Carmen Agra Deedy

Library Dragon Kid Art!

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:40:31 +0000

One of the BEST things about this job is the amazing art that kids send in. While we can’t post every drawing we get, here are a couple of pictures of the Library Dragon sent to us by some of the students at Ison Springs Elementary in Sandy Springs, Ga! We will add more art every so often! Keep an eye out for yours!

Love That Book!

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:12:17 +0000

The newest season of the two-time Emmy winning children’s book show, Love That Book, is officially underway! Click the link HERE to view the first episode, featuring the book Duck for President by Doreen Cronin! You can always view older episodes on the Love That Book website.

The Return of the Library Dragon Blog Tour!

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:45:23 +0000

Peachtree Publishers has set up a wonderful blog tour, with some of my favorite blogs, to celebrate Carmen’s newest book, The Return of the Library Dragon.

Don’t miss your chance to hear from the illustrator, Michael White, as well as the books editor! There are even a few chances to win a copy of the book. The blog tour schedule is listed below.

Monday, 10/22:
There’s a Book is featuring the first review of the tour!

Tuesday, 10/23:
Maestra Amanda has a review for you and word from illustrator Michael White!

Wednesday, 10/24:
Hear from the editor of Return of the Library Dragon about what it was like to create this book over at Booktalking!

Thursday, 10/25:
A Word’s Worth has an excerpt from the book and a giveaway starting today!

Friday, 10/26:
Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers has a review and giveaway starting today too!

Don’t forget to enter the costume contest by 10/31! Details here!

The Bad Girl of the Book World is BACK!

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:46:29 +0000

This past week we officially celebrated The Return of the Library Dragon with local teachers and educators. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School was generous enough to host us. Below are a few pictures from the event, including shots of the delicious food and COSTUMES. I love a good costume. If you would like to be included on our list for future book launches and parties, please send me an e-mail at: EGrace.Escritora@gmail.com

Follow the dragon tails to the party!

Illustrator Michael White with Susan Rapoport from Holy Innocents’!

It is not a party without cupcakes!

Miss Lotty and her alter ego, the Library Dragon made an appearance!

Carmen and Michael reading the new book.

As you can see, everything was wonderful and we are so thankful for Holy Innocents’ and Peachtree Publishers for working together to give us such a fun night to celebrate books!

Burnside Elementary School in Columbia, SC

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:40:24 +0000

Carmen had a great time with the kids at Burnside Elementary School the other week! If you have pictures from your school visit, send them to EGrace.Escritora@gmail.com and we will put them up on the website!

Summer Storytelling Workshops with Bil Lepp!

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:56:12 +0000

Beginning and experienced storytellers alike are invited to join seasoned storytellers Carmen Agra Deedy and Bil Lepp in 3-day storytelling workshops this summer, 2012. With Bil’s skill at creating and developing tall tales and Carmen’s knack for exploring truth through personal stories, participants are bound to walk away with a better understanding of the art of storytelling and the tools to revise and perform their own unique works.

Participants will be expected to have one story that they wish to work on over the course of the weekend. Carmen and Bil will focus on story structure, language, and performing skills. Participants can expect small group sessions as well as one-on-one coaching sessions with Carmen and Bil.

Workshop 1: July 27-29, 2012

Workshop 2: August 3-4, 2012

Maximum Participants: 20

Location: Decatur, GA.

For additional information, please contact Carmen’s business manager, Erin Grace, at: EGrace.Escritora@gmail.com or 404.333.2260.

Just a Normal Day at Work

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:13:28 +0000

Telling stories to the kids at McEver Arts Academy. Thanks to Brenau University for bringing Carmen to the school today!

E.B. White Read-Aloud Award

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:24:27 +0000

Those of you that have heard Carmen tell her story, Love in the Library, already know that Carmen has a special place in her heart just for E.B. White and Charlotte’s Web. It was the book that really made her love reading, which makes it mean that much more to be on the Middle Reader Honor Award list for the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award. You can view a complete list of winners and honor books here. Thank you to everyone that nominated and voted for The Cheshire Cheese Cat!

Exciting Things are Happening!

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:54:23 +0000

Artwork by Mo Willems (I LOVE him!)

So many wonderful and exciting things have been happening! For starters, The Cheshire Cheese Cat, won a Cybil in the Science Fiction & Fantasy category! It always means a lot when the readers pick your book, especially when you’re up against so many other fabulous titles (I’m looking at you A Monster Calls!).

To top off the excitement of winning a Cybil, The Cheshire Cheese Cat has been nominated for an Indies Choice award in the Middle Reader category! It is in great company, so be sure to check out the whole nominees list here.

Lastly, SLJ’s Battle of the Books has officially started! Unfortunately, The Cheshire Cheese Cat did not make it to the next round. Sy Montgomery had a tough choice between two very different books. Chime went home the winner of the round, but Montgomery had some lovely things to say about The Cheshire Cheese Cat.

“The book works on several levels. The literary allusions are hilarious for those in the know. The fast-paced plot has as many twists as London’s alleys. The authors (one of whom, Randall Wright, is a bit of a Dickens scholar) let loose with some fabulous words here (Ready for some hookem-snivey? There’s plenty to be had in these pages.) And along the way, readers will find that enemies can become friends, learn how to make a good apology, and discover the power of the pen—even if the actual writing implement is really….well, you’ll see.”

(excerpt from Battle of the Books Review. Read the whole post here.)

SLJ Battle of the Books

SwordMistressofMeleeIsland — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:20:02 +0000

That’s right, folks! The Cheshire Cheese Cat is a part of School Library Journal’s Battle of the Books! Sixteen books are chosen and fight through four rounds to crown the ultimate champion. Judges are chosen in each round to read two books and chose one to move to the next round in March Madness style brackets. In round one, The Cheshire Cheese Cat is up against the YA fantasy Chime by Franny Billingsley. Check out the brackets below and be sure to visit the Battle of the Books website. http://www.battleofthebooks.slj.com