No, not here...Over at Sheryl Hart's blog!
She's hosting an interview with yours truly and I'm giving away a signed copy of Rudy Toot-Toot to a random commentor (on that blog, not this one...). Head on over, leave a comment, and cross your fingers!
Showing posts with label Rudy Toot-Toot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rudy Toot-Toot. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Potty Humor!
Ever wonder why kids are so fascinated with potty humor?
Me too, and luckily for me, awesome YA Author Sue Quinn let me pontificate on the subject on her blog! Check it out, click here.
And while you're there, poke around to around to learn more about Sue and her books, the Mindjack series is a lot of fun!
Me too, and luckily for me, awesome YA Author Sue Quinn let me pontificate on the subject on her blog! Check it out, click here.
And while you're there, poke around to around to learn more about Sue and her books, the Mindjack series is a lot of fun!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Rudy Toot-Toot is Available!
Have you read it? Please enter a review! Haven't read it? Please check it out!
Ready for a blast of laughing gas? Rudy Toot-Toot has a special power, almost like a super-hero: he can fart. It comes natural when you’re born on a bean farm. The problem is that Rudy can’t control the timing or the force behind his special gift.
His farts get him into a lot of trouble at home and school, and after one monstrous blast scares all the Beanheads away from the Toot-Toot Family Bean Market, it’s up to Rudy to find a way to use his talent to lure the customers back before the bank takes away their home.
This hilarious tale about self-control (and the lack thereof) will have readers young and old laughing out loud. They might even learn a thing or two along the way…
Sure the book is about a boy who farts, but before you balk at the subject matter, it's important to understand two things:
1. Farts are funny.
2. The story is really about self-control, and finding the right time and right place. And it is a really good story. Trust me.
Rudy Toot-Toot is a great summer reading choice for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade. The first page gets their attention and the story holds it, expect giggles and the sound of ruffling paper. Seriously...as hard as it is to get kids to read, this is a book they will want to finish! You may need to read aloud to younger children, but this is a book adults can appreciate, too.
Paperback copies are only $9.99, and for the month of July Rudy Toot-Toot is available on Kindle for only $0.99 (and The Man in the Cinder Clouds is still just $0.99 on Kindle for my Christmas in July sale)!
Click here for the paperback copy.
Click here for the Kindle copy.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
My Path to Publication- Part Two
Click here to read Part One. Otherwise the leap right into Step 7 might be jarring.
Step 7: Right after my agent started presenting RUDY TOOT-TOOT to editors I lost my job. I'm pretty sure the two events are not related, but who knows, I love a good conspiracy theory.
I took advantage of the two months between gainful employment opportunities to write the first draft of another book. Thinking I might be best served continuing in the children’s book market, I chose an origins-of-Santa story I’d been contemplating for several years.
I wrote the first draft of THE MAN IN THE CINDER CLOUDS in about 6 weeks. Then I reached out to a diverse group critique partners, including children’s book authors, YA authors, and authors of literary adult fiction. I had a fifth-grader read my book, and I read the book aloud to a class of third-graders; the kids all liked it. I incorporated the feedback from my critique partners (NOTE: a.k.a. "critters" in some writing circles) and revised the manuscript and emailed a copy to my agent. I thought it was pretty good. My submission was met with:
Silence.
I called to follow up on the submissions for RUDY TOOT-TOOT. My follow-up was met with:
Silence.
For nearly six months I heard nothing from my agent, and I tried to reach out to her monthly. I noticed on one call that she now had an intern. I saw in Publisher’s Marketplace that she was selling books. Just not mine.
Eventually she responded to an email and let me know that RUDY didn’t get any offers, but said she would read my new book. She asked me to give her a month. I did, and when I got back in touch with her, she had not read it. She asked for another week. I gave it to her. She still did not read it. It was one more week when we both realized that our author/agent relationship was not going to work and parted ways. It was bittersweet, because as frustrating as the end was, her editorial guidance and feedback helped me to grow as a writer and storyteller.
But I do believe that things happen for a reason, and I'm not about to hold a grudge, because eventually...
