WESTPORT, Conn. -- Children’s author Christine Pakkala will read from her newest hardcover, Last-But-Not-Least Lola and the Wild Chicken (Boyds Mills Press), at Barnes & Noble, 1076 Post Road, Westport on December 3 at 6:30 pm. Pakkala will also speak about the joys and challenges of writing a children’s series, while doling tips to budding authors. The community at large is invited to attend. Admission is free.
Wild Chicken is the second installment in the Last-But-Not-Least Lola series for young readers, which debuted in 2013. Pakkala won the 2014 Green Prize for Sustainable Literature for the launch title, Last-But-Not-Least Lola Going Green, and both books have received starred reviews. Book three, Last-But-Not-Least Lola and The Cupcake Queens, is slated for a hardcover release September, 2015 and the fourth book, Last-But-Not-Least and a Knot the Size of Texas follows in September, 2016. The Last-But-Not-Least Lola titles feature irrepressible Lola Zuckerman, who always has to go last but learns to make the best of it -- while going green, fending off wild chickens, and learning how to share her best friend. In addition, Pakkala has penned the stand alone middle grade fiction title, Jasmine and Maddie, an anti-bullying story of two girls who had nothing in common -- or so they thought.
Pakkala was a Fulbright scholar in 1992 and received her Master of Fine Arts from the Iowa Writers Workshop in 1993. She won the 2013 Ladies Home Journal essay contest for her essay, “Costa Rica.” Her essays have also been published in Brain Child: The Magazine for Thinking Mothers, Salon, Serendipity Magazine and Westport Magazine, among others.
Pakkala is available for school, library and bookstores visits. To book the author for an appearance, e-mail her public relations representative, Aline Weiller at wordsmithllc@optonline.net or visit www.christinepakkala.com.
Westport’s Barnes & Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com) has a long-standing tradition of housing events for local authors and beyond. “Christine is as charming, sweet and surprising as her characters and we’re pleased to host her appearance. She’s also a Staples High School parent and a portion of her book’s sales that day/evening will be donated to the school,” said Tricia Tierney, Community Business Development Manager, Westport Barnes & Noble. The Lola and the Wild Chicken reading will take place in the children’s book section of the store and will commence promptly at 6:30 on Wednesday, December 3. A book signing will follow the presentation. For more information, visit the store-specific website for details or call (203) 221-7955.