A Visit From Scholastic!

A crew from Scholastic came to my house and filmed me for their author DVD! My editor mentioned the request to me a few weeks ago and I was like Tell them yes! I am ready for my close-up!

A few emails and phone calls later, these guys showed up:Scott Bennett, Larry Decker, Juan Cruz, and me!

We filmed in my house, my gazebo (which my husband built with his own hands!), and at the Econlockhatchee River. Altogether, there must be about four or five hours of tape; I sure hope they get two excellent minutes out of it--that's about my slot on the CD.

Larry, Scott, and Juan were all nice guys and very professional. Larry liked the banana bread I made (all right, Larry!). Speaking to a camera was a little challenging, but Scott and Larry provided good prompts for me to cover on film.

My mom served as my personal photographer that day, except when I snatched the camera from her and snapped one of her. Here's how the day went:











Lots of good things have been happening for Violet Raines recently: chosen as a Children's Book of the Month Club Selection; good reviews in Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Orlando Magazine, and TeensReadToo; picked up by Scholastic Book Clubs and Scholastic Book Fairs; and I'm lined up for appearances at Stone Lakes Elementary, Lake Highland Preparatory School Book Fair, Urban Think! Bookstore book signing (my first!), First Books Panel at SCBWI Miami, and Trout Books book signing.

I bought one of those plasma balls to sit on my book table, the kind that emit electricity and little lightning bolts. I think students will love it! Also, I searched the world over and found these alligator trinkets to give away at my book signings.

All of this is a first for me--wish me luck!

18 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

Very cool all. I'm so glad the book is doing well and getting noticed. Great pics.

Rena Jones said...

OMGosh Danette! How exciting!!! Great pictures and thanks for sharing your day with us. Good luck with all the great things you have coming up! AWESOME!!!

Travis Erwin said...

Very cool. I can only imagine how exciting the ride must be.

Chris Eldin said...

I'm truly happy for you--you really deserve this, and there's a big smile in my heart for you!
Sounds very exciting (though I can't stop thinking about the banana cake..)!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
:-)
:-)

Kimbra Kasch said...

So exciting. I'm happy for you - you deserve this. And I'm glad you included your mom.

Kelly Polark said...

Danette- How exciting for you!!! You look lovely in the pictures. I'm glad you could share such special moments with your mom!

Jessica Burkhart said...

Soo awesome! I love the pics! :)

Anonymous said...

How cool is that! Thanks for sharing. I especially love the smile on your mother's face!

Danette V.

Brenda said...

What a fun day that must have been...Great pics! You looked like this was an everyday event...you didn't look nervous at all...

Congrats to you and Violet for everything that is coming both of your ways...you both deserve it all...Hugs...

Anonymous said...

That's sweet! What an honor. But the pictures have always made me wonder...When a guy from the sound crew has to place a mic on a woman's shirt like your pic shows, you KNOW he's got to be very self-aware...

Barbara O'Connor said...

Those guys just came to my house recently, too! Wasn't it just kind of, um, overwhelming? I had no idea it was going to be such a big deal. I thought I'd just sit in a little chair and talk about myself real casual and all. NOT! I am sure my video is the most boring one ever made. Really!

Photos of same guys here:

http://greetings-from-nowhere.blogspot.com/2008/10/hollywood-is-not-calling.html

Anyway, I have your book on my nightstand right this very minute. I can't wait to read it. I have a feeling it is just my cup of tea.

Congratulations on your new book!
Barbara O'Connor

Angie Frazier said...

Danette that is so exciting!!! I'm so glad VIOLET is doing so well, too!

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

This is great, fantastic news!

Mary Witzl said...

Danette, this is such great news and I'm so glad you are getting this well-deserved recognition.

And I want some banana cake too! Were there nuts in it?

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

That is so awesome! Congrats! This is so very cool - but completely deserved because you are an awesome author!

Cate Gardner said...

WOW! and cool alligator gift - the kids will love those. :)

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE SO COOL, Danette!! And I am so thrilled you & your wonderful book are in the spotlight. Everyone should be reading it. Congratulations! This is so exciting!!! And so deserved!!!!!

Violet would be chuffed. :)

Stella said...

Wow, you must have felt like a movie star! Congratulations! I'll look for you in the next Scholastic video.