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by Tammi Sauer

For me, the absolute hardest part about the picture book creating process is coming up with a good idea. A wow idea. An irresistible-to-editors idea.

One approach that has worked for me is to brainstorm a list of potential titles before I even know a single word of a manuscript. I keep in mind that I don’t want a book of mine to have just any title. I always try to have a title that pops. Why? The title is a writer’s first chance to make a good impression and hook a possible agent/editor/reader.

Two of my books started with a title.

One day, while waiting for my daughter to find a book at the library, I sat down on a bench. Next to me was a book on etiquette. I flipped through the book and came across the words “princess in training.” My first thought? That would make a great idea for a picture book….and…

…In fall 2012, PRINCESS IN TRAINING, illustrated by Joe Berger, made its debut.

Another day, I was playing around with words that rhymed with names. As I brainstormed, the words “Quiet Wyatt” popped into my head. QUIET WYATT recently sold to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt BFYR.

My latest manuscript is the result of a title that grabbed hold and said, “You must drop everything and write this.” So I did. A good title can be very pushy. And intoxicating.

If you want to come up with a title as a starting point, consider using these strategies:

• Showcase a Main Character

examples: Vampirina Ballerina; Fancy Nancy; Scaredy Squirrel

• Focus on the Setting

examples: Cowboy Camp; In the Small, Small Pond; The Library

• Create a Sense of Suspense

examples: The Monster at the End of This Book; Do Not Open This Book

• Utilize Fun Language Play

examples: Chicks and Salsa; Hush, Little Dragon; Llama, Llama Misses Mama

Side Note: I happen to be wildly jealous of the upcoming books There Was an Old Dragon by Penny Klostermann and Tyrannosaurus Wrecks by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen simply because I am gah-gah over those titles. Why didn’t I think of those titles?! Why?? WHY????

Your Homework Should You Choose To Accept It: Brainstorm at least five titles. That’s it. No need to know the nitty-gritty of what is to follow. Just jot down those titles and maybe, just maybe, a story will sneak up on you.

Extra Credit (because I am a true blue nerd who loves extra credit opportunities): Go to the bookstore and jot down the titles of the books you see. Perhaps one of those titles will be the perfect trigger to help you come up with your next big idea.

Tammi Sauer has sold 16 picture books to major publishing houses. Four of those books got their start through PiBoIdMo. In addition to winning awards, Tammi’s books have gone on to do great things. Cowboy Camp was developed into a musical in Katy, Texas. Mostly Monsterly was selected for the 2012 Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories program. And Chicken Dance was released in French which makes her feel extra fancy. There’s more fun stuff at TammiSauer.com.

Sink your teeth into this prize pack that features Tammi’s latest release: one personalized copy of NUGGET & FANG, one super shiny poster with a teacher’s guide on the back, and two Nugget tattoos that look fabulous on any bicep (or fin).

Nugget & Fang is a 2009 PiBoIdMo Success Story!

This prize pack will be given away at the conclusion of PiBoIdMo. You are eligible for this prize if:

1. You have registered for PiBoIdMo.
2. You have commented ONCE ONLY on today’s post.
3. You have completed the PiBoIdMo challenge. (You will have to sign the PiBoIdMo Pledge at the end of the event.)

Good luck, everyone!

Well, yeehaw!

I spent Thursday at Maize South Elementary in Wichita, Kansas. Those buckaroos really knew how to welcome an author. Each hallway was devoted to one of my books.

Welcome to Cowboy Camp:


A peek at the Cowboy Camp Hallway:


Black Bart, Cowboy Camp Bad Guy


Random Cowpokes


The Oh-So-Important Cowboy Food Bank


Such a rootin', tootin' good time!

Tomorrow I'll be bawk, err...I mean BACK...with the Chicken Dance Hallway.

On Wednesday I left the comforts of and headed to new territory...



Oh, I was shakin' in my boots when I discovered I was a gonna be spendin' my day with the Marlow Elementary Outlaws.

I learned mighty quickly to




Between presentations, I wet my whistle at the local


By the end of the day, I was fixin' to be a bona fide OUTLAW.


I even got a t-shirt to prove it.


Thank you, Marlow Elementary Outlaws! You make bad guys look good!

I made front page news. For a good reason.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=370&articleid=20100329_38_D1_Edmond535716&allcom=1

Had a book signing in Tulsa today.

