this year's pumpkins

I've been pretty much traveling non-stop all October so we barely were able to squeeze in the pumpkin carving:

This year's pumpkins were not as elaborate as years past, but they did feature a duck drawn by Rain Dragon herself as well as a requested pig and chick (I carved the chick):

And they still brought some nice holiday spirit to the house:

Happy Halloween, all!

On my desk Monday

On my desk today...paper copy of The NY Times best list with "When the Sea Turned To Silver" at #9!!!

Thanks so much for coming!

one of the many great schools I visited!

So it's been a whirlwind week, with more active weather coming! I was in California visiting schools and stores--Mrs. Dalloway's in Berekely,  Lindentree Books in Los Altos, the Bookshop Santa Cruz and the Children's Book World in LA--of course, all to promote my new book, When the Sea Turned to Silver (just in case you didn't know).  It was super fun! The only reason why I don't have more photos of any of the events is because I was too busy!

But people came out to the bookstore events and it was a thrill! Authors are always scared to death of presenting to empty chairs, I'm very, very grateful that most of mine were filled:

And on the third day of my travels, I was informed that When the Sea Turned to Silver is a National Book Award Finalist! EEKS! The winner will be announced at the ceremony in November--cross (double-cross) your fingers for me!!

the great folks at the Bookshop Santa Cruz helped me celebrate with cupcakes!

But I had to rush from the balmy CA weather to Boston (arriving after midnight!) so that I could prepare for my big launch party at Porter Square Books!

Since we don't live in the area anymore, we had to camp and prep at a local airbnb. There was a lot of prep:

even Rain Dragon helped stuff goodie bags!

 because this was to be my party deluxe.  The silver goodie bag decorated with a red tissue butterfly (which take longer to make than I thought, tissue flowers are way faster)  had a poster, an embroidered bookmark, and a "moon cookie" (courtesy of my mother-in-law, again). And if you preorder, you also received that exclusive booklet:

I admit I am  listing these things so they might make you  come to the next one!

And after stuffing about a hundred of those...it was show time! People came and I talked. And then some friends and I performed the Readers Theater to rapturous applause:

We told "The Story of the Red Stone" 

check out the cool costumes that I had made!

and then I signed books:

at the event

and after the event!

And when the day was done,  I got together with some of my awesome local friends...who surprised me with a cake:

did I mention my friends were awesome?

Lucky for me, that  cake was high in sugar because now I'm going to keep going! Come see me at Water Street Books (Exeter, NH) on Wed and at Northshire Bookstore (Saratoga Springs, NY) on Friday! AND after that, Providence RI, Austin TX and more...

Fun with When the Sea Turned to Silver: Connect the Worlds

Congratulations, you finished the book! Oops, did I jump the gun? Oh well, when you DO finish the book, I have this great activity for you...

In When the Sea Turned to Silver, Pinmei and Yishan travel to the Sea Kingdom and discover that the moon they are used to seeing in the sky is also at the bottom of the Heavenly Lake. The Sea King tells them, "Our worlds connect here. The bottom of our lake is your sky."

How can the sea and sky share a moon? Play with this activity and make the worlds of When the Sea Turned to Silver connect.  Download the activity HERE!

When the Sea Turned to Silver
Pinmei's grandmother always has the most exciting tales to tell but the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller. Everyone knows that the Emperor wants something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Alongside her friend Yishan, Pinmei must face obstacles usually found only in legends to find the Luminous Stone and save her grandmother--before it's too late. 
A fast-paced adventure that is extraordinarily written and beautifully illustrated, When the Sea Turned to Silver is a masterpiece companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Four starred reviews and a National Book Award nominee. NOW AVAILABLE!

Fun with When the Sea Turned to Silver: Invisible Answers

What? You're almost finished with the book? Well, even if you are not, you can still do today's activity!

In When the Sea Turned to Silver,  the Paper of Answers could only shows words when exposed to the light of the full moon. While, sadly, I cannot offer you a paper to answer your difficult questions, this activity will show you how to create invisible writing that only appears in the presence of light and heat. Will you use it to tell your own wisdom? Download the activity HERE!

