Kangaroo Clues

Make haste and come join the chase. Kangaroo outsmarts the Dingo. He is joined by his friends in the outback where the sun scorches the Earth and survival is definitely for the fittest. 

Author Margot Finke, does not disappoint in yet another intriguing book of rhyme.  The illustrations by Mustafa Delioglu are alive with color and expression.  The Australian wildlife with all of its wonder is depicted in these educational pages. Explanations and definitions rest at the bottom of several pages, which is quite handy for educational guides such as teachers or home school parents.

Children will experience the struggle and survival of creatures large and small. Kangaroo Clues will intrigue them, and excite their curiosity.

Margot Finke is the author of many rhyming books for children.  Kangaroo Clues is a beautiful book that will make a fun and educational addition to any child’s library.  My advice would be to view all of her rhyming books, both Australian culture and otherwise.  Margot also writes about dyslexia.  Check out all of her books on Amazon.com

This book has been reviewed by Susan Hornbach, author of children’s literature

Margot Finke.

Margot Finke is an Aussie author whose 13 books range from midgrade adventure fiction to rhyming picture books. For many years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between her writing. 

Their three children are now grown and doing very well.  Four delightful grandchildren round out Margot’s family.

Her Manuscript Critique Service helps children’s writers polish and tighten their stories before publication.  Helping other writers succeed, and HOOKING kids on reading, are Margot’s special goals.

She didn't begin serious writing until the day their youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot says, "I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between kid fights, diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes! "

*Website: http://www.margotfinke.com  
*Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/bg9dtxt
*Manuscript Critiques: http://tinyurl.com/d86xl3g  
*Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/margotfinke/  
*Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margot.finke

New Releases for August 2013, from Guardian Angel Publishing Inc.

Andy & Spirit in Search & Rescue Academic Wings hardcover edition

by Mary Jean Kelso, art KC Snider

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/andy&spirit-search-rescue.htm

Great Gobs of Gustation: The Sum of Our Parts  Book 8 Academic Wings

by Bill Kirk, art by Eugene Ruble

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/gustation-tsoop.htm

A rhyme which describes the sense of taste and how it works to help you tell what you like to eat and what you don’t. Book 8 of the Sum of our Parts anatomical educational series

Just Too Little  Littlest Angel

by Judith J. Miller, art Sonal Panse

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/just-too-little.htm

At her grandparents farm Pam is too little to help with the chores.

 

Michael’s Safari Littlest Angel

by JennaKay Francis art by Craig Howarth

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/michaels-safari.htm

Michael takes an imaginary journey.

                            

The New Puppy Animals & Pets

by Raelene Hall art by Kevin Collier, Gisele LaBlanc

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/new-puppy.htm

After a day of fun and trouble, what will Kelly’s new mischievous puppy do next?

GAK Magazine, Anti Bullying, September Issue 2013

Guardian Angel Kids 

                                                           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

Guardian Angel Kids E-Zine

 

  JUNE 2013 SELF-CONFIDENCE 

GUARDIAN ANGEL KIDS E-ZINE

FREE ONLINE MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR KIDS

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

BOOK FEATURE

Mice in My Tummy by Andi Houdek, artist Kevin Collier

VIDEO FEATURE

Amazing Grace Video sang by a 2 year old Zoei Toh

POETRY 

Confidence Helps Us by Guy Belleranti

SHORT STORIES

The Little Corgi that Could by Shari L. Klase

Camping in the Canyon by  Evelyn Horan

A Walk Across the Street by Juliana M. Jones

A Foot Taller by Bonnie Gratch Lindauer

ACTIVITY FOR KIDS

All About Me by Sharon Stanley

ONLINE GAMES, VIDEOS, FREE BOOKS, FREE COLORING BOOKS, 

DRAWING VIDEOS and MORE!

Parent/ Teacher Articles

8 Tips for Building Confidence in Your Child  Kathy Stemke

The Emotionally Mature Parent: Building Self-Confidence in Our Kids by Irene S. Roth

LYNDA S. BURCH. Publisher

GuardianAngelPublishing.com

 

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

Tips on How to Pitch Your Article for Print and On-line Media

Tidbits to Share

During my Blueprint program I listened to Steve Harrison interview Joel Schwartzberg, author of “The 40-Year Old Version: Humoirs of a Divorced Dad”.  The subject was about pitching your articles to print and on-line media. Here are some of the dos and don’ts, and things I took away from that interview. 

Before contacting your target media, you should research publications so you can better understand what it is they need and want from you.  Read, and check out the magazines you are interested in. You can go to book stores or magazine stands and check out Newsweek, Smithsonian, Self magazine, New York Magazine, Esquire, Education Week Magazine/Newspaper, or whatever subject your writing/article will fold into nicely. 

Pick out a magazine that you think you can write for; one that you feel you will have something to offer.  Don’t submit or pitch anything that doesn’t fit the media you are considering. They hate pitches that don’t make a good fit for their publication, and it makes them angry when they know you didn’t even read their publication.  It’s a waste of their very precious time.  Also, they do not accept simultaneous submissions.  Therefore, you will need to submit one at a time, and wait for a rejection or an acceptance. 

Find out the name of the feature or sections editor for the publication you have chosen to submit to.  Also you will need their e-mail address/address. You can Google the publication and search for them.  The Editor-In-Chief does not accept submissions. They are looking for unique essays.  They want something that stands out; something that is in keeping with what’s in the news, or popular at the moment.  A timely subject has a better chance of being accepted.  Don’t use more than two or three sentences to sell your essay in the beginning.  You want to grab them in a few seconds upon opening your e-mail. 

 These editors and producers are busy busy, and will lose interest right away if you start to tell your life story, or give too much background information before you get to your point.  They are interested in what you have to offer their publication.  They move through hundreds of submissions and will choose what benefits their needs, and grabs them first.  Tell them why you submitted, why your essay /article is compelling, and timely.

After you have researched, Googled the magazine, and looked up the features, or sections editor for that publication, then compose a good hook to grab them immediately upon opening your e-mail. Do it within a couple of sentences, as I explained above.  Paste the essay/article in the body of the e-mail you are sending them (No attachments).  Also if your article is very large, you can query them instead of sending the whole article, but remember, get to the point in the first two or three lines. It’s very important to grab the editor’s attention right away.

 If you have a press kit, don’t send it to them via e-mail, but rather, send a link for your on-line press kit in the body of the e-mail, along with your submission. It’s easier for them to just press your link than to have to be overwhelmed with a whole package in the e-mail. Explain your link in detail in the body of your e-mail submission.  A link leading to a separate page for something pertaining to your article is a good idea also; along with a picture of your book if possible.

If you are able to get an essay published in a well known magazine it can lead to media coverage for your books later on down the road.  If your article comes up, say in the news, as one that is informational for their subject of discussion, it can turn into a marketing tool for your books. If the news station Googles a subject, say on educational strategies for elementary grade children, and you have written an article on what grades three to five like to read, your article could be just what they need to round out their news article or even a segment of a show. 

In that case, every time they mention your subject matter they could be showing a picture of your book.  It’s similar to what happened to Joel Schwartzberg, Author of “The Forty Year Old Version” when he submitted an article on depression.  He ended up having a picture of his book shown on TV each time they mentioned his article pertaining to whatever it was they were doing a show on.

I hope you found this article informative. I will share more on different subjects of writing, marketing, and information in general for our world of writing.  As I learn, I hope to share, so we can all benefit together.  The Best Seller Blueprint Program has been a wealth of information for me.  I’ll be back with more tidbits at a later date.