7 Things You Don't Know About Ellen Emerson White

In November 2008, we selected Ellen Emerson White's novel Long May She Reign to represent that month's theme, Persistence.  If you love thoughtful stories you can really sink your teeth into and you have yet to read Ellen's series of books about Meg Powers, the daughter of the President of the United States, immediately proceed to your local library or bookstore and pick them up! Make sure to read them in order:


- The President's Daughter
- White House Autumn
- Long Live the Queen
- Long May She Reign 

While you're preparing to read (or re-read) those 4 books, here are 7 personal factoids that Ellen shared with us, to share with you: 


1)  I can play the saxophone.  Prefer tenor to alto.
2)  I used to work in a factory making computers and burglar alarms, and am surprisingly good with complicated tools and machinery
3)  Can't stand seafood in any form, to the point of not even really liking those goldfish crackers
4)  I waste much too much time mired in writers' block and deep uncertainty
5)  I secretly love almost all of Shelley Long's movies
6)  I think Dispatches and The Things They Carried are possibly the two best books to come out of the Vietnam War
7)  I meant to be a lawyer and work in the Manhattan DA's office, but I guess I forgot, somewhere along the way.

Bonus: readergirlz roundtable: Long May She Reign by Ellen Emerson White

Dear Mr. President...

Ever wanted to write a letter to the president? Thousands of teenagers across the country are penning their thoughts for President-Elect Obama at Writing Our Future (Little Willow first saw this at Sno-Isle Teens!) Add your voice to a google doc, and see your silhouette appear on the map!

And there are still a few more days when you can come chat with featured author Ellen Emerson White about her Presidential Daughter series and our featured book, Long May She Reign. Join us in the forum.

See you there!

PS-Don't forget to enter our Blog-o-Hunt contest!

Secrets of Our Featured Author

A few secrets we've learned about featured author Ellen Emerson White and Long May She Reign:

* What our heroine Meg likes most about living in the White House ("It would be a tie between the tennis court and the live feed at the White House of speeches and press briefings and the like.")

* Ellen herself really likes Jack, Meg's love interest in the book ("To me, he seems like a perfect freshman year boyfriend... Picking a guy like him is a sign of genuine healing on her part.")

* Ellen wants to know what readers think about President Powers (in the book) vs. President-Elect Obama...

Join in the readergirlz forum to discuss these topics with us, and with our featured author. I mean, how often do you get to go back and forth with the author directly? F-U-N.

First Families

Since Long May She Reign, our featured book this month, is one about a first daughter, I thought it would be fun to post some photos of our recent (and future) first families. Imagine how hard it must be growing up in the White House, especially if they catch you in your awkward years. At least none of these girls have had quite the adventures that Meg Powers has! Are you reading, readergirlz?





PS-I'm adding the Kennedys because they're so photogenic. Sorry, had to!



PPS-Don't forget to enter our Blog-o-Hunt contest!

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

In this month's book pick, Long May She Reign by Ellen Emerson White, main character Meg has a bit of separation anxiety when she leaves home for college and has to leave her cat Vanessa at home. Meg's family being the animal lovers that they are, readers know Vanessa's being taken care of, along with their other cats and dogs - and Meg's home being the White House means Vanessa has plenty of room to roam!

I loved the scenes with Meg and Vanessa because they showed a softer side of Meg. I could tell that Ellen Emerson White was a pet owner - especially when she made Vanessa alternately attention-seeking and aloof! I've been the proud human mom to three very beautiful cats.

November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month, and November 2nd - 8th is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. I discovered this while I was reading the book, told the readergirlz, and - no kidding - the very next page I turned revealed a mention of this. What are the odds?

Here's the scoop on National Shelter Appreciation Week from the Humane Society:

In 1996, The HSUS launched National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (based on an idea from the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln, Nebraska). This campaign was designed to acknowledge and promote the invaluable role shelters play in their communities and to increase public awareness of animal welfare issues and shelter services. During National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, the first full week of every November, The HSUS promotes and celebrates animal shelters across the country through media and public outreach.

- from AnimalSheltering.org

Isn't the Shelters Rock logo adorable? It was created by Patrick McDonnell, beloved not only for his comic strip MUTTS and his many beautifully illustrated books (such as his newest release, SOUTH) but also for his fervent support of critters, pet adoption, and animal shelters. Check out Shelters Rock to see which recording artists are supporting the efforts.

I've written about saving stray and sheltered animals before. Feel free to read that article, if you're so inclined.

Visit the NASA Week section of AnimalSheltering to download an event planning guide and a list of ways to support your local shelter. At that site, you'll also get Patrick McDonnell's special National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week Shelter Stories comic strips and additional treats!

Welcome, Ellen Emerson White!

Join us, readergirlz, in welcoming Ellen Emerson White and her amazing book Long May She Reign!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Meg Powers is the daughter of the President of the United States. She's about to enter her first year of college. She's living through the worst year of her life. Last June, Meg was kidnapped by terrorists. She survived the unthinkable, the stuff of nightmares. Her captor is still at large. Ahead of her is the grueling physical therapy to heal her broken body; the challenge of leaving the safety of the White House for her freshman year at college. Will she ever forgive her mother, the President, for her "cannot, have not and will not negotiate with terrorists" stance - even when it came to her own daughter? And more difficult still, can Meg forgive herself for having the strength, the intelligence and the wit to survive?

This is the fourth book in The President's Daughter Series about Meg Powers. Read them all:
- Long Live the Queen
- White House Autumn
- The President's Daughter
- Long May She Reign

"[R]ichly drawn characters, dry humor, dead-on dialogue." - Booklist

"A novel to luxuriate in." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This is an intense, suspenseful, and stirring read." - School Library Journal

Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year

Booksense Children's Pick

Download this month's poster.

Join Ellen all month long on the rgz group forum!

~the readergirlz divas~