Comment from Chrissy710

Exceptional

Oh Sandra I cant wait to get home and buy your book Great work and I am sure I will enjoy this next one Well done Cheers and congratulations Christine ( PS I am in Bali on holidays at the moment 2 days to go )

 Comment Written 08-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 08-Aug-2018

Thank you so much, Christine! I want to be in Bali!!!!!! I've never been there. Enjoy! Thank you for the 6 stars!! What a kind lady! Big hugs, dear friend. :)) Sandra xx

Comment from Aussie

Excellent

Worth the hard work and the wait my friend! Congratulations and best wishes with the sales. I didn't know about your Spiritual Book of poetry? It's my birthday next month, any chance?? Fanstory has been your spring-board for your career. Talented friend, I am proud to be your down under friend. Best wishes Kay.

 Comment Written 08-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 08-Aug-2018

Thank you, Kay, yes it was really hard work, but the end results were well worth it. I now have to get the last book in the trilogy written, it will again be very different to the first. I hope I can concentrate on it fully, but I have too much other stuff going on at the moment, not fun stuff, but we'll see. My spiritual book needs to be updated, it's not as good as my last poetry book I published recently. I'll be taking it off and redoing it and adding some more poems to it.

Big hugs, my friend, and thanks for the congrats! :)) Sandra xxx

Comment from Roxanna Andrews

Exceptional

Congratulations!! I'm sure it must be so exciting for you to see your book in print. It looks great. Such a well done cover. I hope you sell lots. I find it much easier to read from the computer these days so will look for it in ebook. Maybe it's the lighting. Anyway, missed you while you were gone. Congrats again and lots of success with the book. Rox

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 08-Aug-2018

Thank you, Rox, yes When I opened my package and held this book for the very first time, I screamed!! LOL I have it on my shelf alongside the first book, now I have to get the last in the series written. Such fun! My hair is just hanging in there, but it'll drop out any time now!! I don't like the way they have printed my Kindle version, it hasn't down loaded right. I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm going to get in touch today and see what they say. Anyway, thank you so very much for the lovely 6 stars, and the congrats, and the lovely review, my friend. :))) Big hugs! :) Sandra xxxx

Comment from Lady Jane

Excellent

Hi(,) everyone.

First off, CONGRATULATIONS! I am so happy for you. Yes, it is a lifelong ambition once often met with road blocks, flat tires, and detours, but if you keep going, it will happen. This PUBLISHED write is driven home by how WELL you wrote it. Clean and crisp with perfect pacing and voice. Great job. Keep em coming!
Janelle

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 08-Aug-2018

I love your description of the route to being published, that is exactly how it feels. I am now 71 and the road was a long one. But, regardless of that, the thrill is just as great, if not greater when you hold your book in your hand. As one author told me when I had my first children's book published, 'You are immortal now!' LOL, now there's a nice thought. Thank you so much for your lovely review, Janelle, I really appreciated your words. :) Sandra xx

Comment from kiwijenny

Excellent

Congratulations Sandra...oh I hope this can be me one day...I have to say trying to get my children's books published is proving a challenge.
Well lived well written piece. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN
God bless...and help..any help on how you got published I would appreciate.

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 08-Aug-2018

Thank you so much, Jenny, for the congrats! It will be you one day, just don't stop believing and trying. There is a publisher out there who is already waiting for your manuscript to fall on her/his desk. Any tips? Well, my very first children's book which had 11 illustrated story poems in it about the Hedgerow gang, was published by a traditional publishing firm. Now, they have gone the same way as most. They get you to pay 'half' the cost of publishing, telling you that they will pay the other half and do the promoting. They didn't. I thought at first I would go with them but they really stitched me up and hundreds of other writers too. I'm afraid it is so much harder to get a 'trad pub' these days, as there are millions of children's authors around. In the end I went down the self publishing route, and still did very well. I can tell you that regardless of which way you find yourself going, it will be down to you to promote your book. So, you would need to start to build your fan-base now. You have an excellent start with your fans on here. Made a website and get them all to 'like' it. They would automatically be told when you have a book published, and it's a good place to start getting your name out. I wish you every success, my friend, you will make it if you are serious enough to really want too. Big hugs, Sandra :)) xx

