on my desk monday

It's the author tag from the National Book Festival and some reference for a charity art auction I'm taking part of! More details on both to come!

fortune cookie friday

"Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star."
— Confucius

Ling and Ting Birthday Party: Sign the Guestbook and Win a Pocket Ling & Ting

And this is the end of Ling and Ting's online book party! Thanks so much for coming! I hope you had a good time!

As a goodbye favor, please leave a comment here and let me know what you liked best about the party...and you can win your own  pocket Ling and Ting! Aren't they cute?

I'll chose the winners at random (right now I have 2 pairs of Ling and Ting to give away--yes, you get both, they come in a pair!--but if there are a lot of comments then maybe I'll make another set or two) on Saturday, Sept. 28th. So, please let me know if you enjoyed the party!

Ling and Ting Birthday Party: Behind the Booktrailer

And the party continues! I thought, in the interest of party conversation, I'd tell you a fun anecdote about the book trailer as well as a sneak peak at third Ling and Ting book (yes, there's going to be another! I'm working on it now!)


Hopefully, you have seen the super cute  Ling and Ting Share A Birthday book trailer (created by the Sasquatch). Just in case you haven't, here it is again:



Usually, I have my niece Lily  voice the booktrailer and recorded her accordingly. However, we found out last minute that the Happy Birthday Song has a crazy copyright and since we couldn't afford to pay the rights for it, we had to make a quick emergency change. We were in a bit of a quandary, until I remembered there were some friends of friends in the area who had twins! It was too perfect! With gracious permission from the parents, I had a real-life Ling and Ting voicing the trailer:

They even helped me for the next book!

Here's a sneak peak at one of the illustrations for the 3rd Ling and Ting book:

Can you see where I got the inspiration?

Thanks so much, Emily and Olivia!!!

Ling and Ting Birthday Party: Name the Books Game! Get a sticker and magnet!

And here is a party game! With prizes! 

Many sharp-eyedreaders comment on how Ling and Ting are often reading other books by me. Well, what can I say, they like my books! (ha ha) Do you?

Below is an illustration of Ling in a bookstore from the book. Can you find the Grace Lin books? Can you find the books of some of my other favorite books? (here's a hint, some are by my good friends).

 

Name 8 or more books in the illustration (that's the game! you have to see if you can figure out the book covers in the picture!!) and your mailing address to gracelin.manager@gmail.com and I'll send you one of Ling and Ting's birthday stickers! If 2 or more of those books you name are NOT by me, I'll send you a magnet as well!!

TODAY ONLY (you have until midnight PST!) and only while supplies last. Don't forget to include your mailing address!

Ling and Ting Birthday Party: A Party Kit for Your Own Party!

You can have your own doubly-fun party by using this Ling and Ting Party Kit!

Created by the creative minds at Curious City this is an awesome Party Kit that can be used for Birthdays, Bookstores, Libraries, Classrooms, Play Groups and Book Clubs

 and any other fun time you can think of!

This party kit includes:

•Party Invitations

• Pin the Magic Hat on the Ting Game 

• Pennant Banner

• Cupcake Toppers and Favor Ideas

AND MORE! Download the whole kit HERE!

Have fun!

Ling and Ting Birthday Party: Win a Free Book!

Yes, today's the day! It's Ling and Ting's online book party! Let's start it off with a bang!

For your party entertainment, I have a podcast for you to listen to!

To celebrate Ling and Ting's birthday, I did an interview with Katie's Davis' podcast Brain Burps About Books. I talk to Katie about how writing early readers is like jumping hurdles and how if I went to the yard sale of any character in children's literature I would buy a...oops! I won't say, I'll make you listen to find out (ha ha ha!). Needless to say, it was great fun.

And in conjunction, I'm giving away TWO copies of the book! Go to the podcast HERE to find out how you can win!

tomorrow is the online book party!

Tomorrow, I'm throwing an online book party for Ling and Ting! All day at my blog, I'll be posting lots' o stuff! Fun downloads, behind the scene stories and ways to win those special magnets and stickers, a pocket Ling and Ting and even a free book! Come back tomorrow and check back all day so you don't miss anything!

