The signing and reading was a success! The children were first read to by the fantastic storyteller and librarian, JoAnne Bauer. She used a variety of imagery from secret animals in paper bags to a puppet show to bring alive the joy of reading. The audience was delighted and captivated.
Reading my book for the kids was such a treat. We discussed the places they go with their feet, how great bubble baths smell, and that some flowers make them sneeze. A suggestion for the next book was to include a discovery of legs and arms--children's ideas are always welcome and creative!
JoAnne ended the event with Mother's Day crafts of construction paper flowers or a picture frame for Mom. The kids dug right in and came up with some treasurable gifts.
Next week, I'm looking forward to visiting, and signing my book at the Tree House Children's Bookstore in Ashland, Oregon. Not having been to that magical town since a High School field trip, I can't wait to see it again. The Shakespearean Festival will be in full swing so this is a perfect time to go. It's going to be an awesome event!
Also, spending time with my good friend, Kaiyo, owner of Sacred World in Ashland, will be a highlight of the trip. Now that I've moved closer to his 'neck of the woods', we'll be able to visit more than twice a decade!
The summer book reading tour I've been mapping out is going to be fun. I look forward to meeting with children and parents and sharing the joy of reading, parenting and writing!
Heather Leigh
Monday, May 14, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Hey Little Baby, Published At Last
It's done, it's published, it's out in stores! Having been written when my teenaged son was 5 months old, the story is now on bookshelves at stores around the world. What a wonderful experience it has been--from writing the book to signing it for parents and friends of babies.
The earth really started shaking for me when Kelly Sonnack, agent extraordinaire, allowed me to interrupt her dinner at the San Diego State University Writer's Conference over four years ago. She told me what would be needed to have her possibly accept the book. That night, I revised and revised again until 2 in the morning to have it ready for her the last day of the conference. When she looked at it and started talking illustrators and possible publishers, I thought stars were falling from the sky.
After even more revisions (don't ever think what you read is a first draft--it's probably more like the hundredth), she took me on as a client. Wow. A real agent in the real world, not just a day dream. I liken getting an agent to winning the lottery, but just a bit harder.
Then Kelly took over and somehow impressed Andrea Welch of Beach Lane Books, imprint of Simon and Schuster, to buy the book. When Andrea called to ask if I would make some changes for her to accept the manuscript, life became surreal. Was this really an editor from S&S asking if I would cut out some lines in order to get it published? Was she kidding? Short of selling my children, I was ready to do what it takes to get my words out 'there'.
And then came the whimsical yet mature flair of illustrator Genevieve Cote. When first I saw her books (we ordered them all at the library!) I was blown away by the simple beauty and power with which she captures the personalities of each book's characters. She really is fantastic. And she was to be the illustrator of the book I wrote. Does the daydream ever stop?
Now the book written and inspired over a decade ago is hard bound and available at any bookstore or on-line. Crazy fun world.
The earth really started shaking for me when Kelly Sonnack, agent extraordinaire, allowed me to interrupt her dinner at the San Diego State University Writer's Conference over four years ago. She told me what would be needed to have her possibly accept the book. That night, I revised and revised again until 2 in the morning to have it ready for her the last day of the conference. When she looked at it and started talking illustrators and possible publishers, I thought stars were falling from the sky.
After even more revisions (don't ever think what you read is a first draft--it's probably more like the hundredth), she took me on as a client. Wow. A real agent in the real world, not just a day dream. I liken getting an agent to winning the lottery, but just a bit harder.
Then Kelly took over and somehow impressed Andrea Welch of Beach Lane Books, imprint of Simon and Schuster, to buy the book. When Andrea called to ask if I would make some changes for her to accept the manuscript, life became surreal. Was this really an editor from S&S asking if I would cut out some lines in order to get it published? Was she kidding? Short of selling my children, I was ready to do what it takes to get my words out 'there'.
And then came the whimsical yet mature flair of illustrator Genevieve Cote. When first I saw her books (we ordered them all at the library!) I was blown away by the simple beauty and power with which she captures the personalities of each book's characters. She really is fantastic. And she was to be the illustrator of the book I wrote. Does the daydream ever stop?
Now the book written and inspired over a decade ago is hard bound and available at any bookstore or on-line. Crazy fun world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)