FINDING DANNY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2010
Media Contact:
Finding Danny is a perfect story for young dog-lovers about a young girl, Bree, who loses the only bright spot in her life, her dog Danny. But it's Bree's search for Danny that leads her to the Vox Street Animal Shelter, where she finds new friends, a new purpose—and perhaps a way to put the pieces of her life together.
WALDEN POND PRESS, N.Y. - Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Children's books today announced the launch of the Finding Danny Day of Hope and Action, an event that will raise awareness of the plight of shelter animals and encourage pet adoption. The event celebrates the publication of Finding Danny written by Linzi Glass, the author of critically acclaimed novels for young adult readers and the founder of The Forgotten Dog Foundation. The books are available wherever books are sold.
"There is an instinctive bond between children and dogs. Perhaps it's that both are at the mercy of the grownups who are supposed to care for them", said Peter Glassman, Owner Books of Wonder. "I am thrilled that Books of Wonder has this great opportunity to support such a wonderful cause and encourage young readers to be aware of the plight of abused and abandoned animals while enjoying a great story."
A number of local animal adoption activists, national organizations and shelters will be on hand to bring attention to the millions of animals who are waiting for adoption. Humane Society Youth will be represented by Janice Krish and Sarah Kowalski. Doug Halsey from Ready4Rescue will talk about his foster program and animals he is trying to save from the city shelters. "This is cause-related publishing at its absolute best," said Francis X. Flaherty, Jr., Publisher, Walden Pond Press. "We are really making a difference and saving the lives of animals in these shelters while raising awareness of the issues among the next generation."
During the event, guests will have an opportunity to hear about some of the issues involved in adopting a pet and the ways a family can be sure that adopting a shelter pet that is right for them.
About Ready for Rescue
Ready for Rescue is 100% volunteer-driven non-profit rescue group dedicated to saving at-risk animals with a focus on stray and cats and dogs—specializing in the sick and injured adoptable shelter animals who are otherwise overlooked. As they are not a shelter, all of their animals are kept in foster care until they find their "forever homes."
About Linzi Glass and Finding Danny
Linzi Glass is the author of two critically acclaimed novels for young adult readers, The Year the Gypsies Came and Ruby Red. When not writing books, she spends her time as a writing instructor and animal rescuer. Ms. Glass lives in Santa Monica, CA with her many rescue dogs. She has a college-age daughter, Jordan.
About Walden Pond Press
Walden Pond Press is dedicated to inspiring children to ready by identifying and publishing the next generation of children's classics. Walden Pond Press is a strategic partnership between HarperCollins and Walden Media, LLC, and it is Walden Media's first dedicated publishing imprint. The joint venture follows a longstanding promotional partnership between Walden Media and HarperCollins supporting literacy, featuring such properties as The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Bridge to Terabithia and Charlotte's Web that have been published by HarperCollins and adapted for the big screen by Walden Media. Upcoming Walden Media films include Ramona & Beezus starring Selena Gomez and the third installment in the Chronicles of Narnia series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Walden Pond Press is dedicated to inspiring children to read by identifying and publishing the next generation of children's classics. www.walden.com
About Walden Media LLC
Walden Media specializes in entertainment for the whole family. Past award-winning films include: The Chronicles of Narnia series, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Nim's Island and Charlotte's Web. Ramona & Beezus starring Selena Gomez and the third installment in the Narnia series: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. www.walden.com
About HarperCollins Children's Books
HarperCollins Children's Books is one of the leading publishers of children's books. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers, HarperCollins is home to many timeless treasures—Charlotte's Web, The Chronicles of Narnia, Goodnight Moon, Where the Sidewalk Ends and Where the Wild Things Are; and popular new classics—A Series of Unfortunate Events, Warriors and Fancy Nancy. HarperCollins Children's Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, one of the leading English language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NCP, NCPDP). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australasia. You can visit HarperCollins Children's Books at www.harpercollinschildrens.com and HarperCollins Publishers at www.harpercollins.com
FINDING DANNY
By Linzi Glass
Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Children's Books
$16.99 Tr: 978-0-06-179716-3
Ages: 8 - 12 May 11, 2010
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
May 3, 2010, Los Angeles, CA - Published by Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Children's books, a new middle grade novel, Finding Danny will be released on May 11th.
