"Sparky the Wonderfish" #1 Children's Book on Amazon, Listmania!

Orange County Children's Book Festival, Sunday Oct. 2!

Orange County Children's Book Festival Sunday, October 2, 2011 9:30am to 4:30pm Booth Signing and Stage Reading!

SIGNING at BOOTH #35 ALL DAY! Gillian will be autographing and selling books and merchandise! READING on the ANIMAL STAGE 2:05pm to 2:20pm! Gillian Lee Hutshing will read her book FREE! FREE! FREE! Sparky the Wonderfish Stickers, Postcards, Bookmarks and Coloring pages! Come, bring your kids for all the FUN! Meet Gillian, have her sign your book color your own Sparky & take pictures with Sparky! THIS Sunday October 2, 2011 9:30am until 4:30pm

B&N Long Beach Pacifica Mall, July 23, 24, Sparky SOLD OUT!!!

Hi Friends,

The Long Beach 2 day event was great, but tiring. 10 hour days both days... I was one of the chairman for the event so I was running around checking on the authors, making sure they were happy and had everything they needed... And I was very happy that my Sparky the Wonderfish books SOLD OUT at the event!!!

Each of the 20 featured authors had from 10 to 30 minutes to speak with fans and or read, discuss their book in a separate room at a podium. Because mine is a children's book, I read in the children's Storytime section and colored with the kids as well.

The store in Long Beach is very well laid out, 2 stories high and nice and big. The staff was very helpful. Kristen our B&N Customer Relations Manager (crm) for the event was great.

Watch this video from the event!

A few Happy Snaps from the event:

Bye for now, with love,

Gillian & Sparky

PRESS RELEASE: Book Festival (Oct.1, 2011) To Honor Authors and Illustrators

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Gillian Lee Hutshing

Chair: Awards Committee

gilhut@mac.com

Book Festival To Honor Authors and Illustrators

The Orange County Children's Book Festival will honor authors, illustrators and innovators in children's literature at its First Annual Orange County Children's Author and Illustrator Book Awards. A gala awards presentation is planned for the evening of Saturday, October 1, 2011 and will be held in The Forum on the campus of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

Honorees will be selected and acknowledged for outstanding work in the field of children's writing and illustration from a global pool, in a variety of categories each year. Recipients will be selected by a panel of qualified literary experts from a variety of backgrounds.

The awards night will be open to a limited number of attendees and will be followed by a reception with the award winners. The 8^th Annual Orange County Children's Book Festival will take place the following day. For more information, contact Gillian Lee Hutshing.

Gillian Speaking on Santa Barbara Writers Conference: Entrepreneurial Panel!

WEDNESDAY, 6/22/11 From 1:00 to 3:30pm Hotel Mar Monte

MarketingtheMuse Workshop#4: Entrepreneurial Author Panel: Authors who thinkoutside the box are fast becoming mainstream. Join us for an informative discussion with author./chef Pascale Beale, Montecito Country Kitchen-www.mckcuisine.com ; Mystery genre blogger & author on the road, Stephanie LindsayDunne,http://stephanielindsaydunne.com & motion picture editor/children book author Gillian Lee Hutshing, www.gillianleehutshing.com.Discussion includes diversifying platform, ‘giving back’ & branding.

New Publicity For My June 15th, Ontario Event!

I was just sent the flyer for the event in .pdf format. Also a picture of the poster that they’ve had up for a while now. I hope you’ll enjoy them. I’ll recieve a copy of the Ontario Living magazine with me and Sparky listed in it, and send links to any press release that gets picked up. Those will probably not get picked up until closer to the event....

cant's wait to talk to all the kids about writing!!!

Talk soon,

Gillian

Exciting Events for June 2011!

Dear Friends of Sparky,

I just sent out my new June Newsletter this morning! You can check it out on my Signings & Events page. it's under ARCHIVES on the right. Follow me on FaceBook at Gillian Lee Hutshing. I am excited about these events!

August, 2010 I met the senior library clerk from the Ovitt Family Community Library, Ontario, CA. We met at the UCLA Writers Fair. Lauren graciously invited me to read at her library (6:00PM to 7:30PM) this June 15, 2011.

The Library will publicize in the area includng a press release, mention in Ontario Living Magazine, a poster, and flyers. "These talks are about craft, process, and the publishing industry".

Each month nearly 43,000 Ontario residents enjoy the services of the City's main library facility. This current facility opened on January 17, 2006, after a total renovation and 15,000 sq. ft. expansion. The public now has access to dozens of electronic workstations, wireless computer access, a large community room, and a Children's Story time room.

