Thank you Sandra! It’s an honor! Jo Ann

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Are You Going to Book Expo America 2012?

Jo Ann Kairys Featured at Book Expo America 2012

I’m getting ready for the annual Book Expo America (BEA) in NYC – June 5-7! 

Especially excited for Tuesday, June 5 and 2 big events at the Mom’s Choice Awards Exhibit: 

1) 11:00 AM Filmed Interview

2) 1:00 – 2:00 PM Book Signing

The timing is great! I’ve just started illustrating my next series of books and am eager to share initial ideas.

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Love your blog and I’m passing my Versatile Blogger Award on to you. You can find more details on my website at kidscandoit.com/blog/
Congratulations and don’t forget to pass the award on to 15 more versatile bloggers!

Ever Wonder How to Add Sparkle to Blogs?

I was experimenting with fun font styles and came across a wonderful and free resource! http://www.refont.com. So I wanted to share it with some examples of glittery, shiny and fun text.

On the site, select Glitter Styles under the drop down menu on the left, just below “Fansy.” Follow the instructions after choosing any style. Type the text you want and look at the preview section. Copy the code onto your blog and there it is! Easy!!

In Colombia, we will also miss Maurice Sendak. Here is our little tribute:
UN TRIBUTO A SENDAK on PhotoPeach

The Wondrous Universe

 It hit me like a ton of bricks Tuesday afternoon, “Maurice Sendak dead at age 83.” The news broke through heavy chatter at a busy nearby store. Rarely do I ever hear TV in the background. But those few words pierced through. Why did they affect me so acutely? Much has been written about Sendak these last few days, especially praising his enormous influence on children’s literature. He turned the genre on its heels. Remember “Run Spot, Run?” Safe, predictable, compatible with mainstream social norms. Sendak fundamentally changed all of that with gritty, edgy storytelling.

So, when I began illustrating my first children’s picture book a few years ago, I pulled just one item from my library shelves – Sendak’s, “Where the Wild Things Are.” After all, he’s often referred to as the greatest children’s writer/illustrator of the 20th century. I have no formal training as an artist, and I’d never written for children. It made sense to look more closely into Sendak’s work for ideas.

Page by page, mischievous young Max enters a magical world. Detail by detail, the landscape morphs from his simple room to a wild, magical landscape. I had no idea how to write such a compelling story in few words accompanied by luminous images. It took me 2 years to create Sunbelievable, always returning to Maurice and Max for inspiration.

No surprise, then, that one of the main characters in Sunbelievable is a bossy, skeptical young girl who questions everything. She and her sister imagine the most preposterous antics of a magical Sun. Their bedtime defies sleep as they invent whacky, wondrous tales of a Sun that eats pizza and teaches fireflies to shine. As I learned how to blend the girls’ real photos into digital backgrounds, the artist in me emerged – an adventure I never anticipated.

The awards Sunbelievable receive for storytelling and illustration completely surprise and overwhelm me. My co-author son Daniel, and my co-illustrator, Frank Thompson, helped make the magic happen. I’m told that the image above evokes Sendak’s quirky style – a blending of truth and fantasy that transforms reality. I took the photo near Holmdel and digitally created this scene of a little girl peering curiously into a “wild” horizon.

An 8-year old boy wrote, “Dear Mr. Sendak, how much does it cost to get to where the wild things are? If it is not expensive, my sister and I would like to spend the summer there.” Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/books/maurice-sendak-childrens-author-dies-at-83.html?pagewanted=all

Sunbelievable is surely a tribute to Mr. Sendak’s emboldened imagination and wondrous legacy for generations of children. That’s what stopped me in my tracks when I heard the news – his powerful vision,

[...] Arabic: A language of beauty and prestigeWickedly Fun Story Telling — Even When You're Half Asleep! — Story Quest Children's Boo… [...]

