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Crescent Hill Books specializes in creating design-rich books focused on the graphic design and advertising fields. They produce six to eight titles per year, and they’re constantly looking for fresh, innovative designs to feature in upcoming books.

Crescent Hill Books has created an online submission site so creative professionals from around the world can browse their current Call for Entries for opportunities to have work published in prestigious, international publications. 

Check out this month's High Five Magazine- featuring this spread I illustrated called Fix the Flat. Also in the same issue is my friend and fellow Illustration for kids member Anette with her awesome double page spreads- check it out here. Yay!

I know its not even Thanksgiving yet but stores everywhere are already displaying alot of Christmas items. This weekend, I went to my local Barnes and Nobles and sure enough, they have my new book there! Its called The Great Reindeer Rebellion, written by Lisa Trumbauer and illustrated by yours truly. Its a great companion to The Haunted Ghoul Bus, with the same format and embossed pages, both published by Sterling.

What happens when the reindeers go on strike? Santas and his elves enlist other animals to pull the sleigh for him!
Some interior spreads:

There are some funny and interesting stories I would like to share while working on this book. But I will save that for another post. For now, I just want to officially announce it here that this book is released! You can get it on Amazon or at your local Barnes & Nobles.

Cluck cluck!

My story 'Parasol Dance with the Chalkstripe Man' is now published in issue one of Sideshow Fables. Here's a short teaser:

Sally Stevens seizes upon an opportunity to use the magic parasol that was a parting gift from her father.

I can't wait to get my contributor's copy.

And in a sidenote: check out the latest issue of Arkham Tales where Olive Lemon has a whole page dedicated to her... Well an advert at least.

Plus TTA Press are offering a free copy of the wonderful Black Static. Get a copy now while stocks last.

Bouncing in my seat and putting this post up prematurely. My story Trench Foot is now live over at Fantasy Magazine. Oh my goodness!

I'll be running a bumper competition later today (and all week) to win prizes. All you have to do is head over to the Fantasy Magazine site and leave a comment on the story. More details when the shackles are unbound and I can fly home from work.

My story Leviathan's Moving Theatre is today's story over at Every Day Fiction. I'd love it if you could head over there, read it and comment on the Every Day Fiction site. And to celebrate (okay I'd have been doing it anyway), I'm spending the day at the beach with my little niece, my little nephew and my big hulking nephews. Finally a nice summer's day hits England.

In other news, Cate and her new laptop sat up in bed until way after midnight last night working on a short story. Laptop for the win.

Hi, Everyone,

Lori Z. Scott, writer and author of the Meghan Rose Series, will be here on Friday. Be sure to stop by - Lori offers some writing advice in a questions and answers interview. And, learn how this multi-published author got started.

See you in blog world,
Karen

For those of you foolish enough to have thus far ignored the call of Malpractice, the anthology edited by the wonderful Nate Lambert, check out the review by Anton Cancre over at Horror News.

And if that isn't temptation enough, one of the 100 word bites is written by Bram Stoker nominee Joel A Sutherland.

Elizabeth Dulemba - Illustrator/Author

Sometimes the postman brings wonderful things. Look what dropped through my letter box today and it's full of stories by people I know in the blog/forum sense: Aaron A Polson, Nate Lambert, Natalie L Sin, Brandon Layng, Joel A Sutherland,Barry Napier, Bobbie Metevier, Patrick Rutigliano, R Scott McCoy, Ian Rogers, JC Tabler, Jeremy Kelly, MG Ellington, Jusin Pilon, Mary Rajotte, Michael J Hultquist, Mike Stone, Gina Ranalli, Brendan P Myers, Alex Moisi, and anyone I've missed out - oops! Isn't the internet a wonderful place.

Can't wait to read it.

Marvelous Marketers: Krista Marino, Senior Editor
Delacorte Press (Random House Kids)

Hi Krista! Thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to be with us today. Before we get into your marketing advice, can you tell me a little about yourself and publishing house.

