Talk Books and History with Kate this Month

Want to hear a little about local history or learn a little about writing books? You’ll have the opportunity to do both this month!

On Saturday, April 16 Kate will be one of more than 25 authors selling, signing and talking books at the gorgeous new Fountaindale Library in Bolingbrook at their Author Fair. To cap off Library Week, authors will be on hand from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm, with some brief presentations and readings planned. You – or your child – are also welcome to stop and chat about what you’re reading or writing and get tips straight from the horse’s mouth.

On Thursday, April 21 Kate will present “Sailing to Will County” at Cedarlake Village in Plainfield. Few people realize how many of our early prairie pioneers arrived by ship! While this presentation is specifically for residents of Cedarlake Village, guests are also welcome.

New Marketing Piece for Kate's First Book

Illinois elementary schools often teach early American history between now and Thanksgiving, so now is the perfect time to remind teachers that Ruth by Lake and Prairie, the factual story of an 1831 girl who settled in Naperville, Illinois, is available to supplement their textbooks.

To help spread the word, a new book trailer has been created. Please feel free to take a look and pass it on to parents or teachers who may be looking for new material to catch the interest of their elementary students during westward expansion studies.

1000 Teenagers and Chicago's Mayor Daley -- How Scary is That?

On Saturday, May 15, Mayor Daley's Book Club held their Spring Conference. Kids from 7th through 12th grades have been meeting in school libraries and branches of the Chicago Public Library all year long, reading and discussing books. At the Spring Conference, teenagers by the busload arrived at DuSable High School to attend workshops and meet authors.

At the suggestion of a fellow author, Dyanne Davis, Kate submitted a proposal to teach a workshop at the Conference. She was thrilled to be accepted and was busy preparing when she got a call from the organizer inviting her to be a "special guest."

As a "special guest," Kate got to hang out in the V.I.P. green room with the other guests, among which was award-winner Allan Stratton. But she also had to sit onstage with the guest authors, with officials from Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Public Library, and with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

Don't forget this was also in front of 1,000 teenagers sitting in the audience and staring up at the stage.

Fortunately, there was no public speaking required of her during that Opening Ceremony. Nerves were conquered, all went well, and Kate went on to lead two classroom sessions on "Creative Non-Fiction: The Reality TV of Literature."

The kids were great, the discussions were interesting, and meeting a bunch of new authors is always a joy. Photos and video will be posted at Kate's website soon, but you can read more about it now at K.C. Boyd's blog.

Joliet Library Event: Winners All Around

Saturday, March 13, was a rainy, gray day -- perfect for an Author Fair!

Kate was one of thirty authors of all genres who filled every nook and cranny at the Joliet Library - Black Road Branch. While the authors enjoyed chatting amongst themselves about the business of book-writing, there was hardly time as a steady stream of patrons made their way through the shelves.

Many visitors were browsing for a good read or hoping to get an autograph from their favorite author, but particularly satisfying were conversations with aspiring writers. Kate talked with several people who had stories floating around in their heads, including youngsters who could barely write cursive and retirees considering a new avocation. Plenty of college-bound high schoolers were in attendance as well, gathering information to help plan their educational goals.

Kate held a drawing of visitors to the Joliet Author Fair for a family pass to Naper Settlement open air history museum. Jenn of Crest Hill was the lucky winner. Congratulations, Jenn!

For readers and writers alike, more Author Events are coming up next month: at the Fountaindale Library in Bolingbrook on April 10 and at the Bellwood Library on April 13. You are welcome to attend either of these events to chat with a variety of authors about books and writing.

A Plethora of Local Authors

If lions come in "prides," do authors come in "plethoras?" They will on Saturday, March 13 at the Joliet Public Libary -- Black Road Branch when the library welcomes thirty local authors from 9am until 4pm to answer questions, autograph books and take pictures.

This event is free and open to everyone. Authors of all kinds of books will be on hand to chat with including those who write picture books for children, those who write adult non-fiction and genres in-between.

Children get a kick out of meeting the people who make the books they enjoy, but for adults who harbor a story within them this can also be a great experience.

The atmosphere is friendly and warm and the authors are eager to talk about their writing and publishing experience. Tell your writers' group or your teen-aged blogger or anyone who would like a one-on-one experience with an author.

Kate will be attending this event again this year and looks forward to meeting friends old and new. Come on down and say hello!

Celebrating Lincoln's Birthday

Kate will be visiting with the residents of Westminster Place, a retirement community in Evanston, on Friday, the day of Lincoln's birthday. It seems like the perfect time for her program "Six Degrees of Abraham Lincoln!"

The PowerPoint presentation tells of little-known connections between the President and the Chicagoland area, "history lite" illustrated with photos and maps.

If you know any schools or community groups who would enjoy this program, feel free to send them to the Six Degrees of Abraham Lincoln web site or contact Kate directly.

Children's Lit Breakfast with the Authors

Anderson's Bookshop is a nationally known independent bookseller with stores in Naperville and Downers Grove. For the past seven years they have held a Children's Literature Breakfast. This year's event will be held on February 20 in Glen Ellyn. Illinois.

Kate was invited again this year to attend as one of the guest authors. 600 people are expected to attend, many of them teachers who get CPDU credits along with the chance to hear some wonderful speakers.

This year's speakers include

• Richard Peck, ("A Season of Gifts")
• Patricia McKissack, ("Clone Codes")
• Pam Allyn, ("What to Read When" and Executive Director of LitLife)
• Jordan Sonnenblick, ("After Ever After") and
• Francoise Mouly, (Artistic Director of New Yorker Magazine; Publisher and Editorial Director of TOON books and Author of The TOON Treasury of Classic Children's Comics).

In addition to the speakers, breakfast and a huge book sale, one of the features of this event is that an author sits at every table. Several times during the morning, the authors play shift down one table so everyone gets to meet and talk to three or four different authors.

If you or someone you know are interested in attending this event -- especially you teachers! -- register as soon as possible as the Kid Lit Breakfast always sells out. For more information, see the

Anderson's Bookshop web site.

"Six Degrees of Lincoln" Presentation Winners, too!

While in Belvidere for the Autumn Pioneer Festival, Kate gave a presentation at the Keen Age Center on Friday afternoon. Audience members went on a a virtual tour of northern Illinois during the "Six Degrees of Abraham Lincoln" to find local connections to our sixteenth President.

A drawing was held at that event as well. Congratulations to Margaret and Bill, our winners!