December 13, 2021
I’m pleased and honored to announce that my Book 3, Walnut Street: Phantom Rider, has won the Middle-Grade Book of the Year from The Golden Boar Book Awards!
You can see the notification HERE. Once on the page, scroll down until you come to “Middle Grade Book of the Year.”
Thank you, selection committee! And congratulations to all the 2021 winners in the other categories.
December 11, 2021
Along with three other authors, I have been given a wonderful opportunity to present at the San Diego SCBWI’s December chapter meeting today, December 11th.
The topic? What we authors have learned from publishing our books.
We’ve taken different paths: some of us are traditionally published while others took the hybrid or independent publishing routes.
I know I have much to share about my journey with hybrid publishing and how it’s offered me a priceless education in the industry.
I’m also looking forward to hearing what the others have learned from their paths.
It promises to be an illuminating afternoon!
December 2, 2021
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I need you to do just that.
If you liked the cover of my book, Walnut Street: Phantom Rider (The Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries Book 3), please vote for it for the December Cover of the Month Contest on AllAuthor.com!
I’m getting closer to clinching the “Cover of the Month” contest on AllAuthor! I’ll need as much support from you guys as I can get.
Please take a short moment to vote for my book cover HERE. Thanks!
Updated December 22: Thanks to all who voted my book up. It made it into the third round, but not the fourth. Can’t win ’em all!
November 23, 2021
Come see how six Blackbird authors–including me–cook up some fun in this exciting Facebook event, “Cooking up Mystery,” at 3 pm PT on Tuesday, November 23.
To join in, click HERE; then, click GOING.
Hope to see you at facebook.com/bbirdwriters for this mouthwatering event just in time for Thanksgiving!
If you were unable to attend, you can still watch our fun chat on YouTube HERE.
November 22, 2021 
Hop on over to Twitter on Monday evening, November 22, at 6 pm PT.
Children’s historical fiction author Janet Macreery and I will be co-hosting the evening’s #MGBookChat. We will post eight questions (see left) for authors, teachers, librarians, and families about writing and reading historical fiction in the middle grades (grades 3-6).
Please join in and post your responses.
We’ll make history!
November 17, 2021 
So happy to announce that my Book 2, Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse, won as a finalist for Children’s Fiction in the 2021 American Book Fest’s Best Book Awards! 
You can check it out HERE.
Thank you, American Book Fest! And congratulations to all the winners.
November 10, 2021 
What a wonderful surprise to hear from three people who provided Praise For quotes for Walnut Street‘s back cover! Those are the quotes prospective buyers read when deciding if they want to purchase a book.
Teacher Barb Huston and her two students Brian and Makenzie popped in from Michigan via Twitter to share the photo taken at their school when Barb presented my signed, personalized book copies to the two kids yesterday. They are pointing at their quotes.
Thank YOU, Mrs. Huston, Makenzie, and Brian, for taking your time to be advance readers and quote writers. That is a necessary service for readers and authors.
November 9, 2021 
Dear Readers of all Ages,
Great news. Today is the OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DAY for Walnut Street: Phantom Rider!
I have a Book Release Blitz happening on social media, organized by Shannon O. at R&R Book Tours. That means there are a number of bloggers who will post information about the book. Please watch for it, especially on Twitter.
My three books are now available–just in time for the holidays for that special child aged 9-12 in your life!
Click HERE to purchase on Amazon. Click HERE to purchase from Barnes & Noble. Click HERE to purchase from Bookshop.org for indie book stores and to benefit book charities. Click HERE to purchase from other fine retailers.
In addition, I have a BOOK RELEASE ZOOM PARTY happening today at 1 pm PT. No need to register. Just click HERE for the Zoom link to join in.
Thank you for all your support.
November 7, 2021
YOU are invited to my Book Launch party for Walnut Street: Phantom Rider on Zoom!
When and Where: Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 1 pm PST.
You must register HERE to get the Zoom link sent the day before the event.
Please come join in the fun! Chat, ask questions, make comments. Hope to see you Tuesday!
October 26, 2021
SURPRISE, READERS!
