T.E. Antonino's Blog, page 8

Books are in the oven!

I just started a new giveaway on goodreads.com for my book Fritz Fombie Have No Fear. I’m including Great Britain in this giveaway along with the USA. I’m also getting closer to being done with Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage. The new Fritz Fombie book is a lot longer than the first one. It also has a lot more going on and has a lot of characters in each scene. I want it to flow as nicely as the first book. It’s proving to be quite the challenge because of its increased complexity. I’m working on the ending right now. I should have the book ready to send to my editor by January. I did more preliminary illustrations for the book as well. I’m also excited that I’ll soon be back to working on Gouie and the Outrageously Dirty Room. I also have been doing preliminary drawings for this book. Take care and have a happy holiday season! 

Check my book out by clicking on the link below!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x

update on books!

I’m almost to the end of my fifth draft of "Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage." I’m hoping to have the book done by early January. Once I’m finished with "Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage," I’ll finish up "Gouie and the Outrageously Dirty Room."  I’m on the third draft of that book. I hope to have both books out before the end of summer or sooner. I’ve done the preliminary work on the front cover of "Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage." I’m almost done with the front cover for "Gouie and the Outrageously Dirty Room." Once I know the chapter breaks in those books, I’ll start doing the inside illustrations. I’ll have one illustration at the beginning of each chapter. "Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage" is currently at 37,000 words, so it will be around 12,000 to 13,000 words longer than the first Fritz Fombie book. "Gouie and the Outrageously Dirty Room" will run around 40,000 words when finished. Things are coming along well with both books. Take care and have a great weekend.

Check out my book!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x

Two more books coming in 2016!

I have decided to publish two books in 2016. I will publish Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage and Gouie and the Outrageously Dirty Room. I’m on the fifth draft of Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage, and I’m on the third draft of Gouie and the Outrageously Dirty Room. I’m very excited to see how they will be received. Fritz Fombie Have No Fear was received with much positivity from readers' reviews on amazon and Goodreads. Both the Portland Book Review and the Manhattan Book Review gave it stellar ratings. Gouie and the Outrageously Dirty Room is a stand-alone book.The middle-grade writing class that I spoke to is going to send me a letter in the mail. I’m very excited to hear what the kids thought of my hour long babbling and my book. It was a great experience to see young kids interested in writing. Take care and have a happy Thanksgiving.

click the link below to check out my book!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x

In store sales!

I have my book Fritz Fombie Have No fear in several brick and mortar stores. The book is available at the Blue Ridge bookstore and the Mountain Home Collection in Waynesville, NC. The book is also available at The Battery Park Book Exchange and Papoose Children’s Clothing & More in Asheville, NC. I’m starting to get in-store sales, which is really cool. My reviews are still coming in on amazon.com and goodreads.com, which I’m really thankful for. I’ve started to advertise on amazon for my book as well. I’m starting to see the finish line for Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage. I should have that book finished in the next couple of months. My editor and niece Hannah Krieger just received first prize in a short story writing contest. She won a trip to visit Arizona State University for four days. Hannah Krieger will also be the editor of the new Fritz Fombie book. Take care.

Library Appearance!

The library appearance went well. I read from Fritz Fombie Have No Fear, did a manga art lesson for the kids, and also read from picture books for the little kids. It was a fun time, and I really liked working with Lisa Hartzell, the children's librarian. I wore a Fritz Fombie outfit. Some of the kids wore their Halloween costumes as well. I hope to go back to the library for an author day in the spring. I will keep you posted on upcoming events when they draw closer. I am looking forward to hearing back from the middle school creative writing class I visited last week. Eight of the kids are reading my book, Fritz Fombie Have No Fear. I'll let you know what they thought of the book as soon as I know. Take care. T. E. Antonino.
Click the link below to check my book out.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x

Middle school creative writing class!

I spoke to a middle school creative writing class about my book. It was a wonderful experience. I loved sharing my joy of writing with young people who also have a love for writing. I hope I was able to encourage them in their writing journey. I spoke a lot about the actual novel writing process, which was fun. I also talked about marketing a book from a self-published author’s perspective. I even had the chance to talk a little bit about manga, which is Japanese comic art. I used manga type artwork in the illustrations that went into my book. I’m looking forward to hearing how they liked the book as each of the students received a copy of Fritz Fombie Have No Fear. I love to see the fellowship of writers both young and old. My next appearance will be at the Waynesville library on Friday the 30th at 4:00 p.m. I will be giving a reading from my book, a manga art lesson, and if there are little ones, I will read from picture books, so that fun will abound for everyone. Take care. 
Click on the link below to check out my book.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x

The Manhattan Review Awesome!

