Hi everyone!
Just got back from a beautiful weekend in Half Moon Bay, California! I did a library presentation for the community and met fantastic librarians, teachers, students, parents, and writers. So much fun! I'd been corresponding with one of the teachers and her students via email and snail mail, and it was wonderful to meet them all in person.
I'd always wanted to go to Half Moon Bay-- mostly because I love the name (it's right up there with Angelfire, NM)! ;) I also LOVE the coast of California, which is one reason I've read the picture book All the World hundreds of time with Lil Dude-- the breath-taking landscape-- green hills and wildflowers and clay cliffs and gardens and old beach houses and perfect trees-for-climbing and veggie stands and beaches and the big, wide ocean.
I went on long walks along the ocean-- on Saturday in the rain (delicious) and on Sunday in sunshine with my old friend Andrea (from middle school).
flotsam!
My camera wasn't working on Friday, so I didn't get pics of the great students and families (some from Oaxaca!) who came to the presentation. They were so enthusiastic-- the library had distributed hundreds of copies of What the Moon Saw for students!
I did manage to get one photo of the teacher and librarians with me at the amazing family-owned Oaxacan restaurant called Brianna's just down the block from the library. I ate the best mole oaxaqueno I've had in the U.S. Mmmmmm. Muy rico.
Lucia Gonzalez took that picture-- she's a wonderful bilingual picture book writer (and warm, kind person). She gave my Lil Dude a copy of her book The Bossy Gallito, which we're loving. (Since he turned four last week, he's been in a major Bossy Rooster stage...)
I *love* author visits to small towns where the awesome librarians and teachers get the whole community excited. Thank you, Half Moon Bay!
On a different note, more lovely reviews of The Queen of Water have been coming in. Maria Virginia and I are really glad that readers have been moved by her story. It's dream come true...
A review in The Examiner gave the book five out of five stars and calls it "Remarkable. Layered. Engrossing." You can read the full review here.
Marjolein, a wonderful YA book reviewer, also gave it five stars, and calls the book "gripping." Read the full review here.
Happy spring!
xo,
Laura