GAP FAMILY BLOG

I have always scribbled stories. However, none of them became published until after I became a Teacher’s Aide and discovered the Internet. I began telling classes tales of my Aussie homeland, and their weird and wonderful critters. I had done this with my own kids, so they wouldn’t forget their homeland. A teacher suggested I write them down, as I had a tendency to change the endings, and kids noticed this very fast.

This was when computers were just beginning to be in homes. I nagged until my husband agreed to buy a computer – all 1 ½ gigs of HD! I went online and discovered a really great site for children’s writers. As luck would have it, several talented and generous hearted writers, now well published themselves, took me under their wing. I learned the writing rules. I learned patience. I became determined to become published. I began to value the benefits of rewriting my manuscripts and reading those of others. Oh, my, what pearls I learned from reading my talented critique group’s manuscripts. Yet rewrites and rejections still filled my days for a l-o-n-g time. Then I formed a private online critique group with other like-minded members, and my writing took a turn for the more publishable. YEA.

A friend recommended me to a publisher, and they accepted my first rhyming picture book. Eventually, this became Wild and Wonderful, a 7 book series that offered fun facts about animals from the US and Australia. Each book had a different illustrator from a different state, or part of the world. Finding them was as easy as asking on my writing list if there were any illustrators willing to give their career a boost by illustrating my books. You could never do that today, and expect wonderful illustrations for a cut of the proceeds. This was early days, and these were eBooks.

Kangaroo Clues, the first in the series, was illustrated by an artist in Turkey. He spoke no English and did not own a computer. How was this possible you ask? Again I have to thank the Internet. An online friend, also Turkish, and famous for her own children’s books, suggested I use her illustrator, Mustafa Delioglu. She sent me some of the books he had illustrated for her, and his work was awesome. His other art hung in galleries over Europe. I shouted, YES!

This friend acted as translator for both of us. Talk about a marathon effort for a friend. Fortunately Mustafa lived near her, so she went back-and- forth with my e-mails, and his replies to them, for months. Almost a year went past before the illustrations were completed and the book finally published. I was thrilled with the results. His magical illustrations came together with my rhymes in a delightful marriage of fun reading. It was information kids could enjoy, while learning about Aussie animals.

Instead of large land masses surrounded by oceans, the Internet has given us all a chance to become closer, learn about each other’s customs, and celebrate different people with different talents. I find this particularly true with Manuscript Critiquing. Clients come to me from all over the globe. We chat, I help them write tight and terrific books, and we share details of our lives and our countries.

One lady from Latvia e-mailed me every day about her life, her writing, and her country. I replied in like fashion – the difference from my end being, that I corrected her English in MY replies to her. At the end of a year her English had improved out of sight, and I had a firm friend from a part of the world I had never thought about before I became a fan of the Internet.

The Internet is the future: brimming with opportunities for improved lifestyles, good works and aiding others. Stopping those who scheme to use it for vice and other dangerous endeavors must be our current priority.

Margot Finke is an author of 11 children’s books. Originally from Down-under, she now lives in Oregon with her husband, and close to their three grown kids and grandkids. Margot also runs a Manuscript Critique Service, where tight and terrific writing is the name of the game. Her website offers many pages of help for beginning writers, plus links to her books, video readings, reviews, and where to purchase.

Website: http://www.margotfinke.com/  
Hook Kids on Reading: http://hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com/  
Margot’s Magic Carpet: http://perfectmagiccarpet.blogspot.com/  

Donna McDine, author of The Golden Pathway, has the following events planned:

October 16, 2011 - 1:00-4:00 pm


Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Library
25 Flywheel Park West
Piermont, NY
845-359-4595

Local Authors' Meet and Greet, Book Reading & Signing, Activity, and Q&A



October 17, 2011 - 7:00-8:00 pm

Orangeburg Library
20 South Greenbush Road
Orangeburg, NY
845-359-2244

Author Meet and Greet, Book Reading, Signing, and Activity

October 23, 2011 ~ 1:30-4:30 pm


Hilton Westchester Rye Brook
699 Westchester Avenue
Rye Brook, NY
in the Grand Ballroom (North & South)

The New York State Reading Association's "Hudson Valley Author's Fair"



The Golden Pathway:  Raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily, David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David leads Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa.

