Nora Has Cookies... and We’re Going on Tour!
Nora escaped the bakery. Now she’s hitting the road.
Hello there!
I hope you all are doing well. Thank you so much for subscribing to my author website, reading my poems, learning about the projects I have coming up, and simply being supportive.
More than anything, I’m thankful for the support and kind words I’ve received in person. I want you to know that it means a lot to me.
And now I have quite a few updates to share!
You Can Now Taste the Story!
I would like to officially announce that the Nora Escapes the Bakery Book & Cookie Gift Box is on sale!
The idea is simple: experience the story and taste it at the same time.
I’ve partnered with Jay Rosenthal, owner of Cupcakes with Purpose, whose online bakery donates 15% of its proceeds to a nonprofit. For this particular collaboration, 15% will go toward supporting children receiving pediatric care in Baltimore, Maryland.
You can order a gift box featuring a signed hardcover copy of Nora Escapes the Bakery along with 6 or 12 freshly baked cookies. The flavors are inspired by the story: Butterscotch, Macadamia, or Sugary Sprinkles.
All gift boxes will ship on August 8. We’re giving you a window of time to place your order while also giving our beloved baker precious time to bake the best cookies for you.
Wait... Am I Going on a Book Tour?
I would also like to announce that I am OFFICIALLY going on a book tour. Yes. A real book tour. 😂
My good friend Ashley Nelson recently commented on one of my social media posts, “OK book tour!!”
And you know what? I’m CLAIMING it.
Starting in late August, Nora and I will be participating in several events. Some of these I’ve told you about before, but now I’m looking at the calendar and realizing: Wait a minute. We are actually going places.
First Stop: The Storytellers Book Festival in Baltimore
On August 23, I’ll be at the Storytellers Festival for Childrenn at the St. Francis Neighborhood Center in Baltimore. And I’m not just a vendor!
I have the unique opportunity to share a classroom with two other authors. I’ll be doing a reading of Nora Escapes the Bakery, having a discussion with the children, and, of course, we’ll have a Design Your Own Cookie activity.
So if you’re in the Baltimore area on Sunday, August 23, come meet Nora and me at the Storytellers Festival!
Then Nora Is Headed to NIH
That same week, I’ll be headed to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. I’ve been invited to do a reading and talk at The Children’s Inn at NIH during their back-to-school week. And this one means a lot to me.
I’ll also be providing a free copy of the book to every child in attendance.
The children staying at The Children’s Inn are receiving care and treatment through NIH, and I believe Nora’s story fits beautifully in this space. I want those young readers to hear one of the most important messages in the book: “Even with a few less crumbs, you’re still a cookie.”
Life throws us curveballs. Sometimes we get sick. Sometimes doctors tell us things we don’t completely understand. Sometimes life changes in ways we never expected. Nora reminds us that we can still find the courage to keep going.
Then Comes a BIG Cookie Drop
Later in September, I’ll be headed to Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. I’ve been invited to do a book reading during Children’s Church, and we’re also doing a BIG COOKIE DROP. 🍪
And yes, I mean that quite literally. We’re dropping off humongous cookies for the children who participate. So if you’re able to come, you’ll get a story and a treat.
Nora would approve.
Next Stop: Harrisonburg, Virginia!
I’ll also be traveling to Harrisonburg, Virginia, for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham African-American Festival. I’ll be there as a featured author and will also have my table set up throughout the festival. So if you’re in Harrisonburg or somewhere nearby, please stop by and see me!
You can find all of my upcoming appearances here:
Can We Get to 1,000?
One more thing! I’m currently at 460 followers on Instagram! If I can make it to 1,000 followers, I’ll be able to go LIVE during my events. Wouldn’t that be fun?!
So if you haven’t already, please follow me at @AuthorDevansEli and spread the word about the book tour. I would love to bring some of these adventures to everyone who can’t physically be there.
And This Is Only the Beginning...
Trust me, many more things are happening. But this is the beginning of my book tour, and I’m excited to finally be able to say that. Nora escaped the bakery.
Apparently, she decided to take me with her. 😂💜🍪
And I’ll keep you updated on where we end up next.