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More from Walnut Hill Elementary. Next stop...Jones Park

Lots of children.  I had 2 groups at WHE

This is the blanket I received at the school. Isn't this beautiful?

School Visits

The sign says:  Thank you Author Sandra Byrd Lawson 

The first school I visited was Walnut Hill Elementary. Wow! I don't know how many children, but I can safely say, it was a lot! Everyone was super nice!  The children seemed to enjoy my visit, but I guess anything that gets you out of class is high on their priority list.  The fifth graders did a story writing contest. I will cover that in a later post.  When I drove out of the parking lot, I noticed they had my name on the sign out front.  Talk about feeling special!  Thank you, Mrs. Pennington, the office staff and everyone at the school.  Oh yes, thank you for the embroidered blanket (it had a cupcake on it...very appropriate for The Best Baker in the World.)  I am grateful and will treasure that gift!

My visit to Kentucky

Our library. What a wonderful investment Casey County made here.  I can remember when this was built!

Jan Banks and my mother

Update on Geese!

I got the word yesterday that Edna and Edgar's eggs have hatched and we now have 5 baby geese.  This is an annual thing at our house and we are very excited "grandparents".  I'm sorry I have missed it all since I've been out doing book promotions.  I will post photos and more details next week.  My internet is very limited here.  I will also have lots of photos from the schools I've been visiting. The kiddos and staff have been absolutely amazing!

Oklahoma life...

Last night was the perfect evening...great temperature, no wind, no rain, etc. We enjoyed time on our patio just visiting and listening to the beautiful songs of the birds in our backyard.  We have a mocking bird that is our all time favorite.  We have to smile when we listen to the clever things he come up with.  And then the other sounds...the neighbor has three or four roosters that were evidently in a crowing contest. It was one after the other, each rooster trying to drown out the other.  It was quite comical to listen. The longer we listened the funnier it was. And then, there's Edgar the goose. That goose is always looking for us.  I suppose he associates us with food because we are always feeding him.  He's going to get so fat, he won't be able to get airborne! Hopefully, Edna's eggs will hatch soon and we'll have another group of geese to fuss over for a little while.

Moving on...slowly!

So my book has been released, I've done a lot of book signings and promotional things, but then the hard question.  How do I get bookstores to carry my book? I have several online sources, but not much in the actual bookstores.  I will start making some contacts next week to independent bookstores, but my contract prohibits me from marketing to the big chains.  I am at my wits end! A marketing guy I met this weekend at a conference, advised me to have everyone I know (who is willing!) to call the bookstores and make a request for the book.  Ok, so everyone who is willing, please call Barnes and Noble, Hastings, Books a Million, etc.     The online resources that I am aware of now carrying my book are: Tate Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, and Indiebound.org.

Awesome Group!

I was so pleased yesterday to receive a card in the mail signed by the students from Edmond North Creative Writing Class.  They continue to impress! What an awesome group of students.  I wish only the best for them in their writing careers! Oh yes, the Starbucks card they sent was pretty cool too!

Edmond North Creative Writing Class

I visited the creative writing class at Edmond North today to share what I have learned over the past year with publishing my first children's book.  There was a group of about 30 students; many aspire to become published authors (some children's authors, some novels, some illustrators, and even a novel/movie!) Everyone had great questions for me and I enjoyed visiting them.  They have been working on children's books and I got to see a few.  It's amazing the talent they have and should have no problem achieving their goals.  I look forward to seeing their names in the headlines some day!  Mrs. Spencer, you should be proud!

Creative Writing Class

I will be speaking with Mrs. Spencer's creative writing class at Edmond North High School this Thursday.  They are all working on writing children's books.  I plan to share with them the things I've learned over the past year.  I wish I'd had someone to talk with a year ago instead of learning as I go. I hope to be able to answer all of their questions.  I will admit though, I've never spoken with a high school group, so I am a little nervous!