Friday, May 18, 2012

A PICTURE BOOK that is "GREEN" and FUN!


Today I am pleased to bring you a wonderful
new picture book by a talented
multi-published writer, and friend -
Mayra Calvani





by Mayra Calvani
Illustrations: Alex Morris 
Guardian Angel Publishing - Academic Wings
Follow the water droplets in their journey from the clouds to the earth and back to the clouds again. Written in a lyrical style, the book takes a new angle on the water cycle by showing the feelings it evokes in people.


About the author:
Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults.  and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Multicultural Review, and Bloomsbury Review, among many others. Visit her Website and get the first two lessons of her popular Walking on a Rainbow Picture Book Workshop FREE! 

This author knows a thing or two about writing books that are fun, educational, and also HOOK a child's interest.  The illustrations by Alex Morris marry perfectly with Mayra's words.  Read this to your child - you will both learn that water is not all wet.  

So, now for the inquisition . . . my questions and Mayra's answers:

When did you first begin to write for children?

To be honest, I never thought I’d become a children’s book author. I started writing fiction when I was about 12, but back then I wrote supernatural stories. My taste for the paranormal continued throughout my teens, twenties and early thirties. It wasn’t until I had my second child that, somehow, I got bitten by the children’s writing bug.

Reading all those picture books to my kids at night was the biggest influence. So, one day, I decided to sit down and write a children’s story. That first story eventually became my first published children’s book, Crash!

Since then, I’ve never looked back. I’ve always compared writing for children with walking on a rainbow (in fact, this is the name of my picture book writing workshop). The world of writing for children is a world full of color, imagination and possibilities. I still write fiction and nonfiction for adults, but I have to admit that children’s literature, including teen fiction, is my new passion.

Did you need to do a lot of research for the WATERCYCLE: WATER PLAY SERIES  book?

Actually, I did. I went to the library several times and read all the picture books I could find about the water cycle. I took plenty of notes. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t repeating what was already out there. I wanted to take a different angle.

I see this is Book #1. Have you decided on book #2, and what it will be about?

Book 2, Rain, Hail, Sleet, Snow!  is already written and under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing. All together there will be four books.

Do you find living in Europe (with the language differences) hurts sales of your books?

Yes, I do. I think promotion is very limited for me here because there are few English bookstores, libraries and schools that offer opportunities for writers. I do most of my marketing and promotion online.

How do you manage long distance promotion from Europe?

All I can say is, thank God for the internet! If it weren’t for the internet, I wouldn’t be able to market my books to the world. I can do all sorts of promotion online while sitting at home in my pajamas: interviews, reviews, guest posts, giveaways, virtual book tours. You name it. I haven’t yet done school visits via Skype. I admit I’m more traditional when it comes to school visits.

Are you in a critique group, and if so, did their feedback prove helpful.

I belong to a wonderful critique group here in Brussels. We meet every other Friday. It is a small group, with me and two other American writers. Critique groups aren’t for everybody, but I’ve been lucky with this one. It’s been running for several years now.

Are you planning to write more books with teaching and educational elements in mind, and if so, what do you think the plot and characters must have to GRAB a young child’s interest.

I enjoy writing picture books that are educational but I also like writing books that aren’t what you’d call educational but are just pure fun and humor. Anything to get kids to read and keep reading!

I am planning to write two more educational picture books this summer: one about Antonio Stradivari and another one about cats in Ancient Egypt.

To grab a young child’s interest I think writers should have a child-like sensibility. The language must be appropriate for the age level. It doesn’t matter how original or well written a story is—if it isn’t age-appropriate you’ll lose your readers. I also think that the plot and characters should be ones kids can identify with.  We hear all the time how stories must be original and have a different angle, but kids don’t care about these things. Only agents and editors do. So yes, you need to be original to land a contract with an agent or publisher, but not necessarily to make kids fall in love with your story. Kids don’t know that stories about your first haircut, your first puppy or your first trip to the dentist (just to name a few) have been done a hundred times before, yet they always seem to enjoy these tales. That’s partly why children’s writing is so competitive. We have to please various audiences—the agents, editors and publishers, the parents, and the kids.

Tell my readers something about yourself that you have never shared before. Funny or shocking, they lap it all up, mate.

