HOOK KIDS on READING: January 2013

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Latest SUNSHINE BLOG Award Winners

YEA. . .

I have been awarded the SUNSHINE BLOG Award!

TWICE!

by Penelope Anne Cole –
author of Magical Matthew.

http://penelopeannecole.blogspot.com

and by Susan Hornbach
author of "Heckle Freckle and Clyde"
http://bagfullofbooks4kids.blogspot.com/

Thanks to both these writers for honoring me and this blog. You are talented, supportive, and a really nice ladies!

“I am now extending the “Sunshine Award” to 5 more Bloggers.”

This prize is given to “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere.” As an award winner, here are some suggestions to follow for this Award.

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Answer the questions below about your favorite things.
3. Pass this award on to fabulous bloggers who bring sunshine into your life, link their blogs, and let them know you have awarded them

These are some of my favorite things:
Favorite Color – pink
Favorite Animal –Dogs or Cats (impossible to choose)
Favorite Number –7
Favorite Drink – coffee
Facebook or Twitter – Facebook
Your Passions – Reading and writing
Giving or getting presents – Giving
Favorite Day –Sunday
Favorite Flowers – Pink roses.

Here are the 4 blogs I have chosen to receive the next
SUNSHINE BLOG AWARDS.

Many thanks to each of these bloggers for offering blogs full of great writing, and wonderful advice. Please go check out every Blog. Each has a unique way of getting their message cross.

Mary Esparza Vela
http://www.marysdollsandbooks.com/books.ht

Trudy Zufelt
http://www.boystobooks.com/

Shevi Arnold http://shevi.blogspot.com/

Alison Sansone (Be There Bedtime Stories)
http://www.betherebedtimestories.com/

May these awesome blogs continue to inspire their readers
to healthier, better, and more imaginative writing and living.

And many thanks to Susan and Penelope
for giving me this DOUBLE Honor.

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FREE

My 13x Book Catalog

BOOKS with a WOW Factor!

Margot Finke

http://www.margotfinke.com

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Thursday, January 3, 2013

SELF PUBLISHING - Hell or Heaven?

There's only one way to tackle
SELF-PUBLISHING

TELL IT LIKE IT IS!

Just because I look sweet and harmless - don't be fooled!
I'm one tough broad when it come to books and self- publishing.
ROAR-R-R-R-R!

So, let's break it down into your reasons for going this route in the first place.

and

MY REBUTTAL

You are fed up with the rejection, and waiting months-and-months to discover your book is unworthy. And one bathroom papered in rejection slips is ENOUGH!
Maybe there's a good reason WHY you keep getting those rejections

You think it will be a lot easier than snaring a traditional publisher.
That noise is me rolling on the floor - hysterical !

You've read lots of books, and you can write a better story than most - you think!
Would you ask a man with no plumbing experience or training to quell the flood in your basement? NO you say! Then WHY think someone (you) without proper skills and knowledge, can write and self publish a successful book?

Several publishers with nice looking websites are vying for your business.
Oh dear! RUN to the closest Predators and Editors, and dive in to save your sanity and your money!

ARE YOU BEGINNING TO GET THE PICTURE?

Understand that the competition is fierce. Meet the competition. Every person in the world is absolutely sure they can write a best seller. Most have no talent and no clue - but that doesn't stop them from writing and self-publishing and opus or two. If you want your book to rise like the cream in the proverbial milk jug, you have to master 4x things.

FIRST - Master the craft of writing well.
This takes time - patience - networking among published writers - picking brains - lots of rewriting,
and input from a really dedicated critique group.

SECOND - Editing - You can only do so much yourself. When you and your crit group feel it is as polished as you can make it, that is the time to shell out the bucks needed, and have a qualified person EDIT IT.

THIRD - Learn the tricks of the self-publishing game - or DIE a lingering death!
Take the time to research and mine the copious information available on many writing and self publishing lists. Ask questions, delve deep - especially if you want to print in paper as well as on Kindle, Nook etc. Ask those you know who they used, and who is the best in the field of self- publishing. Research printers, paper, and prices, prices, prices! This is BUYER BEWARE territory. No use crying later, if you didn't do your homework BEFORE you chose that !@#$ publisher, or stumbled through the process yourself, ill- equipped and in a funk!

