NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR TIPS by Patricia Sloan
As a new author, I realized I have some valuable information to share with others just starting out and wanted to share with you what I have learned.
First, there is what I call the "New Author Tool Box" which contains certain tools that you should have in order to maximize your marketing efforts.
AUTHOR TOOLS:
An Author Web Site
A Press Release
A Well Planned Author/Story Time Event
THE AUTHOR WEB SITE
An "Author Web Site" is one of the most important tools a new author will have. This is your landing page where everyone can find out more about your book, details about you and your illustrator, and most importantly, web site information on where your book can be purchased!
Careful thought should go into your design to make it eye catching and the the information clear and insightful. In my opinion, your visitor should feel like they have just met you in person after visiting your site, however, even the most basic web site will do and it is definitely a "MUST HAVE" for your new author tool box.
Ideally you want your author web site up before your book is published. If you are like me, with no prior training or knowledge on how to build your own web site, never fear, there is help! I personally struggled with not having a clue where to begin to get this "MUST HAVE" tool. I did try several different web design products that claimed to be simple to navigate but I found they were just not user friendly enough for me to understand and I became very frustrated.
I thought I would never get my web site designed and up...until I discovered Weebly. Since I am a visual learner, their drag/drop tools I found much easier to navigate and they have excellent online help/resources to help you figure out everything if you get hung up at some point. You can find Weebly at the bottom right hand corner of this page by clicking on "Create a free website with Weebly" - check them out!
This site took me a couple of weeks to design with all of the graphics/artwork that I had to upload - but if I can do it - so can you!!!!!!!
Careful thought should go into your design to make it eye catching and the the information clear and insightful. In my opinion, your visitor should feel like they have just met you in person after visiting your site, however, even the most basic web site will do and it is definitely a "MUST HAVE" for your new author tool box.
Ideally you want your author web site up before your book is published. If you are like me, with no prior training or knowledge on how to build your own web site, never fear, there is help! I personally struggled with not having a clue where to begin to get this "MUST HAVE" tool. I did try several different web design products that claimed to be simple to navigate but I found they were just not user friendly enough for me to understand and I became very frustrated.
I thought I would never get my web site designed and up...until I discovered Weebly. Since I am a visual learner, their drag/drop tools I found much easier to navigate and they have excellent online help/resources to help you figure out everything if you get hung up at some point. You can find Weebly at the bottom right hand corner of this page by clicking on "Create a free website with Weebly" - check them out!
This site took me a couple of weeks to design with all of the graphics/artwork that I had to upload - but if I can do it - so can you!!!!!!!
A PRESS RELEASE
The second most important thing in your author tool box should be your Press Release. I did have some prior knowledge about Press Releases since I had worked many years ago with a major advertising/marketing firm and had seen quite a few of them before - but I had never actually prepared one myself!
I researched the proper format and information it should contain on the internet and after some careful thought and several drafts later, I finally had finished my press release and started sending it out to local television, newspaper and radio stations.
Below is the format/text that I included in my press release for WHERE DO THE MONDAYS GO? I also included a centered picture of the cover of the book at the top of this release and I inserted two of my Super-Duper characters at the bottom of it so they could see how the day of the week name was hidden/blended into the character artwork. FYI, preferably, your press release should also include a phone contact number for you at the bottom.
Author Contact: Patricia Sloan FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email:
WHERE DO THE MONDAYS GO?
Do you know?
This educational story book for children by Texas author, Patricia Sloan, presents facts in a fictional tale to introduce children to the days of the week.
The quirky cartoon characters in the story are the days of the week. If you look closely at each character, you will see each character/day has the day of the week spelled out in the body. For example, Super-Duper Monday has big swooping M’s for his hair, an O for his nose, N for his mouth, D on his chest, A in the body with the belt going across, and the Y is the pockets and the legs.
The ending to the story answers the title/question when the most important fact of all is revealed – where time begins.
The author, Patricia Sloan, is also the creator/illustrator of the seven Super-Duper Day characters in WHERE DO THE MONDAYS GO? The group name for her seven super heroes is: Greenwich Super-Duper Days. She worked in the airline industry for over 20 years and is now retired. She is a native of the Lone Star State and lives just outside of Houston, Texas with her little “lion dog” Merlin. Patricia is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.
The co-illustrator, Daniel Alexander, is also from the Lone Star State. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media and Animation from the Art Institute of Houston. This is his first picture book project and he loves to work with different media. His artwork brings an amazing range of colors and style that captivates everyone and provides the perfect mood for Patricia Sloan's days of the week character creations.
To find out the “Story behind the Story” - visit the author/illustrator web site:
www.wheredothemondaysgo.com
###
If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Patricia Sloan, please email:
Phone Contact Number:
I researched the proper format and information it should contain on the internet and after some careful thought and several drafts later, I finally had finished my press release and started sending it out to local television, newspaper and radio stations.
Below is the format/text that I included in my press release for WHERE DO THE MONDAYS GO? I also included a centered picture of the cover of the book at the top of this release and I inserted two of my Super-Duper characters at the bottom of it so they could see how the day of the week name was hidden/blended into the character artwork. FYI, preferably, your press release should also include a phone contact number for you at the bottom.
Author Contact: Patricia Sloan FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email:
WHERE DO THE MONDAYS GO?
Do you know?
This educational story book for children by Texas author, Patricia Sloan, presents facts in a fictional tale to introduce children to the days of the week.
The quirky cartoon characters in the story are the days of the week. If you look closely at each character, you will see each character/day has the day of the week spelled out in the body. For example, Super-Duper Monday has big swooping M’s for his hair, an O for his nose, N for his mouth, D on his chest, A in the body with the belt going across, and the Y is the pockets and the legs.
The ending to the story answers the title/question when the most important fact of all is revealed – where time begins.
The author, Patricia Sloan, is also the creator/illustrator of the seven Super-Duper Day characters in WHERE DO THE MONDAYS GO? The group name for her seven super heroes is: Greenwich Super-Duper Days. She worked in the airline industry for over 20 years and is now retired. She is a native of the Lone Star State and lives just outside of Houston, Texas with her little “lion dog” Merlin. Patricia is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.
The co-illustrator, Daniel Alexander, is also from the Lone Star State. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media and Animation from the Art Institute of Houston. This is his first picture book project and he loves to work with different media. His artwork brings an amazing range of colors and style that captivates everyone and provides the perfect mood for Patricia Sloan's days of the week character creations.
To find out the “Story behind the Story” - visit the author/illustrator web site:
www.wheredothemondaysgo.com
###
If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Patricia Sloan, please email:
Phone Contact Number:
