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"OUCH! Sunburn!"

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I don't know about where you are, but where I am right now, it's getting pretty toasty. So I thought it would be a good time to remind you about Donna Shepherd's book, OUCH! SUNBURN, illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier. Donna's enjoyable rhyming read instructs kids on the importance of skin care when going out into the sun. And Kevin's fun pictures help bring the message home.

And you'll also want to check on Kevin's new blog, Professor Horace's Cryptozoology Research Center. Professor Horace will be featured in Kevin's soon-to-be released picture book, PROFESSOR HORACE, CRYPTOZOOLOGIST, from Guardian Angel Publishing. Professor Horace is on the hunt for monsters--Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, and more.

Perhaps you would like to join the professor's hunt. Have you noticed any mysterious creatures lurking about lately? A long black tail slipping away into the bushes? A huge footprint along the pathway? Or a strangely-shaped head skimming the surface of the pond? Oooh, did you just hear that odd howl?
Sorry, I've got to go and notify the professor immediately... Read the rest of this post

Children's book author Donna J. Shepherd talks about her two new picture books, Ouch! Sunburn! and No More Gunk! both under Guardian Angel Publishing's new Health and Hygiene imprint. Donna, who also writes devotionals, also talks about her working environment, book promotion, and her experience in looking for a publisher, among other things. She offers some sound, wise advice to aspiring authors.

Do you consider yourself a born writer?

I wouldn’t. I've never been one to journal, and besides a few things written for English class in high school, I didn't write. But once I started, I wrote every day!

Did you always want to be a writer?

I never really thought of writing for children until the summer of 2003 when I wrote a short poem. I submitted it to Guideposts for Kids. The editor replied favorably with a couple of suggestions. I thought I might be onto something, and wrote a couple more stanzas, and then a few more. The resulting manuscript became "Topsy Turvy Land," the first picture book published by Hidden Pictures Publishing.

And in the meantime, I continued to submit to magazines, and GP4K published one of my first poems, "My Tooth Is Missing."

Tell us about your recent release. What was your inspiration for it?

Ouch! Sunburn! is a 27 page, 94 word easy reader. My redheaded son, Aaron, to whom I dedicated the book, has always had a terrible time each summer preventing sunburn. We've learned a LOT about skin care! But the little boy in the book thinks he's smarter than mom. Sun Safety Tips in the back of the book reinforce the book’s theme.

Ouch! Sunburn! and a new book, No More Gunk!, will soon be released as a print book as part of Guardian Angel Publishing’s new Health and Hygiene line. No More Gunk! features the same little boy and tips for taking care of teeth in the back. It will be two books in one, or as Lynda calls it – “a double-doozie!” I’m sure kids will giggle at the fun illustrations Kevin came up with for Gunk!

Tell us about your other children's books.

Topsy Turvy Land was so much fun to write, and just as fun to promote. It’s a rhyming picture book with hearts hidden throughout, and a hidden picture puzzle on the back cover. I’m sure I’ll have the same delight in promoting the Ouch! Sunburn!/No More Gunk! book, too. I also have a follow-up book to Topsy Turvy Land coming soon called Dotty’s Topsy Tale. It features the polka-dotted hippo first seen in Kevin’s illustrations in Topsy Turvy Land. It deals with the delicate subject of discrimination.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? If yes, how did you ‘cure’ it?

Just about the time I think I’ve forgotten how to write and run out of inspiration, I’ll experience an ‘Aha! Moment.” It’s like I can’t get to the computer fast enough to start writing.

Some writers go on long walks, others keep a journal, write at a café, or listen to music. What do you do for inspiration and unleashing your creativity?

I like to think of God's pleasure as He created. Can you imagine Him smiling when he put that humongous beak on the toucan? And then, with a flourish, added all the beautiful colors?

As writers, we are blessed to be able to create. And as a children's writer, sometimes I'm really blessed, and the words I write are illustrated with pictures. It's so much fun to see my words come to life. I thank God every day for the joy of writing, and for allowing me the pleasure of seeing my words in print, and sometimes illustrated.

Describe your working environment.

For Valentine’s Day three years ago, my husband bought a notebook computer for me. I call it my writing machine. I write for grownups, too, and I’ve written hundreds of devotionals and articles in the last three years. So, I’m usually sitting in my family room with the television on – as I am now!

Are you a disciplined writer? What is your working style?

Oh, I’d love to say I am disciplined! I write ideas in a little notebook I keep in my handbag or even on the backs of napkins. I’ve been given several beautiful journals to write in, but I can’t bring myself to scribble in them. Eventually, all the scraps work their way into my writing.

Do you like to outline and plot ahead, or are you more of a stream-of-consciousness writer?

I start with a few lines, and have an idea of where I’m headed. It’s the middle that takes so long!

Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your works?