Also, MarketingtheMuse expert, and Santa Barbara Writers Conference editor Marla Miller has invited me to participate at the 39th Annual Santa Barbara Writers Conference: Afternoon Writers Workshop (1:00PM to 3:30PM) Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at the Santa Barbara Hotel Mar Monte to discuss multi-platform marketing of my book. I am very excited to be invited to be a featured author at these two important events!

Come check us out!!!

Contact Me!

Twitter@SparktheGulf

Talk soon,
Gillian & Sparky

I was 1st author mentioned in Orange County Register!

Hi everybody!

I went on the The OC Register website to see pictures of the kids with the Sparky the Wonderfish costume from the book faire this weekend, Saturday 5-14-11 at the OC Department of Education Young Authors' Book Faire and was happily surprised to see my name mentioned in the newspaper for the event!

Take a look, and I hope to see you at my next event!!!

May 2011 Events!

Dear Friends of Sparky,

It has been awhile since my last blog post for many reasons...
I got married and have been working on several editing projects...

I am also now Chairman for the 1st Annual, Orange County Children's Book Fair (OCCBF) Author and Illustrator Award (yet to be given an official title; the award will draw from a global pool of authors and illustrators).

In addition, I am working with a 501C3 non-profit, "Wings with Wishes".org which works with children with cancer to get them toys
and give to these children, in a variety of very significant ways!
Check out A Wish for Kyle

This Saturday, May 14, 2011 I will be a featured author, reading (Authors' Chair Stage) and signing (Barnes & Noble Booth) my
Sparky the Wonderfish book at the 10th Annual Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) Young Authors' Faire.

The Book Faire is very pleased about the inclusion of the
SPARKY COSTUME

greeting children all day at the faire!

Come check us out!!!

AWESOME Orange County Children's Book Festival!

OMG!

They treated me so well! Co-founders of OCCBF Barry Ackerman and Pat Burns, who run it so well, were great! They made sure I had everything I needed... including the size of volunteer for my Sparky costume 5'3" to 5'6"... And the 3 volunteers who wore the "Sparky" costume during the festival were amazingly fantastic!!! Thank you OCCBF!!!

Here are some pictures, and more to come... www.gillianleehutshing.com

WEHO went great, except for the HEAT!!!

Hello,

WEHO was awesome, I read on the Kids' Stage then ran to our GLAWS booth to sign books, then SPOKE about my marketing techniques... it was so HOT!!! that day, I felt dizzy a few times and a few authors begged off, feeling ill from the heat!

Here is a photo of me at the booth...

Cute New Graphic for WEHO Kids' Stage Reading Sun. Sept. 26 1:00PM!

Check it out!

1:00PM to 1:30PM I'll be at the Kid's Stage at The 9th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair! Meet Sparky in person and hear me read the book out loud!

Then 3:00PM to 4:30PM at the GLAWS Booth E7,8 I will be autographing and selling books and merchandise!

And 4:45PM to 5:45PM I will be discussing my marketing techniques as one of 9 authors speaking in the Suspense Pavilion.

Come see me there!

I've been asked to read at the Orange County Childrens Book Festival!

Hi there,

Last night I received a call from a man named Barry, who started the Orange County Children's Book Festival. He said he cleared out a great spot on the Animal Stage from 11:45AM - 12:20PM for me to show off my sparky costume and read to the kids and talk to them and give out stickers and coloring pages, etc.

I am very excited and I hope to see lots of new people and friends there!

Sunday, October 3, 2010 - 9:30am - 4:30pm
Orange Coast College - Costa Mesa, CA

Orange County Childrens Book Festival

Orange Coast College

2701 Fairview

Costa Mesa, CA

92628

(Enter College at Arlington Street off of Fairview)

Click here for a map

Click here to go to the OCCBF website

Gillian has 3 Appearances Featured, 9th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair, Sun. Sept. 26!

Very Exciting news!

I had a meeting with the coordinator of WEHO the West Hollywood Book Fair being held Sunday, September 26, 2010. I will be reading Sparky the Wonderfish on the Children's Stage at 12:00PM! I will be at the GLAWS, Greater Los Angeles Writers Society booth after that for an hour and a half selling books and merchandise as well as signing autographs...

As usual, there will be FREE stickers for the kids and Sparky coloring pages too!

And the New Sparky Costume will be there!!!

Come and see me!!!

Check out the links:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150276137930377

http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org/?page_id=1889.

http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org/

Gillian will be Featured 3 Times at the West Hollywood Book Fair Sun. Aug. 26th!

READING-Approximately 1:00PM Gillian will be reading Sparky on theKids Stage.

SIGNING-3:00PM to 4:30PM at the GLAWS Booth E7,8 Gillian will be autographing books, and selling books & merchandise. She will also give away FREE Stickers, Bookmarks, coloring pages and more!!!

