The Economy Hits Home

I got a call from my editor at Charlesbridge. Actually, she left me a message. This is unusual since we normally communicate by email. I reached her the next morning. She was calling to tell me in person that my next book, The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder’s Journal, was being pushed back 6 months, from Fall 2009 to Spring 2010. It’s the economy, of course.

Before this recent economic downturn, Charlesbridge had planned to increase the number of books they publish each year. But sales in children’s books, like everything else, have dropped drastically. To reduce costs, Charlesbridge has decided not to increase the size of their lists for the near future. My book has not been printed yet, so it would save money now to push it back a season.

Yolanda was very encouraging in her explanation. They still are very excited about my book. She thinks the later publishing date may lead to better sales if the economy begins to pick up a little.

Of course, I am disappointed that I will have to wait until Feb. of 2010 to actually get a bound copy of this book that has been such a labor of love. But I have a certain amount of relief, too. I was feeling behind already in promoting this book. Now I have more time to write the extra materials, such as an activities & teacher’s guide, and to get publicity notices out to the right organizations (National & Chicago Audubon, Chicago Wilderness, and other birding and conservation communities, for example).

There is another reason I feel a little relieved—I don’t yet have the next book submitted and under contract. It’s really hard to write when I’m in the heat of bookstore appearances and school visits. I now have a few more months to work. My next project is another idea derived from my journals and artwork, the way Robin is. I am writing a manuscript based on the art from the Moon Project.

So I am taking the advice of Laura Ruby, SCBWI-Illinois presenter at a past Prairie Writer’s Day: “Write the next book!”

Bookamania!

Bookamania at the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago was a study in organized chaos. Hundreds of families waded through the crowds on many floors in many rooms to participate in an astounding number of activities all created around children's books.

I was one of five featured authors and/or illustrators who read and signed books and helped kids with craft projects related to our books. I brought my suitcase of trucks, always a hit. I read my book, and then lined the trucks up behind the big stuck truck, and let the kids play with the trucks for a few minutes. Then the kids helped me pack up my suitcase. My little trucks are taking a beating. I may need to find some replacements.

The craft project for Truck Stuck involved gluing a red truck and two gray strips of paper onto a large green sheet of paper to make a road and viaduct and a stuck truck. There were craypas and pastels to draw more details. This project was fun for a pretty wide age of kids. Some spent only a few minutes, some stayed to draw a long time.

Bookamania took place on November 22 from 11 am to 3 pm, and once it started it never let down until the very end. Mo Willems was the big draw--the line for getting his autograph was always long. Luckily the staff at the HWLibrary really know how to run a great show. They had recruited hundreds of volunteers who assisted with every aspect of the day. I was particularly thankful for the way they manned the crafts tables, guided me to lunch, and kept everything flowing. The Magic Tree Bookstore handled book sales. It's a pretty cute tee shirt they gave me, too, with Mo Willems' latest book characters featured.

Highlight of the day? One girl, on learning that I was the author of Truck Stuck, said to me, "I didn't know authors could be so old!" It's almost enough to make me consider dying my hair.

Summer is Over/Over the Summer

Sallie Wolf, Chris Rettstatt, Jenny Meyerhoff, and Ruth Spiro at Printer's Row

I did do several events in the Chicago area this summer. One fun one was reading Truck Stuck at the Family Fun Tent in Millennium Park one perfect summer day. I wore my bright chartreuse slacks and yellow tie-dyed silk tee shirt. I guess I looked like a bee among the flowers. I read to a nice group of pre-schoolers and their parents. The kids enjoyed the story and the trucks. But I learned through the SCBWI-Illinois list serve of some great ideas that other authors tried. One idea that I can do next year is to walk around the tent 15 minutes before the scheduled reading, introducing myself, my book, and letting people know about the reading. I can hand out my postcards as a reminder. There was a whole group of mostly boys very busy building with Legos and blocks who might well have enjoyed a chance to play with my trucks and listen to my story if they had been aware of the event.

Another fun event was the Printer’s Row Book Fair in June. I was invited to be on a panel of first-time authors of children’s books. Even though Truck Stuck is my second book, I feel like a first-time author. All of these promotional efforts are new to me. The market has changed since 1992, when Peter’s Trucks was published. The technology has changed. I had no website, no blog, and no cheap printing sources in 1992. So I fit very well into that panel. Thank you to Esther Hershenhorn for inviting me to be on the panel she moderated. And thanks also to my fellow SCBWI-Illinois authors—Jenny Meyerhoff, Chris Rettstatt, and Ruth Spiro. Here is how Esther described each of our paths to publication:

Jenny's first book is an early chapter book, a new format for many, to be followed by a YA; Ruth has suffered all sorts of publishing nightmares to realize her Dutton pb [picture book] this August; Sallie's career underscores her belief in herself and her stories; Chris' YA fantasy came to be through some non-traditional means and he's writing with a partner, with a pen name, and with all sorts of media tie-ins.

Doesn’t that make you want to check out everyone’s websites? Esther Hershenhorn, Jenny Meyerhoff, Chris Rettstatt, Ruth Spiro, Sallie Wolf

We discussed our paths to publishing—the ups and downs of getting a story idea from manuscript into printed form. We also shared our dreams that kept us motivated through the thin of the thick and thin of being an author. What surprises were there?

For me, my dream of writing involves a cozy room, a steaming cup of coffee or tea, leisurely scratching away on a pad of paper with a fountain pen in quiet solitude. I never expected to be visiting bookstores for readings, writing promotional material, or keeping a blog on the internet. My original dream of being an author was of a private, serene, slow-paced life. The reality—that there are deadlines, many appointments and dates that take me outside and into the public came as a shock. It is not unpleasant—I have a lot of fun reading my book in public and talking with parents, teachers, and my young audience. But it is not how I pictured the writing life when, in eighth grade, I decided I wanted to write and illustrate children’s books.

Printer’s Row was just an example of what I never pictured when I decided to be a writer. But I had a great time, I met some wonderful people, and I will be going to an Educator’s Tea at the Barnes and Noble in Deer Park because of a contact I made there.

Summer Vacation

I feel as if I have taken the summer off, but the learning never stops. Here is a list of things I learned this summer:

1. Don’t mix family time (meaning my August stay at the Red House in New Hampshire), with business. Plan a separate trip for book promotion.

2. Give bookstores, libraries, etc., plenty of notice—start planning in February for a trip in July. And don’t leave it all up to Taylor. Any time I have a personal connection with a book store, I should take the initiative to set up the date and time for the event.

3. Hand out my postcards—anywhere! I was in the airport, waiting at the gate and there was a darling 3 year-old boy about to take his first plane ride. I handed his parents my postcard and said I thought he would enjoy my book. I even lent them a copy of the book to read on the plane. Several people overheard me say I was an author and they wanted postcards too. I try to keep a supply handy in my purse.




4. I have had a truck display in my studio window all summer long. Lots of kids stop and stare. I think they think my studio is a toy store. So why have I not put a poster in my window promoting the book? I can announce times when you can “Meet the Author” and I can mention signed copies for sale. (I handle these sales with the help of our local, independent, children’s bookstore. Checks and cash are turned over to the Magic Tree and they supply the books. Being friends with your local bookstore owners is a real bonus.)

5. Be chatty—talk to people. Find out about what they are interested in.

6. Be generous and be prepared. I am still working on creating a brochure about my school visits and workshops. Get it done, get it printed, and have it with me everywhere!

7. Learn to email event information to my mailing list. Create a (e)-mailing list!

8. Write often. Write short. Put updating this blog on my weekly calendar.

Truck Stuck in the Blogosphere

I began writing this blog so that I would have a single place to record what I learn as I do my best to publicize Truck Stuck. I don't really know very much about blogs, the way people use them, and the way they link together to create more buzz, to rise higher on the search engines, to become known. But there are a number of blogs and bloggers who have reviewed Truck Stuck, and for them I am grateful.

The first review I became aware of was by Esme Codell, written soon after publication. Esme, a wonderful author, teacher, and amazing promoter of children's books and the love of reading, undertakes to review at least a book a day on her blog, The PlanetEsme Plan: The Best New Children's Books from Esme's Shelf. How does she find the time to read and write so much?

I learned about Jen Robinson's Book Page when Taylor Rogers, at Charlesbridge, forwarded me a link to Jen's review of Truck Stuck. Not only was I pleased by her favorable review of my book, but I scrolled through her lists of children's books that adults will enjoy and other fascinating lists. Check this blog out--she is not a professional reviewer. She is a lover of books.

Anastasia Suen writes a blog about how to use picture books to teach the Six Traits of Writing. Titled Picture Book of the Day, she includes brief descriptions of the book and then several ways to use the book to teach writing skills. Anastasia Suen is known for her on-line courses about how to write for children.

There are more blog reviews of Truck Stuck, but I am on vacation, away from my computer, and without my resources for a few more weeks. I'll be sure to post those other reviews as soon as I can round them up. Isn't it amazing the number of blogs out there and the people who are writing them? How do they find the time! I feel as if I am always behind.

Learning to post while on vacation is one of the things I am learning as I go.

Still Learning/Still Making the Same Mistakes

I had another sparsely attended bookstore event, but I had a fantastic time and came away energized and excited about what I am doing.

This event was scheduled for 11 am and at ten minutes after the hour there was only one child, his baby sister, his mother, and her friend. He already owned a copy of my book (but had forgotten to bring it to be signed), and he was eager to have me read to him. I felt I could not keep him waiting any longer, so I pulled out my trucks and we read. He enjoyed all the trucks in the suitcase and I chatted with his mom. I also have book plates which Taylor, at Charlesbridge, sent me, so I signed one of those for his mom to stick in his book when they got home. How handy to have book plates—with a little truck on them.




Several of my friends dropped by to pick up signed copies of Truck Stuck. Lucky for me many of my friends are about to become grandparents for the first time and see my book as a must-buy for the baby.

A third-grade girl, in her soft-ball uniform, and her younger sister, and mom came into the store. I’m not sure if they knew there would be an author there—both girls seemed to be avid readers. They browsed the books on the shelves and I chatted with the softball player. She was wearing great red and white striped socks that looked like a barber shop pole. Not only is she a reader, but she is a writer as well. We had a lot to talk about. I asked what she was reading and I recommended the book I had just finished, Linda Sue Park’s Project Mulberry. The younger sister got interested in my suitcase full of trucks so I offered to read Truck Stuck to her. At this point another little boy and his dad showed up, so I read the book and even sold one copy.

What I learned from this event is that I can have a great time talking to the kids and parents who do show up, as well as the bookstore personnel. I learned about the third grade poetry unit the softball player was doing in school. I got the name and email of her teacher, whom I intend to contact about my poetry book coming out next year. I enjoyed finding out what the kids were interested in reading and hearing about the softball game. I am in charge of how the event will go—I can make my own good time and that gives me energy and ideas for future writing.

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

Taylor Rogers is the Publicity/Promotions Assistant at Charlesbridge, and she is in charge of promoting my books. She first contacted me in November of last year, with a general email offering to help authors and illustrators set up bookstore and library visits to promote their books.

I replied, telling her what I was already doing to get the word out (sharing my creative process, which includes reading from my books, whenever I do art workshops in school classes) and the contacts I had. I sent her a list of bookstores I thought might be likely venues for book readings/signings, and I told her my travel schedule as far as I knew it and asked if she could set up events for me at those destinations.

If you’ve been following this blog, you know that Taylor has really been on the ball, scheduling me for quite a few bookstore events, including ones in NC, LA, and NY. I have also continued to book events on my own whenever the opportunity arose.

Taylor and I converse regularly through email. Although we’ve never met (yet), we are developing a great working relationship. Here is an excerpt of an email she sent me after I reported back about reading to only one child at the bookstore in Durham, NC:

“First of all, let me just tell you how much I love the book you have coming
out in spring '09! Our spring launch was Wednesday and your book drew oohs and ahhs from everyone in the room. I've been a bird watcher all of my life and recently started getting more serious about it (i.e. I've purchased bird feeders and a field guide) although Boston's not quite a birder's paradise. Anyway, the book looks beautiful and I can't wait to help you publicize it. [It’s comments like this that make me so glad to be working with Taylor and the other folks at Charlesbridge.]

I am so glad that you came away from the [North Carolina bookstore] experience with a positive attitude. But you're right! Getting to know booksellers and getting them to carry, remember, and even recommend your book is so important. I hope that none of your future events are quite so small, we'll try to avoid that from now on. Sending the bookstore a list of contacts in the area is always great, or emailing the contacts yourself can be even more effective, especially if you ask them to forward it to anyone they know who may be interested. . . . Also, don't be afraid to walk into any bookstore and introduce yourself. If you woo the bookseller they may order the book or remember you with future books. If they already have books on hand, ask if you can sign them. This will encourage them to possibly place them face out, or with a sign that says ‘autographed by author.’ This is especially great to do near the holidays. “

Isn’t that great advice? Perhaps I’ve heard it before, but I heard it from Taylor in a way that sticks.

Today I read Truck Stuck to a really large group of preschoolers and moms at the Geneva, IL story hour. The kids seemed to like the book and they definitely liked the trucks and the coloring sheet I had to share with them. Nobody bought a book. Was anything wrong with this event?

I don’t think so. The Geneva B&N has really built up a steady and regular audience for their story hour. If you are going to story hour every week or even twice a month, you probably don’t want to buy a book every time. But my book was heard, it was enjoyed, it is in the store and autographed. Perhaps the next time one of these children is invited to a birthday party that child’s mom will remember what a great present Truck Stuck would make.

I chatted with Cathy, the assistant manager of the store and she said many new authors don’t realize how important it is to get out in public and read and talk about their books. I was glad to hear her say that. It’s all a part of the learning process—sometimes you sell a lot, sometimes you don’t, but getting the book known is always valuable.

I’m glad that all the children enjoyed the coloring sheet Charlesbridge has provided (and B&N graciously Xeroxed for me.) But next time I’m going to have a good supply of my almost free postcards that I order through Vistaprint that I can hand out as bookmarks and souvenirs of the event.

Truck Stuck Back on the Road

I am back from three weeks of travel. Two weeks were “Vacation”, spent in Spain, touring with my niece and her high school Spanish class. The third week included two author events for Truck Stuck, one in New York City and the other in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I’m doing my best to get national exposure for this book, if not international exposure.

The event in New York City was at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, CMOM, arranged by the publicity department of Charlesbridge. I was the featured author at a Circle Time, a regular part of the schedule at the Playworks exhibit for the youngest children (birth to 4 years old.) Although I was really pleased to be scheduled to read at CMOM, there were some unusual circumstances and communications. My event was scheduled somewhat at the last minute and therefore the bookstore did not have my book in stock. Also, I was told by my publicist at Charlesbridge that she had received an email suggesting that the number of children attending would be too large to accommodate interactive games and activities. It was suggested that I merely read my two truck books (Peter’s Trucks and Truck stuck) and speak to the group. Therefore I did not bring my suitcase full of trucks.



I only brought the big blue truck, the shoebox viaduct (which is falling apart from heavy use), and as a last minute addition, 3 trucks that I bought at a souvenir store on Broadway. Also my backpack. But when I arrived at the Children’s Museum I was told that of course this should be very interactive and it was too bad I had not brought all my trucks.

I chatted with the staff of CMOM and we decided to let the children help me unpack the backpack as a way of making my presentation more interactive.


Exploring the contents of my backpack.

The reading went fine, although I am learning that the contents of my backpack has more meaning for older children. I found these very young children a little reticent—they did not respond to my questions about what was happening on the pages of the books. Everyone sat quietly in his or her care-giver’s lap, and several children were drifting off into naps. There were other children who chose to continue to play at the various exhibits and not join circle time, so the noise level was a bit challenging.

Next time—and I hope there will be a next time, because this is a very fun location—I will know to bring my suitcase full of trucks. But the most important thing I learned is that I should be sure and speak with the contact person at each event and not leave all the communication up to my publicist at Charlesbridge. As I look back on the different events I have had so far I see that the more I took charge of communications, the better prepared I was. Charlesbridge has been great about setting up dates for these events, but it is important for me to follow up and make personal contact as well, before the event.

Three days later I was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with my husband and two boys (Lou, age 29, and Pete, age 26), visiting Chuck’s parents and his sisters’ family for Passover. Hilde, my mother-in-law, had arranged for me to do a reading at the Sioux Falls Barnes & Noble at their regularly scheduled Friday night story hour. Although Hilde had arranged for the date and time, I had taken the initiative to talk to the Community Relations Manager myself, as well as asking Taylor Rogers, at Charlesbridge to send publicity materials and press releases while I was in Spain.

In my phone call with Shelie, the B&N CRM, we decided that I would be in charge of the whole story hour and read Truck Stuck, bring my trucks, have the “balloon” parade, lemonade, and coloring sheets—the whole nine yards. Shelie could not be there that evening, but had left clear instructions for Scott, who oversaw the event, and everything was in order—Shelie had provided crayons, coloring sheets from the materials Charlesbridge provided, and neon blue and pink plastic plates for the “balloon” parade. The café at B&N had been alerted to serve lemonade at the end of the parade.


Barnes & Noble was well-prepared.

I was pretty nervous about this event even though I knew I was really well-prepared. My husband’s entire family was coming, plus friends of my mother-in-law. My husband, my boys—none of my family has ever been to one of these events. At first it seemed as if the family and adults were the main audience, but soon the benches filled with kids ranging in age from about 2 to 9 or 10, mostly younger, a good mix of boys and girls. As I began to share the contents of my backpack, there were lots of questions. “Do you write with a special pen?” Yes I do, I use a fountain pen. “How do you get the colors in your journal?” I pulled out my box of paints. “My mother has paints like those.” They were impressed when I pulled out Bel Canto, the little toy horse that I carry with me when I’m traveling. She is a toy from when I was about 9, making her almost 50 years old. (link to the little horse blog) One little girl raised her hand. “I have two horses,” she said.

