Monday, February 28, 2011

FREE e-book ~ Writing Tips from the Children's Writers' Coaching Club

Receive the FREE e-book, Writing Tips from the Children's Writers' Coaching Club when you sign Donna's guestbook at http://www.donnamcdine.com/.

This FREE e-book is composed of articles written for children's authors and illustrators by some of the members of the Children's Writers' Coaching Club and Suzanne Lieurance, coordinator of the coaching club.

Featured members:
Marge Gower
Margo Dill
Kathy Stemke
Donna McDine
Nancy I. Sanders
Grier Cooper
Terri Forehand
Irene S. Roth
Suzanne Lieurance
Mayra Calvani

To find out more about the Children's Writers' Coaching Club, visit http://www.cwcoachingclub.com/.

Thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Book Bites for Kids: Interview with Laurie Monopoli – Thurs, Feb 24th at 2 pm CDT

M E D I A  R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Suzanne Lieurance, The Working Writer’s Coach
Email: suzannelieurance@hotmail.com
Website: http://writingforchildrencenter.com/

For Immediate Release


Book Bites for Kids: Interview with Laurie Monopoli – Thurs, Feb 24th at 2 pm CDT

Book Bites for Kids, hosted by Suzanne Lieurance is a delightful way to interact with children's book authors, illustrators, publishers, editors, and publicists to learn more about the world of children’s writing and publishing.


We are pleased to invite you to tune in on Thurs, February 24th at 2 pm CDT, at http://www.bookbitesforkids.com to meet Ms. Monopoli as she discusses her new book, The Book About Tony Chestnut.

Laurie Monopoli is an educational specialist, children’s advocate and founder of The Learning Station, a multi award-winning children’s educational music company. She has devoted 27 years to creating, healthy music for a child’s heart, body and mind. As a member of The Learning Station, the quality of Laurie’s work in the fields of early childhood education and children’s music are beyond comparison.

Her most recent accomplishment was to bring the much-loved characters of The Learning Station’s internationally acclaimed song, Tony Chestnut to life, in The Book About Tony Chestnut. The highly anticipated story was created from her intuitive understanding and respect for children. As she lovingly embraced her mission of lending faces, personalities and characters to the children, Tony Chestnut, Eileen, Neil, Pat, Bob, Russell and Skip, she drew upon her own childhood experiences. The story’s compassionate message of friendship, kindness and sympathy speaks to children in a language they can understand, and conveys just the right blend of entertaining, gentle humor with a meaningful, true-to-heart message.

Her ultimate goal was to creatively capture the young reader’s attention with a complete sensory experience in children’s literature. She achieved this by combining a child’s natural love of music and movement, with a beautifully, illustrated picture book that actually invites youngsters to actively interact with the storyline, unite in dance with the characters and as a result, stimulate a lasting experience that will foster a life-long love of reading.

Not only can you listen to the show online, you can also call in during the live broadcast at (646) 716-9239 and ask the author being interviewed a question, make a comment, or just say "hi." If you can't call in during the live show, visit http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ and click on the author's Book Bites for Kids page and leave your question in the comment section there, which automatically enters you into our weekly Book Giveaway? Visit the National Writing for Children Center online at http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ or the Children's Writers Coaching Club at http://www.cwcoachingclub.com/ for more information on showcased authors and classes. We look forward to your visit.

###

Full Media Kit and more are available upon request electronically.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club Teleclass: 10 Article Killers and How to Avoid Them – Feb 23 at 8 pm



M E D I A  R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Suzanne Lieurance
Email: suzanne@workingwriterscoach.com
Website: http://www.workingwriterscoach.com/


Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club Teleclass: 10 Article Killers and How to Avoid Them – Feb 23 at 8 pm
CST

Membership in the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club (CWCC) includes LIVE teleclasses EVERY week – that’s 4 or more per month. Each of these 55-minute teleclasses is taught by a successful children’s book author or illustrator who knows the “tricks of the trade” of children’s writing, illustrating, and publishing.

