Stephanie M. Ward's Blog: Notes from a writer with wanderlust, page 23
October 6, 2014
World Animal Day
October 4th is World Animal Day. Started almost 100 years ago, it’s a day to bring attention to endangered species around the world. I stumbled upon this internationally celebrated day as I was trying to decide when to make the first donation of proceeds from sales of Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin to the Galapagos Conservancy. And it made perfect sense to announce the first donation toward conservation of the unique Galapagos environment and its wondrous animals on this worldwide “day of action”.
First, a big THANK YOU to all of the purchasers of Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin who provided the said proceeds for a donation to such a worthy cause. I’m truly grateful for your interest and wonderful feedback about the book.
I am thrilled to make this donation to the Galapagos Conservancy in the form of a Species Adoption, a kit that contains keepsakes such as a photo, plush toy and information about an endangered animal in the Galapagos Islands. Visit the Galapagos Conservancy (galapagos.org) for more information about donation options and the work they do to support conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands.
In addition, today is the first edition of Photo Friday on Wally’s blog. I’ve collected quite a few photos over years of travel from not only the Galapagos Islands, but unique (and warm) places around the world where Wally plans to visit as the book series of continues.
On this, the first Photo Friday, I’m excited to share a picture of one of the most stunning characters in Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin, Sally Lightfoot Crab. Wally spots these beautiful crustaceans tap-dancing on a stage in Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin.
Sally Lightfoot Crabs are beautiful, brightly colored crabs and a common sight in the Galapagos Islands. They are often found scurrying across rocks and beaches and can move in any direction which makes them notorious in accounts from the first visitors to the islands as they were (and still are) very difficult to catch.
Thanks again for making a donation to the Galapagos Conservancy a reality! And come by to visit Wally's blog at www.stephaniemward.com/blog to keep up with Photo Fridays!
First, a big THANK YOU to all of the purchasers of Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin who provided the said proceeds for a donation to such a worthy cause. I’m truly grateful for your interest and wonderful feedback about the book.
I am thrilled to make this donation to the Galapagos Conservancy in the form of a Species Adoption, a kit that contains keepsakes such as a photo, plush toy and information about an endangered animal in the Galapagos Islands. Visit the Galapagos Conservancy (galapagos.org) for more information about donation options and the work they do to support conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands.
In addition, today is the first edition of Photo Friday on Wally’s blog. I’ve collected quite a few photos over years of travel from not only the Galapagos Islands, but unique (and warm) places around the world where Wally plans to visit as the book series of continues.
On this, the first Photo Friday, I’m excited to share a picture of one of the most stunning characters in Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin, Sally Lightfoot Crab. Wally spots these beautiful crustaceans tap-dancing on a stage in Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin.
Sally Lightfoot Crabs are beautiful, brightly colored crabs and a common sight in the Galapagos Islands. They are often found scurrying across rocks and beaches and can move in any direction which makes them notorious in accounts from the first visitors to the islands as they were (and still are) very difficult to catch.
Thanks again for making a donation to the Galapagos Conservancy a reality! And come by to visit Wally's blog at www.stephaniemward.com/blog to keep up with Photo Fridays!
September 25, 2014
Q&A with Author Sharon Powers
One of the best side effects of being an indie author and doing all of your own marketing is connecting with the incredible, supportive community of writers and authors. In all my years of corporate marketing, I have never been part of an industry whose competitors actually help each other promote and sell their products. Connecting with this community is as simple as following on twitter, participating (not just posting) on blog hops and spreading the word about an author’s new project or accolades.
Sharon Powers is one such connection. A talented children’s book author, screenplay writer and all around superstar marketer, we met through a joint marketing opportunity earlier this year and have been supporting each other ever since. So I was excited to have a chance to ask her a few questions about her latest book and her appearance at the Orange County Children’s Book Festival on Sunday, September 28th.
What brings you to the Orange County Children’s Book Festival?
