THE PULL OF GRAVITY - Second Anniversary highlights

So, for those paying attention, I'm celebrating the second anniversary of THE PULL OF GRAVITY in print by highlighting some of my favorite reviews and moments from its first two years
in publication.

Please be reminded that these highlights will not be close to inclusive or complete and are shared in totally random order.

To help celebrate, I will give away one signed ARC of my next YA, THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO, Algonquin Young Readers, spring 2014, to one random commenter from the series. ARC's should be out in the fall!

Thanks to each and every reader who made these past two years an amazing, whirlwind journey of my own.

The Pull of Gravity was the recipient of a first-ever Nerdy Book Club Award in YA.
The Nerdy Book Club is an IBBA Best winner and they are an amazing group of educators and people.
Got Nerdy? If you don't, you really, really should.

(want to become a member of the Nerdy Book Club? You can! Just click and join!)

This adorable and smart! VIDEO REVIEW from Jenny Sawyer of 60 Second Recap that I happened upon one day by pure serendipity. She even grabbed up a pitchfork for it.

http://www.60secondrecap.com/potw/pull-gravity/



And, this girl Amy's review...

p.s. Amy, I have been around forever, just not published, is all. 

and, Bryan's review:

Bryan is an awesome librarian. I got in touch with him after finding this review
and skyped with the kids at his library! It was so much fun. 

and, Kelly Hager's REVIEW.

Or, you know, her TPoG tweets.

Yes, I save the tweets. What of it?? 

xox gae

The Pull of Gravity -- Second Anniversary Highlights

Unbelievably -- well, at least to me -- we are coming up on the second anniversary of the release of my debut novel, THE PULL OF GRAVITY.

Getting published, especially by the legendary (and extraordinary) editor Frances Foster, has been a dream come true for me. I am endlessly humbled and grateful.

As my readers know, THE PULL OF GRAVITY is a contemporary, literary coming-of-age story, which means, "not splashy" and not always an easy sell. In a world where sales matter, you cannot imagine how grateful I am for everyone who has read and supported this book.

I'd like to spend the next few weeks leading up to my second anniversary -- May 11, to be exact -- highlighting some of my favorite reviews and moments from the book's first two years in publication.

A surprise connection to a previously-unknown relative! #goodthings

To be clear, these highlights will NOT be anything close to all-inclusive, and I will undoubtedly leave someone -- many someones -- whose support and love for the book truly matters to me, out. They are also in completely random order. If I have left you out and you'd like to be included, please flag me in a comment, and I will include you in a final highlight on the 11th!**

Also, on the 11th, I will draw from a random list of commenters to these posts, and give away a signed ARC of my next book, THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO, due spring 2014 from Algonquin, even if I have to give you my only copy. ARC's should be out by early fall.

With the extraordinary Paul W. Hankins, one of the book's biggest
supporters. Paul, I would have been lost without you.
(also, the lovely and talented Sarah Darer Littman)

Anyway, let me just say once again, how very grateful I am to everyone who has read my book, shared my book, and passed the name of the title on. The book has been shared in classrooms around the country (and in Canada!) ranging from the 5th to the 12th grades!

I'd be nowhere without you all. Don't I know it!

Today's additional highlighted review: Julie Musil's WRITING LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PULL OF GRAVITY.

Thanks, Cole, Avery and Julie!

first bookstore sighting ever, with my wonderful husband who, yes,
is wearing a very outdated sweatshirt. 

With love.

-gae

** to be clear Mindy Janicke and Kelly Hager, you do not actually have to flag me. ;)

Summer Reading for Tweens and Teens, Got Gravity?

“What summer reading list is complete 

without a road-trip novel? 

Especially one that extols the virtues of reading sad books and contains the sentence: 

‘Parents are such idiots.’ ” 

—Newsday 

Summer is coming. 

Not that I'm wishing away spring.

omg, no. I love spring. Stay here forever, Mr. Spring!*

But, ready or not, soon summer will be here. I know many teachers, librarians and other reading clubs are already making up their summer reading lists, and I'm really, truly hoping, with the book now out a shiny new, paperback format, THE PULL OF GRAVITY will be on yours.   

The Pull of Gravity is a Bank Street Best Children's Book (ages 12-14) and
a National Battle of the Books selection (7th - 8th grade) for 2013-14.

If you are a local library or program, and you use the book in a group setting, I would be thrilled to pay an in-person visit. If you are not local, I'd be happy to Skype in and talk about reading and writing and do a Q&A.

You can reach me here on my blog, or email me at g.polisner@gmail.com for more information.

If you'd like to watch the charming paperback trailer made by a fifteen-year old boy, you can HERE!

Happy reading!

- gae

*could be a Mrs. What do I know?

Bookish Biz

So, just a brief catch-up on all things bookish, in no particular order.

THE PULL OF GRAVITY.
For those who don't know, THE PULL OF GRAVITY is now out in paperback
and making a pretty good showing in
Barnes & Nobles across the country.

Not all of them, no, but a pretty good showing.

B&N 82nd & B'way in NYC

It's also a National Battle of the Books selection, 7th - 8th grades, for 2013-14, as well as appearing on some final nomination lists for State BOB lists around the country. One or two (or more?!) of those would be great for the book.

Movie news has been quiet, but I know they are plugging along. Like I said, Pie-In-the-Sky. Fun and flattering but I'll believe it when I see it come to fruition.


And last, but never least (!) TPoG continues to grow its school audience. I'm very excited to have landed in another Indiana High School where TPoG will be read with Of Mice and Men in the 11th grade. Of course, attendant Skype visits shall ensue, which you all know how I love (love, love) to do.

Mrs. Vorhis' box o' books arrived for Northwood HS, Indiana. :D

.
As for other upcoming author appearances, you know you can find those in the sidebar of my blog right HERE, don't you? Yep, I know you do.

MY NEXT YA. So, for those who follow me here, you already know my next YA, formerly referred to as Frankie Sky, sold last spring to the amazing and wonderful Elise Howard, and is due Spring 2014 from Algonquin Young Readers. For those who don't know, Algonquin is the esteemed literary publisher of such books as WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, but this fall will mark their first season as a publisher of Children's fiction and YA. If you'd like to follow them and check out their exclusive inaugural season of releases, you can here on facebook. Because "Frankie" is a summer story (much of it taking place at the beach and at a country club pool), it will be in the second half spring launch. However, as often is the case after sale, it has a brand spanking new title which I love with all my heart, THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO, and if you want to, you can add it to your to-read list on Goodreads, HERE. You can also read more about it on my website, HERE.

OTHER WRITING STUFF. In other writing stuff, I got a sort of bite on my always-heartbreaking women's fiction, so I spent the last several weeks revising the manuscript previously known as Swim Back to Me that I am now calling THE SWIMMING SEASON. I'm sure, as always, it will come close but no cigar, and break my heart again. Still, I wouldn't mind you crossing your fingers for me. . .

And, that's that. Back to work on an old YA ms that my agent thinks has potential but right now is in the I-hate-you-now-die stages of revision. Hopefully, that will change soon.

Anyway, hope you're enjoying your spring... or, I guess, hope you're about to, as in most places the weather has belied any glimpses of same.


I'll leave you with my paperback book trailer for THE PULL OF GRAVITY because I never get tired of it. Made by 15-year-old Jude Bourke (available to make yours!), illustrations by his dad, and my friend, Karl Bourke.

- gae