Some of you already own The Book of Mermaids’ companion Magnetic Mermaid Dress-up Game, and know how fun it is.
Previously available exclusively through my publisher, Shenanigan Books, it’s up on Amazon now… took a while, but it’s there!
It’s a great little self-contained toy ~ kids just adore playing with it, parents like the great quality and the no-fuss, no muss!
Happy to share the news with you. : )
Horsethief Basin. Happy Valley. Snowflake. Deadmans Wash. Bloody Basin. Rainbow Trail. Bumblebee. Cornville. Dead Mexican Creek. Dead Cow Gulch. Deadman Creek. Skull Valley Wash. Jackass Basin (am I allowed to say that?). Rattlesnake Canyon (yea, I want to go there, don’t you?). Yankee Doodle Trail. Moonshine Spring. Onion Mountain. Monkey’s Eyebrow. Big Bug Mesa.
The list of Arizona’s colorful geographic names goes on. While there seems to be a propensity for dead things, you have to admit they’re original.
Fresh from another journey to Sedona, I’m reminded that I never come away uninspired – not necessarily by the unusual names, but the rugged, compelling landscape. The drive from Phoenix to Sedona being one of my favorites, you go from Phoenix’s palm trees and rather uneventful, flat urban sprawl towards rolling hills and twisting roads, scrubby bushes and tall cactus, past black mountains and on up and up to the rich red and green gem that is Sedona.
This trip was no different in terms of my spirit soaking up the magical air, but different with respect to my agenda. There was little time to do to more than drive by the gorgeous rock formations, as most of my time was spent inside the Andrea Smith Gallery in Sedona’s famed Tlaquepaque Art Village. Different, but well worth it.
Friday night was the opening reception for my book signing and exhibit of limited edition prints from A Book of Fairies and The Book of Mermaids. Bitter cold by Arizona’s standards, it was warm inside the gallery with lots of great people coming in, a wonderful spread of yummy hors d’oeuvres provided by Ashley, one of the gallery’s gracious keepers, and beautiful guitar music provided by my very gifted brother, David Saxton.
Saturday was also cold, but the chill still didn’t keep away the nice crowds who made the event a success. In fact, we sold out of Fairies books … one woman even joked that I was giving some stiff competition to Sarah Palin. It was certainly a good kind of competition.
My thanks to everyone who came – I enjoyed meeting each and every one of you. As for the rest of you, if you’re ever in Sedona, and can drag yourselves away from the natural outdoor beauty, stop at the Andrea Smith Gallery where they’re sure to treat you well.
But of course, all good things come to and end. Driving east out of Sedona, saying my good-byes to one of my favorite spots – Cathedral Rock – I felt that sense of renewal emanating from the morning sun-tinged clay-red temple … and knew I was already looking forward to another visit.
And I’m thinking, maybe Arizona should add another name to its grouping of unusually named things; something like “Mermaid Mesa” or “Fairy Dust Springs”. Has a kind of charm to it, don’t you think?
(you can read more about my past travels in Arizona at http://www.saxtonstudio.com/patriciasaxton/arizona.html )
Tis the season! … and there’s a lot in store for Fairy and Mermaid fans in New Jersey, New York and Arizona.
Skip the malls and head to Sussex, NJ on Saturday, November 28, for what sounds like a terrific showing of talented artists and craftspeople selling some top-quality American-made items at the Sussex Elks Lodge Arts & Crafts Holiday Fair.
The event runs all day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I’ll be there with Fairy and Mermaid books, signing special notes for unsuspecting recipients.
The Elks Club is an active supporter of both Veterans and Disabled Children. Support the good causes and join the fun at: Sussex Elks Lodge, 152 County Route 565, Sussex, NJ. For more information call: 973-875-3990
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Next, I’m excited to be heading west to Sedona for the opening of my art exhibit / book signing event at the Tlaquepaque Andrea Smith Gallery. (Read more here.) The opening reception is Friday, December 4 from 5 – 8 p.m.. I’ll also be at the gallery on Saturday, December 5 from 12 – 4 p.m. Here’s the invitation in case you’re in the vicinity, or know someone who might be.
After Sedona, I’ll make a couple appearances in New York City at the much anticipated and highly rated “Holiday Market at Union Square“. My publisher, Shenanigan Books, has a wonderful booth set up there through Christmas Eve – so if you’re going to the city, this would make a great, festive stop.
I’ll provide NYC book signing dates soon. In the meantime, here’s a sneak preview of the NYC Union Square booth. Hope to see you at one of these great events!
We love to share the joy of reading …. and we’ve got several events lined up through December, all in time for the quickly approaching holiday season. Here’s a quick run-down of where I’ll be with A Book of Fairies, The Book of Mermaids, and the oh-so-fun Magnetic Mermaid Dress-Up Game:
Thurs., Nov. 12, Summit, NJ … 6-7:30 p.m.: Book Signing at Washington School Book Fair
Wed., Nov. 18, Summit, NJ … 7-9 p.m.: Book Signing at Jefferson School Holiday Boutique
Sat., Nov., 28, Sussex, NJ … 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Book Signing & Gifts, Sussex County Elks Art & Craft Holiday Fair
Fri. & Sat., Dec. 4 & 5: Sedona, AZ … Art Exhibit & Book Signing, Andrea Smith Gallery at Tlaquepaque
Sat. Dec. 19: NYC … Book Signing & Gifts, Holiday Market at Union Square
Brooklyn Book Festival
It was a full weekend here on the east coast, with book signings at the Princeton Children’s Book Festival and the Brooklyn Book Festival. Towns don’t get much prettier than Princeton, and we had spectacular September weather for Sunday’s fair in Brooklyn, Both events were well attended and allowed we author/illustrator types another opportunity to meet and mingle with book lovers of all ages. Oh, and to sell some books too!
This coming weekend, on Saturday the 19th, I’ll be at the Town Book Store in Westfield, a charming shop that happens to be celebrating it’s 75th year of business. The Town Book Store is one of the last remaining independent bookstores in New Jersey. Both of my books – A Book of Fairies and The Book of Mermaids – will be available for signing that day. If you’re in the area between 2 and 4 pm, please stop in!
In anticipation of the Westfield event, a local paper, the Westfield Leader, wrote up a wonderful article (saxton fairytales combine magical words and art) on my children’s books. And this morning I learned that A Book of Fairies has been featured as an anticipated bestseller by CBC (the Children’s Book Council), along with another great new book by my publisher (Shenanigan Books) called Star of the Show. Congratulations to Shenanigan!
You can keep up with newsy book-related items by checking in on the News tab at patriciasaxton.wordpress.com. I know the fairies enjoy the attention. : )
Here is a link to a recent interview given by host Nanci Arvizu of PageReaders.
Nanci is a delight, by the way – and she provides a genuinely positive service by helping to promote authors via her blog talk radio program. I was pleased to take part in our talk about books, art & design.
Click here: Page Readers talks with Patricia Saxton, author of “A Book of Fairies”