It’s been a busy summer of new releases from Mirror World Publishing, so they’re throwing a multi-author book launch event to celebrate! If you’re in the area or able, please come out and meet the authors of five new books. Here are the details:
When: September 3rd, 2015
Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Authors:
Sharon Ledwith - Legend of the Timekeepers
Justine Alley Dowsett and Murandy Damodred - Unintended
Rita Monette - The Legend of Ghost Dog Island
Elizabeth J. M. Walker - She Dreamed of Dragons
Nate Friedman - The Coffee Monster
From children's to middle grade, young adult and adult, Mirror World Publishing is launching creative fiction novels in every age category! Come out and hear the authors read from their new releases, pick up a signed copy, and stick around for your chance to win free books! Plus there’s going to be cupcakes and coffee on tap from local vendors. Yum!
BTW – Rita Monette is the special guest star, as she'll be coming in from Tennessee! So don't miss this opportunity to meet her and get your signed copy of The Legend of Ghost Dog Island! Hope to see you there! Cheers!
Well, it’s finally here! Book release week. Or in my case, book re-release week! On June 17th, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis will officially be back on the market through Mirror World Publishing. There’s a Facebook Party happening that day too from noon to 9 p.m., so if you get a chance, I’d love for you to surf by and get to know me, and even enter for a chance to win some awesome prizes. Plus, I’ve hooked up with Sapphyria’s Book Promotions for a virtual book blog tour starting June 17thto June 26th (excluding the weekend), so I’m pumped about that! And just in case you didn’t know, I’ve got two signed paperbacks up for grabs through my Goodreads Giveaway for the whole month of June.
So much has happened since my former publisher closed their doors at the end of February. I was lucky enough to score a new publisher immediately. Since signing contracts with Mirror World Publishing for both my time travel books on February 26th, a lot has happened. Both books got re-edited and polished, and I decided to purchase the image rights and keep my covers because I felt they were beautiful, vibrant, and eye-catching.
I’m really looking forward to a fresh start with another publisher, and hopefully I’ll be as good a cheerleader for Mirror World Publishing as I was for Musa Publishing. As I’ve always said, “Life is a team effort. Period. Nothing is ever done without the help and support of others.” True that. I’m also excited to have an actual book launch party thrown for me! Woo hoo! So if you’re in the neighborhood, I’d love you to come and attend! Here are the details:
The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis Book Launch Party
When: June 19th, 2015
Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
From what I understand, my publishers Justine and Murandy will be serving coffee and baked goods (yum), and there will be plenty of chances to win some great prizes and gift baskets. They will also have copies of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis on hand which I would love to sign for you! Plus there will be a reading by yours truly, and a question and answer session. Thank goodness for all those author interviews I’ve done in the last three years—at least I’m primed!
I want to take this opportunity to thank Mirror World Publishing for investing in me and my books, and for breathing life back into my career. Seriously, thank you, Justine and Murandy. I also would like to thank all the readers I’ve got to known in the last three years who have taken the time in their busy lives to read my books, and care about my characters the way I do. Cheers and salute!
Nancy Viau is the author of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head (MG 2008), Look What I Can Do!(March 2013), and Storm Song (April 2013), and (Middle-Grade Novel, 2008). She is having a book signing and you are invited.
You had a book launch party when your first middle grade book, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head, debuted. What are your “Send Off” plans for Look What I Can Do!?
There are no local bookstores in my area, but I’ve always been in love with Children’s Book World of Haverford, PA, and visit there as often as possible. So, the second I found out I would (finally) have a picture book published, I called them up and asked if they’d consider hosting my book launch. They said YES! The date/time is set for March 23rd at 1:00. Visitors will also get a sneak peek at Storm Song (release date, April 16th), and I have few copies available already! Everybody is welcome. Bring the kids! I’ve got a ton of goodies for them.
Did an agent help sell Look What I Can Do to Abrams?
I was unagented when Abrams made the offer.
What was the idea spark for Look What I Can Do!?
I live next to a forest with a field and stream nearby and one day it hit me: Those cute little creatures out my window work so hard at every thing they do, and they don’t ever give up. I pictured my own kids working equally as hard at human things—walking, talking, skipping, catching a ball, etc. and that’s when the idea really took off. The refrain says it all:
Friends of forest, field, and stream,
Keep trying on your own.
Be proud today.
Have fun and play.
In time you will be grown.
Can you tell us about the journey that you took to get Look What I Can Do picked up by Abrams?
It’s a really long story that spans almost ten years. Suffice it to say, that an editor at Abrams rejected this piece early on, but gave me personal comments. Many other editors did the same. I let the story slide into oblivion, but in 2008 I brushed it off and began revising it (for the twentieth time). Abrams bought it in 2009.
Did you have any involvement with choosing Anna Vojtech to do the illustrations for Look What I Can Do?
Abrams knew that I wanted real-life animals in the spreads, not cartoon-like ones. For a long while, award-winning illustrator Nancy Tafuri was the frontrunner for illustrator but that fell through. I had sent Abrams a few illustrators I liked and Anna was one of them. Abrams didn’t bite and they sent me others to consider. A year or so went by. Then one day, I got an email that included Anna’s name as a possibility! I guess it was meant to be. I really believe her work is exceptional and perfect for my story.
