Theodore Jerome Cohen's Blog, page 10
October 17, 2017
Interview with Jed Doherty re Pepe Builds a Nest...
Mark your calendars...
Here is the link for my interview with Jed Doherty set to be online Saturday, October 21 -
http://traffic.libsyn.com/readingwith...
I think you will find it quite entertaining.
Ted
Here is the link for my interview with Jed Doherty set to be online Saturday, October 21 -
http://traffic.libsyn.com/readingwith...
I think you will find it quite entertaining.
Ted
October 16, 2017
The November issue of Story Monsters Ink has an article about Pepe Builds a Nest and Bullying...
Here is a link to view the issue:
https://issuu.com/storymonstersink/do...
You’ll find the article on page 26.
If you'd prefer to read a pdf file, just click the top left arrow to download after you click the link.
And here is a link to our Facebook post. If you'd like to share it to your page, that would be great!
https://www.facebook.com/StoryMonster...
If you desire to purchase paper copies, you are welcome to contact the editor:
Cristy Bertini
Editor in Chief, Story Monsters Ink
Dragonfly Book Awards Coordinator
Story Monsters Ink!
Named one of the best magazines for kids and teens by School Library Journal!
Story Monsters Ink
1271 Turkey Street
Hardwick, MA 01082
413-477-1105
I hope you enjoy the article. And please feel free to share this e-mail with your friends and teachers.
Finally, know that Pepe Builds a Nest also is available in Spanish and French paperback editions.
Share the gift of reading with your children.
Ted
https://issuu.com/storymonstersink/do...
You’ll find the article on page 26.
If you'd prefer to read a pdf file, just click the top left arrow to download after you click the link.
And here is a link to our Facebook post. If you'd like to share it to your page, that would be great!
https://www.facebook.com/StoryMonster...
If you desire to purchase paper copies, you are welcome to contact the editor:
Cristy Bertini
Editor in Chief, Story Monsters Ink
Dragonfly Book Awards Coordinator
Story Monsters Ink!
Named one of the best magazines for kids and teens by School Library Journal!
Story Monsters Ink
1271 Turkey Street
Hardwick, MA 01082
413-477-1105
I hope you enjoy the article. And please feel free to share this e-mail with your friends and teachers.
Finally, know that Pepe Builds a Nest also is available in Spanish and French paperback editions.
Share the gift of reading with your children.
Ted
September 26, 2017
More about the benefits of selling through ENT
I've written several times about the benefits in using eReaders News Today (ENT) for marketing our books. Both their regular and Book-Of-The-Day offerings are a great way to make your free and discounted eBooks available to a large number of potential buyers. Over the last several years, I've sold hundreds of books on this site, most of them being from my Det. Louis Martelli, NYPD, mystery/thriller series. (According to the people who run ENT, romance and mystery/thrillers are among the genre that do well; YA and children's books are not their best sellers (something to which I can attest)). You'll find more information here:
http://ereadernewstoday.com/about-us/
But the reason I'm writing today is to call attention to something that might not occur to you, and that is: besides any actual book sales you enjoy, an ENT engagement can have a long "tail" of pages read by subscribers to both Kindle Unlimited (KU) and Kindle Owners' Lending Library (KOLL)...pages for which members of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) earn royalties. (Note: if you sign up for KDP, then your eBooks can only be sold through Amazon.com.) Below is an example from my latest ENT engagement, in which one of my Det. Louis Martelli, NYPD, mystery/thrillers was offered at a discount for a week, beginning on September 16, 2017. The second line up on the top graph is 40 books sold (all together, I sold slightly more than 50 books during that week). The second line up from the bottom on the lower graph is 500 pages read.
KDP isn't for everyone, of course. It limits your eBook offerings to Amazon.com. But for those who can live with this, the KU and KOLL royalties do provide another royalty stream.
http://ereadernewstoday.com/about-us/
But the reason I'm writing today is to call attention to something that might not occur to you, and that is: besides any actual book sales you enjoy, an ENT engagement can have a long "tail" of pages read by subscribers to both Kindle Unlimited (KU) and Kindle Owners' Lending Library (KOLL)...pages for which members of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) earn royalties. (Note: if you sign up for KDP, then your eBooks can only be sold through Amazon.com.) Below is an example from my latest ENT engagement, in which one of my Det. Louis Martelli, NYPD, mystery/thrillers was offered at a discount for a week, beginning on September 16, 2017. The second line up on the top graph is 40 books sold (all together, I sold slightly more than 50 books during that week). The second line up from the bottom on the lower graph is 500 pages read.
KDP isn't for everyone, of course. It limits your eBook offerings to Amazon.com. But for those who can live with this, the KU and KOLL royalties do provide another royalty stream.
September 2, 2017
Forthcoming book of Flash Fiction...
