Welcome back, Mira, now where were we? Oh yeah, that exclusive… Cookie and I have been real patient. Animal, well, not so much. Drum roll, please.
First off Tara, I’d like to respond to some of your comments regarding what can happen after you are published.
Oh, the suspense!
Getting a review in any of the top review journals is really tough because they get so many submissions and only have space for a few. Also the publisher’s marketing/publicity folks (often just one person) are so overworked and overwhelmed it really is up to the author and illustrator to get the word out these days. It also helps if you can make personal connections with their marketing/PR peeps to inspire them to help get the word out for you. Have you made a trailer for the movie? If you aren’t video savvy, Katie Davis’s video course, which I’ve taken, is terrific: VideoIdiotBootCamp.com. I’m also hoping that folks share the video of your book that we posted yesterday to help get the word out. It really is an exponential numbers game of people sharing.
I know how much heart and soul and time and sweat goes into writing a good manuscript and then the emotional ups and downs of actually getting it published only to have it fall through the cracks of the biggest retail chain because of negotiation issues that have nothing to do with you. Aaargh. It’s heartbreaking. Also I loved what you had to say about your relationship with your illustrator. You do have to trust and most times what they do far exceeds anyone’s imagination or expectations.
In terms of an exclusive offer… Here’s what I’d like to give your wonderful readers, many of whom I know ☺.
- I’d like to provide the opportunity to register with the early bird special price of only $249 (regular price $289) for the upcoming Craft and Business of Writing Children’s Picture Books e-course starting August 26th, with this link: https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?c=cart&i=1111301&cl=210181&ejc=2.
- …or the Big Bonus Craft and Business of Writing Children’s Picture Books for $279 (regular price $325) with this link: https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?c=cart&i=1156535&cl=210181&ejc=2. The e-course includes over 30 lessons and more goodies than you can shake a stick. The Big Bonus includes interactivity with our Facebook group and live webinars. The offer is time-sensitive, so you need to sign up before July 29th to take advantage of it.
- In addition, I’d like to offer an exclusive opportunity for 5 people to pitch a picture book manuscript to me at Hummingbird Literary. To win the pitch contest all you need to do is suggest some creative marketing strategies in the comments below and help to get the word out for THE MONSTORE (yes I love Tara and her book). And of course Tara gets to choose the winners ☺ (deadline July 29th). The winners will receive a special priority email address from Tara for you to send a manuscript and pitch letter describing your other projects. For ethical reasons, students who take any of my personally taught course have to wait 6 months following a course before submitting to Hummingbird Literary, but I will make an exception if any of my former or near future students win here. Also because I want to give my heart and soul to my new clients, I won’t be teaching many more of the PBA courses myself and they will either be self-paced or have guest instructors. I’ll be sad but my new venture is also VERY exciting.
For more information on the courses, check out http://www.picturebookacademy.com/writing-childrens-picture-books.html.
Mira, that’s a terrific offer, thank you! You are so generous! Thank you so much for helping me get the word out about my book, and for helping other authors polish and sell their work. This really demonstrates what a big-hearted community we have in kidlit.
Before you go, Mira, I think one of the most interesting and telling things about an agent is their list of favorite all-time children’s books. Which PBs really stand out for you and why? What about them makes them special and inspiring?
This is such a hard question to answer. I have tons of video reviews over at the Picture Book Academy in the Blog section of books that I love, but all time favorites… Wow!!
I love Yuyi Morales’s JUST A MINUTE because it’s fun, soulful, and has a fabulously powerful elderly female protagonist who outsmarts Señor Death. Besides being a counting book, it has many other layers of meaning and importance. I also love how despite being repeatedly told that no-one would ever publish a picture book with death as a main character, Yuyi believed in her story, persisted, and eventually went on to win all sorts of awards for it. The book launched her career.
I’m a huge fan of Nicoletta Ceccholi’s art, which is positively luminous in A DIGNITY OF DRAGONS: Plural Nouns for Mythological Beasts, which has minimal, elegant text in a non-fiction format. It also has a multicultural aspect, which I love and is just so exquisitely done.
Another favorite is VOICES IN THE PARK by Anthony Browne, which I consider a perfect book for way too many reasons to describe, Mo Willems’ LEONARDO THE TERRIBLE MONSTER for its simplicity, cleverness and underlying meaning, I SEE THE RHYTHM, another near perfect book that works on multiple layers.
I think I’m quite promiscuous when it comes to having favorite books as there are so many more that I adore.
And these are some of the many books by my super talented former students!
Also, I’m doing a free writing workshop/webinar this Wednesday with Mark Mitchell of Make Your Splashes at 6PM Pacific Standard time here: http://makeyoursplashes.com/a-writing-workshop-with-mira/. I’ll try and include these books and other favorites as part of it. If you are interested, do sign up for it soon as the webinar space can only hold a limited number of people.
Tara, what are some of your faves? I know you have a wicked sense of humor so I imagine there will be some funny ones in there from you.
Yes, I love the quirky picture books. I adore THIS RABBIT BELONGS TO EMILY BROWN by Cressida Cowell, ARNIE THE DOUGHNUT by Laurie Keller and OTTO GROWS DOWN by Michael Sussman. They are all funny, layered stories with smart kid sensibilities that are a bit longer in length than some of the more recent hits. I like more meat in my picture books. One of my favorite non-fiction picture books is by Shana Corey—THE MERMAID QUEEN. Corey, also an editor at Penguin Random House, focuses her stories on little-known but important women in history.
