Remember that exciting news I promised? I can finally share!

Coyote Queen, the book of my heart, is a story I’ve been trying to tell since I first got serious about publishing more than 15 years ago, and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!

I’m deep in revisions on the story now, but I’m carving out plenty of space this fall to celebrate the launch of my second book, The Rabbit’s Gift, a story set in a world where human babies are grown in cabbage-like plants and delivered by rabbits. Please join me at one of my two launch events!

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LAUNCH EVENTS

I’ll be in virtual conversation with acclaimed author Anne Ursu at 7pm Eastern on October 25th (hosted by Talking Leaves Books). Preregistration is required, so secure your spot now!

Readers in Southwestern Ontario, please join me for an in-person celebration on Saturday, November 5th at 2pm in the Mount Zion Lutheran Church Auditorium. This free, not-to-be-missed event will feature a reading, autographs, snacks, and live rabbits for petting!

Keep an eye out on my social media and events page for a variety of guest blog posts, podcast interviews, author meet and greets & more!

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MY GIFT TO YOU

Preorders are incredibly important to authors; they give publishers important information about how much excitement there is in the market for any given title (thus helping them gauge which books to support). I’d love to share a small token of my gratitude to readers who support me in this way. There are a few options to claim your preorder gift.

American Readers: Preorder from Talking Leaves Bookstore; the signed book and swag will be mailed to you.

Canadian Readers: Preorder from Words Worth Books; the signed book and swag will be mailed to you.

Another option: preorder an unsigned copy from your favorite book retailer. Fill out this form (and upload your receipt), and I’ll mail your swag as well as a signed bookplate (an autographed sticker you can place inside the book).

“An enchanting exploration of the importance of perspective and what it means to lead with an empathetic heart.” Booklist

“A clever tale of cabbage, rabbit babies, mistakes made, and lessons learned.” Kirkus

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UPDATE: THE WOLF’S CURSE

Unfortunately, I’ve finally been hit by the supply chain issues plaguing the industry. Fortunately, the paperback release of THE WOLF’S CURSE has only been pushed by a couple of weeks. The new publication date is October 11th, and it’s available for preorder now!

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ONE LAST THING

My publisher, HarperCollins, is hosting a giveaway. Sign up for the chance to win one of five finished copies of The Rabbit’s Gift! (An extra copy could be a great holiday gift or donation to your child’s classroom!)

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It’s been a wild year since my first book came out; I can hardly believe that I’m already speeding toward publication of my second book and working on books three and four. None of this would have been possible without the support of each and every one of my readers, so I’m signing off this post with a heart full of gratitude. Thank you all for your support!

(If you stumbled across the page by accident and like what you see, sign up for “blog posts” on the “news” page of my website to receive future updates. And if you’re searching for Magic in the Middle, click here.)

With my second book set to publish this fall, I’m gearing up for another busy season! But before I get to all of that, here are a few highlights from my summer.

My family experienced the adventure of a lifetime when we sailed a 40-year-old boat from Connecticut to Toronto. Despite being plagued by delays of all kinds, we managed to squeeze in plenty of fun, including a stop in Manhattan, where I got to tour the HarperCollins offices and meet my editor for the very first time.

I also got to preview audiobook narrators, and let me just say: the audio for The Rabbit’s Gift is going to be so cool! There will be two narrators–one for each point of view! (Preorders available here)

***GIVEAWAY ALERT***

I’m thrilled to share that my publisher is giving away 10 advanced reader copies! Enter here! (But don’t wait–the giveaway ends August 13th!)

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IN OTHER NEWS . . .

I’m excited to share that I’m partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters to put books into the hands of children from the program. To learn more about how and why this partnership came about, click here.

***BONUS***

If you’re able to support this cause, I’ll send you a small thank you gift as a token of my appreciation! (Offer good until September 25th, or where supplies last, US/Canada only.)

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DID YOU KNOW . . .

• I’ll be doing a ton of virtual and in-person appearances this fall. Keep an eye on the “Appearances” page of my website for details!
• I LOVE doing virtual and in-person school visits and teaching craft classes! Learn how to schedule me here.
• The Wolf’s Curse will be available in paperback on September 20th! Place your preorder here!

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THAT’S NOT ALL . . .

I have some very exciting news coming soon* … stay tuned!

*Soon being relative in the publishing industry. Be sure to sign up for the blog to make sure you don’t miss any exciting updates!

The Wolf’s Curse will hit shelves in six days. SIX DAYS! After 14 years working toward this dream, I can hardly wait for my book to be out on shelves (and in readers’ hands)!

The weeks leading up to my launch have been wild––in large part because my second book (due out in the fall of 2022) is due the day before The Wolf’s Curse publishes. I can’t wait to tell you more about that story, but in the meantime, I have so much exciting news to share—including a giveaway and the world’s coolest book trailer!

