… I look at these faces!
https://myrtlepurpleturtle.wordpress.com/fans-of-myrtle-2/
We look forward to meeting many more!
Tag: Children’s Books
My New Baby
Babies of all kinds are being born these days.
Here’s one of mine.
Born “Myrtle”, reborn with a new name — “Vertu”, in French — she arrived recently.
Huge thanks to Jean Long and Jessica Charnock, who translated the book from English, then diligently proofread the book in its draft form.
To do the translation, Jean took a big break from designing and building new birdhouses.
Jessica, meanwhile, took a break from the acclaimed Myrtle the Purple Turtle wall hanging she was creating at the time.
Thanks to Clif Graves, who formatted the book patiently and well. With Clif’s help, the book is also distributed by IngramSpark, making it easier for the bookstores, libraries, schools and other organizations who usually order my books.
As always, thanks to illustrator Jo Robinson, who created the original images.
I’m grateful to my co-author Lauren Reyes-Grange (of Myrtle’s Game and subsequent Myrtle the Purple Turtle books) whose brilliance allows me to shine.
I’m indebted — yes, that’s a great word, ’cause he invested in me! — to my husband for his love, support and commonsense. He and our entire family continue to help me with everything I undertake.
They all make for a remarkably diverse crew of midwives and family members. Two French-Canadians; two Jamaican-Canadians; one American from Maine; one South African, and a bunch of Canadians.
I’m also dedicating this post to Carol S, a Canadian who has become a super agent for the Myrtle books.
Thank you all for loving Myrtle! Err… Vertu!
The Sweetest Note
The ebook of Myrtle’s Game has been a #1 New Release on Amazon.com and a #1 Bestseller in its category on Amazon.ca.
Now the paperback has been released as well. Myrtle’s Game is available on all the Amazons.
The first response to the book comes from Madden, 5 years old. When your readers are young, you get the sweetest responses.
“You are so cool and nice,” Madden writes, “I love your book. Thank you.”
Madden’s note was sent to Lauren, my co-author of Myrtle’s Game. We both grinned with delight when we read it. THANK YOU, Madden (and Kenzie too)!
You may recall seeing Madden on my blog before. His mother, Julia, allowed us to publish her review of Myrtle the Purple Turtle, and here are Madden and younger sister Kenzie, reading that book a year ago.
Madden, now 5 years old, loves both soccer and turtles, his mother says, and perhaps that explains the immediate response to the book. He also plans to be either a pro soccer or hockey player, and a songwriter.
To order Myrtle’s Game: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0639948820/
To order Myrtle the Purple Turtle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0620773421
Myrtle On The Move
The little purple turtle returns!
Myrtle — who lived in our family’s hearts for 28 years, captured the imagination of S. African illustrator Jo Robinson, then, in the last year, charmed thousands of children and adults around the world — is on the move.
First, she returns this autumn as “Vertu”, in French. The text was translated by Myrtle-lovers Jean Long and Jessica Charnock, that creative duo whom you’ve met on this blog.
Here’s Jo’s draft of the cover:
Then Jessica emailed: Would Jo and I permit her to make a wall hanging of Myrtle?
Jo and I were giddy with excitement, of course, and Jessica proceeded to hook the Myrtle the Purple Turtle rug.
And what-do-you-know? Her wall hanging won “honourable mention” at the huge show and conference of the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild last May in our nation’s capital! Congrats, Jessica!
In the just-released Autumn issue of the Guild’s magazine, Myrtle’s story and wall hanging merit a whole page of their own.
Jo’s joyful response:
“I was blown away the first time I saw that fabulously-made Myrtle wall hanging. It is awesome that the Purple Turtle part of Cynthia Reyes’ lovely and loving family is honoured in such a way and by such a talented artist – Myrtle is a great and brave little purple soul and deserves it. Huge thank-you to Jessica and congratulations on placing in the competition! It will always be first with me!”
There’s a Myrtle sequel already written. Daughter Lauren joined me this time to write it, and Jo, despite a challenging year, is doing her part again — she’s well on her way with the illustrations and we expect the book to be published within weeks.
It appears that when Myrtle seizes the heart, inspiration strikes. Jessica, Jean, and our entire family are cheering Jo on as she approaches the finish-line with her part of the story.
Will keep you updated!
Cynthia Reyes 