Van is packed and ready for the NTBF

 No, we don't have any winners at the North Texas Book Festival, but 4RV Publishing will have seven (7) authors attending with books and fingers ready to sign lots of books. We have an author coming from Lousiana, two from Texas, and the rest from Oklahoma. The following authors will be attending:

Horton Deakins with his book Time Pullers, the pre-debut; Harry Gilleland with his book Aldric & Anneliese, the debut; Jacque Graham with Walking the Earth: Life's Perspectives in Poetry, which includes her poetry; Wayne Harris-Wyrick with his children's picture book Why Am I Me?, the debut; Caeleigh (Kelly) McKinna with two of her children's picture books Lion in the Living Room and Little Charley Thornpaws; Galand Nuchols with her book Second Chance; and Vivian Zabel with several of her books, including her newest Stolen.

After hours of sorting through books, packing them after checking off titles on the list of 50 titles, and lugging the boxes and packing them in the van, Jacque and I are exhausted. Hopefully, we'll be rested enough by Thursday to make the trip to Denton Friday morning.

If anyone lives close enough to make the drive to Denton, Texas on April 16, please come meet with us at The Center for Visual Arts,  400 E. Hickory St. at Bell Ave.

All the preceding books can be purchased through most books stores and online suppliers, but they are also available at the 4RV Publishing Catalog.

MPLA conference and exhibition

We set up our booth for the MPLA (Mountain Plains Library Association), which includes twelve states, at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City Monday. With as many books 4RV now has, the job was a big one for three rather mature women, none of whom is in the best of health. However we succeeded.

All books from our company were on display, but I'll have to admit Confessions of a Former Rock Queen was the focal point.


We did have a few purchases, but most libraries must send us a PO in order to order. Many seemed quite interested and took notes of which books they wanted, and the fact we offer a 30% discount for libraries, schools, and museums interested them more.

Galand Nuchols traveled from her home in Texas to join us, and she may not have worked an event like this before but showed many "experienced" authors how to do the job. She approached visitors as soon as they entered the door (our booth was just inside one set of doors), gave them her card, and told them not only about her book Second Chance, but also about the other 4RV titles.


Several librarians showed an interest in Elysabeth's series about the states, as well as other titles that can be used in their programs.

Many want to know as soon as Shirl Yancey's book comes out because it sounds interesting and like a great resource. Shirl prepared a framed copy of the cover for Conscience: Breaching Social Amnesia and had business cards beside the framed copy. On the photo of the table for 4RV Publishing at the right end, the framed photo can be seen.

Suzy and Shirl

Suzy Koch joined us for part of the days we were exhibiting. She greeted some of the librarians, too, as did Lisa Willis on Wednesday.






I hobbled home exhausted and barely able to walk. Jacque Graham, Galand, and Shirl nearly tied me to my chair, trying to keep me off my feet, but those who know me understand that's difficult for me.


Yes, it's a joke, but they did manage to some extent.

Jacque greets libarian, Lisa in background

Speaking of Jacque, she was on hand working much too hard, too -- as usual.

I didn't get a picture of Eric Mathe, who came to help us take everything down and reload in my van.



I'll end with a couple of shots of the very large area used for the exhibition. We did enjoy meeting people from Oklahoma and many other states. Several of us have appearance dates set as a result. 4RV has been invited to Denver, Colorado for something (we're supposed to receive an email with information).

Both pictures are taken from our table and give such a small view of the space used.



I have many other pictures taken during the MPLA exhibition. Maybe I can use them another time.


.

Two great new books from 4RV now available

Let's first look at Just Breeze by Beverly Stowe McClure, cover and book design by Aidana WillowRaven.

Beverly and Breeze are holding a book launch party, which everyone can enjoy. Go to Just Breeze's website to discover all the guidelines.

A few words about the young adult/middle grade novel:

Eighth grade starts out the same as every other year for Breeze Brannigan. She’s still the tallest student, boy or girl, in her class, wears shoes that would fit an elephant, and her smile reveals dazzling braces that blind everyone within ten feet.

Then she meets Cam , the new boy in school who speaks with an accent and must be from another planet, for none of the earthling boys she knows are so polite. He also has a secret, a secret that could mean life or death for Cam and his mother and that Breeze must help him keep.

The second release in September is Second Chance by Galand Nuchols, cover and book also designed by Aidana WillowRaven.

The characters from Second Chance, another young adult novel, don't have their own blog or website yet, but we can know more about their story from the blurb on the back of the book:

Josh and Leroy are friends despite their differences. They face a world of depression, segregation, drought, and prohibition.

Josh, the main target of the town bully, uses the boy’s Achilles heel to even the score. Leroy hates the father he has never seen, but he must make life changing decisions when the man returns to be a part of Leroy's and his
mother’s lives.

They help a mutual friend, George, and his family walk a tightrope, as they deal with
their white neighbor, who is determined to get rid of them.

Together the three friends bring a small measure of justice to their challenging world, as they each experience a second chance.


Both books can be found through bookstores, as well as online stores, and from the publisher 4RV Publishing.


.