reply by kiwijenny on 08-Aug-2018

Sandra I have illustrated my books did you? I've not made a website before and marketing overwhelms me. I will strive this year for trad pub and if not successful will do what you did

reply by the author on 08-Aug-2018

Yes, mine were fully illustrated, most had full page pics. Children do love to look at the pictures as you read to them. The other thing I did, was download the original sketches before they were coloured in and gave them out to the children at the schools I visited to read to them. They then took them home and I got quite a few sales from that alone. It's hard work, but very satisfying when it's all done. :) xx

reply by kiwijenny on 08-Aug-2018

I work full time teaching which is why I've not self published. It's too hard to market

reply by the author on 08-Aug-2018

There is no rush, Jenny. Do it as and when you can. You can prepare your book and send it on line to many children's traditional publishers and agents. Don't worry about rejections, all the famous ones were rejected loads of times until they were 'found'. You can now sent manuscripts to the publishers on their internet, they have all the templates ready for you to just copy and paste and then send. Take your time, go on line and find as many childrens publishers who will take unsolicited manuscripts and send them out. I'm too old now to do that. But, you're not. :) xxx

reply by kiwijenny on 08-Aug-2018

Thanks Sandra . I will

Comment from rwilliam

Exceptional

WOO HOO! CONGRATULATIONS! WELL DONE! BRAVO!! :-D :-D

I am so happy for you! I will get these as soon as I return home. I couldn't be prouder of you. As your dreams of writing, I've had the same one! LOL I guess it's normal.:-) Writing is very satisfying for me, but now I'm wanting the joy of people reading my work. You did it and it encourages me to get going.

All the best!

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 08-Aug-2018

LOL!! I have missed your fun reviews, Rebecca, thank you so very much!! If I have been instrumental in encouraging you to get published, that would be all I could wish for. Thank you a dozen times for all the encouragement you gave me, and a humongous hug for the 6 stars!! Part one coming soon! :) Sandra xxxx

Comment from Shanbreen

Excellent

Congratulations on your publication. Yes, I know the pangs of editing and promoting books (3 non-fictions that are now no longer in production and one non-fiction which is on Amazon.com). But hey, what can one do?

All the best in promoting your book. I'm sure it will be a success.

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018

It's hard work, isn't it? But, at least we can say we tried. I am holding my books in my hand and hope that some time down the years one of my great-great grandchildren will pick up a copy and read it. You never know who might pick up a copy, or down load a copy later. You might be famous one day! Thank you, Shanbreen, for the congratulations, and for your encouraging words. :)) Sandra. xx

Comment from zanya

Exceptional

There is simply nothing better than reading about a publishing success story - congrats to you on this marvellous achievement -making my way to Amazon to find a copy

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018

Aww, thank you so very much, Zanya! That would be so very nice of you. Thank you also for the 6 stars, that has just finished my day off beautifully! (UK time) Big hugs, Sandra xxx

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

I am going to go to FS and search it out right now. I am so happy for you. I struggle with promoting my books. I have no clue how to do it. If you discover the secrete please me know.

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018

Thank you, Barbara. I know what you mean. I haven't a clue either, but I'm just putting it out wherever I can and also where it doesn't cost much ... free is best! I have your book and have read it. I'm sure I put a review out too, but I will check. That is what helps sell them. Apart from that, hmm, it's anyone's guess when you are new to this. Big hugs, my friend. :)) Sandra xxx

Comment from LIJ Red

Excellent

I tried to do a review for Jay on Amazon and nearly came to blows with them, since I had never dealt with Amazon...they want an account and fifty bucks spent...maybe later...good luck, I like to hear that writers are getting out...

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2018

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reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018

I've heard others say that, it's a darn cheek! That is not what this is supposed to be about. Thank you, my friend for the good luck wishes. I am not expecting miracles, but just a few sales to say that there is someone out there I don't know who is reading my book. That is really what it's all about. Big hugs. Sandra xx