Children’s literature – Page 8

Sometimes the easiest is the most direct

Published on January 22, 2016April 10, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

Like, use what is right in front of me. There’s not a long learning curve with a program I already know. Duh!

This appears to be a lesson I seem destined to learn the hard way over and over.

After spending all day, and I do mean all day, researching and downloading various programs I figured out what I’d been using was the best all along. Go back to the tried and true.

All that time wasted. Sometimes I’m so hard-headed.

However, one good thing did come out of it.

I came across a valuable post filled with information. Information that I did need.

Do you know how many pages a children’s picture book should have?

Do you know how it should be constructed? Exactly?

Picture Book Dummy, Picture Book Construction: Know Your Layout by Tara Lazar

You see, my editor had just suggested I make up a dummy of my new children’s book before going in further. She thought a dummy might help me get a handle on the correct size of the book and the illustrations.

So I guess my day wasn’t wasted after all.

Thanks, Ms. Lazar for this timely bit of info. With your post maybe I’ll avoid a lot of mistakes.

Now this dummy is off to lay out a dummy of

“A Most Reluctant Princess.”

I hope some of y’all find the information as helpful as I did. If you did, talk to me…

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

I’d like to introduce you to my latest character

Published on January 19, 2016January 19, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell11 Comments

Many of you got to know Ben, a very timid boy.

Now I’d like you to meet…

“A Most Reluctant Princess”

Hopefully, I won’t make as many mistakes getting her story told and published as I did with poor Ben.

This book will be for preschoolers. So anyone looking to be Beta Readers, leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Look for her debut the end of February or first of March.

This time, I’m not going to rush the process, no matter how excited I get. Maybe that way I’ll make fewer mistakes.

Wish me luck with my little Princess!

On another bit of news. I was thrilled to discover another 5 star review for Tryouts for Ben at Amazon.com! Yay!

Writers get ready to be astounded

Published on January 12, 2016January 7, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

Yes, shocked even!

Not everyone has heard about your book!

That’s right.

I know, hard to believe. As much as you’ve talked, complained, bragged, begged, posted and cried about your baby some of your friends and relatives have not heard about your book.

How do I know this?

A family member, don’t ask not gonna tell, mentioned she didn’t know I’d published a children’s book. Yes, she frequents Facebook! Where by the way I’ve shamefully plastered pictures of my book.

On occasion, I’ll run into friends and if I mention my book I get the same reaction.

I recently read an article that all of the people can’t be on social media all of the time or at the same time. It’s enough to give a writer a headache.

Well, here’s my point. I’ve got questions that need answers.

How many times and how often should we plug our book?
At what point do readers just get tired of hearing about it?
How do we promote without being obnoxious?

These are not rhetorical questions. I really want to know the answers.

Anyone have any answers, any hints?

What do you think? Please share in the comments section.

Or do you think we’re all just like trains passing in the night? Sigh….

Look for me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com! And don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Do you give credit to the right person?

Published on December 18, 2015February 19, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell16 Comments

I checked a few books, ask a few writers and then made my own decision.

I acknowledged the talented lady who drew the illustrations for my first published children’s book. Ashley Bauer.

The following article confirmed I did the right thing. Sort of. I felt acknowledging Ashley was right because I’ve always believed in giving credit where credit was due. Without her, my book would have lacked color and spice.

Thanks to that added color and spice I received a glowing review from Readers’ Favorite. “… An engaging and entertaining story laced with humor…. The illustrations are adorable and they complement the author’s words nicely, breathing life into the scenes. “ 5 Stars from Readers’ Favorite

I’ll be the first to admit my book would’ve looked naked without suck adorable illustrations. I guess it’s true one picture is worth a thousand words.

Just as we want readers to love the words we write and the blogs we post, illustrators want recognition for the pictures they produce.

Writing and publishing Tryouts for Ben has been a major learning curve for me. Next book, I’ll add the illustrator’s name not only to the inside but also to the front cover.

Thank you, Debbie Young for bringing to my attention how and why recognizing illustrators is important. Especially the when and how to part. Learning is always helpful.

Head over and read her article: Why It’s Important to Credit Illustrators

Tell me, do you credit your illustrator and if so where? On the cover, inside or both?

Look for me on Twitter @jeancogdell and on Facebook at jean.cogdell! And don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.