Sunday Post & Book Pre-order Campaigns Galore: 3/9/25

What’s been happening since my last Sunday Post:

For once I’m not going to say nothing interesting happened since my last Sunday Post! I’ve had a very eventful few weeks because my husband and I went to Maui to celebrate our 25th anniversary! We had an amazing time! We saw the sights on Road to Hana, hiked and enjoyed a stunning sunset on Mount Haleakalā, did several other hikes, did a whale watching tour, and snorkeled in gorgeous waters with coral reefs and sea turtles swimming right beside us!

I shared some pics on Instagram (I especially love the turtle one – apparently he couldn’t read the sign!):

 

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A post shared by Nicole M. Hewitt (@nicolefictionaddiction)

And here are some more pics just for you!

The first picture below is a restaurant where they used the old pineapple and sugar cane processing equipment in their landscape design. Pic two is me in front of lava rocks, and pic three is a rainbow eucalyptus tree (note the pretty colors in the bark).

I love how the picture of my husband below makes it look like we’re in a flying car! LOL! In reality, we were driving on Mount Haleakalā – but there was often just a little ledge of land separating our car from the clouds! (You can also see the vestiges of the gorgeous sunset views we got on Haleakalā.) The second picture is of Venus, which we could see clearly in the night sky from our balcony one night! (The rainbow was also a pic from our balcony.) The rest are either just pretty or self-explanatory!

 

The Song of Orphan’s Garden Book News:

• I flew out to Denver for my good friend Megan E. Freeman’s launch party for AWAY! The event was wonderful, and I was very excited to see Megan in person again. She’s my accountability partner, so we talk weekly, but since she’s out in Colorado, we don’t get to actually see each other often. I also had a chance to see Stan Yan in person – he’s in my Middle Grade Escapades debut group!

Since I was flying out, Megan also set up a lunch with the Colorado contingency of our agency, East West Literary! It just so happens that my agency represents several authors in the Denver area, so it was a great chance for us to get together, and my agent actually flew all the way out from LA to attend! While I was in Denver, I also went to the Maurice Sendak exhibit at the Denver art museum and signed books at a bunch of Denver bookstores!

Apparently I didn’t get a pic with all of our authors, but here are a few pics from the trip (Megan with AWAY, my agent Deborah Warren and I, me and Stan Yan, and one of the Wild Things!):

   

• If you’re in the Chicagoland area or the Denver or Northern CO area you can see a list of bookstores with signed copies of The Song of Orphan’s Garden on my website HERE!

• I attended Anderson’s annual Children’s Literature Breakfast as a local author. It was a great experience – I met lots of teachers and librarians who are excited about my book!
• I’ve also done a few school visits now, and I’ve got two more scheduled for this upcoming week! I love doing these school visits – it’s one of my favorite things about publishing in MG!
• You can check out my upcoming event schedule on the Visits & Events page on my website!

What I Read:

Since I was traveling a lot, I got quite a bit of reading done!

• I listened to This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede and the sequel This Cursed Light. I had the first book for review ages ago and never got around to reading it. Once I listened to the first book though, I had to move directly on to book two!
• I also listened to First Love Language by Stefany Valentine, a recent release that I was really looking forward to. This ones a sweet YA romance!
• Next was A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. I’ve had lots of people recommend this book to me as a wonderful cozy fantasy, and I agree. It’s an interesting philosophical read, but I’m not sure cozy fantasies are actually my favorite. I think I need more action in my reads!
• Then I listened to Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. I’d actually read this one way back when it first came out, but I have Hamilton’s upcoming book for review so I wanted to refresh my memory (and catch up on the series)!
• I read Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford, a fellow MG debut author from the MG Escapades group! This one is a heartfelt contemporary about having a family member dealing with addiction.
• And then I read Hikaru in the Light by Mai Matsuda. I love that they’re coming out with some manga specifically for MG readers!
• Finally, I read Cloud Puppy and Game On! by Kelly Leigh Miller, adorable graphic novels geared toward 6-9-year-olds. Loved these!!!

Here’s what you may have missed on the blog since my last Sunday Post:

• #IMWAYR & #MMGM: Review of The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay by Mary Averling & Mary’s Top Ten Addictions
• February 2025 Wrap-Up Round-Up
• March 2025 Discussion Challenge Link-Up & Giveaway!

In February, I also contributed to the Official SCBWI Blog:

• Making the Most of Publishing Conference Contacts
• Write the Book of Your Heart… Even If It’s Not Sellable?
• Reaching Distracted Middle Grade Readers in New Ways
• Why Book Banning Doesn’t Only Harm Marginalized Readers

And here are a few recent posts on the Middle Grade Escapades Blog you might want to check out:

• Author Spotlight: Angela Hsieh, with her post about the inspiration behind her graphic novel, LU AND REN’S GUIDE TO GEOZOOLOGY
• Author Spotlight: Alby C. Williams, with their Q&A post about their MG fantasy, WHERE THERE BE MONSTERS
• Author Spotlight: Cassandra Federman, with her post about her writing process for her graphic novel, STORY SPINNERS: A SISTERLY TALE OF DANGER, A PRINCESS, AND HER CREW OF LADY PIRATES

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NEW Pre-order Campaigns 

Head over to my Pre-Order Campaigns Page to see ALL of the pre-order deals, including pictures!!

Here’s a list of the pre-order campaigns I’ve added to the list since my last Sunday Post:

Pre-order LU AND REN’S GUIDE TO GEOZOOLOGY by Angela Hsieh or request it from your local library to receive a double-sided mini print and a signed exclusive bookplate. If you order from Fantom Comics you can asked to get your book personalized AND get a bonus sticker! (Ends 6/2) CLICK FOR DETAILS

Pre-order THE STARVING SAINTS by Caitlin Starling from Copper Dog Books to receive a character print and pin! (Ends 4/19) CLICK FOR DETAILS

Pre-order THE SOUTH WIND by Alexandria Warwick to receive an exclusive custom page overlay! (US only) (Ends 5/26) CLICK FOR DETAILS

Pre-order OUT OF AIR by Rachel Reiss from Timbre Books to receive a signed, personalized copy, an acrylic tasseled goldleaf bookmark, and a postcard print. Plus, five random winners will be selected to receive scuba diver bookends! (Ends 5/12) CLICK FOR DETAILS

Pre-order AMELIA, IF ONLY by Becky Albertalli or request it from your local library to receive an Amelia-themed postcard and a Simon-themed bookplate! (INT) (Ends 6/14) CLICK FOR DETAILS

Pre-order EXQUISITE RUIN by AdriAnne May from Third Place Books to receive an art print, sticker and signed bookplate! (Ends 3/24) CLICK FOR DETAILS

Lots of good stuff! Have any news? Feel free to share in the comments!

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