What an exciting time. A total of 5 local Hampshire outlets
have shown real interest in selling my book, and two of them have already got
books in stock. To see my book on display in a shop is a rather surreal but exciting
experience.
In a few short days I will finally see my Chinese coversheet
for Global Warming for Young Minds, which means that it is ready for the book
exhibition in Beijing later in the year. Watch this space - more to come about China!
As some of you may know, I am involved with Carbon-info.org.
Carbon-info.org has for some time supported a Blue-eyed
black lemur project, which is being run by the international ACCEL (http://www.aeecl.org/index.shtml).
I am pleased and proud to tell you that we this month was
able to contribute a cheque for £140.00, which will go towards planting trees
in Madagascar. The trees will over time turn into new forest, which will
benefit the blue-eyed black lemur – providing habitat, food and shelter.
Summer and the world almost grinds to a halt. We are harvesting beans, spinach and radishes from the garden. The first tomatoes are almost ready to eat too. Lovely. Home-grown vegs are so crisp and full of flavour - they really don't compare with the vegs you buy in the Supermarket. And how can it. There is a massive difference being picked too early, driven on a truck across Europe before finding it way into a supermarket and onto my plate, compared to picking it and eating it just a few hours later. Yummy!
On the book front things are moving forward too. My local Waterstone bookstore will stock my book, which is fantastic. What is interesting is that the store manager repeated the same advise I have had from three other sources: go speak to primary schools in the area. And that is exactly what I am going to do. I would be a little silly if I did not listen to good advise like that.
So, I am now in the process of planning how to best approach local primary schools. Would like to offer to hold a small talk for the children, if the school would allow this. Would perhaps also allow me to sell a few books at the same time. Would really allow me to spread the word.
My first real review. Have been quite nervous - what would I do if Peggy Tibbetts did not like my work - global warming is such a difficult subject to get right both politically and from a scientific point of view.
===== "Global
Warming for Young Minds is a unique primer
on global warming, covering all aspects of the issue in a
way that’s interesting and easy to understand. Topics,
including carbon dioxide, impacts on animals, recycling, and
many more, are explained with familiar examples from our
daily lives. The photos and artwork enhance the text and
contribute to our understanding. Each topic is followed up
with a short Q&A titled Dean’s and Lisa’s Learning Check,
which encourages comprehension.
Bermann employs
information and solutions rather than fear tactics. Instead
of dire warnings about the melting polar icecaps, he
challenges readers with a melting ice experiment, then
points out the impact of melting ice on polar bears and
penguins. This hands-on approach, combined with the Fun
Break pages and puzzles interspersed, invites readers to get
involved. More than fun and games, Global Warming
for Young Minds is an exceptional educational tool
and should be part of every elementary classroom library."
Copyright (c) 2010 by Peggy Tibbetts;
Independent, freelance reviewer.
What a week. Denmark and England out of the 2010 World Cup! Who am I now going to support?
My publisher is putting my book Global Warming for Young Minds forward to libraries in the North East of the USA. Quite exciting, as I feel my book does belong in a library where lots of children can be pick it up and read about global warming and sustainability.
It makes me sad that climate science is under fire. It is as if this gives lots of people the excuse NOT to care about he planet. Global warming or not, we should look after the planet and the wonderful natural world that surrounds us all. Without it there is no humans, and if we forget it is at our own peril.
The kitchen garden is doing great. Lots of tomatoes and we have already enjoyed fresh spinach and radishes. Great when you know where the food you eat comes from. :)
This might end up being one of these philosophical posts that no-one but the write understands. But so it be.
I have always been looking forward to the release of my book and thought of it as the end. But it is not. The best way to describe the feeling is that one feeling parents have when they look at their new born baby. Any thought that it is the end is almost immediately replaced with the realisation that it is the beginning of something long-term.
Similar with the release of my book. I have not been so busy in years. People want to see a copy of the press release, others want to receive a copy for evaluation and yet others asks questions about price, delivery times etc.
It does not seem to stop, which I guess is a good think. It has just been a bit of a surprise, just like having a baby!
Just got an email from my publisher. Apparently, I have have been published at just the right time. A huge book Expo is kicking off in China end of August, and I have the opportunity to exhibit Global Warming for Young Minds at the exhibition.
This is quite an opportunity because The Beijing International Book Fair is now considered by many as one of the top four International Book Fairs in the World. It's growth and stature is growing quickly and steadily with many first time U.S. and U.K. publishers in attendance. According the BIBF. The Chinese market is growing at a staggering rate with English language titles at the forefront. It is mandated by the government that all Chinese children learn English at an early age.
Just a quick entry to say a BIG "thank you" to all those friends, family and colleagues, past and present, who have sent me "good luck" messages, email of a similar nature and even phoned to congratulate.
For those of you who are interested, my book "Global Warming for Young Minds" has been released
(ISBN: 978-1-60911-468-8).
Never thought the day would come! It is more than a year ago I started out on this project, and to be honest I am so pleased it has come to a successful completion.
If you would like to buy a copy, you can do so from the publishers website: http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/GlobalWarmingForYoungMinds.html
Also, if you are able to help spread the word, please do so.
It will be another few weeks before it is available online at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other online outlets. With a little luck, it may even turn up in real physical bookstores.
Hurray! Today I received a small, flat package. It contained the print-proof of Global Warming for Young Minds, and is the first time any author get to see their book in the flesh - so to speak. The print-proof signals the end of the publishing process, as it is release and distribution from here.
It is kind of weird to see the book for the first time. A little like seeing a famous person on the telly and then meeting them in the street afterwards. You think you know what to expect and then it turns out to be a completely different experience - in this case a good one
I have also managed to upload an image of the front-page. Feedback welcome!
Suddenly things are moving very fast. From having spent a month getting the book layout - the inside of the book - ready, things are now moving at a much faster pace with decisions being made almost daily. Not quite moving at light speed, but nearly...
ISBN number, price, and front cover, which I think looks great, has been agreed, and my book is almost completed. (Will try to upload the front cover in the next few days for everyone to see.)
It clearly helps working with talented designers and layout people, who know what to do to make things look great and can come up with alternative solutions when this is required. I am going to have to send the publishers hardworking team something when all is done and dusted. They all deserve it!
This week's opening of another round of UN climate talks is yet another small and very slow step in the political process, which at some stage is likely to possibly, maybe, in the future lead to a global response to global warming and climate change. Not particular reassuring really.
I can't help feeling that the political process has failed and is failing dismally. And yet there is no-one with a better answer to the question about how to curb man-made emissions - except for putting this global problem into the hands of a small group of people who seem unwilling and unable to actually solve it.
There is therefore no way around the fact that individuals must do as much as they can to reduce their emissions, and that this individual responsibility must be kept up for many years and generations. Those of us who have children needs to tell them how they can be part of the solution by living more sustainable and 'green lives.
And hopefully this will then in years to come turn into a political solution and a wider understanding by those in power that just talking or in some cases being obstructive towards a solution (as with the USA in the last decade) will have a devastating effect on the planet and everyone and everything on it.
Sorry for sounding off, but the lack of political progress got to me this morning!
With regard to the book, I now have an ISBN number and the final layout is done too - and if you don't mind me saying, the layout looks great Next it is on to front and back cover.
It is exciting times. The road forward, turning Global Warming for Young Minds into a real book, is now laid out in detail.
The next step is for the publisher to combine my manuscript and illustrations. This will be the first time in the process this has happened. The outcome is a DRAFT book, which will go through at least two quality reviews before being termed 'Ready". As part of this process, the front-page will be created and a retail price identified.
The final thing, which in my mind is the most exciting part, is the setting of a release date. This will however, have to wait a few more weeks.
Global Warming for Young Minds will be formally launched in just a few months.
I am so very excited! My very first childrens book, and so very topical.
But I am also slightly pensive. I can't help feel that my book came about because we live in a world, which is changing fast. We simply can't do enough to prepare our children for tomorrow's world - their world.
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