When the Sea Turned to Silver
Pinmei's grandmother always has the most exciting tales to tell but the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller. Everyone knows that the Emperor wants something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Alongside her friend Yishan, Pinmei must face obstacles usually found only in legends to find the Luminous Stone and save her grandmother--before it's too late. 
A fast-paced adventure that is extraordinarily written and beautifully illustrated, When the Sea Turned to Silver is a masterpiece companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Four starred reviews and a National Book Award nominee. NOW AVAILABLE!

Fun with When the Sea Turned to Silver: Make a Rainbow

So, how far are you in the book? Well, here's another activity for you when you finish!

In When the Sea Turned to Silver, the goddess Nuwa places five-colored stones into the sky to stop the Starry River from flooding the earth. Pinmei's grandmother claims that when one sees a rainbow in the sky, they are truly seeing Nuwa's gift.

With this activity, you can see Nuwa's gift yourself! Using science, cast your own rainbow--truly an experiment worthy of a goddess! Download the activity HERE!

When the Sea Turned to Silver
Pinmei's grandmother always has the most exciting tales to tell but the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller. Everyone knows that the Emperor wants something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Alongside her friend Yishan, Pinmei must face obstacles usually found only in legends to find the Luminous Stone and save her grandmother--before it's too late. 
A fast-paced adventure that is extraordinarily written and beautifully illustrated, When the Sea Turned to Silver is a masterpiece companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Four starred reviews and a National Book Award nominee. NOW AVAILABLE!

Fun with When the Sea Turned to Silver: Math Exercises fit for an Emperor

I thought that once you have read  When the Sea Turned to Silver (which, of course you already have, right?),  you might want some fun activities to do with the book...so, I have some for you! Today's activity is a Math Exercise fit for an Emperor!

In When the Sea Turned to Silver, a magistrate steals a bite from a magical Peach of Longevity. Folktales do not usually lead to math, but if you explore the years inherent in the story, you may solve some mysteries about the magistrate...Download the activity HERE!

When the Sea Turned to Silver
Pinmei's grandmother always has the most exciting tales to tell but the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller. Everyone knows that the Emperor wants something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Alongside her friend Yishan, Pinmei must face obstacles usually found only in legends to find the Luminous Stone and save her grandmother--before it's too late. 
A fast-paced adventure that is extraordinarily written and beautifully illustrated, When the Sea Turned to Silver is a masterpiece companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Four starred reviews and a National Book Award nominee. NOW AVAILABLE!

Fun with When the Sea Turned to Silver: Readers Theater

I know When the Sea Turned to Silver only came out yesterday, but a couple of kids got the book early:

That's because they were my volunteer guinea pigs for an awesome readers' theater that was put together for the book. Here's a sneak peak:

Yes, I'll be doing this readers' theater at all my events (if you come, you might get to play one of the parts!), but you can also put on this show yourself! The script is available to download HERE! Break a leg!

When the Sea Turned to Silver
Pinmei's grandmother always has the most exciting tales to tell but the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller. Everyone knows that the Emperor wants something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Alongside her friend Yishan, Pinmei must face obstacles usually found only in legends to find the Luminous Stone and save her grandmother--before it's too late. 
A fast-paced adventure that is extraordinarily written and beautifully illustrated, When the Sea Turned to Silver is a masterpiece companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Four starred reviews and a National Book Award nominee. NOW AVAILABLE!

My book is out! Find the Red Butterfly!

Today's the day!!! When the Sea Turned to Silver is NOW out in stores!!!! The book is officially available!

I hope to see you at my book party! Thanks so much to all who pre-ordered!  But for those of you who didn't & don't live nearby, you can go find it in your local indie bookstore and...

LOOK FOR THE RED BUTTERFLY:

Why? Well, my publisher did this really cool thing and offered independent bookstores the opportunity to sell autographed copies. Which, meant last month I flew to the publisher's warehouse:

and signed a lot of books:

Really, it was a lot of books:

which have been sent to select independent bookstores for purchase! Yes, you can still get an autographed book (if your store participated).

AND, I did something special for the last nine (lucky number nine!) books I autographed. In the last nine books, I included a drawing of a red butterfly:

If YOU buy the book with a red butterfly in it, take a photo of with it and send it to me! 

You can post it on my Facebook page or tweet it at me or just send it via e-mail (gracelin.manager @ gmail.com) and I'll send you something great!  A booklet (though I think I might be out of those), a poster, maybe an original piece of art...we shall see! So, go to your local indie bookstore and look for the book & the butterfly! 

I'm so curious to see if anyone actually finds one!