And finally, Mira, how would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client with be tall and tan and young and lovely, wait, that’s a song. No. I love working with people who are smart, fun, soulful, in touch with the emotional core of their stories or art (i.e. character-driven), able to let go of their egos to work gently and collaboratively doing whatever it takes to make the story or art be the best it can be if needed, playful, culturally sensitive, warm, loving, diverse, interested in all sorts of things including non-fiction, either non-rhyming or a professional poet, a skilled artist open to possibly writing, a skilled writer open to possibly illustrating, and someone who really wants to work with me and has the patience to see the long term goals. Another quality that my ideal client will have is an appreciation for community as Hummingbird Literary will also be a community for its clients with our own group blog, our own secret social media space where folks can critique each others work and support each other with a spirit of camaraderie and celebration of creativity and life!
Before I go, I wanted to share something from my office.
On Saturday I refinished this file cabinet with rice paper to hold Hummingbird Literary files and it’s named “The Karen” after my mentor, Karen Grencik. With time, I’ll be collaging images from our client’s books all over it. It was exciting to make.
Wow, Tara, this post turned out a bit epic. I sure had fun doing it with you and send my love to you and your readers. I look forward to see the practical and creative approaches to promoting THE MONSTORE ☺!
Thank you, thank you, Mira! I know you’re going to have a long and successful career as an agent, and I know so many people who would benefit greatly from your guidance. My best wishes to you in all your endeavors!
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 
51 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 23, 2013 at 9:18 am
Patti Richards
My creative marketing strategy would be to host a Monstore costume party at an independent bookstore. It would be great to host it near Halloween and offer prizes for the best “costume from the book.” Advertise the party to elementary-school teachers in the area and offer two signed copies of Monstore- one to the classroom and the other to the school library- if a student from that school wins the costume contest! (And of course there must be candy at the party:)
I’m helping Tara by advertising her book on my Facebook page (over 700 friends), my Twitter feed and on my Google+ page. Thanks for this opportunity!
July 23, 2013 at 9:35 am
Marcy P.
I think videos are ALWAYS good… people will watch a short snippet of a video and share it easily on social media sites- if it makes them laugh or smile or warms their heart. Kinda like an agent 😉 But sadly, more and more people aren’t taking the time to read articles or great emails.
Also, what about googling Monster Conventions (which I did here: http://www.40ozofhorror.com/horror-convention-calendar/) and connect with folks in those places about selling your book or doing a book signing?
Finally- I STILL think the BEST PR is through friends and family. Get them organized to share their thoughts and opinions on your book- and why it’s just PERFECT for everyone else’s kids too… share it on facebook, twitter, etc. MOST of the children’s books I buy are because someone else had it, recommended it, and I loved it… or I met the artist/author at a conference and fell in love with their work.
July 23, 2013 at 9:35 am
Anne
Business has been booming at the Monstore. More monsters needed ASAP. Have kids submit their monster designs and descriptions. Best designer gets a free book and their monster featured in a coloring page on Tara’s website. Be sure and send a press release about winner to their local media.
July 23, 2013 at 9:43 am
evelynchristensen
I really enjoyed hearing about some of your favorite pbs. As for a possible marketing strategy, maybe you could offer monster puppet making workshops at bookstores, libraries, or other places you might normally do just a book signing or reading. Help the kids make monster puppets (there are lots of simple, easy kinds of puppets), then let them do a simple monster puppet show, video it, and post it on your blog or other special place on the web. Of course, you’ll be encouraging the kids to refer to your book while they’re creating their puppets. And since, of course, they’ll want to make more puppets at home, they’ll need your book there to enjoy and inspire their creativity.
July 23, 2013 at 9:44 am
Alayne Kay Christian
Thank goodness, I can get off the edge of my seat now 🙂 I will offer three marketing ideas. 1) Enter “Monstore” in contests. I found that winning the Mom’s Choice Awards was very helpful in getting the word out about my book. They do press releases and list your book on their website and they offer various marketing opportunities throughout the year. 2) Write Amazon reviews on other monster books. They give you the opportunity to insert a product link with your review. You could comfortably link to “Monstore.” because it is a related product. You can also do an Amazon list of monster books, which of course would include “Monstore.” 3) Do a Susanna Leonard type contest. Use your blog and contacts to promote a monster story contest. Each contestant would write a monster story based on your guidelines. They will post the story on their blog (unless you want them posted on your blog) and then post their blog link on your blog. In return, they will also tell about you and “Monstore” on their blog with a link back to you or “Monstore.” Of course you would have to decide how the winner would be picked and what the prize would be. I would be happy to be a judge 🙂
If you would like to contact me, I have some places that might review your book for free and give it even more Internet presence. I also know a few inexpensive ways to advertise. Oh, and announce in the SCBWI bulletin (if you are a member) and Children’s Writer E-news (if you suscribe) Oh, and then there’s cross marketing and . . . okay I’ll stop.
July 23, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Catherine Johnson
Alayne, I love your monster story idea, awesome!
July 24, 2013 at 9:40 am
Alayne Kay Christian
Thanks, Catherine. It sounds like fun to me, too 🙂
July 23, 2013 at 9:53 am
Sophia Mallonée
Hi Tara! Thanks for the wonderful interview with Mira and the cool offers! I’ve reposted to Twitter & Facebook and sent links to my fellow writers! Yay!
As for creative marketing techniques, have you ever thought about offering your blog as a podcast? You could also turn your Monstore book trailer into a free podcast. It could be a great way to spread the word! We love downloading book podcasts and interesting author interviews for long drives.
