How Can the Underground Railroad be a Golden Pathway, the Virtual Book Tour Continues September 27 – October 8, 2010
M E D I A R E L E A S E
CONTACT: Donna M. McDine
Children’s Author
Email: dmcdine@optonline.net
Phone: 845-721-7802
For Immediate Release
How Can the Underground Railroad be a Golden Pathway, the Virtual Book Tour Continues September 27 – October 8, 2010
The fun continues with The Golden Pathway (Guardian Angel Publishing) virtual book tour.
Title: The Golden Pathway
Written by: Donna McDine
Illustrated by: K.C. Snider
Ages: 8-12
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
Hardcover: ISBN: 978-1-61633-081-1; 1616330813
Soft cover: ISBN: 978-1-61633-088-0; 1616330880
eBook: ISBN: 978-1-61633-082-8; 1616330821
Published: August 2010
Synopsis:
Be transported through time to the Underground Railroad, where high-pitched screams echo each night. David’s cruel Pa always chooses the same victim. Despite the circumstances during slavery, David uncovers the courage to defy his Pa. Raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily, David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David attempts to lead Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa.
Virtual Book Tour stops the week of September 27-October 8, 2010:
Monday, September 27
Book reviewed at The Story of a Writer – http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com/
Book reviewed at Lori Calabrese’s Blog - http://loricalabrese.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, September 28
Interviewed at Lori Calabrese’s Blog - http://loricalabrese.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, September 29
Book reviewed at The Crypto-Capers Review – http://cryptocaperseries.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 30
Book reviewed at My Favorite Things – http://edna-myfavoritethings.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 4
Interviewed at Beyond the Books – http://beyondthebooks.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, October 5
Book reviewed at 4 the Love of Books – http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 6
Guest blogging at Writing Daze – http://rebeccasnotebook.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 7
Book reviewed at Just One More Paragraph – http://tweezlereads.blogspot.com/
Friday, October 8
Book reviewed at Debbie’s Book Bag – http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/
Donna will check in throughout the day at each location to interact with the visitors to field any comments and/or questions. Take this wonderful opportunity to show your support and ask your questions.
Each stop is UNIQUE so please check-in daily through October 29, 2010 at http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/ to see where Ms. McDine will pop up next.
Thank you in advance for your interest and support.
###
Full Media Kit, Headshot, Book Cover Art and more are available upon request.
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"Marketing Burnout" - One Author's Solution
As a writer, you love to write. You are happiest sitting at your computer or with a notebook and pen, typing or scribbling as the words flow from your brain to your fingertips. You thrive on being alone for a large chunk of the day, writing and reading, researching and e-mailing.
Then it happens. You get an acceptance! Some time passes and soon you hold your published book your hands. Yay, now you can sit back and watch the sales roll in, right? Uh, no.
Many wannabe writers don't realize that when your book is published by a small publisher, most of the marketing will fall to you, the author. There is an unbelievable amount of work involved in getting your book into the hands of folks who will enjoy reading it. In fact, it's so much work that sometimes authors burn out.
Any writer will tell you that having your published books to market is a tremendous blessing. But sometimes you may need to take a step back and slow down. Taking a break from marketing can revive your strength and renew your enthusiasm for the task.
Read what author Katie Hines has to say about "marketing burnout" and taking a break: http://katiehines.blogspot.com/2010/09/have-you-had-it-with-marketing.html
Then it happens. You get an acceptance! Some time passes and soon you hold your published book your hands. Yay, now you can sit back and watch the sales roll in, right? Uh, no.
Many wannabe writers don't realize that when your book is published by a small publisher, most of the marketing will fall to you, the author. There is an unbelievable amount of work involved in getting your book into the hands of folks who will enjoy reading it. In fact, it's so much work that sometimes authors burn out.
Any writer will tell you that having your published books to market is a tremendous blessing. But sometimes you may need to take a step back and slow down. Taking a break from marketing can revive your strength and renew your enthusiasm for the task.
Read what author Katie Hines has to say about "marketing burnout" and taking a break: http://katiehines.blogspot.com/2010/09/have-you-had-it-with-marketing.html
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Writing Compelling Characters
How well do we know our characters?
