by Sally
I have to confess I don’t do a lot of book signings. It’s at least two hours drive to my nearest book shop, and so the opportunity only arises when I travel to present at a festival or such.
Still, I know many children’s writers DO do book signings, with varying degrees of success. This week author Simon Rose, in his blog Simon Says has an interesting piece full of tips for successful book signings. You’ll find it here.
Enjoy.
by Sally
Today, children’s author Julie Murphy (no relation) drops in to give her seven answers to seven questions. Thanks for coming, Julie.
1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.
Before I became a full-time freelance writer, I was first a zoologist and then a zoo keeper. My very early publications therefore consisted of scientific articles. There was a persistent urge to write more creatively, though, so I gradually cut back on my paid work hours to branch out into writing popular articles for both children and adults. Some of these were even published in magazines, such as Pets ‘n People (which has since gone the way of the dinosaurs) and International WellBeing.
Everything stopped when I had a baby five years ago. Since then I have gradually been building up my writing work again. Now my focus is (probably quite understandably) fixed on writing for children. I love trying all sorts of genres for children. I have been fortunate to have published some articles, verse and assorted bits and pieces such as an e-book and a husbandry manual for children who want to keep stick insects in their classroom. I have a regular column about ‘Animals and Nature’ in Cherububble – an Aussie made e-magazine for children aged 4-8.
My first book was with Blake Education’s non fiction ‘Health and Understanding’ series . Since then, I have written books for a ‘Weird, Wild and Wonderful’ animal series for junior primary students. They are due out through Aussie School Books (but distributed by Blake) around November this year. I am still working on cracking the Trade picture book market.
2. How long have you been writing for children?
At least ten years. I remember writing a picture story book manuscript for an English project in year 7. Does that count?
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?
It varies from day to day. When my daughter goes to kinder I manage a couple more hours. When she doesn’t, it ranges from 1 to 2 hours per day. That is the total time I spend on all writing related work, which includes emails, query letters and manuscript revisions. The time-consuming but essential need for researching markets cuts into my actual time spent writing. But it’s worth it – it saves time in the long run because manuscripts aren’t sent off to inappropriate publishers.
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?
Lots. Reading to my daughter is a great way to encourage her appreciation of books and develop her literacy skills, while teaching me about the art of writing picture books. We read together every day. My favourite of this week’s library books is Squeezy cuddle dangly legs by Peter Whitfield and Jacqui Grantford, 2007, New Frontier Publishing.
5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?
I’m always a little embarrassed by this question, as I still have so much to learn. But having said that, I think the most important thing is to write and enjoy the process, instead of impatiently seeking an outcome. It is so important just to get those words down on paper (or screen) and not be too critical about the first draft. Then revise, revise, revise.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?
I have a few favourites –
http://www.scbwiaustralia.org/ – lots of useful info for aspiring writers
http://www.aussiereviews.com – keeps me in touch with new books, and presents the views of fellow writers
http://www.publishersweekly.com – helps me learn about the industry in the United States
http://vsgrenier.com/default.aspx – lots of useful info about writing for children
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?
My website is http://members.optusnet.com.au/~julieamurphy/
I also promote my published work by adding news items to my pages at Author’s Den and Jacketflap . I have given fliers to my local libraries, and sent news briefs to my local newspaper.
Thanks for dropping by, Julie. If YOU would like to be featured here with your seven answers, drop me a line at sally @ sallymurphy.net (remove the spaces). I would love to hear from you.
by Sally
Today we are joined by children’s and SF author, Bren MacDibble, who has kindly dropped by to answer seven questions. Welcome Bren!
1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.
I started out in 2000 with a nice illustrated educational fiction book for Nelson ITP (now Cengage). This contained two fun stories for nine year olds back to back. “Honestly Ernest” on one side then the child flips the book over for a whole new story called “Ernest’s Mice Mischief”.
Three slightly younger books with full colour illustrations followed for Blake Education, in 2002 “Take Me to Your Leader”, 2003 “A Red Hot Pet” and in 2004 “The Beast of Moogill” for a fun series called Gigglers.
There were also a lot of publications with Hullabaloo magazine at this time which was a US geographical kids magazine which won an award shortly before running out of funding.
I also had a lot of short stories published in SF magazines and ezines for adults and was accepted to participate in the first Clarion South workshop which improved my writing incredibly.
Lately, Shiny, a SFF mag for YA, has taken two stories called “Blurred Horizons” and “Being Bella Wang”. Funding will run out for Shiny eventually too but I am keen to pursue writing YA SF novels so I thought this was a nice entry into the genre. I do have a few completed YA novels I’m shopping about at the moment.
