Noteworthy News

We apologize for being absent so much of late. Ms. Elysabeth has been busy (see her posting on the other blog for how busy she has been).

Ms. Elysabeth has done three summer camp presentations at the Belton Center of the Arts and although the kids haven't been buying the books yet, they have been pretty receptive to her reading. Ms. Stephanie took pictures yesterday and we are hoping she remembers to email a copy to Ms. Elysabeth so she can post here. (Will let you know when they are available).

Ms. Vivian is back from vacation and at least one school will be showcasing several books from 4RV Publishing including the JGDS series. We can't wait to get into the schools and show the kids how much fun learning geography can be.

So far, Book 1 has been selling very well. We are pleased with how she is getting us out there. It seems she has sold 35 books total (including a few books on hold that she is awaiting to see the persons or receive their money). Viv had to order another 50 books sent to Ms. Elysabeth for the Decatur Book Festival. We hope she sells all 50 there and has to place another order for the Aiken Book Festival. We are looking forward to being in Decatur. It seems like it is shaping up to be a very big festival.

Book 2 clues are being placed in the story but nothing else has happened. Matt and Mary Beth are playing the game this time and they haven't told Ms. Elysabeth much as to how they are interacting or what the end result will be (of course she has been a bit busy to really sit down and listen to them). The book will be ready on time for publication in January.

The cover didn't win this time but maybe the next one will. We can only hope. We are being urged to get off now so we will sign off and will post more when we can.

Sales and other good news!!!!

I'm so excited about how the book is doing. I can't wait to get caught up on my regular work to get the second one finished.

Since the books arrived, 50 in the first order which was supposed to be put aside basically for Decatur Book Festival, 35 have actually been requested or sold. I sent Vivian monies last week for about a dozen books and at the same time, she ordered another 50, because in talking to several friends of mine online or via email, I realized I had maybe 7 books left in the box from the original order. In total that makes 120 books in less than a month having been ordered (she forgot to order some to keep with her so she could send out for anyone who orders from the website, so had to place an order for 20). My second 50 arrived Thursday and I promised not to sell from that box and put it aside for Decatur. So, hopefully this trend will continue through the end of the year and we sell like crazy.

Yesterday, while out running around, we ran into one of Hailie's friends who bought a copy of the book. She's such a sweetheart too. She was my 34th copy sold. And then while talking to one of the band members at the grocery store, Hailie sold another one to a friend's mother out in the parking lot (she was getting a copy of the book to show the friend in the store and ran into her other friend who said to hold a copy a copy out since she did not have the cash at the moment - that was the 35th one). I am down to 5 in the box and 10 on consignment at the Belton Center for the Arts and if those don't sell by the end of the month, I'll pick them up to take with me to Decatur.

Vivian is on a mini vacation visiting her son in Colorado. Her daughter-in-law is an administrator in one of the elementary schools and read the book and absolutely loved it, so my series may make it into the schools, one school district at a time but I have a feeling that they will eventually make it into the right hands in each of the states to get distributed in the schools massively (that would be great to see my books used to supplement the geography teaching and having the kids learn things about the states they normally wouldn't pick up in their normal day-to-day routine schooling).

Now for the guesses - most everyone who has read the book gets to about Clue #25 (out of 27 clues) before they really know the state. I did two presentations last week at the Belton Center for the Arts summer camp (the theme this year is story time) and had a blast. Stephanie wanted me to read clue #25 so the kids could guess the state but I didn't want to, really wanted to entice them to buy the book, or get their parents to buy the book, so that they could read the book for themselves and make their guesses like my characters do.

I will be doing one more presentation next Wednesday to the last of the summer camp sessions at the Belton Center for the Arts. I will probably read the first part and the first two clues and let them get the books to read the rest themselves. Definitely Clue #25 is a dead giveaway clue (26 and 27 are basically the common, known facts of the state so everyone should know by the last clue or the next to the last clue for sure).

One of the band member's mother bought two copies and informed me last night while at the store that she guessed the state from the cover. I don't know how she did but she did. The cover depicts Clue #2 (Sacajawea), Clue #14 (the Appaloosa horse) and Clue #20 (the Birds of Prey Wildlife area in this state being the home to world's most dense population of nesting eagles, hawks and falcons). Way to go Faith from knowing from the cover what state it is. You get a gold star.

Everyone come over to the 4RV website and place your order today. If you know me, you can get an autographed copy from me directly (remembering I only have about 15 left I can actually sell before Decatur Book Festival). If you are in the Atlanta area over the Labor Day weekend, stop by the Decatur Book Festival and come visit the 4RV booth. You can pick up your copy of 10 of the books that 4RV has published this year, some actually signed by the authors who will be available (Viv, Jacque Graham and myself). So see you all in the postings or at the book festivals - E :)

Last five days to vote

If you haven't voted yet, remember to go to the Author's Lounge monthly cover contest. Voting ends midnight July 31, so you still have a few days to get your vote in. I hope you all like the cover and will place your vote. If you have already voted, many thanks to you. Don't wait until it is over. Go now and vote - E :)

First review of State of Wilderness

Well here it is folks - the first review of the first book. It's such a wonderful review -

“Elysabeth has created an intriguing storyline to encourage youngsters to learn about our United States. The relationships of her four characters add depth to the stories; they are true to their age and situation. Interesting and educational, State of Wilderness is a wonderful first book in the Junior Geography Detective Series: I’m looking forward to the next 49 books!”

--Batya D. Wininger, UPositive Creativity and Life Coaching
www.upositive.com
http://upositiveblog.blogspot.com/

Books have arrived!!!!!

Yesterday was a good day. I know I should have posted then but believe me when I tell you that I was stuck with work all day, I was. UPS came about 1:30 p.m. and delivered a box of 50 books (on consignment from Viv and in preparation for the Decatur Book Festival). I have sold seven already. I'm thinking if I sell more than 25, I'll have to do another order of 25 for Decatur and maybe, depending on how we do at Decatur another order for Aiken. It would be nice. All that will have to wait for now.

If anyone wants a copy, they are available through the publisher, www.4rvpublishingllc.com/store.htm ($10.99 - plus shipping), amazon.com ($10.91 to $12.50 - does qualify for free shipping with a $25 or more order) and b&n.com ($13.49 - also qualifies for their free shipping with a $25 or more order), or you can email me and I'll be happy to send you a copy ($11 - plus shipping).

The books are so adorable. Come join the adventure with me and my JGD Squad and see which state you are visiting - Ms. E :)

FANTASTIC NEWS - State of Wilderness is being shipped

Viv left me a message this morning saying that the first order of 50 books (we had them shipped to me on cosignment to be prepared for Decatur so that Viv and Jacque wouldn't have to load Jacque's car down too much with extra books) is being shipped out tonight. Now I don't know exactly where LSI is located or where the books are being shipped from (they are being shipped via UPS), but best guess is I will have books in hand by the end of the week (that's even if they are located across country - figuring at least 3-4 days to travel but it could be sooner, could be Thursday and probably at the latest next Monday). So here's to anxiously awaiting books in hand - E :)

Book cover up for cover of the month award

I just found out yesterday, my cover has been placed in the Author's Lounge monthly contest for book cover of the month award. Check out the website and vote if you like the cover. There are only three nominations.



Vivian informed me this evening that the proof copy would be with her tomorrow and if everything is okay and there are no problems, she can place the first order right away, which means within two weeks from Monday, I could have books in hand, ready to take to Decatur or sell before then (have two sold already, just waiting for them to get here). I am so excited about this.

My newsletter was posted yesterday to the JGDS yahoo forum, so if you haven't signed up yet, please come over and sign up and receive monthly updates on the series. There is a sign up box to the right -------------->. I made some changes to the newsletter and have added a 4RV column (I took out the about me column because I felt everyone who is reading pretty much knows me) for updates on what is happening with the company. So, sign up and don't forget to check out the Author's Lounge to place your vote. See you all in the postings - E :)