People aren't static. Everything we do changes us. Everything we witness, everything that happens to us.
Yet often times in books, it seems that the characters are static. Flat. They don't change. As readers we anticipate a change. We watch the cause on one screen and turn to the next screen to see the effect. If there is none, we feel a huge let-down.
My characters have a huge back story. Most of it is never revealed in the book. At one point it was revealed, but most of those scenes have been deleted. And it doesn't matter. My characters still react to things in context of their histories. The little reveals add depth to the novel, they add mystery and intrigue. Just like our relationships with our friends in real life. When we meet someone, they don't hand us a pamphlet with their back story (though heaven knows, sometimes it would be nice). We get to know them little by little. We discover their eccentricities and what makes them tick, and sometimes we never quite find out what it is about brown socks and rabbits that sends them into a tizzy every time, but we know it does.
With our characters, we get to be parents. Gods. Procreaters. Again and again and again. When I created Jayne for my book Inevitable, I had so much fun making her features, designing her personality, and thinking up her favorite things to do. But just like with parenting, an interesting thing happened: as I wrote about Jayne, some things really fit--and others didn't. How?? I made her! But Jayne took on her own life. She is who she is, not who I want her to be.
It's okay to mess with your characters. Do something crazy, just for fun. Write a scene where one of your characters breaks a personal moral standard. What does that do to your character? How does it affect the relationships with the other characters? Write a scene where the character witnesses a crime. Loses a sibling. Gets a scholarship.
Get to know your characters again. It's amazing how dynamic they are.
On another note, my book release has been changed to Nov.16 instead of Nov. 1. Almost here!
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Calling All 2011 Debut Small Press Authors
That's why we put together a group for debut authors in this situation and we'd like to carry on the tradition. The group is called Indie-Debut and it's open to any children's- YA author who has a book coming out in 2011 with a small or CWIM-unlisted press.
To be eligible, your publisher just needs to be a member of Independent Book Publishers of America, Small Publishers Association of North America or listed in the Small Press section on SCBWI's PAL application form. (Sorry, self-publishers and vanity presses are not eligible)
We hope to gather about twenty authors to help each other with publicity through a group blog, blog tours, virtual book launches, tweets, Facebooks posts, etc. Plus, it never hurts to have new author friends!!
If you're interested, please contact Abigail Beal at abigailwrites (at) gmail (dot) com. You can also use the contact form above--be sure to let us know your name, publisher, title, release date, and website (if you have one).
We'll send you an invitation to the group if availability is still open and your publisher meets the criteria listed above.
Thanks so much for your interest!
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Publishing with a Small Press panel this Saturday
3 Indie-Debut Authors bring children’s book and YA writers much-needed, seldom-offered advice on what it’s like to publish with a small press.
Indie-Debut authors are aware that not all small presses are created equal, which is why they caution authors to do their homework and sift through publishers to find the one right for them.
The panel on September 25 will offer attendees a unique opportunity to hear first-hand the three authors’ experiences publishing their books through a small press. At the same time, the three authors will share their perspectives on small presses in general during their discussions and help writers decide if this is the right step in their goal to publication.
On the panel are children's authors, Lori Calabrese, Donna McDine and YA author, Jo Ramsey. Hope to see you there!
The Ferguson Library
Harry Bennett Branch
115 Vine Road, Stamford
fergusonlibrary.org
Sponsored by the Friends of the Harry Bennett Library and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators of Lower Fairfield (a subgroup of NE-SCBWI)
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The Bug plagues Indie Debut blogs
, starting Friday, October 1st.The Bug will be buzzing by fellow Indie-Debut member's blogs, checking out their book reviews, interviews with the author (yep, that's me!), guest posts, and giveaways--what other than autographed copies of The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade
!So I hope you all get the chance to stop by each one of The Bug's stops and check out what all the buzz is about!
