Greg and I attended a signing party yesterday for author Anne Bustard and illustrator Kurt Cyrus of Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly (Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster, 2005) at BookPeople here in Austin.
Anne is also the author of T Is For Texas. Kurt also is the author/illustrator of Hotel Deep: Light Verse from Dark Water (Harcourt, 2005), which is very highly recommended.
It was quite the fete! The BookPeople marketing staff had hung records from the ceiling, and the lovely Gillian from S&S brought in a pal who sang some of Buddy’s songs. We all wore Buddy-style glasses, Anne spoke and read briefly, Kurt fielded some questions, and then the signing was on.
When Greg and I left for the Shoal Creek Saloon with YA author Brian Yansky (My Road Trip To The Pretty Girl Capital of the World (Cricket, 2003); awarded best YA novel of the year by the Texas Institute of Letters), all but one copy of Buddy had been purchased. I’m sure it sold out by the end of the event!
In addition to Brian, celebrities in attendance included: Phil Yates (author of Ten Little Mummies (Viking, 2003)); April Lurie (debut author of Dancing In The Streets of Brooklyn (Delacorte, 2002)); Annette Simon (illustrator of This Book Is For All Kids, But Especially My Sister Libby. Libby Died (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2002)), Jane Peddicord (debut author of Night Wonders (Charlesbridge, 2005)); Meredith Davis (Austin SCBWI founder), Julie Lake (Austin SCBWI RA and debut author of Galveston: Summer of the Storm (TCU Press, 2003)), and Don Tate (illustrator of numerous books, including Sure As Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit and his Walkin’ Talkin’ Friends (Houghton Mifflin, 2004)).
I’m so incredibly happy for Anne, Kurt, and for young readers who’ll be inspired by Buddy, who in his too short life somehow made his dream come true.
In more personal news, I’m hugely excited to report that Greg and I bought the cover art from Kurt, which will be proudly displayed in our foyer.
Boy howdy, it sure is fine!
Cynsational Link
Children’s Fiction: Give Them Fights, Cameras, Action by Charlie Higson from The Sunday Times.