December 9 and 23

Patricia Law, host of “Women’s Radio Hour” on San Diego’s KNSJ Social Justice radio 89.1 FM, Wednesdays at 5 p.m. PST, invited me to be her guest for the program.

Ms. Law asked me some great questions about the origins of my writing career, characters, and plots. She liked that my detectives work to bring criminals to justice and that two of them are girls.

The interview was broadcast on December 9 and replayed on the 23rd. Here is the link for those wishing to hear it:   ZOOM0009.MP3

Thank you, Patricia Law, for this fun opportunity!

December 6, 2020

Today, I had the privilege of being the author guest on Diane Rondeau Bator’s blog program, “Escape with a Writer Sunday.”

Diane is a cozy mystery author herself; she asked me some spot-on questions. Thanks, Diane!

To read the transcript of the program, please copy and paste this link into your browser: http://dbator.blogspot.com/2020/12/sherrill-joseph-tells-us-about-    botanic.html

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

December 1, 2020

My debut novel Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets is apparently doing very well in the awards department!

Today, it garnered two more, both from Royal Dragonfly Book Awards: Second Place (tie) in Historical Fiction; and, Second Place in Mystery.

Thanks, Royal Dragonfly Book Awards from Story Monsters. Whoohoo!

 

 

November 20, 2020

I am so honored and pleased to announce that today, Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets received the 2020 Best Book Award in Children’s Fiction from American Book Fest! Thank you so much, ABF.

That makes three awards to date for my debut novel. I couldn’t be prouder of it! Thank you all for your continued support of my writing and books.

November 18, 2020

It’s time to start your holiday shopping. Know any kids aged 9-12 who could use some great spooky mystery books to read? I have two suggestions.

You can purchase Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3ad9T6T; and, Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3d0iyLv.

Both books are also available by request via online or call-in order at traditional bookstores, including Barnes & Noble at http://barnesandnoble.com/s/sherrill+joseph, and at indie bookstores. Consider helping out your local indie bookshop this year.

Much appreciated!

October 20, 2020

Happy Book Birthday, Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse. Yay!

You can purchase your copy here.

October 15, 2020

Once again, I am thrilled and blown away to announce that my Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets has today won another GOLD AWARD! This time, I am being honored by Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.

Click here to see the announcement! Once on the page, please scroll to #13: Pre-Teen Fiction–Mystery.

Moonbeam is a very prestigious award organization that honors works and authors of “exemplary children’s literature.” To be in that league is both humbling and affirming since for my writing and me, it’s all about kids.

Thank you, Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards for this incredible honor.

October 11, 2020

Please join LeAnna Shields from Facebook’s The Cozy Sleuth and me for a Zoom Author Chat about Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020. 2 pm PT; 3pm MT; 4pm CT; 5 pm ET.

Join the Zoom Meeting:  https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76309187194?pwd=SjRHSWNlc3JIQWticjdlQTdubjQ4QT09

Meeting ID: 763 0918 7194 Passcode: dL94aA

Hope to see you there!

October 7, 2020

Please join Kim Heniadis and me for a Virtual Book Launch Party for Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse.

When and Where: Tuesday, October 20, 2020, on Facebook!

5 p.m. Pacific; 6 p.m. Mountain; 7 p.m. Central; and 8 p.m. Eastern

Please log in and reply “Going” at    https://www.facebook.com/events/1366616243533683

Hope you can join us!

October 5, 2020

I’m so thrilled and honored to announce that my Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets has just won the prestigious Gold Award from Mom’s Choice Awards! Thank you so much, Mom’s Choice Awards! I’ve arrived.

 

 

 

September 24, 2020

Let’s getting ready for October 20 when Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse finally releases!

Look for it on Amazon initially. It will be available in paperback and eBook there first.

By the end of November, both versions will also be available by order from Barnes & Noble, IndieBound.org, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Tolino, Google Books, and other fine book retailers.

Just remember, please: By late November, you can ask any bookstore to order my books! Don’t forget to frequent your local indie bookstore.

September 11, 2020

Today, Kriti Khare, via her “Armed with a Book” blog site, interviewed me about Synesthesia, a rare mental ability I possess. She also created my profile graphic as a “Reader, Writer, and Maker.”

