Travis Erwin, Blog Round-Up, Class of 2k8

On MONDAY, I wrote about Travis Erwin and his house burning to the ground. On TUESDAY (which goes to show how quickly the Blogosphere mobilizes itself and what a caring place it is), I got an email from Stephen Parrish. Here's what Stephen had to say:

Travis Erwin is one of the truly unique voices in the Blogosphere. In his absence we must turn to Conan O'Brien for entertainment, and I don't have to tell you what kind of hardship that's going to be. For $25 you can contribute a brick toward the construction of Travis's new house. And have your name embossed for all to see. Just visit habitat for Travis.

I know Erica Orloff is also involved with this effort to help Travis and his family get back on their feet. So, go forth, Blogospherians, let's do what we do best, band together and look after one of our own.


Now, abruptly changing topics, I'd like to start a monthly blog round-up for book reviews. Say, the first Wednesday of the month we each post a book review. About any genre (well, within reason. Ack!). Personally, I'll mostly do YA or Middle Grade. Then again, maybe not. I do read books for grown-ups too. :) And I have a couple of middle schoolers who'd like to write reviews. Now THAT could be fun!

Let me know if you're interested by leaving a comment or emailing me (barrie.summy@gmail.com). I'll email you a reminder before Wednesday, February 4. I'll link to your review on that day. I think I'll even have a cute little widget (is that the right word?) made up for us. Ooooo.

Patti Abbott at pattinase's blog does a GREAT job coordinating Friday's Forgotten Books. No doubt I'm her most erratic and unreliable contributor! Although I do love it when I get my act together and rediscover a book from my past.

At any rate, I'm not as ambitious or organized as Patti and am just aiming for a book review round-up once a month about your fairly current reads.

And finally....

This is a picture of Child #4 reading Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different! by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, from the Class of 2k8. I promised PJ Hoover I'd put this up on Monday. I forgot to take the picture on Sunday evening before tucking in Child #4. Then I said I'd take the pic at breakfast. What was I thinking? Like our mornings are calm and peaceful enough for photo shoots??? Uh, not. It's a good day when all the kids go to school dressed. In clothes. It's a great day when the clothes are clean. A breakfast photo shoot. Yeesh.

Can you believe the amount of linkage in this post? it's positively clanking!

The company she keeps...

Here is the Random House Children's Books Fall 2008 Catalogue. It is extremely beautiful and full of tremendous reads.



And this is my girl on page 148! That little Sherry Baldwin sure is photogenic. If I do say so myself.




And here is Sherry making friends. I quite approve of who she's hanging with: Sammy Keyes, another 7th grade sleuth. Sammy's a good girl. Quick-witted, persistent and a loyal friend. Actually, I'm not sure Sammy's grandmother will wholly approve of Sherry who tends toward the boy crazy. I've got to believe, though, that these two girls would have a lot to talk about at slumber party. I doubt they'd sleep a wink.







And this is from page 248 where you'll find the ten authors in Random House's "It's a First!" group.

From the bottom of the page: "This fall 2008, Random House Children's Books is proud to collectively bring 10 fresh voices to readers with a list as diverse as it is strong."

And you can't really see from this picture, but there's another Class of 2k8 author in "It's a First!": Kristin O'Donnell Tubb who wrote the historical middle grade, Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different.

Other authors who've been part of the "It's a First!" group include Christopher Paolini (Eragon), Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty), Jeanne DuPrau (The City of Ember).



Sherry, you're in good company.

You go, girl!