How to use this Page

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that I’m creating a website for debut children’s book authors and illustrators called AuthorsNow! A debut author myself, I think this will be a great opportunity for new authors and author groups to spread the word about themselves and their books! If your first traditionally published children’s or teen book (fiction or non - all age-levels) will be coming out in 2009 or beyond in the U.S.A., then you are a member of this great community. There is no cost and no work commitment beyond what you want to put into it.

Two major components of the website are: 1) author pages (where you can talk about yourself and your books) and 2) cool content voluntarily contributed by members such as interviews, discussion articles, chats, and contests that would be of interest to booksellers, librarians, book reviewers, and teachers.

I’ll be sending more details via an email list in the next couple of weeks. There will also be a forum opening as well to solicit feedback, content ideas, etc. This will also be a great opportunity for new authors and illustrators to network with each other.

To learn more, check out the FAQ below.

If you are interested in having your author’s or illustrator’s page on AuthorsNow!, please sign up for the AuthorsNow! email list here for more announcements. And feel free to pass this on to your friends who qualify.

FAQ:

Why is it free?
It’s free because it costs me practically nothing to build a new website and trying to deal with collecting money from that many members isn’t worth the hassle.

What will I need to do?
To be a part of AuthorsNow!, you will need to sign up for the email list here so I know you want to have an author’s page. Once the new website is ready, then all you’ll need to do is update your page with your book information and whatever else you want to say about yourself. At minimum, that’s all you need to do. If you want to do more, I’m always happy to accept volunteer help.

How is this different from existing groups like 2k9?
AuthorsNow! includes all traditionally published children’s book authors - all formats and genres. Fiction and Non. (No self-published or POD books, sorry!) It also will strive to help 2k9 and other debut groups gain visibility by linking to them if member authors so wish. Additionally, if 2k9 or other groups, want to let AuthorsNow! know about something they’re doing on their websites, AuthorsNow! is happy to let its audience know what’s going on over there. AuthorsNow! seeks to create a collaborative atmosphere among all debut authors and author groups.

Finally, joining AuthorsNow! does not preclude you from joining other groups. In fact, join as many as you can so you get your name out there. As debut authors, we have an uphill battle to climb to get noticed so don’t hesitate to promote, promote promote!

How will my books get the attention it deserves?
Your author page should be thoughtful and well-conceived. However it’s important to understand, Internet marketing is based on customer-pull, not product push. If a bookseller, librarian or teacher is looking for a new middle-grade adventure book, and they search AuthorsNow!, they’ll find you. Voila!

But how do I give myself more attention than that?
Providing content to AuthorsNow! that highlights yourself or your book in a constructive fashion is also another great opportunity to increase your visibility.

How many members will AuthorsNow! have?
There is no limit to the number of members who can join. Keep in mind though, every year, there aren’t THAT many new authors and illustrators to begin with. The more members though, the more traction AuthorsNow will get, and the more likely you and your book will be found. So tell your debut author friends about this excellent opp!

How do I sign up?
Subscribe to the AuthorsNow! email list here. That lets me know you want an author’s page. And don’t worry, your email address will not be used for anything but AuthorsNow! communications. More info about AuthorsNow! will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks.

We have just returned home from a few days in Cornwall, very near Lands End, the south-westernmost tip of England. We took with us a favorite book, The Mousehole Cat. It is based on the story of the fisherman Tom Bawcock who risked his life to bring fish back to the village of Mousehole (pronounced ‘Mowzel’ in Cornish) when the fishing boats had all been trapped in the little harbor by a terrible storm. Antonia Barber’s wonderful retelling introduces Tom’s cat, Mowzer, who accompanies him and sings to the Storm Cat to calm him while Tom fishes. Nicola Bayley’s illustrations are simply gorgeous and the words and pictures together make this a book to be brought out again and again.

My boys were both very excited at the prospect of actually visiting Mousehole. We made an expedition of it by walking there along the coast from neighboring Lamorna and we stopped on the way to reread the story. It was a very fitting setting – and we had the pictures fresh in our mind when we arrived in the village to try and pick out the various landmarks, not to mention a very pretty “Mowser’s Cottage”.