Machine Shed Book Signing

This little cutie-patootie captured my attention at the Machine Shed on Dec. 17.  She was decked out from head to toe.  Her little boots sparkled from the ankles up.  Wouldn't you like a pair just like them?

Spying my book, she grabbed a copy and said, "Kitty, kitty, kitty!"  There's nothing quite as sweet as an enthusiastic endorsement from a tiny customer.

Chatting with people was so much fun, especially when they shared their special reason for being there.  Many were meeting friends and family for holiday celebrations.  It's a wonderful family restaurant and gathering spot for holiday gift exchanges, college graduations, and cozy gab sessions.

A special thank you to Ashlee and everyone at the Machine Shed in Urbandale for hosting my book signing event.  I look forward to many more with you.

SNOW DAY!

Above:  Mother Nature's snow was perfectly timed on Christmas Eve Day, and the lingering fog transformed white pines, fences, and barren trees into frosty works of art.  PJ and I stood on the deck as the first flakes began to fall.  

Round two of snow is on the way, with Channel 13 predicting 7 to 10 inches!  Grab the hot chocolate, popcorn, cookies, and toys and hunker down inside until it's time to make snowmen and more holiday memories! 


xx oo

Book Signing on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015

Looking for gifts for toddlers and children through age 8?

Grab your friends and head for the Machine Shed!  Details . . . 

WHO:     Sharon DeMers (PJ's Mom) 

WHAT:   Having a book signing for children's picture book, "PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty" 

WHEN:   Saturday, Dec. 19, from 11 to 2

WHERE: Machine Shed Restaurant/Gift Shop in Urbandale, IA

See you there!!

It's BOOK LAUNCH PARTY DAY!!

It's BOOK LAUNCH PARTY DAY on the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) web site. Visit Book Launch Party here

If you're searching for the perfect gift for a child, stay warm and shop right from your computer by checking out many of the new children's books published in 2015.

Just click on the Book Launch Party link above and enjoy!  I hope you find just what you're looking for and that you'll visit our web page for "PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty."  Please leave me a comment on my SCBWI web page so I know you've dropped by!

Thank you!!

The Internet is something most of us couldn't get along without, but it's not without its pitfalls.

I say that because there are fictitious sites that have stolen the name of my book, a copy of the cover, and have set up fraudulent sites.

If you see anything that looks too good to be true, such as offers of a free e-book or read-on-line-for-free offers, don't take the bait.

Thank you!

November Book Signings

"PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty" is the purrrrrfect holiday gift.  Here are a couple opportunities to grab a copy and have it signed . . .


November 14, 2015:     Barnes & Noble in Cedar Rapids.

November 21, 2015:     Machine Shed Restaurant & Gift Shop, 11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale (Time and details to be announced.)

If you're near either location at the time of the above signings, please stop by to say, "Hello!"  I'd love to meet you.

You can always find my PJ book at Barnes & Noble on University in West Des Moines and at Barnes & Noble in Cedar Rapids, the Machine Shed Restaurant in Urbandale, Heart of Iowa Market Place in Valley Junction, and at Amazon.com.  

Thank you, and I hope to see you soon!

Sharon & PJ

fyi...The Machine Shed Is Selling "PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty"

If you're traveling through Des Moines, you can find "PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty" for sale at the Machine Shed Restaurant's gift shop.  Take the Hickman Road exit off I-35, and head east a stone's throw down the road and turn left.  It's located right next to Living History Farms.

The new, upscale gift shop carries seasonal gifts and irresistible items for the kitchen.  They have a large variety of Stonewall Kitchen foods, fun serving plates and dishes, and dish towels that have an attitude printed on them. You'll find the perfect saying to suit any personality.

I'll be posting more information about an November book signing event next month at the Machine Shed.  Details to follow . . .

New Home for PJ!

The Heart of Iowa Market Place is now carrying "PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty!"

If you haven't visited the store for a while, check out what you're missing on their web site:
HEART OF IOWA MARKET PLACE.

Owner Kelly Sharp makes sure customers have lots of products to sample.  Yesterday, I tasted the salsa.  Yum-O!  Today, I stopped back to buy a jar of salsa, and spotted habanero mango jelly.  That came home with me, too.  I could do some serious damage in there.

Hope all is well with you.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Best Sellers

Ivy, my illustrator, shared the following info from the Cedar Rapids Gazette.   

LOCAL BEST-SELLERS Date: August 9, 2015 Publication: Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) Page: 31

FICTION/NON-FICTION 1. “PJ, the Blue-Eyed Kitty” DeMers 2. “Go Set a Watchman” Lee 3. “What Pet Should I Get?” Dr. Seuss 4. “Orchard” Quinn 5. “Selp-Helf” Sings 6. “The Isle of the Lost” de la Cruz 7. “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” Kondo 8. “Enchanted Forest” Basford 9. “Max: Best Friend. Hero. Marine.” Shotz 10. “All the Light We Cannot See” Doerr

If you need a smile . . .

Cat owner struggles

#1 on Amazon.com!!

THANK YOU for lifting "PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty" into the #1 new release spot among children's books on Amazon.com!!!  This couldn't happen without your support.  

To see a list of the books and to view or order "PJ, the blue-eyed Kitty," please click on the following link:

#1 New Release in children's book category

TOTEBAG
Here's a picture of a tote bag that arrived today.  Now, I can get out there and carry my books with me where ever I go!

BOOKMARKS

Printed and trimmed out more bookmarks.  Somehow, the design continues to evolve and I like the newer ones better than the ones with the ribbons.  No more ribbons.  We'll see what the kids and customers think though, because it's their opinion that matters!  I'm all about customer satisfaction ;-)

Thank you for sharing this journey with us.  I appreciate your interest, your readership, and your business.  xx oo  

Have a good 4th of July weekend and be safe!  

"PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty" is available on Amazon.com

The "big day" is here!  

"PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty" is now for sale on Amazon.com.

PURCHASE HERE:
PJ the Blue-eyed Kitty at Amazon.com


Thank you!!

Welcome!

I'm glad you're here!

PJ is my blue-eyed, Himalayan kitty and the subject of my forthcoming children's book, "PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty."  Look for its release around mid-to-late July 2015.

My illustrator, Ivy, is creating amazing artwork for each read-aloud rhyme. She has a gift for making the story come alive. I can't wait to share the book with you.

PJ is up from her afternoon nap and exploring the basement, where the water company just installed a new meter. If there's a problem anywhere in the house, I can count on her to discover it and "tell" me about it. 

If you're old enough to remember the old "Lassie" TV series, you'll recall that Lassie communicated with humans by using her voice and body language. PJ does that, too. Her nightly routine includes surveillance of the basement, her favorite area of the house. About a year ago, she was the first to detect a gas leak from the furnace while doing her basement "rounds" before bed. She alerted me to a problem in the basement by meowing and coaxing me to follow her downstairs, where I smelled gas.

Thanks to PJ and a MidAmerican Energy service repairman, we had a good outcome and slept safe and sound that night.