Frank L. Cole's Blog, page 8

Rolling Back Prices!

Last week I was abducted by aliens. That's the only explanation for it. My absence. Aliens took me. I saw their ship, but don't worry govermenty people, they're technology is way behind the times. I think their main computer is run by an Atari 1600 and they've got weapons, but they're only set to stun.

All joking aside (yes that was a joke), where have you people been? I haven't seen you forever! Let's chat for spell.

First things first: This is a call to action! I know there are people out there who have yet to buy their copy of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter. If you're my friend... I'm ashamed of you. Where's the love? Oh, but Frank, your book is like $17. I know, the price for solid lifelong entertainment isn't cheap, but $17 is well worth an enjoyable ride. Isn't it? You'd take your date to a movie and pay way more than $17. Think what that amount will buy you. Memories. Loyalty. Friendship (hmmm...). A good story. Humor. Terror. Suspense. Mystery. History. But wait, I've got some great news for you. Do you know where your local Walmart is located? Chances are, you can look out your back window and see in to the Produce section. Walmarts are everywhere and if there's one thing I've learned about Walmart is you can find things you want there for great deals. Not always the case with books. They don't always carry every title, but guess what. For a limited time (and I do mean limited) you can find The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter at Walmart (at least in Utah.) They've got it priced for a little over $13. So I'm saving you some buckage. Right now, please stop what you're doing (unless you're shopping at Walmart) and head over to your local Wally World and buy a copy. Today, before it's too late! Yes, this is a shameless plug, and yes, I'm sure I'll have more in the future, but I need your help. You can make a difference. Aw shucks, I'm getting all misty-eyed.

Second: I've added a new thing on my blog where you can click and become a fan of my author page on facebook. I have pages for Hashbrown Winters and The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter as well, so pick them all. I'll have prizes and all sorts of stuff as the page grows over time.

Third: Costco - I'll be there at the Downtown Costco quite a bit this month:

Thursday, April 14th from 5:00-8:30
Friday, April 15th from 5:30-8:30
Saturday, April 16th from 9:30-12:00
Thursday, April 21st from 5:30-8:30
Monday, April 25th from 5:00-8:30

Fourth: Here are some random reviews of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter (I hope they don't mind I quoted them here):

Susan, 4th Grade Teacher - "The girl from my class who bought your book finished it today and announced that it was AWESOME! And, that is a very big compliment from her! She is a voracious reader!"




Kay, "I read this on the plane this week and really enjoyed it. The story was fun - I wanted to smack Trendon a few times but he had a good heart that came through - Several times I laughed out loud - while written for youth, adults will enjoy it too."
Lindsey, "Hey Frank! Jamie had a copy of Guardians of the Hidden Sceptor when we were together over spring break. I borrowed it from her for something to read, and I ended up finishing it in less than 2 days! It was great- and I look forward to reading more of the series!
Jason, "Frank I finished your book last night. I loved it. I read it in 4 nights -- couldn't put it down. Nice work. I would like to ask you some questions about it sometime."
Jeana, "I fell in love with Frank's Hashbrown Winter's series, so when this book came out I jumped on it! He did NOT disappoint me. I am a Children's librarian, and read ALL the time. So many children's books (YA as well) are just fluff...don't leave much to the imagination, and have no depth to the characters. This book grabbed me in the first chapter! The characters are well thought out, and real. It's adventure, mystery and intrigue at it's teen-aged finest. I felt like I was right there next to the characters through the whole thing. I completely enjoyed it, and can't wait for Frank's next book. There will be a "next book," right Frank?? I certainly hope so. If you haven't read Frank Cole's other books, DO IT! You will seriously laugh out loud!"
Kaylynn, " bought this four days ago and finished it today. It was both funny and riveting. I didn't want to put it down the night I started reading it(but I must have some sleep). I loved his sense of humor, and the mystery and suspense. The plot left me guessing until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I hope that he's considering writing a sequel. I would definitely recommend this to my friends and acquaintances. Thanks to Frank Cole for writing such a great book."

Survey Says!

I almost didn't make it! I'm up way past my bedtime trying to not fail on my first attempt to blog every Tuesday. That week went by in a blur.

I had to do some work on my end to figure out who won the copies for this past contest and I think next time, I'm going to have to try something different. Still, thanks to everyone who participated and the winners have been selected:

Bee (Is your name Bonnie?)

and

Rashelle Workman

Randomly selected from a spreadsheet made with love. E-mail me at hashbrownwintersATgmail.com and I'll send you a copy.

Now, I need some help from the faithful parents, teachers, librarians, and readers of books out there. This is a legitimate request, so please, shower me with your knowledge. In about 2 months I'm going to be presenting a middle grade writing workshop at the LDStorymakers Writing Conference. I'm honored for the opportunity, but a little panicky about what to talk about. I've definitely got some ideas, but I need some stats (cold hard data.) I want to compile a survey of some information about young readers. Specifically, I would like to know what you think the top 3 turn offs are for a kid when they're picking out a book to read. Please give me your opinion and if you could ask the kids you know, that would be SO helpful.

If you want to comment on this post with your responses, that would be awesome. But you can also e-mail me, facebook message me, or send me a letter in the mail (do people still do that?)

I really need your help and this information is critical for my presentation.

Again, the top 3 turn offs (dislikes) for kids when they're looking for a book to read. I'll probably be asking another survey question in a week or so, but for now this will work.

Also, Deseret Book just received a large shipment of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter for all the locals. Walmart carries it now. It's at Barnes and Noble, Costco, Seagull Book (I think), Borders, online. Really, there are plenty of ways to put this book in your hands.

As Promised

Look at that! 2 days have passed and here I am. Just as promised. I'm proud of myself. I mean come on. After my last post of honoring commitments by showing up on time for book signings and all that, I couldn't just ignore my 2 day goal of blogging again, could I?

I've been thinking a lot lately about this blog and how much has changed since the good ole days of 08' when I started. I'm definitely busier now with writing and there are times when I neglect blogging and keeping people posted with nostalgic moments and updates and what-nots. When was the last time I went off on a rant? Too long. But here's the deal. My priority is to writing books. You can respect that right? Frankly, I'm behind right now on my next project and in between blogging and facebooking and all that, something is suffering.

So, what am I getting at? Well, I've noticed other blogs from other authors and several will commit to one day a week of posting. Like a Tuesday or a Friday. Guaranteed, barring some disaster, they'll post something on that committed day. Can I do this? I think I can. So, I like Tuesdays. They work for me. I can wake up, blog, and life goes on.

Starting today, I'll blog every Tuesday. Wow! Generosity. It runs in my family.

Okay. Updates, who's got the updates?

First. If you're on goodreads my publisher is giving away 5 copies of my book in a contest. Check it out HERE.

Second. I'm signing at the Downtown Salt Lake City Costco this Thursday from 5-9. Costco=cheap books. How cheap? Like $10.69 cheap! And they have samples. I had their pizza and brownies the other day. Mmmm. Yummy. Remember, wait for the changing of the guard and then you can get 2 samples without those angry stares.

Third. I'm doing a writing workshop at Oak Hollow Elementary on March 31st and then a book signing at the West Jordan, Barnes and Noble that night at 6:00 pm. For all my local peeps, this one's for you!

Fourth. I'm signing at the Downtown Deseret Book on Friday, April 1st from 11:30-1:30. And I'll be sitting somewhat close to Richard Paul Evans as he promotes his newest book. Come on! You people that love a good romance will want to be there and then while you're gawking at Richard, I'll pelt you with gummy bears in the back of the head. Why gummy bears? Why not?

Lastly, I promised another contest. This time I'm giving away not 1, but 2 signed copies of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter. Gripes! That's a lot of books... 2 of them. Free copies! 2 Winners.

Here's what you have to do to qualify (and you gots to do 2 of the 3):

1. You have to be a follower. Is it that hard? No. I'm not going to lead you astray. I'm not the general Lemming headed toward the Cliffs of Dover. All followers get an automatic entry.

2. You have to become a fan of the Hashbrown Winters and The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter Pages on facebook. That's 2 more entries (automatic ones if you're already fans!)

3. (I saw this one on another author's website and I liked it). You have to comment with who you're picking to go all the way in the NCAA tournament. It's March Madness! I love the tournament. If you don't follow basketball, well then, you can just make it up.

Tell your friends. Tell those people you already told about my book in the last post cost. Have you bought your copy of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter yet? Have you?

5 Truths of Marketing a Book

Randomly selected and new, proud (hopefully) owner of a shiny copy of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter is...

kbrebes!

How bout them apples? Her entries occupied slots 8-17 on the drawing board and the winning number was 15.