Step 8: I revised THE MAN IN THE CINDER CLOUDS again and again. I applied everything I had learned and poured my heart and soul into the book. The result is a very special story; I feel honored that The Muse picked my fingers to hammer it out, because I think it's a great read. I guess that's a conceited thing to say on some levels, but what do you expect? I'm asking people to spend their hard-earned money on the book and take hours from their busy lives to read it...you should hope I think it's good.
I considered querying and going the traditional publishing route, but I realized that to do that, my book would not be published until 2012 at the very earliest…more likely fall of 2013. I decided that I did not want to wait that long. The story is ready to be told.
But speed-to-market is not the only reason I decided to self-publish. I’ve been watching the changes to the publishing market over the past several years. I wouldn’t suggest everyone self-publish. I don’t know if I’ll self publish my next book. But for this book, I feel the time is right, and I’m comfortable with my decision.
THE MAN IN THE CINDER CLOUDS is available at Amazon.com in print and Kindle editions, and it also available for the Nook at BarnesandNobel.com.
Step 7: Right after my agent started presenting RUDY TOOT-TOOT to editors I lost my job. I'm pretty sure the two events are not related, but who knows, I love a good conspiracy theory.
I took advantage of the two months between gainful employment opportunities to write the first draft of another book. Thinking I might be best served continuing in the children’s book market, I chose an origins-of-Santa story I’d been contemplating for several years.
I wrote the first draft of THE MAN IN THE CINDER CLOUDS in about 6 weeks. Then I reached out to a diverse group critique partners, including children’s book authors, YA authors, and authors of literary adult fiction. I had a fifth-grader read my book, and I read the book aloud to a class of third-graders; the kids all liked it. I incorporated the feedback from my critique partners (NOTE: a.k.a. "critters" in some writing circles) and revised the manuscript and emailed a copy to my agent. I thought it was pretty good. My submission was met with:
Silence.
I called to follow up on the submissions for RUDY TOOT-TOOT. My follow-up was met with:
Silence.
For nearly six months I heard nothing from my agent, and I tried to reach out to her monthly. I noticed on one call that she now had an intern. I saw in Publisher’s Marketplace that she was selling books. Just not mine.
Eventually she responded to an email and let me know that RUDY didn’t get any offers, but said she would read my new book. She asked me to give her a month. I did, and when I got back in touch with her, she had not read it. She asked for another week. I gave it to her. She still did not read it. It was one more week when we both realized that our author/agent relationship was not going to work and parted ways. It was bittersweet, because as frustrating as the end was, her editorial guidance and feedback helped me to grow as a writer and storyteller.
But I do believe that things happen for a reason, and I'm not about to hold a grudge, because eventually...
Step 8: I revised THE MAN IN THE CINDER CLOUDS again and again. I applied everything I had learned and poured my heart and soul into the book. The result is a very special story; I feel honored that The Muse picked my fingers to hammer it out, because I think it's a great read. I guess that's a conceited thing to say on some levels, but what do you expect? I'm asking people to spend their hard-earned money on the book and take hours from their busy lives to read it...you should hope I think it's good.
I considered querying and going the traditional publishing route, but I realized that to do that, my book would not be published until 2012 at the very earliest…more likely fall of 2013. I decided that I did not want to wait that long. The story is ready to be told.
But speed-to-market is not the only reason I decided to self-publish. I’ve been watching the changes to the publishing market over the past several years. I wouldn’t suggest everyone self-publish. I don’t know if I’ll self publish my next book. But for this book, I feel the time is right, and I’m comfortable with my decision.
THE MAN IN THE CINDER CLOUDS is available at Amazon.com in print and Kindle editions, and it also available for the Nook at BarnesandNobel.com.
#
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Rudy Toot-Toot Goes to School
Last week my older son came home from school and told me his teacher wanted me to email her. Fearing the worst, I pressed for clarification.
"I told her you write books and she said you can come and read one to us," he said.
Interesting. Not knowing what he really told her, or what she really said, I took it upon myself to email his teacher and clarify my status as "someone who writes books." I explained:
My son Max told me that you were interested in having me read one of my books to your class. I would love to, but let me clarify where I am in my writing career. I have attached the manuscript for one of my books so you can give it a glance first.
