| My friend and crit group member Connie Van Hoven recently celebrated the release of her first children’s book: The Twelve Days of Christmas in Minnesota (Sterling, 2009). I’m so excited for her!
The book is adorable! It’s the story of twins who visit their Minnesota cousin for Christmas, and he gives them a different, uniquely Minnesotan gift for each of the 12 days. Hot dish and hockey sticks, anyone? It’s charmingly illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, a Minnesota artist. Connie and Mike are both so nice and so talented that it’s really exciting to finally see this book come out! |
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| Connie’s launch party, which I couldn’t make it to, was this past weekend at the Minnesota History Center. Here’s Connie with her husband, Greg (dressed Minnesota lumberjack style, like Grandpa in the book). With them is Checkers the loon, also a character in the book. It sounds like it was a fabulous launch, with hotdish, cake, and singing (and you know the Twelve Days of Christmas is a long song!). And lots of book signing. |
| And the next day, Connie had a signing at the Minnetonka General Store, where she sold almost 100 books. I am in awe. And it couldn’t happen to a nicer writer.
Go Connie! And if you live in Minnesota, or if you have family members in Minnesota, this would make a great gift for the kids in your family, school, or community. Order it here from Barnes & Noble. |
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