E-mail me with your address and I'll drop a signed copy in the mail first thing.

Well that was fun! Thank you everyone for all the entries. And a big thank you to everyone that came out to the release party this past Thursday night!

The book is out now, I've already sold a few, and I spent a good chunk of my time today at Costco throwing bookmarks at every passerby.

Marketing a book is pretty tough. Actually, it's probably just as hard as trying to get published or trying to write a new novel. Well, maybe not as hard, but I do invest a ton of time peddling my books. Book signings, school presentations (my favorite), workshops, conferences, blogging, facebooking, tweeting (hee-hee, that cracks me up... tweeting. Weird.) I can't even add all the hours I've chocked up, but if I ballparked it, I'd say a million hours. Yep. A million hours. I've spent one meeleeeon hours marketing my book. It sure feels like it.

But I think future authors and actually present-day authors need to realize the investment one has to make to create a following. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Do I feel like I'm beating my head up against a steel barrel sometimes? I can show you the bruise. I really wish I would have paid better attention in my college marketing classes. Authors, now-a-days, are more than the writers of fine works of fiction. They are much, much more. Unless you can sign your name as Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games), J K Rowling (Potter), or Rick Riordan (Percy), you'll be required to really sell your self along with your book.

Here are five things I've learned so far:

1. All bookstore employees are the gatekeepers. Befriend them. Praise them. Shower them with gifts when necessary. Thank them for allowing you a moment of their time, or a chair and a table in their bookstores. Never, ever. I repeat... never take them for granted! I've heard of authors making demands upon the fine bookstore employees, even yelling at them when their books aren't positioned in a certain way at the store. Bad form, I say. I've seen bookstore employees literally hand sell dozens of an author's books during one shift. They have power you cannot imagine.

2. Laughter helps to sell even horror novels. People like to laugh. Genuinely laugh. No, you don't need to learn an array of knock-knock jokes, but you do need to be willing to chum it up with everyone you come in contact with. It works for me. I like to hear people laugh at something I've said. Makes me feel all joyous. But don't fake it. You've got to naturally like people. If you don't, that's something you should work on first, even before writing a novel.

3. Pass something out. I've handed out pencils, marbles, bookmarks, candy, etc. Yes, this should never distract from what you've written, but I like having something to fidget with in my hands. In most cases, it's nice to have an object to give someone who's decided to pass on buying your book and can turn an awkward moment into a promising future. Cheesy, I know. But have you ever sat there and stared at somebody who you know is not going to buy your book, but they don't quite know what to do to close the transaction, so they slowly return your book to your pile, and try to make eye contact with someone... anyone else in order to leave and avoid your humiliating stare? No? Trust me. Pass something out.

4. Sign everything! Yes you want to sell and sign books, but I once made the mistake of telling some kids at my very first school visit who wanted my autograph that I'd sign some bookmarks for them later at my book signing because I was in a rush to get to my next school. Don't ever do that. Make the time, if you can, for kids. I've regretted that moment ever since. Now, I'll sign socks, hands, scraps of paper, pencils, whatever. Kids deserve the best and if they, for reasons beyond my understanding, think I'm cool enough to sign something for them, you better believe I'll do it.

5. Take every opportunity to promote your work. I've done all sorts of book signings. There are times I've only sold one copy and that was to the kind store manager who felt sorry for me sitting by myself at a table for 3 hours. Other times, I've sold out. I've done signings where a hundred books weren't enough and others where twenty books looked like a mountain of doom. The point is, you never know when you're going to meet somebody who will want to read your book. Isn't that what this is all about? I'll answer that question for you. It is. Try to arrive early and stay your committed time. I recently missed two book signings that I didn't realize I was scheduled for. Shame! I still feel awful and I've apologized profusely to the parties involved. That's not me. I'm grateful for every opportunity and I never want to convey the message that I'm more important to make my commitments. I'm not more important. No one is. So much time and energy go into setting up a book signing. And like I said before, you never know what awesome people you might meet.

Yeah, maybe these ideas are nothing new, and maybe they're not that helpful. Still, writing a book is only the beginning. It's a fun and an amazing adventure, but be ready to work towards success.

Tune back in like 2 days for another exciting contest. Yes, I'm giving away more. Lastly, did you spot the Austin Powers tribute in this post?

First Official Give-A-Way!

That's a lie. It's not the first official give-a-way of stuff on this blog, but it's the first official give-a-way of the real copy of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter on this blog. What's this so called Guardian of the Hidden something or other you ask? Click HERE to see pictures, or (lazy) scroll down.

I'm having a contest and I'm leery about it. You see, sometimes contests do really well on my blog. Other times... total bust! I'm assuming the reasons range from lack of interest to, too many difficult rules, to "you just don't like me that much", and so on, and so on. But I've got books to share and although I like the look of all these copies on my shelf, it's kind of ridiculous. So, this first contest (yes there will be more) will be an easy one to get in on the action.

It's the tell a neighbor contest.

RULES: Uh... tell your neighbor. Who's your neighbor? Anyone can be your neighbor. Meaning, if you're a parent, tell your kid about my book The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter. Get em excited. Tell your spouse. Tell a co-worker. Tell your actual, physical (next-to-your house) neighbor. You can do this in passing. I've even given you an example:

You - "Hey Earl, how's that new weed whacker holdin up for you?"
Earl - "Oh, not so bad."
You - "Ah, I see."
pause
pause
You - "Have you heard about Frank Cole's new middle grade novel, The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter, yet?"
Earl - "Huh?"

See, it's that easy.

Now - How are you going to report this? Again. So simple. All you have to do is comment on this blog with one person you've told. You don't have to name them. You just say, "I did it" and I'll believe you. I'll give you an entry for every comment you make, but up to 5 as the max. Now, if by chance, you tell your neighbors on facebook or on your blog and one of your comments tells me that, or provides me with a beautiful link where I can go and read this beloved post, well, golly, that's worth 5 entries all by itself.

Heck, here's even a little blurb I stole off of Amazon about the book you could put on your blog if you wanted.

Amber never dreamed her archaeology class would turn into a top secret mission that would take her across the globe, but when her teacher goes missing, Amber realizes it's up to her to protect the Hidden Scepter or risk unleashing an ancient power too terrifying to imagine. This guaranteed page-turner from the bestselling author of the Hashbrown Winters series is perfect for the adventurer in your family.


So there. I've provided you with the rules, the incentive (a signed copy of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter), and now here's the date: I'll randomly pick a winner on Saturday, March 12th. That means you can start telling everyone right now. 


And, in case you didn't scroll down, here's a video clip of me holding my book. Enjoy.

There's no turning back now!

I've got it in my hands. It's a real book! That means no matter what happens now, this is published! I know I'm probably being silly, but still. Sometimes I wonder if even though I signed a contract and there was a release date and all that good stuff, if they'll change their minds and say... "Nah. We don't want to publish this anymore." or "You're dumb, Frank. Dumb, dumb." (I don't know why they would say that. Just mean if you ask me.)

Well there's no turning back now! :)



I carried this book around with me all night... even opened it once or twice. I can't wait until you feel it. It has this sort of suedey-ish texture and the title has raised letters. I'm weeping right now. Literally weeping. No, I'm not. But innardly...wardly...wordly. Yep. Inwordly (cuz I write with words) I'm weeping. Tears of joy. Now, doesn't this make you want to come to my release party on March 10th at the Sandy Barnes and Noble to pick up your own copy and weep inwordly along with me? You better!

While we wait in eager anticipation, you could check out these 2 new awesome websites.

www.guardiansofthehiddenscepter.com

www.franklcole.com

Yep, that's my big, shiny head on the screen. Smiling like a goof. Makes you want to punch that face doesn't it? I would. But please don't. I bruise like a peach.

Interview with Jennifer Fielding (Cedar Fort's Acquisitions Editor)

I recently interviewed the very brilliant and talented Jennifer Fielding who works for my publisher, Cedar Fort, in acquisitions. I do a lot of browsing on blogs and websites and I see interviews from time to time with publishing companies that are very useful for up and coming authors. Of course, I wanted to offer the same kind of information on my blog, so here you go! And thanks Jennifer for being so awesome to take time out of your busy schedule to answer these. (In case you're wondering, her answers are in blue.)