Hmm. Gosh, Margot. I’m afraid I’m an incredibly boring person. I can’t think of anything shocking or funny. I once fake fainted at a spiritual retreat in order to not answer a question. I was in my teens. Does that count? LOL

Thank you, Margot, for having me here today! I enjoyed your questions.

===================

Genre: Children 4-8
Print ISBN: 9781616332372; 1616332379
eBook ISBN: 9781616332389; 1616332387 
Published: March 15, 2012
Pages: 20
Price: $10.95 print; $5.00 e-Book

Available from:
Publisher: GuardianAngel Publishing, Inc.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616332379/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER


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BOOKS for KIDS  -  Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com 


 



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Saturday, May 12, 2012

Children's Book Week - Blogging Extravaganza!


.
CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK - Day7
With Margot Finke




7x  Passionate Authors
from
Guardian Angel Publishing

( affectionately known as GAP )
 
 

 Blogging. . .
Their FINAL day!



offer
2
x FREE GIFTS

WIN


A cool tote bag of books by GAP authors

.

or

a FREE Picture Book Critique - by me!

Don't forget to sign up to WIN!
( entry form at the end of this post ) 


***************
.


 My Topic for
Today,
 Sunday, May 13th

  
ALL about. . .
ME – ME – ME!

Oh come on now, mates, give me a break:
I have been very GOOD all week.
* I have given out lots of help about writing for kids
* Mentoring those who write for kids stc.
* Promoting books for kids – 

ADMIT IT,
I have stayed ON TOPIC all dang week. 
So, now I deserve some ME time – right?

This is the final day of
Children’s Book Week
So today I want to introduce you to my children’s books -
All 11 of them!

Here we 
GO-
            O-
                       O-
                                  O-
                                                   O . . .


Three rhyming picture books
by 

ME - who else?





*************************


Mid-grade Adventure: 
HOOK Boys on reading!






                               *************************


 
Download  through:
 My Website Powell’s BooksWritersExchange-ePublishing
and many more.

 
*************************


NOW .

Surf on over to some of the other
Guardian Angel Bloggers

and enjoy their FINAL Children's Book Week posts.

Margo Dill - http://margodill.com/blog/
Margot Finke - http://hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com
Donna McDine - www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com
Nancy Stewart - www.nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com
Kai Strand - http://kaistrand.blogspot.com
Nicole Weaver - http://mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com




===============================

And do please add YOUR  comments below
+
Enter our FREE giveaway

Please go to the box at the beginning of this post to sign in for the give away.
The stupid form will not move down here for me - Grrrrr!!




The Magic Boab Tree that began it all. . .


 ===============================

*Books for Kids – Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfnke.com
*Virtual School Visits – SKYPE makes it happen
http://virtualschoolvisits.blogspot.com/


Friday, May 11, 2012

CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK - Day6
With Margot Finke




7x  Passionate Authors
from
Guardian Angel Publishing

( affectionately known as GAP )
 
 

 STILL Blogging. . .
Their fingers are now STUMPS !


 
for

Children's Book Week

May 7th - 13th, 2012

(See list of other GAP bloggers below)
.
.

GAP Authors also

offer

2
x FREE GIFTS

WIN


A cool tote bag of books by GAP authors

.

or

a FREE Picture Book Critique - by me!

Don't forget to sign up to WIN!
( entry form at the end of this post ) 

ME - resting between critiques!

.

***************
.

So. . .  let's get to it, mates.

 My Topic for
Today,
 Saturday, May 12th


BLATENT PROMOTION
SELL those  !@#$%  books or
DIE in the ATTEMPT!

Okay, you have written and rewritten.  Your pages have been critiqued, edited, and finally published.  YEA!  Now you can relax, right?

.
NOT SO FAST!
Now the real work begins. . .
PROMOTION!


Sorry to burst your “happy” balloon, but you have
people to see, places to go, and books to sell.
 
