22 Wednesday Jun 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, PAL, Tips and Tools
Tags
authors, indie-publishing, marketing, publicity, publishing, reviews, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, self-publishing
by R.S. Mellette
So was it worth it? Hiring a publicist. Spending $20,000 to promote Kiya And The Morian Treasure, from a traditional publisher that’s no bigger than a self-published author? Let’s look at the numbers.
Continue reading15 Wednesday Jun 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, PAL, Tips and Tools
Tags
editing, kidlit, plot, reality TV, SCBWI members, structure, writing tips
by Toni Gallagher
Reality TV might be a guilty pleasure for many, but believe it or not, there are storytelling secrets in those wild, dramatic, and silly shows that can truly improve your writing. How do I know?
Well, I had two middle grade novels published by Random House while I worked as an Executive Producer on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills! And after working for almost 30 (gulp) years in the business, I have seen how the rules of reality TV can punch up a story in need. Hopefully, the things I’ve learned can help you too.
Continue reading18 Wednesday May 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, Community Corner, PAL
Tags
authors, Conventions, CoyCast, LA Comic Con, marketing, publicity, publishing, SCBWI members, SciFi.radio, WonderCon, writing tips
by R.S. Mellette
This blog-umentary started out as an analysis of hiring a PR firm for a small-press book, and I promise we’ll get back to that, but to assess that value for the month of April I have to fill you in on some personal backstory.
You might want to get a tissue.
Continue reading04 Wednesday May 2022
Posted in #KTChat, Author's Perspective, PAL
Tags
Amy Duchene, authors, collaboration, Elisa Parhad, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, writing tips
by Amy Duchene and Elisa Parhad
Editor’s Note: On Twitter this Friday (5/6/22) from 12-1PM PST, Amy and Elisa will take your questions and discuss why our stories matter, even when we think they don’t. Log into your Twitter account during our chat hour and use the hashtag #KTChat or @mention @amydishes and @SCBWISOCALLA to join the discussion! If you aren’t on Twitter, leave questions in the blog comments before the chat!
We (Amy and Elisa) are long-time friends and co-authors of Pool Party. Luckily, we had a stellar experience working together on this project, but we know that not every collaboration ends with hugs and a publication. Collaborating together for nearly nine months on this project, we learned a lot about what works and what to watch out for so that you can find success too. Here are seven tips.
Continue reading20 Wednesday Apr 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, PAL
Tags
Azure Dwarf, Books Forward, cover art, marketing, publicity, publishing, Reading Renee, SCBWI members, young adult
by R.S. Mellette
Jennifer Vance of Books Forward, you saved the book! Or, you know, at least kept the release date from being pushed back to oblivion.
Spoiler Alert—At the end of this story, we finally get our cover.
Now that we have the cover wrapped up, here are some details of the issues we were having.
Continue reading23 Wednesday Mar 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, PAL
by R.S. Mellette
January 17th was my 60th birthday. All I wanted as a gift was a cover for my book.
I didn’t get it.
But I did get the reviews from Kirkus and Foreword.
Continue reading17 Wednesday Mar 2021
Posted in #KTChat, Author's Perspective, PAL
by Kitty Felde
Editor’s Note: Host of the award-winning Book Club for Kids podcast Kitty Felde adapted her middle grade novel Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza to a podcast. The second book in her Fina Mendoza Mysteries series will be out later this year in the summer and she will be available to chat with you on Twitter on Friday, March 26, 2021, from 12PM to 1PM (Pacific Time).
Keep on reading to learn the benefits of adapting your book to a podcast, and some of her tips and tricks for when you do…
Podcasts are everywhere — a record 1.8 million podcasts, according to Edison Research. So why not turn your book into a podcast?
I’m not talking about an audiobook where one actor reads your manuscript word for word. I’m talking about an audio play, like an old-time radio drama, that takes your readers on a literary journey through their ears.
08 Wednesday Jan 2020
Posted in Contests & Grants, PAL, Tips and Tools
Tags
A week into 2020, are you still working on your goals for the year? If your goals include things like sharing your work/personal successes, being more active in the SCBWI community, increasing your online presence, or helping fellow writers/illustrators by sharing your expertise – then you should consider submitting to Kite Tales!
Here are some of the key ways you can be featured on Kite Tales. Continue reading
13 Wednesday Nov 2019
Posted in Industry Conferences, PAL
Tags
Chris Robertson, conferences, Elisa Parhad, illustrators, Kelly McNeil, LA Comic Con, Rosalind Barden, SCBWI PAL, SCBWI Panel, Sue Berger
by Chris Robertson
Spiderman… Batman… Superman… Elephant and Piggy…Paddington Bear…The Very Hungry Caterpillar? What the…?
You may think that kid-lit does not have a place at L.A. Comic Con, right? Well, maybe 10 – 20 years ago you would’ve been right. But now, given the overwhelming popularity of Comic Cons, there certainly is a place for kid-lit authors and illustrators.
04 Wednesday Sep 2019
Posted in Industry Conferences, PAL
Tags
authors, conferences, illustrator tips, illustrators, LA Comic Con, local, networking, PAL, published, publishing, SCBWI members, writing tips
by R. S. Mellette
As we prepare for the Los Angeles Comic Con on October 11-13, I’m hearing from some PAL members, “But I don’t write science fiction…”
So?
Last year for the first time, I organized the SCBWI PAL booth at the Los Angeles Comic Con. I had no idea what to expect. The adventure started with a mass of people RUNNING through the aisles. They were not going to see a film star. They were not going to be the first to watch a new Marvel movie trailer. They were going to buy clothes – Hot Topic was having a doorbuster sale. That’s when I realized, this weekend wasn’t going to be what I expected. Continue reading
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