How long have you been with Cedar Fort and in your current position? I have worked for Cedar Fort for just over 3 years. I have been in acquisitions for two and a half of those years.What has been the most exciting experience you've had with your work in acquisitions? I can't think of one instance in particular but I can think of two specific scenarios that get me very excited: 1) When I put off lunch or going home because I'm so engrossed in a manuscript submission. 2) When I acquire a book or an author that I didn't think would give us the time of day and it turns into an amazing partnership.  And just for fun, what has been the most bizarre experience? Hmmm...I think it would have to be the time when I took a call from someone who wanted to "update their account." I was a little confused but sometimes people do call in who want to send in a revised version of their submission so I though maybe that was what he was referring to (?). I asked what account he was talking about and he spouted off a number. Then I asked him if he knew he had called Cedar Fort, a publishing company. He got quiet, said sorry, and then hurried and hung up. I later found out that there is a gambling hot line that has the same toll free number as us, but with an 888 prefix instead of 800. If you're able to, could you give us the break down on submissions with Cedar Fort? (How many manuscripts you receive in a given year. How many you personally read of those submitted? How many you accept for publication? And how many of those are fiction manuscripts?) We receive around 800 manuscripts a year and accept between 60-75 of those. Our fiction to nonfiction acceptance ratio is approximately 1:3. We publish between 100-120 books a year and each month we only put out 2-3 new fiction titles vs. 7-8 nonfiction. Of the submissions that come in, I personally read less than ¼ of them.Being a fiction author, I'm particularly interested in Cedar Fort's penetration in the national market. How much emphasis is CFI placing on having a strong position on a national level? We are creating a name for ourselves in the national market. The buyers at Barnes and Noble, Borders, Walmart, etc. all know who we are. We have quarterly (in person) meetings with them to present our new books. We are always looking for ways to grow and get bigger as a publisher. It is a daily study of the market and what works to see how we can continue to grow our presence. As a follow-up question, do you think the emphasis will get stronger within the next 5 years? Yes, we have a goal in the next few years to get to the point where, thanks to the support from both the national and LDS markets, we do a first print run of 10,000 books for all of our books.What are you currently looking for in a fiction manuscript? An original story, well-developed characters, and something that has a theme with series potential. Are there any specific genres you're absolutely craving right now? Not really, we're pretty open about the fiction that we accept. Any you won't even consider? We don't really do any children's books. Just about everything else is a go. Have you ever been so involved in reading a manuscript you've lost sleep and/or forgot to go home from work? Yes, those are my favorite ones!How important is the query letter and what sets the good ones apart from the not-so good ones…To be completely honest, the query letter is not terribly important to me personally. Stephanie Meyer could have written in to tell me she had a story about a high school girl that falls in love with a vampire and it may have sat on the shelf as long as any other submission. It's the story, the content that we're most concerned about. However, a cover letter littered with grammar and spelling errors definitely sends a red flag. One of the best things you can do as a prospective author is let us know what you are doing, or are capable or doing, to help sell your book. Any successful author knows that selling books is a partnership and that the publisher can only do so much. When we read in a cover letter about an author who has concrete ideas already in place or ready to go as soon as we agree to publish their book, that stands out above the others. That said, even if you have fantastic marketing ideas, we have to like your book first. :)What tips can you give prospective authors with their submissions? (i.e. How does one hop out of the notorious slush pile? and… What will kill a manuscript submission faster than anything else for you?) It's hard to pin point what will make us choose to read your submission before someone else's but here are some of my thoughts.a) Present your premise as succinctly and desirably as possible.
If you can tell us in the first (short) paragraph of your cover letter what your book is about and why we should be dying to read it, you may grab our attention enough that we decide to put it on our desk instead of on the shelf to read later. You don't need to tell us the story, just tell us why we should be interested. Also, don't waste time telling us that you were nervous to submit to us for whatever reason, let us figure that out for ourselves.
b) Tell us who you are.
If you're submitting nonfiction, tell us how you're qualified to write about the subject you've written about. If you're submitting fiction, give us details about your life that convince us that we should give you a chance. Things we care about are email contact lists, blogs/personal websites, speaking engagements, social network involvement, etc.  This type of information helps us gauge how many people you will be able to notify about your book's release and gives us an idea of what forms of marketing will be most effective. An important thing for authors to recognize is that we are taking a chance by signing your book and putting thousands of dollars into it, with the hope that we earn that money back. So, we need to know who you are and how you can help us make your book a success. Sometimes we have to turn down a book that we love because we're not convinced that we can sell it.
c) Hook your reader from the first page
It is very important that your reviewer wants to keep reading after the first page. Spend a lot of time making sure that the first line, the first paragraph, and the first chapter set the reader up so that they won't want to put your book down. Focus on opening sentences that bait the reader. For example:
It had been seven, long years.
Really? Seven, long years of what? Since what? I'm interested in knowing more. One line can create a lot of curiosity and that is key.
Here are a few examples from the greats:
There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it. —C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. —F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925)
I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. —Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle (1948)
Of all the things that drive men to sea, the most common disaster, I've come to learn, is women. —Charles Johnson, Middle Passage (1990)
Call me Ishmael. —Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. —Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)

