Happy Valentine's Day Launch to Carmella Van Vleet and her debut middle grade novel, ELIZA BING IS (NOT) A BIG FAT QUITTER

Mega-congrats to our own Carmella Van Vleet on the publication of her first middle grade novel: ELIZA BING IS (NOT) A BIG FAT QUITTER, from Holiday House! You can read about Carmella's process and about the book at the following links:

Interview with Carmella on That's Another Story, by Andrea Mack

Interview with Carmella on Inkygirl, by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Kirkus Reviews

Official book page for Eliza Bing Is (Not) A Big Fat Quitter on Carmella's website

WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU, CAR!!!

After the Book Deal- Months 9-6

A while back I decided to do a blog series called After the Book Deal. These posts are meant to help writers navigate through the process of what to do after you get the book offer. If you're like me, you've been focusing on your craft of writing, but now it's so much more.

Here's the first post: After the Book Deal- The First Three Months

So what's next?

Brand Yourself

I know we are all creative people, but you need to think about these questions before you go any further:

1. Who do you want the world to see you as?
2. What is important to you?
3. What are you hoping to accomplish through your writing?
4. How do you want to reach your fans and to what extent?

Once you've made those decisions, you're ready for the next step.

SWAG

Having swag can help promote your book in advance and provide ways to 'thank' those who supported your book by tweeting or blogging about your book.

• Marissa Meyer has great ideas here.
• For tattoos, I used this site.
• For bookmarks and bookplates, I used this site.
• For magnets and business cards, check out Vista Print because if you pay attention you can get great things for free from them.

Create an Author Facebook Page

Check out Nathan Bransford's post here. He has a blow by blow instructions on how to do it.

You'll need to decide if you should make up a page based on your book's title or on your author's name.

Check out my author Facebook page for ideas here.

Set Up a Website

There are a host of great web designers out there. I choose Biondo Studies because she's professional, her work is clean with excellent quality and she worked with me through the entire process. Here's my website.

Some things to consider when setting up your site:

1. This site should represent you and who you are.
2. Make sure it's easy to navigate and readers are able to find out where to order your book easily.
3. Create reasons why readers will want to go to your site. Do you offer something that is unique? Is your blog connected to your site.
4. Your site shouldn't be stagnant. It should constantly be changing and improving, always drawing readers to come to it.

Social Media

Pinterest, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter. Make sure you have a reason for whatever social media you are using. If you don't have a reason, don't use that media source.

How about you, are there any other recommendations you have?

Christina Farley's debut YA, GILDED, releases spring 2014 by Skyscape Amazon Children's Publishing. She is represented by Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, LLC. She blogs and vlogs about writing and traveling, and is often found procrastinating on Twitter.

Day 4: I'm Bored Celebration

I don't know about you, but I've always thought potatoes were kind of a boring vegetable. So how surprised was I when I went into my kitchen on the release day of I'M BORED, only to find....a potato celebration party!

I think seeing a fellow potato illustrated in a picture book went to their heads...or their hats, anyway.

These two had a lot to say:

So I was wrong. Potatoes are not boring. Still don't believe me? You'd better check out I'M BORED, and see for yourself.

Even better, you can win a copy of I'M BORED by commenting on this post. For even more chances to win, comment on all of our MiG Blog posts this week:

 Day 1: Happy Book Birthday to I’M BORED

Day 2: I’M BORED Celebration

Day 3: The Celebration Contest Continues (and is not boring)

Or tweet about our celebration and mention it in your comment.

 

 

 Our contest closes Sunday September 9 so make sure you get your entries in!

 

To find out more about I'M BORED and Debbie Ridpath Ohi's illustrations, visit her I'M BORED Scrapbook.

Day 3: The Celebration Contest Continues (and is not boring)!

Look at how expressive Debbie's illustrations are! This is the most fun looking bored kid ever. Don't you wish you could give this book to a bored kid in school?

If you win our giveaway contest, you can give I'M BORED to that kid suffering through long division. Or keep it for yourself, which is what I'd probably do. I mean, school is such a unique combination of boredom and enforced sitting and staring. Who'd want their kid to miss that feeling?

Things to do in school when you're bored and you're short so the teacher makes you sit up front:

1. Draw scribbles while you look at teacher. Make scribbles into portraits when your teacher looks away. Someday you may be as good as Debbie!