As I was doing my routine googling of book events, marketing, etc. back in April, I came across information on the OC Children’s Book Festival. I got on their website and found out its location and date and was surprised to see the number of people that attend this festival every year. I realized it was basically in my own backyard and couldn’t resist setting up an Author Table for the event. The date worked perfectly in my schedule with my travels back and forth to Baja. To put icing on the cake, they invited me to speak on their Animal Stage about my book “Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers”. The whole thing just fell into place for me!
[Find details about the Wild Animal Stage where Sharon will be speaking here: http://kidsbookfestival.com/wp-conten...
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Not what, but who. I asked my sister to read my script “Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers” and she loved it. Afterwards, she told me it would make a great children’s book so I adapted the script into a book. Getting a publisher is like finding a buyer for your screenplay, virtually impossible. Self-publishing and ebooks have created an opportunity to get your work published and available to readers. It seemed a logical step for me.
How do you approach cover design for Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers?
“Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers” was the first cover design I’d ever done. I started with a large piece of artwork I’d commissioned of the characters and I knew what part of the painting I wanted for the cover. I also had feedback on the font from my daughter and I went through colors for the font with my sisters and friends. It was a matter of fine tuning it and then realizing at a certain point that was it and it was done.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I started to write a romance novel in my early twenties. I completed the outline and got through about three chapters. I never finished it, but still have the notes, etc. I wrote my first screenplay at twenty-nine. I liked the concept of how concise scripts can be and didn’t really think I could write an actual book due to all the description that’s needed. I love movies so a script seemed natural for me.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love to let my mind wonder and create characters and events from concept to conclusion. All the decisions that go into creating a story are fascinating especially knowing each decision sends the story in a different path and you have the option, at any given time, to change the direction and the characters themselves. I like knowing so much about a character that when I write something, I can say to myself, “He’d never do that. She would never say that.”
What are you working on now?
Last month, I released a novella adapted from my very first screenplay and it’s called “Seapsan”. It’s a fantasy romance and has underwater and time travel intrigue thrown into the mix. I’m working on another screenplay and I’ll have the next book of the MySeaBuddies series completed the beginning of 2015. Story ideas for the characters are never ending in my mind.
See what I mean? She basically does everything! Connect with Sharon and MySeaBuddies on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
Stop by and see Sharon Powers at Author’s Booth #102 this Sunday, September 28th at the Orange County Children’s Book Festival in Costa Mesa, CA. More information about the event can be found at http://kidsbookfestival.com.
Check out all of Sharon’s books on Goodreads:
[bookcover:Seaspan|22886430]
Sharon Powers is one such connection. A talented children’s book author, screenplay writer and all around superstar marketer, we met through a joint marketing opportunity earlier this year and have been supporting each other ever since. So I was excited to have a chance to ask her a few questions about her latest book and her appearance at the Orange County Children’s Book Festival on Sunday, September 28th.What brings you to the Orange County Children’s Book Festival?
As I was doing my routine googling of book events, marketing, etc. back in April, I came across information on the OC Children’s Book Festival. I got on their website and found out its location and date and was surprised to see the number of people that attend this festival every year. I realized it was basically in my own backyard and couldn’t resist setting up an Author Table for the event. The date worked perfectly in my schedule with my travels back and forth to Baja. To put icing on the cake, they invited me to speak on their Animal Stage about my book “Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers”. The whole thing just fell into place for me!
[Find details about the Wild Animal Stage where Sharon will be speaking here: http://kidsbookfestival.com/wp-conten...
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Not what, but who. I asked my sister to read my script “Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers” and she loved it. Afterwards, she told me it would make a great children’s book so I adapted the script into a book. Getting a publisher is like finding a buyer for your screenplay, virtually impossible. Self-publishing and ebooks have created an opportunity to get your work published and available to readers. It seemed a logical step for me.
How do you approach cover design for Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers?
“Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers” was the first cover design I’d ever done. I started with a large piece of artwork I’d commissioned of the characters and I knew what part of the painting I wanted for the cover. I also had feedback on the font from my daughter and I went through colors for the font with my sisters and friends. It was a matter of fine tuning it and then realizing at a certain point that was it and it was done.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I started to write a romance novel in my early twenties. I completed the outline and got through about three chapters. I never finished it, but still have the notes, etc. I wrote my first screenplay at twenty-nine. I liked the concept of how concise scripts can be and didn’t really think I could write an actual book due to all the description that’s needed. I love movies so a script seemed natural for me.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love to let my mind wonder and create characters and events from concept to conclusion. All the decisions that go into creating a story are fascinating especially knowing each decision sends the story in a different path and you have the option, at any given time, to change the direction and the characters themselves. I like knowing so much about a character that when I write something, I can say to myself, “He’d never do that. She would never say that.”
What are you working on now?
Last month, I released a novella adapted from my very first screenplay and it’s called “Seapsan”. It’s a fantasy romance and has underwater and time travel intrigue thrown into the mix. I’m working on another screenplay and I’ll have the next book of the MySeaBuddies series completed the beginning of 2015. Story ideas for the characters are never ending in my mind.
See what I mean? She basically does everything! Connect with Sharon and MySeaBuddies on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
Stop by and see Sharon Powers at Author’s Booth #102 this Sunday, September 28th at the Orange County Children’s Book Festival in Costa Mesa, CA. More information about the event can be found at http://kidsbookfestival.com.
Check out all of Sharon’s books on Goodreads:
[bookcover:Seaspan|22886430]
June 24, 2014
Top 5 Books to Read with Chocolate
Today is a good day to be a writer. How often in other professions do you get invited to participate in a Chocolate Book Blog Tour? The challenge was to pick 5-6 books and pair them with matching chocolates. With dozens of wonderful authors and bloggers involved, the results are highly varied, creative and simply mouth-watering.
I've put an international spin on my picks: Authors, book subjects and/or chocolates are in one way or another linked to travel. Grab your favorite chocolate and enjoy the read!
The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly + Laudree Chocolate Macarons
This is a haunting story of a Parisian man at the peak of his life who tragically suffers a rare stroke that leaves him fully capable of the mind, but unable to move anything except his left eye. This incredible memoir was written through an ingenious system of reading through the alphabet (in order of most common letters in the French alphabet) and blinking to indicate the appropriate letter.
I paired this book with a Chocolate Macaron from the world-renowned French patisserie, Laudree, because if I could offer Jean-Dominique Bauby one thing, it would be a taste of the absolute best chocolate creation in the world.
P.S. Go ahead and try to make them yourself with Laudree's Macaron Cookbook …and then invite me over to taste test them for you!
dutch + Maggie Beer's Chocolate Salted Caramel Ice Cream
This fantastic novella from U.K. born author, Jamie Christian Desplaces is a dark, psychological read taking readers between warm, cozy memories of a beloved childhood home, Hong Kong's back alley nightlife, and a therapist's office. I can't say much more without ruining the plot, but it's so good that I was torn between racing through pages to see how it ended and putting it down so I didn't finish it too quickly.
I'd recommend an entire pint of Australian food icon, Maggie Beer's, Chocolate and Salted Caramel Ice Cream so you can stay up all night to read this book because both are impossible to put down.
Martina Finds a Shiny Coin + Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
My son and I armchair travel to Puerto Rico quite often while reading a delightful children's book, Martina Finds a Shiny Coin by Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor. With wonderful descriptions of a small village and a cast of memorable animal (and insect) characters, we can experience life in Puerto Rico with the flip of a page.
We enjoy chocolate chip cookies with any children's story, but mine are made with Guittard's Extra Dark Chocolate Chips in an absolutely fantastic, highly addictive version of this classic cookie.
