The Cajun Cornbread Boy Book Signing 12-20-08

Friends:

On Saturday, December 20, 2008, I had my first book signing for my first children’s picture book,The Cajun Cornbread Boy. The book signing was at Maple Street Children’s Book Shop in New Orleans. It was fun because I was signing books with my best friend, Johnette Downing, Children’s Musician and Author. Johnette was signing her brand new book, Chef Creole.

I am so excited because my book was not supposed to arrive this early. It was quite a rush to make them available for the holiday season. But I have shipped out a ton of books to my sweet fans. Here is a picture of me with my #1 fans, my family – my husband, Antonio, oldest daughter, Soleil, and youngest daughter, Eliana.

The Cajun Cornbread Boy Book Signing with family - 12-20-08

This week held another surprise for me – my other new book arrived: Tangram Tales: Story Theater with the Ancient Chinese Puzzle published by Libraries Unlimited.

Tangram Tales: Story Theater with the Ancient Chinese Puzzle 12-20-08

But the icing on the cake this week was reconnecting with my best friend from high school (through FaceBook), Fe Reyes Del Rosario. She is a 5th grade teacher and lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. We’ve been talking on the phone every day! I just adore her.

Dianne de Las Casas and Fe Del Rosario Best Friends in High School 1986

So, it’s been a phenomenal week. Lots of good things in my life! What wonderful Christmas Gifts!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Sept 18 2008 - Eliana with Her Library Card in the Reading Castle

Friends:

Today, Eliana, my 8 year old daughter, and I went to the library. It was a special trip because she was getting her very own library card. It may not seem like a big deal to you but it is a very big deal to a third grader! This means that she’s a “big girl,” growing up just a little bit more.

I taught Eliana how to use the computer catalog to perform searches and find books. Then we had a lesson on how to find a book by its call number. She learned about the Dewey decimal system and how nonfiction is categorized. Using the call numbers, she found all her books on her own. Eliana checked out 8 books – 7 cookbooks (for ideas and inspiration for her new blog, Eliana Cooks!) and one book on becoming a chef.

Finally, she checked her books out by herself using the self-service check-out machine. She loved that.

Sept 18, 2008 - Eliana is checking out her books

Going to the library with your children is important. Not only are you putting your valuable tax dollars to work, you are encouraging literacy, supporting your community, and exposing your children to another world through the power of books. Here are some of the services and products the library offers:

* WiFi (wireless internet) access
* Computer use
* Magazines
* DVDs and CDs
* Book Clubs
* Meeting rooms
* Storytimes
* Crafts
* Performances
* Author Visits
* Art Showings
* Books, books, and more books!

Sept 18, 2008 - Eliana's Library Books

So get your children a library card and check out the library! Here’s to the power of reading!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Since I have been back in my office, things have been hopping! My website was hacked over the summer, causing numerous problems you won’t even believe. Thankfully, after a lot of work, Heidi, my fabulous web designer, got to the bottom of the problem and fixed things, including my blog. So now, I can blog again. Yay!

I have been working on numerous book projects. The Story Biz Handbook: How to Manage Your Storytelling Career from the Desk to the Stage has been sent to the printer. It will be out by the end of September, early October. It is 30 chapters on everything you wanted to know about being a professional storyteller. You can order a copy from Libraries Unlimited (http://www.lu.com) or from any major online retailer. This is what the book looks like:

The Story Biz Handbook

I am now working on the final proofing of Tangram Tales: Story Theater Using the Ancient Chinese Puzzle. I am really excited about this book. It bring stories and story theater to life in a whole new way, using Tangrams. As far as I know, it’s the first book of its kind. Tangram Tales should be out by the end of the year, if all goes well with production.

Tangram Tales

I also just finished with the final proofing of my first picture book, The Cajun Cornbread Boy, a spicy twist on The Gingerbread Man folktale. The illustrator, Marita Gentry, did a fantastic job and I am soooo excited about this book. It has been my dream since I was a child to publish a picture book. Special thanks to my editor, Nina, who made the book shine. I hope there will be many more picture books to come! There is something so magical about a picture book. Even as an adult, I am mesmerized by both the words and the illustrations in a fantastic picture book. Check out the book’s phenomenal cover…

The Cajun Cornbread Boy

I will be working on more book projects in the upcoming months, including writing Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle and Thrill, which is due in December.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne