A smattering of notes for a sunny Thursday morning:

Fortune’s Folly has gotten a few more nice reviews. First, here’s an excerpt from the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books:

Fagan writes in a smooth style and a spanking pace, keeping the faux-historical fun rolling right along. Fortunata’s refusal to believe in magic or fortune-telling (“It’s all just a bunch of tricks”), and the revelation of the fortune-teller’s “tricks of the trade” are also refreshing, but romantics will still be pleased by the almost magical quality of the prophecy, quest, and happy (if convenient) final outcome. Fortunata’s narration is sassy yet sensible, believable in both her desperate and powerful moments, and laced with humor about her father’s hideous shoes. Fans of fairy-tale fiction will find this a perfect fit.

And here’s a snippet from VOYA:

Tidbits of classic fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, and The Elves and the Shoemaker, are woven into this deftly written debut novel, which ends happily ever after, as all good fairy tales must. Offer this one to the girls who are reading Gail Carson Levine.

In other book-related news, I did a short talk for the local Rotary Club last week, which was a lot of fun, and I have a bunch of library and bookstore events coming up. I’ll be talking about fairy-tale fiction, my own books, testing fairy-tale trivia and giving out prizes! Any of you locals out there who might attend, let me know so I can be on the lookout for you!

Barnes & Noble (Augusta ME)
Thursday October 1st, 7 PM

Prince Memorial Library (Cumberland ME)
Tuesday October 6th, 6:30 PM

Bridgton Public Library (Bridgton ME)
Saturday October 24th, 11 AM

Rockland Public Library (Rockland ME)
Tuesday November 10th, 6PM

Thomas Memorial Library (Cape Elizabeth ME)
Saturday December 5th, 3PM