Publishing

Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 3

Hi there! Thanks for stopping back for the final installment of Publishing Expectations vs Reality! In case you missed them, you can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.  As always, please keep in mind these are my experiences, and those of many other authors, but certainly not indicative of every author’s experiences. Got it? Okay…… Continue reading Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 3

Publishing

Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 2

Hey there! I hope you caught Part 1 of this blog series last week. If not, scroll back. You’ll find my first three Publishing Expectations vs Reality thoughts there with an explanation of how this blog topic came to be.  Moving on… Expectation 4: My book will be stocked in every bookstore and library everywhere. Reality:  Maybe… Continue reading Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 2

Publishing, The Crimson Five series

Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 1

Last week, I gave a presentation to my local writers groups with author, Marsha Hayles. The Rochester Area Children’s Writers and Illustrators group is a subgroup of SCBWI- such a great bunch of people! I became a member almost 15 years ago around the time I began working towards publication. Back then, I didn’t know… Continue reading Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 1

Publishing, Spin the Golden Light Bulb, The Crimson Five series

The Crimson Five is 5!

Happy Birthday, Spin the Golden Light Bulb! I couldn’t pass up the chance to shout out my debut novels’ 5th publishing birthday. So here I am, thinking back to January 9, 2018, and after all this time, doing my best to let this milestone sink in. Getting published is a huge accomplishment and to be honest,… Continue reading The Crimson Five is 5!

Publishing, The Crimson Five series

Signing Books & Gold Gel Pens

Last time, I blogged about how tough it can be to keep writing through difficult periods.  Today, I have something more upbeat to talk about, one of the perks to being published: signing books for readers! In two weeks, I’ll be signing books at the Rochester Children’s Book Festival with about 50 other authors and illustrators.… Continue reading Signing Books & Gold Gel Pens

The Crimson Five series

Back to School with the Crimson Five Kids

One of the unexpected thrills of becoming a published author is hearing from teachers who’ve read Spin the Golden Light Bulb to their students. I imagined (and hoped and wished) that teachers and librarians would someday add my books to their classrooms and libraries. But I honestly never went so far as to imagine them… Continue reading Back to School with the Crimson Five Kids

The Crimson Five series

Chasing Book Perfection—or Book Perfect-ish

No book is perfect. It’s more common than you think to find a typo or a misspelled word, those proverbial book Easter eggs, on a page or two. Unfortunately, things like that get missed in books before they go to production all the time, even when they’re edited by the best editing team on the… Continue reading Chasing Book Perfection—or Book Perfect-ish

The Crimson Five series

What’s Your Magic Writer’s Mark?

What Makes Your Story YOU? All books have themes. Things the author subtly (or not so subtly!) imparts into their stories. Like perseverance or teamwork or whatever. My books have them too and I could probably write a post just about those. But that’s not what I’m thinking about today. I’ve noticed a different kind… Continue reading What’s Your Magic Writer’s Mark?