Join Children’s author Renee Gray-Wilburn on Wednesday, February 23 at 8 pm CST as she presents the teleclass, “10 Article Killers and How to Avoid Them.” In this teleclass you’ll discover ten important things every magazine article submission should steer clear of. If your article includes even one, it may not get a second look from editors. Learn how to strengthen every aspect of your fiction or nonfiction articles and always submit your best work.

Club members also have the opportunity to network daily via an online discussion list with other members of the CWCC, as well as the instructors. Join the CWCC today and attend this class or get the link to the replay – http://www.cwcoachingclub.com/join.

The CWCC offers a monthly lesson and writing assignment, designed to become a finished project ready for submission to a publisher, usually by the end of the month, although some projects take longer. You aren’t required to complete the monthly assignment in order to be a member of the club. It’s up to you. But if you do complete the assignment, you can turn it in and have it professionally reviewed.

Manuscript critiques are a BIG feature of membership in our club. Members can submit a manuscript (up to 1,000 words) for professional critique every week. These critiques are audio critiques, so you can listen to an experienced, published children’s author give you tips and suggestions for making your manuscripts more marketable.

As a member of the CWCC, you’ll also have access to a wealth of articles, checklists, charts, free e-books, and other resources to help you hone your craft as a children’s writer and learn the ins and outs of publishing for the various children’s markets.

Visit Suzanne Lieurance, the Working Writer’s Coach, online at http://www.cwcoachingclub.com/ to learn more about her coaching products and services. Also, find out about the National Writing for Children Center, a monthly showcase for children's book authors and illustrators. Visit http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ today, where you can download an application or email Suzanne Lieurance for more information at bookbitesforkids@yahoo.com.

###


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm












Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Book Bites for Kids: Interview with L.S. Cauldwell – Tues, Feb 22nd at 2 pm CDT

M E D I A  R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Suzanne Lieurance, The Working Writer’s Coach
Email: suzannelieurance@hotmail.com
Website: http://writingforchildrencenter.com/

For Immediate Release


Book Bites for Kids: Interview with L.S. Cauldwell – Tues, Feb 22nd at 2 pm CDT

Book Bites for Kids, hosted by Suzanne Lieurance is a delightful way to interact with children's book authors, illustrators, publishers, editors, and publicists to learn more about the world of children’s writing and publishing.

We are pleased to invite you to tune in on Tues, February 22nd at 2 pm CDT, at http://www.bookbitesforkids.com/ to meet Ms. Cauldwell as she discusses her new book, The Anna Mae Mysteries:The Golden Treasure.

Ms. Lillian Cauldwell is an active author of three books. She lives in Ann Arbor, MI. Ms. Cauldwell is a graduate of Hartford College Fr Woman, a two-year school in Hartford, CT (1971). Lillian attended the University of New Hampshire for her junior year and majored in Speech Pathology and Audiology.

Lillian Cauldwell wrote her first nonfiction book published in 1996, Teegangers! A Bewildered Parent’s Guide by Silvercat Publishing. Atrium ranked it number ten its top newly published books and the book went into a second printing. In 2003, Ms. Cauldwell wrote an historical science fiction book, Sacred Honor, which was published by a Print On Demand Publisher. Between 1996 and 2003, Ms. Cauldwell wrote short stories and several were published by Simgen.com for Do A Good Deed Charitable Section. In 2008, Lillian wrote her first multi-cultural paranormal mystery, The Anna Mae Mysteries: The Golden Treasure, part of a paranormal detective series for young adults. Her second book is The Anna Mae Mysteries: The Seven Keys of Solomon. Ms. Cauldwell is working on book three and four: The Anna Mae Mysteries: The Tablet of Stone and The Anna Mae Mysteries: My Mother’s Keeper. A second series is planned with vampires set in Central America. The first book is called Vampire Turf Wars.

