The Moonlight Memoirs Blog by Maggie Mei Lewis

Highlights from 2011

2012-01-11T14:32:00.000-05:00

Booksigning in Downtown Annapolis

Unreleased Memories of 2011

Here are some of the pictures from 2011 that never got posted.

They are of me, Maggie Mei Lewis, at various Moonlight Memoirs signings. Looking at them make me think of all the fun times brought by them, along with the wonderful people I've met along the way and everyone who has helped me.

Booksigning at The Day of the Book Festival

Some of these include one at Barnes & Noble in the Harbour Center in Annapolis, Maryland, Signings in Downtown Annapolis for Boat Shows, and many different book festivals and events.

Booksigning for Midnight Madness

Thank you everyone for keeping up with Moonlight Memoirs.

Booksigning at Barnes & Noble

It means a lot to me and I hope my message in Moonlight Memoirs is read by those who need or want to hear it's message.

2011 has been a really fun year, filled with great things, and I'm sure 2012 will offer fun opportunities along with rich life moments. Thank you everyone, and Happy 2012!

-Maggie Mei Lewis

It's 2012!

2012-01-11T13:45:00.000-05:00

I can't believe 2011 is over and now 2012 is here. It's been awhile since I've added to the blog, but during the winter I took a bit of a break from signings due to a cold. I did a Midnight Madness signing in Downtown Annapolis for Christmas time in December, then rested and enjoyed Christmas, along with my 18th birthday. I will be posting some booksigning pictures from 2011 that I recently found, as a way to highlight some of the fun times from last year. Stay tuned!

Moonlight Memoirs at the Chicago Booksigning

2011-11-05T10:40:00.000-04:00


Maggie Mei Lewis at the National Funeral Director's Association

I just got back from the Chicago Book Signing at the Nation Funeral Director's Association Annual Meeting in Illinois. I signed books at the NOMIS Publications booth from 12-5 on Monday, October 24th 2011. It was a great experience and I got to meet lots of wonderful people. NOMIS was wonderful to work with, and I thank them for giving me the opportunity to sign at the convention. The Chicago trip was short, but long enough. I wish I could have stayed to look at some of the famous art galleries around there, but I had to get home. It was strange to see all the taxi's there and how busy it was. It was nothing like Maryland.

My next upcoming signing is at The Freddie Mac Foundation Adoption Expo, November 12th 2011 from 11 am - 3 pm. I will most likely be signing at a table right outside the entrance into the expo, so stop by. For more information about the Adoption Expo, check out there website at: http://www.freddiemacfoundation.org/

I am also updating the blog, twitters, facebooks, and hopefully website so stay tuned for those exciting changes!

Upcoming Book Signings for 2011!

2011-09-12T18:37:00.009-04:00

It has been a very busy August and September. I haven't been blogging that much due to so many events that are keeping me busy. We just had hurricane Irene hit here, and then hurricane Lee. Also we experienced the 2011 earthquake which was quite a shocker for a lot of people around here. Californians are used to it, and most consider it to be nothing.

I will be signing at The Freddie Mac Foundation Adoption Expo, November 12th 2011 from 11 am - 3 pm. It is an annual event that provides a wealth of information on adoption for our community. I signed there last year and it was an enriching experience and I got to meet many other authors and adoptees. The event itself attracts over 1,200 people, and many families wanting to learn more about adoption. I will be at a table/booth there signing books so don't forget to stop by. Check out their website: here.

I also have an upcoming Chicago Book Signing at the Nation Funeral Director's Association Annual Meeting in Illinois. I will be flying out to Chicago to sign books at the NOMIS Publications booth from 12-4 on Monday, October 24th 2011. Check out their website: here.

My Interview on The Balancing Act!

2011-07-12T10:35:00.011-04:00

I have been waiting for my interview that I went down to tape in May this year 2011, for the Balancing Act, to premier, and it finally has!

I am one of the featured authors on Lifetime Television Network's The Balancing Act on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. I was interviewed by Danielle Knox during The Book Club segment of the show.

The show airs from 7 AM to 8 AM on both coasts and from 6 AM to 7 AM in the central states.

If you would like to see my segment after it airs on Tuesday, go to our website's home page and click on The Balancing Act button.

It's still strange for me to watch myself on television, but I'm glad I had a chance for this wonderful opportunity. Thank you everyone out there who has supported me and helped make this happen. Stay tuned for more Moonlight Memoirs news and updates.

For more pictures check us out on Facebook!

Moonlight Memoirs on Facebook

Maggie Mei Lewis on Facebook

Interview on "The Balancing Act", The Da Vinci Award and Much More!

2011-05-20T19:07:00.013-04:00

I was one of the lucky authors selected for an interview on The Balancing Act, that stars on the Lifetime Channel, and Lifetime TV. I flew down to Florida and stayed in Fort Lauderdale before filming the segment. It was a great experience and I am so thankful Moonlight Memoirs was picked to participate in the Authors Corner segment of the show. It will air over the summer on the Lifetime Channel. Stay tuned for the airing date and more information.

I just found out Moonlight Memoirs also won the Da Vinci Eye part of the Eric Hoffer award. It was one out of six winners.This means the book was picked because of a special distinction from hundreds of others, and is awarded to titles with superior cover art. It is a great honor, and will be put in The US Review of Books, with full coverage on it. It will also be listed on www.HofferAward.com

I was featured in the monthly newsletter of the Independent Book Publishers Association IBPA because of my interview with StarStyle Radio done by Cynthia Brian, which you can listen to here: http://bethestaryouare.mypodcast.com/2010/10/Moonlight_Memoirs_Health_Technology-338494.html

You can also download the Podcast in iTunes
For more information about StarStyle radio you can check out their website: http://www.starstyleradio.com/

I will be doing my last May book signing on the 21st, from 11 AM-12 PM, for the Gaithersburg Book Festival. Stop by and check out the festival and all the featured authors and books.

