End of Year Round Up

I spent decades building my blog audience and platform for the grand moment when I published my first novel. On October 10th, SHIRA & ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT (Chronicle Books, 2023) made it’s way into the world, and I failed to report about it here.

The good news is that I was documenting the experience on my Instagram @annawritedraw. Below are some of the pictures from the various events.

I’m grateful to the independent book stores who hosted me: Politics & Prose (launch), Books of Wonder (Jewish Middle Grade panel), and People’s Book (Jewish Representation in Children’s Literature). What a pleasure to meet and speak with fellow authors and interested readers. Shout out to my students who came to the launch and asked the most sophisticated questions!

I’ve taken some time from teaching my own classes to visit other classrooms and schools. Thanks to An Open Book Foundation for connecting me with other DCPS classrooms and buying each student a book!

Finally, SHIRA & ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT is ending the year with some very exciting accolades!

Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade 2023 (starred review)
Publishers Weekly Best Middle Grade 2023 (starred review)
Tablet Magazine “The Best Jewish Children’s Books 2023”

This has been a difficult time to have a Jewish-themed book out in the world. H@mas invaded Israel on October 7th and my book launched on October 10th. I’ve been balancing intense grief and some fear with the joy of accomplishing a long-held goal and the pride that comes from years and years of hard work. I’m so grateful to the fantastic team at Chronicle Books, to my agent, my dear friends, and the wonderful readers who keep letting me know how much they love the book. Thank you so much.

Wishing everyone a new year filled with peace, love, and light.

It’s a Giveaway! VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISIT AND MUCH, MUCH MORE

There are three days left until my book, SHIRA & ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT is officially launched and available for purchase everywhere you buy books.

Until then, teachers and librarians have the opportunity to enter a read-aloud giveaway.

Anyone who enters, gets placed in a drawing for a Virtual Author Visit!

Here’s how you enter:

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook
Tag another teacher or librarian so you can spread the love!

So easy!

Here’s what you get:

One hardcover copy of SHIRA & ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT—a perfect read aloud for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.
One poster to mount in your class or library (or to giveaway as a student reading prize.)
One class set of super-cute double-sided bookmarks
An entry in drawing for a VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISIT

The deadline is Monday night, October 9th at midnight.

Please enter today!

Marketing Monday: Press Kits!

When I was a teen, I’d go to my mother’s communications and public relations office to help after school. In those dinosaur-roaming, pre-internet days, people typed up press releases, sent them out to reporters and editors, then called each media outlet to follow up. I had three main jobs: 1) put-together mailings (read: stuff and seal envelopes), 2) make follow-up calls, 3) stuff press kits for press conferences.

Times have changed. Snail mail is quaint, and while I love a conference folder, there are digital alternatives. On this website, I’ve added a downloadable zipped file on my “Books” and my “Creative Speaking/Press” pages. Creating a zipped file is easy. Just shift + click on the documents you need to zip together, right-click, and choose “compress file.”

To start, a media or press kit doesn’t need to be fancy. Ask your publisher for the “one sheet” they’ve created for the book. This has your book information (title, launch date, ISBN, etc.), a picture of the cover, any blurbs, and a picture of you with your bio. I’ve added a high res image of the cover and a few author photo options in case people need them for posting or for school and bookstore visits. Make sure to include the credits for the illustrator and photographer.

Finally, update your media kit. As the book goes out in the world, you may have nice reviews, stars, or awards to add on. Fingers crossed!

World…meet Shira and Esther

Something very exciting has been happening; the ARCs (advanced reader copies) of my book SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT are making their way into the world! After working on a book for years and years (and years) it’s been pretty fantastic to finally have people read it.

I’m grateful for the reception that Shira and Esther have found. On Instagram, Ari’s Book Addiction posted a lovely review for Jewish American Heritage Month. You can view that here!

That caught the eye of Afoma over at the blog Reading Middle Grade, and she included Shira and Esther in a list of 25 Best Jewish Middle-Grade Books. The post features “middle grade books by Jewish authors about Jewish kids,” where the character’s Jewish identity is integral to the story. Thank you, Afoma for recognizing the need for this representation! Sign up for her Friday Kidlit Newsletter with weekly roundups, kidlit resources, and more.

Are you a bookstagram influencer, podcast producer, or blog editor who focuses on children’s books and/or Jewish representation? I’d love to introduce you to Shira and Esther! Please leave me a note on the contact page and I’ll let my publicist know you need an ARC too. And if you discover Shira and Esther on the internet or IRL, please leave a message or tag me @annawritedraw!

A Knish is Love Part 2: The origin of the sticker

Did you read part 1? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. In my last post, I unveiled my fun new sticker from the fictional Morty’s Deli in my upcoming middle-grade book, SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT, on sale October 10, 2023. The sticker and a signed book is available to those who preorder the book from my local independent bookstore, Politics & Prose. Do that now! I’ll wait.