Looking for La La + Vosges Haut Chocolates Coconut Ash & Banana Super Dark Chocolate Bar
If you are looking for a laugh, look no further than Looking for La La, a whacky adventure mostly set in Seattle (very near my hometown) revolving around a trip to Antarctica (the home country of the main character from my children's book, Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin). Anyway, the author of La La is a former Arrested Development writer so you know the story is going to be kooky, hilarious and outrageous.
This one calls for a creative chocolate and that immediately makes me think of Vosges Haut Chocolates. How about the Coconut Ash & Banana Super Dark Chocolate Bar?
Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting + Sachertorte from Hotel Sacher
As a new mom, I enjoyed reading about the French way of raising children in Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting. Not only did I find my all-time favorite Yogurt Cake recipe in this book, but I learned that three year olds should be able to make it...by themselves!
Since this book reminds me of living in Paris, I'd choose something just slightly more sophisticated to pair with this book, such as a slice of Sacher Torte, and imagine you're sitting at a French cafe overlooking the Seine.
A big thanks to the lovely author of Lorenzo the Bear: Encounter at Jellyfish Cove, Carmela Dutra, who invited me join this blog hop. Here's her take on books + chocolate, posted, appropriately, on National Chocolate Eclair Day https://www.goodreads.com/author/show....
I'm tapping some wonderful children's book authors to continue the hop:
Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor, author of Martina Finds a Shiny Coin and Sharon Powers author of Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers.
Grab some chocolate and check out some of the other great posts in the fun blog hop:
Nelson Suit writes about chocolate and Indie books: http://www.inkspokes.com/.
K. Lamb combines chocolate with children's books http://authorklamb.blogspot.com.au/20....
Lovable Lobo's Picture Books and Chocolate post http://lovablelobo.wordpress.com/2014....
Karen Emma Hall has a very creative chocolate blog post http://peachyemma.blogspot.co.uk/.
And there are many more...just follow links from other posts in the hop.
I've put an international spin on my picks: Authors, book subjects and/or chocolates are in one way or another linked to travel. Grab your favorite chocolate and enjoy the read!
The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly + Laudree Chocolate Macarons
This is a haunting story of a Parisian man at the peak of his life who tragically suffers a rare stroke that leaves him fully capable of the mind, but unable to move anything except his left eye. This incredible memoir was written through an ingenious system of reading through the alphabet (in order of most common letters in the French alphabet) and blinking to indicate the appropriate letter.
I paired this book with a Chocolate Macaron from the world-renowned French patisserie, Laudree, because if I could offer Jean-Dominique Bauby one thing, it would be a taste of the absolute best chocolate creation in the world.
P.S. Go ahead and try to make them yourself with Laudree's Macaron Cookbook …and then invite me over to taste test them for you!
dutch + Maggie Beer's Chocolate Salted Caramel Ice Cream
This fantastic novella from U.K. born author, Jamie Christian Desplaces is a dark, psychological read taking readers between warm, cozy memories of a beloved childhood home, Hong Kong's back alley nightlife, and a therapist's office. I can't say much more without ruining the plot, but it's so good that I was torn between racing through pages to see how it ended and putting it down so I didn't finish it too quickly.
I'd recommend an entire pint of Australian food icon, Maggie Beer's, Chocolate and Salted Caramel Ice Cream so you can stay up all night to read this book because both are impossible to put down.
Martina Finds a Shiny Coin + Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
My son and I armchair travel to Puerto Rico quite often while reading a delightful children's book, Martina Finds a Shiny Coin by Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor. With wonderful descriptions of a small village and a cast of memorable animal (and insect) characters, we can experience life in Puerto Rico with the flip of a page.
We enjoy chocolate chip cookies with any children's story, but mine are made with Guittard's Extra Dark Chocolate Chips in an absolutely fantastic, highly addictive version of this classic cookie.
