Pirates, Manatees, and Mysteries! Oh My!

Welcome to the world of Jane Wood’s books. Juvenile fiction author Jane R. Wood captures the imagination of young readers ages 9-14 through stories rich with mystery, adventure, and humor. Follow the escapades of the Johnson family, as 13-year old Joey hears voices in St. Augustine; 9-year old Bobby has a close encounter with a manatee; and 5-year old Katy meets a pirate on Amelia Island. Wood weaves the history and the environment of her settings into her storylines, making her books educational, as well as fun.

Posted June 10, 2008

I’m off to California again to visit some schools on the west coast. I just returned from BookExpo America in Los Angeles where I met many new people and enjoyed the excitement of the publishing world. My book, Adventures on Amelia Island: A Pirate, A Princess and Buried Treasure, was one of three finalists for a Benjamin Franklin Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association. My book did not win, but I am honored to be recognized at the national level.

My newest book, Trouble on the St. Johns River, recently received a good review from The Midwest Book Review. One comment included, “Trouble on the St. Johns River is a call to action for young children, and highly recommended for community library children’s fiction collections.” I’m told the review was done through the University of Wisconsin, where the book will be made available to Wisconsin’s public school system and community libraries. I’m excited about expanding into other states.

I recently spoke to a group of very environmentally-conscious students at Fletcher Middle School in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. They had read my book and were engaged in a number of projects, encouraged by science teacher Kathy Poe. Not only did the students create songs, raps, poems, websites, posters, and a variety of hands-on activities, several of them wrote Letters to the Editor to several local publications, listing things people can do the help the environment. These kids “get it.” Let’s hope their generation does a better job of protecting and preserving the environment than the previous one. I’m proud of these students, and commend Kathy Poe on her enthusiastic and creative way of making learning exciting and relevant for kids.

I’m off to California, and hopefully some cooler weather.

Last weekend my two book signings were outdoors in the sun, sand and wind.

Posted 05/09/08

Saturday found me and my husband, Terry, on Jekyll Island for the Nest Fest launching the beginning of the sea turtle nesting season. The highlight of the day was the release of three rehabilitated turtles from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. A crowd gathered to celebrate their release. Check out the video of the release of Spitfire, a large loggerhead turtle fitted with a transmitter, on the Center’s website at www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org . The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is one of the places Joey, Bobby and Katy visit in Trouble on the St. Johns River. I know they would highly recommend a visit there to everyone.

I was with my pirate friends on Sunday at the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival on Amelia Island. The weather was great…the seafood tasty…and the pirates were up to the old tricks…always fun! I enjoyed seeing many of you who stopped by my table. The Shrimp Festival is featured in my second book, Adventures on Amelia Island: A Pirate, A Princess, and Buried Treasure.

Posted 05/01/08

April was an exciting month. Trouble on the St. Johns River was released on April 15. Since then I have done presentations and book signings at seven schools, three libraries, three book stores, Jacksonville’s Earth Day Celebration, and the Much Ado About Books book festival. It’s been fun meeting so many people who care about our environment. The response from kids has been especially rewarding. Some students are already forming Greenies groups.

May will be another busy month. Check out my Event Schedule if you want to know where I’ll be. I’m especially looking forward to Nest Fest on Jekyll Island on May 3, and the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival on Amelia Island on May 4. Both of these places are featured in my books.

Remember to keep reading and Think Green!