The Ted Hipple Special Collection

Oh, what I morning I've had! I just spent it at the University of South Florida's Special Collections Library. This is a place where you're buzzed to get in and surveillance cameras monitor every room. This is where the precious, the rare, the prized are stored. And now, my books as well! (I know, seems like over-kill for my little novels, but they now sit among rare company.)

Here's what happened. I received an email from Prof. Joan Kaywell wondering if I'd donated some signed books. A fellow bookaholic, she took her devotion a step farther than anyone I know. To honor a dear mentor who passed away, she founded the Ted Hipple Special Collection of Autographed Young Adult Literature at USF. The collection now has more than 2,000 autographed books, and not just books, but advanced reading copies, out of print editions, foreign translations and even manuscripts, all signed by the authors. Suzanne Collin's signed Hunger Games ARC is there. Judy Bloom, Meg Cabot. It's a who's who in YA lit and I'm there too!

How cool is that?

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Tammar

go!

"Everyone who's ever taken a shower has had an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it who makes a difference." --Nolan Bushnell, American engineer and founding father of the video game industry.


I just love that quote! Doesn't it just make you want to get out and put those what-if's ideas to work? So go!

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Tammar

Virginia Public Radio

I was recently fortunate enough to record a short little essay I wrote for Virginia Public Radio. Their studio in Charlottesville, VA (one of my favorite towns in the whole world) is, not surprisingly, awesome (like much in Charlottesville is.) It was my first time in a state-of-the-art recording studio, and what can I say? I liked it!

You can listen to it here.

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Tammar

News and Sentinel

West Virginia's News and Sentinel recently published a lovely review of Kindred, saying "this book will leave you thinking after the last page is finished." I sure hope so! Read the full review here. http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/546428/Teen-books-thrill.html?nav=5055

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Tammar

USF

To the students of Prof. Ciresi's literature class, I had such a great time hanging out with you on Tuesday! Thanks for the awesome questions and I hope you all get A's in class.

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Tammar

Awwww...

I love this! Found it at the ever lovely Tulips and Flightsuits.

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Tammar

Aw, Charlottesville

Thanks to everyone who came to my talks during the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville! I had such a great time, as is always the case when I'm back in my old stomping grounds.

To the students at the Village School, I'm wearing the awesome ice-blue Village School hat I got after our talk, but sadly, it's already too hot for the hoodie. I'll keep it tucked away until next year. Thanks for all the great questions and the lovely afternoon.

To the parents, staff, and families of the Charlottesville Catholic School, thank you once again for hosting Sweet Reads, which was a fabulous evening for us authors. We all couldn't stop saying how grateful and touched we were by your thoughtfulness.

I hope you enjoy reading Kindred!

More later,
Tammar