AWARDS:

Literary Classics 2011 Finalist Picture Book Early Reader ~ The Golden Pathway

Literary Classics 2011 Seal of Approval Picture Book Early Reader ~ The Golden Pathway

Finalist in Dan Poynter's Global eBook Awards – Children’s Picture Book Fiction category – The Golden Pathway

Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author: Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions. Donna’s stories and features have been published in many print and online publications and her interest in sports resulted in writing and publishing The Hockey Agony. Her first book, The Golden Pathway, was published in August 2010 by Guardian Angel Publishing and she recently signed her third book contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, for Powder Monkey. She writes, moms and is the Editor-in-Chief for Guardian Angel Kids Ezine and Publicist Intern for The National Writing for Children Center and Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Musing Our Children.

Learn more about Donna at http://www.donnamcdine.com/ if you sign the guestbook, you’ll receive a FREE e-Book Write What Inspires You: Author Interviews, and http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/ and http://www.thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com/.

An important key to a child’s developing literacy is to read and be read to frequently. Our school assigned homework of 20 minutes per day through elementary school. Twenty minutes can be a lifetime to a reluctant reader. Trust me, I know from firsthand experience.

So how do you get your child to put in their required reading time without a lot of whining or a spectacular tantrum? Don’t force-feed them the material. If your child wants to read The Bone Series by Jeff Smith, don’t wrinkle your nose because they are graphic novels. Ask your child to read it to you and experience something new for yourself. If they pick up the board book version of, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, don’t dismiss it as too juvenile. Allow them to read it again and again. Take them to a bookstore and let them browse the section that carries content with the appropriate reading level and let them choose two or three titles without your input.

Handing your child Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, and expecting them to have interest just because it is a classic might turn your child away from reading more than enticing them to read. Setting Charlotte’s Web in a stack of several books for your child to choose from, might result in you experiencing the classic together when your child chooses it to read on their own and you take turns reading aloud to each other.

A child needs someone to guide their choices in order to assure the content is appropriate for their age and reading level, but they don’t need you forcing your childhood reading preferences upon them.

Reading is reading, whether it be a picture book or the instructions to a new board game. Letting your child choose what they read during their required reading time will make the experience much more enjoyable for both of you.

Guardian Angel Publishing has many titles for children from 0 to 12 years old. Browse our online bookstore with your emerging reader and let them choose some titles to fill their required reading time.


********

About The Author:

Kai Strand is the author of the best selling GAP title The Weaver, a chapbook for tweens. You can stay informed of Kai’s upcoming publications and appearances by liking her author page on Facebook. For more information, visit Kai’s website at http://kaistrand.com/

I'm a big fan of summer reading programs. I used to sign up at my local library every year when I was a kid. Yes, the prizes were nice, but the best memories are of the many books I read during the few months I was out of school.

This year, both my girls signed up for the One World, Many Stories summer reading program at the Wilbraham Public Library. I'm thrilled to see it. My youngest has always been a big reader, but the older of the two girls swears off anything that seems like schoolwork over the summer.

When kids aren't learning over the summer, they are at a distinct disadvantage when they return in the fall. As a parent and a children's author, I hate to see that happen. Volunteering at our local schools, I see how hard the students and educators work all year long. It's a shame to see some of that lost when kids aren't engaged in meaningful activities over the summer.

Summer Reading Programs offer not only the opportunity to learn, they allow kids to interact with their peers by providing group activities. As part of One World, Many Stories, the girls are participating in The Great Create, which is a weekly art workshop. Both my girls love art, so it's perfect. These programs also teach kids about goal setting and time management, skills they will use throughout their lives.