Hey, Guys and Gals...
My Webmaster just brought up the new Webpage for Creative Ink, Flashy Fiction, my new anthology of literary short-story fiction that will be published in February, 2018. The page can be found here:
https://www.theodore-cohen-novels.com...
Available is an excerpt on Bonnie and Clyde you might enjoy! All of the stories in the book (there are more than 60) contain 250 words or less--true "flash fiction."
Watch this space (as they say)!
Ted
PS Please know that for now, the Amazon hotlink on this page takes you to the last in the series of Det. Louis Martelli, NYPD, mystery/thrillers. T
My Webmaster just brought up the new Webpage for Creative Ink, Flashy Fiction, my new anthology of literary short-story fiction that will be published in February, 2018. The page can be found here:
https://www.theodore-cohen-novels.com...
Available is an excerpt on Bonnie and Clyde you might enjoy! All of the stories in the book (there are more than 60) contain 250 words or less--true "flash fiction."
Watch this space (as they say)!
Ted
PS Please know that for now, the Amazon hotlink on this page takes you to the last in the series of Det. Louis Martelli, NYPD, mystery/thrillers. T
July 31, 2017
Another example of the power of eReader News Today (ENT) to boost sales...
You've seen me talk about eReaders News Today (ENT) and the impact it's had on my sales. I recently had another opportunity to see how effective this platform can be to boost sales, not only of paid (discounted) Kindle editions directly, but even more startling, of such editions in the Kindle Edition Normalized Pages (KENP) readership.
Here's the latest example. Note how the KENP sales begin the day after the sale started two weeks ago and continue strong right up to today . . . a nice long "tail," something I've seen in the past but not to this extent. I usually run three to four ENT sales each year (with one being Book Of The Day), and have found that if the books are mystery/thrillers or short story anthologies, I do well. Young adult novels and children's storybooks? Not so good. They tell me romances are also popular, however, but that's a genre I've never attempted.
Here's the latest example. Note how the KENP sales begin the day after the sale started two weeks ago and continue strong right up to today . . . a nice long "tail," something I've seen in the past but not to this extent. I usually run three to four ENT sales each year (with one being Book Of The Day), and have found that if the books are mystery/thrillers or short story anthologies, I do well. Young adult novels and children's storybooks? Not so good. They tell me romances are also popular, however, but that's a genre I've never attempted.
July 21, 2017
Sales on the fly...
Unbelievable!
I saw my ophthalmologist for a routine appointment this morning, and while there, dropped off a copy of one of my illustrated children's storybooks, Pepe Builds a Nest, for the receptionist. With a minute--literally--I sold another six copies of the book to others in the office. (Fortunately, I had them in the trunk.)
The lessons here are: never miss an opportunity to market your books and never be caught without copies to sell when someone takes an interest!
I saw my ophthalmologist for a routine appointment this morning, and while there, dropped off a copy of one of my illustrated children's storybooks, Pepe Builds a Nest, for the receptionist. With a minute--literally--I sold another six copies of the book to others in the office. (Fortunately, I had them in the trunk.)
The lessons here are: never miss an opportunity to market your books and never be caught without copies to sell when someone takes an interest!
July 20, 2017
Wise Owl Factory Reviews Rufus Finds a Home
Here's a review by the Wise Owl Factory, one of the premier sites for homeschoolers:
Rufus Builds a Nest by Theodore Jerome Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
"This book tackles a tough problem many families and dogs might and do face — the dog needs a new home and family. This does happen in real life as I am sure you are aware. In the story about Rufus, the older man begins to face the fact he can no longer appropriately care for his dog. He forgets to feed it, and forgets it is outside in the cold. Realizing the dog needs a new family and that he requires fewer responsibilities, he makes some decisions. He meets a family that does fall in love with the dog and takes it home.
"It is a sad story line but carefully composed in rhyme and very young children might not fully understand the situation. They know dogs get adopted which is a happy thought in their minds. Primary age children will probably “get the drift” but be able to understand without becoming upset. It is sad for all of us when older relatives face such difficulties. This book can be helpful to families in several life situations."
https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/ruf...
The review contains superb dog writing and activity pages:
https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/PDF...
Rufus Builds a Nest by Theodore Jerome Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
"This book tackles a tough problem many families and dogs might and do face — the dog needs a new home and family. This does happen in real life as I am sure you are aware. In the story about Rufus, the older man begins to face the fact he can no longer appropriately care for his dog. He forgets to feed it, and forgets it is outside in the cold. Realizing the dog needs a new family and that he requires fewer responsibilities, he makes some decisions. He meets a family that does fall in love with the dog and takes it home.
