It's THE SOUND OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING Day!

After more than two years of working, waiting, and worrying, THE SOUND OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING makes its debut today. It's kind of a surreal feeling, and I'm still not quite sure what to make of it. I thought I'd feel more nervous or excited or something, but I don't think my brain's caught up with the idea that it's finished, that it's out in the world, that one of you might be reading it right now.

About THE SOUND OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING:

"Twelve-year-old Ella Mae Higbee is a sensible girl. She eats her vegetables and wants to be just like Sergeant Friday, her favorite character on Dragnet. So when her auntie Mildred starts spouting nonsense about a scientist who can bring her cousin Robby back to life, Ella Mae doesn’t believe her--until a boy steps out of the scientist’s pod and drips slime on the floor right before her eyes.

"But the boy is not Robby--he’s Japanese. And in California in the wake of World War II, the Japanese are still feared and mistreated. When Auntie Mildred refuses to take responsibility, Ella Mae convinces her mama to take the boy home with them. It’s clear that he’ll be kept like a prisoner in that lab, and she wants to help.

"Determined to do what’s right by her new friend, Ella Mae teaches him English and defends him from the reverend’s talk of H-E-double-toothpicks. But when the boy’s painful memories resurface, Ella Mae learns some surprising truths about her own family and, more importantly, what it means to love."

To learn more about the book and how I went about writing it, check out my interviews over at Literary Rambles (includes an international hardcover giveaway!), Butterflies of the Imagination, and That Artsy Reader Girl (also includes an international hardcover giveaway!). And here are a few snippets from what other folks are saying about THE SOUND OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING:

"Brimming with empathy, humor, forgiveness, and wisdom

about what it means to be truly, fully human"

--Tricia Springstubb, author of MOONPENNY ISLAND

"Ella Mae is a scrapper in the tradition of Harper Lee’s Scout"

--Publishers Weekly

"A remarkable effort that explores stereotypes, family, and friendships that transcend the 1950s"

--Booklist

"Perfect for classrooms and book clubs, as it definitely offers a lot of material for discussion"

--VOYA

"Recommended to fans of historical fiction who enjoy a mix of history and ethics"

--School Library Journal

I'll be hosting several giveaways over the next couple of months, but if you don't want to wait, feel free to buy yourself a copy (or request it at your local library!):

AMAZON | B&N | BAM | INDIEBOUND | !NDIGO | POWELL’S | TKE (signed!) | GOODREADS

Thank you for sharing this amazing day with me!