I haven’t posted a Monthly Wrap-Up lately because I’ve been posting pretty much everything I would normally put in that post in my weekly Sunday Posts. So this month, I decided to add just a teensy bit extra to this post (basically just a list of all the August posts) and add the Monthly Wrap-Up element here.
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on my blog and share news about what’s coming up in the week ahead. I’m also linking up to the Sunday Salon @ Readerbuzz!
What’s been happening since my last Sunday Post:
Day in Chicago – My mom, my husband, and I went downtown on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend to meet up with my daughter, Danielle, who was in town for a concert. We did a murder mystery tour, which was a little more fun than walking around–but not as fun as we were hoping, honestly. Tour-wise, it wasn’t much of anything, just a lot of walking with a minute or two of tour now and again. But it was a beautiful day, and we got to hang out with Danielle and her friend, so we still enjoyed it.
Leigh Bardugo & John Picacio book event – Leigh Bardugo just released her first picture book, The Invisible Parade, with co-author/illustrator John Picacio. It’s utterly gorgeous!! I found it really interesting to hear about the process of how they wrote the book together. Plus, I got to get a couple of my other LB books signed, which was a nice bonus.
Aaron Reynolds book event (and a trip down memory lane) – This one was even more fun for me because Aaron and I go way back – he was the K-1 teacher at a church I volunteered at for years. It’s a mega-church, and back then, the kids’ program was a really elaborate production, and he wrote a lot of the programming. I was on the drama team for the kids’ ministry (yes, we had a whole drama team – it was pretty amazing), and I also eventually was a volunteer teacher in the 3-year-old room. I used to say that serving in that room was akin to being on a show like Blue’s Clues – we had special character guests, costumes, full-sets, musical numbers, etc. It was a LOT of work, but so much fun! One year Aaron and his wife wrote and directed a hilarious hour-and-a-half long operetta (all music, no dialogue) for Christmas. I played Mary–this is honestly a core memory for me! (I also once played a singing, dancing monster alongside Aaron for a children’s ministry conference–while I was eight months pregnant!!)
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Anyway, Aaron’s newest book, Troubling Tonsils (narrated by Jasper Rabbit of Creepy Carrots fame) was just released, and I got to go to his launch event at Anderson’s Bookshop (Bardugo’s event was there as well). Let me tell you, Aaron hasn’t lost any of the energy and humor he had as a K-1 teacher/writer all those years ago – his presentation is basically a kids’ “show”, and it’s so much fun!!!
Movies with AMC A-List – We went to see the new Naked Gun movie, which was pretty funny. Nothing earth-shattering, but about what I was expecting for this type of movie.
Book News/Progress:
Picture book draft – I actually finished a first draft of a picture book! I’m super excited about the book. I have no idea where it might lead (the market is tough right now, and many people write tons of PB manuscripts before they ever get one published), but I’m hopeful that this is the first of many and that it will make its way into the world at some point!
Upcoming SCBWI IL events – SCBWI IL is putting on their fall online conference called “Community Gardens: Fall Harvest“. I will be doing a reading of my book and a Q&A on Sept. 20th and then a session on the 21st called “Preparing the Soil for Your Story” where I talk about how to determine what type of book your current writing idea might want to be! If you’re a writer, there’s still time to register for the online conference here!
What I Read:
- I read Always Anthony by Teri Libenson because I’ve been trying to do a bit of graphic novel research. (My library didn’t have the first book in this series in – it’s very popular! But it’s fine to read these out of order.) I’m hoping to try my hand at a graphic novel script at some point, but we shall see!
- I read Vote for the G.O.A.T. by Ali Terese, a wonderfully funny book about kids who stand up for what they believe in (and end up on some crazy capers) to save their school mascot.
- Next was Dracula’s Brunch Club by Brian Gonsar, another really funny read! (Guess I was feeling the need for some humor recently). This one is a graphic novel that imagines Dracula as a chef who makes blood orange donuts because vampires don’t realize that actual blood gives them even more energy. Loved this kid-friendly version of a vampire story!!
- Then I read Nordlys: Book One by Malin Falch, a Scandinavian take on Peter Pan. This graphic novel is truly gorgeous, and I just want to stare at the illustrations all day long!!!!
- I listened to Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver, another book that I had removed from my shelves during my purge (the best thing I ever did for those books was get rid of them and add them to my Hoopla audiobook TBR!!)
