12.5.2018: Books for Underfunded Schools and Libraries

Always Forever Maybe has been out in the world for six months today, and to celebrate, I’m hoping to donate some copies to underfunded school and public libraries. Will you please help spread the word?

If that’s your school or library, please request the book at https://tinyurl.com/AFMdonation (that link brings you to a google form). If you know of an underfunded school or library in need of YA books, please share this post with them. You can also find a shareable version of it on my Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages. Thanks for your help!

I’m so grateful to all of you who have read, shared, borrowed, bought, or talked about the book this year. Your support means the world.

P.S. The Anna, Banana chapter-book giveaway has closed, and I’m in the process of sending more than 100 new books to Title I public schools in eighteen different states.

P.P.S. If you’re in NYC, come see me tonight at my last public event of the year: Teen Author Reading Night at the Jefferson Market branch of the New York Public Library. I’ll be sharing the stage with some incredible writers, and reading from and talking about Always Forever Maybe. More details here.

11.15.2017: Free Books for Schools in Need

UPDATE (11.19.2017): Thanks to all of you who helped spread the word about these donations! The response has been overwhelming--I've already promised to send far more books than I originally budgeted to buy. I am going to fill all requests that have already come in (approximately 900 books), but unfortunately now I need to start turning new requests down. If you'd like to be among the first to know about future giveaways and other book news, please sign up for my newsletter (see sidebar).

This fall, I'm hoping to donate copies of the Anna, Banana chapter books and my picture book The Teacher's Pet to high-poverty public elementary schools* (meaning either Title I or schools where more than 70% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals). If that's your school, please be in touch! And if you know of a school in need, please encourage a teacher, librarian, or administrator there to reach out to me. My email is anicamroserissi at gmail dot com.

In the final weeks of 2016, I sent more than four hundred books to schools in twenty-three states. I hope to donate even more books this year.

If you're inclined to share this post to help spread the word, please do. You'll also find the below graphic in shareable form on my Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter accounts. Thank you!

*U.S. schools only, due to shipping costs. Giveaway ends December 15, 2017.

The Anna, Banana chapter books are best for students in grades 1-4. For more information about the series, please click here. The Teacher's Pet, illustrated by Zachariah OHora, is best for students in Pre-K through graduate school. For more information about the book, including reviews and a peek inside, please click here.

10.2.2017: #PubforPR Auction

Dear friends,

If you're looking for a way to help with the hurricane devastation in Puerto Rico, please check out #PubforPR, an auction organized by several members of the kid lit community, featuring items donated by authors, editors, and literary agents. All winning bids going directly to Unidos por Puerto Rico and ConPRmetidos (bidder's choice), two carefully vetted local charity organizations participating in the relief efforts.

The full list of auction items--including signed books, manuscript critiques, query letter critiques, writing retreats, Skype visits with authors, in-person visits with literary agents, and more--may be found here on the Pub for PR website. 

If you know an elementary-school teacher or a classroom of 2nd, 3rd, or 4th graders who love to read, please consider bidding on my auction item: a class set (up to thirty copies) of Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split paperbacks, plus all six of my books in hardcover for the school or classroom library, a class set of bookmarks and stickers, and a 20-minute Skype visit with me. The approximate value of this package is $320. Bidding starts at $75, and you can find the link here.

The #PubforPR auction opened this morning and runs until 10pm eastern time on Thursday, October 5th. Please bid early and often! And please help spread the word to your friends.

If you don't wish to bid, you can still donate to Unidos por Puerto Rico or ConPRmetidos. If you contribute $15 or more to either organization and send a copy of your donation receipt to  PubforPR@gmail.com with the words “Donation for Raffle Entry” in the subject line, you will be entered to win one of five secret prizes.

Thank you to the auction organizers for donating their time and energy to this effort. And thank you for the good you do in the world.

xox, Nica

11.13.2016: Free Books for High-Poverty Schools

This fall, I'm hoping to donate Anna, Banana chapter books to high-poverty public elementary schools* (meaning either Title I or schools where more than 70% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals). If that's your school, please be in touch! My email is anicamroserissi at gmail dot com.

Last year, I sent 159 books to 53 schools in 21 states and the District of Columbia. I'd love to send out even more this year.

If you're inclined to share this post to help spread the word, please do. You'll also find it in shareable form on my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. Thank you!

*U.S. schools only, due to shipping costs.

The Anna, Banana chapter books are best for students in grades 1-4. For more information about the series, please click here.

12.8.2015: One True Rule (and Other Numbers)

1 True Rule of Writing, 10 New Pages of Fun, 150 Book Donations, and a 5-Book Giveaway

I reveal the One True Rule of writing—and the inspiration behind Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split—in the January issue of The Writer magazine, on newsstands now. It's their annual children's and YA issue, so there's lots of great kid-lit content inside. My essay is also published on the magazine's website, under a slightly different title. Here's the link.

