A 6th grader's take on Spreading Rumors

The publisher who is publishing my middle grade chapter book likes to have kids' perspectives as endorsements. I know a few 5th and 6th graders, so I was happy to send out an arc to them for their thoughts.

Here is verbatim what one 6th grader said in an email:
I loved the book!!! here are my first two reactions.

This book was so good it made me laugh just because!!
This book teaches you a lot of lessons. Here is the one that appealed to me. Friends are the best thing that happend to the world(at least that's what I think!!!!)

 
It gives me goosebumps to know that he enjoyed the book so much. Obviously, we'll have to do a bit of editing for the back cover, but his words were spoken from the heart.

I just had to share with you all.

Cover Reveal and Early Praise~

I'm so excited to be able to share with you the cover of my upcoming middle grade novel, Cracking the Code: Spreading Rumors.

I would love to know what you think!

When Toby Karlson, aka TK, is at the wrong place at the wrong time, he goes from cool kid to total outcast with just one hip check. Sixth grade orientation was scary, but TK didn't realize it would change his life. Now he has to hang out with the smartest and geekiest kid in school, while dodging the school bully and his posse. If TK were on the ice, he'd know exactly what to do. But this is life and not a hockey game. Can TK get his good-guy status back at fifth-grade camp?

Early praise:

“Kris Yankee’s Cracking the Code: Spreading Rumors is full of action, adventure, and fun as Toby Karlson learns how to handle enemies, make friends, talk to girls, and just plain fit in. Hockey fans will be cheering with every turn of the page as Yankee has created a winner of a series!”  

~Kari Lee Townsend, National Bestselling Author of The Fortune Teller Mysteries and Digital Diva

Moving Right Along

My middle grade chapter book is moving along quite nicely in the publishing process. A title for the series, as well as this book, has been chosen, and we should have font samples within the week. I've sent an arc out to prospective endorsers and have received one blurb back! I can't wait to share the back cover summary and cover image with you all! Stay tuned.

A great review!

Many thanks to my friend D. R. Grady for introducing me to Erik the Great of This Kid Reviews Books. I was lucky enough to be able to send Erik a copy of Saving Redwind. He's posted his review on his blog (which you should be reading if you want a kid's perspective on books!). I'd love it if you'd hope over there and read his review.

My Biggest Piece of Advice

Today I had a final writers' workshop with a wonderful up and coming author. What I love about Kimberly is her passion for what she's writing about. We had a great last session, and she was expecting to speak with my boss about pursuing publication. Unfortunately, my boss had an appointment that she wasn't able to break. Fortunately, I was able to spend some time with Kimberly not as her writing mentor, but as a fellow author. I was so eager to share with her my experiences that I'm sure her head was spinning by the time she left - because I was talking so much.

One thing, though, kept coming up. Did she have the courage to take on publishing a book? What a strange thought, isn't it for a writer to ask or even consider, right? But it really isn't. Whether you publish with a traditional NY publisher, a press, or even just through Amazon, there is one thing that is certain - YOU, the writer, will have to take control of your marketing. Sure, a NY publisher will market you to an extent, but they will only go so far for an unknown, first-time author. When you go with a small press, it is highly unlikely that there will be any marketing. And, for those who have self-published, well, you know it is all up to you.

I had several thoughts for her:

Create a brand, market everywhere and with everyone, network every place you go, and always be writing the next book.

She has a part-time job, a husband, three young kids. Will she have time to do all of this?

This is a question all writers should be asking of themselves. If a person wants to be successful, then they must make the time.

That led to another question; what is your idea of success?

If it's making a ton of cash, well, writing is not the business for you. Not unless you're lucky enough to be the next Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Stefanie Meyer, of that chick who wrote 50 Shades of Grey.  Aside from the "worldly" viewpoint of success, how do you measure it?

Becoming a serious writer isn't just about putting the words on the paper (or screen); it's about building a brand, an audience, readership, getting yourself out there in uncomfortable positions and situations.

I believe that Kimberly will succeed once she answers all of these questions, just like YOU - do you have the time to devote to marketing, what is your idea of success, and how do you measure success?