- Finally, I listened to The Beat I Drum by Dusti Bowling, a long-awaited companion to the Aven Green Series. I especially loved the appreciation for drumming in this one since my husband’s a drummer. 🙂
- I also read more picture books! Here’s a list:
- The Flower Garden, Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates, Just Snow Already, The World’s Best Class Plant, Bird Rehearsal, How to Spot a Mermaid, What Fish Are Saying, Build a Sandcastle, The Squirrel Who Squabbled, The Way Home for Wolf, Firefly July, There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter, Side by Side,
and Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees
- The Flower Garden, Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates, Just Snow Already, The World’s Best Class Plant, Bird Rehearsal, How to Spot a Mermaid, What Fish Are Saying, Build a Sandcastle, The Squirrel Who Squabbled, The Way Home for Wolf, Firefly July, There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter, Side by Side,
August Posts You May Have Missed:
- September 2025 Discussion Challenge Link-Up & Giveaway!
- August 2025 Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up
- Sunday Post & Book Pre-order Campaigns Galore: 8/24/25 – see other August books I read and read about my hair appts and brewery trips.
- #IMWAYR & #MMGM: Review of AN ENCANTADORA’S GUIDE TO MONSTROS AND MAGIC by Sarah J. Mendonca & Sarah’s Top Ten Addictions
- Sunday Post & Book Pre-order Campaigns Galore: 8/17/25 – see other August books I read and read about my planting, volunteering, and visits with B&N friends.
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 THE WEAVER BRIDE by Lydia Gregovic from Blue Willow Bookshop to receive a signed/personalized copy and custom bookmarks! (Ends 9/29) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order WILL THERE EVER BE ANOTHER YOU by Patricia Lockwood fromOne More Page Books to receive a signed copy and an exclusive pin! (Ends 9/22) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order THE HOUSE WITH NO KEYS by Lindsay Currie from a participating indie to receive signed bookplate and a die cut bookmark in the shape of a key! (Ends 10/6) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order MYSTERY JAMES DIGS HER OWN GRAVE by Ally Russell from Copper Dog Books to receive a bookmark, sticker, cemetery map, and worm! (Ends 9/7) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order THRONE IN THE DARK by A.K. Caggiano from Mysterious Galaxy to receive an exclusive, full-colored art card by artist Charlie Bowater and a bookplate signed by the author! (INT) (Ends 11/3) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order SILVER AND LEAD by Seanan McGuire from Mysterious Galaxy to receive a sticker pack! (INT) (Ends 9/29) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order THE KING MUST DIE by Kemi Ashing-Giwa to receive exclusive digital art! (US only) (Ends 11/3) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order THE BOOK OF ANANSI by Angie Thomas to receive a custom engraved metal bookmark! (US only) (Ends 9/15) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order THE RISE OF NICHOLAS THE NOBLE by Chanda A. Bell to receive a Santaverse snow globe ornament and a limited-edition art print by the illustrator! (US only) (Ends 9/15) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order SCARLET MORNING by ND Stevenson to receive a custom art print by the author/illustrator! (US only) (Ends 9/22) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order THE FIRST CAT IN SPACE AND THE BABY PIRATE’S REVENGE by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Shawn Harris to receive Captain Babybeard’s Temporary Tattoos! (US only) (Ends 11/30) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Pre-order THE HEARTBREAK HOTEL by Ellen O’Clover from Boulder Bookstore to receive a signed/personalized copy, a postcard, two stickers, and a door hanger bookmark! (Ends 9/22) CLICK FOR DETAILS
Lots of good stuff! Have any news? Feel free to share in the comments!
Congratulations on finishing your picture book! Now that’s my dream…to one day do that.
I adore Aaron Reynolds. I have a fun photo of him from the Texas Library Association Conference some years back. It’s here if you’d like to take a look: https://pin.it/6YKuj2Xpg
Oh, that picture is so fun!! That’s definitely Aaron’s personality! 🙂
Oh, and I read this morning that Reynolds is coming to one of my favorite bookstores in Houston this week to promote his new book!
Oh nice! I had loosely debated about the Leigh Bardugo event as it’s been years since I’ve seen her but couldn’t make it work. Glad you were able to go and get books signed! That’s always fun! I was curious about her new picture book as well!
Hope you have a great week ahead!
Here’s my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
I hadn’t realized she was working on a picture book. It was good timing for me since I’ve been working on some picture books lately and reading a lot of them!
The Murder Mystery Tour sounds fun. How cool that you got to meet Leigh Bardugo.
The Nordlys looks really cute! I love Peter Pan, I should look this one up!
Sounds like you had a great week.
Congrats on completing your children’s book!
Great activities. I enjoy Leigh Bardugo. I’m not much on book events since I don’t do print much anymore. I am tempted by some of the really beautiful books these days with sprayed and painted edges though.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Sounds like a good week! Sorry the murder mystery walking tour wasn’t as good as you’d hoped. I also enjoyed the new Naked Gun movie. Your comment about purging books and adding to your Hoopla TBR, I should probably do that with more of my huge TBR bookcase. At least the ones that I can do that with and not the ones that I can’t get anywhere else. Hope you had a good week!