If you're in the mood for some games, challenges, puzzles, and coloring sheets, please check out the brand new Anna, Banana activity kit. It's free, fun, and printable! 

Only six weeks to go before Anna, Banana, and the Puppy Parade marches into a bookstore near you. It's available for pre-order in all the usual places, and there's a five-copy giveaway happening on Goodreads now through January 19th. 

Speaking of giveaways, thank you to all who helped spread the word about my Anna, Banana donations endeavor. I got a fantastic response from teachers and school librarians across the country, and there are now 150 Anna, Banana books en route to 50 high-poverty schools in 21 states. The thought of Anna and Banana meeting so many new friends makes me grin ear to ear. I hope these books will make the kids smile, too.

8.7.2015: Readings and Festivals and Giveaways, Oh My!

Attention, friends in Downeast Maine, greater Atlanta, and New York City (and also, friends on the internet): 

Anna, Banana, and I are gearing up for some fun events in the next two months, and we'd love to see you there! We're also booking a few free Skype visits with classrooms and libraries for the fall. For more information on both those things, please see below.

But first: Anna, Banana, and the Big-Mouth Bet comes out on September 8th, and I'm giving away five beautiful hardcovers. Please click here to enter the Goodreads giveaway. The book is also available for pre-order: You can find it on Indiebound, B&N, BAM, iTunes, Target, or Amazon, or ask for it at your local bookstore or library. Thanks for your support.

Doubly exciting: Books one and two recently went into their second printings! Thank you to all the friends and readers who helped make that happen.

secondeditions.JPG

Upcoming events:

August 15th: Stonington Public Library

Join me at the Stonington Public Library in Stonington, Maine (my hometown!) on Saturday, August 15th at 1pm, for an hour of reading, storytelling, activities, and fun. Perfect for kid lit fans of all ages, especially children ages 5-10. The event is free; books will be available for sale (and for signing).

September 5th: AJC Decatur Book Festival

Join authors Terra Elan McVoy (Drive Me Crazy), Abby Hanlon (Dory Fantastmagory), and me for the Best Friends Forever panel at the AJC Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, Georgia on Saturday, September 5th. We'll be speaking on the Children's Stage from 3:15 to 3:45pm and signing books afterward.

September 19th: Brooklyn Book Festival Children's Day

I'm honored to be moderating a panel of three fabulous authors at the Brooklyn Book Festival on Saturday, September 19th, at 11am, at MetroTech Commons in downtown Brooklyn. Here's the official panel description:

WHAT A CHARACTER!: Lovable, laughable, and unforgettable, favorite chapter book characters always have the most engaging personalities--and the most memorable names. Authors Abby Hanlon (Dory Fantasmagory), Lenore Look (Alvin Ho and Ruby Lu), and Jon Scieszka (Frank Einstein) come together to discuss their inspiration behind creating--and naming--their beloved characters. Moderated by Anica Rissi (Anna, Banana).

If you've got a question for the authors on the panel, let me know and I might ask it!

Skype visits:

I'm offering a select number of free Skype visits with elementary school classrooms and libraries this fall. If you're interested in having me Skype with your school, please send me an email at anicamroserissi at gmail dot com. These 30-minute interactive Skype presentations are best for students in 2nd or 3rd grade.

(I do in-person school visits too! Those can be slightly trickier to schedule, but if you'd like me to come to your school this year, I'd be delighted to try to make it work.)

 

6.8.2015: Monkey in the Middle Giveaway

Book 2 is almost here!

In less than a month, Anna, Banana, and the Monkey in the Middle goes on sale. Most of the book takes place during a class trip to the zoo, so it's chock full of cute animal illustrations (and, I admit, more than one elephant-poop joke). Now through July 7, you may enter the Goodreads giveaway to win one of five signed hardcovers. But why leave it to chance? Monkey in the Middle is also available for pre-order in both hardcover and ebook, and copies should start shipping soon. Here's where to find it: Indiebound | B&N | BAM | iTunes | Amazon. 

I had so much fun writing this book. I can't wait for you to read it!

4.15.2015 Friendship Split Giveaway(s)

Enter to Win!

Now through May 5, enter the Goodreads giveaway to win one of five signed hardcovers of my debut novel, Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split. Perfect for kid lit fans of all ages, especially readers ages 6-10.

Here's the giveaway link. If you'd prefer to just buy a copy, the hardcover and ebook editions are available for pre-order (and should start shipping any day now): 

Indiebound | B&N | BAM | iTunes | Amazon

Speaking of giveaways, I have a few Anna, Banana shelf-talkers left. If you'd like one for your home, classroom, or office (or for your bookstore or library!), please email me your address and I'll happily send one your way.

*throws confetti*      Yay, books!

P.S. Have you seen the Anna, Banana book trailer yet? Click here to watch it. (Thanks, Mr. Schu, for hosting its premiere!)