Looking for La La + Vosges Haut Chocolates Coconut Ash & Banana Super Dark Chocolate Bar
If you are looking for a laugh, look no further than Looking for La La, a whacky adventure mostly set in Seattle (very near my hometown) revolving around a trip to Antarctica (the home country of the main character from my children's book, Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin). Anyway, the author of La La is a former Arrested Development writer so you know the story is going to be kooky, hilarious and outrageous.
This one calls for a creative chocolate and that immediately makes me think of Vosges Haut Chocolates. How about the Coconut Ash & Banana Super Dark Chocolate Bar?
Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting + Sachertorte from Hotel Sacher
As a new mom, I enjoyed reading about the French way of raising children in Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting. Not only did I find my all-time favorite Yogurt Cake recipe in this book, but I learned that three year olds should be able to make it...by themselves!
Since this book reminds me of living in Paris, I'd choose something just slightly more sophisticated to pair with this book, such as a slice of Sacher Torte, and imagine you're sitting at a French cafe overlooking the Seine.
A big thanks to the lovely author of Lorenzo the Bear: Encounter at Jellyfish Cove, Carmela Dutra, who invited me join this blog hop. Here's her take on books + chocolate, posted, appropriately, on National Chocolate Eclair Day https://www.goodreads.com/author/show....
I'm tapping some wonderful children's book authors to continue the hop:
Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor, author of Martina Finds a Shiny Coin and Sharon Powers author of Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers.
Grab some chocolate and check out some of the other great posts in the fun blog hop:
Nelson Suit writes about chocolate and Indie books: http://www.inkspokes.com/.
K. Lamb combines chocolate with children's books http://authorklamb.blogspot.com.au/20....
Lovable Lobo's Picture Books and Chocolate post http://lovablelobo.wordpress.com/2014....
Karen Emma Hall has a very creative chocolate blog post http://peachyemma.blogspot.co.uk/.
And there are many more...just follow links from other posts in the hop.
June 10, 2014
Interview with Vanessa Landin, Illustrator
Vanessa Landin is the talented Ecuadorian illustrator behind the vibrant images in Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin. She brought energy and life to the wonderful Galapagos Island animals in the story. Vanessa answered a few questions and gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how she created the illustrations for Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin.
1) Tell us a bit about yourself
Well I grew up in Guayaquil, Ecuador. I'm still living here in the city of Guayaquil. The funny thing about me is that I have never been to Galapagos, but I know everything about it because I love animals and plants. All my life, since [I was] a kid, I have loved art, designing, colors...artistic stuff. And what can I say? If you are born an illustrator, well show the world the power and gifts you are raised with.
2) What is your process when you create illustrations? And what do you love most about illustrating?
First I always draw on paper all the doodles of the illustration I have in mind, and start drawing on paper all my ideas. I do look for references, and keep [myself going] with MUSIC! [I'm] never more comfortable creating illustrations [then] while singing [my] favorite song!
What I like the most about illustrating is the time I [have to myself], a time where I'm alone, with no worries, no one to interrupt, only me and the paper.
3) What was your favorite animal to create in Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin? Why was it your favorite?
Well I really enjoyed doing all the animals in the story, [but the one] I like the most is Sally the Crab. I love the colors and the fact that they were dancing, it's AMAZING. They look really cute. I really liked them!
4) What is next for you and where can we see more of your work?
Well I do have a project in mind [with] ONLY ILLUSTRATIONS, but right now it is [on] stand by. I hope there will be another edition of WALLY'S ADVENTURE, so I can keep showing the world the amazing adventures of this guy and bring happiness to people that really appreciate the art of telling a story with graphic design!
Vote for Vanessa's striking cover art on Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin during the June Cover Wars Contest sponsored by Masquerade Crew.
If you have questions or comments for Vanessa, feel free to add them here as a comment. You can also find out more about Vanessa on Wally's website.
