Upcoming Fall and Winter Events

 

Come see me and other creative authors and crafters at these events:

Sunday, Sep. 22           Durand Fall Market  11am-3pm

                                             Durand, MI

Saturday, Oct. 19        Church of the Nazarene Fall Craft Festival & Bake Sale  9am-3pm

                                             Linden, MI

Saturday, Nov. 2          Pinckney Masonic Temple Craft Show  9am-3pm

                                            Pinckney, MI

Sunday, Nov. 17           We are Dexter  2pm at the Dexter District Library

                                             Dexter, MI

Saturday, Nov. 23        Potterville Holiday Market  10am-3pm

                                             Potterville, MI

Saturday, Dec. 14       WinterWhimsy Marketplace 9am-3pm

                                             Hartland, MI

Craft Shows as a Launch Pad to Success

 

For self-published authors, particularly those in the children’s book genre, craft shows can be a golden opportunity to connect with readers, showcase their work, and build a local fan base. Unlike traditional book fairs, craft shows offer a unique environment where your book can stand out amidst handmade crafts and artisanal goods. Here’s how you can make the most of these events to market and sell your children's books.

1. Choose the Right Craft Shows: Not all craft shows are created equal. Look for events that attract families and children, as these will be the most relevant to your target audience. Research the demographics of past events and consider attending smaller, community-focused shows where you can interact more directly with potential buyers.

2. Create a Captivating Booth: Your booth should be visually appealing and reflect the theme of your books. Use colorful banners, engaging displays, and interactive elements like a reading corner or book-themed activities. Consider creating a fun backdrop for photos to draw in families and give them a reason to stop by.

3. Offer Exclusive Show Deals: Attract attendees with special offers that are only available at the craft show. This could include discounts, bundled deals, or limited-edition prints. These incentives can encourage immediate purchases and make your booth a must-visit.

4. Engage with Your Audience: Don’t just sit behind your table—be proactive in engaging with visitors. Read excerpts from your books, share the inspiration behind your stories, and be ready to answer questions. Hosting a short storytelling session or a craft activity related to your book can also draw people in and create a memorable experience.

5. Collect Contact Information: Use the event as an opportunity to build your mailing list. Offer a sign-up sheet for a newsletter or updates on future book releases. Consider running a giveaway or contest to encourage sign-ups and collect contact details from interested readers.

6. Leverage Social Media: Promote your participation in the craft show through social media channels before, during, and after the event. Share sneak peeks of your booth setup, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates. Post-event, thank attendees and share photos to maintain engagement and build excitement for future events.

7. Network with Other Vendors: Craft shows are also a great place to network with other vendors. They may offer cross-promotion opportunities or share valuable tips and resources that can benefit your book marketing efforts.

Participating in craft shows can be a powerful strategy for self-published children's book authors looking to expand their reach and build a local following. By creating an inviting booth, engaging with your audience, and leveraging social media, you can turn these events into successful marketing and sales opportunities. With the right approach, your self-published children’s books can capture the imagination of many and find their way into the hearts and homes of readers.

Off to Eastside Summer Fest

 

Tomorrow I will be heading off to the Eastside Summer Fest and I am nervous!  Yes, I am not holding back - I am nervous.  

This is in my neighborhood, so I know I will run into people I know or who may be acquainted with me from work.   Some have not seen my work in person.  I guess this is an opportunity to make it shine, right?  Show them all the great things about my books?  Maybe get them singing?

I've spent today preparing - making sure I have a good inventory and some flyers if they are requested.  Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly.   If anything I DO home someone I know comes by because I am sure I can't hold it for 6 hours and won't have someone with me to do a bathroom break!  HA!   Have to laugh.

Here's to a great event! 

Help your child soar with books

Instead of struggling to get your child to read books they don't enjoy, try these strategies to help them soar:

1.  Follow Their Interests: Find reading materials that align with your child's interests. Whether it's comics, magazines, or books about their favorite subjects, engaging content will make reading more enjoyable.

2.  Incorporate Reading into Daily Activities: Use everyday activities as reading opportunities. Read recipes while cooking, instructions for games, or signs while out and about. This shows that reading is a practical and valuable skill.

3.  Make Reading Interactive: Use storytelling apps, interactive e-books, or create your own stories together using fun tools like story stones. Acting out stories or using different voices for characters can make reading more dynamic and fun.

 

One of my favorite literacy hacks that most people don't know

One of my favorite early literacy hacks that most people don't know is using environmental print with your young child, birth on up.

Environmental print refers to the text found in the everyday environment, such as on signs, labels, packaging, and advertisements. Here's how to use it:

Make a Game Out of It: Turn reading signs and labels into a fun game when you're out and about. Ask your child to find letters they recognize or read simple words they see.

Label Household Items: Place labels on common household items like "door," "chair," and "table." This helps children make connections between words and objects.

