Happy Launching to R.L. LaFevers!

Congratulations to our own R.L. LaFevers today on the official launching of her new series with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Nathaniel Fludd: Beastolologist, The Flight of the Phoenix.  And happy kudos to the series' phenomenal illustrator, Kelly Murphy. 

Nathaniel Fludd never dreamed that mythical beasts were real. Or that he would be the one who was supposed to take care of them.  

 “The story is packed with adventure and mythological creatures. Children who love fantasy, myth, exotic settings, and even a little dose of history will relate to Nate as he discovers his inner hero and carries on the Fludd family tradition.”

                                               ~ School Library Journal

“. . . an exciting tale.”

                                              ~Kirkus

A Junior Library Guild Selection

This is Robin's eighth book out since she first hit the scene in 2003.  I couldn't be any prouder of her if I had given birth to her myself. Her wildly festive plans for Launch Day thus far include researching the Egyptian Nationalist Movement of 1907  for her next Theodosia title, finishing up galleys for Nathaniel II, and hustling herself down to UPS. Ah, the glamourous life of an author!  (I do get to take her to lunch on Tuesday and vow to celebrate her up one side and down the other.)  To celebrate Robin's Launch Day, I am ordering a copy of Nathaniel Fludd to be sent to my local public library. As we celebrate each other's launches in the months to come, I hope that you'll consider doing the same. It's a strong way to support one another, and our libraries who are struggling during therecession.  You can click here to order Nathaniel Fludd. 

And, I'm betting dollars to doughnuts that we can get Robin to donate a signed copy of her new book to one of your favorite kids, teachers, or libraries. All you have to do is answer the following question: Name one beast that was not in Robin's home when she was growing up. :-]  Good luck!

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Contest Follow-Up!  If your  name is JESSE MARIE KLAUSMEIER , you are the  *winner*  in our most recent random drawing of followers and commenters. You have won a copy of Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength, by  Laurie Helgoe, PhD.   Jesse, if you will email me, I will get that off to you right away.    I am also very delighted to announce that Dr. Helgoe has agreed to do an interview with us here at SVP.  Coming soon! She was recently was interviewed by Psychology Today magazine, and her book is at the top of the Movers & Shakers List at Amazon Kindle. And she's an introvert to boot. If you have any question(s) that you'd like me to ask her, please let me know!    

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Question of the Day:  Is our new President an introvert?  What do you think?  Could an introvert survive that kind of rigorous public life?

Lastly, we will be having a bonus edition of Shrinking Violets this week on Thursday, October 1st, so we can announce and celebrate the launching of another Violet and her very first book.  Come on back by! Bring confetti. =-]

Wishing you each a seriously swell week! Make sure you've allowed yourself time in your schedule to refuel.  Solitude is oxygen for our souls.

Pax,

Mary Hershey

Shrinking Spaces

Photo credit: the aether eater
WARNING: APPROACH WITH CAUTION
This posting serves as a public warning of a growing hazard to introverts everywhere— the explosion of audible greeting cards. The card industry, once both domain and sanctuary of introverts has been seized by a band of rowdy marketing extroverts that take great delight in getting in your space when you least expect it. Opening a musical greeting card is the equivalent of coming upon a surprise party in your home with guests jumping out screaming from behind your couch. Musical greeting cards are loud, intrusive and possess the sound quality of a garage sale boom box.

Even more hair-raising than being the unsuspecting recipient of such a card is the encroachment of noise in the greeting card store or aisle. No longer a quiet, reflective time to find just the right sentiment for your intended, it has become a circus-like event while toddlers, teens and befuddled Gen B (boomers) set loose an audio mayhem of disco, pop and hip hop. During a recent shopping trip with my dear mum, who is still looking for "the nice $1.75 cards” managed to inadvertently crack open nearly every loaded card in stock. I couldn’t decide which of us should have to take a time-out.

Five years ago I wouldn't have publicly admitted this, attributing it all a rather freakish and abnormal Sensitivity to Life. Now I understand what this is about-- it’s me being an introvert. It’s me needing to control the volume and parameters of my space. Not because I’m a cranky old beast. I’m actually what Laurie Helgoe, Ph.D calls Socially Accessible Introvert in her book, Introvert Power. I like people! I’m madly curious about them and their lives. And, I’ll happily stay that way as long as I get the acreage alone I need to fuel up.

I was raised in a big herd, and I didn’t have a space of my own until I was a teen. I became a expert tent builder as a kid. In the absence of supplies, or if pressed for time, I would climb into the tiny crawl space in the garage behind the chimney. I thought I’d come upon Paradise Lost when I found some abandoned cars behind an old warehouse. It was a great place to read and daydream. (And consume massive quantities of candy—extreme bliss.)

It’s critical we recognize that introverts are territorial. We need space. Protected space. Inviolate space. Some of us are able to maintain that simply as interior space. I’m quite visual and I want to see mine-- my desk, my chair, my cup of favorite pens, highlighters and Sharpies. I was reminded of this once again as I recently reread David Keirsey’s groundbreaking book Please Understand Me. Space is such an important issue about which to educate your family. It’s not you being selfish. It’s simply doing what you need to survive in cohabitivity.

The more deeply you *get* your unique style and nuances, the more successful you'll be in the world promoting your work. You'll recognize your simple truth that people tire you, and you'll need to plan and pace your promotional efforts. You'll find the places of intersection in the world that excite you, and jump in with both feet. You'll approach with caution those activities that lead to de-energizing. If you know that you're going to be in an overwhelming promotional situation for an extended period of time, you'll have your SVP First Aid Kit and defibrillator standing by. The good news is that while people/noise/space infringements may knock us flat, after a period of regathering, violets always rise.

Raffle! Raffle! We've got a raffle! If you'd like to win a copy of one of the fabulous books mentioned in this post, all you need to do is be one of our SVP followers. If you haven't signed on yet, you can do so in the right sidebar. Our followers are always automatically entered! If you'd like to be in the raffle but your system won't allow you to join, leave a comment with this post, or send me an email by clicking I'd like a chance to win!

May all your spaces be sacred, deep and wide--

Mary Hershey