I also love Patti’s idea (above) about playing on Halloween and having some fun Monstore themed parties!
Thanks again and happy writing!
July 23, 2013 at 10:07 am
Donna Earnhardt
The Monstore needs to have a MONSTORE. Ya know, a place online where students can create and “buy” monsters. There can be monster parts for them to use to create their own monster. They can then “buy” them. No money involved, just sharing their “monster” via email or other social media. If they don’t have email, they can save it to their computers.
Might take some doing — but my kids would love it. You could expand it to be like the other online pet games so that kids then build homes and things for the monsters. 🙂
July 23, 2013 at 10:12 am
Donna L Martin
Marketing ideas:
1. Have elementary school classrooms do a “monster” drawing contest. Maybe Gracie needs to get a new monster for a special reason…i.e. needs a babysitter, bully at school, helping with a Halloween party, etc. Do Skype visits with participating schools and winning classroom gets autographed copy of the Monstore for their classroom library…maybe bookmarks for the children.
2. Work with a local bookstore or library to do a Scavenger Hunt. Might be good to tie into Halloween. Create a number of clues where children (or adults) go from one location to another around town until they have collected all the items and returned to the bookstore/library for a chance to enter a drawing for an autographed copy of the Monstore. If the library is a large one, you could have the clues send the kids all over the building itself…maybe looking for different books, magazines, movies, etc. on different monsters and when they solve the clue, there would be a small copy of one of the characters in the book to collect.
That’s just two…I could probably come up with more if I had more time…;~)
I’ve already created a blog post review, twittered it, announced in on LinkedIn, on Google Plus, and plan on doing reviews on Amazon and Goodreads…
Thanks for the opportunity Tara & Mira to win one of the special chances to be able to submit to Hummingbird Literary agency. Now to cross any fingers or toes I’m NOT currently using to type this in the hopes my name might be picked…lol…
Donna L Martin
July 23, 2013 at 11:35 am
Donna L Martin
Oh yeah, maybe you could call it a SCAREvenger Hunt? ;~)
Donna L Martin
July 23, 2013 at 10:13 am
Pascale
Hello Tara and Mira,
My creative marketing strategy would be to create an online contest at About.com. You could offer a signed copy of THE MONSTORE to the best monster drawing, or best monster story.
You can run your Contest at any time of the year with Kids Contests and Halloween contests.
If you do a search for “Halloween contests” or “Halloween contest” the About.com contest page comes at the top of the first page in Google.
According to the Google Keyword Tool, the phrase “Halloween Contest” is searched 4400 times per month. ‘Kids Writing Contests” is searched 1,300 times per month.
Kids Contests page: http://contests.about.com/od/sweepstakeslistings/tp/sweepstakesforkidsandteens.htm)
Kids Writing Contests:
http://kidsactivities.about.com/od/ReadingandWriting/tp/Writing-Contests-For-Kids.htm
Halloween Contests page: (http://contests.about.com/od/sweepstakeslistings/tp/halloweensweepstakes.htm)
Submission form:
http://contests.about.com/library/blsubmit.htm
Best of luck to both of you in your new endeavors!
July 23, 2013 at 10:31 am
Deb Dudley
Marketing Strategies- I read about the B&N /S&S dispute on twitter & it immediately inspired me to contact my local Richmond VA Indy Kidlit store, BBGB Books and share the info AND buy copies of The Monstore for my kiddos & their friends. I think Tara and the other authors should look at Kickstarter and consider using it as a vehicle to raise additional funds to market their books to other stores. Target has expanded their book shelf space in recent years and I think a push to have The Monstore including on their list would definitely increase sales. Also, have a fun kid party plan to market with the Monstore theme. Have the illustrator create bookmarks to sell on-line & as part of Kickstarter incentive. Flood the Kidlit writing community w/ info about the issue by having SCBWI bring it up at the upcoming conference. I know many writers will feel just like I felt when I heard the news~ What can I do to help these writers STILL HAVE THEIR MOMENT? I think the writing community will step forward. Best of luck! I’m pulling for you!
July 23, 2013 at 10:37 am
jenswan90
I love Anne’s idea (it’s the same one I came up with) 🙂 But maybe take it further. Maybe you can turn the kids creations into stickers or bookmarks – all with information about the book, of course.
Contact your local librarians and see if they will let you set up a display of your book for a few weeks. Then of course, arrange a book time. The display will keep people interested. I see tons of people walking in the library stopping to look at the books there. Plus, if there aren’t enough copies, then they will ask to order more.
Best of luck to you, Tara! I am proud to say that I was a participant in the very first PiBoId month!!
July 23, 2013 at 10:38 am
Kerry Mazengia
What a great post – so much information to soak in. Thank you! As for marketing ideas – how about a new take on an old idea. You did a Skype visit with my elementary school NaNoWriMo kids and everyone absolutely LOVED it – including the principal! So….how about another Skype visit idea for elementary schools – A Monster Mash. You could host a reading of your Monstore book as part of their Halloween festivities. I know a lot of classes do costume parades as part of their Halloween parties so the kids would already be in costume. Since Skype is an option to be in multiple places at once or in a short amount of time – you could include many different elementary schools on the same day! I wish you the best of luck on promoting your book!