1) Tell us a bit about yourself
Well I grew up in Guayaquil, Ecuador. I'm still living here in the city of Guayaquil. The funny thing about me is that I have never been to Galapagos, but I know everything about it because I love animals and plants. All my life, since [I was] a kid, I have loved art, designing, colors...artistic stuff. And what can I say? If you are born an illustrator, well show the world the power and gifts you are raised with.
2) What is your process when you create illustrations? And what do you love most about illustrating?
First I always draw on paper all the doodles of the illustration I have in mind, and start drawing on paper all my ideas. I do look for references, and keep [myself going] with MUSIC! [I'm] never more comfortable creating illustrations [then] while singing [my] favorite song!
What I like the most about illustrating is the time I [have to myself], a time where I'm alone, with no worries, no one to interrupt, only me and the paper.
3) What was your favorite animal to create in Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin? Why was it your favorite?
Well I really enjoyed doing all the animals in the story, [but the one] I like the most is Sally the Crab. I love the colors and the fact that they were dancing, it's AMAZING. They look really cute. I really liked them!
4) What is next for you and where can we see more of your work?
Well I do have a project in mind [with] ONLY ILLUSTRATIONS, but right now it is [on] stand by. I hope there will be another edition of WALLY'S ADVENTURE, so I can keep showing the world the amazing adventures of this guy and bring happiness to people that really appreciate the art of telling a story with graphic design!
Vote for Vanessa's striking cover art on Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin during the June Cover Wars Contest sponsored by Masquerade Crew.
If you have questions or comments for Vanessa, feel free to add them here as a comment. You can also find out more about Vanessa on Wally's website.
May 12, 2014
Children's Book Week Giveaway
In honor of Children's Book Week, May 12th - 18th, I'm giving away three copies of my new children's book Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin!
Just enter the contest via the Rafflecopter link (below) for your chance to win!
Rafflecopter Giveaway
Then hop around and check out all the wonderful giveaways (below) by dozens of amazing folks in celebration of Children's Book Week.
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to view the complete list of participating bloggers and authors...
Good luck!
Just enter the contest via the Rafflecopter link (below) for your chance to win!
Rafflecopter Giveaway
Then hop around and check out all the wonderful giveaways (below) by dozens of amazing folks in celebration of Children's Book Week.
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to view the complete list of participating bloggers and authors...
Good luck!
April 14, 2014
A Decade in the Making: How a 250 word children's book took 10 years to create
This month I celebrate my 10 year wedding anniversary. I also release my first children's book. Both events are big milestones for me and both are related. You see, my husband loves to travel. He has an insatiable wanderlust that has taken us around the world and back, literally. Our honeymoon was a yearlong trip around the world (actually twice around to make sure we always stayed in warm weather). We visited 33 countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands which inspired Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin. (I'm also now wondering if chasing the sun for a year also had something to do with this book -- warm-weather penguin -- but I digress.)
On our extended honeymoon, we had lots of time to think and dream. We asked each other lots of 'what if' questions: "What if you could live anywhere in the world?" "What if you could be anything you wanted to be?" "What if we can't find a hotel when we get off of the train in Zagreb tonight?"
What amazed me about these conversations was that we had so many similar ideas (a good sign for a newlywed couple). We both would choose to live in Paris, for example. But also, it surprised me that even with years of marketing experience behind me (and many more years ahead of me), I knew that someday I wanted to write. And I knew I wanted to write with the goal of educating children. Looking back, I probably should have taken plans with my high school best friend more seriously. We wanted to split the responsibility of teaching kindergarten, her the morning session, me afternoon (definitely, afternoon). As it turns out, she ended up being a highly respected teacher who is a favorite with her students.
