Buy a Book, Give a Book ... And EA 6!

With a month of summer still to go, I am making a decent dent in my reading list! This year, it's even longer because from now until the end of 2021, for every book purchased through shopDisney.com (my publisher), Disney will donate a book to First Book, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing new books and educational resources to educators who serve children in need. So when you pick up any of the Explorer Academy titles, know that you're making it possible for another child to join the adventure.

Also, if you buy EXPLORER ACADEMY from shopDisney drop me a line through my contact page and I will send you a signed bookmark to thank you for helping to benefit First Book.

I'm thrilled to share that latest release in the series: THE TIGER'S NEST is part of Disney's Summer Reading List. Hooray! No matter your reading level, the list features some great fiction and nonfiction to dive into, including a couple of books that I read and can highly recommend: Zeus The Mighty and National Geographic's Photo Basics. It's not too late to get in on the fun. Be sure to check out the complete summer reading list HERE.

Finally, EXPLORER ACADEMY #6: THE DRAGON'S BLOOD releases in less than two months! I can't wait for you to read it! In this installment, the explorers embark on their most challenging expeditions yet. For Cruz, it is a time of self-discovery as he seeks to make sense of the family mystery he is slowly unraveling. More surprises are on the way as Cruz faces new revelations about his destiny and those determined to keep him from fulfilling it. EA 6 launches October 5th, but you can pre-order the book now through your favorite indie bookseller or HERE.

Have a great end-of-summer, everyone. Stay safe and healthy and keep reading!

- Trudi

#ExplorerAcademy

#TheTigersNest

#TheDragonsBlood

Come Join the Adventure!

If you've ever wanted to meet the exceptional scientists, who helped inspire my Explorer Academy series, now's your chance!

From July 5th - 9th we're celebrating EXPLORER ACADEMY RECRUITMENT WEEK. Each day this week, tune in to the Nat Geo Books Facebook page at 4 PM (PST), 7 PM (EST) to hear a different explorer talk about his/her passion, share adventures, and answer your questions. Here's the stellar lineup:

Mon. July 5th: Rae Wynn-Grant, Large Carnivore Ecologist

Tues. July 6th: David Gruber, Marine Biologist

Wed. July 7th: Nizar Ibrahim, Paleontologist

Thurs. July 8th: Gab Mejia, Mountaineer & Photographer

Fri. July 9th: Erika Bergman, Deep-Sea Oceanographer & Submersible Pilot

I've had the pleasure of speaking to students with two of these explorers, Erika Bergman and Nizar Ibrahim. They have some riveting stories! Both also helped in my research for the series and know a few of my secrets. Uh-oh!

Also, for a fun summer experience, check out EXPLORER ACADEMY ADVENTURES, a new online program that will have young explorers (ages 8 - 11) solving mysteries, conducting experiments, and cracking codes. Kids will go on missions and tackle challenges, as they learn about oceans, rainforests, outer space, and more. They can even create action plans for becoming the explorers of tomorrow, just like Cruz and his friends!

To learn more about EXPLORER ACADEMY ADVENTURES, head to: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/events/explorer-academy-adventures/

Have a great summer, everyone! Keep reading and don't forget to Dare to Explore!

You're Invited to a LIVE Virtual Event!

Come join me and four of my amazing children's author/illustrator pals for a FREE virtual event next Friday, March 26th from 5 - 6 pm, PST (8 - 9 pm, EST).

Hosted by Third Place Books in Seattle, WA, kid-lit creators Kathryn Thurman, Dana Sullivan, Jing Jing Tsong, and Barbara Davis-Pyles and I will be LIVE on Zoom to share some of the ways we've stayed inspired during these stressful times and how you, too, can spark that same

fire in your writing or illustrating (hint: there will be cats involved in my portion of the evening). Plus, we'll talk about our new books, give away some swag (someone's getting an Explorer Academy tote bag!), and take your questions. Attendees will be able to purchase signed copies of our new releases, including the latest in my Explorer Academy series, Book 5: The Tiger's Nest.

I hope you'll plan to join us for this lively, uplifting family-friendly evening. The event is free but you'll need to register. Follow this LINK to sign up!