The Learning Curve

Okay, so I am a child of the "I want it now!" generation. This attitude has only shown me how patience truly is a virtue. It is quite beneficial to be patient. Expectations can be set low, so that success is a wonderful surprise! Yet, setting a goal you reach for, is a bit tricky when you set your expectations low. Where is the happy balance?

These past four weeks have been a learning curve for me. Now I have my book - what do I do? You mean I haven't sold all 3,000 books already? What is that all about? Ha ha. Again, Yoda says - patience.

The learning curve to getting published was huge for me! Getting my book sold, is my next curve. The cool thing about this part of process is that I have two mentors. Two amazing woman that have been in my shoes before, and graciously want to share their experiences with me. Linda Boyden and Hope Marsten are both wonderful, inspiring writers. I have been so grateful for their help and advice.

Getting book signings is a lot harder then I thought it would be. I have one on the calendar and one possibly in the works. The Folsom Zoo picked up the book, which I am so happy about. I would LOVE to do a book signing event there, but no one will call me back. Wait, maybe I am calling the wrong person? hmmmm. I'll look into that one.

The most amazing part of having my book out is reading to kids. I went to four classrooms this week. I read to kids from 6-10 years old. They give me such hope. I read about all the horrible things happening to these animals and the planet, and I look into the faces of these glorious children and feel hope. Children have this unique way of believing they can fix things. Some children stood up straighter when I told them that they could make a difference in this world.

I am also getting ideas, by reading to kids, what they are inspired by; what makes them say wow; what makes them ask questions; and what makes them stop and think. This insight will simply make my next book that much better.

Great idea to blog animal updates

I had a nice chat with my dad today about writing some updates as I learn about species in my book. What a great idea dad, thanks!

So, an update....the Channel Island Fox - I learned that there is a lot to being done to try to help remaining population of fox. A brilliant plan has come into play. To summarize, it seems that they [rangers and such] are capturing Golden Eagles from the Channel Islands and relocating them off the island. Then, they have started to bring back the Bald Eagles as the leading bird of pray.

If you don't have my book, the Channel Islands used to have a population of Bald Eagles that prefer fish over anything. When the Bald Eagles disappeared from the islands, which is another story, the Golden Eagles moved in, and prefered the fox as food.

Okay, you might need to go to my book to understand the rest, or go to one of the Channel Island Fox web sites to learn more about them... http://www.islandfox.org/

Most of the species for my next book have been chosen. I hope to have text for it done in the next six months. We will see where we go from there.

Marketing, marketing, marketing

Between Finney and myself, we are going to make 3,000 books sell in six months, despite the economy! I just had someone write their first review on amazon.com. It was so touching and I felt like shouting "yes!" they understand my book, my hope, my motivation to write and paint.

Next week I am going to read my book to my son's pre-school class. I need to practice, so that when I go in front of a group I don't know, I am prepared for questions and answers. Then, in two weeks I will go around my daughter's school and do the same process.

I am trying to establish some signing events around town, but haven't been successful yet. I will keep trying though. I had patience (at least tried) during the past six years creating this book; now I need to have patience as it will take time to get events and signings.

This past week has been pretty exciting!

I got to read my book to my kids!

Well, the book arrived last night. I was filled with excitement, pride, and joy as I opened my book to read it to my kids. My daughter was filled with questions about the animals. It was like a light bulb went off as she realized that the book was really here.

This morning my daughter clutched the book in her arms as she delivered it to her first grade teacher as a gift. To see how proud my daughter was of me, was humbling.

This experience, over the past six years, has been emotional for me. To almost have it published, then not; then rejections as I looked for another publisher; then elation as Finney Company picked it up. My friends in Flagstaff, and my family, went through it all with me. Now, I am here in California, and the people I mention the book to don't quite understand what a journey this has been for me.

Now that it is here, my tenacity and overly outgoing personality will pay off. I am obsessed with getting the word out about my book. Although, I worry that I am boasting, my passion to help these animals hopefully will overshadow that worry. My goal is to have 3,000 books sold in 6 months. Goals are a challenge to reach for.

I am grateful to all those that pre-ordered the book, or plan to purchase it when it is out. Their support and enthusiam is beautiful.

So, along with publisizing this book, I have started another. It will be called "Through Desert Eyes." I have started gathering a list of 22 species whose habitat is the desert. From the cheetah to the Desert Pupfish. It has created a whole new excitement for me to start this next project. It will also be another blog of information for me to publish.

I also joined the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators:)

Art accepted into organization

Greetings,
Wow, I love 2009! I have just been accepted as a Signature Member of Artists for Conservation. Only 500 Nature artists worldwide are allowed into the organization. Amazing! I am updating my profile on their site www.natureartists.com. I applied two years ago and didn't get in.

Really big deal to me!
:)

TA DA! I am in Amazon.com

How cool is it that when I type my name, Rachel Dillon in Amazon.com, my book comes up. So darn cool!

I am tired since I have been emailing everyone I know and updating my Web site and facebook, to start marketing and getting pre-orders for the book. Look at my little icon. Cute huh?

It's Almost Official!

I just got a note from my Publisher yesterday...drumroll...I have an official, pending on the printer, release date of February 2nd, 2009 for my book. I even have an ISBN number!

Through Endangered Eyes: a poetic journey into the wild
By Rachel Allen Dillon – February 2, 2009 Publication Date
64 pages, 7-1/2” x 7’, jacketed-hardcover, © 2009, ISBN: 978-0-89317-067-7
Order Number: WW-0677…$16.50

It is surreal truly! What an amazing Christmas gift. I'll keep this posted once I speak with the marketing department on the rest of the details.

:) Yipeeee