Elaine Ann Allen

Mallory the Forgetful Duck

2012-02-24T14:49:00.001-05:00

Announcing the release of my new children's picture book Mallory the Forgetful Duck

Book Description

Mallory is a very forgetful duck. She can't remember where she left her nest. She sets out along the Chesapeake Bay to find it, but soon stumbles upon a nest that is NOT her own. Along her journey Mallory meets several mother birds, including a Canada Goose, an Osprey, a Great Blue Heron, and an Oystercatcher. Each of their nests is made of different materials, has a distinctive clutch of colorful eggs, and occupies a different habitat. But will Mallory ever track down her own nest and her own eggs? Follow Mallory the Forgetful Duck in her quest to find her nest and find out why her own eggs are more special than any others. Large, color illustrations make this tale a great book for children in grades Pre-K to 3.

Available for pre-order at Schiffer Books, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, or through Indie Bookstores.

Patuxent River Appreciation Days

2011-11-02T18:24:00.001-04:00

October was a busy month, starting with a beautiful Fall day at the Patuxent River Appreciation Days. I love visiting Solomons, Maryland because there are so many book lovers and so many people interested in Olly! The people in Solomons have a great appreciation for oysters and it shows. Several children made their own “Olly the Oyster” out of coffee filters and googley eyes.

The Calvert Marine Museum also had a wonderful oyster exhibit inside displaying a tank with live oysters filtering the water. This museum is well worth a family visit with an exciting river otter exhibit, giant ancient fossils, authentic lighthouses to tour, an oyster house and a superb gift shop. Here I am sitting with fellow author, Monica Baker, author of the young adult novel, Freestyle. It’s a thriller about ghosts and the Underground Railroad in Maryland in 1820.

My next event in October took place at the Heritage Harbor Rehabilitation Center in Annapolis, Maryland where I spent another beautiful Fall day meeting new Olly fans.

Finally, at the end of the month, I visited Crofton Elementary School where I spoke to children in K through 2^nd grades. I teamed up on this occasion with fellow author Jennifer Ginn, author of Lobsters on the Loose. What made this visit extra special was that Crofton Elementary is where my daughter Lindsey goes to school! It was so much fun because I knew so many of the students and teachers. The teachers and the reading specialist, Mr. Bailey, were very welcoming and wonderful. This is a great school for authors to visit.

My books Olly the Oyster Cleans the Bay and Olly’s Treasure are available in stores and online. If “Olly” is not on the stacks of your favorite store or library, please ask them to order it. You can follow me and “Olly” on Facebook, or on my website, OllytheOyster.com.

Baltimore Book Festival

2011-09-25T23:32:00.000-04:00

I had a great time at the Baltimore Book Festival onSaturday, promoting and signing my books, Olly the Oyster Cleans the Bay and Olly's Treasure. I met many new faces and many fellow authors.

Here I am with JenniferGinn, author of Lobsters on the Loose.It’s a fun book about lobsters escaping from the supermarket lobster tank and marchingtheir way to the bay nearby. Check it out at Amazon.com.

Baltimore is a remarkable city with its busy streets, friendly people,and variety of buildings with interesting architecture. My children enjoyed thefountains with beautiful statues.

My next event will be at thePatuxent River Appreciation Days in Solomons, Maryland on October 8^th. Come and bring thefamily to this wonderful event where they have pony rides, sea otters,authentic lighthouses, river cruises, real dinosaur fossils from the local Calvert Cliffs, and much more.

Also, for a view of some realoysters in action, visit the Calvert Marine Museum while you’re in Solomon’s!

Nautical Festival

2011-09-04T22:46:00.000-04:00

My latest author event brought me back tothe Eastern Shore of Maryland not far from where I grew. On Saturday I visitedthe town of Oxford, Maryland for their 1^st Annual Nautical Festival.Oxford is a beautiful town with scenic country roads, quaint old houses andwaterfront views.

Our journey included a trip across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge wherewe saw hundreds of boats dotted along each side of the bridge, along withseveral cargo ships and even a cruise ship!

My kids love crossing the big bridge and this day did notdisappoint, with clear blue skies allowing us to see for miles. A couple of seagullsflew alongside our car for a while like little tour guides proud to show theway.

Once at the Nautical Festival, we enjoyed live music, friendlyconversation with local residents and a sampling of local treasures from thetown vendors. I want to thank Kathy Harig, the owner of the bookstore Mystery Loves Company, for inviting me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of the town's first Nautical Festival.

In this picture I’m holding my kids. What would I do withouttheir support, and of course my husband's who has become my number onephotographer!

