Thursday, December 26, 2013

New Review up on Amazon!

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Magical Me, December 26, 2013
This review is from: Magical Mea (Paperback)
Although a young girl with magical powers is make believe, the desire portrayed in the book to have power over her surroundings and the ability to do things her way, is very real and will resonate with the lucky children who get to read "Magical Mea" by Penelope Anne Cole.

The pictures and story capture Mea's feelings of anger, defiance, mischievousness, and her thrill at both tricking others with her magic and being the hero when she uses her magic for good.

When Mea goes on an adventure of her own, fear and uncertainty mixes with her power to do good, causing Mea to wake from a path of trickster to a path of helping others.

Linda Derkez
Author of Manny the TV Watching Dog, Chip's Sharing Day, One Large Peanut Butter Sandwich To Go

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

My Wonderful Weeks of Magical Awards, Book Sales and Signings!



I've had a wonderful couple of weeks!  November 20-22nd, I went to Miami to receive my Bronze Medal for Magical Mathew!  I met some lovely authors and went to the huge Miami International Book Fair.  There were some lovely speakers (see 11/26/13 post).  Here are the official photos:


When I returned from Miami, it was a rush to get ready for Thanksgiving (overcooked the pie and stopped up the drain with potato peelings!)  Still, we had a wonderful family gathering at my brother's.
 Then it was the Black Friday weekend Book Sales and Signing with the Fremont Area Writers Club.  I sold MagMatt and MagMea books every day!




















Today was the icing on the cake:
I received my Creative Child Magazine Kids' Holiday Gift edition and found that Magical Mea won a Preferred Choice Award from Moms and Educators!

Then I received an email that Magical Mea won a Fall 2013 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award from NABE!  Woo hoo! 
 What a great couple of weeks!


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Received my Bronze Medal from Readers' Favorite Award Ceremony for "Magical Matthew" and Finalist recognition for "Magical Mea"

I just returned from the Readers' Favorite Awards Ceremony and the Miami International Book Fair!  There I received my Bronze Medal for Magical Matthew and was also acknowledged for Magical Mea being a finalist, too!  It was very exciting to be there and meet other award winning writers who were also being honored.

We had the opportunity to hear some great talks on marketing:
1) Find the audience for your book and pursue it relentlessly.  Sell yourself, sell your stories.
2) Make your presentations fun and memorable.  Tell them something new.  Share.  Joke.  Sell.
3) Dress up in costume, if appropriate.  Have a memorable image, gimmick, showcase.
4) Volunteer as a speaker to community organizations (libraries, service clubs, churches, schools, book clubs, parent groups, etc ).
5) Become well-known.  You = your product; brand yourself.  (T-shirts, stuffed animals, dolls, hats?)

How to pursue adapting your book for a movie or TV show:
1) When writing your book try to make it "cinematic," with 3 Act structure and castable characters.
2) Find out who wants/needs movies/TV shows with your theme/subject; communicate marketabilty.
3) Know your target audience and how to connect with them; have significant readership.
4) Write a great two page synopsis of your vision; be persistent, but not a pest; be passionate.
5) Set realistic goals.  One no just means it's not right for that producer/film company; be gracious.

And the future of the independent author and publisher.
1) Market to the right publisher for your genre and audience.
2) Investigate self-publishing as a viable alternative with growing interest, audience, and respect.
3) Be smart with marketing and PR; find your audience and market to them.
4) Know the business side of writing (budget, design, pricing, marketing/PR, outsourcing, website).

All were short presentations, but interesting, supportive, and inspiring.  It made me want to go back next year.  But then I'll have to enter another book by May 1st, 2014!

Here I am at the Miami International Book Fair where our award winning books were displayed.

 Here I am with Debra Gaynor, Founder of the Readers' Favorite Awards Program.
We'll get the official photo of the medal being awarded on December first and I'll post that, too.  And now it's back to work on the next book!
Readers' Favorite Winner:  Bronze Medal 2013

Friday, November 1, 2013

November 2013 - Guardian-Angel-Kids.com/ - Free Online Interactive Magazine for Kids: It Must Be Magic!

Published by Guardian Angel Publishing:   
Free Online Magazine.
BOOK FEATURE- The Magic Violin 
POEM- It Must Be Magic by Robert Niven; 
SHORT STORIES-A Fairy’s Flight for Firefly Freedom by Shari L. Klase; Magic Mud for Sale by Billie A Williams; A Different Kind of Magic by Felicity Nisbet
NON-FICTION ARTICLES; The True Magic of Nicholas Flamel by Donna Marie West; Open Sesame–Is it Magic? Christine Collier

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Magical Matthew Translated into Spanish - Mágico Mateo!

Magical Matthew has been translated into Spanish and is up on the Guardian Angel Publishing website as Mágico Mateo! 

Here is the link to see the first two pages and to order from GAP:

about 


http://guardianangelpublishing.com/magmateo.htm



It should soon be up on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other quality online book sellers.

If you can't wait for Amazon, you can buy softcover and ebook from GAP.



Tuesday, October 1, 2013

GAP Kids ezine October 2013

October 2013 Guardian Angel Kids ezine
 Down on the Farm


BOOK FEATURE
The Odd Chick
POEM
Life on the Farm by Jennifer Buchet
Tractor Tour by Tracy Helixon
SHORT STORIES
Tractor goes to the City by Wendy Klein
Allie’s Farm by Felicity Nisbet
The Pig who did not want to be pink by Savannah Hendricks
NON-FICTION ARTICLE
Old MacDonald had an Alpaca by Shari L. Klase
ACTIVITY FOR KIDS
So you want to be a Farmer? by Sharon Stanley
Down on the Farm Word Search Puzzle by Tanja Cilia

thanks,

LYNDA S. BURCH. Publisher

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Two Kid Companion Special Needs Interviews about my Magical Series

Here are two more interviews by Lorna d'Entremont (of Special Needs Book Review) about my Magical book series, Magical Matthew and Magical Mea, and me, too!

These interviews are in Kid Companions (for Kids that Love to Fidget and Chew):

 

Children’s Books: Magical Series by Penelope Anne Cole: Magical Matthew and Magical Mea http://kidcompanions.com/childrens-books-magical-series-penelope-anne-cole-magical-matthew-magical-mea/#.Ui8j7NI3uSo


Penelope Anne Cole: Author of Award Winning Children’s Books the Magical Series http://kidcompanions.com/penelope-anne-cole-author-award-winning-childrens-books-magical-series/#more-15549

 Logo KidCompanions Chewelry

 

Friday, September 6, 2013

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Guardian Angel Kids: An online Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2013
Anti-Bullying
Book Feature
Benjamin Jay was a Bully by Emma Glover Art by KC Snider

Features

POEM
Chy’s Guys by Donna J. Shepherd

SHORT STORIES
Finding Frankenfeet by Jennifer Buchet
Saving Hercules by Debbie Allard
Shrimp by Felicity Nisbet
Frank and the Forever Flute by Elizabeth Glann

NON-FICTION ARTICLE
Hen Pecked by Shari L. Klase

PARENT TEACHER ARTICLE
Cyber Bullying: Its Prevalence and What to do about it? by Irene S. Roth

ACTIVITY FOR PARENTS/ TEACHERS & KIDS
Teaching Empathy Helps Stop Bullying by Kathy Stemke


Sunday, September 1, 2013

"Magical Matthew" is a Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal Winner 2013!

I just found out "Magical Matthew" won a Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal in their 2013 Awards Program.  http://readersfavorite.com/2013-award-contest-winners.htm#cat215

"Magical Mea" was a Readers' Favorite Finalist.

That's three awards Magical Matthew has won (and they all come with stickers!):
2013 Book of the Year from Creative Child Magazine Award Program
Summer 2013 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award from NABE
 and now,
Readers' Favorite 2013 Bronze Medal Award!

Celebrate with me by getting your own copy of Magical Matthew!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Magical Matthew wins Summer 2013 Pinnacle Book Award from NABE

I'm happy to announce that Magical Matthew has won another award -- from NABE (The National Association of Book Entrepreneurs) -- a Summer 2013 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in the Children's Interest Category!  Celebrate this with me by telling your friends.

 http://www.bookmarketingprofits.com/PinnacleAwardsSummer2013.html


Pinnacle Book Achievement Award

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Book Review by Mary Esparza-Vela

MAGICAL MEA
 
Magical Mea is a charming story--the second in the "Magical Series" by Penelope Anne Cole. Like her big brother, Matthew, Mea also has the unique ability to fix things that are broken simply by staring at them; however, Mea does not want to use her powers wisely. She seems to enjoy hiding things and playing pranks on others. At the end of the story Mea learns that it is better to do good than bad.
 

