My travel agent told me I could get a free trip to Egypt if I got eight other people to go with me. Sounds like a pyramid scheme to me.

Oooh, look what I got in the mail yesterday! It’s the best My Weird School book yet! Sorry, but you have to wait until a month from today (10/21) to get your copy. So nah nah nah boo boo on you! @HarperKids Books @theshelfstuff

Do you live in NY State? Next Saturday (9/27) come to the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival at the Chappaqua Metro North station. I’ll be there signing my books from 10am-4pm, along with over 150 (!) other authors. For details: www.CCBFESTIVAL.org

BOOKSELLER OF THE WEEK is Kenny Sarfin, the owner of Books and Greetings in Northvale NJ. Kenny is fun, funny, and dedicated to reading. If you’re a bookseller and would like to be bookseller of the week, send a photo of yourself holding one of my books in your store.

Maybe your kids don’t like to read. Maybe they prefer to LISTEN. The audio version of my new book “The Picasso Curse” is available from Recorded Books. To hear a sample or order the audiobook, go to: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97... @holidayhousebks @holidayhousepeachtree

Is reading for the fun of it dead? If so, is social media to blame? A.I.? Cell phones? Covid? Shorter attention spans? Roblox? All of the above? I don’t have the answer, but I’d be curious to hear yours.

I have a dentist appointment today, so I’m spending the morning flossing to make up for all the days I didn’t floss over the last six months.

I swear I didn’t pay the amazing E Train to say this stuff: www.youtube.com/watch?v=slmK...

Q: Why doesn't anyone play poker in the jungle? A: There are too many cheetahs.

Maxi and Savi got their copy of The Picasso Curse. Did you get yours? If you’ve read the book and liked it, please write a sentence or two on Amazon. Those short reviews really help. Here’s the link… www.amazon.com/review/creat...

GO GET ‘EM! I autographed a ton of My Weird School and The Picasso Curse today at Books and Greetings (271 Livingston St., Northvale NJ). Thanks to all the nice people I met. If you couldn’t make it, I also signed their stock, so grab ‘em if you’re in the area.

I’m sad to hear Tom Shipley died. Few people heard of him, but Shipley & Mike Brewer were heroes of mine growing up. They had a big hit with “One Toke Over The Line” in 1971, but to me their whole album “Tarkio” was a masterpiece. Listen to “Tarkio Road,” “Fifty States of Freedom,” & “Oh Mommy”...

…I remember taking a bus to NYC to see Brewer & Shipley in Central Park in 1974. They were the warm-up act for Bruce Springsteen (this was before “Born to Run”), who was opening for (ready for this?) Anne Murray! Mike Brewer died last year & now we’ve lost Tom Shipley. R.I.P Brewer and Shipley.

Whatcha doin’ tomorrow? If you’re in north NJ or southern NY, come see me at Books and Greetings from 12-2pm. Even if you don’t buy a book, I’ll give you a bookmark and a poster. And if you don’t show, I’ll be sad.

READER OF THE WEEK is Daniel, who is ten and lives in Wisconsin. (Anybody named Daniel HAS to be cool, if you ask me.) His mom told me that Daniel is a huge My Weird School fan, and he even drew some ideas for future books in the series. Watch out, Jim Paillot!

COMING TO NYC? The gift shop at The Metropolitan Museum of Art ordered 35 copies of my new book, and I signed them all. Go get ‘em. (Then tell YOUR museum THEY should order it too!) @holidayhousebks @holidayhousepeachtree

I graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick NJ, class of 1977. I majored in psychology, and even went to graduate school for 2 years before deciding that I didn’t want to be a psychologist. I wanted to write. A few weeks ago, Rutgers Today interviewed me… www.rutgers.edu/news/nickelo...

LIVE NEAR THE NJ/NY BORDER? I don’t do a lot of in-person events, but this Saturday (9/13) I’ll be at Books and Greetings in Northvale NJ. signing lots of my books, including the new one. Come say hi. Bring the kids! I’ll have bookmarks and posters to give away.

Q: What's the best way to talk to a billboard? A: Use sign language.

Here’s a review of my new book “The Picasso Curse” that appeared in Booklist…

Live near Philly? I stopped into the Barnes & Noble store today at Chestnut and 17th St. and signed all my books there. Go get ‘em!

TEACHERS! LIBRARIANS! I made this little back-to-school video just for you…

Walking down the street yesterday, I noticed these boys reading a book. I peeked & saw it was one of mine! I took out my business card & showed it to the mom. It blew her mind, and I spent 15 minutes chatting with Gus & Charlie. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME! I think I was as excited as the kids.

