Two New Book Signings Coming Soon

I have been working hard to coordinate these events and I am pleased to announce I have not one, but two, book signings coming in the near future.

The first signing is August 19th at Readers Inc. in the La Mesa Village. This event is coordinated with the La Mesa Village Car show and includes bands and great restaurants to visit.

The second event is September 25th at the Borders in Mission Valley. This event will be similar to the one held in Los Angeles and will include a book reading in addition to the signing. This is a fun event for kids so if you’re in Mission Valley be sure to check it out.

Addresses and phone numbers for the events are in the Upcoming Events box on this page.

Hope to see you there!

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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I Should Be Writing But…

Okay… it’s confession time. Except for the blog, I have not written a thing for the month of July. I’ve tried, really I have, but I can’t seem to get my ideas down on paper. I have several great ideas, but the moment I sit down they go out of my head and I find myself running in the kitchen to start another project.

So what have I been doing instead?

I have been creating  mirrors and tins using mexican loteria cards, old jewelry and recycled Altoid tins. I’m having a great time and while I work on my projects I am percolating stories with the hope that once school starts and I have my computer back, all of my wonderful stories will come spilling from my finger tips ( I can hope anyway).

So in honor of my huge creative streak I will be giving away this lovely tin:

Please respond to this post before August 12, 2010. Winner will be chosen at random and notified. United States and Canada residents only.

Good Luck!

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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The Face Out

As an author I have a little list inside my head of milestones I would like to achieve. To a non-author some of these milestones would seem silly such as receiving a personal rejection letter from a publishing house or a request for a revision from an editor, but to an author it means that they are looking at your work and giving you feedback.

Now that my first book is published, I have a new list of milestones I would like to achieve inside my head. This list includes such things as:

1. Book signings
2. Positive reviews
3. A Face Out at a large book store

I’ve done two book signings and I have one, possibly two book signings next month. I now have two nice reviews on Amazon.com and one on BarnesandNoble.com. This week I achieved the third item on my list, my book was a Face Out at the Borders near our home. A Face Out is when the store faces your book forward rather than lining them up on the shelf, they use this method to feature books that are highly requested or that they think have merit. Here is a picture of my Face Out:

Some of the larger publishing houses have special arrangements for their books to be featured in the Face Out and corporate offices will determine which books they want to feature to help encourage sales. In my research I also discovered that in-store inventory people can also determine which books they would like for the Face Out and will feature books that would not normally be faced forward on the shelves. I also have it on good authority that sometimes friends will turn books facing forward to help increase books sales but the store will catch that pretty quickly and put them back in place.

Since my publishing house is not one of the mega-super houses but a comfortably smaller one and since I have gone back several times in the last week and a half ( to try and arrange that book signing and not to look at my book…honest) and my book is still facing out, I can rule out my friends, I can only assume that the in-store inventory people decided they wanted to feature a book about a boy, a farm and a pear tree. For that I say thanks, it’s a thrill to see it and you really made my week.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Support Your Local Independent Book Store

It is an undisputed fact that I love book stores.  My children know when I am in a funk a trip to our local book store or library is just what I need to perk me up.

Knowing my love for anything books, my Super Blog Buddy Sarah mentioned an independent book store here in San Diego and suggested I check it out, I was not disappointed.

Readers Inc., a family owned book store located in La Mesa Village is small in size, but big on charm. Readers Inc. is a local authors dream, while looking around I noticed several of my fellow local San Diego SCBWI authors prominently displayed on the shelves.

Readers Inc. was also present at the book launch for “The Lunch Thief” last weekend helping Anne sell copies of the book. This is a great service they offer for local authors and their knowledge of the store inventory is un-matched for any other book store I have visited. During this tough economy it is important for us to support our local independent book stores, they are an important part of our community and a great resource.

This summer the La Mesa Village is sponsoring a car show on Thursday evenings that includes classic cars, bands and tasty food. The owners of Readers Inc. have scheduled book signings each Thursday to tie into the fun. Last week I had the opportunity to meet author Jennifer Cervantes, and have her autograph a copy of her book Tortilla Sun (I will be reviewing the book later this week). Check out the events calendar to see which authors will be signing*.

So if you are looking for a fun family evening of classic cars, bands, tasty food and a cool book store I would suggest you check out Readers Inc. in the La Mesa Village on Thursday nights.

* Authors note: I will be taking part in this event on August 19th from 6pm-8pm and signing copies of my book “Grandma’s Pear Tree”, hope to see you there.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Cool eBook Sites for Children to Check out- Memetales and Ripple Reader

The publishing industry is changing and more and more electronic books are becoming available. An average authors book contract now includes a portion that covers electronic rights, this is the reality of writing in today’s world. The generation of children growing up today are more computer/technology savvy than any previous generation, for obvious reasons.

