One of the highlights of BEA so far has been an early morning run in Central Park with Christopher McDougall, author of the life-changing book, BORN TO RUN. He is a super-nice guy!! (If you’ve ever thought of running, you need to read this book!)
Help me help Joplin, MO
I am so horrified by the destruction in Joplin, MO, that I am following the enlightened example of Maureen Johnson and am auctioning off a manuscript critique. All of the proceeds will be donated to Shelter Box USA. They do good work for people in need.
I’ll blog with more details later, but right now it looks like the bidding will be done on Twitter on Saturday morning (EST), May 28.
Art Auction + Free Speech = Winning
BEA – the ginormous annual publishing conference – is just around the corner. I’ll be there Monday- Thursday, and plan on having a Very Good Time Indeed.
One of the coolest things at BEA is the Silent Auction. This takes place Wednesday night. The best illustrators in the business such as David Diaz, Mo Willems, Rosemary Wells, and Marla Frazee have donated their art for the auction.
FEAST YOUR EYES ON ALL THE COOL STUFF YOU CAN BID ON!!!
Profits from the auction will support the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression’s efforts to fight censorship of children’s books through education, advocacy, and participation in legal cases around the country. So you walk away with the coolest art in the world AND you support a very good cause!
Yes, it’s true. I am the honorary chairperson of the auction this year. Why? Because there are a lot of crazypants people in this country who want to censor reading choices and ban books. Artists and writers are called to defend the freedom of expression that makes America so special. Booksellers have a role to play, too. The freedom to read is as vital as the freedom to think and to have your own opinion. I am so excited to see booksellers fighting hard to preserve those freedoms.
Buy your ticket and check out the artwork. What will you be bidding on?
Bookseller Love!!
Happy Birthday to my favorite (and my local) bookstore, River’s End Bookstore in Oswego, NY. This week is the store’s 13th birthday, which they are celebrating by unveiling their e-commerce site.
The owners of the store, Bill Reilly and Mindy Ostrow, have made a tremendous difference to the culture of Oswego and to the feel of downtown.
Support your local independent booksellers!!
Awake in the dark
It is hard for me to think about anything except for the struggles of the Japanese people right now.