So, happy first day of Spring, folks. If you’re in Pennsylvania like me then you’re getting snow!

Despite the snow lots of fun things are popping up that I wanted to share with you as release day for Joshua and the Lightning Road quickly approaches on May 19th!

My print galleys are in! My wonderful publisher Georgia McBride, with Month9Books, sent me this fun video of the galley of my book. (A galley is the pre-publication version of an upcoming published book that is a printed, perfect bound book).

It’s still a dream to me that the book I started writing four years ago for my son is becoming published. And I can now share this wonderful endorsement I received by New York Times bestselling author Jenny Nimmo. And here’s what she had to say about Joshua and the Lightning Road:

Vividly imagined characters in a gripping action fantasy that never lets you go until the very last page. –Jenny Nimmo, New York Times bestselling author of the Charlie Bone series

But there’s also a story here – Jenny is my son’s absolute favorite author and to have her endorse this book I wrote for him makes me cry with happiness. She read the book in her converted water wheel home in Wales and I loved knowing that she was reading Joshua and the Lightning Road there by the river.

She lives not too far from Bristol, England where I lived with my parents long ago. My husband and son are planning an England visit in a couple of years and Jenny welcomes us to visit her. I imagine standing beside her and my family with book in hand by a Welsh river, and it makes me all sparkly inside.

And these gorgeous goodies that came in the mail make me all sparkly too! Who doesn’t like buy valium bookmarks? I love them so much I am giving them away to the first five folks that comment here (U.S. only please).

Plus I’m a featured author today on YA FEST Junior! I had fun talking about authors I admire and how my fantasy characters were inspired by real people – and share my advice to young writers. Don’t miss this event April 25th at 2pm at Bethlehem Public Library in Bethlehem, PA, where I’ll be signing galleys with almost 20 other authors and illustrators.

I’m also presenting a session at my very first writer’s conference tomorrow at Liberty States Create Something Magical Conference in Iselin, NJ. I’m teaching a session called 5 Things to Do Right Now Before You Get a Book Deal and leading a panel with my good friend, Kathryn Craft, on The Line Between Good and Evil.

And tomorrow is the last day to comment and be entered to win this great book bundle giveaway. I cleaned out my bookshelves recently and made some awesome finds in fabulous condition. A great mix of fantasy, historical, and contemporary. And since I’ve got spring fever soooooo bad I’m giving them away!

And don’t forget to check out my new Kid Heroes series and nominate your very own kid hero to be featured. For each kid that I feature I will donate $10 to the Kids Wish Network, a special program that grants wishes to kids who face remarkable challenges and are in desperate need of hope.

A reminder to visit Project Mayhem, a cooperative blog of middle grade authors, that I’m excited to be part of as a new member. We’re sharing our journey to publication and all things about kid’s books.

Thanks for sharing in my journey to becoming a children’s author! Happy Spring…maybe!

DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT TO GET THESE GORGEOUS BOOKMARKS!