Ms. Lillian Cauldwell spends her time writing, doing book reviews, mentoring high school students in learning how to write, and owns and operates an Internet talk radio station, Passionate World Radio, Inc. Formerly, Lillian taught at an online school operated by Denise Cassino. Currently, Lillian Cauldwell is working on three Black Comedies: Trick or Treat, A Camp David Christmas, and Faithless Angels.

Not only can you listen to the show online, you can also call in during the live broadcast at (646) 716-9239 and ask the author being interviewed a question, make a comment, or just say "hi." If you can't call in during the live show, visit http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ and click on the author's Book Bites for Kids page and leave your question in the comment section there, which automatically enters you into our weekly Book Giveaway? Visit the National Writing for Children Center online at http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ or the Children's Writers Coaching Club at http://www.cwcoachingclub.com/ for more information on showcased authors and classes. We look forward to your visit.

###

Full Media Kit and more are available upon request electronically.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm


Monday, February 21, 2011

Book Bites for Kids: Interview with Pamela Hamilton – Mon, Feb 21st at 2 pm CDT

M E D I A R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Suzanne Lieurance, The Working Writer’s Coach
Email: suzannelieurance@hotmail.com
Website: http://writingforchildrencenter.com/

For Immediate Release


Book Bites for Kids: Interview with Pamela Hamilton – Mon, Feb 21st at 2 pm CDT

Book Bites for Kids, hosted by Suzanne Lieurance is a delightful way to interact with children's book authors, illustrators, publishers, editors, and publicists to learn more about the world of children’s writing and publishing.

We are pleased to invite you to tune in on Mon, February 21st at 2 pm CDT, at http://www.bookbitesforkids.com/ to meet Ms. Hamilton as she discusses her new book, Snow Day.

Pamela Greenhalgh Hamilton followed her childhood dream to become a writer when she swapped her career as an elementary school teacher for one as a journalist and public relations specialist. She has received professional recognition from the New England Press Association and the Council for Advancement in Secondary Education, and her articles and fiction have appeared in regional and national publications. Originally from Massachusetts, Pamela now lives in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley with her husband Bate and three cats.

Not only can you listen to the show online, you can also call in during the live broadcast at (646) 716-9239 and ask the author being interviewed a question, make a comment, or just say "hi." If you can't call in during the live show, visit http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ and click on the author's Book Bites for Kids page and leave your question in the comment section there, which automatically enters you into our weekly Book Giveaway? Visit the National Writing for Children Center online at http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ or the Children's Writers Coaching Club at http://www.cwcoachingclub.com/ for more information on showcased authors and classes. We look forward to your visit.

###
Full Media Kit and more are available upon request electronically.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Friday, February 18, 2011

The Writer's Life with Pamela Hamilton

Welcome to day two of Pamela Hamilton’s 6-day NWFCC February Author Showcase tour.


Because I do work full time and write part time, I don’t have what I would call a “typical” writing day. I work with adults returning to college to complete their Bachelor’s degree. They may be 20 years older than the traditional students at James Madison University, but they have the same crises as any student – they fail calculus, have no idea of what they want to study, or clash with a professor. Some days I come home so drained, that my daily writing output is a sentence or two in my journal!

Since I know there are going to be days when I drag myself home from work and my accomplishment of the night will be finding out “who dunnit” on Law and Order before I fall asleep, I don’t set daily writing goals for myself. Instead, each Sunday afternoon, I write out a “This week ‘s accomplishments” list. It contains five to seven writing goals I want to accomplish over the upcoming week. Because I get bored easily, not to mention frustrated, I make sure to include a variety of tasks, all related to my writing but not necessarily all putting pen to paper.

A typical list might include:

• Journal daily

• Update my blog 2 to 3 times

• Write 7 to 14 pages on current story

• Edit 3 or 4 photos and upload to Flickr

• Read a good book (or a bad one) for inspiration

• Do internet research for upcoming project

With the publication of Snow Day, my weekly Accomplishments Lists now include marketing goals for each week, such as updating the Snow Day fan page on Facebook, sending out review copies, setting up book signings or readings.