You, my loyal newsletter subscribers, are among the very first to know:
Walnut Street: Phantom Rider has released early! Here are some treats–not tricks–from me to you for Halloween. Mwah, ha, ha!
A phantom on horseback, a gold mine, wildlife, camping, and a ghost town. What’s not to like?!
You can purchase the paperback or eBook from Amazon HERE.
The eBook is also available at other fine retailers HERE.
More retailers, including indie bookstores, will be added in the next few weeks.
October 19, 2021
Please join my fellow Blackbird Writers and me for a special live chat on Facebook today, October 19, at 5 pm PT. The program is entitled, “Rewriting History.”
We Birds–Anne Louise Bannon, Valerie Biel, Kim Taylor Blakemore (guest Bird), Tim Chapman, and I–will be discussing writing mysteries by way of historical fiction!
Sound intriguing? It does to me. I’m looking forward to answering questions posed by moderator and Blackbird Writers group founder Tracey S. Phillips.
Please join us using this link: https://www.facebook.com/bbirdwriters
See you there!
For those getting this message after October 19, you can now watch the fun interview on YouTube by clicking HERE.
October 15, 2021
Please tune in this morning, October 15, on YouTube at 6 am PT for CHATTING WITH AUTHORS. (Not an early riser? That’s okay. You can watch it later!)
This thirty-minute program will feature Janet Lynn and William Zeilinger chatting with me about writing mysteries for middle-grade children and inspiring a love of reading in them.
To view it on October 15 or later, please go to: https://youtu.be/YKESguWA2ps
I hope you’ll enjoy the program!
October 10, 2021 
My interview by fellow Blackbird Writer and group founder Tracey S, Phillips went live today. We had a lot of fun making it! Thank you, Tracey, for interviewing me. You ask such wonderfully probing questions.
Tracey and I mainly discuss my third Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries book, Walnut Street: Phantom Rider, which releases soon; and, Bass Reeves, the first Black deputy US marshal west of the Mississippi. He is the model for my fictional character Papa Mayfield. Legend has it that Papa’s long-lost gold mine is still somewhere on the Mayfield family’s horse ranch in the mountains east of Las Palmitas. The detectives are invited to the ranch for a week to solve a mystery that could be related to Papa’s mine.
You will also hear about the importance of writing about nonwhite historical figures who made a positive impact. Additionally, we discuss why I sometimes choose to put my detectives into dangerous situations and, relatedly, some of my goals, or messages, as a kids’ author.
You can listen to this enlightening interview on YouTube by clicking HERE. I hope you enjoy it!
October 6, 2021 
October 1, 2021
Check out some of the adorable, handmade thank-you cards from Ms. Kristina Sipe’s fab fifth graders at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School!
I had the pleasure or doing an in-person Author Visit to this San Diego (grades TK-8) school on September 15. (You can see the photos from the event for that date, below.) The students had read my Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets book as part of their summer reading. After beginning the new school year, they studied the book with their teacher. Then, they wanted to meet the author of The Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries!
The students’ messages were well written and beautifully illustrated with a popular topic being synesthesia, a mental ability I share with my detective character Rani Kumar. We taste food or other things when we hear names! In fact, each student and their teacher used the food item I tasted when I heard their names as the cover art for their individual cards. Adorbs!
Other topics they shared were which detective was their favorite or what part of the story they liked the best. Some said they are now inspired to become authors themselves. Hurray!
Thank you, Students and Ms. Sipe! I write to touch kids’ hearts and minds. Apparently, I succeeded. This was so heartwarming and affirming for me; I write on!
September 15, 2021
Today, I had the honor and privilege of attending my first in-person school Author Visit!
I was invited by Ms. Kristina Sipe to come meet her twenty-two fifth graders at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in San Diego. She had assigned my Book 1, Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets, to her incoming fifth graders for their summer reading.
What a Red-Letter Day for me! To meet such bright, polite fans of my detectives was a dream come true. The kids asked many great questions, e.g., “Where did you get the names for your detectives?” “What’s it like to be a writer?” “Why did you choose to write for kids instead of for adults?”
