Back from ALA...next stop CHA in ORLANDO!

I'm finally rested up from the grueling weekend at ALA. Walking the show and networking with fellow SCBWI members and publishers was awesome, but it was exhausting when combined with a daily 5 hour commute. And, of course, this was a whole different audience than what I am used to at trade shows. I only saw librarians and related personnel instead of retail buyers. It was definitely a learning curve to absorb it all.

The Sunday afternoon book signing at the SCBWI booth was a bit disappointing since there was little traffic that late in the day and the author table was set so far back from the aisle it was difficult to engage anyone who walked by. But it was still pretty awesome to have librarians coming up to me while I was walking around and comment when they saw the author ribbon on my badge!

My hat got many, many comments, too. This is the second show where people have asked me where they can buy a hat like the one I was wearing, complete with all the pins showcasing my illustrations. I'm wondering if I should start manufacturing decorated hats......

Will you be attending the American Library Conference (ALA) in Chicago this weekend?

If yes, please stop by and say hi!

I’ll be exhibiting with SCBWI at Booth #1626 on Sunday, from 3-5 pm. I'll be signing books available for purchase at my publisher's booth, Scarecrow Press Booth #2428. I'll also have periodic appearances in my publisher's booth where I'll be giving away handcrafted bookmarks featuring some of my original line art from my new book Animals and Teens: The Ultimate Teen Guide.

See you there!

First Stop-ALA Conference!

What a shock to turn the calendar page to.....JULY! This month promises to be jam-packed with w-a-a-a-y more than one month can hold. Here's a sneak peak ahead:

The huge annual ALA (American Library Association) Conference runs July 11-13 at McCormick Place, Chicago. I've never attended this show so I will be experiencing it for the first time. Unlike the trade shows I'm accustomed to attending or exhibiting in, this show is similar to a consumer show except the attending "consumers" must be professionally affiliated with a library or educational institution. Attendees can also purchase books on the spot without having to purchase quantities--something not done at most "wholesale only" trade shows.

In addition to walking the show with fellow SCBWI members, I'm also scheduled to sign books and speak about my school presentations, programs and workshops at the SCBWI booth on Sunday, July 12 from 3-5 pm. This week I've been getting all my promo materials and hand-crafted bookmarks created. I definitely do not want to go into this show tired or stressed! The days will be fun, but very long and tiring. I need to remain high energy and full of enthusiasm throughout the show, but especially during my 2 hour time slot at the SCBWI booth.

NEXT....Orlando! The CHA summer show has been moved to Orlando this year. And, this year, I'll be demoing and doing make 'n take projects for Tombow. If you are going to be at the CHA show, please stop by booth 335 to learn all kinds of marker blending techniques and tips using the absolutely, fantastic Tombow markers. Unlike others on the market, these markers have no odor and are perfect for people like me who are chemically sensitive. I have just LOVED using these markers for many years! And these markers LAST forever. I've had other brands wear out or dry out within months but my Tombow markers not only have lasted for years, many of my pens are still perfect after over 15 years! These markers feature both a brush and bullet tip so you can color both small and large areas equally well. Perfect for rubber stamping and other paper crafts, as well as creating faux watercolor looks.

On a more personal note, our baby cockatiel is already 5 months old. That's still a little baby for these birds, however, since they can live to be 25 years or more. Not only is he quickly learning whistles and short melodies ( I SO want him to learn every Sugarland and Toby Keith song...), he's already beginning to form word sounds and phrases. That's incredible for a bird this young since most cockatiels don't begin talking until they are at least a year old. Hmmmm...looks like we've got ourselves a BORDER COLLIE cockatiel! Sure fits right in with out Border Collie pack....

Until next time....happy 4rth of July to everyone! Stay safe! We'll be hanging out in the basement trying to disguise the fireworks and explosions by playing movies until our sound sensitive Border Collies can turn back into their normal crazy selves instead of velcro dogs.

July will be a double-header trade show month!

May's Stationery/Surtex and BEA shows now belong to the past. Although I was not able to attend these shows this year, I am now looking forward to two other shows that I will be attending. Since BEA (Book Expo America) no longer travels to Chicago, I'm thrilled that ALA (American Library Association) will be holding their yearly summer conference here at McCormick Place in Chicago. And what perfect timing! This conference actually coincides with my book launch for Animals and Teens: The Ultimate Teen Guide.