I am a Senior Editor at Delacorte Press—an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. Delacorte publishes middle grade and young adult fiction, so I’m only looking to acquire books that fall into those categories. The genres I work on are far-ranging, though. Lately I’ve been acquiring darker projects. I think it’s a reflection on where our world is today. Teenagers just aren’t really looking to read light, happy books--and I guess I’m not, either. One of my upcoming books perfectly encapsulates this world anxiety. THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan is a story about hope set in a post-apocalyptic world.

In your opinion, how important is social networking? Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, GoodReads etc.

At Random House we’ve found that this is a HUGE part of an author’s success. You can quietly build a solid fan base by keeping (and maintaining regularly) a blog and website. And the more authors you connect with, the better your networking tools become. You can follow Random House . Facebook seems to be the social networking site of choice these days, but a personal blog could be even more useful in creating a feeling of intimacy with your readership.

How important is technology to an author’s marketing plan?

Because teens are on the internet more and more, we’ve really turned our marketing focus toward this venue. I think it’s very important you are out there—that you have a presence—on the internet.

Marvelous Marketer: Cynthia Leitich Smith

(Author of Eternal and Tantalize)


Hi Cynthia. Thank you for joining us today. Before we get into marketing, tell me a little about yourself.


I’m the author of three contemporary Native American children’s books— Jingle Dancer (Morrow, 2000), Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins, 2001), and Indian Shoes (HarperCollins, 2002)—as well as two humorous picture books - Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006) and Holler Loudly (Dutton, TBA) and numerous short stories.

However, I’m best known for my young adult Gothic fantasies — Tantalize
(Candlewick, 2007), Eternal which hits stores next week (Candlewick, 2009), and Blessed (Candlewick, TBA). I also have a graphic novel adaptation of Tantalize under contract.

Beyond that, I’m agented by the brilliant and gracious Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown in New York, and I’m a member of the distinguished faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

More personally, I count myself lucky to be part of sunny Austin, Texas’s booming youth writing community. I live near downtown with my husband and sometimes co-author Greg and our four dedicated writer cats.


Tell me a little more about Eternal. I know it is releasing next week! Congratulations!

In alternating points of view, Miranda and Zachary navigate a cut-throat eternal aristocracy as they play out a dangerous and darkly hilarious love story for the ages.
With diabolical wit, the author of Tantalize revisits a deliciously dark world where vampires vie with angels — and girls just want to have fangs. Eternal is set in the same universe as Tantalize , so you can look forward to a more direct re-entry into the Dracul tradition--and more global insights into its vampyric society. To find out more, you can check out the reader's guide on my web site .or read an interview posted at Not Your Mother's Book Club.


Can't wait. Now let's get into Marketing. Do you have a website/blog? When did you start it and who manages it?


I have a main web site features links to my Cynsations and Spookycyn blogs (which I started in November 2004). My site launched in 1998. Last year, it attracted more than 2 million unique visitors. Its focus is not only my own work, but also children’s-YA adult literature as a whole, including resources for writers and related to publishing.


In your opinion, how important is social networking? Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, GoodReads)

For outreach to teen readers, it’s a great idea because the Internet is so much a part of their lives. My one caution is to keep in mind that you’re joining a community of thoughtful readers, not simply advertising at them. Think of it more as a way to make a meaningful contribution to the conversation of books and to encourage reading.


Did you think about marketing before your book was published? Did you start prior to getting an agent or selling your book? If so, when and what did you do?

I have undergraduate degrees in news/editorial and public relations, so my academic and young professional background had already prepared me to dive in.

But no, I didn’t worry about that aspect of the book until the manuscript was under contract and the book in production.

My first sale was Jingle Dancer, a children’s picture book. At the time, it was unusual to find a contemporary Native girl and community featured in youth literature. My publisher, HarperCollins, handled the big stuff—the catalog, major reviewers, teacher/librarian conferences, etc. So I focused on niche marketing, getting the word out to the Native community and our friends. I sent copies to Native media and museum gift stores and those with an interest in Native and/or girl-powered stories. I also wrote a few articles about contemporary Native themes that appeared in institutional market magazines, and before long, that led to speaking opportunities.

My approach has also been big picture. I care about my books, and I make every effort to champion them. But kids need to read a lot of books. Since Jingle Dancer was published, I’ve made an ongoing effort to raise awareness of multicultural children’s literature.