Thanks Roz for your comment! Glad the article was helpful. Videos are great fun to create, as Judy points out! Also, thanks for the tip about PPT 2010. I use PPT 2011 on my MAC and wasn’t even aware of this feature until I had to do conference presentation recently. I loved the ease of making the video! Jo ann

BIG TIP: PowerPoint 2010 saves to Video “right within” the program. NO EXTRA program/software or cost needed. This is why many are going nuts over PowerPoint 2010. That extra step has been eliminated!!!
THANK YOU for the instructions and true insight into the process. It not only shared the technical side of the process, but the “human” side! We need to hear that every now and again as we muddle through our own productions.
Congratulations to Judy on your achievement(s) and to Jo Ann for sharing them here with your readers as well!

Roz Fruchtman

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This conference was really worth attending! Here’s a real-time summary from conference participants.

Conference Overview

These days, success in the publishing game is all about self-promotion. FPA’s Spring Fling Do It Yourself (DIY) conference focused on ways to market and promote yourself and your book(s) inexpensively in order to make money! You do not have to be a self-published author to benefit from our DIY approach. Whether you’re at the manuscript stage, have a publisher, or have independently published your book(s), the hands-on workshops offered practical tips for everyone. Expert speakers led participants through the do it yourself processes step by step. Please visit the Florida Publishers Association website for complete schedule and details.

About the Speakers and Topics

• Jo Ann Kairys, an award-winning author and publisher, presented one of the newest developments in promotion: Virtual Book Tours

• Rik Feeney, publisher, writer and author, discussed putting your manuscript on Kindle and how to create your own audio book or audio file for promotion.

 • Mark Wayne Adams, award-winning illustrator and FPA board member, demonstrated how to get into schools for fun and profit with children’s books, juvenile titles and adult books.

 • Lloyd Rich, intellectual property attorney specializing in publishing, explained various legal matters relating to books, including online publishing matters, subsidiary rights and foreign translation licensing. 

 During the Virtual Book Tours presentation, attendees blogged these  comments about the workshop:

1. Ellen Valladares: I am here learning from JoAnn Kairys about how to blog to effectively market my book.
There will be several great speakers so we will learn how to sell more books to schools, how to market and create ebooks, and so much more. We are getting inspired and motivated to get ourselves and our books out there by offering the valuable information we have to help
others. Author, Jonathan’s Journey to Mount Miapu. http://www.childrenofthelight.net

2. Dr. Janet Smith Warfield: I came to meet interesting people, collaborate and exchange needs and resources. It’s all about the people you meet at a conference like this. They’re awesome! They win and I win! Some of the authors and publishers you meet have years of experienc

Children’s Book Lovers Who Are You? Authors? Illustrators? Publishers? Book Marketers? 

Please share your top, most tear-your-hair-out, unrelenting, disquieting frustration — the one thing about your craft that, ABOVE ALL, keeps you awake at night.  

So, how can we help each other?

I mean, seriously, it’s hard to create a great story. When do you start to think about making a great book? How many publishing options are there, this month, let alone next? When do you start marketing? And where in the social media sandbox do you start making friends that LIKE you?  Or, maybe you’ve got your play date schedule down to a friendly science.

So, how can you help the rest of us stuck in the sand?

Please share your questions and comments below…

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Welcome to Day #17 of Bloggers Read Across the Globe (BRAG) – Promoting Children’s Reading and Literacy

As the first annual BRAG event comes to an end, I’m happy to share one more article about book marketing. After all, we still love books. . . and seeing a child reading for pleasure reminds me of my childhood. So when I saw my young granddaughter immersed in a story book recently, I couldn’t help taking this photo.

You may recognize her as YaYa, one of the main characters in my children’s picture book, Sunbelievable. Her love for reading is boundless, and we’re forever helping her discover wonderful new books and authors.

That’s one of the reasons today’s article about book marketing fits right into the theme of BRAG. YaYa inspired me to publish my book, but I had a steep learning curve. 

