This morning’s book launch party at Prairie Creek Public Library in Dwight had a low turnout. Although I can’t blame anyone for wanting to stay home today when we woke up to this:

Luckily for the writer ego, I can blame the weather and not lack of interest in my newly released title!

The weather was in the spirit of “Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank,” though. Chapter 2, titled The White World, includes this passage:

They were surrounded by nothingness. Everything was white. The ground beneath them, the sky above. There was no telling where the ground ended and the sky began. All around was white, as blank as the pages in the book. The only thing they could see was each other.

That could describe the drive to and from Dwight — patchy whiteout conditions spotted Route 17 and Route 18.

I thought a pre-Thanksgiving, November book launch would be safe from questionable weather, but roads in Northern Illinois were a bit treacherous as the husband and I traveled to and from Dwight. I’m grateful that few out-of-towners braved the roads — hopefully all of the Sarah & Katy fans are at home in pajamas, curled up with a blanket and a book.

The low numbers didn’t prevent the fun, though. Sarah and Katy (my nieces and the stars of the book) were joined by three additional special guests: Milana, Indi, and Walter, who join Sarah and Katy as main characters in “Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank.” All five kids had the opportunity to sign a few books. Visits from familiar classmates and a teacher also inspired excitement for the five stars of the book.

• Because of the low turnout, the Sarah & Katy gift basket is still available! If you’re in the Dwight area, spread the word to stop by the library and enter your name for a chance to win:
  • A signed copy of Sarah & Katy and the Imagination Blankets
  • A signed copy of Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank
  • An Imagination Blankets bookmark
  • A Book of Blank bookmark
  • An exclusive imagination blanket
  • “Jumbo” the frog*
  • “Boomslang” the snake*
  • A mug and hot chocolate mix
  • Popcorn

    *Who are Jumbo and Boomslang? Get a copy of Book of Blank to find out!