Strega Nona Does RJ Julia Booksellers Again

Bottom Photo, Left to Right: Karen Rosenthal, Tomie, Liz Bartek

Another great autographing for STREGA NONA DOES IT AGAIN was on Friday of last week at R.J.Julia in Madison, CT. Karen and Liz represented the store well with their invaluable help.

www.rjjulia.com

SRO at Red River Theatres

Top Photo: Tomie on stage at the Red River Theatres

Bottom Photo, Left to Right: Michael Herrmann (Owner, Gibson's Bookstore), Elisabeth Jewell (Events Coordinator, Gibson's Bookstore), Tomie, Jemi Broussard (Membership Coordinator, Red River Theatres)

Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, NH, launched STREGA NONA DOES IT AGAIN on publication day, September 26. During the late afternoon, Tomie spoke to a small group of educators at the store. Later, Tomie spoke to a standing-room-only crowd at the Red River Theatres, down the street from the bookstore. The people who came through the autographing line were sweet and enthusiastic. It was a terrific launch!

Because Tomie was speaking in a movie theater, it wasn't a surprise that many in the audience were munching on popcorn, Crows licorice, Jujubes, and drinking sodas. But, it was a funny sight.

Michael Herrmann just made a bold move by moving into a new store space on September 7. The new store is at least three times larger than the old one, and has a cafe, toy section and area for author presentations. It's a wonderful new store.

www.gibsonsbookstore.com

Happy Publication Day, Strega Nona and Tomie!

Reporter Tomie

Left to Right:
Videographer Chris McDevitt, Tomie, News Reporter Adam Sexton

This afternoon, Adam Sexton interviewed Tomie about his new book, STREGA NONA DOES IT AGAIN, outside of the WMUR-TV (ABC) studios in Manchester, NH.

Thursday Is Gnocchi Day!

"Embrace Your Inner Italian" with BOSTONIANO (in Boston) and FRA NOI (in Chicago), October 2013. Louis Carlozo has a "Lou & A" column with "Master Storyteller Tomie dePaola" in the magazines.

Michael Seamans took the great cover photograph of Tomie.
www.michaelseamans.com

Video on the Internet

Here are some links to videos with Tomie, including one that someone taped while watching the program on the television.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQdUXSZZHd0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RoQLgK7xcI

www.us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishersoffice/screeningroom/0909/penguinstorytime/tomie_depaola.html#vmix_media_id=6348679

Calendar

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
Publication of
STREGA NONA DOES IT AGAIN
Written and Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Twelfth book featuring Italian grandma Strega Nona who was first introduced in the Caldecott Honor Award-winning STREGA NONA: AN ORIGINAL TALE.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
GIBSON'S BOOKSTORE
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Event Location:
Red River Theatres
11 South Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
www.gibsonsbookstore.com
Store Phone: 603-224-0562

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
RJ JULIA BOOKSELLERS
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
768 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT 06443
www.rjjulia.com
Store Phone: 203-245-3959

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2013
Keynote and Book Signing
BALTIMORE BOOK FESTIVAL
6:00 p.m.
Baltimore, MD
www.baltimorebookfestival.com

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
POLITICS AND PROSE BOOKSTORE
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
www.politics-prose.com
Store Phone: 202-364-1919

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
TOY CASTLE
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Cabin John Mall
11325 Seven Locks Road
Potomac, MD 20854
www.toycastlepotomac.com
Store Phone: 301-299-0680

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
THE DOLPHIN BOOKSHOP
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Event Location:
Port Washington Library Children's Room
1 Library Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
www.thedolphinbookshop.com
Pre-registration Is Required, 883-4400, ext. 150
Store Phone: 516-767-2650

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
BOULEVARD BOOKS & CAFE
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Event Location:
St. Bernadette's School
7518 13th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11228
www.facebook.com/BoulevardBooksandCafe
Tickets Required
Store Phone: 718-680-5881

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
MENDHAM BOOKS
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Mendham Village Shopping Center
84 East Main Street
Mendham, NJ 07945
www.mendhambooks.com
Store Phone: 973-543-4949

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
WEGMAN'S
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
9102 Shops Way
Northborough, MA 01532
www.wegmans.com
Pick up tickets at the Customer Service Desk.
Store Phone: 508-936-1900

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2013
Keynote and Book Signing
BOSTON BOOK FESTIVAL
10:15 a.m.
Copley Square
Boston, MA
www.bostonbookfest.org

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
ANDOVER BOOKSTORE
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
89R Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
www.hugobookstores.com
Store Phone: 978-475-0143

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
THE BOOK RACK
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
52 State Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
www.hugobookstores.com
Store Phone: 978-462-8615

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
TOADSTOOL BOOKSHOP
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Colony Mill Marketplace
222 West Street
Keene, NH 03431
www.toadbooks.com
Store Phone: 603-352-8815

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
"Tomie dePaola: Then"
Art from Junior High School through the mid-1970s.
November 7 - December 20, 2013
Opening Reception, November 7, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
(No autographing at the Opening Reception.)
Sawyer Center
COLBY-SAWYER COLLEGE
New London, NH 03257 
www.colby-sawyer.edu/currents/articles/Tomie-then.html

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2013
Presentation and Book Signing
CONNECTICUT CHILDREN'S BOOK FAIR
10:00 a.m. Presentation
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Autographing
12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Autographing
Rome Commons Ballroom
Rome Hall, South Campus Complex
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269
http://bookfair.uconn.edu/2013.htm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2013
Brief Presentation and Book Signing
NORWICH BOOKSTORE
10:30 a.m. - Noon
291 Main Street
Norwich, VT 05055
www.norwichbookstore.com
Store Phone: 802-649-1114

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2013
Book Signing
MORGAN HILL BOOKSTORE
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
253 Main Street
New London, NH 03257
www.morganhillbookstore.com
Store Phone: 603-526-5850

Oh, Deerie

"Bambi" has been visiting Tomie's yard every afternoon for at least the last week.

