From the Desk of April Robins
Valentines 2008 - BlogTalk Radio Interview
I had my first interview with Suzanne Lieurance, Founder, Director, and Coaching Coordinator for The
National Writing for Children Center. The podcast can be reached at blogtalkradio.com . The interview is 30
minutes long and took place at 2:00 central time 2/11/2008. Just look for "An Interview with Children's Book
Author April Robins".
If you write for children and want to be interviewed, get in touch with Suzanne. She is fun to talk with and will
give you a simple 10 question list before the show.
I had a great time. It took me about 10 minutes to quit saying "uh", but I continued to end each thought with an
"alright". Well, it was my first podcast and I have to learn. I am really pleased with how it turned out. If you
listen closely, you will hear me slip and give out my husband's nickname. I am getting pretty accustomed to
saying my pen name, but it is not as natural to say F. Jay.
Also, take a look at www.blogtalkradio.com. I just joined. It looks like a good medium for authors to promote
their work.
Happy Valentines,
April Robins
Interview with Bennie the Blue Bunny
from the children’s picture book “Where is My Bennie?” by April, Celeste, and Ruby Robins.
Bennie, you are a mighty handsome fellow in spite of your scars.
Thank you April, I try to keep in shape. No extra stuffing for me.
You and Austin are best friends. How did you meet?
I was a gift to Austin at his baby shower.
In the book “Where is My Bennie?”, you experienced a terrifying ordeal. Would like to tell us about it?
I always sleep with my best friend Austin who was five at the time of the story. While he was sleeping, his
grandmother’s dog, Hunter, snatched me from his arms. I was scared at first but soon realized that Hunter
loved stuffed animals. He did not think of me as a meal.
We are so glad that was true. I failed to ask you if you enjoyed the car ride to Grandma’s?
April, come on, you have read the book. You know I was safely packed in Austin’s suitcase.
Sorry Bennie. I was just asking for those who have not read the book yet. I understand that Austin and his
Grandfather searched all over the house for you. Did you hear them calling your name?
No, I was sound asleep.
Where did they finally find you? Who rescued you?
Grandma came home with her new hairdo and saved the day. I was in Hunter’s kennel. You would think that
Grandpa would have thought to look there. I think he and Austin were too upset. By the way April, did you
know that I can speak Spanish?
That is great Bennie! I will have to have you back to discuss the Spanish Version, “¿Dónde está Mi Bennie?”
Outlining your Website
One of the main advertisement vehicles that an author has is their website or Blog. We started with a
website. F. Jay and I had our own individual idea as to what the website should look like. We then combined
our notes into the current design.
I went to amazon.com and looked up bestselling children’s books, writing down the author’s names. I then did
an Internet search on each author to find their website. I looked at over 50 websites comparing features.
Now, I would suggest that you go to my Golden Tokens from Other Authors & Illustrators and link to their
wonderful sites for ideas.
F. Jay and I both wanted: Home; Meet the Authors; Books summary, with each book having its own web page;
and Contact Us page. F. Jay wanted the Writers Corner with periodic, featured articles. Of course, he did not
intend to write any of the articles. We will see about that in the future. In his business world, F. Jay is a noted
for his White Papers. We then discussed having an events,activities, and coming soon section. It seemed
natural to group all of that under one page titled “What’s New”.
All of this sounds easy but it took over a month to lay out our website’s flow of information.
I finally wanted two or three links pages added to our outline. I see the importance of networking. Link pages
suggested were: other authors; writers aides; and a shopping directory, featuring children’s items. F. Jay did
not really like or understand the shopping aspect but eventually gave in, after I charged ahead.
I am telling you our thought patterns hoping to help you in your website decision process. The bottom line is:
start your website before your book is published; research other author websites; pick your website carrier
carefully; be open to new ideas; and most important, be agreeable to change. You will no sooner think your
site is designed perfectly and areas needing improvement will surface. Usually after someone else has
volunteered their critique.
By the way, please feel free to do your own evaluation of our website by dropping us a line at Contact Us. We
would love to hear from you!
One of the main advertisement vehicles that an author has is their website or Blog. We started with a
website. F. Jay and I had our own individual idea as to what the website should look like. We then combined
our notes into the current design.
I went to amazon.com and looked up bestselling children’s books, writing down the author’s names. I then did
an Internet search on each author to find their website. I looked at over 50 websites comparing features.
Now, I would suggest that you go to my Golden Tokens from Other Authors & Illustrators and link to their
wonderful sites for ideas.
F. Jay and I both wanted: Home; Meet the Authors; Books summary, with each book having its own web page;
and Contact Us page. F. Jay wanted the Writers Corner with periodic, featured articles. Of course, he did not
intend to write any of the articles. We will see about that in the future. In his business world, F. Jay is a noted
for his White Papers. We then discussed having an events,activities, and coming soon section. It seemed
natural to group all of that under one page titled “What’s New”.
All of this sounds easy but it took over a month to lay out our website’s flow of information.
I finally wanted two or three links pages added to our outline. I see the importance of networking. Link pages
suggested were: other authors; writers aides; and a shopping directory, featuring children’s items. F. Jay did
not really like or understand the shopping aspect but eventually gave in, after I charged ahead.
I am telling you our thought patterns hoping to help you in your website decision process. The bottom line is:
start your website before your book is published; research other author websites; pick your website carrier
carefully; be open to new ideas; and most important, be agreeable to change. You will no sooner think your
site is designed perfectly and areas needing improvement will surface. Usually after someone else has
volunteered their critique.
By the way, please feel free to do your own evaluation of our website by dropping us a line at Contact Us. We
would love to hear from you!
Finding Artist
OK, you have decided to write a children’s picture book but you can’t draw a straight line. How do you find an
artist. First if you are publishing traditionally, you will not submit illustrations with your book. Most large
publishing houses have certain artist that they use for their books. They don’t even care to hear your
suggestions. Your job is to simply supply the words.
For our conversation, we will look at self publishing, and you will need to provide the illustrations. This was my
first real challenge. I had no idea how to start so I just had at it. First I asked every member of my family if they
knew how to draw. My daughter did but was not interested in being involved with that aspect of the books.
Second, I asked every artist with a sidewalk stand if they drew illustrations. I found a neat young man from
New York at the state fair, but my daughter did not like his drawings. Third, I called the local art galleries and
asked if anyone was interested. Fourth, I looked up the local colleges and asked their art department heads if
any of their students might be interested. Fifth, I contacted a trade college specializing in art students who
would post your job for students to bid on. Sixth, I joined Yahoo Groups for authors & illustrators and posted
my needs.
After numerous failures I decided to pay for the in-house illustrations for "Where is My Bennie?" In-house
illustrations are expensive, and I could not afford to do all my books this way. But it was a great learning
experience. They take you through all the steps necessary to produce a book. You supply illustration notes
for each page of illustrations, view and approve the pencil sketches, and then view and approve the finished
product of colored illustrations.
Finally, I did a web search and accidentally came across a job placement service called guru.com. After
weeks of getting nowhere, this service was so easy and how I found my artist. You register with www.guru.
com as an employer. You place a job description with a price range. You wait for artist to bid on your job.
You will probably have ten plus bids the first day. After viewing the portfolios of the artist bidding, you award a
contract. Look at my books to see what wonderful work they produce.
By the way, I have really made it easy for you by supplying information on how to get in touch with my artist at
Meet the Author.
http://robinfalls.blogspot.com/
OK, you have decided to write a children’s picture book but you can’t draw a straight line. How do you find an
artist. First if you are publishing traditionally, you will not submit illustrations with your book. Most large
publishing houses have certain artist that they use for their books. They don’t even care to hear your
suggestions. Your job is to simply supply the words.
For our conversation, we will look at self publishing, and you will need to provide the illustrations. This was my
first real challenge. I had no idea how to start so I just had at it. First I asked every member of my family if they
knew how to draw. My daughter did but was not interested in being involved with that aspect of the books.
Second, I asked every artist with a sidewalk stand if they drew illustrations. I found a neat young man from
New York at the state fair, but my daughter did not like his drawings. Third, I called the local art galleries and
asked if anyone was interested. Fourth, I looked up the local colleges and asked their art department heads if
any of their students might be interested. Fifth, I contacted a trade college specializing in art students who
would post your job for students to bid on. Sixth, I joined Yahoo Groups for authors & illustrators and posted
my needs.
After numerous failures I decided to pay for the in-house illustrations for "Where is My Bennie?" In-house
illustrations are expensive, and I could not afford to do all my books this way. But it was a great learning
experience. They take you through all the steps necessary to produce a book. You supply illustration notes
for each page of illustrations, view and approve the pencil sketches, and then view and approve the finished
product of colored illustrations.
Finally, I did a web search and accidentally came across a job placement service called guru.com. After
weeks of getting nowhere, this service was so easy and how I found my artist. You register with www.guru.
com as an employer. You place a job description with a price range. You wait for artist to bid on your job.
You will probably have ten plus bids the first day. After viewing the portfolios of the artist bidding, you award a
contract. Look at my books to see what wonderful work they produce.
By the way, I have really made it easy for you by supplying information on how to get in touch with my artist at
Meet the Author.
http://robinfalls.blogspot.com/
Determining the Size of a Children's Picture Book
When I first started writing, I thought all children’s picture books had to have 16 written pages with 16 pages of
illustrations. I read that somewhere, in fact, in more than one somewhere. I would work and work to divide my
book into 16 even sized pages. That rule of thumb is not actually true.
My real problem was in cutting my words back to fit on only 16 pages. My co-writing daughters often asked if
maybe we could be less wordy. I tried and cut down from 2000 words to 1500 words per book. I think the
number of words in a children’s book is more important than you think. Too many words and the child will lose
attention. Too few words and the child will feel shorted. All of our books, except Xlibris, are geared toward
early readers to grade 3.6. They need around 1500 words. We are very proud of the acceptance we are
getting in the schools and libraries for our books.
If you are self published, the cost of your book will increase as the number of pages increase. I would never
recommend going over a 40 page children’s picture book. In fact, I will be slimming our books down to 32 to
36 pages in the future. You need to add 6 pages into your calculation for the following pages: title, copyright,
dedication, page after the last page of the story, about the author, and a blank page at the end. This varies
with publisher, but is a general good rule to follow. Just remember that the total number of pages needs to be
divisible by 4.
So I would recommend that you have fun with your words, make them words that others will want to read over
and over again, and check with your publisher to determine the price they will set for your book at various
number of pages.
Comment on this subject at:
http://robinfalls.blogspot.com/
When I first started writing, I thought all children’s picture books had to have 16 written pages with 16 pages of
illustrations. I read that somewhere, in fact, in more than one somewhere. I would work and work to divide my
book into 16 even sized pages. That rule of thumb is not actually true.
My real problem was in cutting my words back to fit on only 16 pages. My co-writing daughters often asked if
maybe we could be less wordy. I tried and cut down from 2000 words to 1500 words per book. I think the
number of words in a children’s book is more important than you think. Too many words and the child will lose
attention. Too few words and the child will feel shorted. All of our books, except Xlibris, are geared toward
early readers to grade 3.6. They need around 1500 words. We are very proud of the acceptance we are
getting in the schools and libraries for our books.
If you are self published, the cost of your book will increase as the number of pages increase. I would never
recommend going over a 40 page children’s picture book. In fact, I will be slimming our books down to 32 to
36 pages in the future. You need to add 6 pages into your calculation for the following pages: title, copyright,
dedication, page after the last page of the story, about the author, and a blank page at the end. This varies
with publisher, but is a general good rule to follow. Just remember that the total number of pages needs to be
divisible by 4.
So I would recommend that you have fun with your words, make them words that others will want to read over
and over again, and check with your publisher to determine the price they will set for your book at various
number of pages.
Comment on this subject at:
http://robinfalls.blogspot.com/
Texas Library Association 2008 Conference
17th, and 18th, at Pat Anderson’s booth, Overlooked Books Booth #2040. If you attend, please come by and
say hello. I am looking forward to this event. It will be my first event with other authors, and we strive to offer
early reader books that would be acceptable in the library systems. That is our primary goal. I am told the
convention expects over 3,000 attendees. I have even heard numbers up to 8,000. Of course, everything is
bigger in Texas.