This rather untargeted approach may not work for everybody, but it has kept me on track for the past year. I used to set specific goals, such as writing for an hour every day or writing two pages every day. More often than not, I didn’t achieve that goal, and each time I failed, I only gave my inner critic a bit more ammunition to convince me that I was the failure. Now, if the words don’t flow until Friday, it’s OK. Now if Photoshop drives me to raid that bag of Hershey kisses on Tuesday instead of editing another photo, I don’t care. The result? A lot more checkmarks on my Accomplishment List each week.

I keep those lists, too, in a folder, for awhile, so when I do get discouraged and hear myself saying “I can’t do this!” I can go back and see all that I can do, week by week by week. My inner critic is suddenly stricken with laryngitis --- and I find I don’t have time to write a get well soon note. I’m too busy writing.

Follow Day 3 of Ms. Hamilton's tour tomorrow at http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com/. Leave a comment and your name will automatically be entered to win a Three Angels Gourmet Co mug and a package of Divine Dill Dip Mix - at the end of the month, provided by the National Writing for Children Center.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Writer's Life with Nancy Sanders

Welcome to day two of Nancy Sanders’ 6-day NWFCC February Author Showcase tour.


Q: What do you like best about being a writer?

A: I love being a writer! There are so many different aspects of a writer’s life that I enjoy. Every day is different. Some days I’m searching the Library of Congress for historic photographs I can use for free in my books. Other days I’m visiting the children’s library to collect dozens of books related to my current project. And still other days, I’m talking with people on the East Coast whose ancestors go back to the days before the American Revolution. In between all these fun tasks, I get to create and imagine and write.

Just this last week, I was writing an activity for a nonfiction book I’m writing right now. In the research I was doing about sailors in America in the mid 1800s, I discovered a picture of a sailor’s hat on the Internet, along with an explanation of how sailors used to make their hats. Basically, they took fabric from old sails, cut out pieces and stitched them together to form a hat. Then they covered the hat with tar to make it waterproof.

After giving this a bit of thought, I decided to try making a replica of this sailor’s hat, which was called a tarpaulin hat. I went to the fabric store and got a yard of fabric. I cut out some circles and hand stitched them together. I knew I couldn’t write a craft that had the kids painting a hat with tar, but suddenly I got the idea to use paint! So I painted the hat with black acrylic fabric paint.

I couldn’t believe it! The hat I made looks exactly like the actual tarpaulin hats sailors wore in the 1800s!

On my digital camera, I took a zillion pictures of each step as I made the hat. I’ll send these along with the written activity so the illustrator of my book will know exactly how to draw each step.

Just to know that kids all over America are going to learn now to make a sailor’s hat that looks like the real deal is very exciting to me. And all that work was part of a typical writing day.

When I was writing the book, Readers Theatre for African American History, I got to experience the excitement of creating read-aloud plays for the first time. I practiced reading some of the scripts aloud with my cat and writing buddy, Humphrey. My husband Jeff, a fourth grade teacher, took some of the scripts to his classroom and field-tested them. It was so exciting to hear reports of how his students really got into the scripts!

Interested in learning more about Nancy, visit:
http://nancyisanders.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/book-party-readers-theatre-for-african-american-history-2/



Follow Day 3 of Ms. Sanders' tour tomorrow at http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com/. Leave a comment and your name will automatically be entered to win a Three Angels Gourmet Co mug and a package of Divine Dill Dip Mix - at the end of the month, provided by the National Writing for Children Center.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Writer's Life with Laurie Monopoli

Welcome to day two of Laurie Monopoli’s 6-day NWFCC February Author Showcase tour.



