Summer Starts Off with an Award

I can't believe that we're half-way through July. Where are the days going?

I just found out that Cracking the Code was awarded an Honorable Mention in Children's Books in the 2013 DIY Book Festival! http://www.diyconvention.com/2013-diy-book-festival-winners/

I've entered a few book contests - by the way, that's an excellent way to get your book out there, too. I highly suggest looking into contests once your book is published.

My boys are busy doing nothing and I'm glad to have the reprieve from our "school" routine. But just because their lollygagging doesn't mean I am! If you're in the Michigan area, I'll be signing books this Thursday at Unique Deals and Gifts 15374 Haggerty Rd, Northville from 6-8pm. I'm excited to meet other local vendors. Stop by and say, "Hi!" if you can. Next month I'll be at a water park (crazy place but filled with a ton of kids!). I doubt I'll be in a swimsuit, but I'll sure be drinking a lot of water. I'll be sure to post pics from the event.

Ahh...school presentations.

Happy Pi Day! Hopefully your day is filled with magical numbers, and if not, maybe a few bites of an apple/cherry/chocolate/insertyourfavoriteflavorhere pie!

I've been working on my school presentation. I've got a couple coming up in the next few weeks. I have to be honest...this was the one thing that I dreaded when I started writing middle grade. I knew that presentations would be expected and encouraged, and the thought of them made my hands sweat, my heart beat stronger, and my stomach to churn. What would I talk about?

But that was before.

Now...after spending more than five years as a professional editor and having worked on more than 55 books, I feel really confident. Hey...if they don't like my book, I can talk about the plethora of other books I've worked on and the publishing process from beginning to end.

I could talk just on editing and publishing and forget my book all together...but that wouldn't be good. I'm a writer...not just an editor!

So all you writers out there....when you give a school presentation, what do you focus on? Your book/storyline/characters? The writing/editing process? Your publishing journey?

I'd love to hear from you.

Visit The Trophy Mom's Blog and enter a giveaway!

I'm so thrilled that The Trophy Mom included me in her "Books to Boost Your Athlete's Reading Skills" post! She has some great books listed, and she agreed to use mine as a giveaway.

TM is a fellow hockey mom and is very involved in the Michigan youth hockey world. She's got a lot of great ideas for kids and parents of kid athletes, so I suggest that you not only hop over to her blog to enter the giveaway, but also visit her often.

If you're looking for a dad's perspective, please visit MiHockeyKid. He's also very involved in the Michigan youth hockey world, but gives it to you straight from a hockey dad's viewpoint. Great blog posts and a really great sense of humor.

Radio interview!

If you're in Michigan, you can tune into Spartan Nation Radio 1080 AM tonight between 7:30pm and 8:00pm to hear a short, but very sweet interview between Hondo Carpenter and I. I was humbled by his words, and I still can't believe that he sought me out for the interview.

If you aren't in Michigan or your AM radio won't pick up the station, you can tune in on the internet at

 

I'm hoping to get the audio file in case you missed it. Stay tuned!

A fan?

Yesterday I met my very first "fan". It was so cute. I was at the rink speaking with her dad and she came  running up with this huge grin and started to talk. Now...her dad wasn't happy that she'd busted into our conversation, so he sent her away. I had no clue why she was so excited. About 20 minutes later, she walked calmly toward me with her mom, who introduced us. She was all smiles and said she loved the book, would read past when her mom told her to turn the lights out. I was thrilled.

We spent about ten minutes talking about the characters. I got a feel for which ones she liked and which ones she thought were weird. She said it was such a funny book and she couldn't wait to read more.

The thing that makes this even better in my eyes...the main character is a BOY! Wow...I hooked a girl...which was my total intention!

Two More Days to Enter!

Hi All! There are just two more days to enter my C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-I-O-N giveaway!

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?

Here's what people are saying:

“Hockey is not just a sport that teaches kids how to play a game; it teaches a lot of life lessons including how to conduct yourself off the ice. TK demonstrates the different life lessons he’s learned through hockey in his own wacky way in Cracking the Code: Spreading Rumors.” ~Scott Wedgewood, 2010 New Jersey Devils 3rd draft choice 84th overall, 2012 Team Canada World Juniors Bronze Medalist

“Outstanding! I especially liked this book because I can relate to almost all the events that happened. You will especially love the ending!”~Drew P., ten years old (almost eleven)

“As a teacher for more than thirty-eight years, I have longed for a book that truly depicts the many trials and tribulations of youngsters I teach on a daily basis. Kris Yankee has beautifully penned a selection through TK, her main character, that brings to light the ups and downs of typical eleven-year-olds who often struggle with friendships, bullying, camp, and the loss of a loved one on a daily basis. It is a selection I will definitely keep front and center on the reading shelf of my classroom! This book is one that my students will not be able to put down as they will easily relate to so many events depicted from front to cover.” ~Tom Williams, sixth-grade Language Arts teacher

“Author Kris Yankee captures the hearts and minds of preteens in this great book. She shows you what it is like to be a kid in 5th grade again...and why they do the things they do. I highly recommend it.” ~Neil Dixon, fifth-grade teacher

 
So click on over to my author Facebook page and enter. You know you wanna!

