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Ways authors can use the library to promote their books

By on September 16, 2013   /   For Teachers  

Did you know that you may be able to add information and videos about your books to library catalogs? Many libraries have social catalogs, putting the power of list-making, tagging and ratings in the hands of readers, much like Goodreads and other platforms. And it gets even better: Let’s say you have a library card with Austin Public. You could upload a video about your book to your local catalog, and that same video would show up in the catalog of New York Public Library and hundreds (!) of other libraries.

At Seattle Public Library (where I work), we are one of more than 120 libraries (including Austin and NYPL, which I randomly chose to impress you) that use Bibliocommons, a shared social catalog. To give you an idea of how it works, I uploaded a book trailer from Mixed-Up Files blogger author Sue Cowen’s You Will Call Me Drog to my library’s catalog, which you can see here (choose the “video” tab). And now you can also see it here in Austin Public Library’s catalog and NYPL’s catalog and Johnson County Library in Kansas, and so on. (And thank you, Sue, for letting me use Drog as an example!)

Does your local library have similar capabilities? If so, here’s how you can enrich the catalog while also presenting more information about your book (or any book):

  1. Go to the book in the library catalog.
  2. Log in to your library account.
  3. Choose “add more” and then “Video.” You’ll fill in a box for headline, another for description, and then the code for a YouTube or SchoolTube video. Be sure to choose “embed” to get the code rather than just using the URL of the video.
  4. The video is now part of the library record for that particular book.

Videos can be anything related to your book, such as an interview, a tour of the locations featured in your book, a young reader doing a booktalk or maybe even trailers done by your readers. Here’s Better Nate Than Ever author Tim Federle talking about his debut novel and here’s a children’s librarian doing a quick 30-second booktalk on Liberty Porter, First Daughter.

You can also add tags and similar titles. When tagging, look to see what descriptive tags are already being used, such as “funny middle grade.” Consider making a thematic list, too. Who could resist books on a list called Awesomely Funny Books or Creepy, Scary Stories for kids? If your book tackles tough topics, a list of similarly themed books could be a great resource for teachers, parents and librarians.

And, of course, since we’re all lovers of middle grade books, you’ll undoubtedly want to make lists, add tags, rate books and upload videos for the books you love reading. It’s a great way to share information on books in a noncommercial setting. We’re reaching readers — with no strings attached.

 

 

 

 

 

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Five Ways MUF’s Updated “For Writers” Page Is NOT Like a Large Umbrella

By on September 15, 2013   /   Book Lists  

I have a confession to make: I’m a habitual list maker. I suppose that explains my frequent use of numbered lists in my MUF posts—posts like “Top 10 Deep (& Stolen) Thoughts about Writing” and “Three Ways Middle-grade Writing Is Like a Bowl of Lucky Charms.” Such perpetual numbering might make you think, Hey, T. P., escape your list-making rut. EXPAND YOUR BLOGGING HORIZONS!

My response? . . . “You didn’t need to use an exclamation point at the end of that thought, and the ALL-CAPS thing was definite overkill. Now get off my case. If lists work, I’m going to roll with them.”

Good. I’m glad we understand each other. Let’s dispense with the bickering and get this blog post underway. Here’s the latest list:

  umbrella

FIVE WAYS MUF’S UPDATED “FOR WRITERS” PAGE IS NOT   LIKE A LARGE UMBRELLA
  1. I had to take an umbrella along while walking my son to school this morning. That kept our book dry for our walk-and-read-aloud routine. The “For Writers” page is just bunch of Internet links to useful middle-grade writing resources, which would make it completely useless for that keeping-books-dry thing.
  2. The “For Writers-The Craft” page provides access to plenty of insights and information that can help you create stronger characters, strengthen your story’s plot, and become an all-around better writer. This will help your writing take flight. Unless you’re Mary Poppins, don’t expect an umbrella to have any such flight-granting effect.
  3. The “For Writers-The Process” page can help you move from idea to draft to revision and onward. No way can an umbrella do that. Unless maybe you get one with an ink pen mounted in the tip. But even then I think the subsequent writer’s cramp would kill your progress.
  4. The “For Writers-The Writing Life” page can inspire you and help you learn how to carve writing time from your overwhelmingly busy schedule. If you think an umbrella can do that, you probably need professional help that has nothing to do with writing or umbrellas.
  5. I think you should visit MUF’s updated “For Writers” page. Conversely, I really don’t care about your umbrella use. Sorry.