For many years I was asked to bring Tony Chestnut to life in an illustrated picture book. After each request, I would graciously reassure each person that I would write the book, when the time was right. In reality, I was waiting to come up with a story that would truly capture the true merit of our much adored song, Tony Chestnut. This turned out to be quite a challenge. I knew the premise for this story had to have a special meaning and purpose… it simply had to feel right!

Then out of the blue, one night I had a dream about a dear friend from my childhood. His name was Rusty Reynolds; he had bright red, crazy hair, zillions of freckles, black thick rimmed glasses and the kindest, most generous heart. And at the ripe old age of five, Rusty and I embarked together on what turned out to be a terrifying journey --- our first day of kindergarten!

When I awoke from my dream I raced to my computer and began typing at a speed faster than I even anticipated I was capable of. In just minutes I wrote the entire story. When I was finished typing, I took a deep breath and with some trepidation prepared to read the story aloud to my audience consisting Chrissy, my bright-eyed, nocturnal Himalayan cat and Lexi, my half sleeping Yorkie. After this first reading I sat back and deeply sighed in delightful relief. I realized Tony Chestnut’s story was always there, it lingered deep within me just waiting to emerge-- at the right time. A few months later, The Book About Tony Chestnut was officially brought to fruition. Of course with a little inspirational guidance from my childhood buddy, Rusty (the resemblance between the two is no coincidence) and it simply… felt right!

Follow Day 3 of Ms. Monopoli's tour tomorrow at http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com/. Leave a comment and your name will automatically be entered to win a Three Angels Gourmet Co mug and a package of Divine Dill Dip Mix - at the end of the month, provided by the National Writing for Children Center.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The Writer’s Life with Michelle Hall

Welcome to day two of Michelle Hall’s 6-day NWFCC February Author Showcase tour.

Writing has always been quite easy for me; something that seemed to just come naturally. I remember sitting on a flight home some time ago and looking over at the female passenger sitting across from me. As I watched her she would smile to herself sometimes, and then just as quickly she would be very serious and her brows would crease as if some bad memory had crossed her mind. I continued to watch her and as I did I started to write a poem about her. When I was finished I walked over and gave it to her and explained what I had done. With tears streaming down her face she said she would always cherish it and that it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done. She said she couldn’t believe I got all that from watching her.

I write about life, beauty, family, love and just about everything that makes up our beautiful world. I also regretfully write about those things that hurt and destroy it; like my poems about 9/11. When I write my children’s stories I could be inspired by something cute my daughter said or did. I am also inspired by blessings and miracles and unexpected gifts in my life. Such an inspiration came when I had my daughter in 2002, a special blessing the doctors said would never happen.

A typical writing day for me is one where an idea comes to me for a new book, when or where I least expect. I may be driving down the street and I become totally excited because great ideas are coming to me all at once. I pull the car over as soon as possible, find paper and a pen, and I start writing down my thoughts because I dare not forget.

I get back home and I start to expand, think of characters, decide on the setting; I am totally in Michelle heaven as I start to bring all these and more to life. There is a lot of rolled up paper on the floor because at this point I am brainstorming and not yet at computer stage. Once I have my outline, my characters, my setting and know the kind of story I want to bring to the children with this book, I am ready for working on the computer. I am dancing and singing. I am starting to tighten up here, add here, delete here, and add some funny and adventurous here. I read over everything too many times to count. It’s very important that I let the little girl in me write the story.

Follow Day 3 of Ms. Hall's tour tomorrow at http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com/. Leave a comment and your name will automatically be entered to win a Three Angels Gourmet Co mug and a package of Divine Dill Dip Mix - at the end of the month, provided by the National Writing for Children Center.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Writer's Life with L.S. Cauldwell

Welcome to day two of L.S. Cauldwell’s 6-day NWFCC February Author Showcase tour.

