Goodreads giveaway of Code Name 711 ARCs!

It's just six weeks until Linc's second adventure, Double Vision: Code Name 711, comes out! Which is why I've been a bit quiet here on the blog for the past week: I've been planning launch events and other promotional stuff.

Stay tuned for more cool news on that over the next few weeks...

But for those of you who like to read a book before it hits the shelves: the awesome people at Harper Children's are running a Goodreads giveaway of advanced copies of Double Vision: Code Name 711. So enter if you feel lucky...

Thanks for the support, as always, YA Sleutheri. It's nice to have good friends in my corner.

Linc's Bookstore Tour Stop #6: Lemuria Books

Linc here. I just left Houston, and now I'm in Jackson, Mississippi.

My tour is almost over... I'm kind of bummed about that--this is way more fun than going to school, let me tell you.

Sixth stop: Lemuria Books 
Place: Jackson, MS

Question: What makes Lemuria Books different from other bookstores? 
Well for one thing, just the sheer number of books! We want to make sure that we have the exact book you're looking for. We also have a lot, and I mean a LOT, of signed books We usually have more than one signing a week and we loved signed books.

Question: I have a day to spend in Jackson. What should I do for fun? After you have visited us, you should head over to Eudora Welty's house in Belhaven. One of the most complete author houses in the United States, Ms. Welty was a beloved Mississippian, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a lover of books. Take a tour of the house and you will feel like you met her. Oh and also, go visit the children's museum. I know, I know, you're twelve, too old for such things, but really, even adults have fun there. From the huge map/playground of Mississippi to the largest Scrabble board ever made, you can definitely learn a lot here and have too much fun doing it.

Question: If you could invent any spy gadget, what would it be and what would it do?
A gadget that reads people's thoughts and records them into written transcripts. You could do a lot of spying that way!

Question: Any cool events coming up for my friends who live in the area? Well, on Wednesday, November 14th at 5:00 we have the great author John Flanagan coming for the newest book in his Brotherband Chronicles series, The Hunters. I think you might even like it...

Looks like I'm sticking around Jackson for a while...!

Follow the Lemuria Books blog, or find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Or you can come meet the staff in person! I left a backpack with gadgets and a signed copy of Double Vision...

Linc's Bookstore Tour: Stop #2: Seattle Mystery Bookshop

Linc here--I just left Alexandria, VA, and I took a plane to the state of Washington. This bookstore tour is getting me all caught up on my peanut and pretzel eating, let me tell you.

I have to say: I'm glad to ride the streets on my skateboard again.

Second stop in my bookstore tour: Seattle Mystery Bookshop
Place: Seattle, WA

Here's the skinny:

Question: What makes Seattle Mystery Bookshop different from other bookstores?

What makes us special? Unlike many bookshops out there we focus on a specific genre of fiction. So for 22 years we have specialized exclusively on mystery books! Spies, thrillers, suspense, classic noir….if there’s a body in the book we have it!

Plus we try very hard to bring a personalized service to our customers. One of the biggest and best areas - we read, review and recommend new books & authors to our readers. In addition we have author events nearly every week where fans are able to meet and speak with their favorite authors. Which, let me tell you, is absolutely thrilling!

Question: I have a day to spend in Seattle. What should I do for fun?

Other than coming to Seattle Mystery Bookshop and finding a great book to read? Well...

I would suggest Pike Place Market, there is a wide variety of local vendors selling some very unique wares. Plus the crowds are big enough if you were being followed it would be easy to lose a tail. While you are there you can visit Seattle’s famous gum wall. Located in Pike Place as well, where years of chewing gum cling to an alley wall and all you need to do to participate is stick your piece on! I suggest Hubba Bubba. It is also a great place to leave a secret message, hidden in plain sight, should you need to make contact with another agent while on vacation!

Another recommendation would be The Water Front, where you have the Seattle Aquarium, The Carousel and a giant Ferris Wheel to see (plus a whole bunch of shopping, tours and a bug zoo as well). Plus it offers a number of modes of escape: street car, boat and ferry should you need to make a fast getaway!

Question: If you could invent any spy gadget, what would it be and what would it do?