So did it really take 10 years to get a short, children's board book on the market? Well yes and no. I wrote while we traveled and immediately afterwards when I was inspired to share of my experiences with everyone (or rather anyone that would sit through 10,000 photos). It took a couple of years (while back in the full-time, corporate world) to go through all of that writing and decide which story to finish and then actually finish it. I originally decided to pitch publishers so another year went by of finding appropriate contacts, polishing query letters and learning the process. I realized quickly that the traditional publishing process would take a very long time…4-6 months of exclusive review time for each agent meant 2 - 3 pitches per year at best. So, I decided to go the independent route. I hired an illustrator, had my manuscript copyedited, researched self-publishing platforms, built a social media platform, created a website, learned to format an ebook, etc. It all takes time. Throw in a new job in Paris, a relocation back to Seattle, a baby and a move to Sydney and there goes 10 years!
But now, thanks to my wonderful husband of 10 years who not only showed me the (sunny) world but gave me the opportunity to follow a nagging dream, I'm excited to finally embark on a writing path and introduce my books to children in the hopes I can teach them something new about the world around them.
On our extended honeymoon, we had lots of time to think and dream. We asked each other lots of 'what if' questions: "What if you could live anywhere in the world?" "What if you could be anything you wanted to be?" "What if we can't find a hotel when we get off of the train in Zagreb tonight?"
What amazed me about these conversations was that we had so many similar ideas (a good sign for a newlywed couple). We both would choose to live in Paris, for example. But also, it surprised me that even with years of marketing experience behind me (and many more years ahead of me), I knew that someday I wanted to write. And I knew I wanted to write with the goal of educating children. Looking back, I probably should have taken plans with my high school best friend more seriously. We wanted to split the responsibility of teaching kindergarten, her the morning session, me afternoon (definitely, afternoon). As it turns out, she ended up being a highly respected teacher who is a favorite with her students.
So did it really take 10 years to get a short, children's board book on the market? Well yes and no. I wrote while we traveled and immediately afterwards when I was inspired to share of my experiences with everyone (or rather anyone that would sit through 10,000 photos). It took a couple of years (while back in the full-time, corporate world) to go through all of that writing and decide which story to finish and then actually finish it. I originally decided to pitch publishers so another year went by of finding appropriate contacts, polishing query letters and learning the process. I realized quickly that the traditional publishing process would take a very long time…4-6 months of exclusive review time for each agent meant 2 - 3 pitches per year at best. So, I decided to go the independent route. I hired an illustrator, had my manuscript copyedited, researched self-publishing platforms, built a social media platform, created a website, learned to format an ebook, etc. It all takes time. Throw in a new job in Paris, a relocation back to Seattle, a baby and a move to Sydney and there goes 10 years!
But now, thanks to my wonderful husband of 10 years who not only showed me the (sunny) world but gave me the opportunity to follow a nagging dream, I'm excited to finally embark on a writing path and introduce my books to children in the hopes I can teach them something new about the world around them.
April 1, 2014
Happy World Book Day
Originally published on March 6, 2014 (a.k.a. World Book Day)
It may not be celebrated worldwide or even known in most countries outside of the UK, but in my opinion, any day that celebrates the value of books is a good day.
So, in honor of this special day, I'm excited to launch the book trailer for my children's book, Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin. It's just a teaser for the upcoming release of the ebook version, but for me, it's the official beginning of getting the word out about the publication of my first book. Hope you enjoy it!
youtu.be/apbBIngs4Wk
Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin Coming Soon!
It may not be celebrated worldwide or even known in most countries outside of the UK, but in my opinion, any day that celebrates the value of books is a good day.
So, in honor of this special day, I'm excited to launch the book trailer for my children's book, Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin. It's just a teaser for the upcoming release of the ebook version, but for me, it's the official beginning of getting the word out about the publication of my first book. Hope you enjoy it!
youtu.be/apbBIngs4Wk
Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin Coming Soon!
Notes from a writer with wanderlust
When I was a kid, I read every story I could find about far away places, travel and transportation. In fact, my favorite book was The Little Yellow Bus" about a girl who took the bus to visit her gran
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