Another book down … now to move on to the next

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

Today is the full release for “Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank.”

Huzzah for that!

But there isn’t much time to celebrate. I’ve got work to do.

For the past couple weeks, I’ve been outlining my next book, “The Mountain of Dempsey Molehill.” With this book, I’ll be moving away from the elementary school chapter books and moving into middle grade novels geared toward junior high students.

The Sarah & Katy books were written in the spirit of “The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles,” but Dempsey Molehill is more akin to Richard Peck’s “A Long Way from Chicago.”

The book follows a year in the life of the Molehill family. They’ve never quite fit in with the other residents of Pickettstown. Their hearts are in the right place, even if their actions make them the community oddballs.

I’ve been itching to write this book for a while. There is a lot of havoc to be caused by the five Molehill children. My goal is to unleash them on the world in summer 2017.

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Giveaway time! Win a free copy of ‘Book of Blank’

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

Want another Christmas gift to put under the tree for a 7- to 10-year-old without having to buy it? Then enter for a chance to win SARAH & KATY AND THE BOOK OF BLANK!

Five copies of “Book of Blank” are now available in a giveaway at Goodreads. If you’re a Goodreads user, enter the giveaway by clicking the link below.

The giveaway is open today through Friday, Dec. 4. Books will be mailed out before Christmas.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank by Julie Stroebel Barichello

Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank

by Julie Stroebel Barichello

Giveaway ends December 04, 2015.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

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Book launch recap

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

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:

SnowBookLaunch

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.

  • GiftBasketBecause 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!

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Picture Story Books

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

Marcia Strykowksi shares some excellent thoughts on the length and utility of picture books. Read more below.

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The official Sarah & Katy gift basket

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

GiftBasket

One of my favorite parts about Christmastime is gift shopping. So it’s no surprise one of my favorite parts of preparing for this weekend’s book launch party was assembling the gift basket I’ll be raffling off.

The basket’s theme is “Curling Up With a Sarah & Katy Book.” It includes:

  • A signed copy of “Sarah & Katy and the Imagination Blankets,” plus an Imagination Blankets bookmark
  • A signed copy of “Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank,” plus a Book of Blank bookmark
  • An exclusive imagination blanket
  • “Jumbo” the frog*
  • “Boomslang” the snake*
  • A mug
  • Hot chocolate packets
  • Popcorn

With the first snow of the season forecasted for Saturday, a warm and cozy reading basket might be the perfect afternoon activity for the raffle winner.

This seems like an opportune moment to share a reminder: The “Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank” launch party is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Prairie Creek Public Library in Dwight. The event is open to the public, so if you’re in the North-Central Illinois area, stop on by!

*Who are Jumbo and Boomslang? You’ll have to read “Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank” to find out!

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