In the last post, I announced that I will be publishing book 2 in the Centipede Dragon picture book series, and aside from being as excited as I am, I’d like to ask for any local folks with 8 year-olds to be a critical part of the process toward this book launch!

On Tuesday, December 6, 2016, from 7–8pm, if you are local and have an 8 year-old child, you can participate in Charles Beatley Central Library’s (5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22304) weekly “Maker Cart Madness” event. Normally, this is an activities event whereby kids get to let their creative juices flow with an array of low to high tech materials. But on this occasion, I will be co-opting this event to get valuable feedback for book 2.

I will be reading AND showing the pictures for the entire book, and then will ask the kids questions that will help me understand what they understand about the book. Then we will do an exercise in character study and development, so the kids will be able to exercise their creativity as well! Please note this event is limited to 20 kids, but I sure would LOVE a full house!

Younger siblings are also welcome, as long as parents are present. PLEASE sign up to participate. Your helps is vital to making my book the best product it can be.

Happy Thanksgiving in advance. I’m so grateful for your continued support.

Have you by chance been wondering what I have been up to these days, aside from writing my scheduled posts? You may have noticed that I hadn’t advertised for, nor posted a presentation wrap-up of, an event, until the September 24th double-event day.

The REAL reason I haven’t been more active with book one’s marketing, is because I have been hard at work on BOOK TWO! Unfortunately, this has meant I haven’t had much time to even think of, let alone schedule, new events, in between this and working my day job! I do feel disloyal, like I’ve pitched my old favorite stuffed animal for a shiny new one. But inspiration smacked me in the face over a year ago, leading to a tear with illustrating and writing book two. And here I am again, on the cusp (sort of) of publishing.

As a children’s book author, the marketing/promoting responsibilities do take a life on their own. Once you get published, you don’t get to lock yourself away and create your next book, and after that your next book. You have to be the ambassador for your book whenever called upon, and only you can be that advocate. You also have to be savvy about money decisions, time management choices, and social media options. For me, it was time to put the writing and illustrating hat on again. And though it’s undoubtedly my favorite hat, I must pay attention to ALL my hats equally. It won’t work any other way.

So, early in December (definitive date TBD), Charles Beatley Central Library in Alexandria, VA, will be kindly modifying one of their weekly evening events, Maker Cart Madness, to host me for a special “focus group” session for kids 8 years and older (but younger siblings are welcome so long as a parent attends with them). During this 1-hour event, I will read book 2 with the images, and get participants’ feedback. Then there will be an exercise on writing a story.

So, please come join me for this and have your child put their two cents’ worth toward my book!