Congratulations, New in 19 February Releases!!!
Congratulations, Vivian, Lindsey, and Mia!
#Newin19 is a community of debut trade picture book authors and illustrators whose books are launching in 2019.
Below you’ll find the covers of the New in 19 books being release in February. Click on the image to access ordering information.
congratulations, all! From Guides by deb
Guides by Deb – Keeping your books in the hearts of young readers and in the hands of those who care for them.
This blog post was created by Debbie Gonzales, MFA. Deb is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator and adjunct professor, and once served as a SCBWI RA for the Austin Chapter. She's the author of six “transitional” readers for a New Zealand publisher and the forthcoming non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Click here to access a website - Guides By Deb - which is jam-packed full of premier educators guides for all genres, all ages, and all kinds of fun.
Are you interested in discussing a reader’s guide project? If so, click here. Deb’s eager to hear from you!
Deb also hosts The Debcast - a podcast dedicated to the courageous female athletes of the past and present who demonstrate that playing like a girl means to approach sports – and life – with confidence, commitment, and drive in order to achieve any worthy goal. It means being aware that, when you excel in your sport, it’s a win for all girls – everywhere. The Debcast explores what it means to be an athletic girl with guts by talking with female athletes of all ages and walks of life, as well as authors who have written about them.
Adventures of a Debut Author - Counting Kisses
It’s been a worrisome week. I’ll not deny it. Two good friends, who happen to be debut authors, have fallen on hard times. Really, really hard times. My heart aches when I think about the impact these situations will have on all aspects of their lives. We’re not playing games with this stuff. It’s the real deal.
While I’m terribly concerned for their personal and families’ well-being, I am really bummed that these incidents add burden to what should be a joyful experience – being a debut author! They’ve worked so hard. They’re such deserving people. It just ain’t fair.
And, then, as I over-think their situations (a practice I often engage in), I have to wonder if the very nature of being a debut author, and all the trappings therein, contributed to their distress. Not that being a debut author is the primary reason trouble showed up at their doors, mind you. Instead, that perhaps, the stress and demands of preparing for their debuts may have played a role in their angst. I certainly hope not. But it’s possible. Right?
There’s got to be a way to strike a balance in this thing and I'm on the hunt to find it.
I truly admire the authors and illustrators I’m privileged to know who have lovely families and full-time jobs and are physically fit and publish on a regular basis! How, the heck, are they able to do it all? It’s amazing to me.
Author Nikki Loftin - isn't she lovely? Inside and out, I tell you.
Some time ago I asked the very, very talented Nikki Loftin what advice she might have for an embryonic debut author. Nikki is an incredible mom, a loving wife, and a full-time author who is pulling this gig off in style (All that, plus she’s fun to be with and as cute as a kitten.). I want to know what someone as prolific as Nikki has to say, don’t you?
“So… my advice,” Nikki said, “would be to keep a journal/notebook/mental tally of all the GOOD things that happen in the first year (before and after pub date). The bad stuff will start to seem overwhelming at some point (bad reviews, missed opportunities, rejections of the next book or four), and it can be really hard to see the amazing things that have happened in the middle of all the mud.”
There you have it. Count blessings, even if they’re sloppy. Nikki’s not glossing over the issue that publishing your first (and preceding) books is and will be hard work. Instead, she’s reminding us that it is critical to acknowledge and remember the butterfly kisses along the way, too. Great advice!
In closing, my wish for you, my troubled friends, is that a monarch stops by and lays a big, wet smooch on the tip of your nose to remind you that you’re loved and cherished by all.
Be well.
Starting the Year with Gratitude
After spending a lovely holiday with my husband, this week I've been back in the guide-crafting saddle again and loving it. I've also been taking some time to plan for new projects such as a public speaking opportunity and working on a brand-spanking new creative piece. The VCFA 2016 AMR is well underway. The SCBWI Wild Wild Midwest Chicago or Bust Conference social media campaign is gearing up nicely. Plus, I've got a number of Playing Like a Girl ideas rolling around in my brain just waiting to be born. For all of these prospects and projects, color me grateful.
Grateful for so many things - my home, my friends, and my work. In this moment, I'm appreciating the authors, illustrators, and publishers who I've had the great privilege to create guides for. It's just awesome to think that a simple act of making a Reader's Guide for a friend years ago has morphed into an enterprise of sorts! It makes me very, very happy to be of service to others in this way.
