Category Archives: News

NITA’S DAY launches today!

Happy book birthday to my newest book, Nita’s Day: More Signs for Babies and Parents! The second book in the Little Hands Signing series features Nita and her family using American Sign Language all day long! With adorable, bold illustrations by Sara Brezzi and a unique slide-open format, this board book makes a great baby shower or new baby gift! Thank you to our ASL/Deaf Culture Advisor Jevon Whetter, Early Childhood Advisor Louise Rollins, and the whole team at Familius Press for helping bring Nita’s latest adventure to life!

Order Nita’s Day now! Autographed copies from the Deaf Camps, Inc. Online BookstoreIndiebound.org | Bookshop.org Workman.com (use code BOOKS for 20% off!)  |  Amazon.com  |  BarnesAndNoble.com

Nita’s Day Teacher/Librarian Guide  |  Nita’s Day Signs Demonstration Video

Join me for the Nita’s Day Online Launch Celebration!

Facebook Live Nita’s Day Launch Day Celebration Storytimes:

Sign with Nita All Day Long!

Here’s a rhyme to practice the signs in the book!

All Day Long: A Rhyme to Sign

This is the latest entry in my Little Hands Signing video series. See the whole series here and look for more videos to come!

Reviews and News

I’m heading off to the woods for one of my favorite weeks of the year – Deaf Camp. But before I go, here’s a roundup of some recent excitement and upcoming events.

Reviews

Earlier this week, Dagger and Coin received its first trade review – and it’s a great one! Kirkus Review calls it a “riveting fantasy sequel…Soraya’s compelling narration makes the minutiae of management as thrilling as the betrayals, murders, and desperate gambits propelling the plot…A fine balance of political intrigue, relationship drama, and thoughtful characterization.” Read the full review.

 

Nita’s First Signs also got a great review from Vicki at Babies to Bookworms, which said that “the descriptions and the illustrations on the instructions are really easy to understand, making it easy for parents to perform the signs right away and teach them to their children. The ending to the story is absolutely adorable and will resonate with parents and kids alike!”  Check out the full review along with Vicki’s post offering great suggestions for following up the book with other signing activities.

 

Upcoming Event: Once Upon a Sign

Saturday, July 28, 2019 1pm – 2pm at Barnes & Noble, 4300 Montgomery Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Join us for a lively event with two great authors! Kathy MacMillan, author of Nita’s First Signs, shares American Sign Language stories, songs, and rhymes for the whole family, followed fractured fairy tale fun with Veronica Bartles, author of The Princess and the Frogs. Free event, for all ages. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

   

 

 

 

 

SWORD AND VERSE is a finalist for the 2017 Compton Crook Award

I’m so excited to share that SWORD AND VERSE has been chosen as one of 6 finalists for the Compton Crook Award, awarded by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc. (BSFS) to honor the best first novel of the year written by an individual author in the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror genre.  The Award was named in memory of Towson State College Professor of Natural Sciences Compton Crook, who wrote under the name Stephen Tall, and who died in 1981. Professor Crook was active for many years in the Baltimore Science Fiction Society and was a staunch champion of new works in the fields eligible for the award.

2017 Compton Crook Award Finalists

 

Scenes from the #YARoadTrip Tour!

I was honored to participate in the YA RoadTrip tour October 6-16 with a fantastic group of authors in honor of Teen Read Week!  Thank you to the many librarians and booksellers who made the tour possible, and to everyone who came out to see us!

Missed the tour?  We left signed copies of our books behind at the following stores:

teen read week full graphic

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Kicking off Teen Read Week at the Glenwood Branch in Howard County, MD.
Kicking off Teen Read Week at the Glenwood Branch in Howard County, MD.

Author fun times in Annapolis, MD.
Author fun times in Annapolis, MD.

Visiting with the book club at Howard High School in Ellicott City, MD.
Visiting with the book club at Howard High School in Ellicott City, MD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And scenes from the epic program arranged by Enoch Pratt Free Library for 250 visiting students and teachers:

Deborah Taylor, EPFL's Coordinator of School & Student Services, welcomes the crowd.
Deborah Taylor, EPFL’s Coordinator of School & Student Services, welcomes the crowd.

Karen Hattrup took on moderator duties.
Karen Hattrup took on moderator duties.

Dramatizing Melissa's description of ARROWS with a little help from some audience volunteers.
Dramatizing Melissa’s description of ARROWS with a little help from some audience volunteers.

Rahul Kanakia assures everyone that authors' cars are all made of solid gold.
Rahul Kanakia assures everyone that authors’ cars are all made of solid gold.

Lightning round!
Lightning round!