Have you ever heard the saying, "Good things Come to those who wait"? That is how I felt about publishing, "I Sit in a Wheelchair........But I Will Be Okay" A lot of people think that writing a book is just simply writing. However, once you write, if need be you have to find an illustrator. Then, you have to find a publisher.
Strategic is a Print on Demand Publisher. This means, the customer orders the book, and the books are printed. I signed the contract with Strategic in September, and the the first adventure in the Penny Brown Series was released on February 28th, 2010. It was a long six months filled with anticipation and excitement. The finished product was well worth the wait.
Even after the book was released, I still couldn't just sit back and relax. Michelle, Deanna, and I had to find people who were interested in the work. An e-mail from the company was sent to family and friends. The book took off from there.
Michelle and I had our first book signing this past weekend in Branson, MO (More about that later) We also have several signings lined up for the spring and summer. We are so excited about going places and meeting new people. This book will take us both on many adventures.
By the way, if anyone knows of a place where we might do a signing, please just let me know.
To be continued..........
Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Finding a home for Penny
Now that I was satisfied with my story the way it was, the time came for me to find "the right" publisher. This was not an easy task. After all, just looking at the "2010 Writer's Market" that I got in the mail the other day had me thinking, "How did i ever find a publisher?"
Children's writing is in high demand right now. Parents are always looking for good, quality books for their children. In turn, children are looking for good books to read. I found the Strategic/Eloquent Publishing Company through my Grandpa's cousin, Betty King, of Wiley, Texas. She had a friend named Sonya Rhodes Webb that went to church with her every week. Sonya happened to work for Strategic/Eloquent as a book reviewer. Sonya and Betty had been talking on Facebook, and all it took was for one e-mail to Sonya, and it felt like I had known her for years.
I filled out a form for Strategic online in August....three days later, they were ready to see more, then three days after that, they offered me a Joint Publishing Venue, which they receive 50 percent of the proceeds for this book, and I would receive 50 percent of the proceeds, and I would in turn, split my half with my illustrator, Michelle, since she drew the pictures.
It was something, Michelle, her Mother Deanna, and I had to think on for about a week, but we eventually accepted the offer. Thus, Penny had found a home!
Children's writing is in high demand right now. Parents are always looking for good, quality books for their children. In turn, children are looking for good books to read. I found the Strategic/Eloquent Publishing Company through my Grandpa's cousin, Betty King, of Wiley, Texas. She had a friend named Sonya Rhodes Webb that went to church with her every week. Sonya happened to work for Strategic/Eloquent as a book reviewer. Sonya and Betty had been talking on Facebook, and all it took was for one e-mail to Sonya, and it felt like I had known her for years.
I filled out a form for Strategic online in August....three days later, they were ready to see more, then three days after that, they offered me a Joint Publishing Venue, which they receive 50 percent of the proceeds for this book, and I would receive 50 percent of the proceeds, and I would in turn, split my half with my illustrator, Michelle, since she drew the pictures.
It was something, Michelle, her Mother Deanna, and I had to think on for about a week, but we eventually accepted the offer. Thus, Penny had found a home!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Making of a Children's Book
How long does it take to write a children's book?
When my friend and former teacher Beverley Dieker sat down to brainstorm on ideas for Penny it was the Summer of 2007. I had just attended my ten year high school class reunion. After that trip, I went home to Cecil, and started to write. However, I had one problem.
It was called The Blank Page Syndrome
I have had many writing teachers tell me to talk to the page as if it were your friend. Sometimes, I believed in that, and other times I didn't. The first page of anything to me had to consist of an introduction. So, here I come belting out "Hi Boys and Girls! My name is Penny Brown"
Okay.......that being said, I begin to think of the average family two parents, 2.5 kids, and a dog. (Penny does not have a dog as of yet, but stay tuned!) Okay, now the family is set up. What do they live in. Even though preschoolers are sometimes smarter than we think, I thought best to keep it simple. (White house on a long street).
As I wrote, ideas became easier in my head. Talking about the big slide brought back painful memories of first grade. I became stuck up on top of a big slide, and was too afraid to climb down. All the other kids had waited patiently for their turn. However, one of the teachers made them climb down, while My teacher, Mrs. Wild, had to come and physically lift me off the slide. All of the kids laughed at me.
IT was the pain of being laughed at that made me write/ I kept going, until I finished. I had my first draft finished within a week, but it was about a month before I let anyone look at it. Any writing teacher Will tell you to let a piece "sit" for awhile. The project took me a month to complete, but it was two years before I found Michelle to illustrate it, and another year before my dream became a realty.
When my friend and former teacher Beverley Dieker sat down to brainstorm on ideas for Penny it was the Summer of 2007. I had just attended my ten year high school class reunion. After that trip, I went home to Cecil, and started to write. However, I had one problem.
It was called The Blank Page Syndrome
I have had many writing teachers tell me to talk to the page as if it were your friend. Sometimes, I believed in that, and other times I didn't. The first page of anything to me had to consist of an introduction. So, here I come belting out "Hi Boys and Girls! My name is Penny Brown"
Okay.......that being said, I begin to think of the average family two parents, 2.5 kids, and a dog. (Penny does not have a dog as of yet, but stay tuned!) Okay, now the family is set up. What do they live in. Even though preschoolers are sometimes smarter than we think, I thought best to keep it simple. (White house on a long street).
As I wrote, ideas became easier in my head. Talking about the big slide brought back painful memories of first grade. I became stuck up on top of a big slide, and was too afraid to climb down. All the other kids had waited patiently for their turn. However, one of the teachers made them climb down, while My teacher, Mrs. Wild, had to come and physically lift me off the slide. All of the kids laughed at me.
IT was the pain of being laughed at that made me write/ I kept going, until I finished. I had my first draft finished within a week, but it was about a month before I let anyone look at it. Any writing teacher Will tell you to let a piece "sit" for awhile. The project took me a month to complete, but it was two years before I found Michelle to illustrate it, and another year before my dream became a realty.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Difficulty of Childrem's Writing
Anyone who believes writing for children is an easy task.........well, let's just say, they are wrong. In fact, I think children's writing is a lot more difficult than anything else I had ever written.
Why is that, Brittany? you may ask.
Writing for children is more difficult because you have to think like children do. A children's author has to jump into a children's world. They often play with toys or games, or watch children's television-----I confess, I am thirty-two years old and watch Little Bill" on the Nick JR channel in order to live in a children's world. I think I also know why Michelle watches so many old cartoons on the Boomerang Channel. It's so that she can relate to children through her art. In order to write for children, you have to think like children do. However, I think the hardest part of writing for children is using short phrases and sentences. I find myself doing a lot of editing, let me tell you. In the end though, it is worth it to see a child fall in love with a book.
Why is that, Brittany? you may ask.
Writing for children is more difficult because you have to think like children do. A children's author has to jump into a children's world. They often play with toys or games, or watch children's television-----I confess, I am thirty-two years old and watch Little Bill" on the Nick JR channel in order to live in a children's world. I think I also know why Michelle watches so many old cartoons on the Boomerang Channel. It's so that she can relate to children through her art. In order to write for children, you have to think like children do. However, I think the hardest part of writing for children is using short phrases and sentences. I find myself doing a lot of editing, let me tell you. In the end though, it is worth it to see a child fall in love with a book.
Monday, March 15, 2010
What to Write, What to write?
What can I write about? This was the first question that i had asked when I decided that writing was the perfect career for me. My late Grandfather had always told me to "write what you know." Well, thanks to the somewhat sheltered upbringing I endured, writing what I knew about was going to be difficult. I mean, I went to school in the morning, xame home in the afternons, and did homework, sometimes right up until bedtime. Growing up, I did not have many friends. My classmates would rather be out partying than studying on a Saturday night. Who could blame them? They wouldn't want to hang around with a cribbled up nobody like me.
So, I put my heart and soul into writing. A year after I graduated college, a former teacher of mine and i were talking one day, and she had a brainstorm. Mrs. Dieker, (my high school English teacher) told me I should write about being disabled.
"Why"? I had asked.
"Well, you are disabled, people can relate to you." Mrs. Dieker thought for a moment. Then, she took it one step further............"You should write a series of books about kids who are disabled......no, kids who face certain challenges."
"Challenges?" I had asked.
"Yes, not only dsabilities, but tough things in life like death, divorce, getting a new sibling, going to the hospital.........Young children often need help dealing with those things."
I thought for a moment. Ideas were coming so fast, I wrote them down on paper by the phone. This was bound to be fun. My main character would have to be a young girl because I always wanted a sister growing up, but God blessed me with two brothers.
Every character must have similarities and differences from their creator. I had a physical limitations, but I was always blessed NOT to be in a wheelchair. I once knew a child who spent his entire life in a wheelchair, due to spinal biffida. So, I wanted my character to experience life in a wheelchair, so that I understood her pain.
Next, came the main character's name. I wanted something cute and unique. For some reason, the theme from that old TV show, "Inspector Gadget" was running through my head. The neice was named Penny, and looking at Michelle's pictures of Penny, the name suited her.As for the character Josh, he was based on the boy in the wheelchair from Spinal Biffida that I knew. Amy was based on my childhood best friend, Lindy. Penny's family (Mom, Dad, and Baby Brother Peter) were characters based on my own parents and younger brother Bryan---except he is not a baby anymore!
So after I had my story planned out....I set to work.........To be continued in my next entry........
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The dream job that was not meant to be
My dream job became apparent in the 6th grade when my reading teacher, Mrs. Wagner asked the class a question. 'What do you supposed it would be like to have a physical challenge?" Well, that one was easy for me to answer. I have had C.P. since nine months of age. Living with a disability is not easy, but you know what? God must have put me on the earth for some purpose. In 1991, I found out what that purpose was..........writing.
