Exciting New Children's Book On The Way

[brtmchl]

(08-15-2013 10:00 PM)Gene C Wrote:  The customer reviews on Amazon are good!
I'm not normally one for graphic novels, but yours looks much better than most I've seen. Reminds me of the old Classics Illustrated comic books (I liked those), only with more of the story.

I hope you can come to the conference. I'd like to hear your story on how you were able to accomplish this.

Thank you Gene, you are very kind.

Without going into a new novel, this all kind of just happened.

Last May, I spoke in my wife’s fifth grade class about the Lincoln assassination. She gave me a sheet containing the information that the school district requires them to pass on to their students. I was horrified at this. It basically said, “ Booth shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre.” Being an avid reader on this subject, I told the real story of what happened on April 14, 1865. Including the kidnapping plot, those involved, the trial, and the manhunt for Booth. The class loved it, but I was shocked that this was the first time they had heard any of the actual details. After the class I complained to my wife about how little gets taught on this subject. She issued me a challenge, It was a “put up or shut up” moment.
So I set out to create for her classroom a book. One that contained all the information, but was enjoyable for her kids. I really wanted to create something that would be a starting point, to spark interests to continue reading great novels such as American Brutus or The Day Lincoln Was Shot.. I know that Bill O’Reilly and James Swanson have books that are marketed toward young readers, while this is great, these books are just the same as their novels; just shortened versions with a few pictures thrown in. Children still find them difficult to read and lose interest.
I decided to write a comic book, or graphic novel styled book. I felt that the best way to get a child interested is by putting a picture in their mind. I was always a visual reader. Growing up I loved reading the Classics in comic book form, which I truly believe made me a lover of books.
I wish I had the computer skills, and graphic design talent that some in this forum have. I don't! So everything was hand drawn and colored using markers. I then would go to Office Max and have each page scanned so I can put it on my computer and add text and talk bubbles using photoshop.
I decided to self publish through Amazon which was really nice. I wanted to just get copies made for family and my wife's school but the feedback was more than I hoped for. I am still trying to land a traditional publisher so I can make this more affordable.
I have had a lot of interest from Comic book publishers here in Chicago and in Canada, but because of the fact that they sell $3.00 comics they have all suggested that I drop the prose so it can be more affordable in a comic book market. I simply won't do that. It was meant as a teaching aide. So I will continue to self publish until someone sees the value.
Sorry for the long post. I value all of you as experts in this field. So if anyone would like a sneak peek, I may be able to send digital. I find that even if you have read it, most people still want a hard copy to own personally or for a child. It may only cost a review. Just kidding

[BettyO]

Mike -

Your history is faultless. I myself would call your work a "Graphic History" - since "novel" indicates fiction....there is no fiction in your work (or fictional characters interwoven) since you use more or less verbiage/dialogue that is recorded historically. Your facts/story-telling are correct, therefore to me, this is a Graphic History - although the term novel would probably appeal to children more.

You are extremely talented artistically as well - the illustrations are very indicative of "camera shots" in a movie/TV storyboard - wonderful in every way. I used to hand draw and oil paint - and mostly use Photoshop now. It's not really that difficult - I bet you'd be a master in no time!

[brtmchl]

(08-16-2013 06:55 AM)BettyO Wrote:  Mike -

Your history is faultless. I myself would call your work a "Graphic History" - since "novel" indicates fiction....there is no fiction in your work (or fictional characters interwoven) since you use more or less verbiage/dialogue that is recorded historically. Your facts/story-telling are correct, therefore to me, this is a Graphic History - although the term novel would probably appeal to children more.

You are extremely talented artistically as well - the illustrations are very indicative of "camera shots" in a movie/TV storyboard - wonderful in every way. I used to hand draw and oil paint - and mostly use Photoshop now. It's not really that difficult - I bet you'd be a master in no time!

Thank you Betty, You are most kind. I love that " Graphic History," it sounds very macabre. I hope your right. I have already learned alot on Photoshop, I just hope I don't forget for next time. I am starting to think about a Graphic Novel, or "Graphic History" about John Brown.

[L Verge]

Mike,

I would like to apologize to you for praising this book in such a manner that leaves the impression that it is only for children. That's just the school teacher thinking of what will appeal to young history enthusiasts. I totally forgot that many grown-ups enjoy such items and are great collectors. This book should be very appealing to a wide variety of ages.

I also love the "Graphic History" term...

[brtmchl]

(08-16-2013 04:29 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Mike,

I would like to apologize to you for praising this book in such a manner that leaves the impression that it is only for children. That's just the school teacher thinking of what will appeal to young history enthusiasts. I totally forgot that many grown-ups enjoy such items and are great collectors. This book should be very appealing to a wide variety of ages.

I also love the "Graphic History" term...

Laurie, you should never appologize to me, especially for praising my book. It is a children's book intended for new young history enthusiasts. It's just a bonus that adults have enjoyed it as well. Your support and enthusiasm for this project has meant the world to me. It is a kindness that I only hope I can repay you. I have been honored by your help and our new friendship.

[L Verge]

I just want to add one more word of praise for Mike's work, and it is based on something intangible that we have touched on in a slightly negative way in another thread. To me, Mike has shown the true spirit of being a giving American. I believe that I am correct that he is retired military, so he has given to America in that capacity. However, his work on this book shows me that he saw something that was missing in our children's classrooms and decided to correct the situation by using his artistic, verbal, and historical skills to produce this book.

Instead of sitting back and grumbling and throwing in the "guilt card" about the deficiencies in American society, he took the initiative to correct what was lacking in his wife's classroom books. Her students have already benefited for several years with Mike's extra help, and I hope that many more children will learn from his endeavor.

[emma1231]

(08-15-2013 11:01 PM)brtmchl Wrote:  

(08-15-2013 10:00 PM)Gene C Wrote:  The customer reviews on Amazon are good!
I'm not normally one for graphic novels, but yours looks much better than most I've seen. Reminds me of the old Classics Illustrated comic books (I liked those), only with more of the story.

I hope you can come to the conference. I'd like to hear your story on how you were able to accomplish this.

Thank you Gene, you are very kind.

Without going into a new novel, this all kind of just happened.

Last May, I spoke in my wife’s fifth grade class about the Lincoln assassination. She gave me a sheet containing the information that the school district requires them to pass on to their students. I was horrified at this. It basically said, “ Booth shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre.” Being an avid reader on this subject, I told the real story of what happened on April 14, 1865. Including the kidnapping plot, those involved, the trial, and the manhunt for Booth. The class loved it, but I was shocked that this was the first time they had heard any of the actual details. After the class I complained to my wife about how little gets taught on this subject. She issued me a challenge, It was a “put up or shut up” moment.
So I set out to create for her classroom a book. One that contained all the information, but was enjoyable for her kids. I really wanted to create something that would be a starting point, to spark interests to continue reading great novels such as American Brutus or The Day Lincoln Was Shot.. I know that Bill O’Reilly and James Swanson have books that are marketed toward young readers, while this is great, these books are just the same as their novels; just shortened versions with a few pictures thrown in. Children still find them difficult to read and lose interest.
I decided to write a comic book, or graphic novel styled book. I felt that the best way to get a child interested is by putting a picture in their mind. I was always a visual reader. Growing up I loved reading the Classics in comic book form, which I truly believe made me a lover of books.
I wish I had the computer skills, and graphic design talent that some in this forum have. I don't! So everything was hand drawn and colored using markers. I then would go to Office Max and have each page scanned so I can put it on my computer and add text and talk bubbles using photoshop.
I decided to self publish through Amazon which was really nice. I wanted to just get copies made for family and my wife's school but the feedback was more than I hoped for. I am still trying to land a traditional publisher so I can make this more affordable.
I have had a lot of interest from Comic book publishers here in Chicago and in Canada, but because of the fact that they sell $3.00 comics they have all suggested that I drop the prose so it can be more affordable in a comic book market. I simply won't do that. It was meant as a teaching aide. So I will continue to self publish until someone sees the value.
Sorry for the long post. I value all of you as experts in this field. So if anyone would like a sneak peek, I may be able to send digital. I find that even if you have read it, most people still want a hard copy to own personally or for a child. It may only cost a review. Just kidding

---

When I get my just-ordered copy in the mail, I'd love to have you autograph it. (I'd incl. a stamped, self-addressed mailing bag with it!) How can I get your address? Maybe you can write to me : emma1231@optonline.net

[Eva Elisabeth]

Hi Mike,
today I received your book which I had ordered only three days ago. (Incredible. I didn't know Amazon prints books. It was printed in Leipzig, crazy! And shipping had not been charged additionally.) I skimmmed it in my lunch break.
First of all: Mary would love the way you drew her! (The others would be pleased with themselves, too.)If I had to teach the topic, I would have so many ideas how to use this book. It was very clever to alternate text and comic passages (text on each left, comic on each right side, summarizing the text on the left), so there's still a lot of text and thus background information included. And immediate repetition via a different medium, clever, indeed. Since today a lot of kids don't like to read any longer texts, this is a very "suger-coating" method. For teaching I would also appreciate that the text passages always cover the entire page. (Textbooks anyway more and more tend to become picture galleries with some "disturbing" text passages spread in. IMO that looks most confusing and completely takes attention away from the last remaining bits of content.)
May I ask, how long did you work on this project? I truly take my hat off to your ideas and drawing skills!

