3,2,1…Launch Party!
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THANK YOU, ALL–my fantastic FANTASTICOS!
Yesterday, was my launch party for my book, FISH IN A TREE (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin–coming February 5th). Even though it was Super Bowl Sunday, we had a good turnout–and it was fun! I saw people I haven’t seen for years. A flurry of hugs at the doorway.
There were others on my mind though–such as Nerdy friends from across the country who I wish had been able to be there. Not just to buy a book but to celebrate a new book entering the world–and its future readers as well. That’s what we do as nerds–celebrate books and their readers! So, in honor of these people (and because I hate to see any party end) I’m going to offer a giveaway for a signed copy of FISH IN A TREE, an official FIAT Launch Party shirt, and some book swag.
But, first….some pictures. 🙂 (HUGE thanks to Greg Hunt and Liz Goulet Dubois for most of these pictures )
Getting ready 🙂
In the beginning…
Some of our FANTASTICO volunteers!
Raffle Table!
Book poster and a shot of a young man who would prove to be very good at fishing.
Nerdy friend, Lesley Burnap, Jason Lewis, Susan Dee, and Gigi McAllister
I love to meet young readers! ((photo: Karin LeFranc)
One of the stations where readers could win raffle tickets – Add a Page to The Sketchbook of Impossible Things. GREAT Additions!
One for my favorite volunteers 🙂
Girls playing and enjoying chess!
West Hartford Librarian, Kari Karp, plays GO FISH!
🙂
Caption Contest booth with an enthusiastic facilitator 🙂
Cupcake making!
Artistic folk 🙂
A new page is added to The Sketchbook of Impossible Things!
A raffle ticket and the remnants of a cupcake.
Happy 🙂
Fish in a Tree T-shirts
Albert Jeopardy. Apparently, these two fine young fellows made up some pretty impressive questions for game-goers.
Albert Jeopardy board 🙂
Cupcakes! With a rainbow of frosting choices. 🙂 And a dedicated cupcake helper!
Gigi McAllister came all the way from Maine! (along with 3 others) Thank you!
What are the objects in the mystery boxes???
Reader 🙂 (Photo: Rebecca Smalian)
Fish for the tree!
People 🙂
So happy to see these friends! Jeanne, Mary, Liz and Laurie 🙂
Fishing for letters to make words!
Creating fish for the tree 🙂
Author, Leslie Bulion, fishes for words. 🙂
Lynda speaks to readers about where Fish in a Tree came from.
West Hartford librarian, Janet Murphy, is the master of making fish for the tree!
Artist at work!
Making friendship bracelets next to The Caption Contest booth.
Tattooed hands!
More people 🙂
Susan Dee wins a bucket o’ swag, a signed copy of FISH IN A TREE, and a Skype visit 🙂
Big winner of Ally Nickerson’s art supplies.
Three *very* helpful members of the Teen Advisory Board, and West Hartford librarians, Kari Karp and Janet Murphy.
Fish for the tree!
Choosing the winners…
Teacher, Melanie Swider, winner of the author visit. 🙂 Can’t wait to visit her school!
Laurie Murphy, another raffle winner 😉
With me in spirit – my fantastico agent, Erin Murphy 🙂
Also with me in spirit! My Penguin peeps: Venessa Carson, Nancy Paulsen, moi, Eileen Kreit, and Alexis Watts. (I wish Sara LaFleur were in this picture, too!)
My editor and publisher, Nancy Paulsen, is phenomenal. She is the steel penny of editors–one of a kind! I am most grateful for the day she called and every day we’ve worked together since.
Thank you all for an extraordinary day! I am so, so lucky…
My heartfelt thanks to all who came to celebrate with me on Sunday. It was such a great day – I just kept thinking how very lucky I am. I am blessed. Truly blessed. And I never take any of it for granted.
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To my online friends ~ Thank you for “visiting” my launch party 🙂
OKAY! NOW for the giveaway information 🙂
I am offering a giveaway for:
1) A signed copy of FISH IN A TREE
2) A free, full-length Skype visit.
3) A FISH IN A TREE T-shirt from the launch party
4) Some FIAT swag for a classroom.
TO ENTER:
1) Please comment on this blog post 🙂
2) Please tweet and/or retweet with hashtag #FIATbook. You must include hashtag to be entered. 🙂
Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM on Saturday, February 7th. TWO winners will be announced/notified on Sunday.
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Thank you ALL, my fantasticos!!!
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STRONG SHOULDERS 
Wow-what an event! The smiles on everyone’s faces was the commonality in all snapshots! But the SWAG looks pretty nice, too!
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WOW! Looks like such a fantastic amazing fun party! Go you! Congratulations! I can’t wait to read this one!
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I wish I would have brought my son! I’ll be at the next launch party for sure!
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What a fabulous launch for a fabulous book! I absolutely loved finally meeting Ally and Me. Daniels! Excited that 5th/6th grade book club chose FIAT as their next book.
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Happy book birthday! Excited to read FIAT! Love the cover colors!
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Looks like so much fun! So sorry to have missed it. #FIATbook
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Launch party = awesome! I can’t wait to read Fish in a Tree!
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Congratulations Lynda on your new book Fish in a Tree. I am excited to read such an inspiring book. I only hope that I too can be that teacher for my students as Mr. Christy was for you and Mr. Daniels was for Ally. I am located in Northern Michigan and our students are continuously moving in and out of our school district. I am hoping they will find comfort and hope in Ally’s journey. I also hope I am reminded of their challenges and inspired to give them what they need every day they are with me!
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I would have liked to have been able to be there. However, it looks like you had no shortage of support (and fun.) I wish you all the best, not only with this title, but with everything to come in the future.
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Thank you for writing such an important book. You are changing the world, one word at a time!
Congrats!! 🙂
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Congrats! The event looked amazing! I love all of the fun! All of those smiling faces! Enjoy your deserved success!
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What an amazing event! It looks like everyone had so much fun celebrating your new book. My class loved One for the Murphy’s during the Global Read Aloud and having been anxiously waiting for Fish in a Tree to be released. I love all the ideas you used during this event. They would be great to use while reading this book to my class. Congratulations on releasing another great book!
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Looks like you had and awesome event to kick off FIAT! I just ordered it for my school! Our kiddoes loved One for the Murphys, so I know they are so excited to read FIAT. Congrats!
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Thank you SEAUX much for all the pics and fantastic “fish” ideas!! We are definitively going to have a “Fish in a Tree” tree!! Can’t wait for your book to get to us!!!!!! GlubGlub!!
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!
Love and Hugs,
Lovie
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Great launch party, Lynda! And so many great pictures of the event!
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What an amazing tutorial on how to have a successful launch: activities!, volunteers!, food!, community buy in from the library!, swag! Awesome, Lynda. Congrats!
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I cannot wait to receive my copy…..You are AWESOME!
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How wonderful!
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I like seeing all the Maine people there! I’m glad it was a great event. Can’t wait to read the book!
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I so love hearing you speak Lynda–wish that I could have been there for your launch! Your pictures gave me some great ideas to use at school when I read this book with my students. Thank you so much for sharing your story with so many!
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I loved your book “One for the Murphys” I can’t wait to check out your new book!
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Wow! This looks like one amazing launch party! Gives me great ideas for ways to promote the book with my readers. Thanks!
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Lynda, THANK YOU!!! Thank you thank you thank you for writing a book that reaches us all. I am so thankful for you to breathing life into this story and lift up educators everywhere. Go Ally! Go Lynda!
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I am so excited to receive my copy of the book tomorrow! The students in my library are equally excited. I listened to your podcast yesterday and was deeply moved. Thank you for sharing your gift of words.
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Lynda,
You are a true inspiration! Your books are a gift to young readers (and adults too!). Thank you!!!
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I have been sharing this book since I was lucky enough to receive an ARC. I am so happy to have it now for students to check out from our Library! Happy book birthday!
