As Always, Debbie

Dear Reader,   When I read "A Fish in a Tree" to kids, I often start out talking about fish--asking them to make fish faces and then asking where fish live. Sea or ocean is the most common answer, but I do get the rivers and lakes and ponds too. Some think of aquariums before I ask if they have ever been to one. I ask if anyone has ever had a pet fish and some have. After building that up, I then pull out the poster of my book and ask incrediously, "But did you ever see a fish in a tree?"  Well, at one reading, the inevitable happened as one boy told me he had a pet fish but it died. I said, "That's sad but it sometimes happens." He then continued, "My Dad flushed it down the toilet." Kids gasped and looked at him in disbelief. One asked, "Why did he do that?" My presentation had been derailed by a dead fish spiraling down the toilet. I was off guard but tried to bring them back to happier times and my story. I am sure some lit...

Dear Reader, This holiday season has just squeezed by me so fast. With all the usual preparations, celebrating, gift buying and decorating, etc. I forgot that Christmas season I should have been trying to make more book sales, promoting online and doing some local holiday craft fairs. I did do a couple of fairs, but no way as much as I could have or should have been doing. Life just pushed me along. It sure didn't help with two different bouts of sickness this fall. (Not covid, but miserable. I am wondering if being cooped up so long weakened our immune system.) Anyway, I am still learning this marketing part of being an author. Doesn't seem fair that you just can't write a book and after writing, re-writing, editing, and learning all the other things that go into writing and publishing a book, that when it's done you can't just sit back, well, you can, but you won't make many sales that way.  As I was looking at my Christmas tree, I wanted to share the ornament...

  Dear Reader, I didn't have a clue the "little things" that would happen that I appreciate at my book readings. After the latest Family Fun Day reading, there were many craft tables set up for the kids to participate in. I was sitting near my grandchild and this little girl we didn't know was busily coloring her best on this little butterfly. When she was done, she held the butterfly as if it were flying a zig zag path and then "landed" it on me giving it to me to keep.      I said, "Are you giving this to me?" She nodded yes. How can you not love such sweet gestures from children? I did thank her and to whoever the parents are, great job! I am keeping this sweet memento. Little things mean a lot! As Always, Debbie  

 Hi Reader, This past weekend I had my first book reading to kids who weren't family or friends. I wasn't sure what to expect, and I know that reading to kids is a fun adventure, you never know what to expect and I want to remember some of these moments, so I will share one with you here. When I read my book, "A Fish in a Tree", I try to intersperse some information about taking care of our earth. One thing I wanted to try to relate to the children is I have read that it takes 7 years for a mylar balloon to decompose.  To emphasize this point, I asked if anyone was 7 years old. Immediately the youngest girl in the front row raised her hand. This made me smile and fortunately her grandmother corrected her, "No, you are only 3." Realizing no one was 7, I tried for 6 and I got one. As I explained the significance, her sister next to her put up four fingers and whispered, "Ask if anyone is 4."  I couldn't help but smile and laugh later. Of course, ...

Dear Reader, The next step for me was to find an illustrator. Before all this, I had found clip art online and made a rough illustrated version to share with my grandchildren. I can't draw at all. I made a little stapled booklet to share with them. This was the cover of the first illustrated version. I cut the fish out from one clip art and glued it in the tree.  Obviously, if I was serious about publishing this, I needed to hire an illustrator. I thought about using some local talented high school kids I knew, however, the publicist frightened me away from that when she talked about using the right pixels and other terms unfamiliar to me. I decided to hire a professional. Once again, I searched the internet. It is amazing how this whole procedure could be done via the internet. I had already subscribed to "Writer's Weekly" via email, and they had a section of recommended illustrators. I narrowed down my favorite ones and finally contacted Chad Thompson to see if he w...

Dear Reader, Last I wrote, I told you about my publicist. She was happy with my story just like my husband and other friends, but as we spoke, it seemed like a good idea to hire an editor just to make things the best they could be, after all, this would be my first published book. Let me mention that I have been on writer's retreats, I have attended many writing workshops, I have belonged to several writing groups where we critiqued each other's works and therefore I knew that you may think you are done, but someone else's eyes will point out things you didn't see. Sometimes the critiques are a little painful. You have presented your "masterpiece" that you have toiled over every word and in a few moments, your ego can be bruised. Critiquing is a great necessity, but it can be painful. I had never worked with an editor before and I braced myself for pain. First, I had to find an editor. It is awesome that with the help of the internet you can hire a publicist, ...