If you want more information about TLA2008 go to
http://www.txla.org/conference/conf.html
17th, and 18th, at Pat Anderson’s booth, Overlooked Books Booth #2040. If you attend, please come by and
say hello. I am looking forward to this event. It will be my first event with other authors, and we strive to offer
early reader books that would be acceptable in the library systems. That is our primary goal. I am told the
convention expects over 3,000 attendees. I have even heard numbers up to 8,000. Of course, everything is
bigger in Texas.
If you want more information about TLA2008 go to
http://www.txla.org/conference/conf.html
What To Do When an Event Goes Bad
Recently I was the storyteller at a charity event. It was a national event with hopes of hundreds of people
showing up. First that did not happen. Mostly the attendance was made up of the vendors and their children.
This leads to my role, I became the babysitter. Only two families visited the storytelling room that were not
vendors; but the room was full most of the time with small, bored children. I left without selling one book after
reading to children for three hours. My real goal of networking with the community did not happen, my name
was misspelled on the advertisement flyer, and I did not even get a proper “thank you” from the parents I
babysat for. I was down emotionally to say the least.
As a children's book author, there will be many times when an event will not be what you expected. Take
stock of the situation and learn from it. Ask yourself, should I have attended the event to begin with? Was I the
only Author there? Was I offered any compensation for my time and expenses? Did I fully understand my
role? Would I do it again?
Now comes the part of what to do to lift your spirits when you are down from such an event. First, put the
negative feelings in the past and don’t dwell on them. Start thinking of more productive ways to spend your
time in the future. Start the outline of another book, that will always cheer you up. Go to your on-line
networking forum such as Facebook and send a gift to a friend. Read your e-mails which have stacked up
from other author friends. Last but not least, remember the children that benefited from your time. After all,
you are a children’s book author.
To enter your thoughts on this subject, please go to my blog at
http://robinfalls.blogspot.com/
Recently I was the storyteller at a charity event. It was a national event with hopes of hundreds of people
showing up. First that did not happen. Mostly the attendance was made up of the vendors and their children.
This leads to my role, I became the babysitter. Only two families visited the storytelling room that were not
vendors; but the room was full most of the time with small, bored children. I left without selling one book after
reading to children for three hours. My real goal of networking with the community did not happen, my name
was misspelled on the advertisement flyer, and I did not even get a proper “thank you” from the parents I
babysat for. I was down emotionally to say the least.
As a children's book author, there will be many times when an event will not be what you expected. Take
stock of the situation and learn from it. Ask yourself, should I have attended the event to begin with? Was I the
only Author there? Was I offered any compensation for my time and expenses? Did I fully understand my
role? Would I do it again?
Now comes the part of what to do to lift your spirits when you are down from such an event. First, put the
negative feelings in the past and don’t dwell on them. Start thinking of more productive ways to spend your
time in the future. Start the outline of another book, that will always cheer you up. Go to your on-line
networking forum such as Facebook and send a gift to a friend. Read your e-mails which have stacked up
from other author friends. Last but not least, remember the children that benefited from your time. After all,
you are a children’s book author.
To enter your thoughts on this subject, please go to my blog at
http://robinfalls.blogspot.com/
What Goes Around Comes Around
One of the pleasant surprises you will encounter in writing is the encouragement and promotion of one writer
to another writer. After all, there are a lot of readers out there; and they need more than just your books. With
all that in mind, please let me show you my author friend Mayra Calvani's book launch announcement:
One of the pleasant surprises you will encounter in writing is the encouragement and promotion of one writer
to another writer. After all, there are a lot of readers out there; and they need more than just your books. With
all that in mind, please let me show you my author friend Mayra Calvani's book launch announcement:
June is 'Book Reviewing' month at Blogcritics Magazine!
To promote the release of The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, co-author Mayra Calvani will be interviewing 15+ reviewers and review editors during the month of June. Learn all about the business of book reviewing and what's in the mind of some of the most popular reviewers on the internet today. Some of the guests will include: Alex Moore from ForeWord Magazine, James Cox from Midwest Book Review, Irene Watson from Reader Views, Andrea Sisco from Armchair Interviews, Magdalena Ball from The Compulsive Reader, Sharyn McGinty from In The Library Reviews, Lea Schizas from Muse Book Reviews, Linda Baldwin from Road to Romance, Hilary Williamson from Book Loons, Judy Clark from Mostly Fiction, and many others!
To see the complete lineup, visit: The Slippery Book Review Blog.
Between June 1st and June 30th, stop by Blogcritics and leave a comment under the reviewer interviews for a chance to win a Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tour (coordinated by book marketing guru Dorothy Thompson), OR, as an alternative to a non-author winner, a $50 B&N gift certificate!
Learning from the Experts
I just can’t over emphasize the importance of joining Yahoo groups. I truly love one in particular, Children’s
Writers Today. They have so many concerned and active members, both newbie and seasoned writers.
They are always willing to respond even to what might seem like a trivia post. They also initiate detailed
analysis of issues related to the heart of writing for children. One seasoned writer in particular that I am so
very proud to call my friend is Children’s Book Author Margot Finke. She has a new book out that I want
everyone to learn about. She has furnished me with its write-up and a review that are listed below. Play
close attention to the details Margot provides that make for a great book launch.
-------------------------------------------------------------
April I am thrilled that you want to feature my new rhyming picture book, "Rattlesnake Jam," this week on your
website.
My riot of a tale tells about dear old Gran and Pa, and their yen for rattlers. Pa catches 'em, but the problem is
that Gran decides how they're cooked up - Gran wants jam, but Pa yearns for rattlesnake pie.
** The story works GREAT at getting those reluctant readers to enjoy a book.
This was a barrel of fun to write: I confess, I giggled all the way through it. And Kevin Scott Collier's illustrations
make the characters jump off the page. Just what I would have drawn myself, if I had a fraction of Kevin's
talent.
Guardian Angel Publishing published it with tender loving care, as they do all their books.