Friday, October 1
Jo Ramsey
Interview
Monday, October 4
Write What Inspires You (Donna M. McDine)
(Guest Post: Sailing the Rough Seas of the Picture Book Market)
Tuesday, October 5
Write What Inspires You (Donna M. McDine)
Book Review
Wednesday, October 6
Dancing With Dragons is Hard on Your Shoes (Miriam S. Forster)
(Guest Post: POD Publishing and Why It's Helping Small Presses Thrive)
Thursday, October 7:
Writing and Reading with Carla Mooney
Interview
Friday, October 8:
Beth's Book Basket (Beth Bence Reinke)
Interview + Giveaway
Monday, October 11
The White Forest (Danika Dinsmore)
Interview
Tuesday, October 12:
Chasing Dreams (Tamara Hart Heiner)
Wednesday, October 13
Dancing with Dragons is Hard on Your Shoes (Miriam S. Forster)
Interview + Giveaway
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The Golden Pathway Lights up Cyberspace through a Virtual Book Tour
M E D I A R E L E A S E
CONTACT: Donna M. McDine
Children’s Author
Email: dmcdine@optonline.net
Phone: 845-721-7802
For Immediate Release
The Golden Pathway Lights up Cyberspace through a Virtual Book Tour
Join Donna McDine, author of the historical fiction story book, The Golden Pathway (Guardian Angel Publishing), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in September and October on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion.
Title: The Golden Pathway
Written by: Donna McDine
Illustrated by: K.C. Snider
Ages: 8-12
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
Hardcover: ISBN: 978-1-61633-081-1; 1616330813
Soft cover: ISBN: 978-1-61633-088-0; 1616330880
eBook: ISBN: 978-1-61633-082-8; 1616330821
Published: August 2010
Synopsis:
Be transported through time to the Underground Railroad, where high-pitched screams echo each night. David’s cruel Pa always chooses the same victim. Despite the circumstances during slavery, David uncovers the courage to defy his Pa. Raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily, David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David attempts to lead Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa.
Virtual Book Tour stops the week of September 5, 2010:
Tuesday, September 7:
Thoughts in Progress
http://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/
Guest Post – “Where Does One Begin in Creating a Media Kit?”
Wednesday, September 8:
The Children and Teen’s Book Connection
http://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com/
Book Review
Thursday, September 9:
The Hot Author Report
http://www.thehotauthorreport.com/
Guest Post – “Five Things You Didn’t Know About Donna McDine”
Friday, September 10:
Lori’s Reading Corner
http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com/
Guest Post: “Writing for Children Tips”
Donna will check in throughout the day at each location to interact with the visitors to field any comments and/or questions. Take this wonderful opportunity to show your support and ask your questions.
Each stop is UNIQUE so please check-in daily through October 29, 2010 at http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/ to see where Ms. McDine will pop up next.
Thank you in advance for your interest and support.
###
Full Media Kit, Headshot, Book Cover Art and more are available upon request.
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Some Buzz About the Bug
The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade over at BlogCritics by Nicole Weaver!Weaver says, "Reading the story will surely bring a huge smile to your face, just like it did me, because it reminded me so much of similar adventures my three children and their friends experienced during their elementary years in school. Every elementary school should have a copy of this precious book in their school library."
But that's not all...
Award-winning author of
The Golden Pathway,
Donna McDine says, "Will Matt succeed and convince his teacher that he truly captured an unusual bug for real or will he be sent home because he caught the cold bug? Find out while you read the hilarious tale of The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade told in perfect rhyme."
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Not Sure If Publishing With a Small Press is Right For You?
The road to publication for many is often a bumpy one, and it’s ultimately up to you the writer, to decide which way you want to steer. Should you turn that wheel and head toward the bright lights of New York City, gleaming skyscrapers and huge corporations? Or should you turn that wheel toward the cottages and bed & breakfasts that line rural America? Unfortunately, there isn't a road map or GPS guiding an author to their destiny, so in this post, I talk about some of the advantages of publishing with a small press.
Hope you can stop by and leave a comment!
A little about Cheryl:
Cheryl Rainfield's first novel, a hi-lo (high interest, low vocabulary) teen medieval fantasy came out in Sept 2009–Dragon Speaker: The Last Dragon–from HIP Books, and another teen fantasy comes out from HIP Books in 2010. Her second, an edgy realistic YA novel,
Scars
, was released in the Spring of 2010 from Westside Books. It’s an amazing book and I highly recommend it! You can read my review at Examiner.com.
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