Since it takes so long to get a picture book published and I see that Robin Benjamin was the editor for Storm Song, I wonder if this book started out with Marshall Cavendish?
Yes, Storm Song was acquired by Marshall Cavendish, and I was thrilled to be associated with that house because their books have always been among my favorites. However, M.C. sold the children’s division to Amazon, and I was one of a couple hundred authors who ended up with a new publisher. At first I was concerned, but Amazon Children’s Publishing/Two Lions Imprint has been awesome. I have a team of seven marketing professionals on my side, and have had conference calls with all of them at once! Their support is incredible and the book is beautiful. What more could I ask for?!
How much interaction did you have with Robin Benjamin?
Robin has been my editor since Marshall Cavendish originally made the offer. I didn’t hear from her a bunch because she felt that only one stanza needed revision. (Whew!) They did ask me what I thought of Gynux, the illustrator (he’s amazing!), and once his sketches were done, I was even able to give feedback on one spread that I felt needed tweaking. Robin always kept me informed about the book’s progress, and it has been a pleasure working with her.
Did an agent sell this book?
It sold a few weeks after my agent and I broke up, but that agent remains the one on record for it.
Are you working with an agent now?
Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary is my wonderful agent. We celebrate a one year anniversary soon!
What things are in the pipeline?
Stay tuned! ; )
Do you have any words of wisdom to share with other children’s writers?
1. Be patient, and 2. Drink lots of wine.
Nancy, best of luck with the books. I am so sorry your party is on the same weekend as the Writer’s Retreat I am attending.
WRITERS TIP: I you live anywhere within driving distance to Children’s Book World in Haverford PA, it would be worth your while to get to know them. They are very supportive of children’s authors.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
Filed under:
authors and illustrators,
Book,
Interview,
success Tagged:
Abrams BFYR,
Amazon Children's Publishing,
Book launch party,
Children's Book World,
Nancy Viau,
Robin Benjamin 
Thanks to Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan, I have lovely photos to share of both the pre-party and Bookshop Santa Cruz launch party for The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories.
Standing room only. Plot Tips shared. Cake devoured. Thanks to all of you who showed up and asked questions and bought books.
I add a few photos here and there and share:
5 Plot Tips to Immediately Improve Your Writing
1) Start from the climax and work your way backward to the beginning.
2) As you're writing, always keep in mind the transformation the protagonist undergoes and the gift she delivers at the end of the story.
3) Continually make clear to the writer the protagonist's goals.
4) Get the 4 Energetic Markers in place first and then fill in the rest of your scenes.
5) Constantly ask yourself what you're really trying to say = what your story is really trying to say (thematic significance plot).
What's New!Webinar Plot Workshop hosted by Writers Digest:
Secrets of Story Structure Plot 9/13/12
Virtual
Sign-up today
More Plot Tips:
I am so pleased with the turnout of my first book launch party. So many children came as well as many adults shopping for gifts for the holidays. Children had a great time getting their book signed, running over to get their faces painted and get a balloon animal. They were also able to make their own maraca at a craft table and then learn some salsa moves! It was a very exciting day and I don't thin
k it could have been any better!
Last week, after seeing The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master blog touroff to a great start, I introduced the new book to a packed house at my local bookstore: Capitola Book Cafe. One estimate had it at 150 people (truly humbling) two of whom were young girls with their mothers.
As some of you know, my dream is to stand toe-to-toe with the big boys who current reign supreme in the plot world. I want to represent plot from a woman's pov and balance the discussion...
I was thrilled when I was writing the book and my editor never even blinked when I used "she" as the generic reference rather than "he" throughout the book.
I lovingly and predominately showcase women's fiction and women writers.
That two young girls may read the book while they are still young makes me dreamy and giddy at the same time. Dreamy about the stories those girls will write and giddy about our future as more and more young girls and women find and write their truths. Not the truths we were brought up to believe but our own individual true and creative selves as women and mothers and daughters and wives and sisters and friends.
One of the greatest thrills of the book talk -- besides the 150 people who attended (thank you! I hope soon to have pictures to share) -- came hours after the actual event. Way past midnight, the house quiet and the moon (visions and dreams) bright, I check in on the blog tour and then sweep through the social media and stumble upon a list of
tweets where @plotwhisperer is mentioned several times by the same person with the same Twitter icon for each tweet in the sequence.
A woman and writer in the audience tweeted about the event in real time. I had the chance to review the night through her list of tweets.
I don't know but something tickles me about that -- live, social commentary.
This has been an amazing week.
Thank you for coming along on the whistle stop book tour. At least 4, perhaps 5? books were given away last week. I'm hoping for as many or more in this next week beginning on Monday and running everyday through Friday.
I hope to announce a surprise blogger on Monday who will compliment
Shreve's st
Nancy, congrats to you! How wonderful this all sounds
I’m sure you’re enjoying the riiiiiiiiiiiiiiide… 
Wonderful news, Sounds like a great day (Children’s Book World is great!)
I love it, especially the drinking lots of wine part.
Wish you were coming, Kathy!