To launch "Rattlesnake Jam," I'm offering some fun things:
#1 - A writing competition. A free autographed copy goes to the person who e-mails me ( mfinke@verizon.
net ) the best account of their encounter with a rattlesnake. So get cracking on those essays!!
#2 - Kids can visit Gran's Kitchen for yucky sounding rattler recipes.
Be careful now - you mom might faint!!!
#3 - Print out a fun rattlesnake puzzle, or a cool coloring sheet from my website's "Rattlesnake Jam" page.
#4 - Take my rattlesnake eating POLL - e-mail me if you've eaten rattler and what it was like.
These 4 fun things can be found where Gran, Pa, and their rattlers hang out:
http://mysite.verizon.net/mfinke/My%20Other%20Books.htm#other
And you can read two terrific reviews on my website:
http://mysite.verizon.net/mfinke/Rattlesnake%20Reviews.htm#review
Available in soft cover through Amazon, Target, GAP, and other outlets.
Autographed soft cover copies can be purchased on my website:
http://www.margotfinke.com
--------------------------------------------
Rattlesnake Jam
by Margot E. Finke
Illustrations by Kevin Scott Collier
Guardian Angel Publishing -
12430 Tesson Ferry Road #186
Saint Louis, MO 63128 USA
e-Book ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-24-5
Print ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-00-9
MAY 2008
Paperback, 28 pages, $10.95
Ages 4 & Up
Reviewed by Mayra Calvani
Rattlesnake Jam is a hilariously funny
children’s picture book about an old couple who share an irresistible affection for rattlesnakes. There’s only
one problem: While Pa would rather have the rattlesnakes turned into fritters or pie, old Gran prefers them
turned into jam… disgustingly green, sweetened, gooey rattlesnake jam!
So no matter how cold the weather is, there goes brave Pa hunting after the snakes. And as he hunts them, he
fantasizes about the various ways Gran could cook them—hot on a plate, fried, sliced on white rice, hmmm…
But no way will his dreams ever become a reality, for as readers will learn “…snake cooked for Pa was not in
Gran’s plan. She dreamed of them sweetened and made into jam.” Though Gran swears her special jam can
cure colds, gout and wheeze, not to mention “troublesome knees”, everyone dislikes the taste of her ghastly
creation. Will Gran ever stop? And what would happen to Pa, if she ever did?
Colliers’s colorful, wacky illustrations complement Finke’s humorous rhyme perfectly. Gran is grossly comical
with her toothless grin, warts, bell pepper nose, and tough exterior. The reader will feel sorry for Pa, who
seems completely under Gran’s control. The book has 28 pages in all, and each story page has an illustration
with a short text at the bottom—a two or four line rhyme, like this one:
Drop in chunky slices, stir well with a spoon.
Add mysterious spices! Gran hummed a wild tune.
The way to Gran’s heart was through rattlers galore—
Making rattler jam bubble, ‘til it flowed on the floor.
The song-like cadence will be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Snakes are reptiles that inspire both fear and
fascination, especially in children, and it was clever of the author to use them as victims instead of villains in
this book. This is a fine addition to Finke’s series of rhyming books about animals. Whimsical and amusing,
Rattlesnake Jam is one of those books young children will beg their parents to read to them again and again.
-----------------------
I just can’t over emphasize the importance of joining Yahoo groups. I truly love one in particular, Children’s
Writers Today. They have so many concerned and active members, both newbie and seasoned writers.
They are always willing to respond even to what might seem like a trivia post. They also initiate detailed
analysis of issues related to the heart of writing for children. One seasoned writer in particular that I am so
very proud to call my friend is Children’s Book Author Margot Finke. She has a new book out that I want
everyone to learn about. She has furnished me with its write-up and a review that are listed below. Play
close attention to the details Margot provides that make for a great book launch.
-------------------------------------------------------------
April I am thrilled that you want to feature my new rhyming picture book, "Rattlesnake Jam," this week on your
website.
My riot of a tale tells about dear old Gran and Pa, and their yen for rattlers. Pa catches 'em, but the problem is
that Gran decides how they're cooked up - Gran wants jam, but Pa yearns for rattlesnake pie.
** The story works GREAT at getting those reluctant readers to enjoy a book.
This was a barrel of fun to write: I confess, I giggled all the way through it. And Kevin Scott Collier's illustrations
make the characters jump off the page. Just what I would have drawn myself, if I had a fraction of Kevin's
talent.
Guardian Angel Publishing published it with tender loving care, as they do all their books.
To launch "Rattlesnake Jam," I'm offering some fun things:
#1 - A writing competition. A free autographed copy goes to the person who e-mails me ( mfinke@verizon.
net ) the best account of their encounter with a rattlesnake. So get cracking on those essays!!
#2 - Kids can visit Gran's Kitchen for yucky sounding rattler recipes.
Be careful now - you mom might faint!!!
#3 - Print out a fun rattlesnake puzzle, or a cool coloring sheet from my website's "Rattlesnake Jam" page.
#4 - Take my rattlesnake eating POLL - e-mail me if you've eaten rattler and what it was like.
These 4 fun things can be found where Gran, Pa, and their rattlers hang out:
http://mysite.verizon.net/mfinke/My%20Other%20Books.htm#other
And you can read two terrific reviews on my website:
http://mysite.verizon.net/mfinke/Rattlesnake%20Reviews.htm#review
Available in soft cover through Amazon, Target, GAP, and other outlets.
Autographed soft cover copies can be purchased on my website:
http://www.margotfinke.com
--------------------------------------------
Rattlesnake Jam
by Margot E. Finke
Illustrations by Kevin Scott Collier
Guardian Angel Publishing -
12430 Tesson Ferry Road #186
Saint Louis, MO 63128 USA
e-Book ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-24-5
Print ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-00-9
MAY 2008
Paperback, 28 pages, $10.95
Ages 4 & Up
Reviewed by Mayra Calvani
Rattlesnake Jam is a hilariously funny
children’s picture book about an old couple who share an irresistible affection for rattlesnakes. There’s only
one problem: While Pa would rather have the rattlesnakes turned into fritters or pie, old Gran prefers them
turned into jam… disgustingly green, sweetened, gooey rattlesnake jam!