Kriti’s day job is in science, so she was very interested when she found out that I have lexical-gustatory Synesthesia (as does my detective character Rani Kumar).

Here is the link if you’d like to read the interview, learn about Synesthesia, and/or check out the graphic:   https://www.armedwithabook.com/sherrill-joseph-on-synesthesia/

August 1, 2020

Hello, Readers,

Two Important Announcements:

First: My FREE downloadable Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets Book Study Guide went live today!

Educators, Librarians, and Families, I hope you’ll check it out and use it. Download the Book Study Guide here for free or visit my website at https://sherrilljoseph.com and click on the “Resources” tab.

From my background as a literacy teacher, I included reading pedagogy in the first half. The Book Study Guide itself comprises the second half.

I designed the Guide to be used primarily by anyone conducting book clubs with Nutmeg Street, either in person or virtually, and with any number of kids, aged 9-12, plus at least one adult. But the Guide can also be used for any work of fiction by easily adapting my example questions and activities.

I hope you will all find the Guide helpful, especially in these uncertain times. Please let me know what you think of it! Your comments will help me make it better.

Second: I am now booking Virtual School and Home Author Visits with Educators, Librarians, and Families. For information or to sign up, click on School Visits or visit my website and click on the “School Visits” tab.

I look forward to doing some visits in person one of these days when it is safe!

 

July 9, 2020

Hi, Readers,

Today, I went live on Facebook for my Cover Reveal of Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse, Book 2 in my Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series.

A good time was had by all when about thirty family and friends joined me online. They asked questions, and I discussed the book and cover, the origins of my characters and setting, and read excerpts.

Here is the video link. Enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/100007127807268/videos/2644181919162709

June 5, 2020

Today, I had the pleasure of virtually joining by invitation Mrs. Barb Huston, a third-grade teacher in Michigan, and four of her poised, polite students for the final session of their online Book Club.

They had read my book, Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets, and wanted to discuss it with me. How cool is that?!

What a pleasure and an honor to talk with Mrs. Huston, Gabby, Kendra, Lily, and Madi, who asked some great questions, like what inspires me to write, and where I get ideas for my stories.

I hope more teachers will invite me to join them virtually. Of course, I look forward to in-person classroom visits, too, one of these days!

 

 

 

May 17, 2020

Today, I put a huge sign in my home’s front window. See photo. My goal? To give away my signed and personalized book Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets for FREE to neighborhood kids, aged 9-12. I’m also throwing in a matching bookmark.

Schools are closed, and here comes summer. Whatever it takes to keep the kids reading.

I hope many take advantage of this opportunity!

 

 

April 30, 2020

Today by invitation, I virtually dropped in on Shoemaker Elementary School teacher Mrs. Stacy Alfano and a few of her 5th grade students during their daily Google Meet session from Macungie, Pennsylvania. I’m the one in the red top in the bottom row, second from the left. Also attending were the school principal Mrs. Jackie Vogel, and Mrs. Alfano’s instructional aide Mrs. LyneDee DiPietro. They are the three adults right of center.

A special shout-out to Varun, my “biggest fan,” in the lower right corner of the photo. He is currently one of my child beta readers for Book 2 and will contribute a Praise For quote for the book’s back cover. Thank you so much, Varun!

What an extra-special opportunity this was for me, given that schools and bookstores are closed for in-person events!

It was great fun talking to them about my writing process for crafting Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets. They also wanted to know a little bit about me. And the hot topic seemed to be SYNESTHESIA, the rare mental ability I share with my character Rani Kumar.

Getting my book into kids’ hands and hearts is why I write. Seeing this in action was priceless.

Thank you, Mrs. Alfano, students, and staff members for this wonderful experience! I hope to meet you in person one of these days when traveling and gathering are safe again.

 

 

April 24, 2020

Today, I gave away twenty-four paperback copies of Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets on my Twitter raffle!

Four teachers won a set of six books each to use on Virtual Book Clubs during the COVID stay-at-home mandate.

Schools are closed, and here comes summer. Anything to keep the kids reading.

