You may have noticed I’ve been a little scarce for the last week or so. I have been putting the final touches on a super-duper secret project.

It went live today! A blog for middle-grade book by middle-grade authors. We have been fielding congratulatory comments all day. Last time I looked we were up to 149.

I think now that all the back end fixes are taken care of, I can get back to my regularly scheduled activities. You see, I am the intrepid web master and one of two artists for the new blog. There are 27 of us all together. Below is the press release with full details. And of course, the site itself begs for visiting.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Middle-Grade Authors Launch Exciting New Industry Blog

June 7, 2010 – A new blog devoted to all things “middle-grade” launches today with fun giveaways, up-to-the-date news, unique views of the industry and more.

From The Mixed-Up Files… of Middle-Grade Authors (www.FromTheMixedUpFiles.com), named in honor of the iconic E.L. Konigsburg novel, is a one-stop shop for anyone looking to stay current with the world of literature for eight- to twelve-year olds. The site will feature regularly updated book lists, market news, author interviews and behind-the-scenes peeks at the making of books for kids.

“While there are many outstanding blogs devoted to young adult literature, we found very few that focus solely on middle-grade – and we wanted to change that,” explains Mixed-Up Files co-founder Elissa Cruz. “After all, reading plays such an important role during the middle-grade years. Each of us remembers that ‘one special book’ we read over (and over and over) that helped us navigate our way between childhood and adolescence. That’s why we have created a place where anyone – parents, teachers, librarians, kids, writers and industry professionals – can stay up-to-date and share their love of middle grade books.”

The blog is comprised of both well-known and emerging middle-grade authors, including Cruz, Kurtis Scaletta, Danette Haworth, Tami Lewis Brown, Mike Jung and many more. A  complete list of contributing authors and their bios can be found here: http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/about/member-bios/.

For more information, contact:
Elissa Cruz
elissadcruz@gmail.com
www.FromTheMixedUpFiles.com

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I do hope you’ll visit, enter the give-aways and leave comments. Of course, I won’t complain at all if you choose to spread the word to your writing and reading networks.

Wow. Stop doing something for a few months and it becomes hard to get into the habit again. I meant to pick up the daily doodle again after finishing the art for Smoky, but you know what they say about good intentions.

I guess I should not be so tough on myself. It’s not as if I haven’t been trying to put out all the fires that started while I was working so single-minded on the book art. My to-do-right-now list was several pages deep. I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s the train of my book signing tour coming to whisk me away from the studio for much of the rest of the spring.

I start out with a trip down to Texas, a new state as an author/illustrator. I’ve been there twice before. I have a cousin and her family living in a suburb of Houston. I thought about giving her a call and trying to meet up with her, but the logistics are just too hairy. I will be about an hour north of the city and without my own vehicle.

If you are in Texas, I’ll be at the CMA Beltane celebration from April 13-18. I will be out of the studio longer than that as it’s a couple days drive down and back. My poor husband quipped that I am abandoning him. I’m sure he’ll be fine.

In other news, a writer friend of mine put out a call to other middle grade authors. I was one of the 2 dozen writers that answered her call. We are banding together to form a web site focused on the middle grade audience. For those who are unfamiliar with that designation, it refers to books for the 9-13 old age group. Charolette’s Web is a famous book in this bracket. I had the total audacity to volunteer to be the webmeister. So in the time between now and my travels, I will be throwing together a multi-layered web site to promote the wonderful books aimed at younger readers. More info as it becomes available.

Next post will have some photos of the masks I have been feverishly working on to take with me to Texas. See you then!