The 2021 BookStop opened up on October 18 and offers visitors the chance to browse over 1,000 new picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels written and/or illustrated by SCBWI members. Buying a book not only supports book creators, but indie bookstores as well. The BookStop store will be until November 30.
As a member of SCBWI, I have found the organization to be very helpful in my writing and publishing process. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is the only professional organization specifically for individuals who write and illustrate for children and young adults. Our mission is to support the creation and availability of quality children’s books in every region of the world.
This is the second year that I have shared it in the SCBWI BookStop. It feels wonderful to have reached another milestone on my journey as an author and I am very grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way.
#SCBWIBookStop 2021 is officially open. Start browsing all books here:
The 2020 BookStop opened up on October 6 and offers visitors the chance to browse over 1,000 new picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels written and/or illustrated by SCBWI members. Buying a book not only supports book creators, but indie bookstores as well. The BookStop store will be until November 30. Check out my page here:
As a member of SCBWI, I have found the organization to be very helpful in my writing and publishing process. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is the only professional organization specifically for individuals who write and illustrate for children and young adults. Our mission is to support the creation and availability of quality children’s books in every region of the world.
My first goal was to publish my debut novel, Grandma’s Sock Drawer, and then it was important for me to share it in the SCBWI BookStop. It feels wonderful to have reached another milestone on my journey as an author and I am very grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way.
#SCBWIBookStop 2020 is officially open. Start browsing all books here:
Grandma’s gone. Now Sukey races against time to unravel the mysteries of a puzzling inheritance – a sock drawer – from a grandmother she was forbidden to know. A note and a key to Grandma’s “most precious treasure” sends Sukey on wild adventures with unexpected twists and turns. Will Sukey learn the truth about her grandmother, unlock the questions that will lead to peace, and connect her fragmented family? And, can she find the answers before an estate sale ends everything? Author Sue Agauas’ first full-length novel, Grandma’s Sock Drawer, delivers for readers and receives rave reviews.
“In her debut book, Agauas mixes adventure and Christian allegory in a way that’s mildly reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.” – Kirkus Reviews
“In Grandma’s Sock Drawer, Agauas combines masterful storytelling, compelling dialogue and vivid imagery. This is a story of family, love, forgiveness and hope … a must read!” – Angela Wright; Educator, Administrator
“Grandma’s Sock Drawer is a read and re-read fantasy novel that can stand alongside classic literature giants. It’s a fanciful tale filled with vivid imagery, suspense, and adventure.” – Evonne L. Rogers; Educator, Curriculum Director, and School Administrator
“I am passionate about the power of love and family,” said Agauas. “I love how books can transport a reader to places near or far, real or imaginary.” She wrote Grandma’s Sock Drawer, her first novel, during the 2017 National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. “Writing my first book has been an adventure. I’m grateful to all the hands, hearts, and help that coaxed this book into its momentous liftoff.”
Finding support and motivation within the local writing community led Agauas to participate in events with the Rochester Writers organization and to become a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) of Michigan. She founded Why Not Now? Children’s Books LLC – a publishing company. She has been writing picture books for younger readers for many years, and is currently writing book two – her next novel – in the Grandma’s Sock Drawer series.
With a deep love of nature and animals, Sue feels that stories revolving around emotions, especially joy, have a large impact. For thirty-nine years, she enjoyed teaching children in elementary school. “Having a strong love for learning and discovery, I now endeavor to share these passions with children of all ages through my books,” said Agauas. She finds her greatest happiness when she is spending time with her family, traveling with her husband, writing, and riding her overly clever, but very lovable horse.
Readers can find Grandma’s Sock Drawer in both print and eBook format at numerous outlets including Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Bookshop.org, independent bookstores, libraries, and more. Grandma’s Sock Drawer is middle grade fiction, yet appeals to a wide audience that includes teachers, parents, and senior citizens.
By visiting www.SueAgauas.com, visitors can gain insight about Grandma’s Sock Drawer, learn about Agauas’ history, read her blog, and order the book. In addition, teachers will find online resources for using Grandma’s Sock Drawer in the classroom.
About the Author
After a 39-year successful career as an elementary school teacher, Sue Agauas retired in 2016. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have two adult children. A strong love of God, family, and animals (especially horses) drives her passion for life. Sue lives in Sterling Heights, MI with her husband, enjoys writing, and spending time with her grandchild.
Product Information
BOOK: Grandma’s Sock Drawer
AUTHOR: Sue Agauas
PAPERBACK: 336 pages
PUBLISHER: Why Not Now Children’s Books LLC
PUBLICATION DATE: February 25, 2020
LANGUAGE: English
ISBN-10: 1732271119
ISBN-13: 978-1732271111
PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
PRICE: $14.99/paperback, $3.99/eBook
Follow the adventures of Sukey as she struggles to unravel the mystery of the unusual gift left to her by her missing grandmother. Discover, with Sukey, the meaning behind her grandmother’s most ‘precious treasure’, a sock drawer.
Many thanks to all the hands, hearts, and help that coaxed this book into its momentous liftoff.
Visit my website: sueagauas.com, for free materials to use with Grandma’s Sock Drawer. You’ll find a delightful word search, match the characters page, and a chapter by chapter comprehension guide, with corresponding answer keys.
Keep your eyes peeled for future adventures with Sukey!
GET READY! Kindergarten. First day. Chunky red crayon with flattened side. Can I color? Inside a circle? Doubts, insecurities, weak skills. The spotlight shines inward under an overwhelming onslaught of new stimuli. Being a writer is just like being in Kindergarten. Focus first, is inward. Do I have the skills? What is my story? What is my voice? Red is stop but also start. The necessary inward focus. Wait so you can grow. Develop. Practice. Fail. Succeed. Repeat. Then one day, you look up and see, you’re not alone.
GET SET! Surprise! There’s a whole world out there! It’s not just about you! This can be an alarming discovery. Yellow shifts the focus. There’s other kids in class. And, guess what? They might have some doubts, insecurities, and some skills, just like you! Yellow light is the pause. The gathering of all that you are and deciding what you are going to do. Keep to yourself? Or take a chance?
GO! Green is the moment you reach out. The moment sharing what you have, is more important than any perceived imperfections that always linger. Green light is the time of connecting, discovering how sharing the little you have with the offering of another, can create a feast for everyone. I’m thrilled to find myself at the GO time in my writing endeavors.
NaNoWriMo is a whirlwind writing challenge to create a new novel, of at least 50,000 words, in the month of November.
During this creative endeavor, the writer is admonished to forsake editing of any kind. To plunge headfirst into the characters and their mission to solve all problems to attain their goals.
Getting lost in this kind of free-wheeling creativity is a thrilling roller-coaster ride.
Some days you feel like you are just clink-clinking your way slowly to your daily word count of 1,667. You feel like your characters and plot are caught in a never-ending uphill climb.
But then, if you push through, you hit peaks that send you at break-neck speeds through the twists and turns of plot development as your character shrieks with joy before reeling again into another problem.
It’s quite a ride! But worth every moment of creativity.
At the end of November, Grandma’s Sock Drawer was complete.
Well, complete enough to begin the next step in the adventure. Perhaps, a more grueling step than the first.
“Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.” — Izaak Walton
Sue Agauas 
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