Eclipse, Publisher's Weekly 2018 peek, and a Back-to-School Bash

Issue # 107 - August 2017

Wow, forty years went by in a blink! Can you find me?
The year I graduated from Henderson County High was the year they consolidated the city and county high schools. As you can imagine, it was a rough year until our football team went to the state finals. That brought us together! It was the biggest class our city had ever seen. This is only a small portion of it. I was shocked at the number of classmates who had already passed away. A reminder to live the life we have now with joy!

Looking ahead to Spring 2018? Click here for Publisher's Weekly Children's Sneak Peek at books. Coming on May 29th, 2018 will be Mermaid Tales #18 (think fairies!). Book #17, Ready, Set, Goal!, comes out September 5, 2017-just around the corner and is available for pre-order now.
The mermaid friends are excited to be traveling to the famed sunken city of Atlantis for a shell wars tournament. But disaster strikes when Shelly sees a cursed fish. Will the mer-girls reverse the curse in time?

I found this writing workshop checklist interesting. One of my dreams has

been to have a writing retreat in my log cabin. I hope to make that come true in October. And speaking of writing, I've always been starstruck when meeting authors of books that I've shelved over and over again. Once such fellow is Seymour Simon (click for classroom activiites). I met him at the fabulous Hudson Children's Book festival. With the science bent of the Mermaid Tales books, it was inspirational to meet such an amazing science writer.

Back to school already?
Not sure how it can possibly be time already, bu

t my local schools are already gearing up for a new year. If you live near Chattanooga,TN I hope you'll join me at the Hamilton Blvd. Barnes and Nobles for a Back to School Bash and Mermaid Party on August 26th at 1:00. Here are some back-to-school reading suggestions to get you in the mood. On September 1st, I will be at the Book Market in the Tanger Outlet Mall at 11:00. On September 9th at 11:00, I will be on my Facebook author page trying something new-reading aloud from my newest book to celebrate International Reading Day before doing a mermaid party event at the Knoxville Barnes and Noble. Hope you'll join me!

My favorite social media from this month:

200 Years of Jane Austen! July 18, 2017 marked the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death. I was not an Austin fan until a few years ago when the Pride and Prejudice movie came out with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen. Who couldn't help falling in love with Mr. Darcy then? I must admit I was obsessed with the movie and all of Austen's books for a while. If you're a fan, here's a free essential guide to Jane Austin from Penguin. Perhaps it's time for a Jane Austen party!

Come visit the Smokies and see the full solar eclipse!

We are directly in the full viewing line where I live in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. I assure you we will be watching with the special $1.99 glasses from Lowes!

A few days after the eclipse, on the 26th of August, I'll start
a Goodreads giveaway for Ready, Set, Goal! If you are on Goodreads, hope you'll check it out and enter. Good luck!

One final note for my August, Happy birthday to my
wonderful husband of 34 years, Eric!

And happy August to you all,

Debbie

Click to connect with Debbie Dadey, Author debbiedadey.com

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