One of the resources I came to rely on is Joel Friedlander’s wonderful blog, The Book Designer — Practical Advice to Help Build Better Books. Thanks to Joel, YaYa’s dream became a reality. But that was just the beginning of the next part of the journey.

Won’t you help me thank Joel by visiting his blog and reading about ways to get independently published books into bookstores. Please head on over to http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2012/03/5-guaranteed-ways-to-get-your-book-into-bookstores/. Leave a comment. Tell us what you’re experience has been. Ask questions. We’re eager to hear from each and every one of our readers!!

AND DON’T FORGET TO ENTER THE BIG BRAG GIVEAWAY. LAST CHANCE!

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Welcome to Day #15 of Bloggers Read Across the Globe (BRAG) — Promoting Children’s Reading and Literacy 

Children’s Literacy Headline: Reading aloud to young children is so critical that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that doctors prescribe reading activities along with other advice given to parents at regular check-ups. Moreover, many pediatricians now believe that a child who has never held a book or listened to a story is not a fully healthy child. Inequality at the starting gate: Social background differences in achievement as children begin school. Washington, D.C.: Economic Policy Institute.

Today I am thrilled to host Aisha Bailey, M.D. — pediatrician and friend. Dr.Bailey writes about why her experience as a pediatrician is especially fulfilling, and why she honors the unique diversity of every child. Dr. Bailey is the creator of Ishababies® — an award winning set of dolls that reflect the inner and outer beauty of children of all colors. How could you not fall in love with these enchanting characters? 

I am on a never-ending quest for truth. That is what compels my fascination with medicine and my patients. I love being a doctor and interacting with my patients, mostly because I know that they will be frank with me. When I ask one of my toddler patients what’s wrong, I know they will tell me. I don’t presume to be the pied-piper—I just know how the system works.

Whenever I walk into an examination room, I look at the parents first and know full well that my patient is sizing me up. I am always thrilled when my patient decides to start speaking with me directly. In all my interactions, my primary goal is to speak directly to my patient and establish a connection. My secondary goal is to make the parents aware that they are part of a larger team that has been put together to care for their child. I also want parents to know that no request is too big or small if it concerns the care of their child. I do this because I remember what it was like to be a child.

I used to love roaming around my back yard exploring the vast expanse of sky. I could create floating clouds of dirt; watch the ground slip through my fingers; or adorn my clothes with stains of grass while I slid down lush green hills. My favorite pastime was grabbing one of my plaits and twirling it around like a bumblebee… buzzing in my ear ever so softly. I never dared to stop dreaming and life was truly my canvas.

One of the fundamental truths for me from birth was that I was different. That difference had little to do with my being a little girl with plaits and much more to do with my being able to really see people. Growing up, I felt invisible at times and was subsequently treated as such. However, it was during those invisible times that I was able to stop and look at the world around me. I became very good at seeing who the people surrounding me were. I listened to their hopes and dreams as I observed their treatment of themselves and others. From this, I learned that each person is an individual who should be respected for his or her own unique talents and purposes.

Over the years, I have been able to channel my love of drawing and celebration of difference into the creation of my Ishababies® line of 16 vibrant characters. I have no unique process for creating the

Welcome to DAY #12 of Bloggers Read Across America (BRAG) — Promoting Children’s Reading and Literacy

Children’s Literacy Headline: During Kindergarten and first grade, child literacy becomes more focused on print material. Alphabet books are great for learning to match sounds with the letters. Reading picture books with a few words and sentences helps children develop early literacy skills.

Today, we have a special treat — an interview with Dan Kairys, MD, co-author of Sunbelievable. Dan’s an avid read-aloud Dad and storyteller who shares a love of language with his 3 young trilingual children. Every night, the kids wait for him to arrive home from work — sometimes after a long day of general surgery at the county hospital in Belle Glade, FL. No matter the time, and often late, they all participate in story time with Dad. . . 

Head on over to http://www.slimybookworm.com/blog/ to hear the interview!  Dan shares what makes writing for and reading to his kids an amazing experience — even when there’s no time for either!