Having been in the trenches of animal rescue in Los Angeles for seven years, author Linzi Glass is especially proud of this book because it allowed her to bring together her two passions: writing and rescuing dogs. Ms. Glass has personally rescued hundreds of dogs, and is the Executive Director and Co-founder of The Forgotten Dog Foundation, a non-profit Los Angeles based organization that is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing dogs in need.
About Finding Danny: Twelve-year-old Bree Davies is devastated when her beloved Border Collie, Danny, goes missing. In her search to find him, Bree is thrust into the world of animals in need, and her eyes are opened to the life-and-death plight of shelter dogs. Finding Danny is about the search for a beloved pet, but it is ultimately the story of a girl finding meaning and purpose in her young life.
"I hope Finding Danny will enlighten and inspire young readers to reach out and help others, whether they are two- or four-legged." -Linzi Glass
To find out more about Linzi Glass and The Forgotten Dog Foundation, please visit www.linziglass.com
For media inquiries please contact:
Kelley Coughlan
Ballantines PR
London/Los Angeles/Santa Fe/New York
Tel: (310) 454-3080
Cell: (310) 570-9970
Fax: (310) 943-1978
www.ballantinespr.com
About Walden Pond Press
Walden Pond Press is dedicated to inspiring children to ready by identifying and publishing the next generation of children's classics. Walden Pond Press is a strategic partnership between HarperCollins and Walden Media, LLC, and it is Walden Media's first dedicated publishing imprint. The joint venture follows a longstanding promotional partnership between Walden Media and HarperCollins supporting literacy, featuring such properties as The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Bridge to Terabithia and Charlotte's Web that have been published by HarperCollins and adapted for the big screen by Walden Media.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Linzi Glass
linzi@linziglass.com
"The Year the Gypsies Came stopped me in my tracks. Sorrowful, yet hopeful—at times I could hardly breathe. Well after I finished the book the layers from the story replayed in my mind. This compelling debut is a tribute to human resilience!"
- Valerie Lewis, Owner Hicklebees Bookstore (San Jose, CA)
(March 2006) Linzi Glass' debut novel proves an utterly compelling classic-in-waiting. Set against the backdrop of Apartheid South Africa, The Year the Gypsies Came seamlessly intertwines the story of a fragmented and dysfunctional family with that of a fragmented and dysfunctional society. The Year the Gypsies Came is a beautiful, lyrical novel that will enthrall teenagers and adults alike.
Glass's incredible talent for storytelling takes us into the lonely, isolated world of twelve year old Emily Iris as she silently begs for attention from her self absorbed mother and distracted father. From time to time, her parents invite house guests to diffuse the tension in their unhappy home. One spring a "gypsy family"—an Australian wildlife photographer, his wife and two boys—comes to stay. Emily and her beloved sister Sarah find friendship and adventure with the boys, but when tragedy strikes—their lives are changed forever.
As Emily struggles to find happiness, she often turns to Buza, the family's old Zulu night watchman, for comfort. His lovingly told African folktales offer pearls of wisdom to Emily (and to the reader). These beautiful and exotic tales enrich an already amazing story—you can almost hear Buza's raspy old voice whispering to Emily as night falls! Ironically, Buza is the wisest of the characters, yet has the least amount of power and honor in the unjust world of apartheid.
Author Linzi Glass grew up in a liberal home during the reign on apartheid. The Year the Gypsies Came reflects her struggle to understand and reconcile the two worlds of apartheid South Africa—"a country where there were so clearly the haves and have-nots and (where) skin color was all that determined which camp one fell into. I was fortunate enough to have been born into a family of the 'haves'. As such, I thought often, even as a child, growing up in a liberal white household, that healing and closing the giant cracks between black and white would be the ultimate triumph for such a fragmented and yet so noble a land."
The Year the Gypsies Cam tells the story of how love—in its many forms—is the glue to mend a family and a country.
About the Author
Linzi Glass grew up in a white liberal home in South Africa during the reign of apartheid. Linzi immigrated to the United States as a young adult and has written poetry and short stories since, though her career has been in the music and entertainment industries; and more recently she and her sister launched a successful online clothing business. Linzi now lives in Santa Monica, CA with her teenage daughter Jordan.
The Year the Gypsies Came
Written by Linzi Glass
Henry Holt and Company, Books for Young Readers
March 2006 * $16.95 * Ages 12 & up
ISBN: 0-8050-7999-8
For more information or to schedule an
interview with Linzi Glass, please contact:
Linzi Glass
linzi@linziglass.com