Well, today's Friday Fun Guest Blogger of the Week is... uh... me! Why? Because I'm leaving next week for my GOOD ENOUGH Book Tour May 5-14! So a couple updates before I leave!

NPR "All Things Considered" interviews me!

The NPR report by Karen Grigsby Bates about the sad closing of famous independent bookstore Dutton's Brentwood Books aired between 3 and 4 p.m. on NPR's "All Things Considered." And if you were listening to the program, yes, that was me on the air!

If you missed the report, you can listen to it here at NPR's archives...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90111771

... and check out a photo I took of Dutton's courtyard on the website!

VROMAN'S BOOKSTORE PRESENTATION

Last night, my friend Michael Reisman (author of the YA novel SIMON BLOOM THE GRAVITY KEEPER, Dutton '08) and I were the guest speakers at a writing workshop class taught by Kerry Madden (JESSIE'S MOUNTAIN, Viking '08) held at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena.

Michael, Kerry, and I belong to The LAYAS, a collective of Los Angeles-based published YA novelists. You can check out our myspace page here:

http://www.myspace.com/loslayas

Michael and I had a lot of fun talking with Kerry's writing students about our own writing journeys and how we got published. We also answered their questions. I showed my original manuscript plus what the editor's letters plus the galley looked like and walked the students through the steps of the editing/publishing process. Michael put on a bathrobe, adopted a British/Irish accent, and read from his novel and also gave a great presentation on his publishing journey. One student was kind enough to buy me an iced latte afterwards!

Here's Kerry and her class...

And me and Michael being silly in Kerry's class...

After the class, Michael and I signed copies of our books and visited VROMAN'S Bookstore, which is an amazing indie bookstore in Pasadena. It was voted BOOKSELLER OF THE YEAR 2008 by Publishers Weekly!

Here's Vroman's amazing children's section of the store:

And here is Michael signing his book and me goofing around:

GOOD ENOUGH BOOK TOUR

I leave Monday May 5th for a multi-city tour. I'll be speaking at various schools in Seattle, Cinncinati, and Dayton, plus appearing for book signings and readings at these stores listed below. Hope to see you there! Now, time for me to pack... what should I wear for my book tour? Hmmm, maybe I need to do some shopping this weekend!

Wednesday May 7th - 4:30 PM
ALL FOR KIDS BOOKS & MORE
Seattle, WA

Monday, May 12th - 4:00 PM
THE BLUE MARBLE CHILDREN’S BOOKSTORE
Ft. Thomas, KY

Monday May 12th - 7:00 PM
JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS
Cincinnati, OH

Tuesday May 13th - 7:00 PM
BOOKS & COMPANY
Dayton, OH