~Kerry Mazengia
July 23, 2013 at 10:44 am
Mary Uhles
Hi Tara and Mira, I really loved both these posts. Great format to go back and forth asking questions. I also immediately added all your fave PBs to my request list at the library;)
Here’s my marketing ideas:
1) I always try to think of connecting something beyond the book to the book. Something thats not about selling books but about helping kids/people/make world a better place. That way people who are not in the “kid lit” world, to whom your book and Cartoon Network’s latest licensing thing are virtually the same, will have an extra reason to pick up your book or tweet about it or write about it. Maybe The Monstore helps get books into schools that are in a budget crunch, kids could design the monster that helps with that. Or maybe some way to partner with RIF or some other book foundation. With this effort you could do guest blogs on online media beyond the kid lit world, each one throws in a little line about Tara Lazar, author of The Monstore (links back to the book).
2. I would try to do a downloadable curriculum for how the book could work in the classroom and/or fit into the Common Core. It’s a fun read but for young readers things like telling the difference between the type helps developing readers determine who is telling the story, why etc. Then maybe start local with your school as a case study, get some testimonials from teachers about how the book was great in the classroom. After that move up to getting the word out to teachers on a larger scale by connecting with online teacher forums, twitter chats, maybe even through the bigger trade organizations. Something like could give it a long life if its used year after year in a classroom.
Anyway, as usual Tara enjoyed your posts. Mira I’m going to check out some of your classes! And hope to bump into you both in LA;)
July 23, 2013 at 11:02 am
Caroline
Thanks for this great interview, Tara and Mira! I, too, liked the back-and-forth interviewing format.
As for additional marketing ideas:
1) Pinterest is a great avenue many authors are beginning to use. I’ve worked with several authors on creating images with quotes from their novels. We create an appealing graphic with an interesting or inspiring quote from the book and link the image back to the author’s website (with info about the book) or to the Amazon book page. With THE MONSTORE, you could use a image of one of the characters and a brief synopsis/teaser of the book (one-line) or a quote.
2) You can also use Pinterest as a way for readers to connect with the author. Readers can post an image of themselves with the book or the book in a unique, THE MONSTORE-related scene for a creative contest (or just to have their photo posted on one of the author’s Pinterest boards).
3) Have you done a blog book tour with THE MONSTORE? Many mom, librarian, and homeschooling bloggers LOVE to share about new and fantastic picture books. Even utilizing smaller bloggers helps get the word out.
4) One of my ideas is similar to what Mary mentioned above, but geared to families rather than schools. (I LOVE her idea of curriculum to use the book in schools!) You could create a free ebook able to be downloaded with purchase of THE MONSTORE (they can email you an image of their receipt or a number of other ways to collect this data). This ebook could include fun craft ideas, activities related to core subjects (math, science, etc.) and the book, and more for kids to do with their parents and siblings. (Some authors I’ve seen even create free apps to go along with their books! Though, I don’t know much about creating apps.)
It’s been neat to read the other comments here, too! Lots of ideas for all of us to think about!
July 23, 2013 at 11:12 am
Wendy Martin Art
I love Tara. I’ve blathered on about the Monstore to whomever would listen. There’s a review on my book blog, (the book was then donated to the local public library) and an interview with Ms. Lazar on my art blog. That neat logo to the left for the Lucky 13s was my creation. Mira, you sound like my dream agent. I don’t want to be pigeon-holed in my creativity and it appears you want a client that will continue to explore new territories.
I have teacher guides for all my books. They cover as many of the core skill education groups as possible. Monstore would have wonderful possibilities for Social Sciences and Math. Of course, there is art and writing, too.
July 23, 2013 at 11:18 am
Cathy C. Hall
Gosh, SO many good ideas. But the first one that came to me–maybe because I was a former preschool teacher and would’ve been thrilled to have an author visit my class and read her picture book–is to go where the picture-book crowd hangs out. Contact as many preschools and daycare/preschools (or even summer camp programs going on NOW) in an area you’d be comfortable traveling to. It would be great if you had a connection–ask on Facebook or your blog–but it’s not necessary. And unlike your elementary school visits, you’d need a fun activity (that tied in to simple concepts, like colors, numbers, etc.), and I was thinking of something like a Mr. Potato Head, except with monsters. Have a big poster board and let kids decide on the monster shape. Then have prepared face and body parts (in different colors and shapes) and let each kid choose a part (and using double-sided tape) create a class monster. Take a picture with the monster, sell bunches of books, and give the kids bookmarks for the parents.
Also, September, October is a great time for festivals, corn mazes, pumpkin patches (at least, they’re big here in the South). LOTS of kids going to these activities–and offering several story times (make a board announcing when you’ll be reading) is one more draw for these vendors (and a chance for you to sell books!).
Finally, use World Cat to find libraries and check to see where THE MONSTORE might be missing. Have a contest to get your book in these libraries, and use your blog to get writers involved. We love libraries–and I make requests for my friends books all the time!
And P.S. I’m gonna bookmark this page–SO many creative marketing strategies!
July 23, 2013 at 11:38 am
Cathy Ballou Mealey
OK, I’m game for this marketing challenge!
1) Peepers is arguably a star character in The Monstore. Why not distribute promotional copies of the book in the waiting rooms at pediatric optometrists and opthalmologists? Add a sticker on the front challenging kids to find Peepers on each page, as well as information on where to order copies.
2) Partner with a local candy store or cupcake bakery to sell limited edition “Monstore” themed treats, and schedule a reading/book signing during the promotional period.
3) Ask your pediatric dentists and orthodontists if you can hang promotional posters in their waiting rooms, or (as in #1) offer copies of the book with those handsome, sparkly toothed monsters!
Best of luck Tara! The Monstore has so many of us buzzing about it in cyber-world, I’m hoping you are not exhausted by the time Halloween is over! And thanks to Mira for this great opportunity!
July 24, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Jennifer Rumberger
Cathy,
These are really great ideas! Love them!
July 23, 2013 at 11:44 am
Robyn Campbell
Hahaha. Sweet interview Tara and Mira. I’m going to check out those books you recommended, Mira.
I have talked Monstore up one side of main street and down the other. I still have to leave a review on Amazon though. 🙂 That really is on my ‘TO DO’ list. *ahem* It’s at the top. *scratches a note to self*
So many wonderful ideas are already taken. (Why am I so late for this very important date??)
One idea I had is to have a nationwide contest for kidlet illustrators where they draw their own monsters and the winner or winners would be in the next Monstore picture book. (You are planning a sequel, right Tara?)
Good luck everyone!
July 23, 2013 at 11:47 am
Alayne Kay Christian
Just a bonus tip, bouncing off of Cathy Ballou Mealey’s suggestion. I ask dentists, doctors, vets, etc. if I can put a sample copy of my book in the waiting room. They are always happy to have it, as it gives kids something to do while waiting. I put a sticker on the book that says “Waiting room copy.” with information on where they can buy their own copy of the book.
July 23, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Linda
Thanks for the great interview Tara and Mira. As far as marketing your book, you want to try to attract new people who don’t already know about your book. The problem with running a contest amongst kids is that anyone who knows about the contest probably already knows about your book. Some great ways I found to find new customers are:
Host a Goodreads giveaway or have your publisher host one. This helps generate reviews and requires people to add your book to their to-read list. The more books you give away the more chance you have of getting reviews from those winners (approx. 50% will review the book.) While you’re there add your books to some Listopia lists too! I also love Rafflecopter because it encourages people to share by awarding them points for sharing through FB, twitter, blog, etc. The more they share the more points they earn, the more their chances of winning are increased. It’s simple and easy to use. Another idea is to buy a similar book to yours that’s already a big seller along with a copy of your book from Amazon. Purchasing the two together can encourage others to buy your book too when purchasing the big selling book. Last but not least, I like the idea of leaving a book in various places but that can get expensive. I have cheap postcards made and leave them everywhere that kids, moms, and grandmoms hangout. Leave them on your table in restaurants, bathrooms, hairdressers, doctor’s offices, etc. Good luck! And because I know how important reviews are I posted reviews for Monstore on Goodreads and Amazon and I’m suggesting as gifts when people ask me for book recommendations.
July 23, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Kenda Henthorn
Wonderful interful interviews and posts! Thank you both, Mira and Tara!
I have an additional marketing suggestion for Tara, too!
With Monsters University being such a block buster hit, I’d suggest you set up book signings of The Monstore (which I LOVED, btw!!) on matinee weekends at some of your local movie megaplexes. Think of all those monster loving kids (and parents with their wallets and purses!), who would be walking through those doors to see something so closely related to your book! And for them to be able to leave the theatre with their very own signed copy of The Monstore book…something to have and to hold and to read and to LOVE, too…will far exceed the temporary joy of experiencing the movie that day.
I bet the movie theatre managers would be very supportive of the additional viewers your signing would attract for them on those days, too. Go for it!
Best wishes!
Kenda Henthorn
July 23, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Nancy Gow
Hi Tara and Mira,
Wow! These are all fantastic ideas. Nobody has mentioned TV and radio. Contact your local and state TV station(s). Send them electronic copies of the eye-catching artwork from your book. The illustrations could be an enticing part of the interview. Contact radio stations, particularly NPR. Come up with a hook, linked to the content of your book, that will appeal to many people. Enjoy!
July 23, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Rosie Pova
Hi Tara and Mira,
You both are wonderful professionals! I’ve been following Tara’s blog for a while now, fanned her on FB and back when she first announced the release of THE MONSTORE I shared the news on Facebook (without being asked :)) urging people to spread the word and support Tara.
I have great respect for Tara and her inspirational journey to publication. I shared her story with my critique group since one of our own members battles MS.
Thanks to Tara’s PiBoIdMo, (in which I haven’t officially participated yet), I’ve come up with a list for myself and have produced many stories that I’m proud of. So, thanks again, Tara.
As for the contest at hand and my suggestion–combine all of the above ideas into a one week marathon, executing every single one of them: the monster costume party, picture contest, library and school contest, puppet workshop, baked treats, dentist offices’ reading copy…. BUT! Here’s one more monstrous idea of my own: when spreading the word through friends, family and followers, encourage people to order your book for pick up at B&N. And, if they show up for their copy dressed up as one of the monsters, even better.
See my grin 🙂
I hope to win!
Thank you both.
Rosie Pova
July 23, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Pascale
Second idea would be to create a PB writing class or other class at SkillShare (http://www.skillshare.com/). This suggestion could be both to Tara and Mira.
July 23, 2013 at 1:02 pm
viviankirkfield
Tara and Mira…this back-and-forth Q&A was spectacular…the offer to sign up for the August class at a super-dooper early bird price is sensational (I’m already signed up:)…and the chance to win an opportunity to submit to Hummingbird is stupendous! HOWEVER, for all of us who are present, past or future marketers and promoters of our own published books, the wealth of how-to-get-your-book-noticed-and-bought ideas that were shared in the comments is SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPEALIDOCIOUS! Everyone should bookmark this page or print it out and keep it as a master marketing plan.:)
I love each and every one of the thoughts shared here…virtual blog tours (I know you did one of those, Tara with this kid lit community…perhaps expand and do one with mom bloggers/homeschool moms), school visits/contests/events, reviewing other related books on Amazon and adding a product link to Monstore (AWESOME idea!) and creating lists on Amazon that include Monstore…WOW!