So no matter how cold the weather is, there goes brave Pa hunting after the snakes. And as he hunts them, he
fantasizes about the various ways Gran could cook them—hot on a plate, fried, sliced on white rice, hmmm…
But no way will his dreams ever become a reality, for as readers will learn “…snake cooked for Pa was not in
Gran’s plan. She dreamed of them sweetened and made into jam.” Though Gran swears her special jam can
cure colds, gout and wheeze, not to mention “troublesome knees”, everyone dislikes the taste of her ghastly
creation. Will Gran ever stop? And what would happen to Pa, if she ever did?
Colliers’s colorful, wacky illustrations complement Finke’s humorous rhyme perfectly. Gran is grossly comical
with her toothless grin, warts, bell pepper nose, and tough exterior. The reader will feel sorry for Pa, who
seems completely under Gran’s control. The book has 28 pages in all, and each story page has an illustration
with a short text at the bottom—a two or four line rhyme, like this one:
Drop in chunky slices, stir well with a spoon.
Add mysterious spices! Gran hummed a wild tune.
The way to Gran’s heart was through rattlers galore—
Making rattler jam bubble, ‘til it flowed on the floor.
The song-like cadence will be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Snakes are reptiles that inspire both fear and
fascination, especially in children, and it was clever of the author to use them as victims instead of villains in
this book. This is a fine addition to Finke’s series of rhyming books about animals. Whimsical and amusing,
Rattlesnake Jam is one of those books young children will beg their parents to read to them again and again.
-----------------------
Choosing the Title for a Book
asking for help in choosing a title for her new book. Everyone’s suggestions were great. My friend thanked
everyone and announced what she liked best of all the suggestions. This made me think once again about
the titles of my books. What is wrong and what is right. What steps should I have taken? First I checked to
make sure no other book had their title. I should have checked to see what results I would get from a major
search engine. I would have found that “Lovely Little Lamb” brings up a porn site. I should have considered
what key words are most used on an amazon.com search; “I’ll Tuck You in, Deer” is border line. It is too long
but descriptive.
This leads into my guest author this week, Shari Lyle-Soffe. I love her unique name for her series, Rooter and
Snuffle. Please read what she has to say about her new book.
April, thank you for inviting me to talk about my latest book in the Rooter and Snuffle series, "Trouble Finds
Rooter and Snuffle".
As with the first two books, this book is made up of three complete stories about the mischievous raccoon
brothers.
In the first story, Rooter the oldest brother finds a new friend, Twitcher Rabbit. Twitcher wants Rooter to like
only him and Rooter is flattered. But is having only one friend a good thing?
In the second story, Snuffle is disappointed because of all the things he can't do very well. Then his brother
and some friends teach him a valuable lesson.
In the third story, Rooter and Snuffle's game of pickup twigs is interrupted by the screams of a friend in trouble.
At first the animals feel helpless. Then they realize together they can make a difference.
Events in the lives of Rooter and Snuffle are based on my childhood as the oldest of four children, and other
children I have known.
Raccoons are a pleasant memory from my childhood and I hope children will enjoy reading about them as
much as I enjoy writing about them.
Kevin Scott Collier's illustrations are delightful. Children always ask if I drew them. They love the colorful
illustrations and so do I.
My publisher is Guardian Angel Publishing and they have done a wonderful job with the books. They are great
to work with. All three books can be found at most online and brick and mortar book stores. http://www.
amazon.com/Trouble-Finds-Rooter-Snuffle-Lyle-Soffe/dp/1933090723/ref=sr_1_3?
ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210855639&sr=8-3
Children and parents alike can visit my webpage at http://www.rooterandsnuffle.blogspot.com
where they will find more information about Rooter and Snuffle and other characters from the books. There is
wonderful information available there about raccoons. They will also find printable coloring pages and raccoon
games to play.
I love animals and am donating part of my royalties from these books to Wildlife Images, a wildlife
rehabilitation and education facility here in Oregon
Shari Lyle-Soffe
ROOTER AND SNUFFLE
BOOK LAUNCH "The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing" http://www.sharilyle-soffe.com
Please go to http://robinfalls.blogspot.com to comment on Rooter and Snuffle.
asking for help in choosing a title for her new book. Everyone’s suggestions were great. My friend thanked
everyone and announced what she liked best of all the suggestions. This made me think once again about
the titles of my books. What is wrong and what is right. What steps should I have taken? First I checked to
make sure no other book had their title. I should have checked to see what results I would get from a major
search engine. I would have found that “Lovely Little Lamb” brings up a porn site. I should have considered
what key words are most used on an amazon.com search; “I’ll Tuck You in, Deer” is border line. It is too long
but descriptive.
This leads into my guest author this week, Shari Lyle-Soffe. I love her unique name for her series, Rooter and
Snuffle. Please read what she has to say about her new book.
- -------------------------------------------------------------
April, thank you for inviting me to talk about my latest book in the Rooter and Snuffle series, "Trouble Finds
Rooter and Snuffle".
As with the first two books, this book is made up of three complete stories about the mischievous raccoon
brothers.
In the first story, Rooter the oldest brother finds a new friend, Twitcher Rabbit. Twitcher wants Rooter to like
only him and Rooter is flattered. But is having only one friend a good thing?
In the second story, Snuffle is disappointed because of all the things he can't do very well. Then his brother
and some friends teach him a valuable lesson.
In the third story, Rooter and Snuffle's game of pickup twigs is interrupted by the screams of a friend in trouble.
At first the animals feel helpless. Then they realize together they can make a difference.
Events in the lives of Rooter and Snuffle are based on my childhood as the oldest of four children, and other
children I have known.
Raccoons are a pleasant memory from my childhood and I hope children will enjoy reading about them as
much as I enjoy writing about them.
Kevin Scott Collier's illustrations are delightful. Children always ask if I drew them. They love the colorful
illustrations and so do I.