Why I decided to write ~ After bringing up my child by myself, I decided to write a book about teenagers and how parents can bring them up without going ballistic. When my editor went through the manuscript, he told me that the stories (testimonials) that I had provided were written well, and that I should consider writing for children and teens. Based on that recommendation, I decided to write a book targeted towards young adults growing up and all the conflicts they faced and decisions they had to make whether good, bad, or indifferent. I noticed that there weren't too many books out there for girls with positive messages, and they usually were the sidekicks to boys. Wanting to change that, I decided after speaking to parents and librarians alike, to write a multi-cultural paranormal mystery for young adults that spoke to girls and boys alike. The first and foremost message I wanted to get out was 'You're fine the way you are. It's the rest of the world that's out of whack!"



How I Write ~ I don't have any typical days for writing. When the siren calls, when the muse demands, or when I think of something, then I write like the wind. Scheduling a writing period for me is dicey so I write at least one chapter a day, but writing can take place in the middle of the night, in the bathroom, treading the mill, driving the car (yes, I put the car in park first). For me to sit down at the same time each day is impossible for me. Is the first draft written in one month? Yes, it is. Usually within a three to six month period, the book is edited and finished and readied to go out to make the rounds.

Follow Day 3 of Ms. Cauldwell's tour tomorrow at http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com/. Leave a comment and your name will automatically be entered to win a Three Angels Gourmet Co mug and a package of Divine Dill Dip Mix - at the end of the month, provided by the National Writing for Children Center.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Working Writer’s Coach – Live Chat Sessions



Working Writer’s Coach – Live Chat Sessions


Calling all aspiring writers. Are you in need of direction in your writing career? The Live Chat Sessions at the Working Writers Coach may just be the answer.

Join the working writers coach herself, Suzanne Lieurance and her guest host on various topics throughout February. Live chats are short, just 15-30 minute, sessions where tips will be presented on a specific topic, with an opportunity to ask your questions to the presenter.

February 2011 schedule:

Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Topic: Create it and it will Happen: Media Kits
Time: 7:00 – 7:15 p.m. CST
Presenter: Donna McDine

Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011
Topic: Tips for Creating Your Own Information Products
Time: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. CST
Presenter: Suzanne Lieurance

Date: Friday, February 18, 2011
Topic: Tips for Creating and Selling Your Own E-books
Time: 7:00 – 7:15 p.m. CST
Presenter: Karen Cioffi-Ventrice

Date: Monday, February 21, 2011
Topic: Basic Tips for Selling Your Own E-books
Time: 7:00 – 7:15 p.m. CST
Presenter: Karen Cioffi-Ventrice

Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Topic: Tips for Breaking into the Educational Markets
Time: 4:00 – 4:15 p.m. CST
Presenter: Dorit Sasson

Date: Wednesday February 23, 2011
Topic: Selling Your E-books – Broadening Your Reach
Time: 7:00 – 7:15 p.m. CST
Presenter: Karen Cioffi-Ventrice

Date: Thursday February 24, 2011
Topic: Tips to Help You Find Time to Write
Time: 7:00 – 7:15 p.m. CST
Presenter: Irene Roth

Interested in a particular chat and want to know more about the presenter, visit http://workingwriterscoach.com/live-chat-registration-schedule and click on their name and be directed to their website for further information.

If you'd like to attend, register today at http://workingwriterscoach.com/live-chat-registration-schedule to receive your unique password. Come back on the scheduled date and time for the chat you are interested in and fire away with your questions.

Visit Suzanne Lieurance, the Working Writer’s Coach, online at http://workingwriterscoach.com/ to learn more about her coaching products and services. Also, find out about the National Writing for Children Center, a monthly showcase for children's book authors and illustrators. Visit http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ today, where you can download an application or email Suzanne Lieurance for more information at bookbitesforkids@yahoo.com .
###

Thank you for your time and interest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Friday, February 11, 2011

Publisher Interview with Lynda Burch of Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.


Getting to know authors, illustrators, publishers, and editors through interviews is an instrumental way of learning about the publishing industry. Today I welcome Lynda Burch, Founder and Publisher of Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. I have quite the soft spot in my heart for Lynda and not just because she is the first publisher who offered me a book contract, but more for the heartwarming person she is.