More recently, with my YA Gothic fantasies, I’ve made an extra effort to feature author interviews with folks whose work will appeal to my own YA readers. If time allows, I also book talk related new releases when I speak to, say, public library groups. I hand out bibliographies and keep a Web page celebrating such books regularly updated.


Do you feel it is beneficial for authors to team up and promote books as a group? Why?

It depends on the group. On one hand, cross-promotional efforts can create a sense of community between the authors and allow for a trade off of skills that’s beneficial to all. Multiple voices may be able to attract more attention than one. On the other, it’s important that everyone be on the same page in terms of expectations—the most important of which being public behavior. If you brand yourself together, for better and worse, what reflects on one to some degree reflects on all.


What other advice do you have for authors/writers regarding marketing?

When I started, author Jane Kurtz gave me the best advice I’ve ever heard. She said to do at least one thing a week, no matter how small, in support of your books. It could be something small like a blog post or stopping to say hi to a newly hired librarian. Or something huge, like throwing a launch party with a couple of hundred guests.

Consistency is more important than an all-out blitz. Sure, you’ll probably want to shout it from the rooftops when you finally hold that new novel in your hands. But in the long run, it’s more important to look for regular ways to highlight it as long as it’s in print.


What creative things have you done to promote a book?

Probably my most successful, out-of-the box thing was the giveaways of the Sanguini’s T-shirts (Sanguini’s is the fictional vampire restaurant in Tantalize). They were designed by graphic designer/artist Gene Brenek and tie in beautifully to the book. The YAs and YA librarians loved them. I sent them out with bat finger puppets from Folkmanis, which were equally popular.

Thank you for sharing your marketing strategies with us. We wish you the best with your new book.


Remember to join us Monday for Krista Marino (Editor, Delacorte)

First Thing First
Huge thanks to Elizabeth Bird at School Library Journal Fuse 8 for the special
"shout out" to my blog. :) Check out her blog for other book business recommendations.

Marketing Tip for the Day
Some of the best Internet marketers in the world are hosting a series of free teleconferences where you can learn a ton of great tips for marketing your books via the Internet.
Upcoming: Wednesday evening: John Di Lemme; Thursday evening: Bob Burg
More speakers next week as well.
You can find out about the entire free teleconference series by visiting:
http://jvAlertLive.com/webcast/default.aspx?id=1889

Mouth-Off! Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM)
Word-of-mouth marketing spreads from one person to another outside of a formalized setting, without push from any advertisers.

A recommendation from someone familiar and trust-worthy is the easiest path to a sale, link or new subscriber. Why? Because recommendations are generally perceived as incentive-free, there is no obvious motivation.

Here are a few Easy WOMM strategies from Marketing Profs:

1.Target Talkers. Focus on Industry Influencers. I said target not stalk. You want to really build a relationship with them with the hopes of marketing through their existing sphere of social influence. Examples of influencers include celebrities, power users on social websites like Digg and popular webmasters or bloggers with many loyal supporters. I am a true believer that when you build relationships, it begins on "what YOU can do for them" not "what can you do for me" attitude.

2. Topic. Find discuss topics that are interesting to your talkers. Think about ways to create a positive response by enhancing your audiences experience in unexpected ways. Make your readers feel like an insider to an unique situation that encourages them to share or recommend your book. This could be to get them talking about special offers, freebies, information.

3. Tools/Technology - Use social networks to spread the word . This can be existing networks you already have (alumni, sorority, clubs or organizations) or joining large online communities. The existing ones you are already a part of are a quick hit. There is already a connection. Joining new ones takes a while to build so its not something that is as easy.

4. Take Part - Join in on message board or blog conversations. Again, contribute to discussions because you want to and because you care. Don't just contribute to use the board for advertising. It will have a negative effect. Also be sure to respond to phone calls, emails and comments on your blog.

5. Track - Keep up to date on what works for you and what doesn't. You only have time to focus on a few great things so don't waste your time with the things that don't work for you. Let them go and move on to something that does work.