My publisher is Guardian Angel Publishing and they have done a wonderful job with the books. They are great
to work with. All three books can be found at most online and brick and mortar book stores. http://www.
amazon.com/Trouble-Finds-Rooter-Snuffle-Lyle-Soffe/dp/1933090723/ref=sr_1_3?
ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210855639&sr=8-3
Children and parents alike can visit my webpage at http://www.rooterandsnuffle.blogspot.com
where they will find more information about Rooter and Snuffle and other characters from the books. There is
wonderful information available there about raccoons. They will also find printable coloring pages and raccoon
games to play.
I love animals and am donating part of my royalties from these books to Wildlife Images, a wildlife
rehabilitation and education facility here in Oregon
Shari Lyle-Soffe
ROOTER AND SNUFFLE
BOOK LAUNCH "The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing" http://www.sharilyle-soffe.com
Please go to http://robinfalls.blogspot.com to comment on Rooter and Snuffle.
Don't trust the Spell Checker
One of my Yahoo Groups is having a discussion on finding your own mistakes in your own work. We all agree
that the spell checker is to blame. Someone submitted the following to prove our conclusion.
SPELL CHECKER (author unknown, but hats off to them!) Eye halve a spelling checker; It came with my pea
sea. It plainly marks four my revue, Miss steaks eye kin knot sea. Eye strike a key and type a word, And
weight four it two say, Weather eye am wrong oar write; It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is
maid, It nose bee fore two long. And eye can put the error rite; Its rare lea ever wrong. Eye have run this poem
threw it; I am shore your pleased two no, Its letter perfect awl the weigh. My spell checker tolled me sew !
One of my Yahoo Groups is having a discussion on finding your own mistakes in your own work. We all agree
that the spell checker is to blame. Someone submitted the following to prove our conclusion.
SPELL CHECKER (author unknown, but hats off to them!) Eye halve a spelling checker; It came with my pea
sea. It plainly marks four my revue, Miss steaks eye kin knot sea. Eye strike a key and type a word, And
weight four it two say, Weather eye am wrong oar write; It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is
maid, It nose bee fore two long. And eye can put the error rite; Its rare lea ever wrong. Eye have run this poem
threw it; I am shore your pleased two no, Its letter perfect awl the weigh. My spell checker tolled me sew !
My Interview with Lena Dooley
If you are interested in free books, I want to tell you about an interview I gave that has been posted on
the web by my friend, Author Lena Dooley. She offers a free book each week, donated by the author
she interviews. I would love for you to go to her site and comment on my interview thereby entering
you in the drawing for my free children’s book “A Message of Love”. The blogsite is
http//lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com You might want to make this a weekly practice, more than
children’s books are given away. If you are a lucky sort, you won’t mind the 1 in 25 odds.
If you are interested in free books, I want to tell you about an interview I gave that has been posted on
the web by my friend, Author Lena Dooley. She offers a free book each week, donated by the author
she interviews. I would love for you to go to her site and comment on my interview thereby entering
you in the drawing for my free children’s book “A Message of Love”. The blogsite is
http//lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com You might want to make this a weekly practice, more than
children’s books are given away. If you are a lucky sort, you won’t mind the 1 in 25 odds.
Standalone or Book Series
not know how to answer his question. I said “No” not wanting to admit to my ignorance. Thankfully, that was the correct
answer. According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “A book series is a sequence of books with common
characteristics, typically written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their publisher.” I currently have a book
in the works that I want to make into a series, “Fisher Lives on a River.” It will be about the adventures of a band of
wildlife friends.
However today, I would like to introduce you to one of my Christian Writer friends who has made an art out of the
concept of a book series. Her name is Grace Brooks. Below is a copy of her write-up that she posted on one of our
Yahoo Groups that she has allowed me to use. She calls it a sneak peek into her Asquinn Twins series.
------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin- You mean the story line for the entire series? Hummm, that will be a challenge but here goes.
Obedia Asquinn is called by God to be a missionary. After being authorized by a local church in Wales, he is sent to the
shores of Canada. He feels this is where God has sent him but doesn't know exactly where he will settle to teach and
preach. He and his family head north from Toronto and find a beautiful spot called the Haliburton Highlands just a bit
north of Toronto. Here he finds a place for his family to stay and starts teaching. Attendance grows and everything is
looking fine for the local church until three priests arrive at Asquinns home one evening. They tell Pastor Asquinn they
don't want him
spreading his heresy in their district, help him and his family pack and boots them out.
Again the Asquinn family move north. Their next stop is Forest Lake. Pastor Asquinn knows immediately this is where
God wants him to be. Ken, Pastor Asquinn's oldest son, meets his lifelong friend to be, Matt Turehue. The Pastor
finds a house to buy, the family flourishes along with church attendance and a church is formed.
But all isn't rosy as a distant cousin of the Aswquinn makes life miserable for the Asquinn family. Conrad Cameron
thinks he is master of the area as he is High Priest of devil worshipers.
As the series continues, the children grow older. Ken and Matt are not so true in church attendance. Dependence on
alcohol and tobacco replace their faith in God. But the girls, Sherry and Martha, go ahead and marry the boys as
promised when they were ten and thirteen years old. The boys start getting lofty ideas. They change their focus from
joining the Ontario provincial police to the more famed Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Time advances. Ken and Matt
have graduated from RCMP academy and have been posted in different part of Saskatchewan. Neither one seems to
be happy in spite of them starting to accumulate worldly wealth and recognition. Sherry leaves Ken. Ken walks away
from his job and follows her back to Ontario. Before going to his wife, he stops off and resigns the RCMP and joins the
Ontario provincial police.
Sherry takes Ken back. Matt comes back to Ontario with his wife and two sons. They had left Forest Lake looking for
greener pastures but found out when they returned the green pastures
had been under their feet all the time.
And the time takes a great leap forward. The twins are now Caleb and Korah (Core) Asquinn, fifteen year old adopted
twins of Eric Asquinn and June Asquinn. Eric is the third son of Pastor Asquinn.
The adventures continue over the winter where the twin’s best friend, Larry Olson gets a job with SunDog kennels. This
is a kennel where father/son raises pure bred Canadian Eskimo Dogs and Alaskan malamutes. Larry’s father
abandoned the family, leaving the family with little money for food, clothing and a crowded, dirty house to live in. With
what Monet Larry earns through racing over the winter, he buys a nice house for his mother, brothers and sisters to live
in.