FORTH - the art of promotion.
Remember one thing. Your book will eventually be finished, edited and published. BUT - promotion never ends! It means searching for clubs, organizations, blogs, groups, bookstores, reviewers, interviewers, newspapers, schools, niche markets etc. These and MORE, are places where readers who might buy your book hang out. Become a literary bloodhound. Develop a NOSE for tracking down potential customer sites. Make a name for yourself and your book in our present day Social Networking Jungle - + create a SUPER bog.

Learn how to write a HOT and succinct Press Release. Discover the gentle art of twisting arms and cajoling favors. Create cute bookmarks and business cards that spread the word - YOU ARE AN AUTHOR! Track down the niche markets your book fits and be relentless. Send them that perfect Press Release. Follow up with a phone call. Pay a visit. Like a great car salesman - never take NO for an answer. Bribe them with freebies, your valuable time, or a writing competition might work - whatever it takes.

If you have them, conscript friends and relatives. E-mail them cute promos for your book and where it can be purchased. Ask them to send it to friends, and every Social Network they are on. Think out of the box! Virtual Book Tours, author interviews, and ordinary blog promotion has become a big YAWN! And never forget your pages and profile on Kindle, Nook, and elsewhere. UPDATE often.

WOW! Are you out of breath reading this? I am, just writing it all. Am I doing all this stuff for
"The Revenge of Thelma Hill," the ghost mystery I self-published, with help and cover art from Agy Wilson?

Hell no! Are you out of your mind. I'm telling you how it SHOULD be done if you were 20 years younger, and 30 pounds lighter than me. Blimey, mate, I have palpitations just thinking about all this - and I only hit the high points!

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If you enjoyed this,

Next week we'll dabble in the waters of how to . . .

WRITE A BOOK THAT
GRABS READERS BY THE THROAT.

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Books for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com

My FREE 13x BOOK CATALOG:
http://tinyurl.com/d8ppylg

FREE "Sneak Peek" inside 8x of my books
http://tinyurl.com/8qw44al

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SKYPING AROUND the WORLD

Today SKYPE flew my “Magic Carpet” back to a class on the east coast. I listened to all the wonderfully innovative stories these kids wrote after my first visit with them. They really remembered to use powerful words and add lots of action – FANTASTIC! They illustrated their books, and every child wrote a cute Bio to go with their story. They were so proud of their accomplishments, and I was busting my buttons too. Such a thrill to be a part of turning a class on to the joys of reading and writing. YAHOO! I also read them “Never Say BOO to a Frilly,” as a treat for all their hard work. And their teacher, Geralyn Downey, went all out to encourage each child, and make them feel proud of their writing. Great teachers like Geralyn are real treasures.

I made a Skype Author Visit to a classroom in Auckland, New Zealand. They were so enthusiastic and smart. They even made a Video about my visit. I was thrilled and humbled. Read about it HERE

I also Skyped with high school teens in New Delhi, India. They asked so many questions. It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic kids interested in reading and writing.

NOTE The only limit to an author visit to schools anywhere in the world are the Time Zones. They must work with where YOU live, as well as where the schools are situated.

SKYPE THANK YOU NOTES from TEACHERS

Thank you so much for this Margot. I am looking forward to skyping with you at 11. Just to let you know- the students took great pride in their stories. Although they are somewhat silly, and some maybe not too logical, the goal was for them to write and feel pride in publishing and sharing their stories. In that, they have all been successful. So, I hope that you will be able to sit back and let US take you YOU on a Magic Carpet Ride today! Talk to you soon! Geri

I did. . . and it was AWESOME!!

From a happy New Jersey teacher:

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"Thank you so much for our class skype today! The children learned so much, and cannot stop talking about it! They took your suggestions for writing to heart and are excited to begin writing their own stories tomorrow! LOVED this experience! Thank you!"
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SKYPE Inspires a Class:

Hi Margot,

I just wanted to let you know that my students have been working hard on writing their own stories since skyping with you. They were wondering if you might have time to Skype with us again to listen to their stories.

