HOOK KIDS on READING
NOW FOLLOWS a Revamped PATH.
BOOK. . . News
WRITING. . .Ideas
MARGOT'S. . . Thoughts
W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R Grabs My Interest.
Hold onto your hair, mates,
not even The SHADOW knows!
**********
The Stolen Generation:
Australia’s Dark and Tragic Past.
Imagine your child playing in your front yard. As you watch through the window, a van of policemen pulls up. They take your screaming child away. You never see your child again.
Children who were very dark skinned were allowed to stay with their parents, causing many indigenous people to dye their children’s skin dark using the sap of the milkwood tree. However, if a child looked as if he had any white ancestry, he was taken away. Some, if they looked white enough, were adopted by white families. READ MORE:
As an Aussie myself (now living in the US), I was shocked and disgusted by the actions by my then government. I always knew that Aboriginals, like the American Indians, got a raw deal when the white settlers arrived and took over their land.
This is one reason I wrote Dreamtime Man. I wanted to show how the native Australian people struggled to survive, and how far they have eventually come in claiming their place, their cultural dignity, and their rights.
Final illo and verses from
'Dreamtime Man.'
Much time has slid past–many moons full and new,
Since the people of Dreamtime claimed old Uluru.
Tribes now are proud of their history and lore,
Some, willing and eager to claim even MORE.
Men dance old Legends while the Spirits inspire.
"Dreamtime" still leads them where white men can't follow,
Where the spirits of old offer hopes for tomorrow.
The stars here are the Southern Cross--seen only
south of the equator
****************
Margot Finke
14x Books for Kids--Skype Author Visits
'Content' Manuscript Critiques
Make
SUMMER READING
at your house
ROCK!
But can you HOOK your kids on reading this summer?
Or will sleeping late, mindless music,
or compulsive computer games
beat you - AGAIN?
There's a secret to this dear parents.
Find books that fit your child's interests.
*If they love sports. . . get 'em books that feature sports.
*If they like computers. . . get 'em books where the main character is a computer whiz.
*If your kid has been bullied - find them a book where the hero gets even and triumphs!
*If your kid finds it hard to make friends - or any friends. . .
find books that show the main character discovering
cool ways to make new friends.
GET THE IDEA?
Here are 2 awesome adventures that will keep your reluctant reader. . . READING.
TACONI and CLAUDE - DOUBLE TROUBLE
And the follow-up book:
Both these fast paced adventures are set in the dangerous Aussie Outback
territory - if the heat and starvation don't get them,
the wild dingoes or the crazy
medicine man might.
An easy pdf download that offers a quick look inside my latest books.
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BUY DIRECT
from my WEBSITE for autographed books,
and a FREE copy of my
"Fairdinkum Aussie Recipe Book." Instructions on my BOOKS page -
Or eMail me personally - mfinke at frontier.com
(Tucker I loved eating Down Under when I was a kid.)
Postage $2.50 per book - the cost of postage stamps only!(Add 50 cents for each extra book.)**************************
Take a "Sneak Peek" inside ALL my latest books, and choose a book your child will love reading.CLICK HERE for a FREE pdf Download of the "Sneak Peek"
BOOKS also available on AMAZON, B and N, etc (Soft cover and Kindle)
******************************
BOOKS
A Magic Carpet Ride
to fun, learning and adventure!
Margot's
As well as listing my books, and the books of other terrific writers, I sometimes ramble on regarding what it takes for a writer to HOOK their reader. Yet to hook readers, you first have to get known as a writer of books for kids. And if you self publish, you must make sure that your quality of writing, layout, paper and art work, are UP there with the best.
BECOMING KNOWN:There are some easy, cheap and effective ways to put your name out there where the reading public roams. Don't wait until your book is published. Get started months ahead of publication. If you think writing that darned book, and finding a publisher was hard, wait until you begin promoting your masterpiece. . .
USE A SIGNATURE on everything you send out:Letters, e-mails, social networking posts, everything that you sign with your name. Keep it short, sweet and simple - 2 lines, no more than three.
Name - up-coming title or business + blog or web address. If you put your signature and links out there enough times, people will eventually register it, and actually click your link! "Signature Advertising" is one of the easiest and most effective ways of creeping up on potential readers. Yet so many of you never bother.