Tara…there are over 122,000 libraries in the US alone (as of 2009)…Monstore belongs in each one, right? If even only 10% bought a copy, that would be over 12,000 books sold…not bad. And when your book is in a library, hundreds, if not thousands, of parents will have a chance to hold a copy in their hands and say, “I need to buy this!” Why not connect with children’s librarians through Twitter/Facebook/Linkedin/Pinterest/Blogs?
Another idea: Use various library/book related holidays (National Library Week in April, World Book Day in March http://www.worldbookday.com/, Read a Book Week in September, etc.) and book festivals (http://bookfestivals.com/) to tie Monstore into existing media coverage and bloggers world-wide.
Best of luck, Tara, with The Monstore…I know you will do well with it! Mira…all good wishes for Hummingbird’s success…and I am looking forward to connecting with you at Picture Book Academy next month!
July 23, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Diane Kress Hower
Thanks again Tara and Mira.
Mira thank you for the opportunities you provide for growing our craft and pitching our manuscripts.
I am delighted to have Monstore sitting here on my desk for my August line up for my Book Wisdom by Diane blog that has included a spot on our local news. In doing my posting and supporting books for children, I have looked locally to what I can provide. I live in a small valley between Salt Lake City and Denver. I am grateful to have found several local journalists who jumped on the bandwagon of allowing me to share books with parents and community members. Some posts and video links have helped get the word out and others not so much. The two things I have collected in my data that are clear are timing of the post and TV airing date. The other is the author or illustrator who submitted their book following up additionally with their networks about the post. If there is a disconnect from that key person and their presence in what I do, then the impact is lessened.
One of the suggestions I have is to find your find your local Mother’s group either through a website or FB or a physical chapter and make sure they know what you have to offer.
Thanks!
Diane
July 23, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Catherine Johnson
Sharing now, this is awesome.
Have a blogfest where each person chooses an aspect of the story and makes a fun post out of it (me trapdoors)
Find some funny YouTube videos about monsters and blog them.
Ask readers on Pinterest to start a Monstore board and post recipes etc on it and or get their kids to draw a monster for a competition and put them on the board too.
July 23, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Laura Renauld
Like Diane, above, I was going to suggest local mom’s groups. I belong to MOMS Club International and we have monthly meetings with guest speakers. A club would love to have an author do a story time/craft/book signing. It would be a bit more targeted than a booth at a festival and, hopefully, all those moms would recommend it to all their other mom friends!
July 23, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Sue Frye
Holy Moly! So many great suggestions already! I have only a couple measly ideas to add to the pot. How about writing a great review and present it to news papers, locally and nationally. Also, I’m sure all of your friends and students could post the review on Twitter, Facebook and their blogs! And if you have anything free to give away that will totally spark activity on your site.
I am busting out happy for the both of you! And I wish you all the success in the world!
July 23, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
Wonderful information for writers, as usual, Tara. And I appreciate Mira’s picture book Mondays and all she has added to the literary community as well. I’d love to have the opportunity to pitch to Mira. I believe I’ve helped get the word out about Monstore with my recent interview of Tara for my critique group’s blog and I just started a new blog for my Pinterest page in response to the above request for sharing a marketing strategy – Terrific Monsterly Picture Books: http://pinterest.com/cekster/terrific-monsterly-picture-books/ Please repin if you’re on Pinterest! Wishing both Tara and Mira continued success in all their literary endeavors.
July 23, 2013 at 5:29 pm
Jennifer Rumberger
Great two posts, Tara and Mira! And what a great contest for pitching. I haven’t looked at many of the other comments, so I don’t know if these ideas have been suggested, but here goes.
1. My son suggested “making” people people see it on the internet, and I asked him how to do that. He said to have those little ads on webpages, and I thought that was good, and have them on kid pages.
2. Have you done an official blog tour? I know I featured i for you. You could do one in early October before Halloween with each site offering different activities pertaining to the book – puppets or activity sheets or things like that.
3. You could have aform on your website to have readers fill out to get swag. It would cost you a little, but you could send out signed bookplates, bookmarks, maybe a magnet or something like that. Bloggers and other websites could advertise for you.
Just a few ideas. I love the book, so would live to see it out tjete more. Good luck to you both!
July 23, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Jennifer Rumberger
Sorry for the typos, I’m on my phone right now! 🙂 i would LOVE to see it out THERE more.
July 23, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Lori Mozdzierz
Great dual interview, ladies! 😀
*Ask indie book stores and local libraries to host a Monstore Bash.
July 23, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Lucy McAlister
Tara and Mira,
1.How about a youtube video with some characters from your book dancing to Monster Mash?
2. As an artist I love the idea of children designing their own masks, simple made from paper plates with collage. Cut big eye holes or a big rectangle for good vision. If it occurs close to Halloween, these children may have a built in costume. Homemade is so much better. At a book talk or author visit, this may be a follow-up to help garner interest.
July 23, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Patricia Tilton
Great interview ladies. I’m a little late to the “game.” So many creative wonderful suggestions. I really liked the Monster University, the movie theater ideas, doctors/dentists offices etc. If the movie is nominated for for any awards this year, I certainly would look research putting a copy of the book into the bags that are handed out at the Academy Awards or the People’s Choice Awards.
July 23, 2013 at 8:55 pm
jenniferkirkeby
Thank you for the fantastic interview, Mira and Tara! I’ve spread the word to schools, friends, and the theatre that I work with about Tara’s fabulous book,The Monstore. I’ve also used Facebook and Twitter. Pinterest is also a wonderful way to get the word out.
I think a fresh and fun marketing idea would be to have kids send in their ideas why their hometown needs The Monstore. Did their older sister use up all the sidewalk chalk? Does their little brother always get the last cookie? Are there just too many pesky siblings in their town? Then they need The Monstore! The winner would get to have the amazing Tara Lazar come to their local bookstore or library for a visit!
Continued success!
July 23, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Angie Karcher
I really enjoyed your interview and especially love the awesome mktg. ideas! My idea is for you to approach museums, especially children’s museums, to host The Monstore Mania Sale Day! Speak to the Director of Education about your ideas. She/he will take them and run! As a former Ed. Dir. At a small children’s museum, I never had much money but knew how to market the heck out of an event that would bring in hundreds of families! We generally partnered with corporate sponsors to cover advertising and promotional materials. Have them help you set up The Monstore complete with checkout lanes and cash registers. Print Monstore Money (book marks) with your picture in the center and your contact information. Offer coupons, shopping bags, shopping carts, etc. let the museum help with the ideas and planning…it’s their job and typically are required to host author events. This cover literacy, math/money skills, role-playing and more. The best part is that the media loves these big events and the museums network with other museums recommending you and your book promo. Of course you will do book signings, Monstore crafts, costume contests…it’s The Monstore Mania Sale Day! Drawing for prizes is also a big hit…give away an appearance at a school to the lucky child…thus more hoopla! Think big! Houston and Indianapolis ch. museums would be my first two choices.
You could do similar events at theme parks,school family nights, and campgrounds in the fall. Halloween is your friend! Have a mascot made for one of your favorite characters and have it go with you.
My last suggestion is do parades. Build a float. Yes, have local college or high school students help you from start to finish. All you have to do is ride and wave like a beauty queen! Good luck!
July 23, 2013 at 10:01 pm
dyanncallahan
I will be at the webinar tomorrow and love all the ideas in this article, many are time consuming and involve a lot of effort and footwork for a busy person. For me I would do an interactive book App for the Microsoft store, get someone like me (an artist/illustrator) who is making a portfolio and therefore instead of 5 grand …its like a fraction of that. This way, you can use your book in a different medium that should not conflict with print sales. You can incorporate many ideas above and make a “build your own monster” store and kids can interact with one another, post their monster’s blogs and let THEM have fun and do the work. Then use ideas above to promote. for 2.99 they can have their monster and his blog with them and make events for them. It could be an offshoot of your book, if the publisher has issues, too- make a MONSTORE and sell the book but also provide a little community for the custom monsters!
July 23, 2013 at 11:23 pm
Janie Reinart
Thank you Mira and Tara for the interview and all the great info you provide. Love all the great ideas posted. A couple of more thoughts:
Tara reading from her book in a podcast for her blog.
Kids send in short videos reading their favorite parts of Monstore.
Kids create Halloween costumes from “the store” and send in pictures.
Kids dress pets from “the store” and send in pictures.
July 24, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Cindy
Okay, I’m going out on a limb here. I happened to notice in cryptozoology circles (think Yeti), there’s such a thing as the Jersey Devil. (Google monsters & New Jersey….there’s a book about mysterious creatures of the Garden State…your home state Tara, if I’m correct). Anyway, could there be some tie-in featuring these various creatures? New Jersey Monster Day? Cryptolzoology convention? A local museum or bookstore that specializes in weird stuff? A library with a pre-Halloween exhibit? Tours that go to sites where weird creatures have been spotted? You could collaborate with these folks and get the book seen/distributed. Admittedly, this isn’t the most kid-friendly approach….but certainly unusual!
July 24, 2013 at 3:30 pm
SevenAcreSky
Tara, Mira, what great interviews. Wonderful info and insights.
As for marketing ideas, there are so many great ones above. I can’t think of much to add.
But I have one idea: Most states have school librarian listserves…connect with librarians in each state to advertise the first ever Monsternament!
1) Elementary students could be invited to draw a Monster for Sale that is digitally scanned (most teachers or librarians could handle this) and submitted to the Monsternament by email or website form.
2) A facebook page, or your blogsite posts, could publish the images, which get voted up the bracket by your blog readers or facebook fans.
3) Kids and teachers and librarians and writers and illustrators everywhere could watch the best Monster ride to the top…from state to regionals, to semifinals, and the finals.
3) Giveaways over the timeframe of the tournament and at each level of the event help maintain interest. Interest generation can include posters emailed to local municipal libraries and local bookstores.
At first this sounds like a lot of work. And it may be. But spaced out over time and with the help of fans of 12×12 and ICL and other writers, the connections could be facilitated. Most writers are connected with schools in some way. Even if it involved only one elementary school from each state, a nation-wide contest is a great way to promote on a broad geographical basis.
July 24, 2013 at 5:38 pm
bonni
I will happily spread the word.
My marketing tip is a hybrid: since you’re the Queen of PiBoIdMo you could run a similar annual event for kids, teachers, classes, families, or any group to create 30 monsters in any media (drawing, sewing, fruits, computer art, etc.) in 30 days. As an annual event you would have an outlet for yearly promotion and it might get some press and could spin off into other ventures….
