Elle Pierre's Blog - Posts Tagged "lauren-isabelle-pierre"

Tip & Lulu: A tale of two friends by Lauren Isabelle Pierre

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dear Reader,

After spending almost a year writing and illustrating a simple story with an important message, it gives me great joy (and relief!) to finally be able to share the fruits of my labor with the rest of the world!

Today, more than ever, young children need affirming and uplifting reading material that will touch them and teach them. Tip & Lulu: A tale of two friends strives to do just that.

The story begins when Lulu, a playful leopard cub, discovers how difficult it is to find playmates because she is a predator. Things really get interesting when she stumbles upon Tip, a shy meerkat pup in need of a true friend.

The book’s poetic prose combined with vibrant illustrations promises to keep children engaged from beginning to end. And its wonderful themes of compassion, acceptance, and friendship will surely stay with them as they grow up.

It is my hope that children will be inspired by Tip and Lulu’s story to always search beyond the exterior when choosing the company they keep, and to always have the courage to do what is right… even when it’s hard.

Happy reading!
Lauren Isabelle Pierre



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Pax by Sara Pennypacker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Set in a unnamed country, Pax by Sara Pennypacker is about a young boy named Peter who, after having to abandon his pet fox Pax in the woods because his father had been enlisted for war, runs away from his grandfather’s house (where he was staying while his father was away) to find his lost friend. I personally thought it was a compelling read. It incorporates the moral/emotional costs of war, fighting to follow the right example when the wrong one has been shown to you, and standing for what you believe in in such a way that is intelligent and though-provoking. A perfect coming-of-age story for boys, and an excellent read for anyone else.

Edit (10/10/2016): I just thought I’d extend my analysis of the book. Even though I believe it was good book, I have to add that it’s also a very tragic story. The author weaves her words well, but I think it's still a heavy read for a younger reader to go at alone. There are several instances of death in the story, and a graphic depiction of how another fox character lost their parents. If you have a sensitive reader, be sure to review this book and determine its content first before handing it over to your child.




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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


You wouldn’t think the greatest adventure could take place behind a glass wall. But you are mistaken.

The One and Only Ivan is a terrific middle-grade fantasy by Katherine Applegate, based on a true story of a silverback gorilla held captive in a Washington state shopping mall.

I LOVED The One and Only Ivan. The characters are all well-rounded and lively (I can see this book becoming a movie!), and the story in itself is inspiring. Patricia Castelao supplied just enough illustrations to fuel readers’ imaginations after the initial ignition of the author’s words. I was lucky enough to receive a copy that included Ms. Applegate’s Newbery Medal Speech, which made the book that much more personal to me.

This is not your usual “talking-animal book” in which humans are demonized to being the heartless, wicked, bad guys that don’t belong on earth; it strives to show the best and the worst in people, and encourages us to be the best. And that’s what makes this book great.
Another thing I adored about the book is the format: the chapters are written as if somebody gave Ivan his own typewriter! I thought it was a cute touch.

Aside from its occasional nods to evolution (I mean, it's a book about a primate, what do you want?), The One and Only Ivan is a wonderful book that I believe is a classic in the making!




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Audrey Bunny by Angie Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Audrey Bunny is a sweetly written tale with beautifully crafted illustrations (I highly recommend checking out Breezy Brookshire's website). I personally enjoyed the book, though I’ll admit that the overall theme of the story (“love the way you are”) was a bit overdone, the way Audrey is constantly trying to shield her “imperfection” from the kind girl who purchased her at various points throughout the book. There is a certain story element near the end that I also found confusing. At one point, the little girl whispers to Audrey that she loves her “more than she will ever know” and tears up a little. WHY? What is the significance of the toy that made this little girl so emotional? Did something happen to this little girl? It’s never explained. Overall, I like that its message is backed by Faith-based values, and I believe it’s a good read, regardless. I recommend this book to readers ages 4-10.



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It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going! by Chelsea Clinton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Though I haven't read this book in it's entirety, I have to say I was impressed with the information it provided. This book is a great read for kids (and adults) who want help make the world a better place get inspired and do their part. Chelsea Clinton often uses her own personal experiences, as well as experiences of those she's known or heard of, throughout the book which gives it a personal feel, as if she's standing there talking to you. The information is to-date and the chapters are written in such a way that makes this book as engaging as a work of fiction. I would recommend this book to readers 10+.

So what are you waiting for? Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!



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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is the fourth installment in a series featuring the Logan family.


