Six Ways to Reach Young Readers with Series Books

Recently, I posted about series book memories from childhood. In recent discussions, many of you joined in and probably shared opinions with others. Today, I want to summarize six reasons that children and teens are drawn to series books.

1. Familiar Characters - The characters in a book series may seem like friends or even family. The next book in a series can be a comfortable place to go because of familiarity.
2. Admired Heroes - The series characters may do the daring or courageous. They may be heroes in the eyes of the readers, people to admire and emulate (if only in the reader's imagination).
3. Preferred Genre - The series may be written in a preferred genre, such as mystery or adventure.
4. Trusted Choice - Parents seek authors and books they can trust. A proven series may draw the attention of parents. They can trust the work without extensive review.
5. Easy Choice - The things above make a favorite series an easy choice. The child or tween reader can make a decision without wondering if they will like the book. The others in the series have passed the reader's test. The next book is an easy choice.
6. Generational Share - This is the sweetest and one of the most powerful ways that young reader are drawn to series books. The love of a series is passed from parent to child, shared, reread, and loved again.

 Have you enjoyed a particular book series with a young reader? Please share that with us here.

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The Writer/Blogger World Tour continues! Last week I posted about how I write here. I joined Cindy Ervin Huff who explained how she writes here.

This week, I pass the baton to Karen Whiting and Cleo Lampos. Click on their names to read how they write.  

Karen Whiting is an international speaker and award-winning author of seventeen books. She’s the former television host of Puppets On Parade. Her newest books are Nature Girl: a guide to caring for God’s creation and The One Year My Princess Devotions. Her upcoming releases are The One Year Devotions for Active Boys and Hope From His Heart (a devotional for women).

Karen loves to let creativity splash across the pages of her writing as she encourages families to thrive, treasure one another, and connect to God.

Connect with Karen!

Blog www. http://karenwhiting.blogspot.com/

Facebook www.facebook.com/KarenHWhiting

Website www.karenwhiting.com

Twitter  www.twitter.com/KarenHWhiting

Pinterest www.twitter.com/KarenHWhiting

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Cleo Lampos is a retired teacher who has developed her writing and speaking skills into a ministry. With 26 years of special education under her belt, she enjoys preparing for lecture series based on the lives of teachers. She brings one granddaughter to Open Mic at the local library where they participate in the fun. The Teachers of Diamond Projects School is a series of novels about urban teachers that she has written. Teaching Diamonds in the Tough is her narrative nonfiction based on her years of journaling. One historic fiction, A Mother's Song, is a tribute to the mothers of the orphan trains. All her books are published by Oak Tara.

Connect with Cleo!

Visit her blog: http://www.cleolampos.com 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CleoLampos 



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Notes from Carol

Have we connected on Twitter and Facebook?



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copyright (c) 2014 Carol McAdams Moore

Writer/Blogger World Tour: This Is How I Do It

Many thanks to Cindy Ervin Huff for inviting me to participate in this blog tour!

Cindy Huff has been freelancing for over thirty years for children and adults in both the Christian and general markets. She has 100+ writing  credits in both fiction and non-fiction.  Her unpublished Historical Fiction Secrets and Charades received the Editor's Choice Award at the 2014 Write-to-Publish Conference. It is now in the hands of awesome editors. She is the President of the Aurora, Illinois chapter of Word Weavers and a member of the Christian Writer's Guild.  Cindy loves making new friends and helping other writers. Visit her on any of the links below.



Connect with Cindy!

Writer's Patchwork Blog: www.jubileewriter.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cindyehuff
Twitter:@CindyErvinHuff

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Each member of this blog tour will answer the following four questions. Today is my turn to share with you!

What am I working on?

 

I am working on three things. The first is marketing my tween devos which will release October 7, 2014. I am super excited about this opportunity from Zonderkidz. Stay tuned to this blog and my Facebook page as we get closer to the release date!

My second focus is a young adult novel. Starting it was the response to a challenge from several people who care and are invested in my writing career. (You know who you are.) Once I sat down and started writing, I found myself hooked on the characters and the story line. I can't elaborate much more than that right now.

