On The Go With Children's Author Karen Cioffi

On the Go with Children's Author Karen Cioffi on her final stop of her week long blog tour. Welcome!

Children's Author Karen Cioffi

Karen what do you find most important to grow your career as an author?

Author visits are an important strategy in book marketing. You won’t sell books if no one knows they’re available for sale. This is one marketing strategy I am remiss in. I haven’t done any speaking engagements or author signings. I did talk to my local library about speaking there, but events like that are only done at the main branches. Unfortunately, I never followed through.

I always think if I do all this when will I write. So What else are you looking into.
Speaking engagements is on my ‘to do’ list. Book signings, I’m undecided on. I’ve read that they’re not really worth the effort, but I will be looking into it further. What’s effective for on book marketer may not work for another and what doesn’t work for one may work for another. So, always test the waters before saying ‘no.’ One of my favorite sayings is: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

That's a great saying Karen. And I agree test the waters, try it all and then decide. But what have you found a good use of your time and enjoyable ?


I do however, do online writing and marketing workshops and webinars, and most recently became a Writing Children’s Fiction instructor for the Long Story Short Writing School.

How can our readers find you and what you are up to or buy your books?

Day's End Lullaby

To keep track of my writing and marketing events, you can visit http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing.com
Are you available for Speaking Engagements or do you only do on line webinars?

If you are interested in booking me for a speaking engagement, I only do local visits. If you’d like to book me for an online workshop or webinar you can contact me at karencioffi [at] ymail [dot] com.

Crafty, Romantic, Mysterious and Giving that is Debbie Macomber

National Craft Month is winding down, but one author whose books embody crafts as an intrical part of her platform and books is not, winding down that is. Debbie Macomber continues her break neck pace of tours, writing, crafts and help for charities.

Macomber challenges her readers to contribute their skills as craftsmen and women to help other through their crafts. Knitting or crocheting chemo hats, blankets, and breast prostheses are her designated projects for this year.

"A devoted knitter herself, Debbie is launching the third year of her Knit1, Bless2 program, which in 2012 will help chemotherapy patients who’ve lost their hair, women who’ve experienced mastectomies and needy newborns. Last year, Debbie’s readers answered the call to the tune of more than 5,000 knitted and crocheted garments, which were distributed with the help of three national charitable organizations."

DEBBIE MACOMBER Knitting for Charity Project 2012

• Halos of Hope

(knitted and crocheted chemo hats for children and adults

• Project Linus

(blankets of all sizes for babies)

• Knitted Knockers of A Good Yarn Shop, Port Orchard, Washington

(breast prostheses)

Donations of knitted and crocheted garments will be accepted through November 1, 2012. For information on the distributing organizations, patterns and shipping instructions, visit www.DebbieMacomber.com.

For more information visit her website at http://www.DEBBIEMACOMBER.com

 

Billie A Williams http://www.billiewilliams.com/Read.html

to buy one of her current releases.

It’s More Than Printed Words When It Comes to Mystery Writing

When the forensic team arrives at a murder scene, what do they do?  How can the tell how long a person has been dead and if there’s no gun or knife wound, how do they figure out  cause of death? (link)

Patricia Cornwell uses her background in forensic science to inform her mysteries. It is always amazing to learn what tales a dead body can tell a medical examiner or a forensic crew. The scene itself is scrutinized with microscopic care, even though the real center of the investigation is the body. The way a master story teller, mystery writer systematically layers the clues or extracts them from victim and circumstances not only makes for a good read, but if you are a writer, clues you may be able to use in your own writing.

Patricia Cornwell’s latest is no exception. Red Mist [Link] is methodical, suspenseful and a spine tingling good read. I enjoy every one of her books.

Donna McDine - Working Writer's Club Virtual Book Tour- Award-winning Children's Author

Hi Donna, I'm so excited to have you joining us on my blog today. It's been an exciting week following you around on the various blogs you've visited.

Billie, I’m thrilled to be joining you today on my fifth day of my Working Writer’s Club Virtual Book Tour. Billie and I are members of the Working Writer’s Club and it’s exhilarating to meet authors from other genres.