Soooo....I'll be signing books and promoting my school visit/library programs at the SCBWI booth (#1626) on Sunday, July 12 from 3-5 pm. Plus I'll also be hovering periodically in my publisher's booth (Rowman & Littlefield/Scarecrow Press) on both Saturday July 11 and Sunday July 12. I might just have a freebie to pass out....so please stop by if you'll be at the show!

But wait...there's more! At the same time I'm developing my school/library program brochures and hand outs for ALA, I'm also creating 3 days worth of "make it-take it" projects for the summer CHA show! YES, that's right...I'll be demoing and teaching marker blending techniques for at the Tombow booth at the summer CHA show! Woo hoo! Orlando here I come!

More info on these two shows later...

New Beginnings

Spring is naturally a time for new beginnings. Our new beginning arrived as a 10 week old hand-fed, hand-raised baby Cockatiel! Our family has always had a bird, from the week I was married through today. We began with a parakeet (Ruffles) that used to participate with us in relay races down the hall (he always won) and then another one (Frosty) who was THE sweetest bird we had ever had. He'd take a bath in my hands, fluttering his wings and singing to himself -totally vulnerable, total trusting. He was a hard act to follow and none of the birds following his death ever lived up to that standard. Until this new addition! We named him Frosty in honor of the first bird and he is already living up to the name. He's incredibly vocal and spends lots of time practicing whistles and tunes until all of a sudden, he gets the pattern right. It's pretty cute. Kind of reminds me of when my son and daughter began learning their band instruments. At any rate, out 17 year old Cockatiel is also singing a new, happier song these days. They aren't kept in the same cage and haven't had close contact with each other yet but I think they will eventually get along very well. Meanwhile, Frosty seems to be fascinated with Shady, one of our Border Collies. If Shady's in the room, Frosty will take off towards him. He's managed to land on Shady's back a couple of times now while Shady just looks at me, smiling, knowing that if he "leaves the birdie", he'll get a cookie. Once the flea and tick prevention season begins, however, we don't allow birds out when the dogs are in the same room. The prevention medicine could be harmful and probably fatal for a bird since it is absorbed quickly through the skin.

EXCITING NEWS! Books can be purchased on amazon.com!

Exciting news! Books can be purchased through www.amazon.com but signed copies can only be purchased directly through me. Just search under books>"gail green", then scroll down to the cover for "Animals and Teens: The Ultimate Teen Guide". For more information on how to order personalized, signed books directly from the author, just email me at the address on my website www.gailgreen.net

Yes this book was definitely a huge project but one close to my heart. And I met THE most incredible young people in the process! Their stories about first-hand experiences with the human-animal bond will truly enrich everyone who reads the book.

Congratulations...It's a BOOK!

"Teens and Animals: The Ultimate Teen Guide" is now officially released. Here's a synopsis about what's inside the covers:

(From the publisher, Scarecrow Press/Rowman & Littlefield)
Animals and Teens: The Ultimate Teen Guide illustrates multiple ways young people can become involved with animals, from providing foster care and pursuing animal-related career opportunities to simply caring for pets at home. It also features teens that have worked with a variety of animals or participated in animal-related activities, therapeutic programs and shelters as volunteers and interns, as well as discussions about a wide range of topics that include how animals grieve, “Reading with Dogs” program, equine and dolphin therapy, and how the internet is being used to help stop animal abuse.

All teens need friends they can trust but teens live in an imperfect world where people judge each other on looks, popularity, bank accounts, or clothing styles; a world where people are not always treated fairly. Animals, however, do not care about poor test scores or bad skin: they simply love unconditionally. And that is what makes the animal-human bond so special. “The bond between people and their companion animals is incredible. It is a complex attachment involving friendship, affection, companionship, trust and a sense of being needed, basically filling all the emotional needs all humans instinctively have and must have met in order to be truly happy.”

From small mammals, reptiles and birds to cats, dogs and horses, Animals and Teens uses real-life examples to show how animals can enhance teens’ lives and how teens can improve the welfare of abused, neglected or injured animals as well as those that live in shelters, refuges and wildlife preserves. The voices in this inspiring book come from a large cross section of teens and young adults whose stories will resonate with anyone who loves animals.

Author Gail Green discusses everything from basic pet responsibility and dealing with the loss of a pet to how animals help humans and what is involved in the handling of service animals, such as dogs that provide physical assistance or horses that help with therapy for children with autism and other conditions. From helping with animal rescue to overcoming learning disabilities, these heartwarming experiences demonstrate how each of us can make a difference through the incredibly rewarding human-animal bond.

More info soon......