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Wow! THANK YOU all so very much for your support and kindness. I appreciate it more than I can put into words–which is a bit ironic, I think 🙂
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Great launch for a great book! I am so excited that everyone will get to read it now! Congratulations, Lynda! Thanks for being somebody’s hero…MINE!
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Happy Book Birthday! It looks like a fantastic day with fantastic people celebrating a fantastic author and book (I’m sure 😀). I can’t wait to read it and share it with my students!
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Thank you for all that you do for students and teachers! We love you! Hope to see you again next year at nErDcampNNE!
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Loved this book from the first page. Would love to win this for my school library! Wishing you all the best with your new book, and many more successes to come!
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Thank you for all of the pictures from the party. You have definitely ramped up the excitement for the book. Can’t wait!
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I’m so excited about your book. I can’t wait to read it with my daughters and share it on my blog. Looks like an amazing time was had at your party, how wonderful.
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This looks like a wonderful celebration of a book my class can’t wait to read! Congratulations!!!!! 🙂
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Lynda, you’re so, so generous. I can’t wait to read and share this.
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I have all of my fingers crossed on this one! My kids would love a Skype session!!!
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Your pictures are great! Looks like fun. My students are dying for Fish in a Tree after our whole school read One for the Murphys this fall. Can’t wait to share it with them!
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Wooohoo! Looking forward to reading this book. Was inspired to hear about your writing process at Nerd Camp New England and LOVED the colorful pictures on the blog and cover of the new book! We’d LOVE some FIAT swag and all the goodies in this give away! Thanks for your generosity!
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Fishing for words…so what else is new??!! 🙂
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All of the pictures are absolutely amazing!! What a great celebration for a great book!
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I cannot wait to read this book! Plan on picking it up this weekend!
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Looked like a great time! Congrats and I can’t wait to read it!
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Consider me entered! We’d be so honored to Skype with you…and free swag is a bonus! 🙂 arika
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PreOrdered months ago. Waiting by my mailbox!
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Yeah, what a fun celebration! So excited that FIAT and I share a birthday! I’m heading to the bookstore tomorrow to treat myself. Loved your conversation with Matthew Winner this week. It was a teary car ride! #seethechildbeforethestudent Thank you for the inspiration, can’t wait to read FIAT!
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Cannot wait for this new read aloud with the class. We are excited to have a book birthday celebration tomorrow and introduce Lynda into our Author Study! Welcome 🙂
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Thanks for including all of the pictures and activities; this gives me some ideas for things to do in our library. My students have really enjoyed One for the Murphys, and, of course, my Nerdy Book Club friends have shared rave reviews of #FIAT. And, the cover is phenomenal too!
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Lynda, I’m so glad to see pics of the launch! Happy some of my nerdy Maine pals made it and it warmed my heart to see that Susan won- she gives so much to so many! Please know I was thinking of you and with you in spirit! I’m sure there were no refunds needed that day! Ha, ha! Congrats, my friend! 🙂
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I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this book! I can’t wait to pick up my copy and dig into it! Thanks for sharing the launch party!
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Lynda, what a fabulous celebration for your readers, friends and fans. Today is the day so many of us have waited for- FISH IN A TREE goes out into the world! Readers of all ages will be inspired and it honors our teaching profession in such a heartfelt way. Thank you & congratulations!!
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Congratulations Lynda! Even the ice and snow today won’t stop me from getting to the bookstore to get a couple of copies of #FIAT!
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It looks like it was an AWESOME event – if you want to launch your next book in Georgia let me know – i LOVE these kinds of events!! can’t WAIT to read the book!!
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Pingback: Happy Birthday, Ally Nickerson. Fish in a Tree Swims into the World. | Be someone's hero. No cape required.
What an awesome launch party, Lynda! I finished Fish In a Tree and I loved it! Many of will aspire to have Mr. Daniels’ goodness and Ally’s courage. Happy Book Birthday!
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One for the Murphys is on my middle school bookshelf. Looking forward to this one.
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I can’t wait to read this book! Matthew Winner’s conversation with you brought me here — I loved your discussion of teachers with him.