 

 

March 24, 2020

Today, I had the honor of being the featured author on Adam Ross’s virtual web conference from Colorado via Zoom. Adam has a bookstore and during this time when the world is closed, he wanted to give some of us authors a chance to share our books since we can’t currently appear at events. Thanks, Adam!

Two of my little fifth-grade friends from Pennsylvania, Liam and Varun, joined in as did my cousin Harry from San Diego.

The guests asked me very good questions about how I got started writing, how I came up with my characters’ names for Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets, and what synesthesia is all about! (My character Rani Kumar and I have this mental ability.)

It was a fun forty minutes chatting with the three guys, and I’ve already been invited to come back. Hope to see you there next time.The more, the merrier!

 

March 9, 2020

Great news, Readers! As of today, I’m a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon! Whoohoo!!!

Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets climbed to #1 in two categories of Children’s fiction: Historical Action and Adventure, and Mystery and Detective Adventures.

Thanks for all your support.

February 15, 2020

My Book Launch Party was held on Saturday, February 15. What a great time I had! I think all 100 guests did, too. I felt like Queen for a Day, signing books for friends, neighbors, and relatives lined up out the door, and giving out book swag bags to each guest. It was one of the best days of my life!

A friend played guitar for the entire two hours. Avian’s House Caterers provided a tasty spread. Other friends, and my daughter (who flew in from Virginia), helped with set up and clean up, welcoming, greeting guests table-to-table, and prize giveaways.

In addition to my daughter and her in-laws from Pennsylvania, special guests included one of my former students, who inspired me to create my detectives; and, my second grade teacher, who has been my muse since I was eight years old.

There was a table with fun activities for kids. Also a get-to-know-the-characters area with relevant info and objects. Guest tables had Egyptian-themed centerpieces.

Everyone received a “book quiz” to take for fun–or not–which was used as their ticket for the giveaway featuring ten $25 gift cards to various stores.

I thank the Mission Valley Public Library and branch manager Karen Reilly for use of the venue.

Thanks, Acorn Publishing for giving me the opportunity to publish my book, or there would have been no book launch party!

Don’t have your paperback or eBook copy of Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets yet? Head to my Amazon purchase page at https://amzn.to/3ad9T6T.

I hope you enjoy(ed) my book. Thanks so much.

February 1, 2020

My book Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets is published!

Please order your copy in paperback or eBook today on Amazon TODAY.

I couldn’t be happier! Thanks for all your support, dear Readers! Sending hugs.

 

January 31, 2020

First, WELCOME to all new and returning subscribers to my monthly newsletter, “Get a Clue.” Thanks for being here.

Fantastic news, everyone! Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets finally launches TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 1. Whoohoo!!!

It’s been six long years since I wrote the first draft of Book 1 in my Botanic Hills Detectives Mysteries series, so I couldn’t be happier that this big day has finally arrived. It’s a dream come true!

 

So now, here are some tips for ordering your copy and helping me spread the word if you would be so kind:

 

  • Please ORDER A COPY OF MY BOOK

 

  • Please HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD
    • Soon after reading my book, add your honest review and/or star rating to my GoodReads page (for paperback or eBook).
    • Add your honest review and/or star rating to my Amazon page at Amazon Paperback or Amazon eBook
    • Share the release of my book, its buy links, a photo of my book, and your reviews on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, your own website/blog, and at your book club.
    • Encourage your friends to go to my GoodReads page, follow me, and click on Want to Read under the book’s cover picture. Please do that yourself!
    • Encourage your friends to go to my Amazon purchase page, paperback or eBook, and follow me. Please do that yourself!
    • Re-post and retweet my content whenever you see it on social media.
    • Tell friends, relatives, neighbors, kids ages 9-12, teachers of grades 3-6, PTA/PTO/PTG presidents or members, school and public librarians, bookstore owners, museums, and lovers of ancient Egypt about my book. Refer them to my website at Sherrill Joseph’s Website.
    • Tell them in person, by phone, text, email, snail mail, or on your social media platforms.
    • Share my website  www.sherrilljoseph.com with interested parties. Contacts to my three social media platforms can be found there.
    • Encourage interested parties, especially parents of kids ages 9-12, to sign up for my monthly newsletter at Newsletter Sign-up
    • Ask me for my business card to distribute.
    • Request to have your favorite library carry my book.
    • Give my books as gifts to kids ages 9-12 and to those who love and/or teach them.
    • Tell me if you know of a deserving child or teacher who could use a free copy of my book.
    • As often as possible, come to my book signings and bring some friends and kids.
    • When you finish reading my book, pass it on to a child, teacher, parent, or grandparent.
    • Add your used copy to one of your neighborhood’s “Little Free Library” boxes.
    • You can probably think of other great ways to help me out. Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated.

