Jeannie Brett

The Next Big Thing Blog Tour has been visiting with authors and illustrators around the world.  Enjoy the tour!

Thank you Michelle for tagging me!  Please find Michelle and her fabulous books at www.michelledwards.com 

What is the title of your new book?

Wild  About Bears written and illustrated by yours truly, Jeannie Brett.

Where did the idea come from for this book?

I am WILD about all animals and enjoy researching and learning about them.  Bears are on the short list of my favorites.  Bears are powerful, smart, curious and comical, all rolled into one big beautiful (and FURRY) animal.  I wanted to learn a lot more about bears and share my love and respect for them through my book.

What genre does your book fall under?

Wild About Bears is a non-fiction picture book.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Actor Big Bart would play Brown bear. Little Bart and Honey Bump would play two of the siblings for the Grizzly bear family.  Here is Bart: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af3G8aGk62U .  Here is Little Bart and Honey Bump: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAOc3mKWzyo .

What is a one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Take a bear-by-bear journey to discover the world’s eight bear species and their habitats in this non-fiction picture book.

Who is publishing your book?

Charlesbridge Publishing

How long did it take to write and illustrate this book?

I have been working on the concept, text and illustrations for Wild About Bears for about 4 years and intensely for the past year.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My husband and I and our three children took a trip to Yellowstone and Glacier National Park about 10 years ago.  Park rangers, our guides and everyone in between, told us that the chances of seeing a bear were next to nil.  We saw 3 black Black bears and 2 Grizzly bears on that trip.  One was a close encounter.  We then referred to ourselves as “the bear magnets”.

Please look for Wild About Bears in book stores February of 2014.

I would like to pass the book baton on to Carey Armstrong-Ellis and her new title Ten Creepy Monsters.

Ten monsters gather on a dark and stormy night, and disapear one by one as the evening progresses and the numbers count down from ten to one.

I am rolling around with happiness!  I recently have completed the art and words for my latest book, Wild About Bears!  It will be published by Charlesbridge Publishing in spring of 2014

Here is my schedule starting this Friday, July 6th.

Friday, July 6th: 11-1 Maine Coast Book Shop in Damariscotta.  I’ll have Coon Cat masks to color, book marks and L is for Lobster posters…stop by and say hi!

Friday afternoon I’ll be making stops at the following book sellers to sign their stock of my titles:  First off I’ll stop by GRANITE HALL STORE in Round Pond.  I’ve never been there so I am really looking forward to it!  I’ll then head to Rockland and stop by my friends at The READING CORNER, ARCHIPELAGO, and The FARNSWORTH Museum Gift Store.

Saturday, July 7th: 11-1 I’ll be signing at the wonderful JANE ALDEN Gift and Frame Shop in Camden.  If it’s a nice day, I’ll be sitting outside!

On to Belfast where I’ll be stopping at a bunch of new booksellers.  Well, new to me anyway…except LEFT BANK BOOKS which has moved from Searsport to Belfast!  The other stops are; BELLA BOOKS, BEYOND THE SEA, and OUT ON A WHIMSEY! I’m looking forward to it!

Saturday, July 7th: 7-9 I’ll be signing at SHERMAN’S Books in Bar Harbor.  Always a crowd in Bar Harbor!

Sunday, July 8th: I will be stopping by one of my favorites…BETSY’S SUNFLOWER, which is a wonderful gift store with lots BOOKS in Brooklin.

I will be signing: LITTLE MAINE, L is for Lobster, Fishing for Numbers and MY CAT, COON CAT!

So, wish me well and if you are around any of my stops, please stop and say hi!

Happy Reading!           Jeannie

I am just about finished setting my schedule for my annual mini-book tour along the coast of Maine. So, I thought it would be a good time to share where I’ll be and when.
Friday, July 6th I’ll be signing at www.mainecoastbookshop.com from 11-1. I would love to see you there. If you are in the Damaricotta area, please stop by!  There will be coon cat masks and bookmarks!
My next signing event will be in Camden at JANE ALDEN gift and frame shop from 11-1.
Next up is an evening signing at www.shermans.com in Bar Harbor from 7-9.
I will be posting more details later! I hope to see you there!
Happy Reading,
Jeannie

The Challenge…12 months, 12 complete picture book drafts.  Wish me luck!

I had a wonderful school visit at The Margaret Murphy Center in Auburn, Maine last week. I made new friends:)

Trout, are you getting ready?

I’m ready for a busy winter and holiday season!  Check out my schedule to the right and see where I’ll be.  From book signings, school visits, an illustrators art exhibit with my fellow seacoast illustrators, to a wonderful Holiday Art Show where I’ll have my cards, prints, books and original art for sale!  If you are in the area, stop by and say hi!

My first Cat Show ever…I’ve never been to a cat show!  I won’t be showing my cat but I will have a booth at this weekends’ Cat Show and Holiday Gift/Craft Show.

I’ll have lots of L is for Lobster, Fishing for Numbers, Little Maine and of course, My Cat, Coon Cat, to purchase.  I would love to sign and personalize a book for YOU!   You will also find my artwork and framed prints for sale along with my holiday cards and other items.

You may even meet Trout…still deciding whether he should go and keep me company.

Here are the details:

Cat Fanciers Federation in conjunction with United Maine Coon Cat Association, Cat Show and Holiday/Crafts/Show.  Oct. 15&16.  Sat. 9:30-4:00 and Sun. 9:00-3:00 at Nasson Community Center/457 Main St/Springvale/ME

Come and start your holiday shopping early and BUY LOCAL!  You will also view some GORGEOUS CATS!

I’m looking forward t0 My Cat, Coon Cat book signing event at the wonderful Poofberry’s Toy Store in Kennebunkport, Maine.  If you are in the area or if you want to come visit an awesome toy store (and me!), stop by and chat, browse, and pick up a personalized My Cat, Coon Cat picture book!  I hope to see you there!

Friday, July 8th:  The Reading Corner, 408 Main Street, Rockland / signing from 3-5

Saturday, July 9th: Jane Alden/All Things Special, 6 Main Street, Camden / signing from 12-3ish

Sherman’s Book Store, 56 Main Street, Bar Harbor / signing from 5-8ish

Sunday, July 10th: Stone Soup, 113 Main Street, Bar Harbor / signing from 11-1

Betsy’s Sunflower, Brooklin, Maine / stopping by to say hi and sign sometime from 3-4.

……and many stops in between!  Then jiggety jog home I go!