News

Advisory Committee
Did you know that Rooster Morris actively works with an advisory committee? This group helps to assure that the Axle books, curriculum guides, and performances are the most encouraging and educational for all students who participate!

Cyndy Unwin, PhD Reading Specialist
Susan Nevad, PhD Language Arts and ELL
Karen Popernik, Former Professional Editor, Viking Publishers
Joy Peskin, Editor for Speak Imprint at Penguin Putnam Publishers
Mary Nelson, 4th Grade Writing Teacher
Lorie Woodward Cantu, Director, Arts-in-Education
Jan Bedell, Neurodevelopmentalist
Sunny Lerch, Certified Teacher, Homeschool Coalition Advisor

Thank you to our wonderful advisory council!!

Mesa Elementary

What an incredible school Clovis, New Mexico has! Mesa Elementary's walls were covered in awards--awards from Renaissance Learning, the State of New Mexico, even Redbook Magazine! Mrs. Cox works hard to give her students a chance to experience the world! The teachers gave credit to Mrs. Cox when we spoke with them. Mrs. Cox gave credit to the teachers and students when we spoke to her and the students just said, "We have the greatest school!" Rooster and I agree!

A Very Happy Birthday!

The golden toadstool cake.

A young fan (my daughter) was treated to a very Happy Birthday when Rooster stopped by to play, sing, and tell a story to the crowd. Both Rooster and Jody were ill at the time but they were so gracious and made it anyway! I can't thank them enough for the magic they shared at the birthday party! Marillah is still talking about it as are her friends and their parents.

Freezing in NM
Rooster and Jody are freezing in New Mexico. Guess the cold front that came through here stopped there first. This morning Rooster is performing at Mesa Elementary. Next week they will be headed to Lufkin, Texas and then to Austin. Look for pictures and highlights from the Mesa performance soon!

Photos from New Mexico

The Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium was great this year. There were more people attending than we have ever seen. Congratulations to the Symposium folks! We met up with some folks we haven't seen in a while and it was great to visit with them--Jimmy Burson, Joe Noble, Bobby Koefer, Tuffy Cooper, Dan Roberts, Jon Quinn, Lorraine Stone, Louise Tillman, and Coda Omness. We made new friends from Pennsylvania and Wyoming too. New Mexico is a great place to hang out in October!

Land of Enchantment Book List
Rooster received notification that Axle Galench in Search of Barnsfoggon is on the New Mexico State Land of Enchantment Reading list for the 2009-2010 school year! That is a great honor for Rooster and he is excited! So excited, in fact, that he has been getting up at 3:00 in the morning working on Axle Galench and the Spin Lizard Rescue.

We are off to Boys Ranch, Texas and Clovis, New Mexico for programs next week. The following week will take us to Lufkin, Texas to perform at the library.

Staten Island, New York is booking Rooster for programs in February of 2009. We are excited about reaching out to a new state!

The DESERET NEWS purchased Axle Galench and the Gate of No Return to publish in the newspaper in the fall of 2009. Another NEW state!

Ruidoso Cowboy Symposium

We had the best time at the Cowboy Symposium! We saw so many friends and made many more. This was the best experience in Ruidoso to date! Plus, the weather was perfect. The showers were well-timed and kept the dust down on the race track!

Off to Ruidoso
Rooster and Jody are off to Ruidoso, New Mexico for the Cowboy Symposium this weekend. If you would like him to stay on next week and visit your school, let me know! He'd be happy to. king_m_e@yahoo.com

Nebraska SCBWI Interview
When Rooster was in Nebraska last year, he was interviewed at the Western Heritage Museum by a member of the Nebraska Society of Children's Book Wrier's & Illustrators. You can hear the interview here: LISTEN

How Cute!

Here is a new picture of Rooster's latest grandbaby. Isn't he cute? Rooster and Jody are both proud of all of their children and grand children!

Rooster had a very happy birthday celebration complete with two chocolate cakes, one made by a young fan and delivered to his home, and lots of bruscetta. Guess Rooster's words came true, "Lot's of Chocolate, Chocolate A Lot!"

Happy Birthday Rooster!!

Rooster recently celebrated his birthday! Don't know how old he is but do know he's still full of energy and looking forward to his upcoming performance dates. The third book is coming along and will hopefully be ready for publication sometime in the Spring.

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig
Rooster and Jody had a good trip to Booker, Texas and the surrounding area. They returned this week and were planning to head to Lufkin, Texas tomorrow but due to Ike they had to reschedule.

I keep begging Rooster for a teaser. Hopefully I'll get one soon that I can pass along. There are still a few dates left in September so let me know if you'd like to book Rooster Morris!

bookroostermorris@yahoo.com

New Rooster Morris DVD Ready For Sale!!
There are two new, exciting DVDs from Rooster Morris. Now you can have Rooster visit anytime with his new Live Performance DVD for $19.95 plus shipping or treat your students to a Writing Workshop with Rooster for only $29.95. To purchase these great DVDs visit www.axlegalench.com or call 512-446-0644!

Out of This World!

Something from Axle Galench's world?

