After finding success with his first three children’s books, author Howard Shapiro seems to have nowhere to go but up. Having accomplished his goal of writing characters that adults and kids would be able to relate to in his stories and also achieving self-publishing victory with Hockey Days (Xlibris, $12.99), Shapiro continues to pursue his love for the written word and the sport of hockey in his new book.Hockey Player for Life, which was released in October, has garnered positive responses not only from critics but also from people who have read Hockey Player for Life. Shapiro relates: "The feedback I have received from folks at the signings, from the hockey blogging ...

“Writing this book was like living through an epic adventure for me,” described Corey Habbas, author and illustrator of The Runaway Scarf (Muslim Writers Publishing, 2008). In an interview, Habbas described the process of transforming her idea into a Muslim children’s book, a series of events that took nearly 4 years from concept to publication.Habbas was concerned that a non-Muslim entertainment media often portrays Muslims as oppressive in many television and cinematic productions. Habbas, as well as many other Muslims living in America, feel that these distorted portrayals make it more likely that non-Muslims draw the false conclusion that Islam condones oppression.Habbas asserts, “There are so many Qur’an verses and haddiths that ...

In an editorial several years ago, I described a tree house in the backyard of a local restaurant. I wrote, "The entire structure has been pieced together from recycled lumber, much of which still bears the paint, logos or posters of the original walls from whence it came. The generous platform is ringed by a sturdy fence that includes branches of the tree itself, random two-by-fours, wooden signs, and even a pair of moose antlers. The 'house' is more of a lean-to, tall enough for kids (but not adults) to stand up inside, with a screened door and two screened windows positioned so occupants can easily spy on the diners below or ...

Did you know that there are a number of self-publishing scams out there?There are and these are scams that you will want to avoid. If you are self-publishing a book, you should not be required to sign any contracts.What you need is a self publishing company that will turn your words into a real book. You do not need to sign any contracts or agree to give away your work for this to be done. Often times, all you need to do is agree to pay the already agreed upon fee.Whether you examine vanity publishers or a printing company, be cautious of any recommendations that you receive.For example, if an individual in ...

With the growing number of magazines for children, there's a healthy market for children's articles – one that isn't tapped by most writers. Writing articles for children is different than writing factual or informational articles for adults. Your audience has a different attention span, different interests and a different vocabulary. If you want to write informational articles for children, there are some guidelines and tips you should keep in mind while you write.-Tell it in a story.The very best way to teach factual information to a child is to put it into a story. Kids will absorb the information far more readily if they have a framework for it. This works especially ...