Book Signing coming up on Dec. 4th in Reston

Angela's Happy Stamper, a fantastic craft shop in Reston, Virginia, has invited me to sign and sell Card Auntie's Wonderful Workshop at its Christmas open house on Saturday, December 4th! This is the first time the shop has hosted a book signing so I'm very proud!! More details to follow...mark your calendars.

Alexandria Story Festival was great!

The 1st annual Alexandria Story Festival, sponsored by Wright to Read and Hooray for Books, was a lot of fun. It was a beautiful day, fortunately, because many activities were outside on the field. I was inside the school, with two other local authors (I love saying that). I had coloring pages, crayons, markers and stickers all ready for the kids. My sister, Nora, and my friends Marie, Tracy and Tessie, were there to help me all day, bless them!! The children made about 40 letters for soldiers, which I sent with my card shipment to Operation Write Home. I'm sure the soldiers will appreciate hearing from kids at their outposts in Afghanistan and Iraq!
I posted several photos from the event at my cardmaking blog: www.bitsofcheer.blogspot.com in case you want to pop over there.

"Card Auntie's Wonderful Workshop" reviewed in August edition of the Midwest Book Review!

I'm very excited that my book is in the Midwest Book Review's August edition. I so appreciate this thorough and descriptive review, which follows:

"Card Auntie's Wonderful Workshop is an inspirational illustrated story about Card Auntie, a wonderful, creative old woman who creates and sends thoughtful cards all sorts of people giving them special notes of appreciation, thanks, or cheer. One day Card Auntie has a terrible accident, tripping over her cat, Zip while carrying boxes of her cards. She breaks her arm and has to convalesce under the care and supervision of grumpy (but well meaning) Nurse Hopkins. Oh dear! Card Auntie worries that no one will receive her wonderful cards while she is unable to do her special, creative work. A marvelous surprise solution takes shape from the people of Card Auntie's community, and everything does work out for the best in the end. The painstakingly detailed colored pencil illustrations of "Card Auntie's Workshop" will keep young readers searching for their favorite little orange snail and other guides and cues to the story. "Card Auntie's Wonderful Workshop" has a gentle tone and a message of kindness returned that will resonate with young and old alike."

Here's the link to the Midwest Book Review's Picturebook Shelf:
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/aug_10.htm#Picturebook

Wright to Read Festival/Hooray for Books on Saturday, September 18

I will be part of Alexandria, Virginia's Wright to Read Festival, sponsored by Hooray for Books (where my book is on sale) on Saturday, September 18. Since my book is about a lady who makes cards and I've gotten involved in cardmaking for Operation Write Home, which sends handmade cards to our troops overseas for them to send to their loved ones, I'll be making cards and letters for OWH with kids. I'll also read my book to small groups. Here is a link to the event:
http://www.wrighttoread.org/alexandria-story-festival.html

Another great book review!

My new friend, a crafter and Mom of six, has posted a review of "Card Auntie's Wonderful Workshop" on her blog, www.helloholley.blogspot.com. I hope you will check it out, and also enjoy Holley's beautiful cardmaking.

Where to find Card Auntie's Wonderful Workshop!

Card Auntie's Wonderful Workshop can be ordered from Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com; I believe it is also on booksamillion.com. You can also ask any bookstore to order it for you, which is great because they might order a few extra copies and put them on their store shelves! Just remember that I used my real name on my book: Sharon Hickey. I'd love to hear from you if you happen to read my book!

Newspaper article about me and my book, June 2010

Arlington Catholic Herald by Dave Borowski, 6-16-10.