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2017 Celebrations!

By on January 5, 2017   /   Book Lists  

Hello Mixed-Up Filers!

Happy New Year to all of you! I can still say that because we’re still under a week into 2017. Once you get past the seventh, it’s just weird.

Anyway, first thing I’d like to do is welcome our new members. Just so you all know, I’m kind of a big deal around here. No matter what Dorian Cirrone says! I CHOOSE to sit alone at the cafeteria table during lunch, so there!

Okay, okay, let me calm down. We have a post to get to.

So, here we are in the first week of 2017. And for the three of you who regularly read my posts, you know I always have a little trouble deciding what to write about. I didn’t want to do resolutions, because I think most sites will do that, and my resolutions would basically be the same as everyone else’s. Write more. Read more. Be kind to animals. And start standing up to little Brenda Flaherty down the block, who actually gets meaner when you threaten to tell her mother on her.

But I digress. With all of the new members here, I felt a little inspired about what I should post. You see, many of the names I recognize from the 2017 Debut Group, I’m in. With so many of us together, I got to thinking that it’s going to be a very interesting this year, watching many of our Mixed-Up Files members coming out with books. We already have so many published authors, who contribute to this site, so I do think it’ll be nice to see a lot of our members add to those ranks.

I’ve been part of this site for a few years now and have to admit, that each time we post the new releases, like Dorian did on Monday, I get excited. I love seeing new books come out, but in the back of my mind, I always thought how great it would be to see my name finally among the new releases. Well, this year is finally the year! And to make it even better, I’m going to get to share the experience with several others on this site and we will be going through it together.

So, get ready Mixed-Up Filers, you’re in for a ton of celebrations this year and I’m lucky enough to have a front row seat to all of them!

Happy 2017!

Jonathan Rosen is a transplanted New Yorker, who now lives with his family in sunny, South Florida. He spends his “free” time being a volunteer coach and chauffeur for his three kids.Some of Jonathan’s fondest childhood memories are of discovering a really good book to dive into. His favorite of all time is Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. He currently writes middle-grade, because his sense of humor is stuck in that age. Jonathan proudly represents diversity in books by being half-Mexican and half-American, although neither country is really willing to accept responsibility. His MG debut, Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies, is due August 1, 2017 from SkyPony Press. He can be found at www.HouseofRosen.com

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Giveaway!

By on January 5, 2017   /   For Kids, For Librarians, For Parents, For Teachers, Giveaways  

Please welcome Sasha, a kindhearted young horse who has always felt a little bit different from the other horses in Verdant Valley. This new, illustrated series about friendship and belonging is geared to the youngest middle grade readers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To win copies of the first and second books in the series, please leave a comment below. Two winners will be drawn!

 

 

 

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Fresh Faces on Mixed-Up Files!

By on January 4, 2017   /   News  

The applicant pool that applied to join Mixed-Up Files was absolutely amazing. We were sorry we didn’t have more spaces to fill and were energized by the enthusiasm for our mission. But we are delighted to welcome twelve amazing new contributors to From the Mixed-Up Files!

via GIPHY

Although you can read all about them on our Member Bio page, we also asked them for their reading and writing-related resolutions for the new year. Here’s what they had to say:

Patricia Bailey: “My writing resolution is to finish the middle-grade novel I’ve been working on.”

Jenn Brisendine: “I plan to finish my current WIP, then research and draft another by summer. I’ve been focusing on reading MG historicals lately so I want to pick up some new fantasies, contemporaries, and other genres. I also want to re-read my favorite craft books like Anne LaMott’s Bird by Bird.”

Heather Murphy Capps: “My New Year’s resolution is to amplify the voices of our writers of color — We Need Diverse Books!!”

Sean Easley: “I want to read at least twenty new MG books this year. I got a lot of them for Christmas and can’t wait to get started.”

Annabelle Fisher: “My reading goal is to read lots of MUF-member books, so I can get to know you all better. As for writing, I’m aiming to finish the first draft of my next book, which is about life in the library stacks.”

Robyn Gioia: “My goal is to write a graphic novel and read some marvelous new MG books!”

Amber J. Keyser: “My goal is to promote the heck out of the books I have coming out this year.”

S.A. Lawson: “I totally and utterly resolve to finish bk 2 of my MG series, (possibly write a sequel to my YA due out in March), & start a YA novel I’ve had mapped out for a year.”

Beth McMullen: “I want to finish the YA novel I started in 2016.”

Natalie Rompella: “To start from scratch on my mystery MG and complete drafts I and II by end of year. To have social media guide me to the best new books of 2017…and of course read them!”

Julie K. Rubini: “My writing goals are to finish MG bio I’m under contract for within deadline, complete and submit both PB bio and YA novel. I hope to read a work from each of our Claire’s Day authors and Illustrators!”

Suma Subramaniam: “My reading resolution is to add 40 diverse books to my bibliography (pb, mg and ya included), and my writing resolution is to finish the drafts of two MG novels.”

As you can tell by their resolutions, this is an energetic bunch. We are so excited to see what they bring to our Mixed-Up Files family.

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