I had previously arranged with Ms. Sipe to sign each of their book copies, so they took their bagged book along with some matching book swag back to their classroom as a souvenir of our day together.
Thank you again, Ms. Sipe and Super Students, for a truly memorable day!
Are there any other teachers out there who want me to come visit? Check HERE for more information.
Photos courtesy of Kristina Sipe.
September 9, 2021
The big day has arrived! I present to you the Cover Reveal for The Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series Book 3, Walnut Street: Phantom Rider.
I think the cover designer did a great job making the Phantom look scary. What do you think?
And click HERE if you’d like to see what a Cover Reveal promo blog looks like, courtesy of Misty’s Book Space. Thanks, Misty, and Shannon at R&R Book Tours, who coordinates my reveals, book blitzes, and book tours.
The next big date will be November 9, 2021, exactly two months from today, when Walnut Street is published! Stay tuned . . .
September 1, 2021
How fun to be fellow Blackbird Writer Anne Louise Bannon’s guest blogger!
The topic was my choice, so I selected one of my favorite things–STAIRCASES. I shared a story to explain my fascination since childhood.
If you’d like to read “The Allure of Staircases,” please click HERE.
Keep climbing!
August 27, 2021
Don’t forget! The Cover Reveal for Book 3 Walnut Street: Phantom Rider is set for September 9, 2021.
That’s just days away!
Come back HERE on September 9, or go to my social media pages to see the big Reveal. Then, please let me know what you think HERE.
August 25, 2021
Today, I learned that Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets, my debut book in my Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series, is the winner in the 2021 American Fiction Awards category of Pre-Teen Fiction. Thank you, AFA!
Click HERE to go to the winners’ list. Scroll down to “Pre-Teen” Fiction to see my book. Yay!
August 17, 2021
Check out this fabulous five-star review of Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse from Anne-Marie Reynolds of Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews. Here is an excerpt:
“Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse by Sherrill Joseph is a spooky story packed with tension and scary characters along the way – ghosts, vampires, and an old witch. It’s a page-turner with so much going on that you won’t want to put it down, and it contains everything you need for an incredible mystery
that sends plenty of shivers down the spine. The descriptive writing makes you a part of the story and the detective squad, and you will find yourself joining the hunt for the emerald. The characters are well developed and likable, even the baddies, and, although I hadn’t read the first book in the series, there was plenty of detail in this one to enjoy it as a standalone. . . .”
Click HERE to read the review in its entirety.
August 15, 2021
Today, I attended my first book signing in a bookstore! Thank you, Acorn Publishing, for arranging this event at Barnes & Noble in San Diego. I joined nine other Acorn authors, many of whom I hadn’t previously met. Thank you, Barb Rasmussen, my former teaching partner and forever friend, for your presence and assistance.
Each of us authors got to speak for a few minutes about our books and writing paths. We drew a good crowd. I was blessed to have family, friends, and neighbors in the audience.
B & N purchased six of each of our books for us to sell. I was pleased to sell all six copies of Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse. What fun to meet the customers, sign and personalize my books, and give away book swag.
I’m definitely looking forward to doing this again in the near future!
August 2, 2021 
Hope to see you at this Acorn Publishing-sponsored author book signing event at the Mira Mesa Market Center Barnes & Noble in San Diego, CA.
10775 Westview Pkwy. San Diego 92126
Sunday, August 15, 2021, from 2 – 4:30 PM
Celebrating Acorn’s milestone of publishing its one hundredth book.
Bring the kids. I’ll happily personalize and sign my books you purchase in store. I’ll even throw in some book swag.
August 1, 2021
Looking for some fun, new recipes? Look no farther than this page!
Download your FREE copy of The Middle Grade Cookbook Recipes Inspired by Middle Grade Books HERE.
I am pleased to announce that one of the Botanic Hill Detectives, Moki Kalani, has a favorite recipes included! Hint: Check the Dessert section.
Thank you, Julie, Girl on the Move blogger from @GotmTeaches, for compiling this fun book. Julie’s mission is to share ideas with educators about incorporating middle grade books across content areas.
