Takin’ It to the Streets
That’s right. Azalea, Unschooled has hit the mean streets of Portland, Maine. Except, it was South Portland, and it wasn’t so much the streets as the mall. Still. It was a lot of fun signing books at the Islandport Press kiosk at the Maine Mall this past weekend with Cooper and Packrat author Tamra Wight. (By the way, she has a third book about them coming out this spring!) We had a great time meeting people and talking about our books. During lulls, she and I discussed weighty issues pertaining to the writing life, such as whether or not one should venture out to stores on Black...
Read MoreAzalea on the Charts
I’m happy to say that Azalea, Unschooled was the #5 best-selling children’s book at the Portsmouth/Newington Barnes & Noble this past week! Thanks to everyone there for all of your...
Read MoreSee You in New Hampshire!
I’ll be signing copies of Azalea, Unschooled at the Portsmouth/Newington Barnes & Noble on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 2-4 pm. Hope to see you there! (In case you were on the fence about going, I will have a large bowl of candy. And stickers! Don’t pass up this rare opportunity for free candy and Azalea...
Read MoreGold Medal for Azalea
I am very proud and honored to announce that Azalea, Unschooled has been selected as a gold medal winner for the 2015 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. According to Independent Publisher: The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to celebrate children’s books and life-long reading. Many of our award-winning books encourage children to be generous and compassionate, to stand up to bullies, and to believe in fulfilling their dreams. The diversity of the winning publishers proves that...
Read MoreBangor Daily News: Azalea, Unschooled “A Little Gem”
Bangor Daily News blogger Sarah Giles reviews Azalea, Unschooled: This book is charming and carefully thought out. I expected to feel that I was “just reading a kid’s book” – but I was happily surprised. Kleinman’s use of language is well balanced and seemingly effortless. She maintains a consistent storyline with diverse and evolving (yet always relatable) characters, and expertly juggles multiple themes – family conflict, young friendship, and trust among them. With a moving plot and some unexpected turns, Kleinman upholds a sophistication that’s rarely seen in middle-reader books. Read...
Read MoreTalking with LitPick
I loved reading eleven-year-old reviewer GlowElm’s review of Azalea, Unschooled on LitPick. LitPick also asked me to participate in their Six Minutes with an Author feature. You can see it on their Facebook page, or read it below. **How did you get started writing? In first grade, I wrote a story in which the narrator meets a lot of barking dogs. In my mind, it was hilarious. I’ve been writing ever since. **Who influenced you? The people who wrote ‘The Muppet Show.’ When I was a kid, it seemed like the height of wit and sophistication. It still does, more or less, especially the...
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