This past Tuesday, I told you I had learned my debut picture book, Flashlight Night (Boyd’s Mills Press), was going to receive a starred review from Kirkus…well, today, I can share the entire review with you!
I had no idea when their review was going to be published – and as it turned out, it was published later the same day! I am so honored, humbled, and thrilled that Kirkus loves the “delectable language” of the text and the “ingenious metamorphoses” created by illustrator Fred Koehler.
You can read the entire review HERE!
As someone who primarily writes children’s poetry, I am especially excited about this because I wrote the manuscript as a poem first, and as a manuscript second. I used poetic devices like alliteration and internal rhyme, I specifically left out many of the details of the story in order to allow ones imagination to take over, and – as Kirkus points out – the subject of the story is not a child or animal.
It’s the flashlight!
I had more than a few critiques question if I realized the main character was an inanimate object – and I said yes, I knew. I did that deliberately, as a matter of fact. Of course, straying from the standard rules of picture book writing, I had no idea if what I wrote was going to ‘click’ with anyone; leave it to the brilliant Rebecca Davis, my extremely supportive editor at Boyd’s Mills Press, to fall in love with it in early 2015 and make an offer to purchase it.
Flashlight Night hits bookshelves Sept. 5, 2017, and pre-orders are available now through Barnes & Noble and Amazon, or by clicking the image of the cover to the right. Of course, if you prefer, you can always wait til Sept. 5 and purchase it at your favorite local independent bookstore.
Two separate book launches are also already planned! If you happen to be in the Boston area Thur. night, Sept. 7, I hope you’ll join us for the book launch party at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA. If you are in New Hampshire, I invite you to the book launch party the following Sun., Sept. 10, at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH starting at 2pm. More details about both of these events will be forthcoming as we get closer to the date.
The Poetry Friday roundup can be found at Buffy Silverman’s Blog, so be sure to check out all of today’s poetry links. Oh, and I’m looking forward to discovering this blog’s 500th follower – we’re at 485 right now – so please tell your friends about my little home on the web! (And there might be a PRIZE involved, hint, hint!)
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Congratulations, Matt, on your publication and on that starred review. What wonderful accomplishments! I love your flashlight focus–ingenious!
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Thanks, Molly, I appreciate that!
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Congratulations, Matt. How exciting! I’m really looking forward to getting a copy of this gem and will try to make the Porter Square date. Cheers!
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Thank you so much, Christie! I hope to see you!
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Well, I’m looking forward to your national tour when you come to Denver, Matt (tehe). However, until then, congratulations on the superb review. It is very exciting!
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If I somehow manage to DO a national tour, I’ll make sure I stop by! Thanks,Linda.
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Congratulations, Matt, on a wonderful review highlighting your new book. I tweeted it out so others can read it. I am thinking that this book should grace the library of my soon-to-come granddaughter (my first grandchild).
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Thanks, Carol, I hope the library will want to pick it up!
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Congrats! I can’t wait to hold a copy in my hands and read it cover to cover!!
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Thank you, Mary Lee!
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Congrats on the wonderful review and upcoming book launch. I’m getting excited to read the book for myself, especially if you keep teasing us like this!
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Only 3 months from now…not sure how long I can remain on the edge of my seat. Thanks, Kay!
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Congrats on the starred review from Kirkus!! I’m sure you’ve heard that getting a nod from Kirkus is quite a coup! I’m really anxious to read the book. Oh, and congrats on 400 blog posts!
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Thanks, Jama! Yes, when I heard it was a starred review I had to get my wife to help pry me off the ceiling!
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Wonderful review, Matt–can’t wait to read the book! Congratulations!!
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Thanks so much, Buffy!
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Congrats, Matt. Very exciting! I will try to make your Porter Square book launch, although my kids will be starting school then… I’ll have to see if I can get away. But if I don’t make it, I will be there in spirit, cheering on you and your flashlight!
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Thanks, Brenda! Do you follow the KidLit Drink Night Boston FB page? We’ll be getting together at Tavern on the Square at 5, then heading to the bookstore afterwards, for the signing at 7…so I hope to see you!
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Matt! What smashing news… a starred Kirkus review!!! I bet you were fist-bumping all day when you saw that! Huge congrats!! I am SO impressed. Can’t wait to get a copy to share with my grands.
Karen
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I do hope you’ll like it,Karen, thank you!
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Congratulations, how thrilling to get a star review!! And the book launches sound like so much fun, wish I didn’t live so far away! Enjoy every minute of this adventure!
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I am, indeed, enjoying it, Jane…thanks so much!
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A-MAZE-ING! Can’t wait to read it! You so deserve all the success you’re having. ESENWINE POWER!
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Thank you, Charles…and here’s to Waters/Latham Power! Looking forward to YOUR debut, as well!
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Congrats Matt on your book and the review! A flashlight as the MC what a move perspective.
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Thanks so much, Michelle!
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Matt! Yay for affirmation from Kirkus! May it be the first star of many…. Congratulations!
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