Signed copies of Santa Knows by Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, illustrated by Steve Björkman (Dutton, 2006) are now available at BookPeople at Sixth and Lamar in Austin, Texas; and at Barnes & Noble at the Lone-Star Pavilion, 711 Texas Avenue, in College Station, Texas. They also will soon be available Jacque’s Toys in Bryan, Texas. Readers may contact stores for shipping information or write me for autographed book plates.

Look for us today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Thursday, Nov. 16) by the main tree at a table signing for “A Christmas Affair,” sponsored by the Junior League of Austin.

More News & Links

Congratulations to M.T. Anderson, winner of the National Book Award (in Young People’s Literature) for The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume One: The Pox Party (Candlewick, 2006). Read a Cynsations interview with M.T. Anderson.

Congratulations to the Flying Pig, now in Shelburne, Vermont, on its 10th anniversary! See also Vermont authors.

Take a sneak peek at the cover art from R.L. LaFevers‘ upcoming Theodosia Throckmorton and the Serpents of Chaos (Houghton Mifflin, 2007). Read a Cynsations interview with R.L. LaFevers.

Then take a sneak peek at the cover art from David Lubar‘s upcoming The Curse of the Campfire Weenies and Other Weird and Creepy Tales (Tor, September 2007). Read a Cynsations interview with David.

Guide to Selecting Children’s and YA Books about Native Americans by Elizabeth Kennedy from About: Children’s Books. Thanks to Elizabeth for highlighting my website!

John Green’s version of NANOWRIMO and Texas from author Tanya Lee Stone. Check out Tanya’s report on the Texas Book Festival. Read a Cynsations interview with Tanya.

“The Mystery and Magic of Story: A Spell That Connects One Heart To Another” by Laurie Halse Anderson (PDF file) from the fall 2006 ALAN Review.

National Book Award Blog for The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin (Dial, 2006) from Nancy Werlin. Peer into Nancy’s NBA experience. Read a Cynsations interview with Nancy.

The Printer’s Trial: The Case of John Peter Zenger and the Fight for a Free Press by Gail Jarrow (Calkins Creek, 2006): a recommendation from Bartography.

Power in Numbers by Joy Bean from Publishers Weekly. Featuring the Class of 2k7, a group of forty first-time children’s/YA book authors, founded by author Greg Fishbone. Subscribe to the Class’s new e-zine, which will be published quarterly, beginning in January 2007. Subscribers will be entered into a drawing to win ARCs and/or finished books from 2k7 members.

“Read This Before You Begin Any Writing Workshop, Class, or Course” from The Working Writer’s Coach: Information and news to help freelance writers become “working” freelance writers by Suzanne Lieurance.

Self-Publish Or Not by Harold Underdown from The Purple Crayon.

Thanks to Mitali’s Fire Escape for cheering my recent interview with Charlesbridge editor Yolanda LeRoy. Mitali Perkins is the author of Rickshaw Girl (2007) and The Bamboo People (2009), both forthcoming from Charlesbridge.

Thanksgiving Lesson Plans: recommendations from Debbie Reese at American Indians in Children’s Literature. See also Lessons from Turtle Island: Native Curriculum in Early Childhood Classrooms by Guy W. Jones and Sally Moomaw (Redleaf, 2002).

“The Waiting Game” by Denice Ryan Martin from the Institute of Children’s Literature. Upbeat, healthy suggestions for writers waiting to hear back on a manuscript.

“The Voices of Power and the Power of Voices: Teaching with Native American Literature” by Marlinda White-Kaulaity from the fall 2006 issue of the ALAN Review (PDF file). Note: I provide a guest comment along with those by Simon Ortiz and Laura Tohe.

Who’s Moving Where? News and Editorial Changes at Children’s Book Publishers from Harold Underdown at The Purple Crayon. See November 2006 updates.