No, just some cool shots from Jody and Rooster's backyard!

What great pics of nature! Thanks Jody. Maybe these will inspire some new, interesting characters in coming Axle Galench books.

Proud Grandpapa!

Here are some pictures of baby Raphael Jacob new grandson to Rooster and Jody.

Rooster is still pluggin' away on the third book and gearing up for the school season. September and October are beginning to fill so if you're interested in having Rooster one of those months let me know ASAP. bookroostermorris@yahoo.com

The next TCA deadline will be coming up in November for spring shows.

Hope everyone has had a good Summer and is ready for the start of school, if you haven't started already!

New Grandbaby
Jody and Rooster are off to take the grandkids home to West Texas and see their new grandson. Can't wait for a picture. Will share one as soon as I get one!

Lots of Grandchildren, Grandchildren A lot
This week Rooster and Jody have their grandkids visiting and are proud to announce they have a brand new grandson! Things are pretty wild at their house at the moment with the kiddos and other company. We'll have to be sure Rooster is locked away in his office as soon as everyone leaves so he'll be able to finish book three ASAP:)

Panhandle Professional Writers Group

We had a great time with the writers from the Texas Panhandle today. Jody and I talked about marketing and promotion. I did a special writing workshop with everyone and it was fun to watch the adults quickly writing their lists and then following up with great stories.

I was so impressed with the Essay Contest winners. There were kids from all over the Panhandle and from as far as Oklahoma City too! These kids wrote short stories, essays, and poetry and the winning entries were all printed in a book that they could share with their friends and family. My daughter and her family were able to attend the performance and my grandkids helped sing Boo Boo Boo Ka Nab Ya. I am looking forward to the performance at the college tomorrow.

Two of My Biggest Fans

These are two of my biggest fans, Sarah Hoover and Lee Schultz. They will be attending the reception and program on Sunday, July 20 at the Frank Phillips Allen Campus College in Perryton, Texas. I was the guest this morning on KEYE’s Coffee Break and talked with Sharon Ellzey and Bobette Doerrie about writing and marketing. Tomorrow I'll meet with Region 16 staff and the Amarillo Globe Performing Arts Centre to discuss plans for the fall.

Cold Front in the Panhandle
We're in the panhandle this week and the weather has been beautiful. There was even a cold front that put a chill in the air. I'm doing a couple of shows and awaiting the birth of a new grandchild. Book three is coming along but I won't have much time to work on it while we're on the road. I'll get right on it as soon as we get home. There are a few changes in the Axle program for this year you might be interested in knowing about. First, for a half day program there will only be one hour long program offered, as much book signing time as you need, and then a 20 -minute question answer session with one of the olders grades (4th, 5th, or 6th) at your school. A full day program will consist of two one hour programs, as much book signing time that you need, and one 20-minute questions answer session with one of the older grades (4th, 5th, or 6th) at your school. There are lots of other services we're offering at an al la carte rate along with a school visit booking. If you have any questions give Amie King a call at (512) 989-1231 or email her at bookroostermorris@yahoo.com. Have a good afternoon now!

Fall Bookings, TCA Grant Forms Due August 1st
Hi to all the Texas schools and libraries. Rooster is exctied to be on the TCA performance roster this year and he is looking forward to visiting your schools as well. When planning a visit from Rooster, keep in my that if you would like to utilize the TCA grant, where you may get up to 50% of the performance fee the form deadline for a Fall performance is August 1st. Call or email me and I can help you get information about applying for TCA grants and booking Rooster. Hope to hear from you soon!

Amie
(512) 989-1231
bookroostermorris@yahoo.com

Hard at Work!!

Rooster is hard at work on book three but took a few minutes out to have some fun and welcome a young fan into his office. Keep watching for a teaser coming soon!

21st Century Camp Rockdale, Texas

The kids were very proud of their work after four weeks working toward a "published" book of their own stories! Here they are with Rooster at the finale of their camp.

Well, 21st Century Camp is over so I'm aiming to get some writing time in so that I can finish the third book in the Axle series. Like I've said before I'm trying to make this the best Axle book yet so it may take some time and patience on everyone's part but I'll be sure to send you a teaser soon!

Oklahoma You're "OK"
Rooster and Jody left yesterday for Ooooook-la-homa where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, and the waving wheat...Okay, sorry that's a different Oklahoma. They are in the actual state of Oklahoma, not the musical, for the OK Mozart Festival where Rooster will be performing Friday and Saturday. Bet it goes well but I'll keep you posted and also on how you can get one of the CD's that were made for this trip.

In other news, Rooster will wrap up his four week stint as part of Rockdale Elementary's 21st Century Camp on Monday and then the second week of July he and Jody head for the Panhandle and are off and running again.

If you've been thinking about having Rooster visit your school this Fall, don't hesitate, call me (Amie) now (512) 989-1231. Since he is on the TCA Roster for the next two years you are elegible to apply for a grant to cover part of your costs for his visit. The catch is that they have imposed application deadlines this year so for any show between Sept. 1 and December 14th the application must be in their office by August 1st! For more information on the grants you may call (512) 463-5535 ext. 0.