Tips:

• More often than not, you will need to kick start some promotional method to initialize word of mouth buzz.

• WOMM can include written testimonials, reviews, resource links, asked for expert advice


• Focus on producing an excellent product -this will greatly facilitate the word-of-mouth process.


• Honest word of mouth marketers live by earning the respect of their customers


• Talk powerfully and naturally about what you do


• Appreciate and acknowledge those who talk about you.


• Treat everyone with respect.


• Anything that breaks trust will backfire.


• Negative word-of-mouth especially on you as a professional or as an author can hurt just as much as positive word of mouth can help.

Marketing interview with Lisa Schroeder

I was feeling like I had nothing interesting to blog about lately and then this package came yesterday.
I worked on these two graphic novels for kids last year- T-Ball Trouble and Lily's lucky Leotard, written by Carl Meister, published by Stone Arch Books, both are available now. The designer did an amazing job with the cover....I love the look of them.
I've dabbled in comic books personally on my own but doing this job gives me a whole new appreciation for graphic novel artists out there. Each panel is a piece of art in itself...thats a whole lot of work.
There has been a trend of comic style/graphic novel format in children's publishing. Its alot of fun to see and I hope it sticks around for a while.

Happy New year! Happy 09!

I hope marketing yourself or your book is on your list of New Year's Resolutions!
It is time to put a marketing plan in place for the new year.

Whether your book was published 2 years ago, last year, or will be published this year, everyone needs a plan and you can never be too late to start marketing as long as your book is in print.


Marketing Plans - here are the basic steps on how to get started:

1) What is your goal? This can be in the # of books you sell or the * of responses you get? You need to set a goal for yourself that your plan will always target.

2) Who is your target audience(s)?
Think about your market. Don't just think of kids as by age. There are other categories you can target with your marketing. Try and choose 3-5 categories. You will market to them differently.

For example: lets say you have a YA historical mystery book that is set in NYC in the 1950s. Your target audiences could be:

I was so excited about the 500 unique visitors (now 600)- I did not do my weekly Marketing Post this week.

Today, I'm going to talk about creating a solid Media Kit, also called a Press kit.

You don't have to be published to start this. Pre-Published authors can get ahead of the game! You never know. A media kit on your web site may even help you sell your book if an agent or editor comes across it.

In Guerrilla Marketing, it says the key to approaching the media, is to have the right materials in place to make it easy for placement. Books, web site, and media kit.

Tips on Creating Your Media Kit

• Your media kit should be accessible online. That way you can mail it out or email a link. You need to have everything easily available for editors or reviewers in case they don't want or need to contact you personally. All this information will convince them to interview you.
• This is the first impression they have of you so make it good, professional, and of high quality. It is better to do a few things great than alot of things mediocre. It can make the difference!
• Keep your information current
• Color is always better than B/W - except in your photo (that is just preference)

1. A 5x7 photo
2. Your bio
3. Any links to articles or reviews or other interviews (pdfs would be better b/c links to other sites can change)
4. A one page press release - update this quarterly with recent news - maybe including new reviews, sales, printing releases, milestones (Go to prnews.com for some samples)
5. List of basic interview questions and questions (FAQs) (next week I will focus on how to write a good press release!)
6. Link to Tour dates/signings/speaking engagements
7. Contact information
8. a brochure with a book summary and some other key facts
9. Pdf of book cover

Nice To Haves (Especially in this age of technology)

1. Video, audio, even a VLOG of you talking at signing or in interview - optional but I think in this day and age any technology is ideal
2. Links to networking pages - Facebook, MySpace etc
3. Book Trailers
4. Podcasts

Mail-out Media

1. Try to use special folders. Glossy is preferred. Double pocket with biz card window. yellow, white or grey manila folders are not ok
2. Cover letter - be professional - include project pitch, bio, and how you can benefit them (like a longer query letter)
3. Business cards - do NOT print off your own. Make them nice.
4. Order stickers for front - maybe book cover or other art. You can get folders and labels customized at VistaPrint.
5. Be sure everything is branded to be in alignment with your book/genre/author persona For example: use the same colors as your book, use images from your book) If you book is about a princes, use a tiara as a symbol. If your book is about going green, use a leaf or a green color scheme.)
6. You can add in cdsdvd's of book trailers or videos. Also include any pdfs of covers and head shots
7. Any copies of newspapers, articles, interviews etc
8. Always do your research, make a few calls to be sure you get your kit to the right person if you are mailing it out.

