If You've Ever Loved a Dog...
Can you help me launch The McNifficents in paperback? Please and Thank You!
Hello readers!
Today is my mother’s 70th birthday. My mom is possibly the biggest book lover and best storyteller that there ever was. I blame the piles of books around my own house entirely on her - in the best possible way. We are working on a book together! It’s about witches, which was her great childhood love, and I’m bound and determined to see it published before she’s too old to visit bookstores in her beloved witch costume.1
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! (isn’t the art great?)
In other news, THE MCNIFFICENTS launches in paperback on August 6th! I really hope you’ll order a copy! Paperback is so much more affordable than hardcover (Barnes and Noble is offering their 25% off sale, but see if your local indie bookstore will also honor this deals - which ends July 17).
This book, my friends, is for every person who has ever loved a dog, likes to laugh, and really loves the chaos of childhood…
Every day, Lord Tennyson the Miniature Schnauzer does his very best to care for the six McNiff children and keep them from destroying their pink New England farmhouse—and the rest of the town for that matter. But when summer vacation brings the kids home together all day, his chaos-containing skills are put to the ultimate test.
Baby Sweetums is still refusing to walk, nap, or listen to anyone; Ezra is trying to keep a snake as a secret pet; Annie and Mary’s fighting is worse than ever; and Pearl and Tate are scared of just about everything. And when a particularly tempting troop of baby chicks arrives at the house, even Lord Tennyson finds he can’t stay on his best behavior.
There’s a chicken death scene that comes entirely from real life. Oh dear. It was traumatic. There were tears. It’s in the book (I obviously have no shame).
To entice you further! I’ve teamed up with McNiff illustrator Ariel Landy who has created an original McNiff print. Order a paperback, send me a receipt at amy.makechnie@gmail.com, and I’ll send YOU a signed print in the form of a postcard. I will write you (or your classroom) a personalized note that you can hang in your classroom or home, give to your favorite young reader, or use as a bookmark!
Visual instructions (that I spent far too long on Canva on :)
But will you like the book? I am always hesitant to buy a book unless I’m sure I’m going to like it.
Reader Elizabeth and the state of New Hampshire say you will like this book!
"The writing is strong, and Lord Tennyson has an arch, competent manner in keeping with his professional role model, Mary Poppins....Chaotically entertaining." -Kirkus Reviews
"A lively role-reversing family story...Makechnie invites readers into a sometimes frenetic household that’s frequently suffused with love and laughs. Humor abounds in quirky details—avian creatures named after Downton Abbey characters, Tenny’s formal inner dialogue and love of the film Mary Poppins—while the siblings’ bickering, teasing, and supportive interactions ring true." – Publisher's Weekly
“It’s sooooo funny!” -my little friend, Anders :)
Are You a Teacher, Librarian or Learning Specialist?
Order a book for your class and I will happily zoom with your class for free this fall!
Finally, dear readers, please this book with all of your teacher friends….
If buying the book isn’t in the budget right now, there are ways you can help!
*POST A REVIEW on Amazon or Goodreads or Bookshop.org
*POST A REVIEW on social media like your Instagram story or Tik Tok
*ASK YOUR LIBRARIAN to order it or get as an interlibrary loan
*Tell your local indie bookstore about The McNifficents
*Suggest it as a book club book for you, your child, or school
*Include The McNifficents in your own newsletter or email (use any of the graphics here or screenshot anything from my Instagram)
*WORD OF MOUTH (it’s still the #1 way to move book sales)
Thank you, thank you.
It’s really hard to sell a book - if you can take a few minutes to do any of the above, I am VERY GRATEFUL.
Another option … all content in this newsletter is free, but if you would like to support my work by upgrading to a paid yearly subscription, I will very gratefully send you a signed copy of any one of my books + bookmark + McNiff print.
Thank you mcnifficent readers.
Until next time, keep reading and writing…
xoxo
Amy
And…
Happy Book Birthday: to Felix Powell, Erin Entrada Kelly’s new book launching today! Another terrific book for dog lovers!
Speaking of Dogs… check out author-illustrator ’s OTTO! so cute.
Packing: for our trip to England to see daughter Cope graduate from Cambridge. She sat in a pub the other day and watched England play Spain in the Euro Cup. Epic!
Feeling: so so hot. We are seriously considering air conditioning…bc I’m wilting
Reading: I just finished two bestselling Young Adult books that I’m excited to share with you. What are you reading?
My mom and dad have a little extra storage room in their basement that my mom instead turned into “the witch room.” When visiting, all of the grandchildren sleep there and for some reason we all think this is totally normal.
Love that you are working on a book with your mom! And the McNifficents sounds like so much fun. Buying for my niece (and me)!
Witches were my great childhood love, too! Happy birthday, Amy's awesome mama! 🧙♀️