News!

Kathleen Ernst

Spring-Summer, 2004

I was thrilled to learn that Ghosts of Vicksburg won the Arthur Tofte Juvenile Fiction Award from the Council for Wisconsin Writers.  In May my husband, daughter, and I joined the other honorees at a lovely awards banquet at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee.  Meeting Mrs. Tofte was a special treat!

Betrayal at Cross Creek, my latest History Mystery,  has been named to the American Booksellers Association's "Children's Book Sense Picks" Reading List for Summer, 2004!   Heartfelt thanks to Lynn Meidam of Lynn's (most wonderful) BookRoom in South Milwaukee for surprising me by submitting Betrayal for consideration!

I began spring with a whirlwind tour in North Carolina, from the coast to the mountains, to celebrate the publication of  Betrayal at Cross Creek.  Many thanks to all the booksellers who coordinated programs, and to the readers who came out!  I had a wonderful time.  I also enjoyed meeting students at the elementary and middle schools in Eden.  They had great questions, and some of the students had completed very creative projects about my books prior to my visit.

Malice Domestic

At the end of April I attended my second Malice Domestic Convention, and had a grand time meeting other mystery writers and fans.  Two American Girl History Mysteries were nominated for "Best Juvenile Mystery" Agatha Awards this year!  Congratulations to Sarah Masters Bucky, author of Gangsters at the Grand Atlantic, and Elizabeth McDavid Jones, author of Ghost Light at Graveyard Shoal, for this honor.

On June 5, I attended BookExpo America at McCormick Place in Chicago.  This is THE convention for the publishing industry, and it is huge!  That afternoon I signed 250 books in the American Girl booth--quite a thrill!  Hearty thanks to all the booksellers and librarians who waited so patiently in line.  Before and after my signing, I walked what must have been miles of aisles, getting a sneak peek at enticing fall titles.

I recently finished a week of teaching a class about writing for children, part of the "Write-By-The-Lake" retreat sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Extension.  It was an energizing week!  I loved having the opportunity to spend time with a group of dedicated, talented, and energetic children's writers.  I hope to teach it again next year, so if you're interested, keep an eye on my calendar page.

Otherwise...it's summertime!  My husband and I are busy in the garden, and planning our upcoming research/vacation trip to Scotland.  I hope you and your family enjoy a happy, healthy, and full-of-good-books summer.