I made this quick back to school video for you to share with the kids…

Can somebody explain why there are so many young people walking around wearing t-shirts with the Ramones, AC/DC, and Nirvana on them? Is it just to look cool? Is it a fashion statement? These kids weren't even born when any of those bands broke up. And why THOSE particular bands?

I’m sure you’re sick of me plugging my new book. Well, good news. “The Picasso Curse” comes out TODAY. You won’t see ads or TV commercials for it. Children’s book authors rely on social media and word-of-mouth to spread the word about our books…

…So I’ll make a deal with you. If you tell your parent, teacher, and librarian friends about “The Picasso Curse,” I’ll stop posting about it. Deal? @holidayhousebks

I never took a writing class or read a book on how to write. I taught myself, & wrote a lot of junk. But little by little I learned what makes a compelling story. It took 30+ years, but I think I figured it out. “The Picasso Curse” is the best thing I’ve written. It comes out tomorrow.

Q: What do you call spaghetti in disguise? A: An im-pasta

My new book “The Picasso Curse” (comes out 9/2) is dedicated to my good friend Ray Dimetrosky. Ray & I went to college together a LONG time ago. We were psych majors, but I quit and he stuck with it. Ray is very good with plotting & stories, & he helps me a lot. I also dedicated “Honus & Me” to him.

I love surprise endings. I try to end each book in a way that will shock readers, but make them think of course, it HAD to end that way. I bet you won’t be able to guess what happens on the last page my new book “The Picasso Curse.” The ending is gonna blow your mind. It comes out on Tuesday.

Jaden and Jaxon are 10-year-old twins who love sports, so their dad gave them my baseball card adventure series. When they finished reading all 12, they used their allowance to buy a baseball card to go with each book....

…“I can't express how incredible these books were,” their dad emailed. “They led to meaningful discussions with my sons, and a love for sports and history. Thank you for the obvious hours that were put into this series. The father-son(s) opportunity you created in our family was well worth it!” …

…I never get tired of stories like that. If you have one you’d like to share, visit my website and click CONTACT.

The title can be crucially important to the success of a book. I’ve had some pretty good titles: “The Homework Machine,” “The Million Dollar Shot,” “The Kid Who Ran For President.” Those three books sold well…

…I’ve also had some losers. I thought “Johnny Hangtime” was a good title at first. It was a novel about a kid who was a Hollywood stuntman, and I think it’s one of my best books…

…When it came out in 2000, my son Sam said I should have titled it “The Stunt Kid.” I told him that Mark Twain didn’t title his book “Floating Down The Mississippi On A Raft.” He titled it “Huckleberry Finn.” Sam replied, “Dad, you’re not Mark Twain.” Good point. “Johnny Hangtime” bombed...

…I think “The Picasso Curse” is a good title. It’s about a kid who accidentally buys an original Picasso, and all the good--and bad--things that happen to him. The title is short, intriguing, and it hints at what the book is about…

…“The Picasso Curse” comes out on Tuesday, and I think it’s even better than “Johnny Hangtime.” It will be interesting to see if the title turns out to be a winner or a loser. @holidayhousebks

Which of these photos do you like best? Left or right? Some authors have professional photos taken for their book jackets (usually in front of a bookcase). I just shoot a selfie or ask my wife to take a silly picture of me. @holidayhousebks

Mark Sanderlin has narrated over 275 audiobooks, including my new novel “The Picasso Curse.” The book doesn’t come out until next week, but you can listen to a sample of it (and order the audiobook) now: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97... @holidayhousebks

Somebody should invent a new game called Silent Tennis. It would be just like regular tennis, but without the racket.

Cross it off the bucket list! We went curling with friends Ray and Kim at Northwest Arena in Jamestown NY. Nina kicked our butts.

WHERE AM I? On the set of “I Love Lucy” at The Lucy Desi Museum in Jamestown NY (Lucille Ball’s) birthplace. They sell my book in the gift shop! I’m on a short vacation with friends.

I say we need more foods like ice cream cones and burritos—things you can eat and also eat the thing that’s holding the food.

We’re only up to #8, but a year from now the 12-book My Weirdtastic series will be complete. Here are all the titles…

You’re never too old for a good picture book, I say. I’m enjoying “POP! GOES THE NURSERY RHYME” by Betsy Bird and illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi.

A “sell sheet” is a 1-page, quick overview of a product. This is the sell sheet for my new book, which comes out 2 weeks from today. Will you do me a favor and share it with parents, teachers, & librarians? I’m so excited about this book, and I’m trying to spread the word. Thanks! @holidayhousebks

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN! More pencils. More books. More teachers. Dirty looks. @theshelfstuff

Q: Why do people ride horses? A: Because they're too heavy to carry.