Over the summer holidays, the twins and their friends get involved with a poaching ring. Once while hiking along a
forest trail they find an orphaned lynx kitten. Larry, being the animal lover takes the kitten home. But there are others
also wanting the kitten.
More adventures when Conrad and his half brother, Malcolm show up in Forest lake
again. Conrad takes the entire Olson family hostage and demands to get his daughter back. Previously his daughter
had been taken away from him after he was sentenced to prison. Ken now police Superintendent is called back from his
holidays to lead the situation. All comes to a peaceful settlement.
Ken's two oldest sons are grown up; both have followed in their father’s footsteps and become policemen. Murray, the
oldest is content with his life and job, but the next in line, Kirk, is a bit rebellious. He falls in love with a girl staying with
his cousins the Asquinn twins although his family and relatives warn him not to because the girl is the leader of a bad
gang. Core also has fallen in love with Deliah. At the end of the story Core is hurt badly when he learns that she really
was the gang leader.
A son was produced through Kirk's and Deliah's relationship. The mother died during the birth of the baby and Kirk
looks after his son alone; that is until Annice Calder arrives in Forest Lake.
Kirk's and Annice's relationship flourishes; she even grows to love little Kirk. Then she finds out Kirk’s father is Police
Superintendent and starts to feel inadequate. She flees from Forest Lake and Kirk and returns home. Kirk follows her
and they get back together and marry.
The twins are now college age. They and their friends have an exciting summer when they get involved with the police.
This is in a good way. The boys find a dog which is not a stray and with Lieutenant Barclay's assistance, take the dog
all the way to his championship.
I've skimmed over the story line through the entire eleven books. Hope this gives you some idea of the storyline. I
intend to write all this on the blog as
the stories come out. Or would it be more attractive if I gave the whole world a sneak peek?
Grace
http://www.geocities.com/lgracebrooks
http://meettheasquinnfamily.blogspot.com
http://christianreadingcenter.blogspot.com
To leave a comment on this article, please go to my blogsite at http://robinfalls.blogspot.com
not know how to answer his question. I said “No” not wanting to admit to my ignorance. Thankfully, that was the correct
answer. According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “A book series is a sequence of books with common
characteristics, typically written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their publisher.” I currently have a book
in the works that I want to make into a series, “Fisher Lives on a River.” It will be about the adventures of a band of
wildlife friends.
However today, I would like to introduce you to one of my Christian Writer friends who has made an art out of the
concept of a book series. Her name is Grace Brooks. Below is a copy of her write-up that she posted on one of our
Yahoo Groups that she has allowed me to use. She calls it a sneak peek into her Asquinn Twins series.
------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin- You mean the story line for the entire series? Hummm, that will be a challenge but here goes.
Obedia Asquinn is called by God to be a missionary. After being authorized by a local church in Wales, he is sent to the
shores of Canada. He feels this is where God has sent him but doesn't know exactly where he will settle to teach and
preach. He and his family head north from Toronto and find a beautiful spot called the Haliburton Highlands just a bit
north of Toronto. Here he finds a place for his family to stay and starts teaching. Attendance grows and everything is
looking fine for the local church until three priests arrive at Asquinns home one evening. They tell Pastor Asquinn they
don't want him
spreading his heresy in their district, help him and his family pack and boots them out.
Again the Asquinn family move north. Their next stop is Forest Lake. Pastor Asquinn knows immediately this is where
God wants him to be. Ken, Pastor Asquinn's oldest son, meets his lifelong friend to be, Matt Turehue. The Pastor
finds a house to buy, the family flourishes along with church attendance and a church is formed.
But all isn't rosy as a distant cousin of the Aswquinn makes life miserable for the Asquinn family. Conrad Cameron
thinks he is master of the area as he is High Priest of devil worshipers.
As the series continues, the children grow older. Ken and Matt are not so true in church attendance. Dependence on
alcohol and tobacco replace their faith in God. But the girls, Sherry and Martha, go ahead and marry the boys as
promised when they were ten and thirteen years old. The boys start getting lofty ideas. They change their focus from
joining the Ontario provincial police to the more famed Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Time advances. Ken and Matt
have graduated from RCMP academy and have been posted in different part of Saskatchewan. Neither one seems to
be happy in spite of them starting to accumulate worldly wealth and recognition. Sherry leaves Ken. Ken walks away
from his job and follows her back to Ontario. Before going to his wife, he stops off and resigns the RCMP and joins the
Ontario provincial police.
Sherry takes Ken back. Matt comes back to Ontario with his wife and two sons. They had left Forest Lake looking for
greener pastures but found out when they returned the green pastures
had been under their feet all the time.
And the time takes a great leap forward. The twins are now Caleb and Korah (Core) Asquinn, fifteen year old adopted
twins of Eric Asquinn and June Asquinn. Eric is the third son of Pastor Asquinn.
The adventures continue over the winter where the twin’s best friend, Larry Olson gets a job with SunDog kennels. This
is a kennel where father/son raises pure bred Canadian Eskimo Dogs and Alaskan malamutes. Larry’s father
abandoned the family, leaving the family with little money for food, clothing and a crowded, dirty house to live in. With
what Monet Larry earns through racing over the winter, he buys a nice house for his mother, brothers and sisters to live
in.
Over the summer holidays, the twins and their friends get involved with a poaching ring. Once while hiking along a
forest trail they find an orphaned lynx kitten. Larry, being the animal lover takes the kitten home. But there are others
also wanting the kitten.
More adventures when Conrad and his half brother, Malcolm show up in Forest lake
again. Conrad takes the entire Olson family hostage and demands to get his daughter back. Previously his daughter
had been taken away from him after he was sentenced to prison. Ken now police Superintendent is called back from his
holidays to lead the situation. All comes to a peaceful settlement.
