April 2011

New Orleans Jazzfest Book Signing – Friday, April 29, 2011

by dlcasas on April 30, 2011

4-29-11 Cajun Cornbread Boy and I get ready to sign books

Friends:

On Friday, I had a book signing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. As I was walking to the Book Tent, I spotted the Royal Couple! Imagine that… William and Kate spending their honeymoon in New Orleans at the Jazzfest! New Orleans is a fun and romantic city!

4-29-11 The Royal Couple, William and Kate, honeymoon at Jazzfest in New Orleans just hours after their incredible wedding in London.

My book signing was at the Book Tent run by Garden District Book Shop. There’s no mistaking this tent…

4-29-11 It's the Book Tent!

My friend, fellow children’s book author, Denise McConduit, was there signing books. She is such a cutie pie and oh so sweet!!

4-29-11 Denise McConduit is a cutie pie signing her DJ books

I had some time before I signed books so I had to scope out the food scene.

4-29-11 Amazing panoramic view of the food stands. YUM!

I ended up with jalapeno sausage bread and mango freeze. Talk about tasty! I live for the mango freeze at Jazzfest! It’s almost worth going to the festival just for the food!

4-29-11 Jalapeno sausage bread and mango freeze, a perfect Jazzfest meal!

But of course, the entertainment is top notch. Large acts are balanced with incredible local acts, peppered throughout the fest on various stages. Here I am with renowned jazz musicians Irvin Mayfield and Bill Summers. If you want to hear unbelievable jazz fusion, look no further… Irvin has a new book out called A Love Letter to New Orleans. Along with anecdotal stories, it comes with a music CD. What a great gift!

4-29-11 It's Irvin Mayfield (L) and Bill Summers (R) from Los Hombres Calientes, true New Orleans jazz fusion music!

Then there’s the folk arts and crafts. You can find some pretty incredible art at Jazzfest. I sooo want this Pelican. It’s handblown glass and a cool $550. What a showpiece!

4-29-11 A gorgeous hand-blown glass pelican in the Folk Crafts Market

On my way out, I had to pass in front of the Congo Square stage. What a treat to listen to Wyclef Jean and the Refugees!

4-29-11 Wyclef Jean and the Refugees rock the Congo Square Stage

The weather was perfect – there was not a cloud in the sky. Though festival goers heated up the fairgrounds, there was a light breeze to cool everyone off. It was one of the most perfect Jazzfest days I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot!

Yet another reason to love New Orleans! Laissez les bon temps rouler! Let the good times roll!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Barnes & Noble Easter Event – Saturday, April 16, 2011

by dlcasas on April 20, 2011

4-16-11 Dianne performs Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach as Marita draws the story

Friends:

This past Saturday, Marita Gentry and I had a big event at Barnes & Noble Citiplace in Baton Rouge. It was an Easter event sponsored by Louisiana Public Broadcasting. There was an amazing Cupcake Decoration Station. The cupcakes were decorated to look like Easter baskets. Too cute!

4-16-11 The Easter basket cupcake decoration station

Marita and I had two shows. For our first show, we performed The Cajun Cornbread Boy. She drew as I told the story. Love that creative dynamic between us!

4-16-11 Dianne performs The Cajun Cornbread Boy as Marita draws the story

We signed books after the show and then performed again a little while later. This time, we did Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, a favorite amongst our young fans. The kids had such a great time dancing on stage!

4-26-11 Marita draws Monsieur Roach and his partying friends as Dianne sings and dances with her roaches

Marita is an amazing artist. I am always astounded by how fast and accurately she draws! Just look at this… and it looks just like our book!

4-16-11 Marita Gentry with her roach illustrations. What an amazing talent!

My daughter, Kid Chef Eliana, also signed her cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids. She sold so many books that Barnes & Noble is now down to only three copies! Way to go, Eliana!

4-16-11 Kid Chef Eliana signs books at Barnes & Noble Citiplace for the big LPB Easter Event

A special thank you to LPB and to Abby Hannie at Barnes & Noble for organizing such a fun and busy event! That was A LOT kids and we loved it! Hoppy Easter!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Texas Library Association Conference, Austin – April 12-15, 2011

by dlcasas on April 20, 2011

4-14-11 Dianne de Las Casas at TLA with Dewey the Dragon from There's A Dragon in the Library

Friends:

Last week, I signed books at the Texas Library Association conference with my children’s book publisher, Pelican Publishing Company, and my professional book publisher, Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-Clio.

4-13-11 Dianne de Las Casas signs books at ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited at TLA

I went to the conference with Marita Gentry, illustrator of several of my children’s books. We have a new book out this Spring, There’s A Dragon in the Library, and it went over very well at the conference!

4-13-11 Marita Gentry and Dianne de Las Casas pose with TX librarians at the Pelican Publishing Booth at TLA

I didn’t get to do as much as I wanted to at the conference because I was constantly signing books. I had a back-to-back, packed schedule with both of my publishers. :)

4-13-11 Dianne de Las Casas, Dewey the Dragon and Nina Fancher at TLA

Marita and I had a fabulous time. I love the fact that our new book gave us an excuse to wear tiaras because of its fairytale theme. The tiaras and Dewey the Dragon stole the show!

4-13-11 Marita Gentry and Dianne de Las Casas signing books at the Pelican Publishing Booth at TLA

This year I didn’t get many pictures with author friends! I got to hug Phil Bildner and say hi to my Texas storytelling friends. Lucky me, when I went to dinner at Guero’s with my phenomenal team at Pelican Publishing (thank you Caitlin and John), I also got to dine with the fabulous children’s book team of Jan Peck and David Davis. We ran into Jeanette Larson and Melanie Hope Greenberg and they joined us. On another night, I had dinner at Moonshine with my incredible team at Libraries Unlimited (much love to Sharon, Debby, Blanche, Shannon). Kristin Fontichiaro and Alexey Root, both Libraries Unlimited authors, are sweet as pie, and I hung out with them at dinner with the LU team.

4-14-11 Dianne de Las Casas and Melanie Hope Greenberg taken at Guero's Restaurant in Austin, TX (iPhone pic)

I managed a bit of shopping and met a wonderful husband and wife team at GSH Designs, where I bought lots of great jewelry for my daughters and for friends. Thank you Rosa and Johnny!

4-15-11 Rosa and Johnny of GSH Designs jewelry. Such nice people!

It was a wonderful conference and I love the city of Austin. I wish I could have seen more of it! A big hug to Marita Gentry for making my TLA conference such a special one.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Barnes & Noble There’s A Dragon in the Library Book Event – Saturday, April 9, 2011

by dlcasas on April 19, 2011

4-9-11 Fans hold Dianne de Las Casas' books

Friends:

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, right after my book signing for French Quarter Fest, I headed to Barnes & Noble in Harvey, Louisiana. I had a special event for National Library Week, sharing my story, There’s a Dragon in the Library. We had a nice crowd, and the kids designed dragons and received crowns. What a blast!

4-9-11 Dianne tells the story, There's A Dragon in the Library, at Barnes & Noble in Harvey, LA

A special thank you to Stacey Hensley for organizing the event!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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French Quarter Festival Book Signing – Saturday, April 9, 2011

by dlcasas on April 19, 2011

4-9-11 Kid Chef Eliana and Dianne de Las Casas sign books at A Tisket A Tasket during the French Quarter Festival

Friends:

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, Kid Chef Eliana and I had a book signing at A Tisket A Tasket in the New Orleans French Quarter during the French Quarter Festival. It was quite crowded and bustling! Eliana did a great job mesmerizing the passersby with her cute chef outfit and food knowledge!

4-9-11 Kid Chef Eliana works the crowd

It was a whirlwind signing but so much fun. Thank you to Lisa Jones and Judy for being such great hostesses!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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National Library Week Book Event at Barnes & Noble Perkins Rowe – Friday, April 8, 2011

by dlcasas on April 19, 2011

4-8-11 Dianne with the winner of the Design a Dragon contest

Friends:

On Friday, April 8, 2011, I had a big book event at Barnes & Noble Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge. To celebrate the start of National Library Week, Barnes & Noble and Denham Springs Junior High had an art exhibit. The art teacher in charge, Sharon Loyd, a good friend of mine, had the students create mythological creatures inspired by Marita Gentry’s dragon art in our book, There’s A Dragon in the Library.

4-8-11 The wall of dragon art at Barnes & Noble Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge

The students did such an amazing job!! I was asked to be the judge of the contest. Here is the winning illustration. It is done by Sarah Fontenot, in the 6th grade. I love the paisley pattern on the dragon and how she cleverly incorporated all of my books into the picture! Way to go, Sarah!

