Friend Friday

I always loved going back to school -- new footwear (brown and white saddle shoes), new pencils, new skirt lovingly made by my Auntie Lou. September spells hope, in my book, the kind of hope that only a ream of pristine lined notepaper can promise.

In the spirit of new, there are going to be some new things chez Kirby's Lane. I'm not going to tell you yet about the amazing plan I have for Tuesdays (for those of you jonesing for writing tips, head on over to Barbara O'Connor's blog), but you can continue to count on Thursday's Thought for the Day. But Friday! Friday! 

Friday is now Friend Friday. And what better way to inaugurate Friend Friday than with a pickle.

Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School is Kim Baker's debut novel and you don't want to miss it. Kim has the best laugh of anyone I know and her heart is somewhat bigger than Mt. Rainier. She serves as the Western Washington SCBWI co-regional advisor and apparently stray animals find their way to her house sans GPS. She writes in a very cool converted shed and, though she didn't tell me this personally, Kim would be pleased as punch if every single one of you ran out and bought her new book. At an independent bookstore, of course.