My freelance writing career has been a whirlwind since the release of The Golden Pathway in August 2010. Since the release I’ve participated in:

• Guardian Angel Publishing events, St. Louis, MO - September 17-18, 2010: St. Louis, MO

· Publishing with a Small Press author’s panel at The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT – September 25, 2010

· 15^th Annual Rockland Literacy Extravaganza, Sparkill, NY – October 16, 2010

· Virtual Book Tour – September and October 2010 – coordinated by Pump Up Your Book Promotion

· Children’s author “meet and greet” at the Tappan Library, Tappan, NY – January 17, 2011

· “Book Bites for Kids” and “Hot Radio Now” Internet radio interviews

· Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Library, Piermont, NY – October 16, 2011

· Hilton Westchester Rye Brook, New York State Reading Association, Westchester, NY – October 23, 2011

· Orangeburg Library, Orangeburg, NY – February 4, 2012

· Bardonia Elementary School, Bardonia, NY – March 5-9, 2012

Future events will be announced at http://donnamcdine.com/mediakit.html.

Interested in learning about my school visit workshops, visit http://donnamcdine.com/schoollibraryvisits.html

To learn more about my writing career or to order an autographed copy of The Golden Pathway visit, www.donnamcdine.com. Gift with purchase: The Golden Pathway Educator’s Guide.

Additional ways to order The Golden Pathway:

Guardian Angel Publishing: http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Golden-Pathway-Donna-McDine/dp/1616330813/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331737065&sr=1-1

Thank you for visiting with me today. I appreciate your time and interest. Please enter below at a chance to win a $25 PayPal payment.  http://www.thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com

---------------------

Best wishes,

Donna M. McDine

Award-winning Children's Author

Working Writer’s Club Publicist and Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Angel Kids

Member of SCBWI and Musing Our Children

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm ~ Literary Classics Silver Award & Seal of Approval Recipient & Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist

Donna’s Website: http://www.donnamcdine.com
Write What Inspires You Blog: http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

The Golden Pathway Blog: http://www.thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com

Author PR Services: http://www.authorprservices.com

This is the last day of Donna's Blog tour I hope you have enjoyed it and that you will check out her website and her book and be sure to sign up for her contest. Who couldn't use $25 as easy to use as this.

Donna thank you for the insight into who you are and what you do, it's been great!

Billie

It's A Mystery To Me

It's a mystery to me how this works but I've been trying to get my hand written signature into Yahoo half the day - it works everywhere but Yahoo. I fail to comprehend.

However, since I am a mystery author I'm sure I should be able to find an answer even if I'm an accidental sleuth who has no desire to puzzle over this particular what if.



http://www.themysteryconnection.com

On The Go With Children's Author Nancy Sanders

Hi Nancy,
I'm so glad you could join us today on the last day of your tour for D is for Drinking Gourd. A good week's worth of getting to know you. So far we have your website and your blog so our readers might visit you and learn more.

On the Go with Children’s Author Nancy I. Sanders

Website: www.nancyisanders.com

Blog: www.nancyisanders.wordpress.com

 Now, let's find out a bit more about getting your to come visit with readers who want to see you live and in person. First the information about this book again.

Featured Book:

 D is For Drinking Gourd

D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet

Author: Nancy I. Sanders

Illustrator: E. B. Lewis

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

Book’s Website: www.DrinkingGourdAlphabet.wordpress.com

And now Some questions about you and what you do....

Q. Do you visit schools for author events?

A. One of the joys of writing for kids is to visit kids at schools for author events. I’ve gone to various local schools over the years for in-person visits. In February of this year, I attended a Career Day for a local junior high of over 400 students and talked with kids about how they can become an author, too! I’ve also done Skype visits with classrooms or e-mail visits where the teachers invite the students to ask me questions. It’s not only a great way to promote my books, it’s also a great way to promote the joy and love of reading!

Q. Do you teach writing classes?

A. Yes, I also teach classes on how-to-write. I’ve taught at various writing conferences on writing for children. I base my teaching sessions on my groundbreaking book for children’s writers, Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career. Members of my class are so encouraged and so many of them start experiencing success based on the strategies I teach, even if they’ve been trying to get published for years.

I also teach writing classes and host online chats for writers at sites such as the Working Writers Club at www.workingwritersclub.com. My classes are based on tried and true methods I use as a bestselling and award-winning author of over 80 books.

