Randy Briley's Blog, page 4
November 17, 2013
Book Signing (and Santa Sighting!)
I will be doing a book signing at JJ Books Bothell in Country Village on December 7 from 5-8 p.m. Stop by before or after Santa’s arrival in his sleigh! Bundle up and bring a friend…you won’t want to miss out on this fun-filled evening!
http://www.jjbooksbothell.com
Book Reading, Art Demo, and Book Signing at Imagine Children’s Museum
Friday, November 29 at 11 a.m.
Let the kiddos burn off some turkey and pumpkin pie at the Imagine Children’s Museum the day after Thanksgiving! You can even have some books signed to get a start on your holiday shopping without dealing with mall crowds while they’re having fun. Join me for a reading of Big Pigs and Sock Dances, a kid-friendly art demo, and book signings at your kids’ favorite play space!
November 6, 2013
Good Reads’ Best Books of 2013 Contest – Opening Round: November 04 – 09
GoodReads’ Best Books of 2013 Contest – Opening Round: November 04 – 09
If you’re so inclined, Raven Mad Studios would appreciate your book REVIEWS and VOTES on GoodReads (it’s fast, easy, and free to create an account if you haven’t done so yet)! If you read and enjoyed Big Pigs and Sock Dances, Mr. Underneath, or Sketchboy, your honest reviews would be very helpful (on Amazon, too). The contest rules state, “Write-in votes will be weighted by the book’s number of ratings to determine the top five books to be added as official nominees in the Semifinal Round.”
Write in Big Pigs and Sock Dances for Best Picture Book here: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-picture-books-2013?utm_campaign=goodreads_choice&utm_medium=user_sharing&utm_source=facebook.com
Write in Mr. Underneath for best middle grade and children’s book here: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-childrens-books-2013
Write in either book for best debut GoodReads author here: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-debut-goodreads-author-2013
Thanks in advance for your support!
Jet city
Had a great time in Tacoma. special thanks to Jason and Shawna Bay for stopping by to support us. Thanks guys!
Here are some pics.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...
October 21, 2013
Last week was such a rewarding experience!
On Tuesday, I was invited to Phantom Lake Elementary School to read Big Pigs and Sock Dances and do an art demonstration for several classes. I also brought several of the models I created for an upcoming picture book, Tiny Bob, and shared a bit about my Tincan project. On Thursday, I was honored to serve as the guest speaker at their evening Poetry Slam. The students did a fantastic job writing original poetry and performing in front of the group: they knocked my socks off! I hope the students enjoyed it as much as I did. The students at Phantom Lake are surrounded by caring, dedicated, and capable teachers, staff, and parents who go the extra mile and it shows! Thank you so much to the students and adults alike for the warm and enthusiastic welcome into the Phantom Lake community. Click on over to
the Raven Mad Studios Facebook page to see some great photos from both events: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.627600180623585.1073741843.458292294221042&type=1&l=f97aabada7 and https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.627596753957261.1073741842.458292294221042&type=1&l=00472bb631
October 14, 2013
Phantom Lake Elementary
This is going to be a fun week! I’m looking forward to visiting Phantom Lake
Elementary twice: Tuesday I’ll get to do book readings and art demos with
students during the day and Thursday I was honored to accept their invitation to
be the guest speaker at their evening Poetry Slam! It will be a treat to hear
students share their original poetry with the audience. Thank you to Stacey
Roundy and the Phantom Lake PTA for all the time, energy, and amazing enthusiasm
spent organizing these great events. 
Success at the Village Bean
Saturday I had my first official author event at The Village Bean in Country Village (Bothell, WA). This is a wonderful place to grab a delicious meal or snack and let the kids enjoy the play area near the tables. Many thanks to the owner, Karin, and her very gracious staff for their warm welcome! I read Big Pigs and Sock Dances, did a short art demo, and signed books. It was great to see some familiar faces and get to know some new ones. Here are a few photos:
Funny-faced balls for the kids in attendance from my goodie bag
spending time with the kids. Seeing their faces light up is the best!
