Author J.C. Geiger Brings WILDMAN to ILA 2017 This Weekend!

This weekend Orlando FL, plays host to The International Literacy Association’s annual conference! ILA 2017 will pack the Orange County Convention Center with three full days of literary programming for educators of all kinds. The Preconference Institutes kicked-off TODAY but you can still register to attend through the association’s website.

The best part? Hyperion’s own J.C. Geiger will be in attendance on Saturday July 14th to sign copies of his debut YA novel WILDMAN for those lucky enough to score a spot in line at the Publishers Spotlight Booth #603 from 12-1pm.

WILDMAN is a potent coming-of-age tale that asks the question “How can a total stranger understand you better than the people you’ve known your entire life?”

When Lance’s ’93 Buick breaks down in the middle of nowhere, he tells himself Don’t panic. After all, he’s valedictorian of his class. First-chair trumpet player. Scholarship winner. Nothing can stop Lance Hendricks.

But the locals don’t know that. They don’t even know his name. Stuck in a small town, Lance could be anyone: a delinquent, a traveler, a maniac. One of the townies calls him Wildman, and a new world opens up.

He’s ordering drinks at a roadhouse. Jumping a train. Talking to an intriguing older girl who is asking about his future. And what he really wants.

This debut novel by a remarkable new talent explores the relationship between identity and place, the power of being seen, and the speed at which a well-planned life can change forever.

Following his signing J.C. will be speaking at the Young Adult Author Meetup session from 3:00pm – 5:00pm. The ticketed event is currently SOLD OUT. But it promises a fast-paced, high-energy chance to meet seven established and up-and-coming authors in a small-group setting.

So if you’re at ILA 2017 this weekend, be sure to embrace the true spirit of WILDMAN, and make sure you say hi to J.C. Geiger for us.

Disney Authors Head To nErDcamp 2017!

School may be out but nErDcampMI was in session earlier this week when nearly 1,400 teachers and librarians, and 1,000 eager young students descended on Parma Michigan’s Western High School for two days loaded with learning and fun. The event hosted DBG authors: Minh Lê (Let Me Finish), Ryan T. Higgins (Mother Bruce, Be Quiet), Shelley Johannes (Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker), Anica Mrose Rissi (The Teacher’s Pet), Matthew Cordell (Bob, Not Bob, Dream), along with recent Geisel Award recipient Laurie Keller (We Are Growing!) and many more.

The two day event was put on by The Jackson County Intermediate School District and was split up into two portions, nErDcamp for educators and librarians, and then nErDcamp Jr. for young readers simply not content to stay home without a book all summer, followed by a formidable 5K walk/run marathon. Some local press was on hand to capture the event and you can click here to read their report or head to the official nErDcampMI website for more info on next year’s program.