I started to read Truck Stuck. The kids were very responsive as I asked them what was going on with the lemonade stand. As I began to read the text one boy asked “What’s an exterminator?” (one of the trucks mentioned in the book.) I explained that if you have bugs in your house the exterminator will make them go away. The little girl with the two (toy) horses raised her hand again. “My grandmother has lots of bugs in her house.” What can you say to that? I suggested that she call the exterminator to get rid of them. I love that girl. I wondered if her grandmother was in the audience.


My sister-in-law joked that I was a Goth children's author in this outfit.


These kids were great, enjoying the story, the pictures, and all the trucks. The balloon parade got off to a slow start, but then everyone joined in, even my family. I suggested we sing (to the tune of “The wheels on the bus”)—“The wheels on the truck are stuck, stuck, stuck. Stuck, stuck, stuck. Stuck, stuck, stuck. The wheels on the truck are stuck, stuck, stuck, Under the viaduct.” We made up several verses and marched through the stacks of children’s books, then returned to the benches to enjoy lemonade, color and play with the trucks. The trucks were the hit of the evening. I signed books and we got a photo taken of the entire Wolf family. I’m not sure we’ve ever been able to get everyone in one photo before.

All in all, it was a great event. I had fun and my family got to see me in action, and the kids were really responsive and engaged in the activities. I must be learning something.

Fourth Time's the Charm

On March 11 I had my fourth Book Store Event—morning story hour at the Naperville Barnes & Noble. Once again I alerted the SCBWI list serve to the event and asked my few Naperville area friends to show up. This time the turn-out was quite good—6 or 7 bodies from my efforts, but maybe another 15 or 20 from the store’s regular story time crowd. Even before I was due to read children were gathering on little wooden benches in front of the chair where I would be reading. I had brought my suitcase full of trucks, my backpack that I carry everywhere, and my purse. You would have thought I was going to move in.

I didn’t want the children who were sitting so patiently to get bored, but it was early to begin the reading so I began to chat with them. I put my backpack on my back and told them that my guardian spirit is the turtle, who carries its home on its back. Then I took off my pack and began to show them all the things I carry with me: a book to read, so I always have something to do; my journal, so I can always write and draw; a set of watercolor paints, in case I want to paint. “Can we paint?” asked one of the kids? “I have coloring sheets and crayons,” I answered. “After I read my book we can color.”

Here I am pretending to be a turtle.

A good crowd was gathering. I closed up my backpack and opened my suitcase and pulled out one large truck and a “Viaduct” made out of a shoebox. “It’s a bridge!” one little boy said. “Yes, it is,” I answered him. “What’s this?” “Train tracks!” he said as I showed all the children the drawing of tracks on the top of the box. So we discussed what a viaduct is until it was time to read the book.

Truck Stuck is a very short book—135 words. But the pictures tell two stories, one about a truck stuck under a viaduct and another about a lemonade stand. I am learning to read in bursts and then discuss the pictures for a while and then read a few more phrases. The kids have fun following the progress of the lemonade stand and also looking at the wonderful characters that populate the pages, including an unruly troop of boy scouts, a clown handing out balloons, a country and western singer and even Elvis.

After I read the story I handed out trucks to each child. I have a truck for every vehicle mentioned in the text, if you use your imagination for some. So then I read the story again, and as each vehicle was mentioned the child with that truck lined it up behind the big truck stuck under the viaduct. This re-enactment worked well with the very young age group that had come to hear the story.

I wore my clown shoes.



Then we had a “balloon” parade, just like in the book. I handed out colored paper plates and asked the kids to pretend that these were balloons and hold them up high and follow me. We marched around the children’s section of the bookstore. When we came back to the benches we had lemonade and I handed out pictures of a truck to color. The children colored and played with the trucks while I signed books and chatted with the parents.

Balloon Parade!

I had a really fun time!

Clearly I am learning how to read my book to groups, how to relate to groups of kids I don’t know, and I am developing activities to keep the event as interactive as possible.

I also am learning just how helpful the Community Relations Manager of a store like this one can be. After everyone had left we chatted as we picked up the crayons and packed away my trucks. She recommended another Barnes and Noble that has a very well attended story hour. She told me about setting up 10 school visits for an author who then did an evening reading and signing that was attended by many of the kids he had read to earlier that day. I told her I had a book coming out next year and I would be happy to do school visits that lead to a signing. Once again I realized how there are hidden values to doing book store events, like meeting a CRM who has lots of experience with author events and is generous in sharing her experience. She has even recommended me to a school looking for authors to attend their book fair.

I left the Naperville Barnes and Noble energized and excited about more book store events to come.

Talk About “Learning as You Go”….

I came home from New Orleans to a busy schedule, a messy house, and a scale that registered an extra five pounds. One part about being an author/artist that I find difficult is fitting in everything in one day. Is it possible to cook a healthy dinner, workout at the gym, keep in touch with my mom, and still have time to write and paint?

Some things get lost in the cracks, such as opening my mail. I had registered for the Northern Illinois 28th Annual Children’s Literature Conference on line, including the “Local Author’s” night, so I did not bother to open the envelop that arrived from them until it was too late to have Anderson’s Books order Truck Stuck for the conference book sale. Anderson’s told me to bring out as many copies as I had (five), and I could put them in the sale. Next year….

Next time I’ll know to get my books ordered. I’ll know that merely signing up as a local author does not automatically see to it that my book(s) get ordered.

Next time I’ll have promotional materials to had out to one and all. I had sent all the postcards that I had ordered from Vistaprint.com to the Illinois Reading Council luncheon in Springfield, where SCBWI-Illinois would have a booth promoting everyone’s published books. Why hadn’t I saved some cards for the Local Author’s night at the NIU Conference?

Next year I'll have a brochure that lists my school presentations on it so that teachers and librarians can keep a copy of what I have to offer. I’ll print it out just as soon as I write it up.

But the conference was a really great experience anyway. I love listening to authors and illustrators talk about their work—they are so generous in sharing what they have learned through experience, and their passion for their work is contagious. The topic of this conference was “Male Call: Boys and Books.” Truck Stuck seemed like a good fit, plus I had raised two boys myself.

I brought my five copies of Truck Stuck for Anderson’s, my one personal copy that has a botched inscription in it, three of my many trucks, and some art postcards that list my studio information. I scribbled my email address and Truck Stuck on the back of the cards and handed them out to everyone who stopped to look at Truck Stuck. The five copies sold out quickly. I wish I’d had more.

These are the kinds of mistakes that in the past might have made me say forget it. I’m not ready so I’m not going. But I am learning as I go. I will never have everything in perfect order—not if I’m actively working on a new manuscript at the same time I’m trying to promote the published book.

It took me by surprise this fall when I realized that an author’s life has 3 very separate roles to it—writing the next book; revising the current book; and promoting the published book. You have to be working at all of these all the time—you can’t say I’ll finish one and then turn to the next. Add to this that I’m also an artist and art works in much the same way—creating new work; submitting finished work; and delivering or picking up or hanging or installing work that has been accepted. I’m not a disorganized person by nature, but the nature of my life makes staying organized a challenge. And you want dinner, you say?

Truck Stuck/Tire Flat--it seems appropriate

Did I mention that I got a flat tire going to the book signing at the Maple Street Book Shop in New Orleans? There is more to the story than that. My cousin Becky had offered to pick me up at my hotel and drive me to the signing. We had allowed extra time and Becky arrived bright and early. I was still trying on clothes. I settled on an outfit and hurried downstairs to meet her. I hopped in the car and off we went. I was staying in the French Quarter and Maple Street Books is out near Tulane Unviersity (I think.) Beyond the garden district. Beyond Becky's yoga studio,(Audubon Yoga Studio),beyond where I had eaten the night before--some fabulous restaurant. We were almost at the bookstore when I realized I had forgotten my suitcase full of trucks. When I do a reading I bring along visual aides. Well, we seemed to have time enough, so we turned around and started zipping down St. Charles St. We were making good time and were about 6 blocks from my hotel when BANG!, a tire blew. Since Katrina and all the construction going on and no money or crews to repair the streets there are all kinds of hazards such as pot holes and nails. Becky's tire wasn't just flat, it was ruined. (She said it was about the 6th tire she'd blown since Katrina.)

We looked at each other. "Now what do we do?" asked Becky. "I've never changed a flat before."

"Do you have AAA?" I asked. She did. "Why don't you call them to help you with the car and I'll catch a taxi back to the hotel and then to the bookstore. We can meet up there."

So I abandoned Becky to her flat tire and set out to flag down a cab when a trolley car rolled down the tracks that had probably caused our flat. I hopped on board knowing I would end up just two blocks from the hotel. From there I high-tailed it to my room, grabbed my suitcase full of trucks, the one the TSA inspectors had had to search, and hailed a cab. The driver did not know where Maple Street was so I told him to drive out St. Charles St. and said that I was in a hurry. "I'm not rushing for anyone," he said. "You can take another cab if you want." But we kept going. I got on my phone and called the bookstore. The owner answered and seemed to take it in stride that I would be arriving late. She gave me directions (straight out St. Charles St. to Broadway, right on Broadway two blocks and left on Maple and you are practically there.)