I am an invisible man. —Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)
You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter. —Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885)
Things that kill a manuscript submission include: 1) A typo in the first few pages.
First impressions are important and that shows me that the author didn't take the time to make sure they were sending in their best work. Don't get me wrong, a manuscript doesn't need to be perfect, that's why we have a full staff of editors. But an error on the first page gets us thinking that you didn't even take the time to make sure your first impression was the best it could be. It's like you showed up for a job interview in your pj's. 2) Telling us that we're making a big mistake (or worse) if we don't publish your book.
3) Not following our guidelines (found on the website).
We really appreciate it when our submissions are uniform. Please follow the guidelines!

Release Party and Kirkus Review

Thanks to all that commented on my last post about names. I'm still in a bit of a bind as I continue the naming and creating process, but it's nice to have options. You're all swell. Now, on to some announcements and such. 

A. I'm going to be joining the LTUE conference for the first time in my career tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday. This conference is huge! That's why it is called LTUE (Life, the Universe, & Everything.) This year I'll be on 3 panels and doing a signing on Saturday with some pretty big names. Yikes! I don't even know what to expect. I'm nervous, nauseous, bloated, pale, clumsy, as I gear up for this event. You should come. Here's the link to the website so you can learn all about this glorious event. LINK Do you like how I just said link? I do.
2. My Release Party for the Guardians of the Hidden Scepter is just around the corner! March 10th, 6:00-8:00 pm at the Sandy Barnes and Noble (10180 S. State Street.) I stuck a countdown clock on the right. See it? This is huge for me. I can't tell you all that I went through to see this book come to life. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Spit. Phlegm. Yep. All that. I want you to be a part of it. No, not the phlegm and the blood and stuff you weirdos! I want you to be a part of this event. I say you, meaning all of you. I guess I could name you individually. Sally... Jesse... Leonardo (Ha! I know what you thought I was going to say, but I chose a different turtle.) Tell you what. Have you ever seen me draw a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? I'm no artist, but I've got a knack for that little illustration. If you come to my signing and say the code word: Shredder. I'll draw one for you. Does it seem like I'm literally begging for you to come to this book signing/release party? Well I am. This book is my favorite. I know I should never single out a child, but this is my pride and joy. You'll like it I think. And if not, the cover's awesome. And there are some creepy things and explosions... guaranteed. 
D. My book received a review from Kirkus. Scary. Have you ever heard of Kirkus reviews? Well, I didn't until I started getting involved in writing and publishing. They're the real deal and they can be brutal. Don't believe me? Go to Kirkus reviews and read some of their reviews for books you know. I did and they don't pull any punches. Basically, if you can get a good review from Kirkus, you should pat yourself on the back. So when I saw they reviewed The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter I about passed out. Because come on. I'm not that swell of a writer. I don't want to knock myself, but you start doubting your ability when people start reading your stuff. Hashbrown got put through the ringer by several readers and yes I made voodoo dolls of those (unnamed) individuals, but ultimately I got over it. I was too worried to read this review, but after I did, I feel okay about it.  Yes, they were brutal at times (some of their wording hurts my feel bads), and of course I would much rather receive a glowing "starred" review, but according to my publisher, they were very pleased with it. All-in-all I think it's an okay review. What do you guys think? Be honest.

GUARDIANS OF THE HIDDEN SCEPTER
Author: Cole, Frank L
Review Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher:Bonneville BooksPages: 288Price ( Hardcover      ): $16.99Publication Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN ( Hardcover      ): 978-1-59955-448-8Category: Fiction


