Pre-SENT Squee!

Kirkus reviews AlphaOops: H is for Halloween. And it kind of rocks. Got yours yet? AlphaOops: H is for Halloween ******************************************* ALPHAOOPS: H IS FOR HALLOWEEN Author: Kontis, Alethea Illustrator: Kolar, Bob Publisher:Candlewick Pages: 40 Price ( Hardback ): $15.99 Publication Date: July 13, 2010 ISBN ( Hardback ): 978-0-7636-3966-2 Category: Picture Books Classification: Holiday Series: AlphaOops Volume: 2…

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Happy Almost-Spoleto!

It’s that time of year…time for Charleston’s annual Piccolo Spoleto Festival! It always starts on Memorial Day weekend — this year it runs from May 28th to June 13th. The combination of historic Charleston’s old European charm and the world-class Spoleto Festival USA together produce a unique and impacting synergy for all who come to the city by the…

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AlphaOops: H is for Halloween Auction

…is now up at Do The Write Thing for Nashville: http://dothewritethingfornashville.blogspot.com/2010/05/day-6-item-23.html Bids are already up to $35. (Wow! Thanks!) Come on folks, win it before you can buy it and support a great cause. You have five days to place your bid in the comments (starting yesterday), so keep checking back!

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Doing the Write Thing

Yesterday in my “Muddy Waters” post about the Nashville flooding, I mentioned a few websites, including the Do The Write Thing For Nashville site. They’re getting agents and authors and editors and all sorts of folks in the publishing industry to donate items and time so they can auction them off for big bucks. The proceeds will go to…

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Suitable For Framing

Not only do I have the honor of AlphaOops: H is for Halloween being a Junior Library Guild Selection, but now I have this awesome lapel pin and a certificate suitable for framing. Squee!!!!! This is *so* way better than making the honor roll. Don’t forget — the release date is July 13, 2010. The publisher may sell out before…

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Red Qweens & Free Cookies!

FRIDAY!FRIDAY! FRIDAY! That’s right, York PA’s FIRST FRIDAY event this March 5th will be featuring some spectacular events (see a complete list here), including special appearances at the York Emporium by local poet Barbara DeCesare and yours truly Princess Alethea Kontis! We will be “performing” this night…and I happen to have an almost-finished copy of AlphaOops: H is for…

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Brought To You By The Letter A

I often get asked where I got the inspiration for AlphaOops. It’s true, it did really come out of a discussion at Orson Scott Card’s Boot Camp, but the seed of the idea has been germinating inside me all my life. If your name starts with “A”, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Those of us whose names start…

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Happy Holidays 2009!

This year’s Happy Holidays CD cover was designed by Bob Kolar, illustrator of Racer Dogs, Big Kicks, and the AlphaOops books. Track listing: 1. “If We Make it Through December” — Merle Haggard 2. “First Train Home” — Imogen Heap 3. “12 Days of Christmas” — Relient K 4. “Susie Snowflake” — Rosemary Clooney 5. “Christmas Gift” — Margie…

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