Check out your local library to see what they're doing this summer. The fun is just beginning.



Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A founding member of Musing Our Children, Ms. Malandrinos is Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens. Her first children’s book, Little Shepherd, was released in August 2010 by Guardian Angel Publishing. She is also a member of the SCBWI.

Cheryl is a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book, a book reviewer, and blogger. She is also a regular contributor for the Writer2Writer eZine. Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two children. She also has a son who is married.

Visit Cheryl at her newly redesigned website - http://ccmalandrinos.com/

Guardian Angel Publishing author Kristen Zajac will be doing children's book readings at Small Blessings Preschool in Tampa, Florida this week as part of a special week long event focusing on literacy. Ms. Zajac will read one of her books, Ebeneezer's Cousin, and teach the children about real organizations which train animal helpers to assist people with special needs. On February 22nd and 23rd, she will be visiting each age group and talking with them about the book and being an author. Later in the week, Small Blessings classes will be participating in a special Storybook Fair where classrooms will be decorated as theme rooms for various children's books. Each room will have hands on activities for the children to do to bring the books to life.

To find out more about Kristen and her work, please visit http://www.kristenzajac.com/.

Visit Guardian Angel Publishing online at http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/.

The world of children’s picture book publishing is extremely competitive. If you’re an aspiring children’s author, you need to make sure your manuscript is in excellent shape and has all the elements editors and agents look for before you begin the submission process.


Here are five tips to make your picture book manuscript more marketable:

Start right with the problem.

Many times beginner writers begin a picture book with backstory. It’s okay to have this backstory in the first draft, but be sure to get rid of it when you edit. Backstory is unnecessary 90% of the time and it only serves to slow down the beginning of a story, making it weaker. You want to grab the reader right from the start. So don’t be afraid to begin your story at the heart of the problem. It’s okay to set the stage with a sentence or two—but no more!

Have a protagonist readers can relate to.

Generally, children like to listen to stories about other children or animals with children’s characteristics. They don’t want to hear about a grandma or grandpa looking back to the time when they were young. Create characters kids can identify with. When readers can identify with the protagonist, they are drawn into the story and become emotionally involved with it.

Make sure the problem fits the age group.

Be sure your protagonist is facing a problem young readers can relate to. If they can’t relate to it, they won’t care. Losing a toy or losing mommy, being lost, having a tooth pulled out, going to the hairdresser for the first time, having too many freckles, planning a first party... these are all problems kids can identify with. Sure, these subjects have been done a million times. But so what? By creating a new angle about a familiar topic, you can give the topic your own fresh and original slant

Add rising action.

Rising action creates tension—the good stuff that keeps readers glued to the story, turning those pages. After you have created the first big problem for the protagonist, and as he tries to solve it, toss a couple more obstacles into his path to make readers wonder what’s going to happen next. The more readers care about the character’s predicament, the more compelling they’ll find the story.

Leave them with a punch.

Endings are always important, no matter what the genre. But they’re especially important in picture books. Once the protagonist solves the problem and everything falls into place, you must find a way to make the ending memorable. This can be achieved by adding an unexpected twist or by having the character say or do something witty. At the same time, it must feel natural, a perfect and logical progression that has evolved organically with the story. This can be hard to achieve. Try different possibilities until you get that “Aha!” feeling. Don’t be afraid to come up with crazy, over-the-top ideas while you brainstorm.

Keeping these tips in mind when creating your children’s stories will help you make them more marketable and appealing to editors and agents. Like with any craft, writing for children is a never ending learning process. I hope you’ll keep at it and enjoy the journey.



© Copyright 2011 Mayra Calvani.

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. Her nonfiction work, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing was a ForeWord Best Book of the Year Award winner. She’s had over 300 stories, articles, interviews and reviews published. She reviews for SimplySharly.com and is co-editor of Voice in the Dark Ezine. She also offers book reviewing workshops online. Visit her website at http://www.mayracalvani.com/. For her children’s books, visit http://www.mayrassecretbookcase.com/. You can find Voice in the Dark at http://voice-in-the-dark.com/.

