Another Johnsrud has reviewed SPOTD volume one.
Grandma Nancy is lucky to have such wonderful grandkids.
And I am happy to know Grandma Nancy!
SUPER POWER OF THE DAY REPORT
By Jonas Johnsrud
Super Power of the Day was about a kid who woke up one morning and found that he had a superpower. Every day he had a new superpower. Some were to his advantage and some were not.
Johnny was my favorite character because he had a lot of new ideas and was pretty funny. What I also liked was that he helped Chase out with the list. That is why Johnny was my favorite character.
My emotions about the story were that it kept me interested and it was funny. It kept me interested because of how some of the superpowers he would love to keep and some he hated and he wanted to get rid of.
I would most likely want to be friends with Johnny because it seems he would be fun to hang out with. It would be fun to hang out with him because he is funny and adventurous. He is also very daring. That is why I would most likely be a friend with Johnny.
These are a few reasons I liked the book. The book kept me interested and was very adventurous. I like how she came up with a whole bunch of nicknames for the characters. Super Power of the Day was a very well written book.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Kindle Edition?
I attended the March meeting of MIPA this past week. Yeah, it was tiring to drive three hours each way (to and from downtown Minneapolis) on a Wednesday (school night), but well worth the time. I am more than ever committed to converting SPOTD series books to digital format for sale at amazon. It hasn't happened yet, but it will.
In addition to the marketing possibilities available by expanding my books' formats, there is the little matter of consequently needing a Kindle myself, to test the formatting. I'll just HAVE to go shopping for one of these shiny toys. Ah, shucks!
And after that, perhaps the formatting for other devices. Sorry, nook and other reader fans. You'll have to be extra patient!
And after that, perhaps the formatting for other devices. Sorry, nook and other reader fans. You'll have to be extra patient!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Why write?
The following review of SPOTD appears on Barnes and Noble's website:
"Great for 9-13 year old kids. I teach 8th grade and this is the number one book my students choose during silent sustained reading time. I now own 5 copies so they don't fight over it."
Wow.
That's why.
"Great for 9-13 year old kids. I teach 8th grade and this is the number one book my students choose during silent sustained reading time. I now own 5 copies so they don't fight over it."
Wow.
That's why.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Cover #2? DONE!
Here's the finished cover for Super Power of the Day: The Hero Chronicle Continues.
I've had this image of Chase flying as my desktop image at work for the past few months. I don't get tired of looking at him. He's adorable, in my opinion.
As for the interior...
I have been making progress on the two messy chapters and final edits this past week. It's amazing to me how many sentences I want to revise I as read. At some point I have to let it go.
I've had this image of Chase flying as my desktop image at work for the past few months. I don't get tired of looking at him. He's adorable, in my opinion.
As for the interior...
I have been making progress on the two messy chapters and final edits this past week. It's amazing to me how many sentences I want to revise I as read. At some point I have to let it go.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Progress
Ladies and Gents, we have a (mostly complete, mostly edited, pretty fun to read) draft!
After the inspiration of a morning spent devouring the brilliant Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, I eschewed other responsibilities on Saturday in an effort to solidify the total number of pages in Super Power of the Day: The Hero Chronicle Continues. There were rewritten (first draft) versions of two chapters to add into the designed work and nearly final revisions to be made on the rest of the chapters. Despite missing by three months my intended deadline for getting this far on the second volume, I went to sleep content.
Today I typed up all the SPOTD related voice memos I had recorded on my iPhone while driving places over the past few months. I will address them this week. I also revised one of the new chapters. The last chapter for May 16, to be specific. Truthfully, it's not even close to done. But it will get there.
I also submitted the final page count to LSI and requested the cover template. Ryan is back from a break this week, and should be able to finish up the second cover in short order. I found it amusing to look back over the dozens and dozens of emails between us while we designed the first cover. Amusing and a little embarrassing. I'm probably one of those clients a designer dreads. Thankfully, the second cover came together quickly, and I might be redeeming myself.
Final thoughts:
It shouldn't surprise me that so little has been accomplished a) during the school year, when my day job takes over my brainspace and b) during the winter months, when darkness at an early hour seems to cloud my ambition and strengthen my will to procrastinate.
Why the turn around now? Spring. A student who caught me in the hallway, excitedly chattering her anticipation for the second book. John Green. Did I mention he's brilliant? Spring.
After the inspiration of a morning spent devouring the brilliant Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, I eschewed other responsibilities on Saturday in an effort to solidify the total number of pages in Super Power of the Day: The Hero Chronicle Continues. There were rewritten (first draft) versions of two chapters to add into the designed work and nearly final revisions to be made on the rest of the chapters. Despite missing by three months my intended deadline for getting this far on the second volume, I went to sleep content.
Today I typed up all the SPOTD related voice memos I had recorded on my iPhone while driving places over the past few months. I will address them this week. I also revised one of the new chapters. The last chapter for May 16, to be specific. Truthfully, it's not even close to done. But it will get there.
I also submitted the final page count to LSI and requested the cover template. Ryan is back from a break this week, and should be able to finish up the second cover in short order. I found it amusing to look back over the dozens and dozens of emails between us while we designed the first cover. Amusing and a little embarrassing. I'm probably one of those clients a designer dreads. Thankfully, the second cover came together quickly, and I might be redeeming myself.
Final thoughts:
It shouldn't surprise me that so little has been accomplished a) during the school year, when my day job takes over my brainspace and b) during the winter months, when darkness at an early hour seems to cloud my ambition and strengthen my will to procrastinate.
Why the turn around now? Spring. A student who caught me in the hallway, excitedly chattering her anticipation for the second book. John Green. Did I mention he's brilliant? Spring.
