New England Authors and Illustrators Share the Love with Indies

By Judith Rosen -- Publishers Weekly, 12/18/2008

In the two weeks since children’s author Mitali Perkins tweeted (via Twitter) about putting together multi-author, multi-store book signings on a single day to celebrate independent booksellers, close to 40 children’s book authors and illustrators and a baker’s dozen of booksellers have signed on for the first Kids Heart Authors Day. This literary Valentine will take place across New England on Saturday, February 14.

“We’ve been getting such bad news from the industry,” said Perkins, explaining the genesis of the idea. “Editors are losing jobs; unsolicited manuscripts aren’t getting taken. Blow after blow. I was redoing my mission statement—connecting stories to kids—and realizing how precious our indies are.” She credited literary bloggers Sarah Rettger (marketing coordinator at the American Booksellers Association) and writer A.C. Gaughen with helping her refine her original concept of connecting children’s stories and communities, and encouraging her to begin with a single region of the country.

In mid-January Perkins will match authors with booksellers in their community, including Printz Honor author Ellen Wittlinger (Love and Lies), Rachel Cohn (co-author of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) and Deborah Freeman (Scribble). Among the participating bookstores are Oblong Books in Millerton, N.Y.; Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, Vt., and Andover Bookstore in Andover, Mass.

Although Kids Heart Authors Day is not an official program of the New England Independent Booksellers Association, executive director Steve Fischer called it “a neat idea. I’d love to see it work.” New England Children’s Booksellers Advisory Council co-chair Kenny Brechner, owner of Devaney, Doak & Garrett Booksellers in Farmington, Me., agreed. “I signed up because it’s a great idea,” he said. “I commend Perkins for coming up with such a meaningful vehicle for strengthening the community of New England authors and independent booksellers.”

Perkins, who is finishing a manuscript to be published by Charlesbridge in 2010 and getting ready to tour for her new novel, Secret Keeper (Delacorte, Jan.), has lined up several behind-the-scenes volunteers to get the program off to a fast start. Deborah Sloan of Deborah Sloan and Company is handling promotion and marketing on a pro bono basis, and bookseller Aimee McLear, co-owner of five-month-old Chapters Pittsfield in Pittsfield, Mass., is donating a logo and poster design.

For more information, visit the Kids Heart Authors Web site or send an email here.