Some More April Happenings!

2011-04-21T21:30:00.017-04:00

There have been many more scheduled upcoming events for Moonlight Memoirs.

I visited the Key School Book Fair on April 19th, and met up with fellow authors I was on a discussion panel with last year, including Diana Peterfreund, the author of The Secret Society Girl Series and her Unicorn series.

I book signed at the Kensington Day of the Book Festival on April 17th from 12-1 PM. I visited with L.M. Preston, who had also signed at the Key School Book Festival. She has just released her new book titled "Bandits", which is available from amazon.com.

Here are a few of the upcoming events I will be participating in:

The Eric Hoffer- Da Vinci Award - Moonlight Memoirs is a finalist for the 2011 Eric Hoffer-Da Vinci Award. We are on the "Short list" and the awards will be announced in a few weeks.

Moonlight Memoirs on Voice America/World Talk Radio - Iwill be interviewed by Cynthia Brian, the Oprah of the Airwaves, on Starstyle - Be the Star You Are. My segment will air live on Thursday May 5th at 3:17 PM Pacific Time. Search on-line for World Talk Radio to listen on May 5th or anytime after that date.

Moonlight Memoirs on National TV - I was chosen to be a featured author on The Balancing Act which airs on Lifetime Television weekdays at 7 AM. I will be heading to Florida for the filming of my segment sometime in the next few weeks. Date and time of my summertime TV appearance will be announced as soon as I know.

Bologna, Italy Children's Book Fair - Moonlight Memoirs attended this book fair in March. We've received a lead regarding a publisher who may be interested in translating and publishing Moonlight Memoirs in Romania.

BookExpo America - Moonlight Memoirs will be displayed at the Independent Book Publishers Association booth during this book fair in New York City May 24-26, 2011.

Gaithersburg Book Festival - I will be signing books at the Mid-Atlantic Book Publisher's booth on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Time to be announced - check my Twitter or Facebook page!

There are many more events on the horizon, so stay tuned for more updates about Moonlight Memoirs. Thanks for checking in!

April's Events

2011-04-08T10:33:00.010-04:00

It's amazing how quickly time passes. It doesn't seem like its already April 2011.

I had a great time book signing at the Adoptions Together Family Connection Conference on Saturday March 26th. I was there from 8-1, attended the seminar held, and then signed lots of books. It was the second time attending this event, and it was just as fun as the first.

I am visiting the Key School Book Fair again this year on April 9th, but not participating in the panels this time. It's nice to see the fellow authors I talked with last year, again and doing well. If you are interested about the fair there's more information on their site: http://www.keyschool.org/community/annapolis-book-festival/book-sales/index.aspx

My next book event for Moonlight Memoirs is a signing at the Kensington Day of the Book on April 17th! I will be signing along with many other authors in this special book festival. For more information you can check out their site: http://www.dayofthebook.com/

I will also be doing a few more interviews over the next couple months, with various radio's and shows, and more book signings in April and through the Summer. Stay tuned for more details.

March Happenings for Moonlight Memoirs

2011-03-14T19:56:00.009-04:00

Spring is finally here. I've been busy marketing Moonlight Memoirs and enjoying the nice weather. Here are some of the upcoming and past events:

I signed many books at two Annapolis bookstores in February. The Barnes and Noble in the Annapolis Harbour Center, and the Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers in Downtown Annapolis, where the weather was perfect for some time in the sun. It felt good to get back to booksignings in warmer weather.

Indie Bookman Show - I was interviewed by Brad Grochowski for his podcast, The Indie Bookman Show. To listen to his February 9th show about kids and publishing, go to www.indiebookman.com, scroll to February 9th show "Kids", then click on arrow button at end of show's description.

Davidsonville Wildlife Sanctuary Donation - We are happy to donate a portion of the profits from Moonlight Memoirs to this local wildlife refuge which is manned totally by volunteers. We thank them for their dedication to animal rehabilitation!

Events on the Horizon

Family Connections Conference - On Saturday March 26th, I will be signing books at this annual event for families who have adopted children through Adoptions Together, Inc. We thank ATI for this second invitation and we look forward to the fun!

Kensington Day of the Book - On Sunday April 17th, I will be signing books at the Mid-Atlantic Book Publisher's booth during this afternoon street festival celebrating the International Day of the Book.

Gaithersburg Book Festival - On Saturday May 21st, I will be signing books at the Mid-Atlantic Book Publisher's booth at this premier literary event.

Stay tuned to Moonlight Memoirs's Facebook and Twitter pages for updates regarding more events this Spring and beyond!

Whats Happening This February

2011-02-07T14:54:00.007-05:00

It's finally beginning to turn into Spring. Along with Spring comes new opportunities and ideas. Here's some of the things Moonlight Memoirs has going on now:

Moonlight Memoirs targeted media release is going on now. We are experiencing a steady response from the series of news releases sent to targeted radio stations, TV, magazines and newspapers during January. These news releases will continue through early March.

I will be booksigning at the ATI Family Connections Conference, Saturday March 26th 2011 from 9 AM- 1 PM.

