Tonya Duncan Ellis's Blog, page 7

School Visit Success

I recently had my first in-person author visit in two years! It was so much fun to share the Sophie Washington series with Bastian Elementary fourth and fifth graders. The students were excited and engaged and asked great questions.

Thanks to a generous donation from the READ Twelve Days of Christmas Houston program, over 200 kids got Sophie Washington books. To add to the fun, Principal Alana Holloway gifted me with a bagful of school swag. By the end of the event I felt like an honorary Bastian Bear!

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, Black Creators in KidLit and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation Sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks
Join Sophie’s Club for a FREE ebook! HERE

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Children’s Christmas Books With African American Characters

Looking to read some Christmas books featuring African American characters this holiday season? Check out these modern day holiday classics!

Carla and the Christmas Cornbread by Carla Hall

Christmas is Carla’s favorite holiday of the year. She goes to her grandparents’ house and eats grandma’s special recipe—a perfectly delicious cornbread. She listens to her grandpa Doc’s marvelous stories about traveling the world. And, best of all, she spends lots of time with her family.

But when Carla accidentally takes a bite out of Santa’s sugar cookie, she thinks she’s ruined Christmas. How will Santa know to stop at their house if they don’t leave him a midnight snack? With her grandmother’s help, Carla comes up with a plan, but will it be enough to save Christmas?

Danny’s Christmas List by Tieska Jumbo

When Danny and his family visit a local Christmas market, he finds himself in a chance encounter with Santa. With his list in hand and Santa all alone, Danny sees a chance he must take. Can you guess what Danny asks? Join Danny and Santa in this heartwarming Christmas tale that is sure to be a Christmas classic!

Sophie Washington: Secret Santa by Tonya Duncan Ellis

Christmas is three weeks away and a mysterious “Santa” has been mailing presents to sixth grader Sophie in this heartwarming, illustrated chapter book for middle grade readers. There is no secret Santa gift exchange going on at her school, so she can’t imagine who it could be. Sophie’s best friends guess the gift giver is either Nathan or Toby, two boys in Sophie’s class who have liked her in the past, but she’s not so sure. Sophie uncovers clues to find her secret Santa, and the final reveal is bigger than any package she’s opened on Christmas morning. It’s a holiday surprise she’ll never forget!

In the Nick of Time by Deedee Cummings

Nick Saint never really put a lot of thought into his name until one snowy day in December when he accidentally receives a letter meant for Saint Nick. Realizing there is not much time left until Christmas, Nick opens the letter. The unexpected message inside ultimately leads him on a journey of understanding poverty, gratitude, and service to others while discovering the real meaning of the holiday spirit. Nick’s actions and kindness are filled with heartwarming results that even please Santa Claus himself!

The Nutcraker in Harlem by T.E. McMorrow

This jazz-inspired reinvention of The Nutcracker is a worthy tribute to the dreamlike wonder and magic of the Christmas season.

In this original retelling, set in New York City during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, one little girl finds her voice as a musician thanks to her enchanting adventures with a magical toy. An author’s note at the end provides additional information about the history of the Harlem Renaissance, and about the author’s inspiration for this musical retelling.

Santa in the City by Tiffany D. Jackson

It’s two weeks before Christmas, and Deja is worried that Santa might not be able to visit her–after all, as a city kid, she doesn’t have a chimney for him to come down and none of the parking spots on her block could fit a sleigh, let alone eight reindeer! But with a little help from her family, community, and Santa himself, Deja discovers that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in her city.

The Square Root of Possible by Lyn Sisson-Talbert and David E. Talbert

A heartwarming picture book story based on the song “The Square Root of Possible” from the Netflix holiday film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey! A holiday tale set in the snow-covered town of Cobbleton, Jingle Jangle follows eccentric toymaker Jeronicus Jangle whose fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder. But when a betrayal by a former protége leaves Jeronicus withdrawn and down on his luck, it’s up to his bright and adventurous granddaughter, Journey — and a singularly magical invention — to save the day.

Santa Claus is Coming to the Town by Thomishia Booker

Santa Claus is Coming to The Town is a rhyming, whimsical story that makes you feel nostalgic. The story takes place in Oakland, California and includes some of the author’s favorite locations. This lyrical story features a melanated Santa, celebrates the magic of Christmas, and will have you singing along while you read.

My Baby Love Christmas by Tara Nicole Whitaker

Celebrate all the lovely things that Baby discovers about Christmas. This board book, the perfect gift for a new baby, features rhythmic poetry from Jabari Asim and adorable art from Tara Nicole Whitaker.

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, Black Creators in KidLit and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation Sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks
Join Sophie’s Club for a FREE ebook! HERE

The post Children’s Christmas Books With African American Characters appeared first on Tonya Duncan Ellis.

Author Beware! The Scary Side of Self Publishing

Publishing your own book is a great way to get your writing out there on your own terms. But beware of the possible pitfalls, including:

Fake agents – If a literary agent tries to charge a fee, run. All money should flow to the author in a legitimate agent/author relationship. Shady publishing companies -Beware of hybrid publishing companies that charge huge fees for things you can easily do yourself, or who want rights to your work. Bogus contests/awards – These cash grabs have so many categories that nearly all entries win. Poor quality cover art/illustrations – Does the drawing you had your child do or created yourself look as professional as others you see on the market?

How to avoid these pitfalls? Do plenty of research or work with a reputable coach to get you started. Vet publishing professionals you’re considering through groups like Writer Beware.com and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Happy Publishing!

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, Black Creators in KidLit and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation Sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks
Join Sophie’s Club for a FREE ebook! HERE

The post Author Beware! The Scary Side of Self Publishing appeared first on Tonya Duncan Ellis.

Author Beware! The Scary Side of Self Publishing.

Publishing your own book is a great way to get your writing out there on your own terms. But beware of the possible pitfalls, including:

Fake agents – If a literary agent tries to charge a fee, run. All money should flow to the author in a legitimate agent/author relationship. Shady publishing companies -Beware of hybrid publishing companies that charge huge fees for things you can easily do yourself, or who want rights to your work. Bogus contests/awards – These cash grabs have so many categories that nearly all entries win. Poor quality cover art/illustrations – Does the drawing you had your child do or created yourself look as professional as others you see on the market?

How to avoid these pitfalls? Do plenty of research or work with a reputable coach to get you started. Vet publishing professionals you’re considering through groups like Writer Beware.com and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Happy Publishing!

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, Black Creators in KidLit and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation Sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks
Join Sophie’s Club for a FREE ebook! HERE

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Sophie Washington Audiobooks!

Do you like audiobooks? Get ready to stream Sophie Washington books 1-3! Audio rights to Sophie Washington: Queen of the Bee, Sophie Washington: The Snitch, and Sophie Washington: Things You Didn’t Know About Sophie were recently sold, and the audio books are already in production. Completion is expected by the end of 2021 or early 2022. Thanks so much to my agent Sara Megibow at KT Literary for making it happen!

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Authors Guild.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks

 

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Should you go traditional or self publish?

Should you go with a traditional publisher or self publish your book? I recently signed with a literary agent, and an aspiring author asked why I decided to switch to traditional publishing with my new project. After self publishing my Sophie Washington series, I chose to explore the traditional publishing route with my latest manuscript for the chance to work with an editorial team and gain wider distribution for my work.

There are pros and cons for choosing to either self or traditionally publish your book. Check out these pros and cons and decide which path works best for you. Best wishes in your author journey!

Self Publishing

Pros:

Total control of the process

Quicker to market

Longer book shelf life

Higher royalty margins

Cons

Everything rests with the author (editing, formatting, etc.)

Harder to get books stocked in libraries and bookstores

Less time to write because of other responsibilities

Traditional Publishing

Pros

Wider distribution

Work with a team of experts

No overhead costs

Bookstore and library placement

Prestige

Cons

Time consuming

Lower royalty rates

Lots of rejection

Not guaranteed to be publishe

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Authors Guild.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks

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Tonya Duncan Ellis Books Special Announcement

Great news this week. I signed with a literary agent! You’re looking at the the newest author rep’d by Sara Megibow of KT Literary Agency! This is a major hurdle to overcome in having my books traditionally published, since publishing houses like Penguin and HarperCollins don’t review manuscripts that aren’t presented by agents. In an interview with Kirkus, Sara said she takes on 4-5 new authors per year out of 25,000 queries. I’m so grateful she believes in my new manuscript, and am excited about what the future holds.

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Authors Guild.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks

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Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day is going on a blog tour!

Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day is going on a blog tour! From September 1-22, the book will be featured and reviewed on nine different websites. Follow along to learn more about the best selling illustrated chapter book for kids ages 8-12 and enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card!

Book Description:

When Life Gives You Lemons Make Lemonade…

Sixth-grader Sophie Washington and friends learn lessons about entrepreneurship and team work when they sign up for a city-wide, Lemonade Day event. Sophie wants to buy her mother something special for her birthday, but she’s short on cash. Her bestie, Chloe, comes up with the perfect solution. Build their own lemonade stand to raise money at Lemonade Day! The girls add friends Carly and Nathan, and Sophie’s little brother, Cole, to their team, and decide to donate some of their earnings to a local animal shelter to help save stray animals. Things are going great, until an accident destroys their supplies. Can they save their business in time for the event?

Here’s the tour schedule:

September 1: Our Town Book Reviews
September 1: Sandra’s Book Club
September 8: Andi’s Middle Grade and Chapter Books
September 8: The Reading Addict
September 8: Long and Short Reviews
September 15: Fabulous and Brunette
September 15: Gina Rae Mitchell
September 22: Kit ‘N Kabookle
September 22: The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

Hope to see you there!

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Authors Guild.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks

Home

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Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day is LIVE!!

Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day is LIVE on Amazon and ready to purchase!!

Buy paperbacks HERE and ebooks HERE. Hard cover and access on other online retailers will be available July 19. *Orders placed for the book through my website will be shipped after July 20. 

Once you’ve ordered your book email me a copy of your receipt to be included in a drawing for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card for all orders placed before July 22! 

Positive reviews for the book have started coming in, including this one:

“It is an amazing book. I loved it! I believe this book will help other kids like me to become fearless when thinking about their dreams regarding having a business, even at a young age.” – Sabrina Roesler, Lemonade Day Houston 2020 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year



Check out the book trailer HERE

As always, thanks so much for your support!

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Authors Guild.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks

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How to Get Your Self-Published Book in Libraries

By Tonya Duncan Ellis

Want to get your book shelved at your local library? It takes some leg work, but you can make it happen. I’ve had my independently published books included in library circulations across the United States. You can do it too by following the steps in this article.

Why work to get your books in libraries?

As a book lover there’s no greater feeling than having your books on a library shelf. I grew up making weekly visits and later volunteering at my neighborhood library, so seeing my books in my hometown branch is definitely a dream come true.

Roughly two thirds of Americans hold library cards, according to American Libraries Magazine. Though library use has shrunk since the pandemic hit, libraries remain places people go either virtually or in-person to check out and learn about new books. Libraries buy thousands of new books each year, and unlike bookstores, they don’t return them. As popular books wear out, librarians reorder copies. They also order ebooks. It makes business sense to have your book included in the bunch.

Steps to getting your book in library circulation.

The book acquisition process varies per library system, but here are general steps I took to get my books placed in over fifty systems across the United States.

Have books published through Ingram with your own ISBN. Libraries acquire their books through set vendors, such as Ingram and Baker and Taylor. They will not consider books that are published exclusively through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, without a dedicated ISBN. Ingram offers the option of producing your book in hardcover, an attractive option to libraries, where books go through many hands. It goes without saying that your book should be professionally edited and have a great cover.

Find out which libraries carry your book. Your book may already be in circulation at some libraries. A check on website worldcat.org revealed that books from my Sophie Washington children’s series are stocked in libraries in places I never suspected like Minnetonka, MN and Normal, IL.

Research where you’d like your book placed. After finding out what libraries, if any, carry your book, make a list of libraries you want to target and go to their websites to find out their acquisition requirements. Many have them listed directly on their websites with instructions on how you can get your books considered for circulation, or list names of who you can email to request that your books be stocked. Log on to the American Library Association (ala.org) website to find the largest public libraries in the United States or libraries you have a connection to and might want to pitch your book to.

Get professional reviews/press. A positive, professional review from services such as Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, or The Midwest Book Review gives credibility to your work, making it more likely to be accepted by libraries. The acquisition’s librarian from my county library system required that I have a professional review for my books before she included them, so I was happy I took that step before approaching her. I’d also had write-ups in my hometown newspaper and other local press, so the librarian was familiar with my work.

Have friends and family request the book. Libraries purchase books requested by patrons. Having your family and friends ask for your book at libraries where you want them in circulation is a good way to make it happen.

Offer to speak at your library branch. Libraires are continually searching for quality programming. Doing a talk on self-publishing or reading your book at your local library’s story time shows that you are not just focused on your own self-interest but also invested in the branch’s success.

Don’t give up. Pitching your book to be stocked in multiple library systems can be time consuming, but increased sales and seeing library patrons checking out your book makes all the hard work worth it. If you run into obstacles, circle back to your librarian and see if he/she can suggest any additional steps you can take. Best wishes!

Want to learn more about getting your books in libraries? Check out my interview on The Writer’s Way podcast for extra information on the topic: HERE.

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling, award winning Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Authors Guild.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks

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