THIS OLD BAND Release Party!

 

It's here! My first picture book, THIS OLD BAND, illustrated by Matt Loveridge and published by Sky Pony Press, is out in the world! Thanks for stopping by to celebate with me. Scroll down to learn about the book, enter a contest to win a copy of the book, and hear me read a couple of pages. Music and mustaches for everyone!

HERE IS THE MAIN ATTRACTION!

SYNOPSIS:

What kinds of instruments would you imagine a band of cowboys playing? Surely nothing fancy, but they can still make do with what they have, like jugs, combs, boots, and whatever else they can find. Out on the open range, with no one to tell them to quit their hollerin’, a cowboy band counts from ten to one in a tune children are familiar with. Silly phrases, toe-tapping rhythms, and the occasional twist make these cowpokes a great addition to any story-time or bedtime lineup.

Featuring a ragtag group of cowboys from author Tamera Will Wissinger, and colorful, offbeat illustrations by Matt Loveridge, This Old Band is sure to delight children and adults alike (and teach kids a few things about counting and noises) with a fun take on a popular nursery rhyme.

ABOUT THIS OLD BAND:

Author:           Tamera Will Wissinger

Illustrator:       Matt Loveridge

Publisher:        Sky Pony Press

ISBN 10:         1628735953

ISBN 13:         9781628735956

Release Date:  June 3, 2014

Ages:               3-6

Subjects:          Juvenile Fiction, Humorous Stories, Nursery Rhymes, Westerns, Concepts/ Counting and Numbers

FIRST READERS ARE ENJOYING THIS OLD BAND.

Would you like to see what they have to say? Click on the GOODREADS link, but be sure to come back for the rest of the party!

THIS OLD BAND ON TOUR:

CLICK HERE FOR THE THIS OLD BAND ONLINE TOUR SCHEDULE.

TO PURCHASE THIS OLD BAND CLICK ON YOUR FAVORITE STORE:

INDIEBOUND

BOOKS A MILLION

BARNES AND NOBLE

AMAZON

If you'd like to purchase a signed copy of THIS OLD BAND, call the VERO BEACH BOOK CENTER: 1-888-732-3226

TRY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A SIGNED COPY BY ENTERING MY THIS OLD BAND GIVEAWAY!

The Rafflecopter is open until 11:00 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, June, 9. (Good luck!)

Congratulations Jen Petro Roy, winner of the THIS OLD BAND book giveaway! Thank you to everyone who stopped by and who entered the contest! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway   

COME JOIN THE FUN!

10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 6

at VERO BEACH BOOK CENTER

Miss Julie is reading THIS OLD BAND during Story Hour!

(I'll be there to listen.)

 

CAN'T MAKE IT TO STORY HOUR?

Here's your chance to listen to me read from THIS OLD BAND right now. Click on the cowboy playing the jug to go to my Soundcloud recording. Hum or sing along if you like.

Closeup cover art by Matt Loveridge

THANK YOU!

Thanks for joining me to celebrate the release of THIS OLD BAND! I hope you and the young readers in your life enjoy this book!

This Old Band feature on The Storyteller's Inkpot

Today I'm honored to be interviewed by Hamline Master of Fine Arts in writing for Children faculty member Marsha Qualey at The Storyteller’s Inkpot.

I love my Hamline MFAC community!

Here is an excerpt:

1. Please describe the book.

In THIS OLD BAND, a ragtag band of cowboys and a cowgirl dance, play their instruments, and make noise out on the open range while they count down from ten to one all day and night to the tune of a familiar folk song.

2. As the story progressed from inception to copy-edited version, what were the major changes?

This was always a counting concept book that featured rugged westerners, but initially I envisioned a story that included a duel. After many attempts and rewrites over a number of years, it became clear to me that these characters did not want to fight; they wanted to play!

How did those changes come about?

I started to think harder about concept books, what made them work, and what I had loved to sing or chant when I was young...

This Old Band at Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire!

Today Mindy McGinnis helps me kick off my This Old Band tour by hosting me for a Successful Author Talk at her blog: Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire! Mindy is one of my Class of 2k13 classmates, and is one of the most successful writer bloggers that I know. She's also the talented author of NOT A DROP TO DRINK and the upcoming IN A HANDFUL OF DUST.