Barnes and Noble Book Signing - I will be signing and selling books on Sunday, February 20, 2011 from 2 to 4 PM at the Annapolis Harbor Barnes and Noble.

Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers Book Signing - I will be signing and selling books at the Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers in downtown Annapolis on Sunday, February 27, 2011 from 10 AM to 1 PM.

Moonlight Memoirs and Elementary Schools - I am looking forward to participating in several book fairs at area elementary schools over the next few months. Stay tuned for more details.

Don't forget to watch my Facebook and Twitter updates for more of the latest news about Moonlight Memoirs.

The New Year 2011, Happy New Year

2011-01-07T10:21:00.009-05:00

I can't believe how fast time flies; It's already January 2011! Here are some of the highlights of book signings and events for Moonlight Memoirs from December:

I did a Book signing at Hard Bean Cafe and Booksellers - It was a freezing night, but fun to sit outside listening to carols and see festive holiday spirit. I was visited during my second Midnight Madness book signing in downtown Annapolis on December 9, 2010.

The Indie Bookman Show - I was interviewed by Brad Grochowski, CEO of AuthorsBookshop.com, for an upcoming podcast on the Indie Bookman Show. Look at this blog, and Moonlight Memoirs's facebook and twitter for date and time to catch the podcast. Moonlight Memoirs is also available for purchase at AuthorsBookshop.com!

The Centering Corporation - I am honored that Moonlight Memoirs is now available through this non-profit organization which is dedicated to providing education on grief and loss for professionals and the families they serve.

Local Hospice Donation- We delivered signed copies of Moonlight Memoirs and cute mice and nests created by Danielle Engle to Hospice of the Chesapeake for use in their children's programs. This could not have been possible without the help of Miss Danielle, for her creativity and kindness to make these handmade nests. We hope that these nests with the mice and books provide comfort to children who need it. The picture (right) is of me and Sarah Montgomery, childrens group leader.

Here are some exciting upcoming events:

Targeted Media Release - To publicly announce Moonlight Memoirs' many literary awards, we are sending a press release to over 1800 targeted magazines, newspapers, radio and TV stations during the next few months.

Book signings - There will be many more book-signings this year. Watch Maggie's blog, Facebook and Twitter for specific dates and times.

Professional Conferences and Book Fairs - Throughout the coming year, Moonlight Memoirs will attend numerous library and other professional conferences in addition to national and international book fairs.

During my book signings and presentations this past year, one comment has been repeated over and over again - "This book belongs in every elementary school library!". As a result, we will be contacting guidance counselors and school psychologists to inform them about Moonlight Memoirs' value as an elementary level resource for children experiencing loss. If you have any ideas regarding how to best reach this audience, please contact Greta Johnson at gretajohnson@goodtimespress.com. Thanks for reading and have a great new year!

December Booksignings and Gift Baskets!

2010-12-05T12:33:00.011-05:00

I did a book signing for Midnight Madness in Downtown Annapolis at the Hardbean Coffee & Booksellers on Thursday, December 2nd from 6-9 PM. It was very cold weather, but fun to sign out where you could see people walking by and hear bands playing Christmas Carols.

I will be doing another book signing for Midnight Madness at the same place on Thursday, December 9th from 6-9 PM, and signing for the Eleventh Hour in Downtown Annapolis. Usually I will be signing outside in the Winter air, so stop by and say hi.

I also put together some cute Christmas gift baskets for Moonlight Memoirs.

They contain a handmade pair of Moonlight Memoirs mice, sleeping in a handmade little nest, an autographed copy of Moonlight Memoirs (perhaps double signed by author and illustrator), a pen, business card, post cards, two magnets (one small and one large), a bookmark signed by Melody Lea Lamb the illustrator, a cotton shirt, all conveniently packed into a decorative Christmas Basket.

The mice are made by Miss Danielle. She handcrafts, felts, and hand-crochets each individual creation. She is Henry JM the Cat's Ambassador from Minneapolis, Minn. To find out more information about her visit Henry's website here.

That's all for now. Check out Moonlight Memoirs Twitter, and my Twitter. Also Moonlight Memoirs Facebook and mine are updated constantly for the latest news about Moonlight Memoirs! To purchase Moonlight Memoirs please visit our website here. Thanks so much!

November Events, Awards and Updates and Excitement!

2010-11-08T17:15:00.017-05:00

Moonlight Memoirs has had another exciting month. We've had lots of fun events and opportunities appear.

My interview from October 2009, filmed at the Annapolis Bookstore in Downtown Annapolis appeared on Channel 100 on tv, which was interesting to watch.

I received my Moonbeam Children's Book medal for Moonlight Memoirs recently.

So far Moonlight Memoirs has won six awards this year. We've also received more distribution (scroll down for more information).

Today I received a surprise in the mail; a package from Miss Danielle A. Engle & Little Ones. Inside were two sets of little mice on cushions, just like the ones in Moonlight Memoirs and a little card! They are adorable and I'm very thankful to have received them. Thanks to Miss Danielle and everyone for making them. Danielle handcrafts, felts, and hand-crochets each individual creation. She is Henry JM the Cat's Ambassador from Minneapolis, Minn. To find out more about her click here.

It's very exciting and I hope more good things happen this year.

Henry JM is ASPCA's Cat of the Year for 2010 - Our cat friend, Henry JM, who encourages people of all ages to move beyond ignorance and bias into acceptance and understanding is the ASPCA Cat of the Year !

