It's October 15th and in Marquette Michigan, snow bits are whizzing around in 20 mph wind.  While the busses aren't covered like this photo suggests, soon we'll be watching snow fall in earnest -- and hoping for a snow day!

Winter may come early in Michigan, but the great state counteracts that with many gifts. Debra Diesen is one of them. She's a NYTimes bestelling author (!) for her first picture book (!) -- The Pout-Pout Fish -- which is a already a classic.  She hosts a great blog and runs a Michigander Monday series. Guess what? I'm her subject today. Take a peek and say "Hi!"  at:   http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com/2012/10/michigander-monday-carrie-pearson.html.

And so ends a blog tour that exceeded my high expectations. Later this week, I'll post a follow up on what I learned and hope it helps you. Thank you for touring with us!

In the future of this blog, I plan to jump start my mentoring series and explore the issue of our emotional core and how it influences writing. 

Visit often and let me know what you'd like to talk about! I'm all (slightly frozen) ears.  





 

What's a road trip without a little vehicular malfunction? Could be an engine that gets too hot, an air conditioner that won't cool down, or lug nuts that cling to a wheel like a chimp to his mama's back. 

So it makes sense than even our virtual tour experienced a glitch wherein two stops got a little smushed into one day. But hey, that's okay. We're all just in this for the ride and to meet some nice folks along the way.  Which we totally have! We've met folks like Wendy Lawrence at  http://thefamilythatreadstogether.com/. Her site and blog is an effective resource for caregivers wanting to chose the right book for their child. She offers a nice review of A Warm Winter Tail including this: "...The facts are laced into poetry and the poetry sewn into a kind of a story."  Wendy's site is a definite bookmark opportunity.

And we've met Jennifer Rumberger who hosts our tour at her site http://www.jenniferrumberger.com/ on Perfect Picture Book Friday! She's a Michigan gal too and it seems we share the same taste in children's books. She offers a review of A Warm Winter Tail, a short interview, and....DRUM ROLL PLEASE .... the winner of the giveaway! Pop on over to Jennifer's site, see who won, and add her site to your must read list.

On Monday, we'll have one final stop on the tour with New York Times bestselling author, Debra Diesen, at  her blog http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com/(part of her Michigander Monday series). We Michiganders stick together, don't we? :)

So, exit the bus on your right and stretch your legs during this fabulous fall weekend. We'll pick you up bright and early Monday morning...

Notice that one white-shirted character who is facing the back of the bus when everyone else is facing forward? Were you that person? Maybe looking the other direction meant you saw life differently and maybe you offered the rest of the world a unique perspective. I think Darcy Pattison might have been that character and still is. She looks at writing for children with an effectiveness that moves writers in a positive direction.  She's hosting our blog stop today. Click here to visit her site and read my guest post about why revision is so difficult -- from a brain perspective. While you are there, her post about what to get from a critique is well worth your time.  Remember to leave a comment so we know you were there and be entered to win A Warm Winter Tail and plush animal.  

I wanted to find a school bus photo that included some sheep for our stop today but this bug-eyed bus will have to do. (I guess not many sheep take the bus or at least no one captured it on film.) Why sheep in a bus, you ask? Because our host is Nancy Shaw who is the amazing author of the Sheep in a Jeep series of books! Her latest book, Alena's Story, illustrates how proficient she is as a writer of prose as well.  Check out her site and new blog. You can find our interview here: http://www.nancyshawbooks.blogspot.com/.

In case you are a recent A Warm Winter Tail blog tour participant, here is the line up for this week (the stops from last week follow at the end).  Remember that a snazzy gift of a book and plush animal awaits one lucky person who comments at each stop (winner chosen randomly):

Monday 8th: Nancy Shaw at www.nancyshawbooks.com

12th: Darcy Pattison at www.darcypattison.com

11th: Wendy Lawrence at www.thefamilythatreadstogether.com

12th: Jennifer Rumberger at www.jenniferrumberger.com – winner announced!

15th: Debra Diesen at http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com

If you missed one of the stops last week, you can put it in reverse and check them out!

Monday 1st: Robin McCoy at www.inspiredbysavannah.com

2nd: Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre at http://www.literaryrambles.com

3rd: Sue Heavenrich at http://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com

4th: Tiffany at www.tiftalksbooks.com

5th: Anastasia Suen at http://asuen.com/blog

Jump on the bus and come along with us!

Have you ever had the experience of a road trip with someone who wanted to see every roadside attraction and someone else who wanted to "cover some ground?" Well, today the stop and smell the roses person won. We hit the brakes to check out the flora and fauna with Anastasia Suen. If you haven't visited this website yet, you are in for a treat. Anastasia is a recognized expert in the world of children's literature. She hosts us on STEM Friday (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) which is extra special! Stop by and smell the roses with us!

Yes, there is a lot night driving on a cross country road trip. How do you expect us to get from Archimedes Notebook to Tif Talks Books without some caffeine-altered mileage?  

Thankfully, we made it to Tiffany's and it's a good spot to be. She reviews books, talks about literacy issues books that have been banned or challenged.  Check out her site and let her know you've been there. Remember to leave a comment to be eligble for A Warm Winter Tail book and plush toy. Plus, I just like to know you're riding along with us.

I also wanted to share that A Warm Winter Tail is a Hot Off The Press Book featured on the Children's Book Council website: http://www.cbcbooks.org/book-details.php?book_id=1086&book_list=October. That's cool! I mean, warm...

While you were snoozing (did you know you snore?), we traveled to upstate NY and visited Sue Heavenrich's blog called Archimedes Notebook. (http://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.se/)This is an interesting natural world-oriented place to explore. In addition to book reviews, Sue provides an ongoing list of fun activities to do with children in the great outdoors. Check it out!

In case you missed it somehow, here is the full blog tour schedule. Notice that Darcy Pattison has joined the tour! Thank you everyone!

Monday 1st: Robin McCoy at www.inspiredbysavannah.com

2nd: Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre at http://www.literaryrambles.com

3rd: Sue Heavenrich at http://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com

4th: Tiffany at www.tiftalksbooks.com

5th: Anastasia Suen at http://asuen.com/blog

Monday 8th: Nancy Shaw at www.nancyshawbooks.com

12th: Darcy Pattison at www.darcypattison.com

11th: Wendy Lawrence at www.thefamilythatreadstogether.com

12th: Jennifer Rumberger at www.jenniferrumberger.com – winner announced!

15th: Debra Diesen at http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com

We are movin' on down the road and hope you are making every stop with us. Today's host is www.literaryrambles.com. Natalie Aguirre and Casey McCormick are the go-to resource for agent information, writerly tips, and book reviews/interviews.  Stop by and check out my guest post about Getting Unstuck with Intention. Remember to comment to be eligble to win a signed book and plushie animal!

Also, to read a great interview of author Nancy Shaw by author and former children's librarian Shutta Crum, click here. Nancy is most known for her funny, rhyming Sheep In a Jeep series (love these books!) and has branched out with a realistic multicultural story published by Sleeping Bear Press. 

OK, I have to get back to the book blog tour...

Hey you in the back of the bus! Get your arms inside the window!

It's the official launch of the NonStop Ten Stop Blog Tour for A Warm Winter Tail! Jump on board and let's go. Our first stop is  Robin McCoy's Inspired By Savannah website and blog:                                                                                                         http://www.inspiredbysavannah.com/2012/10/book-blog-tour-warm-winter-tail-by.html
Robin is an entrepreneur and champion for women everywhere. Men, don't worry. She likes guy types too!

Remember to leave a comment when you visit so you can be entered to win a signed book and plush animal for your children, grandchildren, niece, nephew, or special pet who likes animal picture books.

Sit down now and face the front of the bus! I don't want anyone to get hurt!

blog  /blɔg, blɒg/  [blawg, blog] 
noun, verb, blogged, blog·ging.
noun 1. a Web site containing the writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other Web sites. (www.dictionary.com)

I thought I'd share my experience setting up the Nine Stop Non Stop Blog Tour for A Warm Winter Tail kicking off Monday, October 1st, 2012. That's five days from now! Yippee!

If you've never been involved in coordinating a blog tour, maybe something here will help you when it is your turn behind the wheel. 

Order of events:
1. Sylvan Dell Publishing's promotional director asks for any blog contacts I have and creates an email list incorporating their contacts and mine (N.B., their list was longer).
2. Sylvan Dell Publishing emails all contacts asking if they would be interested in hosting me on a tour and/or reviewing the book. Positive responses are copied to me and  the promotional director provides an Excel spreadsheet with information about the host and their website. We decide to run a contest in which one reader who visits each site and comments will be eligible to receive a free copy of A Warm Winter Tail and a plush animal featured in the book.
3. I research blogs belonging to each positive respondent and then follow up via email with them being careful to include something personal about their blog and how A Warm Winter Tail fits their mission. 
4.  As their responses come in, I create a calendar with one day for each blog. Of course, in a few cases, respondents want the same day so a little careful adjusting is necessary. I create a separate email folder called "Blog Tour." How exciting! 
5. Based on my requests, Sylvan Dell Publishing sends Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) to hosts as needed. (They are so helpful!)
6. After reading ARCs, hosts who will post interviews email their questions to me.
7.  I begin to draft interviews, collect links for photos, and draft a guest posts being careful to provide unique answers to similar questions whenever possible.  This takes a lot of thought and careful writing.
8. I send answers and posts to hosts and start promoting the tour
9. I wait until October 1st when the fun begins. This is the hardest part.

After the tour, I will post what I learned so stay tuned.

Here are my hosts and their blogs. I SURE hope you visit, comment, and win!

Monday 1st: Robin McCoy at  www.inspiredbysavannah.com

2nd: Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre at http://www.literaryrambles.com/

 3rd:  Sue Heavenrich at http://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/

5th: Anastasia Suen at http://asuen.com/blog/

Monday 8th: Nancy Shaw at www.nancyshawbooks.com

11th: Wendy Lawrence at www.thefamilythatreadstogether.com

12th: Jennifer Rumberger at www.jenniferrumberger.com – winner announced!

15th: Debra Diesen at http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com/

Thank you to all my hosts and Sylvan Dell Publishing!

If you have coordinated a blog tour, tell me what you learned!