On Tuesday, January 3, I considered writing a celebratory post about the sixth “birthday” of my debut novel Midnight Without a Moon (published Tuesday, January 3, 2017). But rather than simply wish Rose, Hallelujah, Fred Lee, Queen, Papa, Ma Pearl, and Reverend Jenkins a happy book birthday, I had planned to write about connections—more specifically how publishing a book has connected me to some of the most wonderful people on earth—people I can truly call friends. I won’t name names, because you all already know who you are. You are fellow writers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, parents, students, agents and editors.
On Tuesday, January 3, as I pondered what to write about Midnight Without a Moon, I thought about how some of you wonderful people are a part of my life only because I wrote that book. That book connected us. And it was through one of those connections (not through our shared publisher Candlewick Press) that Kate DiCamillo read my third book, The Lucky Ones.
Months before the publication of The Lucky Ones, I had inquired of my publisher whether Kate could possibly be considered to blurb the book. I was told that Kate has a very strict no-blurb policy. And rightly so. Can you imagine the amount of requests she would receive otherwise? Yet, there I was, one of the people with the nerve to ask.
Hey, go big or go home, right?
A few months after the publication of The Lucky Ones, one of those friends whom I connected with through Midnight Without a Moon, emailed me and told me that she had managed to get a copy of The Lucky Ones to Kate during an event. This was totally out of the blue. I didn’t ask my friend to do this. I had not even told her that I had asked my publisher about sending the book to Kate. My friend, because of her own love for the book, wanted Kate to read The Lucky Ones.
And, Kate did.
She emailed my friend and said she loved the book. I was floored, flabbergasted, flummoxed….
However, knowing about Kate’s no-blurb policy, I didn’t know what to expect beyond her emailing my friend and saying thanks. I hoped for something more. I hoped that Kate would give me a shoutout on Facebook or something. A girl can dream, right? But, that didn’t happen. (I kept checking.) Months passed and Kate DiCamillo didn’t write a post about that book that made her think and feel. During that time, though, I said a prayer. I asked God to please, in some way, let Kate DiCamillo make a public acknowledgement of The Lucky Ones—not for my sake—but for my friend’s sake so that her efforts would not be in vain. She had stepped out of her comfort zone and told THE Kate DiCamillo about a book she loved, recommended that book to Kate, then, after Kate said she’d like to read it, purchased that book with her own money and gave it to her. I wanted something more to happen for my friend’s sake.
And, it did.
On the same day that I was thinking about writing a post about Midnight Without a Moon and how it has brought so many wonderful people into my life, I decided to Google The Lucky Ones. I had been feeling a bit down about a few things that day, so I asked God to please let me see something special that would boost my spirits.
And, He did.
I almost didn’t click on the link when it came up in my search results because I saw that the article was clearly about Kate DiCamillo, so I figured it had something to do with Candlewick and that's why my book was mentioned. I clicked anyway and was totally surprised. Even reading this now, I’m still shocked. I was VERY happy to see that Kate had recommended the book in connection with the podcast.
The Reading Culture Welcomes Kate DiCamillo
I was happy, and honored. Honored that Kate DiCamillo—though she has a very strict no-blurb policy—would recommend my book for her Read Brave reading challenge. And honored that God would answer my prayer and not allow my friend’s brave efforts be in vain.
Kate DiCamillo herself said, “Stories connect us.” This was her message when she was the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2014–2015. Though she meant something slightly different than what I am writing here, I believe there is room for that message to carry both meanings. I’m so glad that my stories have connected me to each and every one of you. So very glad.
Oh, and listen to the podcast. It’s great! After all, it is Kate DiCamillo.