One little boy in particular has been so enthusiastic about this that he has been asking to work on his "book" every day since skyping with you. It is a very short story, but he could NOT be any prouder! You have really made an impression on him, as well as the other students! Thank you for this!

If you ever have time to skype with us again, they would LOVE to share their stories with you!

AND I AM GOING BACK TO HEAR THEIR STORIES AS SOON AS WE SETTLE ON A DATE.

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Geralyn Downey shared your link: "To my teacher friends. Our class skyped with Margot Finke, children's author, and we LOVED it. Please watch this, and consider having her visit your class via skype. Believe me, you will love it! She was fantastic!"

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Thank you for the Skype! My class loved your storytelling!

From Mrs. Hime's Third Grade Class

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I just wanted to thank you for visiting our class! I know my students were so excited to engage with you and found your artifacts so interesting! My students struggle every day to battle obstacles that I would wish for no child, yet they do it fearlessly. With half of my students living below the poverty line, many of them will never see the world, nor the next parish. But I do believe that experiences like the one you gave them is invaluable in their realization that there is so much more out there! Thank you again for taking the time to talk to and read to my students!

Shane Silpe - 3rd Grade Teacher

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Thanks a ton for the Skype session with us. My students and I were absolutely thrilled to have you in our classroom. They wouldn't stop talking about you today. They shared their amazing experience with everyone at school and in their community as well. Today they wrote some poems for you. My students want to send you thank you emails and their poems. Do you mind if I let them email you on this id?

Once again thank you very much Margot. We thoroughly enjoyed your session, wish we could have listened you read the other story you showed us.

Regards, Harini - 4^th grade teacher in New Zealand.

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Thank you for spending your time with us. The children are still very excited about skype and sometimes have trouble sitting still! When the session was over, we discussed what they learned and they had a ton to say. We are also going to write a narrative using an Australian animal. It will take us a couple of weeks but I cannot wait to see what they produce. It was a great way to kick off our narrative writing unit. I think the children would love a copy of your book. Will you sign it for us? I know as they are writing their stories, yours would be a wonderful model for them.

Sincerely, Jennifer - 5th Grade Teacher

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Hi Margot,

Thank you so much for your email and especially for the wonderful Skype visit!! It was so much fun and so informative!! It was a huge hit and everyone raved about you!! :-) Regarding the books, I think it would be fine to send them to my school as there are lots of deliveries during the summer. I would love to do this again next year (preferably mid-year) with our new first grade classes!! Thank you so much for all of your time and enthusiasm!! I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Nancy – first grade teacher.

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GREAT BOOKS for RELUCTANT READERS and BOYS!

ASSORTED:
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Hatcher by Gary Paulson
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

PICTURE BOOKS by Margot Finke
Rattlesnake Jam
Mama Grizzly Bear
Kangaroo Clues
Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind
Horatio Humble Beats the Big D
Don't Eat Platypus Stew
Prairie Dog's Play Day
Never say BOO to a Frilly
Squirrels Can't Help Being Nuts

YOUNG BOYS:
Cars That Go and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

MID GRADE BOYS:
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The Baseball Card Adventure Series by Dan Gutman
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh
Taconi and Claude by Margot Finke

Jeff Kinney's WIMPY KID Series:
http://www.wimpykid.com/
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The do it Yourself Book
Rick Riordan's books

Rick Riordan's Books:
The Titan's Curse
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Sea of Monsters
The Lightening Thief.

Mystery of the Copper Turtle Doris Holik Kelly
The Revenge of Thelma Hill by Margot Finke

See how most of these authors are MEN.
Come on ladies, anything they can do . . .

WRITING CENTER

The transition from high school to college can be a challenging one, especially when it comes to writing academic papers and other written assignments. New college students will find that they are expected to write more, and that their work must meet higher standards, set by instructors who expect students to show up with the written communication skills necessary to succeed in class. Regardless of the type of writing you are asked to do, proper grammar and punctuation is expected. Use our quick-reference guide to avoid some of the most common mistakes student writers make. Grammar – Punctuation – Other Common Issues – Different Writing Styles – Citation Guide