May I now tell you my ideas for some slight "satin polish" (absolutely not intended as criticism):

-In my edition the pages are not numbered. This makes it pretty difficult to advise: "Turn to page..."

- I like all the quotes you've collected for the preface and think was a good idea to add them! However, if I read a quote, I want at least to know when it was said (...at best briefly on which occasion, too, but this, indeed, would be too much.) It wouldn't take much space to add the date, but would make the (young) readers once more aware of that all this didn't just happen "once upon a time".

- Like Laurie, I love the glossary. It's just a pity that, in case you haven't first spotted that it will follow the main part, you are not aware of the additional information while reading the respective words in the plot. An asterisk marking those words (or similar) and a guiding remark in the preface would avoid any ignorance.

Again, please regard all this just as my personal additional ideas, not as criticism. Your book and work is great! (And Mike - will other topics follow...?)

[brtmchl]

Eva, thank you so much for the review. It is most helpful. I am very glad that you liked it.
I worked on the actual drawings for 6 months, the book came together in about a year. All of the reading took much longer.

Your suggestions are most welcome. Criticism is as important as praise. I want the good and the bad. It is really important to me to get this as perfect as I can. The fact that there were no major criticisms is very encouraging.

I did try to put page numbers, but with the font that I chose the numbering looked awkward. It also would force me to decrease the size of the font, but I wanted it to remain large text. It would be fine on certain pages because of the length of text but on pages where the wording is a lot less there was a dramatic difference. I figured with a short book, that mainly takes place in consecutive order that it would not be needed. Kind of like a story telling at a campfire. Plus I wanted to make sure that the text matched the illustration page entirely. I'm sure there is a better way for me to include this, I am still learning. Amazon or creatspace doesn't do any of the formatting. It is completely up to me to supply the complete product.

I love the idea of adding an asterisk to indicate words covered in the glossary.

I also agree with adding the dates for quotes in the preface. My main objective was to skip a long prologue but to try and show a gradual build up of what was to come. There were so many quotes that I thought I would alow Lincoln and Booth to build it for me.

Thank you again for spending the time to give me further suggestions. One of the great things that I have found about Amazon is that I can spend the time and fix certain things, without additional costs, resubmit and it takes 24 hours to be reviewed and it is ready.

I am really glad you liked it Eva.

Thanks again

P.S. I think it is so cool that my book found a home in Germany

[Eva Elisabeth]

(08-19-2013 07:04 PM)brtmchl Wrote:  I also agree with adding the dates for quotes in the preface. My main objective was to skip a long prolarranged to try and show a gradual build up of what was to come. There were so many quotes that I thought I would alow Lincoln and Booth to build it for me.

I've seen your idea. For me it works out and still would if the dates were added, since at least the "Lincoln quotes" (Booth's, I suppose, as well) are arranged in chronological order.

The page numbers IMO would look best if positioned center bottom. I agree, on the right ("comic") side it probably looks better without any. But it would even help having them solely on the left side.

[brtmchl]

Eva wrote:
Again, please regard all this just as my personal additional ideas, not as criticism. Your book and work is great! (And Mike - will other topics follow...?)

I have been thinking alot about John Brown. He is another topic that my wife's students have NO knowledge about. My only fear is that it may be too violent, and disturbing. Unless I skipped his earlier escapades in Kansas. I thought it would be good to as a series opener. I could tie Booth in as well.

I have also thought about Cortez and his conquest of the Aztecs, but my wife says I should stick with the Civil War period. My only fear is commiting to a whole series of the war and it will be difficult and overwhelming to draw the battles. Not to mention that there are already alot of Battle focused comics. I would have to find really interesting and unknown stories within the story to make it work while still covering the war in the background. There are alot of woman, slaves, doctors,politicians, and military leaders that can be covered. I wonder how much background there is on Dr. Leale during his time in the war?

[Gene C]

How about an illustrated biography on Joshua Chamberlain? Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad? Lafayette Baker, Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor heroes, Elizabeth Keckley
Non-Civil War -Theodore Roosevelt, Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, George Patton, John Glenn, Neal Armstrong

[BettyO]

Mike, how about General Hartranft? OR on the Trial and Execution of the Conspirators? You could tie-in Dr Mudd and John Surratt and his escape?

[brtmchl]

Betty and Gene, those are all GREAT suggestions that I will have to look into. I guess I will have to find one that will be the most exciting, to keep me motivated as well as capture a young audience, while still being educational.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(08-20-2013 09:49 AM)brtmchl Wrote:  I have also thought about Cortez and his conquest of the Aztecs.

This would for sure be a very suitable topic for such kind of book.