Create a Word Wall: Dedicate a space at home where you can display words your child encounters regularly. Add new words they learn from the environment to keep it growing.

Using environmental print leverages the world around you to boost your child's reading skills in a natural and engaging way.

 

Top Mistakes Parents make when Teaching their Child to Read

Here are the top three mistakes parents often make when teaching their child to read:

1.  Pushing Too Hard, Too Soon: Pressuring children to read before they're ready can lead to frustration and a negative association with reading. It's important to gauge your child's interest and readiness, introducing reading in a fun and relaxed manner.  Point out signs in your neighborhood or grocery store, practice with magnet letters spelling their name, provide talking books or stories they can listen to any time.

2.  Focusing Solely on Books: Limiting reading practice to books only can make the process feel rigid and boring. Incorporating a variety of reading materials like comics, magazines, menus, and signs can make reading more engaging and enjoyable for your child.

3.  Neglecting Phonemic Awareness: Jumping straight to reading whole words without building a strong foundation in phonemic awareness (the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words) can hinder progress. Spend time on phonics games, rhyming activities, and sound matching to develop these essential skills.  Singing songs together is a great way for your child to hear the sounds in words!
 

Three tips for parents preparing their child for Kindergarten

 

Here are three top tips for parents who are feeling nervous about preparing their child for kindergarten:

1.  Establish a Routine: Create a daily routine that includes time for learning, play, meals, and bedtime. This helps your child adjust to the structure they will encounter in kindergarten and makes the transition smoother. 

2.  Focus on Social Skills:  Encourage activities that promote sharing, taking turns, and following directions.  Playdates, library storytimes, group activities and cooperative games can help your child develop the social skills necessary for interacting with teachers and their peers.

3.  Read Together Daily:  Make reading a part of your daily routine.  This not only builds literacy skills, but also fosters a love of learning.  Discuss the stories, ask questions, and encourage your child to express their thoughts about the books.

Many of my children's books are perfect for sharing with kids ages birth through 2nd grade and are developed so that you can easily implement the five early literacy practices of reading, writing, singing, talking and playing.  Develop their early literacy skills while having fun with your children!

5 Early Literacy Tools that may not be on your Radar

 

Here are five early literacy tools  that might not be on your radar:

1.  Interactive Ebooks:  Platforms like Bookflix and TumbleBooks offer interactive ebooks that engage young readers with animations and read-aloud features.

2.  Storytelling Apps:  Apps like StoryCorps and Toontastic allow parents and kids to create their won stories, fostering creativity and narrative skills.

3.  Phonics Games:  Websites like Starfall and apps like ABCMouse provide fun, interactive games focused on phonics and early reading skills.

4.  Printable Worksheets and Activities:  Websites like Education.com and Teachers Pay Teachers offer a wide range of printable worksheets and activities that focus on literacy skills, perfect for hands-on learning.

5.  Library apps:  Many public libraries offer apps such as Libby or Overdrive and Hoopla which give access to a vast collection of children's ebooks and audiobooks for free.

Chalk Sign for Vendor Events

 

Goodwill came through again!   About a year or so ago I purchased a foam board sign and easel to take to vendor events and help advertise my booth.  It is fine for indoors, but when I attend outdoor events, I have to get creative to keep it from constantly blowing over.

Enter my new chalk board!

For $8 at Goodwill I found this board and was SO EXCITED!  I found chalk markers for $7.87 on Amazon and then asked my daughter to do the script.  I think it turned out awesome and I can't wait to take it to my next event.  

It is a bit more heavy, but that's ok - it will sit on top of my wagon just fine.  I love the bright colors and the ability to change it up whenever I want!  

Island Art Fair at the Ledges in Grand Ledge

 

Oh my goodness you guys, these dog days of summer have really been getting to me.   Especially yesterday!  The temp was 90 with high humidity and I had an outdoor craft fair!  I bought a little battery operated fan and my husband gave me a "neck fan".  Together they helped me get through the 10-5 day.

It really was a fun day.  The Island Art Fair at the Ledges in Grand Ledge has been going over 50 years and has quite the following.  We were very busy right up until about 2pm and then it really died down. I think with the heat, people came out in the morning and then found someplace cool to go in the heat of the afternoon.  Can't blame them.

I really did want to hike the Ledges after the fair, but had no strength.  I swear I sweated off about 5 pounds LOL  Ok, maybe not, but it seemed like it and all I could think about was jumping into the shower.  

OH!  I did try something new yesterday.... Five Little Hot Dogs continues to be my most popular title, and I just released How to Dress a Dog, so in their honor, I attempted to make balloon dogs.   Kids could spot those dogs from 50 feet away! They wanted one , wanted to watch me make one and wanted to try themselves.  It was a great way to strike up conversations.   What freebies or gimmicks have you tried?