Local 15 Minutes of Fame

The Daily Press, local paper for Hampton Roads featured Felix the Comet in their entertainment section this week! Click on the title of the newspaper to see the local authors feature in Leah Price’s column online. I’m still fond of reading actual newspapers, the feel of the pages, the inky newsprint smell, the sound of the pages when I flap them into shape. I didn’t even have to do that yesterday, as my name was on the top of the front page of the Entertainment section!

May is great timing to order a paperback copy for summer reading from Lulu.com or any ereader app you prefer by visiting the links in my right margin or below if you are viewing via mobile device, or look for Felix the Comet in your preteen’s ereader!

If you are a teacher or administrator for an elementary or middle school and would like me to visit, please feel free to contact me via the comments section for next school year.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

Cathy

Staycation

I swore I wanted to write this week before it started. Alas, the kids are home for Spring Break, and most of my writing has been puttering on paper. I am getting ideas out, but mostly lounging with kids, and going to my usual appointments. No big blasts of productivity as I felt on Sunday night to Monday morning that this week would be.

I am, at least, writing. They can’t all be gems, can they? But these sessions are like building blocks where I am figuring out where the story is going and exactly why certain characters are there. I really thought writing a small children’s tale would be easier than this, but I guess, in my way, I want it to turn out exactly how I see it in my mind. However, making the imaginary movie into a world of words is the same process, no matter how big the story, I suppose – every word matters.  Everyone in the story has their role to play, and it must be essential to the story, not just decoration for pretty pictures. The artist for this one has a lovely hand, she will make it beautiful. It was originally her idea!

I Sidestepped into a Jive in the Middle of a Foxtrot.

Nothing quite beats steady work like a good productive distraction in writing!

A dear writer friend – we also happen to know each other from going to college together in the *cough80s* – came up with a great idea that involves donating a little to a scholarship for her daughter to attend a great program this summer that will lead to her dream. One of the incentives is an anthology of stories by an array of writers she knows.

Check out the fundraiser here: Frankie’s Dream

Most of you know me as a children’s writer these days, but I really started out in poetry and short story, so I was happy to dip back into the writing that I love and that really comes easiest to me, for the sake of sending her kid to a great experience this summer. My understanding is that after the specific fundraiser is over for her daughter, any sales of the anthology will go toward a scholarship fund for this camp program in the future. It’s a great cause and the stories should be fun, too. She knows a LOT of Romance writers, so I imagine many of these stories will be pretty steamy…

When I have more info, I will share, meanwhile, you can get your own copy of it by clicking on the link above and donating. Thanks!

Frankie is a pretty cool kid who has a steadfast dream to be a conservationist since she was little five year old. I know I was dreaming of being a circus horseback rider at that age, or a variety of other dreamy schemes…. This kid is solid! Give her a headstart into the sciences!

A Lovely Review of Felix the Comet

Lisa Damian and I got to know each other when our kids were babies through another blog Studio Mothers. That blog was a great place for me to re-enter writing seriously after my move to Virginia and having my third child.

She regularly reviews YA books at her blog, Damian Daily. Lisa recently read and reviewed Felix the Comet, having watched the book and my kids grow up between Studio Mothers and my prior blog, Musings in Mayhem, which was more about balancing writing, family, and special needs. Even saying that, I think her review is fair and honest, and I appreciate what stood out in her reading of it. It is a lovely review, go check it out at Damian Daily! Check out some of her other reviews while you are there! She has a couple of books of her own, too.

Please share, too, I really would like to see this little labor of love about dealing with being bullied to be read by as many fourth to sixth graders as possible. It’s fun, too!

Think of the children…

It’s that time of year, and without pressing too much, I would like to point you to the links in my right sidebar for paperback and several sources of ebook versions of my book. It’s a fun and relatable story about a 6th grader named Felix who begins to be picked on at school, tries to handle it himself, discovers something amazing and the support of his friends, family and dog, which all lead him to overcome his bully.

So far, by reviews on Goodreads, and at Lulu.com, people really seem to be enjoying it, There is still time to squeeze it under another kid or teacher’s tree!

Thanks!

Cathy

Great Blog Review!

A very happy Thanksgiving, indeed! A very nice review by @DarkCloudBlogs : http://bit.ly/1ym3kXH 

Dark Cloud usually blogs about Games and Gaming, a lot of the  Table Top variety. You should check him out, he always has good suggestions.

Moving Right Along

I have had a little luck with some sales here and there with Felix The Comet. I haven’t been doing much promo lately, but am working on a press release through my publisher, Lulu’s marketing team. So, I hope that when that comes out, I will see a jump in sales. The book has been selling steadily, but small.

Meanwhile, the school year started, which always makes me a little busier with family things, making writing take a back step. As my kids settle back into a school year – 1st grade, sophomore in high school, and sophomore in college, very exciting times – I have opened up the old Nanowrimo I started about 4 years ago for Felix’s friend Kelsey’s adventure the following summer after sixth grade and everything that went down for Felix.

I am finding that I don’t hate it nearly as much as I thought I would! Nano is not the most conducive way for me to write, but it is a good tool to keep up a daily writing practice especially when I need a jumpstart. I have really been enjoying reacquainting myself with Kelsey and the gang, and their families, from a new perspective. I am mostly in editing mode of what is already on paper, but am adding a bit here and there to change things up a bit from the rush job of Nano. I have the end of the book to write yet, though I do know what it looks like out there on the horizon, can’t wait to see it in better focus as I inch toward it.

I continue to ask you all to spread the word about Felix the Comet as the, I know, I know, Holidays approach. I bet a number of kids, parents, and teachers in your lives would enjoy Felix as a stocking stuffer, Channukah present, or for whatever you celebrate. A little reminder: Felix is available from Lulu directly in paperback or ebook formats and for a wide variety of devices from Kindle to Nook, iBook and Independent sellers.

And if you are a writer, too, I do recommended giving Nanowrimo a whirl this November. It can be loads of fun. I may even step back into it to work on Kelsey, though I may not follow the rules of the game completely. That part makes me a little nutty.

Widgets Galore

Felix the Comet is springing up all over the internet in availability! I have added an array of widgets in my side bar to the right that will lead you directly to your device or site of choice!!

Next Saturday, the 27th of September, I will be signing books at the Local Author Book Fair in Newport News, VA. Don’t miss it! I would be very happy to talk with you at my table. Click on the pic below to see more about Newport News Libraries.

First Blog Review of Felix the Comet

Felix the Comet is gaining some reviews at the publishing site (click on pics in sidebar for paperback and eBook versions) It could use a little help over on Amazon for Kindle If you’ve read it, I would appreciate anything you have to say about it in any of the three places.

My little book just garnered a review in a long standing YA reviewer’s blog!  I appreciate Paul Goldschmidt’s honest assessment, and know that if he really disliked it, he would have been honest about that, too. Please go to his blog, Not Acting My Age. Thanks for taking a peek at his review, and please pass on the word about Felix the Comet.

Projected Ebook Announcement!

I am very excited about announcing the availability of Felix the Comet after our long journey through writing, editing, and publishing. So much, that I am still a wee bit …anticipatory.

As it currently stands, Felix the Comet should be available in ebook format through Lulu.com sometime on Monday July 14, 2014! I will let you know better when I know better myself, as I am curbing my enthusiasm while remaining cautious about the prospect. Expect a definitive announcement on Monday.

For those who donated to my Pubslush fundraiser, I will be sending you a PDF version via email. My hope is that you will read and add a review on Lulu’s site for Felix the Comet.

I am hoping to offer a deep reviewer discount for bloggers who review children’s, middle reader, or YA novels. I will work that out as I can. Inquiries or contact info appreciated via comments below.

A few more weeks are needed for the printing process, and to offer Felix in other ebook venues. Then it will be available by print only through Lulu.com, because of the smaller format I chose. Ebook versions will be available through virtually every major ebook source: Lulu, Kindle, Nook, iBook, and Kobo.

Thank you for your patience, your time, your support, and your donations. I am truly happy about this entire experience.

I may be going dark on the internet before Monday, July 14th, but watch for more on my Facebook page and Twitter via links in the right column here.

Yay, Felix!!