July 25, 2013 at 12:49 am
Mindy Alyse Weiss
There are so many amazing ideas here, Tara! I scanned through them and hope I don’t repeat any. I’m so sorry that you’ve encountered the B&N issue, but honestly–you can probably overcome that easier than anyone else. You’ve made such a name for yourself online, always giving helpful advice, cheering us on in your incredibly inspiring PiBoIdMo challenge, and entertaining and informing us with your posts (not to mention some awesome giveaways). I’m sure that gave your book sales a huge boost! Here are a few other ideas that might help:
Have someone create an online Monstore game, where players can either choose or create their monsters for each situation. It can start with the sister, but then you can add all kinds of interesting twists (scare away the babysitter who eats all the candy in the house, etc.) Readers find out a few things about the person they need to scare, and use that to come up with the perfect monster. They can get points (or virtual sour gum balls or squirmy worms), depending on how well the scare goes. There could also be some side games, like trying to squish all the monsters into the house in a set amount of time, trying to put the monsters back together again (like a free form puzzle).
Once a month during the school year, you can hold some kind of kid-friendly contest, with a prize of a signed book and maybe even a Skype visit to a class or group (this could help invest teachers in making it an assignment), which would encourage more kids to read and fall in love with The Monstore. The contest could ask them to draw a monster and say what it can do (I’m not sure if you need a release to use these on your website, but it would be wonderful to see a fan art monster gallery). Or maybe you can have guest illustrators (either professionals or children) come up with the monsters, and the contest is to name the monster and say what it can do. Or you could ask older children to write a story about what happens when they purchase that monster. You can decide who wins, or you can have readers vote on them (which could draw even more attention to your website, plus The Monstore and your upcoming books).
I’ve already shouted out about your amazing picture book on Facebook and Twitter–it’s such a creative, funny, and fun read that I’m sure will go into multiple printings before long.
July 26, 2013 at 4:31 am
piadrent
Whoa! So many good ideas. Bookmarking this for later reference. My idea is to get kids (incl. adult kids) to make monster noises on video and put them on Instagram or Vine with a tag. You could throw in a prize or two, e.g. a free copy of The Monstore to give to a friend (cause they will already have it themselves) or their Monster noise featured on your blog. You could also make reel of the noise videos, I think that might spread well on social media.
Thank you both for the inspiring interviews!
Pia
July 26, 2013 at 9:24 am
Tracey M. Cox
Thank you ladies for such a great bi-interview. It was fun, inspirational, and learning. 🙂
Now to comment on ways to promote:
SOCIAL MEDIA:
~Have everyone post a book review on Amazon, B&N, GoodReads, their blogs, FaceBook, Twitter… along with the cover art.
CONTESTS:
~We are getting close to Halloween. Have a costume party.
~HOST AN EVENT ON FACEBOOK Make it public. Here you could have people dress up like a monster. Or have a monster roaring contest. Or let them build a diorama and show it off. They could make their own stories and read them (video) or post them to your wall.
OTHER:
~Book festivals… send out author swag to be given away (I am hosting one in October. :))
~Read A-longs… There are so many days in the year where authors can visit (in person or online) to read their story to classes.
~Community Festivals and Organizations… contact your local Chamber of Commerce to see what is happening in your own area.
OKay, So there are a few things off the top of my head. 🙂
Good luck, TARA!!! And to you to MIRA with your new agency!!!
July 28, 2013 at 6:09 am
Boo Stad
…Difficult to submit an idea that hasn’t already been mentioned by such imaginative and supportive minds.
Most of what I’ve read are wonderful high-tech ideas. Maybe the trick is to kick it back a bit, low-tech. Old school.
I’m aware that the budget is non-existent at worse, tight at best. Would it be possible to print book-marks with various characters from ‘The MONSTORE’ and maybe a quote from the book on one side, with a character on the ‘B’ side asking the reading to…
‘Pass me on to someone you love!’
Distribute the book-marks to as many ‘outlets’ as possible with the brief of putting one in each purchase of a children’s book, no matter what the title!
Children, (as well as some adults) love something tactile for free and enjoy giving to their friends.
Again, I realise this is ‘old school’, yet ‘retro’ is all the rage right now!
We have the book Tara and it’s a fun read. Well done and good luck!
July 29, 2013 at 12:45 pm
The Ink Pond
Dear Tara,
This may be a repeat of a previous comments/suggestions above but one that I think would be a great way to bring the Monstore into the public and/or private school system and engage kids on multiple levels while using The Monstore as an incredible learning tool!
THE MONSTORE CLASSROOM CURRICULUM:
1. Read the Monstore in class as part of a project learning letters, numbers, money, discussing fears in children or a week long project around Halloween.
2. Have the children create, name and color their Monstore monster. Grades (1-2) can also write a small paragraph about their monster. There could be pre-made pieces of Monstore monster parts that the kids get to pick out or googly eyes, pipe cleaners, paper feet, bodies, arms, etc.
You could send “The Monstore Kit” to classrooms that participate in a contest during a certain time frame that you judge for best monster, etc. The kit could include: a stuffed Monstore monster for the classroom, bookmarks for the class, signed copy of the book, etc.
3. The Monstore then opens for business and the older grade levels (1-2) can work on money identification, adding/subtracting, etc. There can be a contest for best Monstore monster at the end of the week.
For the younger grade levels it can be a week long process where the children earn Monstore bucks to visit the Monstore at the end of the week to buy a monster created by their classmates for good behavior for the week (picking up toys, being kind to others, standing quietly in line)
**other ways to use Monstore: pattern practice with pre-printed Monstore monsters, create silly monster names for writing practice, describe what your monster can do, create a class monster where everyone chooses one part for the monster and all parts create one large, silly monster.
Thank you for letting me be part of the idea process!
Cheers and much success to you!
Tia