Monthly Archives: August 2023

by | August 31, 2023 · 4:02 pm

PAL LIAISON Interview in Kite Tales Magazine

A version of this interview appeared in the Spring 2023 RMC-SCBWI Kite Tales magazine.

Some volunteers make programs better. Some make them good. Others, like Rondi Sokoloff Frieder, take them to a whole new, exceptional level. Frieder grew the RMC-SCBWI Published And Listed (PAL) program from the ground up-cultivating it into one of the most enviable and productive in SCBWI. Susan Wroble, Co-Regional Advisor for RMC-SCBWI, said, “When I started in my leadership position, I was shocked to learn that most other chapters have very few PAL members, and for many, SCBWI is regarded as being an organization to get you published, not to stay in once you are published. However, Rondi has made being a part of our chapter worthwhile—and fun—for so many of our PAL members. In turn, they have been our mentors and Connect speakers and guides, and have brought up the skill level of the entire chapter. Without her work over these past nine years, we wouldn’t be nearly as strong a chapter.”

I had the privilege of interviewing Frieder before she steps down to focus on her own writing career.

Shelly Steig: How long have you been a member of SCBWI?

Rondi Sokoloff Frieder: A very long time! This is actually a great story. Back in 2000, my school principal said I needed to do something with my writing. I had been teaching kindergarten and first grade for over 20 years and loved writing plays, raps and short stories with my students. When I told my brother I was thinking about writing for children, he told me his son (my nephew) had a friend at school whose mother did something with children’s books. He suggested I email her. And guess what? It was Lin Oliver, the co-founder of SCBWI!!! I immediately joined and went to the LA conference that summer. I’ve been a member ever since.

SS: What has being a member of SCBWI meant to you?

RSF: So many things. First and foremost, I love the people! There is nothing like spending time with kindred spirits who totally get what you are trying to do. Writing for children is a challenging, and often discouraging, endeavor. I probably would have given up long ago had it not been for the support and encouragement of this writing community. It’s also where I met my critique partners, the brilliant and talented Story Spinners. We’ve been going strong for over twenty years and even have a blog: www.inthewritersweb.com.

SS: When did you become the PAL Liaison, and how did that come about?

RSF: Great question! I have been the PAL (traditionally published and listed authors and illustrators) Coordinator/Liaison for nine years. After I retired from the classroom, one of my critique partners challenged me to get more involved in the RMC-SCBWI. I looked at the volunteer positions available and noticed there was an opening for the CCIRA (Colorado Chapter of the International Reading Association) Coordinator. CCIRA hosts an annual literacy conference for teachers and librarians and the RMC-SCBWI usually purchases a table in their Exhibits Hall. This immediately resonated with me. I had been attending this conference for years as a teacher and always loved it. Plus, it was held at a hotel five minutes from my house! I emailed the Co-Regional Advisors to say I was interested. They were thrilled and also asked me to host a table at the annual Colorado Teen Literacy Conference. Our next Co-RA she asked if I’d be willing to expand my job. She envisioned four PAL events a year and changed the position title to PAL Liaison. Together, we developed the new model. Now, along with CCIRA, I coordinate the annual Book Birthday Bash, webinars tailored specifically to the needs of PALs, meet-and-greets at local bookstores and social/support gatherings. We even hosted the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) group at a reception when the American Library Association Conference was in Denver!

SS: What was your favorite part of being the liaison?

RSF: I absolutely love all the PAL events. Our authors and illustrators are a delight to work with and our programs are inspirational and informative. But if I had to pick my most favorite thing of all, it would be moderating a panel at CCIRA. I’ve used a variety of formats from Speed Dating with authors, illustrators and teachers to opening for keynote speaker, John Schu, librarian extraordinaire and former Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs. For the past two years, I’ve led an actual session at the conference and this year’s was over-the-top incredible! We had sixteen authors and illustrators present to a packed room of teachers and librarians. Their anecdotes took us from laughter to tears as we learned about the “stories behind the books.” I was so proud of our literary rockstars!

SS: What are you working on with your own projects?

RSF: I am smitten with middle grade! I recently submitted my time-travel, baseball, comic book, golem romp to a slew of agents. While I wait for their responses, I am working on a humorous MG story about friendship and grief that takes place in a summer camp in the Rocky Mountains.

SS: Anything else you’d like our members to know?

RSF: I’m very proud of the fact that our PALs have stayed super involved in the RMC-SCBWI. Apparently, this is not typical. In most chapters, after people get traditionally published, they disappear. By providing dynamic programming for our PAL authors and illustrators, we have been able to keep them engaged. Along with attending PAL events, they have become mentors, webinar presenters, and speakers at our annual conference. Also, being the PAL Liaison has enabled me to work directly with many of our outstanding local bookstores. We have held PAL events at Second Star to the Right, Book Bar, The Bookies, The Wandering Jellyfish and The Tattered Cover. Getting to know these booksellers has given me tremendous insight into the publishing world. Children’s book people are the best!

