Exciting New Children's Book On The Way

[Eva Elisabeth]

Just came across this:

http://www.patrioticcoloringpages.com/am...ex-04.html

Strange to say the "Lincoln history" ends with the Gettysburg address.

[BettyO]

I always wanted to combine graphics skills and history into a coloring book on the conspiracy and assassination. Maybe someday I will ....but that may be a bit too deep for kids.

[brtmchl]

I think that would be great. I don't think it would be too deep, depending on the age. It would be a great teaching tool. The amount of time a child spends on the page coloring would definitely benefit his learning.

[brtmchl]

Just a quick update:

I wanted to again thank Eva for her suggestions and to let you know that I have made a few changes. There are now page numbers on each of the prose pages and I also added an asterisk to each word that appears in the Glossary the first time it appears in the book. Thank you again Eva, for those suggestions, I really do believe it makes a difference.

Also, the head of UNO Charter Schools in Chicago, IL has gotten hold of my book and I have been told that he was very pleased. I was told by a friend there will be discussions amongst board members. I have no idea what this will actually amount to or what this means, but I am glad that there is talk. If it is not added to their curriculum at least there may be a few more Lincoln/Assassination enthusiasts and possible members to this site.

[BettyO]

Fantastic, Mike!

Eva has some great ideas as well. Again, congratulations, Mike - you have created a wonderful book for sparking the interest of future historians!

[brtmchl]

(10-10-2013 05:32 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Fantastic, Mike!

Eva has some great ideas as well. Again, congratulations, Mike - you have created a wonderful book for sparking the interest of future historians!

Thank you so much Betty

[Eva Elisabeth]

Mike, THANK YOU SO MUCH for sending me a signed copy of your updated edition! That was so kind of you!!! I really think the numbers (contrary to your initial worries) look great, and make the pages and layout a well-rounded thing, and both, asterisks and numbers, are a small but very helpful addition! I hope many, many readers of all age groups will discover and enjoy your wonderful book!

[brtmchl]

(11-08-2013 01:10 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Mike, THANK YOU SO MUCH for sending me a signed copy of your updated edition! That was so kind of you!!! I really think the numbers (contrary to your initial worries) look great, and make the pages and layout a well-rounded thing, and both, asterisks and numbers, are a small but very helpful addition! I hope many, many readers of all age groups will discover and enjoy your wonderful book!

Thank you Eva, you are too kind. You are right. The little things make the difference.
Thank you also for your support, I am still trying to figure how to make readers discover my book. Of the many upsides of self publishing, the main downside is that you are on your own. I was just recently debating if I should pay for a Kirkus review. However, they charge $425.00, seems awfully high for something I really don't know will be of benefit.
Thank you again, and I am very pleased that I have taken up residence on your "best" bookshelf.

[Rob Wick]

Mike,

If you have a Barnes and Noble near you, call and ask for the store's community relations manager, or if they don't have one, the store manager. Let them know you have a book that you've published and would be willing to do a signing. The only hiccup would be if they can't get your book through the store's normal channels. Sometimes a self-published book can cause stores problems. Most stores really want to feature local authors. Just don't be disappointed if you only get a few people show up. Even big name authors have events that go nowhere.

You also might consider talking with your local newspaper. Don't approach the editor with "I want to sell this book" but rather tell them the story behind it and what prompted you to write it. During the interview you can always mention how someone can get a copy. If you are able to have a signing then trying to get an article published will help bring in more people.

Good luck!

Best
Rob

[brtmchl]

(11-08-2013 10:13 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Mike,

If you have a Barnes and Noble near you, call and ask for the store's community relations manager, or if they don't have one, the store manager. Let them know you have a book that you've published and would be willing to do a signing. The only hiccup would be if they can't get your book through the store's normal channels. Sometimes a self-published book can cause stores problems. Most stores really want to feature local authors. Just don't be disappointed if you only get a few people show up. Even big name authors have events that go nowhere.

You also might consider talking with your local newspaper. Don't approach the editor with "I want to sell this book" but rather tell them the story behind it and what prompted you to write it. During the interview you can always mention how someone can get a copy. If you are able to have a signing then trying to get an article published will help bring in more people.

Good luck!

Best
Rob

Thanks Rob, I really appreciate the advice.

[L Verge]

Have you made contact with Ford's Theatre to see if they would consider selling it? The NPS doesn't make the decision, however; it goes through a vetting process with a separate entity. Jim Garrett can probably give you details and contacts.

I sent a copy of your book to the social studies supervisor for our county schools with the suggestion that it be considered for at least school libraries, if not as a reference book in each classroom. Our museum's education coordinator just got asked by the county schools to serve on a textbook selection committee at the local level, so we'll push it a bit more. That is a slow and tedious process, however.

[brtmchl]

(11-09-2013 10:18 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Have you made contact with Ford's Theatre to see if they would consider selling it? The NPS doesn't make the decision, however; it goes through a vetting process with a separate entity. Jim Garrett can probably give you details and contacts.

I sent a copy of your book to the social studies supervisor for our county schools with the suggestion that it be considered for at least school libraries, if not as a reference book in each classroom. Our museum's education coordinator just got asked by the county schools to serve on a textbook selection committee at the local level, so we'll push it a bit more. That is a slow and tedious process, however.

Laurie,
Thank you so much. Your enthusiasm and help with this book has meant more to me than I can possible put into words. I hope we can meet one day soon, so I can give you a big bear hug.
I have tried contacting Ford's Theatre by mail. I have sent letters describing the book itself and how I came about writing it. Along with a copy of the book. I have done this to many Lincoln museums and libraries as well as local newspapers. I understand that this is a process that will take time. I am not discouraged, just "green." This is all a learning process for me. I am sure that all of these places are swarmed with new material on a daily basis. Being a first book written by an unknown author isn't going to put me to the front of the line.
Being new to this, I just don't want to fall into the trappings of alot of these websites offering paid reviews that are sure to get the attention of bookstores and libraries.

[Rob Wick]

Mike,

My experience has been that at the bookstore level, where the real action takes place, having a review of a book has absolutely no bearing on whether or not it will sell or even be carried. The corporate buyers make the determination (generally) as to what books stores throughout the country will carry and that normally comes from a sales rep from one of the major publishing houses. Small press and self-published authors have to rely on their own work to get a book into a store, and even getting it placed regionally isn't easy, but as I said earlier it also has to follow certain rules before BN will let it in the door. Your best friend will be a store's community relations manager, who if they are doing their job, will get your book into the store. If you have more than one store in your area, you need to speak to each of the CRMs in those stores. Also, make friends with the independents in your area. Of all the booksellers in America, independents have actually seen their sales increase compared to national retailers.

One other suggestion. As a former editor, I can attest to the fact that I got things in the mail (this was before e-mail) that I hardly took the time to look at. If someone sent me a book unsolicited, unless I knew the person or knew of them, I rarely would ever follow up. Depending on the size of the papers and other media outlets in your area, try to set up an appointment to visit them in person. In newspapers, you would want to contact either the news editor or the city editor. Don't try to see the managing editor unless it's a small paper and that's the only level of management available. For television or radio, try to find out the news director and make an appointment with them.

That still won't guarantee you a big story, but local news always wants local people, especially in anniversary years of major events.

Good luck.

Best
Rob

[brtmchl]

(11-10-2013 10:13 AM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Mike,

My experience has been that at the bookstore level, where the real action takes place, having a review of a book has absolutely no bearing on whether or not it will sell or even be carried. The corporate buyers make the determination (generally) as to what books stores throughout the country will carry and that normally comes from a sales rep from one of the major publishing houses. Small press and self-published authors have to rely on their own work to get a book into a store, and even getting it placed regionally isn't easy, but as I said earlier it also has to follow certain rules before BN will let it in the door. Your best friend will be a store's community relations manager, who if they are doing their job, will get your book into the store. If you have more than one store in your area, you need to speak to each of the CRMs in those stores. Also, make friends with the independents in your area. Of all the booksellers in America, independents have actually seen their sales increase compared to national retailers.


One other suggestion. As a former editor, I can attest to the fact that I got things in the mail (this was before e-mail) that I hardly took the time to look at. If someone sent me a book unsolicited, unless I knew the person or knew of them, I rarely would ever follow up. Depending on the size of the papers and other media outlets in your area, try to set up an appointment to visit them in person. In newspapers, you would want to contact either the news editor or the city editor. Don't try to see the managing editor unless it's a small paper and that's the only level of management available. For television or radio, try to find out the news director and make an appointment with them.

That still won't guarantee you a big story, but local news always wants local people, especially in anniversary years of major events.

Good luck.

Best
Rob

Thank you so much Rob, your advice is most welcomed and appreciated.

[brtmchl]

I just had my first interview last Saturday on an internet radio program. I felt like Ralph Kramden ( humina humina).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl...K9odsWwfIo