ISLMA/SCBWI-IL--2 Great Organizations with Terrible Acrynyms

Three Bewitching Writers

Just got back from ISLMA in Springfield. They hosted a breakfast for a number of SCBWI-IL authors. Breakfast began at 7:30 am--that meant I had to spend the night in Springfield. I took the train down and back--good choice considering how awful the weather was a lot of the time.

What I brought:

Page proofs of The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal, pasted into a dummy.
Truck Stuck, 1 copy. (Anderson's was selling books for the conference.)
Peter's Trucks, 1 copy.
Lots of bookmarks provided by Charlesbridge--Robin on one side, Truck Stuck on the other--very handy.
Robin postcards.
Meet the Author brochures--should have brought more--I left a bunch with the SCBWI-IL group to take to the IRC meetings in March, along with bookmarks. (Note to self--send a copy of Robin as soon as they come.)
Fresh Sharpie extra fine pens for autographing.

Two outfits built around my black pants--we were pushing black because the meetings were so close to Halloween.
Wore a comfortable travel outfit.
Sara Latta's Ice Scientist to read--getting ready to resubmit an NSF grant for Antarctica.
The Believer--an old copy I bought some time ago and hadn't gotten very far in reading.
4 other children's books that did not get read.

What I forgot to bring:

Water bottle.
Truck Stuck Book Plates.

What I brought home:

Eliza's Kindergarten Surprise by Alice B. McGinty to give to my sister who teaches Kindergarten.
Great notes from Esther Hershenhorn's presentation on "The ABC's of Growing Writers in Your Library."
Great ideas for both analyzing and writing picture books based on Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen's presentation, "Words and Pictures: Teaching Narrative Through the Picture Book."
The preliminary program for IRC--Illinois Reading Council conference in Springfield Mar. 18-20.

Back in the Saddle Again

Almost a year ago the publication date for The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal (hereafter to be known as Robin) was pushed back from July 1, 2009 to Feb. 1, 2010. I was disappointed, of course. I can't wait to have an actual book in my hands.

I wrote Donna Spurlock, Associate Director of Marketing, Publicity and Promotions at Charlesbridge, and Taylor Rogers, Publicity and Promotions Assistant, asking what the schedule would be for cranking up the marketing/promotions/publicity on this book.

Taylor sent me the following schedule:

August & September
compile list of special publications and organizations

October & November
catalog and press release mailing to our publicity list and specialty list

November & December
fulfill review copy requests, work on teachers' guide, continue researching special outlets, begin to set up appearances/signings for late winter

February 1st
the publication date of all spring titles
continue to pitch book, set up signings, etc.

Donna seconded Taylor's schedule and wrote to say that many advance review copies go out in October.

It is now mid-October and I feel as if I am already behind.

I have booked a launch party at the Magic Tree Bookstore. (Save the date--February 21, 1-3 pm.) And I have booked a show of the original art at the Oak Park Public Library for the month of April, National Poetry Month. Still to be determined is the date for a reception/book-signing at the library. There will be another show of the art and book-signing at the Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery in Center Sandwich, NH, tentatively scheduled for July 28, 2010.

Now to get to work on the list of special organizations and publications. Birds are a hot topic these days. There is a lot of interest. How to tap into it?