Below, find your PROMO itinerary:  

  • Join groups of writers that have experienced and published members. Pick their brains. Network among Linkedin group members, and scour The Purple Crayon and Verla Kay’s list for promotional help and advice.  The words, “I will help you if you help me,” are a good beginning ploy. Children’s writers are notoriously kind hearted.
  • Perfect your Press Release (tailored to fit each new group) – newspapers, bookstores, schools,  etc.
  •  Research the best place to have business cards and bookmarks made. 
  • Make sure your Blog or Website is in tip-top shape - sharp, cool, and no typos. 
  •        If you don’t have one, scurry and set one up.  Blogger.com is easy to navigate.
  • Either make, or pay to have made, a really cute and appealing Book Trailer.  If you can, do a Video with you chatting about your book, why you wrote it, and where it can be purchased.
  • Create a signature that has your book title and your web or blog address.  USE IT AT THE END OF  EVERYTHING YOU WRITE.
  • Research the best Book Reviewers and Bloggers willing to interview you.
  • Google, e-mail friends, or beg for lists of schools, libraries, book stores, church groups etc, that you can offer to visit with your book and your one man/woman show.
  • Once badgered into letting you come, NEVER leave any of the details to the place you are visiting.  Keep in constant touch about the date, the projector you need, the table for your books, etc.  Give them cute leaflets to distribute ahead of time – book cover, your name, e-mail and web address + a very short Bio, the date you will be coming, and the price of your book.
  • Contact publisher so adequate book supplies are on hand.
  • Keep notes of things to do, people to phone, and last minute reminders.
  • Design a plan that is suitable for schools, yet adaptable.  Set your fee for visits, and let librarians and teachers know you are willing to fit in with their class needs whenever possible.  You are the Queen of negotiations!
  • Oh. . . and remember your kids and husband at least once a week.  They must eat, and the laundry is piling up.  Really smelly, mate!! 
  •  
SOCIAL NETWORKING 101
Now that the easy part is out of the way,
you can begin working the
Social Networks.



  • Twitter, Facebook, GoogleX, Good Reads, Author’s Den and Jacket Flap etc, are all places where published writers hang out, promote their books, and network like their life depended upon it.
  • Learn about all the cool things you can do with social networking apps and your blog.
  •  Just being there is not good enough.  You have to be SEEN and HEARD regularly. Not just raving on about your new book, the great reviews, and the book signing you plan –  but commenting, encouraging, and giving others a plug.
  •  Add to your Blog at least twice a week.  Do promos for other authors in exchange for them doing one for you.  Make it FUN to read. PING your Blog after each new post.
  • Once your book is on Amazon, go there, sneak around, and learn all you can do to promote your books via Amazon’s array of likes, pages and apps.  Make sure your book page is linked to your Amazon page.
  • And there are many sites where you can list your book and your Bio, and hope someone other than fellow writers notice.
  • Blog Talk Radio is a another world of wild promotional places you can be interviewed about your book.  Check that out too.
  • And if you ever want to write again, you had better be ORGANIZED.  Promotion eats huge chunks  of your time like a starving alligator eats the unwary.
·     
           IMPORTANT:  Don’t just promote on the sites of other writers. Look for places both  ONLINE and OFF LINE, where you can SELL to the parents, grandparents + aunts and uncles that buy books for the kids in their lives.  


Of course it gets easier with each new book you publish.  You already know what to do, you have the contacts nicely listed, the Blog in high gear, and most of the other “stuff” under some sort of control – maybe not the laundry. . . or the dust bunnies.  But what the hell!  You have sold a pile of books, and the royalties are rolling in.  Take ‘em all out to dinner.  You don’t have to cook!

Oh well. . . we can all dream.  Right?


***************

 

NOW .

Surf on over to some of the other
Guardian Angel Bloggers

and enjoy their Children's Book Week posts.

Margo Dill - http://margodill.com/blog/
Margot Finke - http://hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com
Donna McDine - www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com
Nancy Stewart - www.nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com
Kai Strand - http://kaistrand.blogspot.com
Nicole Weaver - http://mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com




===============================

And do please add YOUR  comments below
+
Enter our FREE giveaway 




a Rafflecopter giveaway

==============================


CLICK HERE
to read more.







The Magic Boab Tree that began it all. . .


 ===============================

*Books for Kids – Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfnke.com
*Virtual School Visits – SKYPE makes it happen
http://virtualschoolvisits.blogspot.com/


Thursday, May 10, 2012

CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK - Day 5
With Margot Finke




7x  Passionate Authors
from
Guardian Angel Publishing

( affectionately known as GAP )
 
 

 STILL
Blogging 'till their Fingers Drop Off

for

Children's Book Week

May 7th - 13th, 2012

(See list of other GAP bloggers below)
.
.

GAP Authors also

offer

2
x FREE GIFTS

WIN


A cool tote bag of books by GAP authors

.

or

a FREE Picture Book Critique - by me!