Ronald McDonald House Donations - We donated copies of Moonlight Memoirs to many Ronald McDonald Houses around the nation, hoping that Maggie's message of comfort will help families during their stay.

More Distribution for Moonlight Memoirs - We just received word that Baker and Taylor, the world's largest distributor of books and entertainment, accepted Good Times Press as a vendor. We expect to complete the paperwork process very soon!

What's Happening, Annapolis - Read this new book review by editor Nadja Maril!

Events on the Horizon
Freddie Mac Foundation's Adoption Expo - Maggie will be signing and selling books at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington DC during this expo from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday, November 6, 2010. Click here for more information.

Book Signing at Borders - Maggie will be signing and selling books at the Annapolis Mall Borders Bookstore on Sunday, November 14, 2010 from 2 to 4 PM. See you there!

December events (so far) - Maggie will be signing and selling books at Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers downtown Annapolis during Midnight Madness on December 2 and 9, 2010 starting at 6 PM.

The Rest of the Story
Provide comfort to a military family grieving the loss of a loved one by donating a copy of Moonlight Memoirs to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).

Moonlight Memoirs blog, facebook pages, and twitters are constantly updated and check them out for more cool updates and news! Thanks for reading!

October Booksignings and Exciting Events!

2010-10-20T15:52:00.015-04:00

I had a book signing at the Hard Bean Coffee & Booksellers for the Motor Boat Show in Downtown Annapolis in the 15th of October from 8-3. It was a great day to be out selling Moonlight Memoirs, and I met a lot of interesting people. I got my picture taken with some people who purchased Moonlight Memoirs and that was fun.

I book signed at the Odenton Library of West County for their Author Night along with several other authors from 6-8 PM. A few of these other authors included Carol Larese Millward author of "Star in the Middle", Joan Lechmann who wrote "Heaven Below", and Edith M. Hemingway who wrote "Road to Tater Hill".

We just received the second printing of Moonlight Memoirs today!

Order now:
www.moonlightmemoirs.com

A beautiful article just came out in "Whats Up?" the Annapolis magazine reviewed by Madja Maril for Moonlight Memoirs-Remembering Family and Friends are Forever.

Check it out here:
http://www.whatsupmag.com/arts/arts-leisure-features/10-10-20/Moonlight_Memoirs%E2%80%94Remembering_Family_and_Friends_are_Forever.aspx

Moonlight Memoirs won the silver award in the 20 10 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for Best First Book- Picture book. Here are the results for the Moonbeam Awards.

It's been a very exciting month so far. Can't wait to see what we have in store for us next!

Downtown Annapolis Sailboat Show Booksigning!

2010-10-12T15:30:00.011-04:00

I just finished a book signing in front of the Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers in downtown Annapolis during the Sailboat Show on October 7th and 8th. It was nice weather, with a bit of breeze. I signed along side a great fellow author, Raymond McAlwee, who wrote a book called "Chesapeake Bay Stories". We had a fun time and great conversations while sitting and enjoying the sunny weather.

I will be book signing again at the Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers for the Motor Boat Show on Friday the 15th, from 8-3 PM. Hopefully the weather will be nice then too. Can't wait! Look for the Moonlight Memoirs banner across from Market House, and see you there!

The October Newsletter

2010-10-06T11:18:00.009-04:00

Moonbeams and Moonlight

Here you will find the latest happenings with the award-winning picture book, Moonlight Memoirs - Remembering that Family and Friends are Forever, written by Maggie Mei Lewis and illustrated by Melody Lea Lamb.

Moonbeam Children's Book Awards

We are thrilled to announce that Moonlight Memoirs is one of three finalists in the 2010 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for Best First Book, Picture Books. We will know which medal (gold, silver or bronze) Maggie and Melody won by mid-October. The Moonbeam Children's Book Awards is designed to bring increased recognition to exemplary children's books and their creators and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. We will be attending the Awards Ceremony at the Traverse City, Michigan Children's Book Festival on November 13, 2010.

Melody Runs for the Critters
Moonlight Memoirs' illustrator, Melody Lea Lamb, raised $1500 for animal charity while running DATA[ the six mile George Coope Memorial Race in Adams, MA on September 19, 2010. We were honored to help by donating to the Old Dog Haven, where senior dogs live out their lives in a loving environment. Congratulations, Melody! Way to Go!

Be the Star You Are
Maggie Mei's live interview with Cynthia Brian, the Oprah of the Airwaves, will be re-broadcast on Thursday, October 14 at 3 PM Pacific Daylight Time. Listen in!

New Accounts!
Moonlight Memoirs is now available locally at Franklin's Toy Store, Blooms Florist, and Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers. It is also available nationwide at Borders and Barnes & Noble, plus Amazon and our website!

Events on the Horizon
Boat Show Book Signings - Maggie will be signing books in front of the Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers downtown Annapolis during the Sailboat Show (October 7&8) and the Powerboat Show (October 15). Look for the Moonlight Memoirs banner across from Market House.

Local Author Night - Maggie will be signing books at the Odenton Library during Local Author night on October 13, 2010 6-8 PM. Join us!

Moonlight Memoirs' Second Printing - We will be accepting delivery of 3,000 more books this month. Now to find a place to store them!

The Rest of the Story
Provide comfort to a military family grieving the loss of a loved one by donating to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Suvivors (TAPS) at our website.

Remember to visit the Moonlight Memoirs Cafe Press Store!

Moonlight Memoirs Wins More Awards!

