What’s on my iPod: Shake It Out by Florence + the Machine

What I’m reading: Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James

The last person I followed on Twitter: @MaddMae

1.  Jennifer Gooch Hummer wins Paris Book Award 

The Paris Book Festival just announced this years winners and we are proud to say that our very own Jennifer Gooch Hummer is a recipient!

In other news, she received this great review from the well-read wife.

“Holy Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Batman! There is a new coming of age novel on the scene and it’s awesome! Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer tells the story of thirteen-year-old Apron Bramhall. Apron is going through a lot. Her mother died, and her father has started a relationship with someone who can only be described as “the stepmother from Hell.” In the midst of all of the family drama in Apron’s life, she is dropped by her best friend for a more popular girl. Apron needs support from friends and family more than ever, but she isn’t being supported emotionally by any of the people who should be there for her. Instead she finds support from the most unlikeliest of sources: Jesus. Or rather Mike, the actor that played Jesus in a local theater version of Jesus Christ Superstar. When Apron befriends Mike and his boyfriend Chad, they quickly realize she needs them. Mike and Chad help her through a really tough time in her life by letting her hang out with them and work at their flower shop. It soon becomes clear to Apron that Mike and Chad need Apron as much as she needs them.”

Are you there god? It’s me, Apron.

Here is some more information about Jennifer and her book GIRL UNMOORED:

MORE ABOUT GIRL UNMOORED

Apron Bramhall has come unmoored. It’s 1985 and her mom has passed away, her evil stepmother is pregnant, and her best friend has traded her in for a newer model. Fortunately, she’s about to be saved by Jesus. Not that Jesus—the actor who plays him in Jesus Christ, Superstar. Apron is desperate to avoid the look-alike Mike (no one should look that much like Jesus unless they can perform a miracle or two), but suddenly he’s everywhere. Until one day, she’s stuck in church with him—of all places. And then something happens; Apron’s broken teenage heart blinks on for the first time since she’s been adrift.

Mike and his grumpy boyfriend, Chad, offer her a summer job in their flower store, Apron’s world seems to calm. But when she uncovers Chad’s secret, coming of age becomes almost too much bear. She’s forced to see things the adults around her fail to—like what love really means and who is paying too much for it.

Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You, comments, “Love, loss, and the coming of age of one remarkable girl blaze through this haunting debut like a shooting star you’d wish upon. It’s tough and tender, funny and smart, and it frankly took my breath away. I loved it.”

Girl Unmoored is set to be published March 2012.

More about Jennifer:

Jennifer Gooch Hummer has worked as a script analyst for various agencies and major film studios. Her short stories have been published in Miranda Magazine, Our Stories, Glimmertrain and Fish. She has continued graduate studies in the Writer’s Program at UCLA, where her work was nominated for the 2006 Kirkwood Prize in fiction. Currently, Jennifer lives in Southern California and Maine with her husband and three young daughters.

2.  Kathleen Shoop wins Independent Publisher Book Award Silver Medal

We are proud to announce that our very own Kathleen Shoop won an Independent Publisher Book Award Silver medal in the midatlantic fiction category with her book AFTER THE FOG!

More about AFTER THE FOG:

The sins of the mother…

In the steel mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania, siteof the infamous 1948 “killing smog,” headstrong nurse Rose Pavlesic tends toher family and neighbors. Controlling and demanding, she’s created a life thatreflects everything she missed growing up as an orphan. She’s even managed tokeep her painful secrets hidden from her loving husband, dutiful children, andlarge extended family.

When astagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighborsgrow sicker and Rose’s nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she nevercould have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life,making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressuremounts, Rose finds she’s not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fogfinally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family—and the wholetown—splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgiveherself and let her family’s healing begin?

More about Kathleen:

Kathleen Shoop is a Language Arts Coach with a PhD in Reading Education whose work has appeared in The Tribune Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent Magazine. She lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. The Last Letter is her debut novel.

3.  Our Non Fiction Author David Grossman Contributes to “The Changing Role of Internal Communications: The Experts’ View”

David was chosen as one of six experts globally to attribute in the new free internal communications e-book, “The Changing Role of Internal Communications: The Experts’ View,” published by U.K. intranet development company, SmallWorlders.  The e-book investigates the problems the internal communicators must answer as they aim to be powerful, pertinent and triumphant.  For more insight about what David has to say about the altering role of internal communications in today’s progressing business landscape, download the new free e-book.  “The Changing Role of Internal Communications: The Experts’ View.”

More about David:

David Grossman, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, is one of America’s foremost authorities on communication and leadership, and a sought-after speaker and advisor to Fortune 500 leaders. A two-time author, David is CEO of The Grossman Group (www.yourthoughtpartner.com), an award-winning Chicago-based strategic leadership development and internal communication consultancy; clients include: Accor, AOL, GlaxoSmithKline, HTC, and McDonald’s.

4.  Auryn Receives Two Mom’s Choice Awards 

Congratulations to Auryn for winning two Mom’s Choice Awards for their two apps: VanGogh and the Sunflowers and I, Trixie, Who is Dog.  Follow Mom’s Choice on Twitter: @MomsChoiceAward and check them out on Facebook.

More about Auryn:

Auryn is the most award winning children’s digital publisher-constructing books into alluring and amusing apps for kids of all ages.  Follow Auryn on Twitter: @AurynApps and their website is www.auryn.com.  Auryn’s complete Auracle line will accessible for $.99 each throughout Reading is Fun Week (May 13-19).  Auracle titles include Miko “Goes on Vacation”, Since Lulu Learned the Cancan, Sister Yessa’s Story, The Perilous Pit, Randy Kazandy, Where Are Your Glasses?, I, Trixie, Who is Dog, The Emperor’s Race and many more.

5.  Karen Chase Wins Three E-Book Awards for Bonjour 40

Félicitations to Karen Chase for receiving three eLit awards for her book Bonjour 40.  The e-book was awarded an eLit Silver Medal for Best Non-Fiction Travel/Essay e-book, an eLit Silver Medal for Best Book Trailer, and an eLit Gold Medal for Best Author Website.  In order to commemorate the awards, Bonjour 40 will be for sale on Amazon, iTunes and Barnes and Noble for $0.99 for the whole month of May, 2012.

More about BONJOUR 40:

If Karen A. Chase absolutely had to turn 40, she decided she could do it gracefully in Paris… for nearly 40 days. What began as a blog to communicate with friends and family, became a travel journal filled with over a months’ worth of daily humorous, insightful, and detailed glimpses into her Paris adventures, each of which could be read in about 40 seconds.Peppered with Chase’s own delightful photographs, she also weaves in longer stories that reflect upon her experiences with the French, food, travel,photography, writing and love in the City of Lights. A companion to the e-book,her Bonjour40 blog still contains images and some notes for readers who crave more from her Paris adventure.

More about Karen:

Karen A. Chase is a Canadian-born author, designer and photographer. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she has resided in the United States since 1990. Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log (40years. 40 days. 40 seconds.) is her first book. She is also the owner/creative director of 224 Design, a branding studio.