best present ever

This Sunday, my first book turns ten years old. HappyBirthdayAuthor.com unknowingly has given me the most amazing anniversary present ever. Check out "The JJK Reading Experience".

And check out the awesome postcards sent from Mrs. VanRaepenbusch's 2nd graders. They made 50 postcards for me in honor of the postcards I sent to publishers when I was trying to break into publishing. (This is a part of the author study found in the above link.)

Giddy Up, Cowgirl Birthday Cake

Remember the awesome Fujimoto family, who, a few years back, decorated their baby's room with a Punk Farm decor?


They even had a Punk Farm cake at the baby shower:



Well, their baby girl is growing up and just turned three! And look! They're at it again. Emiko had a birthday cake decorated with Giddy Up, Cowgirl!


It not only looks amazing, but delicious. And I am totally honored. A birthday cake is the highest honor you can bestow upon an author. Well, maybe second to a baby room!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Emiko!

Happy Birthday, River!

Hearing about birthday parties just makes me happy - I love cake. But when I hear about a birthday party where the theme was based on one of my books I get really excited - that is the ultimate honor! River just turned 3 and he wanted his big day to have a Punk Farm theme. It looks like the party was a blast!

Here's River tuning his guitar backstage.

See- cake = delicious!

Looks like the scene was effectively set to rock with downloaded PF posters.

This shot was taken right after River blew the roof off the place.
(Cameras were prohibited during the actual performance.)

Looks like everyone enjoyed River's party. If they were lucky enough to get past this kid. He was the bouncer, collecting tickets and stamping hands on the way in. Anyone with a real ID was thrown out of the club.

Happy Birthday, River!

Happy 5th Birthday, Isaiah!

By far one of the coolest things that has happened to me over the years is when I catch wind of a birthday cake that has one of my characters on it. The first time that it ever happened to me was shortly after Good Night, Monkey Boy was released. At the time, it jolted me into realizing that my work was out there and that kids were vibing with what I was doing. I placed the photo on the wall in front of my drafting table to remind me of that fact if I was ever having a bad day. A birthday cake is a big deal - the photos will be in their family albums forever.

With Punk Farm, I've been told of three Punk Farm themed birthday parties this year! And with the latest - I've been jolted just as I was 4 years ago when I received that picture of the Monkey Boy cake. My friends in Texas have a son, Isaiah, who just turned 5. He loves Punk Farm and can recite every word without even looking at the book! His parents put together quite the party and I am honored that Isaiah's 5th birthday involved Punk Farm!

They sent me this great invitation and some great pictures -