 

  • Some IMPORTANT POINTS about book purchasing
    • If possible, please purchase my book on Amazon on February 1. If I get enough purchases there in a single day, I could hit a best-seller category.
    • If you don’t want to use the buy links I provided, merely type my name or book title into the Amazon browser, hit enter, and it will take you to my book purchase page.
    • My paperback will be available online at Barnes & Noble by late February.
    • My paperback will be available in any bookstore where I do a book signing. Please watch my newsletter for book-signing announcements.
    • A hardcover edition will likely be available in a few months.
    • An audiobook edition will be available on Audible in April.
    • If you have accepted an invitation to my Book Launch Party and want me to sign your copy of my book, please bring your purchased copy to the event. I am not allowed to sell books at the venue.

 

  • Some IMPORTANT POINTS about book reviews
    • Please review my book on Amazon as soon as possible after Launch Day at Amazon Paperback or Amazon eBook depending on the version you bought.
    • The more reviews I get, the higher my ranking on Amazon, and Amazon might help promote my book for free.
    • To get to the Amazon review button, scroll to the bottom of my Amazon purchase page. Look to the left edge. Click on the “Write a Review” button.
    • Your honest review can be merely a star rating, few sentences or multiple paragraphs, or both a star rating and words. Whatever works for you.
    • Please avoid mentioning that you know me (if you do!). Amazon tends to reject “friend” reviews.
    • Amazon prefers reviews from “Verified Purchasers.” If you purchased the book on Amazon, or you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, your review stands a better chance of getting posted.
    • There is sometimes a delay in the review posting since Amazon vets the reviews first.
    • To do a review on GoodReads, go to my GoodReads Page. Click on the “Want to Read” button under the book cover picture. When you finish reading the book, click on that same box and click “Read” (meaning that you’ve finished reading). It will take you to a review page.
    • The same review can usually be posted to both Amazon and GoodReads. (Just cut and paste!). If one gets rejected (Amazon owns GoodReads), try tweaking it a bit and re-post. 

 

  • Last but not least, A GIVEAWAY!
    • For my readers living inside the United States and its territories, here’s your chance to win a free, signed paperback copy of Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets AND your choice of one of the Egyptian statues–the standing goddess Bastet, or the reclining god Anubis--pictured at the top of the page! These are not toys.They are very attractive in person and would make a nice tabletop or shelf decoration.
    • For my readers living outside the United States, here’s your chance to win a free eBook copy of Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets!
    • How do you enter the contest? Contact me through my website’s Contact Form. Include your first and last name, email address, and whether you live inside or outside the U.S.
    • Entry deadline is February 22, 2020.
    • Two winners (one U.S. and one international) will be announced in the February 29th newsletter. Prizes will be mailed the first week of March.

 

  • And following in the REST of my NEWSLETTER . . .
    • The News section includes my January blogs from my website. They feature Chapters 1 and 2 in their entirety as a preview as well as an article about why I created “super sleuths.”
    • Once again, Moki, one of the Botanic Hill detectives, offers his Munchy of the Month, this time a Valentine’s Day recipe.
    • Starting this month, my Book Review section becomes a Kids’ Reading Corner where I will spotlight a special book and author for kids ages 9-12. Please help support these authors by buying their books.
    • And some of you returning subscribers will notice that the Mystery of the Month is now at the end of the newsletter. I have to keep things mysterious!

 

  • THANK YOU SO MUCH, LOYAL READERS. And get a clue. Read every day! I hope you enjoy Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets as much as I enjoyed writing it.  Sherrill