Ivy House has been very busy lately! We’re really enjoying the hustle and bustle, but today we’re slowing down a bit to update the world on recent events.
First, Ivy House would like to welcome two co-authors to the Ivy House family: Madeline and Summer Hays! We’ve actually been working with them for a month or so now, but we’re on a tight deadline to have their charming children’s book in stock (in-house and with the author; the official retail release date will be in early 2013) before Christmas. Daughter and mother, after an adventure in the Arizona dessert, teamed up to write Mrs. Gambel the Quirky Quail, illustrated by Jeri Allison. Young Madeline was intrigued by the quick little Gambel quails that scurried about there, and the pair began to develop a story about them. The result is an adorable children’s book focusing on Mrs. Gambel and her seven little quail babies. We simply cannot keep from smiling while working on this one; it’s just such a cute, fun, and at the same time informative project! And I must remember to ask Mrs. Gambel where she got her stylish red heels . . .
For a sneak peek inside Mrs. Gambel the Quirky Quail, click here.
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Next, the debut novel by Donna L. Jones, Different Directions: How a Moment in Time Can Change One’s Life Forever, is now in stock! The book’s official release date isn’t until August 28th, so if you want to get your copy from a bookstore or Internet retailers, you’ll have to wait another month, and let’s face it: waiting is just no fun. If you want your copy now, you can purchase directly from Donna herself (this option allows you to get a signed copy!) or from Ivy House, and it will ship right away.
Also be sure to check out Donna’s blog, Facebook page, and Twitter. Go beyond the book and see the world through her eyes as she posts updates and short stories/essays! She thoroughly enjoys interacting with her friends and fans, and I highly recommend following/befriending her. Her bubbly and warm personality and unbelievably optimistic views on life will never fail to inspire!
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Lastly, the launch of our brand new website a few months back has resulted in a steady increase in manuscript submissions. As much as I have enjoyed being the first one to read just about everything sent to us up until now, it has hit a point where I simply don’t have enough hours in the day! It’s a bittersweet thing to relinquish responsibilities, but Ivy House has a new set of helping hands: we’d like to welcome our intern, Jonathan. He’s going to be taking over a lot of the Acquisitions Reading load, and will be trying his hand at this and that as the season progresses. He’s got a great resume and we’re glad to have him helping us out, and we hope he’ll learn a great deal from the experience. And so, if you see the name Jonathan on any paperwork you receive, give him a big “Welcome.”
I think that’s all for now. As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions, updates, or fun current events that relate to the book world.
Happy Friday, and have a great weekend!
Amanda