Friday, March 17, 2017

One Mixed-Up Night


You guys! The middle-grade novel I wrote is available for pre-order on Amazon! Jakers! I'm crazily excited about this book. It's a book about friendship--about two best friends whose own favorite book is From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, so they end up plotting to spend the night at. . . well, IKEA. The friends are based on Ben and his lifelong Ava, and their big, big love of IKEA. In a pie chart of the way those two have spent the past fourteen years, I would have to say that lying on the couch / in a hammock / on the carpet with the IKEA catalogue is no small slice.


I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will just say that the book is also about a lot of other things. Like cats and recipe-testing and death and doorknobs, and oh, you know, some of my other fave topics.

My friend and neighbor Bestselling author Cammie McGovern says, "The mystery that propels these two wonderful characters onto their escapades is both heart-wrenching and (when we finally learn the whole truth) profoundly moving. A dazzling debut."

And my friend bestselling author Suzy Becker calls the book, "A hilarious, hair-raising page-turner, and an iconic portrayal of best friendship."

It comes out in September, in hardcover and on audio. Please pre-order it, if it sounds like the kind of book someone at your house would like! And/or tell all your (parent / kid / book reviewer / editor / teacher / librarian) friends about it! They're saying grades 3-7, but I think it could go a little older, personally. 

Anyhoo, in other news, I made these cookies after we ate them at the King Arthur cafe in New Hampshire, and they were nothing short of perfection. (I did not have poisonous almond resin or whatever that crazy ingredient is called, so I doubled the extract.) If you like a deeply almondy cookie with a crisp outside and a tooth-sticking center, like an Italian macaroon, this is your recipe.

Have a wonderful weekend. xo

55 comments:

  1. Congrats on the book! I will definitely check it out for my middle schooler!

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  2. Francine1:24 PM

    Congratulations! Will order it for my too old daughter and for my own too too too old self. :-)

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    1. Thank you, Francine! I hope you both too-old like it!

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  3. miryboo1:47 PM

    Pre-ordered it last week! Love the Mixed Up Files!

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  4. So excited to read more of your work. I pre-ordered, nominally for my son's bday - but really for me. :) Congrats!

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  5. congratulations!!!!!! i can't wait to read your book (though i'm likely to wait for softcover) and by chance i have been devouring all the konigsburg i can find, lately (as i kid i only read the mixed-up files but she is consistently amazing). i adore your blog and am so thrilled for your accomplishment, rock on mama!

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    1. Ask the library to order it. Right? Now I need to read more Konigsburg. . .

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    2. if you give me your address i would be delighted to mail you a konigsburg or two from the half-price bookstore around the corner! i love your blog, it would be an honor to send you some YA books!!!!!!

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  6. Oh how fun!!! I was waiting for it! Would it be in netgalley for reviewers? I'm a contributor of PROJECT MG MAYHEM, and I'd love to review it on our blog, and maybe include an interview??? What do you think?

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    1. Oooh! I'd love that so much, Yamile. I don't think it's in netgalley yet. Let me see what I can find out!

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    2. If it's in Netgalley pre-pub day, I'll post a review to build buzz. If not, I'll just post in September. No big deal. I'll email you with details! <3

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  7. Catherine Newman...why does this say it's "the #1 new release in children's death and dying books"?!?! Am I going to need tissues when I read this out loud to my kids? I can't wait to read it, and to have my kids experience your writing.

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  8. I pre-ordered! I love good book news. (And news of good books.) Also did you make these cookies to console yourself re: the craptastic ice at Lake Morey? (I consoled myself with a fancy bundt pan.)

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    1. Ha ha ha! Right? That was seriously bad ice. I fell no fewer than 9 million times.

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  9. As a fan of The Mixed Up Files and of you, this book looks SO fun!

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  10. Betsy6:12 PM

    Finally, after all these years of being your secret unknown (not at all stalkerish) magazine and then Internet BFF, my seventh-grade teacher self can be useful in a tiny way to you. My grade 5 book devourer and I will both devour it and then spread the news far and wide. Huzzah!

