK!

When hubby had a business trip to New York, I tagged along.  We spent our first day enjoying Central Park.    

Nerds in Central Park!

Everything was in bloom.

Then we geeked out Times Square, taking in the lights and sights.  Had the best vegetarian burgers at Ted's Montana Grill.  The next morning, our friend Elysa drove from Connecticut to spend the morning with us.  She helped us get half-priced tickets for Memphis.

Our lovely friend, Elysa.

After Elysa left, an hour before the show, the lens popped out of my glasses.  We ran to the nearest Lens Crafters, where the person repaired my glasses, then we grabbed a bite and hustled to the theater.  Made it there in plenty of time to stand in the longest women's bathroom line ever.  And still was on time for the show!

After the fun musical, we strolled around Rockefeller Center and watched the ice skaters.  (Last time I was there with Elysa, they cleared the ice, and a man skated onto the ice to a woman and proposed to her.)  

Hubby and I saw many landmarks, including this one . . .

That evening found us in Rizolli Bookstore. This is what an independent bookstore used to be . . . and should be still.  What a joy!  I stood in the children's section and got all weepy, feeling so grateful to be part of this wonderful field. 

Monday found me in the lobby of our hotel, meeting a teacher (with whom I've only corresponded) and her daughter.

Tracy Smith and her lovely daughter, Victoria.

They treated me to breakfast at Carnegie Deli.  We had a lovely time getting to know each other.  I found out that Victoria plays drums, and they have a great shelter dog . . . just like we do.

When they headed to the American Museum of Natural History, I walked in the opposite direction to a meeting at Scholastic.  I knew I was in the right place when my name badge had Clifford, the Big Red Dog on it.

So happy to finally meet my Storyworks Magazine editor, Lauren Tarshis.  She's worked at Scholastic for over two decades, but we connected when I read and fell in love with her book, Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree.  Lauren has written several books.  And she also contributed a wonderful blog post about how to write a good short story.

Lauren Tarshis, editor of Storyworks and Scope magazines, author and mother of four.  Aka:  Superwoman!

Lauren introduced me to the magazine group and the people who choose the books for Scholastic's book fairs and clubs.  Then she treated me to a lovely lunch at the Scholastic cafe.

On the way out, I said so-long to Clifford the Big Red Dog, who stands guard near the front desk.  

Then I began the looooong trek back from SoHo to Mid-town.  Despite the cold weather, I vastly prefer walking to taking a cab.

Of course, along the way, I stopped in The Strand Bookstore.  And Books of Wonder, where I had the impossible decision of buying one of their amazing cupcakes or browsing the books.  I choose the books.  And I'm glad I did because manager, Scott, ended up chatting with me for half an hour about our shared love for children's literature and the amazing events they are prepping for this weekend.  Then, of course, I bought a book!

To continue my nerd love for New York City, I stopped in the New York Public Library.   In the main reading room, I sat and gazed up at the paintings of clouds on the ornate ceiling, grateful to be in that hallowed space.

Hubby and I enjoyed a lovely dinner with my agent and her family.

The next morning, I met the talented woman who edited all three of my novels -- Stephanie Elliott.  She has left Random House, so I was happy to reconnect with her and her adorable daughter and stroll through Central Park and catch up. 

Stephanie Elliott

Then off to lunch at Cognac, a great French restaurant, with my agent and wonderful new editor, Michelle Poploff, who took over the torch of Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen and worked hard to give it the best start she could.  I look forward to working on future books with Michelle.

Michelle Poploff, Vice President, Executive Editor at Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers (Random House)

Tina Wexler, Senior Agent with International Creative Management

My last meeting was with my publicist, Paul Samuelson.  Besides sharing great ideas, Paul and I discovered we spent our childhoods at different branches of the same library system -- The Free Library of Philadelphia.  Who knows how many enthusiastic book nerds that library system helped create?!

Donna, Elvis and publicist, Paul Samuelson.

One of the may things I learned during this trip is that children's book publishing companies retain a sense of fun in the workplace and are filled with dedicated professionals, who are passionate about producing and promoting children's literature.

Hubby and I spent our last night in New York revisiting Rizolli Bookstore and buying several books and EATING!  After a big dinner, we treated ourselves to dessert of crepes, hot chocolate, etc.  And headed home, full of sights, sounds, nerdy book love and FOOD!

We love New York!