This bit of information came to me via fellow writer and friend,
Teresa Funke, who emails me newsletters about writing which I read top to bottom. I thought this would be interesting for writers, especially if you are designing, publishing or marketing your own book.
People Buy Books Based On:
Friend's Recommendation - 49%
Familiarity with Author - 45%
Description on Jacket - 32%
Reviews - 22%
Advertisement - 21%
Place on Best-seller List - 17%
Reading Group Pick - 16%
Cover Design - 12%
Source: Spier N.Y. (Based on responses from 813 readers, as noted in Publisher's Weekly and quoted in Joe Watt's column inThe Denver Post).
Dinosaur neon in a window of Nature's Own,
a new venue carrying my book in Fort Collins.
The Wichita Eagle on Kansas.com published this review of my book today.
Some books are charming; others are flat-out fun. " How to Raise a Dinosaur," by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Pablo Bernasconi (Running Press, ages 4-8, $16.95), is hilarious!
When looking for a pet, you can consider "mice and horses and cats and dogs," but the author encourages you to seriously consider getting a dinosaur. Of course, there are some important things to consider: like the size of your yard and whether you want a meat-eater or a plant-eater.
Wing writes a zany story. She suggests going to a dinosaur shop to find a good pet, but stresses the need for play toys and proper vet care. Bernasconi's illustrations brightly fill each page and feature flaps and cutouts of what's going on behind the scenes.
Her closing advice: "Above all, give your dinosaur lots of love . . . or it will . . . (STOP! He gave a way the ending, but I won't!)
I'm offering a free Skype with any classroom who wants to learn more about my new book, How to Raise a Dinosaur, and talk with me, the author! So if you're a teacher, please contact me at [email protected]. Or pass this post onto a teacher who might be interested.
I love doing Skype visits - they're so easy, and free! And I'm excited about my new book, so I'd be happy to chat with students about where I got the idea for the book, and the writing of it. I'm open to answering their questions, too.
So pass it on!
Saturday's signing at Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins was attended by some very enthusiastic dinosaur lovers! They followed along and lifted the flaps, then ended the reading with a rousing dinosaur romp! Thanks to everyone who came and made it fun for me, too.
There are a few signed How to Raise a Dinosaur books left, and some more The Night Before Halloweens being ordered. Thanks, Old Firehouse Books for your hospitality!
To celebrate the release of my new book, How to Raise a Dinosaur, I'm having a contest. I'm looking for the best photo of a fan or fans with their pet dinosaur. And by dinosaur I mean any roadside attraction, mural, fossil, stuffed animal, model - any form of dinosaur.
I'll post the photos on my Fans of Natasha Wing books Facebook page.
Be sure to read the rules and the release form under Pages in the sidebar. Photos and model release forms should be sent to [email protected].
Deadline to submit is November 30, 2010.
THE PRIZE: 10 books signed by me!
Photo: Duncan from Connecticut with Torosaurus at Yale Peabody Museum
Check out this first blog review of How to Raise a Dinosaur.
Just after I moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, I found out that two of my editors are moving to different houses as well.
Reka Simonsen, who was my editor for An Eye for Color: The Story of Josef Albers, has left Henry Holt & Co. and has joined Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Books as an executive editor.
Kelli Chipponeri, my editor for my soon-to-be-released How to Raise a Dinosaur, is leaving Running Press Kids today to become executive editor at Chronicle Books.
I can look at this two ways: Bummer! I've been orphaned. Or, yay! I have doubled my publishing opportunities. I hope to work with both editors again, and their old houses as well.
In the meantime, Dan and I have moved from our rental and are trying to get our new house in order. I have no desk and am writing off our old kitchen table. I have no files so I'm working out of boxes. But I love the new view from my second-story office window which overlooks an open field of tall, straw-colored grass. And no matter upon what surface my computer sits, I still need to fire up the ol' creative juices.
Another publishing house is interested in my latest picture book biography, so cross your fingers that my revision passes acquisitions so I can buy a new desk.
Illustration from How to Raise a Dinosaur by Pablo Bernasconi.
