TOO PRINCESSY! is out and “pinking up” bookstore and library shelves everywhere.
“Bright colors and high visual energy match the quick verse … observers will be tickled that as hard as this girl clings to her indefatigable determination to be bored, she’s actually having a quite a romp … and kids will want re-reads.”Kirkus
Now that’s something to celebrate! So I’m holding a
TOO PRINCESSY! PICTURE BOOK PEEK MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH
Win a free critique of a selected picture book manuscript.
Here’s how it works:
Sign up for a critique by entering your picture book WORKING TITLE in the comment section of this blog postanytime (midnight to midnight Mountain Time) on February 6th. Titles submitted before or after February 6th will not be considered.
I’ll throw all titles into a hat and pick 1 for critique.
Keep in mind: * Manuscripts must be 1000 words or less.
* I accept only fiction.
* Please understand that I’m not an editor and will not be providing line-editing of your work. My critique will be comprised of suggestions for improving your manuscript. So please send me your most polished piece.
* The critique winner must e-mail me his/her manuscript as a Word attachment within 48 hours of the announcement . Manuscripts will be kept completely confidential. When I receive the manuscript, I’ll let the author know when they can expect my critique.
* As with any art form, likes and dislikes are entirely subjective. Please understand that my critiques are only one reader’s/writer’s opinion. It’s always wise to seek feedback from a few different readers. If my ideas resonate with you, they’re yours to use. If you disagree, I encourage you to compare my comments with those of other readers. But in the end, it’s your book. Stay true to your vision.
* The TOO PRINCESSY Boredom Buster Blog is up and running. Stop on by for a dose of cabin fever creativity. Or even better, send me your ideas for a chance to win some terrific prizes.
* The Princess has her very own hashtag. And you can follow all her antics or add your own comments using #tiarafail on Twitter.
* Are you attending ALA Midwinter this week? Stop by Bloomsbury Walker Booth #1506 for a possible Princess siting.You never know where she’ll turn up.
* I’ll be presenting at the CCIRA conference on literacy in Colorado and signing books at the RMC-SCBWI Booth. Sign up for session #410 (THINK DOOR PRIZES!!!) on 2/3 from 1:30-2:30 or stop by the RMC-SCBWI booth #73 from 2:30-4:30. I’d love to meet you.
* Scholastic Book Clubs will be carrying TOO PRINCESSY! discounted and in paperback in their Fall 2012 line up. So now all school kids will have an opportunity to own a copy.
* Do you need autographed bookplates? E-mail me and I’ll be happy to put those in the mail.
* I’m hosting a PRINCESSY PICTURE BOOK PEEK (That’s # 13) right here on this blog on February 6th. The details will be coming soon. So get those fiction picture books ready. You could win a free critique.
It’s that cabin-fever time of year. What do you do with your kids when boredom sets in?
In the spirit of the cabin-fevered kid in my latest picture book TOO PRINCESSY! I’m hosting a Boredom Buster Blog – chock full of ideas from parents, teachers, caregivers, babysitters and other folks like you.
Send me your best ideas and be entered to win one of 5 wonderful prizes.
Then everyday from January 17th until we run out, I’ll post a new idea for you to use and enjoy.
Submit your best boredom busting ideas on my Boredom Buster Blog Entry Form. You can submit more than one idea, but please fill out a new form for each. For every idea you submit before January 15th, you’ll be entered 5 times in the drawing for prizes. For every idea submitted after January 15th, you’ll be entered once.
That’s the only way to be entered into the drawing on February 29th!
So don’t let cabin fever drive you crazy, stop by, have fun and remember one of the best boredom busting ideas of all – cuddling up with a great book. When you do, I hope you’ll check out TOO PRINCESSY! available at your favorite bookstore starting January 17th! If you’ve already purchased your copy, let me know and I”ll send you FREE autographed bookplates!
Okay I promised you some really exciting news about LIGHT UP THE LIBRARY and here it is.
We not only met our goal for LIBRARIES FOR LIFE – PEACE CORPS UGANDA but we’re joining forces with another Books for Africa Uganda project called MORE THAN PAGES. Together we have the necessary funding to now send a 40 FOOT CONTAINER of books to Uganda. That’s right – double what we previously planned. I am overjoyed and as always so, so grateful for the generous support of my family and friends. This certainly is a blessed holiday season!
In the meantime, if you’d like more information on LIGHT UP THE LIBRARY, LIBRARIES FOR LIFE UGANDA, BOOKS FOR AFRICA or MUSANA CHILDREN’S HOME CLICK HERE!
And finally if you’d like to learn more about Light Up the Night, maybe buy a copy and receive an autographed book plate CLICK HERE!
Happy Holidays and I’ll see you back here in the New Year! XXXXXOOOOO Jean
As most of you know over the past several months I’ve been working on a project near and dear to my heart – LIGHT UP THE LIBRARY,
an auction benefiting the library at Musana Children’s Home in Iganga, Uganda and celebrating the release of my latest book Light Up the Night.
The auction is now officially closed … … and it was amazing. The auction winners have been notified and, as of today, the auction has raised $5800 for libraries and literacy in Uganda. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who donated items, all who bid and all who won. I am so very grateful.
But our work isn’t finished. We need to raise approximately $4500 more in order to send that 20 foot container of books to all those kids who need them. The Peace Corps workers there in Uganda, who are partners in this project, are ready and anxious to receive, sort and distribute thousands of books. But they won’t be there forever. So if you missed the auction or would like to still make a tax deductible cash donation, here’s the link:
As you’ll see, we take credit cards and checks. It couldn’t be easier to help. We’re going to fill this library. I just know it. And if you donate, please forward me a copy of your donation receipt, so I can thank you personally!
In the meantime, if you’d like more information on LIGHT UP THE LIBRARY, LIBRARIES FOR LIFE UGANDA or MUSANA CHILDREN’S HOME CLICK HERE!
And finally if you’d like to Learn more about Light Up the Night, maybe buy a copy and receive an autographed book plate CLICK HERE!
This charming bedtime book plays off of the “This Is the House That Jack Built” cumulative classic. A little boy tells of his universe, starting from the farthest point he can imagine and ending up in his bed, just in time for sleep and dreaming. Reidy’s rhymes are so lively and appealing, however, that the child being read to may feel rejuvenated rather than lulled (“This is my continent, far and wide. / It kisses an ocean on either side, / on half the Earth, / which circles the sun, / which hides its face when the day is done”). Likewise, Chodos-Irvine’s illustrations reveal a boy who, after being kissed good night, gets up from his bed and wraps himself in his red-and-white quilt in order to narrate this grand tour. The quilt becomes a jet, a rocket, a flying saucer, and other red-and-white forms of transportation. From the swirling galaxies and the woodcut-style sun to the color-coded map of the U.S. and the retro feel of the boy’s bedroom, it does seem like a wonderful world. Booklist
Simply outstanding. In a cumulative,”house that Jack built” narrative, a young boy folds his blanket around himself and sails out over the Earth, into the stars and then all the way back till finally snuggling down in his own bed, ending each verse with “in my own little piece of the universe”. The concept is lovely and comforting, the rhymes are PERFECT and the art colorful, child friendly and has just the right amount of details. Wonderful at bedtime or any time of the day. The Library Lady
As of the date and time of this post, the highest bids on the following items were still under $25. Stop on by to put in YOUR bids on these screamin’ deals.
As of the date and time of this post, the highest bids on the following items were still under $15. Stop on by to put in YOUR bids on these screamin’ deals.
We’ve all been there. Maybe you’re new to writing. Or maybe you’ve been writing for a while but location has made it difficult to find a critique group. Maybe you’re in between writing groups or writing buddies because of a move or because the fit just didn’t feel right. Writing in a vacuum can be not only ineffective but lonely as well.
Finally, maybe you’ve been told you’re story is “almost there,” but lacking the little bit it takes to push it over the top to being “there” instead. A fresh read from someone who is THERE might be just the spark it takes.
With heavy competition and increased selectivity in the industry, a critique group or critique buddy is practically essential to publication these days. And now, with the help of the internet, online critique groups are available too. One of my manuscripts, currently on submission, went through 2 critiques groups (one online and one face-to-face) and one critique buddy, before my agent accepted it. Believe me, you need fresh reads.
So while you’re searching for your perfect critique buddies, or if you’re trying to push that manuscript over the top, I’ve got a deal for you.
Manuscript critiques and group critique packages for all genres of children’s writers are currently going for bargain prices at my LIGHT UP THE LIBRARY ONLINE AUCTION. Check these out:
Or how about 5 PB critiques over the course of a few months? It’s like having a built-in critique group of award-winning PB writers for 5 months. Check this out!
Why turn to friends and family (unless, of course, they happen to be published authors) when you can turn to an expert? And many of these items are still screamin’ deals.
