Good News 2024 | April - May
LESLIE BARNARD BOOTH
EVENT: Leslie is hosting a story time event with puppet theater for her picture book, ONE DAY THIS TREE WILL FALL, on Saturday, April 20th at 11am. The event will take place at Bookish (335 NE 5th Ave, Camas, WA).
MARY MATTHEWS AND JENNY ABELING
EVENT: Mary and Jenny are hosting a book launch event for their new picture book, A KIDS BOOK ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE, on April 25th at 4pm. The event will take place at Bridge Meadows North Portland (8502 N. Wayland Ave, Portland, OR).
RYAN MIDDAUGH
BOOK RELEASE: Ryan’s illustrated picture book, DOMINIQUE'S THRIFTED TREASURES, written by Margarett McBride, released from Free Spirit Publishing on February 27, 2024. ⭐ Ryan also illustrated the cover for Kate DiCamillo’s MG novel, FERRIS, which released March 5, 2024.
LESLIE BARNARD BOOTH
BOOK RELEASE: Leslie’s picture book, ONE DAY THIS TREE WILL FALL, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman, released from Simon & Schuster/McElderry on March 26, 2024. Discover how a tree’s wounds and decay bring new life to the forest ecosystem in this lyrical nonfiction picture book for fans of BECAUSE OF AN ACORN and A STONE SAT STILL.
NORA ERICSON
AWARD FINALIST: Nora’s picture book, TOO EARLY, illustrated by Elly MacKay, is a 2024 Oregon Book Award Finalist.
ZOEY ABBOTT
BOOK DEAL: Zoey has signed a book deal for her new picture book, THE PORTRAITIST, with S&S/ Caitlyn Dlouhy Books. THE PORTRAITIST is the story of a traveling painter who makes new friends. Publication date TBD.
SANDY GRUBB
BOOK RELEASE: Sandy’s debut MG novel, JUST LIKE CLICK, releases April 16, 2024. Eleven-year-old Nick Townley steps off the comic book pages he creates and ventures into the night as an undercover superhero to save his home and his father’s job—which would be a lot easier if he had actual superpowers. When three new kids discover his identity and want to join him, Nick vows to stay undercover…until he realizes even a superhero needs friends.
SONJA THOMAS
BOOK RELEASE: Sonja’s MG novel, OLIVE BLACKWOOD TAKES ACTION!, releases from Simon & Schuster/Aladdin on May 14, 2024. An anxious aspiring filmmaker bands together with an unlikely friend group to protect their beloved state animal in this heartwarming contemporary MG novel perfect for fans of Jamie Sumner and Erin Entrada Kelly.
GABI SNYDER
BOOK RELEASE: Gabi’s new picture book, LOOK, illustrated by Samantha Cotterill, is a JLG Standard Selection and releases from Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books on April 16, 2024.
TERESA KLEPINGER
BOOK RELEASE: Teresa’s two NF picture books, HIDDEN ANIMAL WEAPONS AND DEFENSES and SURPRISING ANIMAL WEAPONS AND DEFENSES, release from Capstone Press on August 1, 2024. Both books are available for preorder now.
ELIZABETH RUSCH
AWARD: Elizabeth won the Golden Kite Award for NF for Older Readers for her YA novel, THE 21: THE TRUE STORY OF THE YOUTH WHO SUED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OVER CLIMATE CHANGE.
DAWN BABB PROCHOVNIC
SIGNED AGENT: Dawn signed with her new agent, Gaby Cabezut of The Seymour Agency, on March 1, 2024.
MARY MATTHEWS
BOOK RELEASE: Mary’s illustrated picture book, A KIDS BOOK ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE, written by Jenny Abeling, releases from A Kids Co. on April 2, 2024. This book will spark conversations in families and communities about what it means to care for and support others as well as the importance of long-term care.
Good News 2024 | February - March
KAREN HOLMBERG
BOOK RELEASE: Karen’s YA novel, THE COLLAGIST, winner of Fitzroy Book's Achevan Prize, releases in April 2024. Determined to unlock her father’s secretive, rage-sealed heart, Romilly must convince him to help an otherworldly Collagist return to his island home.
DEBORAH HOPKINSON
BOOK RELEASE: Deborah's new NF picture book, DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illustrated by Jen Hill, releases from Balzer & Bray on February 27, 2024.
ELIZABETH RUSCH
STARRED REVIEW: Elizabeth’s YA novel, THE TWENTY-ONE: THE TRUE STORY OF THE YOUTH WHO SUED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OVER CLIMATE CHANGE, was named a People Magazine “Must Read” and a NYPL “Best Book of the Year.” In their starred reviews, Kirkus described THE TWENTY-ONE as, "Nail-biting…A moving and absorbing account of an urgent case,” and Booklist called it, "Action-packed…vivid…inspiring.”
SONJA THOMAS
AWARD: Sonja’s MG novel, SIR FIG NEWTON AND THE SCIENCE OF PERSISTENCE, was named a 2022 Oregon Spirit Book Award Honor Book for middle grade and a 2023 Washington State Book Award finalist in the Books for Young Readers category.
DANI NICHOLS
AWARD: Dani’s picture book, BUZZ THE NOT-SO-BRAVE, illustrated by Kristin McNess Moran, won a Will Rogers Medallion Award for Excellence in Western Literature in the Kids category.
JEAN HOLLAND COPELAND and KRISTI COPELAND BEYER
BOOK RELEASE: Jean and Kristi’s MG novel, PIRATES BEWARE!, released December 8, 2023. This stand-alone book continues the exciting adventures that began with THE CAPTAIN SCALLEYWAG series.
GABI SNYDER
BOOK RELEASE: Gabi’s picture book, TODAY, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, releases January 30, 2024 from Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books.
MARGAUX MEGANCK
STARRED REVIEW: Margaux’s picture book, SPECK: AN ITTY-BITTY EPIC, releasing March 19, 2024, has received two starred reviews from Kirkus and The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.
NORM GROCK
BOOK RELEASE: Norm’s illustrated MG novel, THE THREE WISHES, written by Shannon Gilligan and the third book in the Choose Your Own Adventure series, releases May 7, 2024 and is available for pre-order.
