Book Publishing Secrets with Cheryl Carpinello #books #bookpublishing

Cheryl Carpinello taught high school English for 25 years. During that time, she worked with numerous students who didn’t like to read for a variety of reasons. However, she discovered that even the most reluctant readers became engaged in the classroom and in reading when she introduced units on King Arthur and the works of ancient world writers. Upon retiring, she set out to write fast-paced, action-filled stories in these setting to encourage young readers to read more. Her success with readers aged 8-16 led her to reach out to the youngest of readers and those readers just starting out. Revising stories she had written for her own children, she created Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales for ages 4-7.  Her four grandchildren’s conversations created the stories in Book 3 of this series.

Visit her on Twitter and Facebook.

Grandma and Grandpa’s Tales books 1-3 encourage early readers with fun stories incorporating difference aspects of nature. Book 1, Wild Creatures In My Neighborhood and What if I Went to the Circus, explores the wildlife around neighborhoods and introduces decision-making. Book 2, Singers of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback, explores a common, but not so common insect, and lets readers see that being stubborn isn’t always good. Book 3, Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale, introduces readers to an extended metaphor and lets them decide if the fish story is real.

📙 Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

Cheryl: As a teacher, my work with readers, reluctant readers, and non-readers at the high school level fueled my interest in writing stories for elementary/middle school students (ages 8/9-15) in hopes of catching the reluctant readers and non-readers early in their schooling. My vehicles for these stories are Arthurian Legend and the Ancient Worlds. My high school students loved these, even those who didn’t like to read. However, I realized that there were important age groups that I was not reaching, mainly preschoolers and beginning readers.

Finding some short stories I had written many years earlier, I decided to turn these into picture books for a new series: Grandma’s Tales. Now this series has expanded into three books containing two stories each. Each of the books also come with either a Grandma or Grandpa on the cover.

📙 Is this your first book?

Cheryl: No. In addition to this series, I have my Guinevere Trilogy (Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend; Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend; and Guinevere: The Legend) and the stand alone The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table). These are all set in the days of King Arthur. My ancient Egyptian tales are the time travel adventure Sons of the Sphinx and Tutankhamen Speaks. I have a new series coming out in June 2022, which features Rosa (Sphinx) and her cousin Jerome. The first book in the Feathers of the Phoenix series is The Atlantean Horse. This series will meld the ancient/modern worlds in a race to find the five feathers of the Phoenix to raise Atlantis.

📙With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Cheryl: I’m an Indie Author, but I publish with Silver Quill Publishing out of England. Silver Quill is an author consortium consisting of 12 authors from England and Europe. I’m the only one from the US. I’ve also published through a small press in Canada. The traditional publishing route was 1-2 years from acceptance to print. Too long for my goals of reaching young readers.

📙Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Cheryl: An Indie author from the from the beginning (2009), I thrive in this environment. My writing goal of getting books into the hands of beginning/young readers remains the same. Traditional publishing, when I first started, took 1-2 years for a book to be available to the public. I didn’t want to wait that long. My first few years saw potential readers questioning whether I was self-published. Now with many popular traditionally-published authors choosing to publish their books via the Indie author platform, the public perception has changed to be more positive.

📙What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Cheryl: Over my 13 years as an Indie author, I’ve seen several significant changes. As I mentioned above, many first-time authors are choosing the self-publishing route as their road map to print. Out of these authors, an overwhelming number have chosen to take their writing to a higher level by spending the time and money to have their books done right.

📙Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Cheryl: Being an Indie author is not for the faint-hearted. Indies take great pride not only in their writing, but also in the presentation of that writing. True Indie authors spend a lot of their money on editing, layout, covers, and publishing to make sure their books are professionally presented. Covers typically run from $300 USD to $899 USD. Editing and layout can often run from $250 USD to $500 USD.

📙What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Cheryl: My advice to aspiring authors is not to get bogged down on any one book. Have confidence in yourself and your ability to tell a story. Close down that critical side of your brain, let your creative side tell the story, and enjoy what you’re doing.

Book Publishing Secrets with JD Wise #books #bookpublishing

JD Wise is a West Virginian-born author who believes that the world can be changed for the better, by one person, one time, doing the right thing.

“Just think what would happen if we all did that,” said Wise.

Wise is happily married to the love of his life. Together, they have four wonderful children, who are the true inspiration for the book.

Nomophobia is his latest children’s book.

Visit him on Instagram and Facebook.

Welcome to NOMOPHOBIA – A PLACE IN TIME WHERE OVERUSED CELLULAR DEVICES TURN CHILDREN INTO OGRES.

This is a somewhat true, mostly exaggerated story of modern-day children – children who have spent way too much time on their phones. One night the children are mysteriously turned into ogres. At first the children blame each other for their condition. When they finished blaming each other, they worked together to find a cure. They searched the house for a cure…but they could not find one. They tried to wash the ogre off…but it stayed on.

They had all but given up when sissy’s phone accidently falls into the fish tank. When the phone gets wet, a hidden message appears: YOU WERE TURNED INTO OGRES, BECAUSE ON THE PHONE YOU DID STAY! NOW, PUT IT AWAY AND GO OUT AND PLAY!

So the children rushed outside, where they returned to normal. That day the children learned a valuable lesson. OVERUSED CELL PHONES TURN CHILDREN INTO OGRES.

 

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let's begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

JD:  Children in my life inspired me to write Nomophobia.  One little boy that I know told his grandma that he did not need to learn how to tell time.  He said that if he wanted to know what time it was, then he'd just ask the phone.  Another time, I was in the waiting room at the doctor's office.  The nurse came out to call in a child who was playing a game on their phone.  The child would not move until the game was over.  This is what sparked the idea for Nomophobia.  

Is this your first book?

JD:  No, this is my second book.  My first book is A Child Called YOU.  A story of kindness without judgment for everyone.

With this particular book, how did you publish-traditional, small press, Indie, etc. - and why did you choose this method?

JD:   I went Indie with this particular book.  For months, I sent out queries but to no avail. I thought that I had an important story to tell.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

JD:  There are more no's that yes's:  No's seem frustrating, but it's worth it all when someone finally says yes and sees the significance of your work.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

JD:  I learned to never give up.  No one else will believe what you write unless you believe in it first.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

JD:  I would recommend trying to get a traditional agreement first.  All the rejections will help you to refine your skills as a writer.

What's the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

JD:  Use the rejection that you receive to your advantage.  Once you've completed your manuscript, let someone else read it and don't be afraid to change things according to the critiquing.

 

Book Publishing Secrets with Children's Author Anne K. Edwards

Name: Anne K. Edwards

Book Title: Changing Places

Genre: Children's

Website:  www.AnneKEdwards.com   

Find out more on Amazon

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

Anne: I didn’t really decide to be an author. I write because I must. There is no peace until I settle at the keyboard and begin. It is that part of the mind that never ceases to produce new ideas, stories that I simply must tell. Changing Places is one such tale. I had several other books published in different genres before the idea for this story took hold of my imagination. It proved irresistible and I felt I had to tell the tale of a cat and a snake that met one summer day. My cat loved to roll around on the cement floor of our front porch and he rolled off the edge to land on a sunning blacksnake. I knew I shouldn’t laugh as each raced away in a different direction, but it was a bit of funny business that kept me giggling for days as the idea for a story formed.  

Is this your first book?

Anne:  No, but it is only my second venture into writing for children.  My first was about a little boy who outsmarted a hungry dragon.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Anne:  I’ve had the good luck to be published by a very successful small press called Twilight Times Books in the traditional format.  However, they don’t publish the type of children’s books I write.  Instead of spending time looking for a publisher that does put out this genre, I chose to try self-publishing. There were other reasons for this decision as well, such as the shortness of the books. If you look into submission guidelines of children’s publishers, you will find a certain length is desired and to reach that number of words, I’d have to pad the story with unnecessary sentences and I do think it would not improve the story. Often, there is a demand for breaking a book into chapters and the length of time used in telling the story makes that an unrealistic requirement.  The action only lasts a little while and the padding to make it longer would ruin the pacing.  I enjoyed writing the story in its short form and believe children would also prefer it this way.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Anne:  Having published other books after searching for an agent and/or the print houses as a new writer and learning the sad truth that most new writers do not find success in that way, I decided not to waste the time in repeating that process.  I admit, I did look into a few Internet small presses that accept children’s book submissions, but their requirements were not compatible with what I write.  I do not mean their requirements are a bad thing, not at all. But my writing style of a short story showed me that I did not write to meet their specifications and I had no desire or intention to try rewriting to meet them. As someone I admire once said about a book, it is what it is, and that was what helped me decide to try the self-publishing route. I was extremely fortunate to have a dear friend who got me moving in the right direction and making the final decision on how to publish when I procrastinated. She guided me all the way on my first and second children’s books, told me what steps to follow in getting the book ready to post. Because I am a big chicken when it comes to new technology, she had a lot of hard work to do. I hope she reads this and knows how much she is appreciated.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Anne:  Since being a writer is a continuous learning journey, I can truthfully say that I learned how much more I have to learn.  My ignorance of the changing publishing scene and technology is abysmal. I’m like a first grader trying to learn to read and understand Shakespeare’s plays. Coming from the days when writing was done on a manual typewriter into the days of computers, I have some real problems with understanding the lack of instructions in most phases of usage on the social media sites. I’ve learned that joining some promotion groups and advertising on many websites that claim to promote one’s book is also a waste of promo funds.  The writer seeking publication must be aware of how much they will be able to spend on promotion. There are too many places willing to take your precious cash and give nothing in return.  In the end, I find the old ways are most productive while searching out new sites that are recommended by other writers I know.  It is a process that also takes a lot of time.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Anne:  Absolutely.  It is another chance to learn about one’s writing and one’s willingness to tackle the experience of new technology, even if you fail the first hundred times.  You will learn to separate the good from the bad and how things work. But bear in mind this is a constantly changing workplace so we must be willing to change with it. The more we learn, the better a writer we will become.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Anne:  Don’t give up. The temptation to quit is always present when we run into a problem that seems insurmountable, but it isn’t.  Consider it like a plot that needs reworking and try to look at your work with a different viewpoint.  Don’t spend years and years rewriting the same book.  Finish that first book if you haven’t.  Don’t keep rewriting those first chapters to make them prefect.  There is no such thing as a perfect book.  Join a writers group. Find like minds on the social media if your ego needs bolstering. Don’t continue to bask in the limelight of family’s and friends’ compliments, ask people in that writers group to read your work and keep moving forward on the story.

About the book:

Changing Places is a humorous story about a cat and a snake whose meeting was accidental and leads each into an adventure that does not turn out the way they though it would. The idea came from the day my cat rolled off the porch onto a basking blacksnake. They both fled the scene in different directions, and gave me the idea of what if they stopped to talk about their meeting.  The book is available in ebook form at Amazon Kindle.

Find out more on Amazon 

Book Publishing Secrets with Children's Author Michelle Nott

Name: MichelleNott

Book Title: Freddy, Hoppie and the Eyeglasses

Genre: Early Reader

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

Michelle: I've wanted to be an author ever since I was in elementary school. But, life sometimes takes you on a more winding path than expected. For that reason, I did not start getting really serious about writing and publishing until about six years ago.

This particular book stemmed from my daughter's experience with having to get glasses. This is not at all her story, but her experience inspired me to write it for other children who may be having troubles or an experience that could be difficult to talk about.

Is this your first book?

Michelle: Yes.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Michelle: I chose traditional publishing. I was already busy enough writing and being a mother of two young children. I did not have the means, nor the desire, to wear all the hats necessary to self-publish.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Michelle: My publishing journey for this particular book was quite straight-forward. One of my critique partners had read a couple revisions of this story and commented that it was the type of manuscript her editor appreciated. So, I sent it to Guardian Angel Publishing. The editor, Lynda Burch, requested a revision (tightening, change of POV). Once she re-read the manuscript with the changes, she offered me a contract. I suppose a pro with going with a small press is that I have very freindly and frequent correspondence with my editor. I can send her an email about an idea and she always gets back to me in a timely manner.

For my other manuscripts, I have queried many (MANY) agents. I am very pleased to have recently signed with Essie White at Storm Literary Agency. I feel that a huge pro with having an agent is the confidence that comes from someone championing my work to others and looking out for my best interest in the publishing world. Essie, in particular, is an all-around great person to know who cares deeply about children's literacy and getting great books in little hands.

In either case, I can't think of any cons. Publishing is a subjective business and everyone's journey is unique to them.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Michelle: I've learned patience. From signed contract to actual book takes years!

I've learned that I must believe in myself. As everyone knows how subjective a business publishing is, it can be very depressing when rejection letters and “near-misses” (I loved it but...) arrive in one's inbox. If I hadn't believed in my craft and the stories I felt needed told, I would have given up years ago.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Michelle: I think every author must choose the path that fits them best. I was happy to first publish with a small press, to see what publishing entails (the marketing, the publicity, the networking, etc.)

I certainly would not discourage any one from publishing with a small press.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Michelle: If you feel deep down in your gut that you must write, as much as you must breath and eat, do not let any circumstances stop you. There are good days and bad, as with life in general. But the good days do make up for the bad days along the way. The biggest reward is never giving up, never having to say, “I wish I had...”

Book Publishing Secrets with Children's Author Donna McDine

Name: DonnaMcDine

Book Title: Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters

Genre: children’s

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

Donna: As long as I can remember I have always enjoyed immersing myself in books and I hope to invoke the same feelings into my readers.

Is this your first book?

Donna: No, this is my fifth children’s book.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Donna: I went the small press route with Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. I went with Guardian Angel Publishing because I immediately was drawn to the family feel and care Lynda Burch takes with her authors and illustrators.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Donna: Patience intertwined with determination of learning the writing craft and not rushing the process is essential. The road to publication is a long one. Depending on the speed of your publisher, from the time of submission, to hopefully editing process then publication in my experience it can take anywhere from one to three years for your book to see the light of day, especially if illustrations are involved.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Donna: Everyone’s experience on publishing rollercoaster is unique. Don’t be so worried about comparing yourself to others. Success comes in all shapes. Write what you love. Study publisher submission guidelines and follow them to the letter. This is not time to think outside the box. Publisher submission guidelines are in place for a reason. Adhere to them.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other Donnas?

Donna: It honestly depends what your wants and needs are. As for me, the experience with a small publisher has been a positive one.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring Donnas?

Donna: Seek out writer critique groups, attend workshops and join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The wealth of information and assistance is outstanding!

Thank you for interviewing me. I enjoyed visiting with you and your readers.

Title: Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters

Genre: children’s

Author: Donna McDine

Website: www.donnamcdine.com

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Purchase link: www.donnamcdine.com and Guardian Angel Publishing / Amazon  

About the Book: The anxiety of finding one’s own place and friends in kindergarten without the comfort of having her fraternal twin sister nearby at first overwhelms Dee until she realizes even without her fraternal twin sister, Dee and her classmates for the most part are in the same boat.

Book Publishing Secrets with Children's Author Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Name: CherylC. Malandrinos

Book Title: Little Shepherd

Genre: Christian Children’s Picture Book

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing

Find out more on Amazon

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

Author: I began writing as a teen and always enjoyed it. Life got in the way for a bit, but when I became a stay-at-home mom I had a chance to focus on my writing.

This book was inspired by a Christmas carol I used to sing to one of my girls at night. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get the visions of a young shepherd in the hills outside Bethlehem on the night of the Savior’s birth out of my mind until I wrote it down.

Is this your first book?

Author: This was my first book. I’ve since published another one and have two more under contract.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Author: I decided to go with Guardian Angel Publishing, a small indie press. The reason I chose them is because I was familiar with their books and really enjoyed them. Knowing what they published helped me to write a book that fit into one of their imprints. I also knew some authors who had published through GAP, so I asked them what they thought. I only heard good things, so I submitted my first book to them, which they accepted after a few additional edits.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Author: Though in the beginning I strived to be published by the big publishers, I like the level of input I am allowed to provide on my work with an indie small press. You really feel part of the team and valued. I don’t believe I’ve lost out on anything because of my publishing choice.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Author: I’m more apt to consider self-publishing than when I began my writing career. Since I’ve also worked in online book promotion and have spoken with numerous authors who have self-published, it doesn’t seem half as daunting as it used to. I know it’s in my future.

Publishing has greatly changed in the years since I graduated from Long Ridge Writer’s Group. So many people are self-publishing or publishing through small indie presses that authors have had to become better at marketing themselves. That is how virtual blog tours like this one really began.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Author: Definitely. At the end of the day, do you hold out to be discovered by an agent and one of the top publishers or do you pursue an indie small press that is more willing to take a risk on a new author? While I would love to have an agent, I don’t feel not having one has hampered my success thus far.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Author: Believe in yourself! You have the power to make your dreams come true.