MICHELLE ROBINSON - CHILDREN'S AUTHOR
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10 event tips for picture book authors

11/21/2019

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1. Plan ahead.

If you have a book coming out, you should be doing some events to promote it. Get ahead of yourself: plan the content of your events before the book hits the shelves. How will you fill 45 minutes to an hour with a picture book that only takes two minutes to read aloud? Sure, you can read it more than once during your event, but 30 times might get a little repetitive... How will you introduce yourself? How will you build rapport with your audience? Can you explore the book's themes, or the idea of being a writer/illustrator?
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'The Day The Banana Went Bad' publishes in two months' time. I've already planned my events - and ordered my banana costume. Art by Tom Knight.

2. Be a pleasure to meet.

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Get your game face on...
It's not uncommon to arrive at your event in a flap. Maybe you got lost, your train was delayed, or perhaps you just find events very nerve wracking? Wherever possible, try and get there a little ahead of time so you can take ten minutes to get yourself into a good frame of mind for meeting your hosts. They'll be looking forward to meeting you and you're bound to have a good time once you get going. So breathe, get your game face on and go get 'em!

3. Be memorable on and off stage.

When working with someone is a good experience from start to finish (and that includes emailing, phone calls and invoicing!), we're far more likely to recommend them to someone else, or even to ask for a repeat. Make sure you're remembered for all the right reasons.

4. Borrow the big screen.

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You don't have to be too tech-savvy to use a big screen, and most classrooms, halls and other venues have them. It's much easier for kids to see the pages of your book on a large screen. Crowding around an opened book in an author's lap doesn't work unless you have a very small audience - kids wriggle, shove one another and get bored when they can't see. It's much easier to ask your publisher for PDFs of your book spreads. You don't have to build any additional slides if that's not your thing, but a simple slideshow can help you navigate your way through an hour and provide you with visual prompts that stop you losing your thread. You can email your slides to your host ahead of time and/or take it along with you on a memory stick. Always be sure to convert your show into a few different formats in case one fails you: try PDF, PPT. (or PPTX.) and Keynote. Again, arriving a little ahead of time gives you some buffer time to check it's all working.

5. Invest in a clicker.

Did you know you can buy a wireless presentation clicker that works on any computer? They come with a little removal USB stick that slots into the computer running your slideshow. You just click your handset to navigate back and forth through your slides. It means you can stand anywhere in the room to present - you don't have to be tied to the computer keypad. Some venues will have a clicker you can borrow, but as someone who presents frequently, I'd recommend buying one of your own.

6. Don't bankrupt yourself.

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Paper plates - cheap, readily available, recyclable and endlessly versatile!
A clicker pays for itself if you do enough events, but it might prove expensive if you're not planning on doing many. Bear in mind that many picture books never even earn out their advance. If you're struggling to make ends meet, don't feel obliged to fork out on expensive props, craft materials or other bits and bobs every time you present. When doing crafts for small children, think about cheap supplies you can buy in bulk, keep in a cupboard and use for future presentations too. Sometimes your publisher or the event organisers can help - but don't expect a budget.

7. Bring your stories to life.

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Even if your book is The Best Book on The Planet, simply reading it aloud isn't going to cut the mustard. You're uniquely placed to share it in a way no one else can. Tell children how, where and when you work. Breathe life into the characters and bring them into the room. Can you remember how you came up with the story? What influences you?

8. Get the audience involved.

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​Ask your audience questions, It's hugely entertaining and takes the heat off you. Put your book down at a pivotal moment. Pause and ask the children what they think happens next - use the page turns to create suspense in the room. Try not to force them to sit still and silent for a whole hour. Very young children find this hard, and if the children are unhappy you won't really enjoy yourself, either.

9. Leave them fired up.

What do your audience think the character's next adventure should be? Do they think they might have a go at writing it? Get you audience dreaming up ideas of their own while you're together. You know it takes courage to share an idea out loud and to commit it to paper. Encourage them, praise their ideas and help inspire the next generation of story makers.
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10. Keep something extra up your sleeve.