I adore short story and am also keen to provide written content for graphic novels/comics/and other forms. Currently exploring my options there and shopping an illustrated SF free-verse poem story for upper primary.
2. How long have you been writing for children?
Since about 1999. Almost a decade and I’m not famous yet. What’s going on?
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?
I spend a lot of time trying to make money at part time jobs with the idea that I’ll have more time to write. I revise a lot since I have these large novels to sell and with a novel there’s always something to improve. I critique for friends every week in the hope that they will critique for me when required. Because I write for children as well as adult SF, I have two groups of writerly friends to keep happy.
I have partial novels and wacky short stories on the go. I work on them in fits and starts and generally I don’t get inspired to finish them until someone calls for something or I find a guideline to match it and then I tend to immerse myself in it for days on end. I’d say I spend around 16-20 hours on writing related endeavours each week. I don’t spend enough time marketing or promoting and I get to less than a third of the networking opportunities offered so I feel pretty bad about that, thank you for asking.
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you
reading right now?
I try to read all the popular children’s books and I buy a lot of bizarre YA books that are similar to the novels I write.
At the moment I’m reading Un Lun Dun by China Mieville which is set under London and has child protags as opposed to Neil Gaiman’s book under London (Neverwhere) which has an adult male protag and which, I think, is still appealing to YA. I probably spend an hour a day with my nose in a YA novel.
5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?
Run away! Run away! Actually, I have a how-to-guide for new children’s writers. It’s very Australian-focussed if anyone is interested. But basically, read your favourites, figure out what makes them tick, then refine your style and content to something that you really love.
There’s three reasons to write what you really love. One is that you’ll basically be working for love since most things won’t sell. Two is that editors may put out guidelines etc, etc, but they’re all secretly hoping that the next amazing new thing will cross their desk and they don’t really know what that looks like until they see it. So what you love may turn out to be what other people love too. Three is that there is little point in creating works identical to those already created. Other better established authors are already doing their thing. New fresh stuff, that’s what’s needed.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?
Verla Kay’s forum is quite good for keeping tabs on the US market. My favourite, of course, is all the lovely Aussie children’s writers at KidsWritersDownunder. It’s casual and friendly and they’re all very talented.
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?
My website is at www.macdibble.com soon to be updated… and I have a blog at http://macdibble.livejournal.com/ . Other writers can “friend” me there. I’ve joined loads of networking sites and Google seems to be pretty keen on the name MacDibble as a result. I don’t really do enough promoting of myself or my work otherwise. I certainly know a lot of writers but only a few publishers.
Thanks for dropping in Bren. If YOU would like to answer seven questions and be featured here on this blog, drop me a line at sally @ sallymurphy.net (remove the spaces).
by Sally
Today we are lucky enough to have children’s author Marianne Musgrove drop by answer my seven questions. Welcome Marianne!
1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have one, tell us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.
The Worry Tree, Random House Australia, 2007
– Winner of the 2008 Australian Family Therapists’ Award for
Children’s Literature (younger readers)
– Short-listed for:
o 2007 National Children’s Peace Literature Award
o 2008 Queensland Premier’s Literary Award
o 2008 SA Festival Award for Children’s Literature.
Also, my mum thinks it’s very good!
Mini blurb (a blurbette, if you will):
Worrywart Juliet finds a old painting of a tree beneath the wallpaper in her new bedroom. It’s a Worry Tree she can hang her worries on at night.
Lucy the Good (written by me, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini), Random House Australia, 2008
Seven year old Lucy spends an inordinate amount of time on the Time Out chair, only she can’t figure out why. Lucy’s stern great aunt from Holland comes to visit, pronouncing her niece, Lucy the Bad.
Lucy is on a mission to prove she really is good, only things don’t quite go to plan.
Current project: Don’t Breathe a Word, about two young carers.
2. How long have you been writing for children?
I was published in 2007 but began writing in 2002.
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?
Writing/editing: zero and fifteen hours per week
Angsting about the plot: eighteen and thirty-four hours per week
Promotion: a couple of hours per week.
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?
I’m always reading one children’s book or another. I just read Peter Carnavas’ Jessica’s Box, a picture book about a little girl who tries to buy friendship and learns to just be herself.