2010-09-07T10:40:00.017-04:00

Moonlight Memoirs has just won three more awards. It won from the Young Voices Foundation 2010 Book Awards: The Gold Award for Best Regional Fiction in the Mid-Atlantic, the 2010 Silver Award in Inspirational and Spiritual, and the 2010 Silver Award for Children's Picture Book for All Ages.

Recently we have been very busy working on a project called The Helping Paws for Hospice. What we have done is to donate over three hundred copies of Moonlight Memoirs to hospice's nationwide. We have recieved very kind letters of appreciation back saying the book has been added to their library to help families.

In an upcoming event in October, I will be booksigning at the Annapolis Boat Show Downtown at both the Sailboat Show (7th-8th) and Powerboat Show (14th-15th) outside of the Hard Bean Coffee & Booksellers.

The African-American Authors Book Expo!

2010-08-20T13:04:00.010-04:00

We attended Maryland's first annual African-American authors book expo on Saturday Aug. 14th from 1-6 PM. It was a great atmosphere where many wonderful authors had booths set up.

I shared a table with fantastic author, L.M. Preston, who's written many young adult books. Check out her website here and read her exciting books! It was really fun seeing her again. I'd met at the Key School Book Fair in April this year, and got a chance to read one of her books called "The Pack."

We met several other authors at AAAE and got lots of advice, and new ideas for the future. At the very end of the expo all the authors got awarded Certificates of Recognition from the City of Baltimore and the Mayor!

It was a new, fun expo and we hope it continues in the future.

Meeting Henry Cat and Dolly Dog!

2010-08-01T21:45:00.010-04:00

We recently made a trip to California, and while we were there we decided to go visit Henry JM and Dolly Dog in their home in La Jolla. Here's a picture of our meeting Henry Cat. Henry JM is a three-legged cat who has brought healing and hope to tens of thousands of people, while Dolly Dog has helped children deal with their complex emotions and understanding them. We are hoping to team up with them so Moonlight Memoirs can bring comfort to numerous people out in the world. Their most recent effort has been toward helping the many children of Haiti who have amputations as a result of the recent earthquake. Their love and healing helps everyone!

Learn more about them at their website: http://henrysworld.org/home.html

Be The Star You Are Radio Interview!

2010-07-11T15:40:00.013-04:00

On Thursday July 8th, 2010, I was interviewed by "Be The Star You Are" radio station by host Cynthia Brian. It was my first live radio interview, and I had a fantastic time. I talked about Moonlight Memoirs, my life, and how I hope Moonlight Memoirs can benefit people who would like to hear its message.

You can listen to the interview here!

You can also download the mp3, and it is available as a free podcast in the itunes store:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310762728

Be The Star You Are plays on Thursdays at 3 PM Pacific Time on World Talk Radio. Check out their website at http://www.star-style.com/radio/index.htm

Culture Camp and ALA 2010 Conference

2010-06-30T19:44:00.011-04:00

The past few weekends have been filled with fun adventures. On Saturday the 19th, I led a Creative Writing workshop at the FCC Chinese Culture Camp. I was extremely privileged to meet Jay Wolf Schlossberg-Cohen and be in his Creative Art Workshop. I learned many new things that will stay with me for the rest of my life, and hopefully left an imprint on the children to inspire them to share their work, and always carry on.

On Saturday the 26th, I was invited to participate in the American Library Association's 2010 Conference at the Washington Convention Center. I had a book signing at the Quality Books, Inc. booth, one of Moonlight Memoirs's distributors. It was a new exciting experience, my first convention, and one of the best book signings yet! I hope that Moonlight Memoirs helped some people, and gets into the libraries.

Another event coming up on July 8th, I will be on the radio interviewed by Cynthia Brian of "Be The Star You Are" live. The time and radio station will be announced in Moonlight Memoirs's July newsletter.

Indie Book Award Medal and Baltimore Sun Newspaper Article!

2010-06-17T15:18:00.015-04:00

I just got back from Texas, and guess what was waiting in our mail pile? The 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Award winner medal for Moonlight Memoirs. We also received Winner stickers for the books, which look very nice.

Also we just got a hold of some of the Baltimore Sun Newspaper copies containing the article that got published in the Saturday, June 6th issue. The article turned out wonderfully and I am grateful to Jonathan Pitts, the writer of the article, for contacting me with the opportunity to get Moonlight Memoirs out to the public more. To see the article on the Baltimore Sun Newspapers website, go here!

I am also participating in a Culture Camp hosted by the FCC, on June 19th, this Saturday. I will be holding a creative writing workshop, and am excited to see how it goes. I've just gotten out of school and can't wait for Summer to begin. It should be a really fun; the first summer having Moonlight Memoirs published. Looking forward to all the interesting things that will happen!

New updates and recaps about Moonlight Memoirs!

2010-06-04T13:18:00.012-04:00

The Moonlight Memoir's June Newsletter was just sent out. We've had so many exciting new events and opportunities come up. Here's the recap of last month in May.

The Young Voices Foundation Seal of Approval
We are thrilled to announce that Moonlight Memoirs recently received a Seal of Approval from the Young Voices Foundation. This award honors books that inspire, mentor and educate readers of all ages. Judging is based on content (with an emphasis on strong family values), originality, design and production quality. Addtionally, Moonlight Memoirs is now under consideration for a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Young Voices Seal of Excellence.

The 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
As you already know from our May News Bulletin, Moonlight Memoirs won a First Place Gold Medal in the Indie Book Awards. This is a very exciting and rewarding book awards program for independent publishers and authors worldwide. It was established to honor the most exceptional independently published books in 60 different categories for each year. It is an thrill to be selected as winner of the Spirituality Category.