Our congratulations go out to all the winners in the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2010. We are thrilled and proud to know several of our Angels were among them.

1. Philip and the Superstition Kid, John Paulits, Gypsy Shadow Publishing,

2. If Wishes Were Fishes, N.A. Sharpe, 4RV Publishing,

3. A Wish and A Prayer, Beth Bence Reinke, 4RV Publishing LLC,

4. The Mishaps of Gum Drop Island, M.M., Self,

5. The Weaver, Kai Strand,

 6. The Golden Pathway, Donna M. McDine, Guardian Angel Publishing,

7. The Halloween Dino Trip, Lea Schizas, MuseItUp Publishing,

8. Bubba Goes National, Jennifer Walker, Windswept Destiny Publishing,

9. The Giving Meadow, Stephanie Burkhart, 4RV Publishing,

9. Philip & the ssuperstition kid, John Paulitis, Gypsy Shadow,

10. Haunted, Heather Beck, Treasure Cove Books,

10. Killer Cows, D.M. Anderson, Echelon Press,

10. In My Bath, Beth Bence Reinke, 4RV Publishing,

11. Quest for the Simurgh, Marva Dasef, Texas Boy Publications

11. Eagle Quest, Marva Dasef, CreateSpace,

12. Andy and Spirit Meet the Rodeo Queen, Mary Jean Kelso, Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.,

12. RV Mouse, Mary Jean Kelso, Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.,

13. It's Okay to be a Zombie, Nathaniel Lambert & Danny Evarts, Shroud Publishing,

13. Sully's Topsy Tale , Donna J. Shepherd, Guardian Angel Publishing,

13. Jeannette Claus Saves Christmas, Douglas Rees, McElderry/Simon & Schuster,

13. Gamer's Quest, George Ivanoff, Ford Street,

When Rhyming Gets Slumpy by Bill Kirk

(Published in Absolute Write in May 2005)

Have you ever dealt with
A slump in your brain
That keeps you from writing,
Come sun or come rain?

A Slump so lugubrious,
Nothing will help;
Not chanting or singing,
Not even a yelp;

Not saying words backward
Or running in place;
Not closing your eyes
Or gazing at space.

It won’t even help much
To vacuum the rug;
To sort all your laundry
Or bathe your pet pug.

Though looking to rhymers
 To break your word jam,
Might seem the right thing
When your mind’s on the lam;

At times even tactics
Like these are no use,
To make your words flow--
To break your rhymes loose.

 Then just when you’re ready
To give up the fight,
Your brains get unslumped;
You soon see the light.

Your ears hear the rhythm
Of iambic beat.
Your unrhyming ailment
Is now in retreat.

At last your line endings
Again sound the same.
As if it were magic
You’re back in the game.

So, if you get plagued
By words that don’t match;
You’re laying an egg
And your rhymes just won’t hatch.

Please don’t get all frazzled
And threaten to quit.
Just step back a moment
And let your words sit.

 Remember when rhymes
Are just plain ol’ stuck.
The harder you try
The worse your luck… gets….

Bill Kirk is the author of There's a Spider in My Sink, No Bones About It, My Grandma's Kitchen Rules, There's a Beetle in My Bed, Circulation Celebration, and the mewly released A Midsummer's Dream. He also has five more children's books scheduled to be released in 2011.

Bill was born in Germany, has lived on four continents, and has traveled widely in South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the U.S. He and his wife, Rita, have been married for over 40 years. They have two children and several grandchildren.

You can visit Bill online at http://billkirkwrites.com/.