In this mystery adventure, four star students struggle to save the world when their slightly eccentric teacher vanishes, leaving cryptic messages behind; they have only their ingenuity and expertise to solve the puzzles. Fifteen-year-old Amber relates the unfolding drama as she is joined by her friends: fashionista Lisa, techno-whiz Trendon and imperturbable Joseph. Apparently Ms. Holcomb knew she was heading for what appears to be a possible kidnapping, but she is less concerned with being rescued than she is with the safety of a powerful artifact—the Tebah Stick—connected to the original Ark of the Bible. Heavy with Indiana Jones overtones, the relic is both hugely powerful and sought by evildoers who want to use the power of the Tebah Stick to rule the world. Chance and knowledge combine to help the kids work out the clues as danger increases. Astute readers will find the clues a mixture of the opaque and the easy, but this is not realistic fiction, and the complications and daring escapades take it a big step beyond Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys in excitement. The dire consequences of failing are so exaggerated that solving the puzzles may not be much fun for readers, but those who favor a little fantasy element in their mystery will enjoy the ride. (Adventure. 11-15)  

Personally, I absolutely hate the line "the dire consequences of failing are so exaggerated that solving the puzzles may not be much fun for readers." Why did they say that?? Couldn't they have just passed on that little tidbit? Yes, there is a lot of over-the-top action in this book (explosions, death, creepy things in the dark), but it is fun and cool. That's what they should've said.
Kirkus: "This book is fun and cool." (Adventure. 11-15)
I don't know, criticism is good I suppose. 
For now, I'm only going to add these lines from the review to advertise my book:
"...the complications and escapades take it a big step beyond Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys in excitement."
and
"... those who favor a little fantasy element in their mystery will enjoy the ride."
oh, and one of my all time favorites:
"Heavy with Indiana Jones overtones..."
Yes, that quote may be taken out of context, but heck yeah! Indiana Jones??? 
But since you all are my loyal followers and readers, I didn't pull any punches and allowed you to read it in it's entirety. Makes you respect me more doesn't it? Makes you want to read the book and decide for yourself if it is indeed "Heavy with Indiana Jones overtones" doesn't it? Makes you want to come to my release party and say the code word Shredder doesn't it?
Bonus points for whoever can spot the "Home Alone" reference in this blog post.

The Naming Game

Wow! It's been forever since I've posted. Fooeeevvveerr (what's that movie from? It's a classic...)

To my defense, I started writing again and that has to take first priority. I get so easily distracted. As an update, I've written a little over 6,000 words in the sequel to The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter. Yeah, I'm nowhere yet, but it's a start.

Before I start with this post, I want to point out a few updates to my blog. #1 There are now events (current events) posted in the events tab. Check em out. Come see me, if you'd like. I'm super way nervous about one of them because I don't know what the heck to talk about. #2 I finally posted a writing tip in the Writing Tip tab. Before you read it, please understand I'm not a teacher. I never went to school to be a writer, I don't claim to truly understand the schematics of writing a novel, and I'm actually a little embarrassed to write anything in that tab. But I wanted to share a tip or two of how I write. If it helps you... great! If it just ticks you off and makes you think you hate that Frank Cole guy, and who does he think he is for trying to tell me how to write my story, and why doesn't he mind his own bidness. If any of those thoughts are already embedding themselves in your subconscious, please don't read it. Just ignore. Instead of clicking on the tab, go buy yourself a "Tab" soda and enjoy. Tab soda? Is that not a blast from the past? I once had to drive all over town in search of a box of Tab for some high-to-do, stuffy, vice president who only drank Tab. Can you say spitter? Do you know what that means?

 Now that that's out of the way. Names. Yep, I want to talk about names. Coming up with names is hard. Especially in writing, but not limited to that. Naming a kid is hard, right? I mean this will be how they are forever known throughout history. My name is Frank Cole. Immediately, people conjure up an image of an old man who fancies sticking his dentures in upside down and smells of cantaloupe. Right? Come on, you know you think that when you hear Frank Cole. And if you didn't... you do now. But I kinda like my name. My dad's name is Frank and he's cool. My grandpa's name was Frank and he didn't have dentures. He did smell a little of a cantaloupe, but it was a nice smell. Plus, if you say my name really fast it becomes one word. FRANKLE. I'd like to think I have the right to come up with the definition of Frankle. Something awesome. A Frankle is... a Swedish sports car, or a laser-guided switchblade. Or it could be like, if one's feeling very Frankle they feel unstoppable and capable of taking flight.

Chances are though, a Frankle is something lame. Like a heart-attack inducing cheese sandwich, or a 3-story building with no door on the ground level, or a cardboard box used to dispose of trash when the garbage can is full.

"The garbage is full. Where do you want me to throw this dirty diaper?"
"Eh, throw it in the Frankle."

Lame.

