Award-winning children's book author, Diane Mae Robinson, lives in a small hilltop castle nestled amongst a magical forest near St. Paul, Alberta, Canada. Diane love animals and nature. She has four dogs and five horses, along with a forest inhabited by gnomes, fairies, a puny prince, a bog witch, a charismatic princess, and a somewhat unruly dragon. The 3rd book in The Pen Pieyu Adventure series if forthcoming. She is also working on a humorous, but with strict rules, grammar book for elementary age children.
Diane has a journalism diploma from the Schools of Montreal and an advanced diploma from the Institute of Children's Literature. She is also a writing instructor at the Creative Writing Institute, and an art teacher.
My advice to writers is don’t dwell on the bestseller lists. Write your best books, hire professional editors, get your book professionally formatted, hire quality illustrators, work hard to get reviews, and gain knowledge in keywords and advertising with Amazon. You’ll get to be a best seller through sheer hard work.
So you’re asking, what does a children’s book writer (me) know about screenplays and scripts for television or radio? Until a few months ago, absolutely nothing. Forward a few months, and I find myself representing a screenplay writer, who has also published many books. I know many facets of the publishing, editing, and promoting industry of writing, so how hard could this be?
Well, editing the writer’s 1st screenplay had me baffled as an editor. Why are so many words in capital letters that aren’t technically capital letter words, and why are so many things in parentheses? According to the author, the capital letters are to emphasize the tone for the actor/narrator to use; the words in parentheses are to inform the technical crew of what needs to be done.
A script (or screenplay) is the written content for a visual story such as a play, television show or movie. While scripts often contain information for performers and crew, such as stage directions and production notes, they primarily focus on the dialogue between characters in the story.
The purpose of writing the script a certain way is to help actors know what to say to portray specific characters correctly—hence the capital letters to portray intensity. The script also includes cues for the stagehands to know when special effects are needed.
What type of media requires a script? Television, films, radio, documentaries, plays, and even video games. All these types of scripts have different word count specifications to fit their needs. So check out specific requirements for each type of screenplay before submitting it to contests, agents, etc.
Want to know more about the writer I’m representing who has created an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Sci-fi script for television entitled Gardens, Grove, and Mechanical Trees.
Original artwork cover copywriter G. Mitchell Baker.
Gardens, Groves, and Mechanical Trees
Screenplay reviews for Gardens, Groves, and Mechanical Trees:
Dog-Eared Reviews May 2023 I loved it and did not want it to end. Brilliant job.
Literary Titan, April 2023 Its engaging format, consisting of dialogue and narration, is both informative and intellectually stimulating.
Keywords are a valuable tool to get on an Amazon’s bestseller list. Doing a relevant keyword search for your book takes a few steps to accomplish and it will be worth it in the long run of your book sales.
Do a keyword search ‘Incognito Mode’. In Google Chrome, right-click on the Google Chrome icon and a list should appear. Click on ‘New Incognito Mode’. Type in ‘Amazon.com’ in the search bar (or whatever Amazon site you want to search in). Then start typing words you think would be a good fit for your book–the top 5 – 10 words/phrases that come up on the lists below the word you have entered are good keywords as that list pertains to what people are searching for. You can also add phrases to the keyword search, such as: fantasy for kids; fantasy books for children, kid’s fantasy, etc. This is a long and somewhat painful process, but the reason you’ll want to search ‘Incognito Mode’ is because if you search on your regular browser your own search history will be included, which isn’t accurate as to what other people are searching for. Note: Other browsers, such as Firefox, will have ‘New Private Window’ instead of ‘Incognito Mode’ listed, but I have found Google Chrome to be the best for private browsing mode.
Search the book descriptions of the top 10 – 20 books you’ve found in relevant categories on Amazon and you’ll probably find that many of these books have some of the same keywords in their book descriptions–you’ll want to take note of those keywords, especially if the book is doing well in a category.
You’ll want to find at least 10 – 15 great and excellent keywords to ad to your own book description.
If you want to advertise on Amazon (by manually adding keywords) and need to find those valuable keywords, follow the above procedures and a few more steps to your search by doing the following:
Find good keywords by searching for books and authors on Amazon that are writing in your genre/categories and performing well; add those titles and author names that are showing up in the top 20 books in relevant categories.
Search for up to 1000 keywords (which is the maximum Amazon allows in advertising campaigns) instead of just 10 – 15 words that you would use for your book description and, of course, those 10 – 15 words you found should be included in your advertising campaign.
Review and update keywords in your campaign every 6 months or so–take out non-performing keywords and add new keywords from your new keyword search.
Note: Updating a current campaign’s keywords is better than starting a new campaign because the current campaign will keep track of well-performing keywords. ***********
I have been running Amazon Ads for my bestselling book for about a year and a half, and the ad has been running at the 1000 keyword max for the last six months. Recently, after searching for some new keywords that might perform better than the 200 or so keywords (out of the 1000 maximum keywords running in the ad) getting no hits I was perplexed on how to take out keywords that weren’t performing well and add new keywords that may perform better. Amazon doesn’t give a straightforward answer to this problem on their advertising help page. In case anyone else is having this problem, this is Amazon’s answer I received after I wrote to them about the issue: Once your ad is live, you can edit the budget, cost-per-click, duration (the end date for a running campaign, or the start date for not started campaign), and keywords (Sponsored Products only) To edit your campaign settings: 1. Sign in to your Amazon Advertising account at advertising.amazon.com with your KDP credentials. 2. Select the campaign you want to edit by clicking on the name. 3. Click the “Targeting” tab and click on the keywords checkboxes you want to delete and then click Archive to delete the keyword. 4. Click Add Keyword 5. Click “Save”
I hope this article helps you with the mystery of keywords.
From 18th Century France to 20th Century San Francisco, the Promise of the Rose Crystal both empowered and mystified Grace Moreau and her daughter Rose Wyndham.
They fought for women’s rights, suffered prejudice and conspiracy theorists, and blazed their way through a male-dominated world to define their own roles in society. Through it all they poignantly resisted romantic desire, for if they fell in love the power of the Rose Crystal would be impotent and they – and their lovers – would die.
A romantic adventure spanning 250 years, B. Roman’s ‘The Immortal Rose Wyndham’ is a story where the power of music, and the belief in a purpose greater than oneself, provide the mystery and magic that creates miracles.
What I Thought:
The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning (The Moon Singer Book 4) by B. Roman is a historical fantasy following several generations of strong women who gain extremely long lives to accomplish good for themselves and others as long as they possess and honour the sacred magic of The Rose Crystal Pendant and until they pass the crystal on to a descendant. But possessing The Rose Crystal has its consequences–the women must sacrifice marriage, even as they find romance that cannot be pursued during the time period of 18th Century France to 20th Century San Francisco.
The writing is completely delightful, bursting with strong characters, vivid settings, and sound historical research.
A wonderful novel that shares so many intense emotions with the reader. Highly recommended!
About the Author B. Roman:
Please visit my publisher author page for a closer look at my inspiration for writing and a personal glimpse into each book:
Recently I had the privilege to listen to Robert Sullivan‘s CD Welcome Sarcasm (produced and arranged by A Seabreeze Sound Production) and to give an honest review.
I loved it! I found the music soulful with an 80s kind of rock vibe that got me grooving and swaying to the music. The CD has 5 songs and Robert’s talented voice and guitar skills (along with all the acoustics, drums, and percussions by band members) do all the songs a great justice. Highly recommended.
Available on Amazon music, spotify, youtube, and many other sites.
Join award-winning children’s book author Barbara Ann Mojica’s Little Miss HISTORY as she reveals the mysteries of Monticello, Home of Thomas Jefferson, her newest release. Discover the hidden treasures of Thomas Jefferson’s home, the author of The Declaration of Independence. An agriculturalist, philosopher, scientist, architect, patriot, and president, Jefferson’s complex role in history teaches today’s Americans why, “If you don’t know your history, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
What I thought:
Barbara Ann Mojica’s Little Miss History series is exceptional! I’ve read and reviewed most of her books in this series and I loved them all. This book (as well as all the books in the series) is well written, entertaining, and educational. The illustrations match the writing perfectly, and the overall look of the book is very professional. Adults as well as children will love this book and all the books in the series. I was given a free copy pdf for an honest review.
About the Author:
Barbara Ann Mojica, M.A. S.A.S., S.D.A is a historian and retired educator. Her education career spans more than forty years serving as a teacher, special educator, principal, and school district administrator. Barbara writes monthly historical articles for the Columbia Insider under the banner “Passages.” Using the whimsical Little Miss History character to narrate her book series, Barbara hopes to educate, entertain and inspire children to learn about historical people and places. Little Miss History’s antics make reading nonfiction a fun-filled adventure for all ages. She firmly believes, “If you don’t know your history, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The Little Miss HISTORY book series has garnered more than two dozen awards including B.R.A.G. Medallions, International Book Excellence Awards, International Readers’ Favorite Awards, Eric Hoffer, and Independent Author Network Awards
Publisher : Independently published (Oct. 24 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 32 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8359896238
About the Book:
When his father, the King, demands that the Prince be a “Royal Trumpet”, the unhappy boy brings doom and gloom to the kingdom until a mystical maiden guides him to finding his own unique music.
Barbara Roman’s ‘The Prince Who Was A Piccolo’ teaches children about self-esteem, asserting independence, attitudes, and being comfortable with their own identity. They will also learn about different musical instruments and the influence of music on our lives and emotions. There are mystical qualities in the story as it metaphorically touches on meditation, intuition, and spiritual guidance.
Beautifully illustrated by Vladimir Cebu, this book is a rich learning experience for children, as they learn about music instruments, and ways to express their emotions.
What I Thought:
The Prince Who Was a Piccolo is a wonderful story with the subtle underlying moral value for children to believe in themself and strive for their own talents in life, whatever those talents may be. I fell in love with the prince and his brave attitude to not give up searching for his own musical talent, even though his musical talent may not please his father the king. The story is so well written that I believe this book will become a classic in children’s literature. The artwork is fantastic. This story is one of the most creative stories I’ve read in children’s literature in several years. Kudos to the author!
About the Author:
As Barbara Roman, I am the author of the children’s books, “Alicia and the Light Bulb People in Star Factory 13” and “Hubert in Heaven – a hi-tech angel gets his wings.”
Penguin Young Readers; Reissue edition (January 19, 2004) Language
English Paperback : 32 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780448434087
ISBN-13 : 978-0448434087
Reading age : 6 – 7 years
Grade level : 1 – 2
About The Book:
“Look, Spot. Look, Puff. Look and see. See Sally and Tim.”
Penguin Young Readers unite the best authors, illustrators, and brands from the Penguin Young Readers Group under one umbrella to engage all levels of early readers, from emergent all the way to fluent. With an easy numbered leveling system and the Guided Reading leveling system, these books allow educators, parents, and kids to quickly find the perfect book for any developing reader.
ASIN : 0448434113 Publisher
Penguin (January 19, 2004) Language
English Paperback : 32 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780448434117
ISBN-13 : 978-0448434117
Reading age : 6 – 7 years
Grade level : 1 – 2
About The Book:
“Look, Jane, ” said Dick. “Here is something funny. Can you guess what it is?”
Penguin Young Readers unite the best authors, illustrators, and brands from the Penguin Young Readers Group under one umbrella to engage all levels of early readers, from emergent all the way to fluent. With an easy numbered leveling system and the Guided Reading leveling system, these books allow educators, parents, and kids to quickly find the perfect book for any developing reader.
What I Thought:
Recently, I ordered these two Dick and Jane books out of nostalgia. I grew up learning to read in elementary school with these books. They were the best then, and are still the best. The vocabulary increases with the age level of the books. The lessons in the books are of quality for any child, then or now. These books have an innocent, honest writing style that will never go out of style. Highly recommended for new readers.
Dick and Jane are the two main characters created by Zerna Sharp for a series of basal readers written by William S. Gray to teach children to read. The characters first appeared in the Elson-Gray Readers in 1930 and continued in a subsequent series of books through the final version in 1965. These readers were used in classrooms in the United States and in other English-speaking countries for nearly four decades, reaching the height of their popularity in the 1950s, when 80 percent of first-grade students in the United States used them. Although the Dick and Jane series of primers continued to be sold until 1973 and remained in use in some classrooms throughout the 1970s, they were replaced with other reading texts by the 1980s and gradually disappeared from school curricula. The Dick and Jane series were known for their simple narrative text and watercolor illustrations. Despite the criticisms of the stereotypical content that depicted white, middle-class Americans and the whole-word (look-say) method of teaching reading on which these readers are based, the characters of “Dick”, “Jane”, and their younger sister, “Sally”, became household words. The Dick and Jane primers have also become icons of mid-century American culture and collectors’ items.
WHY DOES INDEPENDENCE HALL NATIONAL PARK INSPIRE FREEDOM-LOVING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE?
YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK TO GET THE ANSWERS.
Visit the birthplace of the United States
Learn about the history of Independence Hall·
How was the federal Constitution created?
What is the Declaration of Independence?
How did women, slaves, and workers view it?
How did the revolutionaries survive against a great world power?
Witness George Washington’s sleeping tent and military headquarters·
How did the Revolution tear apart the colonies?
What kind of nation did it create?
Find out why abolitionists, suffragettes, and freedom-loving people embraced the Liberty Bell·
What is the significance of Christ Church Burial Ground?
What I Thought
The Little Miss History series is fantastic! Barbara Ann Mojica’s latest edition takes us to Independence Hall and the Museum of the American Revolution to teach us about the founding of the U.S. government. The illustrations and photographs combinations, along with precise writing and an amazing character in Little Miss History herself, make the adventures super fun. I love everything about this book and the entirety of this multi-award-winning series! Highly recommended.
Give students the targeted, skill-building practice they need with these standards-based books! Each workbook includes more than 40 ready-to-reproduce practice pages. Easy-to-follow directions and fun exercises motivate students to work on their own. Every activity in each book is correlated to state standards. For use with Grade 5.
What I Thought
I admit I am a grammar nerd, and I have written a grammar book for middle grades. Coming across grammar books for the younger audience is always a delight since there aren’t enough out there. This book is definitely a useful review of grammar for beginners, although, I wish the lessons had more content within the lessons. Overall, a good book to instill the basics of grammar.
About the Author
Scholastic Inc. is a global publishing and education company whose mission is to encourage the intellectual and personal growth of all children, beginning with literacy.
