I’m starting the new year with a bang! So proud to announce that my 8-year-old goddaughter has written and illustrated her first picture book, The Problem in the Sea. Please watch her short interview and congratulate her on her awesome achievement! It is now available on Amazon.
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I was so thrilled when Jed Doherty emailed me that my book, Zoobooloo, is the latest Reading with Your Kids Certified Great Read. He also had submitted the review on Amazon.  Read the review here -
ZOOBOOLOO BY CHRISTINE L. VILLA: #RWYK CERTIFIED GREAT READ A book reading of my picture book Zoobooloo for the 4-6 grade Special Day Class of John Still Elementary. It was a small class, but I had fun. I promised to visit them so I could teach them how to write their own picture book.  I'm so glad that I was able to release my latest book in time to enter the NCPA Book Awards Competition. I also got my first review. I am posting it here.  So honored to be invited yesterday as guest presenter at the Haiku San Diego monthly meeting on Zoom. Thank you so much, Naia Haikupoet ! Thank you to all the members--Deborah P Kolodji, Kathabela Wilson, Carol Judkins, Seretta Martin, Susan Campion, Olga Gutierrez Garcia, William Galasso, etc. I had a blast sharing my book, Will You Still Love Me? A Puppy Haiku Story and my creative journey! They say said they wanted me to be guest speaker again. I am really looking forward to that.   I am sharing my year in review. I could not believe that I have accomplished so much despite COVID! I'm so grateful to my family, friends, and the haiku/art community. I am so blessed to have your love, friendship, encouragement, and support! I love you all! Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings! I have learned and grown so much in 2020!  I forgot to include here the 2 slideshow videos I made for the Tanka Society of America and book trailers-- for The Hole in My Haiku by Susan Beth Furst and my very own children's book, Will You Still Love Me? A Puppy Haiku Story.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, I haven't had any school visits or book readings. So far, I was able to do two book readings of Will You Still Love Me? A Puppy Haiku Story in a poetry group Zoom meeting, one of which was Tanka Poets on Site. These photos were taken on November 4, 2020 after my book reading.   This one was taken on November 13 before my book reading. My dog Haiku and I were getting ready for the Zoom Meeting. Kathabela Wilson introduced me to more poets. I introduced Haiku to all of them, my bundle of joy, the inspiration behind my children's book, Will You Still Love Me? A Puppy Haiku Story.  They all enjoyed it! You can watch the video of my reading below. After the reading, I had a few more orders. Guess who won TWO awards this afternoon? Silver for Children's Books and Silver for Cover/Interior Design Thank you so much, Lord, for all the abundant blessings! Deep gratitude to my illustrator, Jiliane Vilch, for your amazing illustrations for "Will You Still Love Me? A Puppy Haiku Story." You rock! Thank you to my two editors - Shloka Shankar and Brooke Nicolls. Michael Dylan Welch, thank you so much for your wonderful blurb and guidance. I cannot thank enough your daughter, Sarah Welch, for making my book extra special. Thanks a ton to all the excellent contributing poets - Robin Robinbobobbin, Corine Timmer, Julie Bloss Kelsey, David John Terelinck, Shloka Shankar, Debbie Strange, Susan Furst, Alan Summers, Michael H. Lester, Susan Burch, Chen-ou Liu, and Pamela A. Babusci. To see all the winner this year, please follow this link.  NOTE: There's a printing error on the plaque. It's supposed to be "2020" instead of "2019."
I am thrilled and proud to announce Purple Cotton Candy Arts' new release, "Johnny and Frankie's Summer Sleepover," a picture book written by Michael H. Lester and illustrated by George Franco. Now available on Amazon! Johnny has a thing for ants. He admires them for their hard work, their discipline, their organizational skills, and their fascinating social network. During summer vacation, while other children play on the swings or throw frisbees, Johnny spends hours watching the ants at work and even feeds them jellybeans! When Johnny makes friends with an ant named Frankie, he has a summer he will never forget! Michael H. Lester’s hilarious story about an unlikely friendship between a young boy, named Johnny, and a friendly ant, named Frankie, will have children of all ages laughing along with their parents and grandparents as they go from page to fun-filled page and back again.  |
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