6 Comments

Filed under 2023, Book Birthdays, CCIRA, Interviews, Kite Tales, RMC-SCBW

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | August 20, 2023 · 5:10 pm

Putting Edelweiss to Work!

By Susan Wroble (Note that a version of this post first appeared in RMC Kite Tales, Spring 2023)

Have you ever noticed the disclaimers on some book reviews posted to book blogs or Goodreads?  “I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.”  They aren’t talking about that “Sound of Music” flower!

 

Edelweiss (aka Edel) is an online platform where publishers make advance reader copies (ARCs) available in digital formats to select readers before the books are published. They do this to encourage early reviews and generate buzz before a book comes out. 

In the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI’s Publishing Path webinar series, developmental editor Susan Chang recommended that everyone should have an Edel account, but for surprising reasons unrelated to reviewing e-ARCs (electronic ARCs). And when someone like Susan says “everyone should,” I pay attention. 

Susan explained that for authors, having an Edel account is an efficient way to read new books in your category, find comparable titles (comps) for your own work, explore marketing plans, and study a publisher’s catalog before submitting to them. 

Regardless of where you are in your publishing journey, you will eventually want to have access to upcoming releases as you study the market for your work-in-progress. And we all know that finding good comp titles can be tricky, so I am very excited about this platform. Edelweiss can make parts of querying so much easier, and setting up an account is FREE!

CREATING YOUR PROFILE AND REQUESTING ADVANCE READER COPIES:

Start on Edelweiss by navigating to www.edelweiss.plus to create your profile. To get approved to read those digital reader copies (DRCs, Edel’s version of the e-ARC), your profile strength needs to show as “excellent.” Profile strength (with levels like incomplete, good and excellent) is based on how much of the profile you have completed. The question mark beside your strength will show you what is missing. Keep tweaking until you get to excellent. 

When you request DRCs, you are most likely to get approved if you show that you write reviews. Here’s a version of my profile, which shows who I review and why:

I’m a children’s author and voracious reader. I usually max out my library card, and my house is full of books that I am either reading or using as mentor texts for my stories. I currently serve as Co-Regional Advisor of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and am a member of the marketing group STEAMTeam 2023. The two groups that I usually support through reviews (Amazon, Goodreads, Instagram, and the Instagram of the nonprofit organization Partners in Literacy) are children’s nonfiction authors and children’s authors in the Colorado/Wyoming area.

Note that when you request a specific DRC, you will also need to write a few sentences about why you’ve requested that book. Once you’re granted access, you’ll be provided with a link to download the manuscript in a variety of ways. You can even connect your e-reader and receive the e-ARCs on your personal devices. Remember, though, you’re being provided the sneak peek with the expectation that you’ll write and post a review after reading, so if you love the book, try to be a good author citizen, and follow through. Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble are all great places to leave reviews. Your fellow authors will thank you! 

 

USING EDEL TO FIND COMPS:

While the ability to search for comparable titles, or comps, is one of the huge benefits of Edelweiss, there is one caveat. In query letters, comps are designed to give the agents or editors a feel for the subject or tone or theme of your story. In Edelweiss, comps are intended for marketing. Keeping that nuance in mind, they are incredibly valuable. 

Here’s how to find them: under the “Search for titles” box, type in a title. Using Kaz Windness’s BITSY BAT as an example, note that at the bottom are a series of carrots next to “Content, Comps, Related, Refs.” Clicking on comps and refs gives us three books that are considered comp titles, and others that are related in some way (in this case, because Kaz wrote it!).

If you have a book that might make a good comp, a great next step is to check Edelweiss. You’ll get what the professionals consider to be the comps for that book. 

 

USING EDEL TO REVIEW MARKETING PLANS:

Authors are increasingly being asked to submit marketing plans. Again, Edelweiss can be a huge help. The marketing plans posted here are often a mix of author and publisher activities, but be aware that not all books will have them. To find the marketing plan, go back to those “Content, Comps, Related, Refs” carrots. Clicking the carrot by “Content” for Carmela Coyle’s SOMETHING SPECTACULAR: A ROCK’S JOURNEY gives the summary, bio, marketing plan and selling points. In the marketing plans, you can see the specific blogs that will be targeted for this picture book.

Marking Plan (SOMETHING SPECTACULAR):

  • National outreach campaign targeting mom bloggers, librarians, social media influencers and children’s book reviewers; Mo
  • m Blog Society, Free Range Kids, Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog, Kids Activity Blog, It’s a Lovely Life, Green Hour, The First Book Blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, and more.
  • Trade announcements of book to PW, Booklist, Foreword Reviews, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness
  • Event kit available for bookstores, schools and libraries for self-promotion, author events, and activities with the book
  • Featured title at Trade Shows
  • NetGalley campaign for early review

As for me, Edelweiss has provided such great data that I am now revamping the comp titles and marketing plans for my works-in-progress. The time spent learning how to navigate this site truly pays off.

(Tech note for Apple users: Chrome seems to be a better browser than Safari for Edelweiss. Once in, Apple’s “Command F” search function is far more powerful than the internal search.) 

 

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized