Kids and Teen Blog

Category: News

Notes From A Children’s Book Publicist- Volume Six

by Crystal
Kids + News + Picture Books + Vancouver + YA Fiction / July 13, 2011

 

 

Happy Reading!

Crystal

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Change of Distribution: Blue Apple Books

by Siobhan
News / June 06, 2011

Effective July 1, 2011, Random House of Canada will be distributing Blue Apple Books.

The ISBN prefixes included in this change are: 978-1-60905, 978-1-59354, and 978-1-93470.

Returns on shipments made from Raincoast will be accepted by Raincoast until September 30, 2011.

If you have any questions please contact Raincoast customer service at 1-800-663-5714.

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Notes From A Children’s Book Publicist- Volume Four

by Crystal
Kids + News + Picture Books + Vancouver + YA Fiction / June 01, 2011

 

There are oh so many reasons that I love my job. Please. Who wouldn't love being surrounded by fun kids books all day? Here are my top 5 reasons I love my job:

 

 

1. The people I work with. They really are super fab! These are just a few of them.

2. The insanely talented editors that I get to work with and the fun mail that they send me. For example check out the summer issue of The Magazine below, visit them online and pick up an issue on newstands now. Their are reviews of Cinderella Ninja Warrior, I'm Not Her, The Big Book of Spy Stuff, The Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure Everest and Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings.

3. The super knowledgeable stores that I get to work with. Check out the store front of Kidsbooks right now and their Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure Everest Window!

4. The authors, publishers and incredible publicity departments at those publishers. What other girl get's to say that she works with Chronicle, Gibbs Smith, Lonely Planet, Moleskine, New Harbinger, Silver Dolphin, Simply Read and Sourcebooks every day?

5. The books. Because really, at the end of the day, that is why I do what I do. Because of the mountains of beautiful, moving, funny, clever, magical books that transport me and anyone else who is a kid at heart to other worlds.

And that is why I do what I do! 

Happy Reading!

Crystal

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Notes From A Children’s Book Publicist- Volume Two

by Crystal
Kids + News + Picture Books + Vancouver + YA Fiction / May 11, 2011

 

This Children's Book Publicist is busy, busy, busy getting ready for a trip to Toronto next week to meet with editors. It is always so fun to catch up with all of the editors and bloggers who I now consider friends and to finally put faces to the people that I have been emailing with.

 

 

 

Yesterday Danielle and I sent out catalogues to everyone that we have appointments booked with. Here is a set of catalogues going to the lovely Melissa Carter who I met when she was an editor at Canadian Family Magazine and who is now an editor writing about Baby, Parenting and Food at iVillage.ca. 

This week I also sent out copies of I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler to the winners of the MyJellybean.com contest.

It's hard to believe that as publicist we are already working on books for Fall 2011. It feels more like fall here in Vancouver. Here is the view from the window at my desk today. Pretty gloomy and drizzly out there.

It's very interesting working 4 or more months ahead in time. The last of our Spring 2011 books are currently arriving in the warehouse and it is time to switch our focus and start looking forward. Right now I am printing out manuscripts from some of our Fall Canadian Authors to send to the Quill and Quire.

This afternoon I am using our new e-catalogue system and making themed book lists for presenting to editors next week. I will make Board Book, Picture Book, Teen Book, Parenting, Cooking, Health and Travel lists to present to the appropriate editors and bloggers. Danielle and I are really excited to be presenting the catalogue using iPads for the first time. Our e-catalogue system is great because it has internal images from the books. Being able to show editors pages from different titles on the screen of the iPad is a very effective pitching tool.

I'll report back in two weeks with how the trip went. Perhaps I'll even blog from the road next week. Now to pick out what to read on the plane! So many wonderful books to chose from. Anyone read anything really terrific lately?

Happy Reading!

Crystal 

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Notes From A Children’s Book Publicist- Volume One

by Crystal
Kids + News + Picture Books + Vancouver + YA Fiction / May 04, 2011

 

Hi! I'm Crystal! Your friendly, neighborhood, Raincoast Children's Book Publicist. Recently my dad said to me

"Crystal, What does a Children's Book Publicist do? What is a day in your life like?"

I realized that a lot of people probably have no clue what a book publicist does. I am currently reading What The Dog Saw: And Other Adventures by Malcom Gladwell and am finding it fascinating reading about what different professions do in their day to day life. What The Dog Saw and my Dear Old Dad have inspired me to start this weekly blog column to fill readers in on my crazy, fun, never enough hours in the day, work life.

What does a Children's Book Publicist Do? A book publicists job is to earn free media. We do this by sending our books to editors of newspapers and magazines, bloggers, television and radio producers and websites. We also try to meet with these people as often as possible to "pitch" (aka talk about) our favorite books from our list each season that we feel would be a good fit for their readers, listeners or viewers.

 

Here are a few of my recent mailings. 

Alice in Zombieland mailing. This copy was headed to Karen at The Magazine. Look for a review of it in an issue of The Magazine coming this summer. 

 

 

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Sight mailing. (Do you have a truck and digger tot in your life? If so this book is a must have!) This copy was headed to Susan Perren at The Globe and Mail.

 

This mailout was being sent to the winners of The Liar Society Contest that was on MyJellybean.com. We do a ton of contests with MyJellybean so if you love teen fiction make sure to check out their website and enter to win some great upcoming teen fiction reads. 

 

Canadian Family Magazine turned 15 this year! To help them celebrate we gave them a big box of MoMA products to give to one lucky winner. 

 

 

Meeting with media is one of the most fun parts (in my opinion) of the job.Later on this month my cohort  co-publicist, Danielle and I are heading to Toronto to meet with media. I will make sure to report back on all of our adventures from TO.

We also work quite closely with the publicists from the different publishers that we represent and we get to work with a bunch of really wonderful authors and organize media appearances and events for them. Recently I have worked with Kristi Yamaguchi for her book Dream Big Little Pig. She appeared on Canada AM and did some great interviews including this one with MySweetBaby.

Bindi Irwin also toured recently for her new series of  books Bindi's Wildlife Adventures. Bindi and her mom Terri did a great interview for Canada AM.

I have also been working with Janet Gurtler who will be doing a ton of events in Alberta to promote her new book I'm Not Her and who did this fantastic interview with the Indigo Teen Blog. I just read I'm Not Her a few weeks ago, if you are a fan of Jodi Picoult or Sarah Dessen you should definitely check it out!

 

So that's it in a nutshelf. Life as a Children's Book Publicist. Check back each week for my latest adventures. If you have any questions I would love to hear them.

Happy Reading!

Crystal

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Congratulations!

by Siobhan
Kids + News / February 09, 2011

Congratulations to Owlkids author Elin Kelsey and illustrator Clayton Hanmer! Their book, Not Your Typical Book about the Environment has been chosen as the winner of this year’s Newton Marasco Foundation Green Earth Book Award!

The award recognizes authors and illustrators whose books inspire young readers to appreciate and care for the environment. "Taking time to read to our kids is time well spent. The 2011 award winning books will open the minds and hearts of children and young adults about the beauty of nature and I hope will help them to embrace the ideas of stewardship,” said NMF President Amy Marasco Newton.

You can read more about the award and see the full list of winning and honor books here.

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Earth Day Countdown—14 days

by Chelsey
Home & Garden + News / April 08, 2009

As I'm gearing up for Earth Day 2009 on April 22, I thought I'd break into the new Mini Garden Kits from Chronicle Books, SPROUT YOUR OWN SWEET SCENTS and SPROUT YOUR OWN LEAFY WONDERS.

While my “green thumb” is very much a work in progress, these kits look so cool that I thought I'd give it a try. Growing some Cinnamon Basil and Spearmint will really brighten up the office! Plus, the SPROUT YOUR OWN packages are 100% recyclable. Stay tuned to our blog to see how the plants turn out--and wish me sweet success!

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Early Blogger Buzz for GRACELING

by Chelsey
News / August 15, 2008

Kristin Cashore's teen fantasy novel GRACELING--due out in October--is already generating buzz in the blogosphere.

GRACELING's main character, Katsa, has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight years old. She is a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's henchman. She never expects to fall in love the beautiful Prince Po. She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace--or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away.

Vancouver blogger Kate Trgovac has already posted an early review of GRACELING:

“From a narrative point of view, GRACELING has a lot going for it: adventure, intrigue, romance, betrayal, an extra-creepy villain, cool psychic abilities, and lady pirates. Yes, lady pirates! OK, just lady sea captains - but I imagine Captain Faun would be an AWESOME pirate.”

It's really amazing that a first-time author has already inspired bloggers like Kate to take to their blogs! Stay tuned for more about GRACELING

See Kate's entire Graceling Review!

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King of the Lost and Found “A Diamond of a Gem”

by Crystal
News / November 19, 2007

I was just sent a wonderful review for King of the Lost and Found on a blog called Jenn�s Book Bag. It contained one of the best quotes I've ever read so I thought I had to share:

Every once in a while, a true gem of a book comes along. King of the Lost and Found is a diamond of a gem.

Read the full review here.

King of the Lost and Found can be found at fine bookstores everywhere. Pick up your copy today, you won't regret it!

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Harry Potter and The Hebrew Translator

by Dan
Harry Potter + News / February 26, 2007

The Associated Press ran a touching story about Gili Bar-Hillel the Hebrew translator of the Harry Potter series last week:

JERUSALEM - Israeli Harry Potter fans elbowed their way in for autographs and photos - not with the author of the best-selling books, but with the Hebrew translator.

More than 100 devotees of British writer J.K. Rowling's series about a young wizard sat and stood for an hour Wednesday listening to Gili Bar-Hillel discuss the process of translating the six Harry Potter books, hoping for a hint about the upcoming seventh and last book.

"It's ridiculous, this is something that never happens to translators," Bar-Hillel said after speaking at the Jerusalem International Book Fair. "The attention I've received is because I'm translating Harry Potter. It's Harry, not me."

The six Harry Potter books have been translated into 64 languages and are such a huge hit that even their translators get a slice of the fame.

Let's hear it for the translators!

Read the full story

Go to Raincoast's Harry Potter Page

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