Ken's two oldest sons are grown up; both have followed in their father’s footsteps and become policemen. Murray, the
oldest is content with his life and job, but the next in line, Kirk, is a bit rebellious. He falls in love with a girl staying with
his cousins the Asquinn twins although his family and relatives warn him not to because the girl is the leader of a bad
gang. Core also has fallen in love with Deliah. At the end of the story Core is hurt badly when he learns that she really
was the gang leader.
A son was produced through Kirk's and Deliah's relationship. The mother died during the birth of the baby and Kirk
looks after his son alone; that is until Annice Calder arrives in Forest Lake.
Kirk's and Annice's relationship flourishes; she even grows to love little Kirk. Then she finds out Kirk’s father is Police
Superintendent and starts to feel inadequate. She flees from Forest Lake and Kirk and returns home. Kirk follows her
and they get back together and marry.
The twins are now college age. They and their friends have an exciting summer when they get involved with the police.
This is in a good way. The boys find a dog which is not a stray and with Lieutenant Barclay's assistance, take the dog
all the way to his championship.
I've skimmed over the story line through the entire eleven books. Hope this gives you some idea of the storyline. I
intend to write all this on the blog as
the stories come out. Or would it be more attractive if I gave the whole world a sneak peek?
Grace
- -----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.geocities.com/lgracebrooks
http://meettheasquinnfamily.blogspot.com
http://christianreadingcenter.blogspot.com
To leave a comment on this article, please go to my blogsite at http://robinfalls.blogspot.com
Writing for Charity
for Dixie” by fifteen year old Emma Jackson. I was privileged to be invited to view their event on the Today Show
yesterday. One striking thing about this book, other than the maturity of the young author, is that the proceeds go to
Aunt Mary’s Dog House. If you follow the link to their website, you will find out all sorts of interesting information on
adopting a pet like Dixie. Also, you can view the Today Show interview for yourself.
Below is a write-up that Kate has furnished us in regard to Emma’s new book. Check it out!
--------------------------------------------------------------
For as long as she could remember, Emma had wanted a dog. Instead, she got a fish, a hamster, and even a guinea
pig. And although Emma loved all these pets, it was not the same as having a dog.
Meanwhile, an abandoned puppy was brought to an animal rescue. And although this little puppy had a warm place to
sleep and food to eat, she dreamed of having her very own family to love.
Happily for both, Emma adopts this puppy and names her Dixie, and in each other they find the companionship they've
been looking for. A Home for Dixie is their uplifting story, enhanced by adorable photography and bonus information on
how to support your local animal shelter—and even adopt a rescued dog of your own.
Welcome to Dixie's Corner at Harper Collins
Kate's Casual Portraits
To leave a comment on this article, go to my blogsite: http://robinfalls.blogspot.com
for Dixie” by fifteen year old Emma Jackson. I was privileged to be invited to view their event on the Today Show
yesterday. One striking thing about this book, other than the maturity of the young author, is that the proceeds go to
Aunt Mary’s Dog House. If you follow the link to their website, you will find out all sorts of interesting information on
adopting a pet like Dixie. Also, you can view the Today Show interview for yourself.
Below is a write-up that Kate has furnished us in regard to Emma’s new book. Check it out!
--------------------------------------------------------------
For as long as she could remember, Emma had wanted a dog. Instead, she got a fish, a hamster, and even a guinea
pig. And although Emma loved all these pets, it was not the same as having a dog.
Meanwhile, an abandoned puppy was brought to an animal rescue. And although this little puppy had a warm place to
sleep and food to eat, she dreamed of having her very own family to love.
Happily for both, Emma adopts this puppy and names her Dixie, and in each other they find the companionship they've
been looking for. A Home for Dixie is their uplifting story, enhanced by adorable photography and bonus information on
how to support your local animal shelter—and even adopt a rescued dog of your own.
Welcome to Dixie's Corner at Harper Collins
Kate's Casual Portraits
To leave a comment on this article, go to my blogsite: http://robinfalls.blogspot.com
Fun with twitter.com
I've been having so much fun with my new twitter.com account arobins at http://twitter.com/arobins. There are so many
great promotional 140 word ads displayed every day that help with promoting your books, networking your name,
finding tools for your trade, and just plain fun links. I have made a word doc of links I have noticed and it is already six
pages long. I want to refer back to these links when I have more time and post some of them on my website.
Today RIFWeb, Washington, D.C. http://www.rif.org/, left the following tweet that I promised to pass along to my friends:
Just created a meebo chat room: http://tinyurl.com/5hhw5a
Check out their tweet referring to RIF Chat where you can chat live with other RIF friends and fans from across the
internet world. They suggest that you "use RIF Chat to share links, websites, ideas, stories, photos, and more!"
I've been having so much fun with my new twitter.com account arobins at http://twitter.com/arobins. There are so many
great promotional 140 word ads displayed every day that help with promoting your books, networking your name,
finding tools for your trade, and just plain fun links. I have made a word doc of links I have noticed and it is already six
pages long. I want to refer back to these links when I have more time and post some of them on my website.
Today RIFWeb, Washington, D.C. http://www.rif.org/, left the following tweet that I promised to pass along to my friends:
Just created a meebo chat room: http://tinyurl.com/5hhw5a
Check out their tweet referring to RIF Chat where you can chat live with other RIF friends and fans from across the
internet world. They suggest that you "use RIF Chat to share links, websites, ideas, stories, photos, and more!"
FaceBook Groups
places you will find that information. Take FaceBook for example. It is a social media where you give virtual gifts, play
silly games, Superpoke a friend, write 25 Things About Me notes, catch up with old school friends, etc. FaceBook is the
most fun site on the web in my humble opinion. But there is another side to FaceBook that must be entered with
caution called advertising and this is where Groups come in.
To read the rest of this article and leave a comment, click on http://robinfalls.blogspot.com
places you will find that information. Take FaceBook for example. It is a social media where you give virtual gifts, play
silly games, Superpoke a friend, write 25 Things About Me notes, catch up with old school friends, etc. FaceBook is the
most fun site on the web in my humble opinion. But there is another side to FaceBook that must be entered with
caution called advertising and this is where Groups come in.
To read the rest of this article and leave a comment, click on http://robinfalls.blogspot.com