I’m what you’d call a blogaholic! I have several. They can all be accessed through my website: http://www.donnajshepherd.com/.

I write for ‘grownups,’ too, and have lots of links and information about that on the website.

What are you working on now?

I have a publisher interested in my “Devotionals by Donna” and I’m very excited about getting to work compiling and editing my writing into a book. I’m also working on a couple more children’s books.

Where are your books available?

Topsy Turvy Land is available through any bookstore, and of course, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The ebooks can be ordered through Guardian Angel Publishing, Fictionwise, and other sites specializing in ebooks. When they come out in print, they will have the same availability as Topsy Turvy Land in bookstores and online.

What was your experience in looking for a publisher?

I met the publisher of Topsy Turvy Land, Liz Ball, with Hidden Pictures Publishing, after looking for an SCBWI chapter. We met for a critique session without my knowing she also had her own publishing company, and had been considering publishing a picture book. I took my laptop to a meeting to show what Kevin and I were doing, and she loved it. Soon after, we met to talk about the release of the first picture book for her company. I was honored she chose mine!

Kevin introduced me to Lynda Burch with Guardian Angel Publishing. We’ve worked together on several books now. She’s a terrific promoter of her authors and great to work with.

What was your experience in working with an illustrator?

Kevin (Scott Collier) and I have worked together on several projects now. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and adds a lot of whimsy to my words through his vision. I never know what he’s going to come up with next. For “No More Gunk,” he practically turned the teeth into characters in the story.

What type of book promotion works for you? Any special strategies you’d like to share?

Networking is key. And give more than you get. I try to promote and encourage other authors, and I’m blessed when they reciprocate. I’ve set up blogs for all my books, and the Topsy Turvy Land blog has coloring pages by Kevin, Hidden Picture Puzzles by Liz, some poetry I’ve written, and a few other goodies. It gets a lot of traffic.

What advice would you offer aspiring writers?

Well, I still feel like an aspiring writer, but I can tell you what has worked for me. If you want to be a writer, write! Don’t just talk about it, or go to critique groups, or read about it – although that’s all part of learning. Take out a pen or fire up the computer and write. Then re-write. Great writing is re-writing!

Guardian Angel Publishing has a new Health & Hygene Imprint for kids. The first book, perfect for the soon-to-come summer holidays is OUCH! SUNBURN! and is already for sale in both electronic and print formats from the publisher and Fictionwise. This is a great picture book for teaching young children about skin protection and the dangers of sunburn.

OUCH! SUNBURN! was a Children's Fiction Fictionwise bestseller during February.

"I think this is a great book for not only kids, but parents who have children who hate to wear sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses when playing in the HOT SUMMER SUN." -VS Grenier, Editor, Stories for Children Magazine


The second book, just released, is titled NO MORE GUNK, and as you can guess from the cover, it teaches kids about dental care.

Both books are written by Donna Shepherd and illustrated by award-winning, prolific artist Kevin Scott Collier.

Now you can find Ouch! Sunburn!, along with all the other wonderful books from Guardian Angel Publishing for sale at FictionWise, "the Internet's most comprehensive collection of fiction (and yes nonfiction too!) in the most popular eBook formats."Here's the link for all the GAP books. Click HERE. FictionWise has a special reduced price on the GAP books for a limited time. Only $4.25. For Ouch!

Woot!

I have to thank Karyn for picking this up for me at BEA. I couldn't believe it when I realized that not only had I missed seeing Kirsten Miller in person, but I totally missed picking up the ARC as well. Ugh.

So. Kiki is back. All of the Irregulars are now 14 years old (except for Iris, of course, who is 11). We start the story with a bunch of animal releases in NYC and giant squirrel murals painted around town. The press immediately blames Kiki, but Annanka knows better...Kiki can't even draw!

The main meat of the story is Oona's this time. Oona has been keeping a secret from the other Irregulars. She's not an orphan like they all had thought. Oona knows her dad. He's none other than Lester Liu - crime boss and smuggler. Lester was never interested in having a daughter so he left Oona with some women from one of his sweatshops. All of a sudden, Lester is taking an interest in Oona...and her band of friends. He says he's gone legit. He says that he wants to be a philanthropist. He says he wants Oona in his life. And Daddy's also sending gifts...in the form of diamonds and designer clothes. It seems that he might just know his daughter afterall.

What do the other girls think of Oona's budding relationship with her dad? Can you say "traitor"?

Another adventure filled with twists and turns, NYC geography and history, wonky families, and girl power! The Irregulars are older now, and the problems get more sophisticated as well. To be honest, this was a bit of a slow starter for me. I was tripping over some language at the beginning. But once the story got into full swing, I was hooked once more! (Stayed up til 3:00 a.m. just to finish!)

I'm looking forward to the next installment! And I think these books would make an EXCELLENT movie. Can you imagine?