I wrote a chapter book, RUDY TOOT-TOOT, that a literary agent has submitted to several major publishing houses. I don't have an offer on it yet, but I'm hopeful one will come...
RUDY TOOT-TOOT is a 16,500-word (75 page) chapter book. Rudy has a special power, almost like a superhero: he can fart. It comes natural when you're born on a bean farm. His talent often gets him in trouble. After one monstrous emission scares all the customers away from the Toot-Toot family bean market and the bank threatens to take away their home, Rudy must find a way to use his power to lure the customers back. As Papa always told him, "There's a right time and a right place for everything."
Un-phased by the premise of farting, she still invited me into her classroom to read to the kids. She even invited the school librarian.
I love reading to kids. I have a background in theater and a good amount of experience in public speaking. Plus I'm totally immature, so I can connect with them on that critical level.
I read the first 23 pages of RUDY TOOT-TOOT to the class. I had them laughing out loud on page one, and kept their interest until I finished the excerpt. I left them wanting more.
That was cool, but not as cool as what happened next...
When my son got home from school, he handed me a sheet of paper. "Ethan wants you to publish this for him," he said, like it's that easy. I mean, I made it clear I haven't been able to get my own books published...
Ethan wrote a page-and-a-half continuation of my story. It is one of the coolest things I've ever read. I emailed my son's teacher to see if she gave them an assignment to write about my story. She didn't. He wrote it in his free writing time. She also said I inspired several of her "non-writers" to write stories.
I never knew how to define success as a writer, until now. It's not about money, or being a bestseller, or even being represented by an agent or published. It's about that connection to a reader, and having the ability to make an impact on someone's life.
I am glad to say I succeeded on that level. It doesn't kill my dreams of actually being a best-selling author, but somehow it makes that part less important.
I've been invited back to the class to finish the book. It will probably take two more sessions. The kids are really looking forward to it...but not half as much as I am.
"I told her you write books and she said you can come and read one to us," he said.
Interesting. Not knowing what he really told her, or what she really said, I took it upon myself to email his teacher and clarify my status as "someone who writes books." I explained:
My son Max told me that you were interested in having me read one of my books to your class. I would love to, but let me clarify where I am in my writing career. I have attached the manuscript for one of my books so you can give it a glance first.
I wrote a chapter book, RUDY TOOT-TOOT, that a literary agent has submitted to several major publishing houses. I don't have an offer on it yet, but I'm hopeful one will come...
RUDY TOOT-TOOT is a 16,500-word (75 page) chapter book. Rudy has a special power, almost like a superhero: he can fart. It comes natural when you're born on a bean farm. His talent often gets him in trouble. After one monstrous emission scares all the customers away from the Toot-Toot family bean market and the bank threatens to take away their home, Rudy must find a way to use his power to lure the customers back. As Papa always told him, "There's a right time and a right place for everything."
Un-phased by the premise of farting, she still invited me into her classroom to read to the kids. She even invited the school librarian.
I love reading to kids. I have a background in theater and a good amount of experience in public speaking. Plus I'm totally immature, so I can connect with them on that critical level.
I read the first 23 pages of RUDY TOOT-TOOT to the class. I had them laughing out loud on page one, and kept their interest until I finished the excerpt. I left them wanting more.
That was cool, but not as cool as what happened next...
When my son got home from school, he handed me a sheet of paper. "Ethan wants you to publish this for him," he said, like it's that easy. I mean, I made it clear I haven't been able to get my own books published...
Ethan wrote a page-and-a-half continuation of my story. It is one of the coolest things I've ever read. I emailed my son's teacher to see if she gave them an assignment to write about my story. She didn't. He wrote it in his free writing time. She also said I inspired several of her "non-writers" to write stories.
I never knew how to define success as a writer, until now. It's not about money, or being a bestseller, or even being represented by an agent or published. It's about that connection to a reader, and having the ability to make an impact on someone's life.
I am glad to say I succeeded on that level. It doesn't kill my dreams of actually being a best-selling author, but somehow it makes that part less important.
I've been invited back to the class to finish the book. It will probably take two more sessions. The kids are really looking forward to it...but not half as much as I am.
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