Mark Terry's Blog - Posts Tagged "thoughts"
What I have learned 1 week after Kyle the Coyote launched
Some random thoughts. Not all good and not all bad.
Most people have been supportive. The most support has come from the people in my home town of Playa Del Rey, CA.
I put a book in a Little Free Library outside of a house in Playa Del Rey near the Lagoon. Then posted a picture on Nextdoor and the PDR Facebook pages.
The people here gave me more support than the college I graduated from. A tough pill to swallow but true. A lot of the people I graduated with have been really cool.
I have to admit there is this weird contingent of really well off people who want books for free. The vendor site books, I don't control. The Special Edition books that we sell off kylethecoyote.com, cost money to print/ship. We have given away a lot of books. We have held contests. The best places to donate books are the ones where people can enjoy the book again and again.
A few people have told me that "Kyle the Coyote" has inspired them to finish their book. That's cool to hear. If I can do it, you can do it.
There is a lot behind the scenes work. I've been comparing a children's picture book to making a film. If I am the writer/director/producer then Alex Sarabia our illustrator is the cinematographer. Munster Maverick who colored the art is the colorist. Cherrae Stuart is the editor. Not only of the book but the book's lay out. The rhyme and flow of a picture book is almost like the soundtrack.
Reviewers and press are starting to trickle in. Its a little bit slower than reviews with a movie. For those of you who are not authors or writing your first book. Wow, there is this whole sub industry of reviewers for books (some YOU have to pay as the author) and ARC's (Advanced Reader Copies). The cool thing about ARC is that we can send digital files so if you are a reviewer, I'd be happy to send one over.
A few school's have asked me to come in and read the book. That's something I will do. One school district offered me a fee to speak. I told the school I'll speak for free if they buy the book for schools. Let's get it out there for future generations to read.
One of the two elementary schools I went to in Pinellas County, Florida called Curlew Creek had these "choose your own adventure" books. Netflix recently did some films in a similar fashion. I was reading those in the mid to late 80s. They came out in the late 70s. That's the kind of thing I want for my book. Who is that kid like me that may pick it up in 5 to 10 years from now?
In the past I have done talks about my films with mostly college kids and some high schools. Elementary school is a bit of a different animal.
We say the book is for kids that are 3-8. It seems at least at first 6 and 7 year old's are liking it the most.
It didn't dawn on me that I was releasing this book when coyotes have their pups. This is the time of the year they are visible. That wasn't done by design. People are talking a lot about coyotes at the moment. What I have found is more people like them than I ever expected.
This book will come even more alive when we do the audio book. 100% I will be reading it, but not sure yet if I will do it alone or with another person with me. I am looking forward to doing that.
Check out the book and leave us a review. Thanks again for checking in with my blog. More coming soon. -MT
Kyle the Coyote: Lost in the Desert
Most people have been supportive. The most support has come from the people in my home town of Playa Del Rey, CA.
I put a book in a Little Free Library outside of a house in Playa Del Rey near the Lagoon. Then posted a picture on Nextdoor and the PDR Facebook pages.
The people here gave me more support than the college I graduated from. A tough pill to swallow but true. A lot of the people I graduated with have been really cool.
I have to admit there is this weird contingent of really well off people who want books for free. The vendor site books, I don't control. The Special Edition books that we sell off kylethecoyote.com, cost money to print/ship. We have given away a lot of books. We have held contests. The best places to donate books are the ones where people can enjoy the book again and again.
A few people have told me that "Kyle the Coyote" has inspired them to finish their book. That's cool to hear. If I can do it, you can do it.
There is a lot behind the scenes work. I've been comparing a children's picture book to making a film. If I am the writer/director/producer then Alex Sarabia our illustrator is the cinematographer. Munster Maverick who colored the art is the colorist. Cherrae Stuart is the editor. Not only of the book but the book's lay out. The rhyme and flow of a picture book is almost like the soundtrack.
Reviewers and press are starting to trickle in. Its a little bit slower than reviews with a movie. For those of you who are not authors or writing your first book. Wow, there is this whole sub industry of reviewers for books (some YOU have to pay as the author) and ARC's (Advanced Reader Copies). The cool thing about ARC is that we can send digital files so if you are a reviewer, I'd be happy to send one over.
A few school's have asked me to come in and read the book. That's something I will do. One school district offered me a fee to speak. I told the school I'll speak for free if they buy the book for schools. Let's get it out there for future generations to read.
One of the two elementary schools I went to in Pinellas County, Florida called Curlew Creek had these "choose your own adventure" books. Netflix recently did some films in a similar fashion. I was reading those in the mid to late 80s. They came out in the late 70s. That's the kind of thing I want for my book. Who is that kid like me that may pick it up in 5 to 10 years from now?
In the past I have done talks about my films with mostly college kids and some high schools. Elementary school is a bit of a different animal.
We say the book is for kids that are 3-8. It seems at least at first 6 and 7 year old's are liking it the most.
It didn't dawn on me that I was releasing this book when coyotes have their pups. This is the time of the year they are visible. That wasn't done by design. People are talking a lot about coyotes at the moment. What I have found is more people like them than I ever expected.
This book will come even more alive when we do the audio book. 100% I will be reading it, but not sure yet if I will do it alone or with another person with me. I am looking forward to doing that.
Check out the book and leave us a review. Thanks again for checking in with my blog. More coming soon. -MT
Kyle the Coyote: Lost in the Desert
