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Book Review – You Are Fatally Invited

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Wow, I loved this book. You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego* takes us to a writers’ retreat hosted by an anonymous bestselling author bent on murder. Everyone here has something to hide, something they’re ashamed of, something that could damage their career and reputation. But their host–and a few among them–know how the subterfuge has ruined lives and fortunes. It seems no one will let the others get away with it.

If you like books steeped in the writerly world, tainted with prophetic writings, and wrongdoers getting what’s coming to them, pick up this title. The audiobook is superb too. Five stars. Highly recommended.

(*This post contains affiliate links, meaning I make a few cents off a purchase, at no cost to you.)

Silvia Acevedo

Short-listed for the Gertrude Warner Award

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I am thrilled to announce that Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course is a semi-finalist in the Gertrude Warner Award for Middle Grade Fiction, put out by the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Gertrude Chandler Warner authored the original  19 books of the beloved Boxcar Children series.

There is just one round of judging to go, and I’m so happy to be considered. Thank you, GWA and CIBA. 

cover image of Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course by Silvia Acevedo

Thank you, Blue House Books

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So many thanks go to Blue House Books in Kenosha, WI, for selecting Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course as one of their best books of 2025. I am truly honored. Reader, if you’re thinking of buying it, please patronize this store.

Also, truly, if you love beautiful spaces, you’ll love the something extra they did make it a welcoming community space. They renovated the room behind their store and connected it by an adjoining hall to create to a gorgeous event area. Behold and enjoy this captivating space.

 

 

Silvia Acevedo

AI IS DUMB (and unethical and environmentally catastrophic and … and … and …)

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AI is so bad at *absolutely everything.*

I asked Google who I dedicated my book to. The exercise was based on author John Scalzi asking various AI programs the same regarding his own works.

It confidently states that MY book, Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course, was written by R.L. Stein, the creator of Goosebumps, and is part of that series. Nope. Not true. Absolutely not. If search engines and their AI sloppery can’t correctly identify info as basic as authorship, you should know that it will get everything wrong and *you cannot trust it.* Here’s a screenshot of its results:

It is easy enough for real, live people to find the correct author by scrolling past Google’s awful AI results. And, yes, it’s easy enough to find the dedication page elsewhere online or by pulling the book off your shelf, assuming you have it. And, yes, I know “AI will get better,” but that’s not the point. AI is not smart nor to be trusted nor ethical *in any way,* so using it until it gets better doesn’t ease my anxiety in the least. AI truly sucks.

Oh, and for the record, here’s the answer. Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course by Silvia Acevedo is dedicated to (granddaughter) Eliza, “who asks me to check for monsters under the bed. May she someday love these monsters friends.”

Silvia Acevedo

*****FIVE STARS from Reader Views

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Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course gets a FIVE-STAR Recommended review from Reader Views! Whoo hoooo! I’m so thankful for organizations and regular folk who leave positive reviews. They help other readers learn about a title and whether it’s their jam and worth the purchase.

If you’ve left a nice review, thank you! If you want to–but don’t know where to start–here’s the link to my book’s Goodreads page. Remember, you don’t have to assign yourself a book report! No summary needed. A simple sentence or two stating how/why you liked the story or characters or how the book made you feel is absolute gold to an author and so very helpful to a  reader deciding whether to try out a book.

November always makes me turn an eye toward gratitude. I’m thankful for all y’all who support their friends and help creators soldier on.

Silvia Acevedo

Burlington Public Library’s Children’s Book Festival

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Library events can be really lovely, bringing together passionate readers and authors while encouraging community among everyone who loves books. So you can imagine how much my husband and I enjoyed the Burlington (WI) Public Library’s Children’s Book Festival. It was their first, co-organized with author Joyce Uglow, leader of the Wisconsin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Jeff and I are on a tour promoting our latest collaboration, the award-winning middle grade novel Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course. Here’s what our table looked like (he’s taking the photo), and another pic of a few author friends there too. Probably 20ish authors were there, so attendees found enough books to satisfy every taste, yet the event was intimate enough to chat awhile. A very nice event. Thanks to all who attended, participated, organized, and created. Great fun. 🙂

 

Silvia Acevedo

My first press pass

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Digging around in old stuff and found my very first press pass. Such a fresh-faced young’n!

Silvia Acevedo

Reads by the River Local Author Fair – and a sew talented friend

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Did you know that the suuuuper cute Reads by the River Books and Gifts in Waterford puts together a huge author fair? Now you do! And you NEEd to check it out. My husband and I were part of it this year (its second), as we share our new book, Mail-Order Monster: Crash Course. I was gobsmacked at how much talent there was in a single banquet hall. There was a book or collectible there for everyone. It was an absolutely AMAZING, one-stop shopping spot for your end of year, holiday gift giving. Mark your calendar for next year. Seriously, you don’t want to miss out.

Here’s how it went. Almost 50 authors displayed their wares and talked about books to anyone who came around. The fair was held  the Cotton Exchange Banquet Hall because, while the bookstore is ADORBS and has lots of offerings, it doesn’t have the empty space needed for a book fair, so the owner held it at this popular, nearby hall. The space had an open bar so browsers could enjoy a beverage while shopping. PLUS, the bookstore gave away a gift card. The whole events was well run and a lot of fun.

AND the incredibly talented author and sewing maven MJ Diem came to see me and give me some lovely gifts! She had read Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course and loved it. She wanted a signed copy and also–because she knows I’m in awe of her sewing since the day I saw her conference faculty gift bags–gifted me some adorable new creations. Nice to see you, MJ! Thanks for being a great friend. 🙂

Chapter Break

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Many thanks to the Wisconsin Writers Association for featuring me on their Chapter Break podcast. Hosts Luella Schmidt and Ken Humphrey asked great questions and had me read an excerpt of MAIL-ORDER MONSTERS: CRASH COURSE. If you’d like to hear me read in falsetto (yikes haha), click here or on the image below. Now, break!

Silvia Acevedo

The BookLife Report

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Sweeeet. My book was featured in Publishers Weekly‘s BookLife Report under “What’s On Our Radar” Nice. 🙂