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I love it when I stroll through the aisles of my local bookstore and the employees recognize me as one of the local authors. It makes me feel proud, happy, and excited. I’m no Charlaine Harris, but still, I need that little nudge of encouragement, a boost of motivation. It hasn’t been a successful start as a published author. I’ve paid to have a marketing team help me put myself out there and it started out a little rough, but the wrinkles are starting to work themselves out, finally.
If I were a betting person, I’m not, but if I were, I would bet that if you googled Dana’s First Fish or my name, Jennifer N. Adams, a nice looking picture of yours truly would pop up. 🙂 Go ahead, google me, it’s okay. 😉 Granted, it took a lot of work and quite a bit of time for that to happen, but Dana’s First Fish appears as my book now and not the work of the other children’s author who shares my name. Since she’s written and published quite a long list of titles, I think it is I who shares her name and not the other way around.
When you spend all that time, money, energy into creating something and not receive credit, wouldn’t you be upset? I was. I would show up to events and the coordinator would frown as they were expecting the other Jennifer Adams to show up.
I’ve had a few people personally ask me to get with them in a few weeks (when they’re starting to book events) so that I can set up a date to have a book signing with them. I love when someone asks for me to do that. Make sure you keep your eyes open, as I’ll start setting up book signing events for late March or early April.
I still have a few copies of Dana’s First Fish on hand if you would like to purchase one or two of them. Just make sure that you make a memo as to whom I’m making it out to in the comments section before you check out completely.
About a week ago I began working on another writing project – I have several started. With so much going on in this house I’m always busy and on the go. However, I always find time to write. When I started my current writing project I had a few lines written, then came to a stop. I was stuck. This usually happens. I don’t call it writers block, just stuck, for now. I always find a way around it. Every day I would open the screen, then stare at the words, waiting for something, some idea to just pop up into my head like the proverbial light bulb that instantly lights up when someone has an idea.
Last night I laid in bed, trying to think of what to write, how to work the next sentence. I often do this. I find my best ideas are late at night when I should be trying to go to sleep. I knew what I wanted the story to be about, but I was having issues with putting the story into words. I prayed to the Lord above, send me a sign, give me a little help, a nudge in the right direction.
I pulled the covers up and got comfortable, time to call it a night and go to sleep. Then I got that Eureka moment! The idea I was wanting. I had been writing the story wrong. I had it from one characters perspective and needed to switch it around, to come from a different characters perspective.
This morning I began re-doing the story and presto, the words began to flow! It should take me a few days to get it written, then go back over it a few times, editing it. Then polish it up to be sent off.
I will give you a hint on what it’s about – horses! As soon as the story is polished and ready to be sent to the publisher, I will tell you a little more on what the story is about.
Yesterday, I received my Dana’s First Fish coloring books. And yesterday I decided to start a little contest on my author page on Facebook. All it takes to enter into the contest is to ‘like’ and ‘share’ a picture of the cover of Dana’s First Fish from my Facebook wall. Then post in the comments section below to say that you have ‘liked’ and ‘shared’. One winner will be randomly picked and I will announce the winner on my Facebook page. I will then contact that person to let them know they have won so that I can get their mailing address from them in order to ship them their gift bag.
The gift bag give away will include a Dana’s First Fish story book and coloring book, along with a few fishy toys. I will pick one winner each week from now until the week before Christmas – 8 Nov – 19 Dec. It makes a great Christmas present for that special little one you have in mind.
Come stop by my Facebook page for your chance to win a copy of my book, Dana’s First Fish http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferNAdams
Dana’s First Fish tells the story about a little girl whose mom is taking her to get her first pet. Dana has decided that she wants to get a goldfish. But where do goldfish come from? Dana and her mom go on an adventurous journey to find out!
Have you ever Googled your name? Out of curiosity, I have. Well, the curiosity of it was to see who else shared my name. The moment I found out how many women out there shared my first and last name it was too late to change my name on my book cover. I should have known better as I have a cousin that shares my name, until she got married a few years back.
There’s a famous home interior designer that shares my name, as well as a newscaster in Australia. But the one that I find fascinating, as well as upsetting is the other children’s book author named Jennifer Adams. Oh yes, there’s another Jennifer Adams out there that writes children’s books. She has quite a few published also.
So you can see where I’m going with this. I hope you can. After my first children’s book, Dana’s First Fish, became available for bookstores to purchase, I was curious to see where all it would be available. After googling my name, along with my book’s title, I found a few links that popped up. I clicked on each one, excited to see that it was on the first page of searches. I scrolled the websites page, even more excited to see the front cover of my book on the screen, on their website. Then I scrolled down to see a picture I don’t recognize and read the print beside the picture. It went on to say who Jennifer Adams is, where she lives, what she does. Fascinating, except that isn’t me in the picture, I don’t live there, and that’s not what I do. I was bummed! Upset! Who messed up here and how can I get it fixed?
