Toasting Ellen Krieger's Retirement

Current and former colleagues from Simon & Schuster came together last Thursday evening to celebrate the retirement of Aladdin associate publisher Ellen Krieger, who retired on June 25 after 15 years with the company. Here, Krieger (center) is joined by Brenda Bowen, Elizabeth Law, Jon Anderson, Bethany Buck and Rubin Pfeffer.


Brand Smacking New

Debut author Ginger Rue meets a fan at Books-A-Million in Birmingham, Ala. during her recent tour for Brand-New Emily (Tricycle, June). Via a partnership between Tricycle Press and Bonne Belle’s LipSmackers, every reader who purchases Rue’s book at her Books-A-Million signings can select a LipSmacker lip gloss. LipSmackers will also be hosting an online contest; more information will be available starting June 27 at the LipSmacker Lounge; Facebook users can follow Rue’s book tour on her Facebook page.

Come Rain or Shine

Sarah Dessen kicked off a 13-city tour for her ninth novel, Along for the Ride (Viking, June), with a launch party at The Regulator Bookshop in Durham, N.C. on June 16. Despite downpours, it was a standing-room-only event, as more than 100 dedicated fans flocked to hear the author read and to have their books signed. The fan shown here with Dessen traveled all the way from Ohio, and others arrived two hours early to claim front-row seats. Other stops on the tour include Raleigh, La Jolla and San Francisco. More information about her tour is available on her Web site.

Santopolo’s New ‘Mystery’ Revealed

New York City’s Books of Wonder was the site of a pub party for author/editor Jill Santopolo, celebrating the release of The Ransom Note Blues (Scholastic/Orchard), the second book in her Alec Flint Mystery series. By day, Santopolo (l.), pictured here with her agent, Jodi Reamer of Writers House, is an editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books.

It Comes Naturally

Author/illustrator James Prosek was a guest at the Smithsonian Institution’s third annual Garden Fest, a nature-themed outdoor event for families held in Washington, D.C., on June 13. Prosek signed copies of his latest picture book, Bird, Butterfly, Eel (S&S, Feb.), about the life cycles of these three animals, in the rooftop garden.