WHAT'S HAPPENING ?
Loreda Miller attended a workshop on Building Your Author Brand by Bernadette Marie and sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers in Grand Junction, Colorado on August 3, 2019.
Drawing In the "Our Fairy Godmother" Book - The Last Two Pages - A Problem? Loreda Explains
I wanted reader interaction with the story, so the last two pages of my book direct the reader to draw a favorite flower and a fairy godmother dress on the otherwise blank pages. At the time, I wasn't thinking about shared books. For families with multiple readers, and for public and school libraries, this is a problem. I have a solution - blank sheets of paper.
Instead of having siblings draw in the book, separate sheets of paper (such as simple printer paper) can be used. Then, these sheets can be dated, folded, and tucked into the book. Later, the readers may want to draw more pictures which can also be dated, folded, and tucked into the book. After several years, the book will house a nice progression of art skills.
Public and school libraries frown on defacing or drawing in publicly owned books. To discourage readers from drawing in these public books, stickers can be made and stuck onto each of the last two blank pages. The sticker should read something similar to the following: "Please do not draw in this book. Instead, use a separate piece of paper. Ask your librarian for a sheet." The children can hopefully take the paper home without charge. Active librarians can collect the completed drawings and post them to create a bulletin board display.
Autograph and Personal Message. Loreda shares:
When I autograph copies of my book, I write a message to the reader.
My message in Our Fairy Godmother is usually, "Stay pretty, inside and out." I'm referring to a personality trait. "Stay pretty," is the last thing the Fairy Godmother says to the girls before flying off into the sky. I want the reader to recognize that are many types of beauty, not just physical beauty. Although the story focuses on physical beauty, children need to learn that being pretty on the inside encompasses honest compassion for others. This is a topic of discussion for my readers, and hopefully, a trait that all my readers will understand and adopt.
My message in Morrie the Mudpuppy Who Wanted to Be Extraordinary is usually, "Be your extraordinary self". I want my readers to feel extraordinary. Hopefully, each reader will think of an outstanding trait of their own. Parents reading the book aloud can help with this.
When I autograph copies of my book, I write a message to the reader.
My message in Our Fairy Godmother is usually, "Stay pretty, inside and out." I'm referring to a personality trait. "Stay pretty," is the last thing the Fairy Godmother says to the girls before flying off into the sky. I want the reader to recognize that are many types of beauty, not just physical beauty. Although the story focuses on physical beauty, children need to learn that being pretty on the inside encompasses honest compassion for others. This is a topic of discussion for my readers, and hopefully, a trait that all my readers will understand and adopt.
My message in Morrie the Mudpuppy Who Wanted to Be Extraordinary is usually, "Be your extraordinary self". I want my readers to feel extraordinary. Hopefully, each reader will think of an outstanding trait of their own. Parents reading the book aloud can help with this.
February, 2023
Loreda Miller read Our Fairy Godmother at Immortal Trees Bookstore in Buckeye, Arizona. A booksigning followed.
Loreda Miller read Our Fairy Godmother at Immortal Trees Bookstore in Buckeye, Arizona. A booksigning followed.