2017 Southern Kentucky Book Fest (Part 1)

If you can only attend one book festival in your life, the Southern Kentucky Book Festival in Bowling Green, KY is the one to shoot for. I have participated in this festival five times in the past seven years, and I must say I always leave feeling thoroughly satisfied. The festival organizers, volunteers, and Barnes and Noble staff all recognize me now and show such southern hospitality it should be bottled and sold!

It's also my opportunity to connect with my favorite author and illustrator friends and to make new friends.

Silly Selfie with Bestie Lori A. Moore!

Long time friend, silly guy, and mathematician Bruce Kessler!

Long time friend Middle Grade Author Gail Nall hijacking
R.L. Stine's name tag!

Brooks Benjamin fabulous teacher of important things
 and Middle Grade author!

Bestie Debbie Dadey famous author of
The Baily School Kids and Mermaid Tales!

Longtime friend Middle Grade author Kristin Tubb!

New friend debut author and fellow Ohioan
 Meghan Colvin!

It's Emily's chance to pick out a new book to read, and she usually picks an author she hasn't read yet. Last year she chose Paper Wishes by Lois Sephaban and this year she chose Tower of the Five Orders - The Shakespeare Mysteries by Deron Hicks. She also brings her sketch books to show our  friend author and illustrator Mark Wayne Adams.

And if you ever wondered what family members do while authors and illustrators are signing and schmoozing? Well Bobby and Emily go horse back riding at the Jesse James Riding Stables, they tree-top zip-line, they hang out at Chaney's Dairy Barn, and they eat tons of Krispy Kreme donuts!

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by Literacy Musings Mondays for more great blogs as well as my personal website Fun With Aileen where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own chapter and picture books. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.

Easter, Love, And An Out of Control Book!

 Last week we gladly took the week off for spring break, and I caught up on my to-do list while Emily caught up with her friends. In addition, we had a visitor in our front yard. Usually, we find our visitors in the back  yard where the feeders are.

This past weekend my family also celebrated Easter and all the beauty and splendor it holds. The only sad moment occurred when everyone grabbed a plate off of the table, and I realized I had set ten places instead of nine. When my mom was with us the number was ten. It had been ten for the four years since my had dad passed away. I do not love the number nine nearly as much as I loved the number ten, and I might forget the number is still not ten from time to time, but I comfort myself that one day I will see my mom again and numbers won't matter any more!

And finally, I read two fun books from my library pile. The first book I read is cute, fun, and has some audience participation required. It is called This Book IS Out of Control and is the story of Ben and his new fire trick. Or more aptly, the remote control that comes with his fire truck. Ben takes his new toy and remote to his friend Bella's house to show it off. But instead of making his firetruck work, Ben's remote does strange things to the dog. Needless to say, a very unusual time ensues.

The second book I read is I Love You Forever and it is a beautiful quiet picture book about a mom's answer to a child's question of when she was cuter, when she was younger or now. It reminded me of something I have said to my daughter since she was tiny which is, "I will always love you no matter what!"

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by Literacy Musings Mondays for more great blogs as well as my personal website Fun With Aileen where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own chapter and picture books. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.

Ohioana 2017

Those of you who have been following me for a long time know that one of my favorite things about being an author is attending book festivals. And this past Saturday I participated in the 11th Annual Ohioana Book Festival.

I was super excited to catch up with author friends. One of those friends, Lisa Amstutz, is a phenomenal nature author. Her latest book is all about gardening.

There was my friend, Julie Anne Lindsey, who writes mysteries under the pen name Julie Chase. How can you resist someone who writes mysteries involving cats?

 
There was my friend, Tricia Springstub, who writes for children.

 
And there was my friend, Tara Tyler, science fiction/fantasy writer.

 I also met several new friends. Illustrator Tim Bowers who illustrated four books I have read, reviewed, and enjoyed plus numerous others.

 

Author/Illustrator Adam Watkins whose bot books I can't wait to read.

Author/Illustrator Lindsay Ward who shared the back story of her latest book Brobarians. Who knew inspiration could come from Connan the Barbarian and your husband and his brother? She also created this year's Ohiana poster.

 

Cartoonist Steve Harpster who has some awesome how to draw books for kids.

Author/Illustrator Bill Cotter who is genius because he knows that kids always want to do what you tell them not to do.
 

Illustrator Joe Sutphin who illustrates for James Patterson and Sheila Grau for a start.

And author Marilyn Sadler who has sooo many interesting books including a new math inspired series that she co-authors.

So as you can well guess, I didn't have time to read and review any new books, but after introducing you to my friends from Ohioana, I'm pretty sure I've given you some great books to check out!

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by Literacy Musings Mondays for more great blogs as well as my personal website Fun With Aileen where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own chapter and picture books. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.

April Showers

I'm sure you've all heard the old saying April Showers Bring May Flowers. However, in case of those of us living in Ohio, April showers bring April flowers. Crocus and daffodils are the early spring flowers around here, and I look forward to them each year.

And speaking of showers, when it rains it pours. The other night our microwave gave up the ghost and joined our grill in appliance heaven. Now most of you probably don't know just how much my husband, Bobby, despises shopping, especially on a Saturday. Well, let me assure you it is an immense amount. But when the appliance you use the most, after the fridge and the coffee maker, dies, you just have to bite the bullet and go in search of a new one.

So with determined spirit, I encouraged Bobby to drive me to Wal-Mart where we chose a new one. And since we were already out, and already driving past Sam's Club, and I'd been trying to get him to go there for months, I also wrangled him into stopping there and looking at the grill I've had my eye on for quite some time. So now, I can officially heat left overs and grill those burgers, hot dogs, and kabobs!

April also means my busy season of book fairs and traveling. Next weekend I will be participating in Ohioan in Columbus and would love for any fellow Ohio friends to stop over and visit a while. And toward the end of the month, I will be attending the Southern Kentucky Book Festival in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and the Local Author Fair at the Birchwood Public Library in Freemont, Ohio.

And Finally, April means Easter. Well , at least this year it does. Do you find it strange like me that sometimes Easter is in March and sometimes in April? Apparently it has something to do with a Fourth Century ruling that placed Easter on the first Sunday after the Full Moon of Spring. This means Easter can be as early as March 22cd or as late as April 25th. Just thought I'd sneak a little history lesson in on you there.
 

Which brings us to this week's book reviews or shall I say Easter Book List. These books have been around for a while, but they still continue to be family Easter favorites. There is of course, The Parabel of the Lily available in both English or Spanish versions.

There is The Story of Easter.

There is The Jelly Beans And The Big Dance which isn't really about Easter, but who can resist jelly beans.
 

And while I've yet to read the book, God Gave Us Easter, I would love to read it soon!

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by Literacy Musings Mondays for more great blogs as well as my personal website Fun With Aileen where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own chapter and picture books. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.