Two New Reviews up on Amazon!

5.0 out of 5 stars A cute and imaginative book for children, December 10, 2013

By 

Shannon V. Brown (Dublin, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magical Matthew (Paperback)

Magical Matthew is a really cute and imaginative children’s book that teaches children the value of helping, sharing and friendship in a fun way. It shows that being disabled doesn’t matter when it comes to true friendship and it’s important to do the best you can to help people out. Children will wish they had magical abilities like Matthew and will learn to tap into some magic of their own.
*****

5.0 out of 5 stars Children will love it!, November 26, 2013

By 

B. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magical Matthew (Hardcover)

This is the kind of book that kids are drawn to. Matthew has magical powers which help him fix things. However, his magic does have limits, and Matthew has to learn how to use his secret power responsibly. But Matthew has his good friend Lily, who helps him learn about caring and the importance of doing good deeds. The story is short and simple, with great characters and an important message to kids. The ending has that sweet sadness that we all experience while watching our little ones transition from one stage of childhood to another. Both my 5-year-old and my 8-year-old loved it. Overall, a wonderful book.

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!

Received my Bronze Medal for "Magical Matthew" at the Readers' Favorite Awards Ceremony

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!

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

Published by Guardian Angel Publishing:   

http://Guardian-Angel-Kids.com/  

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

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:

 


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 the softcover and ebook editions from GAP.

GAP Kids ezine October 2013

October 2013 Guardian Angel Kids ezine

 Down on the Farm

http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/oct013.htm

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

GuardianAngelPublishing.com

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

 

 

New Review of "Magical Mea" by Lorna d'Entremont

I'm pleased to refer you to a lovely new review of Magical Mea, by Lorna d'Entremont on her Special Needs Book Review site. 

Here is the link http://www.specialneedsbookreview.com/2013/09/06/second-childrens-book-magical-series-magical-mea-penelope-anne-cole/ 

Guardian Angel Kids: An online Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2013

Anti-Bullying

http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com 

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

Guardian-Angels-Kids.com

brought to you by

GuardianAngelPublishing.com

"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!

Magical Matthew wins NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award

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

Book Review by Mary Esparza-Vela

MAGICAL MATTHEW

 

Magical Matthew is a charming story--the first in the "Magical Series" by Penelope Anne Cole. I found the story a delightful read and would highly recommend it to elementary school children. Matthew is special and unique because he has the power to fix things that are broken simply by staring at them. The story deals with love and friendship, as well as the disappointments we face while growing up. Matthew’s desire to help a disabled friend was really touching. The lesson here is that not everything that is broken can be fixed but as a group we can accomplish anything.

Book Review by GAP Author Mary Esparza-Vela

Award winning author of:

 
THE ODD CHICK
BEARLY LEARNING ABOUT WATER
THE TURTLE WHO IMAGINED
THE SMILING BURRO
EL BURRO SONRIENTE
YOU CANT TAKE THE DINOSAUR HOME
¡NO PUEDES LLEVARTE EL DINOSAURIO A CASA!

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

Guardian Angel Publishing June 2013 Releases

Kangaroo Clues

Academic Wings

by Margot Finke, illustrated by Mustafa Delioglu

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/kangaroo-clues.htm

Land of Lost Socks:  a children’s historical musical

Angelic Harmony

by Jane Tesh and Jonie Klein-Higger

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/lost-socks.htm

Scriptures for Kids hardcover and softcover

Wings of Faith

by Barbara Arbo, illustrated by Melissa Ross

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/scriptures-kids.htm

 

GAP KIDS eZine July 2013 "Ice Cream"

This month's Guardian Angel Kids eZine- 

a free online magazine for Kids

JULY 2013

"Ice Cream"

http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com

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

GuardianAngelPublishing.com

Guardian-Angel-Kids.com A free online ezine for kids!

My Books: Magical Matthew and Magical Mea are Readers' Favoriate Award 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.

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 29^th, 2013

from

2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Celebrate Magical Matthew’s Award

and

Magical Mea

 

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