I sent an email to my marketing manager, and after a few days I received a response saying the distributing team will get it fixed straight away. I’m going to give it a few days before I google myself, along with my book’s title, to see if anything was corrected.
Friday I went to Barnes and Noble, I just happened to be in the area. I walked around the children’s section, unable to find my book. After asking one of the desk clerks, I found out that my book will be in the store very soon, to call them on Tuesday. I was also told that they are going to add me to their book fair event that they are having in November, so that I can set up a table for a book signing. That seemed to make my day so much better to hear that. I love book fairs, especially if they are for little children.
If you find my book Dana’s First Fish online somewhere and the info about the author doesn’t say something like this: ~Jennifer Adams lives with her daughter in Bryant, Arkansas. She was Jennifer’s inspiration for writing her first children’s book. Jennifer has always loved to write and read almost all genres. She’s currently going to school for a double major for a Bachelor’s in History and a Bachelor’s in Anthropology.~ Let me know here, or email me on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferNAdams
I’m excited to say that today my children’s book, Dana’s First Fish can be found in stores. Crossing my fingers that you’ll find it in your local store. I’m curious to see how far my book reaches. If you see it on the shelves in a bookstore, take a picture and post it on my author page on Facebook and let me know where you found it, what store and what city and state.
Recently I was asked to guest blog post on Gayle Kirschenbaum’s blog. I had to read the email three times to make sure I read it correctly. I know who Gayle is and have seen some of her work, so that is why I was shocked, excited, thrilled to have even received an email. It is really an honor to have been asked to be a guest blogger on her website.
Gayle is an Emmy Award Winning filmmaker and TV producer. She is also a published author, artist, and a motivational speaker. Some of you may have already seen some of Gayle’s work on TLC or Discovery Health; Little People, Big Charlie, Little Parents, Big Pregnancy, Little Parents: First Baby. She has even co-created a TV series on HBO called Judgement Day: Should the Guilty Go Free. Those are just to name a few.
She is currently working on a documentary film called Look At Us Now Mother. It is true story about a mother-daughter relationship between Gayle and her mother. It is truly an inspiring film about family. It’ll make you laugh. It’ll make you cry. You may even relate to the relationship between Gayle and her mother. It is a film everyone should see.
Please go to this website and watch the trailer of her upcoming documentary at: http://www.lookatusnowmother.com/Home.html
You can check out her website at: http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com
And to view my guest post on her blog: http://www.kirschenbaumproductionsblog.com/my-daughter-is-my-inspiration-for-my-childrens-books/
You can also follow Gayle on her twitter: @MyNoseBV @glkirschenbaum And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KirschenbaumProductions https://www.facebook.com/kplookatusnowmother
Yesterday I got the opportunity to read to a wonderful group of kids at the Boys and Girls Club in Bryant. I started out asking a the question, “Where do you think goldfish comes from?” I had a lot of wonderful answers including, the ocean, the river, the pond. My favorite answer had me laughing, “The pet store!” My book goes to show that every child has a different thought as to where goldfish comes from.
They were a very tentative group, with many brilliant questions. They each truly enjoyed the book and the colorful pictures that it entailed. After I was finished reading they asked a few questions about the book and being an author, then they thanked me as they had to go on to another project.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading to them. It’s the reason why I wanted to write and publish a children’s book, to do something for children. I love kids and I especially love mine. What a wonderful day it was and I look forward to the next opportunity I get to do it again.
This Thursday Civitan Preschool in Benton, Arkansas will be having a Scholastic Book Fair to celebrate Clifford’s 50th birthday. The Civitan Preschool has teachers that have extensive training and experience in working with kids with special needs; Autism, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delays, and many other children with disabilities and special needs.
This book fair will help the preschool in purchasing books for their classrooms. They will be providing OT, PT, ST, and any other developmental services so that all children will be able to attend and enjoy the book fair. There will be door prizes, cake, and free screenings for children. And the first 50 kids to come will get a free book.
I will be there signing my children’s book, Dana’s First Fish. I will be donating a percentage of my sales from that day to the Civitan Preschool.
Everyone is invited to come join us at Civitan Center, 121 Cox St., Benton, Arkansas 72015. If you have any questions concerning the book fair ask for Julie (501)776-0691
Here’s a link to the FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/343452182453043/
Hope to see you there!
Dana’s First Fish tells the story about a little girl whose mom is taking her to get her first pet. Dana has decided that she wants to get a goldfish. But where do goldfish come from? Dana and her mom go on an adventurous journey to find out!
Paperbacks are $6.99 or eBooks $5.99
You can purchase them online: http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62510-529-5
If you would like to receive an autographed copy of my children’s book, Dana’s First Fish, go to my Facebook page and send me an email: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferNAdams
You can also check my upcoming events tab to buy one and have it autographed in person: https://jennnadams.wordpress.com/upcoming-events
Author Jennifer N. Adams 