Great Media Examples from our very own:

• Alan Gratz - author of Samari Shortstop/Something Rotten
• Elizabeth Dulemba - illustrator (The Prince's Diary/Glotter Girl and The Crazy Cheese)

Our Little Secret

If anyone needs ever feels like they need or want help with marketing or PR, I will happily honor the Southern Breeze SCBWI discount I give on all of my services to any published or pre-published author. Go to my biz web site for detailed prices and packages.

Gleeful Review

Who saw gLee last night? Was it not hilarious? I love those shows where you miss something as you are laughing. Thanks goodness for TIVO.

Favorite lines? (Most are from Sue :) and I laughed just writing these.

• Sue: That was the most offensive thing I've seen in 20 years of teaching and that includes an elementary school production of Hair.
• Sue: I took the liberty of highlighting some special ed classes. I'm sure you can find some recruits.
• Mr Shu: Come up liven up - this is Disco!
• Sue: You need 12 kids to qualify for Regionals. You have 5.5 including the cripple."
• Sue - Hey buddy. I was just blasting my hammies. You want an iron tablet, it keeps your energy up while you're menstruating.
• Principal Figgins: The toilets are broken again and they are being fixed. Let me warn you. We have zero tolerance for anyone soiling on school grounds.
• Principal Figgins: I have not seen the student body this excited since Tiffany performed at the North Hills Mall!
• Principal Figgins - I have provided a list of family friendly songs that reflect our community's values. Besides Jesus and balloons, there are also songs about the cirrus.
• Principal Figgins: The dry cleaners here are just as good as the ones in Europe.
• Sue: You remind me of a younger Sue Sylvester. Though you don't really have my bone structure.

• Look for any place that you can reach kids or their parents. Bookstores, libraries, clubs, churches, chamber of commerce, schools, colleges, PTAs, writers clubs, workshops, seminars, conferences, book fairs, festivals, conventions, .
• No matter what, provide an experience. Think about ways to get your audiences attention. For example: Christopher Paolini toured middle schools across the country dressed in medieval garbs as his character Eragon.
• The More the merrier - Invite your customers or audience to your speaking engagements. Post them on your web site.
• Do interviews on radio, TV, newspapers, and magazines.

2) The Write Way

• Write an article for a group newsletter.
• Write emails and letters to the media, bookstores, anyone who may be interested, about your book.
• Create your own newsletter and send to people you meet (be sure to get permission and their emails!)
• Write a series. Get a following.
• Blog

3) You can't do it alone

• Work with locals- they are generally happy to work with local authors. Especially libraries and independent bookstores. Personal connections always works.
• Become a joiner. Join and be an active member in the appropriate trade and social associations. Help others.
• Form alliances. Create a buddy system with another writer especially in different locations. Hook up for signings, tours. You can also promise to promote each other's work. For example, when you to a bookstore - you make sure your book and their book is in stock.
• Do it for Charity - partner up with a charity you love and offer X% of profits in exchange for advertising, speaking engagements etc.
• Be a teacher - teach a class at a college. teach a class to kids. Find a way to teach others about your subject.
• Join groups like myspace, facebook, twitter where you can reach a lot of people fast.

4) And the winner is...

• Submit your book to the appropriate contests for awards or honors.
• Awards are listed in the Literary Marketplace and a book called The Writers Resource Handbook.
• Nominations or honorable mentions are just as good as winning.
• Run your own contests. Give away books to the winners.

5) Make it newsworthy

• Get reviews. Not just from from major national book reviewers. Look for local or special interest media that do reviews. Free magazines in Atlanta can get up to 20,000 issues out.
• Use galleys and any copies you buy in A SMART WAY.
• Do not send out books or galleys until you have personally contacted the person and they are expecting it.
• Have a press/media kit ready to send.

