So, you want to write and self-publish a children’s book? Good for you! You’re just itching to transcribe your idea to the page. But there’s one obstacle, you don’t know where to start. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
First things first, write your idea whichever way is most comfortable for you: a list, a word web, notes. It doesn’t matter, just get it out before you forget.
I suggest going to the source after you’ve written it down. What does that mean? Read children’s books. Go to the library and check out a few. Take notes on what you like and dislike about the books.
Many people think creating a children’s book is easy. Let me tell you from experience, it isn’t. It’s fun, it’s fulfilling, but easy is not a word I’d use to explain the process.
I’m super excited to announce the release of Prompt Me Romance. This creative writing workbook and journal is clean enough for teens but sophisticated enough for adults. Whether you are just starting out or have a string of published books, there is something in here for you. All new photo prompts, first person, third person, fill-in-the-blank, master lists, and much more.
I was thrilled when it debuted on Amazon’s “Hot New Releases” and may have done a really awkward dance in my living room (but there is no way to prove it–all video mysteriously “disappeared”). So check it out. I have samples and a freebie master list below. Enjoy!
Welcome to my blog interview with novelist, Ellwyn Autumn, author of The Kamyla Chung Series and Chris Kringle’s Cops The First Mission.
Ellwyn Autumn is an American author/blogger/ghostwriter and a certified teacher with a Master’s Degree in Education. She writes children’s picture books, middle-grade novels, and Young Adult fiction. Ellwyn’s first self-published novel, Chris Kringle’s Cops The First Mission, was a finalist in the 2016 Reader’s Favorite International Book Contest. Her Kamyla Chung picture book series addresses difficult issues facing young children. Kamyla Chung and the Classroom Bully is on Jedlie’s Certified Great Reads List and earned Story Monster Approval.
Ellwyn discovered her passion for writing in second grade when she had to write a book report for school. She was so excited to write the report, until her mother told her that she had to write about someone else’s book and not her own story. Ellwyn became indignant and decided that once she finished the book report she would most certainly write her own original story. She has been writing ever since!
She lives with her family in Pennsylvania. She loves all things magical, curling up with a good book, writing stories, and almost anything with chocolate in it.
Hello, Ellwyn,
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was seven years old.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My son inspired my first published book. When he was little I used to tell him and his friends that I was a secret agent for Santa Claus. Shortly after I envisioned, Agent 12-25, and the story came to life.
What genre do you consider your book(s)?
Children’s and fantasy.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
It depends on the day. During a good week, usually several hours every day. This may also include marketing.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
That’s a good question. I like rhyme and alliteration.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I try to weave humor and sarcastic characters, that have a certain vulnerability, into my stories. I want to show the humanity beneath their salty exteriors. I strive to write stories that will make people laugh and empathize with the characters as they overcome difficult obstacles.
It is my pleasure to announce the newest edition of the PROMPT ME SERIES. Woo hoo!
Prompt Me Again is full of new prompts and ideas to get (and keep) you writing.
I had a ton of fun taking all the new pictures. I went so far as getting into a pool fully clothed (with my friend, Jenn) and capturing some eery images. I also found myself wading through waist-high grass (in flip-flops) while getting eaten by mosquitos to nab the perfect sunset pic. And…it was all worth it.
As an aside, both of my editors faves are the “Fairy Tale Mash Up” and the “Facial Expression” reference chart. Regardless, there is something for everyone in the book.
Here is a glimpse of what you get in this new installment.
Clean enough for teens and sophisticated enough for adults.
The countdown for Prompt Me: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Workbook and Journal continues. Here are five more photo prompts AND a full page from the workbook to tide you over. No, I’m not giving you a full page of prompts, but I am giving you a mini “How To” with a sample story. Enjoy!