Papyrus and Potato Vine

Fragrant Cimicifuga

STREGA NONA DOES IT AGAIN

STREGA NONA DOES IT AGAIN is available one week from today on Thursday, September 26, 2013.

This is the twelfth book featuring Strega Nona.

"Strega Nona has the perfect remedy for a houseguest who overstays her welcome." (From the book's front flap copy.)

Colby-Sawyer College Magazine, and Bostoniano and Fra Noi Magazines, Too

"Tomie dePaola: Then and Now" is a two-page article in the Fall 2013 issue of Colby-Sawyer College Magazine. Tomie's exhibit "Then" opens at CSC on November 7, 2013. "Now" will open in September, 2014.

Bostoniano magazine (in Boston) and Fra Noi magazine (in Chicago) will feature Tomie on their October, 2013, covers. Their articles focus on Tomie's Italian heritage.

A Peonies Bonanza

Tomie loves peonies, so on Sunday, his birthday, I planted 22 bareroot peonies (in one flower bed), including several unusual Itoh peonies, such as, Pastel Splendor Itoh Peony in the above photograph.

I had planted a couple of hybrid peonies three years ago, but had forgotten about them. This spring they blossomed, much to my surprise, and we discovered the cut flowers to be unique and to look beautiful in Tomie's house. They also lasted a long time as a cut flower.

I ordered the peonies from Brooks Gardens in Oregon. Bareroot peonies are a bit of challenge to plant, so I'm hoping I correctly planted them, and that they, too, will be a spectacular success.

www.brooksgardens.com

Non-Stop Laughter

Left to Right: Kara Berns, Tomie, Connie Appel, Cherie Bradbury

Tomie's 79th birthday celebration began Saturday night with dinner at Burdick's and three "surprise" guests. The stories and laughter started the minute Janet and David Kidder arrived in Tomie's driveway and we all got in the car for the drive to Walpole, NH, and Burdick's. Marianna McGuffin met us at the restaurant.
 
The celebration and laughter continued during the day on Sunday with emails and phone calls, and dinner at Pine in the Hanover Inn across from Dartmouth College, with two "surprise" guests and a last minute addition.

Kara and Cherie are nurses in Specialty Services at New London Hospital. Tomie sees them every Wednesday when his anemia is monitored. Sonya and Melissa, former Specialty Services nurses, were also invited, but cancelled because they were feeling ill.

So, I called Connie, former co-owner of Morgan Hill Bookstore, and invited her to join us for dinner if she could be ready in twenty minutes. She was ready in fifteen - hair washed and all dolled up.

One more small dinner on Tuesday night to close out Year 79.

www.burdickchocolate.com
www.pineathanoverinn.com

Happy 79th Birthday, Tomie!

An Anniversary

It was one year ago today that Bronte went blind after his right eye was removed because of a benign melanoma. (The left eye had been removed two weeks earlier for the same reason.)

As best as we can tell, Bronte remains a happy dog, and we hope a healthy one, too.

Happy Ninth Birthday, Bronte!

It's Bronte's ninth birthday today! The Pierce girls from Indiana sent cards. From top to bottom: Rachel's card, Megan's card, Ashley's card. (I've only posted the fronts of their cards.)

It's undeniable.

The air feels different than the summer air. The sky looks different than a summer sky. The temperature this morning was 40 degrees. The book tour has been planned. I've begun to replace some of the plants in the pots with mums and cabbage and kale. Tomie's birthday is days away.

Fall is coming.

Decatur Book Festival Photos

Left to Right: Diane Capriola, Tomie, Doni Kay

Diane is co-owner of Little Shop of Stories and Doni is the Penguin sales rep for the southeast. Tomie has just finished the Kidnote at the Decatur Book Festival, and signed books at Diane's store. He's still smiling!

www.littleshopofstories.com

 Tomie with his publicist at Penguin, Jessica Shoffel.

Decatur Book Festival Kidnote

Left to Right: Meyrick, Nora, Gavin, Tomie, Diane

Tomie was the 2013 Kidnote speaker at the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, Georgia, on Friday, August 30. He chose to be questioned by children instead of giving a presentation. Meyrick (Meyrick Murphy the actress, that is), Nora and Gavin (all of them good friends of Little Shop of Stories in Decatur) were selected to ask questions. The nearly standing room only crowd at Agnes Scott College was very receptive to the Kidnote.

The people who came to the autographing table were full of heartwarming stories about Tomie's books.

It was a long way to go for an overnight (up at 2:30 a.m. on Friday, and back to New London around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday), but it was well worth the trip.  Decatur, the town, was a wonderful surprise, and the people we met (from the people who whisked us through the airports to the drivers and plane companions, and Kidnote organizers and attendees and restaurant employees, etc) were generous and kind.

Diane Capriola is an organizer for the Book Festival and the co-owner of Little Shop of Stories in Decatur.
www.littleshopofstories.com

2011 National Book Festival

I just came across this video of Tomie's presentation at the 2011 National Book Festival in Washington, DC.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=waam_9DvHV8