Did Goblins Attack a Home in Iowa?

I got a very interesting email today from an alert 7-year-old reader who thinks he may have evidence of a Goblin attack on a home in Iowa.

As readers of ELLIOT AND THE GOBLIN WAR know, Elliot has a bit of a setback after Goblins blow up his house. The scene is perfectly captured here by my illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

Now look at this news story here. What do you think? Goblins?

And if it was Goblins, then why blow up this house? Thanks to this bright 7-year-old, now we get to ask.

p.s. For the record, I'm very sorry about the woman who had the possible concussion. But I'm also glad the house was vacant at the time.

A Quick Thanks

Many thanks to the Arlington Heights Public Library for giving "Elliot and the Goblin War" a place on their summer reading list for 3rd and 4th graders. Also on the list is my good friend, Ruth McNally Barshaw, with her adorable and very funny book, "Best Friend's Fur-ever." In fact, you ought to pick that book up first and then if you have any time left this summer, find a copy of "Elliot" and enjoy. And as a reminder, "Elliot and the Pixie Plot" also comes out in August!

http://www.ahml.info/kids/booklists/2011-summer-reading-discover-good-book-3rd-4th-grade

Elliot and the Goblin War Cover

Okay, so my geek senses are firing. I LOVE the cover for Book 1: Elliot and the Goblin War. Many, many thanks to the illustrator, Gideon Kendall, who I've decided is completely brilliant! And many thanks to my editor at Sourcebooks, Dan Ehrenhaft, for finding Gideon and for his guidance in creating this cover.

Book 1 will be released this October. No dates announced yet for books 2 and 3, although since I know the plots and characters, my heart is already pattering for what those covers will look like.

By the way, the book is also up at Amazon (without the cover yet, but that'll come). The tiny URL is: http://tinyurl.com/ye72odo. Things are really beginning to happen for this book, and I couldn't be more excited!

Elliot and the Goblin War Wins

Some exciting news to share about Book 1 of my Underworld series, Elliot and the Goblin War. It took 1st place in the Tweens category for the League of Utah Writers contest. I also won a few smaller awards too, which gives me some cash to pump back into promotion for Elliot. One of those was a poem about kids who don't understand why other people think they're being naughty. That took a 1st place too, so now I might have to find a home for it.