Dr. Who’s slightly psychic paper would be nice, so you could always have a fake ID or invitation to get you out of a tight spot…. Or Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak would be nice as well, so you could follow quarry without being spotted. Or maybe that map…

But to be honest the most effective gadget for me…..would be a phase shifter. Since I can trip and knock things over when I am walking across a flat stable surface. That way when I need to break into a house to find a hidden file, secret lab or find evidence, I wouldn’t have to worry about knocking over a lamp, bumping into tables or tripping over an ottoman I would walk right through them. So I would never worry again about giving myself -- and the operation -- away!

Question: Any cool events coming up for my friends who live in the area?

One great event, Edgar winner, Dori Hillestad Butler author of the Buddy Files series will be in our shop on November 24^th at Noon! This is a great series which we highly recommend!

Or the Run Scared 5k where you earn your candy on October 29^th in Seward Park. Costume contest, doggie costume contest, free kids dash, trick-or-treat bags, prizes for top runners and random door prizes, pumpkin bread, gear check, free event photos and so much more!


Conclusion: Seattle Mystery Bookshop rocks! 

I left a Kid Spy giveaway package, so make your way over there to find out how to enter, fellow spies...

Visit Seattle Mystery Bookshop's Kids Corner for children's, middle-grade and YA mystery book recommendations.

Follow Seattle Mystery Bookshop on Facebook or on Twitter @SeattleMystery for the latest news and upcoming events!

What's Your Favorite Independent Bookstore?

As you've probably noticed in recent posts, I've been pondering the whole what-is-home thing a lot. Because when you have a brand new book out, you kind of need your home team to cheer for you. And I've had lots of cheers (thank you :-).

You know what's been the coolest? Getting all those friends who live in different states to ask me if I'm coming their way, because they have the greatest independent bookstore nearby. Indies really mean home, and discovering them by proxy through Linc has been most awesome. He's going to Seattle tomorrow...

Dwell Magazine (they have the best modern dream homes...) has a map of independent bookstores across the U.S.--go over there and see if your hometown favorite is listed, and add it if need be.

And while we're on the subject: what's your favorite independent bookstore?

Linc's Bookstore Tour: Stop #1: Hooray for Books

Hey, it's Linc Baker, the twelve year-old kid who just came back from a mission in Paris. It was a tough one, let me tell you. I got arrested, ended up jumping from an airplane… Anyway, you can read all about it in Double Vision.

Now that my backpack is empty (I used all the spy gadgets my tech guy Henry made for me), I’m off on a tour of independent bookstores. You know, so I can fill it up with books, and see some cities without being chased by bad dudes.

First stop: Hooray for Books!

Place: Alexandria, VA

Here's the scoop:

What makes Hooray for Books! different from other bookstores?

First, we’re community driven--we’re here to provide a much needed service to our area, and we want to be sure our customers are taken care of. We like to think of ourselves as a gathering place for kids of all ages--and the adults who love them! We have weekly story times for neighborhood toddlers, book clubs for beginning readers through adults, and a “Grandmother’s Club,” which allows relatives to regularly ship books to youngsters around the country. And of course, we’re big fans of local authors and illustrators--we’re always happy to host events and book launches for our writer friends.

We want our customers to be as excited about books as we are! We’re devoted to giving people the personalized attention they deserve. Looking for an obscure book from your childhood? We’ll track it down. Need a list of recommendations based on your child’s favorite books? We’ll come up with one. We’re at your service!

I have a day to spend in Alexandria. What should I do for fun?

There’s always something cool happening in Alexandria. Wander through the artists’ galleries and workspaces in The Torpedo Factory Art Center by the Potomac River (their annual Arts Safari event in October is an especially fun day for kids and families). Don a crazy costume and Trick or Treat with the Boutiques for Halloween, then participate in Del Ray’s annual Halloween parade. Take a class (with a sweet name like “Cupcake Hootenanny” or “Candy Graveyard”) with our friends and candy purveyors extraordinaire at The Sugar Cube. Learn more about the spooktacular history of Old Town Alexandria on a Ghosts and Graveyard Tour--while you’re at it, take on the Old Town Scavenger Hunt, too! Have a look at the Old Town Boutique District and Del Ray Patch websites for more awesome ideas!