It was pleasure to contribute, Julie!
For more information, see Julie and the cookbook on Twitter at @GotmTeaches and #middlegradecookbook
July 26, 2021 
AN INVITATION!
Please join other authors and me for a book signing event, sponsored by Acorn Publishing!
When: Sunday, August 15, 2021, from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: San Diego Barnes & Noble, Mira Mesa, 10775 Westview Pkwy, San Diego, CA 92126
We will be speaking briefly about our books, reading an excerpt, and, of course, signing books you purchase in the store.
Bring the kids! I hope to see you there.
July 17, 2021
What a wonderful time I had at the first North Park Book Fair, named after the neighborhood where I live in San Diego, California. The event was sponsored by Verbatim Books and North Park Main Street. Thank you!
My friend Barb Rasmussen and I arrived at 8 a.m. for booth setup. (You know you’ve got a great friend when she’s willing to get up early on a Saturday morning and help!) The event spanned two city blocks as other local authors, friends of the library, craft and food vendors, and musicians arrived to prepare their spaces for the 10 a.m. start.
The place was packed as people were eager to get out and shop once again. I met some sweet kids and their families who perused or purchased my books–and purchased they did. I sold twenty-eight books in two hours. Note to self: bring more books next year! Signing and personalizing my books for the kids and giving away book swag were so special.
Thanks to all the friends, neighbors, and relatives who came by to say hello and support me.
Fingers crossed that this is an annual event.
July 6, 2021
Today, I received word that my Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse has won awards from two more companies for a total of seven awards to date!
It is the 2021 San Diego Book Awards Finalist in Children’s Fiction.
It is also the 2021 Purple Dragonfly Awards Winner with Honorable Mention in two categories: Charity–Making a Difference, and in Mystery.
Thank you to these two organizations for the honors. I am so proud of my books.
July 1, 2021
Attention, all Readers!
Please mark your calendars and join me in San Diego, California, for the first North Park Book Fair on Saturday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s being sponsored by Verbatim Books and North Park Main Street and is FREE to the public.
I will be in a booth somewhere near 30th Street and North Park Way, selling my books Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secret, and Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse for $12.00, including tax, signing, personalizing, a cute bag, and book swag. Please come find me! I’d love to see you.
I will happily sign and personalize my books for you if purchased from me during the event. And I will be giving away some book swag.
Many other local authors will be there, too, along with food, live music, craft vendors, poetry reading, and lots of fun for all ages. Hope to see you there!
June 25, 2021
Congratulations to my fabulous narrator Tom Jordan. He made the Finalist list for Young Adult narration with my book Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets at the 2021 Independent Audiobook Awards ceremony, which was held this evening! Well deserved.
Tom says that he is going to enter again next year with my Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse to be selected as the Winner! Given that he did so many different accents, he should be the easy choice.
Thanks and good luck, Tom!
June 18, 2021
Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets has captured another honor! This time, it made Finalist for Best New Fiction.
You can see it listed HERE. Once you’re on the page, please scroll down to “Best New Fiction.” Entries are listed alphabetically by title and have equal status.
Thanks so much, International Book Awards.
June 3, 2021
I am so pleased to announce that my Book 1, Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets, took home Gold from the Independent Book Publishers Awards (“IPPY”) for Best First Book, Juvenile/Young Adult. That makes eight awards now for my debut novel. Whoohoo!
You can check it out by clicking HERE and scrolling to # 83b.
June 1, 2021
My interview with Mom’s Choice Book Awards went public today. I had a lot of fun doing it and wanted to share it with you!
You can read it here: https://www.momschoiceawards.com/blog/interview-moms-choice-award-winner-sherrill-joseph/ or HERE.
May 18, 2021
Please join my fellow Blackbird Writers and me today for a fun interview about writing for a young audience.
When: Tuesday, May 18, at 5 pm PT on Facebook Live. Hosted by Tracey S. Phillips, author, and founder of Blackbird Writers.
Click HERE for more information and to RSVP “Going” so you get a link the day of the event.
