In Brief: May 20

Gathering in Gaithersburg

The first annual Gaithersburg Book Festival took place this past Saturday in Gaithersburg, Md., which featured more than 50 writers, including a number of children’s books authors, participating in discussions and signing copies of their books. Seen here (l. to r.) are authors Sara Lewis Holmes (Operation Yes), Erica S. Perl (Vintage Veronica), and Tom Angleberger (The Strange Case of Origami Yoda). Other children’s book authors at the festival included Elizabeth Eulberg, Audrey Penn, and Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Michael Buckley signed Czech editions of the novels in his Sisters Grimm series (Abrams/Amulet) at the 2010 Book World Prague festival last week. The fantasy series, illustrated by Peter Ferguson, focuses on two sisters, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, who discover that they are descendents of The Brothers Grimm, and that Grimm’s Fairy Tales are true stories. More than 200 fans came to meet Buckley and have their books signed (seen here). The eighth book in the series, The Inside Story, pubbed this month. Photo: Kamil Varcoller.

Last week, author Sue Stauffacher celebrated the release of Gator on the Loose! (Knopf, May), illustrated by Priscilla Lamont, the first novel in her middle-grade Animal Rescue Teamseries about a multicultural urban family that rescues wild animals from sticky situations. Stauffacher visited Martin Luther King Leadership Academy in Grand Rapids, Mich., on which she based the school in the book. A press conference was held at the school and alligators from a nearby sanctuary (like the one seen here with the author and a group of students) also stopped by. The second book, Special Delivery!, is due in July. Photo: Roger Gilles.

Authors Jon and Pamela Voelkel are currently traveling in support of Middleworld (Egmont USA, Apr.), the first book in their Jaguar Stones trilogy, an adventure involving Mayan myth. The Voelkels have visited bookstores in Louisiana, Mississippi, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, all leading up to their appearance at BEA. Here, the authors flank Vicky Uminowicz of Titcomb’s Bookshop in East Sandwich, Mass., who is dressed as the Mayan Lord 6-Dog from the book. The second book in the trilogy, The End of the World Club, will be released on December 28.

This past Monday, author Robin Epstein marked the release of her latest book, God Is in the Pancakes (Dial, May) with a party at HiFi Bar in New York City’s East Village (pancakes were not on hand, but as seen here, cupcakes were). The novel is Epstein’s first for teens; she’s also written the middle-grade Groovy Girls series as well as coauthored a pair of adult titles. God Is in the Pancakes centers on a high school sophomore whose world is shaken when a terminally ill resident at the nursing home where she works asks her to help him die.

Writer Barbara Dee recently visited the Chappaqua Library in Chappaqua, N.Y. for the launch event for her new middle-grade novel, This Is Me from Now On (Aladdin Mix, Apr.), in which seventh-grader Evie’s life takes a tumultuous turn thanks to her adventurous new friend, Francesca. At the event, children acted out scenes from the novel, and Dee answered questions about the book and signed copies for fans (seen here).