DMc: You are the principle owner of Guardian Angel Publishing. What inspired you to create your company?

LB: When I incorporated there were only a few children’s eBook companies and I saw a real need for them because I knew they would be the wave of the future. We started in eBooks and quickly advanced into print books, too.

DMc: How many submissions do you get each month and what is your procedure for dealing with them?

LB: We are only open to submissions from April 1 to Oct 1 each year but I still get close to a thousand. I try to work my way through them each day to get quick responses back but that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes I’ll get a backlog of 100 or so. Usually in the first page or so I’ll know if the story will work for us.

DMc: With the ever changing world of publishing, what are your thoughts on e-book publishing versus traditional publishing?

LB: I’ve always been a firm believer in eBook potential and I have kind of a nice “I told you so” attitude since watching the recent explosion of their sales. :)

DMc: Please share with us your words of advice to the writer who is yet to be published?


LB: Get into a critique group and learn your trade. Not everyone can write for kids- and believe me when I say not everyone is a poet!

DMc: For a picture book submission can a writer recommend an illustrator or does Guardian Angel Publishing assign an illustrator from their pool of resources?

LB: Some people come to me with art complete by a non GAP artist and sometimes they have someone in mind to do their art. Sometimes I accept that and sometimes I don’t- it really depends on the artist’s style or if GAP can work with them contractually.

DMc: What is the most common mistake you see with submissions?

LB: People don’t send in their best work. They don’t check their work for missing punctuation, misspelled words and poor sentence or paragraph structure. That makes for quick rejection letters.

DMc: Do you recommend a writer have their manuscript professionally edited before submitting?

LB: No offense to all editing services but I’ve seen some mss with professional expensive editing that had to be totally re-edited here. Some have had a thousand commas! {cringe}
Mainly because: # 1 writing for kids is a specialty, # 2(a biggie to me) punctuation has changed over the years and we no longer use the standard Chicago Book of Style, # 3 That may be fine for collegiate work but not for kids. Some editors may be technically proficient but lacking in other areas.

DMc: A signature request I like to ask every author, illustrator, editor, etc., I interview is for the individual to share with us a tidbit from their lives that the reader will find either humorous or surprising. Lynda, can you please share one with us?

LB: I have set a computer on fire once- literally! Ever hear of crash & burn? I’ve done it! Smoke and fire! Burned up a motherboard – melted that sucker. You should have seen me dive under my desk and unplug everything—well, maybe not.

Lynda thank you for taking the time out to be with us today it’s been a blast!

Visit Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/ to view and learn about their children’s books.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club Teleclass – “First Pages: Picture Books,” by Nancy I. Sanders – Feb 10 12 Noon CST


M E D I A   R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Suzanne Lieurance
Email: suzanne@workingwriterscoach.com
Website: http://www.workingwriterscoach.com/

Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club Teleclass – “First Pages: Picture Books,” by Nancy I. Sanders – Feb 10 12 Noon CST

Membership in the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club includes LIVE teleclasses EVERY week – that’s 4 or more per month. Each of these 55-minute teleclasses is taught by a successful children’s book author or illustrator who knows the “tricks of the trade” of children’s writing, illustrating, and publishing.
On Thursday, February 10 at 12 Noon CST, Nancy I. Sanders will be presenting Part 1 of a 4-series teleclass on First Pages. Listen in on this teleclass as Nancy I. Sanders’ shares examples of winning picture books first pages along with techniques to take yours from blah to brilliant.
Join her teleclass live, and selected callers will have an opportunity to share their own first page of a picture book manuscript and get feedback on its strengths and weaknesses. CWCC details at http://www.cwcoachingclub.com/.
This teleclass will cover: 
  • Winning First Pages from published picture books
  • First pages from unpublished picture book manuscripts
  • Steps to take your picture book’s first page from blah to brilliant
  • Studying First Pages of picture books
  • Answers about First Pages of picture books 
The CWCC teleclasses cover everything from how to write picture books to how to find an agent to sell your middle grade novel. And, although each of these teleclasses is a live event, where you can ask questions and interact with other members of the class and the instructor – you don’t have to attend the live calls. As a club member, the day after each teleclass you receive a link to the recording, so you can download it and listen to the class whenever you like.