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So cool to see Maine people at your party. I love when authors are celebrated like the rock stars that they are. I look forward to reading FIAT – One for the Murphy’s is a personal favorite and one that I recommend to many Middle Schoolers.
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I’m so excited about this book! One of my students finally got One for the Murphy’s that was on hold for her today and she nearly jumped out of her skin! Hope I win Fish in a Tree so I can share that one as well! Congratulations!
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congrats! I’m looking forward to reading your book!
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Can’t wait to read this book!
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I’m really excited to read this book!
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Wow, what a great party! So wish this book Nerd could have been there.
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So hoping to be the winner! My students are so inspired by stories of differences.
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Three copies arrived yesterday for my sixth graders to share … One more copy will help a long list of “I want to read #FIAT” ers move to the top of the list. This Mrs. Murphy has her fingers crossed … 🙂
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I saw recently that in some of the pooret areas of the U.S., there is 1 book for every 300 kids.
sad.
So if we won, I’d like to send the book to a school in a poor locale (appalachia), and if possible, share the shype visit with them.
Love all you do for kids and teachers. You send such a powerful message of heroism.
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Very excited to read this new novel and collaborate with other classrooms as we read aloud in class! Hoping we win!
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Congrats on your new book & all the excitement it is creating!
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Wow! The launch event looked amazing…so jealous of all who got to attend!! My students have been waiting for #FIATbook since GRA when we read One for the Murphys! We would LOVE to win this prize!! =)
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Can’t wait to read this book! Congratulations, and WOW on the launch party!
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Love your books and your blog! The kids I work with so enjoyed OFTM and I know they’ll love FIAT too!
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thank you for the inspiring characters you bring to this world and to the world of our students. And thank you for all that you do to make children fall in love with reading.
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I’ve been waiting for this book launch for so long! Looking forward to reading this book and sharing it with my students!!!
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I have been waiting for this book launch for a long time!! I am so excited to read this book and share it with my students!!
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What an amazing launch party! Can’t wait to read the book.
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so many celebrations of what it’s like to be your own person! This book needs to be in all school libraries in multiple copies. Thank you for writing, thank you for celebrating the story and getting word out for those kids who struggle and feel alone.
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Looking forward to another fabulous book!!!
I have so many fans of One for the Murphys (it’s in our SC Junior Book Award list this year) at my school that I can’t wait to show them your newest title! I’m hoping its on my book fair arriving in 3 weeks. We’d love to be able to meet you via Skype! #mustangsread
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What a fun launch party! One for the Murphys is a favorite & there is already a waiting list for #FIAT! We would love to Skype with you!
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What a wonderful book with an important message! Already halfway through the book and loving it!!
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Great pics. Can’t wait to read this book to my class. We love to skype too! Maybe we will see you soon:) Good luck Everyone!
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So excited to read Fish in a Tree! It sounds like the perfect metaphor for what we do as teachers in the classroom everyday, and is a message that many young readers need to read.
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Congratulations on the new book! Loved One for the Murphys and can’t wait to read this one!
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I just started this book yesterday. Love it!!
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I am so excited to discover this book with my students as a read aloud! Need to finish current read aloud as quickly as possible!
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I loved sharing One for the Murphys and can’t wait to share FIAT.
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Thank you for sharing the excitement with us. I am excited to get my hands on the book!
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This looked like an amazing event. Wish I could have been there. This book has peaked my interest and I look forward to reading it!
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HUGE thanks to you all for entering my giveaway. There were SO many entries 🙂 CONGRATULATIONS, Jessliftteach and Bear Creek Library! You are the two winners of the FISH IN A TREE giveaway 🙂
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I can’t wait to read your new book. My students & I loved One for the Murphy’s. It made the top 15 book list at our school. 😁
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This party looks absolutely fabulous. As a teacher I see a million cool ideas to get a child excited to read. I love this book and am so happy to be able to share it with my students.
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Love all the ideas that were happening at your book launch!! I can’t wait to read this book!
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