Don't forget to sign up to WIN!
( entry form at the end of this post ) 

.

***************
.

So. . .  let's get to it, mates.

 My Topic for
Today,
 Friday, May 1tth



 Who Mentors Today’s Writers?
.
.
When Editors Mentored:
Once upon a time, many editors took promising new writers under their wing. Trained professionals, these editors spotted emerging talent, nurturing it until the writer was ready for publication. This was known as mentoring. These days, due to computers access, sky-high slush piles, and changing publisher economics, fewer editors have time to spend mentoring prospective authors. Editors who mentor may not be as extinct as the dodo, the typewriter, or the five-cent ice cream cone, but they are certainly hard to find. Nowadays, budding writers surf the Internet for guidance, join critique groups, and receive enough rejection slips to paper a small room.


Find Helpful Online Writing Lists: 

Writers today must discover new ways of learning the secrets of writing for children. Your Internet connection can hook you up to a host of helpful writing lists. These message boards encourage writers, from beginners to the highly experienced. Members post questions and offer their own valuable experiences. Answers flow, and often lead to informative debates on many aspects of writing for children. Not mentoring one-on-one, I agree, but a great way to tap into a valuable resource. Look for online lists that specialize in writing for children. Surf around until you identify message boards that have published and advanced writers – people that know the children's writing game. After you sign up, and become a valid member, lurk awhile. Absorb the helpful writing and publishing information flying back and forth on a daily basis. When you feel comfortable and at home, ask your writing questions. Below are helpful online writing sites etc:


Critique Groups Inherit the Mentoring Crown (Sort of)

 

The best online writing boards usually have a badly kept secret: private critique groups that flourish among their members. Ask these lists if there are vacancies, and mention the type of books you write. No, critique groups do not mentor in the traditional way. There is no one-on-one – more like a rotation of five or six "critters" helping one. A critique group offers a chance to work with, and seek guidance and information from, writers who are more experienced. Each member receives helpful feedback on their plot and characters, voice, and much more. Encouragement and support is the backbone of these groups. Today, picky editors demand an almost perfect manuscript. Working with a trusted group of peers encourages you to look deeper, weed out what is weak, or rework that troublesome chapter one more time.

Mentoring – 21st Century Style – The Self-Help Approach
This is the age of the search engine and self-help! If genuine mentors are hard to come by, be independent. Think out of the box! Most published writers, and many who are not yet published, have websites. Think octopus! The many-tentacled links snaking from these websites can divert a flow of "how-to" information onto your computer screen. The wisdom of experienced writers is only a mouse click away. With help from Google, or other search engines, you can explore sites that offer current information about publishers, agents, or any aspect of writing for children. A few clicks will put you in the magical world of writing for children.

Listed Below Are Some of the Best Children's Websites Owned by Writers:

Summary:
Due to the influence of modern technology, mentoring today has changed. It did not expire with the dodo bird, or when many editors threw up their hands and cried, "No more time!"  Mentoring dove into the 21st century, and evolved via the Internet. Mix a little do-it-yourself research on writer's websites, with membership in a message board or two, plus some experienced critique group input. Hey-presto, your manuscript is ready for a publisher.


And do please add YOUR  comments below
+
Enter our FREE giveaway 


a Rafflecopter giveaway  
 
Disclaimer:
Entry during the Children's Book Week celebration by Guardian Angel Publishing does not guarantee winning the FREE tote bag of Guardian Angel Publishing books, or the FREE picture book manuscript critique by Margot Finke. Winner of the FREE picture book manuscript critique by Margot Finke shall not hold Ms. Finke liable in publication success of submitted picture book manuscript.


===============================

NOW .

Surf on over to some of the other
Guardian Angel Bloggers

and enjoy their Children's Book Week posts.

Margo Dill - http://margodill.com/blog/
Margot Finke - http://hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com
Donna McDine - www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com
Nancy Stewart - www.nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com
Kai Strand - http://kaistrand.blogspot.com
Nicole Weaver - http://mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com




===============================

CLICK HERE
to read more.






The Magic Boab Tree that began it all. . .

CLICK  HERE
to Download
Taconi and Claude's 21st Century Adventure

a FREE, fun, kid's (pdf) book




 ===============================

*Books for Kids – Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfnke.com
*Virtual School Visits – SKYPE makes it happen
http://virtualschoolvisits.blogspot.com/