"It is a sad story line but carefully composed in rhyme and very young children might not fully understand the situation. They know dogs get adopted which is a happy thought in their minds. Primary age children will probably “get the drift” but be able to understand without becoming upset. It is sad for all of us when older relatives face such difficulties. This book can be helpful to families in several life situations."
https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/ruf...
The review contains superb dog writing and activity pages:
https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/PDF...
July 13, 2017
Wise Owl Factory Reviews Pepe Builds a Next
Here's a review by the Wise Owl Factory, one of the premier sites for homeschoolers:
Pepe Builds a Nest by Theodore Jerome Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
"While the topic is penguins, this story is about a bully. It is told in rhyme and easy for Pre-K and primary children to follow and understand. Penguins are a favorite topic, and the photograph illustrations are so interesting to them. They will learn penguins build their nests with rocks. They will also learn about problem solving and forming friendships. This story would be nice for a class discussion for the topic of bullies. Fun and educational reading!"
https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/pep...
The review contains superb penguin writing and activity pages:
https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/PDF...
Pepe Builds a Nest by Theodore Jerome Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
"While the topic is penguins, this story is about a bully. It is told in rhyme and easy for Pre-K and primary children to follow and understand. Penguins are a favorite topic, and the photograph illustrations are so interesting to them. They will learn penguins build their nests with rocks. They will also learn about problem solving and forming friendships. This story would be nice for a class discussion for the topic of bullies. Fun and educational reading!"
https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/pep...
The review contains superb penguin writing and activity pages:
https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/PDF...
July 12, 2017
The Perils of Updating Your Word Processing Software
I published the fifth book in my Det. Louis Martelli, NYPD, series, Eight Circle, in 2014, on CreateSpace (CS), and hadn’t paid much attention to the text until a few days ago. Then, by chance, in scanning a portion for an idea I had regarding a Flash Fiction piece I was writing, I came across a typo (the horror!). Should be an easy fix, says I, plunging in and correcting the problem where it appeared (two places).
But when I resubmitted the revised text to CS for approval, back it came, UNAPPROVED. The problem: incorrect pagination.
What? Sure enough, not only did some of the chapters now start on even pages, but also, the page numbers near the end, in a separate section, had jumped by more than 200. What was going on?
The problem lay in the purchase of a new computer and attendant software in late 2015. This resulted in my now using a new version of MS Word. So, when I now saved the corrected version of the book, the computer upgraded the text to the newer version of Word.
Truth be told, I was given the option of saving the file in an earlier version of Word, and, on hindsight, I should have done so. But, after an hour’s work (and the loss of a few hairs), the problem was resolved.
Please take note of this the next time you rework a manuscript. Be careful when saving files to ensure you don’t accidentally incur problems by your having changed versions of the word processing program you’re using.
But when I resubmitted the revised text to CS for approval, back it came, UNAPPROVED. The problem: incorrect pagination.
What? Sure enough, not only did some of the chapters now start on even pages, but also, the page numbers near the end, in a separate section, had jumped by more than 200. What was going on?
The problem lay in the purchase of a new computer and attendant software in late 2015. This resulted in my now using a new version of MS Word. So, when I now saved the corrected version of the book, the computer upgraded the text to the newer version of Word.
Truth be told, I was given the option of saving the file in an earlier version of Word, and, on hindsight, I should have done so. But, after an hour’s work (and the loss of a few hairs), the problem was resolved.
Please take note of this the next time you rework a manuscript. Be careful when saving files to ensure you don’t accidentally incur problems by your having changed versions of the word processing program you’re using.
July 9, 2017
Homeschooler's Review of Pepe Builds a Nest
Take a look at this review by Julie Yeros of Globe Trottin' Kids:
https://www.globetrottinkids.com/book...
I have been writing books since 2009, mostly adult novels (more than ten) and short-story anthologies, and I never (NEVER!) received a review such as the one. Even more satisfying, as was pointed out by my wife (and editor), is the good that could come, not only from the book, but better, from this review and the wonderful materials developed that will assist homeschools in helping their children learn the lessons embodied within the book.
I am stunned, thrilled, and, well, kvelling (derived from Yiddish kveln, meaning "to be delighted," which, in turn, comes from the Middle High German word quellen, meaning "to well, gush, or swell.") Frankly, it just doesn’t get any better than this!
https://www.globetrottinkids.com/book...
I have been writing books since 2009, mostly adult novels (more than ten) and short-story anthologies, and I never (NEVER!) received a review such as the one. Even more satisfying, as was pointed out by my wife (and editor), is the good that could come, not only from the book, but better, from this review and the wonderful materials developed that will assist homeschools in helping their children learn the lessons embodied within the book.
I am stunned, thrilled, and, well, kvelling (derived from Yiddish kveln, meaning "to be delighted," which, in turn, comes from the Middle High German word quellen, meaning "to well, gush, or swell.") Frankly, it just doesn’t get any better than this!
