IBD Award!

Mere Enchantment has won the IBD Award! Get your copy today!

 http://indiebookoftheday.com/mere-enchantment-by-alicia-rivoli/

Encourage Reading

This article is sponsored by http://emblazoners.com/ Tween the Weekends.

Leaves are changing colors, the temperatures are falling, and the smell of fall is in the air.  It is that time of year again where I just want to curl up in a warm blanket with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate.  However, I have noticed this isn't typical of today's younger generation.  With two boys of my own I am realizing that all they want to do is play video games.  So it made me wonder, how can I get my boys, and other kids as well, more interested in books?  I have been doing some research, and this is what I have found.

* Read Aloud to your children!  This is a fun way to get children of any age to enjoy stories.  Try and do voices, or read with accents.  Help them visualize the story by showing pictures, or having them draw their own.  This is also just a great way to spend time with your children. They grow up fast, enjoy it while you can.

* Provide an ample supply of books, magazines, comic books, newspapers, etc...  Anything they enjoy is always better then whatever is playing on TV, or the video game console they want to play.  If they are watching TV consider turning on the Closed Caption so they can read as well as watch.

* Use reading as a "reward system".  I did this during the summer.  My children had to earn video game time by reading or doing chores around the house.  It helped them learn responsibility and got them to read more as well.

* Set an example.  If your children sees you reading, and enjoying it, chances are they will follow suit and love to read as much as you do.

* Visit your local library!  Participate in story time for younger ones, or encourage your older children to get involved in book groups. Let them choose books on their own.  Remember if they are interested in the topic, they will have a better chance of reading it.

* Play a word game in the car. Have each person take a turn reading as many words as he can from
street signs, billboards, store names, garage sale signs, etc. The player reads the words aloud as quickly as he can. It's a fun exercise and even though it's not a book, it gets kids reading.

* If your child likes video games or some other activity, maybe try subscribing to a magazine that goes along with that topic.

* Sometimes kids find it more exciting to read a series, rather than just a single book.  Help them find one that fits their reading level, and interest level.

I know I have only skimmed the surface of this topic, so let me know what has worked for you.  Leave me a comment, and I'll choose a couple to go on my Facebook Page.  www.facebook.com/AliciaRivoli

How to Write for Kids

Tween the Weekends is a monthly feature sponsored by: Emblazon

I love writing for kids!  There is something very rewarding about having a child give you a compliment on your story.  They way their eyes light up as they discuss their favorite character, or my favorite, having someone tell you that their kids started pretending to play a game they made up, using the characters from your books.

However, writing for children isn't easy.  There are certain things you need to make sure you are doing if you choose to write for children.

1.  Decide what age you are targeting.  Sometimes I find that authors have listed their books as a Children's Book, but it's 70K words, and 25 chapters long.  This would more likely be considered a Middle Grade or Young Adult novel.

2.  Watch your language!  Children's books and Middle Grade books are targeting children under 12 years of age.  I can't tell you how many times I have put a book back on the shelf because of foul language.  Just because today's society tells us it's okay to put in a few bad words, doesn't mean you should.  A lot of parents are pre-reading books before they allow their children to read them, myself included, because authors seem to forget the age they are writing for.

3.  Content!  Children love to use their imaginations.  If you are writing a fantasy or fiction book, give them something to try and figure out.  I have found the younger children can imagine the scenery better than older children if you paint a bigger picture. Don't be afraid to be descriptive, as long as you can keep the story flowing.  Don't put in unnecessary information.  Kids get bored quickly.  DO NOT ever put "romantic scenes" in a children or middle grade book! Even when writing Young Adult, less is more!

4.  Artwork is an essential part of writing for children.  The more colorful the better.  If it's a children's book, make sure your artist knows the story. Don't be afraid to tell the artist you don't like something.  If they don't know, how can they fix it.  If you are writing a Middle Grade Novel, it will almost always be judged purely by the cover.  I have watched so many kids, look at the cover of the book, and if it doesn't catch their attention immediately, they put it back on the shelf without ever flipping it over and reading the description on the back.  The spine font is also important.  It needs to stand out among the other hundred books it's sitting next to on the shelf.

5.  If writing non-fiction, make sure you use words that kids can understand.  I find that even ten to twelve year olds are having a difficult time with larger words that they don't hear frequently.  Sometimes it might be necessary to incorporate a definition in the paragraph.

6.  Remember who you are writing for.  You are writing for a child that probably still likes his/her parents to read them a bed time story, or tuck them in at night.

7.  And last but not least...ENJOY your writing!  If you don't like it, neither will your target audience.

I hope that I have helped.  I would love to know what you have discovered in your own writing.  What do you think are the best tips for others writing in this genre?

Book Signing

Hope I see you there!!

GIVEAWAY

The first 5 people to "Like" my Facebook Page www.facebook.com/AliciaRivoli will receive a free eCopy of either Mere Enchantment or Rings of Enchantment!

Please leave a comment below with your name. :)

Challenges

A few weeks ago I did a feature post on Jessica Tornese's website, which I wanted to share on my own blog as well. (See below). Jessica Tornese is the author of Linked Through Time, Lost Through Time, as well as the M&M Twins-Lost in Bowser Cave. To visit her website http://jessicatornese.com/

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Writing seemed like a simple idea. I had the story, & the ability to type, so what could possibly make it a challenge?

This question has plagued me for the last 8 years. What started out as a dream that I decided to write down has turned into a wonderful battle. Writing is anything but simple. Having an idea is just the beginning. Getting it to come to life for others to enjoy is something else entirely. After finishing Mere Enchantment and realizing that having it published traditionally was just not in the cards, my husband came up with the plan to try self publishing. For a long time I didn't like the idea, thinking it would destroy my chances of being published "for real". After a while I agreed, and it has been a fantastic journey.

Self publishing is definitely not for the faint at heart. It is extremely difficult and requires hours and hours of your personal time and funds. Between marketing, publicity, and getting the book ready for the public, it is a full time job. Even with all this work, I've discovered my complete love for sharing my stories with the world. Thanks to social media, and big name companies offering "self-publishing" deals, my dream has been brought to life.

As I finished the final book of The Enchantment Series, I am understanding that the last 8 years I have spent among the land of Mere with all the wonderful characters have been some of my best. As I'm getting ready to say goodbye to those characters and move on to the next adventure I'm finding it bittersweet. Chloe, Preston, Megan, Jason and Zach have been a constant thought, always in the back of my mind, always moving forward.

The final pages of Rings of Enchantment were extremely challenging for me to write as I knew it was goodbye. With each click on the keyboard, my heart swelled with joy, but also with despair as I closed the chapter of my life that I've known for so long. I express my sincere gratitude too all the people that have enjoyed the journey with me, including all the readers and fans.

FREE ON NOOK!!

Mere Enchantment is now FREE for Nook!  Click HERE  to get your copy today from Barnes and Noble!  This is for a limited time!