“There are things you can't back down on, things you gotta take a stand on. But it's up to you to decide what them things are. You have to demand respect in this world, ain't nobody just gonna hand it to you. How you carry yourself, what you stand for--that's how you gain respect. But, little one, ain't nobody's respect worth more than your own.”

How relevant these words are today!

I’ll confess: I don’t read a lot of historical fiction. This book was recently added to our bookshelf by my mom, and I’m so glad she brought it home. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a life-changing read. I had a general knowledge of life in America for African-Americans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Civil War, Segregation, Civil Rights Movement, Lynching, etc.), but this book really puts it into perspective the dynamics between “blacks” and “whites” during this period in a way I’ve never experienced in any history lesson. Cassie Logan and her family are unique, each with believable personalities and quirks. There is a sense of pride and strength to each of them that I admired, from Big Ma to Little Man. The supporting characters are equally developed. I actually liked how the characters spoke in a Southern dialect. It’s a slow rise to the story’s climax, but it’s worth the ride as during such we get to know the members of the cast.

“One word can sometimes be sharper than a thousand swords.”

How true this is for little Cassie, our narrator and heroine. At age nine, she has her first public encounter with racism and her “place” in society. She definitely grows from it… though I’m not exactly sure if it’s in the right direction. I found her method of revenge on Lillian Jean, a prissy Southerner who embarrassed her in town to be the wrong message for other children. Another thing that bugged me was the… *ahem*, “disciplinary tactics” of the parents and teachers. But I suppose that was the culture back then (and maybe in some households today… yikes).

By chapter eleven the story becomes extremely tense; readers will get a front-row seat at the horrific practices that were done to neighbors by their own neighbors, just because of the color of their skin.

The book’s ending is a cliffhanger, kind of sad, but if you enjoyed reading it, it’ll make you crave the next installment of the Logan family’s adventures. Everyone needs to read this book. Now more than ever.




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Helloo, Readers! (Sorry for the lack of updates)

As I officially reach the halfway production mark with my newest book, The Sower: A Parable in Pictures, I thought I'd do one more ebook sale for my picture book, Tip & Lulu: A tale of two friends to wrap up my promotion days on KDP!

If you live in the United States*, head on over to Amazon.com and download a free copy this weekend (25th and 26th). As always, if you like what you read, say so! An honest rating and/or review on Amazon and/or Goodreads is always helpful for me and my books.

(*Don't take this the wrong way. It's not that I'm trying to exclude anyone from this promotion, but, as I learned from my previous sale, kindle promotions only work on a regional-basis, so if you're not in the States, it wont work for you. Sorry! ^^)

Thank you and happy reading!
Lauren :)

This week I received an email via my website from someone who was interested in self-publishing for the first time. She asked me some very good questions regarding self-publishing/marketing/reader engagement and I thought that they would be a good resource for aspiring indie writers. Hope this helps someone!

How do you know what your readers want from a picture book? Do you seek their opinions before creating a story? There's a saying that goes "Write for yourself first, your audience second." I believe that in order to produce the very best story you can, your heart needs to be in it. You should never write something just because that's what people supposedly want; you have to write what is needed. That said, I do conduct research on what themes are currently popular in children's literature, what issues kids (and people in general) are struggling with today, and what parents feel is lacking from modern children's literature. I get most of this information from surveys done by blogs, e.g. http://writeforkids.org/ as well as opinion pieces done by parents and/or other writers, and of course, the news.

Do you receive feedback from your readers? Depends on what you mean by feedback. After publishing Tip and Lulu, my initial feedback came from friends and relatives who all had generally good things to say about it, but also provided me with advice to make the story better (like improving the saturation of the illustrations). Several months later, after doing some marketing, I discovered that generally people besides my family liked what I wrote, and were willing to put a good word in for me. So I guess my short answer is this: If you want to get advanced feedback, stick to friends and family members, and small children if you have or know any, and then, take a risk! Not everyone will like your story, but if your story is good, there will always be someone who does, and that is so rewarding, believe me!

What about your books do you feel appeals to your audience? I try to create characters with charming personalities and amusing or endearing qualities, without making them seem too perfect. I tend to incorporate themes like compassion, empathy, acceptance, and kindness, in a way that is amusing yet all the while educational. You may have noticed this emphasis in Tip & Lulu, which taught children to be kind to those who may not have been kind to you.

Why did you choose to self-publish? Honestly, I liked the idea of being my own boss. When I published my first picture book, I was in my mid-teens, and at the time I didn't believe that finding an agent was the best idea at such a young age. I read news articles about other young people who were self-published authors, and said "I want this to be me!"