The audience gets to provide the questions if desired.
Please spread the word, and I hope to see you there!
And if you’re getting this message after the fact, you can watch it by clicking on the link below, or merely click HERE.
https://www.facebook.com/635512987088272/videos/311257103737121
You can also watch it on YouTube by clicking HERE.
May 11, 2021
Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets was honored today with its sixth award!
This time, my first book has won a Kops-Fetherling International Book Award, specifically, the Phoenix Award: Best New Voice: Fiction Middle Grade (ages 8-12).
Thanks, Kops-Fetherling. Keep flying high, Botanic Hill Detectives!
May 10, 2021
Story Quest Academy, an organization that creates virtual book clubs for homeschooled kids, honored me today with an interview and a chance to enter one of my books to be read by the club kids.
This is “Mystery May” to introduce mystery authors and their books to tweens and teens.
I have entered Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets for book club consideration. Fingers crossed!
To read my fun interview, please click HERE. Thanks, Readers and Story Quest Academy.
April 2, 2021
Yay! I just received word that Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse has won three awards from Story Monsters Approved Book Awards! Drum roll, please . . .
Third Place in MG (ages 8-12) Fiction,
First Place in Tween Novels (ages 10-14) Fiction, and
First Place in the category of Making a Difference.
You can check these out for yourself by clicking HERE. Once on the page, please just scroll down to each listed category to see the book’s announcement.
Thank you so much, Story Monsters Approved! This is quite an honor.
April 1, 2021
Publishers Weekly has listed a review for my Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets. So nice to see it since this is an important publishing trade journal.
You can find it HERE.
Highlights: “Perfect for younger mystery-loving readers looking for an intelligent blend of adventure and danger.” And . . .
“With its inherent exuberance and sense of innocence, plus its diverse cast, this tale will appeal to readers looking for an old-fashioned middle grade mystery with modern sensibilities.”
March 22, 2021
Click on the image or link below to catch a YouTube interview of me by author and Blackbird Writers founder Tracey S. Phillips.
The fun interview occurred on March 5 but released today.
I hope you enjoy it!
March 17, 2021
I am so proud of my Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets audiobook narrator Tom Jordan. He made the Independent Audiobook Awards finalist list today! It is well deserved. Tom did an outstanding job.
I have included his Facebook announcement.
The winner from this list will be announced at a virtual ceremony on June 25. Stay tuned!
If you’d like to enjoy listening to Tom’s superb narration of my Nutmeg Street now, please click HERE.
February 12, 2021
Again, I am honored. Today, Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets became a Finalist in the 2020 Wishing Shelf Book Awards! The Winners of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards will be announced on April 1. Fingers crossed.
Thank you, The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, an award organization in the U.K.
February 3, 2021
I am so honored to announce that today, my Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries, Book 2, Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse,
has joined my Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets in winning a GOLD AWARD from the prestigious Mom’s Choice Book Awards! The category is Juvenile Fiction–General, Level 2 (ages 9-12).
“We are happy to award deserving books like Eucalyptus Street,” said Dawn Matheson, CEO, Mom’s Choice Awards. “Our panel of judges really felt this book merited a place on our list of the best in family-friendly products that parents and educators can feel confident in using.”
Thank you, Dawn Matheson, and everyone at Mom’s Choice Book Awards!
Click HERE if you’d like to check it out!
January 13, 2021
Today, I returned to Donna B. McNicol’s Cozy Capers blog as her “Featured Author”! Thank you, Donna.
Here is the link for those wishing to read my answers to her interesting questions about my writing habits, desk, characters, and literary influences.: https://cozycapers.com/?p=1642
You can still leave a comment if you wish!
January 10, 2021
Thank you, Donna B. McNicol, for featuring my book Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets on your Cozy Capers blog “Book Feature” platform today!
Here is the link, up indefinitely, for those wishing to view the event: https://cozycapers.com/sherrill-joseph-nutmeg-street
It’s not too late to leave a comment. I will reply if I see yours.
Thanks, Donna, and Readers.