It turned out that I was only about ten minutes late and so was everyone else showing up, but in the end I read to a nice crowd and Becky arrived about an hour later. Her boyfriend had come to her rescue. She knew that would be faster than AAA. Alls well that ends well. And what could be more appropriate than a flat tire for the writer of Truck Stuck?

Next Stop--New Orleans

One of the great things about being an artist and writer is that I get to set my own schedule. My husband had a conference in New Orleans at the end of February so naturally I went along. I asked Taylor Rogers if Charlesbridge could arrange a bookstore visit while I was there and she made arrangements with Maple Street Children's Book Shop. Whenever I mentioned that name to anyone from New Orleans they knew just which store it was.

I did not want to repeat my reading to one child experience, educational though it had been, so I emailed the two people I know in New Orleans. One is my neighbor’s son, who has worked there for the last 9 years or so and the other is my cousin Becky who runs Audubon Yoga Studio. I emailed them each a flyer attachment like I had made before and asked them to spread it among their friends and acquaintances.

I also emailed the SCBWI-Illinois list serve and asked that anyone with New Orleans contacts pass on my information. Our list serve, for SCBWI members only, is a wonderful resource where we can announce our signings and our good news, vent when needed, and most valuable of all, ask questions about the business of children’s books. Everyone is amazingly generous about sharing knowledge and experience and ideas. I heard back from at least nine people with suggestions about how to publicize my event. Most helpful of all, one member forwarded my email to a friend of hers who knows everyone and everything in New Orleans—or that’s what it felt like to me as we exchanged emails and phone calls. In a matter of a few days she had arranged for me to visit the Good Shepherd School on the day before my bookstore signing and speak with all the students (about 75) about writing, art, and journal writing. This school visit turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip to New Orleans.



Students of Good Shepherd School

I spoke to two grades at a time, beginning with the 4th and 5th graders. I read Truck Stuck to all of them and talked about the next book I am working on, a book of bird poetry which I am illustrating with my journal sketches. The 4th and 5th graders were quite taken with my explanations of how to draw birds, using a “vocabulary” of straight and curved lines and basic geometric shapes. We left my demonstration drawing standing on the easel in the lunch room and a group of girls took the opportunity to practice drawing during their lunch break.

With the 6th and 7th graders I talked about the writing process and the long journey of submitting and revising and resubmitting my work. Truck Stuck was sent to 12 different publishers over a 12 year period. It is a lesson in persistence.

The 2d and 3rd graders enjoyed the story itself and the lively illustrations of Andy Robert Davies. I told them which elements in the illustrations came from my suggestions and which elements, such as the Elvis character, were completely Andy’s contribution.

The book signing at the Maple Street Children’s Bookstore turned out great despite my getting a flat tire on the way to the signing! Note to self—ALWAYS carry the contact information for the event with me and have a cell phone with a charged battery. Luckily I did have the phone number and was able to alert the bookstore owner that I would be a few minutes late.

I arrived not too late and not too flustered. There were only a few people, including my neighbor’s son, waiting for me, but the tiny store soon filled up with young children and their families. My cousin was responsible for bringing in most of the families. She has an extensive email list for her yoga studio business and she had contacted everyone she knew who had young kids. She had also announced my event at her classes and had a printout of my email announcement for people to take. I was so glad I had thought to ask her help and given her enough notice to really spread the news effectively.

I read Truck Stuck twice that afternoon and kids played with my trucks as I signed books. We sold at least 19 copies and I felt that the event was quite worthwhile. Once again, I’m not sure my book would have been picked up by this store if we hadn’t scheduled the signing, but now the owner is familiar with my book and knows I have a second book in the works with Charlesbridge. I hope to return to Maple Street Children's Book Shop in a year, when the next book is released.

Truck Stuck Officially Hits the Road

great shoes




I didn't know I make so many faces when I read aloud

I viewed my trip to North Carolina as a dress rehearsal. On Feb. 17 the Magic Tree Bookstore in Oak Park hosted the Official Book Launch Party. The Magic Tree is our local independent children’s bookstore and I have been friends with the owners for years. They are very supportive of our SCBWI-IL Oak Park network. And they have taken a personal interest in the Truck Stuck manuscript, helping me brainstorm where to submit it. So of course this was the store of choice for a Launch Party. We scheduled the party for 1 pm on a Sunday afternoon and I sent an email flyer to everyone I knew inviting them.

Here is a copy of the flyer which I included as an attachment to an email note:
####

It’s a Party!

Bring your truck.
Will it get stuck?
There’ll be lemonade.
A balloon parade.
Lots to do—
Hullabaloo!

Hope to see you at my book signing and launch party for Truck Stuck!

Magic Tree Bookstore (141 N. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60301)
http://www.magictreebookstore.com/happenings.html#truck

Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 1 p.m.

Sallie Wolf





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note the hood ornament, just like the illustration

I ordered a cake from a fellow SCBWI-IL member who is a fabulous baker. She made the most delicious cake to look exactly like the truck in the book. I bought lemonade and brought my suitcase full of trucks. I was ready to party!

A huge number of my friends showed up, with and without with small kids. The Magic Tree had rolled away several of their bookstands to clear a large space on the floor and laid down picnic blankets for the children to sit on. I pulled out my trucks and the kids started playing with the trucks. I read the story aloud, using the trucks and my shoebox viaduct to act out the story. Then I cut the truck cake and we celebrated with cake and lemonade, and while people enjoyed the cake and chatted, I signed book after book after book. The kids played with the trucks on the floor. The good news and the bad news is we ran out of books to sell! The Magic Tree staff said that had never happened at a signing before. But I think I should have warned them about how many people I had invited. We sold over 40 books and many more were ordered.

What did I learn from this event? Quite a lot. Number one, it really pays to know your local bookseller. The staff at the Magic Tree have taught me so much, including which publishers they like (Charlesbridge is one of them), which books are selling well, what books they would like to see published (broken bones is a topic they would like to see covered). I have attended many author/illustrator events there and make it a point to get to as many as I can just to see what other authors do, how they interact with their audience, what visual aids they bring. I like to discuss books with the staff because they are avid readers who enjoy the literature they sell. And they even referred me to another independent bookstore about an hour away and I have arranged to do a story hour with them in a few weeks.

What else did I learn? Let the bookstore know if I have reason to believe there will be a huge demand for books. I never asked the Magic Tree how many books they had ordered, but when I realized how many people might show up I knew they would not have ordered enough. Luckily, most of these people are good friends of mine and they are going to buy the book even if they have to order it. But there definitely was a “heat of the moment” feel to the party and it would have been good to not run out.

And lastly, I learned that I should not depend solely on the bookstore to send out press releases to the local papers. Partly, the paper wants the store to advertise and is reluctant to cover events it feels are just free publicity. And partly, the bookstore owners are just as busy as I am. And partly, if the paper gets more than one press release about an up-coming event, it might pay more attention. Contacting the local media is something I need to work at still. But as I say, I’m learning as I go.

And I also realized that, while the suitcase full of trucks is a great visual aid and attention-getter, it can also be a distraction. I am learning how to coordinate playing with the trucks with reading the book, but it takes practice.

An audience of one

I have read Truck Stuck at four different bookstore events. Each one has been quite different, and I’ve learned something new at each one.

I was visiting family who live in Chapel Hill, so the Publicity/Promotions Assistant at Charlesbridge, set up a book signing at a nearby chain bookstore that has a regular story hour. Only one little girl and her grandmother showed up. She listened politely to my truck book. She was there to read princess books. However, a mom who was nearby without her kids bought two copies of my book based on the reading.

The main thing I learned from my first book store event is don’t depend on the bookstore to publicize the event. I should have asked my sister, brother, mother, and sister-in-law, all of whom live in Chapel Hill, to email or call all their friends who have small children or who would be interested in the book.

The next thing I learned is that no book store event is a waste of time if it gets the book into the store and lets you establish a relationship with the children’s department and the community relations manager. I talked up my next book and offered to come back in a year, once that one is published.

In fact, this bookstore would not have been carrying my book if we hadn’t arranged the signing. By reading in the store I ensured that they were aware of the book, had it in stock, and heard it read. Furthermore, I also visited the preschool where my sister teaches and read Truck Stuck to two classes. My sister created a simple order form and sold 26 copies of the book, which we bought from that store, effectively emptying their stock. I asked the manager of the children’s department to reorder the book, and he did.

My sister and I went to the rival chain and told them that they should order Truck Stuck because the other store was sold out. (Then I confessed that I was the author. The person helping us laughed, ordered three copies of the book, and said she would make a point of reading it.)

Welcome to Learning as I go

I am the author of two children’s books. The first book is titled Peter’s Trucks. It was published in 1992 by Albert Whitman and Company and illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith. Currently it is out of print.

My second book is Truck Stuck, illustrated by Andy Robert Davies and published by Charlesbridge Publishing. It was just released last month and I am in the middle of trying to promote it. Because Peter’s Trucks came out so long ago I feel as if I am a first time author again. I really did not do very much to promote PT myself, and Albert Whitman did not do much either, beyond printing a lovely bookmark which I could hand out at school visits. I also had kids at home and was attending art school part-time and was not as free as I am now to devote my efforts to building my writing career.

This blog will be a record of what I am doing to promote my published work and what I learn along the way.