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It's true. It's been two years, which isn't very long, I suppose, but which deserves a celebration.

And yet, yesterday, after all this time of not getting it right, it clicked. The voice slid into place and I wrote a whole chapter in an hour and HALLELUJAH PEOPLE YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE GLEE I AM FEELING NOT GLEE LIKE THE TV SHOW BUT LIKE OH GLORY BE TO KATHERINE PATERSON THERE IS RAIN AFTER THE DROUGHT. I immediately sacrificed a frappucino and some chocolate pudding to the muse in thanks, but I cannot ignore her for a big blog birthday party.*

Fortunately for all of us, Heather Kelly has saved the day. She is throwing a hullabaloo tomorrow, May 5, at 1pm and you are all invited. It's called Where in the Blogosphere is Jon (WIBIJ?!) and it's a cyber scavenger hunt complete with corny puns and tomfoolery. Jacqui's Room was a stop a few weeks ago and it looked to be much fun. PLUS, if you prove worthy, you could win a free copy of TWO OF A KIND. Which I hear is pure genius.

Here is what to do:
1. Go to Heather's blog or to the WIBIJ?! main site for directions.
2. Win. I mean it. Represent Jacqui's Room strong, people.
3. Enjoy your free copy of TWO OF A KIND, or any one of a number of other great books.
4. Wish Jacqui's Room a happy birthday. I promise cyber cake later this week. Chocolate even.

* Particularly because Captain Destructo had a tonsillectomy last Wednesday and has not slept more than three hours in a row or gone to school since so my writing time has to all take place in stints as long as episodes of The Backyardigans.

How could it not be, with surprise reviews popping up to make me smile?

Check out the kind, kind words about Two of a Kind at 100 Scope Notes and The HappyNappyBookseller.

...and while not necessarily better than ever, I am definitely better than before a week at the beach.

Highlights have to include hours of swimming in the ocean and daily ice cream. I did catch Tinkerbell demanding money back from the hotel manager because our room was haunted and, failing a refund, offering her services as child detective to solve the mystery. Which I love, of course.

But the best part may have finding Edgartown Books, my new favorite bookstore. Why are they my favorite? Well, look what Captain Destructo found while trolling the picture book shelves!

Okay, really I took this picture later, after I'd shrieked with glee and gone to the register to introduce myself and offer to sign them. The folks there were incredibly nice, even let Tink put the "autographed copy" stickers on, and congratulated me on not being an author who annoys booksellers. Which felt good, of course.


And now it turns out things were Going On while I was gone. Wanna see what I look like? Lee Wind (with whom I fell in heart at SCBWI this month) posted a video of me talking about my Jacqui Reads her Children Books Other People Think Are Bad For Them experience with The Rabbits' Wedding. While you are there, you should read the rest of his blog which is wonderful and good for the world. Meanwhile, Banned Books Week is September 26 - October 3 this year and "Jacqui Reads Her Children Books Other People Think Are Bad For Them, Part 2!" will kick off the first of September with my favorite challenged book ever -- my own! Yes, apparently it is very dangerous to read your kids The New Girl...And Me. I'll explain on the first.

And Ann Finkelstein nominated Jacqui's Room for the Kreativ Blogger award. Ann wrote:

The entire world should enjoy life as much as Jacqui Robbins.

Which makes me happy because I think it means I made someone smile. And also because I can't be nearly as ranty and grumpy as I feel half the time. So thank you, Ann! I know I have homework to do with this honor too, but my "to blog" list is miles long, so is it weak to give a rain check???

It's good to be back.

I surprised Boni Ashburn. She gave TWO OF A KIND a lovely shout-out, which included high praise for THE NEW GIRL...AND ME as well.*

But the books surprised her. As she put it:

... I was already won over by her wacky sense of humor and wild perspective on writing and life. So when I first read her book, I was expecting over-the-top hilarity- and I didn't get it. Her book was not what I expected at all! It's a sweet story, though not overly-so, and unique, and RIDICULOUSLY well-written, with subtle humor, which just isn't what I was ready for.

Boni is not the first person to be surprised by the disconnect between my blog and my books. What I'm wondering about today is why. I think it's partly because there's no pressure (or revision) here, so it's easier to let loose the goof. And I think it's partly because here in Jacqui's Room I have somehow hidden the fact that at heart I am a socially awkward six year-old; people who have known me a long, long time read my books and say, "I read the words and heard you saying them because they are so you."

But I also think it comes from my teaching style. I believe that my classroom isn't all about me and my personality, so when I teach, yeah, I am a strong voice and there's humor and I run a tight ship and etc. But overall, I believe in stepping back and letting the kids and their accomplishments be the center of attention. It makes for a quieter style of teaching, one that involves a lot less orchestrating and a lot more watching. And I think it seeps into my books, where I try to step back and let the story -- and, more importantly, the experiences and connections that readers bring to that story -- be the center of attention, without all my very strong voice getting in the way.

Is this a good thing? I don't know. I feel very, very proud of my books and of the way children connect to them and feel like they were really written for them. But every once in a while, someone is surprised, and I wonder: should I be bringing more crazy? And does anyone else have this disconnect?

P.S. I am off to LA for the SCBWI conference on Thursday, right after a real life TNoftheAWSPWTBIM. Anyone else going to be there? Come find me. I'll be the one hiding behind the palm trees, watching, and hoping nobody punches me in the head.

* High praise made even higher by the source: a great PB writer and source of one of Destructo's favorites: "You friend dragon book!"

...come from kids.