Talking Books TV
Melody and I were recently interviewed by Michelle Vandepas of Talking Books TV. The interview can be seen on the Moonlight Memoirs YouTube channel, at our website, on Amazon plus other internet sites. Watch the fun here!

A New Distributor!
We are very happy to announce that Follett Library Resources is our new distributor to schools and school libraries. The Follett Corporation began in 1873 as a small bookstore in Wheaton, Illinois. Today, Follett Library Resources is the largest supplier of books, eBooks and audiovisual materials to PreK-12 schools worldwide. We are looking forward to Moonlight Memoirs going to the schools!

Events on the Horizon for June

Baltimore Sun Newspaper - Watch for an article about Moonlight Memoirs and Maggie Mei in the Baltimore Sun on Sunday, June 6th in the Maryland, Anne Arundel County Section.

Chinese Culture Camp - On June 19th, Maggie will be co-leading a drawing/writing workshop at Families with Children from China Maryland's annual Chinese Culture Camp.

American Library Association's 2010 Conference - In Washington DC on Saturday, June 26th at 11 AM, Maggie will be signing books at the Quality Books, Inc. booth during this annual event.

Annapolis Bookstore Grand Re-Opening - Maggie will be signing books at this event in late June. Watch Maggie's blog for announcement of date and time.

The Rest of the Story

Provide comfort to a military family who is grieving the loss of a loved one by donating a copy of Moonlight Memoirs to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

Follow my and Moonlight Memoirs' Facebook page for updates during June. I tweet on Twitter too!

Check out Maggie's author page on Amazon!

To purchase a copy of Moonlight Memoirs, go on-line to www.moonlightmemoirs.com, Barnes and Noble, Amazon or ask your favorite bookseller.

Moonlight Memoirs is distributed to bookstores by Partner's Book Distributing (1-800-336-3137); to libraries by Quality Books, Inc (1-800-323-4241) and to schools by Follett Library Resources (1-800-511-5114).

Take a look in the Moonlight Memoirs Cafe Press Store for some delightful mementos!

This was a great recap of May, and a successful month! Can't wait to see all the other things wonderful in store for us!

Young Voices Foundation Seal of Approval!

2010-05-25T10:08:00.008-04:00

Moonlight Memoirs has just won the Young Voices Foundation Seal of Approval honoring books that inspire, mentor, and or educate the reader.

"The message of the enduring nature of love is beautifully told in words and illustrations that capture the imagination and touch the heart of readers young and old."

Moonlight Memoirs will be going under consideration for a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Young Voices Foundation Seal of Excellence and is being judged right now. We will find out by the end of summer where we've been placed. Check out their website here!

We also have a new library distributor, Follett Library Resources, which distributes to schools worldwide. We are extremely excited about getting Moonlight Memoirs into the schools system all over.

2010-05-11T10:07:00.013-04:00

I am very excited to announce that Moonlight Memoirs is the 1st place, gold medal winner in the Spirituality category of the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. These awards are sponsored by The Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group (IBPPG) which is an organization that promotes professional standards in independent book publishing (also known as "indie" book publishing).

This is a great honor for myself as the author and Melody Lea Lamb, as the illustrator because the awards are open to independent publishers worldwide, making it a very competitive book award. The winners and announcement will be on their website in early june. You can check out their website here. Also, Moonlight Memoirs will be listed as a Winner in the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards catalog which will be distributed at Book Expo America ("BEA") in New York later in the month to thousands of attendees including book buyers, library representatives, media, industry
professionals, and others.

I feel very honored to win such a great award, and can't wait to see whats in store for us next! Myself and the illustrator were also just recently interviewed by Talking Books Tv, and our interview will be coming out soon.

Donation to South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

2010-04-28T10:55:00.007-04:00

Last month, we donated a percent of the proceeds from Moonlight Memoirs to the South Arundel Veterinary Hospital's PETS fund.The South Arundel PETS Fund was founded over a decade ago to provide medical care for the less fortunate pets in the community. We went in and presented one of the wonderful doctors there, Dr. Francine Rattner, with the donation check. For more information visit their website!

I also now have an author page on Amazon!

I've been really busy with book events, schoolwork and regular things in life. I am preparing for a online interview about Moonlight Memoirs with Talking Books TV, and getting everything together for it. I'm looking forward to it, because it is a new experience! I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Key School Annapolis Book Fair and Adoptions Together Kid's Connection Conference

2010-04-18T19:17:00.019-04:00

What an eventful weekend this has been! On Saturday the 17th, I went to the Annapolis Key School Book Fair to be on a discussion panel with other authors, and to book sign. I met some wonderful authors, such as L.M. Preston, Paula Chase-Hyman, Caroline Hickey, Diana Peterfreund, and hopefully soon-to-be author Fish Stark. It was a really fun event to attend, and I'm so glad I was invited and got a chance to meet this great people and get some nice ideas and tips for future events. Check out their cool websites to learn more about them! I also picked up a lot of books to read there, which should keep me reading for a while. Today I attended the Adoptions Together Kid's Connection Conference which was also really fun. It was a nice event hosted at the John's Hopkins University, and I learned a lot at the discussion. There is also now a fan page for me the author, Maggie Mei Lewis, on Facebook, which is exciting. I've been busy keeping Twitter, Facebook, this blog and all the other news and updates about Moonlight Memoirs updated. It's a lot of work, but it pays off, which makes it worthwhile. Can't wait for future book events and signings to come up. It's always a new adventure!