T.E. Antonino takes his readers on a whirlwind ride full of imagination and mischievous fun. In Fritz Frombie Have No Fear, Mr. Antonino delivers a fun, whimsical, eccentric suspenseful story that will take readers on one amusing journey of self discovery. With a relatable heroine, the author weaves a story that will entice young bookworms to get lost in a story of a young heroine discovering her inner strength and facing her fears. With an engaging cast of characters that are relatable for young elementary students, Mr. Antonino creates a story where our imaginations can soar.“Whistle a tune and what you want most will happen soon.”Fannie is a fourth grader who has so many fears. She is afraid of so many things and she keeps a list of her fears. It seems her list of fears are endless. Luckily for Fannie, her best friend, Abby accepts her and all her fears. When her school has a school hop dance, Fannie fears that another girl will ask the boy that she likes out. So yet again, she has another fear to tack onto her list. But one of one her greatest fear is when her parents go away for the weekend. Fannie fears that “Stink Warts,” the monster under her bed will get her. So when her parents had to go away for the weekend, Fannie never expected to have Fritz Fombie magically appear and help her face each one of her fears. Fritz Fombie is a young zombie, but he is none of those scary walking dead kind. As Fannie tackles each of her fears with the help of Fritz Fombie and her friend Abby, she takes readers on a fun and humorous whirlwind of crazy antics that is both suspenseful and entertaining.Though this book is about a young heroine and her crazy adventure, this book really emphasize the important lesson of courage, friendship, honesty, and not letting your fears hinder you from enjoying life. So if you are looking for a book that is entertaining, suspenseful, fun, colorful, and teaches an important valuable life lesson, then I highly recommend this book for young readers, parents, and librarians.
Reviewed by Michelle Tanhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x

The Manhattan Book Review Awesome!

T.E. Antonino takes his readers on a whirlwind ride full of imagination and mischievous fun. In Fritz Frombie Have No Fear, Mr. Antonino delivers a fun, whimsical, eccentric suspenseful story that will take readers on one amusing journey of self discovery. With a relatable heroine, the author weaves a story that will entice young bookworms to get lost in a story of a young heroine discovering her inner strength and facing her fears. With an engaging cast of characters that are relatable for young elementary students, Mr. Antonino creates a story where our imaginations can soar.“Whistle a tune and what you want most will happen soon.”Fannie is a fourth grader who has so many fears. She is afraid of so many things and she keeps a list of her fears. It seems her list of fears are endless. Luckily for Fannie, her best friend, Abby accepts her and all her fears. When her school has a school hop dance, Fannie fears that another girl will ask the boy that she likes out. So yet again, she has another fear to tack onto her list. But one of one her greatest fear is when her parents go away for the weekend. Fannie fears that “Stink Warts,” the monster under her bed will get her. So when her parents had to go away for the weekend, Fannie never expected to have Fritz Fombie magically appear and help her face each one of her fears. Fritz Fombie is a young zombie, but he is none of those scary walking dead kind. As Fannie tackles each of her fears with the help of Fritz Fombie and her friend Abby, she takes readers on a fun and humorous whirlwind of crazy antics that is both suspenseful and entertaining.Though this book is about a young heroine and her crazy adventure, this book really emphasize the important lesson of courage, friendship, honesty, and not letting your fears hinder you from enjoying life. So if you are looking for a book that is entertaining, suspenseful, fun, colorful, and teaches an important valuable life lesson, then I highly recommend this book for young readers, parents, and librarians.
Reviewed by Michelle Tanhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x

Great News!

I will be talking to a middle school creative writing class on October 22nd. I'm very excited to share my experience of bringing a book to publication with the middle school students. I've had to wear many hats as a self-published author, so I will be able to talk to the students about everything from how to handle viewpoint to ways to market a book. I'm still learning new things weekly, but I feel I have acquired worthwhile knowledge along the way. You're never too old or too young to start writing stories. Just keep writing and learning, and sooner or later you'll become a published author. Writing Fritz Fombie Have No Fear has become one of the greatest joys of my life. I hope the middle school students I talk to will also have that joy of bringing a book to publication one day. Take care.
Today I just received an exceptional review from the Manhattan Book Review. I will post a link once they put it up on there site.

Click on the link below to check out my book Fritz Fombie Have No Fear.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x

Great news!

I will be talking to a middle school creative writing class on October 22nd. I'm very excited to share my experience of bringing a book to publication with the middle school students. I've had to wear many hats as a self-published author, so I will be able to talk to the students about everything from how to handle viewpoint to ways to market a book. I'm still learning new things weekly, but I feel I have acquired worthwhile knowledge along the way. You're never too old or too young to start writing stories. Just keep writing and learning, and sooner or later you'll become a published author. Writing Fritz Fombie Have No Fear has become one of the greatest joys of my life. I hope the middle school students I talk to will also have that joy of bringing a book to publication one day. Take care. Today I just received an exceptional review from the Manhattan Book Review. I will post a link once they put it up on there site.
Click on the link below to check out my book Fritz Fombie Have No Fear.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x