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Ohio

Hello all. I first came across this board about four years ago. I was in the process of writing a children's novel about a girl on a quest to grow a pumpkin big enough to take to Circelville's Pumpkin Show weigh off. My book, ME AND THE PUMPKIN QUEEN, was finally published by HarperCollins last July. Perhaps you may know a young reader (ages 7-12) who would enjoy it. (And it even mentions the message board here at BigPumpkin.com in one of the opening chapters!) It's in many public libraries thoughout the states and is also available on amazon.com. I did a ton of research in writing this story--visiting this board, reading Don Langevin's books, and asking Dr.(Bob) Liggett many questions, which he was kind enough to answer. It was important to me to portray accurate details about giant pumpkin growing, though I'm sure some of you experts will catch my main character doing questionable things :) It was a bit overwhelming to write this book--so many growing theories out there and they are constantly changing--but I somehow muddled on through. Anyway, wanted to say "hi"--right now I'm trying to grow a giant pumpkin myself for the first time and I'm sure I'll be checking in here often. It's very early in the season, but I've already found that as challenging as it was, writing about growing pumpkins is not nearly as difficult as trying to grow one!

Marlane Kennedy
www.marlanekennedy.com

5/19/2008 10:15:49 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

That is really neat.

Doug

Jn. 3:16

5/19/2008 12:11:23 PM

Massillon, Ohio

AWESOME!! you live in wooster and your husband is an optometrist..... i am a fan of yours already.

read your bio obviously on your site..sorry to hear about your daughter. i can't wait to read your book and maybe meet you someday at a pumpkin event. you should come to the OVGPG picnic / tour this summer. there are lots of women growers in stark county if you ever want to do girls tour day. :)

5/19/2008 12:14:50 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Very cool

5/19/2008 12:25:23 PM

Knopp, Germany

Marlene, you have entered (4 years ago) the twilight zone, and survived...LOL, theories on how to grow these big ones are only as good as the last WR holder. Congrats, great job.

5/19/2008 1:14:35 PM

Frankfort Oh

Marlane,,,,,I sent you an email ,,,after you visited my daughters school ,at adena,in Frankfort ohio, Did you get it? my daughter ,,,was really excited about your visit to the school,,she reads, your book everyday!she checked the email for ,, two days hopeing you would email back,,,,hope you grow a big one Rob

5/19/2008 1:14:55 PM

South East

good luck growing marlane!

5/19/2008 1:16:18 PM

Ohio

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

Chisty, thanks for the invite to the tour/picnic. Sounds like fun and I just might take you up on it! Since we live faily close, odds are our paths will indeed cross sometime.

Owen, yes, I did enter the "twilight" zone. Ha! When I was about half-way done writing the book I almost gave up. My head was spinning it seemed so complicated. One source would say one thing and another would give completely different advice. Much of what I wrote about four years ago is not the best way to go now. I hope you all will forgive some of the errors. It is a tale of fiction, after all, so sometimes I just went with what would add drama to the story. But I tried my best to do this amazing hobby/sport justice.

And Rob, I did get your email. Your daughter's name was Sarah, right? And she gave me a yellow binder with pictures of your beautiful pumpkins. I sent off a reply on May 10th and then kept checking my email waiting for you and your daughter to email me back :) Sorry you didn't get my original reply. I've resent it, so have Sarah check your email when she gets home from school. If it doesn't go through again, let me know and I'll resend again using my personal email instead of business. Maybe your spam collector got it.

Marlane

5/19/2008 1:46:33 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Hi Marlane,
I am glad to see your post. I received an autographed copy of your book for a birthday gift. My grandkids & I think your story is great! And don't worry about your main character doing questionable things. We growers are all doing questionable things!! I live near Christy. We will get in touch with you when we plan our girls patch tour. Glenna Rea

5/19/2008 4:03:27 PM

Salem, OR

Excellent. I love stuff like this. You wrote the book I've been wanting to write. I'll go to Amazon right away and order one!! (All of my kids are growing their own plants this year--Nadia--8, Emily--5, and James--3 years old)

5/19/2008 4:06:52 PM

Salem, OR

. . . and look at all those 5 star reviews. Wow. I'll read it and let you know what I think

5/19/2008 7:01:15 PM

Ohio

Glenna, glad you and your grandkids enjoyed the book! Looking forward to meeting you and Christy. And you're right, reading many of the posts here there seems to be many mistakes growers make along the way. Maybe the questionable things just make my main character even more believable. Though I didn't have her go as far as injecting milk into the stems :) I've had "experts" who have never laid eyes on a giant pumpkin telling me that is how to grow them big. HaHa.

And GR8 PMKN, thanks so much for getting the book and mentioning the nice reviews! I'd love to know what you think after you read it.

