Series update

I've been thinking of some ideas to make my stories more fun and interesting for the kids. With this technological age, I've felt that the stories are flat and are not really getting the participation from the readers as I had envisoned. So I'm talking with Heather and thinking we will go a different route for future books, so right now, new stories are on hold. I will keep you updated when I decide what route I'm going with the stories and changes as they happen. Until then, just keep reading and if you have any ideas to share that would make the series more fun for kids to read or how to incorporate the stories in your classroom, please don't hesitate to leave me a message or you can send me an email to eeldering (at) gmail (dot) com - thanks - Ma America :)

Bookworms 3

I was in Walmart again today and picked up my yarn for the spring bookworms. I also liked the one that is labeled "primary" so picked up a skein of that. My autumn colored ones sold well last Friday at the teachers' conference so I picked up one more skein of that color and was going to get another one of the Christmas colors but they were sold out. Anyway, here are my spring and primary colored bookworms:

Spring bookworm

primary bookworm

I do like how the spring one is really the pastel looking colors and does remind me of springtime. I don't know why I like the primary colored one so much but I do. So what do you all think? Which is your favorite? Leave a comment and let me know.

All six choices side by side - :)

See you all in the postings - Mrs. E & the JGDS

Bookworms

I found some red/white/blue varigated yarn at Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago and started making some different items. I had found a pattern years ago for a crocheted bookworm. I searched and found the pattern again. While in Walmart with the girl Friday I found this autumn looking colors of varigated yarn and picked up a skein. I made a few bookworms (4) Friday night and put them on the table Saturday morning and sold 3 of them. I also had to make up at least 1 of the red/white/blue because the previously done ones had been sent to Mr. Hughes' class for a prize for a contest I had run for the kids.

Upon returning home, I got to thinking, now would be the time to snatch up some Christmas varigated yarn and make some Christmas bookworms, and then I thought, "Why stop there? why not make some for every season?" There are many varieties of varigated yarn that the possibilities are endless. So when I get a chance, I'll snatch up several skeins of Christmas colors, pastel/Easter/spring colors and more of the autumn colors and keep using my 40% coupons for the red/white/blue skeins to get a supply of that going. I think I'll post the bookworms on my website for teachers to order as gifts for their classes.

Let me know what you think? Do you think teachers would order small gifts like these to give to kids for birthdays, Christmas or other times during the school year? Leave me a note and let me know - Mrs. E :)

Here are an autumn and a red/white/blue colored one:

kindlegraph

By the name, one would think that kindlegraphs are just for ebooks, but that isn't the case. Kindlegraphs are available for all books even if not available on kindle. This is a cool way to get an electronic signature to any person who purchases your book not from a direct sale. I've put the JGDS books available so far on kindlegraph so anyone who has purchased a copy not directly from me can now receive a personalized message from me electronically (can be sent to your kindle or to your email and will be a PDF file with the cover of the requested book's kindlegraph and my message). All my author friends out there need to sign up and list their books - the process is very easy and there are some updates coming soon.

See you all in the postings - Ma America, The Travelin' Maven :) & the JGDS

baskets update #2

I'm at it again. I like using a single strand of yarn and tying together as you weave (the yarn is easier to work with than the plastic bag strips). This is the same basket I did yesterday with the three strands and glad I didn't glue them down or anything - took it apart and weaved as far as I could with the red, tied the white and wove around; tied the blue and wove around - I think it turned out pretty cool and just think how creative you can get with the different colors of foam and the different colors of yarns out there - If anyone is interested in the patterns for the baskets (small and large), I've placed them on my website under the craft tab page. You are welcome to print off and use for any crafting time you would like. Let me know which you like better - working with multiple colors as one in a kind of layered fashion or with single strands and weaving until you need to tie another piece to continue. I'd love to hear from my readers who have tried the craft and with different colored foam and yarn - drop me a line at my email addy (in my profile) - Mrs. E :)


While uploading this picture, I came up with another idea - which I think is going to look pretty cool, so as soon as I do that, I'll definitely post.

Edible Train of Clues anyone?

So Heather was messing around making some cookies today and apparently she's been thinking of my covers because she came up with this: . Doesn't it just look delicious? All that's missing is the magnifying glasses and question marks and there we have an edible cover - lol.


She took this with her cell phone and posted on her facebook page. I got tagged and have been chatting with her about it. I can do wrapped train cookies at a book signing - That would be fun. Anyway - enjoy - Yum, Yum. - Mrs. E :)

Savannah bound

This weekend is the Savannah Children's book festival in Savannah, Ga. Last year was my first year to attend this gathering and I only had two copies of books going down with me (although I did find out about two weeks after that I had more copies in my car which I could have sold at the time) and sold both of them and would have sold more had I had the five copies I found later. This year I'm going down with proof copies of State of Successes and State of Heights along with about 12 copies of State of Reservations, four copies of State of Wilderness and only two copies of State of Quarries. I also have two copies each of "Train of Clues" and of the Passport booklet. I've been having dreams that several teachers have stopped by and ordered "class copies" (that's at least 10 of each title, but some have been more), and hope this means that the weekend proves to be better than last year's events. If you are a teacher out there, you are always welcome to check out my website for all the specials I'm running. I'm offering a 10% discount on multi-copy orders of one title (at least 10 copies must be ordered to receive the discount) and I've got a special deal on the first three books in the series when ordered together along with a deal for ordering the remaining 47 books in the series with the 47th book being published about this time in 2019.

I am also hoping that my books do really take off that by the time my son graduates in 2013 I can quit working full-time and start traveling. I'd love to do several weeks a month of just visiting schools and traveling to all the states.

If you are in the Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida area and would like a fun place to be, come visit all the authors and illustrators at the Savannah Children's Book Festival this Saturday from 10 to 4. There are all kinds of activities for the kids and I'm sure there is a little something for everyone's interests.

SCBWI Carolinas conference bound

SCBWI = Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. As a member of the local group, the Carolinas, we have a conference in the fall. This year's is in Charlotte, NC (my guess is this is fairly central to both states). The workshops will be held at the Marriott on Tyvola Road. I came up early so I wouldn't have to get up like at 5 in the morning and head up the road. I checked in sometime around 7ish this evening and was heading to the lobby to get my dinner microwaved since there are no microwaves in the room and none available to be brought to my room. Getting off the elevator, I met up with a friend - someone I actually know. I can't wait for the workshops this weekend. What I'm taking are geared for marketing to the educational market and marketing in general and the PAL (SCBWI has a group of members who are published and listed (PAL) and so that intensive will be geared more towards marketing too.

I'm open to new ideas on getting my books out there.

Sunday, two of the books in the series (State of Reservations and State of Sucesses) will be reviewed on J. Aday Kennedy's blog. She will also be running a marketing idea on the 29th, so come see what she has in store for us (even I don't know what she is planning to do on the 29th, other than to say she has an idea for getting something for free having to do with my series). Guess we will find out next week what she has up her sleeve. See you all in the postings - Mrs. E & the JGDS - :)

More literacy and reading sites

I follow several blogs and this one just came in my email and thought I'd share with my readers. It's another roundup of places to go - Check out the Scrub-A-Dub Tub blog for a short list of recommended places for the month of September.

Mint Hill bound

Sunday in the Park (was called Art in the Park previously) is upon us again. I will be heading to Mint Hill, NC, which is about 20 or 30 minutes or so on the other side of Charlotte. Last year was a good time and the weather was perfect, hot at times but plenty of breezes to help keep the heat and humidity at bay. I'm hoping this year with more to offer that I do well. I can only hope. Benjamin is going with me to help me out, so this will be a new exciting adventure for me since my son hasn't participated in any of my events before. I think the mention of paying him to help out was the reason he decideed to go. I get to spend the day with my baby (not so much a baby any more - lol as he is at least 6 feet tall and weighs in at 160 or so pounds). I'm looking forward to Sunday in the Park - see you all in the postings - Mrs. E :) & the JGDS

Passport proof has arrived

This morning I decided to go to the post office - to get a money order and check the mail. I knew that createspace.com was fast in shipping the proof copies as I'd already experienced such with "Train of Clues". So in my box was a yellow card (package too big to fit in box indicator) and so I went inside and picked up the package and lo and behold - Passport proof copy was there. I must say it really is gorgeous and now I have an actual copy to take with me tomorrow (had printed out a large version of the file to take with me but having the proof is so much better). Folks will see what the actual booklet looks like, but coming in at 134 pages long, it really isn't a booklet. Now, must order some copies to send to Ms. Elise who is planning a trip up and down the east coast right after Labor Day. I'm excited about having this.

Don't forget to check out my website for all the special deals going on right now - preorder the rest of the series and you will receive one copy of the Passport book free with a discounted price on extra copies (these are consumable so each child will need their own copy); preorder the rest of the series (47 books total) for a special price and the special deal on the first three books to include the study guide on CD. Looking forward to seeing you all at upcoming events - Mrs. E :) & the JGDS

LAST DAY - Train of Clues drawing Monday

Last month when I hit 4500 visitors to my blog, I posted a random note of encouragement for everyone to consider leavinng a comment to be entered in the drawing for a signed copy of "Train of Clues." Today is the last day to leave your comments on any post since June 24 through tonight. I had stated I would do a drawing for every 25 comments left and so far I have had 20 comments on various postings, so there will be a drawing for one copy of "Train of Clues" (unless a plethora of comments come in on the postings from yesterday). Good luck to everyone and winner will be contacted Monday - see you in the postings - Mrs. E :)

Tried "Road Trip" yet?

If you've tried the game from the activity booklet, there are some corrections that need to be made. The booklet is available on my website.

If anyone has downloaded the activity booklet and worked the "Road Trip" game and came up with a different route (that works) other than what is listed in the answer key, please feel free to email me (eeldering at gmail dot com) your solution, so I can add all the possible solutions as an updated file. As of today, April 8, 2010, I have about 26 solutions working with the possibility of more. So please drop me an email if you have come up with different routes. (There are four routes possible starting in the middle of the country - Ks or MO and going through Canada a third time to connect MI with ME, albeit a longer trip - lol; there are at least eight routes starting in ME and ending in FL as well as starting in ME and ending in TX). I'm adding new ones as I find them. I will post a completed revised answer sheet soon (on the website with a link to a shared file on box.net) when I feel that I've exhaused the routes.

Here is a suggestion for the map - if you don't want to use the one in the booklet - get a small laminated map that you can use either a dry erase or wet erase marker on and keep track of your route that way. When you are finished and satisfied that you have hit every state only one time on the route (but can enter Canada more than once if need be), then write your answers down and check them in the back. If they don't match, drop me a note and I'll let you know if that is one of the new acceptable routes. I'd love to hear from you all on the routes you come up with for the "Road Trip" game. Mrs. E & the JGDS

Buttons, buttons - who wants a button?

I found a place to order buttons very inexpensively, Busy Beaver Buttons, from a Sisters in Crime associate who had shared her buttons. So I ordered some. I'm happy with the round ones but not the square ones (partly my fault and partly the company's, so most of those will be going back). So here I am going to do something special for my readers and fans.

For every order of State of Wilderness or State of Quarries from my website, I'll send you a button for free. Your choice of the heart or logo button, so please indicate which you would like with your order. This offer is good while supplies last (about 25 of the logo buttons and about 50 of the heart buttons).

Want to find out how reading can be fun and educational at the same time?

I'm the guest blogger on Mayra Calvani's blog, so pop on over to Mayra's Secret Bookcase blog and read an article on the subject of how reading can be both. See you all in the postings - Mrs. E :)

Free book anyone? Your school could really use this book

My friend Carol Baldwin, author of "Teaching the Story," is giving away a copy of a "My Fun Picture Dictionary" in an effort to help out Kathleen Skotcher, owner of Studium Educational Resources. For more on how you or your school can be entered to win a copy of this book, click the title of this post and you will be taken directly to Carol's blog posting or click on Carol's name above to be taken to her blog. It doesn't cost anything to enter and maybe your school really can use this book. The prices are great from Kathleen (read the story, please to find out how much you can save as a school or even a district). Let's have fun and get those kids reading. See you all in the postings - Mrs. E & the JGDS :)

Mint Hill Art (or Sunday Afternoon) in the Park

Through an accidental finding from another author's website, I found this little outdoor activity. I will be participating this coming Sunday with a table set up with activities for the kids and chances to win puzzles and flag pens. If you are in the Charlotte, NC, area or even close to Mint Hill, stop by between 1 and 6 p.m. and visit with the many artists who will be there. I will hopefully be sharing a tent space with Joyce and Jim Lavene. Hope to see you all there - E :)

Stories for Chldren Magazine announces two new contests

I would love to hear from some of my readers who enter either contest (children get permission from your parents to leave a comment and let me know what you came up with), drop me a comment - see you all in the postings and good luck to all who enter - E :)



For Immediate Release - Contest for Adult writers

Stories for Children Magazine Announces Amazing but True (nonfiction) Contest

For this new annual contest, send Stories for Children Magazine an amazing event or true story (nonfiction) for children. What age group you choose—3 to 6, 7 to 9, or 10 to 12—is up to you, but remember the event or story has to be true and for children, which means no sexual content, violence, or anything related to drugs.

Submissions will be accepted between May 4, 2009, and July 30, 2009.
Who may enter? Adults (18 and older)

Contest Fee: $10

Contest Prizes:
The top article in each age group category will be published in the following months:

Ages 3-6 winner: September SFC issue
Ages 7-9 winner: October SFC issue
Ages 10-12 winner: November SFC issue

The SFC Amazing but True Grand Prize Winner: December SFC issue

In addition to being published in Stories for Children Magazine, all winners will receive a Winner’s Certificate and

SFC Grand Prize: 3 months’ membership in the Children's Writers' Coaching Club (an $81 value).

1st Place in each age group category: a one-year subscription to Children’s Writer (a $19 value).

All entries may be considered for publication in Stories for Children Magazine at a future date.

Contest Rules:
Your article must be for one of the following age groups at Stories for Children Magazine:

DISCOVERY (ages 3-6): Learning about the world around them. WORD COUNT: 150 to 400

HOW AND WHY (ages 7-9): Understanding the how and why of things. WORD COUNT: 400 to 800

TELL ME MORE (ages 10-12): Covering the basics and digging deeper for a better understanding of their world. WORD COUNT: 500 to 1200

Your maximum word count, not including your title and byline, may not exceed the word count listed in the age group you choose.

Winners will be selected based on quality and appeal to our readership here at Stories for Children Magazine.

Go here for submission guidelines.



*****************************************

For Immediate Release --- Contest for young writers

SFC Magazine Announces Stanley Bookman Spooky Sounds Young Author Contest

Contest Description:

The Stories for Children Magazine mascot, Stanley Bookman, needs your help to write a story about the spooky sounds you hear at night, in the backyard, or when you are camping.

Your story needs to be original, unpublished, and written by you. A parent/guardian may help type your story, but you have to write the story yourself. Make sure you use your imagination!

You must email all stories, along with the attached permission form signed by a parent/guardian, by midnight on August 30, 2009. Stories will not be returned, so make sure you keep a copy for yourself. Please send only one entry and make sure to put your name, age, email address, home address, and parent/guardian name in the top right hand corner on the first page of your story.

Will you help Stanley by writing a story between 500 and 1200 words long?

Submissions will be accepted between June 1, 2009, and August 30, 2009.
Who may enter? Young Authors (17 and under)

Contest Fee: No Entry Fee (Parental approval needed)

Contest Prizes:
The top three stories will be published in the following months:

1st place in the October SFC issue
2nd place in the November SFC issue
3rd place in the December SFC issue

In addition to being published in Stories for Children Magazine, all winners will receive a Winner’s Certificate and:

1st Place: a 6 months’ personal membership to BigUniverse.com (a $30 value).

2nd Place: an autographed copy of Babysitting SugarPaw by VS Grenier (a $14 value).

3rd Place: a McDonald’s Book of five $1 Gift Certificates.


Go here for submission guidelines.




All the best,

VS Grenier
Founder & Owner, Stories for Children Publishing, LLC

Editor-in-Chief, Stories for Children Magazine
a division of Stories for Children Publishing, LLC

SFC Newsletter for Writers
a division of Stories for Children Publishing, LLC
Voted one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer's Digest 2009

SFC: Families Matter
a division of Stories for Children Publishing, LLC

VS Grenier Children's Author
Critiques, School Visits, and more

Stories for Children You Tube Channel

Honea Path Idol and book signing

One performer (I understand the preacher) bought a copy of State of Wilderness. But there was quite a crowd and Honea Path has had it's first Idol - and the weather held up for the whole event. I got worried when I picked the kids up from band practice as it started to rain a bit but it moved on rather quickly - check out the talented folk - I should have videoed the performances but I didn't think of it - so you have still shots - E :)

An Invite to participate

I've been communicating with the director at one of the South Carolina Welcome Centers (Fair Play, I-85, coming into South Carolina from Georgia) and have been invited to participate in the 2009 National Travel and Tourism week, May 9th through May 17th. This particular Welcome Center will be having industry partners in the area promoting themselves on Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are allowed to distribute any promotional type item we can (brochures, coupons, business cards, et cetera; and in my case it will be bookmarks and some other things for the kids). I'm working on some ideas now - following my "Where will the adventure take you next?" theme - and hopefully I will be able to have plenty of goodies for everyone.

So if you are traveling that weekend in May between Georgia and South Carolina, stop by Saturday, May 16th, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and say hello to me. I'd love to meet some of my readers from other states. See you all there. E :)