Here is an interview excerpt:

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

Most of my writing begins as one tiny nugget of an idea scribbled on a sticky note or receipt, so I definitely start out as a pantster. If an idea grabs hold of my imagination and won’t let go, then I begin to flesh it out, still by the seat of my pants, though, and often in my head. Sometimes that phase will last for days or even months depending on the project, and I make sure to jot down those ideas as they come. At some point, though, from the very shortest picture books to longer verse novels, I have to step back and ask what I’m doing and how I might make this lovely mess of ideas into a story or a poem that could hang together and actually become a book. That’s when my writing becomes more planful.

Click on one of the BIG BLACK CATS below to be whisked away to the full interview. Thank you for hosting me at Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire!, Mindy! 

THIS OLD BAND Goes On Tour!

Now that we've celebrated Memorial Day 2014, summer is approaching quickly, and so is the release of THIS OLD BAND with Sky Pony Press. It officially arrives next Tuesday, June 3! Several author and teacher friends are helping me celebrate online with a series of interviews and features over the next several weeks, starting today!

I'm imagining that by next week bookstores all over the country may look like this:

 Idea courtesy of Vero Beach Book Center

I'm feeling like this:

Closeup of Matt Loveridge's THIS OLD BAND Cover Image

Yes, I feel like singing and dancing with the band! But I'll hold on for a moment to tell you where you can find me rolling out THIS OLD BAND. 

THIS OLD BAND TOUR SCHEDULE:

05/27/14  Mindy McGinnis helps me kick off the tour with a Successful Author Talk at Writer. Writer. Pants on Fire. 

6/02/14 Hamline MFAC faculty extraordinaire Marsha Qualey interviews me at The Storyteller’s Inkpot. 

06/03/14 Meet me back here at The Writer's Whimsy on release day where I'll be celebrating THIS OLD BAND all week long!

06/03/14 Lydia Kang is planning a release day interview at her blog The Word is my Oyster.  

6/06/14 Publishing house and release date mate Kate Louise, AKA Kate Ormand is featuring a top ten list across the pond at Kate Louise Author.

(Kate’s YA DARK DAYS releases with Sky Pony Press the same day as THIS OLD BAND, and she has three forthcoming picture books with SPP.)

06/09/14 Peggy Eddleman and I are chatting at Will Write for Cookies.  

06/09/14 Kate Hannigan featured me in an Author Of interview.

06/25/14 One of my first children's writing instructors, Ester Hershenhorn, invited me to participate in a Wednesday Writing Workout at Teaching Authors.  

07/01/14 Michigan teacher Colby Sharp asked me his 5-4-3-2-1 interview questions.

07/04/14 Poet friend Michelle H Barnes is hosting me for her July “Spotlight ON” at Today’s Little Ditty. 

That's what I know for now...back to my singing and dancing! I hope you'll jump on the THIS OLD BAND tour with me!

May Events: Kids' Blast and Author Fiesta!

This past week has been busy with two fun events. The first, Kids' Blast, was on May 17 at Riverside Park in Vero Beach. 

I was honored to read with children as part of The Vero Beach Learning Alliance presentation and in partnership with the Vero Beach Book Center for Indies First Storytime. We read from Gone Fishing and I gave a sneak peek reading from This Old Band!

Photo courtesy of Karin Hammler

Photo courtesy of Karin Hammler

~~~~~

On Thursday, May 22 I participated in the Author Fiesta! at Keene's Crossing Elementary School in Windermere with several other Florida authors. During my daytime presentation we talked about reading and writing and all of the 3rd graders and I read together from Gone Fishing. That evening we talked and read some more. Kim Britt, owner of Bookmark It helped us sell our books.

 Sharing photos of my fishing family. (Photo courtesy of Kim Britt.)

Young readers who took home a copy of Gone Fishing! (Photo courtesy of Kim Britt.)

L/R: Host and Media Specialist Jennifer, Renee Adams, Ethan Long, Judy Lindquist, Christina Farley (author and host), Me (Photo courtesy of Kim Britt, Bookmark It owner.)

One of my favorite parts of being an author is reading with students!