Announcements
Unique Program Brings Read-Aloud Storybooks Home for the Holidays for Military Families Kept Apart by Active Service
HeroConnect, a program that enables military families to stay emotionally connected across time-zones, continents and oceans begins operations today. Throughout the fall of 2010, HeroConnect will create personalized picture book gift packages to ship to the children of deployed soldiers during the holidays-at no cost to the soldier or his family.
Deployed soldiers visiting www.heroconnect.org will select one of two award-winning children's picture-books to read aloud and record. Soldiers will upload or email their recorded media files to HeroConnect's secure website. HeroConnect staff-which includes volunteers from Clarence, NY High School's Digital Media Club-will access and download the recorded media files and press them to DVD media. The personalized DVD recording will be paired with the selected picture-book, wrapped and shipped to the child identified by the service member... all in time for the holidays.
Western New York will celebrate its first STORYBOOK WINDOW WALK event in the village of East Aurora, on September 18, 2010. Like the famed holiday storybook windows on Manhattan's 5th Avenue, storefronts from Pine Street to Elm Street will showcase the original paintings and text from the pages of THE SCARIEST DREAM EVER, a whimsical picture book for children, written by Maria T. DiVencenzo, author of the award-winning, critically acclaimed The Star of Christmas (Winterlake Press, 2009) and Little House in Brookfield, Little Town at the Crossroads, and Little Clearing in the Woods (HarperCollins Publishers.) The magical, mixed-media illustrations are created by East Aurora, NY artist and gallery owner Alixandra Martin.
A one-of a-kind celebration that includes a full day of family activities, the STORYBOOK WINDOW WALK will highlight East Aurora's thriving art and literary communities, small businesses, and Living Main Street. Beginning at 11 am with the first public reading of THE SCARIEST DREAM EVER, the event will feature crafts and contests for kids, sidewalk chalk murals, Pocket Lady surprises, character readings, book seminars and signings, food and fun. Like the story's main character, children are encouraged to take part in the festivities wearing - what else? Their favorite pajamas! Live music and refreshments will be provided at redFISH Art Studios from 4-10pm.
Christmas is our favorite time of year! Tell us about someone you know who most joyfully, compassionately, or lovingly "follows the Star!" Each day from Nov. 27th until Dec. 18th, Winterlake will select a special someone from your emails and letters to receive a FREE gift-wrapped copy of The Star of Christmas, personally signed by author and illustrator, and ready to share with loved ones at the holidays! Click here to find out how to nominate your special someone.
Find The Star of Christmas fan page on Facebook. Facebook fans also qualify for special Winterlake Web Store Coupon Codes. Fan us today to learn more.
The Star of Christmas
by Maria T. DiVencenzo
Illustrated by Elaine S. Verstraete
Available to bookstores October 1, 2009
Bookstores: Please contact Independent Publishers Group or your favorite wholesaler today!
Consumers: Order Single copies or Value Packs direct from the Winterlake Web Store , or find it in a bookstore near you.
Schools, Churches and Children's Support Groups: Contact Winterlake directly for information about our special initiatives created to support children's programs.
Winterlake Press is proud to announce that its titles are now distributed to the book trade by Small Press United/Independent Publishers Group, a leading book distributor for independent publishers throughout the USA and worldwide. Our titles are now available through leading wholesalers, including Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Spring Arbor and others.
Bookstores: Contact IPG for ordering information.