Marlane

5/19/2008 7:30:47 PM

Frankfort Oh

Marlane ,,Yes her name is Sarah,,she was so excited to see this post here ,,she sits with me alot on Big Pumpkins,,she says thank you!,,and she still wants to know what your growing? seed wise,,orange or ugly?p,s she says if you need any help to call us ,,lol,,,but you better call Doc ,,he has better luck then me,anyways hope to see you at the pumpkin show ,,Sarah works with me there selling seeds for the club,every year ,,now shes really hooked ,thanks to you and your book,Rob

5/19/2008 8:05:34 PM

Frankfort Oh

p, s We never got your email,,you need to post a diarie on BP here so we can see your pumpkins ,,good luck

5/19/2008 8:09:49 PM

Ohio

Rob, I re-sent using my personal email. Fingers crossed it works this time! Your daughter was so sweet the day I met her. And very proud of her pumpkin growing Daddy! Tell her I hope I get to see her again come Pumpkin Show time!

Marlane

5/19/2008 8:41:58 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Marlane, I am very impressed!!! I read in one of the previous posts, "autographed copy" of yer book?? How can I get one of those? I would certainly like one, if they are available!! Peace, Wayne [email protected]

5/19/2008 10:37:18 PM

[email protected]

Very Cool.

5/19/2008 11:29:45 PM

Ohio

Wayne, since I am with a major publisher I am not permitted to sell my own books, which makes getting autographed copies a little tricky. But it can be done. You would need to buy your own copy through an online source like amazon (or you could go to a Barnes and Noble or any independent bookstore if there's one nearby--if they don't have my book in stock, they can always order it in for you). After getting the book, send it to me along with a sturdy self-addressed mailing envelope with adequate return postage. Include a note letting me know who you want me to sign the book to and if it is for an adult or child. I can then personalize the book and return it to you. Another less expensive option when it comes to postage would be to request a bookplate. Simply send a self-addressed stamped business sized envelope to me and I'll return a signed bookplate. A bookplate is a clear sticker that I write on which can then be placed on the title page of my book.
My address is:
2650 Oak Hill Road
Wooster, OH 44691

Thanks for your interest in an autographed copy! I noticed you are from Kentucky. I'm a finalist for the Kentucky Bluegrass Book Award for children in grades 3-5. Kids in Kentucky will read books on the finalist list and then vote for their favorite. Tell any kids you know to vote for me:) I need all the help I can get as I am up against Judy Blume and several other well-known authors!

Marlane

5/20/2008 12:09:48 AM

Atlantic Canada

Hi Marlane,
Just finished asking our resource librarian to order a copy of your pumpkin book for our teacher resource library. I hope if your travels ever take you up here to Nova Scotia that you would include a visit to a few of our local schools and perhaps even a visit with our future elementary teachers here on campus.
Can't wait to read it!

Bill Timmons ([email protected])
St. F.X.U,
School of Education
Antigonish, Nova Scotia

5/20/2008 9:45:13 AM

Ohio

Thanks, Bill. I appreciate it. Nova Scotia is actually mentioned in the book along with Howard Dill. When the main character has to write a report for school about an important person, and her classmates are busy deciding which sports star or actor to write about, she knows right away who she will write about: Howard Dill, of course. If I'm ever your way I'd be happy to visit your campus. Quite a few teachers in Ohio are actually using the book in their classrooms. I don't know if you are familiar with the Accelerated Reader program here in the states, but my book is an Accelerated Reader book which means it can be found in many school libraries across the country. I'd love for it to find its way into schools north of the border, too!

Marlane

5/20/2008 11:02:48 AM

Santa Rosa California

wow looks very cool

5/20/2008 1:19:56 PM

Monrovia, CA

Hello Marlane...congratulations on your first publication! I just ordered my copy of 'Me and the Pumpkin Queen' from Amazon. I LOVE children's books, especially those that feature growing pumpkins. I also have Tasha Tudor's 'Pumpkin Moonshine', her first published work also. She is one of my heros as she has written and illustrated many children's books. I can't wait to read yours!! Best of luck to you on your NEXT work!
Michelle

5/20/2008 2:57:51 PM

Ohio

Hi Michelle. Nice of you to order a book. Hope you enjoy it! My next book will be out in March. It's called THE DOG DAYS OF CHARLOTTE HAYES and it's about a neglected St. Bernard dog and the girl who wants to help him. So I've gone from big pumpkins to big dogs. This book didn't require as much head spinning research, though :)

5/20/2008 4:40:56 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

Wow Marlane, that's Awesome! Being something of a Pumpkin Queen (and writer) myself I can really appreciate your accomplishments and hard work. Congratulations and best of luck to you!

5/20/2008 7:26:00 PM

Somers, CT

I have to get one. My family thinks I am nuts already so why not?

5/20/2008 8:34:06 PM

San Luis Obispo, Ca.

coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!

5/26/2008 2:19:17 PM

Massillon, Ohio

YAY I JUST FINISHED THE BOOK. loved it :)

6/2/2008 5:32:33 PM