I have written a couple of childrens stories and would like some information on agents that I could show my work to. Do not think that I am a fool and will be suckered in, so if you are a crook do not waste my or your time. Thanks

There are several different literary agents guides out on the market. Your local library or bookstore would have one. They list the kinds of materials each agent is interested in taking on.

Check with the Preditors & Editors website before you submit anything, to make sure there haven’t been any complaints filed against them. Also, take a step away if the agent asks you for any money upfront (especially for "editing fees"). Agents are supposed to make money by earning a percentage of your proceeds from the sale of your book. They don’t take on clients that they think they can’t sell.

Not sure what to do with them next – Seriously want to get them published or find an agent – I’ve showed them to a few people I can trust & was told they are really great – & they were actually impressed & have called me several times wanting to know when they can get a copy for their kids -LOL – when they are not even published yet !!! What do I need to do ? Any good sites for help with writing & publishing Children’s Books ??
Thanks

I agree with the previous poster’s advice in picking up a copy of the 2006 Writer’s Market (or check your local library).

But I do not agree that you should just pick up the phone and start cold calling agents. Many agents do not accept unsolicited submissions, much less unsolicited phone calls. Each agent will have their own guidelines for submissions, which could vary from one agency to the next. Follow these guidelines exactly.

As for websites, check out www.absolutewrite.com. They have articles written by published authors, some of which are related specifically to Children’s Writing. In the forums is an area dedicated to Children’s Writing where you can ask questions. They also have a thread titled Bewares and Background Check which lists fraudulent agents, publishers, and scammers.

From the feedback you’ve gotten, it sounds like your books have great potential! Sometimes it’s a long, hard road to publication, but don’t give up. Persevere! Best of luck!

I recently finished a set of books in the past day or so, and now I am looking for something new to read.

I just finished the 4 sets of Dan Brown books, and was looking for another author along the same lines as him to read. I know his writing is a bit…"controversial" but I tend to like it.

Is there somebody else that could be along those lines?

Thank you for your help.
I always choose BA.

Here are some authors who are similar:

Patricia Cornwall
Iris Johansen
Tom Clancy
John Grisham
Mary Higgins Clark

HTH

Hi.. I want to find a breath taking and on the ledge of your seat mysterybook!!!! I want ot read a mystery book for the summer and i’m asking because maybe i could read the book that one of you liked..

Thanks

Some of my fav mystery authors, in no particular order:
Lilian Jackson Braun
Carole Nelson Douglas
Camille Minichino
M. R. Sellars
Karen Irving
Jasper Fforde
Sandra Tooley
Lee Driver
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Agatha Christie
Harry Kemelman
Margaret Truman
P. D. James
Matthew Pearl
Martha C. Lawrence
Ellery Queen
Ralph McInery
Tony Hillerman
Erle Stanley Gardner
Susan Wittig Albert

I am in charge of putting together holiday "give aways" for my non-profit organization. We are looking together give away "educational packages" including books, backpacks, supplies, etc. I am having trouble finding places that are willing to donate used books.

Tell bookstores you will give them an ad in each packet they donate. Then write up a little ad for them. Also, Have you called libraries? How about big companies donating money to buy books from a bookstore that will sell at cost? Remember to offer them promotions of their products and company name. Then put an ad in the paper for any who might wish to donate. Surely some of these are willing to help. Good luck.

Preferably chapter books in the 8-12 age range. The only really good ones I’ve ever come across was the Golden Filly series by Lauraine Snelling. Know of any others?
I know where to find books, trust me I have an extensive library. I’m looking for books for my daughter and it seems like the christian genre skips right over adolescent aged kids. I would just like to know if anybody has a specific favorite they could tell me about.

The Chronicles of Narnia come to mind first and foremost. They were definitely some of my favorites at that age–and still are to be quite honest. Other favorites included classics like Anne of Green Gables, Emily of New Moon, Little House on the Prarie, Caddie Woodlawn, etc. My mom read us a lot of Lois Lenski books like Strawberry Girl, Betsy-Tacy, Judy’s Journey, Cotton In My Sack, etc. Another series which was among my favorites was by Arleta Richardson: In Grandma’s Attic, More Stories From Grandma’s Attic, Still More Stories from Grandma’s Attic, Treasures From Grandma, Away From Home, A School of Her Own, Wedding Bells Ahead, At Home in North Branch, New Faces New Friends, Stories From The Growing Years.

I went to a Christian school, where they collected all of the Mandie series by Lois Gladys Leppard. The first in the series is Mandie and the Secret Tunnel.

Frank Peretti seems to have two children/YA series going (I’m unsure of the target age group) one is Cooper Kids Adventure Series and the second is Veritas Project.

Christianbook.com might also be a good resource.

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?N=5100+1030632&Ne=1000000&Nu=product%2Eendeca%5Frollup&Ns=product%2Enumber%5Fsold&event=HPT&Nso=1&category=Kids

I’m interested in finding out whether there is an online book of Olga Lengyel’s, "Five Chimneys" or "A Woman in Berlin" by an anonymous author.

If anyone can direct me to where I can find these books online to read, that would be great. Otherwise I am going to have a hell of a time finding them in my little town.

Knowing my luck, they probably aren’t available online at all.
Alvis, I live in a small town. I find it hard to get books like these anywhere. Hell, i even had to order "All Quiet On the Western Front" from the book store.

So there is no way in hell I’m going to be able to get these two in my town.

Free eBooks

There are 19,000 free ebooks in the Project Gutenberg Online Book Catalog.

http://www.gutenberg.org/

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/

http://www.baen.com/library/

http://www.ebooks3.com/

http://www.bookyards.com/

http://www.redbirdstudio.com/E_Books/

http://www.free-online-novels.com/

http://www.bibliomania.com/1/frameset.html

http://www.starry.com/novel/authors.htm

http://www.bygosh.com/features.htm

http://www.bygosh.com/thebestnovels.htm

http://www.bookspot.com/ask/

http://www.bookspot.com/

http://www.online-literature.com/

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/

http://www.infomotions.com/alex/

http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/

http://www.literature.org/

http://www.literature.org/authors/

The Celebration of Women Writers.

A Vast Collection of Works.

The Celebration of Women Writers recognizes the contributions of women writers throughout history. Women have written almost every imaginable type of work: novels, poems, letters, biographies, travel books, religious commentaries, histories, economic and scientific works. Our goal is to promote awareness of the breadth and variety of women’s writing.

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/writers.html#B_Section

Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, England.

What are the benefits academically of reading non fiction books?

You maybe learn something.

I recently got the first five books from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files for a lovely reading marathon. I love paranormal stuff, and he came so highly recommended I was champing at the bit in anticipation of a new series with many instalments to look forward to. I’ve only managed the first two and am really disappointed. I can’t figure out why they haven’t clicked with me. Have you ever had this happen with a book?

I kept reading reviews about a book called "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" that made it sound like it was brilliant.

It WASN’T, and I hate reading a whole book waiting for something to happen and nothing interesting ever does.

paperback library books seem to have a special plastic like film on the outer cover which makes them very durable and prevents them creasing easily, especially along the spine. do they do this themselves or do they actually buy a special "library" copy of the book?
in addition to this, every paperback library book has a heavy duty, plastic jacket. where can i obtain these jackets for my book collection? i am assuming each one must be made individually.

Are you really that sad, that you need to cover your books? come on! you only get to live once! why waste it!!??