The other day I did something I've been avoiding for some time. I put away my youngest child's favorite "babies" forever. When my oldest decided it was time to give up his Oma Bear, we wrote a loving note about this special teddy bear that described how she was a special gift from his Oma, which is the German word for grandmother. Oma Bear was his first gift and spent every night in his bed from the day he came home from the hospital until he was nine. From head to tail, Oma Bear was as long as my son when he was a newborn. My son "visited" Oma Bear in her new quiet home in my cedar chest a few times, and then all was well.

But there was something different about this goodbye because it was the last one. "Baby" was one of those lamb Beanie Babies, sans the ears, tail, and nose. Most of the lamb-looking fabric had been rubbed and washed off and this Baby still resembled dirty dishwater even after a good soak in Tide. You can imagine what I went through when it came time to give Baby a bath. I remember watching my son chew on the ears when he was teething. And the time we forgot it at Grammy's and he had to wait several days to get it in the mail. Baby was there for the hospital stays, the naps, and every kiss goodnight in between. Baby even woke my youngest up with little baby smooches on his cheek, with a little help from Mom. Sigh. It was well past the time to stop all that, but for me, asking him to give up his little bed buddies was also putting an end to a precious time in my life as a mother.

Yesterday when the house was empty, I sat down to write a note to Baby. And when I folded the note and gave Baby a goodbye kiss, there was a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I nestled her in the cedar chest next to Oma Bear, Momma Bear, my oldest son's shaggy blanket, and my raggedy stuffed rabbit from my childhood. I shut the lid and wondered, just like the Velveteen Rabbit, what they might be saying to each other as they wait for another child to love them in the distant future.

Margaret Rose has had a passion for the written word since she was a young girl. She became a professional writer and editor after college and is fortunate to be a fulltime writer. By day she works as a copywriter and editor for a small direct marketing firm and freelances feature articles for business-to-business magazines. In the evening hours she writes children's books and romance novels.

Margaret is married and has two children. Some of her passions are all types of music, flower gardening, biking, walking her dog on moonlit nights, nature, and making people laugh. She lives in Minnesota and never plans to leave no matter how cold the winters are.

Visit Margaret Rose at: Margaret Rose Writes
E-mail: Margaret_Rose@rocketmail.com

Since signing my first book contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, February 2008, I have read time and time again that the marketing of your book begins well before publication. Profound statement and right on the mark. Don’t miss another important aspect. You need to pair your book marketing with marketing YOU the author. Do not become a wall flower and only peel yourself from the wall when you want to position and sell your book.

Active membership in a writing community is essential, both online and in-person. Start out slow and don’t give in to joining too many groups. Being an active participant in one or two communities is much better than joining five plus and the members hardly or never hear from you. Start out by introducing yourself and then respond to fellow members posts constructively. Never attack or bash. Remember what mom always said, “Treat others how you want to be treated.” With respect, correct?

When a fellow member seeks advice on a particular topic and you have experience to offer, share what worked for you and what didn’t. The conversation ease is set from the get-go when fellow members sense you are not here just for your book, but to partake in an exchange of information. A trust naturally develops over time as you converse, cheer members successes, and encouraging even louder when a rejection is received. Relationships forged in this manner are usually a win-win outcome for all involved. Over time you will begin to wonder how you made through it the publishing roller coaster ride without them.

Go ahead put yourself out there and connect with fellow writers. You were brave enough to submit your manuscript to the publishing Gods so this should be a snap. Most of all have fun and make new friends.

Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. Donna’s stories and features have been published in many print and online publications, and her first book, The Golden Pathway, will be published through Guardian Angel Publishing. Ms. McDine is a member of the SCBWI, Musing Our Children, and The National Writing for Children Center. Learn more about Donna at http://www.donnamcdine.com/ if you sign the guestbook, you’ll receive a FREE e-Book Write What Inspires You: Author Interviews, and http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/ and http://www.thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com/.

Passing up fruits and veggies for an afternoon snack, Kevin grabs a chocolate pudding and heads out the door. His adventure begins as he opens up his pudding cup and watches it spring to life! Find out if Kevin and his spoon are fast enough to catch his quick snack!



Stop That Pudding! by Andi Houdek

Illustrated by Kevin Collier

Purchase your copy here!
 
 
 
 


Jiggsy, a junk yard dog, delights in finding a special diamond necklace he thinks will change his life. When his special possession disappears, Jiggsy realizes how it feels to lose something dear and decides to do the right thing. His honesty is well rewarded.



A Necklace for Jiggsy written and illustrated by Kit Grady

Purchase your copy here! 
 
 


I Don't Want a Haircut by Lea Schizas

Illustrated by K.C. Snider

Purchase your copy here!


“Lightning Strikes, I count to ten. I don’t hear thunder until then.” Science and Math come together to educate and entertain. This fun, rhyming counting book will help teach children to count backwards, and to understand the principles of lightning and thunder.



Lightning Strikes by Kevin McNamee

Illustrated by Eugene Ruble

Purchase your copy here!








A fanciful story of a potbellied pig who needs a home and pretends he is lucky. After fruitless searches for warmth and a new home, finally Mr. Topper discovers he is indeed a lucky potbellied pig.



Mister Topper, the Pot-bellied Pig by Laim Maher

Illustrated by Vanda Lavar

Purchase your copy here!




Marta's Gargantuan Wings by J. Aday Kennedy

Illustrated by Eugene Ruble

Purchase your copy here!





David makes his way home on Christmas Eve and sees this is no ordinary night. Accompanied by a shimmering star and some tough decisions, David encounters three experiences that will change his view of Christmas forever. Join David on his wondrous journey home.

A Star in the Night by Jennifer Gladen

Illustrated by K.C. Snider

Purchase your copy here!

Raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily, David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David leads Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa.

Purchase The Golden Pathway here!



In the hills outside Bethlehem, Obed guards his first flock of sheep. When the angels appear to tell of the Savior’s birth, he is hesitant to follow the others to see the new King. When Obed returns to his sheep, he realizes it is a night of miracles.

Purchase Little Shepherd here!



Can you imagine what the world would be like if animals each made completely different sounds than expected? That would be such an amazing surprise, and how crazy it would seem if this were to happen! This book explores different animal sounds and why animals make the sounds they do.

Purchase Animal Sound Mix-Up here!






Passing up fruits and veggies for an afternoon snack, Kevin grabs a chocolate pudding and heads out the door. His adventure begins as he opens up his pudding cup and watches it spring to life! Find out if Kevin and his spoon are fast enough to catch his quick snack!

Purchase Stop That Pudding! here!



Jiggsy, a junk yard dog, delights in finding a special diamond necklace he thinks will change his life. When his special possession disappears, Jiggsy realizes how it feels to lose something dear and decides to do the right thing. His honesty is well rewarded.

Purchase A Necklace for Jiggsy here!

GAP author, Janet Ann Collins, will be one of about fifty authors and illustrators at the Northern California Storybook and Literature Festival in Roseville, CA on Saturday, July 31. She'll also be at the SCBWI table for a while.



The festival will be at the Maidu Library and Community Center, 1530 Maidu Drive, Roseville, CA from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free and hundreds of people are expected to come for the events and children's activities. Collins will be reading a selection and signing copies of her book, The Peril of the Sinister Scientist.

You can visit Janet online at www.janetanncollins.com.

Joining us today is author Nicole Weaver. Nicole was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. She moved to the United States when she was ten years old. She is fluent in four languages and is a high school teacher. We'll talk to Nicole about her writing, the book she self-published, and her book under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing.


Welcome to the GAP Family Blog, Nicole. It's wonderful to have you with us. Can you start by telling our readers a bit about you and your writing?

I am Haitian American, who came to the United States when I was ten years old. I lived in New York, and after college I moved to Houston, Texas. I met my husband, married, and then moved to Colorado. I have three children who are 22, 20 and 14. My daughter Michele will be a junior in college and Jean-Paul my oldest just finished a dance program affiliated with Dominican University. Luc will be a sophomore in high school in the fall. I am a full time high school French and Spanish teacher. I took up writing as a hobby. A close friend of mine talked me into attending a writer’s conference with her. The conference infused me with enough confidence to venture out and write my first children’s picture book manuscript.