She told me she was six years old and she came to my launch party because her mom read about it in the newspaper. But she was waiting to buy a book or put on a tattoo until she heard me read the story.

When I was done, she came over with TWO OF A KIND clutched to her chest.

"I like your book," she said. Then she leaned close and whispered, very serious, "You know, that really happens. That has happened to me."

And then I melted into a puddle of goo.

A photographic bonanza in which I reveal that I look nothing like my official author photo and am stymied in my quest for a new one.

First, I got my first photographic evidence that Two of a Kind has been released into the wild. Here it is on the shelf at Nicola's Books, here in Ann Arbor (oh, Nicola's, how I adore thee).

Note that I am facing out (yippee!) and right next to Thunder Boomer, which is by the fabulous Shutta Crum, whom I am lucky to call friend and critique buddy, and who gave Two of a Kind a sweet shout-out on her own impossibly chock-full-of-goodies website. Y'all should read Thunder Boomer, or "Funda Boom!" as Destructo calls it. Thanks to my sister for the photo, and for holding back from buying more than one book last night when it looked like we'd sell out (which we did -- cue awkward running man dance).







Secondly, if you look to the left, you'll see my current official author photo, which the lovely Sonya Sones took at last year's SCBWI-LA conference. It is fine, but it doesn't look that much like me, by which I mean I love it because you can't tell at all what I look like from it and also it looks like I glow and have never seen a wrinkle upon me. This is not Sonya's fault; it was one million degrees of sunny when she took the picture.

In any case, it has been suggested that I have a new photo taken. I am a cheapskate kill-two-birds-with-one-stone kind of gal, so I thought, "Aha! I will have someone take picture of me at the launch party when I already have lipstick and that other stuff on anyway lord knows I don't do THAT very often so I might as well take a photo."

What you are about to see is in no way the fault of the lovely Amy at 826michigan whom I roped into taking said photos after I totally spaced my camera. It's just that it turns out that:
1. I never shut up am sort of talkative, and
2. While I talk, I apparently gesture and make faces like a demented circus clown am somewhat expressive.

Therefore, my choices for Jacqui's new author photo are limited to:

1. "Jacqui shows her bottom teeth"


2. "Jacqui sneers at children"


Or, 3. "Look what color Jacqui's hair really is."

Sigh. Look at the books, focus on the pretty books...

Congratulations to my friend Jacqui Robbins who was feted and cheered by an audience of cupcake smeared admirers. (The cupcakes were good!) But her second book, TWO OF A KIND (Illustrated by Matt Phelan. Published by Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books, 2009), is even better than bright blue and green cupcakes! It has just taken its first steps out into the world, and what a sensitive and honest book it is!

Jacqui has just the right touch and is in tune with the tragedies of life in early elementary school. Join me in welcoming this new book. (Click on the photo in the sidebar, to be taken to an independent bookstore where you may order Jacqui’s book.) In addition, check out her funny blog at: http://jacquirobbins.blogspot.com . 

And in case you missed it . . . here is Jacqui’s first book, THE NEW GIRL . . . AND ME.  You teachers, listen up!  Jacqui’s books are spot-on for use in the early elementary classroom. She handles the problems of bullies, and new students with a knowing touch.

Enjoy!

Shutta

Total books sold: all of them.
Total cupcakes eaten: all of them.

The completely sucked into the story, "what's she going to do?!" "keep reading!" looks on the faces of the kids in the audience?

Priceless.

Here is your to do list for today:

1. Go to your local independent bookstore. Find one here, if you're not sure.
2. Tell them you want to buy TWO OF A KIND, by Jacqui Robbins, authorial genius.
3. Follow the store representative to the shelf to look, raving about how great TWO OF A KIND is.
4. If the book is on the shelf, shout, "Oh! Thank goodness!" and buy it immediately.
5. If the book is not on the shelf, strongly suggest that they stock it. Point out that Kirkus Reviews said children "will nod with recognition and empathy when Anna is torn in two directions and will breathe a sigh of relief when she makes the right decision." Then order the book.
6. Here's the tricky part: take a picture of the front of the store where you got the book and email it to me at jacqui at jacquirobbins dot com, and I will send you a free, autographed book plate to put it the front of your book so that every time you open it you will remember that you know me and you can brag to all your friends.
7. If all that's too much for you, order online from Barnes & Noble or Amazon and get it within a few days. I will probably send you a signed book plate anyway :)
8. Enjoy!
9. Come back tomorrow for news on online celebrations this week and next...

As for me, I have temporary tattoos to print, cupcakes to pick up, sparkling apple cider to chill, and many doughnuts to eat. The launch party has grown far, far bigger than I'd ever imagined. We got featured in Ann Arbor Parent and in the Detroit Free Press. AND my sister called last night to tell me she heard her fav rock station announce the launch party on their "cool things to do this week" list. I hope we can all squeeze into 826michigan!

Jacqui's To Do List for Monday, July 6
Print temporary tattoos
Buy black markers and coffee filters for rainbow project
Frame Lizzie Smuggles in chapter 8

I love my job.

The countdown begins.
I. am. so. excited.

Winter is gloomy. Summer seems miles away. But look what's keeping me warm!

I present to you, the cover for Two of a Kind, written by yours truly, illustrated by the fabulous Matt Phelan, due out from Atheneum this July, and officially available for pre-order from Amazon and other places.

I am thrilled with the artwork. If I sound muted, it's because I'm still somewhat in disbelief that it's going to appear in book form, as it has had a long, long trail from contract to publication. But inside, I am doing a happy dance.