Greetings from Nowhere: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!

With 2011 drawing to an end, I want to say Happy New Year....

....and...

....thank you all for reading my little corner of the blog universe....

....and for helping to support my work and get my books (and all books) into the hands of young readers.

So....I toast blog readers and teachers and librarians and bookstore owners and writers and readers and parents.

Friday, December 30, 2011

A Year in a Minute (or Two)

Monday, December 26, 2011

The Chick Palace has arrived!

Here it is!!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Ho Ho Ho

Wishing y'all peace, joy, hope, happiness, health, cheer, beer, and all things good.

See you next year!

Friday, December 23, 2011

You know it's winter in New England....

....when you see this sign on the door of a school.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Things I Love Thursday

This little painting in the style of the Florida Highwaymen.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Read this book

I'm a sucker for Southern books.

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood is Southern through and through.

But so much more:

an important story about race, friendships, small town life, and sisterly love.

Augusta Scattergood has drawn on real-life events to create her memorable debut novel.

A writer to watch, to read, to enjoy.

Available January 1!

Read this book.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Bookends

What writer doesn't love bookends?

Since, I'm married to a handyman, I love these.

Read this book

The day after Christmas, when you're through eating and opening gifts and all that stuff....

....and are relaxed by the fire....

....go to Barnes and Noble Nook First

....and buy....

...The Chick Palace...

....by Leslie Davis Guccione.

(available exclusively through Barnes and Noble beginning Dec. 26)

Three Dilemmas

Two Friends

One Deserted Tree House

during a simmering summer on Lake Allamucy

Don't have a Nook? You can download the Nook app to your computer.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Toot toot

Tooting a little horn for The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester and The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis.

Both are on ALSC's (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Early Elementary Reads list.

Toot toot

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Tree is up!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Ready for Santa

Tis the season to be jolly.

The O'Connors are ready.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Things I Love Thursday

Coffee Crisp Candy Bars

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

I love Texans

Look what one of my favorite Texas librarians, Angela Sides, gave me!

It's made from an okra pod.

How cool is that?

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

A great book blog

Check out this blog by school librarian and author, Shelley Sommer.

And, um, this particular post is, um, particularly nice!

Monday, December 12, 2011

I can relate

Thanks to Bookshelf Blog

Friday, December 9, 2011

Coast to coast and back again

One day this week, I was visiting a school on the opposite coast. (They are on the West Coast. I am on the East Coast.)

Then I was at a school here in New England that made me feel so welcome. They posted this sign on every door and up and down the halls.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

In case you were wondering

This clock really does set itself!

Power was out today. Clock all set!

Things I Love Thursday

These little Christmas ornaments that were my grandmother's.
They are porcelain bells.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

I love kids

From a school report by a fan:

Barbara O'Connor is a speaker at conferences all around the World. One of Barbara's books is called A Dog on His Own.

Um, I really hope this kid got a good grade on that report, but, um, Mary Jane Auch wrote A Dog on His Own. Just sayin....

Go, Gucci!

Monday, December 5, 2011

The 4:00 Book Hook

A super newsletter published by a group of super writers.

"...aimed at people who share books with kids: parents, homeschoolers, teachers, librarians, grandparents."

The December/January issue offers some great gift-giving suggestions (including a couple from Yours Truly).