Books have arrived!

An early Christmas presented arrived today! Books will be shipped to the distributor and should be available through Amazon very soon! If you don't want to wait, you can order from my website.

Woohoo!!! My book is off to the printer!

Hi All! Today is the day that those pretty little files for Cracking the Code: Spreading Rumors go to the printer. I'm so proud of this book and I can't wait to share it with you. Rumor has it the book will be available the third week of December. When I know for sure, I'll be running a contest to give away two copies of the book. Catch is...you'll have to leave a comment about a rumor you either heard or inadvertently spread because I know YOU don't spread rumors!

Check back to find our more deets!

Updated Cover for Cracking the Code: Spreading Rumors

I'm so excited to show you the updated cover for my upcoming middle grade novel.

What do you think?

Inside Look of Cracking the Code: Spreading Rumors

When people ask me what my new book is about, I immediately start rattling off the chapter titles. Sure, I do have a quick little blurb of what it's about (When eleven-year-old Toby Karlson accidentally hip checks the school district’s oldest secretary, his life turns into a big rumor), but it's the chapter titles that I think are really cool. I thought I'd share a few... CODE 1: No Matter What, Don’t Hip Check Little Old Ladies CODE 2: Sometimes Taking One for the Team Means Putting Your Head in a Toilet CODE 3: Listen to Your Coach, Even if You Think He’s Crazy CODE 4: Just Because You’re the Captain Doesn’t Mean You Should Climb a Gazebo CODE 5: Arguing With the Ref Won’t Get You a Dance Trophy What do you think? Silly, huh? The one thing that I've heard from the fifth and sixth graders who have already read the book was that they really liked the humor. That made my heart sing. Kids nowadays have so many commitments between school, sports, music lessons, etc. If they can read something that makes them laugh (and learn a few lessons - shh!!!), then that's all I can ask for as a parent. Did you have a favorite book that you read over and over, as a child, that you loved because of the humor? My favorite was Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. I LOVED that book - still do.

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

Reviews

It's hard to ask for reviews from people who don't know me. Those are the ones that I expect to be the most honest. They don't have a relationship with me. They don't care what my reaction will be. They don't have to listen to me gripe and complain about the state of the publishing industry. They don't know how much their words mean to me.

So when I get two reviews from two people who fit all of the criteria above and they both didn't say that Saving Redwind sucked, I'm pretty happy. I'm a rather insecure writer. If you know me or attended one of my writing workshops, that statement might seem odd. I'm very comfortable as an editor. I can see the strengths and weaknesses in others' writing. And the fact that I've worked on almost 30 books (many of them award winning) makes me feel safe and secure with my editing hat.

But as a writer, not so much. Especially a writer who decided to self-publish. Other than my agent (who is awesome), there wasn't a panel of people that said, "KRIS YANKEE!! YOU ARE THE BEST. WE MUST BUY YOUR BOOK AND PUBLISH IT!"

My point: all writers need validation. Here's some of mine:

From Simplistik Halloz Books

http://www.simplistik.org/shbooks/?p=229

Saving Redwind – Kris Yankee

By LizzieBeth

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Saving Redwind by Kris Yankee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Having moved to a new place, Nick Stevenson yearns for adventure. To see new sights and more of the world just like his father. But sometimes things don’t work out the way he wants them to.
When things start happening and his ceiling starts turning into some sort of storm, Nick wonders if he’s losing his mind. Perhaps he’s asked for more than he’s bargained for in wanting an adventure. As he ponders this thought, a boy shows up asking him for help in saving his world – one known as Redwind. While everything inside cries out that the boy’s request is completely unbelievable, Nick agrees and is sucked into the very wallpaper within his room. Thrown into an extraordinary world that takes him by surprise, Nick tries to grasp the meaning behind the boys odd request.
Having always considered himself as no one special, he’s completely blown away by the fact that the people he comes to meet are relying on him to set all wrongs to right. With time being of the essence, Nick does his best to do as he is asked, praying that he’ll have enough time to complete the objectives that have been set out before him.