My next event will be at the Baltimore Book Festival on September24^th. For a complete list of upcoming events, visit my website atOllytheOyster.com. Don’t forget you can buy my books Olly the Oyster Cleans theBay and Olly’s Treasure at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Celebrate the Chesapeake Bay with children's books about oysters.

Great Author's Weekend!

2011-08-14T23:40:00.000-04:00

On Saturday I had a wonderful time meeting local authors at the Author’s Reception at the Charles County Public Library in La Plata, Maryland. It was great to be amongst so many talented writers in one room. With authors reading from their works of poetry, young adult novels, children’s picture books, mainstream thrillers and how-to books, it seemed as if every genre was covered. A big Thank You goes to the director of the Charles County Public Library, Emily Ferren, for hosting the event! Here is a link to the article from SoMdNews.com with a list of authors attending.

On Sunday I met with illustrator Kelli Nash for a jam session on our next book! It's so much fun going over the layout of the book and watching the characters come to life. It's like magic:)

Also, the winners of the Good Reads Giveaway contest have been announced! Go to GoodReads.com to see a list of the winners who entered for a copy of Olly’s Treasure. Congratulations to the winners!!!

Fun at the Ball Game

2011-07-26T13:22:00.000-04:00

I had a great time at the Bowie Baysox game the other night. I met many new faces and enjoyed introducing Olly the Oyster to kids who hadn’t heard about him yet.

My own family had a great time watching the game, eating cotton candy and watching the fireworks afterward. I could not have asked for a better book signing! Events like this make it so much fun to be an author.

I wasn’t able to sell books at the event; so many Olly fans had asked where to buy a signed copy of my books. My next event will be at the Baltimore Book Festival on September 24^th. I will also be in Solomons, Maryland on October 8^th for their Patuxent River Appreciation Days (PRAD).

Visit my website at OllytheOyster.com for updates on my scheduled appearances.

Don’t forget you can enter to win one of five FREE signed copies of my latest book, Olly’s Treasure, through GoodReads.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Olly's Treasure

by Elaine Ann Allen

Giveaway ends August 11, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Bowie Baysox game!

2011-07-17T11:23:00.000-04:00

I will be at the Bowie Baysox game at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, MD on Sunday, July 24th as part of their Summer Reading Night. The game starts at 6:00pm with fireworks to follow! I'll be on the concourse signing books, so please come and say hello! I will not be selling books, but you can bring your Olly books for me to sign and personalize for the little ones in your life. You can also drop off your business card for a chance to win a signed copy of Olly's Treasure, a signed copy of Olly the Oyster Cleans the Bay, or an Olly the Oyster T-shirt!!!

The Beach

2011-07-06T14:33:00.001-04:00

This week I’m celebrating the 4^th of July with my family at the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Here are my kids on our first day. After a grueling 10 hour drive in traffic they were so happy to finally set foot on the beach, grab their shovels and dig into the sand!

I have always loved the beach since our yearly visits when I was a kid. First my family would go to Cape May, New Jersey, and then later down to the Outer Banks. I love the elements of both beaches—the Cape May diamonds and the jetties up at the Jersey shore and the cattails and wide open beaches of the Outer Banks.

Both beaches have wonderful sea life that make me feel close to nature. I remember as a kid watching quietly and patiently as little ghost crabs scurried in and out of their tunnels. I remember spending hours upon hours darting past waves and searching for sea shells. Now I do these things with my kids and it is such a rewarding experience.

Yesterday we searched the muddy sand for tiny clams that appeared like little gems as waves withdrew along the shoreline. My children and I watched as they would appear then burrow tirelessly into the sand with each foaming wash. Here is a photo of my daughter holding a tiny clam.

There was also a lovely dolphin display as two of them came up close to people in the deeper water. Alas every amazing shot is of my fingers! You’d think I’d know how to properly hold a digital camera, but in my excitement I lost all technological dexterity!

But although photos are wonderful and help us relive the memories, feeling a part of nature is about being in the moment. Seeing it, smelling it, touching it and hearing it. It reaches all of our senses and it’s what inspires me to write.

I love writing about nature and writing for children helps me to highlight the purity and innocence of nature and its relationship to the environment.

Don’t forget my new book Olly’s Treasure is about the wonderful treasures we have in our oyster reefs! It is available through all major booksellers, both online and in stores. If you can’t find one of my books on the stacks of your favorite bookstore, please ask them to order it. Visit the official website for Olly they Oyster at OllytheOyster.com.

Want a free copy of Olly’s Treasure? Enter to win a copy through GoodReads.