This is White Dog; Superpower: running fast! #favecolorfaveanimal #GoForthAndBeSuper @KnopfBFYR pic.twitter.com/orywoDHjAY

— Kristy Dempsey (@kristydempsey) May 21, 2016

These big and little superheroes made my day celebrating the release of Superhero Instruction Manual. We chose our superhero names (favorite color + favorite animal — Mine is “Red Lion”) and decided on our superpowers. (After all, “superheroes don’t just wake up one day with superpowers. You must work hard to discover your inner BAM-BOOM-POW!”)

Here are a few images from this Zoom-Vroom-SUPER day!

From almost 200 entries for the free school visit giveaway for Greenville, SC elementary schools, THE WINNER IS:

Samantha Nemchek!

Samantha is a teacher at Mitchell Road Elementary School. Congratulations, Samantha! I sent you an email and will be in touch to schedule with your school!

Just as Superhero Instruction Manual gives you the power to turn yourself super in seven easy steps, these super books give teachers and their students the power to turn the summer (or the whole school year!) super in just a few pages. These are some of my own favorites, both brand-new on the scene and time-honored in the superhero tradition.

Boom . . . Smash . . . Kazam! Get reading, heroes!

CALLING ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
OF GREENVILLE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA!!!
Your school could win a free school visit!

Did you hear me?

A FREE FULL-DAY SCHOOL VISIT
IN 2016-17!

Greenville County teachers, principals, assistants, librarians, maintenance workers, lunchroom workers, ANYONE who works for an elementary school (public or private) in Greenville County, South Carolina, you are all eligible to enter!

Sound the word, let the masses know, coordinate a collective effort from your school employees to submit entries. Contest runs through May 17, 2016.

There are two ways to enter, one of which is preordering Superhero Instruction Manual at this link:

http://www.fiction-addiction.com/si/9780385755344N.html

(See contest rules below for specifics.)

CONTEST RULES:

1)  NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

2) This giveaway is for one (1) full-day school visit (up to 6 presentations in the same location on the same date) conducted by Kristy Dempsey at any elementary school (public or private) of the prize winner’s choice in Greenville County, South Carolina.

3) VALUE OF PRIZE: Service is valued at $1000.00; prize may not be exchanged for equivalent monetary value. No cash alternative to prize is offered and no substitutions are allowed.

4) TERM OF CONTEST: Contest runs from April 17, 2016 to May 17, 2016. Drawing will take place on May 18, 2016 and winner will be notified by telephone and/or by email on that same day. School visit must be scheduled and completed by May 17, 2017 on a date mutually agreed upon by Sponsor and prize winner.

5) ODDS OF WINNING: Odds of winning depend on the number of entries.

6) ELIGIBILITY: Contest is open to any employee of any elementary school (public or private) in Greenville County, South Carolina.

7) FORMS OF ENTRY:

There are two ways to enter:

• Pre-order SUPERHERO INSTRUCTION MANUAL by 5:30 pm EST on 5/17/2016 from Fiction Addiction Bookstore, 1175 Woods Crossing Rd., St. 5, Greenville, SC, tel.: (864) 675-0540. You can also preorder here: http://www.fiction-addiction.com/si/9780385755344N.html For each book purchased, you will receive one entry in the contest. To complete entry, email copy of receipt to superherobookvisit@gmail.com by 11:59 pm on May 17, 2016, with a subject line of SUPERHERO SCHOOL VISIT, with name, address, and telephone number in the body of the email.

BUT,

• No purchase is necessary! You may print the entry form below and deliver to Fiction Addiction Bookstore, 1175 Woods Crossing Rd., St. 5, Greenville, SC, 29607. Entries must be received by 5:30 pm EST on 5/17/2016. There is no limit to the number of entry forms you may submit. Each completed entry form will count as one entry into the contest.

8) TAXES: All taxes on prizes (if applicable) are the sole responsibility of the winner. Prizes are not transferable/assignable.

9) SPONSOR: The official sponsor of this contest is author Kristy Dempsey, whose decisions will be considered final and binding on all matters related to this promotion. Fiction Addiction Bookstore shall not be held responsible for matters related to the execution or the final decision of this contest.

Covers are out for 3 of the 4 books I have publishing in 2016!

And in super exciting news, I’ll be living in the United States during the 2016-2017 school year, which means I’ll have availability for school visits. If you’re interested in having me visit your school, check out my School Visit page that details some of the information. And feel free to email me if you have any questions or want to brainstorm the possibilities!

Here are some comments from my recent school visits:

• “Kristy has the perfect balance between expectation, positive tension, and humor.“
• “Kristy did an excellent job with my sixth grade students. She spoke at their level. She talked with my students about narrative writing that was very relevant to what we were doing at that time. It fit right into what I wanted them to learn. I only wish we could have had her visit for more than one period so she could teach them even more.”
• “Kristy relates so well to all ages of  students. She adapts the components of her presentations to entertain and teach the age of the students to whom she is presenting. In these days of school budget restraints and cutbacks, it’s even more important that dollars earmarked for providing guest speakers to our students are wisely spent. Having Kristy present to your students is an investment that you and your students will be delighted that you made.”
• “Several of my students commented that her explanation of setting strengthened their writing!”
• “Kristy Dempsey’s presentation was engaging and fun. Her emphasis on where stories come from and how books are published was clear and interesting for students. They all really enjoyed it!”
• “This was a truly outstanding presentation. Ms. Dempsey related well to students and really engaged the entire audience with humor and participation. Content was both practical and inspiring to our young student writers.”