Battling his doubts and insecurities, as well as the obstacles that have been strewn across his path, Nick finds it within himself to give it his all while trying to save a world that has come to mean more to him than he ever imagined. A world that seems more real as the minutes pass by.

While this is a children’s book, it’s truly an enjoyable read. So much so, that once you start, it’s hard to put down. Kris weaves such a delightful tale that you find yourself wanting to know more about what happens to Nick and the friend’s that he’s made along the way. I truly recommend reading this book.

Midwest Book Reviewers: Reviewer's Bookwatch, October
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/oct_11.htm#burroughs 
Saving Redwind
Kris Yankee
Privately Published
9781463616670, $8.95, www.amazon.com

Wallpaper doesn't seem like the most exciting thing, but for Nick Stevenson, it may as well be. "Saving Redwind" follows eleven year old Nick finds something unusual beyond his bedroom's wallpaper, and finds himself in another world. Finding an adventure of his own, he finds that their continued existence may just rely on him to succeed. "Saving Redwind" is a fine read, not to be overlooked for young fiction readers.
 
What do you think?

Author in the Locker Room: Chris Eboch

The locker room is all cleaned again (!) and I'm so happy to have MG author, Chris Eboch, here talking about her new book, The Eyes of Pharoah. Please give Chris a high-five!

What kind of research did you do for this book?

I’ve been fascinated by ancient Egypt since I was a kid. Plus, I grew up in Saudi Arabia, so I have some familiarity with the Middle East, and my family visited Egypt when I was in my 20s.

The Eyes of Pharaoh is actually the second novel I’ve written set in ancient Egypt. The first one still needs major revisions, so I’m not sure when (if ever) I might get it out, but I was able to use much of that earlier research. I have at least a dozen books on ancient Egypt on my bookshelf, including several of the Time-Life books about how people lived, with lots of pictures. I also did a lot of library research, and I’ve been to several museum exhibits.

What is the most surprising thing you learned from your research?

One thing that intrigues me about history is how some of the lessons of the past resonate today. My first novel, The Well of Sacrifice, is an adventure/drama set in 9^th-century Mayan times. I explored some of the reasons the Mayan civilization collapsed, such as environmental degradation and too much money flowing to the government and away from the people. For The Eyes of Pharaoh, I touched on issues such as illegal immigration and the dangers of a country thinking it’s the best and most powerful country in the world, and therefore untouchable. It’s almost creepy how some of these themes still affect us. Sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever learn from the mistakes of the past, but I hope my books will get people thinking a little harder about these issues.

What is your normal writing day like? Where do you write? What things do you need (silence? music? the cat?) in order to write?

I check e-mail while eating breakfast and drinking my tea. Then if I’m working on a novel, I’ll try to write a chapter. That usually drains my creative energy, so in the afternoon I work on nonfiction articles, blog posts, critiques, publicity, or errands.

I usually write directly onto the computer, though if I’m struggling I like to take a walk with my miniature digital tape recorder and dictate. I find that the rhythm of walking helps me focus. Once I start that way, I can usually head back to the computer and keep going. I use voice recognition software, so dictating my work isn’t uncomfortable for me. I don’t listen to music, since it would interfere with the voice recognition, but I prefer quiet anyway.

I don’t have a pet right now, but I do enjoy having a window that looks out on a bit of nature, so I can watch the birds or any other critters that wander by.

What is your writing process like?

Over the years I’ve gotten better at using outlines. Now I prefer to start with them, as it saves me a lot of time and frustration during the writing process. That means I’ll spend several weeks brainstorming before I start writing, and I’ll also do any necessary research in advance. Once I start writing, I generally set a daily word count goal – about a chapter, which is 1500 words for a middle grade novel and 2500 words for an adult novel. As long as I don’t have too many distractions, like speaking engagements, I’m fairly successful in meeting those goals. Then I take a few weeks for editing, and maybe a break between books to catch up on other things.

Did you choose your genre, or did your genre choose you?

Writing middle grade novels seemed like a natural fit to me. I read an enormous amount as a kid, and I still enjoy reading children’s books. It fits my style, partly natural and partly based on journalism training, with a focus on simple, clear language and plenty of action and dialogue to keep the pages turning.

A couple of years ago, I was starting to feel restless and wanted a change. I realized I had mostly been reading adult romantic suspense novels. I decided to try one, and eventually published Rattled. It was fun to do something new, plus I got to draw on my passion for my local New Mexico landscape and activities such as hiking and wilderness exploration. I have another romantic suspense with my agent, and I’m ready to start a third, which will involve falconry and a murder.

I also write articles about writing, teach writing through a correspondence school, lead workshops, and offer private critique services. I enjoy teaching, and I learn a lot from analyzing other people’s manuscripts. I recently put together a book called Advanced Plotting, designed to help intermediate and advanced writers write stronger manuscripts.