Of course, before you click over to “For Writers,” feel free to share your own umbrella-inspired insights below. Happy writing! 🙂

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Boo! Let’s get creepy! (And enter to win!)

By on September 13, 2013   /   Giveaways  
blackcat

photo courtesy of morguefile.com

Happy Friday the 13th, MUF peeps! In the interest of personal safety on this creeptastic day, go ahead and hang a horseshoe for good luck, don’t break any mirrors and — whatever you do — hold your breath when you pass a cemetery!

At least, that’s what my 8-year-old self would have advised… That stuff doesn’t scare grown-up me one bit. I’ll just be here blissfully stepping on cracks in the sidewalks, spilling salt everywhere, and whoa… wait a minute? Was that a black cat? Crossing my path? Excuse me while I run home and hide under the covers…

Phew! Safe now.

Okay, in all seriousness, there’s just something about a good, creepy story — no matter what your age — but especially when you’re a middle-grader. Maybe it’s because it’s sorta scary (in an exciting way, of course) to leave childhood behind. Or perhaps it’s because looming adolescence makes it feel like you’ve been possessed at times. Or, it could just be that there’s no better way to safely scare the socks off yourself than with a good book.

Whatever the case, I distinctly remember devouring ghost stories as a fifth-grader — then hanging out with my buddies at recess holding seances, trying to conjure up spirits and lift each other using only our fingertips (“light as a feather, stiff as a board” anyone?).

And we all had Ouija boards, which of course we never EVER used alone, lest we become the earthly vessels for some malevolent spirit…

Still, as much as I enjoyed spooking myself out as I kid (like the time a friend and I found a smashed gravestone in the woods, took it home and hid it in my closet until we became convinced that it was possessed and had to be exorcised and properly disposed of…), I’d never actually written a spooky story. I’ve always been funny/realistic writer. Well, until my recent work-for-hire gig with the fabulous Working Partners Ltd., that is. So let me share a few things I’ve learned along the way:

  • Less is more. Horror and humor are similar in this regard. Over-the-top can be funny or scary, but oftentimes it’s much creepier not to have the whole monster jump right out at you — let the reader get just a glimpse of a jagged fang, the outline of a horrifying shadow, the scrape of nails along the wall.
  • Physical reactions can be your friend — and enemy. Hearts can only pound so much before they explode. Too many goosebumps make your characters look like they’re diseased. Find other physical ways to convey fear — the uncontrollable twitch of the eyelid, a sweaty palm sliding down a railing, a mouth suddenly gone dry.
  • Don’t rush it! The anticipation of something scary can be even creepier than the thing itself. Telltale heart, anyone? Let the suspense build — don’t just rush into the big “BOO!” moment. Make. Them. Sweat. It. Out…

And… apparently because I’m writing a creepy post, I was just, quite literally, interrupted by the sound of footsteps clomping across my back porch. Seriously. I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP! And I am here alone. Gulp. Excuse me while I go check things out. And if I don’t come back, please call 911. And tell my mom I love her…

Okay, upon a very freaked out investigation (heart pounding, for real…), I just discovered a worker had erroneously wandered into my back yard (she was supposed to be at my neighbor’s house next door).

Phew. (Wipes sweaty palms on dress.) On that note, I am going to sign off now.

And go hide under the covers. For real.

Jan Gangsei is a writer on the Welcome to Weirdsville series, published by Little Brown in the UK. And because she wants to thank you for making it to the end of this post, she’ll be giving away one copy of the first and second books: Happyland and Ghost School. Share your favorite spooky story in the comments below (or just say “BOO!”) and she’ll pick two random winners next week! But whatever you do, please don’t hang out on her back porch. You’ll give her a heart attack.

 

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