Will Alexander School Visit to Fridley Middle School

The principal introducing Will to the Fridley families in attendance.

Tonight, Fridley Middle School hosted National Book Award winner Will Alexander for a reading, book signing, and ice cream social with families.
 

Will Alexander with FMS media specialist.

Will read from his book Goblin Secrets. He had planned to read from his newest book, Ghoulish Song, but was so inspired by the masks the students at FMS had made in honor of his visit that he chose to read a passage about masks from his first book. 

If you want to make your own masks at home, you can find them on his website right here, courtesy of some of his talented colleagues at MCAD. 
 

After the reading, Will answered questions that students (and their parents) had for him.  
 

The staff and families at Fridley Middle School were fantastic! We had such a great evening with them and Will. Thank you to everyone for your support! 

Tamora Pierce!

The seventh author in the Teens Know Best Author Series that we are working on with MELSA was Tamora Pierce! 
 

Tammy spoke to a crowd of almost 200 readers today at the Southdale Library. 
 

Tammy was an incredibly entertaining speaker. She spent much of the time on Q&A with the audience, and we learned so much about her life, inspiration, writing, and characters. 
  

After her talk, the crowd formed a long line to have Tammy sign their books. 
 

Many of her fans read as they waited for their turn!
 

These young ladies baked a cake for Tammy with Alanna's 'Lioness Rampant' symbol from the Song of the Lioness Quartet. 
 

A guest plays with the cards from the TKB Stuff Bag she received for attending the event. 

Tammy also signed stock for the store, so if you couldn't make it to the event, stop by Addendum to purchase her books! 
 

 

From the author's website: 

 

Tamora Pierce is the recipient of 2013's Margaret A. Edwards Award for THE SONG OF THE LIONESS and PROTECTOR OF THE SMALL Quartets, which "honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.... It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.... Edwards Committee Chair Jamie Watson said that 'Pierce’s books and characters have been influencing both readers and writers of fantasy since their inception.'"

We couldn't agree more! Congratulations, Tammy, on your award!

So excited to meet Tamora Pierce today!

Thank you to everyone who came to the library to meet Tamora Pierce - you helped make today a fantastic event!