The school(s) I visited last Friday did something really cool! They sent me a piece of paper a few months ago and told me they were going to make bookmarks for the kids so that everybody would have something with my signature on it, whether they bought a book or not. So they asked me to write an “inspirational message” of some sort and then sign my name on the paper and send it back. So I did…and then I forgot all about it.
Well, when I got to the school, I found out they’d held a contest! They asked the kids to decorate the bookmarks and then they printed up a bunch. I never did think to ask what the prize was…it wasn’t just that the library made up actual bookmarks of their design, though, because the library made bookmarks of EVERYONE’S design. I thought this was so cool! I tentatively asked whether I could take a couple (because the majority of them had incorporated scenes from my books!), and the nice librarians from each of the schools gave me a whole stack! One of them had even attached all the winners from each grade level to one large sheet of construction paper for me. (I’m planning on framing it and hanging it up in my office!)
I’m sure glad they didn’t ask ME to choose the winner. I don’t think I would’ve been able to. I had a really hard time simply deciding which bookmarks to post! (And I still probably posted too many…)
How wonderful! I love hearing school visit stories!
I love HAVING a good school visit story. This was a fabulous school! I couldn’t have asked for more enthusiastic librarians! They really got the kids excited about my visit. Everyone should be so lucky to speak at this school!
Oh, that’s so sweet! You must be thrilled!
I am! Seeing those really started off my visit on a positive note!
How wonderful, Dori!!! This is so creative and inspiring! Hope you don’t mind if I borrow the idea someday. It’s fantabulistic!
Linda Joy Singleton
Hey, it wasn’t MY idea. Though I may borrow it myself someday. It would be a great website contest, wouldn’t it? (And YOU are the queen of website contests!)
Any news on the agent front yet? (Did I miss an entry from you?)
Hi
Tomorrow marks the two weeks I told the agent I’d wait. So I’ll email her and see if I can make something good happen. I really want to submit my YA series in a way that will gain the best results (hardback first). So I don’t want to blow it by subbing randomly by myself. If she isn’t interested, I’ll query again. It seems that most agents all want this chick-lit or dark paranormal tone which isn’t me (and since I have lots of THE SEER fans I think my own tone works, too). Only one agent has recognized the potential of my series … which if why I’ve been waiting for her since my original submission last January.
Sigh…the wait continues.
Good side is that I’ve been writing the book and it’s turning out really unusual and wicked fun.
Are you going to SCBWI in LA this year?
LJS
Those are some talented artists!
What a cute idea!
They ARE! I was really impressed with the talent. I couldn’t believe how young some of those kids were!
VERY COOL!
So you get a souvenir of your school visit & they do too :o)
What a great idea! How fun and inspiring for everyone!