The St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance, a groundbreaking coalition of Indie bookstores, had the utterly awesome idea of asking local authors to appear in their stores as booksellers for a day. They’re calling us celebrities, and while I think it’s fair to say that word is being used very loosely in my case, there are some major names involved: Heather Brewer, Ridley Pearson, Curtis Sittenfeld . . . the list goes on and on.

Anyhoo, please do stop by one of the stores this Saturday, December 17th and say hi to an author (times are listed on the link above). (We’re utterly tame, and frequently house-trained.) Best of all, a portion of all the books I “sell” will go to local charity Gateway 180, which provides shelter for homeless women and children – a brilliant cause, and one I am thrilled to support.

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.

I arrived on Thursday (after traveling for 21 hours – yes, you read that correctly) and rushed to meet Katherine Schneider, the sponsor of the Schneider Family Book Award. Dr. Schneider is a delight: thoughtful, kind, witty, engaged . . . I could go on and on. I am so pleased I got the chance to meet her, and had the opportunity to express how winning her award has transformed Five Flavors of Dumb from a small novel into one that is carried in almost every library in the USA.

Next, I gave this year’s Schneider Disabilities Issues Forum talk. I called it “Five Flavors of Dumb: How the Deaf Community Shaped a Novel.” The audience was fantastic, and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire provided both an ASL interpreter and closed-captioning. A local newspaper has published an excellent write-up on the event – you should totally check it out. If Katherine Schneider isn’t your own personal hero after reading this, then you’re crazy.

On Friday, I visited awesome students at Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls middle and high schools. Again, kudos to the teachers and librarians at every stop, because these students were prepared. There’s nothing more gratifying than walking into a school and having students ask detailed questions about your book. Just look at how much I was forced to gesticulate!

Thanks to Dr. Katherine Schneider and the organizers of the festival. I look forward to returning in the future!

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, Sept. 18, 2-3:30 PM

Highland Park Library

494 Laurel Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035

This is a pretty laid back event, so there’ll be LOTS of time for me to chat to people.

Monday, Sept. 19, 7 PM

Evanston Public Library

1703 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

The teens here put on a stage production of DUMB, so I’m really looking forward to chatting with them.

On Monday, I’ll also be visiting St. Francis Xavier School in Wilmette, and Nichols Middle School in Evanston. A big hello to the students there. Thanks for having me along!

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.

Creative Retreat for writers

Slip away from the noise and distractions in your life for a tranquil weekend retreat at a riverside site owned by the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA). On Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, writers of all levels will have the opportunity to learn and to create. You will return home rejuvenated and filled with ideas.

Course description:

Author Antony John will focus on the art of novel writing, regardless of at what stage participants are with their writing. Participants will learn how to get past the initial hurdles of writing, how to parcel out research and writing and editing, and how to fundamentally ENJOY writing. After all, what’s the use of writing a novel if you don’t enjoy the journey?

There will be ample opportunity to exchange ideas and to discuss and critique works in progress.

Register at www.msta.org/events. Fee includes workshop, meals and lodging. MSTA members, $200; non-members $250. Enrollment is limited. Contact Sarah Kohnle, skohnle@msta.org. Please indicate your interest in writing.

Special appointments:
Ready to discuss your novel? Questions about agents and publishers? One-on-one appointments may be made with Antony John. Contact Sarah Kohnle (skohnle@msta.org) now to schedule. Limited spots.

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.

I’m thrilled to announce that tomorrow evening there will be a live theater performance of Five Flavors of Dumb at the Loft in Evanston Public Library (Third Floor East of the Main Library, 1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201. Tel: 847-448-8625).

Here’s the full blurb:

Saturday, July 23, 3 p.m., Community Meeting Room, Main Library.

This summer, the Loft’s teen theater troupe has devised an original theatrical event. Using the language of a modern theater technique called Viewpoints – including gesture, architecture, and space – we have created an interpretation of Antony John’s standout 2011 book, FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB all in only two weeks (or, put another way, six  rehearsals)! Five Flavors of Dumb is the story of Piper, deaf since she was 6 years old, who gets hired to manage a high school band. Her mission? Get them a paying gig within a month. Along the way, she comes to appreciate the transformative power of music, gains new friends, and establishes a new, stronger relationship with her family.

Please join us for this brief one-performance only library event! FREE.

I hope there’s a fantastic turnout for what promises to be an amazing event. And my thanks to everyone involved in making this happen. Just brilliant!

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.

Okay, that’s not completely true. Actually, I’m sitting on the deck of a house in Myrtle Beach, SC, which is positively idyllic. Later on, I’ll join all Americans in extreme over-consumption of burgers and hot dogs. And possibly beer. Gotta love national holidays.

