Nerd Camp

This past week I had the pleasure of attending Nerd Camp in Parma, MI. What is Nerd Camp, you ask? Nerd Camp is an educational camp for teachers, librarians, & book nerds interested in getting kids excited about reading.

Me and Tracy Holczer, author of The Secret Hum of a Daisy

Tracy Holczer, Nerd Camp creator Colby Sharp and me!

I also had the pleasure of attending Nerd Camp Jr. Authors and illustrators who attend Nerd Camp can also participate in Nerd Camp Jr to teach kids about writing or drawing. Nerd Camp was started by Nerdy Book Clubber and educator Colby Sharp and his family. Nerd Camp now hosts hundreds of educators and kids each year. And get this…Nerd Camp is FREE.

Me teaching dozens of mini-nerds about Making Trouble for Your Main Character

On the adult education side of things, I participated in two panels while at Nerd Camp. The first was on middle grade books moderated by the fabulous Kathy Burnette who is a K-8 Librarian. We discussed what we love about writing for young readers, our favorite middle grade titles, and the challenges for writing for this audience. The highlights were Jess Keating cracking jokes and Liesl Shurtliff bursting into song. The second panel I participated in was one on the publishing process. We answered questions about resources like SCBWI and how teachers and librarians can get swag. Illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw drew our heads while we chatted.

Me, Tracy Holczer, Jess Keating, Jerzy Drozd, Liesl Shurtliff & Louise Borden (not pictured)

Drawing of our panel on the publishing process by illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw

At Nerd Camp you can feel comfortable being a dork!

Kristen Kittscher, Author of The Wig in the Window and Tierra on the Terrace, me and Tracy Holczer, Author of The Secret Hum of a Daisy dorking out in the photo booth at Nerd Camp.

Nerd Camp is a place to be inspired! Please consider attending in 2016. You won’t regret it. In summary, Nerd Camp rocks!

Nerd Camp 2016 will take place July 11-12 in Parma, MI. For updates follow #nErDcampMI and @colbysharp on twitter.

ReaderKidZ Giveaway

ReaderKidZ: A Magical Giveaway

Visiting Monterey Park Library

Yesterday I had a wonderful visit at the Monterey Park Library. It’s a beautiful space with a huge children’s floor. They have an active community and a great after school program. Thanks to librarian Diana Garcia, the kids were reading SPIRIT’S KEY! The kids were very enthusiastic and had worked hard to develop thoughtful questions to ask me. The kids had even baked Sky’s cookies together in the library kitchen and brewed yaupon tea for the occasion. It was a day Spirit and Sky were so proud to be a part of.

Spirit’s Key Tour

I am still recovering from my whirlwind tour on the east coast. My schedule was packed. I visited eight schools, four bookstores and did an SCBWI workshop. Whew! All the events went so well, and I love how enthusiastic the kids were. Here are some photos from my travels. You can read a recap of my Durham Academy visit here. And my SCBWI workshop recap is here.

Vanstory Elementary, my alma mater in Fayetteville, NC

I got this super cool t-shirt!

Ephesus Church Road Elementary in Chapel Hill, NC

Jones Elementary in Wilson, NC

SCBWI Magic and World Building Workshop in NYC with my editor Susan Dobinick and critique buddy Bridget Casey. Clearly, I was saying something important.

Balfour Elementary in Asheboro, NC

Me with Durham Academy 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Donnelly in Durham, NC

Speaking to the fifth & sixth grade at Durham Academy

Cleveland Elementary in Clayton, NC

Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC: me with Princess Leia Pup, Kami Kinard, author of The Boy Problem and Rebecca Petruck, author of Steering Toward Normal

My high school buds came out to see me at the Fayetteville Barnes & Noble

The most exciting thing about returning to my hometown? Reconnecting with my childhood BFF.

10670104_10152436281995687_123382790868888754_n

Books of Wonder in NYC

The crowd at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC

Spirit’s Key Launch

Alice is reading SPIRIT’S KEY with her mother. She brought her own stuffed Sky to the party.

The day your first book comes out is special. After many years of hard work, it’s thrilling to finally be able to share my stories with kids. My launch party at Children’s Book World was a blast. Thank you so much to everyone who came out to help me celebrate. Ya’ll are what made it special. (all photos were taken by the fabulous Rita Huang Crayon)

Kids love the poster with my pup Leia reading SPIRIT’S KEY. Be the Breed that Reads.

Voiceover actress Alicyn Packard plays the part of Spirit & I play the part of Mrs. Borse, a trigger-happy, fur-wearing hermit.

Apparently at launch parties, I get very dramatic.

My NYC critique group, The Ladybugs

Of course my husband and my pup Leia had to be in attendance.

My Los Angeles critique group, The Pudding Sisters

Join the Be the Breed Campaign

Celebrate the launch of SPIRIT’S KEY and join the Be the Breed that Reads campaign for your chance to win $50 in books for you & treats for your pup!

Here’s how:

1. Take a photo of your dog with your copy of SPIRIT’S KEY.

2. Add the text Be the Breed…that Reads yourself or send it to edithcohn(at)gmail & I’ll put it on for you. Use Impact font.

3. Tweet, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr your photo with the hashtag #BetheBreed

4. Send me your social media links to be entered to win books for you and treats for your pup! (Each shared link receives an entry.) Grand prize winner receives a $25 gift card to Petco and a $25 gift card to Powell’s bookstore. 10 additional winners will receive a Be the Breed poster featuring my pup Leia.

Winner chosen at random. Contest ends Dec. 31,2014

I’m required to tell you the truth as the key told it to me.

Teaser #4

Click here for Teaser #1, Teaser #2 and Teaser #3

That’s the problem with the gift…

TEASER #3

Click here for Teaser #1, Teaser #2 and Teaser #4

Be the Breed that Reads

Teachers (grades 3-8) and elementary librarians can get a free 16 x 20 Spirit’s Key literacy poster featuring my pup, Leia (while supplies last). Just ask! Please include the name of your school or library along with your address in the form below. (US locations only.)

Edith Cohn

Children's Book Author