I’m also looking forward to seeing the fourth book in my middle grade Haunted series, The Ghost Miner’s Treasure, come out next year. I expect my future will hold a combination of writing for children and for adults, plus teaching and editing.

What one piece of advice would you give aspiring writers?

Take classes and get professional feedback. Most people try to submit their work long before they’re writing at a professional level. You’ll save yourself frustration if you focus on learning to write better for a few years before you worry about the submission process.

Describe your book in 140 characters or less...

The Eyes of Pharaoh brings ancient Egypt to life as three friends investigate a plot against the Pharaoh.

Where can readers find your books?

Readers can learn about all of my books and order them on my Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Eboch/e/B001JS25VE/. They can also read excerpts of my children’s books at www.chriseboch.com, learn about my romantic suspense novels at www.krisbock.com, or get writing tips and excerpts from Advanced Plotting on my blog, http://chriseboch.blogspot.com/.

Chris Eboch's novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; and the Haunted series, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Her book Advanced Plotting helps writers fine-tune their plots. Learn more at www.chriseboch.com or check out her writing tips at http://chriseboch.blogspot.com/. Chris also writes for adults under the name Kris Bock. Rattled launches her new romantic suspense series featuring treasure hunting adventures in the New Mexico wilderness. Read the first three chapters at www.krisbock.com.

We've got a winner!!!

Thanks to all who commented over at Susan Kaye Quinn's blog. Leslie Rose is the lucky winner! She'll receive a signed copy of Saving Redwind.

Jess also won a copy of Saving Redwind! She was the lucky winner over at Pk Hrezo's blog!

I can't wait to hear what these lovely ladies have to say about my story. :)

My next blog stop will be at Laynie King's site on August 31st. We'll have another giveaway there.


If you can't wait, why not head over to Amazon, B&N, or Createspace to get your print copy? If you prefer an e-edition, you can saunter over to Amazon, B&N, or Smashwords. With the e-edition, you'll be able to download a sample before you plunge into that .99 price. :)

Also, have you heard about Kindlegraph? It's this cool application that allows authors to sign Kindle editions of books. If you have the Kindle edition of Saving Redwind, send me a request here and I'll sign it for you! I'm still trying to figure out book plates for those who have the print version. All of the book plates I've found are all fancy. Guess I need to figure out how to make my own!

Last Chance at Susan Kaye Quinn's Blog

Today (Thursday) is the last day you can comment on my blog post over at Susan's blog. She'll be picking a winner from the comments from this post tomorrow. Be sure to go over and comment for a chance to receive a signed copy of Saving Redwind! Tell all of your friends to stop by. The more the merrier!

Want a signed copy of Saving Redwind?

I'm still over at Susan Kaye Quinn's blog. All week long, in fact. She'll be picking a winner from the comments from this post. Be sure to go over and comment for a chance to receive a signed copy of Saving Redwind! Tell all of your friends to stop by. The more the merrier!

5 star reviews for Saving Redwind

I'm pretty geeked. I woke up today to find another 5 star review. What a great day-after-my-birthday present!

If you have a quick second or if you're needing a nudge to buy my book, please check out these reviews. I promise that I didn't pay any of these people! :)

Paperback reviews
Ebook reviews

And, I'm still over at Lydia Kang's website if you didn't get a chance to read my fishy tale!

I've got a fishy story to tell

I've spilled the beans on something I did in college over at Lydia Kang's blog.
Visit me there!

Blog Tour starts tomorrow!

Hey Peeps!
I've been working to set-up a blog tour. It's going well, and I'm still looking for spots - so...if you want me to stop by, let me know!

Here's my schedule so far:
Friday, Aug 5                Lydia Kang
Monday, Aug 8             Pk Hrezo
Monday, Aug 8 - 12     Susan Kaye Quinn
Wednesday, Aug 31      Laynie King
Friday, Sept 9               Gem State Writers
Friday, Sept 16             Heather Cashman
Friday, Sept 23             Chris Eboch

Sometime in December  The Teen Book Scene

I'm hoping to get a few more and will update the links as they come up.

So much to do, so little time

I wanted to pop in here to let you know that I'm busily working on my blog tour. But I also wanted to let you know that you can find me at the Independent Authors Network now. Please check out my page - I think it looks really cool! You can find it here. Let me know what you think.

Also, I've gotten another great review on Amazon. You'll find it here.

Last but not least, my BookCents mate, Kari Lee Townsend, has her new book launching today. Tempest in the Tea Leaves looks like a great read. Mine downloaded to my Kindle app this morning, and I can't wait to start reading it.