SlimyBookworm.com was founded in 2010 and is based in Highland, California. We are your premiere online children’s bookstore and take pride in being “The destination for books kids love!” It all started with a book-loving mom with a son who shared her insatiable appetite for books! Knowing that the effort put into exploring and acquiring wholesome books for her son could come handy for that parent, grandparent or Godparent looking to unleash the imagination of the kids in the lives through books, she started SlimyBookworm.com

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Welcome to Day #11 of Bloggers Read Across the Globe — Promoting Children’s Reading and Literacy

Children’s Literacy Headline: 2012 is Australia’s National Year of Reading — a campaign initiated by Australian public libraries, state and territory libraries and library associations, and supported by school libraries and the National Library of Australia. Campaign organizers compiled a wonderful list of resources about children’s reading and literacy. Please visit Love2Read for details.

In honor of the Love2Read campaign, I’m pleased to present “5 Essential Tips for Writing Picture Books” by Dianne de Las Casas, award-winning author Founder of Picture Book Month, and international storyteller. Dianne’s spreads the word about the importance of literacy through her philosophy that, “It indeed takes ‘a village to raise a child and that we should all think of ourselves as a team, working together to help our children succeed.’”  

Here’s Dianne’s report about writing picture books that children will love to read for a lifetime:

When I am at book signings or doing school visits, I often hear the question, “What advice do you have for someone writing their first picture book?” People are eager to learn the “secret” to writing a runaway best-selling picture book.

There IS a definite art to writing a picture book. For me, a perfect picture book is a seamless integration of pictures and words. They fit together like peanut butter and jelly. The words and the pictures might be good alone but they are GREAT together.

A Universal Theme

Contrary to popular belief, picture books do not have to have a message although they often do. If there is a message in a picture book, it should be subtle and left for the reader to decipher. What is important is a universal theme, a theme that readers can relate to: love, bedtime, friendship, teamwork, etc. Even humor can work as a theme. “The Dot,” by Peter Reynolds landed in USA Today’s Top 100 Children’s Books because of the book’s universal theme of creativity.

The Page Turn

Never underestimate the power of the page turn. Every good story needs to take a breath or have a moment of suspense. The page turn can be that quiet pause or that dramatic reveal. New York Times Bestselling book Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin has an extremely successful use of the page turn, building the readers’ anticipation for the next moment in the story.

Think Visually

If you are not the illustrator, think (don’t write) visually. The story can be rich and full but there must still be room for the illustrator to work, stretching the confines of the story. Often, the subcontext of the story can be found in the illustrations. Tell your story adroitly with an economy of words. Leslie Helakoski and Henry Cole demonstrate this perfectly with their book, &ldqu

Welcome to Day #11 of Bloggers Read Across the Globe (BRAG) — Promoting Children’s Reading and Literacy 

Children’s Literacy Headline: Years of research show that when adults read to children, discussing story content, asking open-ended questions about story events, explaining the meaning of words, and pointing out features of print, they promote increased language development, comprehension of story content, knowledge of story structure, and a better understanding of language– all of which lead to literacy success. The Science of Early Childhood Development: Closing the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do. Cambridge, MA.

Today, BRAG features children’s book authors who not only write great books, but share a fundamental commitment to children’s reading and literacy. Here’s introducing. . . “Children’s Book Authors — Writing for Reading.”

Bobbi Carducci — Storee Wryter Gets A Dog

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Bobbi Carducci is an award-winning short story writer and feature columnist for About Families Publications and Arts and Entertainment, an international online magazine. Her children’s book, Storee Wryter Gets A Dog, was named A Best Dog Book for Young Readers in Cesar’s Way Magazine, the official publication of Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer. It also received a prestigious Mom’s Choice Award. Bobbi is president of Community Voice Media and Director of the Young Voices Foundation. Storee Wryter Gets A Dog is published by Tate Publishing and is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

Martha Steward – Darby’s Story