Third, I am working on a chapter book (think early elementary readers). It combines the heartfelt, yet humorous, real-life struggles of a boy, his dog, and his best friend. I so wish I could tell you more! Let's hope that this is on the bookstore shelves soon. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Three very different focuses - right? That's okay. I like it that way!

How does my work differ from other genres?

 

I think that my devotion writing for tweens differs from others in the same genre in its format. I love to see what kids are reading. Then, I try to find commonalities between those books. My tween devos are similar in format to other popular tween books that incorporate a variety of ways to engage readers.




Here is how the publisher describes the one for boys: 

Dare U 2 Open this Book is not your typical 90-day devotional for guys. It’s an all-out open space for you to explore and learn more about yourself and your faith with prompts to get your mind thinking and your creative ideas flowing, turn your thoughts and emotions into dynamic doodles, fill in the prayer blanks, solve puzzles, and more.

Dare U 2 Open this Book challenges guys to follow Jesus. Best. Idea. Ever.

 

 

Why do I write what I do?

 

That might best be answered with why I write.

I love writing for beginning readers because they are so excited about learning to read for themselves. I blogged about it here.

Writing for middle grade is just as dear to my heart. Tweens are at a challenging age. In more and more situations, they must choose to follow what they have been taught or what the world is offering. Read more about why I write for middle grade here.


 

How does your writing process work?

On a writing day, I like to follow a certain order of work. I wouldn't call it a schedule because it might begin at a different time each day and the components might last varying times. Nonetheless, the order of the day is what helps me stay on track and accomplish as much as I can.

I begin with my own quiet time (reading the Bible and praying). This is also a part of my writing time for two reasons. I believe that God has a plan for my day (and yours). Focusing on His Word and praying helps me get in tune with his idea of what my day should look like. Because I write devotions for kids, lots of ideas for those come up during this time as well. Okay. Confession time. You know the spiral notebooks that they sell very inexpensively at back-to-school time? I use one of those for notes and devotion ideas from every one or two books of the Bible. Yep.

Next I try to focus on actual writing. It might be working on a proposal or writing something like a manuscript, article, or a blog post. This comprises the bulk of my writing time.

At the end of the day, my mind is tired (so is the rest of me). I use this time to research churches and Christian schools that might be interested when I have an author event their a specific area.


I hope that those answers explain a little more about my writing. Thanks again, to Cindy for including me in this blog tour. Next Monday, I am excited to hear from Karen Whiting and Cleo Lampos.

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Karen Whiting is an international speaker and award-winning author of seventeen books. She’s the former television host of Puppets On Parade. Her newest books are Nature Girl: a guide to caring for God’s creation and The One Year My Princess Devotions. Her upcoming releases are The One Year Devotions for Active Boys and Hope From His Heart (a devotional for women).

Karen loves to let creativity splash across the pages of her writing as she encourages families to thrive, treasure one another, and connect to God.

Connect with Karen!

Blog www. http://karenwhiting.blogspot.com/

Facebook www.facebook.com/KarenHWhiting

Website www.karenwhiting.com

Twitter  www.twitter.com/KarenHWhiting

Pinterest www.twitter.com/KarenHWhiting

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Cleo Lampos is a retired teacher who has developed her writing and speaking skills into a ministry. With 26 years of special education under her belt, she enjoys preparing for lecture series based on the lives of teachers. She brings one granddaughter to Open Mic at the local library where they participate in the fun. The Teachers of Diamond Projects School is a series of novels about urban teachers that she has written. Teaching Diamonds in the Tough is her narrative nonfiction based on her years of journaling. One historic fiction, A Mother's Song, is a tribute to the mothers of the orphan trains. All her books are published by Oak Tara.

Connect with Cleo!

Visit her blog: http://www.cleolampos.com 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CleoLampos

Young Readers and Series Books

I have been thinking a lot about series books. After all, many times when you tell someone you are writing a book, they ask if it will be a series. I have to admit that I always write fiction with the idea of a series in the back of my mind.

You see, I think that series books are wildly popular. Recently, on Facebook, I asked a question about series books and childhood memories. Lots of people wanted to talk about series books. You can read about it on my Facebook wall. The response confirmed my thinking. Series books are popular!




The Happy Hollisters series was one that several people mentioned, so I went on a treasure hunt at STL Books in lovely Kirkwood, Missouri.







The owner, Robin Moore Theiss, showed me a complete set of The Happy Hollisters.







She also had Nancy Drew books that were gems.

But Nancy Drew hasn't disappeared. This morning, I found a whole box of them at a sale, just waiting for someone from the new generation of Nancy Drew readers.

Why are series books so popular?

I have a lot of ideas about that, but first I am posing the question here and on Facebook. I hope you will chime in the discussion!


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Notes from Carol

Have we connected on Twitter and Facebook?



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copyright (c) 2014 Carol McAdams Moore

Rejoice Today

Why I Write for Beginning Readers

I love to write for kids! Those who are beginning readers are especially fun (and challenging) to write for. Here are four reasons I love to write for beginning readers.

1. Beginning readers are just mastering the print word. They are super excited about being about to read stories and Bible truths for themselves.
2. Beginning readers love to read for others. They will read a fiction story or a Bible storybook again and again - to anyone who will listen! What a privilege for an author to be a part of that witness through young voices.
3. Beginning readers are school-aged. Whether they attend a public school, a Christian school, or are homeschooled, they are starting to be confronted with new ideas. Some of those do not reflect Bible teachings. Not only do beginning readers explore their faith, they begin to defend it through their reading.
4. Beginning readers grow to be middle grade readers. I love writing for that age group, too. Read all about it here.

Do these characteristics sound like the beginning readers you know? What would you add?

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Notes from Carol

Have we connected on Twitter and Facebook?



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copyright (c) 2014 Carol McAdams Moore

4th of July

Children's Book Clubs at Christian Bookstores

Recently, I served on a panel of children's book authors. The audience was made up of Christian bookstore retailers. The question of how to encourage children to read more was asked. One of my suggestions was to offer a book club. I previously posted about summer reading clubs at home, but this idea can be expanded to embrace Christian bookstores as well.

Here are two ideas for children's book clubs that lend themselves well to Christian bookstores.

 

1 - Create a Read-at-Home Book Club

• Establish a Theme

• Outline the Reading Goals

• Offer Prizes

• Plan Activities and Events

 

2 - Create In Store Book Club Meetings

• Choose a Book

• Establish a Meeting Time

• Enlist a Youth to Lead the Group

• Offer Food

• Plan an End-of-the-Book Celebration 

  
  
  How would you plan a reading club for your local Christian bookstore?
  
  
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  Notes from Carol

  
  
  Have we connected on Twitter and Facebook?
  
  
  
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  copyright (c) 2014 Carol McAdams Moore
  
  

Meeting Young Readers at ICRS

The International Christian Retail Show was just two weeks ago in Atlanta, Georgia. ICRS is the annual trade show in Christian retailing. This year, however, there was a new component, and I was privileged to be a part.





On Sunday afternoon, just prior to the Worship Him Celebration, ICRS hosted its first Change a Life Festival. There was music and other entertainment. There was also a children's area, filled with nine children's authors, hands-on activities, and lots of book-talk.

It was awesome to chat with young Christian readers and their parents. Here are four things I learned (or about which I felt affirmed) from talking with the kids.

1. Children are honest readers/consumers. They read what they want, on topics that interest them (unless, of course, it is a mandatory school assignment). The same was true at the festival. A quick scan of the choices lead each child to start with a preferred book-related activity.
2. Children are curious. They are highly attracted to bright colors, animals, music, and crafts. Aren't we all? I am so thankful for the creative teams that come up with engaging book cover designs!
3. Children are creative. At the festival the kids enjoyed the activities from the books represented there. Some decorated cards; some created pins and crowns; some completed puzzles; and others doodled pictures. Most of them (and the authors) couldn't resist the band music, and there was a decent amount of humming, singing, and movement. 
4. Children are deep thinkers. I loved hearing the conversations between kids and their parents as they thought of Biblical examples of God's promises and amazing things that Jesus did. 

It was such a privilege to meet the young readers at ICRS. Authors learn from their readers.

How would you describe young Christian readers today?


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Notes from Carol

Have we connected on Twitter and Facebook?



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copyright (c) 2014 Carol McAdams Moore