Here are two sites to check out for the techno savvy children in your life.

1. Memetales- is a site where your child can:

• Read- books online
• Discover- activities and crafts
• Show Off- your creations

Here is a little more information from the site:

Read children’s books:

• Enjoy the best children’s books in the format you like – an e-book online, pdf download etc. We will add support for printed books and smartphone versions soon.
• Review the book, learn more about the author/illustrator and even connect with them!

Discover activities and crafts:

• Find and enjoy activities and crafts from some of the best parent and educator bloggers online
• Discover a wonderful community of bloggers, parents and educators who are passionate about children’s books and learning

Show off your creations:

• Share back you own finished crafts, do book reviews and so on. We can embed almost anything on the site – as long as it is safe for consumption
• Join the creative community and contribute your own songs, activities, crafts and media

I love the interactive portion of this site, and how they relate to the stories. A good example of this can be seen on the page for the story “Gypsies of the Sky” , check out the five fun weather related activities for you to do with your child.

2. Ripple Reader- is an eBook reader with a feature I love:

Here is the information from their site:

FREE!
Ripple Reader is a free eBook reader for kids. Parents and other adults purchase recordable eBooks that work on both a PC or Mac. The iPad Ripple Reader app is coming soon.

COLOR!
eBooks on Ripple are presented full screen and in brilliant full color. Unlike adult eBooks, popular titles on Ripple are presented just like the original book with both illustrations and text.

RECORDABLE!
Add more reading fun when you record the story in your own voice. Users can record themselves reading the story or invite someone else to read it. Kids can also record each page over and over and listen to both their voice and the parent or friend’s voice for each page.

LEARNING!
By both seeing and hearing their eBooks, Ripple Reader helps kids become better readers by growing their vocabulary, improving word recognition, learning story structure and other important literacy skills.

My favorite feature is the ability to record the story with your own voice. My boys grew up listening to books on tape and sometimes I did not like the narrator they picked for the story. This feature gives you a whole new option. I can also see that this would be a great tool for children just beginning to read because you can adjust the speed of your reading to allow the child to follow along, the old books on tape sure couldn’t do that!

The jury is still out on just how big the eBook market will become, but the fact remains that eBooks are definitely here to stay and these sites are a great way to check them out.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Seven Ways to Stay Motivated in Tough Times

I recently ran across a guest post from author Camille LaGuire on “The Secret Archives of the Alliterati” blog. She offered these seven tips to stay motivated in tough times and while they apply to writing I think a few of these can be used in our regular life as well. Below is the list with a brief synopsis, be sure to check out the blog for more details:

1. Eyes on the Prize.

In other words set a goal that you can meet.

“When you make your goal specific and concrete, you can start taking the smaller steps to get there – like finishing your book.”

2. Eliminate the Negative.

Find the cause of negative influences in your life and change them.

“It may take time to make a change in your life, so pin it to to your goal.  Fixing your life is a part of achieving your dreams.”

3. Love your writing.

Believe in yourself and that your writing is important

“Some writers write a fan letter to themselves about the project when they begin it.  They write about all the things that excite them about it.  Then they stick it in a drawer.  Whenever they get discouraged about the project they pull out the letter and remind themselves of why they’re writing.”

4. Set quotas you can beat.

“Nothing is more motivating than success.  Especially when you repeat that success every day or ever week.  So set a daily goal that you can achieve more often than not.  If necessary, adjust that quota from week to week.  By meeting that quota, you will constantly prove to yourself that you are a writer.  You can write, you can produce.”

5. Report your progress.

If you have to report to someone you are more likely to finish (unless of course you are a procrastinator)

“It’s amazing how much this will motivate you to write that last sentence, and then maybe one more, and another.”

6. Get yourself an audience.

Find a buddy or relative to read your work

“Having someone waiting for your next chapter can force you to actually produce it.  (Writer buddies are better for this one, usually, because they understand that too much pressure can make you freeze up.)”

7. Train Your Muse.

“Set aside ten or fifteen minutes every day to train your brain to obey.  Have a task and focus on it.  Maybe you brainstorm ideas, or titles.  Or maybe you write opening lines, or description.  Just for ten or fifteen minutes. Set a timer.  you can’t do anything else in that time.”

Stay motivated!

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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I Write Like…Stephen King (I Wish)

I ran across an article about the “I Write Like” website the other day and decided to check it out.

