A book makes a wish come true

Once in a while, the forces for good in this world come together in a spectacular way.

Here is one of those instances.

A Very Special Request

Cheryl Klein, Arthur Levine, and many other people at Scholastic and the Make-A-Wish Foundation have been working hard to help someone's dream come true— and we can all help!

Cheryl writes:

"Over a year ago, we were contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation regarding a young Seattle-area writer named Stephanie Trimberger (who was 13 at the time; she’s 15 now) who has brain cancer. Her dream was to have her novel edited by “the Harry Potter editors,” so Arthur and I read it and wrote her an encouraging editorial letter, and she began working on revisions.  A year went by and we didn’t hear anything more, but she finished her book and she wanted us to take one last look. 

Thanks to the terrific coordination of a lot of people here, we not only managed to edit it in about 24 hours, but we typeset the manuscript and created a gorgeous cover for it; and with the help of an extraordinarily generous donation from the printer, 300 copies of Stephanie’s THE RUBY HEART have now been printed. Now the local Make-A-Wish Chapter in Seattle is working with the Pacific Place Barnes and Noble to host an event for her next Tuesday – they’ll pick her up in a limo and deliver her to the B&N, where she’ll do a reading and sign copies.

...It would be so wonderful to have a big audience there to applaud her accomplishment and make it a great day for her. Stephanie is a huge reader of YA and fantasy fiction; she lost her mom to brain cancer nine years ago, and it sounds like she’s been writing about that long. I’m sure ALL writers can symptathize with her dream to publish a book, and it should be an amazing evening in seeing that dream fulfilled."

How about it, SCBWI Western Washington? Can we help make it the night of her dreams?

[Edited to add: 300 copies of the book have been generously donated and will be available free of charge. Hopefully there can be a big crowd of people to help Stephanie have a dream author moment. ]

Tuesday, September 25

6:00 p.m.

Barnes & Noble Pacific Place

600 Pine Street Suite 107

Seattle, WA 98101

206-264-0156

You can RSVP and see more details on the Facebook page.

See you there!

Arthur A. Levine & Linda Sue Park Seattle Events

Not attending the SCBWI WWA Annual Fall Retreat? Or planning on it, and already know you'll want to see more, more, more of them? There's good news: In addition to the retreat, you'll be able to catch both Arthur and Linda Sue elsewhere in Seattle in early November:

ARTHUR A. LEVINE AT SECRET GARDEN:

Secret Garden Books is hosting Arthur on Wednesday, November 2 at 7 p.m. for an event to promote his picture book MONDAY IS ONE DAY. Author Arthur A. Levine and illustrator Julian Hector deliver a love note from a working parent to a child, counting the days of the week--each one a special opportunity to spend time together. The author will read his book, answer our millions of questions (including questions about what it's like being J.K. Rowling's U.S. editor!) and sign books available for sale. Free!

LINDA SUE PARK AND ARTHUR A. LEVINE, AMONG OTHERS: PLOT FOR TOTSON.

Bring your small kids with you to attend PLOT FOR TOTS -- a literary and musical extravaganza for the very young, benefitting Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program -- taking place on Sunday, November 6 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Phinney Neighborhood Association Community Hall.

Famed kids' musician Caspar Babypants (lead singer of The Presidents of the United States of America) is headlining with his artist wife Kate Endle -- along with various stars in the children's literature field: Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park, Arthur A. Levine (J.K. Rowling's U.S. editor), and local legends Lorie Ann Grover, Samantha Vamos, and author/illustrator Wendy Wahman (who'll also be painting faces during the event).

Recommended for infants and children (and their parents), ages 0-5. Parents must accompany their children. There's a $5 suggested donation at the door, to benefit Page Ahead.