We're Getting Closer

Editing and Rewriting

Wow! Who knew that the editing and rewriting part of my job could be made so easy. I have heard from various fellow authors that editing can be done on your kindle. So, I decided what the heck. I gave it a try. It only takes a moment to turn the file into a Kindle compatible "book".

So, I sent it to my Kindle and began the reading, editing and rewriting process around lunch time today. I am already at 26% and, to be honest, I didn't work on it constantly throughout the course of the day. It seems to be going really fast and easy. I highlight a section, I make a note on what changes I need to make, and continue on.

Now, I am passing this little bit of knowledge on to my other fellow authors. I strongly suggest that you give it a try. Perhaps it won't work for everyone. Maybe it is one of those things. But, if you edit and rewrite like I always have, you are probably wasting stacks and stacks of paper. (which then has to be burned in the bonfire to protect my original works from being stolen). This way, when the editing and rewriting is finished, I simply delete this file from my Kindle cloud and create a new one and do it all over again. Paper saving, time saving and I think I am catching more this way than I would have working through page after page of hard copy.

We don't have a release date set. Clark is still working on the illustrations for the chapters, and I am working on editing and rewrites, but stay tuned because there will be many announcements during the course of the next couple of weeks.

Back on Track

As we wrap up our semester at school, we look forward to the weeks ahead. We have started to plan what comes next.

For Clark, this means getting back to work on the illustrations for Bully Troubles. He already has the rough draft ideas together, and I am hopeful that it won't take him long to finish up. When those are finished, he will start illustrations for Witches Three.

For me, I will be working on the next book in the Adventures of Bear B & Stone series. I have a few ideas that I am going to toss around, but mostly we will see where Bear B & Stone decide to take me. I also need to start working on some new picture books. For these, I may be changing my approach a little. If possible, I will continue to follow the rhyming that is prevalent in previous books. However, I am looking into something new and different as well.

Yesterday, I was talking to a mother of a kindergartener who is struggling to learn how to read. She said that she is always on the search for "popcorn words" books. She said that there doesn't seem to be any. She knows that her and the other parents at her child's school would jump on books that help children to learn their "popcorn words" as well as their Dolch sight words.

Since having this conversation, I have done some research online. I, too, have been unable to locate any books that expressly say they are chocked full of popcorn or Dolch words. So, I am going to do a little more research (because I don't want to step on any copyrighted toes) and if it is acceptable for me to put together stories using these words (in bold print of course) then that will be the focus of future books.

We will be looking for reviewers (those with blogs and the ability to share their reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and B&N) to receive and review ARC copies of Bully Troubles and offer honest reviews that we can then use as part of the release. If you would be interested, please contact me at Tiffany@WeveSeenSanta.com. We will announce more details when we are ready to start selecting reviewers.

Don't forget to enter to win Monster Beneath my Bed, I Love the Changing Seasons, and We've Seen Santa in our Goodreads giveaway. Details are in a previous post.

SUMMER READING GIVEAWAY!!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Monster Beneath my Bed

by Tiffany A. Higgins

Giveaway ends June 10, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win


Just in time for summer vacation! You could win one of each of the Higgins' 3 children's books, "Monster Beneath my Bed", "I Love the Changing Seasons", and "We've Seen Santa". All of these books are here on Goodreads for look up. 

2 winners will be selected. Good luck!!

Do you give them all they need?

I may not give my kids everything they want every day, but they always have what they need. They have food, they have drinks, a warm bed, and a roof over their heads. I see to it that they shower and wear clean clothing. They own books galore. I know, that is surprising considering that I am an author lol. They have video games and kindles and televisions in their rooms. They have bikes to ride and outside toys to play with. We even have a basketball hoop in our driveway.

Now, you may be reading my list and thinking to yourself that this author doesn't know the meaning of the word need. I do know that all these things are not necessarily stuff they need. However, I listed some items to reiterate the point that children do need fun stuff. They need to be allowed to play and be children.

I also teach them the value of the word no. You may be asking yourself how "no" can have value. You may already know. No is equated to zilch, zero, nothing. But that very absence of something can be very valuable. You tell your child, "NO! Don't touch the hot fire!!" No became valuable.

Now I am not saying that the following statement applies to any of my readers, but I say it with the hope that it will be passed around and perhaps reach some who do not understand this. Telling your child "No" when they ask for a new toy is a valuable lesson in itself. They need to learn that they cannot have everything they want in life. They need to understand that they will work hard for the things that they want, but they will still sometimes have to say no.

Do you know any adults that spend money they don't have? They have a term for it. They call it "living beyond their means." These people are struggling to keep the simple things like a roof and water and electricity because they wanted new clothes, video games, to go out partying, etc.. They didn't learn the value in the word no.

So, reward your children for good behavior. Tell them yes sometimes at the store. Don't be afraid to tell your child that you cannot afford that expensive pair of jeans they want. Don't be afraid to make them earn something in life. And, as they get older, charge them! Yes, ask them to pay for something. If everything comes easy to them in their formative years, they will not be equipped to handle the real world when they are thrust into it as adults.