Linkedin

I’m “linkedin” now and I think that’s a good thing.  Still exploring it and the positives offered, one of which was–I’ve connected with a few people and that was nice to hear from them.  Wondering if anyone has any positive or negative feedback to share about linkedin?

A successful book store author signing

Yesterday, I appeared at Boulder Book store on the popular Pearl Street Mall, Boulder, CO.  I email-invited many friends and considered bribing them with a margarita if they showed, and also slid under the Friday deadline for a valuable mention in the Boulder Daily Camera Sunday edition.  I called late Friday afternoon and spoke to a very generous editor (considering it was probably his happy hour and I was requesting this last minute addition).  He kindly plugged me in the “Things to do Today” section in the front.  For free.  Never underestimate using free publicity in local newspapers, their websites, and your own emailing.  I had one friend say she’d forwarded my invitation to fourteen of her young mom friends who would enjoy picture book story times. 

I had a pretty good turnout, overhearing one comment that they hadn’t seen this many for a Sunday author event in awhile.  We read from “Even Sharks Need Friends” first, after I gauged the popularity of hammerhead sharks in the pre-school to primary grade crowd.  But “I’ll Never Leave” seemed to go over just as well, as they joined in hunting for and counting ladybugs hidden throughout the story. 

Afterward, most stayed to participate in their choice of three crafts:  a hidden code math game, coloring characters from “Even Sharks Need Friends” or a leaf rubbing craft from the back of “I’ll Never Leave.”

At the end, I had one little girl, about four, ask me to sign my book and, in the same breath, told me my voice was “weird, like my grandma’s.”  Is their such a thing as a voice transplant?

Who’s going to BEA (Book Expo America)?

As a children’s author, I’m wondering whether to attend BEA and what’s in it for me?  Yes, there is a children’s author breakfast on Friday.  Yes, there is a Writer’s Digest/Book Surge sponsored conference on Wednesday, which looks to be mildly interesting. But is this worth my while to pay for plane tix, hotel, conference at 199.00 and the breakfast, plus other meals over three days?  Who out there has attended and has positive or negative comments about the experience?  Is this really the “BEA-all and end-all of the publishing industry events?

Children’s writer’s query letter

Last night, during my critique group, we analyzed two member’s queries.  One was a picture book query and the other, a middle grade novel.  One theme became evident: Before you send your query out, besides the obvious grammatical and spell check fine-toothing, make sure your book description sounds like a book jacket blurb.  Show you know, not only what constitutes strong marketing skills and tension-filled paraphrasing, but also what hooks an editor to want to read more.  This will rise your query above the chaffe and reveal you as a seasoned professional, whether you are or not.  An excerpt woven into your plot description doesn’t hurt, either– something like …Just as Billy sank into exhausted sleep, sandwiched between two quilts from the bed, he heard a flapping outside the window.  As he pulled up the window shade, a shadow winged past in the darkness.  Then, his father’s voice: ‘I did nothing wrong, nothing wrong.  Always remember.’ Billy bolted up, belly twisting, nose burning from the urine smell.  As “mistai” the owl, had his father come to him in a dream?  Or, was the ghost his father? (Excerpt from query for ”Ghost Over Boulder Creek”– a middle grade history/mystery.)

9News video on children’s writing

Tuesday, February 26, 9News Denver ran a feature story on PeasePod Books! See an excerpt below or click the link to view the full story and a video of the news piece on 9News.com.

The following story by Kim Christiansen , 9NEWS Anchor/Reporter. Copyright KUSA*TV, All Rights Reserved.

Magical and creative, that’s how Elaine Pease describes her grandmother, a woman who enjoyed writing and even self published her own book in the 1940’s.

More than 65 years later, Pease has tapped into her own creativity and become an author of children’s books. Her first picture book “I’ll Never Leave” is the story of a little leaf determined not to leave the big, beautiful tree she’s become so attached to...

click here to view the full story on 9News.com