First of all, I’d love to invite you all to my virtual book launch––I’ll be in conversation with Newbery Medal-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly on Tuesday, September 21^st at 7pm Eastern. We’ll discuss Grim Reapers, wolves, my writing journey, and more! Pre-registration is required, so get your spot now. (Bonus: you can also order a signed copy of The Wolf’s Curse from Talking Leaves on the pre-registration link!)

Pre-registration link: https://www.tleavesbooks.com/event/book-launch-jessica-vitalis

Second, there is still five days left in my preorder campaign, so get your receipts in now! Everyone who enters will receive a bookmark, postcard, and sticker (while supplies last), and one lucky reader will receive a free book-themed bag and a free 30-minute virtual author visit! Here’s how it works:

Preorder a copy of The Wolf’s Curse at your favorite book retailer. Submit your receipt here, and that’s it—you’re all set (note: you can also submit proof of a library purchase request). This offer is good in the U.S. or Canada.

Finally, I’m over-the-moon excited to share the book trailer my publisher created—isn’t it stunning?

In case you’ve read this far and you’re still hungry for more, here’s a round-up of some of my recent appearances:

Kidlit Chapter Chat (5 Facts About the Wolf’s Curse)
The Nerd Daily (Writing Omniscient Narrators: How to Know When to Know it All)
Kickbutt Kidlit (Interview)
All by My Shelf (Podcast)
School Library Journal Teen Librarian Tool Box (Debuting with Death Guest Post)

Before I sign off, one more exciting opportunity to share: my publisher is hosting a giveaway for The Wolf’s Curse on Goodreads. Enter here!

That’s it for today—I hope to “see” you on the 21^st! (Thanks for your support!)

Happy Reading!

Friends, in just over a month my very first book baby will hit shelves in bookstores around the country! 

Preorder your copy to receive free swag and the chance to enter the grand prize package featuring a gorgeous book-themed tote and a 30 minute virtual author visit! 

Signed copies available at:
Words Worth Books (Ontario) 
Talking Leaves Books (New York)

Or order an unsigned copy at your favorite book retailer!

To claim your swag and enter for the grand prize package, upload a photo of your receipt (or library purchase request) here. 

New and Noteworthy:

• Find out what I learned about myself while writing The Wolf’s Curse in this interview by Young Entertainment Magazine.
• I stopped by Writer Writers Pants on Fire to share my thoughts on “writing what you know.” 
• I also had a chance to stop by MG Book Village, where I shared why I chose to write from a wolf’s perspective and more! 
• Check out The Book Duchess for a list of books I think everyone should be reading.
• It’s more important than ever to provide kids with books that help them process death and grief. I stopped by Nine Bookish Lives to discuss my own experience with grief and death and to discuss the importance of making books about difficult subjects available to young readers.
• Do you have a book coming out? Are you thinking about forming a street team? Check out my insights and suggestions in a podcast over at MG Book Party. 
• Finally, I’m incredibly honored to announce that the Canada Council for the Arts selected me as a 2021 Research and Create Grant Recipient to support the development of my next book! 

That’s it for now! Remember to preorder your copy of The Wolf’s Curse and save the date: my virtual book launch will be held on September 21st at 7pm. (Details and a link to come.)

Thanks for your support! 

Hello!  With just over three months until The Wolf’s Curse publishes, life is busy! I recently turned in book two to my editor (I can’t wait until I can tell you all about it) and next week I’ll be reviewing final pass pages on book one––this will be my last chance to make corrections before it goes to print (no pressure!).  In addition, my publisher is hosting a giveaway for advanced reader copies of The Wolf’s Curse and I’m in the process of forming a street team––an enthusiastic group of readers to help spread the word about my debut. For more details about all of that and more, read on!

Reviews are in and readers are loving The Wolf’s Curse!  “A lyrical tale of loss and survival, tradition and belief, in which tension and secrets build like a towering wave. The Wolf’s Curse is a story of many layers. Young readers will treasure this beautiful debut and hold it close to their hearts.” -Diane Magras, author of The Mad Wolf’s Daughter “A fable as polished and timeless as a fine wooden toy. Readers will root for spunky heroes Gauge and Roux while keeping watch for a certain mysterious wolf who’s not what she seems . . .” -Catherine Gilbert Murdock, author of the Newbery Honor book The Book of Boy “The Wolf’s Curse boldly tells readers to take a closer look at the stories they’re told—not to mention at the wolves that might be lurking in the shadows. A clear-eyed, big hearted fable of compassion, friendship, and love.” -Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy Pre-purchases are available at all your favorite book retailers (including your local indy) or you can find it on Amazon.  ***Keep an eye on my Twitter account in July; I’ll be giving away books from each of these authors!***

Before I sign off I want to share a link for my June Magic in the Middle book talk featuring The Nightmare Thief for those of you who might not have caught it earlier in the month. (The story is full of magic and wonder and I think you’ll love it!)