Alice Y. Chen's Blog, page 12
February 5, 2015
And the winner is...
GROUND HOG'S DAY!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/centi...
Also still available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Centipede-Drago...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/centi...
Also still available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Centipede-Drago...
February 3, 2015
Presentation mode
I promise we’ll get back to fleshing out the basic elements in a book submission, but as you read in the last post about my pursuing a hard cover version, the marketing aspects for books are ENDLESS. To open one more marketing avenue meant more publisher research, purchase of a new ISBN (Soft and hard cover, and e-book, must each have its own ISBN at almost $100.00 a pop), and losing three more months to get that into production.
Another significant marketing tool is presentations. I found just choosing which group/place to approach overwhelming, but was lucky enough to have a friend who was part of a Mom’s group. So I started there.
The basic presentation will involve reading your book and then taking questions. You’ll recall that a kindergarten teacher gave me my very first test subjects. I read the book and took questions, but then I asked THEM questions to see how well they comprehended the storyline. Good first move, because if you can see if your story really holds together and whether your illustrations are conveying your concepts while in development, you can STILL change what’s not working to make your book better!
Presentations to kids are a very different animal than from those to colleagues. First, you don’t know what age range you’ll truly get, which means you have to be really focused amidst distractions. You have to ENGAGE the kids; best way is an activity. And finally, you MUST connect with the parents. Show them why your book, out of the thousands out there, should be selected for their kids.
Another significant marketing tool is presentations. I found just choosing which group/place to approach overwhelming, but was lucky enough to have a friend who was part of a Mom’s group. So I started there.
The basic presentation will involve reading your book and then taking questions. You’ll recall that a kindergarten teacher gave me my very first test subjects. I read the book and took questions, but then I asked THEM questions to see how well they comprehended the storyline. Good first move, because if you can see if your story really holds together and whether your illustrations are conveying your concepts while in development, you can STILL change what’s not working to make your book better!
Presentations to kids are a very different animal than from those to colleagues. First, you don’t know what age range you’ll truly get, which means you have to be really focused amidst distractions. You have to ENGAGE the kids; best way is an activity. And finally, you MUST connect with the parents. Show them why your book, out of the thousands out there, should be selected for their kids.
January 22, 2015
More options for Centipede Dragon
Soooo, this wasn't my plan to do this, but, CENTIPEDE DRAGON WILL BE AVAILABLE IN HARD COVER.
Here's the story: A lovely librarian from Arlington County had reviewed my book and said she loved it, but since it wasn't in hard cover she couldn't purchase it for circulation.....
That was late October, 2014. On November 12, I began another long and painful journey in the realm of Print-on-Demand to produce Centipede Dragon in hard cover.
It is now January 22, 2015.
When I say self-publishing is not easy, I can't emphasize this point enough. There have been days when I have simply wanted to walk away from this whole process. There have been MANY days where I have regretted this decision. I had to switch Print-on-Demand companies because the original one I went with does not offer hard cover, and besides, there had been so many quality control issues that I had been thinking of switching anyway. I'm sad to report the quality problems still persist with the new company, but we are working hard to eliminate the ones I can control. And finally, we are extremely close to having a product for sale.
So again, stay tuned, a sale date is imminent. If there's anyone locally who would've wanted the book in hard cover versus soft, let me know via e-mail or FB message. I will offer a reduced price from the retail price, and we can arrange a drop-off/pick-up point.
MORE TO COME!
Here's the story: A lovely librarian from Arlington County had reviewed my book and said she loved it, but since it wasn't in hard cover she couldn't purchase it for circulation.....
That was late October, 2014. On November 12, I began another long and painful journey in the realm of Print-on-Demand to produce Centipede Dragon in hard cover.
It is now January 22, 2015.
