My virtual blog book tour for Magical Matthew starts today.
Here's the first stop, if you can stop by and comment:
http://blogcritics.org/interview-penelope-anne-cole-author-of-magical-matthew/
There are interviews and background about my book and the next books in my Magical series:
Magical Mea
Magical Mea Goes to School, and
Magical M and M
Plus my Halloween book, Ten Little Tricksters, coming later this year.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
New 5-Star Review on Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars
A DELIGHTFUL READ, January 12, 2014
By
speak4languages (Centennial Colorado) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Magical Mea (Paperback)
Magical Mea is the sequel to Magical Matthew. In
Magical Matthew, the author chronicles the importance of teaching
children to use their talents to do good deeds. However, in Magical Mea
we see what happens when children are set in their ways.
Unlike her brother, Mea decides to use her magic to play tricks on people. Unfortunately, as much as we dream about having well-behaved children who are kind and obedient, it does not always work out that way.
Mea represents the character that is a challenge for parents and teachers, a child who is obstinate and determined to be mischievous no matter what.
Does Mea have any redeeming qualities? Can she change? Is it too late? Should her Mom and Dad give up on her completely?
I am of the opinion that it is never too late to steer a child in the right direction. Too often parents take the easy way out, leaving it to society to teach children morals. Every child is a gift from above. It is up to the parents to help direct the path of the child. In the case of Mea, her brother Matthew and his best friend Lily do a wonderful job encouraging Mea to do what is right.
The one thing that shines through the story is sometimes children do foolish things because they are trying to get attention. They also do not like to be told what to do by a sibling.
“Lily, why doesn’t Mea listen to me? After all, I know what’s best. Why can’t she be like me and use her magic to do good?
“Yes, I know she really likes to hide things and later find them. That’s because she gets praise for being a good finder,” Lily said.
Magical Mea is a delightful story. It can be a great resource for parents to teach children the value of being kind. Kevin Collier’s artwork adds life to the story.
Unlike her brother, Mea decides to use her magic to play tricks on people. Unfortunately, as much as we dream about having well-behaved children who are kind and obedient, it does not always work out that way.
Mea represents the character that is a challenge for parents and teachers, a child who is obstinate and determined to be mischievous no matter what.
Does Mea have any redeeming qualities? Can she change? Is it too late? Should her Mom and Dad give up on her completely?
I am of the opinion that it is never too late to steer a child in the right direction. Too often parents take the easy way out, leaving it to society to teach children morals. Every child is a gift from above. It is up to the parents to help direct the path of the child. In the case of Mea, her brother Matthew and his best friend Lily do a wonderful job encouraging Mea to do what is right.
The one thing that shines through the story is sometimes children do foolish things because they are trying to get attention. They also do not like to be told what to do by a sibling.
“Lily, why doesn’t Mea listen to me? After all, I know what’s best. Why can’t she be like me and use her magic to do good?
“Yes, I know she really likes to hide things and later find them. That’s because she gets praise for being a good finder,” Lily said.
Magical Mea is a delightful story. It can be a great resource for parents to teach children the value of being kind. Kevin Collier’s artwork adds life to the story.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Another Amazon Book Review
New Review on Amazon:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Young children will be able to relate to little Mea, January 6, 2014
By
This review is from: Magical Mea (Paperback)
“Magical Mea takes up where Magical Matthew left off. Matthew’s little
sister, Mea, has discovered the joys of her own magic, but despite her
older brother’s advice about using her gift for good, she enjoys her
pranks too much to give them up. True, she never really uses the magic
for evil. She simply enjoys a good laugh at others’ expense. As in life,
we rarely learn by taking advice. We learn through our mistakes and
life experiences. Again, there’s a subtle message in this story and a
full story arc that takes the reader from problem to a satisfactory
resolution. The illustrations add to the enjoyable story—I especially
liked the vivid expressions on the characters’ faces. Young children
will be able to relate to little Mea as she finds that the joy of
helping others with her natural gifts is more thrilling than using them
to play pranks.” ~reviewed by Karen Wiesner, author of Keri is Cute Cute
Cute and First Draft in 30 Days http://www.karenwiesner.com
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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
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