The Wonky Illustrations Drama Goes On

There has been so much going on in the last few days.
I entered the AuthorHouse contest, and I'm still waiting to see if I won or not....argh. It would really help me if I did.
I also had to AGAIN resend my images to AuthorHouse, because the resolution on most of them would not work with their programs. Everything has changed so much with their company, and I am so glad that they are becoming bigger and better than ever before. But it means that we, as authors, have to be more computer literate. And I have to say, I'm not the best at that. I'm learning, though. :)
So I resized the illustrations, and I think we've finally gotten them where they need to be for the production people to work with. I spoke with a really nice guy in pre-production yesterday. If he hadn't explained it all to me and what I really needed to do with the pictures, I would have been lost. Yeah, Scott! Haha.
I'm very excited about all of things that are coming up for me. I have some schools already interested in me visiting before my release party in October. I'm thrilled about the release party. And the fact that it will be at night this time will be awesome. And it's on Maude's birthday, too! :)
I am constantly updating the website now. I just added a cool game yesterday on a new page!! It's called Wonky Wizards, and you have to defeat Sini in it! Just check it out. I know you'll have some fun with it.
I added a few new things to the WonkyWear shop, too! Don't forget that they have summer sales going on, so visit the shop and grab your Wonky t-shirts before it's too late! Be the first one of your friends to have an Owl Cage Baseball tee or a Tempting Temptations tank top or Book 3 hat! Go, go, go! :) http://www.wonkywear.spreadshirt.com/
Have a Wonky day!

Wonkyness....

Okay, so today was a little crazy on the book front...

I got a voice message from my publisher saying that I needed to resend my manuscript in because I had already put in all of the illustrations, and they need them sent separately. What? Apparently, because my publisher has grown so much as a company, things have changed a lot since I last published with them. Last time, when I published Book 2, I just sent it all in as is, with the pictures already in place.

So, today I had to go back into the manuscript, take out all of the illustrations, replace them with a little "place holder" (for example: insert 1/2 page picture of Image 2), and then resend the manuscript like that. I also had to rename all of the illustrations to match the Image numbers and e-mail them separately.

Whew!

It actually didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. But I had worked sooo hard to get all of the pictures just the right size, in the right place, etc. And then had to undo all of that hard work. Ugh. But...such is the life of an author! :)

And, even though I was redoing something, it was still fun in a way because I'm working towards the goal of a published third book! And, as an author, you have to revise and redo things a lot of times, like rewrites. So... be ready, all you authors out there!

Also, I started looking into Twitter today, and happened to come across the AuthorHouse site on there - that's my publisher! I just saw, by pure luck, a contest they are having tomorrow morning. I could win $700 towards my publishing with them! I will DEFINITELY let you know what happens with that! I'm super excited. That would help me out a lot. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

On another note, I hope everyone has seen the WonkyWear online shop! I added a few more items a couple days ago, and they're pretty cool. Check them out at http://www.wonkywear.spreadshirt.com/!

Have a wonky day!

What a Nice and Wonky Day!

I hope this pretty summer day finds everyone happy and possibly taking a dip in the pool! I wish I could do that! Here in NYC, there are not very many pools... :(

Anyway, today hasn't been too eventful. I did find out that my publisher received my manuscript, which was good to know. But if I hadn't called to find out, I would still be wondering, since I never received any kind of confirmation. My publishing representative told me that they will contact me soon. But....argh....I'm too excited to wait! Haha. I actually was hoping to have some kind of creative project to do, like look over the cover or something. But I guess it's too early for that.

With the package I get for this book, I will have Rapid Release, which means the book could be available as early as September, as long as everything has been paid for. But I won't technically release it to readers until October. Halloween is a much better time for a Wonky book anyway. I also get a Marketing Package with this book, which is something I had last time for Book 2. It has 100 bookmarks, 100 postcards, and 100 business cards, all with my book cover and details on them. But I found that, as a children's book author, the postcards weren't very much help, so I have asked if I can get 200 bookmarks and 100 business cards. I used a lot of the bookmarks for prizes and gifts for my readers. I hope that I can get more this time! I'll let you know when I find out.

It's been a few years since the first two books came out, so make sure, when you're lounging by the pool or at the beach this summer, to pick up the books and re-read them! That way you will totally be prepared for Book 3 this fall!! And don't forget to check out the WonkyWear shop at www.wonkywear.spreadshirt.com!

Hope you are all having a Wonky day! :)

The Start of Book 3!

Things are changing, growing, and beginning for me...

With Book 3 underway, I thought it might be cool to start a blog. This way my readers could follow me on my journey in creating the third book, The Wonky Witch and the Witching Well, and see what it's really like for me to go through the publishing process. It's very involved, and I like to be right there in the middle of the action!

So, Welcome to my Wonky Wisdom Blog!

Today, I sent in the manuscript to my publishers!! It was so exciting to hit that send button and know that Book 3 was sailing through cyber space toward my publishers! How cool is that? I also had to send in a Submission Information form, which just includes questions on the size I want the book to be, what I want on the cover (by the way, the picture on the front is super cool!), how I want the inner part of the book to look, etc. It was neat to be finished with the preliminary work, and now I get to look ahead to the exciting creative aspects of designing the book and working side-by-side with my publishing house. More news will be on the way....!

Also, I recently started my own WonkyWear clothing shop online! It's so cool. I've designed about 100 items so far, from hats to t-shirts to sweatshirts to bags. It was so much fun, and I try to add more items when I can. I already ordered one of the Book 3 hats for myself, and it looks great! I figured that this way, my readers and fans could have dozens of things to choose from. I plan on bringing a few choice items to the release party for Book 3 on October 30 at the Bel Air Barnes and Noble. That way, people can see some of the items, purchase them from me, and find out what cool things are in the WonkyWear shop! Visit the shop at http://www.wonkywear.spreadshirt.com/!

I'm really excited about all of things that are going on right now! I'm talking to the Barnes and Noble about release party ideas for this October, working on my website (http://www.wonkywitch.com/), getting new Fan Club members to join, e-mailing schools about author visits for the week before the release party, and I've even starting writing Book 4! :)

A LOT is going on, but I'm having a blast with all of it!

Keep thinking Wonky thoughts, and visit my website and this blog often to keep up to date on what's going on with Book 3 and for details about the release party!

With magical flourish,

Becky Titelman