Why all the hospitality? Glad you asked. See, I’m not JUST a nice person. No, today is a special day, and not just because it’s my Mum’s birthday (though that is, of course, a good reason to celebrate) – but because today, May 1, marks the much awaited (by me) release of my verse novel, Pearl Verses the World. So please raise your glasses, and help me to toast my new book baby.

Now, as well as passing around the virtual champagne, I have lots planned to celebrate Pearl’s release. And, because today is just the first day in Pearl’s life as a book, I am planning not one day, but a whole month of celebrations. I am off on a blog tour, and will also be hosting visitors here on my blog. Together with my friend Kathryn Apel, who also has a book baby being released this month, I’m running a poetry challenge – a verse-off – where you’ll be able to show off your poetry skills either here on my blog, or at Kathryn’s. All this and more, to make May a month of celebration.

But, of course, a party is only a party with lots of guests, so I’m hoping you’ll join me throughout the month to learn more about Pearl Verses the World and to party with me.

For today, you might like to know a little bit about the book. First, feel free to admire the beautiful cover, featuring the delectable artwork of Heather Potter, who has really brought Pearl to life.

Now, more info.

What the Book is About (From the Publisher’s Website)

At school, Pearl feels as though she is in a group of one. Her teacher wants her to write poems that rhyme but Pearl’s poems don’t. At home, however, Pearl feels safe and loved, but her grandmother is slowly fading, and so are Mum and Pearl. When her grandmother eventually passes away, Pearl wants life to go back to the way it was and refuses to talk at the funeral. But she finds the courage to deliver a poem for her grandmother that defies her teacher’s idea of poetry – her poem doesn’t rhyme; it comes from the heart.

And the First Review, which I’m still glowing about, can be read online here.

If you’d like to buy the book, it is available from several online bookstores, including Fishpond – and, hopefully, in a bricks and mortar bookstore or library near you. You may need the publication details, if bychance the book isn’t displayed prominently. So, here goes:

In between times, I have invited some of my poetry-writing friends to drop in and write some guest blogs about poetry. Some will provide poetry writing exercises, others will talk more generally about children’s poetry. The first guest blogger will be Kathryn Apel, who will be here tomorrow.

And if that’s not enough for you, you’ll have to drop by regularly and see what else happens here during May – there’ll be something new every day!

Thanks heaps for dropping by and sharing this special day with me. It’s not every day an author gets to celebrate the release of a new book. Pearl and I thank you for joining in the celebration.

Have a lovely May. And happy birthday, Mum.