At the 2013 National Book Festival

I'll be at the National Book Festival this Sunday! Hope to see you!

Sunday, September 22
Presenting Ling and Ting Share a Birthday 
Children's Pavilion
12:40 pm - 1:10 pm

Book Signing 
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Literary Lights Readers Theater: including authors Katherine Paterson, Jon Scieszka, Grace Lin, Mary Brigid Barrett and Susan Cooper, and literacy advocate Lynda Johnson Robb.
Special Programs Pavilion
 4:35-5:20 pm

fortune cookie friday

"A melon forced off its vine is not sweet."
-Chinese Proverb

thanks for coming!

So it's been a very hectic few days! Not only am I on a deadline for the third Ling and Ting book, preparing for the National Book Festival , I  had lots to do for Ling and Ting's Birthday party! Luckily I had lots of help from the Sasquatch and his mother, who came to watch Rain Dragon but ended up stuffing goodie bags.

We were only able to make ten pocket pacy Ling and Tings:

But the magnets and stickers filled the goodie bags and the Sasquatch got the balloons to the bookstore:

And K, Rain Dragon's babysitter, made the cake:

She copied it so it looked just like the one in the book! Wow!

And Rain Dragon and I matched!

Usually, I like to get us a bit more dressed up for parties but this was the only matching outfit I could find. I  had a red headband for her, too, but she wouldn't wear it.  

Now, all I had to do was wait for people to come! I was very nervous about this, since this is the first book party I've had in our new local. Would anyone come?

YES! It was a full house:

though to be strictly honest, it is a small (but extremely cute) bookstore so that makes it a bit easier to fill

I was completely thrilled so many people showed up! After reading one of the stories from the book, I did a fun draw-along:

And signed books! It was great fun to see how many people came in matching outfits! Aren't they awesome?:

Unfortunately, Rain Dragon was not as impressed. I used her crayons for everyone to use during the draw-along and I think she was a bit upset.  She only calmed down a little after she got some of them back and I signed a book especially for her.

Which she signed as well:

Thanks so much White Square Books and everyone who came!

For those who couldn't make it, stay tuned! On Wednesday, Sept 25th, I'm throwing the online party! You can get some of these free goodies, too!

on my desk monday

So I'm a little embarrassed to say that there is another Grace Lin biography. I have to say that my vanity prefers the cover of the other book as I think I look strange in this cover image. Though it is probably realistic!

But it's nice that this book continues from the other book (though they are done by two different companies and are not related at all) and there's a picture of me at the Newbery Awards in my special dress:

Maybe someday I'll be lucky enough to have a third one created!

on my desk monday

It's the leftovers from Ling and Ting's Birthday party! Full write-up to come, as well as the announcement for the virtual launch (where you can get some of these goodies yourself!).

fortune cookie fortunes

"The wise man asks questions of himself; the fool questions others."
-Chinese Proverb

Happy Birthday, Ling and Ting!

Yes, the book is now out!  In celebration, here is the book trailer!!!


Hope to see some of you at the birthday party on Saturday!

(there will be a belated online birthday party later on, stay tuned...)

on my desk

It's on my desk Tuesday this week as I've been so busy I didn't get to post this yesterday! I'm getting ready for Ling and Ting's Birthday Party; hopefully I'll have these done...and maybe YOU can get one! Hope to see you!

fortune cookie fortunes

"Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality."
— Dalai Lama

this week in our garden

It's harvest time:

The only way she can carry all the tomatoes and beans is by using her bucket:

Because, as usual, they are all hers:

on my desk monday

It's  a Ling and Ting Share a Birthday sticker design!

Rain Dragon has just discovered the joy of stickers!  Thus inspired, I've decided to have some Ling and Ting stickers-- they are going to be super nice (you'll be able to peel off Ling and Ting separately, as well as their plate of cupcakes)!

And you can get one (along with a cute magnet and more!) by coming to my book party on September 14th (it's a Sat., please sign up and spread the word!!) or by ordering an autographed book from White Square Books. I'll include the sticker, magnet and as many other book party goodies as possible with the book!*


*yes, more shameless bribery but I really want to support  White Square Books! They specially arranged for online ordering of my books at my request so I hope to make it worth it to them!