If you could invent any spy gadget, what would it be and what would it do?

If we could invent any spy gadget, it would be a Word Detector!  The Word Detector looks just like a pair of glasses, but when you put them on, they do something special: if you say any word out loud, all the books nearby that have that word light up!  That way it’s easy to find examples of fun new words we learn.

Any cool events coming up for my friends who live in the area?

Why, yes! How kind of you to ask! We’re pretty excited about our great lineup for the fall.

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 4 pm -- Author Jon Klassen

The author and illustrator of the hilarious I Want My Hat Back presents his newest picture book, This Is Not My Hat! Bring the whole family to enjoy an event with one of our favorite authors! RSVP info@hooray4books.com.  Ages 3 and up. Free.

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 12:30-6 pm  -- Silhouette Artist Keith Donaldson

There are very few true silhouette artists left in the country, and the amazing Keith Donaldson is one of them! He’ll be at Hooray for books to create a one-of-a-kind hand cut paper silhouette of you, your children, or anyone in your family! Reserve a spot at info@hooray4books.com.  All ages. Deposit required.

Saturday, Oct. 27, 2-3 pm -- Author Elizabeth Brokamp

Celebrate Halloween with us as spooktacular author Elizabeth Brokamp shares her picture book, The Picky Little Witch! Complete with a recipe for Halloween soup, this lighthearted story highlights an all too common problem: how can parents get their little witches (and wizards!) to try new foods?

Ages 3-6. Free.

Sunday, Oct. 28, 2-4 pm -- Author Mary Jane O’Loughlin

Welcome Mary Jane O’Loughlin as she presents Ruby and Baby...an Unlikely Friendship, the story of the bond between an American housecat and a baby elephant from Africa. Little ones will love this adorable animal story!  Ages 3-6. Free.

Sunday, Nov. 4, 2:30-3:30 pm -- Author Sharon Hickey

Grab a spot in our story time corner as local author and illustrator Sharon Hickey reads her picture book, Card Auntie’s Wonderful Workshop. After story time, get in on craft time--creating notes and pictures to send to overseas U.S. service members through Operation Write Home!  Ages 3-6. Free.

Conclusion: Hooray for Books! is the place to be! 

I left a Top-Secret backpack with a signed copy of Double Vision and spy gadgets for you kid spies... 

So make your way over to Hooray For Books to enter to win.

Find Hooray for Books! on Facebook so you'll never miss an event.

Follow Hooray for Books on Twitter @HFBooks

Book Launch Realizations, And Announcing The Double Vision Book Tour

Three things I realized as I worked on launch events (since, you know, I have to market this new book and everything):

Realization #1: I'm a little homeless.

Well, not in the literal sense--I live quite comfortably (see the current Casa Bradley on the left). But given that my love wears combat boots, home is pretty much where ever he's assigned. Right now, that's the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

But when I hear fellow debut authors talk about their launch parties in home towns with dozens of friends attending, I have to scratch my head, feeling lost. Truth is, I have friends all over the world. Colorado, North Dakota, California, Holland, France, England, India--you get the idea. So no home town as such. And most everyone's too far away to have a party. I had fun in Birmingham, but still...

The world is my home town. Strange but true.

Realization #2: I really hate talking about myself.

I love Double Vision, and I'm really excited people get to read Linc's story now. I'm proud of this book. But there are only so many times you can talk about it to promote the book. Buy the book, please.

See? Nuf said.

I'd rather talk about someone else.

Realization #3: Book tours are expensive.

Even though the world is my home town, I don't have the budget to tour or host a launch party everywhere. Hence the virtual cake last week. But I'd really like to do a book tour.

Solution: A virtual book tour. Instead of going myself, I thought I would send Linc, since he's a cool dude between missions (hopefully, he'll stay out of trouble this way, too...).

He's going on a tour around the States (since the world is a wee bit ambitious), visiting my favorite book stores along the way. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, Tattered Cover, Hooray for Books!, Little Shop of Stories--and many others. Linc will get the scoop on what's happening at each of these bookstores and what to do for fun in their city or town, and we'll talk gadgets too.

It'll be fun, so I hope you'll tune in! Linc's tour kicks off tomorrow...

And here's a Monday Music song, apropos: