Books for kids, teens, & those who are young at heart

Category: Books (Page 5 of 81)

THE BEDTIME KNIGHT Audiobook, Book Deals, SCBWI Conferences, and Podcast News!

I wasn’t even sure how to title this post because I have so many exciting things to announce. First of all, THE BEDTIME KNIGHT is now available as an audiobook, narrated by Stephanie Quinn. And it earned an orange banner on Amazon for being the #1 new release in Audiobooks on Bedtime & Dreaming for Children! You can find the audiobook on ChirpBarnes & Noble, Kobo, Audible, Libro.fm, Scribd, Audiobooks.com, and Google Play.

If you’d like a free listen of THE BEDTIME KNIGHT, sign up for my author newsletter, where you’ll also earn access to two free short stories! It really is the best way to get all my latest news and exclusive offers, and I’ll only email you once a month. I appreciate all you who subscribe to the blog, but if you haven’t also signed up for my newsletter, I’d love for you to do that too.

For all you Kobo readers, two of my books are on sale right now. For the first time ever, ELIXIR BOUND is free now through April 9th! This award-winning YA fantasy is Shadow and Bone meets The Lord of the Rings with strong female characters embracing their power while on an epic quest. PIRATE ISLAND, the middle grade adventure reminiscent of The Goonies, is only $2.99 now through April 16th.

Now a little something for the writers! I’ll be presenting two workshops at the in-person New England SCBWI Conference, April 28-30. The titles of my workshops are “Traditional vs. Self-publishing: Who Will Win?” and “What to Expect When You’re Self-Publishing.” Keep an out another SCBWI workshop announcement coming soon! You can see all my author appearances, including a local in-person one in May, on the Events page.

Finally, I had the pleasure of being a guest on the Woodbury Writes podcast, hosted by Sandy Carlson, poet laureate of Woodbury, CT. We had a great conversation about creating fantasies for young readers and more!

There’s more I could talk about, like how I’m so very close to being done with revisions of my YA psychological thriller Hamlet retelling. I’ll be doing a cover reveal and release date reveal for that soon…as soon as I finalize the title! But I’ve reached information overload.

What have you all been up to lately?

Why Write About Space Robots (and How Big Is the Solar System)?

I was very excited to discover that SELFIES FROM MARS: THE TRUE STORY OF MARS ROVER OPPORTUNITY earned an orange banner for being a #1 new release in children’s aeronautics & space books!

I have several other works-in-progress about space robots, including a fictional story about the real Mars rover Perseverance (and Mars helicopter Ingenuity) and a nonfiction one about the Voyager space probes. And it got me wondering, What it is about space robots that has sparked my imagination?

Considering the size of the universe, and even of the solar system, human space travel is–to put it mildly–very limited. The farthest we’ve been is the moon, on average 238,855 miles from Earth. That’s about the size of 30 Earths, and can be considered really far away in terms of Earthly travel.

How about Mars? Humans haven’t been there yet, but we’ve sent a bunch of robots there, and we might even get there soon. The answer here varies because of the constant rotation of the planets around the sun, but on average, Mars is 140 million miles away from Earth and it get as close as 35 million miles. A lot farther than the moon!

Looking at the solar system, it doesn’t really make sense to talk about it in millions of miles because it’s so large. So scientists use the Astronomical Unit (AU) to describe distances of that size. One AU is 93 million miles, which is the average distance between the sun and the Earth. Neptune is 30 AU from the sun, or 2.8 billion miles. The Kuiper Belt, where Pluto resides, isn’t even the end of the solar system, and that can be as far as 50 AU from the sun.

Depending on how you define the end of the solar system (and there isn’t necessarily consensus on this in the scientific community), our solar system can be measured from 122 AU (at the heliopause, the place where solar winds meet interstellar winds) all the way to 100,000 AU from the sun (at the Oort Cloud, the farthest reach of the sun’s gravitational influence).

So really, really large. And that’s just the solar system, never mind the mind-bending that is required to think about how big the universe is! Still with me?

That brings us back to, What does the size of the solar system have to do with my interest in space robots? Space robots can travel much, much farther than humans can.

Mars currently has two working rovers on it, Curiosity and Perseverance, and a helicopter named Ingenuity. The space probe Voyager 1 has been traveling through the solar system for more than 45 years. At 159 AU (approximately 14.8 billion miles from the sun), it is deeper out in space than any other human-made object, and has traveled beyond the heliopause. And there are numerous other space robots out exploring the sun, other planets, other moons, etc.

Voyager 1, photo credit: NASA

Space robots are our ambassadors to space! We can’t go there yet, so we send out these robots. Some of them even look a little like us, and they’re all robot scientists, communicating their findings back to Earth. We learn from them, but they also represent us.

Voyager 1 even contains a Golden Record with sights and sounds from Earth and mathematical instructions on how to listen to it. I love picturing aliens (or future humans) coming across Voyager 1 and listening to that record. What would they (or what would future humans) think of the humans that sent the record out into space?

Anyway, that definitely sparks my imagination. I think it’s also important to learn about those space robots that are out there representing humans in space: our interstellar ambassadors!

SELFIES FROM MARS Release Day!

Today’s the day! SELFIES FROM MARS: THE TRUE STORY OF MARS ROVER OPPORTUNITY is out in the world. It truly feels like a miracle every time a new book comes out. I also finally have an author newsletter, and you get two free short stories when you sign up!

Bringing a nonfiction book into the world was a complicated, wonderful learning experience. There were image credits and song lyrics rights to consider. Many facts to check and double-check. Even the type of paper to use for the print copies proved to be a new challenge to tackle. So many hours went into the design of this book, but I’m so thrilled with how it came out.

In addition to the main narrative for rover Opportunity (with some rover Spirit in there, too), there are so many facts and figures to discover in Selfies From Mars. I can’t wait for young readers to meet little Oppy and read the Fact Files.

I know this is a nonfiction book, but the ending makes me so emotional every time! After all, it was the emotional end of Opportunity’s incredible mission that inspired me to go into a deep dive on this rover and become enamored by it.

Who can forget the poetic interpretation of Opportunity’s last message to Earth? “My battery is low and it’s getting dark.” Or that the rover’s team played a love song, Billie Holiday’s version of “I’ll Be Seeing You,” as a goodbye? Pay particular attention to the last few lines (or read the book to see which lyrics I’m talking about!).

SELFIES FROM MARS blurb:

From evidence of water to stunning images,
Mars rover Opportunity allowed humans to
experience the Red Planet as never before.
Ride along on the 15-year mission
that captured hearts a world away!

Available from Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, or Book Depository (for international folks). Coming soon signed copies from Katie’s bookstore.

Nonfiction: THE SUCCESSFUL HYBRID AUTHOR by Katlyn Duncan

I’m always happy to have Katlyn Duncan guest post on the blog. Not only is she an award-winning fiction author, she is also a wealth of information when it comes to the topic of author careers. Her first nonfiction book is TAKE BACK YOUR BOOK: AN AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO RIGHTS REVERSION. Let’s give Katlyn a big welcome as she talks about her latest book THE SUCCESSFUL HYBRID AUTHOR: TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR TRADITIONAL AND INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING CAREER.

As an author who has been publishing for 10+ years, I’ve witnessed many different iterations of what a writing career can look like. More importantly, the joining of both types of publishing paths that many people tend to think of as separate. Today, I’d like to share my experience and knowledge about what it means to be a hybrid author, and how both traditional and self-published authors can become one.

A hybrid author is someone who has traditionally published books and also self-published books. The term “hybrid” is used to describe the combination of traditional and self-publishing methods. This allows authors to have the best of both worlds and to gain control over their publishing career.

Becoming a hybrid author is a practical decision that can be made by both traditional and self-published authors. For traditional authors, it can mean having rights to their books revert back to them, giving them the option to self-publish. For self-published authors, it can mean pursuing traditional publishing opportunities while continuing to self-publish.

One of the benefits of being a hybrid author is the ability to have control over your publishing career. Self-publishing allows authors to have more control over the creative process, including cover design and release dates. Traditional publishing, on the other hand, provides authors with a team of professionals to help with editing, marketing, and distribution. As a hybrid author, you have the opportunity to choose which route to take for each individual project, giving you the best of both worlds.

Another benefit of being a hybrid author is the potential for multiple income streams. Self-publishing allows authors to earn a higher royalty rate and to have control over pricing. Traditional publishing, on the other hand, provides authors with an advance and the potential for larger sales. As a hybrid author, you can earn money from both traditional and self-publishing, providing a more stable income stream.

However, becoming a hybrid author also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the amount of time and effort required to navigate both traditional and self-publishing. It can be time-consuming to query agents, submit to publishers, and to self-publish. It’s also important to have a clear understanding of the rights and contracts associated with both traditional and self-publishing.

Another challenge is the need to constantly adapt and evolve. The publishing industry is constantly changing, and as a hybrid author, it’s important to be open to new opportunities and to be willing to adapt and evolve.

To become a hybrid author, it’s important to research both traditional and self-publishing options. For traditional publishing, research literary agents and publishers that are a good fit for your genre and writing style. For self-publishing, research the best platforms and distribution channels. Building your author platform is also essential, by developing a following on social media and building a community of readers and reviewers.

It’s also important to have a clear understanding of the costs associated with self-publishing, such as editing, cover design, and formatting. It’s also important to have a clear plan in place for marketing and promotion, whether through traditional or self-publishing channels.

You can learn about all of this and more in ‘The Successful Hybrid Author’, a comprehensive guide on how you can take control of your writing career and start earning more income from your books. It’s available now in eBook, paperback, and hardcover.

THE SUCCESSFUL HYBRID AUTHOR blurb:

Are you ready to take control of your writing career and start earning more income from your books? If so, becoming a hybrid author may be the perfect solution for you.

With hybrid publishing, you can take advantage of the best of both publishing paths, such as greater creative control, higher royalty rates, and the ability to release your books on your own schedule.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll:

  • Discover the key differences between self-publishing, independent publishing, and traditional publishing.
  • Learn how to choose the right publishing options for your books to maximize your income.
  • Navigate the world of hybrid publishing and transition from traditional or independent publishing.
  • Get practical tips and advice for starting and growing your career as a hybrid author.

Whether you’re coming from traditional or independent publishing, this guide will give you the tools you need to become a successful hybrid author. It’s time to start your hybrid author journey today.

About the Author:

Katlyn Duncan is a multi-published author of adult and young adult fiction, and has ghostwritten over 40 novels for children and adults. 

When she’s not writing, she’s obsessing over many (many) television series’, and hanging out on YouTube where she shares her writing process and all the bookish things. 

Keep up with Katlyn on her newsletter at http://www.katlynduncan.com.

Wrapping Up 2022 and What’s to Come in 2023

Happy New Year! It seems to be flying by already, and I don’t expect it to slow down. According to Goodreads, I read 52 books in 2022, but that doesn’t include the countless picture books I read. I set my usual goal of 50 books for 2023, though reading is off to a bit of a slow start for me. What are your reading goals for this year?

As an author, 2022 was a banner year as it was the first time I released two books in one year. And 2023 is set to be even bigger with five book releases! (Yes, I do sleep, but probably not as much as I should.)

The first of which is my nonfiction book SELFIES FROM MARS: THE TRUE STORY OF MARS ROVER OPPORTUNITY, which comes out February 13 and is up for preorder on most sites! I have some final proofing and uploading to do, but this one is mostly done and ready to meet readers.

From evidence of water to stunning images,
Mars rover Opportunity allowed humans to
experience the Red Planet as never before.
Ride along on the 15-year mission
that captured hearts a world away!

Then I’ve got three YA thrillers, one standalone and a duology, planned for the spring and summer months. Details on titles, covers, release dates, and ARC copies all coming soon. I’m working on getting a monthly newsletter going, so stay tuned for that. It’ll be the best place to get all my book news first.

And finally, another picture book in the Family Christmas Tales series called DADDY’S TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS. Phoebe Cho will be illustrating this one, and we will be getting started on that soon. The first in the series was MOMMY’S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, which recently got a lovely 5-star review from Readers’ Favorite, earning it a shiny badge.

For anyone interested in a detailed workshop about self-publishing children’s book (picture books through YA), I’m presenting my 90-minute workshop “What to Expect When You’re Self-Publishing” on Saturday, January 21 at 10:30 a.m. (ET). It’s on Zoom, so you can attend from anywhere and there will be a recording available for 30 days after.

Alrighty, one last question for all of you…is there anything in particular you’d like me to blather on about here on the blog this year?

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