Blog Tour continues over at Julie Musil's blog with Post 2. Thanks for having me, Julie!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Blog Tour: Post 2
Hi friends!
Blog Tour continues over at Julie Musil's blog with Post 2. Thanks for having me, Julie!
Blog Tour continues over at Julie Musil's blog with Post 2. Thanks for having me, Julie!
Friday, October 26, 2012
Blog Tour: Post 1
This kicks off the Blog Tour for THE HIDDEN BLESSING!
Post 1 is over at "Laurie's Non-Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews." Thanks for having me, Laurie!
You can still pre-order THE HIDDEN BLESSING from TLT Publishing with coupon code: thb12mb2 to get 30% off!
You can still pre-order THE HIDDEN BLESSING from TLT Publishing with coupon code: thb12mb2 to get 30% off!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Still editing...
Hey there! I'm still editing Book 3 and making preparations for the book launch for Book 2. I also have been busy crafting! I'm making some fun things to give away as part of the book launch
celebration. (You'll see them soon.) I'm halfway done with Book 3 edits. I really like how Holly and Donovan are both fleshing out into more developed characters. <3
And just so you know...
celebration. (You'll see them soon.) I'm halfway done with Book 3 edits. I really like how Holly and Donovan are both fleshing out into more developed characters. <3
And just so you know...
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Setting up a blog tour
Hello friends!
I'm currently setting up a blog tour for THE HIDDEN BLESSING, which releases November 1, 2012. If you are a blogger/reviewer and would like to be included, please let me know in the comment section below. :-) The tour will run from the end of October to the beginning of December.
Let me know if you would like to host an interview (with me OR with a character from my book), ask random questions in a "this-or-that" fashion (my favorite!), host a guest post from me about writing, reading, or whatever else you'd like me to write about (I have LOTS of stuff to choose from - baking, crafting, sewing, photography, I like to do lots of stuff...). If you have something special on your blog that you'd like me to talk about (if you always host a music day, for example, and want me to give the soundtrack for my book), let's do that.
SO many options!
And remember that you can still request an ebook ARC (advance review copy) of THE HIDDEN BLESSING for review here.
<3
I'm currently setting up a blog tour for THE HIDDEN BLESSING, which releases November 1, 2012. If you are a blogger/reviewer and would like to be included, please let me know in the comment section below. :-) The tour will run from the end of October to the beginning of December.
Let me know if you would like to host an interview (with me OR with a character from my book), ask random questions in a "this-or-that" fashion (my favorite!), host a guest post from me about writing, reading, or whatever else you'd like me to write about (I have LOTS of stuff to choose from - baking, crafting, sewing, photography, I like to do lots of stuff...). If you have something special on your blog that you'd like me to talk about (if you always host a music day, for example, and want me to give the soundtrack for my book), let's do that.
SO many options!
And remember that you can still request an ebook ARC (advance review copy) of THE HIDDEN BLESSING for review here.
<3
THE HIDDEN BLESSING book trailer
Trailer for Book 2, THE HIDDEN BLESSING, is here!!
The book will be released November 23, 2012!
Thanks to my actresses, Emma C. and Tiff A. for agreeing to be "Little Emma" and "Big Emma." You both were perfect! <3
Music credits go to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com with "The Path of the Goblin King."
Use coupon code: thb12mb2 to get 30% off your order.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Competition - GIF
Competition (in GIF format)
I'm a competitive person. Watching Jeopardy!, I'm quick to say the answers. Play Cranium with me and it's no-holds-barred. But how does that translate into the publishing world?
It doesn't.
That's right. Authors shouldn't be competitive with other authors in the sense that we are fighting with one another over selling books.
We need to remember that people don't buy only ONE book. They buy many books. There's room enough for all of us in our genres.
So...if we're not being competitive, what should we be??
Encouraging. Supportive. Buy books! Go to author events! Tweet about good books you've read. Blog about books your kids have read.
Go to the library and talk to the librarians about good books. (They can't read all of the books! They need recommendations!) Talking about books doesn't cost money. It just takes your time and energy. And if that can help someone else, do it. They'll appreciate it.
Case in point. Today, I went to my local Barnes and Noble (there's only one bookstore in my town and it's B&N) to buy MARK OF ATHENA by Rick Riordan. My 9 y.o. son has been counting down the days until it came out. While I was in the children's department, I spied a MG (middle grade) novel that just came out today.