SPEAKING-4:45PM to 5:45PM the "Evening Program" Suspense, Thriller Pavilion GLAWS Presents: Great Los Angeles Writers. Gillian will be one of nine authors chosen for this honor. Gillian has been very successful branding and marketing her Sparky the Wonderfish book. She will discuss marketing techniques which have taken her around the country for appearances, book events, charities, bookstore readings, Barnes and Noble and Borders Bookstores...

Spark the Gulf Hope & Literacy Tour is Looking for Sponsors and Investors!

I am planing a "Sparky the Wonderfish: Hope and Literacy Tour" (and documentary). We will use this "story of how love creates magic" to help rebuild the opportunities of literacy along the New Orleans disaster areas. Our project is aimed toward the educational wants and needs of the children effected by these disasters. I will read, conduct Q&A's... the kids will receive Sparky stickers, they will do coloring pages, interactive games and meet Sparky (costume)! I will donate books & supplies that the children need. We intend for Sparky to reach at least schools, libraries and hospitals. We also plan a Music Festival Fundraiser which will conclude this tour in New Orleans Parish next year. This SPARKY PROJECT will raise money to rebuild at least one new green school and library room devoted to this literacy program. Upon completion of this project, Sparky will leave behin an agenda for mentoring students to read & write, play and interact with books for years to come! Help me HELP those in need! I am looking for sponsors and investors who want to help make this dream come true -- and the dreams of children. Please contact me! Warm regards,

Gillian & Sparky

follow me: twitter.com/SparkTheGulf

watch video: Gillian Working for Charity & Literacy

Letters I received from President Obama & The Honorable Al Gore!

Check this out! My heros...

Pretty awesome, huh!?

One step closer to reading at The White House!

Sparky, Gillian and James Patterson have children's literacy in common!

I just tweeted that, my dear friend Diane A. gave me a book, Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet as a gift and said, "This is perfect for you and Sparky the Wonderfish: A story of how love creates magic." Boy, was she correct!

I just finished reading it. At the end of the book James Patterson describes his passion for his cause / website ReadKiddoRead.com - getting kids hooked on books. And his co-author is a children's book author!

I am going to contact them tomorrow to see if Sparky could help with this important mission. As you know, I have been working hard for literacy and the joy of reading and writing, as well!

Love and talk soon,

Gillian & Sparky

VOTE Gillian Lee Hutshing: Hardest Working for Charity and Literacy CONTEST!

I entered a contest to win $100,000 dollars from Revlon and Mitchum Deodorant for the "Hardest Working Person" in America. Promoting Charity and Literacy throughout the US and Beyond...

As you know, my passionate cause has always been Charity and Literacy, with a special passion
to give aid along the Gulf Coast...

If I win, I will be rewarded with $100,000 and will be the subject of a short film by the legendary Albert Maysles and co-filmmaker Bradley Kaplan.

Please try both links and VOTE!
VOTE Mitchum: Hardest Working Person site
Or
VOTE on YouTube!

Please VOTE every day...
The first round of voting ends July 18.
Finalists will be voted on from
July 19 through August 15th.

LA Times Festival of Books 2010: Me & Cathy, flip videos of GLAWS Booth #624 & Gillian!

Hello!

Well, we had the greatest time at the 15th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of books last weekend! I was chairman of this event for the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society at Booth #624... I sold lots of Sparky the Wonderfish books both at the event and since on Amazon.com

I was giving away stickers like nobody's business, I think I gave away over 500 stickers!

Parents told me their kids had seen them throught the campus and were trying to find out who was giving them out...

Here is a flip video and picture of me and seven year old Cathy Velarde... More images to come...

See you soon!

Gillian & Sparky

Showing GLAWS booth and authors...

Gillian at LATFOB says hello!

Gillian at Los Angeles Times Festival of Books UCLA campus, Sat. Sun. April 24,25!

Hi there-

Just a friendly reminder saying COME VISIT ME at the 30th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books this coming weekend of April 24, 25 on the UCLA campus. I will be at the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society (GLAWS) Booth #624 ALL DAY both days! I am chairman for this event, which is the largest Book Fair on the west coast. It should be a blast!

Better yet CLICK the link, to buy a Sparky T-Shirt and WEAR it at the festival! Way to REPRESENT!!!

With love,

Gillian & Sparky

P.S. I will not be signing books as I am sold out at this time. But I will be there with buttons and other swag for purchase, as well as giving out FREE coloring sheets and stickers!!!

I hope to see you there!!!

Sparky at Los Angeles Times Festival of Books April 24,25!

I will be appearing with my children's picture book, Sparky the Wonderfish: A story of how love creates magic at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB) Saturday & Sunday April 24,25 2010 on the UCLA campus. I will be at Booth #624 in Zone F with the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society. I will be there all day, both days!