Moonlight Memoirs Events

2010-04-14T09:49:00.006-04:00

Moonlight Memoirs had a Borders Book signing on April 10th from 2-4 at a local Borders. It was a great experience and hopefully we'll be able to happen again sometime in the future. It was really exciting for me to be signing in a bookstore I've visited my whole life, hopefully things will just continue to get better. Our next book event is the Annapolis Book fair at the Key School on April 17th. I will be on a discussion panel for Young Adults along with many other great authors. Moonlight Memoirs autographed copies will be available for sale there, and I will be available for discussion.

Then on Sunday, April 18th I will be presenting Moonlight Memoirs at the Kids Connection Conference for FCC, perhaps along with a reading of my story, and some added extras. The book will also be available there for purchase and autographs! This month is filled with book signings, what a great way to welcome Spring!

Booksigning at Borders!

2010-04-01T20:27:00.005-04:00

My upcoming book signing at our local Borders in Annapolis, located at the Westfield Mall, is a week away. I'm very excited about it and can't wait! I will be there near the front of the store signing copies of Moonlight Memoirs, from 2-4 PM on Saturday the 10th, April 2010. I hope it all works out well! Spring has finally arrived here. The weather is sunny and warm, with a nice cool breeze, and it has been wonderful. All the flowers are coming up and the world is looking beautiful.

Blog Campaign and More Cool Updates

2010-03-18T20:15:00.012-04:00

Moonlight Memoirs's Blog Campaign has just launched! It is a little ad displayed on the sidebar for lots of blogs that have many readers. Hopefully it'll get Moonlight Memoirs's name out there and noticed! It's also advertised on one of the most looked at blogs! The Can I Has Cheezburger Blog. It's in the right column as you scroll down; It's very exciting!

Moonlight Memoirs will also be available at the upcoming Humanities Fair, and I will be there booksigning, selling copies, displaying it, and explaining and answering questions about the book and publishing process.

There's a lot going on in April. I'll be signing books at the Annapolis Mall Borders Bookstore on Saturday, April 10th from 2-4 PM. Then, I'll be participating in an 11 AM panel discussion "Topics in Young Adult Fiction" at the Annapolis Book Fair at Key School on Saturday, April 17th. Next, I'll be giving a presentation on Sunday, April 18th at the Kid's Connection Conference, a yearly event sponsored by Adoptions Together, Inc. Additionally, I will be giving talks at elementary schools and local service clubs throughout the month.

Check out the article Greta Johnson wrote about publishing a teen author in Self Publishing, Inc.'s March newsletter.

Spring has just arrived here in Maryland! It's wonderful weather and flowers of all sorts are beginning to come up! I can't wait for our Cherry Tree to blossom, maybe I can get another picture with it to advertise Moonlight Memoirs :) all for now!

Foreword Reviews Magazine Ad

2010-03-09T10:49:00.005-05:00

We have an exciting new update!

There is a Moonlight Memoirs ad in the March/April 2010 issue of Foreword Reviews Magazine. The magazine highlights good books which are independently published and is read by thousands of people including librarians and booksellers. Moonlight Memoirs and Foreword Magazine will be displayed at the Bologna, Italy Children's Bookfair at the end of March 2010. The Bologna Children's bookfair is attended by publishers, and other media professionals worldwide and we hope that Moonlight Memoirs will catch their attention.

We are also shipping off more books for book awards and reviews. It's been very fun and we hope Moonlight Memoirs helps or benefits whoever reads it!

Targeted Media Campaign

2010-02-25T08:59:00.006-05:00

We've just sent out our new Targeted Media Campaign on Wednesday. Which means we sent press releases to over 1,300

Newspapers

Radio stations

Tv stations

Magazines

And many other sources

We hope to spread the news about Moonlight Memoirs around the nation which this effort! It's been very exciting and we've already had a few responses back on the very first day.

I've been busy trying to think of more ways to get the book out into the world, more places it could be sold and more places to do booksignings! If there are any suggestions please do not hesitate to tell me! Thats all for now and thanks again for taking time to read this blog!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-15T20:35:00.010-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! We have been getting a ton of snow here in Maryland this year. With two back to back snowstorms we have made a new snow record beating our old one which was in the 1800's. Everywhere you look here there are mountains of snow and most everything is covered in white. It looks really beautiful here, and it's hard to believe that no snowflake is ever the same as another in the world!

For Moonlight Memoirs we have been very busy making flyers to send to book shows, contests, awards and to get the news out about Moonlight Memoirs to anyone who would be interested in it. We are also sending books of to be reviewed, planning and having a marketing campaign organized, and having lots of fun. We have been getting donations of the book to the TAPS donation program we have set up on our website (http://www.moonlightmemoirs.com/) which is exciting, and we have been selling many books too. I'm looking forward to future book signings and events approaching rapidly and hope to be able to get Moonlight Memoirs out to more people.

Blog and Website Update

2010-02-03T19:26:00.007-05:00

The Moonlight Memoir's blog and website have just been updated. I just added some more links where you can purchase the book from. These links are Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Moonlight Memoirs. Also our February newsletter was just sent out just in time for Valentine's Day! Lots of new updates were added in there about the book and future events. I'm very excited about the upcoming booksigning at Borders for Moonlight Memoirs! It will be so much fun and a wonderful experience.

Bay Weekly Article and Library Distribution!

2010-01-27T21:17:00.008-05:00

Here is an exciting news update on the happenings of Moonlight Memoirs!