What is the cost when self-publishing picture books? Did you have a lot of books published at once or do you use print on demand? I use Createspace, which is a print-on-demand service. What I love about POD is that there really isn't that much coming out of your pocket, unless you place an order. When a book is sold, Createspace would take a share for printing costs, and then you get the rest. Since I am also an illustrator, I don't have to worry about costly things like cover design or interior illustrations, which can be very expensive. But as far as pricing goes, here's a breakdown of the costs, assuming you'll be your own formatter, editor, and designer:

Filing for Copyright = $35.00 ($80 if you file using a mail-in form),

Obtaining an ISBN = Free - $125 per format (That means one ISBN for ebook, hardcover, paperback, etc.),

and Marketing/Promotion = N/A (This depends on how much money you are willing to spend).

Did you hire an editor before publishing? No! And I've paid for it, sadly. If you can afford an editor, hire an editor, especially if you plan on writing something with a lot of opportunities for spelling mistakes, like a novel. Otherwise, ask a studious friend or family member to help you. Another option I've found is https://www.grammarly.com/, but in order for it to be useful, you have to pay for premium service monthly.

What did you learn about self-publishing from your first experience of releasing a book? Self-publishing isn't magic! It takes a lot of time, effort, and money, perhaps more than if you were with a traditional publishing house. I'll admit I was a little distraught when I had first released Ollie the Opossum. With Tip & Lulu, I tried a little more by becoming a Goodreads Author and writing book reviews, paying for advertisement spots on Amazon and Goodreads, and participating in a book review swap, which is when indie authors trade their books (usually as files) and review them for each other in order to help the other gain publicity. There's is still so much I have to do OFFLINE (like book signings, attending conventions, school visits, and library readings), but for now, the Internet has been my primary hub and fits into my current lifestyle.

Do you advertise to find more readers? Yes, though I've just gotten started. Most of my advertising is online, through goodreads and amazon.com. The best way to advertise yourself is to be present online. Start a book review blog. Interview other authors. Ask to guest post on indie blogs. Pay for reviews. Check your sales reports from time to time to see how you're doing. And of course, wait. Don't expect anything to happen overnight.

Are your books sold in stores or online or both? For the time being, my books are only available online. I plan to start donating copies to local libraries, as well as working out consignment deals with local bookstores in the future.

If you have any other advice you'd like to add, please voice your opinions in the comments! If you have questions you'd like to ask regarding self-publishing, please fill out the contact form on my portfolio website (http://laurenpierrearts.wixsite.com/s...) or ask me right here on Goodreads.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


THE BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA was an interesting read, that's for sure. I liked the authors writing style, which captures the rural dialect used by the characters.

This book is your typical coming-of-age story, in my opinion: Jesse, the main character, starts out innocent, with a childish desires (HINT: Wanting to be the fastest runner in the 5th grade), begins to see life through a new light with the help of Leslie, the imaginative girl-next-door, then, COMPLETELY out of the blue, tragedy enters his life (HINT: DEATH), and by the end of the book, he's a slightly different person.

Dangit coming-of-age stories.

I'm not going to say I hated the entire book... but I didn't like the ending at all. It just wasn't... satisfying. Let's say Leslie had a terminal illness, went to the hospital, Jesse saw her one last time, and then she died. THAT would of been a sad, but nice, heartfelt ending to a coming-of-age story. But no. She drowns. Alone. IN THE WOODS. Coincidently, while Jesse is at an art museum, enjoying himself with his favorite teacher.

I'm sorry... WHAT?!

Look, I get it: Life is fragile. Children shouldn't be given the misconception that life is full of sunny days and picture book endings, and books should help children understand that. And I guess that's the point really? You don't always get that perfect ending.

This is one of those books I think everyone should read at least once in their life, just so they know what it's about.



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Lol, not really, but here's what's up:

So I've recently been "commissioned" to illustrate a special project for a budding author. May 1st marks the day I begin production on my end of this project. Since I tend to focus the majority of my energy on my projects when I have them, I wont be as active here for a bit. (Though I'll probably still rate books.)

I hope to finish illustrating by the end of the summer or the beginning of fall, and publish shortly after, provided everything unfolds as it should. My current project, Parables in Pictures Vol. 1, will be on hiatus until then (It's half-finished!). I promise you wont be disappointed by what's in store!

Keep writing, drawing and creating great stories!

Best wishes,
Lauren :)