Book Review by GAP Author Mary Esparza-Vela
Award winning author of:

Purchase her new book, You Can't Take the Dinosaur Home, and one of the Space Tot Plush Dolls, by contacting Mary Esparza-Vela at:   www.luv-beams.com

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

New Reviews of Magical Mea

Read it !!!!
Magical Mea is a great book for those who have siblings. Sibling rivalry is always going on even when one is trying to help the other. This book is a good read especially for teaching children about listening to others and being careful in everything they do. Children also learn the lesson that playing tricks isn't always fun for everyone. Share it with your children or your classroom.
Reviewed by:
Susan Bangert-Wood

************
Magical Mea Review by Barbara Cairns, June 14, 2013
By 
Barbara Cairns "CRACKER COW Lady" (Florida) -This delightful picture book by Penelope Anne Cole is so typical of a little sister wanting to show her big brother that she can do things her own way... even if it's not the best way. Determined to play pranks on all her family members, little Mea extends her "magic" outside of the home and is amused by the reactions she gets from strangers. Until she ends up following a stranger onto a bus...

This clever little story can aid parents in pointing out that mischievous actions bring consequences and that accepting anything from strangers can be dangerous. Luckily, in Penelope's book,little Mea meets up with a kind lady,so there is a happy ending for young readers. Mea quickly learns that using "magic" to help others is much better than tricking them.

Penelope uses simple language to entice younger readers while Kevin Collier's illustration of Mea with her big twinkly eyes helps to show her innocence. This is a book that will not only be useful to parents as a teaching tool but also fun for mischievous youngsters who will see themselves in Mea.

Just as Magical Matthew, the first book in this series, delighted youngsters, so too will they enjoy Matthew's little sister Mea and her "magical" ways.

Barbara Cairns, Author of Gatsby's Grand Adventures series


Friday, July 5, 2013

Guardian Angel Publishing June 2013 Releases

Kangaroo Clues
Academic Wings
by Margot Finke, illustrated by Mustafa Delioglu
about
Land of Lost Socks:  a children’s historical musical
Angelic Harmony
by Jane Tesh and Jonie Klein-Higger
about
Scriptures for Kids hardcover and softcover
Wings of Faith
by Barbara Arbo, illustrated by Melissa Ross
 about

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

GAP KIDS eZine July 2013 "Ice Cream"

This month's Guardian Angel Kids eZine- 
a free online magazine for Kids
JULY 2013
"Ice Cream"

Book Feature
JAMIE’S DREAM Flip Book
by Susan J. Berger
artist Kim Sponaugle

Features
POETRY
Ice Cream by Lisa Hart
SHORT STORIES
It Never Stops by Jacklyn Yuhanick
An Ice Cream Smile by Felicity Nisbet
ARTICLES FOR KIDS
The Presidential Sweet by Catherine May Webb
Ten Tips on Treats by Shari L Klase
ACTIVITY FOR KIDS
Make Your Own Ice Cream Delights! by Jennifer A. Buchet
Ice Cream Trivia by Juliana M. Jones

please share!

LYNDA S. BURCH. Publisher
Guardian-Angel-Kids.com A free online ezine for kids!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

My Books: Magical Matthew and Magical Mea are Readers' Favorite Finalists!

I'm thrilled to announce that my two children's books, "Magical Matthew" and "Magical Mea" are both Finalists in the 2013 Readers' Favorite Awards Program!  Winners will be announced in September.

Magical Matthew is a finalist in the Children's K-3rd Grade category and Magical Mea in the Children's General Category.

http://readersfavorite.com/images/finalist-shiny-web.png

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Come join us at the Magical Book Launch Party - Saturday, June 29th, from 2-4 PM in Campbell!

Announcing:  MAGICAL MATTHEW and MAGICAL MEA
by Penelope Anne Cole


Magical Matthew
won the
2013 Book of the Year Award

from
Creative Child Awards Program

                                                 in the
                Positive Learning Behaviors for Kids Category

******
  
 Join us for a Magical
Book Launch Party at

                                Hobee’s Restaurant at the Pruneyard
1875 S Bascom Ave #190  Campbell, CA 95008
(Cookies, Lemonade, Bookmarks, Balloons, Magic Show!)
on
June 29th, 2013
from
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Celebrate Magical Matthew’s Award
and
Magical Mea

 

**********Reading stories to children is Magical*********