All of this is a far cry from last week, when I headed to New Orleans for the American Library Association conference. It’s the one where they hand out writing awards, including the Schneider Family Book Award. The good folks at Penguin flew me in to collect the award, and generally enjoy a free vacation in a super-cool city. There’s a lot to like about being an author.

I got in on Sunday, toured the French Quarter, sidestepped the vomit on Bourbon Street, and gorged on a Famous Ferdi Special Po’Boy from Mother’s. I should’ve taken a photo, as it was a beast of a sandwich, but I was up to the challenge. I then spent the evening in a calorie-induced stupor.

On Monday, I met my awesome editor, Liz Waniewski, for breakfast (at Mother’s, because my tummy told me I had to), and we went on to the conference center, which is really quite enormously large. At the entrance were these large panels for all the award winners. As Liz took this photo she remarked that I was wearing the same shirt. I wish I could say that she was wrong, but actually, I really only have a few presentable shirts. My “stay-at-home-dad” wardrobe apparently doesn’t count as business casual. And my “author” wardrobe bears a striking resemblance to my “stay-at-home-dad” wardrobe. Hmm, I might do something about that if I ever win another award.

In the conference center, I had a signing from 10-11AM. It ran over by 15 minutes, and there was a line the whole time. It was incredible–never experienced anything like it. Some people had brought copies of FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB with them, and almost everyone grabbed an ARC of THOU SHALT NOT ROAD TRIP. It was so cool to meet librarians and teachers and bloggers and teens. Even Lauren Myracle and Richard Peck stopped by, and I totally managed not to become incoherent in front of them, which has to count as a highlight of the trip. A big thanks to the School and Library Marketing folks at Penguin for organizing it all.

Liz then escorted me to the Schneider Family Book Award luncheon, where we met the wonderful panel of librarians who had selected my book for the award. They were delightful and engaging and very thoughtful, and I think we could have stayed there all day if it weren’t for the fact that the room was needed for another group, and I was the only one still eating. (The crawfish salad was out of this world.)

Monday afternoon was a far more thorough tour of the French Quarter with Liz. We ate beignets at Cafe du Monde, where I met author Jackson Pearce, and had dinner at a fabulous restaurant called Felix, where we feasted on gumbo, jumbalaya, catfish, sausage and beans, and a couple of other things that I can’t remember now, but were really good. Normally, I would’ve asked for a take-home box, but just finished everything instead. My tummy did a happy dance.

Monday night Liz and I took in the Printz Award speeches. Some wonderful books and wonderful authors. A.S. King gave a brilliant speech, as did Lucy Christopher. The experience reminded me how glad I was that I wouldn’t have to give a speech on Tuesday. Having to give speeches requires you to not overeat, and to remain utterly sober. Still, I guess it’s worth it if you get a Printz.

After the awards, there were drinks. (Come to think of it, there were a lot of drinks during the conference.) I even had the chance to chat to Sara Zarr, whose books I’ve admired for years. It’s a sign of how amazingly modest and down-to-earth she is, that she peppered me with questions, even though I was determined to ask HER all about her writing.

Perhaps best of all, I (finally) had photos taken with my editors. The first is of me with Andrew Karre (center) and Brian Farrey (left). Andrew edited my first novel, BUSTED, at Flux, and Brian (his successor there) has been in touch since, with words of encouragement. In the second, I’m with Liz (my editor at Penguin Books). Liz and I still have three more books to write together, so I consider her extremely brave, as well as being utterly delightful. It’s truly an honor to work with her–she’s a dream editor in every way.

On Tuesday, we breakfasted at, uh … Mother’s (you can’t say no to The Tummy). We had a rehearsal for the award ceremony, and rode the streetcar out to the Garden District, which is really fancy. Apparently Sandra Bullock moved there last year, and her house is, well … not small. At all. Quite enormous, in fact. Oddly, we didn’t knock on the door and ask if we could join her for a drink. We’re sensitive like that.

In the evening, the award ceremony took place. It was a black tie affair, which meant that I felt extremely awkward. Still, it’s not like many of the other guys looked any more comfortable. I met the other Schneider winners (George Ella Lyon and Lynne Avril for the picture book award, and Jordan Sonnenblick for the middle grade award) and all of them were lovely, and just as excited as I was. We went up onstage and got our awards from the president of ALA. All very inspiring, I must say. Then Liz and I went out to try New Orleans’ famous cocktail, the Sazerac. Again, yum.

I flew home on Wednesday with only a Central Grocery’s muffuletta for company. Still, if you have about 8000 calories in your hands, it’s hard to feel too lonely.

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.