So, thank you to those whom I've had the joy of crafting a guide for and to those who are lined up in the queue to do. Your fascinating topics, innovative illustrations, and rocking writing continue to enrich my life. I look forward to each and every day getting to work with your masterpieces. Thanks!
Let's have some serious fun in 2016. Want to?
Adventures of a Debut Author - Establishing a Pre-Pub Platform with Vicky Lorencen
Vicky Lorencen and her family thrive in Michigan with a cat named Finn and a guinea pig named Oliver. By day, she is a communication specialist and media liaison for a regional health system, by night (or lunch time), Vicky writes picture books and middle grade novels. She’s been published in Highlights, Ladybug, Girls’ Life and many other children’s publications. Vicky is represented by literary agent Erin Murphy. Learn more at VickyLorencen.com.
Explain the inspiration for the title of your blog – Frog on a Dime.
Okay, well, in 2012, scientists met a frog in Papua New Guinea who was so small he could sit on a dime, with change to spare. He won the title of World’s Smallest Known Vertebrate. Once word got out about the wee dime sitter, amphibian experts noted that we keep finding smaller and smaller frogs. Why? An expert with Conservation International suggested the frogs are adapting to fill a niche that nothing else can fill. This teensy amphibian phenom of the rain forest captured my imagination because I see him as a metaphor for my little blog and its place in the blogosphere. And I guess that’s what I’m hoping my blog will do for readers (and for me)–fill a niche that nothing else can fill.
How long has Frog on a Dime been in existence? How often do you post? What topics do you tend to focus on?
Frog on a Dime celebrates its third anniversary this month. It debuted on December 15, 2012. I post 2 to 3 times a month. Frog on a Dime exists to be a source of encouragement. I’ve blogged about tough topics such as dealing with jealousy, writer’s block, rejection and as well as finding an agent or a critique group, and lots of how-to topics.
I noticed that you have well over 1000 followers. Have you engaged in promotional events in order to gain followers or has this number steadily grown over the years?
Followers have converged over time from a variety of sources—SCBWI, Facebook, conferences, and the like. Once in a while someone simply stumbles in while presumably searching for something else, likes what they read and stays. That’s gratifying. Promotional events have resulted in new followers each time, but so far, they haven’t caused a startling uptick.
Do you feel it is important for a pre-published author to have a web presence before launching their first book? Why or why not?
Absolutely. It’s important to have a positive and professional web presence, whether it be on social media, a blog, a web site, or any combination. If you don’t have a web site or don’t actively engage with social media, you’re pretty much invisible. That said, your writing and reading time must always have priority over building a web presence.
Even though I don’t have a published book, I chose to start a blog because I wanted to create a platform in preparation for the day I do. In the meantime, I knew I wanted to offer readers something. That’s when I decided that something would be encouragement because it’s something of value all creative folks need and I can give.
It might sound surprising, but as much as I enjoy Frog on a Dime, I believe blogs are not obligatory. Here’s a link to a post on the topic: http://vickylorencen.com/2014/07/06/4-reasons-you-really-mustnt-blog/
Explain the purpose of hosting a book giveaway.
Frog on a Dime exists to encourage, so if promoting a book I love for an author I admire will help to increase readership and awareness for the author, I’m happy to do it. If the giveaway results in a few new followers or awareness for my blog, that’s a delightful bonus.
While I typically tie a giveaway to an author interview or guest blog, I have done a few fun “untied” giveaways to generate excitement, engage readers and reward followers.
List the benefits in hosting a book giveaway campaign.
A book giveaway raises awareness of the book and its author (and/or illustrator), which may encourage book sales for the author.
A giveaway naturally raises awareness and good vibes for your blog, which may result in an increase in followers or readers.
It’s fun—you get to make the winner and the author happy. Fun is my favorite.
Describe the steps required to establish a book giveaway.
Assuming you already have a guest author blog post or interview, and have a copy of the book in hand or have a guaranteed source and you’re ready to roll . . .
1. Include the word giveaway in the title of your post. (The words Free and Giveaway were the prom queens of high school you know. So popular.)
2. Let your followers know you’re giving away the book mentioned (and shown) in the post. If it’s a signed copy or you can get it personalized for the winner, be sure to mention that.
3. You can let—uh, non-followers? pre-followers?—know about the giveaway via Facebook, Twitter, your SCBWI chapter’s list serve, telepathy or whatever medium you deem potentially effective.
4. Set a date/time deadline for entering and state when you’ll choose a winner.
5. Let contestants know what they need to do to enter—it can be as simple as leaving their name in the comment section of your post. I’ve asked for favorite quotes or feedback on my blog or suggestions for future posts or asked contestants to invite someone to follow, stuff like that. You could use bigger hoops, like “the person who writes the best whatever” versus a chance drawing, but that creates work for you. Ew.
6. Ask contestants to enter on your site itself versus commenting on Facebook. Otherwise, it’s tough to track who posted what, where and when, and some folks—believe it or not—may just enter without ever placing an eyeball on your blog. I know. Shocking.
7. Hit your deadline, pick your winner (you can use an app or just draw from little slips of paper like I do) and announce your winner in a follow-up blog post.
8. Let the winner know where to send his/her address.
9. Mail off that book with a friendly note. Have a cup of tea. You did good.
Who typically initiates a book giveaway campaign, you or the author/illustrator?
So far, I’ve been the initiator. I especially like to do giveaways for debut authors, so I’ll invite the author to guest blog or to be interviewed so we can promote the shiny, new book.
Do you find that hosting book giveaway campaign generates more activity on your blog?
Indeed. I do see an uptick in activity whenever I offer a giveaway of any kind on my blog. It’s worth the fuss.
Thanks very much for this opportunity! It was fun to share.
Thank YOU, Vicky!!! Wishing you all the best in your publishing pursuits.
Adventures of a Debut Author - A Lesson in Networking with Kris Remenar
I’ve been snooping around discovering ways that clever Kris Remenar has been promoting her darling Groundhog’s Dilemma (Charlesbridge, 2015). She’s one smart debut author, I have to tell you.
I invite you to take some time to peruse her exceptional website. Of course, being a librarian, Kris has a wealth of resources at her fingertips. Take a moment and see how generously she shares her knowledge and expertise. I like the way the website reflects her likeable, charming personality, too. Nicely done.
My sleuthing uncovered an insightful Let’s Get Busy podcast Kris did with her acclaimed illustrator (and husband!) Matt Faulkner. The interviewer is Matthew Winner, elementary library specialist and cofounder of All the Wonders. I am so glad to have discovered this resource. After you’ve scoured Kris’ website, pop over to check it out. All the Wonders is packed with podcasts, videos, crafts, and projects. Oh, man! My head is spinning with ideas galore!
Friends, these folks will be good to get to know when my (our) time draws near.
In addition to the cool podcast, the talented and wonderful author Vicky Lorencen sponsored a Groundhog’s Dilemma giveaway. Giveaways are great to generate enthusiasm for new projects. I’ll find out how Vicky managed it. It’ll be good for a debut author to know, right?
Kris also asked the ReaderKidZ to do a review, which is printed below. We jumped at the chance to do so! Truth be told, Kris and Matt have created a masterpiece. Groundhog’s Dilemma is a book that kids and their parents will, undoubtedly, want to read over and over again. On the surface, the story and illustrations are engaging and great fun. Dare to go a little deeper and the reader will discover the tenacity it takes to be true to oneself.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Fair-minded Groundhog is caught in a conundrum. The seasonal prediction he makes on Groundhog Day pleases some of his friends, but not all. Bear and Hare want six more weeks of winter. Squirrel and Sparrow, most definitely, do not. Groundhog explains that he’s not in control of the weather. Instead, he merely “Calls it like he sees it.”
When springtime eventually arrives, the animals of the forest resort to manipulation and bribery hoping to influence Groundhog’s future shadow-watching declarations. His social calendar overflows with invitations to baseball games, dining opportunities, and entertaining experiences unlike those he’s ever known! Truth be told, he enjoys the attention. However, come February 2, there will be a price to pay. Will Groundhog be able to truthfully state what his shadow reveals or will he be swayed in efforts to please others?
Groundhog’s Dilemma (Charlesbridge, 2015) explores themes of friendship, integrity, and honor is the most delightful ways. Debut author Kris Remenar’s sparse, tongue-in cheek text is hilarious, lively, and perfectly complimented by husband Matt Faulkner’s incredibly detailed illustrations. Groundhog’s Dilemma is both funny and poignant, one that readers will enjoy time and time again.
Adventures of a Debut Author - In Gratitude for...
I’m including this commercial announcement for the Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults program as part of my Adventures of a Debut Author posts because I owe a great deal to the school, the staff, and the incredible faculty there. At VCFA, I discovered my voice, my passion, and I found my agent at the AMR! Hallelujah! Saints be praised!
An observation I’ve made over the years is that many successful writers continue to support organizations that helped them along the rocky road to publication. Be it SCBWI, a local writing group, or other esteemed writing programs, some of the finest authors and illustrators I know seem to find a way to “dance with the one that brought them.” While I’ve got a lot of two-stepping down the bumpy road to publication success ahead of me, I plan on demonstrating my gratitude to VCFA and SCBWI by chipping in any way I can.
Read the little ditty below if you’d like to know more about the upcoming VCFA WCYA Alumni Mini-Residency. If you have any questions at all, shoot me note and I’ll be glad to answer it!
Hey, alums! Hope to see you there!!!!
The annual WCYA Alumni Mini-Residency, known as the AMR, is a weekend conference that mirrors the VCFA residency experience while focusing on the professional aspects of one’s writing career. During the event attendees participate in a Master Class presented by the industry’s finest award-winning authors; interface with editors and literary agents; are coached by publicists; attend lectures and workshops led by VCFA faculty members; and are given multiple rich opportunities to elevate their writing careers to the highest level possible.
Every year WCYA alumni – from recently graduated to those from residencies long passed – return to campus for inspiration, collaboration, and in celebration of one another’s successes. The dates for AMR 2016 are June 17 to 19. Registration opens on February 15.
Please take a moment to review the AMR 2016 information posted on the VCFA website. You’ll find that the faculty and programming planned for this summer’s event is incredible. Whether you’re pre-published or have a series of books with your name proudly printed on the spine, the WCYA Alumni Mini-Residency is perfectly suited to support your writing career, no matter where you are in the publishing business.
Adventures of a Debut Author - A Tweet Cheat Sheet
I had some fun toying around with Twitter the other day. Check out how easy it is to support a friend in 140 characters or less.
Debut author Carmen Oliver is doing everything right. She recently had a book trailer made by Square Bear Studio and it is adorable. So much so that Carmen and her trailer were featured on Cynsations! Well, I had to jump on the promotional train, too, and tweet about it.
Y'all, Twitter is an absolute blast to use! It's a great feeling to witness the tweeting and retweeting 140 simple characters initiate. Twitter is a community builder, for sure.
I've created a .pdf tracing the steps I used to celebrate Carmen's good news. If you're not tweeting yet, look it over. You'll see just how easy it is to join in the Twitter chatter.
In closing, take a look at that adorable book trailer I mentioned earlier. It's mighty to hard to wait for that March pub date...
Adventures of a Debut Author - Website Stalking
I’ve been gathering website tips and ideas all week long. You see, website stalking is part of my teacher guide crafting business. I pull author and illustrator information from sites for reference in guides on a regular basis. I appreciate it when their information is structured and packaged in a convenient manner. Oftentimes, I craft discussion topics based on the personal information they’ve offered. I like to quickly access facts I need, snag a picture, and pop them in the guide. Ba-da-bing! Ba-da-boom!
Let’s look at a fellow debut author's site I’ve most recently stalked. Want to?
I just finished working on a guide for my dear friend Carmen Oliver’s charming debut picture book, Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies (Capstone, 2016). Her new site was made by another dear friend, Erik Niells, the mastermind behind Square Bear Studios and it is stunning!
As you can see, Carmen’s site is crisp, clean, and easy to maneuver about. (Erik knows what he’s doing, I tell ya’.) I was able to find Carmen’s professional scoop p.d.q. by accessing the ABOUT tab. Her interesting personal information is clear, concise, and right there for the sharing.
I do have a question for Erik, though. If you notice, on the ABOUT page, beneath the sub-title LINK, one can access a nicely formatted Press Kit. I wonder how to link a zip file to a web page. Hmmmm. Now there’s an idea to explore.
Thanks, Carmen and Erik, for letting me snoop around the new website. It’s a beauty!
I’m officially inspired to do the work I need to do.
Adventures of a Debut Author - Website Analysis (Full Disclosure)
Trent Reedy, author extraordinaire, wiser words were never spoken.
Redesigning a website? Ugh, that’s a monster of an ordeal. Lucky for me, in January my daughter, Taylor, undertook that task of building this one for me. Gratitude for her swells within each time I access mine. I really like my Squarespace website. It’s clean, organized, affordable, and easy to update (when I get around to doing it). I wonder what the internet thinks about www.debbiegonzales.com. Let’s find out. Want to?
Here’s what Nibbler has to say about my site.
They’re giving me an Overall score of 7.6 out of 10. I’ll take it, for now. I think that fact that I’ve had this site since 2009 helped the 8.4 score in the Amount of Content category. Whew.
Yipes! A 6.2 for marketing!!!! Goose eggs for Google+ and Analytics! And a 2.8 for Popularity? Oh, dear. I have my work cut out for me, don’t I? Boy, oh boy...do I ever.
As part of my debut author prep, I think it's important to wrap my head around this stuff. I'll bet, if I can change my red scores to green and the greens to blue I'll be stepping in high cotton with an Overall score of 8.5 or so! While I'm not going to go crazy over these numbers, I am going to learn about them. Because, face it, debut authors need a solid presence on the internet, one that has been established well before the book is in print. Yes ma'am, we sure do.
Well, fellow debut author, guess what we're going to doing over the next few weeks.
Yep. Grab that cheese grater. We've got some web work to do.
Adventures of a Debut Author - Befriending Community
Thanks to Andrea Cascardi’s wise words in last week’s post, I’ve been thinking a lot about befriending my community as being an early step to promoting my book. Even though the pub date for Playing Like a Girl isn’t until 2017, I’m heeding her words and starting early!
Andrea said to “go out personally and meet local booksellers and librarians.” This should not be that hard to do. Bookstores and libraries should be my way of life, right? Well, I have to confess that most of my book shopping online. I can feed my book addiction without shedding my bath robe. Also, I don’t linger when I go to the library. I get what I need – pronto – and I’m out of there. It's clear that I have to make an effort to create a few more face-to-face opportunities with these folks.
Honestly though, when you get right down to it, I’m not entirely comfortable with the notion of talking up my book. Oh, I’m plenty friendly, for sure. Meeting people is one my most favorite things to do. I love finding out what makes people tick. Yet, to turn the conversation around on myself…uh... that’s a toughie for me. I’d best get over it and the sooner, the better.
This week offered two opportunities to befriend influential folk – a book launch on Wednesday and a Thursday morning back matter research session at the library. While attending the launch at Nicola's Books, I did connect with Lynn, the event coordinator. She was really busy scrambling about stacking chairs. It didn't seem like the time to plug my book. Instead, we shook hands, I introduced myself as an author and that I'd come back sometime to get to know her better. It was a super pleasant exchange.
Engaging with the children's librarian was an equally delightful experience. Once again, I introduced myself as an author doing research on the Silk Road for a publisher, and would she have the time to point me in the right direction. She was helpful, cordial, and as cute as a kitten. There was a storytime session going on in another room. Those little rug rats were having FUN! The library was alive with the kids' electric energy! I decided that I'm going to make a regular practice of spending time in my sweet local library. Befriending those gatekeepers will be a blast!
You know, in a way, this week I think I befriended myself, too. Introducing myself as an author to influential professionals is a HUGE step for me. Doing so didn't feel hokey or fake. Instead, it felt all right. Believable. True.
How about you, fellow debut author? Will you go out and meet the librarians and booksellers, too? Will you introduce yourself as an author and talk about your book in a light, conversational manner? Will you connect with the community in a genuine way? How will you befriend the author in you? Come on. Let’s do this together.
Just for fun, I’ve made some downloadable Contact Cards. I haven't used the cards yet, but I plan on making notes on them and then transferring the information to my phone and, maybe, Evernote. I’ll be glad to share the .pdf with you. Click HERE to download the document. You’ll need to use scissors to trim around the borders.
Maybe keeping these cards nearby will keep us confident! We can do this! Yes, we can!
Adventures of a Debut Author - Where to Begin?
As luck would have it, this week I had the great pleasure of enjoying a phone conversation with one of the most delightful individuals I know – Andrea Cascardi. I first met Andrea when she was working as an agent with Transatlantic Literary Agency. I was serving as Regional Advisor for the Austin SCBWI chapter at the time. She was an esteemed guest during one of our most awesome annual conferences. As an RA, you relate with agents and editors on a personal level all the time. Getting to personally know Andrea was a sheer pleasure, to be sure.
During our phone conversation, Andrea and I chatted about successful marketing strategies for debut authors. Like many others, I wonder . . . what avenues are most effective in spreading the word about our books – blog tours, paid publicists, social media marketing, and speaking engagements? Where does a debut author start?
According to Andrea, one the most effective ways to promote your book is to connect with community – be it on the local level, a professional level such as with SCBWI or library associations, and/or through social media. She said to go out and personally meet local booksellers and librarians. Sure, let them know that soon there will be a book to buy. But let your intention be get to know one another. Become genuine friends. Not what’s-in-it-for-me type of friends. The real deal.
Andrea said that people want to be invested in a writer’s success. They love being a part of grassroots campaign supporting an individual and a project they believe in. By reaching out and connecting in this way, we’re giving a community the opportunity to do just that.
She also said start early, well before publication. Don’t wait until you’re holding the book in your hand. Let the process of genuinely connecting with others begin right away!
I can do that.
Speaking of connecting, this week author pal and former SCBWI RA Erin Dealy shared a blog thread about debut authors from her website. The thread title is What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Book. In it, she toys with a pregnancy theme. It’s fun, clever, and insightful! Check it out.
So, the debut author tip of the day is to reach out to others in a genuine, friendly, and personal way locally, professionally, and in cyber space. Build authentic relationships. Also, don’t wait until publication. Begin today!
Me? A Debut Author? You Bet!
I’m over-the-top-Christmas-morning excited to announce that I have signed a contract to publish Playing Like a Girl, a non-fiction picture book about courageous female athletes from 1827 to present day and the eventual passing of Title IX, with Charlesbridge Publishing. Thanks to the patient tenacity of my brilliant agent, Melissa Nasson, come Fall 2017, my dream will come true.
Folks, I’m going to be a debut author! I’m going to love being a debut author. LOVE it! (Just typing these words gives me first-day-of-school jitters on steroids.) Yippee!
However, I’ve been around this book business long enough to know that, though the thought of publishing a real, live book is one of the most thrilling things imaginable; I have plenty of work ahead of me. And, I’m going to have fun doing it.
My blogging plans are to chronicle the debut author tasks-at-hand. Over the months ahead, anything that arises demanding attention, any observations made, or sage advice gathered, I’m going to write about it. Workshop scoop. Launch deets. Editorial ups and downs. Tips and tales. Anything debut author related – I’ll tell it all.
I’m open to topic suggestions, too. Do you have wisdom to share? Do you need help in some area? Do you know of some great resource that we all can benefit from? Feel free to submit a comment. Let me know your thoughts. I want to know what you have to say.
Who knows? Maybe we can be of help to one another.
I’d like that.
The Guides by deb Library is Now Open!
You are invited to take a tour of a collection of the various types of guides I’ve created over the years. Guides for YA, middle grade, picture and chapter books – you name it, I’ve made it. Access this link and you’ll find discussion questions, games, puzzles, and projects galore for some of the best books in the business!
The experience of organizing this collection of .pdfs was much like the nostalgic feelings one gets when flipping through a stack of old family photographs. Hard to believe that I began creating guides six years ago. Yet the books and the lessons created to compliment them are still as intriguing as they were back then.
I’m grateful to have the honor of partnering with so many great authors and illustrators on such a wide variety of projects. What a joy it is to explore opportunities for readers to connect with their stories in a creative ways. Access the link and see for yourself! Check out the science experiments and reader’s theater scripts and poetry and crafty, paper folding activities and… and… and... Such fun!
So, my friends, welcome to the Guides by deb Library of Reading Guides. Stop by and browse the lists. Additional titles will be added weekly. I’ll be sure to let you know when they arrive.
Reading Guides: Align with Academic Standards? Why Bother?
Well, if you’ve got some alignment-worthy activities in the guide, why wouldn’t you? The kicker is to offer skill-based lessons. The real deal. Activities that stretch their minds a little . . . or maybe a whole lot! To inspire kids to reason. To challenge. To grow!
The purpose behind aligning guides with academic standards is to document opportunities to practice demonstrating the understanding of a skill. Whether learning how to cite dialogue, considering the interrelationships of habitat’s flora and fauna, or developing the confidence to present their personal views on a sticky topic – if you’re offering these types of valuable learning experiences in your guides and presentations, align them!
The goals of well-crafted reading guides are to compliment stories by capturing the imagination of a reader, enticing them into a bit of painless and productive documented skill practice, and maybe have some fun while doing so! Aligning your projects with the standards simply validate the value you’re already offering. So go for it!
Reading Guides: Where Can They Be Found?
Need a reading guide and don’t know where to turn? While I'd love to be of service to you, there are some other options out there for you. Let's take a look at a few.
If you’re very lucky, your publisher will create a reading guide for your book. Publishers such as Peachtree arrange for the guides to be created and then post them on their website. These types of guides are typically formatted with the publisher’s brand and are comprised of discussion questions; writing prompts, and follow-up projects. Occasionally, the guide creator is acknowledged fine print. If you like what you see in the guide, Google them. Perhaps they can make a one for you, too.
Oftentimes, experienced teachers are contracted to create reading guides. Though these guides generally lack the branding pizzazz a publisher’s marketing team adds to a project, they work very well. The key is to find an educator who is able to present the lessons and activities in a lively way. Discussion questions should be structured in an engaging, rhetorical manner. Yes or no questions just won’t do.
A word of caution, though. If you’re considering asking a teacher-friend to help you, have a look at their work beforehand. Compare their content with guides that you admire. I say this because I have redone more guides made by teacher-friends than you’d care to know.
Avoid the heart-ache. Contact a pro. You’ll be better off in the long run.
Reading Guides: When Do You Need One?
Any time is the right time to have Reading Guide created. Whether you’re a multi-published phenom or birthing your first book baby, if you’re hoping to land a niche in the school and library market, it’s time to think about adding a reading guide to your marketing platform.
Speaking of a multi-published phenom, meet author Lisa Wheeler. She’s published well over 30 books and keeps on keeping on. Because Lisa desired to give her Dino-Sports series a little promotional boost, we created a joint CCSS-aligned activity guide for six of the titles. She was wise to do so, in that these books offer more depth than the covers suggest. The guide proves it. Not only do her Dino-Sports series feature hot and fast game action, Lisa presents elements of history, mathematics, geometry, and athletic nomenclature in each book. The guide should help keep her Dino-Sports series on the winning roster for a long time! Score!
Many debut authors are crafting guides for their new releases well before advanced reader’s copies hit their front porch. Debut author and master teacher Dianne White created a sensational Teaching Guide for her stunning picture book, Blue on Blue. Her years of experience in the classroom came in handy when it came to developing this well-crafted, CCSS-aligned Teaching Guide. She’s made an instructional tool that meets the needs of kindergarteners through 8th grade in clever and creative ways. Best of all, Dianne’s love for poetry resonates in each lesson. This debut author knows what she is doing and she is doing it well.
As you can see, it’s never too late or too early to add a well-crafted Reading Guide to your marketing platform. Wherever you are in the publishing game, think about adding a quality guide to your publicity tool box. It just might give your book the promotional boost it deserves.
Reading Guides: What's the Big Deal, Anyway?
Quality crafted guides connect readers with the text on an emotional level, instructional levels, and developmentally. The best of them use the story as an enticement guiding kids into a deeper, more satisfying reading experience. They should be packed with so much inspiration that a kid can’t resist but to read more and more and more and more…
Early in my teaching career, I was charged with the daunting duty of guiding a novel study group comprised of a pack of 5th grade boys (and I mean ‘a pack’, as in wolves) through the timeless middle-grade novel, Johnny Tremain. The dispiriting aspects of this challenge were that the leader of the pack was a non-reader and the novel’s small-printed text is about as dense as they come. Not an opportune mix, I assure you. We were in for a long six-week study of Esther Forbes’ Newbery Medal winning masterpiece unless I could come up with something creative – fast!
I did what any desperate teacher might do. I bought a boat-load of teacher guides – some better than others. I plowed through them in search of the most insightful lessons I could find, those that might keep the pack interested and engaged. All the while, their alpha male tried his best to derail my plans at every turn. Ah, the joys of teaching.
I insisted that he sit through our weekly novel study discussions, though he hadn’t read a word of the novel. He was forced to listen to den mates discuss their enthusiastic interpretations of the readings. And then, an incredible thing happened. Top Dog connected with the story. Johnny Tremain came to my rescue! All the talk of fires and muskets and Paul Revere charging into the night captured his imagination. He was seduced into reading. Not the entire book, mind you. Just the exciting parts.
So, the big deal about good reading guides is that they can make a great reading experience even more intriguing. Through well-crafted lessons investigating aspects of the text and elements of craft, kids can connect with the story on a more personal level. And, who knows? In the end, maybe the stack of Johnny Tremain teacher guides I bought may have helped to transform my 5th grade wolf-like tyrant into a life-long reader.
Wouldn’t that be something?
Reading Guides: Who Needs Them?
Teacher Guides. Activity Guides. Academic Guides. Project Guides. Reading Guides. Whatever the reference, offering some sort of supplemental resource like one these has become a standard in book’s promotional package today.
Quality book guides come in all shapes and sizes – from in-depth, historical or scientific studies to light-hearted games and crafting projects. But how can authors, illustrators, and editors begin to know what type of guide best suits their stories and the market? Are reading guides really necessary? Who needs these things, anyway?
Educators need them. Despite curriculum constraints, the fact that a book’s content is rich enough to support a well-crafted guide speaks volumes about the author’s merit. Texas author Cory Putman Oakes tells the story that a principal in California based his decision to book her for a school visit on the Educator Guide created for her middle grade novel. She said the principal set her darling Dinosaur Boy on the desk, began thumbing through the guide, and responded, “When can she come out?” He knew Cory had what it takes to reach his kids. Her guide proved it.
Librarians need book guides. Be it a list of well-crafted discussion questions or a fun packet of useful read-along projects, librarians delight in these tools. They’re perpetually on the hunt for quality, supplemental reading resources. In fact, the first guide I created was a result of a librarian suggesting that author Jennifer Ziegler have one made for her incredible How Not to be Popular – a 2010 IRA YA Choices and Lone Star Reading List winner. Way to go, Jennie!
Lastly, depending on marketing strategies, you need a guide – a quality, well-crafted one. A thoughtful, entertaining supplemental guide highlighting all of the hard work you’ve put into the project. One that leads readers to deeper connection with your story and you. One that demonstrates your book’s potential for lasting appeal to educators, librarians, and all of the important gatekeepers in between.
All this to be said, if your book is one that you hope will have lasting appeal in the school and library market, take a moment to consider your marketing strategy. You just might need to include a reading guide of some kind to entice educators and librarians to take a longer look at your fine work.
School Visit Presentation Packet - Survival Strategies for the Almost Brave
If you’re an author or illustrator seeking to find a niche in the school visit market, having a well-planned, standards-aligned Presentation Packet as part of your media kit is a must. Documents such as this one created for debut author Jen White communicate to educators that you honor their need to offer quality academic content while having a great time doing so! You're letting the gatekeepers know that, not only will you bring your enthusiasm for reading, writing, and hanging out with kids to the school visit, you’re providing a wealth of great, value-packed, follow-up fodder, too.
Click on image to download Presentation Packet.
The Presentation Packet created for Jen’s fantastic Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015) is divided into three sections; the inspiration for each is based on this heart-warming, expertly-crafted survival story. The lessons are designed to pull the child into the story experience through consideration of their own survival strategies in strangely unfamiliar habitats. Being that Jen features a number of very cool animal habitat videos during her school visit, specifically created graphic organizers and various writing prompts complimenting her presentation are included in the packet – ready for downloading action!
In short, any educator who desires to enrich their students’ classroom experience should consider inviting Jen White to present her program. Not only has she written a memorable story that will remain in the hearts of readers long after they turn the final page, she’s prepared to creatively support the curriculum by demonstrating the use of figurative language, nuances in word meanings, word relationships, a discussion of the notion of natural selection and much more!