What is it that inspired you to pursue a career in writing?

I love spending a lot of time in the children’s section of my local library reading new releases. I became quite discouraged to see so few books about children of color. After reading Embracing Your Second Calling by Dale Bourke, I am convinced God is calling me to write books that will portray children of color in a positive light. I do the bulk of my writing during the summer months while I am on vacation from teaching.

Let’s talk about Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle. You self-published this book using Outskirts Press. Can you share what that experience was like?

This is a very touchy subject for me, but I am glad you asked the question. I did not like the experience at all. It was very frustrating working with my so called author representative. Many mistakes were made during production of the book. If I had to do it again, I would not go down that road. Discouragement from too many rejections got the better of me. I became too anxious and succumbed to self-publishing my book. Overall, there is a very negative sentiment toward authors who self-publish. All I can say is I am so very happy to have my second book published the traditional way. I am thrilled beyond words. This was a confirmation from God this is indeed what He wants me to do as a second career.



Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle is written in English, French, and Spanish. I’ve seen several bi-lingual books, but not many tri-lingual books. Why did you choose to write this book in three languages?

I am fluent in four languages, and I know from firsthand experience that a child’s brain is wired to learn languages through immersion. The younger you are the easier it is for you to master the language. I figured it would be a good idea to have all three languages side by side on each page. I have received a lot of positive feedback from parents. One parent told me after reading my book to her daughter, her daughter wanted to learn both French and Spanish. Fortunately, in Colorado we have a slew of Immersion schools. The child now attends an immersion school where she is learning both languages.

In addition to your children’s book, you’ve written poetry that has won awards. Can you tell us about this aspect of your work?

In 2005 I entered a poetry contest sponsored by my local library. I entered the contest just for fun. I never dreamed I would win first prize. I have several pieces that have been published in my church's journal. I still write a lot of poetry, it is very therapeutic for me. I hope to publish a book of poetry someday. But for now, I have included some of my poems in my memoir.

How did you become involved with Guardian Angel Publishing?

Donna McDine did a review for my newly published picture book. I saw the GAP emblem on her blog. The name Guardian Angel caught my attention, so I decided to check out their website to learn more about the company. I liked what I read about GAP and made the decision to submit my manuscript to Lynda. After a few revisions she offered me a contract.

What is your book about and when will it be released?

My book is called My Sister is My Best Friend. It is about two twin sisters who do everything together. The script is in English, French and Spanish. I got inspired to write the book after I met my half sister from my father’s side. Meeting her left me wondering what it would have been like to grow up with her. My imagination went to work full time and that is how I came up with the script. I do not know the exact time and date when the book will be released. I can only estimate that it will be late 2010 or early 2011. When I first signed the contract Lynda informed me her books are usually published between 9-12 months. I am keeping my fingers cross.



What are you working on now?

I am working on my memoir and a second children’s picture book. A group of Black editors from London invited me to submit work for a book that will be launched on August 13th, 2010. All the proceeds from the book will go to the Lambi Fund of Haiti for earthquake relief. I have one short story and a poem that will be published. Four out of six students who submitted work from my French class will get published too. I am really excited about this opportunity. Once the book is released the local media in Denver will be interviewing me and my students.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

I tell aspiring writers to never give up. Writing is like learning a foreign language the more you practice the better you will get at it.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Thank you Cheryl for interviewing me.

Thank you to Lynda for making my dreams come true by giving me a contract. Last but not least, a big thank you goes to all of the Angels, you all are the very best!

Thanks for being with us today, Nicole. We enjoyed learning more about you. Good luck with your writing.


You can visit Nicole online at http://www.authorsden.com/nicoleweaver.