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  11. Congrats! So exciting that you wrote a YA novel! I can't wait to check it out!

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  12. Pre-ordered it last night at the same time I pre-ordered volume of calm & collected (all to console myself that you're still not going to give me your kitten). Big excitement and big congrats!! xo ❤️

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    1. Ha ha ha! Thank you so much for supporting me, even without the kitten give-away. xo

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  13. I have a first grader who is an advanced reader, but a sensitive audience. (She slept with me for two MONTHS after seeing a character get scratched in the animated film Zootopia.) is it scary?

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    1. It's not scary, but it's suspenseful in some parts, and dark in some others. . . : /

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  14. Preordered for my daughter (and me)!

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  15. Done! Omg I can't believe it! Yay for you!!!
    I ordered for myself (mainly) but also have a 2nd grader that reads/comprehends at 4th grade (hello, no longer at Waldorf) so I'm hoping he can enjoy, too!
    Congratulations!!! You are the best! xo

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  16. I'm an elementary school librarian in CA and I just pre-ordered it ... for myself, and then my students. I loved "The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" when I was younger. There was something about kids figuring out how to live by themselves without adults that I found captivating and empowering. Catherine, you inspire me on so many levels. I know this book will be amazing and I can't wait to read it!

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    1. Carrie, thank you so much for this. Your confidence is very buoying! xo

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  17. This is so exciting!! Can't wait to get your book for my kids.

    Also, making plans to visit the cafe you mentioned while on vacation. I had no idea it was there!

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    1. Wait. The one in Berkeley?

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    2. The King Arthur Cafe in NH--when I'm on vacation this summer! :)

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  18. Also, how much do we love that it's the "#1 New Release in Children's Death and Dying Books"?

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    1. Oh god, I know. I'm like a caricature of myself.

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  19. Elementary librarian ordering 2 copies...one for home & one for the kiddos! 💚

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  20. Yeah! I am a middle grade librarian who counts The Mixed Up Files... as one of my favorite childhood books. To live in a museum! Happily pre-ordered two copies - one for the library, and one for my 11 year old daughter and I to enjoy. Congratulations!!

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  21. No, nobody left that age in my house, but...I'm ordering one for ME!!!

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  22. So, so, so, so, so (etc.) excited! Pre-ordered, and can't wait! (Our whole household is made up of big Mixed-Up Files fans, by the way.)

    -Loren

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  23. Oh! Totally sharing this in my favorite feminist Facebook book club, Bitches Gotta Read, started by another of my favorite bloggers, Samantha Irby. It's like my two favorite corners of the internet showed up in the same cafe for lunch. :)

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  24. Anonymous12:03 AM

    just ordered it! and will ensure that the entire Palo Alto public library system does so too (:

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  25. I cannot WAIT for September just so I can receive my pre-ordered copy! So excited!!

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  26. Anonymous7:18 PM

    Just ordered it for my 11 year old daughter. She loves Ikea deeply, and stories that have a bit of dark in them. I am sure I will read it as well.

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  27. The health care bill defeated AND a new book by you, with one of my absolute favorite books in the whole entire world featured....ahh.....Very, very, very happy day!!
    Delightful!! xoxoxox

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  28. SO EXCITING! Ordered for my 12-year-old IKEA obsessive. Mazel tov!

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  29. Congratulation to you. I am happy after reading your post that you have posted in this blog. Thanks for this wonderful post and hoping to post more of this. I am looking for your next update.

    Sapphire Engagement Rings

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  30. I've shared with everyone I know. Are you narrating the audiobook, too? You did a fantastic job on Catastrophic Happiness.

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  31. Your writing has brought me so much happiness over the years. I pre-recorded the new book for me and my 11-year old. Can't wait to read it.

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  32. Deirdre3:13 PM

    Truly proud of you. I pre-ordered. Requested at library. Plan to donate my well-enjoyed copy to our school library. Kindly consider publishing your list of middle-grade favorites? Big hug.

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