Why is this my post? Because, when you write a story, you need a name. Think about it. The name of the main character is one of the most important elements of a story. It's what you remember first. What if JK called her story, Frank Cole and the Sorcerer's Stone. Gasp. How awful? No one would read that! And what's a cheese sandwich have to do with magic anyways? See. Now, Harry Potter has a nice ring to it. That's the beauty of that name. Harry (normal) Potter (normal). Together. Brilliance.

I recently wrote another story and I named the main character Calvin. Is that dumb? Calvin. I wanted a unique name. Something not seen in the everyday ongoings. But Calvin? Where do you draw the line in between unique names and something that's not obnoxious? I once new someone who knew someone who named their kid Christopher with a silent 3 in the name. Christo3pher. Christothreepher. No, the 3 is silent. Christo3pher, but just don't say the 3. Why did they do this? I assure you I don't know. See that's obnoxious to me. Readers I think would see that as obnoxious too. Oh, this is exhausting.

These are some of the names I've come up with over the years that I'm proud of:
Amber Rawson
Hashbrown Winters (yeah, that one's my best so far)
Squeaky Mittons
Echo Rodriguez
Yankee Molicka (not a big role, but a classic I think.)

Then, I came up with these
Stephen Thomas
Calvin Simmons
Blah...

I struggle sometimes. Especially when you look at the world of literature and see the creative names authors have come up with:

Percy Jackson
Septimus Heap
Tick Higginbottom
Hermione Granger

I need a new name. Something awesome. Calvin Simmons isn't it. This is a teen-horror-type book. Calvin doesn't sound like a teen-horror-type book main character does it? I don't know. I'm stumped. I need inspiration. I need something. I need a tab! Mmmm and a soppy, cheesy, Frankle.

Ah heaven.
  

The Official Cover of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter

I know I already posted this cover a little while ago, but I needed to do it again because there have been some minor changes. And FOR THE LOVE OF CHOCOLATE PUDDING, THE BOOK GOES TO PRESS LIKE THIS WEEK!!! Sorry, spaz-attack

Things are coming together so quickly, I just can't believe it. I'm going to be heading out and doing more school presentations and book signings in the upcoming weeks and months with Hashbrown, of course, but with also my Guardians tour. I just love this cover. It makes me warm and happy. It really is a dream come true and I owe it all to Cedar Fort and the illustrator Mark Mckenna. Check out his talent at his website here. 

I probably have one more advanced copy of The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter I can give away. So, let's do it. This one will require some work on your part, but just a teeny bit. I'd like to see some more reviews of my Hashbrown books on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. So, if you've read any of them, please go on and review them (preferably on both websites). I love great reviews, but I'll take whatever you can give me. Once you've reviewed the book hop on here and comment about it so I can go read your wisdom. I'll then give you two entries into the drawing for every review. That means there's a potential of 12 entries or more if you review each of my 3 Hashbrown books on both Barnes and Noble and Amazon websites. There are also places to review the books at deseretbook.com, borders.com, etc., etc. The more you review the more entries you receive. If you haven't read the book, but plan on doing it and can pinky promise to review it when you've finished, comment on the blog and I'll give you one entry. And lastly, if you don't have any desire to read my dumb books (your words not mine), but still want a chance to win a free one, comment about my cover for The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter. Any feedback is welcome, but know, I can't change it now. 
The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters AMAZONThe Adventures of Hashbrown Winters BARNES AND NOBLEHashbrown Winters and the Mashimoto Madness AMAZONHashbrown Winters and the Mashimoto Madness BARNES AND NOBLEHashbrown Winters and the Phantom of Pordunce AMAZONHashbrown Winters and the Phantom of Pordunce BARNES AND NOBLE

Now, I've just decided something. Since this is my last ARC to give away, let's make this something special. I'll give away 3 prizes on this drawing. 1st prize - the ARC of Guardians of the Hidden Scepter with it's wickedly ominous black cover and wrong title (it could one day be a collector's item...) 2nd prize - A copy of Hashbrown Winters and the Phantom of Pordunce (possibly my best Hashbrown story ever!) and 3rd prize -... wait for it... an ARC of Hashbrown Winters and the Mashimoto Madness (this thing is old and priceless because it was never sold in stores. I just found a small stack of these in a box downstairs. Yep, it's black and white, but come on, it's cool.)
There you have it! The contest is set. I'll let it run until January 19th. Why? Cuz I wanna.