Two new 5 * reviews!

I've had two new reviews - both 5 stars!

One was for Hairy, Scary Spider? the other for Percy, the not so Perfect Puffin!

I particularly like it when a child gives their opinion as the books are for them. :)

Here they are;

5.0 out of 5 stars Children should be taught to like spiders 26 Dec 2013

By Jeannie Dee

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

a brilliant little book that helps children (and possibly some adults) to understand that spiders are not to be feared. Spiders are clever and amazing little creatures and children will love the humour in this book. 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite books. 26 Dec 2013

By Mrs. M. Hurst

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book because it was funny and it teaches that looking different doesnt matter. I will never forget the chubby cute puffin on page 39!   (written by Thomas, aged 8)

 

 

 

Hairy, Scary Spider? is on promotion at Amazon.uk. Just for this weekend this great little ebook can be bought for just 0.99p
Grab him before he scuttles away!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hairy-Spider-Childrens-Rhyming-Picture-ebook/dp/B005HFHI26

Which children's ebook cover is best?

Which cover is best?

I've changed the cover and title to one of my children's stories.
I think the self-esteem part of the title was confusing it. Though it has a powerful message to children, the story is designed as a fun picture book.

But what title and cover do you like best, and why?

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New Amazon.UK Promotion - Pipsy the Penguin!

Pipsy the Penguin is on promotion - just 99p

This post was last modified: Today 08:37 AM by Paula Jane.

One of my best selling ebooks, 'Pipsy the Penguin' - a cute children's picture book - is on promotion for just 99p on Amazon.UK
It is perfect for little ones aged around 3-6 years.
Product Description
Described as 'exquisite' and 'charming', you will easily fall in love with this sweet, yet powerful, little rhyming story.
Pipsy, a young blue penguin - who hatches too early - has a secret and a huge dream. With a Mother's love and much determination, Pipsy grows gradually, but do his fanciful dreams come true?
Follow the story, brought to life by beautiful, original illustrations that magically capture little Pipsy on his journey of discovery.

Pipsy the Penguin is a bestselling ebook that is also available as a paperback.

• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #54,714 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #1 in Kindle Store > Books > Children's eBooks > Animals > Marine Life
  • #1 in Kindle Store > Books > Children's eBooks > Animals > Birds
    

My author visits this week.

I thought I'd tell you about my author visits this week.

I had a great time at The Warminster Writer's group, who made me really welcome. We had a lovely chat about all things publishing, my books and writing in general.

We also played a few writing games and I explained the difficulties and joys of writing for children, and read a couple of my stories to them.

They were a fabulous bunch, varied and talented in their own ways. I enjoyed hearing some of their work too.

 I had a good time, finishing off with a book signing of three of my physical copies including the best sellers, Hairy, Scary Spider!  Pipsy the Penguin and Football is Fantastic!


Then later on that same week I had two children's groups to visit in Bath. We had lots of fun, played loads of games about descriptive writing, ate chocolate cookies and generally had a good laugh.

We read some of my stories, dissected some of the sentences and made them brand new. We played Toady Twisters, a going on holiday game and a describe the item game. The children showed lots of enthusiasm and came up with some brilliant suggestions and went home brimming with new ideas, along with some of my stories to read. It was well worth the visit.

If an author gets a chance to visit a writing group or a class of children, I'd advise to go for it, it's a fun evening or day out and gets your name into the community a little bit more.

It's taken a long time, but 'Football is Fantastic!' my 'Early Readers' best seller in children's sports has been made into a paperback.

I don't use createspace, but have them printed locally, so the only place to get a signed by the author, first edition, at this moment is on ebay.UK.

Soon it'll be on my website too.

The size and shape matches exactly with Hairy Scary Spider? - they're similar in size and feel to the Mr Men series - so with all nine of my titles together they'll look great on the shelf.

This really is a laugh-out-loud children's story and has become a UK children's sports best seller, so it's good to see it in print.


Football is Fantastic! paperback.

Helpful hints to marketing your ebook.

 After two years in the self-publishing business and four bestsellers in their genres, I'm often approached and asked, "how do you market your ebooks?"

So here's a few helpful hints.

Be patient!

Promote whenever you can, but don't be me! me! me! Buy! buy! buy! No-one likes a pusher.

Be more patient. These things take time, from the upload to the reviews coming in. Everything will slowly build. A friend of mine who is approaching 250 thousand downloads tells me how she only sold 40 books in her first year.

Write more books it's the best way to advertise all your titles. If someone is attracted to one of your stories they will search for more. Not many authors do well if only one title.

Use the tools that Amazon gives you. Have a fantastic cover, a brilliant blurb and an up-to-date Author's page.

Don't be afraid to make changes to your blurb, author's page or even your actual book. Listen to your reviewers with an open mind. Have they got a point? Make changes if necessary!

Don't be offensive. There are people who will leave you with a bad review if they don't like what you're saying or you're saying it in a dogmatic way.

Make sure you do some promoting every week whether on your blog or facebook page. Join forums that are genre related and post meaningful threads, be helpful to the group.


Oh! One last thing... be patient!

Hairy Scary Spider? available as a paperback!

Hairy Scary Spider? is now available through ebay.uk once again! 

You'll be able to get a 1st edition, signed by the author, and inscribed to anyone of your choice too.  
 
