Release Date Announcement

November 5, 2021

Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

I wrote A Friend for Festus last November while my students were working on an essay. I had the pleasure of working with a very gifted, special group of tenth graders. Fortunately for me, I am blessed enough to teach them AGAIN this year in eleventh grade lit/comp.

I shared my draft with them and allowed them to help me edit. In August, I sent the manuscript to my illustrator, Joshua Wichterich. This morning, he sent me ALL the painted sketches, and I am in the process of laying the book out. I have completed a first pass for the draft, but I am going to let my students critque it a few more times before I upload it to Amazon.

Liam, my four year old son, asked to read the book for a second time today after presenting him my first formatted draft. His response is a really good sign. My last two books, he only wanted to read more than once when they were in paperback form.

I called my brother this afternoon and asked his permission to use his birthday for my release date for A Friend for Festus. He laughed and said that his birthday isn’t special, but it is to me! He was my first “baby.” I was five when he was born, and I took my role as his big sister VERY seriously. I still remember holding him and reading to him as a baby and as a little boy. I know that releasing it on his birthday will bring luck and a blessing.

SNEAK PEEK is coming soon!!