Mrs. Wagner had each member of the class see what it was like to be blind for a day. It was terrible. I spent time bumping into doors, even dumped an entire pitcher of water on the kitchen floor. However, this experience had made me a stronger person. Yes, I have balance problems, and the right side of my body doesn't work as well as the left side does. After being blind for a day, none of that mattered. There are people who are a lot worse off than I was.
Mrs. Wagner liked my essay so much, that she gave me an A and sent it to the school newspaper, "Tee-Pee Talk." A week later, as soon as the papers were delivered, Mrs. Wagner came over to my desk and said, "Look, Brittany.......you are famous!"
Words could not describe how I felt at that moment. Seeing my words in print for the first time was an awesome feeling that I will never forget. As I re-read my article, it became apparent on what I wanted to be when I "grew up" Journalists have the power to get people to listen and understand through the written word. However, Journalism was not meant to be. After serving as an editor for two years on the high school newspaper, I came to RSU, only to discover, there were not Associate Degrees available in Journalism. So, the school started me off as an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts student. I studied different types of sub jets. However, Creative Writing was my favorite class. It was then, that I realized being an author would be a better fit for me.
Mrs. Wagner had each member of the class see what it was like to be blind for a day. It was terrible. I spent time bumping into doors, even dumped an entire pitcher of water on the kitchen floor. However, this experience had made me a stronger person. Yes, I have balance problems, and the right side of my body doesn't work as well as the left side does. After being blind for a day, none of that mattered. There are people who are a lot worse off than I was.
Mrs. Wagner liked my essay so much, that she gave me an A and sent it to the school newspaper, "Tee-Pee Talk." A week later, as soon as the papers were delivered, Mrs. Wagner came over to my desk and said, "Look, Brittany.......you are famous!"
Words could not describe how I felt at that moment. Seeing my words in print for the first time was an awesome feeling that I will never forget. As I re-read my article, it became apparent on what I wanted to be when I "grew up" Journalists have the power to get people to listen and understand through the written word. However, Journalism was not meant to be. After serving as an editor for two years on the high school newspaper, I came to RSU, only to discover, there were not Associate Degrees available in Journalism. So, the school started me off as an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts student. I studied different types of sub jets. However, Creative Writing was my favorite class. It was then, that I realized being an author would be a better fit for me.
Friday, March 12, 2010
A Little introduction
Hello Everybody!
I am not exactly sure how to begin an online blog.........so I will just take a moment to intoduce myself and my illustrator. My name is Brittany Michelle Crawford. I live in Cecil, Arkansas with my wonderful grandmother and a cute little puggle dog named Pudge. My hobbies include reading, and writing. I also like playing board games and shopping. My most favorite color is red. I like Pepsi. My favorite movie is "The Wizard of Oz" (I know, it's an oldie, but a classic)
My illustrator is also one of my best friends in the entire world. Her name is Michelle Oakley. She lives in Sperry, Oklahoma, and goes to school at Tulsa Community College. She loves watching movies, art, and riding horses. We met through my former teacher, Mrs. Terri Kruse, and have been friends for two years now. She has a car and is a really good driver. Despite my picture, I cannot drive. (Howver, I have always wanted to sit behind the wheel of a Volkswagon Beetle.)
We teamed up on a book called "I Sit in a Wheelchair.........But I Will be Okay", which has recently been published by Eloquent/Stragetic Books out of Connecticut I had aleways dreamed of writing a book, and I loved Michelle's pictures. Michelle does great art. like me, she does have handicaps, but our limitations do not slow us down!
I will be working on this site to give you updates about what is happing with this newly published book. For now, I will just say 'Thank yuo to everyone who has responded to the book thus far. Signing off for now. Brittany
I am not exactly sure how to begin an online blog.........so I will just take a moment to intoduce myself and my illustrator. My name is Brittany Michelle Crawford. I live in Cecil, Arkansas with my wonderful grandmother and a cute little puggle dog named Pudge. My hobbies include reading, and writing. I also like playing board games and shopping. My most favorite color is red. I like Pepsi. My favorite movie is "The Wizard of Oz" (I know, it's an oldie, but a classic)
My illustrator is also one of my best friends in the entire world. Her name is Michelle Oakley. She lives in Sperry, Oklahoma, and goes to school at Tulsa Community College. She loves watching movies, art, and riding horses. We met through my former teacher, Mrs. Terri Kruse, and have been friends for two years now. She has a car and is a really good driver. Despite my picture, I cannot drive. (Howver, I have always wanted to sit behind the wheel of a Volkswagon Beetle.)
We teamed up on a book called "I Sit in a Wheelchair.........But I Will be Okay", which has recently been published by Eloquent/Stragetic Books out of Connecticut I had aleways dreamed of writing a book, and I loved Michelle's pictures. Michelle does great art. like me, she does have handicaps, but our limitations do not slow us down!
I will be working on this site to give you updates about what is happing with this newly published book. For now, I will just say 'Thank yuo to everyone who has responded to the book thus far. Signing off for now. Brittany
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