Prompt 1
The following prompts do not appear in the workbook. (more…)
With my upcoming Prompt Me: Sci-Fi & Fantasy release this February, I want to celebrate by releasing a series of photo writing prompts over the next couple of weeks. Here are five of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Welcome to my blog interview with novelist, Brooke. E. Wayne, author of the Vineyard Pleasures Series. This interview is especially exciting because Brooke is one of my dear friends. We both dreamed of becoming writers when we were young, and when we were in college together, we were always spinning ideas while on our adventures (shocking for English majors, I know). After graduation we traveled all over Europe and the UK together packing away ideas for the future. Now, I have the pleasure of seeing her dream unfold.
BROOKE E. WAYNE is a Contemporary Romantic Comedy novelist who lives the RomCom dream in California. She is married to a South Philly, Eagles-obsessed Italian who she met online before it was cool. They have two young daughters who flood their happily-ever-after lives with girly giggles and immeasurable love. When she is not dribbling sticky sweet/sensual romance with a lighthearted, witty twist all over the pages of a RomCom manuscript, she teaches English Language Arts.
Hello, Brooke,
What inspired you to write your first book?
Apart from poetry, which I’d been scratching out since I was a wee lil girl, I actually wrote my first “novel” when I was eleven.
On lined paper.
In pencil.
All eighty-seven pages of it. Bahaha. The MC [main character] falls into a portal and goes on a crazy adventure with her older self as a mentor. I made sure the new cute boy in town moved in across the street from her in the end.
Yay, romance!
What genre do you consider your book(s)?
I write ‘Romance with a Kiss of Humor’ aka Romantic Comedy. While romance novels tend to evoke lots of page-turning swoon, I actually endeavored to write a sexy book without any actual super-descriptive sex in it. Oh, it’s swoony, but it’s not get-my-butt-fired swoony. I like my day job. (Teacher, eep.)
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?(more…)
Welcome to my blog interview with novelists, Camilla Ochlan and Bonita Gutierrez, authors of THE WEREWOLF WHISPERER SERIES.
Camilla Ochlan grew up on fantasy and fairy tales, finding David Eddings, Katherine Kurtz, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Mercedes Lackey early on. To thedismay of her parents, she spent her high school weekends playing Dungeons & Dragons. College split her time between Theatre Arts and English Literature.
Camilla still occasionally acts but focuses the majority of her time, energy and (in)sanity on writing. Her interests revolve around activities that add to her writer’s toolbox — travel, the arts and voracious reading.
Bonita Gutierrez found her way to the stage at the early age of five. After college, she moved to Los Angeles to get into “The Biz.” Over the years, she’s played many roles from actor to producer, screenwriter to filmmaker — and now novelist.
A mixed martial artist, Bonita has a background in Jeet Kune Do Kung Fu (Bruce Lee’s art), Kenpo Karate MMA and Kali Escrima (stick and knife fighting). An avid runner, student of film and lover of music, Bonita is a self-proclaimed hamburger connoisseur with a passion for all things Star Wars and Buffy.
Welcome to my blog interview with novelist, BMB Johnson, author of the Melody Jackson (or, It Happened on Lafayette Street) Series.
BMB Johnson lives in Portland with a family of humans, too many cats, and just enough Guinea Pigs. Thinks the only valid sports are bowling, table tennis and pinball. Reads comics, plays vintage computer games and new designer board games and is a gigantic slobbery fan of Doctor Who.
Hello, BMB
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Well, I think I’ve always been a writer, especially since I’m not particular fond of speaking out loud. Writing has a way of conveying your thoughts without interruptions or that nagging voice of dissent or reprisal, It also gives one the wonderful added ability to edit and review. There is no “White-out” for physical conversations, after all.
I suppose the above makes me sound like a bit of an introvert (which I kind of am.) Just let me state for the record that I don’t have anything against conversing with other humans, I just feel more comfortable clacking out my thoughts on a keyboard than from my own tongue.
Apart from poetry, which I’d been scratching out since I was a wee lil girl, I actually wrote my first “novel” when I was eleven.