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES by Shannon Messenger. She's an incredibly sweet person and I love this book!! (Highly recommend it for ages 9 and up. Even adults!) An employee asked if I needed anything and I proceeded to talk about Shannon's book. She said it sounded interesting and that she would read it. She said she's always looking for new books to read and point out to customers. See? Five minutes out of my day. Painless. Fun. My work is done. ;)
(And I'm going to Shannon's launch party tonight at the B&N in Oceanside. Come join us!)
So, people, pay it forward. And be happy.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Publishing Takes Time
Hello readers!
I've been thinking about this topic for a while now and I went to the SCBWI Editor's Day at Cal State Fullerton this last weekend.
Check out this line-up!
Several editors and authors talked about how long it takes to publish a book. In short, a very long time. It can be expected to take 1-2 years AT MINIMUM to publish a book. And now you're staring at the screen thinking, "This girl is crazy!" No, really. It does take that long. Let's check this out.
-You write your book. (And rewrite it, edit it, rewrite it, etc.)
-You submit it to publishers/agents.
-Agent accepts your work. Sells it to a publisher. (This can take years to do.)
OR
Publisher/editor accepts your work directly (without an agent involved).
-Sign a contract after discussions. (This can take a few days to a few weeks...possibly months??)
-Editor reads your book and edits it. (Takes weeks/months.)
-You revise it based on editor's comments and return it. (Takes weeks/months, depending on extent of edits.)
-Editor reads it again. Sends it to copy editor for proofreading.
-Copy editor sends it back to author for more edits.
-Author sends back *final* copy to copy editor.
-Copy editor and editor both read over it ONE MORE TIME.
-Meanwhile, cover art is being done by illustrator. Needs to approved by head of illustration department. (Author often has no say in cover art.)
-Book gets sent to initial print run for Advance Review Copies (if it's a big name publishing house with lots of $$). Did you know that it costs more to print ARCs than it does to print the finished copy of the book?? That's why not every company prints ARCs. More will offer e-copies of books for review.
-Sales and marketing team work on...sales and marketing. ;) Getting bookstores to stock the book, setting up other author appearances, printing posters, etc. Review copies are sent to reviewers/book bloggers/journalists. This often takes the longest time. The publishing company wants to build up a buzz for the book.
And then...the book comes out. UNLESS there are other factors that delay it. There could be a delay at the print shop. There could be many other books coming out at the same time and your book gets moved to a new slot in a different quarter for the publishing company. A major edit may be discovered and need to be fixed before the final print run. Stuff happens and books get delayed.
And sometimes, we freak out about it.
One of the authors who spoke on Saturday was asked what was the longest she's waited for a book to get published. "21 years." Gasps around the room. "I'm still waiting for that book to get published. But you know what? I just kept writing other things."
One of the editors said she had to wait five years for a children's book to get published. They couldn't find the right illustrator for years. The author was patient and hung in there and when the book finally came out, it was fantastic. But it took a long time and a lot of faith.
So, if you're getting discouraged about the amount of time it's taking for YOUR book to be published, relax. Just keep writing another story. Eventually, your book will come out. And then you can throw confetti and eat cupcakes and twirl around the room.
Happy waiting! ;)
I've been thinking about this topic for a while now and I went to the SCBWI Editor's Day at Cal State Fullerton this last weekend.
Check out this line-up!
Our fabulous guest Editors are:
Alexandra Penfold, Editor at Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster
Yolanda LeRoy Scott , Editorial Director at Charlesbridge
Frances Gilbert, Editorial Director of Doubleday Children's Books, a
division of Random House
division of Random House
Kira Lynn, Publisher at Kane/Miller Book Publishers
Jeffrey Salane, Senior Editor at Cartwheel Books and Scholastic Press
Our Agent Panelists are:
Sara Sciuto, Literary Agent from Full Circle Literary
Taylor Martindale, Literary Agent from Full Circle Literary
Our Guest Authors are:
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro – Horror Author and Living Legend – International
Horror Guild (2006)
Horror Guild (2006)
Marilyn Donahue – Middle Grade Author
Dr. Mike Mahin – Picture Book Author/Professor and Pitch Guru
Candace Ryan – Picture Book Author
Several editors and authors talked about how long it takes to publish a book. In short, a very long time. It can be expected to take 1-2 years AT MINIMUM to publish a book. And now you're staring at the screen thinking, "This girl is crazy!" No, really. It does take that long. Let's check this out.
-You write your book. (And rewrite it, edit it, rewrite it, etc.)
-You submit it to publishers/agents.
-Agent accepts your work. Sells it to a publisher. (This can take years to do.)
OR
Publisher/editor accepts your work directly (without an agent involved).
-Sign a contract after discussions. (This can take a few days to a few weeks...possibly months??)
-Editor reads your book and edits it. (Takes weeks/months.)
-You revise it based on editor's comments and return it. (Takes weeks/months, depending on extent of edits.)
-Editor reads it again. Sends it to copy editor for proofreading.
-Copy editor sends it back to author for more edits.
-Author sends back *final* copy to copy editor.
-Copy editor and editor both read over it ONE MORE TIME.
-Meanwhile, cover art is being done by illustrator. Needs to approved by head of illustration department. (Author often has no say in cover art.)
-Book gets sent to initial print run for Advance Review Copies (if it's a big name publishing house with lots of $$). Did you know that it costs more to print ARCs than it does to print the finished copy of the book?? That's why not every company prints ARCs. More will offer e-copies of books for review.
-Sales and marketing team work on...sales and marketing. ;) Getting bookstores to stock the book, setting up other author appearances, printing posters, etc. Review copies are sent to reviewers/book bloggers/journalists. This often takes the longest time. The publishing company wants to build up a buzz for the book.
And then...the book comes out. UNLESS there are other factors that delay it. There could be a delay at the print shop. There could be many other books coming out at the same time and your book gets moved to a new slot in a different quarter for the publishing company. A major edit may be discovered and need to be fixed before the final print run. Stuff happens and books get delayed.
And sometimes, we freak out about it.
One of the editors said she had to wait five years for a children's book to get published. They couldn't find the right illustrator for years. The author was patient and hung in there and when the book finally came out, it was fantastic. But it took a long time and a lot of faith.
So, if you're getting discouraged about the amount of time it's taking for YOUR book to be published, relax. Just keep writing another story. Eventually, your book will come out. And then you can throw confetti and eat cupcakes and twirl around the room.
Happy waiting! ;)
Monday, September 24, 2012
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES by Shannon Messenger
Book Review
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES
From Goodreads: Twelve-year-old
Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of
everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.
Everything changes the day
she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads
minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her
family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced
to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly
different from anything she has ever known.
Sophie has new rules to
learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come
“home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she
really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately
want. Would even kill for.
In this page-turning
debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out
why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the
answer first.
My review:
I received a copy of KEEPER while I was in New York at Book Expo America in June. It was the first book I read out of all the books I received. I read all 500+ pages in one day/night because it was THAT awesome. The reader is right there with Sophie, trying to figure out her new life. There are mysteries and secrets that you *need* to know the answers to. Even as an adult, I really loved this story. Appropriate for a middle grade reader, engaging for an adult reader. I'm looking forward to reading Book Two when it comes out next year. (So long to wait!!)
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES releases Tuesday, October 2nd. (I'm going to one of Shannon's launch parties at the B&N in Oceanside!)
Thursday, September 20, 2012
SOMETIMES MY BROTHER BUGS ME
My children's book SOMETIMES MY BROTHER BUGS ME, published by MeeGenius! Books is now available for download!
MeeGenius! works with the iPad/iPhone, Android, Google TV, and website. I hope you enjoy it! :)
(Now I will go back to eating sour gummy worms.)
Friday, September 14, 2012
Book Cover Reveal!
Hello friends!
I am SO excited to share the cover of my children's book SOMETIMES MY BROTHER BUGS ME. Ready? Here it is!
Isn't that AWESOME?!
It will be published on Wednesday, September 19th through MeeGenius Books!
Go to MeeGenius.com for the ebook or if you already have the ebook app on your computer, iPad, iPhone or Android phone, you can get it there. (MeeGenius is the #1 app bookstore for children's books.)
You can also find MeeGenius! educational ebooks on Youtube!
Please excuse while I go twirl around my house in happiness. :)
About MeeGenius
MeeGenius is the world’s largest virtual store for enhanced children’s books. Available as a website and an application, MeeGenius works across all platforms offering the largest selection of classic children’s stories anywhere. Both old and new titles are available with and enhancements such as read-along word highlighting, audio playback and personalization. MeeGenius creates premium educational content faster and cheaper with a wider distribution channel than anyone on the planet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)