2. Recite the states in your head, along with what you'd rather be doing in them. Alabama: eat barbecue. Alaska: see a glacier. Don't forget to eat a potato in Idaho.

3. Give your teacher a potato name. Like Mr. Russett Spuds or Ms. Frenchie Eyesprout. Uh, keep it to yourself.

Unlike the news about our giveaway contest. Spread that everywhere like magically non-caloric butter on a baked you-know-what!

Just comment and you're entered for a free copy of I'M BORED, written by celebrity author Michael Ian Black. Tweet about the contest and tell us in your comment, and your entry counts double.

So check out I'M BORED on Debbie's website...
Or follow her on Twitter at @inkyelbows...
Or read about her in Publisher's Weekly...

I promise, you won't be bored. Congratulations, Debbie and Michael!!

Day Two - I'M BORED Celebration

I’m so excited to be a part of the celebration for Debbie’s first book, I’m Bored!! I remember when Debbie first started working on the illustrations for this book and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Too bad I can’t win our contest, but YOU can, all you have to do is comment on our blog sometime this week. If you tweet the contest and tell us, we’ll give you another entry.

To help celebrate Debbie’s exciting news, I’d like to do something a little different today. I’m going to share something my kids and I love to do with a POTATO. Make chips! (Potatoes know about fun - read the book. :-) ) 

Making potato chips is a bit time consuming but so worth it. Nothing like a warm, salty chip...cue Homer Simpson drooling 

You’ll need:

1 to 2 large potatoes (we use baking potatoes)

Potato slicer

Vegetable oil

Deep fryer and slotted spoon

Sea salt 

Paper towels

Slice potatoes as thinly as you can. If you don’t have a slicer, just do your best to keep the slices uniformed. 

Rinse slices with cold water and pat dry. This is an important step so don’t skip it.

Fill fryer about half way with vegetable oil and heat. (We don’t have a temperature dial on our fryer so we just keep testing the oil until a small potato slice begins to fry and float.)

Working in small batches, add potato slices to oil and heat until golden brown. Use the spoon to occasionally flip the chips so they are evenly cooked. I know from experience you’ll be tempted to start making bigger batches but resist that urge. Bigger batches won’t cook as evenly.

Carefully spoon out chips (let oil drip out of slotted spoon) and lay them in a single layer on paper towels. 

While chips are still warm, sprinkle with salt. You can also experiment with other spices. We’ve tried pepper, vinegar and salt, and cinnamon. 

Tip: it helps to have an assembly lines of sorts. My kids and I set up a system where I cook, my son sprinkles the salt and my daughter carefully pours the batch that’s ready into a bowl. 

So there you go - a good thing to do with a potato! Now, while you’re munching on your homemade chips, check out more about Debbie’s book here:

Check out what Publisher's Weekly has to say about I'M BORED here.

Follow Debbie on Twitter: @inkyelbows 

Check out Debbie's website: http://debbieohi.com/

Happy Book Birthday to I'M BORED!

Today is a big day here at the MiGs. I'M BORED, written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by our very own Debbie Ridpath Ohi, is released today!

To celebrate the release of I'M BORED, all week here at the MiGs we will be talking about what makes us bored or something related to I'M BORED.

And for every comment you post, you will automatically get entered to win a copy of I'M BORED! Tweet about this contest and tell us you did so to receive an extra entry. You can comment every day for more entries.

Check out what Publisher's Weekly has to say about I'M BORED here.
Follow Debbie on Twitter: @inkyelbows
Check out Debbie's website: http://debbieohi.com/

My story about being bored:

The other day, Debbie released her homemade book trailer (which is totally awesome) and I watched it while my boys were in their rooms finishing their homework. After I watched it I knew my boys would LOVE it.

So I had it all set up and I waited. Because I knew, KNEW what my youngest would tell me the moment he walked out of his room (because he's been saying all the time lately). Sure enough, he shuffled out and said, "I'm bored."

I said, "Really? That's great!" That was when he looked at me oddly. "Because I have the perfect video for you to watch."

And he loved it. In fact, both boys liked it so much we had to watch it over and over and over again.

Check it out!

So, what makes you bored? (and don't you just love that potato?) 

 

~Christina