PROMO Day - May 9

I will be doing a workshop on "Virtual Book Tours" during PROMO Day. Hope you all can stop by and see what workshops are being offered and perhaps you can find something of interest to you. Jo Lindsell is the founder of PROMO Day and this is a great networking opportunity. It's also a way to promote yourself. Stop by and see what's happening.


WHAT IS PROMO DAY?

PROMO DAY is an all day international online event for people in the writing industry to promote, learn and network.

It's FREE to attend and is full of opportunities for writers and other members of the writing industry to promote themselves and their work/services.

PROMO Day website



PROMO DAY is full of opportunities for writers to promote themselves and their work for FREE.

Writers can:
* take part in the PROMO chatroom discussions
* have the video trailor for their book posted to the site
* submit a sample chapter to the site
* take part in the FREE online workshops on site
* take advantage of the other resources available on site e.g. useful weblinks.

PROMO DAY is a great opportunity for writers to network with others from the industry and learn more about publishing and marketing whilst spreading the word about their own projects.

As an international event, PROMO DAY, also gives the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world.

Past events have been attended by editors and publishers looking for new talent. Some writers have also been offered paid assignments following the event.


PROMOday

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End of Prairie Dog Cowboy tour

For those of you have followed Vivian's tour, it is ending today and she has her final posting up on her blog. You can still be entered for the drawing of the four canvas bags by checking the schedule and leaving your comments on the postings you may have missed during the tour. Come on over folks. There are some really informative reviews, interviews, and other information going on. Don't be shy, just jump in and leave your comments.

On a side note, I see that Vivian has quite a following on her blog (under 50 but building). I wish I had the following that some of these other blogs do. Where are the readers? I need followers too - wahhhh :( - lol - only kidding. I think it will happen before I realize it. But pleease, follow the tours and check out the postings on everyone's blog to see what new and fun things are out there.

Oklahoma early 1900s and 2000s - what a difference

REVIEW OF PRAIRIE DOG COWBOY
by Elysabeth Eldering

Prairie dogs are fast little animals. Most can be found in the midwestern states and that's where we find Buddy Roberts practicing his roping skills to become a "real cowboy." When "Prairie Dog Cowboy" opens, we find ourselves in the middle of turn of the century, before it became a state Oklahoma. Buddy Roberts' mother carries a bitterness towards her second born child due to health issues that occurred while she was pregnant with him causing her to lose lucrative work with Buddy's grandfather. Because of his upbringing, being shunned by his own mother and not knowing anything else, Buddy works his family's property from the time he can really get out and herd the cows and do chores.

In "Prairie Dog Cowboy", we are taken through almost fifteen years of Buddy's life, his trials and tribulations and eventually him becoming a man. His mother thinks he is only good for working with his back, but that which does not break us makes us stronger. Buddy works hard and knows that eventually he will have much to show for it, or will he? When Buddy's father passes away, his mother expects him to do more work to keep the family farm/ranch going and to prevent his older brother from doing any work at all.

Every page of this historical novel keeps tugging at your heartstrings because you so want Buddy to triumph over his mother's bitterness and hatred. You want him to be seen for what he truly is - a cowboy. You want his mother to at least hug him one time and tell him she loves him. You want him to prevail no matter what. Buddy has no further to look than a neighboring rancher who takes Buddy in under his wing and allows him to totally grow up to be the man he will be. Even though Buddy's journey starts when he is almost 5 years old, he is already grown up and wise beyond his years due to all his hard work.

Vivian paints a picture of what life was like in the days of prairies and "real cowboys" and brings some history to the readers as well.

For more on this story, pick up a copy at your local bookstore or order directly from 4RV Publishing. Books may also be ordered from amazon.com.


COMPARISON OF LIFE THEN AND TODAY:
- In the late 1800s/early 1900s, there were no fences around property and if you owned property, you were considered very wealthy. (Today, fences and distinct markings make it easy to keep the herds where they should be.)
- Then, almost all work was done by the hands of the land's owners and hired hands. Very hard and back breaking work for anyone, especially the children. (Today, vehicles are used to cultivate the property and make life a bit easier. The ranchers and farmers do still ride horses and herding still done via horseback, but for the actual farm work - most of the "chores" of yesteryear are not as difficult to endure now.)
- Prior to 1907 and Oklahoma becoming a state in the union, children who were of age to work the farms and ranches rarely attended school after eighth grade and if you got to attend school, you were lucky. (Now, most children, even when old enough to work the farms and ranches, attend school up to graduation and even go to college. Most may only help out after school and on the weekends.)

These are just a few of the things we experience when following Buddy in "Prairie Dog Cowboy." Check out the book and see if you would be able to handle life in the time of Buddy growing up.

Oklahoma late 1800s/early 1900s life coming to modern day States

Stay tuned for something fun on Vivian's blog tour of "Prairie Dog Cowboy". Remember she is having a drawing for four tote bags from 4RV. Leave your comments and follow the schedule below to check out what everyone has going on about this new release from 4RV Publishing.

Remember to click on the person's name to be taken to a new window with their blog. Come found out more about Vivian and the Prairie Dog Cowboy, Buddy.

The Cowboy Life comes to the modern day States

Vivian's newest release - Prairie Dog Cowboy - will be touring the blogosphere next week. Today, she is featured on Shari Lyle-Soffe's blog. So stop by and leave a comment for Vivian and Shari. (Tomorrow the JGDS will be featured on this blog).


Click the links below to follow Buddy and his life in the panhandle of Oklahoma before it became a state: There will be a drawing during the tour for four canvas bags. Please make sure if you leave a comment to leave your email addy in the comment and can be done like this (so you aren't spammed) eeldering at gmail dot com - or you can leave your actual email addy. Vivian needs an email to contact you if you are drawn as the winner.



Prairie Dog Cowboy Tour Schedule February 15 - 22
February 15:
Ransom Noble
Carolyn Howard-Johnson

February 16:
Beverly Stowe McClure
Jennifer Nipps

February 17:
Nancy Famolari
Joy's Delgado's website and
Joy Delgado's blog

February 18: (Vivian's 47th anniversary)
the JGDS
Rena Jones' blog and
Rena's multiply blog

February 19:
Malcolm R. Campbell
Chris Speakman

February 20:
Joyce Anthony
Nikki Shoemaker

February 21:
Holly Jahangiri

February 22: - wrap up
Vivian Zabel

Suzanne tells you how to break into the nonfiction market of children's writing

Six Tips to Help You Break Into the Children's Magazine Markets With Your Non-Fiction For Kids!
by Suzanne Lieurance


It's no secret that one of the best ways to break into the children's magazine markets is with nonfiction. So follow these 6 tips to have the best chance of acceptance with your short articles for children:
1. Study the markets - Each children's magazine is different, with a different style, voice, and variety of subject matter. Take time to study the markets you wish to submit to and you'll know which ones are the most appropriate for the articles that you wish to write.
2. Study Past Issues - Besides studying current issues of each publication you wish to write for, look at several past issues of each publication. Make a list of the various nonfiction article titles in each issue to get a "feel" for the way various authors narrowed their focus for each topic they wrote about. One of the big mistakes most beginning children's writers make with their nonfiction articles is that they don't narrow the focus of the article enough. If you want to write about camels, for example, don't propose an article that tells anything and everything about camels. Instead, focus on just ONE aspect about camels and develop your article around that.
3. Include subtopic headings when writing your article - These will break up your article into "chunks" which are easier for young readers to read. These subtopic headings will also "lead" the reader through your article. They will also make your article "look" more like nonfiction instead of fiction.
4. Give your topic an unusual slant that will appeal to kids and editors alike - When you do this, your article won't sound so much like a textbook. And articles that sound too much like textbook material are NOT in big demand with magazine editors.
5. Consider topics that will relate to themed publications - Many children's magazines have themes for each issue. And, even for publications that do not have themed issues, editors still look for topics that can be used for holiday issues as well as other seasonal issues. For example, most publications feature some sort of back-to-school articles in their August or September issues. In the summer months, these same publications tend to feature articles that give vacation tips or crafts ideas and games to keep kids occupied during the summer. So, be sure to include some of these types of article ideas in your queries.
6. Look for lesson known publications - Competition is fierce for Highlights, Spider, Cricket, and most of the very popular publications for children. You'll automatically increase your chances for acceptance if you query publications that don't receive so many queries.
Try these 6 tips and it shouldn't take you long to start receiving acceptances from the children's magazines that you query.

For more tips and articles about writing for children, visit the National Writing for Children Center and join the Children's Writers' Coaching Club.

Being promoted - JGDS takes on the blogging world February 12

Vivian shared a posting with me for someone looking for educational books to be featured on her blog. I sent the required information to Shari and we will be appearing on her blog on February 12. Mark the date and come see what is in store on this unofficial blog tour. It should be a very fun, educational week.

Shari is featuring health and safety week this week. Stop by and check out Donna Shepherd's two books being featured today. See you all in the postings - E :)

The Locket by Suzanne Lieurance

Book synopsis:
Galena, an eleven-year-old Russian-Jewish immigrant, lives in New York City with her family and works at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory with her older sister Anya. The factory pays low wages and has terrible working conditions, making Anya yearn to join a union. Soon a horrible fire guts the factory leaving Galena with painful, horrific memories. Follow author Suzanne Lieurance in this dramatic historical fiction novel, as she describes how Galena uses the support of friends, family, and Jewish traditions to inspire her to fight for workers rights.


Product Details
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Library Binding: 160 pages
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc. (April 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 076602928X
ISBN-13: 978-0766029286
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

Purchase the Book at Amazon.com using this link

Meet Suzanne Lieurance - Children's author extraordinaire

I had the pleasure of being on Suzanne's blog talk radio show last year about my series. Now, I get to host her this week for the Virtual Book Tour Yahoo! forum I belong to. Let me introduce Suzanne to you by presenting her bio and Tuesday, I'll introduce her newest release - The Locket. Later this week, Suzanne will do a guest posting about her writing workshops.

Hope you enjoy meeting this wonderful children's writer.



Suzanne Lieurance is a fulltime children’s author, freelance writer, and The Working Writer’s Coach. She teaches children’s writing for the Institute of Children’s Literature based in West Redding, Connecticut, and is the founder and director of the National Writing for Children Center.

Lieurance is the author of 20 published books and has written articles for a variety of magazines, newsletters, and ezines like Family-Fun, Kansas City Weddings, Instructor Magazine, New Moon for Girls, Children’s Writer, and many others. She hosts a talk show about children’s books, called Book Bites for Kids, every weekday afternoon on blogtalkradio.com.

Lieurance offers a variety of coaching programs via private phone calls, teleclasses, listserv, and private email for writers who want to turn their love of writing (for children and/or adults) into a part-time or full-time career.


Contact info:
Suzanne's website
Writing for Children Center
Working Writer's Coach
Book Bites for Kids
Build Your Business Write