SET UP a BLOG or a WEBSITE: Blogs are easier for the technically challenged. For ideas, poke around the blogs of friends, other writers, and famous people. Begin simple and work up to awesome! Add something new about you, your coming book, or your pet goldfish every week. Learn the benefits of RSS, widgets, and linking to Facebook and Twitter - at the very least. Go slow, take your time, and you WILL GET the hang of it.
PLUNGE INTO SOCIAL NETWORKING!!I know! I know! This stuff looks horribly convoluted and involved for anyone over the age of consent, but trust me, you CAN master it. Repeat after me:
"I WILL FRIEND 100 people by summer." First JOIN. Then browse every day for a week or two - one hour minimum. When ready, take the plunge and tell millions online about your upcoming book. When your blog is respectable, put a link to it on your Facebook and Twitter pages. Add a cover photo as soon as you have a cover to show. Covers sell books. One great cover can seduce thousands.
Begin small. Concentrate on one social network at a time. Once you have one of them under your belt, the others will be a snap. I firmly subscribe to the theory of
"Computer Logic." Once you've conquered the basics on one, the rest will fall in line and cower. March on to the next challenge.
THE BIGGIES:The one page + Bio Press Release contains just the facts, mam! TV, Radio and Newspaper dudes are rushed for time, and swamped with amateur hour versions of Press Releases they never bother to read.
To GRAB interest, yours has to be short, simple, plus a cover and specific HOOK that catches
to promote
"Taconi and Claude - Double Trouble"
my new mid-grade adventure for boys - and tomboys too!
.
Writing the story of "Taconi and Claude" was a labor of love.
Though I now live in the US, I spent the first half of my life in Australia. The Outback, and the Dreamtime Land in this book, was only a kookaburra flight across the mountains from where I grew up. It is an ancient land, and its aboriginal people are one of a kind. And the far outback tribes enjoy a fascinating way of life
This is my BOOK TOUR schedule:
* Monday, March 21 - “Meet the Author”
Host: Irene Roth – * Tuesday, March 22 - “The Writer’sLife”
Host: Donna McDine – * Wednesday, March 23 - “Tradebook Tips for Teachers”
Host: Nicole Weaver – * Thursday, March 24 - “Writing Tips
Host: Mayra Calvani - * Friday, March 25 - “On the Go”
Host: Nancy I. Sanders – * Saturday, March 26 - “Become a Facebook Fan”
Host: Terri Forehand –
By all means go back and check out this week's earlier
Tour Sites - just scroll down a little to see my name.
Listen to me on Book Bites for KidsInterviewed by Suzanne Lieurance about Taconi and Claude
and writing WOW FACTORS for boys -
and tomboys. ***************
NOTE
to
Librarians, Teachers, and Home Schooling Parents:
.<
This is for all the parents, grandparents and relatives who live far from the kids in their lives. And especially for a parent overseas in the military.
NOW
there is a way for your child
to SEE you reading a story to them.
*******
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Lynda S. Burch, Publisher
(314) 276 8482
"Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc."
teams with
"Be There Bedtime Stories"
new technology, to bring families together from around the globe.
St. Louis, MO, USA:
In a time where families are spread further apart than ever before ‘Be There Bedtime Stories’ is a technology that puts video of a Storyteller onto the page of a children’s book, to be displayed on a computer and read to your children. http://www.betherebedtimestories.com
“We are very excited with this new adventure,” said GAP President and CEO Lynda Burch. “Our partnership with Be There Bedtime Stories will allow for an unprecedented availability of family sharing reading time with kids and grandkids around the globe. What a wonderful way to “Be There” for your kids whether on assignment out of the country, traveling for work, or just wanting to participate daily in your children’s reading habits; encouraging reading skills that will last a lifetime. It increases literacy awareness and wellness and strengthens family bonds.”
The Sedona International Film Festival, Tuesday night cinema film series displayed the concept, with 5 local leaders, including the Mayor of Sedona. They recorded a bedtime story for presentation that was made for the audience of nearly 500 patrons, right on the big screen of a movie theatre!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jcBuWI2qo8
My daughter Laura, and her husband Dave,
are terrific parents.
And my two wonderful grand-daughters are
much loved and cherished.
Laura with Karly & Reagan
Karly - 8 months
Reagan 2 1/2
Karly & Reagan
They are the delight of my life.But what has all this to do with HOOKING kids on reading?Read on. . .
These two great parents began reading to their girls from the moment they were born. Their house has so many children's books, it is beginning to resemble a library. They sit on the couch, flow onto the floor, tumble off tables, and crowd the girl's bedrooms.