Here is the link to check it out: http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/

I really hope you will come and visit us there!!!

Gillian & Sparky

Gillian on Marketing Panel for GLAWS: Watch the VIDEO!

Hi There,

The panel went great. It was very fun and informative. I learned a lot from the 3 professionals who were on the panel following ours. Check out this flip video (in 2 parts) of what I had to share that day...

On the Author Panel: Gillian Lee Hutshing, Tom Ruck, Kathy Porter, Leslie Ann Moore, Frank Zanka. (On the Industry Professional Panel: Gayl Murphy, David Matheson, Marla Miller)

Talk soon,

Gillian

GLAWS Panel Pt. 1

GLAWS Panel Pt.2

Gillian on Marketing Panel for GLAWS Sat. March 20th 3:00PM!

Date: March 20th, 2010

Time: 3:00PM

Place: Palms Rancho-Park Library

Ray Bradbury Room-upstairs

2920 Overland Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90064

Hi there-

I was asked by GLAWS president, Tony Todaro to discuss the success of my children's picture book, Sparky the Wonderfish: A story of how love creates magic and to sit on a marketing panel for the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society.

There will be a panel of three marketing professionals, followed by a panel of six authors including me. It should be great information for those interested in being successful at sales and exposure. It's about more than just writing a good book these days...

Come give a listen!

Gillian

Reading and Coloring Sparky to Pre-K in Pasadena, California!

I had a wonderful, fun time reading Sparky and coloring Sparky the Wonderfish with kindergarten kids in Pasadena at 8:00AM on Tuesday March 2nd for Dr. Seuss's Birthday celebration! I also gave them Sparky stickers and postcards and all the kids wanted me to autograph everything. We all had a really great morning. I think Dr. Seuss would have liked it!

Here are some photos and flip!

Sparky & I Moved to Santa Clarita, California!

Hi everyone-

I got a new HD Flip camera for Christmas from my boyfriend Jimmy. And I just moved in with him... BIG news! I shot 3 videos on the last day of my move with my beloved FLIP CAMERA!

Wanna take a look? Check them out!!!

Gillian gets an award from GLAWS!

Certificate of Appreciation-

Awarded to:

Gillian Lee Hutshing, Advisory Board Member & Booksellers Chair

For Your Outstanding Service, Contribution of Time and Energy, and Dedicated Support of the Society's Mission and Vision.

From President of the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society, Tony Todaro

Christmas Morning 2009!

"The Brody Chronicles" Pt 1 & 2

I got an HD Flip camera for Christmas from my boyfriend Jimmy.

Here are the first two videos of our Christmas morning with his dog Brody & my parrot Henry.

Hope you think they're cute!

Gillian

Brody chronicles Pt.1

Photos from the WEHO Book Fair Oct.4!

Hi there!

The event at The WEHO Book Fair in West Hollywood, California was very successful and fun! For this event, no one could wear the NEW Sparky costume so he was suspended above my booth for all to see, from far and wide... People came to the booth and took photos, I heard people on their cell phones telling friends, "I'm by the the big fish!" I got many new fans for my newsletter as well as 4 more exciting new booking opportunities which I am discussing dates for now, including the Rosewood Elementary School in Los Angeles, California, The Children's Nature Institute, Huntley Preschool in Los Angeles, California, and With Wings & a Halo R.E.A.C.H. a Child!

I'll keep you posted!

Gillian

My 3rd Barnes & Noble Event at The Grove!!!

HI!

We previewed my new Sparky Costume to raves from the kids!

Check out the video and photos of the event...

Barnes & Noble The Grove LA (September 26th) Reading for over 200 Kids!

I spoke with Jon, manager at Barnes & Noble The Grove, he said they placed posters in the store for the event and that they posted the event online... Very exciting to now have my 3rd engagement at the flagship store in Southern California!!!

GLAWS moderating YA books Sept. 19, 2009!

GLAWS Moderating was fantastic! At the last minute an author had to drop out. We were scheduled to have two panels but because of this and the fact that two agents came to the event, we decided to have one big panel with all the young adult authors and the agents, Ashley Grayson Agency... And because we combined panels Judy (the other moderator) and I decided to combine our questions (which were very different).

We had very few questions during the Q & A which I took to mean that we answered those questions during the panel discussion.

...Since then the authors and GLAWS have written to say they thought it went very well and had a very good time. It was my first time moderating and I really enjoyed it!

Gillian & her pals celebrate the retirement of a great teacher!

Hi- I had to share, because I really love this photo of me, my friend Jimmy and his granddaughter Cathy, who is for sure one of Sparky's BIGGEST FANS! It was taken at a huge retirement party for Jimmy's sister Diane. She received a plaque for over 33 years of service to LA Unified School District, and they named this years scholarship fund in her honor!