1. For a start, I’ve had a few school visits recently, which I adore. Today, I met with the students at Marquette High School in Chesterfield, MO. A couple of weeks ago I visited Rockwood Summit High School in Fenton, MO (where there were sign language interpreters – a first for me), and participated in the Writers’ Week festivities at Hazelwood West High School in Hazelwood, MO. In each case I was reminded just how amazing high school students are, and met with several aspiring writers. Thanks to the librarians and teachers who made each visit such a success.

2. I’m wrapping up the final draft of what will be my next contemporary YA novel. It’ll be coming out in spring 2012, though I can’t divulge the title just yet. Not because it’s a secret or anything, just because . . . it doesn’t have one.

3. DUMB has been mentioned in a nice column entitled “Award-winning books about kids with disabilities” that is doing the media rounds. In particular, it features some information about Katherine Schneider, founder and sponsor of the ALA Schneider Family Book Awards. Great read.

4. Talking of awards, the International Reading Association recognized FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB as a Notable Book for a Global Society. DUMB has also been nominated for the 2011-12 Georgia Peach Book Award. It’s up against incredibly stiff competition, but it’s an honor simply to be included.

5. It’s always lovely to hear from readers, especially deaf readers. One, in particular, shares Piper’s moderate-severe hearing loss, and wrote a really great (and detailed) review. Thanks, Tricia!

Have a great weekend everyone!

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.

A couple of weeks ago I went back to college, although for once, I wasn’t after another degree (you can breathe again, Mum and Dad). My hosts were the faculty and students of Connecticut College, an extraordinarily beautiful campus nestled against the River Thames in New London, CT.

In case you’re wondering how on earth I managed to finagle an invite, the answer is that my graduate school “flatmate” (English for: we shared an apartment) was Professor Simon Hay, who is on the English department faculty. His colleague Professor Michael Reder, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, has been teaching a freshman writing class that deals with issues of identity. Well, as luck would have it, FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB deals with that, too, and was one of the assigned books.

I loved my class with Professor Reder’s students. They had all read DUMB and really thought about it, so we could have talked for hours. They even chatted with me about it (and the writing process in general) over lunch . . . and dinner. It’s not every day that I get to talk to highly intelligent and erudite folks about my own book, and maybe that’s a good thing; it was actually kind of intimidating!

In the afternoon, I sat down for a conversation with the college’s own award-winning writer-in-residence, Blanche Boyd. Although our genres and approaches couldn’t be more different, we had a great time talking about the ins-and-outs of writing, the challenges and the particular satisfaction it brings. The college newspaper even did a wonderful write-up of the event (with photos!).

Oh, and one of the writers for the newspaper, Shannon Keating, wrote an astoundingly thoughtful (and frankly, hilarious) review of DUMB that coincided with my visit. She’s a brilliant writer, I have to say.

Huge thanks to everyone for making me feel so welcome. And before I sign off, here (in no particular order) is the list of 12 MUST-READ YA novels that several audience members asked me to include (what do you mean, you asked for 10?):

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. Hyperion, 2008

Before I Die by Jenny Downham, David Fickling Books, 2007

Candy by Kevin Brooks. Chicken House, 2005

Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going. Putnam’s, 2003

Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock. Houghton Mifflin, 2006

Looking for Alaska by John Green. Dutton, 2005

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. Wendy Lamb Books, 2004

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1999

Holes by Louis Sachar. Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1998

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House), 2000

Feed by M.T. Anderson. Candlewick Press, 2002

Life as We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer. Harcourt, 2006

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.

2. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran a nice story on local ALA award winners. And talking of local ALA winners . . .

3. Brian Katcher, one of my favorite YA authors, won the Stonewall Award for his most recent book, ALMOST PERFECT. Everyone should read this and his other novel, PLAYING WITH MATCHES.

4. Brian and I were in good company among ALA award winners it seems, as Midwesterners racked up.

5. Finally, a big shout out to the fantastic students at Crossroads College Prep in St. Louis. I really enjoyed my visit today, and the questions were excellent. And bonus points for having MULTIPLE students who have already finished their first YA novel (yes, I’m looking at you Mia and Zoe). Amazing.

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.

A big thanks to the Northwest Vallyet 7th and 8th Grade Center in House Springs, MO, for being such awesome hosts this morning. It’s the first time I’ve spoken to a real CROWD (I think 1200 students counts as a crowd, don’t you?).

Next up: Hancock Place High School tomorrow morning. Ah, the fun never stops.

In keeping with the awful change in weather (hey, I don’t like winter; what can I say?) here’s a winter-themed interview with yours truly.

Don’t forget, every comment on my blog or Facebook page gets you an entry into the book giveaway contest.

Finally, check out Lauren Myracle’s very insightful post about the “friends” status of her Flower Power buds. Lauren doesn’t post very often, but when she does, it’s always worth reading (and thinking about!).

©2012 Antony John. All Rights Reserved.