Technology can fail. Weird emergencies can happen.  You might talk super fast and end up with twenty extra minutes to fill. Duff days are very definitely a thing. Always be sure to have enough ideas and alternatives in mind just in case, for some reason, your original presentation doesn't go to plan. It might be as simple as having paper and pencils on hand for everyone and getting them to draw the front cover of an imagined sequel. If you know you have a Plan B, you'll be unflappable. 

Have fun, always - and GOOD LUCK!
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Ten Fat Sausages need your vote!

11/13/2019

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Voting is open for the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2020, and the Ten Fat Sausages are hoping to scoop the prize for Best Picture Book - cast your vote today! 

Voting is open to all - children, teachers and anyone who loves funny books. Do check out the LOLLIES shortlists for some great Christmas present ideas. 

HUGE THANKS to MammaFilz for hosting me and the sausages on her brilliant blog as part of the ongoing Lollies2020 Blog Tour. Check out her site for great parenting tips, smart book tip offs - and now, even an interview with silly old me. 

Thanks for reading - and for voting!
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Picture books in translation

11/5/2019

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One of the many quirks and perks of publishing is having your work on bookshelves overseas. It's pretty much all thanks to the rights team at your publishing house. As well as representing your stories at the big international book fairs, they work year round to try and get your books printed and distributed by other publishers all over the world.

Of course, writing a story with universal appeal also plays a part, as does having a smart editorial team with insight, foresight and eyesight - it helps to be paired with an illustrator whose work has appeal in more than one market. Tastes and trends differ across the world; if you're lucky enough to travel overseas, check out the kids sections in book shops and you'll see.

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ZiNiN Bibliotheek, Nijverdal, Nederlands - a stunning public space and a very warm welcome!
I was recently lucky enough to visit the stunning ZiNiN Bibliotheek library in Nijverdal, Nederlands where my books are stocked and borrowed.  The photo below shows my lovely little friend Sofia with a copy of 'Hoe Je Een Wollige Mammoet Moet Wassen in Tien Lessen' ('How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth in Ten Lessons'). It's a popular book by me and illustrator Kate Hindley. This particular version was translated by Dutch children's writer Imme Dros and published by Querido.
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Sofia with 'Hoe Je Een Wollige Mammoet Moet Wassen in Tien Lessen'
It's pretty cool when the postman delivers a couple of copies of your book in a different language.

I sometimes wonder what other authors do with their foreign editions? I tend to keep one copy (for vanity's sake, I suppose) and give the others away - either to friends whose children speak that language, or to libraries for their foreign language section.

I only wish I could help my overseas publishers to promote my books in their territories as I do my books published in the UK.

How to increase your chances of co-editions?

Not all of my books get translated. I always feel very grateful when they do, and slightly guilty when they don't - I feel I owe it to my publishers to give them books with strong earning potential. One of the things that can help is to not write exclusively in rhyme.

I'm often asked why writing in rhyme is considered problematic for writers who want to publish picture books. The simple reason is: rhyme doesn't easily translate, making co-edition deals much harder to land, which limits the money-making potential of your book. 

That's not to say you shouldn't write in rhyme. Go for it, if that's your thing. You might even have great success, at least in English-speaking markets. But it's important to be aware of the problems it presents, and you need to be ready to have a go at a prose version of your story if a publisher asks to see it.
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'How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth' has been printed in at least ten languages.

Try rewriting one of your texts in prose.

 'How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth' was originally a rhyming story when Simon & Schuster first took an interest in it. My would-be-editor suggested I rewrite it in prose. I wasn't convinced I was capable, but I put on my poker face and said of course I could. The resulting story has now been printed (and reprinted several times), in ten languages at the last count - all thanks to Simon & Schuster's brilliant business brains, Kate Hindley's gorgeous art and a seemingly timeless interest in prehistoric mammals.

It really is a wonderful feeling to know kids and families are enjoying your stories all over the world. Huge thanks to the Vloon-Taliani family and ZiNiN Bibliotheek for the warmest of welcomes.

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    Michelle Robinson is a
    UK-based, best-selling, major award-winning, sausage-wearing children's author.

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