The sticker’s origin is a quote from the book:

A sign on the door says best knishes in idylldale. What? It’s not bragging if it’s the truth—and if there’s one thing you want from a deli man, it’s the truth.
Morty in SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT by Anna E. Jordan

But where is Idylldale and what is a knish? For the first question, I don’t want to steal my narrator’s thunder. I’ll simply say that Idylldale is the setting in the novel. It’s part Manhattan’s Lower East Side and part Catskill Mountains Borscht Belt resort (see below for a map of vintage Jewish Resorts and Hotels).

Jewish food and culture tie these two geographical regions together. Every culture has its filled pastry: dumplings, bao, meat pies, and Jewish culture has the knish. As Morty, the deli owner, says in my book:

Kinder. You already know that when you are very, very hungry, almost anything—with the exception of liverwurst with onions—tastes good. But Morty’s knish is not just anything. Did I already say they are the best in Idylldale? What? You never had a knish? Imagine the lightest, fluffiest mashed potatoes wrapped in a piecrust and baked to perfection. You got it? Yes? No. It’s not like that at all. A knish is better than a fluffy biscuit, better than a melt-in-your-mouth donut, a knish is love.
Morty in SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT by Anna E. Jordan

A Knish is Love Part 1: Reasons to Preorder my book!

If you’ve been following along, you know that I recently received my advanced reader copies for my middle-grade debut novel, SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT. The book won’t be in your bookstore until October 10, 2023, but here are a few good reasons why you should preorder yours now.

We’ve all seen what happens when the supply chain is interrupted. When there is unexpected demand, it can take a long time for production to catch up. When you preorder, the publishing company can gauge demand for the book and order accordingly.
A successful preorder campaign creates buzz for a book and builds anticipation for the launch. Especially if you, the consumer, posts about your purchase and support!
Sales of foreign rights and other rights are more likely to be successful if the book has buzz.
Independent bookstores often purchase only one or two copies of a book (especially from a debut author) if they are unsure how it will do. If you order from your local independent bookstore now, they will have guaranteed sales and a reason to order more!
Finally, if you order from MY local independent bookstore, Politics & Prose, I will sign your book and add in a fun sticker from the fictional Morty’s Deli! Here’s the link to order SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT from Politics & Prose!

What? You don’t know what a knish is? Stay tuned!

Book Covers, ARCs, and Author Photos…Oh, my!

Remember how my last post promised updates? Here they are!

First, my ARCs (advanced reader copies) came in the mail from Chronicle Books and I was excited enough to try an Instagram reel speaking direct-to-camera. Uncomfortable? Perhaps. Authentic? Definitely. Please follow me there @annawritedraw

I had a blast sitting for my author photos with National Geographic photographer, Becky Hale. Because I knew her in another capacity, I felt very comfortable and she turned out photo after photo that were just stunning. Here’s one of my favorites. I’m so grateful!

The ARCs don’t have the final book cover, but I’m thrilled to share that with you today. Illustrator Marco Guadalupi created this fun cover that captures both the similarities and differences of Shira and Esther. I love how he subtly transmits Shira’s vigor and Esther’s studiousness. The Idylldale tenements and the story landmarks of the theater, The Heights, and the synagogue all become a theatrical background framed by the canned spotlights and the title marquee. More on the cover soon!

After so many years of working on the manuscript for SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT, it’s amazing to see the book–the thing that people will hold in their hands and actually read– becoming a reality. If you preorder the book from my local indie bookstore, Politics and Prose, you’ll get a signed book and additional swag! The book is also available for preorder anywhere you buy books.

Shana Tova: 5783

Happy New Year to any who celebrate. If you don’t, feel free to borrow this Jewish autumnal opportunity to take stock of the last year, make amends, and start with a blank slate.

Today, I received a notice from LiveJournal celebrating my blogging beginnings 16-years ago. That blog traveled from LiveJournal to Blogger to WordPress, and the whole time, I imagined that I was “building a platform” of possible readers who might buy some dream-of-a-book in the future. In January of 2021, when Chronicle Books bought my middle grade manuscript, that once-mythical-moment became a reality, and I’m excited to give you a little insight on the publishing journey for my Fall 2023 debut.

Originally, the book was going to be launched this year, but with Covid, a death in my family, a move, and a new teaching job, I knew I couldn’t keep up with the pace. Chronicle was kind enough to allow me to postpone.

I’ve been so lucky to work with two fabulous editors who have guided me through a few revisions. From macro to micro, each revision was focussed and each created a manuscript that was better than the previous draft.

In copy edits, I’ve worked with the Chronicle team to make each word sparkle.

The other day I got to look at cover ideas. *squee* Like that moment in a pregnancy when you actually start showing, it began to feel very real. At this point, the book has gone through a variety of titles, and we’ve landed on SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT. What a perfect way to encapsulate this Prince-and-the-Pauper-meets-Mrs. Maisel book about two identical girls who swap places to fulfill their dreams.

Even though I am a woman of many words, I can’t really explain how joyful this process has been. The respect that I’ve felt from the team is amazing.

By the time 5784 rolls around, I’ll be a published novelist. I hope you’ll continue on this journey with me.