The Bay Weekly Magazine has just published an article written by Jeannine Dudzinski telling a little bit more about the author (me) and reviews of Moonlight Memoirs!

You can read more about this here: www.bayweekly.com/year10/issue_3/lead_4.html .

Moonlight Memoirs has also just gotten into the Anne Arundel Country Public Library System!

You can now reserve Moonlight Memoirs at your local library if you live in Anne Arundel County.

You can reserve it online here at the library's website: http://www.aacpl.net/ .

We hope to get into more librarys, bookstores, and distribution in the future to help get the message out about this book.

Thanks so much everyone who reads this blog, has bought a copy of Moonlight Memoirs, or supported it in any way! It's much appreciated :)

~Upcoming Events~

2010-01-20T19:39:00.008-05:00

We are getting more events planned out for this year 2010 for Moonlight Memoirs!

We have a booksigning planned on April 10th, 2010 at our Borders here in Annapolis at the Westfield Annapolis Mall! I am very excited to be signing at a Borders! Hopefully in the future I will have a booksigning planned at Barnes & Noble too.

We also are going to be attending the Annapolis Bookfair at the Key School on April 17th 2010.

These are just a few of the upcoming events planned for 2010! Keep checking for more updates!

(above picture is me at the Adoptions Together Fall Family Festival)

Kiwani's Club

2010-01-16T09:26:00.004-05:00

On Thursday, January 14th 2010 I presented Moonlight Memoirs to a local Kiwani's club that had invited me to come and give a presentation. It was really fun, and along with a power-point presentation we had set up, we talked about Moonlight Memoirs, the story, illustration, editing, layout, publishing and printing process. Then I also talked about what message I am trying to get out to the world, and how I hope to do so through this book. The Kiwani's club is a wonderful club dedicated to creating life-changing moments for people and helping children around the world. Here is the website link below! It's a great organization and really interesting to research.

http://www.kiwanis.org/

Adoptions Today Article Feature

2010-01-11T11:51:00.005-05:00

Moonlight Memoirs just was featured in the Adoptions Today December 2009 issue. There is a lovely article about Moonlight Memoirs, the process and a question and answer with the author by Nicole Fischer. There is also another article called "Publishing a Teen Author" by Greta Johnson, which talks a bit more about Moonlight Memoirs and the writing process.There is also a recorded, online interview available of Nicole Fischer interviewing me (Maggie Mei Lewis) about the book and asking questions about the process and my life. Be sure to check it out!

http://www.adoptinfo.net/catalog_g157.html?catId=164940

A Little about Moonlight Memoirs

2010-01-05T17:01:00.012-05:00

For those of you out there who have no idea what Moonlight Memoirs is but want to know more, here is some information about it.

Moonlight Memoirs - Remembering That Family and Friends are Forever is a Children's book written by Maggie Mei Lewis (me) and illustrated by Melody Lea Lamb. It is an beautifully illustrated story about two curious mice who venture into a moonlit winter's night, where they meet an old mouse who beckons them to follow. This old silver mouse, along with many more animal friends, teach the two mice a comforting lesson about the forever lasting nature of love.

(One of the many, exquisite illustrations in Moonlight Memoirs)

When I was thirteen years old, I told my mother I was going to write a book. I was extremely determined to get a message out to the world, for those who needed it. Later that year I had completed most of the story and started looking for an artist to illustrate it. I looked for a while on all different websites, but couldn't find exactly what I was looking full. Then I finally found an wonderfully talented artist on eBay, Melody Lea Lamb, who was willing to illustrate the book. In the spring of 2008, the illustrations for Moonlight Memoirs were going well and Melody began to auction off each original paintings on eBay. By the fall of 2008, with the illustrations completed, the editing progress began. At this time, my parents began a publishing business, Good Times Press, LLC. After many rounds of editing, the printing process began in the early spring of 2009 with Good Times Press contracting with Self-Publishing, Inc. Moonlight Memoirs went through even more editing, layout, design and finally, the printing in which the book was printed both digitally and by off-set printing. It was a lot of work, but it was well worth it. I am very happy to present Moonlight Memoirs – Remembering That Family and Friends Are Forever, a book that contains a story of over two years of inspired work.

To find out more about Melody Lea Lamb, you can check out her website: http://www.melodylealamb.com/ or follow her on her blog: http://melodylamb.blogspot.com/

And to find out more about me and Moonlight Memoirs, you can check out the main website: http://www.moonlightmemoirs.com/

There is much more available on the website, including reviews, press releases, upcoming events, the Moonlight Memoirs newsletter, our donation program, and of course, ordering the book!

Moonlight Memoir's YouTube Channel

2010-01-03T17:05:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's 2010! Last year seemed to fly by so quickly. We just updated the Moonlight Memoir's YouTube Channel, where our previous video of Melody Lea Lamb, the illustrator, and myself talked about Moonlight Memoirs a bit, during the time we'd just met for the first time in 3 years. In the new video's I explain a bit about new programs we are doing, places the book is now sold, and thanking everyone who supports Moonlight Memoirs. It's been very fun and I'm looking forward to all the fun events and new experiences that will happen in 2010!

Just Started Blogging!

2010-01-03T12:33:00.002-05:00

Hello! I am Maggie Mei Lewis, author of Moonlight Memoirs the children's book illustrated by Melody Lea Lamb and published by Good Times Press. I have recently decided to try making a blog, to see how it works, and see how well I can keep it updated with new happenings! I'm just learning how everything works, but I hope this will turn into something fantastic!