When I say self-publishing is not easy, I can't emphasize this point enough. There have been days when I have simply wanted to walk away from this whole process. There have been MANY days where I have regretted this decision. I had to switch Print-on-Demand companies because the original one I went with does not offer hard cover, and besides, there had been so many quality control issues that I had been thinking of switching anyway. I'm sad to report the quality problems still persist with the new company, but we are working hard to eliminate the ones I can control. And finally, we are extremely close to having a product for sale.
So again, stay tuned, a sale date is imminent. If there's anyone locally who would've wanted the book in hard cover versus soft, let me know via e-mail or FB message. I will offer a reduced price from the retail price, and we can arrange a drop-off/pick-up point.
MORE TO COME!
January 13, 2015
Back to our regularly scheduled programming
Before my Dec. 11 presentation, the 12 days of Centipede Dragon, and the holidays overwhelmed us, I was talking about how to choose a publisher. I mentioned as strategy to limit yourself in number of publishers you initially target for the first go-around, and then sticking with the basics with your research, like making sure the publisher accepts unsolicited work, and the type of book you are publishing. Start with a few current children’s books you adore, look up their publishing houses, and do your in-depth from there.
The 3 single-most important components to your submission will be your cover letter, your manuscript (text only), and a dummy of your book. Even if you are not the illustrator, remember that the dummy shows the editor who gets your submission how you pace your story. You have to convey to him/her just how serious you are about your book, so even if making a dummy adds more prep time, do it to make your submission stand out from the hundreds and thousands they receive per month.
Publishers may ask for other things, like a biography or a market analysis for your type of book. While I think the latter is a little unfair to ask of us, just make your best effort, but make your cover letter your priority, and your manuscript and dummy flawless. And I mean FLAWLESS.
Next week we’ll focus more on cover letter, which to this day, still somewhat eludes me!
The 3 single-most important components to your submission will be your cover letter, your manuscript (text only), and a dummy of your book. Even if you are not the illustrator, remember that the dummy shows the editor who gets your submission how you pace your story. You have to convey to him/her just how serious you are about your book, so even if making a dummy adds more prep time, do it to make your submission stand out from the hundreds and thousands they receive per month.
Publishers may ask for other things, like a biography or a market analysis for your type of book. While I think the latter is a little unfair to ask of us, just make your best effort, but make your cover letter your priority, and your manuscript and dummy flawless. And I mean FLAWLESS.
Next week we’ll focus more on cover letter, which to this day, still somewhat eludes me!
January 7, 2015
Pint-sized masses, part 2
Hello all, and sorry for the radio silence last week! I was sick and frankly am still sick, so, coupled with friends and family in town for the holidays and part-time job obligations, it was tough to get to the posts.
I wanted to finally report on a second presentation I did with the same local Mom's group back in December of last year (!!!). I didn't have time to put the presentation together until yesterday, and then had some complications with using copyrighted music for my background. In this version, I only use a partial clip from the song, so, hopefully, this isn't still a copyright infringement.
For this presentation, I tested out an art activity to explain the process of batik, which was the technique used by the Miao to create Centipede Dragon as well as other designs on their textiles. But instead, I did wax crayon resist with water color wash over top, and BOY did the kids enjoy this one!
SO, please go to:
https://vimeo.com/116173572
and I hope you enjoy!
I wanted to finally report on a second presentation I did with the same local Mom's group back in December of last year (!!!). I didn't have time to put the presentation together until yesterday, and then had some complications with using copyrighted music for my background. In this version, I only use a partial clip from the song, so, hopefully, this isn't still a copyright infringement.
For this presentation, I tested out an art activity to explain the process of batik, which was the technique used by the Miao to create Centipede Dragon as well as other designs on their textiles. But instead, I did wax crayon resist with water color wash over top, and BOY did the kids enjoy this one!
SO, please go to:
https://vimeo.com/116173572
and I hope you enjoy!
December 24, 2014
12th day of 12 days
Merry Christmas Eve, Happy last night of Hanukkah, happy two days before Kwanzaa, and simply, happy happy holiday season everyone!