The website is the brain child of  Dmitry Chestnykh, a 27-year-old Russian software programmer. Using keywords from your writing sample, the program quickly analyzes your writing  and matches it with the the name of the author your writing most closely resembles. Chestnykh admits the site’s accuracy is limited, since he has only had time to upload a few books by some 50 different authors, but plans to include more books and add a probability percentage for each result.

I used several different writing samples and found that my writing was like Chuck Palahniuk, David Foster Wallace and Margaret Atwood. So if you have a few minutes check it out maybe you’ll find that you write like Stephen King.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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The Lunch Thief by Anne C. Bromley

Book launches are fun. They are even more fun when you go with friends and quesadillas are being served.

This past Saturday my Super Blog Buddy Sarah and I, along with several of the lovely ladies from our local SCBWI attended the book launch for the “The Lunch Thief” (Tilbury House, 2010). This touching book is written by fellow SCBWI member Anne Bromley and illustrated by Robert Casilla.

Here is a description of the book:

Rafael is hungry because someone stole his lunch. His mom had packed his lunch bag with two burritos, a bag of corn chips, some carrots, and an apple. Once a week she tucks in a slice of her special lemon pound cake. Rafael saw Kevin, a new kid in his class, sneak his lunch bag from underneath his desk and tuck it in his backpack. But how can he do something about the theft without picking a fight? Inspired by his mother’s advice to use his mouth before his fists, Rafael bides his time, but other kids’ lunches are disappearing, too. On an errand with his mom, Rafael sees Kevin carrying a bundle of laundry into a motel room, and his mom tells him Kevin’s family might be one of the families who lost their homes in the recent wildfires. Rafael rethinks his anger. The next day, instead of accusing Kevin, Rafael invites him to share his lunch, letting him know he’s been caught, but offering friendship as well as a good meal.

Big on heart this book helps teach empathy and looking at things from another persons point of view. This would be a great addition to a classroom or school library especially for older children. I can see many lesson plans that can emerge from reading this book. The watercolor illustrations are beautifully rendered and add to the feeling of the story.

Aside from the reading and book signing we had an opportunity to eat quesadillas take part in a question and answer period. We learned  how the author was inspired by our own local wild fires to write this story and combine it with a message she felt was important to share. It was a great launch and a lovely book, shared with great company…nice job Anne.

Happy Reading,

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Let’s Talk… Or Not

Writing dialogue is all about balance. The words of course, but also the space around the words. What is NOT being said can be more informative and enriching than what IS said – but you need both. Then you weave in action too. Concrete reminders of where your characters are – and the actions create beats and pauses too.

Talking to my teen-age daughter is all about balance too. More so. Here we have what is being said, what is not being said; as well as what is not ALLOWED to be said and what will be misconstrued and twisted around so as to be an attack. Mothers are simply not allowed to say some things.

For example, I can say, “That shirt brings out the blue in your eyes.” But I am not allowed to say, “If you didn’t wear so much freaking makeup we could actually see your eyes.”

This amazing, talented, determined, fierce, intelligent, strong, and deeply private girl is a bit of a mystery to me… and always has been – but throw in the teen thing and everything is a mystery. We’ve always joked that she is a cat living with a family of dogs.

Driving her to all her various practices is one place where we can talk. We are alone (being the middle child really does mean that more often than not there are siblings around). We don’t have to make eye contact. She knows she will escape within a definite time limit. We have the action and other cars to create beats and space.

But now she’s learning to drive.

Besides the fact that it is just as terrifying the second time around, we just can’t have the same conversations. Now I say, “Watch your speed on this upcoming curve,” because I am not allowed to say, “For the love of doughnuts and all things sweet, SLOW DOWN.”

And, of course, there’s the whole idea that she’s a big girl now. She’s learning to drive so she can move on and out into the world.

I’m losing even more opportunities to talk… to guess what is going on in the space behind the words.

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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56/364 days and counting…

In light of the new calendar system, today is a WRITING day.

It helps that:

1) I don’t have to work at my other job (one more week ’til summer vacation!)

2) I have driving divers duty

I will set up shop at the same coffee shop as last week and not be allowed out of my chair until I have to drive to the next venue. Repeat. It is not a wonderful coffee shop. It does have a plug. And caffeine.

One other thought: there was SUN on my morning walk. Can NOT remember the last time that was true. I honestly think April. I know I am not allowed to complain about weather in San Diego, but we have had an unbelievable heavy duty dose of May-grey and June-gloom. The clouds have been hanging in the sky.

My thinking-while-walking takes a different route when there is sun. Those of you with real weather and real seasons must have more thought-variety going on in your brains.

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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