4-8-11 The Winning Entry by Sarah Fontenot for the Mythological Creatures Art Contest using my book, There's A Dragon in the Library, as inspiration

I told the story of There’s a Dragon in the Library with lots of great helpers.

4-8-11 Telling the story of There's a Dragon in the Library

It was a fun event and I was so honored!! Thank you Barnes & Noble, Sharon Loyd, Sarah Fontenot, and Denham Springs Junior High. You rock!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Hammond Eastside Elementary Author Visit – Friday, April 1, 2011

by dlcasas on April 19, 2011

4-1-11 Dianne takes a picture with a first grade class

Friends:

On Friday, April 1, 2011, I visited Hammond Eastside Elementary, courtesy of my friend and first grade teacher, Michelle Cardaronella. Here I am performing The Gigantic Sweet Potato with students from my first show.

4-1-11 Performing The Gigantic Sweet Potato at Hammond Eastside Elementary

I saw two groups of students in different grade level seatings. I love performing Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach with the students and they had so much fun!

4-1-11 Performing Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach at Hammond Eastside Elementary

I love seeing them on the ground with their little roach legs sticking up at the end of the story. It’s hilarious!

4-1-11 Roaches on the ground in Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach story

I performed Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach with both groups and I love the expression of this third grade student, who played the part of Monsieur Roach!

4-1-11 Madame Poulet has words with Monsieur Roach

After my shows, it was time to sign books for the students. There were long lines of students waiting to have their books signed. It’s always a treat for me to interact with the students one on one during a book signing!

4-1-11 Students line up for book autographs

I made sure that all the students received bookmarks and that all the teachers received reading posters. Thank you, Michelle, for such an enjoyable visit!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Marketing with Emotional Benefits Workshop – Wednesday, March 30, 2011

by dlcasas on April 19, 2011

3-30-11 A workshop participant creates a self-portrait from paper

Friends,

On Wednesday, March 30, 2011, I lead a workshop called “What’s Your Story? Marketing with Emotional Benefits.” It was sponsored by the Arts Council of New Orleans. Here is the wonderful Gene Meneray, who organized the whole workshop at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown New Orleans. Thanks, Gene!

3-30-11 Gene Meneray, Arts Council of New Orleans

I taught participants how to view their marketing as loaded with emotional benefits for the consumer. How does your product or service make your clients feel? The participants did some interactive exercises and had a great time as well. I love being able to help other artists!

3-30-11 Workshop participants do an exercise to discover their marketing emotional benefits

It was a fun workshop and I received lots of positive feedback. Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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New York City Trip – March 26-28-2011

by dlcasas on April 19, 2011

3-28-11 Incredible view from my corner suite at the Waldorf Astoria Towers, NYC

Friends:

Here I am, catching up with my blog. I can’t believe I am this far behind! My life has been such a whirlwind lately. On March 26, 2011, right after my Kansas trip, I headed to NYC to meet my girlfriend, Fe, and her daughter, Katelin, for some big city fun.

3-27-11 Dianne , Katelin and Fe in Chinatown NYC

Fe is my high school BFF and her daughter, Katelin, is graduating from high school this year. I can’t go to her graduation so NYC was a gift from me. We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Towers, the Presidential hotel. In fact, the Italian prime minister was staying one floor above us and President Obama needed my room for his staffers on the day I checked out! On our first night, we did Broadway. We saw The Addams Family. It was a cute show and I really enjoyed it.

3-26-11 Fe and Dianne, dressed to thrill!

The next day, we headed to Chinatown for lunch at Shanghai on Mott Street, my favorite dim sum restaurant! The dumplings are to die for!

3-27-11 The amazing dumplings at Shanghai on Mott Street

It was an incredible meal. OMG. I still dream about those dumplings. They are a work of heart!

3-27-11 Dumplings are being steamed at Shanghai restaurant in Chinatown on Mott Street

We definitely got our shopping on…

3-26-11 Fe and Dianne shopping in NYC Chinatown

We even had fun with the Chinatown vendors! :)

3-27-11 It's Lady Liberty! Fun with a Chinatown Vendor.

Then we took Katelin to Grand Central Station. She had never been before!

3-27-11 Grand Central Station NYC

I had a business meeting on Monday while Fe and Katelin visited family in Long Island. It was such a fun trip to NYC but I wish it could have been longer!! New York City is definitely one of my favorite cities in the world. So much to do. So much to see!

3-27-11 Dianne and Fe in Chinatown NYC

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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