So grab one while you can, that naughty spider scuttles away fast! He's only £3.89

Here's the link:    Hairy, Scary Spider? Paperback

 

When children review ebooks.

Just had a lovely review for my ebook Football is Fantastic! but what I like about this review is it's from a child, and children tell you straight what they think of your story!

Here's the review from Amazon UK:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review 1-3 13 Oct 2013

By Luke Mayes

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Really funny I could read it over and over again without getting board. One of the best books I've ever seen as a child. I've always been a big reader but this was perfect for kids and over 8 year olds. Paula McBride made this book and is an excellent author. Well done Paula McBride your amazing. 

 

 

Football is Fantastic! has been in the top 100 best seller's list, in it's genre, for over a year now and - even more exciting - is soon to be published in traditional print form too!

 

 

 

Autumn Sale on Children's Ebooks!

I'm having an Autumn Sale of my children's ebooks, before two more titles are added by the end of the year.

Many as low as .99c or 76p!

The titles in the sale are as follows;

Slippy the Slimy Slug!  

Pipsy the Penguin!

Little Chick's First Day!

All Sheep Love to Sing.

A Little Bear Behind

Who said Quack?

Oh! That Naughty Puppy!

Enjoy!

Oh! The Crazy World of Self-Publishing.

Sometimes I just feel like....

Super selling day!

Hairy Scary Spider? had a super selling day yesterday! It shot up the best sellers lists and was number 10 in it's genre by the evening.
Also I sold a hard copy to' Lady Gates' in Wiltshire, who 'adored the little book' and had always tried to encourage her children not to be afraid of spiders.
It's great to get that sort of feedback and meet the people who love the story.

New Children's Picture book released!

Oh! That Naughty Puppy! New Children's Picture Book by Paula McBride

My newest children's picture book has been published! Hooray!
It's taken a long time to complete, first to do all the illustrations - one on each page - and also I've managed to work out how to put hyperlinks to my other books at the back.

I'm really pleased with the cover on this one, simple, but effective I hope. My best selling children's book 'Hairy, Scary Spider?' had a very simple cover and children were drawn to this, so I've done it again!
'Oh! That Naughty Puppy!' was published this morning and I have had 3 sales already, so the cover must be working!
Here's the blurb, let me know what you think;

What will happen when Luke and Emma's new puppy starts chewing everything in sight?
Will they be able to keep such a naughty puppy, or will Daddy take him back to the pet shop?
Your little ones will enjoy exclaiming, "Oh! That naughty puppy!" as the little dog repeatedly chews the family's beloved items. Then they can share in the suspense as Luke and Emma wait for Daddy's return from the pet shop.
Your children will love the hand drawn illustrations that perfectly capture the cheeky, then remorseful little puppy as he chews his way through the story!

This story would be perfect for children from the ages of 3 to 7 years. 

Oh! That Naughty Puppy! 

2 years as a self-published author!

My two year anniversary is coming up and I'm definitely going to celebrate!!!

Four of my books have become best-sellers in their genre - on Amazon UK - with Hairy Scary Spider? staying in the top 100 since being published and more often in the top 10 or 20!

It has been hard work but I've learned so much about self-publishing, marketing and promotion, but the most joy I get is when I get feedback and reviews from the readers. The thought of my stories being read to little ones and maybe becoming a bedtime favourite leaves a great feel-good glow and makes all the hard work worth it.
Here are a few of my latest reviews;

5.0 out of 5 stars Clever little book., 2 Jan 2013

By 

Emma W - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?)

This review is from: Hairy, Scary Spider? (A Children's Fun Rhyming Picture Book for ages 2-5) (Kindle Edition)

My 2 year old daughter adores this book. We must read it twice a day. Very clever and a good read.

Cute fun for kids, 27 Jun 2013

By 

Katie Healy - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?)

This review is from: Hairy, Scary Spider? (A Children's Fun Rhyming Picture Book for ages 2-5) (Kindle Edition)

Hairy, Scary Spider? Ticks all the boxes for an entertaining children's read. It's language is simple and understandable. It's written in a jolly rhythm and it rhymes easily. A great little read for anyone wanting to share time with their children. It also has a nice little moral, attempting to ease the inherent fear of spiders for children. The illustrations are clear although not overly stimulating. Overall, a very pleasant little book.


 4.0 out of 5 stars Good read 17 Jun 2013

By Tracy Taylor

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great for my 6 year old. Good bedtime read. Well illustrated and suitable for a boy or girl. Easy to understand with a happy ending. 

 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny 13 May 2013

By K. Mcbride

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a brilliant book. Well written and with lovely illustrations, I would recommend this book to everyone but particular to carers and teachers of children who need emotional support. 

 

 

 

Hairy, Scary Spider? for sale at just 0.99p!

For a short time only, my best seller 'Hairy, Scary Spider?' and my other childrens picture books are for sale at a special price of just 0.99p!
Time to grab yourself a copy before the little spider gets away!

After months of illness and endless trips to the medical centre I thought I was getting better, but no. I'm now laid up with a foot infection!
Though at least I'm feeling like I can paint and write again. Here are a few of the paintings I've been doing...

I've also written the first draft to a children's picture book - all about a naughty puppy. The pictures are nearly complete, so it will be ready for publication in a few weeks.
So... whilst sat on the sofa with my foot up on a pillow, not much in the way of ironing, dusting and cleaning can be done, but at least I can still do the things I love to do!!!