Thursday 23 February 2012

Do you take children's picture book authors seriously?

Now there's a question - do you take picture book authors seriously?
I'm inclined to think some people feel it's easy to write and illustrate a picture book.
    "How easy to write only a few dozen to a hundred words, instead of thousands", someone recently stated to me.
I answered, it's more difficult than it may first seem. A children's picture book needs the same basic elements an adults book needs;
   -  a main character with whom the reader can identify with.
   -  a plot with interest that gives the main character a struggle that needs resolving, along with being a  problem or difficulty a very young one could understand.
   -  a completely satisfying conclusion that brings the story to an ending, maybe with a twist.
   -  enough action and depth to bring page turning excitement throughout.
   -  written in a way that has impact when it's read aloud to younger ones.
   -  illustrations that capture the imagination, are varied and add to the story, or even tell part of the story.

All these elements should join seamlessly together and produce cries of read it again. Only then will you know you have a good picture book.
Oh! and you have to do this in only a few dozen to a hundred words!

So what are your thoughts on writing or reading children's picture books?
Are children's picture book authors to be taken seriously?
 Paula

Thursday 16 February 2012

How to do a launch party or book signing with ebooks?

I've been asked to do a meet-the-author with a couple of readings of my children's picture books at our local library and another at the school I used to attend when young.
My question is how do I make it interesting, fun and profitable without a real book to sign!? (Well I can make it fun, so ignore that bit,) but will signed flyers do the trick?
I'm thinking of making bookmarks, stickers or something like that.
Any help or experiences you can give me will be very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Paula

www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk

Tuesday 7 February 2012

My latest ebook is published!

My latest children's picture ebook - Pipsy the Penguin - is published on Amazon!
I'm really excited about this little rhyming book, I had lots of fun writing it.
I think children pick up on the rhythm and flow of rhyming books and it's one of my favourite types to write. Rhyme and rhythm are one of the ways many caregivers can help kids develop the skills required for learning to read, whilst having fun.
I also think the best picture books are always the ones where the text and the illustrations tell the story together and this is something I always try to do.
Pipsy the pengin joins my 5 others, 3 of which are consistantly in the top 100 in their genre.

Let me know what you think of the cover art, as I do the artwork for the cover and all other illustrations myself. I've added a page from the story, for you to see too!
Paula

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pipsy-Penguin-Childrens-Picture-ebook/dp/B0075YGM42

www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk


Sunday 5 February 2012

Can you judge a book by its cover?

I'm in the process of designing the cover to my new children's picture book but how important is it to get the cover just right?

They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but as an ebook, the cover and the description are the only two things you can judge it by.

Also, when designing a cover for a children's book, who are you aiming to please, the child or the parent/carer? Is it the picture, or the wording that is most important? What colours please most?

So, please help me with my designing - can you judge a book by its cover?

www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk

Friday 3 February 2012

Had my first foreign royalty payment! Hooray!

I had my first royalty payment from overseas today!
It came as a cheque and I had to physically put it in the bank, which made it feel all the more real!
My UK payments just go straight in, and that's okay, but this felt good.
I cannot believe I've got six ebooks written illustrated and published now.

In January I sold hundreds, so if there's anyone out there who is umming and arring over getting their own books published, I'd say go-for-it.
What have you got to lose?
I'm now doing the illustartions for my next children's picture book.
I'll put some of the illustrations on here shortly.

Good luck
Paula

www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk