It’s been almost three months since the release of my sixth picture book, A SISTER MORE LIKE ME, from Disney Press. It was an exciting book for me, a project I was invited to do out of the blue by an editor from Disney who was a fan of another of my books, THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER KITTY. Disney’s animated feature FROZEN was in development, and they wanted a trade picture book featuring the characters in the movie. I was thrilled to be asked. (And yes, it’s a princess book. For a girl whose previous books featured monsters and a cat who dreams he’s King Kong, among other things, a princess book is truly a departure!)
The book’s release sort of sneaked up on me, perhaps because, due to the impending release of the movie, production time was half what it normally is for a picture book. The time from the invitation to write the story to the book’s release was less than twelve months—unheard of in my experience.
So when I received my advance copies and took one to show my local
SCBWI schmooze group in Bellingham, Washington in September, I hadn’t planned so much as a party. “We’ve
got to have a party!” someone said. And “How about Fireside Martini Bar?” Oddly, there was never any question about the propriety of having a picture book launch party at a martini bar!
So party we did. I invited my SCBWI group, Facebook friends who live in the area and a few other friends. I offered the prize of a free book to the guest who came in the best princess costume, and I made a trip to the Dollar Tree for glittery princess tiaras and fabulous, blingy rings for those who couldn't get a costume together. I contacted the owners of the Fireside and arranged for my talented guitar-pickin’ brother and his blues-singing girlfriend to perform. The music, martinis, talk and laughter flowed, and a good time, as the saying goes, was had by all. A SISTER MORE LIKE ME was launched into the world.
The princess authors celebrating with me are two of my wonderful, talented, multi-published local writing buddies, Lois Harris and Judy Enderle. The one in the pink princess cowgirl hat is the amazing Rebecca Van Slyke, who leads our local SCBWI group and has four picture books scheduled for release starting in 2015.
It turned out my martini bar princess party was just the beginning, a springboard for many other (more kid-friendly!) Princess Parties and other engagements to come. My book and I have become something of a local sensation, and if A SISTER MORE LIKE ME isn’t a best seller country-wide, it has done rather well in Bellingham. A prophet may not be honored in his own town, but this children’s book author certainly has been in hers! Mostly what that took was a little time, creativity and persistence. A few dollars, too, but I’m of the opinion that a portion of every book advance should be set aside for promotional purposes. I’ll be passing on the ideas that are working for me in the coming weeks, hoping they might prove useful to other authors.
In the meantime, if you haven’t seen FROZEN, do. It’s fabulous, a princess story in which, instead of the guy getting the girl, the strained relationship between two sisters is tested and ultimately healed. It’s a tender, emotionally satisfying story for grownups as well as a wonderful adventure for kids, with great music and humor woven in as well. I am so pleased to be associated with it even in a small way. The fact that I recently lost the beloved sister who helped inspire my take on Anna and Elsa in A SISTER MORE LIKE ME makes the book and its message especially poignant for me. Our differences need not keep us apart; in fact, they can enhance our relationships immeasurably.
I will always treasure this picture of my sister Lindy and me the weekend before she died at a Barnes & Noble Princess Party she organized at her local store. Thanks, Sister--you were the best.
Comments