Just in time for Beverlee's completed Kindle publication!  The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is having launch parties for recently published books and Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese is taking part.  A Facebook party launch is set for December 6th, specifically for the e-book version, so check back for more information about that.

Click HERE to see Beverlee's awesome party page!  Be sure to sign the guest book, and enter the contest for 1 signed copy of Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese, or 1 kids sized Beverlee t-shirt, or a Kindle version of Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese!

Don't forget to check out the other awesome book parties!  :D

Kevin Risk is published again - this time it's an academic article, rather than a story or an illustration.  ;)  He co-wrote an article with Keren Dali of Western University (the main author) and Andrea Lau, currently at the Toronto Public Library, called Academically Informed Creative Writing in LIS Programs and the Freedom to be Creative.

From the ResearchGate website:  "This article makes a case for the inclusion of creative writing in Library & Information Science (LIS) courses. Using an example of the course on reading practices and audiences, it shows how creative writing can contribute to the development of creativity, critical thinking, ability for self-direction and independent learning—all the necessary skills for future leaders in the field of LIS. It presents a unique professor–student perspective on creative writing assignments and focuses on two case studies: the role of creative writing in validating students’ personal experiences and previous educational background; and the importance of creative writing in fostering a skill of meaningful and engaging storytelling. It also analyzes several possible concerns related to the incorporation of creative writing in LIS courses, with a particular emphasis on the rigorous but flexible evaluation methods of students’ creative work. The article will be of interest to LIS educators and LIS students, who, it is hoped, would become more involved in the direction of their graduate education."

Academically Informed Creative Writing in LIS Programs and the Freedom to be Creative (PDF Download Available). Available HERE.

Five Star Publications Press Release:

‘Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese’ Wins Coveted Royal Dragonfly Book Award

              CHANDLER, AZ (November, 2015) – The judges of the 2015 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in all genres of literature have spoken, and Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese by Regan W. H. Macaulay, illustrated by Alex Zgud, won an Honourable Mention in the Children's Picture Books, 5 & Younger category.
                  “Winning any place in the Royal Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score is required before a First or Second Place or Honorable Mention will be awarded to the entrant – even if it is the sole entry in a category,” explains Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”
                  Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese is a picture storybook about a Burmese cat with a wild imagination. It retails for $14.95 (USD online, CA price in the bookstore) and can be purchased at Ella Minnow Children's Bookstore, and Amazon.
                  For a complete list of winners including all first and second place and honorable mention recipients, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com and click on “Winners.”
                  The next Royal Dragonfly Book Awards contest is already underway. Submissions postmarked August 1, 2016 or earlier are eligible for the Early Bird reward: a free e-copy of The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing or Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show written by Radke. Final deadline for submissions is October 1, 2016. The Early Bird deadline for the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards Contest, which recognizes outstanding literature in all children’s books, is March 1, 2016. May 1, 2015 is the final deadline. For complete rules and submission forms for either contest, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com and click on the contest of choice.
                  To learn more about Five Star Publications, celebrating 30 years of business in Chandler, Arizona, visit www.FiveStarPublications.com, email [email protected] or call 480-940-8182.

Though Space Zombies! did not win in it's genre category of the 23rd Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards, it scored very, very well and got some terrific notes from the Judge reviewing it!  Self-published books are scored according to the criteria below from 1-5 (1 meaning "needs improvement" and 5 meaning "outstanding")

Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 5
 
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 4
 
Production Quality and Cover Design: 5
 
Plot and Story Appeal: 5
 
Character Appeal and Development: 4
 
Voice and Writing Style: 5

"As a science fiction B-movie fan, I was excited to read a novel version of a zombie film. Space Zombies! did not disappoint me. Now I want to see the movie. I found Macaulay’s story hilarious. What isn’t campy and over-the-top about it? Everything lives up to what science fiction B-movie aficionados will easily recognize as the glory of the ludicrous. The premise, characters and parts of speech are all genuine ‘camp’: “He withdrew a weird ray-gun thingy from under his long, black cloak” (24). I adored the way the humans never noticed a zombie clumping around, making obvious noise, until it was too late. It is so entertaining that the zombies want to merge with the superior cat species and not even waste time eating human brains, however delectable they may be. Ju-jube has convincing cat thoughts and the pussy jokes are exactly where they should be. I loved the impending end of civilization symbolized in the clash of the giant toad and the giant starfish. From the cover art of the book showing a “12 cents” price and all the wonderful elements of campy art on both back and front, I truly found this book to be brilliant. It should be sold in every joke and trinket shop on America’s coastlines, preferably with an option to buy the DVD at the same time. . ." - Judge, 23rd Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards

The Judge also went on to make some recommendations, mostly regarding formatting. 

Such terrific news!  I hope I'll be able to enter Space Zombies! in other similar competitions and maybe start getting it into some of those "joke and trinket shops on America's (and Canada's) coastlines"!

More details to come...there will be a special party page up on SCBWI beginning December 1st, as well as a shorter Facebook event party in early December (date TBA).  Check back for more info!