Shubho Nobo Borsho!

... or Happy New Year in Bangla.

For me, 2009 kicks off with massive renovations on Mitali's Fire Escape. I'd love to hear what you think, or if you have any suggestions to make the new site more user-friendly.

We're up to 23 bookstores and 85 authors/illustrators over at our New England indie-author Valentine's Day event, Kids Heart Authors Day. Only two weeks left to sign up!

Last but not least, I'm busy fine-tuning my mini-tour for the launch of Secret Keeper on January 13th. I'll be reading, signing books, and offering writing workshops in the San Francisco and Seattle areas, as well as just plain partying in Bellevue, Palo Alto, and Newtonville. I'd love to see you there. Feel free to sign up for the book giveaway over at Goodreads, too.

SF BAY AREA:

Book Signing and Chai, Thursday Jan. 15, 2009, 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Not Your Mother's Book Club, Books Inc., Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto, CA. Phone: 650-321-0600.

Free Writing Workshop, Thursday Jan. 15, 2009, 7:00 - 8:00 pm, Not Your Mother's Book Club, Books Inc., Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto, CA. Phone: 650-321-0600.

SEATTLE AREA:

Book Launch Party, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, 2 p.m., Bellevue Barnes and Noble, 626 106th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA. Phone: 425-453-7958. (ALL the readergirlz divas have put this on their calendar, bless their hearts, so here's your chance to meet them!)

Teen Writing Workshop, Chai, Naan, and Samosas, Sunday, January 18, 5:00 p.m., Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. Phone: 425-450-1765.

BOSTON AREA:

Book Launch Party, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, 2 p.m., Newtonville Books, 296 Walnut St, Newton, MA 02460. Phone: 617-244-6619.