Monday, February 27, 2012
CURE
A few weeks ago I was invited to be a guest reader at the CURE annual meeting. Several local writers had been wrangled to mingle and read poetry, reports, essays, and (thanks to me) middle grade fiction -- all with connections to Minnesota and the land. As a former board member of the grassroots environmental group, I was especially pleased to join in the fun of the day.
And I was certain that pretty yellow kayak in the raffle was MINE.
Patrick Moore, one of CURE's founders and most ardent supporters, has spearheaded the renovation of a "Writer's Retreat" above the current CURE office on Main Street here in Montevideo. It was my first visit to the cozy space. Well done, Patrick.
I greatly enjoyed chatting with the other authors, as well as the many CURE members and volunteers who decided to join us, open house style. My favorite part was listening to Athena Kildegaard read from her book of poetry, Cloves & Honey: Love Poems. It is in my amazon cart now, along with the DVD of Bright Star (a John Keats biopic I've rented too many times not to purchase) and This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection by Carol Burnett (our April book club choice).
Before the Writer's Retreat open house was over, a familiar face appeared. Cody Maynus, a reader for the SPOTD series, was in town for the festivities. Here we are, happy as clams. Cody was probably thinking, "How nice to see my high school English teacher and talk about my crazy St. John's literary theory prof!" while I was thinking, "That pretty yellow kayak in the raffle is MINE."
And I was certain that pretty yellow kayak in the raffle was MINE.
Patrick Moore, one of CURE's founders and most ardent supporters, has spearheaded the renovation of a "Writer's Retreat" above the current CURE office on Main Street here in Montevideo. It was my first visit to the cozy space. Well done, Patrick.
I greatly enjoyed chatting with the other authors, as well as the many CURE members and volunteers who decided to join us, open house style. My favorite part was listening to Athena Kildegaard read from her book of poetry, Cloves & Honey: Love Poems. It is in my amazon cart now, along with the DVD of Bright Star (a John Keats biopic I've rented too many times not to purchase) and This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection by Carol Burnett (our April book club choice).
Before the Writer's Retreat open house was over, a familiar face appeared. Cody Maynus, a reader for the SPOTD series, was in town for the festivities. Here we are, happy as clams. Cody was probably thinking, "How nice to see my high school English teacher and talk about my crazy St. John's literary theory prof!" while I was thinking, "That pretty yellow kayak in the raffle is MINE."
We palled around a bit at the evening banquet, as much as I could between frequent visits to see how much my donation of Super Power of the Day: Origins of a Sixth Grade Superhero was fetching in the silent auction ($18!!!). The meal of locally grown food was wonderful, the speakers -- especially Hudson Bay women Ann Raiho and Natalie Warren -- were brilliant, and a jolly time was had by all.
Alas, my name was not drawn in the raffle.
I was so sure.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
More book club visits...
Who knew that women (mostly) of a certain age (mostly) would be so taken with my little middle grade story?
I've been the special guest at four area book clubs in the past few months. The readers have been delightful, sharing their favorite parts (short chapters, the talking to animals super power, the realism of how school works, the silly substitute teachers) and their least favorite parts (the long finger mess on Super Stretch day, the prehensile hair superpower). They've asked great questions. They've tried to guess local students on whom the characters may have been partly based. They've read to me their favorite lines. They've shared which superpowers they'd want to have. They've helped me decide on the color of the volume 3 cover (black!!!!!). One reader (Robin S, love you) even had the gall to complain that I made the robin on Super Sight day fat!
More than anything, they've been curious and fascinated by my writing and publishing journey.
Said journey is having an important anniversary, by the way. It was exactly a year ago that I traveled to Minneapolis with my manuscript in tow and returned to do the soul searching that yielded Snow Moon Publishing and the SPOTD trilogy. I remember as clear as day sitting in my mother's guest bedroom and resolving, "I can do this. I am going to make it happen."
It's probably time for some new goals. First out of the gate, I need to finish making final edits to volumes 2 and 3 and get them out the door. Each time I set a deadline for myself, my day job and its resulting end-of-the-day exhaustion take over and I let the deadline slide. Perhaps the longer days of March will stir something in my veins to combat that. We'll see.
In any case, the cover for volume 2 is all but complete and looking fantastic. I'll post it soon!
I've been the special guest at four area book clubs in the past few months. The readers have been delightful, sharing their favorite parts (short chapters, the talking to animals super power, the realism of how school works, the silly substitute teachers) and their least favorite parts (the long finger mess on Super Stretch day, the prehensile hair superpower). They've asked great questions. They've tried to guess local students on whom the characters may have been partly based. They've read to me their favorite lines. They've shared which superpowers they'd want to have. They've helped me decide on the color of the volume 3 cover (black!!!!!). One reader (Robin S, love you) even had the gall to complain that I made the robin on Super Sight day fat!
More than anything, they've been curious and fascinated by my writing and publishing journey.
Said journey is having an important anniversary, by the way. It was exactly a year ago that I traveled to Minneapolis with my manuscript in tow and returned to do the soul searching that yielded Snow Moon Publishing and the SPOTD trilogy. I remember as clear as day sitting in my mother's guest bedroom and resolving, "I can do this. I am going to make it happen."
It's probably time for some new goals. First out of the gate, I need to finish making final edits to volumes 2 and 3 and get them out the door. Each time I set a deadline for myself, my day job and its resulting end-of-the-day exhaustion take over and I let the deadline slide. Perhaps the longer days of March will stir something in my veins to combat that. We'll see.
In any case, the cover for volume 2 is all but complete and looking fantastic. I'll post it soon!
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