My biggest fans requesting me to read “Daddy’s book” over and over warms my heart. It's so wonderful to hear them laugh every time they hear it!I am looking forward to more author events in the future! I will be at Phamtom Lake Elementary this week for book readings and to be the guest speaker at their poetry slam. I have several author events at public venues coming up, as well. Check out the “events” tab for more information. If you are a local fan and are interested in me doing a book reading at a school in the Seattle area, please contact me at randy@ravenmadstudios.com. Happy reading!
kickstarter 101
Mozart, Beethoven, Whitman, Twain, and Me
Do you know what I have in common with Mozart, Beethoven, Whitman, and Twain? I’ll share the answer, but let me back up first. Do you know what “Kickstarter” is? Sometimes, when you have been completely immersed in something for a great deal of time, it’s easy to forget that not everyone may be familiar with vital components of what you’re doing. Such is the case for my Kickstarter project, so let me quote directly from the source to explain a bit about Kickstarter, why it is so innovative and potentially powerful, and so crucial to my family’s immediate future. From the Kickstarter website (http://www.kickstarter.com/hello):
1. Kickstarter is a new way to fund creative projects.
We’re a home for everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of projects, big and small, that are brought to life through the direct support of people like you. Since our launch in 2009, 5 million people have pledged $822 million, funding 49,000 creative projects. Thousands of creative projects are raising funds on Kickstarter right now.
2. Each project is independently created.
The filmmakers, musicians, artists, and designers you see on Kickstarter have complete control over and responsibility for their projects. Kickstarter is a platform and a resource; we’re not involved in the development of the projects themselves. Anyone can launch a project on Kickstarter as long as it meets our guidelines.
3. Together, creators and backers make projects happen.
Project creators set a funding goal and deadline. If people like a project, they can pledge money to make it happen. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing — projects must reach their funding goals to receive any money. All-or-nothing funding might seem scary, but it’s amazingly effective in creating momentum and rallying people around an idea. To date, an impressive 44% of projects have reached their funding goals.
4. Creators keep 100% ownership of their work.
Backers are supporting projects to help them come to life, not to profit financially. Instead, project creators offer rewards to thank backers for their support. Backers of an effort to make a book or film, for example, often get a copy of the finished work. A bigger pledge to a film project might get you into the premiere — or a private screening for you and your friends. One artist raised funds to create a wall installation, then gave pieces of it to her backers when the exhibit ended.
5. Creative works were funded this way for centuries.
Mozart, Beethoven, Whitman, Twain, and other artists funded works in similar ways — not just with help from large patrons, but by soliciting money from smaller patrons, often called subscribers. In return for their support, these subscribers might have received an early copy or special edition of the work. Kickstarter is an extension of this model, turbocharged by the web.
6. Backing a project is more than just giving someone money.
It’s supporting their dream to create something that they want to see exist in the world. People rally around their friends’ projects, fans support people they admire, and others simply come to Kickstarter to be inspired by new ideas. Some projects take longer than anticipated, but creators who are transparent about issues and delays usually find their backers to be understanding.
7. Our mission is to help bring creative projects to life.
We’re a for-profit company based in New York City’s Lower East Side. We spend our time making Kickstarter a little bit better every day, answering questions from backers and creators, and finding new projects to share. If a project is successfully funded, we apply a 5% fee to the funds collected.
We believe that creative projects make for a better world, and we’re thrilled to help support new ones. Building a community of backers around an idea is an amazing way to make something new.
As you can see from the above explanation, Kickstarter can be a powerful tool to help independent artists bring their works to life and empower people from all over the world to be a part of something creative and meaningful. I need your help to make my project, Tincan, come to life and I invite you to be a part of its creation. Please consider making a contribution (of ANY size, large or small) so that Tincan doesn’t die on November 2. Please watch the video I created and read about the rewards I’m offering to my backers here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1430302120/tincan-a-graphic-novel-and-interactive-story-app-w
Thank you!
October 11, 2013
Author Event during the Harvest Festival
I’m looking forward to the Harvest Festival at Country Village this weekend. I will be having my very first author event at The Village Bean at noon on Saturday! Enjoy a bite to eat while the kids listen to me read Big Pigs and Sock Dances followed by Q and A, an art demonstration, and book signings. Come say hello! (See the event on my page for more details.) There will be a lot to do before and after around Country Village. http://countryvillagebothell.com/harvest-festival-0
BOOK GIVEAWAY
Take a peek a Cherry Valley Macaroni Kid’s fabulous review and
enter to win a copy of Mr. Underneath. http://cherryvalley.macaronikid.com/article/579793/mr-underneath-hes-been-waiting-for-you
