Win a first edition copy of Mamsey Bear and Mopkin..

When the books arrive on Dec 18th, I will draw 3 names for a First Edition copy of the new book. (If you have already pre-ordered, and your name is chosen, you will be reimbursed).

 (This is the back of the jacket)

  Fed Ex brought a package this week. It was nerve wracking, I asked James to open the box while I snapped away with the camera to preserve "the moment".

He peeled away the brown paper and there they were, 5 carefully stacked books.
My precious little pile of advance copies.I have been chronicling the creation of this book for 2 years on this blog and my website, so this was a special moment for us.

 I was seriously  D E L I G H T E D at the jackets.. would the interiors be just as good??! With trepidation I open the book to peek inside....and Hallelujah! I love it, I love it! Thank you Printers!  Thank you Dan the layout man! Thank you dear husband and support system! Thank you God!

Welcome Book 3 in the Hopalong Hollow Set.

'

       There is just something about a freshly printed book. Turning the pages for the 1st time, the colors envelop me with the warm rusts and ochre of Autumn and I can still smell the ink that created all those colors on the thick, smooth paper. I lovingly run my hand over the surface of each page and count the perfect nine stitches down the center of the page in this smythe sewn copy, studying each illustration to see that the art meets perfectly in the middle of the seam. Is the text clearly visible throughout the book and easy to read? Yes, it is; white text on dark backgrounds and black text on pale backgrounds. Is the embossing perfectly lined up to enhance the little bird "carvings" on the book jacket? Yes, and it feels lovely as I run my finger over the delicate indentations.  Somehow, even the illustrations seem fresher and more vibrant than ever before. I quietly read my story for the hundredth time, but this time is different, for now, I am not reading from my messy sketch book, or my neatly typed manuscript, I am reading it FROM MY BOOK.

  It is a wonderful thing to behold the artwork which spent so much time in  a satchel, having  been reborn as a new entity in the pages of a book. I am quite certain that all authors and illustrators must feel this quiet and sweet satisfaction when they hold in their hands the final result of much love and labor; ones own book.

I immediately wrote a special message on a pure white page in one of these 5 precious copies, to send to my mother in Colorado. After all, she is the epitome of what this story is all about. She will be the first person ( besides James and me) to read this book.

 Now I am  pleased to offer my new book 
"Mamsey Bear and Mopkin"
 to those of you who wish to pre-order.

     We expect the bulk shipment to arrive here on December 18th. At this moment, the books are on a freighter from

Hong Kong and heading for port in Seattle, Wash. then on to Chicago and finally, here, in Tennessee. There are 3000 copies in this run and it is my tradition to number the first 50 books in the first edition. . So if you want a numbered copy order soon  !(Update 11/15, those first 50 numbered books are now taken)

 If you were to see my book in the book store, you would be able to flip through the pages, but since this IS my bookstore for now, imagine you are at Market Day in the Hollow, browsing the books in Milliken Butterfields caravan book shop.

Here you are offered a nice glimpse of Mamsey Bear's world. It is a world of nature,
rich illustrative detail, a mother's love, and hundreds of tiny stitches.

For a synopsis of the story and
for ordering information follow this link to my website:
http://www.jerilanders.com/Mamsey%20Purchase%20Page.htm
. Some of you have already emailed me about ordering and your names have been noted in my little "order book". Thank you! I will also be taking book orders at the
art shows seen on my show schedule.

 I guess you could say this is my virtual "Book Launch". I hope those of you whom I have met at shows, those who have enjoyed my other books and my lovely blogger friends, will join me in celebrating my third book in the Hopalong Hollow Series. Thank you for following along on this journey. All of you have been wonderful companions. Don't forget to leave a message if you wish to be entered in the drawing!
Now I will spend the next several months promoting and selling this book before I begin work on book 4... a tale about a Moose. 

 Jeri's email: jeri@hopalonggreetings.com