More Than Just A Pretty Cover

Last Sunday Catherine Linka of Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse in La Canada and I had the pleasure and privilege of co-hosting  an awesome author event for tweens, billed as a Speed Dating With Authors Mother/Daughter Book Party. All I can say is we sure know how to grown ’em here in SoCa! Lucky for us, these six seriously talented authors (pictured at left) happen to live locally and love to encourage reading. The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive and the atmosphere was electric due to the good vibes given off by these wonderful women writers.

Avid reader and La Canada mom, Juli Barry, said her her daughter, 9-year-old Julia Claire, found it thrilling to be able to meet authors and have them sign her books. “I learned from Lisa Yee that it was okay to read books about boys,” remarked Julia Claire.

Taking a turn at every author’s table, I also learned that you cannot tell a book by its cover (although there were lots of gorgeous covers). It was great having the opportunity to get up close and personal, learning about the motivation behind the books and what makes each writer tick.  I especially enjoyed getting the lowdown on  tempting plots a plenty plus colorful, charismatic characters. I strongly recommend you visit these authors’ Web sites or their publishers’ sites to get acquainted with this super selection of books for your voracious or reluctant reader.

Sally Nemeth – The Heights, the Depths and Everything in Between;

Heather Tomlinson – Toads and Diamonds, The Swan Maiden, Aurelie: A Faerie Tale;

Victoria Forester – The Girl Who Could Fly;

Diane Leszezynski – Fern Verdant & The Silver Rose;

S. Jones Rogan – The Daring Adventures of Penhaligon Brush, The Curse of The Romany Wolves

Lisa Yee – Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally), Absolutely Maybe, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, So Totally Emily Ebers, Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time

These fab photos come courtesy of Gemma, my teen reader and Deb Littel, a local mom who truly captured the excitement of  L.A. Parent’s new “By The Book” series. Watch this space for reviews of these books and dates of more “By The Book” events coming soon.