6) Repeat!

• Make 5 contacts a day - mail a letter, make a call, send out a press release,
• The rule of 7 - Did you know the average seller has to touch a consumer 7 times in 18months to get a sale. This means your buyer sees an ad, reads an interview, sees a review etc. Those are all touches.

To me, as a marketing professional, if your book is published and has not sold, you are either not marketing it right or not marketing it at all.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faeriality?alt=rss

A while back, my friend, Lindsey Leavitt (Princess for Hire 2010) recommended a great book to me: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.

I finished reading it and found it very helpful, not just for editing, but for writing in general.

Thought I would share my notes and a few "nuggets" I took away from this book (though you should still buy it!)

1) Show vs Tell

• in long strings of dialogue - intersperse "beats" - little pieces of action.
• don't tell feelings - she felt depressed, she was anxious. Rewrite in action.
• use narrative scene strategically - when you purposely want to give the reader a break or when it pushes the story forward.

2) Characterization

• Definition: process of giving character information through words, actions, and thoughts.
• show personality traits through action (if your character is shy, show it in the action. don't say - she is shy).
• do not summarize character up front - work it into the scene.
• be sure you give enough description throughout to help reader picture physical traits.

3) Exposition

• definition -inform, explain or describe plots elements in description, flashback, or narrative.
• give only enough background as needed to the story (not entire background).
• bring these pieces out naturally.
• convert long narratives that describe a process into an action scene.
• look for places where dialogue is really exposition in disguise

4) Point of View

• First person - most intimate POV; cannot write about anything your character cant know.
• Omniscience - when you gain perspective but you lose intimacy.
• 3rd - a continuum in between the first 2 POVs.
• 1st person lets you write with narrative intimacy that sometimes you can convey emotions that even the character is not quite aware of.
• Sometimes it is more effective to stick with one POV and show other characters emotions through dialogue and actions again describing only what main POV could know.
• establish POV in very beginning/first scene if possible.

5) Proportion

• misjudgement - writer undermines readers with blow-by-blow. focus on major points of scene. don't need to fill in every detail, leave some to the reader.
• too much detail - if you are writing about a hobby or interest of your character - be sure you balance what readers want to know with what you want to share.
• cutting - don't cut too much. difference between those that harmonize with story and those that drag down story.
• focus on what is important to story.
• read the first 50 pages - what do you spend most of your time on?
• if you have plot element that is supposed to be a surprise - don't focus on it.
• makes sure most of your materials advances character or plot.

6) Dialogue

• do not explain dialogue - "what are you talking about?" she said in astonishment. put astonishment in the action or inflection or wording.
• look for adverbs - slowly, softly.
• when clarifying speaker attributions, stick to said (not offered, inquired, asked). others interrupt dialogue.
• don't need adverbs with said.
• don't open paragraph with He said. put said at first natural break in sentence.
• put name in front of said. David said. NOT said David.
• decide how you are going to call character and stick with same thing for the entire scene. Hughie for scene. Next scene can be Hugh. Don't mix them up it is distracting to reader.
• replace a said with "beats" - pieces of action, especially if more than 2 people are in the scene. (use discreetly).
• uses dashes - (interruption) and ellipses ... (trailing off).
• New paragraph for each new speaker.

I''ll do the rest tomorrow.

Happy writing!

How long did it I wait to post this!? Let me introduce to you my latest picture book, The Haunted Ghoul Bus, written by Lisa Trumbauer, illustrated by me. I got my advance copy a few weeks ago and was so excited about it, or was it "omg omg omg omg omg!?!!!"

I also got an opportunity to design the book, so I felt in total control. Having an art director and an editor who completely believes in me makes me want to give 110%. Its hardcover with embossed pages, with a beautiful, high quality printing. I'm super pleased.

A favorite detail in the book, my vampires drinking from "blood juice" boxes:
It will be in bookstores in October, and on pre-order on Amazon right now. I'll be posting more about this book till its release!

Oh and goodness, thank you for ALL the comments about my "routine" entry! I think I have a name that I like for the Pink Bear. I promise you'll be seeing more of him (yes, its a him) soon!