In my daughter's home, reading to their girls is only a whisker less important than food, love, and nap time. HINT: Mom needs the nap breaks, even if the girls are still rarin' to go!!
Here are some of their favorite titles.
Read them to the small ones
in your life!
The Bunny Book - by Patsy Scarry
Max Counts His Chickens - by Rosemary Wells
(Reagan loves anything Max and Ruby related)
My "A" Book - by Jane Belk Moncure
Bramble Bear - I Wish I Was... - by Geoffrey Alan/Lynny Gibba
The Big Red Bus - by Judy Hindley
The Tale of Peter Rabbit - by Beatrix Potter
The bond, closeness, and fun of reading picture books to a child, in time can develop in them a genuine love of books, plus reading for the sheer pleasure of it.
Books can take your children where you can't afford to take them, give them insights they will treasure, and offer a window into the lives of a host of wonderful characters. Books can be fun, educational, or mind bogglingly intriguing.
My daughter and her husband have the right idea -HOOK 'EM EARLY!Make sure the kids in your life discover the
hidden treasure found ONLY in books!My Website -
Manuscript Critiques::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BUY any Autographed Book from my website, and
receive a FREE LINK to me READING that story!
Great Tips! Oh and the cold calling. We also send copies of our ARCs and Media Kits to libraries and booksellers before following up with visits or calls. It's been beneficial. But also hard work.
Margot, you say we should negotiate our price with prospective places we want to visit, but I have no idea what to charge and how to determine the expenses for each one. So if you had an idea about this it would be appreciated.:) Great post about promotion and I am doing it all so we'll see what happens.
thank you Margot for sharing this with me! I am now a follower of your blog. If you would like to review my book and I could post it in my new blog feature, 'Words from the Wise', I would love it! Be in touch!
[email protected]
Preston that is a great idea.
Thanks for adding it here.
BOOKS for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
Lionmother, the fee you charge schools depends on a lot of variables. Are you a well known author? Do you offer a "killer" program for schools? Are you an old hand at school visits, with lots of "goodies" to offer? The number of classes you visit, and if you design a special program for each?
So as you can see, it depends. You need to chat with whoever is in charge of visits and see what they need from you. Then negotiate their needs with your ability to fulfill them - time-wise, fee-wise and curriculum- wise. I would never go below $100 - even if it were your first visit ever.
Consider the district, and if it is in a very depressed area. Then state a fee you feel is reasonable. Affluent areas will often pay $3 - $400 per day. Famous authors ask and receive much more. Offer to visit 3 classrooms in the day. I never do more than 3 in one day, because you are exhausted by then, and a 4th class just gets the crumbs.
The success of your visit often depends on you and the teacher or librarian in charge getting together and working out a planned presentation you are both happy about. You need to make them feel the school is getting its money's worth. And at the same time, you need to feel you have made a fair deal for your time and expertise as a writer.
Writers are talented people whose time is worth money. Don't undersell yourself. Negotiate. And if you plan out your presentation well ahead of time, and go over it so you become familiar with each part, you will feel relaxed and comfortable, and the kids will have fun. And don't forget to add a Q and A session that goes both ways - kids love to ask you questions about your writing and your characters.
BOOKS for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
Sandi, what age is your book for? Sorry, but I usually do not have the time to do book reviews. I do sometimes post interviews with authors. Would you be interested in that?
Thank you so much for your comment. I hope you find my article helpful. Good luck with your new blog.
BOOKS for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
Hi Margot:
Terrific post! Thanks for the reminder to follow-up prior to a visit to make sure all is in order. I have a week long school visit at a local elementary school in March and need to do just that. When they contacted me through the Rockland County Teacher's Resource center I emailed them my author visit workshop PDF (which includes four different workshops) with rates. They got back to me with a yes and the negotiating began. I ended offering them a five day visit for a four day fee. They gladly accepted and then purchased 20 books for their classrooms, and they will also send order forms home with the children.
In my experience flexibilty is key!
Best regards,
Donna
Award-winning Children’s Author
The Golden Pathway Story book Blog
Donna congratulations, mate. This should be a fun week for you. From what I read, you have done everything just right. Being flexible IS key!!
BOOKS for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
Some good information here, Margot. It just proves
again that writing a manuscript is the easy part.
Books for Boys Blog http://booksandboys.blogspot.com