The past couple of weeks have been BUSY, y’all! CATTYWAMPUS celebrates its book birthday in THREE DAYS (cue internal screaming and excitement), and that means lots of wonderful book=related things have been happening!

On July 15th, I got to participate in ABA’s (American Booksellers Association) Virtual Ci8 Indies Introduce panel along with several other amazing kidlit authors! It was a huge honor to have Cattywampus chosen, and the experience was so much fun. I particularly enjoyed hearing the insights and heart behind some of this year’s fantastic debuts. (I’m reading through the books now, and so far I’ve read and absolutely adored You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson, A Wolf For a Spell by Karah Sutton, and Legendborn by Tracy Deonn! I can’t wait to enjoy the rest.)

Ash (smiling in kiwi print shirt) talking with Chelsea Bauer of Union Ave Books in Knoxville, Tennessee, with an ASL in interpreter talking in an animated way

Also a total blast has been recording a Writing Villains panel for the first ever online Middle Ground Book Fest, whose videos are available here as resources for writers, parents, and educators! I can’t overstate what a gift this is to the community (and myself!) as we move into a really strange/unprecedented school year. The organizers and my fellow presenters really knocked it out of the park and gave so generously of themselves, and it was really cool to participate.

Now the big excitement…THIS WEEK IS THE WEEK!! CATTYWAMPUS hits the shelves this Tuesday Aug 4th, and this week has been a blur of my own books arriving, signing pre-ordered copies at the bookstore, and realizing this is really (finally!) happening!!

The journey from first draft to fully published book is long, and full of long nights/tears/effort, but if I had it to do all over again, I’d roll up my sleeves and get to work in a heartbeat. This book is a love letter to my home region, as well as to anyone struggling to find their own homespun magic, and I hope with all my heart it amuses, inspires, and strengthens your love for yourself in your community, dear reader!

Ash sitting cross-legged wearing a blue mermaid-print shirt and a mask, signing copies of CATTYWAMPUS with a Sharpie at one of their nearby bookstores! Photo credit: Nathaniel at Ballast Book Co — Ash sitting cross-legged wearing a blue mermaid-print shirt and a mask, signing copies of CATTYWAMPUS with a Sharpie at one of their nearby bookstores! Photo credit: Nathaniel at *Ballast Book Co*

They’re here!!

(Cover illustrator Abigail Dela Cruz &the design team did a fantastic job!!!)

Some upcoming dates I’m really excited about (I’ll continue to post detail later!) are:

A launch celebration chat/event next Sat (8/8, 4pm PST) hosted by Ballast Book Co, with myself and Eva Evergreen Semi-Magical Witch author Julie Abe!

Live Stream: Erica Waters and Ash Van Otterloo in conversation, hosted by Malaprops in Asheville, NC on August 14th, 6pm EST (3pm PST)

(Stay tuned for more exciting announcements which are still in the works!)

Last but not least…Here are the winners for today’s preorder/library request Cattywampus swag drawing packages!!!

A big thank you to all who participated, and happy congrats to Lisa F and Esme W, the winners of today’s drawing. <3

I hope you’re doing well and hanging in there through this difficult year, and please know that you absolutely matter in this world. Much love!

-Ash

Large evergreens stretching up to the sky at one of the author’s favorite places to chill.