5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?
a) Self doubt is normal. It will pass. Then it will come back. Then it will pass. Then it will come back …
b) Work out your angle. My books are funny, realistic stories that help children. I market myself as such, eg, to school counsellors, social workers and psychologists.
c) Come up with a quirky fact about yourself that will stick in people’s minds. I happen to be a descendant of King Henry VIII’s librarian. My publisher uses this fact to pitch my books at overseas book fairs.
d) Don’t just market your book, market yourself. Your titles will change but your name will stay the same. I thought about calling my website www.worrytree.com.au but changed it to www.mariannemusgrove.com.au to promote myself as a brand. It still irks me to think about branding myself (ouch!) but books are products that need buyers so it’s a necessary evil.
e) When you receive the first draft of the back cover blurb of your book, ask if you can have a crack at rewriting it. You know it best.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers?
Why?
The e-zine, Pass It On. It makes me feel connected to other children’s writers plus it has such useful information. It’s a bargain.
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?
You can check out my very funny (if I do say so myself) website at www.mariannemusgrove.com.au You can download the first chapter of my novels. Each of my books has something extra to make it stand out from the crowd. Readers can download their very own Worry Tree from the Random House website. Lucy the Good comes with its own sticker and recipe for Dutch spiced biscuits.
Think laterally. My local butcher and shoe shop agreed to display a poster of my book. The sky is the limit!
Thanks for dropping in Marianne. If YOU would like to answer seven questions and be featured here on this blog, drop me a line at sally @ sallymurphy.net (remove the spaces).
by Sally
Today, Barbara Turner drops by to share her seven answers to seven questions.
Enjoy!
1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.
My latest book is a middle grade NF biography called Women of Granite: 25 New Hampshire Women You Should Know, written with the 6 other members of my face to face critique group. The book contains 25 biographies of NH women from the 1600’s to the present. There’s a short bio, a timeline, interesting tidbits about each woman, a read more section and a glossary. We did 3 or 4 bios each.
The book has received very good reviews and was just chosen by the NH Center for the Book to represent the state of New Hampshire at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC. (Just got back. It was this past weekend.)
We are also just finishing up Women of the Bay State (Massachusetts) and there are several more in the works (Texas, California and New York) The publisher hopes to do all 50 states.
I’ve also published two other books, A Little Bit of Rob, (Albert Whitman Company) and Out and About at the Orchestra (Picture Window Books) as well as short stories and poetry.
2. How long have you been writing for children?
I’ve been writing all my life, but 1991 was when I actually started to get serious and submit.
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?
I probably write about four hours each day, maybe 6-8 on the weekends. I don’t spend a lot of time researching markets. My biggest failing as a writer is that I don’t submit as often as I should. I generally don’t do much promotion either, but for my latest book, I’ve been doing a lot, only because the other women involved are into marketing. We’ve spoken at libraries, done tv, radio and newspaper interviews, attended the National Book Festival, spoke at the New England SCBWI conference, and done book signings. I never would have done any of these things if I had written the book myself, so being involved in the group has helped me considerably. (thewritesisters.com.)
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?
I probably read one new book a month, although I read at least one book a week. I read books I’ve already read just to analyze them. I’ve just finished Madapple by Christina Meldrum, a YA kinda paranormal/mystery. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?
Find a good critique group. It’ll take years off your journey. And if you can find a group where you’re at the bottom of the totem pole, that’s even better, because if everyone in the group knows more than you, you’re going to get tons of good help/info. And read as much as you write. You’ll learn writing techniques without even realizing you’re learning them.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?
I don’t really have one. I’ve reached the point where I spend more time writing than reading about writing. I do use the web though on the rare occasions when I do submit to check out publishers’ web sites and guidelines.
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?
I have a website and blog with the other members of my group. Again, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have either. Which is another good reason to have a good critique group. Marketing is a big weak spot for me, but my work is getting out there because it’s not a weak spot for the other members of my group. The URLs are:
thewritesisters.com and thewritesisters.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for dropping in, Barbara.
If YOU would like to answer these seven questions and be featured on this blog, drop me a line.
by Sally
Australian author Christopher Cheng, who is also a literacy ambassador for National Literacy and Numeracy Week has started a new blog, newkidsbooksinoz, which highlights new children’s book releases.
Notes From the Slush Pile is a UK-based blog which reports on all aspects of the children’s book industry, including marketing and promotion. Lots of useful information, and plenty of time wasters to click on and enjoy.
The Cybils – the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards – are now open for nominations. Nominate your favourite children’s or YA book published in 2008, or simply browse the nominations (and comments) for some reading recommendations.