As a member of the CWCC, you’ll also have access to a wealth of articles, checklists, charts, free e-books, and other resources to help you hone your craft as a children’s writer and learn the ins and outs of publishing for the various children’s markets.
 
Club members also have the opportunity to network daily via an online discussion list with other members of the CWCC, as well as the instructors. Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and attend this class or get the link to the replay – http://www.cwcoachingclub.com/.  
 
Visit Suzanne Lieurance, the Working Writer’s Coach, online at http://www.cwcoachingclub.com/ to learn more about her coaching products and services. Also, find out about the National Writing for Children Center, a monthly showcase for children's book authors and illustrators. Visit http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ today, where you can download an application or email Suzanne Lieurance for more information at bookbitesforkids@yahoo.com.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Monday, February 7, 2011

Topsy Turvy Land Guest Blogger ~ Donna McDine


I'm the guest blogger at Topsy Turvy Land http://donnashepherd.blogspot.com/2011/02/topsy-turvy-moment-with-donna-mcdine.html.

Stay for a spell and enjoy surfing "Topsy Turvy Land" and downloading the FREE coloring pages and be sure to visit "Oodles of Fun" ~ Visit with Angel, the poodle, and Sadie, the labradoodle, and all their friends. Their owner, Donna J. Shepherd, has even written a book about us! Poodle and Doodle is available now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Guardian Angel Publishing, and lots of other places. Woof!

If you could stop by and leave a comment, I'd really appreciate it!


Thank you.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Guardian Angel Kids Ezine February 2011 Issue Now Available


M E D I A  R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Donna McDine, Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Angel Kids Ezine
Email: submissions@guardian-angel-kids.com

Website: http://guardian-angel-kids.com/

For Immediate Release
Guardian Angel Kids Ezine February 2011 Issue Now Available
February 2011 is certainly coming in like a lion and hopefully spring will arrive sooner rather than later. With so many of us dealing with the frigid winter, now is the perfect time to bunker down and enjoy the February 2011 issue of Guardian Angel Kids Ezine http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/ with another round of wonderful activities, short stories, poetry, and a parent/teacher article to bring excitement to your days.

Be prepared to spend memorable time as you both explore the monthly features:
FEATURED BOOKS:
Does Heaven Get Mail Flip Book written by Marilee Crow and illustrated by K.C. Snider
My Grandma’s Kitchen Rules Flip Book written by Bill Kirk and illustrated by Marina Movshina
CHILDREN POETRY, STORIES, AND ARTICLE:

“Tea with Grandma,” by Carol Zook thrills us with memories of tea time with grandma.
“Grandpa Bud’s Big Blue Truck,” by Allyn M. Stotz takes us on one adventure after another of treasures and practical tools from Grandpa Bud’s good old truck accompanied with a delightful illustration by Julie Hammond.
“The Wheels,” by Gabrielle Prendergast is a time spinning tale of passing traditions to one generation to the next. Samantha Bell’s illustration depicts this heartfelt story beautifully.
“Understanding Learning Styles: What Educators/Parents Need to Know,” by Dorit Sasson brings forth the different learning styles of our young muses. Sasson’s important article is for anyone having the opportunity to teach our young muses, whether it be a teacher, parent, grandparent, librarian, or tutor.
Grab your favorite snack and pull up a chair alongside your child and enjoy the interactive world of Guardian Angel Kids where the delightful stories take you on awe inspiring adventures.
Thank you for your time and interest.
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Full Media Kit and more are available upon request electronically.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/