School Library Journal had some nice things to say about the audio book for No Castles Here. They liked the novel, calling it a “heartwarming, wonderfully written story,” and enjoyed John Mayer’s narration. You can read the whole review here.

April is a busy month.

On Saturday April 18 at 1:00 p.m., at the Barnes & Noble in North Haven Connecticut, I will run a workshop for teachers on sparking ideas for their middle grade and young adult students. Then from 1:30 to 3:00 I’ll read from and sign paperback editions of No Castles Here.

On Saturday April 25, from 3:00 to 4:00 at the NESCBWI “Many Voices” conference in Nashua, New Hampshire, I will present a workshop entitled “Dealing with White Default.” The conference promises to be very interesting.

Then on Wednesday April 29, from 9 a.m. to 12:15, I will be at the Korn School in Durham, Connecticut for their Writers’ Jubilee. I will teach two workshops for third and fourth graders on “Sparking Ideas for a Story.” That should be a whole lot of fun!

If you are at any of these events, come on over and say hello! I’d love to meet you.

Well, what do you know. No Castles Here is also available in a five CD set from Books on Tape.

I am tickled.

It’s funny how I find out about some reviews quickly (like when Kirkus gave No Castles Here a star — yay!), and some get buried.

BookList isn’t exactly a small potatoes reviewer. And yet I only found out today that they reviewed NCH back in December 2007. Yup. Over a year ago. And it’s really very nice, saying, among other things, that it’s a “heartwarming novel.”

The full text on the BookList site is only available by subscription, but this website reprinted the review here, with permission. (Many, many thank yous!)

Now here’s a review I missed from Curled Up With a Kid’s Book, “a reading resource for kids, teachers, librarians and parents.”

This is a first novel for author Bauer, and it is an exceptional presentation. Middle-school boys, the toughest reading students, will enjoy this story and the characters Augie, Dwaine and Fox Tooth. The characterization of bullying is well done, as is the presentation of the Big Brother program and its address to stereotypes.

Thank you Curled Up With a Kid’s Book!

You can read the entire review here.

The audio book for No Castles Here is now available for download! It’s narrated by John H. Mayer — you can hear a snippet of his read at Audible.com. (Click on the arrow beneath the book cover.)

Whee!

Yes, Kids Heart Authors Day was a success! The Alphabet Garden played warm host to seven authors and many dozens of patrons.

I sat at a table with Tony Abbott and Leslie Bulion — which was a great move. Tip to all aspiring authors: if you only have a few titles to sell, it helps if the person sitting next to you is a household name. It was fabulous seeing all these emergent readers shyly coming up to Tony, eager to have him sign their books. He was so gracious and engaging. They gushed about his Secrets of Droon series and eagerly looked at his many other titles on the table. And when they were done being thrilled by Tony, parents and siblings cocked their heads and noticed Leslie and my books. “What are these about?” they asked.

Across the store, Donna Marie Merritt and Kate Duke sat at one table, while Kathleen Kudlinski and Pegi Deitz Shea sat at another. They drew a steady flow of younger children with adults who looked at (and purchased) their beautiful picture books (and a few novels). All the while, the wonderful folks at the Alphabet Garden helped kids make Valentine’s Day cards with paper, cut-outs, scissors, glue, markers, crayons, and all kinds of glittery items.

What fun for all!

Just a reminder that this Saturday February 14 (yes, Valentines Day), from 10 to noon, I will be appearing at The Alphabet Garden in Cheshire, Connecticut, for Kids Heart Authors Day.

Come join me, Tony Abbott, Leslie Bulion, Kate Duke, Kathleen Kudlinski, Donna Marie Merritt, and Pegi Deitz Shea! We’re going to have fun.

I am very excited to announce that No Castles Here is on the American Library Association’s 2009 Rainbow List!

Compiled by the ALA’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table and Social Responsibilities Round Table, the annual list “presents current well-written and/or well-illustrated books, with significant and authentic GLBTQ content, which are recommended for people from birth through eighteen years of age.”

I am truly honored. Thank you!

On Saturday February 14, from 10 to noon, I will be appearing at The Alphabet Garden in Cheshire, Connecticut, with a whole bunch of talented authors for the Kids Heart Authors Day. Folks at Kids Heart Authors paired authors all over New England (and NY) with independent booksellers in their area. I am going to be with a remarkable crew:

* Tony Abbott
* Leslie Bulion
* Kate Duke
* Kathleen Kudlinski
* Donna Marie Merritt
* Pegi Deitz Shea

Come join us!