Well, nothing is more exciting than having a new book come out, but this one has been SUPER special, because it's the first time I've had a launch party!

The Mourning Parade is my 31st book, but it's the first one I've celebrated with a full blown launch party. And it was AMAZING! Hundreds of people showed up at the Paris Street Gallery in Everett, Massachusetts to help me send this baby into the world. A great group of my high school friends came, as well as family members, writer friends, press, and politicians.

I received TWO citations from the City of Everett for my accomplishments -- a total shocker -- and music from 1971 played while the disco ball twirled in the ceiling.

Now I'm on a cross-country tour to bookstores across the United States to meet with readers, but I've been meeting them along the way, as well. I'm on the Amtrak train and so far, I've sold a book to an African-American woman who was my seatmate, talked to an 18 year old boy from Kentucky and encouraged him to move on from his job at WalMart and follow his dream to become an IT professional, talked to a Muslim woman whose kids are bookaholics (and took a selfie with her that she was excited about sharing with them), and had dinner last night with three women who'd been friends since high school (all of them were members of book clubs).

If you'd like to follow the trip, look me up on Facebook! I'm posting photos and videos and comments about what I discover in the cities I'm visiting along the way. It's a fabulous trip already, and I'm looking forward to what's about to come.

Help me spread the word about The Mourning Parade ...Asian elephants, PTSD, school shootings, and the power of a mother's love!

Here's to the next town . . .