Our lovely lady Sheila Marie has inspired me so much by her article on Fiona Theatre mouse and self publishing, that I thought I'd write about my children's book journey.
When my business partner and I decided to write a story for very young children it was a new and exciting venture for us. We decided we wanted the book to be quality literature and not the poor standard English which is so often found in children's books. My business partner wanted to do tasteful art work and not bold, brash pictures which ruin some children's books. We also wanted to show good witches and nature and have a moral stance as we are keen to promote a good example to children.
The book is aimed at up to 7 years old.
As a teacher of very young children, I was accustomed to Literacy expectations and so I included things such as alliteration, adjectives, similes. We were delighted when a local private school took the book for their infant school literacy class work.
I asked my eldest brother to do the editing for me and he was marvellously thorough and concise and worth asking.
As Sheila Marie said in her wonderful self publishing article here on Wizzley, it is difficult then to get a publisher. The world recession has harmed them too!
Finally I got it printed at a printers and we sold them just a first run of 50 at local fairs and such like.
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Comments
The second paragraph to the first subheading, Perfect for Halloween, advises us that "We also wanted to show that witches aren't all bad as they are so often depicted in books."
The aforementioned intention appeals to me as one to whom Glinda the Good Witch acted as favoritest character in the Oz books.
So what can be more better for Halloween than a treating, not a tricking, witch?!
My business partner does the art. She is very talented,
Veronica, The freckles and the green hair are winsome!
I have put some new art work on the page above from our second Witch Hazel Book
Thank you.
I continue to do that when I take my Literacy workshops into schools.
Yes, you were doing exactly the right thing for teaching children how to write narrative.
I always told pupils to plan how their story was going to finish before they even started all the other planning.
Unfortunately "Witch Hazel " with its map-work, letter writing and use of quality language is not deemed suitable by publishers who are just looking for drivel these days. So we self-published.
You have read it and enjoyed it and your opinion is to be respected.
It is available to buy through us at [email protected] and would be perfect for Halloween or at any time of year.
When tutoring English I have had to educate children out of finishing on cliff hangers, and this act of unteaching has been occasioned by the inferior drivel churned out in Goosebump books. I taught students that a story is like a journey, for which you need to know the beginning and the end and the steps between the two.
TY. Your words have captured out intention exactly.
We wanted it to be a good quality language experience first and foremost. How can children produce good work themselves when they are constantly presented with material that is not of good quality?
The illustrations are done by my business partner and she is excellent isn't she!
What a wonderful adventure, love the illustrations and the intent to focus on quality. Nice to have a story for the sake of the story, not prolonging it for the sake of money. Very inspirational story.