At one point, a mom, dad, and little boy about the age of 4 walked into the store. The boy saw Cowboy Camp, ran up to my table, and yelled, "I HAVE THAT BOOK!!!!"

The dad smiled. "We have to read it to him ALL the time."

What a nice thrill to know that Avery has such a good home. :)

* * * * * * *

Soon afterward, an aunt wanted three copies of Chicken Dance. We were chatting and I found out she had already purchased a copy of the book earlier in the month and had read it with her nieces. She told me they had all laughed and laughed upon hearing the story. Today one of those nieces was in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery. The aunt bought all three girls their own copies. This afternoon they were going to spend some time reading the book, laughing, and making Elvis Poultry sunglasses. (I had the makings for the craft that can be found at www.elvispoultrybooks.com.)

* * * * * * * *

Much of the time being a writer can be hard, hard, hard. But sometimes...it is beautiful.

Life has been kind of crazy lately, but yesterday a really great thing happened. An oh-so-nice lady that was at one of my school visits last year contacted me. She wanted 12 signed copies of COWBOY CAMP to go along with her presentation at this week's National Ag in the Classroom Conference which is being held in St. Louis. The next thing I knew, one of her colleagues from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture latched onto the book and wanted Every Copy I Had ASAP.

Sooo...I grabbed my Sharpie and signed my stash of 65 copies (I always have extras on hand...you know, in case the National Ag in the Classroom people come calling).

Anyway, I am very grateful for the unexpected surprise.

Here's hoping you get one, too.

Oh, , how I love you!

So over the weekend, I stumbled across some news (as one is apt to do when one is self-googling oneself).

COWBOY CAMP is one of twelve books that has been nominated for the 2009-2010 Buckaroo Book Award, sponsored by the Wyoming Library Association and the Wyoming Reading Council. http://ccpls.org/html/buckaroo.html.

Cowpokes, I am thrilled! The biggest reason? Wyoming students in K-3 not only nominated these books in the first place, but they are the ones who get to vote on the books next spring.

Upon discovering the news, this cowgirl said, "It's an honor to be nominated." Then she went on to say, "YEEHAW!"

-----
Psst. The Read Across Oklahoma event was mentioned on Cynsations today. Giddy-up!

Last week I had the honor of being a part of Read Across Oklahoma 2009. Oh, but it was awesome to celebrate reading with so many cowpokes!

These are just a few of the 1,500 kiddos who arrived at the OKC Zoo in honor of the event.


After taking in some of the animal exhibits, visiting activity stations, and getting zoo tattoos, it was time to rustle up some grub courtesy of Target. In honor of Avery, no beans were included.




Then it was off to a live, rootin', tootin' performance with Jim Garling of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Jim not only had the buckaroos actively involved in some real deal cowboy music, he taught the entire crowd how to yodel. Yodel-lay-he-hoo, people!


Then I took the stage and kicked off the dramatization of COWBOY CAMP.


The show was a hit! Some of the stars.......

Tammi Sauer as herself with Metropolitan Library System's Kelley Riha as Avery. Kelly was WONDERFUL at adapting the text and making it a fun and interactive program for the cast as well as the crowd.


Michael, the oh-so-talented sound effects guy:


Shane as Black Bart, Tammi Sauer as herself, and José as Cowboy Dan:


This event would not have been possible without the help of hundreds of volunteers and these sponsors: OETA, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Target, Capitol Hill High School/FCCLA, Metro Tech, Krueger Charitable Foundation, Metropolitan Library System, Chesapeake Energy, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, ZooFriends, and the OKC Zoo.

YEEHAW! Now go round up some good books and read, partners!

On Tuesday, 1,500 preschoolers hustled into the OKC Zoo and were greeted by all sorts of individuals.

Like this one:


Each preschooler was then given a hat, a bandana, and a badge. (Every buckaroo received a free copy of COWBOY CAMP, too.)


They even got to hang out with a certain cowgirl I know fairly well.


Why?
To celebrate literacy and the joy of reading!!!!!!!!

I feel so blessed to have been part of such an amazing event. The Read Across Oklahoma Committee, the sponsors, and countless volunteers put tons of time, energy, and HEART into creating a memorable day for lots and lots of little buckaroos.

One word captures the feeling behind it all: YEEHAW!

Tomorrow I'll post pictures of the awesome cowboy grub that was served up, the live musical entertainment, and some pictures of me with two rootin'-tootin' fellas I know and love--Cowboy Dan and Black Bart.