Q. How can writers connect with you so they can implement your winning strategies into their own writing life?

A. The first thing every children’s writer should do is purchase and read my book, Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career. There simply isn’t another book like this available on the market today. I share about the inside world of publishing with practical tips on how to make my success your success, too. But don’t just take my word for it! Read the testimonials of other writers who have contacted me and let me know about their success. Visit my site at: www.yesyoucanlearn.wordpress.com/testimonies/

I also love to do virtual classes with small or large groups of writers. My virtual workshops can be tailored to fit the needs of any writing group whether it’s comprised of children’s writers or writers for adults. I can teach you how to jumpstart your writing career to the next level whether it’s through creating winning first pages in your manuscripts or building a website for your upcoming book. For more information about scheduling a virtual workshop for your group of writing friends or for your writers’ group, please visit my site: www.yesyoucanlearnvirtualvisit.wordpress.com/

Thank you again Nancy I'm looking forward to enjoying all your books and joining your classes for children's writers.

Candlelight and Shadows, a mystery

If you enjoy a page turner full of tension and tenderness, I recommend Candlelight and Shadows penned by Billie A. Williams.  To read it is like sitting down to cozy tea with a big-hearted and witty story-teller.

Jean Larson

Retired United Methodist pastor and author obscure

Though the above is the new cover for Candlelight and Shadows you may find it on Amazon or other place with this cover 

On The Go With Children's Author, Kathryn Kessler

Hey Everyone Please help me welcome Kathryn Kessler and Marvin to my blog as we become part of

On the Go with Children’s Author, Kathryn Kessler at the Printed Words Blog.

 Thank you so much for stopping by Kathryn we are looking forward to hearing more about Marvin and this is your fifth day. I bet you are both tired now.

Thank you for following my virtual book tour to the fifth and final day; for my book, Marvin Discovers the Beach.

During this five day tour, I have talked about Marvin, his adventures, about myself, Marvin’s brother, Hibou and gave tips for parents and teachers. Today, I thought that you also need to know that Marvin and I go on school and library visits.

 OH excellent tell us more about that please!

Going on these visits is our favorite thing to do. We love to interact with our readers and their families. I enjoy sharing with all children, young and old, my journey to becoming an author. As I read Marvin’s latest discovery, it is exciting to watch the expressions on the children’s faces as I involve them in the story. Encouraging the children’s imagination takes Marvin’s story to a whole new level and sometimes, a whole new adventure. As a special treat, when we have completed the story, I get the children to call for Marvin, and out of a special hiding place, struts Marvin. He is ready for love and kisses. He particularly loves to show off his ability to sit, speak, shake-a-paw and roll over. (as long as there is a treat waiting for him!)

 Wonderful where can we get a copy of Marvin Discovers the Beach to share and enjoy with others who may have missed you and Marvin?

Marvin Discovers the Beach, is so new that it has just become available on our website, www.marvindiscovers.com. We are available for school, library and bookstore visits. Please contact us at marvindiscovers@gmail.com for more information on scheduling a visit.

Kathyrn Kessler visits tomorrow with Marvin

Kathryn Kessler Marvin Discovers the Beach  wait until you meet him. He is adorable.

Be here and we will see what Kathryn has in store for us.

A Pig in a Poke ,or Raising Them Is No Joke

This isn't exactly about that old saw about a pig in a poke - where that originated I don't know but my mother used it often and my grandfather raised them, pigs that is, not pokes.

This is about what we consume, eat, digest on any given day. I read, with wonder and alarm, more because my grandfather was a farmer who raised and sold pigs as well as other things from his farm, then from amazement at the facts as presented.

This fact, " A baby pig grew for 5 years to obtain his weight of 130 pounds." Was not always true because, I know for a fact my grandfather's pig we raised on a bottle (the sow was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm with fourteen suckling babies nursing - 3 survived that strike) We managed to keep one alive on a bottle.

Grandfather sold the pig the next Spring at 250 pounds.  But I digress. Today a pig will weight 220 pounds in six months --before it loses it's baby teeth according to the statistics I read.

Are we by passing and over-riding Mother Nature to feed the growing world population? Is it a health risk or concern?  Or, should it be?