Celebrating Children’s Book Week, MarcyKate Connolly, Author of Monstrous and Ravenous, and I kick off our Tween Science Fiction & Fantasy Series on Saturday, May 7 at 2:00 pm at Books on the Square in Providence, Rhode Island. We will also be at Barnes & Noble in Hingham, Massachusetts on Saturday, May 14 at 2:00 p.m. and Toadstool Bookshop in Milford, New Hampshire on June 11 at 2:00 p.m. We’ll be talking about our books and publishing journeys, and we’ll be recommending some of our favorite tween science fiction and fantasy novels for you to get a jump on summer reading. We hope to see you at one of our stops!

April is almost here. That means BOUNDERS has been out in the world for nearly three months! I have three fun events planned for April that are open to the public. Here are the details:

MAINE — On April 9, I’ll be at Cape Author Fest at Cape Elizabeth High School (Cape Elizabeth, Maine). They have a fabulous line up of regional children’s authors with books for all ages. The festivities open to the public at 11:00 a.m.

MASSACHUSETTS — On April 15, I’ll be at Barnes & Noble in Hingham, Massachusetts as part of a Local Author Expert Panel. Ten authors will be featured, including my friend Melissa Schorr, Author of Identity Crisis. The panel kicks off at 7:00 p.m.

MICHIGAN — On April 20, I’ll be at Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am so excited for this event! I lived in Ann Arbor for seven years during college and law school, and I’m thrilled that I get to go back and talk about BOUNDERS! The event starts at 7:00 p.m.

I’ll have bookmarks and other BOUNDERS swag at all three events. I hope to see some of you there!

There is nothing I enjoy more than talking to kids about books! Over the last few months, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with students at a number of schools about writing, reading, inspiration, and Bounders.

Just last week I spoke to the fourth grade at a school north of Boston about Science as an Inspiration for Science Fiction. The presentation content was really cool. We talked about quantum entanglement, space exploration, current technology news, and some other great books including my childhood favorite, A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle. The kids were extremely engaged and asked some amazing questions. And it’s easy to see why–there are so many amazing things happening right now in the world of science and technology! The reading and writing festival where I presented was recently featured in the Andover Townsman and includes a picture of me in action (here is the link).

While it’s common to think of author visits as part of a language arts curriculum,  it’s also great to think outside the box when offering author programming at schools. While all my school visit programs are tied to ELA standards, my talk on Science as an Inspiration for Science Fiction gets kids thinking and talking about science and technology. Also, my publisher, Simon and Schuster, has developed an awesome STEM curriculum companion for Bounders, which lets you take lessons beyond the book, whether paired with an author visit or not (here is the link).

Information about my school visit programs, including Science as an Inspiration for Science Fiction, is available here. All of the programs can be adapted for libraries, clubs, conferences and festivals, or other organizations/forums. I’m also happy to offer free, twenty minute Skype visits, subject to availability. Please contact me for more information.

I am delighted to partner with my local independent bookstore, Buttonwood Books and Toys, to offer signed books. Please contact Buttonwood by phone to place your order, making sure to specify that you would like your copy to be signed. If you’d like it to be personalized, please provide the name and/or any other signing details. Soon, this option should be available directly through the online ordering system. I will sign your book before it is shipped to you!

After so many months of waiting, BOUNDERS has made its way into the world today. I am grateful to have the support of friends, family, and a fantastic publisher as this book finally jumps the branch and finds its wings. Also, I am so fortunate to have the guidance and friendship of the writing community. Just like Jasper at the EarthBound Academy, I’ve found my “right place in the world.”

Thank you so much.

Order BOUNDERS here: Simon & Schuster | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

BOUNDERS in the news and around the web:

Monica Tesler, ’98: Dreaming of Space Adventures Leads to Debut Kids’ Book

From Law Career to Children’s Book Author

10 Completely Awesome Reads for 2016

Secret Countdown: Six (Other) Books for 2016

Top 5 Books Coming Out in 2016

Books I Want to Read in 2016!

YA Guy Reveals… Monica Tesler’s BOUNDERS!

The Book Launch Party for Bounders will be on Thursday, January 7 at 7 p.m. The party is family friendly, free, and open to the public. There will be games, raffles, readings, and book signing. Buttonwood Books will be selling onsite. Hope to see you there!

Bounders was recently reviewed by Publisher’s Weekly. The full text of the review is copied below.

“In this galaxy-spanning trilogy opener, 12-year-old cadets at the EarthBound Space Academy are part of the first generation genetically bred to facilitate easier interstellar travel. Jasper Adams has felt like an outcast all his life—he and his fellow “Bounders” have traits that include hyperactivity, social difficulties, and autistic qualities. “Scientists discovered people with genes like mine have the best brains for quantum space travel,” Jasper explains. At the Academy, Jasper and his podmates—impulsive Marco, know-it-all Cole, dramatic Lucy, and mute Mira—bond, hone their abilities, and learn how to “quantum bound” from one place to another without using a spaceship. As they look into the mystery of an alien held captive at the Academy, they discover a long-held secret and face a universe more complex than they imagined. While the story raises its share of ethical questions, it shines in its depiction of neurodiverse characters, especially Cole and Mira, as Tesler uses familiar SF conventions to show that kids with ADD, autism, or other conditions can be as heroic as anyone else.”

— Publisher’s Weekly