Surprises and Celebrations

WICKED MARIGOLD news, reviews, events, signed books, and more!

Five years ago, when I started writing the middle grade novel that would become Wicked Marigold, I didn’t know if anyone else would ever read it. I’d been fortunate in my writing career to have sold several projects on proposal, but Wicked Marigold was the first full manuscript I’d written without a publishing contract in place in almost a decade. I wrote it in hour-long bursts at 6 in the morning while my toddler and infant were sleeping; I wrote it in microscopic increments throughout 2020, in those moments when I wasn’t searching the internet for toilet paper or cheese, humming sea chanteys, or floundering through full-time pandemic parenting. In 2021, as I was preparing to send Wicked Marigold out on submission to editors, my long-time literary agent retired, and I wondered if this manuscript might be one I’d eventually have to set aside. I liked it a lot, but I know that some books are an acquired taste. (Or, I guess, a non-acquired taste.¹)

I’m sharing all of this with you because I want you to know that in publishing, unlike in fairy tales, no happy result feels inevitable, and every piece of good news is worthy of serious celebration. I celebrated when my new agent fell in love with Wicked Marigold, when the book found a wonderful home at Candlewick Press, and when I saw the beautiful cover illustrated by Jennifer M. Potter. I celebrated when Wicked Marigold earned blurbs from some of my favorite authors, all of whom I’ll be featuring in an upcoming newsletter so you can learn more about their excellent books! Since the last time I wrote to you, I’ve celebrated when Wicked Marigold received great reviews from Kirkus (“a witty and engaging anti-fairy-tale adventure”), Publishers Weekly (“an insightful tale of nature versus nurture and good versus evil”), and the Horn Book (which I’ll be able to share in a few more weeks). I’m still a little amazed that next month, this book will be on shelves in bookstores and libraries, and I’m thrilled that early readers have welcomed it to the world so kindly.

When I found out that People Magazine had chosen Wicked Marigold as one of their best books of the summer, I was almost too surprised to celebrate. During all those early-morning writing bursts, when I still thought I might be the only person who’d ever read this book, I never would have imagined that it would turn up in the pages of People. But there it is! It’s in the June 3rd print issue and online, so I’m about 94% sure it’s not an elaborate prank. I hope you’ll check out the other selections, too, if you’re looking for summer reading; the other middle grade choices sound particularly great.

A month or so out from publication, this is how I’m feeling: a little in awe of this book that’s full of surprises, hugely grateful for all the work many people have done to bring Wicked Marigold into the world, and really excited for readers to dive in.

Upcoming Events

I have a few events already planned to celebrate the launch of Wicked Marigold this summer, with more to come through the fall. Most events are in my local area (western PA), but one is virtual and open to readers everywhere, so I hope you’ll be able to join in!

• On Tuesday, July 16, which is Wicked Marigold’s publication day, we’ll be having a virtual celebration via Zoom at 7 p.m. Eastern. I’ll be in conversation with fellow middle grade author Nick Courage, and we’ll be hosted by the wonderful Penguin Bookshop. You can visit the Penguin’s event page to pre-register. Attendance is free, but if you attend, please consider ordering your copy of Wicked Marigold through the Penguin to support their work.

• On Saturday, July 20, I’ll be signing Wicked Marigold at the Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley, Pennsylvania from 12:00-1:00 pm.

• On Saturday, July 27, I’ll be speaking at the Grove City Community Library in Grove City, Pennsylvania, at 1:00 pm. Buy one of my books from your favorite retailer and bring it along with you to be signed.

• On Friday, August 23, at 5:30 pm, we’ll be celebrating Wicked Marigold with an in-person book launch and pizza party at Riverstone Books in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania. I’ll be in conversation with middle grade author Jonathan Auxier. Friends of all ages are welcome! We’ll sign books, chat, and eat pizza and cake.

As always, I’ll be keeping the events page of my website updated with information about these events and more in the works.

Preorders

If you want to preorder a copy of Wicked Marigold so it arrives in your hands shortly after publication, now is a great time to do that. You can order it from anywhere you like to buy books, but I always especially encourage folks to support their local independent bookstores. If you’d like a signed copy of Wicked Marigold, you can order from one of my wonderful local indies: the Penguin Bookshop, Riverstone Books, Spark Books, or White Whale. Be sure to make a note in the comments field that you’d like your book signed to you or someone else.

If you’d prefer to pick your book up at your own favorite store but would still like my signature in the book, send me a note with your info and mailing address, and I’ll send you a signed bookplate (and possibly one of my very snazzy Wicked Marigold bookmarks).

Finally, if you’d like to support Wicked Marigold in a different way, you can request that your local library system order a copy of the book. Authors really love seeing our books in libraries, where they’re accessible to all readers!

More Book Recommendations

I’m still writing monthly columns for Literary Hub about new children’s books I’m looking forward to reading in 2024, and I hope you’ll find your next favorite story on one of these lists. The June column just published yesterday. Let me know which upcoming books look most exciting to you!

Thank you all—not only for making it to the end of this epic newsletter, but also for your support of my books over the years. I couldn’t keep telling stories without you.

Happy reading!

Caroline

1. Publishing joke!